Anticancer effect of a Kampo preparation Daikenchuto

Natural Products for Esophageal Cancer Therapy: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Drug Discovery

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most malignant types of cancer worldwide and has a high incidence and mortality rate in Asian countries. When it comes to treating EC, although primary methods such as chemotherapy and surgery exist, the prognosis remains poor. The purpose of this current research is to review the range of effects that natural products have on cancer by analyzing studies conducted on EC. Fifty-seven studies were categorized into four anti-cancer mechanisms, as well as clinical trials. The studies that were scrutinized in this research were all reported within five years. The majority of the substances reviewed induced apoptosis in EC, acting on a variety of mechanisms. Taken together, this study supports the fact that natural products have the potential to act as a candidate for treating EC.

Recent Advances in Anti-Metastatic Approaches of Herbal Medicines in 5 Major Cancers: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Drug Discovery

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related death. Despite its high fatality, a comprehensive study that covers anti-metastasis of herbal medicines has not yet been conducted. The aim of this study is to investigate and assess the anti-metastatic efficacies of herbal medicines in the five major cancers, including lung, colorectal, gastric, liver, and breast cancers. We collected articles published within five years using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science with "cancer metastasis" and "herbal medicine" as keywords. Correspondingly, 16 lung cancer, 23 colorectal cancer, 10 gastric cancer, 10 liver cancer, and 18 breast cancer studies were systematically reviewed. The herbal medicines attenuated metastatic potential targeting various mechanisms such as epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and angiogenesis. Specifically, the drugs regulated metastasis related factors such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), serine-threonine protein kinase/extracellular regulated protein kinase (AKT/ERK), angiogenic factors, and chemokines. Overall, the present study is the first review, comprehensively investigating the anti-metastasis effect of herbal medicines on five major cancers, providing the experimental models, doses and durations, and mechanisms. Herbal medicines could be a potent candidate for anti-metastatic drugs.

Emu Oil and Saireito in combination reduce tumour development and clinical indicators of disease in a mouse model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Emu Oil (EO) previously demonstrated therapeutic potential in a mouse model of colitis-associated CRC (CA-CRC). Saireito, a traditional Japanese medicine, has not been investigated in CA-CRC.

AIM

To determine whether EO and Saireito could be therapeutic in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) model of CA-CRC.

METHODS

Female C57BL/6 mice were assigned to groups (n = 10/group); 1) saline control, 2) saline+Saireito, 3) saline+EO, 4) saline+EO/Saireito, 5) AOM/DSS control, 6) AOM/DSS+Saireito, 7) AOM/DSS+EO and 8) AOM/DSS+EO/Saireito. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with saline or AOM (7.4 mg/kg) on day 0 and underwent three DSS/water cycles (2%w/v DSS for 7 days, 14 days water). Mice were orally-gavaged with either water (80 µL), Saireito (80 µL), EO (80 µL) or EO/Saireito (160 µL; 80 µL EO + 80 µL Saireito) thrice weekly. Daily bodyweight and disease activity index (DAI) were recorded and colonoscopies performed on days 20, 41 and 62. Mice were euthanized on day 63. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

AOM/DSS induced significant bodyweight loss throughout the trial (max -36%), which was attenuated by Saireito (max +7%), EO (max +5%) and EO/Saireito (max +14%; p < 0.05). AOM/DSS increased DAI compared to saline controls (p < 0.05), which was reduced by Saireito, EO and EO/Saireito (p < 0.05). All treatments reduced colonoscopically-assessed colitis severity (days 20 and 41; p < 0.05). EO/Saireito further decreased colitis severity compared to Saireito and EO alone (day 20; p < 0.05). Finally, EO and EO/Saireito resulted in fewer colonic tumours compared to AOM/DSS controls (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Combined EO and Saireito reduced disease and tumour development in AOM/DSS mice, suggesting therapeutic potential in CA-CRC.

The inhibitory effect of TU-100 on hepatic stellate cell activation in the tumor microenvironment

INTRODUCTION

The tumor microenvironment is involved in acquiring tumor malignancies of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). We have reported that TU-100 (Daikenchuto) suppresses hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in obstructive jaundice. In this study, we report new findings as the direct and indirect inhibitory effects of TU-100 on cancer cell growth through the suppression of HSC activation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The HSCs (LX2) were cultured in colon cancer cells (HCT116 and HT29)-conditioned medium (CM) with or without TU-100 treatment (90, 270, 900 μg/ml). Activated HSCs (aHSCs) were detected by α-SMA and IL-6 mRNA expressions and cytokine arrays of HSC's culture supernatants. Cancer cell growth was analyzed for proliferation and migration ability, compared with TU-100 treatment. To investigate the direct anti-tumor effect of TU-100, cancer cells were cultured in the presence of aHSC-CM and TU-100 (90, 270, 900) or aHSC-CM alone, and assessed autophagosomes, conversion to LC3-II protein, and Beclin-1 mRNA expression.

RESULTS

Colon cancer-CM significantly increased α-SMA and IL-6 mRNA expressions of aHSC. α-SMA and IL-6 mRNA expressions of aHSC, and IL-6 secretions from aHSCs were significantly decreased with TU-100 (270, 900) treatment, compared to colon cancer-CM alone. Compared with normal culture medium, aHSC-CM led to a significantly increased cell number and modified HSC-CM (TU-100; 270, 900) significantly suppressed cancer cell growth and migration. TU-100 (900) treatment induced autophagy and significantly promoted the autophagic cell death.

CONCLUSIONS

TU-100 inhibited colon cancer cell malignant potential by both suppressing HSC activation and inducing directly autophagy of cancer cells.

Combined Nutraceuticals: A Novel Approach to Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer?

Ulcerative colitis is an unremitting and lifelong inflammatory bowel disease that is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Patients display various clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and fatigue. The etiology of ulcerative colitis remains unknown and the current pharmaceutical treatments are variably effective and not curative, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, patients with ulcerative colitis are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Some naturally sourced agents, named nutraceuticals, have been identified to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Of particular interest is Emu Oil, grape seed extract and Japanese Kampo medicine. Previously, Emu Oil has protected and repaired intestinal damage in models of gastrointestinal diseases including colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Additionally, grape seed extract possesses anticancer properties in vitro. Moreover, Kampo medicine, composed of herbal ingredients, is widely used in Japan for the treatment of various medical conditions and has demonstrated efficacy in targeting cancer cells in vitro. Nutraceuticals in combination have not yet been widely investigated in a setting of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Investigation into the efficacy of Emu Oil combined with other nutraceuticals, including grape seed extract and Kampo medicine, is warranted as they may provide a novel approach to conventional colitis and colorectal cancer management.

Recent Advances in Herbal Medicines for Digestive System Malignancies

Herbal medicines, as an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have been used to treat digestive system malignancies (DSM) for many years, and have gradually gained recognition worldwide. The role of herbal medicines in the comprehensive treatment of DSM is being improved from adjuvant treatment of the autologous immune function in cancer patients, to the treatment of both the symptoms and disease, direct inhibition of tumor cell growth and proliferation, and induction of tumor cell autophagy and apoptosis. Their specific mechanisms in these treatments are also being explored. The paper reviews the current anti-tumor mechanisms of TCM, including single herbal medicines, Chinese herbal formulations, Chinese medicine preparations and TCM extract, and their application in the comprehensive treatment of digestive system tumors, providing a reference for clinical application of TCM.

Cistanche tubulosa phenylethanoid glycosides induce apoptosis in Eca-109 cells via the mitochondria-dependent pathway

Cistanche tubulosa has various biological functions. In the present study, the antitumor effect of water-soluble phenylethanoid glycosides of C. tubulosa (CTPG-W) on esophageal cancer was investigated. Eca-109 cells were treated with CTPG-W and the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and reactive oxygen species were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of proteins in apoptotic pathways were detected by western blot analysis. It was determined that CTPG-W significantly reduced the viability of Eca-109 cells through the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Following CTPG-W treatment, the Δψm of Eca-109 was notably decreased, which is associated with the upregulated levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-associated X and downregulated levels of Bcl-2. Consequently, the levels of cytochrome c and c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase were increased, which upregulated the levels of cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and cleaved-caspase-3, −7 and −9, but not caspase-8. Correspondingly, the levels of reactive oxygen species in Eca-109 cells demonstrated notable changes. These results indicated that CTPG-W induced apoptosis of Eca-109 cells through a mitochondrial-dependent pathway.

Herbal prescription, Danggui-Sayuk-Ga-Osuyu-Senggang-Tang, inhibits TNF-α-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells

Tumor necrosis factor‑α‑mediated (TNF‑α) epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with distant metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer with poor prognosis. Although traditional herbal medicines have long been used to treat colorectal cancer, the incidence and mortality in patients with colorectal cancer has continued to increase. Danggui‑Sayuk‑Ga‑Osuyu‑Saenggang‑Tang (DSGOST) has long been used for treatment of chills, while few studies have reported its anticancer effect. This study aimed to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of DSGOST on TNF‑α‑mediated invasion and migration of colorectal cancer HCT116 cell lines. MTT was used to measure cell viability. Wound healing and Τranswell invasion assay were used to detect migration and invasion of cells, respectively. The intracellular localization of proteins of interest was assessed by immunocytochemistry. Western blotting was performed to determine the expression level of various proteins. A non‑toxic dose of DSGOST (50 µg/ml) on HCT116 cells was determined by MTT assay. Furthermore, DSGOST prevented the TNF‑α‑induced invasive phenotype in HCT116 cells. DSGOST inhibition of the invasive phenotype was also associated with increased expression of EMT markers. Furthermore, DSGOST treatment blocked TNF‑α‑induced migration and invasion of HCT116 cells. In addition, DSGOST treatment inhibited TNF‑α‑mediated nuclear translocation of Snail. DSGOST treatment also downregulated TNF‑α‑induced phosphorylation of AKT and glycogen synthase kinase‑3β. Therefore, the findings of the current study suggest that DSGOST exhibits anti‑migration and anti‑invasion effects in TNF‑α‑treated HCT116 human colorectal cells.