Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Selaginella Doederleinii Extract for Cervical Cancer Treatment Through Network Pharmacology and In Vitro Studies

The study investigates the potential of Selaginella doederleinii extract (EESD) as a co-chemotherapeutic agent for cervical cancer, focusing on its biflavonoids, amentoflavone and 2,3-dihydro-3,3-biapigenin, which target the STAT3 protein involved in cancer progression. EESD demonstrated moderate cytotoxicity against HeLa cells with an IC50 of 367.89 µg/ml, while doxorubicin showed stronger cytotoxicity with an IC50 of 2.45 µg/ml. The combination of EESD and doxorubicin exhibited varying interactions, from weak synergistic to strong antagonistic effects, suggesting potential for combination therapy. The study identified five core protein targets and highlighted the need for further research to optimize dosing strategies and assess safety.