We observed that QFXYW exerted a protective effect against ALI in mice through the involvement of multiple hub genes (IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2, CXCL1, and MMP-9) and key pathways (cytokine-cytokine signalling pathway, TLR signalling pathway, and JAK-STAT signalling pathway), which provides a scientific basis for the elucidation of the pathological mechanism of ALI. Here, MMP9 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.