OBJECTIVE To predict the active components, targets and signal pathways of Yishen Tongluo formula in the treatment of diabetes induced erectile dysfunction based on network pharmacology, and to verify the possible mechanism of Yishen Tongluo formula in the treatment of diabetes induced erectile dysfunction through molecular docking and animal experiments.

METHODS The active ingredients and targets of Yishen Tongluo formula were collected from TCMSP database. The disease targets of diabetic erectile dysfunction were obtained from the GeneCards database. Venny2.1 software was used to obtain the intersection target genes, and STRING database was used to draw the protein interaction network. Cytoscape 3.9.1 software was used to screen the core targets of Yishen Tongluo formula in the treatment of diabetic erectile dysfunction. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the target genes were performed. The Dock Thor online website was used to perform molecular docking between the core targets and the corresponding active ingredients, and finally the visualization was performed with the help of Pymol software.

RESULTS Yishen Tongluo formula had 100 active components and 24 effective targets for the treatment of diseases. The core targets were AKT1, IL6, CASP3, VEGFA, MAPK8, NOS3, EGF, CCND1, EDN1, and CRP. GO enrichment analysis obtained 254 biological processes, 24 molecular functions and 14 cellular components, such as positive regulation of gene expression, positive regulation of cell proliferation, negative regulation of gene expression, positive regulation of apoptosis process and other biological processes, calmodulin binding, oxidoreductase activity, specific sequence DNA binding and other molecular functions. Macromolecular complex, protein binding, same protein binding and other cell components; KEGG enrichment analysis screened out 98 enriched pathways, such as AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT pathway, ROCK/MYPT1 pathway in diabetic complications. The core targets docking well with the corresponding activated component molecules. Animal experiments shown that Yishen Tongluo formula could effectively improve the erectile function of diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION Yishen Tongluo Formula can improve diabetic erectile dysfunction through multiple targets, pathways and pathways.