Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation Of Asiatic Acid And Catharanthine Reveals Multi-Target Mechanisms Against Breast Cancer

Network pharmacology has developed into a systems-based method that analyses the association between biologically active compounds and diverse biological targets. Unlike conventional single-target strategies, this method integrates computational tools to analyse complex drug-target relationships within biological networks, thereby supporting drug discovery and repositioning.One of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide is still breast cancer. The increasing drawbacks of conventional treatments, particularly their toxicity and adverse effects, have prompted the investigation of plant-derived compounds as potential therapeutic alternatives. In this regard, the present study employs a network pharmacology framework to evaluate the therapeutic potential of AA and Cath in BC.Potential targets of these chemicals were predicted using computer algorithms and publicly available data. We then filtered targets associated with breast cancer and generated compound-target and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. To better understand the molecular mechanisms, enrichment analyses were performed using the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO).The results suggest that AA and Cath exert therapeutic effects through multi-target interactions and modulation of key biological pathways. Overall, this study establishes a systematic foundation for understanding the pharmacological mechanisms of these phytoconstituents in BC.