Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Herbal agents used in traditional medicine — notably Curcuma longa (turmeric), Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) and Ocimum spp. (tulsi/basil) — contain bioactive phytochemicals that modulate signaling networks relevant to carcinogenesis. We performed an integrative network-pharmacology analysis (active compound collection → target prediction → PPI network → GO/KEGG enrichment) and surveyed published molecular-docking studies to evaluate mechanisms that underlie chemopreventive potential. Prominent phytochemicals (curcumin and analogues; withaferin A and other withanolides; eugenol, rosmarinic/ursolic-type compounds) mapped to cancer-related proteins and hubs including AKT1, TP53, EGFR, MAPK family members, NF-κB and VEGFA, and the enriched pathways included PI3K-AKT, MAPK, apoptosis and NF-κB signaling. Published docking and in-silico reports indicate favorable binding of these phytoconstituents to multiple oncogenic targets, supporting a multi-target chemopreventive hypothesis. We provide a reproducible docking protocol (AutoDock Vina) and recommend focused in-vitro validation of prioritized herb-compound–target pairs
Source: Journal of Carcinogenesis
Authors: Venkatesan Natarajan, Venkateswarlu Yadavalli, D. Thangamani, Sudhir S Hunge, Varsha Tekdas Shewate, Ramenani Hari Babu, Naveen Pathakala, J. Thipperudra
Language: English
Subfield: Computational Theory and Mathematics
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,500
OpenAlex ID: W4414154553