Title:Anti-tumor Mechanism of Camellia nitidissima Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking
Volume: 21
Issue: 13
Author(s): Jun Wang*Jingjing Cheng
Affiliation:
- Hubei Province Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
Keywords:
Camellia nitidissima, network pharmacology, molecular docking, anti-tumor, mechanism, target, pathway.
Abstract:
Background: Modern pharmacological research indicated that Camellia nitidissima (CAM)
had significant anti-tumor activity, but the investigation of its mechanism was still lacking.
Objective: The multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism of CAM against tumor was
investigated based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.
Methods: The active ingredients and targets of CAM were selected through a literature search, Traditional
Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and PharmMapper database, and tumor-related
targets were selected by GeneCards database, then to obtain the anti-tumor related targets of CAM. The
protein interaction relationship was obtained through STRING database, protein-protein interaction network
was constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, and enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG was
conducted. AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 software was used to verify the molecular docking between the key
ingredients and the key targets.
Results: Catechin, epicatechin and luteolin were identified as the key anti-tumor related ingredients, and
ESR1, EGFR, MAPK8, MAPK10, AR, PGR, F2 and PIK3CG were identified as the key targets. The GO
entries mainly involved metabolic process, cellular process, response to stimulus, organelle, cytosol, etc.
The KEGG enrichment showed that the key pathways included pathways in cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic
cancer, breast cancer, estrogen signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling
pathway, etc. KEGG pathway maps indicated that the anti-tumor effect of CAM may be mainly achieved
by intervening related targets in the following pathways: AR-HSP/AR-AR/PSA/proliferation and evading
apoptosis; F2/GPCR/…/ROCK/tissue invasion and metastasis; F2/GPCR/…/Raf/MAPK signaling pathway/
proliferation and sustained angiogenesis; EGFR/PI3K-Akt signaling pathway/proliferation, evading
apoptosis and sustained angiogenesis; EGFR/Grb2/…/Raf/MAPK signaling pathway/proliferation and
sustained angiogenesis; ER/Estrogen signaling pathway/proliferation; PR/PR-COR/Wnts-
RANKL/proliferation; oxidative stress (.O₂-, .OH, H₂O₂)/KEAP1/NRF2/.../proliferation and evading
apoptosis. The results of molecular docking showed that the key active ingredients had a good binding
activity with each key target.
Conclusion: It was predicted that the main active ingredients of CAM could bind to tumor-related targets,
such as receptor and coagulation-promoting factor, scavenge free radicals, and then interfere with the
occurrence and development of tumors.