Scutellaria baicalensis in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Network Pharmacology Analysis and Experimental Validation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to use a network pharmacological method and experimental validation to examine the mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP) and GeneCards were used for screening of targets of SB for the treatment of HCC. Cytoscape (3.7.2) software was used to construct the “drug-compound-intersection target interaction” interaction network. The STING database was used to analyze the interactions of the previous intersecting targets. The results were visualized and processed by performing GO (Gene Ontology) enrichment analysis and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) signaling pathway enrichment analysis at the target sites. The core targets were docked with the active components by AutoDockTools-1.5.6 software. We used cellular experiments to validate the bioinformatics predictions. RESULTS: A total of 92 chemical components and 3258 disease targets including 53 intersecting targets were discovered. The results showed that wogonin and baicalein, the main chemical components of SB, could inhibit the viability and proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, promote apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and effectively act on AKT1, RELA, and JUN targets. CONCLUSION: SB has multiple components and targets in the treatment of HCC, providing possible potential targets for the treatment of HCC and providing a basis for further research.