Study on the Molecular Mechanism of XiaoXianXiong Decoction in the Treatment of Atherosclerosis Based on UHPLC-Q Exactive Focus MS/MS, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Validation

Atherosclerosis (AS), a leading pathological basis of severe cardiovascular diseases, poses a significant threat to human health. XiaoXianXiong Decoction (XXXD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has demonstrated promising effects in the treatment of AS. To investigate the underlying mechanism of XXXD in treatment with AS, we used UHPLC-Q Focus MS/MS, network pharmacology and in vivo validation methods. The results showed that 59 chemical components of XXXD were identified. Network pharmacology showed that 11 key compounds, 10 key targets and five key signaling pathways involved in the therapeutic effects of XXXD on AS. Experimental verification confirmed that XXXD significantly improved dyslipidemia, lipid accumulation and pathological changes in the aorta during AS. These effects were linked to the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, down-regulation of PI3K, HRAS, EGF, CREB and up-regulation of NOS3 expression. This work may provide a theoretical basis for further research on the molecular mechanisms for XXXD in AS treatment.