Integrating network pharmacology and pharmacological evaluation to reveal the therapeutic effects and potential mechanism of S-allylmercapto-N-acetylcysteine on acute respiratory distress syndrome

•Network pharmacology was applied to predict the targets and pathways of ASSNAC against ARDS.•The predicted candidate targets were validated by performing docking studies and in vivo experiments.•The ARDS induced by LPS in mice was ameliorated by a derivative of allicin ASSNAC.•The LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in mice could be alleviated by ASSNAC via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and activation of Nrf2.