Curcumin induced apoptosis is mediated through oxidative stress in mutated p53 and wild type p53 colon adenocarcinoma cell lines

Network pharmacology and experimental verification reveal the mechanism of Hedysari Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma with the optimal compatibility ratio against colitis-associated colorectal cancer

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The herb pair Astragali Radix (AR) and Curcumae Rhizoma (vinegar-processed, VPCR), derived from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) text 'Yixuezhongzhongcanxilu', have long been used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, notably colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Hedysari Radix (HR), belonging to the same Leguminosae family as AR but from a different genus, is traditionally used as a substitute for AR when paired with VPCR in the treatment of CAC. However, the optimal compatibility ratio for HR-VPCR against CAC and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the optimal compatibility ratio and underlying mechanisms of HR-VPCR against CAC using a combination of comparative pharmacodynamics, network pharmacology, and experimental verification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The efficacy of different compatibility ratios of HR-VPCR against CAC was evaluated using various indicators, including the body weight, colon length, tumor count, survival rate, disease activity index (DAI) score, Haemotoxylin and Eosin (H&E) pathological sections, inflammation cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), tumor markers (K-Ras, p53), and intestinal permeability proteins (claudin-1, E-cadherin, mucin-2). Then, the optimal compatibility ratio of HR-VPCR against CAC was determined based on the fuzzy matter-element analysis by integrating the above indicators. After high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis for the optimal compatibility ratio of HR-VPCR, potential active components of HR-VPCR were identified by TCMSP and the previous bibliographies. Swiss Targets and GeneCards were adopted to predict the targets of the active components and the targets of CAC, respectively. Then, the common targets of HR-VPCR against CAC were obtained by Venn analysis. PPI networks were constructed in STRING. GO and KEGG enrichments were visualized by the David database. Finally, the predicted pathway was experimentally validated via Western blot.

RESULTS

Various compatibility ratios of HR-VPCR demonstrated notable therapeutic effects to some extent, evidenced by improvements in body weight, colon length, tumor count, pathological symptoms (DAI score), colon and organ indexes, survival rate, and modulation of inflammation factors (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), as well as tumor markers (K-Ras, p53), and down-regulation of intestinal permeability proteins (claudin-1, E-cadherin, mucin-2) in CAC mice. Among these ratios, the ratio 4:1 represents the optimal compatibility ratio by the fuzzy matter-element analysis. Thirty active components of HR-VPCR were carefully selected, targeting 553 specific genes. Simultaneously, 2022 targets associated with CAC were identified. 88 common targets were identified after generating a Venn plot. Following PPI network analysis, 29 core targets were established, with AKT1 ranking highest among them. Further analysis via GO and KEGG enrichment identified the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway as a potential mechanism. Experimental validation confirmed that HR-VPCR intervention effectively reversed the activated PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal compatibility ratio for the HR-VPCR herb pair in alleviating CAC is 4:1. HR-VPCR exerts its effects by alleviating intestinal inflammation, improving intestinal permeability, and regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Antioxidant curcumin induces oxidative stress to kill tumor cells (Review)

Curcumin is a plant polyphenol in turmeric root and a potent antioxidant. It binds to antioxidant response elements for gene regulation by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, thereby suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and other pharmacological effects. Of note, curcumin induces oxidative stress in tumors. It binds to several enzymes in tumors, such as carbonyl reductases, glutathione S-transferase P1 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate to induce mitochondrial damage, increase ROS production and ultimately induce tumor cell death. However, the instability and poor pharmacokinetic profile of curcumin in vivo limit its clinical application. Therefore, the effects of curcumin in vivo may be enhanced through its combination with drugs, derivative development and nanocarriers. In the present review, the mechanisms of curcumin that induce tumor cell death through oxidative stress are discussed. In addition, the methods used to enhance the antitumor activity of curcumin are described. Finally, the existing knowledge on the functions of curcumin in tumors, particularly in terms of oxidative stress, are summarized to facilitate future curcumin research.

Density Functional Theory-Guided Photo-Triggered Anticancer Activity of Curcumin-Based Zinc(II) Complexes

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has evolved as a new therapeutic modality for cancer treatment with fewer side effects and drug resistance. Curcumin exhibits PDT activity, but its low bioavailability restricts its clinical application. Here, the bioavailability of curcumin was increased by its complex formation with the Zn(II) center. For a structure-activity relationship study, Zn(II)-based complexes (1-3) comprising N^N-based ligands (2,2'-bipyridine in 1 and 2 or 1,10-phenanthroline in 3) and O^O-based ligands (acetylacetone in 1, monoanionic curcumin in 2 and 3) were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The X-ray structure of the control complex, 1, indicated a square pyramidal shape of the molecules. Photophysical and TD-DFT studies indicated the potential of 2 and 3 as good visible light type-II photosensitizers for PDT. Guided by the TD-DFT studies, the low-energy visible light-triggered singlet oxygen (1O2) generation efficacy of 2 and 3 was explored in solution and in cancer cells. As predicted by the TD-DFT calculations, these complexes produced 1O2 efficiently in the cytosol of MCF-7 cancer cells and ultimately displayed excellent apoptotic anticancer activity in the presence of light. Moreover, the molecular docking investigation showed that complexes 2 and 3 have very good binding affinities with caspase-9 and p-53 proteins and could activate them for cellular apoptosis. Further molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of 3 in the caspase-9 protein binding site.

Curcumin in cancer therapy: Exploring molecular mechanisms and overcoming clinical challenges

Cancer poses a significant global health burden, necessitating the widespread use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as conventional frontline interventions. Although targeted therapy and immunotherapy have shown remarkable advancements, the challenges of resistance development and severe side effects persist in cancer treatment. Consequently, researchers have actively sought more effective alternatives with improved safety profiles. In recent years, curcumin, a natural polyphenolic phytoalexin, has garnered considerable attention due to its broad spectrum of biological effects. This concise review provides valuable insights into the role of curcumin in cancer therapy, with a focus on elucidating its molecular mechanisms in inducing programmed cell death of tumor cells and suppressing tumor cell metastasis potential. Additionally, we discuss the challenges associated with the clinical application of curcumin and explore current endeavors aimed at overcoming these limitations. By shedding light on the promising potential of curcumin, this review contributes to the advancement of cancer treatment strategies.

In Vitro and In Silico Study on the Impact of Chlorogenic Acid in Colorectal Cancer Cells: Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Interaction with β-Catenin and LRP6

Colorectal cancer mortality rate and highly altered proteins from the Wnt/β-catenin pathway increase the scientific community's interest in finding alternatives for prevention and treatment. This study aims to determine the biological effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on two colorectal cancer cell lines, HT-29 and SW480, and its interactions with β-catenin and LRP6 to elucidate a possible modulatory mechanism on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These effects were determined by propidium iodide and DiOC6 for mitochondrial membrane permeability, MitoTracker Red for mitochondrial ROS production, DNA content for cell distribution on cell cycle phases, and molecular docking for protein-ligand interactions and binding affinity. Here, it was found that CGA at 2000 µM significantly affects cell viability and causes DNA fragmentation in SW480 cells rather than in HT-29 cells, but in both cell lines, it induces ROS production. Additionally, CGA has similar affinity and interactions for LRP6 as niclosamide but has a higher affinity for both β-catenin sites than C2 and iCRT14. These results suggest a possible modulatory role of CGA over the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer.

Resveratrol, Epigallocatechin Gallate and Curcumin for Cancer Therapy: Challenges from Their Pro-Apoptotic Properties

Plant-derived bioactive compounds are gaining wide attention for their multiple health-promoting activities and in particular for their anti-cancer properties. Several studies have highlighted how they can prevent cancer initiation and progression, improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and, in some cases, limit some of the side effects of chemotherapy agents. In this paper, we provide an update of the literature on the anti-cancer effects of three extensively studied plant-derived compounds, namely resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, and curcumin, with a special focus on the anti-cancer molecular mechanisms inducing apoptosis in the major types of cancers globally.

Curcumin against gastrointestinal cancer: A review of the pharmacological mechanisms underlying its antitumor activity

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) poses a serious threat to human health globally. Curcumin (CUR), a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has shown reliable anticancer function and low toxicity, thereby offering broad research prospects. Numerous studies have demonstrated the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of CUR against GIC, including the induction of apoptosis and autophagy, arrest of the cell cycle, inhibition of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes, inhibition of cell invasion and migration, regulation of multiple signaling pathways, sensitization to chemotherapy and reversal of resistance to such treatments, and regulation of the tumor survival environment. It has been confirmed that CUR exerts its antitumor effects on GIC through these mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, treatment with CUR is safe and tolerable. Newly discovered types of regulated cell death (RCD), such as pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, may provide a new direction for research on the efficacy of CUR against GIC. In this review, we discuss the recently found pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effects of CUR against GIC (gastric and colorectal cancers). The objective is to provide a reference for further research on treatments against GIC.

Magnetic-Powered Janus Cell Robots Loaded with Oncolytic Adenovirus for Active and Targeted Virotherapy of Bladder Cancer

A unique robotic medical platform is designed by utilizing cell robots as the active "Trojan horse" of oncolytic adenovirus (OA), capable of tumor-selective binding and killing. The OA-loaded cell robots are fabricated by entirely modifying OA-infected 293T cells with cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid tripeptide (cRGD) to specifically bind with bladder cancer cells, followed by asymmetric immobilization of Fe₃ O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) on the cell surface. OA can replicate in host cells and induce cytolysis to release the virus progeny to the surrounding tumor sites for sustainable infection and oncolysis. The asymmetric coating of magnetic NPs bestows the cell robots with effective movement in various media and wireless manipulation with directional migration in a microfluidic device and bladder mold under magnetic control, further enabling steerable movement and prolonged retention of cell robots in the mouse bladder. The biorecognition of cRGD and robust, controllable propulsion of cell robots work synergistically to greatly enhance their tissue penetration and anticancer efficacy in the 3D cancer spheroid and orthotopic mouse bladder tumor model. Overall, this study integrates cell-based microrobots with virotherapy to generate an attractive robotic system with tumor specificity, expanding the operation scope of cell robots in biomedical community.

ST08 Altered NF-κB Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro as Revealed by miRNA-mRNA Analysis and Enhanced the Effect of Cisplatin on Tumour Reduction in EAC Mouse Model

ST08 is a novel curcumin derivative that exhibited apoptotic and anti-migratory activity in MDA-MB-231, triple-negative breast cancer cells reported earlier. In this study, we further explored the anticancer properties of ST08. ST08 reduced tumor burden in vivo and induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway both in vitro and in vivo. ST08 potentiated the effect of cisplatin in vitro and in vivo in mouse EAC breast cancer models with minimal toxicity. ST08 induced alterations in the gene expression were studied by parallel analysis of miRNA and mRNA. 74 differentially expressed miRNA regulated 114 mRNA in triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells. Pathway related to the ECM was altered in mesenchymal MDA-MB-231 cells. We constructed a unique miRNA-mRNA interaction network, and one of the pathways regulated by miRNA was NF-κB. Targets of NF-κB like MMP1, PTX3, and MMP2 were downregulated in MDA-MB-231 in response to ST08 treatment. PMA induced cell proliferation was abrogated by ST08 treatment, and no additional cell cytotoxicity was observed when used in combination with IKK-16 indicating ST08 regulation of NF-κB pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Bioactive food components for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment: A good match

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer worldwide, accounts for about 10% of the total cancer cases, and ranks as the second cause of death by cancer. CRC is more prevalent in developed countries in close causal relation with occidental diets. Due to anatomy, the diet has a strong impact on CRC. High contents in meat are acknowledged risk factors whereas a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is an established CRC protective factor. Fruits and vegetables contain numerous Bioactive Food Components (BFCs), physiologically active food compounds, beneficial on health. Preventive and therapeutic benefits of BFCs in cancer have increasingly been reported over the past 20 years. BFCs show both chemopreventive and anti-tumor properties in CRC but more interestingly, abundant research describes BFCs as enhancers of conventional cancer treatments. Despite these promising results, their clinical transferability is slowed down by bioavailability interrogations and their poorly understood hormetic effect. In this review, we would like to reposition BFCs as well-fitted for applications in CRC. We provide a synthetic overview of trustworthy BFC applications in CRC, with a special highlight on combinatory approaches and conventional cancer treatment potentiation strategies.

Predicting sulforaphane-induced adverse effects in colon cancer patients via in silico investigation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden that ranks as the third most diagnosed and second most common cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. New therapeutic strategies include chemoprevention and use of molecules which could prevent, suppress or reverse CRC progression such as sulforaphane (SFN). However, evidences about its safety in CRC patients are still lacking. The aim of this in silico investigation was to predict SFN-induced adverse effects in CRC patients by computational analysis. The study showed that 334 genes were consistently dysregulated in CRC (223 downregulated and 111 upregulated), while 38 were recognized as significant and might be used as predictive biomarkers for overall survival and metastasis (TCGA, GEO, R studio). Among them, SFN interacted with 86 genes, out of which 11 were marked as significant (correlate with overall prognosis and metastasis). Sulforaphane potentiates the overexpression of TIMP1, AURKA, and CEP55, and promotes inhibition of CRYAB, PLCE1, and MMP28, that might lead to the progression of CRC (CTD). Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that SFN stimulated Transcriptional activation of RUNX2, AURKA activation by TPX2, IL-10 signaling, while inhibited Differentiation of White and Brown Adipocyte process, an underlying pathway which inactivation led to obesity (Cytoscape ClueGo + CluePedia, DAVID). Thus, genome signature of CRC patients could serve as important factor when addressing the risk-to-benefit profile of SFN. Patients with colon cancer and increased expression of TIMP1, CCL20, SPP1, AURKA, CEP55, NEK2, SOX9 and CDK1, or downregulation of CRYAB, PLCE1, MMP28, BMP2 and PLAC8 may not be ideal candidates for SFN chemoprevention.

Curcumin Reverses NNMT-Induced 5-Fluorouracil Resistance via Increasing ROS and Cell Cycle Arrest in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) plays multiple roles in improving the aggressiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC) and enhancing resistance to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), making it an attractive therapeutic target. Curcumin (Cur) is a promising natural compound, exhibiting multiple antitumor effects and potentiating the effect of 5-FU. The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of Cur on attenuating NNMT-induced resistance to 5-FU in CRC. A panel of CRC cell lines with different NNMT expressions are used to characterize the effect of Cur. Herein, it is observed that Cur can depress the expression of NNMT and p-STAT3 in CRC cells. Furthermore, Cur can induce inhibition of cell proliferation, G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, especially in high-NNMT-expression CRC cell lines. Cur can also re-sensitize high-NNMT-expression CRC cells to 5-FU both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, it is proposed that Cur can reverse NNMT-induced cell proliferation and 5-FU resistance through ROS generation and cell cycle arrest. Given that Cur has long been used, we suppose that Cur is a promising anticancer drug candidate with minimal side effects for human CRC therapy and can attenuate NNMT-induced resistance to 5-FU.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery

As an important part of complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied to treat a host of diseases for centuries. Over the years, with the incidence rate of human colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing continuously and the advantage of TCM gradually becoming more prominent, the importance of TCM in both domestic and international fields is also growing with each passing day. However, the unknowability of active ingredients, effective substances, and the underlying mechanisms of TCM against this malignant tumor greatly restricts the translation degree of clinical products and the pace of precision medicine. In this review, based on the characteristics of TCM and the oral administration of most ingredients, we herein provide beneficial information for the clinical utilization of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CRC and retrospect the current preclinical studies on the related active ingredients, as well as put forward the research mode for the discovery of active ingredients and effective substances in TCM, to provide novel insights into the research and development of innovative agents from this conventional medicine for CRC treatment and assist the realization of precision medicine.

Cannabinoids pharmacological effects are beyond the palliative effects: CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonist induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells (HT-29)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is between the top three occurring cancers worldwide. The anticancer effects of Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB₂) agonist (GW833972A) in the presence and absence of its inverse agonist (SR144528) on Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) was investigated. Following cell viability assays on HT-29 and HFF cells, the molecular mechanism(s) of cytotoxicity and apoptotic pathways of cell death were analyzed. The anticancer effects of CB₂ agonist were measured with tumor cell migration and colony-forming assays. Real-time PCR and Western blotting techniques were used to examine any alterations in the expression of apoptotic genes. A concentration and time-dependent cytotoxicity of CB₂ agonist with IC50 value of 24.92 ± 6.99 μM was obtained. The rate of lipid peroxidation was elevated, while the TNF-α concentration was declined, significantly (p < 0.05). CB₂ agonist (50 μM) reduced the colony-forming capability by 83% and tumor cell migration by 50%. Apoptotic effects of CB₂ agonist were revealed with the increase of apoptotic cells in Acridine orange/Ethidium bromide staining, clear DNA fragmentation, pro-apoptotic genes and proteins upregulation (Caspase-3 and p53), and significant downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. All assessments demonstrated that CB₂ agonist-induced effects were reversed by CB₂ inverse agonist. These data suggest that CB₂ agonists at micro-molar concentrations might be considered in the CRC treatment, and their effectiveness attributes to the apoptosis induction via upregulation of caspase-3 and p53 and downregulation of Bcl-2.

Identification of the active substances and mechanisms of ginger for the treatment of colon cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background and objective

Colon cancer is occurring at an increasing rate and ginger (Zingiber officinale), as a commonly used herbal medicine, has been suggested as a potential agent for colon cancer. This study was aimed to identify the bioactive components and potential mechanisms of ginger for colon cancer prevention by an integrated network pharmacology approach.

Methods

The putative ingredients of ginger and its related targets were discerned from the TCMSP  and Swiss target prediction database. After that, the targets interacting with colon cancer were collected using Genecards, OMIM, and Drugbank databases. KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analysis were performed to explore the signaling pathways related to ginger for colon cancer treatments. The PPI and compound-target-disease networks were constructed using Cytoscape 3.8.1. Finally, Discovery studio software was employed to confirm the key genes and active components from ginger.

Results

Six potential active compounds, 285 interacting targets in addition to 1356 disease-related targets were collected, of which 118 intersection targets were obtained. A total of 34 key targets including PIK3CA, SRC, and TP53 were identified through PPI network analysis. These targets were mainly focused on the biological processes of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling, cellular response to oxidative stress, and cellular response to peptide hormone stimulus. The KEGG enrichment manifested that three signaling pathways were closely related to colon cancer prevention of ginger, cancer, endocrine resistance, and hepatitis B pathways. TP53, HSP90AA1, and JAK2 were viewed as the most important genes, which were validated by molecular docking simulation.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that ginger produced preventive effects against colon cancer by regulating multi-targets and multi-pathways with multi-components. And, the combined data provide novel insight for ginger compounds developed as new drug for anti-colon cancer.

Pathological and Pharmacological Roles of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species in Malignant Neoplasms: Therapies Involving Chemical Compounds, Natural Products, and Photosensitizers

Oxidative stress plays an important role in cellular processes. Consequently, oxidative stress also affects etiology, progression, and response to therapeutics in various pathological conditions including malignant tumors. Oxidative stress and associated outcomes are often brought about by excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accumulation of ROS occurs due to dysregulation of homeostasis in an otherwise strictly controlled physiological condition. In fact, intracellular ROS levels are closely associated with the pathological status and outcome of numerous diseases. Notably, mitochondria are recognized as the critical regulator and primary source of ROS. Damage to mitochondria increases mitochondrial ROS (mROS) production, which leads to an increased level of total intracellular ROS. However, intracellular ROS level may not always reflect mROS levels, as ROS is not only produced by mitochondria but also by other organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes. Thus, an evaluation of mROS would help us to recognize the biological and pathological characteristics and predictive markers of malignant tumors and develop efficient treatment strategies. In this review, we describe the pathological significance of mROS in malignant neoplasms. In particular, we show the association of mROS-related signaling in the molecular mechanisms of chemically synthesized and natural chemotherapeutic agents and photodynamic therapy.