A network pharmacology approach for investigating the multi-target mechanisms of Betanin in the treatment of Colon cancer (CC)

Abstract

Betanin, a natural pigment derived from beetroot, has demonstrated promising anticancer properties, particularly in colon cancer (CC). In this study, we employed a network pharmacology approach to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of betanin in CC treatment. Potential targets of betanin were identified through online databases and compared with CC-related genes to determine key overlapping targets. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and core hub targets were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses highlighted key biological processes and signaling pathways involved in CC treatment, such as apoptosis regulation, oxidative stress modulation, and inhibition of cell proliferation. Our findings suggest that betanin exerts anticancer effects by modulating critical molecular targets and signaling pathways, providing a basis for further experimental validation and therapeutic development.