Clinical Efficacy of Vaccaria segetalis Seeds and Gleditsia sinensis Lam Thorns on Prostate Cancer: A Preliminary Mechanism Analysis based on Network Pharmacology

Objective: The mechanism of Vaccaria segetalis (VS) seeds and Gleditsia sinensis Lam (GS) thorns in the treatment of prostate cancer (PC) was analyzed via network pharmacological analysis methods and molecular docking. Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database Platform (TCMSP) was used to screen the PC’s effective components and targets; GeneCards and OMIM databases to search for targets related to PC. The intersection target was uploaded to the STRING database to obtain a proteinprotein interaction (PPI) network; and the key targets were screened from the PPI network via R language, CytoNCA, and CytoHubba tools. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment tools were used to analyze biological processes and molecular docking of key targets via AutoDock Vina software. Results: A total of 13 compounds, 229 nodes, 879 edges, and 20 key targets were obtained through the PPI network. Go and KEGG analysis showed that the intersection targets of VS and GS with PC were mainly involved in regulating cell promotion, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, and reversing epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) processing. Molecular docking revealed that the relevant targets of potential PC were characterized with stabilized affinity. Specifically, the targets with better affinity included estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) with kaempferol, transcription factor p65 (RELA) with fisetin, kaempferol, quercetin, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) with fisetin, and G1/S-specific cyclin-D1 (CCND1) with fisetin, kaempferol, and quercetin. Conclusion: In summary, this study reveals potential molecular therapeutic mechanisms of VS and GS in PC and provides a reference for the wide application of VS and GS in the clinical management of PC.