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    Journal of Pharmacology and PharmacotherapeuticsNOW IN
    Article

    Combined Gene Expression Study Leads to Potential Herbal Targets in Breast Cancer and Diabetes

    Sara Seifeldin1, Nujud Almuzaini2, Mohd Saeed2★, Rania Abdeen Hussain Abdalla3, Md Jahoor Alam2, Khalid Alshaghdali1, Amir Saeed1, Talal Alharazi1, Elgeli Yousif4★ Corresponding author

    1. 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Science, University of Ha’il, Hail, SAUDI ARABIA.
    2. 2Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Ha’il, Hail, SAUDI ARABIA.
    3. 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Hail, SAUDI ARABIA.
    4. 4Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha’il, Hail, SAUDI ARABIA.

    CORRESPONDENCE

    Mohd Saeed

    Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Ha’il, Hail, SAUDI ARABIA.

    Mo.saeed@uoh.edu.sa

    Received: 21-02-2025; Accepted: 18-04-2025.

    Volume 17, Issue 1 · pp. 77–83 · PUBLISHED 2026 · DOI: 10.1177/0976500X251339865

    View on J Pharmacol. Pharmacother. original site ↗

    ABSTRACT

    Background/Objectives: Diabetes and cancer are common diseases, and epidemiologic evidence suggests that people with diabetes are at significantly higher risk for many forms of cancer. Both these diseases are among the highly complex, heterogeneous, and robust. Transcriptional dysregulation and abnormal signaling are major contributors to disease heterogeneity, posing challenges for therapeutic development. These days, herbal compounds are also used for the diagnostic purpose for many diseases, including diabetes and cancer. Materials and Methods: Here, to understand the common genes and the commonly enriched functions (pathways) between the two diseases and to unravel the potential herbal targets, we have studied the publicly available gene expression datasets (diabetes and cancer) and performed docking for the protein structure of the common 31 genes against the herbal compound of our interest—apigenin, quercetin, and resveratrol. Results: We identified 31 common differentially expressed genes and 14 enriched pathways, including insulin and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling, critical to both diseases. Conclusion: Molecular docking revealed eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5B, DEAH-box helicase 16, integrin beta 7, and O-GlcNAc transferase as high-affinity targets for apigenin, quercetin, and resveratrol, with favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties (e.g., no Lipinski violations).

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      Seifeldin, S., Almuzaini, N., Saeed, M., Abdalla, R. A. H., Alam, M. J., Alshaghdali, K., Saeed, A., Alharazi, T., & Yousif, E. (2026). Combined Gene Expression Study Leads to Potential Herbal Targets in Breast Cancer and Diabetes. Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, 17(1), 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1177/0976500X251339865