Using network pharmacology integration to explore the anti-cervical cancer mechanism of <i>Solanum nigrum</i>

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a major cause of illness and death in women globally. More effective and safer chemotherapeutic treatments must be developed urgently to address this issue. The regulatory mechanisms of Solanum nigrum, a medicinal herb with potential for cervical cancer therapy, need to be studied. Network pharmacology on Solanum nigrum for cervical cancer is innovative in this field. This study investigates the targets and mechanism actions of S. nigrum on cervical cancer. Methods: This study utilized the network pharmacology approach, which was made up of the following steps: active component collection, target prediction, collection of genes associated with cervical cancer, network analysis, as well as gene and pathway enrichment analysis. Results: As revealed by the network analysis, S. nigrum comprised five active components, each targeting specific therapeutic aspects in the treatment of cervical cancer. These identified targets were PIK3CA, SRC, PIK3R1, JAK2, and ESR2. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that PI3K-AKT signaling was a potential target of S. nigrum against cervical cancer. Conclusion: The network pharmacology investigation into enriched genes and pathways indicates that the utilization of S. nigrum may be beneficial for individuals dealing with cervical cancer, as it can potentially influence pathways linked to PI3K-AKT signaling.