Abstract: We analyzed the mechanism of action of Acorus tatarinowii Schott(ATS)in the treatment of Alzheimers disease(AD)based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification. After the active components of ATS were collected by TCMSP database and literature review, the targets of active components of ATS were predicted by Swiss target prediction database. Protein-protein interaction analysis was carried out using STRING database. GO and KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis was carried out by DAVID database for key targets; Finally, AutoDock was used to verify the molecular docking between active ingredients and important targets, and the effect of ATS on AChE activity was verified by enzyme inhibition experiments. 7 active ingredients were screened, corresponding to 254 targets, 1 981 AD targets, 120 drug disease common targets. GO enrichment analysis obtain 306 entries, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained 79 signal pathways, it mainly included cancer, Estrogen and VEGF signaling pathway; Molecular docking results showed that AChE and AKT1 target could spontaneously bind to most active components of ATS stably. Enzyme inhibition experiment showed that ATS can inhibit AChE activity. In this study, the mechanism of action of ATS in the treatment of AD was predicted and verified from the aspects of network pharmacology, molecular docking and enzyme inhibition experiments, so as to provide reference and basis for clinical application and further development of ATS.

Key words: Acotus tatarinowii Schott, Alzheimers disease, network pharmacology, molecular docking, mechanism of action