In silico identification of borneol and cinnamaldehyde as potential dual-target modulators for respiratory viral co-infection

The traditional herbal Antipyretic Gel Plaster (TAGP) is a transdermal formulation effective against respiratory virus-induced fevers. This study employed a systematic computational workflow to elucidate its mechanism against COVID-19 and Influenza. Network pharmacology identified a multi-target regulatory network centered on inflammatory hubs, including IL-6, TNF-α, and AKT1. Molecular docking validated that Quercetin exhibited reliable binding affinity to TNF-α (−7.32 kcal/mol). Crucially, the volatile permeation enhancers Borneol and Cinnamaldehyde also exhibited moderate and pharmacologically relevant binding affinities to AKT1 and TNF-α. These findings suggest a synergistic mechanism where volatile oils act as both penetration enhancers and direct anti-inflammatory agents. This study provides a theoretical basis for the pharmaceutical development of TAGP.