[Abstract] Objective To employ network-based pharmacology techniques and methods for the examination

of the active ingredients and potential effector mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata in osteoarthritis treatment.

Methods The traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database was employed to screen

for potential active components and associated target proteins of Achyranthes bidentata. Genecards and OMIM

database were used to predict the effector targets of osteoarthritis. The UniProt database was used to search

for the corresponding gene names. The compound osteoarthritis target network and protein–protein interaction

(PPI) network for Achyranthes bidentata were built using Cytoscape and String software. The Bioconductor

data package was used in R to evaluate GO biological function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment, and

the effective components and targets of Achyranthes bidentata in the treatment of osteoarthritis were acquired.

Results Twenty key active components of Achyranthes bidentata were acquired by screening the TCMSP

database. Overall, 106 targets are common effector targets of major chemical component-chemical component

effector targets and osteoarthritis therapeutic target-osteoarthritis. 84 PPI core genes were acquired, and these

participate in modulating 23 signaling pathways, such as the IL-17 signal pathway, TNF signal pathway, HIF-

1 signal pathway, apoptosis, and other signaling pathways. Conclusion Achyranthes bidentata treatment of

osteoarthritis is a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway complex process involving multiple targets

associated to the coordinated modulation of signaling pathways.

[Key words] Achyranthes bidentata; Osteoarthritis; Network pharmacology; Effector mechanism