A Network Pharmacology Study on the Therapeutic Potentials of Thymoquinone against Brucellosis

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species that infects both livestock and humans, especially in areas like Iran. It leads to long-term fever, joint swelling, and immune system chaos. Antibiotics work, but resistance and treatment failure are rising. Thymoquinone (TQ), the key compound in Nigella sativa, has been shown to reduce inflammation, eliminate bacteria, and protect cells. We aimed to predict if it could control brucellosis by targeting the host’s pathways. Methods: We used network pharmacology to map how TQ might work. SwissTargetPrediction gave us ۱۰۰ possible protein targets for TQ based on its chemical structure. From the Open Target Platform, we retrieved ۹۶۰ genes that change during Brucella infection in humans. A Venn diagram showed ۲۰ genes in common. We entered the common interactome into the STRING database and visualized the interactions in Cytoscape, ending up with a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of ۲۰ nodes and ۷۶ edges. Results: The network had strong connections: average node degree ۷.۶, clustering coefficient ۰.۵۸, and density ۰.۴۰. The top hubs were IL۶ (degree ۸, betweenness ۰.۳۸), PTGS۲ (degree ۷, betweenness ۰.۲۱), MPO (degree ۶, betweenness ۰.۰۳), and ACE (degree ۵, betweenness ۰.۱۷). These proteins control cytokine storms, pain and fever signals, neutrophil activity, and blood vessel responses, all of which are critical in brucellosis pathogenesis. Conclusion: This study suggests thymoquinone in Nigella Sativa can target critical host proteins to alleviate inflammation and support the body’s immune system against Brucella. TQ looks like a solid natural helper alongside antibiotics, but we need cell and animal studies to provide more evidence.

کلیدواژه ها:

Nigella Sativa ، Thymoquinone ، Brucellosis ، Network Pharmacology