Abstract
Background: Scutellariae Radix (SR), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to have potential anti-cancer properties. Purpose: To explore the mechanism of inhibiting ovarian cancer (OC) progression by SR. Methods: The key active ingredient (5,7,2',6'-Tetrahydroxyflavone, TF) and key targets (ACTB and HSP90AA1) of SR were screened by the network pharmacology method. CCK-8 reagent, Transwell assay, and Annexin-V-FITC kit were used to evaluate the effects of TF on OC cell viability, migration, and apoptosis. The upstream microRNAs (miRNAs) of ACTB and HSP90AA1 were predicted by the starBase database. Important miRNAs related to OC were mined using gene expression datasets in the GEO database. RT-qPCR and Western blotting experiments were used to detect miRNA or gene expression. Results: TF inhibited OC cell viability/migration and induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Hsa-miR-495-3p was identified to be a key miRNA in OC, whose expression was lacking in OC cells. ACTB and HSP90AA1 expressed highly in OC cells. Hsa-miR-495-3p mimics reduced ACTB and HSP90AA1 expression. Hsa-miR-495-3p inhibitor and overexpression of ACTB or HSP90AA1 reversed the inhibitory effect of TF on OC cells. Conclusion: TF, an active ingredient of SR, hindered OC progression through the hsa-miR-495-3p-ACTB/HSP90AA1 pathway.