In silico analysis and experimental validation to exhibit anti-nasopharyngeal carcinoma effects of plumbagin, an anti-cancer compound

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is publicly known as a malignant tumor. Our previous study reported that plumbagin exhibits potent anti-cancer actions. Nevertheless, more mechanical details of plumbagin against NPC remain unknown. The present study aimed to unmask the core targets/genes and anti-NPC mechanisms involved in the signaling pathways of plumbagin prior to biochemical validation.

Methods: A network pharmacology approach was employed to respective identification of mutual and core targets/genes in plumbagin and/treating NPC. Molecular docking determination was used to identify core target proteins for biochemical validation using human and cell line samples.

Results: In total, 60 anti-NPC genes of plumbagin were screened out, and then nine core target genes of plumbagin against NPC were identified accordingly. The enrichment findings revealed detailed biological functions and pharmacological pathways of plumbagin against NPC. Moreover, in silico analysis using molecular docking had determined the core targets for further experimental validation, comprising protein kinase B (AKT1) and sarcoma gene (SRC). In human sample validation, clinical NPC sections showed increased positive expression of AKT1 and SRC. Additionally, plumbagin-treated NPC cells resulted in inactivated protein expression of AKT1 and SRC.

Conclusion: The re-identified core targets/genes in the molecular docking report may function as plumbagin-related pharmacological targets for treating NPC via experimental validation. Furthermore, additional anti-NPC molecular mechanisms of plumbagin action were disclosed on the basis of enrichment findings. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.