Objective To elucidate the formulation patterns and health functions of health products containing Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) and explore the underlying mechanisms via data mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking technologies. Methods Health products containing Dioscoreae Rhizoma were retrieved from the State Administration for Market Regulation and Yaozhi websites. Frequency analysis and Apriori algorithm-based association rule mining were implemented in R language. The TCMSP, HERB, HIT 2.0, ETCM 2.0, and TCMID databases were used to search for the active components of Dioscoreae Rhizoma, and the PubChem and SwissTargetPrediction databases were utilized to predict the targets. Then, potential targets associated with high-frequency health functions were obtained from GeneCards, TTD, DrugBank, OMIM, and PathCards databases. Functional enrichment analysis was subsequently performed using the DAVID database. Finally, molecular docking of representative Dioscoreae Rhizoma constituents with core targets was conducted using AutoDock Vina, followed by diagnostic evaluation via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis based on GEO chip data. Results A total of 471 Dioscoreae Rhizoma-containing health products were included, dominated by capsules in formulation and targeting immune enhancement as the main health function. The formulas involved 216 types of Chinese medicinal materials, predominantly tonifying, warm in nature, sweet in taste, and attributed to the liver meridian. Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus)-Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Fuling (Poria)-Dioscoreae Rhizoma as the core medicinal ingredients. Network pharmacology analysis identified 294 active components and 892 related target genes from Dioscoreae Rhizoma, alongside 2 360 potential targets associated with the high-frequency health function of immune enhancement. Then, PPI topological analysis identified five core targets [signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), protein kinase B1 (AKT1), interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)]. Enrichment analysis suggested that cancer pathway, cell apoptosis, TNF signaling pathway and chemokine signaling pathway were the key pathways for Dioscoreae Rhizoma and its compatibility to enhance immunity. Molecular docking revealed good binding affinity of core targets with characteristic components of Dioscoreae Rhizoma, notably, allantoin, dioscin, and diosgenin, with ROC analysis further confirming the diagnostic potency of EGFR. Conclusion This study identified “Dioscoreae Rhizoma-Lycii Fructus” as the core herb pair with the highest support degree in the formulation patterns of Dioscoreae Rhizoma-containing health products. The combination of Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus, and Poria may take EGFR and AKT1 as core targets and exert an immune-enhancing effect by regulating the apoptosis process and inflammatory response in people with low immunity.

medicine food homology  /  Dioscoreae Rhizoma  /  health product  /  enhancing immunity  /  data mining  /  network pharmacology  /  Lycii Fructus  /  Poria  /  allantoin  /  diosgenin