2. Academic Validation
  3. Exploring the mechanism of baicalein on breast cancer based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and in vivo experiments

Exploring the mechanism of baicalein on breast cancer based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and in vivo experiments

  • Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2025 Mar 11:498:117297. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2025.117297.
Gaotao Zhang 1,  Zhiqin Liu 2,  Yuanzhuang Xu 3,  Fei Cao 4,  Xiaowei Huo 4,  Queting Chen 5,  Duqiang Luo 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China; College of Pharmaceutical Science, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Quality Control of Hebei Province, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
  • 2 College of Pharmaceutical Science, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Quality Control of Hebei Province, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China. Electronic address: liuzhiqin@hbu.edu.cn.
  • 3 School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
  • 4 College of Pharmaceutical Science, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Quality Control of Hebei Province, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
  • 5 Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding 071000, China. Electronic address: chenqueting@hbu.edu.cn.
  • 6 College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China. Electronic address: luoduqiang@hbu.edu.cn.
PMID: 40081541 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2025.117297
Abstract

Breast Cancer ranks among the most deadly gynecological cancers and presents a significant risk to women's health. Baicalein, a flavonoid extracted from Radix Scutellariae, has garnered significant interest due to its potential anti-cancer properties. However, further research is required to determine the precise anti-cancer mechanisms of baicalein. Hence, we investigated the anti-tumor properties and underlying mechanisms of baicalein in breast Cancer, utilizing both network pharmacology and experimental approaches. The effects of baicalein on cellular proliferation, the cell cycle, and Apoptosis were assessed through MTT assays, plate cloning, and flow cytometry techniques. Furthermore, network pharmacology was employed to identify the primary target and pathway associated with baicalein in the context of breast Cancer. The validation of these target and the elucidation of baicalein anti-breast Cancer mechanisms were carried out using Western blotting, qRT-PCR, molecular docking, CETSA assays, and IHC. Behavioral experiments were conducted to assess the physical changes and toxicity of baicalein in model mice. Our findings demonstrated that baicalein significantly reduced the growth of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, inhibited cell proliferation, induced G0/G1 phase arrest, and triggered Apoptosis. Notably, Src serves as a therapeutic target for baicalein, with the Hippo pathway identified as a crucial mechanism of action in this context. Intraperitoneal injection of baicalein has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit tumor growth, while concurrently ameliorating splenomegaly and enhancing the fatigue resistance of the model mice. The findings confirm that baicalein was a potential drug for the treatment of breast Cancer.

Keywords

Baicalein; Breast cancer; Hippo; Network pharmacology; SRC.

Figures
Products