Objective  To explore the action mechanism of Chuanlong Anti-cancer Decoction in treatment of prostate cancer based on network pharmacology.

  Methods  The active components of Lingzhi, Ezhu, Honghua, Sanqi power, Daqingye were screened by TCMSP database. The active components of scolopendra and lumbricus were screened by PubChem and Swiss ADME, and the potential targets of the above active components were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction online website. GeneCards, OMIM and PharmGkb databases were used to retrieve the related targets of prostate cancer. Venn online software was used to obtain the common targets of Chuanlong Anti-cancer Decoction and prostate cancer. Cytoscape 3.8.2 software was used to construct the network diagram of "main component-intersection target". The protein interaction (PPI) network of intersection targets was plotted using STRING database. Hiplot online tool was used to analyze effective targets based on gene ontology(GO) function and KyotoEncyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and molecular docking technology was used to conduct molecular docking between main active ingredients and key targets.

  Results  A total of 149 active components of Chuanlong Anti-cancer Decoction and 486 intersection targets of Chuanlong Anti-cancer Decoction and prostate cancer were obtained. The key targets included protein kinase B (AKT1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), cell tumor antigen gene (TP53), prolandin endoperoxidase synthase 2 (PTGS2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), etc., and the main components included quercetin, curcumin and β-sitosterol, etc. GO function analysis mainly included transcription factor activity, enzyme activity, receptor activity and regulation of biosynthesis process. KEGG pathway analysis involved in cancer proteoglycan pathway, advanced glycation end product (AGE)-receptor for AGE (RAGE) signaling pathway in late-stage complications of diabetes, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway and prostate cancer pathways, etc. Molecular docking results showed good binding between the main active ingredients and key targets.

  Conclusion  The effect of Chuanlong Anti-cancer Decoction involves in multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways during treatment of prostate cancer, which provides a theoretical basis for subsequent molecular biology experiments.