Network Pharmacology Analysis Predicts that Borago Officinalis Constituents May Influence STING/TBK1/IRF3 Immune Signalling in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajmhc.v1i2.6726Keywords:
Borago Officinalis, Immunotherapy, Network Pharmacology, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Phytochemicals, STING/TBK1/IRF3 PathwayAbstract
Borago officinalis has been reported to contain numerous bioactive phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects; however, the ability of this herb to impact non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and immunotherapy-related pathways is not well understood. In the present study, a network pharmacology approach was employed to investigate the molecular pathways by which B. officinalis constituents regulate the cosmetology and immunobiology of NSCLC. A productive literature review enabled the discovery of major phytochemicals. Peer-reviewed studies were used to obtain validated molecular targets of each compound and compare them to NSCLC-related genes. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) in the context of these overlapping targets were assessed by mapping them using STRING and then subjecting them to Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis to determine functional and pathway connections. Four overlapping targets were identified, including EGFR, TBK1, IRF3, and KEAP1. The network of STRING PPI showed that there was an excellent interaction network, especially that of TBK1-IRF3, which indicated the pivotal role of the STING-mediated type I interferon pathway. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis revealed these areas of major activity to be cytosolic DNA sensing, Toll-like receptor interaction, regulation of oxidative stress, and oncogenic pathways associated with NSCLC. Borago officinalis phytochemicals can regulate major molecular events in NSCLC, such as EGFR-mediated oncogenesis, KEAP1-oxidative stress, and TBK1 / IRF3-based immune response. The findings present a mechanistic basis for future experimental research that uses B. officinalis in the evaluation as an adjunct to the use of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Zainab Mahdi, Zainab Dhia Kammas (Author)
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