Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation of Yinma Jiedu Granule in the treatment of acute pharyngitis

Yinma Jiedu Granules (YMJD) is a classical Chinese medicinal formula for alleviating inflammatory conditions, such as acute bronchitis and tracheitis. In this study, network pharmacology identified AKT1, IL6, and IL1B as hub genes, and molecular docking confirmed their binding to active ingredients (naringenin, quercetin, and aloe-emodin). Moreover, pathway enrichment analysis indicated YMJD alleviated acute pharyngitis by suppressing oxidative stress and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. In acute pharyngitis rat model, YMJD improved the symptoms of acute pharyngitis. Mechanistic study showed that YMJD inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory response through downregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, providing evidence for YMJD to treat acute pharyngitis.