NETWORK PHARMACOLOGY-BASED INVESTIGATION OF CATECHIN, EPIGALLOCATECHIN, AND EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATE AGAINST BREAST AND LUNG CANCER

Abstract

Breast and lung cancers are complex diseases influenced by multiple factors, involving intricate molecular changes and disrupted signalling pathways. Catechin, epigallocatechin (EGC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are flavan-3-ols found in nature that have shown potential in cancer treatment. This study focused on identifying shared molecular targets of these catechins in breast and lung cancers using a network pharmacology method. Information on targets related to catechin, EGC, and EGCG was sourced from the SWISS target prediction, PubChem database, while genes linked to breast and lung cancers were gathered from GeneCards. Common targets were pinpointed using Venny 2.1, and protein–protein interactions were analyzed using the STRING database.. A total of 101 targets related to compounds were discovered, alongside 21,768 genes linked to breast cancer and 24,525 genes associated with lung cancer. Through Venny analysis, three shared targets were identified: sclerostin (SOST), transthyretin (TTR), and tyrosinase (TYR). STRING analysis revealed that these three proteins do not directly interact under the specified interaction conditions. The functional interpretation highlighted connections with Wnt/bone-related signaling, processes associated with transthyretin, tyrosine metabolism, and melanogenesis. In summary, the results imply that catechin, EGC, and EGCG might engage with various molecular targets linked to breast and lung cancer. These findings offer initial mechanistic insights into the potential anticancer effects of the selected catechins and suggest the need for further experimental validation.