Abstract:To investigate the potential mechanisms by which the herbal pair Radix Pseudostellariae (Taizishen) and Flos Puerariae (Gehua) intervenes in alcoholic liver fibrosis, using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Methods: Active ingredients of Taizishen–Gehua and their corresponding targets were screened from the TCMSP database. Targets associated with alcoholic liver fibrosis were retrieved from the GeneCards and OMIM databases. A“drug–compound–target” network and a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed using Cytoscape and the STRING database, respectively. Core targets were identified using the CytoNCA plugin. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed via the Bioinformatics platform (MicroBioInfo). Molecular docking validation was carried out using AutoDock Vina. Results: A total of 20 active compounds and 201 corresponding targets of Taizishen–Gehua were identified, along with 6,763 disease-related targets for alcoholic liver fibrosis; 184 overlapping targets were obtained. PPI network analysis revealed 12 core targets, including AKT1, TP53, BCL2, MAPK1, ESR1, MDM2, HSP90AA1, MYC, CCND1, CASP3, TNF, and IL6. GO enrichment analysis yielded 86 cellular component terms, 2,371 biological process terms, and 221 molecular function terms. KEGG enrichment analysis identified 186 significantly enriched pathways, with key pathways including AGE–RAGE signaling, PI3K–Akt signaling, lipid and atherosclerosis, TNF signaling, and p53 signaling. Molecular docking results showed that the binding affinities between the core active compounds (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, formononetin, and irigenin) and the core targets (AKT1, TP53, BCL2, MAPK1, ESR1) were all lower than –4.7 kJ·mol?1, indicating stable binding interactions. Conclusion: The Taizishen–Gehua herbal pair exerts protective effects against alcoholic liver fibrosis through a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway mechanism. This study preliminarily elucidates its underlying pharmacological mechanisms and provides a theoretical foundation for future experimental research.