Yiyi Fuzi Baijiang powder exerts anti-ovarian cancer effects via the JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway and modulation of the tumor inflammatory microenvironment
This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the anti-ovarian cancer (OC) efficacy of Yiyi Fuzi Baijiang Powder (YFBP), identify its key chemical constituents, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. The chemical profile of YFBP was characterized using UHPLC-MS/MS. The potential mechanisms were predicted through integrated network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses. The anti-tumor effects were validated in SK-OV-3 cells and a xenograft mouse model by performing CCK-8, flow cytometry, and TUNEL assays. The effects on the tumor inflammatory microenvironment and the JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway were assessed by ELISA, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis identified 271 chemical constituents in YFBP. In vivo, YFBP significantly suppressed tumor growth (inhibition rate up to 52.4%) without systemic toxicity. It inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and arrested the cell cycle in the S-phase. Mechanistically, YFBP ameliorated the inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and concurrently activated the JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway. Rescue experiments confirmed that the JNK inhibitor SP600125 attenuated the anti-proliferative effects of YFBP. This study demonstrates that YFBP exerts significant anti-OC therapeutic effects by modulating the inflammatory TME and activating the JNK/c-Jun pathway. Our findings provide a pharmacological basis for the traditional use of YFBP and highlight its potential as a promising candidate phytomedicine for OC therapy.