Network Pharmacology-Based Identification of Potential Targets and Mechanisms of Isoginkgetin in Gastric Cancer

Isoginkgetin (ISO) is a natural flavonoid with potential anticancer effects. However, the anticancer mechanisms of ISO in gastric cancer remain insufficiently explored.

Network pharmacology, TCGA data analysis, and molecular docking were employed to identify potential ISO targets and their involvement in gastric cancer. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in gastric cancer were compared with ISO targets to find overlapping genes. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to determine key biological pathways. Cytoscape-MCODE was used to identify hub genes, and molecular docking assessed the binding stability between ISO and these hub genes.

A total of 107 potential ISO targets were identified, of which 66 overlapped with gastric cancer DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis indicated involvement in cell cycle regulation, cellular senescence, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Ten hub genes (GSK3B, TERT, CCNT1, CCNB3, CCNB2, CREB1, CCNA2, CCNB1, CDK1, and ESR1) were identified using Cytoscape-MCODE. Most genes were highly expressed in tumor tissues and positively correlated, with some significantly associated with patient survival. Molecular docking demonstrated stable binding between ISO and the hub genes.

In conclusion, this study systematically explored the molecular targets and potential mechanisms of ISO in gastric cancer, providing a preliminary theoretical basis for further research.