Understanding apoptotic induction by Sargentodoxa cuneata-Patrinia villosa herb pair via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling in colorectal cancer cells using network pharmacology and cellular studies

The effect and mechanism of areca nut in ovarian cancer were investigated based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer ranks as the leading cause of death among gynecological malignancies[1, 2]. Areca nut has demonstrated notable antitumor activity, yet its underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the potential of areca nut - derived active ingredients in regulating ovarian cancer progression via the PTEN/AKT1 signaling axis.

METHODS

Targets related to areca nut were screened from the TCMSP database, while ovarian - cancer - associated targets were retrieved from GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. Intersection targets were identified using Venn analysis. Core pathways were annotated through enrichment analysis with Metascape and DAVID databases. Molecular docking was performed to validate the binding energy intensity between areca nut active ingredients and their corresponding receptors. In addition, the effect of arecoline on ovarian cancer cells was investigated in vitro.

RESULTS

A total of 50 common targets were identified from 139 areca nut - related targets and 1914 ovarian cancer - associated targets. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The core targets, PTEN (-5.3 kJ/mol) and AKT1 (-5.4 kJ/mol), exhibited strong binding to the active components of areca nut. Moreover, arecoline inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study provides a solid scientific basis for exploring the action mechanism of areca nut.

Overview and limitations of database in global traditional medicines: A narrative review

The study of traditional medicine has garnered significant interest, resulting in various research areas including chemical composition analysis, pharmacological research, clinical application, and quality control. The abundance of available data has made databases increasingly essential for researchers to manage the vast amount of information and explore new drugs. In this article we provide a comprehensive overview and summary of 182 databases that are relevant to traditional medicine research, including 73 databases for chemical component analysis, 70 for pharmacology research, and 39 for clinical application and quality control from published literature (2000-2023). The review categorizes the databases by functionality, offering detailed information on websites and capacities to facilitate easier access. Moreover, this article outlines the primary function of each database, supplemented by case studies to aid in database selection. A practical test was conducted on 68 frequently used databases using keywords and functionalities, resulting in the identification of highlighted databases. This review serves as a reference for traditional medicine researchers to choose appropriate databases and also provides insights and considerations for the function and content design of future databases.

P129, a pyrazole ring-containing isolongifolanone-derivate: synthesis and investigation of anti-glioma action mechanism

BACKGROUND

Cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK-2) is an important regulatory factor in the G1/S phase transition. CDK-2 targeting has been shown to suppress the viability of multiple cancers. However, the exploration and application of a CDK-2 inhibitor in the treatment of glioblastoma are sparse.

METHODS

We synthesized P129 based on isolongifolanone, a natural product with anti-tumor activity. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to predict the structural stability, affinity, and pharmacological and toxicological properties of P129. Binding analysis and CETSA verified the ability of P129 to target CDK-2. The effect of P129 on the biological behavior of glioma cells was analyzed by the cell counting kit-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and other experiments. Western blotting was used to detect the expression changes of proteins involved in the cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis and CETSA showed that P129 exhibited good intestinal absorption and blood-brain barrier penetrability together with high stability and affinity with CDK-2, with no developmental toxicity. The viability, proliferation, and migration of human glioma cells were significantly inhibited by P129 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and western blotting analyses showed G0/G1 arrest and lower CDK-2 expression in cells treated with P129 than in the controls. The apoptotic ratio of glioma cells increased significantly with increasing concentrations of P129 combined with karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis. Apoptosis occurred via the mitochondrial pathway.

CONCLUSION

The pyrazole ring-containing isolongifolanone derivate P129 exhibited promising anti-glioma activity by targeting CDK-2 and promoting apoptosis, indicating its potential importance as a new chemotherapeutic option for glioma.