Odontites vulgaris Moench: A Network Pharmacology Study on Potential Mechanisms in Treating Fever, Acute Hepatitis, and Acute Lung Injury

Odontites vulgaris Moench is a traditional Mongolian medicinal herb widely used for managing febrile disorders, acute hepatitis, and respiratory inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain largely unexplored. This study employed a network pharmacology strategy to systematically elucidate the bioactive components, molecular targets, and signaling pathways associated with the pharmacological effects of O. vulgaris. Active phytochemicals were retrieved from chemical databases and published literature, and their targets were predicted using SwissTargetPrediction. Disease-associated targets related to fever, acute hepatitis, and acute lung injury were collected from the OMIM and GeneCards databases. Common targets were identified by intersecting compound-and disease-related genes. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and analyzed, while Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to determine biological functions and pathways. Cytoscape 3.10.1 was used to visualize compound-target-pathway interactions. 19 bioactive components and 1127 targets were identified, of which 59 overlapped with disease-related targets. Network analysis highlighted key hub targets including ALB, AKT1, STAT3, MMP9, EGFR, SRC, and PTGS2. Functional enrichment revealed significant involvement in inflammatory regulation, oxidative stress modulation, and immune responses. KEGG analysis indicated that the pharmacological effects of O. vulgaris were primarily mediated via the PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, VEGF, and MAPK signaling pathways. The findings demonstrate that O. vulgaris exerts therapeutic activity through a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway mode of action. Key pathways include PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, VEGF, and MAPK signaling, suggesting mechanistic roles in anti-inflammation, hepatoprotection, and treating respiratory diseases.