Construction and Analysis of Protein–Protein Interaction of Therapeutic Phytoconstituents of Garlic (Allium sativum) Targeting Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Protein

Abstract

Background: Advances in genomics and taxonomic literature reveal that lung cancer is a polygenic disease and expose the complexity of cancer-related genes and molecular mechanisms. Several chemically synthesized drugs are used in cancer treatment, but this is still a challenging task because of their lower efficacy and side effects. In recent years, phytochemicals have played a vital role in novel drug discovery; garlic was used in this study to treat lung cancer. This study aimed to determine the specific target, pharmacological, and molecular mechanisms of garlic phytoconstituents in lung cancer treatment. Methodology: Protein–protein interaction network and KEGG signaling pathway analysis of no small cell lung cancer and garlic phytoconstituents revealed that out of 68 targets of non-small cell lung cancer, 14 were targeted by garlic phytoconstituents. Results: Only 14 phytoconstituents of Allium sativum L. have regulatory effects on 14 targets of non-small cell lung cancer. Garlic phytoconstituents have an inhibitory effect on lung cancer progression by regulating highly enriched pathways in lung cancer, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance pathway. Conclusion: Some garlic phytoconstituents, such as allixin, ajoene, carvacrol, and some derivative of allicin have drug-like properties that target these targets and act by regulating different molecular pathways of cancer progression. The results of this study require further in vivo or experimental studies to confirm their value in lung cancer treatment and to identify the exact binding sites of the selected targets on which ligands can bind.