Juglone targets MMP-1 to inhibit gastric cancer progression

The incidence of gastric cancer is increasing annually, and some patients already develop distant metastases by the time of diagnosis. The issues of drug resistance and significant side effects of chemotherapy lead to poor prognosis and pose challenges for clinical treatment. Therefore, developing new therapies for gastric cancer is crucial. Due to their significant anticancer activity, natural products have garnered considerable attention. This study integrates bioinformatics analysis, cellular experiments, and animal models to investigate the inhibitory effects of Juglone on gastric cancer cells and their underlying molecular mechanisms. The results demonstrate that Juglone significantly inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. It also induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, while exhibiting minimal toxicity to gastric mucosal cells and major organs in mice. Additionally, Juglone inhibits gastric cancer cell proliferation by disrupting the glycolytic pathway, and it enhances the sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to cisplatin chemotherapy. In summary, our research indicates that Juglone exhibits potent anti-gastric cancer effects and enhances sensitivity to cisplatin. This research elucidates the potential functions and mechanisms of Juglone in gastric cancer treatment, aiming to inform the development of new clinical drugs and provide a scientific basis for the exploration of natural products.