〔Abstract〕 Objective To explore the mechanism of Prunella vulgaris and Scutellaria barbata herb pair against breast cancer based on network pharmacology and in vitro cell experiments. Methods The effective components and targets of Prunella vulgaris and Scutellaria barbata herb pair were screened.GeneCards and OMIM databases were used to find breast cancer targets, and then drug-active ingredient-key target network and protein-protein interaction(PPI) were constructed.R language was used to perform GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and survival analysis.Then the screened active components and core targets were verified by molecular docking.Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay.EdU and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis.The protein expression levels of p-AKT1,AKT1,β-catenin and c-MYC were detected by Western blot. Results Through databases analysis, a total of 36 active components and 105 intersection targets were screened out, the core components were quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, wogonin and baicalein.Through PPI and survival analysis, the key targets were AKT1,ESR1,CASP3 and MYC.GO analysis contained 4 303 enrichment results, KEGG analysis contained 232 pathways.Molecular docking showed that the core components had strong binding ability with the key targets.Cell experiments showed that the core active ingredient quercetin could inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells and promote their apoptosis(P<0.05),and down-regulate the expression levels of p-AKT1,β-catenin and c-MYC proteins(P<0.05). Conclusion The active components quercetin in Prunella vulgaris and Scutellaria barbata herb pair may play a role through AKT1/β-catenin signaling pathway, which provides a scientific reference for the study of its mechanism of action in the treatment of breast cancer.