Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40244518›Full record

ArticleDiscover oncology2025

Uncovering the anti-cancer mechanism of cucurbitacin D against colorectal cancer through network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Hae-In Lim, Ga Yoon Kim, Yu-Jeong Choi, Kangwook Lee, Seong-Gyu Ko

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Discover oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hae-In Lim *Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea. limhaein0521@naver.com.
Ga Yoon Kim *Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
Yu-Jeong ChoiCollege of Pharmacy, Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Kangwook LeeDepartment of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea.
Seong-Gyu KoDepartment of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea. epiko@khu.ac.kr.

Funding

Ministry of Education 2021R1I1A1A01040384Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea 2020R1A5A201941311
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a significant global health challenge due to chemoresistance, necessitating new treatments. Cucurbitacin D, with its anti-cancer properties, shows promise, but its effects on colorectal cancer are not well understood. We investigated the impact of cucurbitacin D on colorectal cancer cell lines using MTT assays and Annexin V/7-AAD staining followed by flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis. Public databases helped identify cucurbitacin D and colorectal cancer-related gene targets for network pharmacology analysis. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using STRING and analyzed in Cytoscape. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using ClueGo. Molecular docking studies were conducted via Autodock Vina and visualized in Discovery Studio. Western blot assessed protein expression changes in key targets under cucurbitacin D. Cucurbitacin D dose-dependently reduced colorectal cancer cell viability and induced apoptosis. Network pharmacology pinpointed crucial targets like STAT3, AKT1, CCND1, and CASP3. Molecular docking confirmed strong interactions with these targets. Enrichment analysis highlighted involvement in the 'PI3K-AKT,' 'JAK-STAT,' and 'ErbB' signaling pathways. These findings suggest cucurbitacin D as a potential anti-colorectal cancer agent, demonstrating significant effects on cell viability and apoptosis, and engaging critical cancer-related pathways, making it a promising candidate for further colorectal cancer therapeutic research.

Indexed as

Colorectal cancerCucurbitacin DGene ontologyKEGGMolecular dockingNetwork pharmacology

Identifiers

PMID40244518
PMCPMC12006582

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.