Objective  To explore the prescription rules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using data mining and analysis methods, and to provide reference for screening core prescription.

Methods  The CNKI database, Wanfang database, and VIP database were searched using keywords to collect literature related to TCM prescriptions. The prescription data were organized and data mining was conducted using methods such as frequency analysis, percentage statistics, and association rules.

Results  A total of 306 TCM formulas were included in the treatment of NAFLD, and the most frequently used one in clinical practice was selected as Jiaoshanzha. In the theory of medicinal properties, among the four qi and five flavor herbs, cold and sweet herbs had the highest frequency of use, reaching 40.25% and 42.61% respectively; the proportion of drugs targeting the spleen meridian was the highest, reaching 44.67%. The most commonly used TCM pair with the highest frequency was the "Jiaoshanzha-Chenpi" pair (152 times), with a confidence level of 0.85. Five core structures were identified in TCM formulas. The molecular mechanism of TCM network pharmacology in treating NAFLD was mainly reflected in three aspects: lipid metabolism process, lipid peroxidation pathway, and inhibition of the inflammatory cytokine release process.

Conclusion  When treating NAFLD with TCM, the key prescription points are "strengthening the spleen, dispelling dampness, and promoting blood circulation", accompanied by medicinal flavors such as "clearing heat and soothing the liver". TCM can synergistically enhance efficacy in drug pairs and core formulations through the action of multi-component and multi-target, thereby achieving sustained regulation of multiple signaling pathways and targets.

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