ABSTRACT
To investigate the pharmacological mechanism of Wisteria sinensis tumor in the treatment of gastric cancer, using a network pharmacology and molecular docking approach, with verification of the results by experiments. Methods The main active components and corresponding targets of Wisteria sinensis tumor monocytogenes, as well as the disease targets of gastric cancer, were obtained through the network pharmacology database. The Venny 2.1.0 platform was used to take the intersection of drug and disease. The String database was used to construct target protein interaction(PPI)network for common targets, and Metascape database was used to analyze GO function enrichment KEGG pathway enrichment of related targets. The interactive network of "component-target-pathway" of Wisteria sinensis tumor on gastric cancer was constructed by Cytoscape3.7.2 software. The molecular docking of the key targets and active compunds was carried out by using Autodock Vina software. The effect of Wisteria sinensis tumor on gastric cancer was verified by in vitro cell tests. Results A total of 8 main active components, 290 drug targets and 251 gastric cancer-related targets were screened out. A total of 19 targets intersected between with drug and diseases. Seven pathways were involved in the treatment of gastric cancer by Wisteria sinensis tumor. The results of molecular docking showed that the main active components of Wisteria sinensis tumor had good binding ability with the key targets of gastric cancer. The results of in vitro experiments confirmed that, the formononetin from Wisteria sinensis tumor had certain activity on gastric cancer cells, and the formononetin could also induce apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells and increase the level of intracellular calcium ion. Conclusions This study preliminarily reveals the potential components and regulatory network of Wisteria sinensis tumor monocytogenes acting on gastric cancer clarified that Wisteria sinensis tumor monocytogenes has antitumor effect, and may be related to inducing apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, and it provides references for the future research and clinical application.