Dongguk University School of Korean Medicine Goyang, Kyonggi-do, Republic of Korea
Abstract Text: Justification: Network pharmacology is a powerful approach for evaluating the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of natural products. However, systematic assessments of its predictive potential remain limited.
Objectives: This study aims to systematically explore the therapeutic potential of natural products using network-based methodologies and validate their efficacy in oxidative stress-related disease models.
Methods: A comprehensive network was constructed by integrating data on bioactive compounds, protein targets, and disease associations. Various network-based approaches were assessed for predictive accuracy as well as the experimental validation.
Results: Our multiscale interaction-based approach outperformed other network-based methods in predicting therapeutic effects. Experimental validation confirmed that the selected natural product protected human cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction by activating key antioxidant signaling pathways.
Significance: This study provides a systematic framework for identifying and validating the therapeutic potential of natural products. The findings highlight the hepatoprotective effects of naturally occurring compounds and demonstrate the value of network-based approaches in phytopathology and drug discovery. This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (RS-2023–00218419 and RS-2024-00335030).
