"Integrative Evaluation of Harpagophytum procumbens Root Extract for Anticancer Activity: A Network Pharmacology and In Vitro Approach"

Abstract

This study explores the anticancer efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Harpagophytum procumbens by integrating network pharmacology analysis with in vitro evaluation on prostate cancer cell lines. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of several bioactive groups such as phenols, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and glycosides. Through network pharmacology, rutin, harpagoside, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol were identified as the major active constituents, all demonstrating favorable drug-likeness properties.

ADMET analysis, molecular target prediction, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network mapping revealed vital cancer-associated targets including TP53, AKT1, VEGFA, EGFR, and MAPK1. Functional enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG) indicated that these compounds influence several critical pathways related to cancer progression, especially those governing apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and MAPK and PI3K–Akt signaling cascades.

Cytoscape-based interaction mapping showed that rutin interacts with multiple targets such as MAP2K1, AKT1, MMP2, SRC, and MAPK1, suggesting the extract’s multi-targeted therapeutic potential. Furthermore, results from the MTT assay demonstrated that the ethanolic extract displayed dose-dependent cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells, with potency comparable to that of the standard chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil.