Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential pharmacological value of Lonicera japonica flos extract in treating mild COVID-19, and to provide a new idea of TCM prevention and treatment for mild COVID-19. Methods TCMSP database was used to screen out the active components and action targets of honeysuckle. SwissADME and pkCSM databases were used to predict pharmacokinetics of constituents.The GEO database collected transcriptional sequencing data for mild COVID-19. Data quality control, DEGs identification and enrichment analysis were realized by R tool. STRING and Cytoscape constructed protein interaction networks and screened core DEGs using cytoHubba. Molecular docking was performed using PyMOL software. Results The 7 active ingredients of Honeysuckle had good oral absorption and utilization and drug-like characteristics.There were three targets associated with mild COVID-19: COL20A1, NOS2, and DUOX2. There were 5 common enrichment pathways, including peroxides metabolism, reactive oxygen biosynthesis and metabolism, heme, tetrapyrrole binding and so on. Conclusion Honeysuckle had the characteristics of multi-target and multi-pathway action in the treatment of mild COVID-19. The possible mechanism of action was to intervene in mild COVID-19 by regulating reactive oxygen species and heme related processes during the development of mild COVID-19 through NOS2 and DUOX2 expression.

Key words: Honeysuckle, Reactive oxygen species, Heme oxygenase 1, Nitric oxide synthase 2, Dual oxidase 2, Mild corona virus disease 2019