Network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the potential molecular mechanism of chlorogenic acid treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a tumor type with a high mortality rate. Chlorogenic acid, abundant in resources and widely utilized in cancer treatments, has seen limited studies regarding its efficacy against OSCC. This paper investigates chlorogenic acid's mechanism in treating OSCC, aiming to guide the development of novel drugs. The study employed network pharmacology, molecular docking, and survival analysis methods. Network pharmacological analysis revealed chlorogenic acid targets 23 OSCC-related proteins, including ESR1, MMP2, MMP9, SRC, MAPK8, MAPK1, CDC42, ERBB2, ATM, and BRAF. Molecular docking simulations indicated that the primary target exhibits significant binding capacity with chlorogenic acid, with MMP9 associated with tumor migration and angiogenesis standing out. Survival analysis demonstrated that the downregulation of most primary targets correlates with improved survival rates in OSCC patients. Enrichment analysis of therapeutic targets highlighted the pivotal role of MAPK-ERK and MAPK-JNK signaling pathways in chlorogenic acid's efficacy against OSCC. This paper predicts chlorogenic acid's potential targets and proposes its molecular mechanism in treating OSCC, offering a theoretical foundation for its application in OSCC treatment. We used traditional Chinese medicine, a disease pharmacology-related information base, and an analysis platform to predict targets. The Cytoscape 3.9.1 and STING databases were used to address common targets for drugs and diseases, establish networks of protein interaction relationships, and screen core targets. Meastro11.5 was used for molecular docking simulation. R4.2.2 was used for survival analysis and joint target enrichment analysis. Network pharmacological analysis identified chlorogenic acid acting on 23 OSCC targets. Molecular docking simulations revealed a strong binding affinity of chlorogenic acid compounds with these targets, particularly MMP9, essential for tumor migration and angiogenesis. Survival analysis indicated that the downregulation of most core targets was correlated with improved OSCC patient survival. Enrichment analysis of therapeutic targets highlighted the critical roles of the MAPK-ERK and MAPK-JNK signaling pathways in the effectiveness of chlorogenic acid against OSCC. This study predicted the potential targets of chlorogenic acid in OSCC treatment and hypothesized its molecular mechanism, offering a theoretical foundation for its use in OSCC therapy.