Background: Yiyi Fuzi Baijiang powder (YFBP) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat colorectal cancer, although its bioactivity and mechanisms of action have not been studied in depth yet. The study intended to identify the potential targets and signaling pathways affected by YFBP during the treatment of colorectal cancer through pharmacological network analysis and to further analyze its chemical compositions and molecular mechanisms of action.Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID), HitPredict (HIT), and Search Tool for Interactions of Chemicals (STITCH) databases were used to screen the bioactive components and promising targets of YFBP. Targets related to colorectal cancer were retrieved from the GeneCards and Gene Ontology databases. Cytoscape software was used to construct the “herb–active ingredient–target” network. The STRING database was used to construct and analyze protein–protein interactions (PPIs). Afterward, the R packages clusterProfiler and Cytoscape Hub plug-in were used to perform Gene Ontology (GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of target genes. The results of the network pharmacological analysis were also experimentally validated.Results: In total, 33 active components and 128 target genes were screened. Among them, 46 target genes were considered potential therapeutic targets that crossed the CRC target genes. The network pharmacology analysis showed that the active components of YFBP were correlated positively with CRC inflammatory target genes such as TLR4, TNF, and IL-6. The inflammation-related signaling pathways affected by the active components included the TNF-α, interleukin-17, and toll-like receptor signaling pathways. The active ingredients of YFBP, such as luteolin, β-sitosterol, myristic acid, and vanillin, may exert anti-tumor effects by downregulating SMOX expression via anti-inflammatory signaling and regulation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Conclusion: In the present study, the potential active components, potential targets, and key biological pathways involved in the YFBP treatment of CRC were determined, providing a theoretical foundation for further anti-tumor research.

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Recently, World Health Organization predicted a near end of COVID-19 pandemic. However, the prediction should be interpreted cautiously. Due to SARS-CoV-2 continuous mutation-evolve, limited durability of infection-acquired protection in individuals with hybrid immunity, and the effects of long COVID-19 or Post-COVID-19 syndrome, COVID-19 may continue to be a worldwide threat. Alternative therapeutics are incorporated into some countries’ health guidelines for COVID-19. Qiannan herbal, an ancient medical book of Yi Nationality in China, recorded that grapes and turmeric were often used to treat respiratory diseases. Curcumin and resveratrol are the primary bioactive compounds in turmeric and grapes, respectively. The clinical trials confirmed that curcumin or resveratrol supplementation could cause moderate or marked improvements in COVID-19 patients. Exploring the potential mechanisms is of great significance. This study found that curcumin and resveratrol could effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-23CLpro activity and spike protein-mediated cell entry. Curcumin and resveratrol could significantly alleviate spike protein-mediated cytokine storm via inhibiting over-activation of NFKB, and effectively ameliorate spike protein-mediated oxidative stress through scavenging ROS and enhancing function of antioxidation system. The combined treatment showed a better effect than alone treatment. Therefore, curcumin and resveratrol could inhibit SARS-CoV-23C-like proteinase activity and Spike protein-mediated cell entry, cytokine storm, and oxidative stress.