Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pair

IntroductionThe Prunella vulgaris L. (PVL) and Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (TH) herb pair, which is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been applied for the treatment of breast cancer. Although its efficacy is validated, the synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinati...

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Main Authors: Chunlai Feng, Jiaxi Cheng, Mengqiu Sun, Chunxue Qiao, Qiuqi Feng, Naying Fang, Yingying Ge, Mengjie Rui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1522787/full
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author Chunlai Feng
Jiaxi Cheng
Mengqiu Sun
Chunxue Qiao
Qiuqi Feng
Naying Fang
Yingying Ge
Mengjie Rui
author_facet Chunlai Feng
Jiaxi Cheng
Mengqiu Sun
Chunxue Qiao
Qiuqi Feng
Naying Fang
Yingying Ge
Mengjie Rui
author_sort Chunlai Feng
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe Prunella vulgaris L. (PVL) and Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (TH) herb pair, which is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been applied for the treatment of breast cancer. Although its efficacy is validated, the synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations within this herb pair and their underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear.MethodsThis study aimed to identify and validate synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations within the PVL-TH pair using large-scale biomedical data, artificial intelligence and experimental methods. The first step was to investigate the anti-breast cancer effects of various PVL and TH extracts using in vitro cellular assays to identify the most effective superior extracts. These superior extracts were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis to identify their constituent compounds. A deep learning-based prediction model, DeepMDS, was applied to predict synergistic anti-breast cancer multi-compound combinations. These predicted combinations were experimentally validated for their anti-breast cancer effects at actual content ratios found in the extracts. Preliminary bioinformatics analyses were conducted to explore the mechanisms of action of these superior combinations. We also compared the anti-breast cancer effects of superior extracts from different geographical origins and analyzed the contents of compounds to assess their representation of the anti-tumor effect of the corresponding TCM.ResultsThe results revealed that LC-MS analysis identified 27 and 21 compounds in the superior extracts (50% ethanol extracts) of PVL and TH, respectively. Based on these compounds, DeepMDS model predicted synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations such as F973 (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, p-coumaric acid, and esculetin), T271 (chlorogenic acid, cichoric acid, and caffeic acid), and T1685 (chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, and scopoletin) from single PVL, single TH and PVL-TH herb pair, respectively. These combinations, at their actual concentrations in extracts, demonstrated superior anti-breast cancer activity compared to the corresponding extracts. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that these compounds could regulate tumor-related pathways synergistically, inhibiting tumor cell growth, inducing cell apoptosis, and blocking cell cycle progression. Furthermore, the concentration ratio and total content of compounds in F973 and T271 were closely associated with their anti-breast cancer effects in extracts from various geographical origins. The compound combination T1685 could represent the synergistic anti-breast cancer effects of the PVL-TH pair.DiscussionThis study provides insights into exploring the representative synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations within the complex TCM.
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spelling doaj-art-19e4d0f128a5475a82ed95489f4a6e472025-01-07T06:42:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-01-011510.3389/fphar.2024.15227871522787Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pairChunlai FengJiaxi ChengMengqiu SunChunxue QiaoQiuqi FengNaying FangYingying GeMengjie RuiIntroductionThe Prunella vulgaris L. (PVL) and Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (TH) herb pair, which is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been applied for the treatment of breast cancer. Although its efficacy is validated, the synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations within this herb pair and their underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear.MethodsThis study aimed to identify and validate synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations within the PVL-TH pair using large-scale biomedical data, artificial intelligence and experimental methods. The first step was to investigate the anti-breast cancer effects of various PVL and TH extracts using in vitro cellular assays to identify the most effective superior extracts. These superior extracts were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis to identify their constituent compounds. A deep learning-based prediction model, DeepMDS, was applied to predict synergistic anti-breast cancer multi-compound combinations. These predicted combinations were experimentally validated for their anti-breast cancer effects at actual content ratios found in the extracts. Preliminary bioinformatics analyses were conducted to explore the mechanisms of action of these superior combinations. We also compared the anti-breast cancer effects of superior extracts from different geographical origins and analyzed the contents of compounds to assess their representation of the anti-tumor effect of the corresponding TCM.ResultsThe results revealed that LC-MS analysis identified 27 and 21 compounds in the superior extracts (50% ethanol extracts) of PVL and TH, respectively. Based on these compounds, DeepMDS model predicted synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations such as F973 (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, p-coumaric acid, and esculetin), T271 (chlorogenic acid, cichoric acid, and caffeic acid), and T1685 (chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, and scopoletin) from single PVL, single TH and PVL-TH herb pair, respectively. These combinations, at their actual concentrations in extracts, demonstrated superior anti-breast cancer activity compared to the corresponding extracts. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that these compounds could regulate tumor-related pathways synergistically, inhibiting tumor cell growth, inducing cell apoptosis, and blocking cell cycle progression. Furthermore, the concentration ratio and total content of compounds in F973 and T271 were closely associated with their anti-breast cancer effects in extracts from various geographical origins. The compound combination T1685 could represent the synergistic anti-breast cancer effects of the PVL-TH pair.DiscussionThis study provides insights into exploring the representative synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations within the complex TCM.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1522787/fullartificial intelligencetraditional Chinese medicinebreast cancer treatmentsynergistic combinationPrunella vulgaris L.Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.
spellingShingle Chunlai Feng
Jiaxi Cheng
Mengqiu Sun
Chunxue Qiao
Qiuqi Feng
Naying Fang
Yingying Ge
Mengjie Rui
Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pair
Frontiers in Pharmacology
artificial intelligence
traditional Chinese medicine
breast cancer treatment
synergistic combination
Prunella vulgaris L.
Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.
title Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pair
title_full Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pair
title_fullStr Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pair
title_full_unstemmed Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pair
title_short Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-breast cancer compound combinations from Prunella vulgaris L.-Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. herb pair
title_sort artificial intelligence driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti breast cancer compound combinations from prunella vulgaris l taraxacum mongolicum hand mazz herb pair
topic artificial intelligence
traditional Chinese medicine
breast cancer treatment
synergistic combination
Prunella vulgaris L.
Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1522787/full
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