Exploring the Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Herbal Therapy in Gastric Cancer: A Comprehensive Network Pharmacology Study of the Tiao-Yuan-Tong-Wei decoction

Abstract

The use of herbal medicine as an adjuvant therapy in the management of gastric cancer has yielded encouraging outcomes, notably in enhancing overall survival rates and extending periods of disease remission. Additionally, herbal medicines have demonstrated potential anti-metastatic effects in gastric cancer. Despite these promising findings, there remains a significant gap in our understanding regarding the precise pharmacological mechanisms, the identification of specific herbal compounds, and their safety and efficacy profiles in the context of gastric cancer therapy. In addressing this knowledge deficit, the present study proposes a comprehensive exploratory analysis of the Tiao-Yuan-Tong-Wei decoction (TYTW), utilizing an integrative approach combining system pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. This investigation aims to elucidate the pharmacological actions of TYTW in gastric pathologies. It is hypothesized that the therapeutic efficacy of TYTW in counteracting gastric diseases stems from its ability to modulate key signaling pathways, thereby influencing PIK3CA activity and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. This modulation is observed predominantly in pathways such as PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and those directly associated with gastric cancer. Furthermore, the study explores how TYTW’s metabolites (agrimoniin, baicalin, corosolic acid, and luteolin) interact with molecular targets like AKT1, CASP3, ESR1, IL6, PIK3CA, and PTGS2, and their subsequent impact on these critical pathways and biological processes. Therefore, this study represents preliminary research on the anticancer molecular mechanism of TYTW by performing network pharmacology and providing theoretical evidence for further experimental investigations.