Exploration of Active Compounds and Potential Mechanisms of Ginseng Dripping Pills: An Integrated Study Utilizing UHPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap MS Analysis and Network Pharmacology

Abstract

Ginseng dripping pills (GDPs), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, are extensively used for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but their active components and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the chemical constituents of GDP and to explore their potential mechanisms in treating myocardial infarction (MI) and atherosclerosis (AS). Chemical profiling was performed using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q‐ExactiveTM hybrid quadrupole–Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap MS) and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS), leading to the identification of 113 compounds, and 13 blood‐absorbed components were identified, with ginsenosides identified as the predominant bioactive constituents. Network pharmacology was then used to predict the key therapeutic targets and associated signaling pathways, and a comprehensive “GDP–component–target–pathway” interaction network was constructed. 18 targets were identified as core targets of GDP in treating CVD. The main pathways involved included PI3K‐Akt, RAS, cAMP, Rap1, and calcium signaling. Molecular docking showed that 13 blood‐absorbed components of GDP, including ginsenoside Ro, ginsenoside Rs1 and ginsenoside Ra3, had strong binding affinities with MAPK3, MMP9, and PTGS2. These findings suggest that GDP may exert cardioprotective effects through a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mode of action, providing a scientific basis for its clinical application in CVD treatment.