Exploring molecular targets: herbal isolates in cervical cancer therapy

Abstract

Abstract Objective Cervical cancer (CxCa) stands as a significant global health challenge, ranking fourth in cancer-related mortality among the female population. While chemotherapy regimens have demonstrated incremental progress in extending overall survival, the outlook for recurrent CxCa patients remains disheartening. An imperative necessity arises to delve into innovative therapeutic avenues, with molecular targeted therapy emerging as a promising candidate. Previous investigations have shed light on the therapeutic effectiveness of five distinct herbal compounds, epicatechin, curcumin, myricetin, jatrorrhizine, and arborinine, within the context of CxCa. Methods A systems biology approach was employed to discern differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CxCa tissues relative to healthy cervical epithelial tissues. A protein–protein interaction network (PPIN) was constructed, anchored in the genes related to CxCa. The central genes were discerned within the PPIN, and Kaplan–Meier survival curves explored their prognostic significance. An assessment of the binding affinity of the selected herbal compounds to the master regulator of prognostic markers in CxCa was conducted. Results A significant correlation between the overexpression of MYC, IL6, JUN, RRM2, and VEGFA and an adverse prognosis in CxCa was indicated. The regulation of these markers is notably influenced by the transcription factor CEBPD. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the binding affinity between myricetin and the CEBPD DNA binding site was robust. Conclusion The findings presented herein have unveiled pivotal genes and pathways that play a central role in the malignant transformation of CxCa. CEBPD has emerged as a potential target for harnessing the therapeutic potential of myricetin in this context.