• Identification of the possible molecular mechanisms of Curcuma Longa for treatment of hepatitis B using systems pharmacology approach
  • Sedigheh Behrouzifar,1,* Hossein Gholami,2
    1. Research Center and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
    2. Department of biological sciences, Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University of Varamin, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Background: Nucleotide analogs are routinely used to treat hepatitis B in the clinic. Because of drug resistance and adverse effects of synthetic antivirals, herbal products have been recently considered as therapeutic alternatives of liver diseases caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). The present study aimed to explore targets, pathways and the possible molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals in “Curcuma Longa” using a systems pharmacology approach.
  • Methods: Methods: The bioactive compounds in Curcuma Longa were screened by oral bioavailability and drug-likeness. The validation of compound-target interaction was investigated using Pyrex software. In order to understand the complicated interactions between the active compounds in Curcuma Longa and their corresponding targets and pathways, visualized networks were constructed.
  • Results: Results: One, 2-Dihydrobis (De-O-Methyl)-Curcumin (C34, out-degree = 26) exhibited the most interactions with the targets. The compounds in Curcuma Longa targeted key modulators involved in inflammation and proliferation such as CDK1, CCR2, CXCR4, and TOP2A. Signal transduction (in-degree = 14), immune system (in-degree = 12), pathways in cancer (in-degree = 12) and hepatitis B (in-degree = 10) had the most connections with the targets. Moreover, pathways in cancer (in-degree = 32), G0 and early G1 events (in-degree = 29), regulation of TP53 expression (in-degree = 29) and eicosanoid synthesis (in-degree = 28) had the most connections with the compounds.
  • Conclusion: Conclusion: Applying Curcuma Longa as the alternative or combined with anti-HBV drugs might be a favorable therapeutic approach.
  • Keywords: Keywords: herbal medicine, synthetic antiviral, liver inflammation, proliferation.