AUTHOR=Chen Yangfeng , Xia Han , Zhong Xiaohong 

TITLE=In Vitro evaluation of the anti-pancreatic cancer activity of epimedium herb

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1389221

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1389221

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a particularly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. The search for innovative treatments has focused on traditional Chinese medicine, specifically <italic>epimedium</italic>. This research investigates <italic>epimedium</italic>’s active ingredients, potential targets, and underlying mechanisms in treating PC.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the active components of <italic>epimedium</italic> and HPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed for qualitative identification. Potential targets of <italic>epimedium</italic>’s active ingredients were identified using the TCMSP, ETCM, CTD, and Swiss Target Prediction databases. Potential PC-related targets were sourced from DisGeNET, GeneCards, and OMIM databases. A Venn diagram was utilized to identify overlapping PC-related and <italic>epimedium</italic> targets. Core targets and pathways were elucidated through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) assessments, and Reactome pathway enrichment analyses. Molecular docking techniques investigated interactions between active compounds and these targets. The expression and prognostic implications of target genes were evaluated using GEPIA2 and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases. <italic>In vitro</italic> studies assessed the impact of <italic>epimedium</italic> extract (EPE) on Panc-1 cell viability, and Western blot analysis examined the expression levels of key targets.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Network pharmacological indicate that <italic>epimedium</italic> econtains active components such as baohuoside I, icariin, hyperoside, and epimedin B, which have potential therapeutic effects against PC. <italic>In vitro</italic> assays confirmed that EPE significantly reduced the viability of Panc-1 cells. Western blot analysis revealed a considerable decrease in the expression of key targets in EPE-treated cells, including AKT1, EGFR, p-EGFR, JUN, BCL2, IL6, and SRC. The R-HSA-1280215: Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-13 signaling pathways involving these genes were identified as potential therapeutic targets.</p><p><bold>Discussion:</bold><italic>Epimedium</italic> holds promise as a candidate for treating PC. The modulation of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 signaling pathways could be a pivotal mechanism by which <italic>epimedium</italic> impedes tumor development. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the clinical applicability of <italic>epimedium</italic> in PC treatment.</p>