Network pharmacology study on mechanism involved in the use of YuShu Soup for the treatment of exertional heatstroke

Purpose: To investigate the underlying mechanisms of action of YuShu Soup in exertional heatstroke (EHS) treatment.Methods: This study utilized network pharmacology analysis, applied STRING database to collect compound targets, and visualized protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Furthermore, EHS model was established on rats, and physiological indices and serum biochemical indicators were evaluated. Thereafter, morphological and histological assessments were carried out on renal tissues.Results: The PPI network indicated that JUN, AKT1, MAPK3, MAPK1, STAT3, RXRA, CTNNB1, and RELA may be the vital proteins which YuShu Soup acts on. In terms of mechanism, YuShu Soup regulates the protein expression of HSP90 and Akt/Bcl-xL pathway significantly (p < 0.01).Conclusion: YuShu Soup alleviates symptoms of EHS and apoptosis of renal cells in rats by regulating HSP90 and Akt/Bcl-xL pathway, thereby alleviating kidney damage. These findings shed light on the prevention and treatment of EHS with this traditional Chinese prescription.