An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation
<i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. has exhibited various pharmacological effects, yet its anticancer activities against colorectal cancer (CRC) and underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the anticancer properties of an ethanol extract of <i>C. sappan</...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/263 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832587665594122240 |
|---|---|
| author | Mibae Jeong Jaemoo Chun Sang-Min Park Heerim Yeo Se Won Na In Jin Ha Bonglee Kim Mi-Kyung Jeong |
| author_facet | Mibae Jeong Jaemoo Chun Sang-Min Park Heerim Yeo Se Won Na In Jin Ha Bonglee Kim Mi-Kyung Jeong |
| author_sort | Mibae Jeong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. has exhibited various pharmacological effects, yet its anticancer activities against colorectal cancer (CRC) and underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the anticancer properties of an ethanol extract of <i>C. sappan</i> L. (CSE) against CRC cells, focusing on the identification of bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action. A network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify potential CRC targets and bioactive compounds of CSE, using LC-MS for compound identification. The anticancer effects of CSE were then validated through in vitro and in vivo models of CRC. The network pharmacological approach identified 87 overlapping genes between CSE targets and CRC-related genes, with protein–protein interaction analysis highlighting 33 key target genes. CSE inhibited cell proliferation in human CRC cell lines, including HCT 116, KM12SM, HT-29, and COLO 205, and induced apoptosis via caspase 3/7 activation. Western blot analyses confirmed the modulation of critical signaling pathways, including STAT3, AKT, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Furthermore, CSE significantly suppressed tumor growth in MC38 CRC-bearing mice. These findings suggest that CSE possesses substantial potential as a natural anticancer agent for CRC treatment, highlighting the need for further exploration in therapeutic development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad75d65c642f44618becf42acc581079 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad75d65c642f44618becf42acc5810792025-01-24T13:46:59ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114226310.3390/plants14020263An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental ValidationMibae Jeong0Jaemoo Chun1Sang-Min Park2Heerim Yeo3Se Won Na4In Jin Ha5Bonglee Kim6Mi-Kyung Jeong7KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Republic of KoreaKM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Republic of KoreaCollege of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaCollege of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaKM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Republic of KoreaKorean Medicine Clinical Trial Center (K-CTC), Korean Medicine Hospital, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of KoreaKM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Republic of Korea<i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. has exhibited various pharmacological effects, yet its anticancer activities against colorectal cancer (CRC) and underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the anticancer properties of an ethanol extract of <i>C. sappan</i> L. (CSE) against CRC cells, focusing on the identification of bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action. A network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify potential CRC targets and bioactive compounds of CSE, using LC-MS for compound identification. The anticancer effects of CSE were then validated through in vitro and in vivo models of CRC. The network pharmacological approach identified 87 overlapping genes between CSE targets and CRC-related genes, with protein–protein interaction analysis highlighting 33 key target genes. CSE inhibited cell proliferation in human CRC cell lines, including HCT 116, KM12SM, HT-29, and COLO 205, and induced apoptosis via caspase 3/7 activation. Western blot analyses confirmed the modulation of critical signaling pathways, including STAT3, AKT, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Furthermore, CSE significantly suppressed tumor growth in MC38 CRC-bearing mice. These findings suggest that CSE possesses substantial potential as a natural anticancer agent for CRC treatment, highlighting the need for further exploration in therapeutic development.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/263<i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L.colorectal cancernetwork pharmacologyapoptosisMC38 tumor |
| spellingShingle | Mibae Jeong Jaemoo Chun Sang-Min Park Heerim Yeo Se Won Na In Jin Ha Bonglee Kim Mi-Kyung Jeong An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation Plants <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. colorectal cancer network pharmacology apoptosis MC38 tumor |
| title | An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation |
| title_full | An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation |
| title_fullStr | An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation |
| title_short | An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation |
| title_sort | investigation of the anticancer mechanism of i caesalpinia sappan i l extract against colorectal cancer by integrating a network pharmacological analysis and experimental validation |
| topic | <i>Caesalpinia sappan</i> L. colorectal cancer network pharmacology apoptosis MC38 tumor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/263 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mibaejeong aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT jaemoochun aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT sangminpark aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT heerimyeo aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT sewonna aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT injinha aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT bongleekim aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT mikyungjeong aninvestigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT mibaejeong investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT jaemoochun investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT sangminpark investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT heerimyeo investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT sewonna investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT injinha investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT bongleekim investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation AT mikyungjeong investigationoftheanticancermechanismoficaesalpiniasappanilextractagainstcolorectalcancerbyintegratinganetworkpharmacologicalanalysisandexperimentalvalidation |