Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40265434›Full record

ArticleCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening2026

The Mechanism of

Michen Deng, Yanhong Deng, Zugui Tang, Wenqiang Nie, Yi Lu, Xicheng Wang, Zhe Wang, Yi Kong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Michen DengDepartment of Oncology, JingMen People's Hospital, Jingmen 448000 Hubei, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4685-9614
Yanhong DengDepartment of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1567-4158
Zugui TangDepartment of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, China.ORCID 0009-0009-0762-2447
Wenqiang NieDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, China.ORCID 0009-0000-7995-9676
Yi LuGuangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.ORCID 0009-0005-5886-5677
Xicheng WangDepartment of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, China.ORCID 0000-0002-8747-1387
Zhe WangDepartment of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4220-5103
Yi KongDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT), Shenzhen 518107, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8205-339X

Funding

Guangzhou Science and Technology Program key projects 202103000041
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionEsophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) remains a significant global health challenge, underscoring the urgent need for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. Ranunculus ternatus Thunb., a traditional herb, exhibits potential anticancer properties, but its mechanisms against ESCC remain poorly understood. This study integrates network pharmacology and experimental validation to explore the therapeutic effects of ethyl acetate extract of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. (RTE).

methodsPotential targets of RTE and ESCC were screened using public databases. A Protein- Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify key targets, followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The predicted mechanisms were validated using in vitro assays, including cell proliferation analysis and western blot assay in ESCC cell lines.

resultsNetwork pharmacology analysis identified 274 potential targets, with 14 key genes implicated in the therapeutic effects of RTE. GO analysis revealed significant involvement in the inflammatory response and apoptotic signaling pathways. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted the MAPK, Relaxin, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways as critical mechanisms. In vitro experiments demonstrated that RTE significantly inhibited the proliferation of EC-109 and TE-13 cells by modulating the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways. DISCUSSION: The study reveals that active compounds of RTE target MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, aligning with prior evidence. However, future studies should explore animal models to confirm efficacy.

conclusionThis study provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of RTE against ESCC. These findings underscore the potential of RTE as a promising natural compound for ESCC treatment.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Agents, PhytogenicEsophageal NeoplasmsEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaNetwork PharmacologyPlant ExtractsRanunculusApoptosisCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationDose-Response Relationship, DrugDrug Screening Assays, AntitumorHumansSignal TransductionAntineoplastic Agents, PhytogenicPlant Extractsesophageal cancerEsophageal squamous cell carcinomanetwork pharmacologyPI3K/Akt signaling pathwaysRanunculus ternatus Thunb

Identifiers

PMID40265434
PMCPMC13673438

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.