Wang Z, Cui Q, Shi L, Zhang M, Song P, Duan D, Guo W. Network Pharmacology-Based Prediction and Verification of Shikonin for the mechanism treating colorectal cancer.
Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2021;
17:297-311. [PMID:
34951580 DOI:
10.2174/1574892817666211224142100]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Shikonin (SKN), a naturally occurring naphthoquinone, is a major active chemical component isolated from Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb Zucc, Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst, or Arnebia guttata Bunge, and commonly used to treat viral infection, inflammation, and cancer. However, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to explore the antitumor mechanism of SKN in colorectal cancer (CRC) through network pharmacology and cell experiments.
METHODS
Using SymMap database and Genecards to predict the potential targets of SKN and CRC, while the cotargets were obtained by Venn diagram. The cotargets were imported into website of String and DA DAVID, constructing the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, performing Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, the Compound-Target-Pathway (C-T-P) network was generated by connecting potential pathways with the corresponding targets.
RESULTS
According to the results of network pharmacological analysis, the cell experiments were used to verify the key signal pathway. The most relevant target of SKN for the treatment of CRC was PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. SKN inhibited CRC cells (HT29 and HCT116) proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis by targeting IL6 and inhibiting the IL6R/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. SKN promotes apoptosis and suppresses CRC cells (HT29 and HCT116) activity through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.
CONCLUSION
This research not only provides a theoretical and experimental basis for more in-depth studies but also offers an efficient method for the rational utilization of a series of Traditional Chinese medicines as anti-CRC drugs.
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