Molecular Mechanisms of Dachengqi Decoction in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analysis.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening complication of sepsis, characterized by refractory hypoxemia and pulmonary inflammation. Currently, effective pharmacological interventions remain limited. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), exemplified by Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD), has demonstrated therapeutic potential in modulating complex inflammatory responses. To investigate the mechanism of DCQD in ARDS treatment, active components of DCQD and their associated targets were first retrieved from public databases. ARDS-related targets were identified through bioinformatics analysis of public datasets. By intersecting drug-specific targets with disease-related targets, a DCQD-ARDS interaction network was constructed using protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and functional enrichment. Comprehensive analysis revealed 32 overlapping genes critical to DCQD's therapeutic efficacy in ARDS. Enrichment analysis highlighted key pathways, including the chemokine signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, which are implicated in immunomodulation and inflammation. The PPI network identified HSP90AB1, MMP9, HSP90AA1, ARG1, and MYC as core targets. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities between these targets and DCQD components. Our findings untangle the mechanistic basis supporting DCQD as a promising adjunctive therapy for sepsis-induced ARDS.