Integrative Evaluation of Harpagophytum procumbens Root Extract for Anticancer Activity: A Network Pharmacology and In Vitro Approach

Abstract

This study explores the anticancer efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Harpagophytum procumbens by integrating network pharmacology analysis with in vitro evaluation on prostate cancer cell lines. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of several bioactive groups such as phenols, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and glycosides. Through network pharmacology, rutin, harpagoside, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol were identified as the major active constituents, all demonstrating favorable drug-likeness properties. ADMET analysis, molecular target prediction, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network mapping revealed vital cancer-associated targets including TP53, AKT1, VEGFA, EGFR, and MAPK1. Functional enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG) indicated that these compounds influence several critical pathways related to cancer progression, especially those governing apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and MAPK and PI3K–Akt signaling cascades. Cytoscape-based interaction mapping revealed that rutin interacts with several targets, including MAP2K1, AKT1, MMP2, SRC, and MAPK1, indicating the multi-target therapeutic potential of the extract. Additionally, the MTT assay results showed that the ethanolic extract exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells, with an effect comparable to the standard chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil.