Background::Fuzi-Gancao herb couple is one of the most common herb couples involved
in the TCM formula, which was used for the treatment of chronic diseases. The herb couple
has a hepatoprotective effect. However, its main components and therapeutic mechanism are not
yet clear. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of the Fuzi-Gancao
herb couple on NAFLD from animal experiments, network pharmacology, and molecular docking.
Methods::60 Male C57BL/6 mice (20 g ± 2 g) were randomly divided into six groups including the
blank group (n=10) and NALFD group (n=50). The mice of the NALFD group were fed with a
high-fat diet for 20 weeks to establish the NAFLD model and the NALFD mice were randomly divided
into five groups including positive group (berberine), model group and F-G groups with
three dosages (0.257, 0.514, 0.771 g/kg) (n=10). After 10 weeks of administration, the serum was
collected for the analysis of ALT, AST, LDL-c, HDL-c, and TC, and liver tissues were collected
for pathological analysis. The TCMAS database was used to collect the main components and targets
of the Fuzi-Gancao herb couple. The GeneCards database was used to collect NAFLD-related
targets, and the key targets were obtained by intersecting with herbal targets. The diseasecomponent-
target relationship diagram was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.1. The obtained key targets
were imported into the String database to obtain the PPI network, and imported into the DAVID
database for KEGG pathway analysis and GO analysis. Finally, the key targets and key gene
proteins were imported into Discovery Studio 2019 for molecular docking verification.
Results::In this study, H-E staining indicated the pathological changes of liver tissue in Fuzi-
Gancao groups were significantly improved, and the levels of AST, ALT, TC, HDL-c, and LDL-c
in serum of Fuzi-Gancao groups decreased in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the model
group. 103 active components and 299 targets in the Fuzi-Gancao herb couple were confirmed in
the TCMSP database and 2062 disease targets in NAFLD were obtained. 142 key targets and 167
signal pathways were screened, such as the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications,
HIF-1 signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and so on. The
main bioactive ingredients of Fuzi-Gancao herb couple in the treatment of NAFLD are quercetin,
kaempferol, naringenin, inermine, (R)-norcoclaurine, isorhamnetin, ignavine, 2,7-Dideacetyl-2,7-
dibenzoyl-taxayunnanine F, glycyrol mainly involving IL6, AKT1, TNF, TP53, IL1B, VEGFA and
other core targets. Molecular docking analysis indicated that there is a good affinity between the
key components and the key targets.
Conclusion::This study preliminarily explained the main components and mechanism of the Fuzi-
Gancao herb couple in the treatment of NAFLD and provided an idea for subsequent research.