Objective:

To systematically analyze the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating neonatal pneumonia (NP), identify core active components, and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, highlighting the significance of TCM in NP treatment.

Key Findings:

• The TCM bath composed of Perilla frutescens, Radix Bupleuri, Mentha haplocalyx, and Schizonepeta tenuifolia showed significant clinical efficacy, suggesting a multi-targeted approach to NP treatment.
• Six hub genes, including MAPK1, were identified, indicating involvement in inflammatory and immune pathways, which may guide future therapeutic strategies.
• Naringenin demonstrated strong binding affinity to MAPK1 and enhanced cell viability while suppressing inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent.

Interpretation:

Naringenin exerts therapeutic effects on NP partly by targeting MAPK1 and regulating inflammatory signaling pathways.

Limitations:

• Most studies focused on single herbs or formulas without identifying specific active components, which limits the understanding of their efficacy.
• Lack of robust experimental validation and clinical evidence in existing studies, highlighting the need for more comprehensive research.

Conclusion:

The study provides novel theoretical and experimental evidence for the clinical application of TCM in NP, emphasizing the importance of integrating TCM into standard treatment protocols.