Molecular Mechanisms of Phytochemicals from Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) Against Colorectal Cancer: Insights from Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Bioinformatics

This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals from Chaga mushroom (<i>Inonotus obliquus</i>) against colorectal cancer (CRC) using a combination of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and bioinformatics. Active components and targets of Chaga mushroom and CRC were collected from databases. A drug-compound-target-disease network was constructed, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was performed to identify core targets. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses were conducted to elucidate the involved pathways. Molecular docking estimated the binding affinities of key compounds to their targets, and bioinformatics analysis assessed differential gene expression and immune infiltration. The study identified 26 bioactive compounds and 244 potential targets. Core targets included AKT1, IFNG, and MMP9. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities, and bioinformatics analysis revealed significant differential expression and immune infiltration patterns. These findings suggest that Chaga mushroom phytochemicals may exert anticancer effects through multiple pathways, highlighting their potential as novel CRC treatments. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of Chaga mushroom phytochemicals on CRC. Future research should focus on experimental validation and further exploration of their therapeutic potential.