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

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