Exploring the treatment of liver cancer with Gehua Hugan Gao based on bioinformatics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking

Gehua Hugan Gao (GHHGG) is a traditional Chinese medicine paste that is chiefly used to treat liver cancer. However, the potential impact of GHHGG on liver cancer remains unclear. We explored how GHHGG treats liver cancer using bioinformatics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Network pharmacology included GHHGG active ingredients, predicted targets, predicted targets for liver cancer, and differential gene collection. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database, and crucial targets were ranked according to their degree values. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses of liver cancer targets were followed by survival, differential analysis, and molecular docking. Venn diagrams show 123 predicted GHHGG targets for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Enrichment analysis showed that GHHGG treats HCC through multiple targets and pathways. We also found that estrogen receptor 1, cytochrome P450 3A4, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, type IIA topoisomerase, aurora kinase A, and cyclin E1 targets were closely associated with HCC development through survival and differential analyses. Molecular docking confirmed GHHGG’s strong affinity for liver cancer targets. This study helps us understand GHHGG ingredients and targets for liver cancer treatment. To a certain extent, the molecular mechanism of GHHGG in the treatment of liver cancer has been elucidated, thus providing a theoretical basis.