To investigate the complex Calculus Bovis-target-keratitis network and to explore the molecular mechanism of Calculus Bovis treating keratitis through network pharmacology.

Genes related to keratitis were searched in the online DisGeNET database and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of keratitis-associated proteins was constructed.The components isolated and identified in Calculus Bovis were collected through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP, https: //tcmsp-e.com/tcmsp.php), Chemistry Database by Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry of CAS (http: //www.organchem.csdb.cn), and published literature.The canonical SMILES information of the collected components was exported, which were submitted to the SwissTargetPrediction platform to predict potential targets of the components.The active component-predicted target network of Calculus Bovis was constructed and merged with the PPI network of keratitis-associated proteins to build the active component-potential target network of Calculus Bovis and systemically investigate the potential targets and signal pathways of Calculus Bovis in treatment of keratitis.The component-target-pathway network was established to analyze the mechanism of Calculus Bovis treating keratitis.

Thirty-nine components isolated and identified in Calculus Bovis were searched and 65 target genes related to keratitis were screened.Of the 28 potential targets involved in Calculus Bovis treating keratitis, there were 7 direct targets, including tumor necrosis factor, caspase 1, Toll-like receptor 9, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8, interleukin-6, mitogen-activated protein kinase 8, neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 1.The 28 potential targets were annotated to 12 entries for biological process, 18 for cellular components and 13 for molecular function.In the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis, 10 signal pathways were identified as enriched categories, which were mainly related to human cytomegalovirus infection, amoebiasis, antifolate resistance, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, rheumatoid arthritis, apoptosis, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, malaria, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, interleukin-17 signaling pathway.

Calculus Bovis may play an adjuvant therapeutic effect on keratitis through anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, immune regulation, inflammatory regulation and other functions.

Keratitis; Network pharmacology; Protein-protein interaction network; Signal pathway; Calculus Bovis