# Integrated Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Uncover Multi-Target Actions of Cladophora glomerata–Derived Compounds Against Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

## TL;DR

This study explores how compounds from the seaweed Cladophora glomerata may treat COPD by targeting multiple genes and proteins linked to the disease.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel integration of network pharmacology and molecular docking to identify multi-target effects of marine-derived compounds in COPD.

## Key findings

- Nine common genes were identified, with TP53, CASP8, and EGFR as central targets for COPD treatment.
- Quinoline and 1,2,4-Oxadiazole compounds showed strong binding affinities to TP53 and EGFR.
- Functional analysis revealed strong interactions and co-expression among key COPD-related genes.

## Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a complex inflammatory lung condition characterized by oxidative stress, changes in airway structure, and gradually worsening airflow blockage. Existing treatments offer only symptomatic management, emphasizing the need for multi-target therapeutic interventions. This study employed a combined approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking to investigate the therapeutic effects of bioactive compounds derived from Cladophora glomerata on COPD. Disease-associated genes were collected from GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), while compounds from C. glomerata and their predicted molecular targets were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction. A cross-comparison of targets related to compounds and diseases revealed nine common genes, among which three central genes TP53, CASP8, and EGFR were identified using protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Analysis of gene–disease interactions highlighted Tumor Protein p53 (TP53) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) as major regulatory targets. GeneMANIA-based functional and co-expression analysis revealed predominant physical interactions (77.64%) and co-expression relationships (8.01%), highlighting strong functional connectivity among the identified genes. Molecular docking further confirmed that C. glomerata derived compounds, particularly Quinoline, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-((2-phenylcyclopropyl)sulfonyl)-, trans- (Pubchem ID: 91709903) (−7.5 kcal/mol) and1,2,4-Oxadiazole, 3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-5-[(4-iodo-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl]- (Pubchem ID: 5301194) (−7.3 kcal/mol), exhibit favorable predicted binding affinities toward EGFR and TP53 in molecular docking analysis. Overall, these insights suggest that Cladophora glomerata compounds may modulate key COPD-related pathways through multi-target interactions, providing a scientific basis for future experimental studies and the development of marine-derived therapeutic agents for COPD management.