Phytochemicals of Punica granatum and their therapeutic potential: A computational approach targeting WNT signaling in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a significant global health issue, holding the position of the third most common cause of cancer-related fatalities around the world. Aberrant activation of the WNT signaling pathway is a critical driver of CRC progression, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. This study evaluates the chemotherapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from Punica granatum, focusing on their inhibitory effects on proteins involved in WNT signaling, including β-catenin, dishevelled, cadherin and GSK-3β. Using an integrative computational approach, phytochemicals were screened for drug-likeness, ADMET properties, and molecular docking against WNT targets. Key compounds such as brevifolin carboxylic acid-10-monosulphate, delphinidin-3, 5-diglucoside, N-methylisopelletierine, prodelphinidins and pseudopelletierine demonstrated significant binding affinities, suggesting their potential as WNT signaling inhibitors. These findings highlight the promise of phytochemicals as natural anticancer agents and pave the way for further experimental validations and therapeutic applications.