# Mechanism of total saponins of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. in treatment of breast cancer based on liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and network analysis

## TL;DR

This study explores how saponins from Ranunculus ternatus may treat breast cancer by affecting specific biological pathways and proteins.

## Contribution

The study identifies the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway as a potential target of RT saponins in breast cancer treatment.

## Key findings

- RT saponins inhibit JAK2 and STAT3-related proteins and mRNA in breast cancer.
- RT saponins reduce tumor growth, proliferation, and migration while promoting apoptosis.
- Serum inflammatory factors like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 are affected by RT saponins.

## Abstract

To explore the mechanism of total saponins of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. (RT) in the treatment of breast cancer (BC) using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology and network analysis.

The metabolites of RT were detected using LC-MS. Metabolites and targets of RT and BC were identified in different databases, and potential targets and pathways were predicted using protein–protein interaction network and pathway enrichment analyses. A mouse model of BC created by cellular injection and MCF-7 cells were used as research objects for in vivo and in vitro validation experiments to study the anti-BC mechanism of RT.

A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway might be associated with the anti-BC effects of RT. The in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that Total saponins from RT had a good anti-BC effect that can inhibit the expression of JAK2 and STAT3-related proteins and mRNA, affect the expression levels of serum inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10, inhibit tumor growth, proliferation, and migration, and promote tumor cell apoptosis.

Total saponins from RT may play a role in BC treatment by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Experimental flow chart.

Experimental flow chart.