Network pharmacology reveals hub bio-active ingredients and possible mechanisms of a Chinese herbal prescription Ru-kang-yin against breast cancer

Abstract

Background Ru-kang-yin (RKY), a traditional Chinese herbal prescription, has been clinically used as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer via inhibiting cell invasion, proliferation, and promoting apoptosis. However, its anti-breast cancer bio-active ingredients and possible mechanisms are still unclear. In the present study, the hub bio-active compounds and underlying mechanisms of RKY in treatment of breast cancer were systematically elucidated by the approach of network pharmacology. Methods By using network pharmacology approach, a total of 53 nonredundant bio-active components met the drug screening criteria and 155 putative targets of RKY in treatment of breast cancer were identified. Besides, 381 potential breast cancer-related targets were obtained. Among of the targets, 56 shared targets of RKY and breast cancer were acquired. Results Based on topological network analysis of PPI network of shared targets, 19 hub therapeutic targets of RKY against breast cancer were obtained. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of core therapeutic targets showed that the core targets remarkably involved in multiple biological functions and KEGG pathways which mainly participated in inflammatory response, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Conclusions These findings uncover the hub bio-active compounds and underlying mechanisms of RKY against breast cancer and provide crucial information regarding using RKY as a promising candidate for treating breast cancer.