# Exploration of the Mechanism of Tongmai Xianxiang in Treating Postherpetic Neuralgia Based on Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Analysis and Network Pharmacology

## TL;DR

This study explores how Tongmai Xianxiang treats postherpetic neuralgia using chemical analysis and network pharmacology to identify key targets.

## Contribution

The study identifies 53 core genes and multiple active compounds in Tongmai Xianxiang that may target PHN mechanisms.

## Key findings

- GC-MS identified 633 active components in Tongmai Xianxiang linked to 772 targets.
- 53 core genes, including SLC6A4 and ALB, were found to be key anti-PHN targets.
- Molecular docking showed strong binding of ALB with several compounds in Tongmai Xianxiang.

## Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the potential target of Tongmai Xianxiang in the prevention and treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and network pharmacology.

Quantitative analysis using GC‐MS was employed to obtain the chemical components of Tongmai Xianxiang, and target site prediction was conducted; PHN‐related targets were collected from relevant disease databases; the anti‐PHN targets of Tongmai Xianxiang were obtained through network pharmacology methods, and molecular docking was performed on the main targets.

A total of 633 active components were screened by GC‐MS, corresponding to 772 targets. By searching the disease database, a total of 169 PHN‐related disease targets were obtained after removing duplicates. A total of 53 core genes, including SLC6A4, MAOA, DRD2, and ALB, were obtained by intersecting the corresponding target and PHN target. Through molecular docking, the results indicate that ALB has the lowest free binding energy with Z‐butylidenephthalide, 2‐undecanol, and 1,6,10‐dodecatrien‐3‐OL, 3,7,11‐trimethyl‐, (E)‐.

Tongmai Xianxiang can prevent PHN by multitarget, multiprocess, and multipathway. This study provides new ideas and new targets for the intervention of Tongmai Xianxiang in PHN.