Mechanistic exploration and experimental validation of the Xiaochaihu decoction for the treatment of breast cancer by network pharmacology

Abstract

Background: Xiaochaihu (XCH) decoction is a traditional Chinese prescription that has been recorded in the pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic of China. In China, the XCH decoction is used clinically to treat a variety of tumors, including breast cancer. However, its potential mechanism of action is still undefined.

Methods: The chemical compounds in the XCH decoction were identified via Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS. Then, we screened the active ingredients and targets in the XCH decoction from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Next, Cytoscape and Metascape were used to construct an active ingredient-target-disease network, which included a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, GO enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Finally, we used molecular docking and in vitro experiments to verify the results of network pharmacology analysis.

Results: More than 70 major compounds were identified by Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS analysis from the XCH decoction. A total of 162 active ingredients and 153 targets related to the XCH decoction and breast cancer were identified, and a compound-target-disease network was constructed. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the XCH decoction regulated the drug response, apoptosis process, cancer pathway, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking and experimental validation indicated that the XCH decoction suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Conclusions: This study suggested that the XCH decoction can be used to treat breast cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis and downregulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.