Study of the Anticancer Potential of Jabuticaba Anthocyanins Against Liver Cancer Through Network Pharmacology

• Grant number: 24/22248-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Miguel de Carvalho
• Grantee: Mateus Freitas de Farias Gomes
• Host Institution: Universidade São Francisco (USF). Campus Bragança Paulista. Bragança Paulista , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora), a fruit native to Brazil, contains bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential for treating various diseases. Among these compounds, flavonoids stand out, exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of anthocyanins, a subclass of flavonoids extracted from jabuticaba, in the treatment of liver cancer.To this end, network pharmacology and bioinformatics approaches will be employed to identify therapeutic targets and map the molecular interactions between anthocyanins and liver cancer-related pathways. The methodology includes a systematic review to identify anthocyanins and their genetic targets based on databases such as PubChem, Swiss Target Prediction, OMIM, PharmGKB, and GeneCards. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction networks will be analyzed using the STRING and Cytoscape platforms, and molecular docking simulations will be conducted using AutoDock.The expected outcomes aim to provide new therapeutic targets for liver cancer treatment and an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with the anticancer properties of anthocyanins.