Abstract
Objective We systematically analyzed the mechanism of plant-derived drugs alleviating cancer pain in our hospital through network pharmacology, so as to provide the possibility of further application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of cancer pain. Methods We used TCMSP, ETCM, and TCMID databases to mine the active ingredients of plant-derived drugs. We combined OMIM, GeneCards, and DrugBank databases to mine and match the common targets of plant-derived drugs for cancer pain. We used the STRING platform and Cytoscape software to analyze and screen out the core targets. We used GO and KEGG methods to analyze the biological processes, molecular functions, cellular composition, and signaling pathways involved in the reduction of cancer pain by plant-derived drugs. Results We found 153 active ingredients from botanical drugs by TCMSP (Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, TCMSP), ETCM (The Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine), and TCMID (Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database) databases, covering 341 protein targets in human body. Combined with OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man), GeneCards, and DrugBank databases, we excavated and matched 141 targets of plant-derived drugs and cancerous pain diseases. Through the analysis of the STRING platform and Cytoscape software, 19 core targets including TNF, MAPK1, JUN, and IL-6 were screened out. Go and KEGG enrichment showed that plant-derived drugs alleviated cancer pain processes involving 193 biological processes, 47 molecular functions, 22 cell components, and 118 signaling pathways. By screening genes involved in KEGG signaling pathway, it was found that plant-derived drugs were mainly associated with PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and HIF-1 signaling pathway in alleviating cancer pain. Conclusion These results indicate that botanical drugs can positively affect the expression of inflammatory factors and apoptotic factors in the process of treatment and relief of cancer pain, which is expected to have a potential therapeutic effect on the relief of cancer pain.
Highlights
Cancer pain is a chronic pain with a unique and complex mechanism
All the active ingredients of 11 herbal medicines of botanical origin were searched by TCMSP, ETCM, and TCMID [19, 20]. e names of 11 traditional Chinese medicines, Astragalus membranaceus, Poria cocos, Honeysuicerae lonicerae, Radix Paeoniae lactiflora, Radix Bupleurum, Hedyotis diffusa, Scutellaria scleroides, Fructus Trichosanthis, Araceae aratidae, Radix Scutellariae, were input, and the main active components were further screened according to the oral availability (OB) ≥30% and drug-like properties (DL) ≥0.18
The effective chemical components and corresponding targets of plantderived drugs were obtained by TCMSP, ETCM, TCMID, and other databases
Summary
Cancer pain is a chronic pain with a unique and complex mechanism. At the early stage, cancer pain is mainly sensitized by primary afferent nerves caused by a series of paincausing substances released by tumor cells and inflammatory cells and continuously activated osteoclasts, while at the later stage, cancer pain is mainly caused by nerve compression and injury caused by tumor growth [1]. Cancerous pain is a kind of pain with areas in need of repair or adjustment after the information transmission to the nerve center of feeling, the clinical use of “three steps” analgesia method can partly control or relieve patients’ pain, but as the disease progresses, the tumor load increases, and the increase of the Journal of Healthcare Engineering analgesic drug resistance and adverse drug reactions are led to the decrease of the tolerance [3–5]. After the body is stimulated by the internal and external environment, pain-causing substances are generated and released from the tissues, pain receptors are sensitized, pain information is transmitted, sensory center perceives, and pain enters the consciousness stage, which leads to pain [6]. Western medicine is widely used in the treatment of various kinds of pain, which has the effect of addiction and tolerance, which limits the clinical application and reduces the therapeutic effect [8, 9]
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