EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS IN PANCREATIC ADENOCARCINOMA: A NETWORK PHARMACOLOGICAL APPROACH

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest tumors, has a low chance of survival because there aren't many effective therapies available. Pancreatic adenocarcinomas, the most common kind of pancreatic cancer, account for around 90% of cases. Currently available therapeutic options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy; however, these treatments typically have limited efficacy and substantial side effects. Therefore, its imperative to find alternate treatments that might provide pancreatic cancer patients with better outcomes. Research from the past has demonstrated that Tribulus terrestris has anticancer capabilities against several different forms of cancer including breast, colon, and prostate. However, the therapeutic potential of T. terrestris for pancreatic cancer has mainly remained unexplored. The present study's goal is to assess T. terrestris potential for treating pancreatic cancer. This study makes use of a range of computer methods to predict the effects of phytochemicals from fruits of T. terrestris on the molecular processes connected to the spread of pancreatic cancer. The work investigates the main objectives for developing precision medicine. By concentrating on the molecular pathways that lead to the development of cancer, the study's results demonstrate that T. terrestris greatly inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. T. terrestris was primarily shown to cause apoptosis and inhibit pancreatic cancer cells growth. These effects were achieved by downregulation of critical proteins that regulate cell growth and survival, including MMP9 and MAPK1. The study's findings imply that T. terrestris may be used in addition to other medications to treat pancreatic cancer. Natural supplements, such as T. terrestris, are a safe and effective alternative to conventional cancer treatments. The study also emphasizes how important it is to examine the possible use of natural substances to treat cancer from a molecular perspective.