Title:Mechanism Research of PZD Inhibiting Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation, Invasion,
and Migration based on Network Pharmacology
Volume: 30
Issue: 16
Author(s): Fan Feng*, Ping Hu, Lei Peng, Jun Chen and Xingkui Tao
Affiliation:
- School of Biological and Food Engineering, Suzhou University, Anhui 234000, China
- Anhui Longruntang Biotechnology Co., Ltd,
Anhui 234000, China
Keywords:
Network pharmacology, Pinellia ternata, lung cancer, traditional Chinese medicine, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, KEGG analysis.
Abstract:
Background: A classic Chinese medicine decoction, Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit.-Zingiber officinale
Roscoe (Ban-Xia and Sheng-Jiang in Chinese) decoction (PZD), has shown significant therapeutic
effects on lung cancer.
Objective: This study aimed to explore and elucidate the mechanism of action of PZD on lung cancer using
network pharmacology methods.
Methods: Active compounds were selected according to the ADME parameters recorded in the TCMSP database.
Potential pathways related to genes were identified through GO and KEGG analysis. The compoundtarget
network was constructed by using Cytoscape 3.7.1 software, and the core common targets were obtained
by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Batch molecular docking of small molecule compounds
and target proteins was carried out by using the AutoDock Vina program. Different concentrations of
PZD water extracts (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/mL) were used on lung cancer cells. Moreover, MTT and
Transwell experiments were conducted to validate the prominent therapeutic effects of PZD on lung cancer
cell H1299.
Results: A total of 381 components in PZD were screened, of which 16 were selected as bioactive compounds.
The compound-target network consisting of 16 compounds and 79 common core targets was constructed.
MTT experiment showed that the PZD extract could inhibit the cell proliferation of NCI-H1299
cells, and the IC50 was calculated as 97.34 ± 6.14 μg/mL. Transwell and wound-healing experiments showed
that the PZD could significantly decrease cell migration and invasion at concentrations of 80 and 160 μg/mL,
respectively. The in vitro experiments confirmed that PZD had significant therapeutic effects on lung cancer
cells, mainly through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Conclusion: PZD could inhibit the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NCI-H1299 cells partially
through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggested that PZD might be a potential treatment
strategy for lung cancer patients.
