Abstract:Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of Weifuchun (WFC) for chronic superficial gastritis (CSG) based on network pharmacology. Methods: The relevant chemical components and corresponding targets of WFC were searched by using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) ,Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID) and Website of SwissTargetPrediction. The targets of CSG were screened by using GeneCard and OMIM databases,the intersection targets of WFC and CSG were obtained through the online website of Venny, and a protein-protein interaction network diagram was constructed by using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. Based on topological parameters, the core targets of WFC were identified for treating CSG, and a component core target network diagram was constructed to screen the key components of WFC acting on CSG by using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. The pathway enrichment analysis of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) on intersection targets was performed by utilizing David website, and visual bubble charts were drew by using R language. The molecular docking on the main active ingredients and key targets of WFC treating CSG was performed by using SYBYL-X2.1.1 software. Results:The key components of WFC for CSG were ginsenoside Rh2,naringenin,14-acetylumbrosin b, β-sitosterol, and the key targets included interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), and tumor suppressor gene 53 (TP53), etc.. WFC treating CSG mainly acted on cancer signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathway,Kaposi sarcoma associated herpesvirus infection and other signaling pathways. Its function was mainly to participate in the positive regulation of RNA polymerase II promoter transcription, signal transduction and negative regulation of cell apoptosis,and played an important role in protein binding and ATP binding. The molecular docking results showed that the key components in WFC, such as 14- acetylumbrosin b,ginsenoside Rh2,and quercetin,have strong binding activity with key targets of IL-6, AKT1, and VEGFA. Conclusion: WFC may play a therapeutic role in CSG by regulating targets such as IL-6, TNF and AKT1, whose mechanism is closely related to cancer signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathway.