Potential mechanism of Camellia luteoflora against colon adenocarcinoma: An integration of network pharmacology and molecular docking

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Camellia luteoflora is a unique variety of Camellia in China which is only distributes in Chishui City, Guizhou Province and Luzhou City, Sichuan Province. Its dried leaves are used by local residents as tea to drink with light yellow and special aroma for health care. It has high potential economic medicinal value. Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is the third most frequent malignancy and its incidence and mortality is increasing. However, the current common treatments for COAD bring great side effects. In recent years, natural products and their various derivatives have shown significant potential to supplement conventional therapies and to reduce associated toxicity while improving efficacy. In order to overcome the limitations of traditional treatment methods, the global demand and development of natural anti-COAD drugs were increasingly hindered.

AIM

To investigate the potential targets and mechanisms of Camellia luteoflora anti-COAD.

METHODS

Nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry was used to identified the compounds of Camellia luteoflora. Network pharmacology analysis and survival analysis was used in this study to investigate the anti-COAD effect and mechanism of Camellia luteoflora.

RESULTS

Firstly, a total of 13 compounds were identified. Secondly, 10 active ingredients for 204 potential targets were screened and protein-protein interaction analysis showed that TP53, STAT3, ESR1, MAPK8, AKR1C3, RELA, CYP19A1, CYP1A1, JUN and CYP17A1 were hub targets. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that Camellia luteoflora exerted anti-COAD effect through multiple functions and pathways. Then, the analysis of survival and stage indicated that TP53 was highly expressed in COAD and the overall survival of high-TP53 and high-CYP19A1 COAD patients was significantly shorter than the low group and there was significant difference in MAPK and RELA expression between different stages. Finally, the molecular docking results demonstrated the binding affinities and sites between active ingredients and TP53, STAT3, ESR1.

CONCLUSION

Our study systematically demonstrated the potential anti-COAD mechanism of Camellia luteoflora and provided a theoretical basis for its further application in the COAD treatment.

Keywords: Camellia luteoflora; Tea; Colon adenocarcinoma; Natural product; Network pharmacology; Molecular docking

Core Tip: Camellia luteoflora is rare and only distributes in Chishui City, Guizhou Province and Luzhou City, Sichuan Province in China, which has high potential economic medicinal value. Natural products and their various derivatives have consistently played a crucial role in anti-tumor drug development. In this study, we aim to explore the active ingredients in Camellia luteoflora and comprehensively identify the pharmacological interaction network of Camellia luteoflora with colon adenocarcinoma.