Jug-PLGA-NPs, a New Form of Juglone with Enhanced Efficiency and Reduced Toxicity on Melanoma

Research Progress of Natural Compounds from Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Melanoma

OPINION STATEMENT

Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates from activated or genetically altered epidermal melanocytes, resulting from the interplay of genetic, somatic, and environmental factors. It is the fastest-growing malignancy among the Caucasian population and has a high mortality rate, second only to lung cancer. Current mainstream treatments have led to unavoidable drug resistance and toxic side effects despite improvements in efficacy and prognosis. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a significant component of complementary and alternative medicine, playing a vital role in cancer treatment. Natural compounds derived from Chinese herbal medicines offer notable advantages owing to their multimolecular, multitarget, and multipathway characteristics. These compounds exert anti-melanoma effects through various mechanisms, including antiproliferation, promotion of apoptosis, inhibition of metastasis, suppression of angiogenesis, modulation of autophagy, and enhancement of the immune response. Furthermore, combining natural compounds with mainstream antagonistic medicine not only enhances treatment efficacy but also significantly reverses multidrug resistance. This article discusses the specific mechanisms by which natural compounds combat melanoma and reviews the recent research advancements in this field. It also addresses the challenges faced in the widespread clinical application of these natural compounds in melanoma treatment and outlines the future directions for their development.

Impact of Juglone, a PIN1 İnhibitor, on Oral Carcinogenesis Induced by 4-Nitroquinoline-1-Oxide (4NQO) in Rat Model

Background and Objectives: PIN1 is overexpressed in several human cancers, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and oral squamous carcinomas. Juglone (J), derived from walnut, was reported to selectively inhibit PIN1 by modifying its sulfhydryl groups. In this study, the potential effects of juglone, also known as PIN1 inhibitor, on oral cancer and carcinogenesis were investigated at the molecular level. Materials and Methods: 4-Nitroquinoline N-oxide (4-NQO) was used to create an oral cancer model in animals. Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control, NQO, Juglone, NQO+J, and NQO+J*. The control group received the basal diet and tap water throughout the experiment. The NQO group received 4-NQO for 8 weeks in drinking water only. The Juglone group was administered intraperitoneally in a juglone solution for 10 weeks (1 mg/kg/day). The NQO+J group received 4-NQO in drinking water for 8 weeks, starting 1 week after the cessation of 4-NQO treatment. They were then administered intraperitoneally in a juglone solution for 10 weeks. (1 mg/kg/day). NQO+J* group: received 4 NQO for 8 weeks in drinking water and administered intraperitoneally in a juglone solution for 10 weeks (1 mg/kg/day). They were sacrificed at the end of the 22-week experimental period. The tongue tissues of the rats were isolated after the experiment, morphological changes were investigated by histological examinations, and the molecular apoptotic process was investigated by rt-qPCR and western blot. Results: Histological results indicate that tumors are formed in the tongue tissue with 4-NQO, and juglone treatment largely corrects the epithelial changes that developed with 4-NQO. It has been determined that apoptotic factors p53, Bax, and caspases are induced by the effect of juglone, while antiapoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 are suppressed. However, it was observed that the positive effects were more pronounced in rats given juglone together with 4-NQO. Conclusions: The use of PIN1 inhibitors such as juglone in place of existing therapeutic approaches might be a promising and novel approach to the preservation and treatment of oral cancer and carcinogenesis. However, further research is required to investigate the practical application of such inhibitors.

Juglone induces ferroptosis in glioblastoma cells by inhibiting the Nrf2-GPX4 axis through the phosphorylation of p38MAPK

BACKGROUND

Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of cell death induced by accumulation of free iron ions and lipid peroxidation, its importance for cancer treatment is gradually being recognized. Research on the anti-cancer mechanism of juglone is accumulating. However, the specific mechanism by which it directs glioblastoma (GBM) to death is unknown.

METHODS

We used in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore the anti-GBM effect generated by juglone through the ferroptosis pathway.

RESULTS

Juglone mainly causes cell death by inducing ferroptosis. Mechanistically, juglone can significantly activate the phosphorylation of p38MAPK. According to transcriptome sequencing and protein interaction analysis, the Nrf2-GPX4 signaling pathway is identified as the primary pathway through which juglone mediates ferroptosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments further verified that juglone induces the ferroptosis of GBM by activating the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and negatively regulating the Nrf2-GPX4 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Juglone induces ferroptosis and inhibits the growth of GBM by targeting the Nrf2/Gpx4 signaling pathway and thus holds promise as a novel ferroptosis inducer or anti-GBM drug.

Harnessing the Potential of PLGA Nanoparticles for Enhanced Bone Regeneration

Recently, nanotechnologies have become increasingly prominent in the field of bone tissue engineering (BTE), offering substantial potential to advance the field forward. These advancements manifest in two primary ways: the localized application of nanoengineered materials to enhance bone regeneration and their use as nanovehicles for delivering bioactive compounds. Despite significant progress in the development of bone substitutes over the past few decades, it is worth noting that the quest to identify the optimal biomaterial for bone regeneration remains a subject of intense debate. Ever since its initial discovery, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has found widespread use in BTE due to its favorable biocompatibility and customizable biodegradability. This review provides an overview of contemporary advancements in the development of bone regeneration materials using PLGA polymers. The review covers some of the properties of PLGA, with a special focus on modifications of these properties towards bone regeneration. Furthermore, we delve into the techniques for synthesizing PLGA nanoparticles (NPs), the diverse forms in which these NPs can be fabricated, and the bioactive molecules that exhibit therapeutic potential for promoting bone regeneration. Additionally, we addressed some of the current concerns regarding the safety of PLGA NPs and PLGA-based products available on the market. Finally, we briefly discussed some of the current challenges and proposed some strategies to functionally enhance the fabrication of PLGA NPs towards BTE. We envisage that the utilization of PLGA NP holds significant potential as a potent tool in advancing therapies for intractable bone diseases.

Micelle-Formulated Juglone Effectively Targets Pancreatic Cancer and Remodels the Tumor Microenvironment

Pancreatic cancer remains a formidable challenge due to limited treatment options and its aggressive nature. In recent years, the naturally occurring anticancer compound juglone has emerged as a potential therapeutic candidate, showing promising results in inhibiting tumor growth and inducing cancer cell apoptosis. However, concerns over its toxicity have hampered juglone's clinical application. To address this issue, we have explored the use of polymeric micelles as a delivery system for juglone in pancreatic cancer treatment. These micelles, formulated using Poloxamer 407 and D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, offer an innovative solution to enhance juglone's therapeutic potential while minimizing toxicity. In-vitro studies have demonstrated that micelle-formulated juglone (JM) effectively decreases proliferation and migration and increases apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Importantly, in-vivo, JM exhibited no toxicity, allowing for increased dosing frequency compared to free drug administration. In mice, JM significantly reduced tumor growth in subcutaneous xenograft and orthotopic pancreatic cancer models. Beyond its direct antitumor effects, JM treatment also influenced the tumor microenvironment. In immunocompetent mice, JM increased immune cell infiltration and decreased stromal deposition and activation markers, suggesting an immunomodulatory role. To understand JM's mechanism of action, we conducted RNA sequencing and subsequent differential expression analysis on tumors that were treated with JM. The administration of JM treatment reduced the expression levels of the oncogenic protein MYC, thereby emphasizing its potential as a focused, therapeutic intervention. In conclusion, the polymeric micelles-mediated delivery of juglone holds excellent promise in pancreatic cancer therapy. This approach offers improved drug delivery, reduced toxicity, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Fabrication of Electrospun Juglans regia (Juglone) Loaded Poly(lactic acid) Scaffolds as a Potential Wound Dressing Material

Juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) (J) is a naphthoquinone structured allelochemical that is mostly found in the roots, leaves, nut-hulls, bark, and wood of walnut (Juglans regia). In this study, the biocompatibility, mechanical, thermal, chemical, morphological, and antimicrobial properties of the poly(lactic acid) (PLA) (w/v)/J (10, 20, 30 mg) electrospun scaffolds were investigated. Based on the results of the study, it was shown that juglone addition increased the antimicrobial properties of the scaffolds against the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), compared to the neat PLA film after 24 h of contact time. According to the tensile test results, the addition of J made the scaffolds more flexible but decreased the mechanical strength. The cytotoxicity properties of the J-added scaffolds demonstrated a toxic behavior on the first day of incubation. However, with an increase in the J ratio, the fibroblast cell metabolic activity increased for all incubation periods.