Evaluating the Potential Lung Cancer Benefits of Phytochemicals from Lablab purpureus: A Network Pharmacology Analysis

Abstract

Lung cancer, characterized by abnormal cell growth in lung tissues, is associated with various risk factors including smoking, environmental exposures, and genetic predispositions. Lablab purpureus, known as hyacinth bean, is valued in traditional medicine like Ayurveda for its significant therapeutic benefits, alongside its role as a versatile food and forage crop. This study thoroughly examined the multi-target therapeutic mechanisms of L. purpureus against lung cancer using network pharmacology. The phytochemicals of L. purpureus were obtained in a systematic way using the IMPPAT database. The SwissADME database was used to conduct a comprehensive absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) analysis. Potential targets associated with these phytochemicals were identified using the SwissTargetPrediction tool. Following that, the Open Targets Platform database was used to find possible targets linked to lung cancer. Using Venny 2.1.0, shared targets between lung cancer and L. purpureus were identified.  A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database, hub genes including PIK3CA, PIK3R1, EGFR, PIK3CB, PIK3CD, JAK2, PTPN11, KDR, SRC, and PTK2 were identified through analysis in Cytoscape 3.10.2. Both Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) studies were conducted to gain deeper insights into the biological roles involved. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted EGFR, JAK2, KDR, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, PIK3CD, PIK3R1, and SRCas pivotal due to their direct involvement in the proteoglycans in cancer pathway. Notably, essential phytochemicals such as quercetin, brassinolide, 2’-hydroxygenistein, gibberellin A4 from L. purpureus were found to target these crucial genes. This holistic approach underscores the potential of L. purpureus as a multi-target therapy for lung cancer, emphasizing the need for further experimental validation.