Toxicity and non-harmful effects of the soya isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, in embryos of the zebrafish, Danio rerio

Fish Skin Mucus Vitellogenin as a Noninvasive, Sensitive Biomarker for Aquatic Xenoestrogens

Environmental estrogens (EEs) can induce vitellogenin (VTG) in fish skin mucosa. However, the applicability of mucus VTG in aquatic xenoestrogen monitoring warrants comprehensive exploration. Here, we employed different estrogen exposure scenarios to compare the applicability of mucus VTG and other conventional biomarkers in zebrafish for EE monitoring. After acute exposure to 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) at various concentrations, mucus VTG demonstrated higher sensitivity in male zebrafish than in female zebrafish. Mucus VTG change patterns were similar to liver and blood VTG change patterns in males. Time-course exposure experiments revealed that male mucus VTG responded to EE2 much earlier than male liver and blood VTG, underlining the promise of mucus VTG as an early warning signal of aquatic estrogenicity. Exposure to multiple EEs further validated the high sensitivity of male mucus VTG. Proteomics analysis revealed that EE2 exposure potently shifted the proteome structure of male mucosa, and the VTG1 isoform was noted to be the most suitable biomarker. Overall, our results refine the roles of mucus VTG1 from male fish as a noninvasive, rapid, and sensitive biomarker of aquatic xenoestrogens, applicable to ecological risk assessment for animal welfare and ecosystem protection. Future ecological studies may only need to sample male fish mucus without sacrificing females.

Research Progress on Hypoglycemic Effects and Molecular Mechanisms of Flavonoids: A Review

As a prevalent metabolic disorder, the increasing incidence of diabetes imposes a significant burden on global healthcare. Flavonoids in natural phytochemical products exhibit notable hypoglycemic properties, making them potential alternatives for diabetes treatment. This article summarizes the hypoglycemic properties of flavonoid subcategories studied in recent years, including flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanols, and others. The relevant targets and signal pathways, such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α)/activation transcription factor 4 (ATF4)/C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), etc., are also elaborated. Additionally, flavonoids have also been demonstrated to modulate the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Through the aforementioned mechanisms, flavonoids mainly suppress carbohydrate metabolism and gluconeogenesis; facilitate glucose uptake, glycogenesis, and insulin secretion; and mitigate insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, etc. Notably, several studies have indicated that certain flavonoids displayed synergistic hypoglycemic effects. In conclusion, this article provides a comprehensive review of the hypoglycemic effects of the flavonoids investigated in recent years, aiming to offer theoretical insights for their further exploration.

Sonification of Deproteinized Bovine Bone Functionalized with Genistein Enhances Bone Repair in Peri-Implant Bone Defects in Ovariectomized Rats

Estrogen deficiency is one of several contributing factors to catabolic changes in bone surrounding dental implants, impairing bone repair in defects requiring bone regeneration. Functionalizing bone substitutes is an alternative approach among various strategies to address this challenge. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the effect of functionalizing deproteinized bovine bone (Bio-Oss®, BO) with genistein via sonication on peri-implant bone defects in ovariectomized rats. The animals were randomly distributed according to the treatment into the following four groups (n = 10): BO sonicated with genistein (BOS + GEN), BO sonicated alone (BOS), untreated BO (BO), and blood clot only (CLOT). After twenty-eight days, implant removal torque was determined, and the peri-implant bone parameters were calculated based on computed microtomography. Additionally, the gene expression of bone turnover markers was evaluated. As a main result, the functionalization with genistein increased implant removal torque and the peri-implant bone volume in the BOS + GEN group compared to both BOS and BO groups (both p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the sonification of deproteinized bovine bone functionalized with genistein improves bone repair in peri-implant bone defects in ovariectomized rats.

Unlocking daidzein's healing power: Present applications and future possibilities in phytomedicine

BACKGROUND

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and a great threat to people around the world. Cancer treatment modalities include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, radiochemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. The best approach is to use a combination of several types. Among the treatment methods mentioned above, chemotherapy is frequently used, but its activity is hampered by the development of drug resistance and many side effects. In this regard, the use of medicinal plants has been discussed, and in recent decades, the use of isolated phytochemicals came into the focus of interest. By critically evaluating the available evidence and emphasizing the unique perspective offered by this review, we provide insights into the potential of daidzein as a promising therapeutic agent, as well as outline future research directions to optimize its efficacy in clinical settings.

PURPOSE

To summarized the therapeutic potential of daidzein, an isoflavone phytoestrogen in the management of several human diseases with the focuses on the current status and future prospects as a therapeutic agent.

METHODS

Several search engines, including PubMed, GoogleScholar, and ScienceDirect, were used, with the search terms "daidzein", "daidzein therapeutic potential", or individual effects. The study included all peer-reviewed articles. However, the most recent publications were given priority.

RESULTS

Daidzein showed protective effects against malignant diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer but also non-malignant diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Daidzein activates multiple signaling pathways leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis as well as antioxidant and anti-metastatic effects in malignant cells. Moreover, the anticancer effects against different cancer cells were more prominent and discussed in detail.

CONCLUSIONS

In short, daidzein represents a promising compound for drug development. The comprehensive potential anticancer activities of daidzein through various molecular mechanisms and its therapeutic/clinical status required further detail studies.

Preparation, characterization, and toxicity evaluation of microemulsion formulation containing prunetin for potential oral applications

Phytochemicals as therapeutic alternatives can have a fundamental impact on the various stages of inflammation and its resolution. Prunetin is a naturally occurring isoflavone and has been claimed to have numerous therapeutic potentials. The objective of this study is preparation, characterization, and toxicity evaluation of microemulsion formulation containing prunetin (PMF) for potential oral applications. With this research, it was targeted to emphasize the way of improving the therapeutic efficacy of natural biomolecules with a nontoxic and effective formulation. In the study, the pseudo-ternary phase diagram was developed and PMF was characterized by conductivity, droplet size, viscosity and pH. Effects against to cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) and TNF-α levels of the PMF were determined by ELISA technique. Genotoxicity and acute oral toxicity tests were carried out according to OECD guidelines. The results showed that PMF is a colloid system that reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels in LPS-induced macrophage cells compared to the control group. PMF demonstrated no mutagenic activity against TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537 Salmonella strains. The in vivo oral acute toxicity test results indicated that PMF did not show mortality or significant side effects even at 2000 mg/kg bw. This study represents PMF showed a good safety profile in animal study. It is thought that this formulation may have anti-inflammatory potential with further in vivo testing.

Effects of Daidzein, Tempeh, and a Probiotic Digested in an Artificial Gastrointestinal Tract on Calcium Deposition in Human Osteoblast-like Saos-2 Cells

Adequate calcium intake is crucial for the prevention and treatment of bone-related issues. Developing a nutritional source of readily bioavailable calcium is particularly significant for individuals deficient in this essential element and at risk of developing osteoporosis. This research aimed to evaluate the impact of tempeh (T), daidzein (D), and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) within a simulated intestinal environment consisting of Caco-2 epithelial and Saos-2 cells, focusing on their implications for bone mineralization mechanisms. In the initial phase, calcium bioaccessibility from calcium citrate (CaCt), LA, D, the daidzein combination D-CaCt-LA (D1:1:1), and the tempeh combination T-CaCt-LA (T1:1:1) was assessed through digestion simulation. The calcium content of both untreated and digested samples was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In the subsequent stage, the digested samples were used to induce intestinal absorption in differentiated enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells. The permeable fractions were then evaluated in a culture of osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells. Preliminary cellular experiments employed the MTT assay to assess cytotoxicity. The results indicated that the analyzed products did not influence the deposition of extracellular calcium in Saos-2 cells cultured without mineralization stimulators. The combined formulations of permeable fractions of digested CaCt, LA, D, and T demonstrated the capacity to enhance the proliferation of Saos-2 cells. In Saos-2 cells, D, D1:1:1, and LA showed no discernible impact on intracellular calcium accumulation, whereas T and T1:1:1 reduced the calcium deposits. Additionally, mRNA transcripts and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity levels in Saos-2 cells cultured without mineralization induction were unaffected by the analyzed products. An examination of the products revealed no discernible effect on ALP activity or mRNA expression during Saos-2 cell differentiation. Our findings suggest that tempeh, daidzein, and L. acidophilus did not positively impact cellular calcium deposition in Saos-2 cells. However, tempeh, daidzein and its combination, and L. acidophilus might enhance the process of osteogenic differentiation in Saos-2 cells. Nevertheless, this study did not identify any synergistic impact on calcium deposition and the process of osteogenic differentiation in Saos-2 cells of isoflavones and probiotics.

Unveiling the Pharmacological and Nanotechnological Facets of Daidzein: Present State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

Herbal drugs have been attracting much scientific interest in the last few decades and nowadays, phytoconstituents-based research is in progress to disclose their unidentified medicinal potential. Daidzein (DAI) is the natural phytoestrogen isoflavone derived primarily from leguminous plants, such as the soybean and mung bean, and its IUPAC name is 4',7-dihydroxyisoflavone. This compound has received great attention as a fascinating pharmacophore with remarkable potential for the therapeutic management of several diseases. Certain pharmacokinetic properties of DAI such as less aqueous solubility, low permeability, and poor bioavailability are major obstacles restricting the therapeutic applications. In this review, distinctive physicochemical characteristics and pharmacokinetics of DAI has been elucidated. The pharmacological applications in treatment of several disorders like oxidative stress, cancer, obesity, cardiovascular, neuroprotective, diabetes, ovariectomy, anxiety, and inflammation with their mechanism of action are explained. Furthermore, this review article comprehensively focuses to provide up-to-date information about nanotechnology-based formulations which have been investigated for DAI in preceding years which includes polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carrier, polymer-lipid nanoparticles, nanocomplexes, polymeric micelles, nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, liposomes, and self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems.

In-vivo and in-silico toxicity studies of daidzein: an isoflavone from soy

Daidzein is a naturally occurring compound belonging to the class isoflavones and found in soya beans and other legumes. Acute oral toxicity was performed as per OECD guideline (TG 423) with slight modifications. A repeated dose toxicity study was carried out as per OECD guideline (TG 407). In-silico toxicity such as AMES toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, skin irritation, reproductive effect, rat and mouse toxicity, LD50, hERG I, II inhibitor and minnow toxicity were predicted using online servers and tools. In an acute oral toxicity study, daidzein did not show any mortality in experimental animals. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of daidzein was found to be above 5000 mg/kg. 28 days treatment of diadzein at all doses did not show changes in hematology parameters, clinical biochemistry and kidney function parameters. Gross necropsy or histopathology of important organs showed no signs of toxicity. In-silico predicted parameters also demonstrated risks ranging from low to a nontoxic level. Thus, daidzein was found to be safe in acute and repeated oral dose toxicity studies at all selected doses. In-silico study also indicated that daidzein is safe.

Embryonic exposure to genistein induces anxiolytic and antisocial behavior in zebrafish: persistent effects until the adult stage

Genistein is a phytoestrogen, which is structurally similar to 17β-estradiol. It is present in plants, food, and as a contaminant in effluents. In this article, we demonstrate the effects of embryonic exposure to three different concentrations of genistein (10 μg/L, 40 μg/L, and 80 μg/L) which is similar to those found in effluents. Zebrafish eggs were exposed during the first 72 h post-fertilization (hpf). Heart rate was evaluated at 48 hpf and mortality rate was assessed during the first 72 hpf. The light/dark (LDT) and open field (OFT) behavioral tests were applied to the larvae (6 dpf), and the novel tank (NTT), social preference (SPT), light-dark (LDT), and sexing tests were performed on adult fish (90 dpf). Embryonic exposure to genistein caused anxiolytic-like behavior in both larvae and adult animals. In adult stage, we observed an increase in locomotor activity and antisocial behavior in the concentration of 40 μg/L. There was an increase in the mortality rate in all concentrations when compared to the control and an increase in heart rate at the concentration of 80 μg/L. Exposure to 10 μg/L generated a higher frequency of females when compared to the control group. Our results show that exposure to genistein during the embryonic phase brings damage in the short and long term as it increases the mortality rate and leads to behavioral disorders both in the larval stage, with perpetuation until adult stage. The anxiolytic-like effect and less social interaction are effects that harm fish survival.

Genistein: A Review on its Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Nowadays, non-resolving inflammation is becoming a major trigger in various diseases as it plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, asthma, cancer, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, prolonged use of anti-inflammatory drugs is usually accompanied with undesirable effects and hence more patients tend to seek for natural compounds as alternative medicine. Considering the fact above, there is an urgency to discover and develop potential novel, safe and efficacious natural compounds as drug candidates for future anti-inflammatory therapy. Genistein belongs to the flavonoid family, in the subgroup of isoflavones. It is a phytoestrogen that is mainly derived from legumes. It is a naturally occurring chemical constituent with a similar chemical structure to mammalian estrogens. It is claimed to exert many beneficial effects on health, such as protection against osteoporosis, reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, alleviation of postmenopausal symptoms and anticancer properties. In the past, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of genistein. Henceforth, this review aims to summarize the anti-inflammatory properties of genistein linking with the signaling pathways and mediators that are involved in the inflammatory response as well as its toxicity profile. The current outcomes are analysed to highlight the prospect as a lead compound for drug discovery. Data was collected using PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink and Scopus databases. Results showed that genistein possessed strong anti-inflammatory activities through inhibition of various signaling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), prostaglandins (PGs), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). A comprehensive assessment of the mechanism of action in anti-inflammatory effects of genistein is included. However, evidence for the pharmacological effects is still lacking. Further studies using various animal models to assess pharmacological effects such as toxicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and bioavailability studies are required before clinical studies can be conducted. This review will highlight the potential use of genistein as a lead compound for future drug development as an anti-inflammatory agent.

The fish early-life stage sublethal toxicity syndrome - A high-dose baseline toxicity response

A large number of toxicity studies report abnormalities in early life-stage (ELS) fish that are described here as a sublethal toxicity syndrome (TxSn_FELS) and generally include a reduced heart rate, edemas (yolk sac and cardiac), and a variety of morphological abnormalities. The TxSn_FELS is very common and not diagnostic for any chemical or class of chemicals. This sublethal toxicity syndrome is mostly observed at high exposure concentrations and appears to be a baseline, non-specific toxicity response; however, it can also occur at low doses by specific action. Toxicity metrics for this syndrome generally occur at concentrations just below those causing mortality and have been reported for a large number of diverse chemicals. Predictions based on tissue concentrations or quantitative-structure activity relationship (QSAR) models support the designation of baseline toxicity for many of the tested chemicals, which is confirmed by observed values. Given the sheer number of disparate chemicals causing the TxSn_FELS and correlation with QSAR derived partitioning; the only logical conclusion for these high-dose responses is baseline toxicity by nonspecific action and not a lock and key type receptor response. It is important to recognize that many chemicals can act both as baseline toxicants and specific acting toxicants likely via receptor interaction and it is not possible to predict those threshold doses from baseline toxicity. We should search out these specific low-dose responses for ecological risk assessment and not rely on high-concentration toxicity responses to guide environmental protection. The goal for toxicity assessment should not be to characterize toxic responses at baseline toxicity concentrations, but to evaluate chemicals for their most toxic potential. Additional aspects of this review evaluated the fish ELS teratogenic responses in relation to mammalian oral LD50s and explored potential key events responsible for baseline toxicity.

Prunetin inhibits nitric oxide activity and induces apoptosis in urinary bladder cancer cells via CASP3 and TNF-α genes

BACKGROUND

Urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is considered one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. Complementary and integrative approaches for the treatment of bladder cancer, such as the intake of isoflavonoid phytoestrogens, are of increasing interest due to the risk of mortality and long-term morbidity associated with surgical procedures. The biological effects of prunetin, one of the less-studied phytoestrogens, have not yet been examined in this respect. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the efficacy of prunetin on UBC cells (RT-4). METHODS AND RESULTS: The cytotoxicity and nitric oxide synthase activities of prunetin were determined in cell cultures. The expression of apoptosis-related genes was determined with RT-PCR. Cell cycle assays were performed using a flow cytometer and cellular apoptotic rate was measured. The results suggested that prunetin has cytotoxic effects at 21.11 µg/mL on RT-4 cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that prunetin induced apoptosis and arrested th cell cycle in the G₀/G₁ phase. Prunetin exposure was associated with increases in CASP3 and TNF-α gene expression in RT-4 cells at doses of 21.11 and 42.22 µg/mL, respectively. Strong nitric oxide inhibition was observed at IC₅₀ of 5.18 µg/mL under macrophage mediated inflammatory circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS

Prunetin possesses anti-cancer properties and may be a candidate compound for the prevention of UBC. This is the first study that evaluated prunetin for its in vitro antitumor activities, clarified its possible apoptotic molecular mechanism and provided novel insights into its anti-inflammatory nature and effects on the expression of related key genes.

The Gene Regulatory Roles of Herbal Extracts on the Growth, Immune System, and Reproduction of Fish

The crucial need for safe and healthy aquatic animals obligates researchers in aquaculture to investigate alternative and beneficial additives. Medicinal herbals and their extracts are compromised with diverse effects on the performances of aquatic animals. These compounds can affect growth performance and stimulate the immune system when used in fish diet. In addition, the use of medicinal herbs and their extracts can reduce oxidative stress induced by several stressors during fish culture. Correspondingly, aquatic animals could gain increased resistance against infectious pathogens and environmental stressors. Nevertheless, the exact mode of action where these additives can affect aquatic animals' performances is still not well documented. Understanding the mechanistic role of herbal supplements and their derivatives is a vital tool to develop further the strategies and application of these additives for feasible and sustainable aquaculture. Gene-related studies have clarified the detailed information on the herbal supplements' mode of action when administered orally in aquafeed. Several review articles have presented the potential roles of medicinal herbs on the performances of aquatic animals. However, this review article discusses the outputs of studies conducted on aquatic animals fed dietary, medicinal herbs, focusing on the gene expression related to growth and immune performances. Furthermore, a particular focus is directed to the expected influence of herbal supplements on the reproduction of aquatic animals.

Influence of triphenyltin on morphologic abnormalities and the thyroid hormone system in early-stage zebrafish (Danio rerio)

In the present study, we assessed the negative effects of triphenyltin (TPT) on zebrafish (Danio rerio) by exposing embryos and early-stage larvae to various concentrations of TPT from 2 h after fertilization (haf) until 30 days after hatching (dah). Whether test groups were fed or fasted during ecotoxicity studies using fish models has varied historically, and whether this experimental condition influences test results is unknown. Here, we confirmed that the lethal concentration of TPT to embryo and early-stage larvae (i.e., 3 dah or younger) showed in fed (lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC); 6.34 μg/L) and fasted (LOEC; 6.84 μg/L) groups. In addition, 84% and 100% of the larvae in the 2.95 and 6.64 μg/L exposure groups, respectively, had uninflated swim bladders; all affected larvae died within 9 dah. This finding suggests that morphologic abnormalities in early larval zebrafish are useful as endpoints for predicting the lethality of chemical substances after hatching. We then assessed the expression of several genes in the thyroid hormone pathway, which regulates swim bladder development in many fish species, including zebrafish. Larvae exposed to 6.64 μg/L TPT showed significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of thyroid hormone receptor α (trα) and trβ but not of thyroid stimulating hormone β subunit. These findings suggest that TPT disrupts the thyroid system in zebrafish.

Alternative model organisms for toxicological fingerprinting of relevant parameters in food and nutrition

In the field of (food) toxicology, there is a strong trend of replacing animal trials with alternative methods for the assessment of adverse health effects in humans. The replacement of animal trials is not only driven by ethical concerns but also by the number of potential testing substances (food additives, packaging material, contaminants, and toxicants), which is steadily increasing. In vitro 2D cell culture applications in combination with in silico modeling might provide an applicable first response. However, those systems lack accurate predictions of metabolic actions. Thus, alternative in vivo models could fill the gap between cell culture and animal trials. In this review, we highlight relevant studies in the field and spotlight the applicability of alternative models, including C. elegans, D. rerio, Drosophila, HET-CAM and Lab-on-a-chip.

Genistein Induces Adipogenic and Autophagic Effects in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Adipose Tissue: In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Soybeans are one of the most used alternative dietary ingredients in aquafeeds. However, they contain phytoestrogens like genistein (GE), which can have an impact on fish metabolism and health. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of GE on lipid metabolism, apoptosis, and autophagy in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Primary cultured preadipocytes were incubated with GE at different concentrations, 10 or 100 μM, and 1 μM 17β-estradiol (E2). Furthermore, juveniles received an intraperitoneal injection of GE at 5 or 50 µg/g body weight, or E2 at 5 µg/g. In vitro, GE 100 μM increased lipid accumulation and reduced cell viability, apparently involving an autophagic process, indicated by the higher LC3-II protein levels, and higher lc3b and cathepsin d transcript levels achieved after GE 10 μM. In vivo, GE 50 µg/g upregulated the gene expression of fatty acid synthase (fas) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in adipose tissue, suggesting enhanced lipogenesis, whereas it increased hormone-sensitive lipase in liver, indicating a lipolytic response. Besides, autophagy-related genes increased in the tissues analyzed mainly after GE 50 µg/g treatment. Overall, these findings suggest that an elevated GE administration could lead to impaired adipocyte viability and lipid metabolism dysregulation in rainbow trout.

Grape seed proanthocyanidins improves mitochondrial function and reduces oxidative stress through an increase in sirtuin 3 expression in EA.hy926 cells in high glucose condition

Proanthocyanidins are phenolic compounds abundant in the diet, commonly found in grapes and derivatives, foods known for their health-promoting benefits. There is previous evidence showing the antidiabetic activity of proanthocyanidins, however, their mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated. This study evaluated the capacity of grape seed proanthocyanidins extract (GSPE) to modulate oxidative stress, nitric oxide levels, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and sirtuin expression in endothelial cells EA.hy926 under high glucose condition. In addition, the possible toxic effects of GSPE was evaluated in a zebrafish embryos model. The results showed that GSPE was able to enhance cell viability and avoid the disturbance in redox metabolism induced by high glucose. Moreover, GSPE was able to avoid mitochondria dysfunction and the increased in p53 and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase expression induced by high glucose exposition. These effects were attributed to the increase in expression of sirtuin 3, a protein able to regulate mitochondrial function. GSPE in an effective concentration did not show toxic effects in zebrafish embryos model. Taken together, these data elucidate the key molecular target of GSPE for future pharmacological interventions in diabetic patients.

Herbal Active Ingredients: An Emerging Potential for the Prevention and Treatment of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common subtype of differentiated thyroid cancers in Asian coastal cities, where the patients have increased risk of potentially high or excessive iodine intake. Given the high metastasis and recurrence of patients with BRAF^V600E mutation, the mortality rate of thyroid cancer has recently shown an upward trend. A variety of therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have been used to treat thyroid cancer, but these therapies still have limitations, including postoperative complications, drug resistance, poor efficacy, or serious side effects. Recent studies have shown the potential of active ingredients derived from herbal medicine in inhibiting PTC via various cell signaling pathways. Some plant-derived compounds, such as apigenin, genistein, and curcumin, are also known to prevent and treat PTC. This article summarizes the recent advances in the structure-functional impact of anti-PTC active ingredients and their effects on PTC cells and tumor microenvironments with an emphasis on their challenges from basic research to clinical practice.

Combined Ion-Trapping and Mass Balance Models To Describe the pH-Dependent Uptake and Toxicity of Acidic and Basic Pharmaceuticals in Zebrafish Embryos ( Danio rerio)

The aim of the current study was to understand and develop models to predict the pH-dependent toxicity of ionizable pharmaceuticals in embryos of the zebrafish Danio rerio. We found a higher uptake and toxicity with increasing neutral fraction of acids (diclofenac, genistein, naproxen, torasemide, and warfarin) and bases (metoprolol and propranolol). Simple mass balance models accounting for the partitioning to lipids and proteins in the zebrafish embryo were found to be suitable to predict the bioconcentration after 96 h of exposure if pH values did not differ much from the internal pH of 7.55. For other pH values, a kinetic ion-trap model for the zebrafish embryo explained the pH dependence of biouptake and toxicity. The total internal lethal concentrations killing 50% of the zebrafish embryos (ILC₅₀) were calculated from the measured BCF and LC₅₀. The resulting ILC₅₀ were independent of external pH. Critical membrane concentrations were deduced by an internal mass balance model, and apart from diclofenac, whose specific toxicity in fish had already been established, all pharmaceuticals were confirmed to act as baseline toxicants in zebrafish.