Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation of a Traditional Thai Longevity Formula for Anti-Aging Potential
Keywords:
Anti-aging, Traditional Thai Medicine, Gene Ontology, Pathway Enrichment Analysis, Protein-protein Interaction (PPI)Abstract
Aging, considered by a progressive decline in physiological function, is a main contributor to disease and mortality. As a result, the study of anti-aging interventions remains a significant area of scientific investigation. Herbal formulations, particularly plant extracts, represent a promising avenue for modifying the aging development. This study investigates the anti-aging potential of a traditional Thai longevity formula, composed of Boesenbergia rotunda, Curcuma zedoaria, Piper nigrum, Amomum krervanh, and Acorus calamus, using a bioinformatics-based approach to elucidate its molecular mechanisms and pathways. The bioactive compounds in this formula extract were identified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). These compounds were subjected to in silico analysis, including target prediction via the SwissTargetPrediction database. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and the ShinyGO 0.80 platform, while pathway visualization and mapping were performed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Additionally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was carried out using the STITCH database. The analysis revealed that the bioactive compounds in the extract are associated with multiple key pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis, cancer-related signaling, cell survival and apoptosis, metabolic regulation, stress response, immune function, antioxidant defense, and pathways related to aging and longevity. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the potential anti-aging effects of this traditional herbal formula. The results support the hypothesis that the bioactive compounds target multiple longevity-associated pathways, positioning this formulation as a promising candidate for further investigation as a natural anti-aging therapeutic agent.
