Network pharmacology based virtual screening of active constituents of Prunella vulgaris L. and the molecular mechanism against breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 25;10(1):15730. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72797-8.

Abstract

Prunella vulgaris L, a perennial herb widely used in Asia in the treatment of various diseases including cancer. In vitro studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effect of Prunella vulgaris L. against breast cancer through multiple pathways. However, the nature of the biological mechanisms remains unclear. In this study, a Network pharmacology based approach was used to explore active constituents and potential molecular mechanisms of Prunella vulgaris L. for the treatment of breast cancer. The methods adopted included active constituents prescreening, target prediction, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking experiments were used to further validate network pharmacology results. The predicted results showed that there were 19 active ingredients in Prunella vulgaris L. and 31 potential gene targets including AKT1, EGFR, MYC, and VEGFA. Further, analysis of the potential biological mechanisms of Prunella vulgaris L. against breast cancer was performed by investigating the relationship between the active constituents, target genes and pathways. Network analysis showed that Prunella vulgaris L. exerted a promising preventive effect on breast cancer by acting on tumor-associated signaling pathways. This provides a basis to understand the mechanism of the anti-breast cancer activity of Prunella vulgaris L.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Computer Simulation
  • ErbB Receptors / chemistry
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Prunella / chemistry*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / chemistry
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • MYC protein, human
  • Plant Extracts
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt