Use of Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Explore the Mechanism of Action of Betulinic Acid in the Treatment of Alopecia

January 2026 in “ In Silico Research in Biomedicine ”

Shaziya Yasmeen Sayeed, Anju Goyal

betulinic acid alopecia Ziziphus spina-christi network pharmacology molecular docking POLB PARP1 XRCC1 LIG3 DNA repair pathways base excision repair NF-κB signaling apoptosis genomic stability oxidative damage hair follicle cells

TLDR Betulinic acid may help treat alopecia by stabilizing hair follicle cells.

This study explores the potential of betulinic acid, derived from Ziziphus spina-christi, in treating alopecia through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Betulinic acid was identified as a key candidate due to its overlap with alopecia-associated target genes. Protein-protein interaction analysis identified POLB, PARP1, XRCC1, and LIG3 as crucial genes in DNA repair pathways linked to alopecia. Enrichment analyses indicated involvement in base excision repair, NF-κB signaling, and apoptosis. Molecular docking showed stable binding of betulinic acid to PARP1, suggesting it may enhance genomic stability and reduce oxidative damage in hair follicle cells. The study supports further experimental validation of betulinic acid as a potential alopecia treatment.