A Multidimensional Study Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine and Network Pharmacology: Exploring the Skin Repair and Anti-Aging Effects of a Specific Combination of Five-Colored Plants

The study investigates the skin repair and anti-aging effects of a combination of five-colored plants—mung bean, white truffle, black truffle, chrysanthemum, and Lycium barbarum—using Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and network pharmacology. It identifies 27 core components and 636 targets involved in these effects. In vitro experiments show that at a 0.5% concentration, the plant combination improves fibroblast wound healing by 59.89% and reduces cellular aging markers by 76.32%. Ex vivo skin models reveal increased epidermal thickness and collagen content. The study concludes that this plant combination effectively repairs skin and delays aging, supporting TCM theories and suggesting potential for cosmetic applications.