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Cancer

Gastric Cancer Study Uncovers Multi-Target Mechanisms of Spleen-Strengthening Herb Pairs

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study from Gansu University of Chinese Medicine has investigated the correlation between spleen-invigorating and dampness-removing herb pairs and gastric cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The research utilized network pharmacology, molecular docking, and dynamic simulations to identify active components and targets in the herb pairs, which were then validated through various biochemical analyses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study explored the effects of spleen-invigorating and dampness-removing herb pairs, including Poria Cocos (Schw.) Wolf with Polyporus Umbellatus (Pers.) Fr., Poria Cocos (Schw.) Wolf with Coicis Semen, Polyporus Umbellatus (Pers.) Fr. with Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, and Coicis Semen with Mume Fructus, on gastric cancer and its subtypes.
  • The researchers identified 15, 11, 9, 29, and 8 active components in the respective herbs, with common targets such as IL6, TNF, BCL2, and MMP9 recognized as potential key targets for gastric cancer treatment.
  • The study suggested that the pairing of herbs with both spleen-invigorating and dampness-removing properties may exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and pro-apoptotic effects by modulating signaling pathways through interactions with key targets.
  • The research concluded that there is therapeutic potential for gastric cancer treatment based on the identified mechanisms.

Statistics:

  • 15 active components were identified in Poria Cocos (Schw.) Wolf.
  • 11 active components were identified in Polyporus Umbellatus (Pers.) Fr.
  • 9 active components were identified in Coicis Semen.
  • The study identified 29 and 8 active components in the herb pairs (Poria Cocos (Schw.) Wolf with Polyporus Umbellatus (Pers.) Fr. and Coicis Semen with Mume Fructus, respectively).
  • The most significant correlation between gastric cancer patients' overall survival and their expression levels of TNF, MMP9, HIF1A, CASP3, AKT1, CCND1, ESR1, BCL2L1, MAPK1, TP53, MYC, and PTGS2 was observed.

Sources:

  • Network Pharmacology and Computational Validation Uncover the Multi-Target Mechanisms of Spleen-Strengthening and Dampness-resolving Herb pair against Gastric Cancer. Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine, 2025,16():100648.
  • Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Department of internal medicine, First School of clinical Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.

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