ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the mechanism of Prunellae Spice in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on the network pharmacological method, in order to elaborate its scientific connotation. Method:The active ingredients and targets of Prunellae Spice were obtained through retrieval of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMSP), the disease-genome association database (DisGeNET) was searched to obtain the disease targets relating to non-small cell lung cancer, and the drug-component-disease-target network was constructed. The mechanism of action was analyzed. The key target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The gene ontology (GO) classification and enrichment analysis of key targets and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. Result:Totally 11 active ingredients and 178 targets were obtained from TCMSP, 2019 genes relating to non-small cell lung cancer were obtained from DisGeNET database, 114 key targets for Prunellae Spice to treat non-small cell lung cancer were obtained from drug-component-disease-target network, and 114 PPI networks were constructed, including 114 nodes and 1 952 edges. According to the analysis of PPI network, the key targets of Prunella vulgaris in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer included protein kinase B (Akt)1, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGFA), Caspase-3, interleukin(IL)-6, JUN, mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK)8, MYC, epithelial growth factor receptor(EGFR). The enrichment of KEGG involved 152 biological processes, including cell proliferation, cell division, cell apoptosis. KEGG enrichment involved 147 signaling pathways. phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, NF-kappa B pathway, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) pathway, p53 signaling pathway and EGFR signaling pathway played key roles in the occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer. Conclusion:This study preliminarily verified the basic pharmacological effect and mechanisms of Prunellae Spice on NSCLC, and laid a foundation for further exploring its mechanisms.