A network pharmacology approach for identifying the potential antitumor mechanism of the Gancao （Licorice） for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-976X.2020.06.004

Abstract

Abstract: Objective Gancao（Licorice），a traditional Chinese herbal drug，has been extensively applied to treat diseases in clinical. However，the pharmacological mechanisms of Gancao in treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC）still remain equivocal. In this study，a network pharmacology?based methodology was used to elucidate its underlying mode of action. Methods We gathered candidate compounds and potential targets of Gancao based on TCMSP and potential targets of HCC relied on Gene? Cards and OMIM databases，and a Disease?Compound?Target network was built. Furthermore，A total of 93 effective compounds and 89 putative targets of Gancao were selected and GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were applied to investigate the molecular mechanism. Results The results indicated that potential targets of Gancao treating HCC are mostly involved in diversified pathways associated with Cancer ?related pathway，HBV pathway，HCV pathway，Apoptosis pathway，TNF pathway and MAPK pathway.Importantly，PPARG，AR，ESR2 and GSK3B exhibited higher interactive with other proteins and RAF1 participated in 8 signaling pathways related with liver diseases. EGFR and CCND1 took part in 6 cancer?related pathways while MYC and RB1 were active in 3 liver?related pathways. Conclusion In all，Gancao could attenuate HCC via regulating multiple molecules and pathways associated with proliferation，apop?tosis and inflammatory response.

Key words: Network pharmacology, HCC, Gancao

摘要： 目的甘草是传统的中草药之一,在肝脏等疾病的治疗得到广泛应用。但甘草治疗肝细胞癌（HCC）的药理机制仍不清楚。本研究基于网络药理学,阐明甘草潜在的抗肝癌作用。方法依据TCMSP和GeneCMS、OMIM数据库,获取甘草候选活性分子和潜在抗肝癌靶标,建立了疾病-靶标复合物网络。在甘草中挖掘出93种有效分子和89个靶标,GO和KEGG富集分析相关的分子机制。结果甘草治疗肝癌的潜在靶点主要涉及：癌症相关通路,HBV通路,HCV通路,细胞凋亡通路,TNF通路和MAPK通路等。PPARG,AR,ESR2和GSK3B与其他蛋白质的相互作用更密切;RAF1参与肝病相关的8条信号通路;EGFR和CCND1参与6种癌症相关途径。MYC和RB1参与3种肝脏相关途径。结论阐明甘草通过调节增殖、凋亡和炎症反应相关的多种分子及相关信号通路抑制肝癌。

关键词: 肝癌, 甘草, 网络药理学

CLC Number:

R735.7

MA Xiao-fei, WANG Xi-cheng, CHEN Jie, LI Wen-xin, CHEN Tao. A network pharmacology approach for identifying the potential antitumor mechanism of the Gancao （Licorice） for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. Lingnan Modern Clinics in Surgery, 2020, 20(06): 703-710.

马晓飞, 王喜城, 陈捷, 黎文信, 陈涛. 甘草治疗肝细胞癌的网络药理分析与潜在机制研究[J]. 岭南现代临床外科, 2020, 20(06): 703-710.

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