Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Perspectives on Quercetin from Moringa Oleifera in Cancer Therapy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/3hrfz162Keywords:
Quercetin; Moringa oleifera; network pharmacology; bioinformatics; cancer therapy; molecular docking; molecular dynamics; tumor microenvironment; immunomodulation; precision oncologyAbstract
Background: Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonol present in Moringa oleifera and several dietary plant sources and has attracted considerable interest because of its reported multitarget anticancer activity. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics provide systems-level approaches for interpreting the diverse molecular pathways potentially influenced by quercetin and for prioritizing cancer-associated targets for experimental investigation. Objective: This integrative narrative review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics of quercetin in the context of Moringa oleifera, evaluate published network-pharmacology and bioinformatics findings concerning its cancer-associated targets and pathways, and examine its potential roles in tumor biology, combination therapy, and translational oncology. Methods: Published evidence was synthesized across predefined thematic domains, including quercetin phytochemistry and pharmacology, network pharmacology, protein–protein interaction networks, functional and pathway-enrichment analyses, molecular docking and molecular-dynamics studies, cancer-specific mechanisms, tumor-microenvironment modulation, combination-treatment strategies, pharmacokinetic limitations, formulation approaches, and translational challenges. Computational findings were interpreted separately from biochemical, cellular, animal, and clinical evidence, and studies of purified quercetin were distinguished from investigations involving multicomponent M. oleifera preparations. Results: Across the reviewed literature, quercetin-associated targets repeatedly converged on pathways regulating proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative and inflammatory signaling, angiogenesis, metastatic behavior, and treatment resistance. Network-based studies frequently identified cancer-associated proteins including TP53, AKT1, VEGFA, CCND1, and regulators of cell-cycle and survival signaling as highly connected candidate nodes. Reported cancer-related pathways included PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, p53, hormone-receptor, and EGFR-associated signaling. Preclinical evidence further suggested potential effects on tumor-associated macrophages, cytokine signaling, efferocytosis, and PD-1/PD-L1-related mechanisms. Molecular docking and molecular-dynamics studies provided structural hypotheses for several quercetin–protein interactions, while combination studies described potential enhancement of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immune-checkpoint approaches. However, the strength of evidence varied substantially across computational, experimental, and translational levels. Conclusion: Quercetin represents a biologically plausible multitarget anticancer candidate with potential relevance to several interconnected cancer-associated pathways. Nevertheless, computational predictions and preclinical findings do not establish clinical efficacy. Translation remains limited by formulation-dependent bioavailability, extensive metabolism, variability among M. oleifera preparations, incomplete experimental validation of predicted molecular targets, and limited clinical evidence. Standardized formulations, pharmacologically relevant experimental models, direct target-engagement studies, rigorous evaluation of combination strategies, and carefully designed clinical investigations are required before quercetin can be established as an adjunctive cancer therapy.
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