Assessing the anticancer effects associated with food products and/or nutraceuticals using in vitro and in vivo preclinical development-related pharmacological tests

Effect of anti-inflammatory molecules from food on organoids derived from adenomatous polyps of FAP subjects

INTRODUCTION

Individuals with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) or APC-associated polyposis, an autosomal dominant inherited condition, develop multiple adenomatous polyps and have an increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A change in diet can help reduce cancer risk, and several dietary components have an antitumor effect. We aimed to evaluate the potential of the anti-inflammatory and anticancer substances quercetin (QER), epigallocatechin gallate (EGG) and fisetin (FIS) in decreasing the risk of CRC by reducing the growth of polyps in an organoid model.

METHODS

Patient-derived organoid (PDO) lines were generated from polyps obtained from patients with FAP undergoing prophylactic colectomy. PDOs were treated with QER, EGG, or FIS to determine their effect on cell growth. Changes in caspase 3/7 activity and expression of inflammation and apoptosis mediators were assessed by luminescent and colorimetric assays.

RESULTS

Three PDO lines with different inactivating pathogenic variants in the APC gene were developed using a combinatorial approach. FIS was the most active of the three substances tested, presenting the lowest IC50 in all PDO lines (range: 42.6-9.2 uM). The IC50 was defined as the concentration required to halve the number of cells after 72 hours. All molecules tested induced apoptosis through activation of caspases 3/7.

CONCLUSIONS

QER, EGG, and FIS can be easily taken from foods or dietary supplements, show toxicity on PDOs derived from adenomatous polyps, while they are known to be harmless on normal cells. Diets enriched with these substances could be potential supplemental treatments to reduce the risk of CRC in individuals with FAP.

Inhibition of Autophagy Aggravates Arachis hypogaea L. Skin Extracts-Induced Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

The skin of Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut or groundnut) is a rich source of polyphenols, which have been shown to exhibit a wider spectrum of noteworthy biological activities, including anticancer effects. However, the anticancer activity of peanut skin extracts against melanoma and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells remains elusive. In this study, we systematically investigated the cytotoxic, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-migration effects of peanut skin ethanolic extract and its fractions on melanoma and CRC cells. Cell viability results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (AHE) of peanut skin ethanolic crude extract and one of the methanolic fractions (AHE-2) from ethyl acetate extraction exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against melanoma and CRC cells but not in nonmalignant human skin fibroblasts. AHE and AHE-2 effectively modulated the cell cycle-related proteins, including the suppression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), phosphorylation of Retinoblastoma (p-Rb), E2F1, Cyclin A, and activation of tumor suppressor p53, which was associated with cell cycle arrest and paralleled their antiproliferative efficacies. AHE and AHE-2 could also induce caspase-dependent apoptosis and inhibit migration activities in melanoma and CRC cells. Moreover, it is noteworthy that autophagy, manifested by microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B) conversion and the aggregation of GFP-LC3, was detected after AHE and AHE-2 treatment and provided protective responses in cancer cells. Significantly, inhibition of autophagy enhanced AHE- and AHE-2-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Together, these findings not only elucidate the anticancer potential of peanut skin extracts against melanoma and CRC cells but also provide a new insight into autophagy implicated in peanut skin extracts-induced cancer cell death.

Natural products and mitochondrial allies in colorectal cancer therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a globally prevalent malignancy with a high potential for metastasis. Existing cancer treatments have limitations, including drug resistance and adverse effects. Researchers are striving to develop effective therapies to address these challenges. Impressively, contemporary research has discovered that many natural products derived from foods, plants, insects, and marine invertebrates can suppress the progression, metastasis, and invasion of CRC. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search of the CNKI, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to April 2023 to evaluate the efficacy of natural products targeting mitochondria to fight against CRC. Mitochondria are intracellular energy factories involved in cell differentiation, signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. The identified natural products have been classified and summarized based on their mechanisms of action. These findings indicate that natural products can induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting the mitochondrial respiratory chain, ROS elevation, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of pro-apoptotic factors, modulation of the Bcl-2 protein family to facilitate cytochrome c release, induction of apoptotic vesicle activity by activating the caspase protein family, and selective targeting of mitochondrial division. Furthermore, diverse apoptotic signaling pathways targeting mitochondria, such as the MAPK, p53, STAT3, JNK and AKT pathway, have been triggered by natural products. Natural products such as diosgenin, allopurinol, and clausenidin have demonstrated low toxicity, high efficacy, and multi-targeted properties. Mitochondria-targeting natural products have great potential for overcoming the challenges of CRC therapy.

Signaling pathways driving ocular malignancies and their targeting by bioactive phytochemicals

Ocular cancers represent a rare pathology. The American Cancer Society estimates that 3,360 cases of ocular cancer occur annually in the United States. The major types of cancers of the eye include ocular melanoma (also known as uveal melanoma), ocular lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. While uveal melanoma is one of the primary intraocular cancers with the highest occurrence in adults, retinoblastoma remains the most common primary intraocular cancer in children, and squamous cell carcinoma presents as the most common conjunctival cancer. The pathophysiology of these diseases involves specific cell signaling pathways. Oncogene mutations, tumor suppressor mutations, chromosome deletions/translocations and altered proteins are all described as causal events in developing ocular cancer. Without proper identification and treatment of these cancers, vision loss, cancer spread, and even death can occur. The current treatments for these cancers involve enucleation, radiation, excision, laser treatment, cryotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments present a significant burden to the patient that includes a possible loss of vision and a myriad of side effects. Therefore, alternatives to traditional therapy are urgently needed. Intercepting the signaling pathways for these cancers with the use of naturally occurring phytochemicals could be a way to relieve both cancer burden and perhaps even prevent cancer occurrence. This research aims to present a comprehensive review of the signaling pathways involved in various ocular cancers, discuss current therapeutic options, and examine the potential of bioactive phytocompounds in the prevention and targeted treatment of ocular neoplasms. The current limitations, challenges, pitfalls, and future research directions are also discussed.

Mechanism-Driven and Clinically Focused Development of Botanical Foods as Multitarget Anticancer Medicine: Collective Perspectives and Insights from Preclinical Studies, IND Applications and Early-Phase Clinical Trials

Cancer progression and mortality remain challenging because of current obstacles and limitations in cancer treatment. Continuous efforts are being made to explore complementary and alternative approaches to alleviate the suffering of cancer patients. Epidemiological and nutritional studies have indicated that consuming botanical foods is linked to a lower risk of cancer incidence and/or improved cancer prognosis after diagnosis. From these observations, a variety of preclinical and clinical studies have been carried out to evaluate the potential of botanical food products as anticancer medicines. Unfortunately, many investigations have been poorly designed, and encouraging preclinical results have not been translated into clinical success. Botanical products contain a wide variety of chemicals, making them more difficult to study than traditional drugs. In this review, with the consideration of the regulatory framework of the USFDA, we share our collective experiences and lessons learned from 20 years of defining anticancer foods, focusing on the critical aspects of preclinical studies that are required for an IND application, as well as the checkpoints needed for early-phase clinical trials. We recommend a developmental pipeline that is based on mechanisms and clinical considerations.

Molecular mechanism of ion channel protein TMEM16A regulated by natural product of narirutin for lung cancer adjuvant treatment

Cancer chemotherapy drugs are widely criticized for their serious side effects and low cure rate. Therefore, adjuvant therapy as a combination with chemotherapy administration is being accepted by many patients. However, unclear drug targets and mechanisms limit the application of adjuvant treatment. In this study, we confirmed TMEM16A is a key drug target for lung adenocarcinoma, and narirutin is an effective anti-lung adenocarcinoma natural product. Virtual screening and fluorescence experiments confirmed that narirutin inhibits the molecular target TMEM16A, which is specific high-expression in lung adenocarcinoma. Molecular dynamics simulations and electrophysiological experiments revealed the precise molecular mechanism of narirutin regulating TMEM16A. The anticancer effect of narirutin and its synergistic effect on cisplatin were explored by cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis assays. The signaling pathways regulated by narirutin were analyzed by western blot. Tumor xenograft mice experiments demonstrated the synergistic anticancer effect of narirutin and cisplatin, and the side effects of high concentrations of cisplatin were almost eliminated. Pharmacokinetic experiments showed the biological safety of narirutin is satisfactory in vivo. Based on the significant anticancer effect and high biosafety, naringin has great potential as a functional food in the adjuvant treatment of lung cancer.

Lactucin, a Bitter Sesquiterpene from Cichorium intybus, Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation by Downregulating the MAPK and Central Carbon Metabolism Pathway

Lung cancer, especially adenocarcinoma, is the second most occurring and highest fatality-causing cancer worldwide. Many natural anticancer compounds, such as sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), show promising anticancer properties. Herein, we examined Lactucin, an SL from the plant Cichorium intybus, for its cytotoxicity, apoptotic-inducing, cell cycle inhibiting capacity, and associated protein expression. We also constructed a biotinylated Lactucin probe to isolate interacting proteins and identified them. We found that Lactucin stops the proliferation of A549 and H2347 lung adenocarcinoma cell lines while not affecting normal lung cell MRC5. It also significantly inhibits the cell cycle at G0/G1 stage and induces apoptosis. The western blot analysis shows that Lactucin downregulates the MAPK pathway, cyclin, and cyclin-dependent kinases, inhibiting DNA repair while upregulating p53, p21, Bax, PTEN, and downregulation of Bcl-2. An increased p53 in response to DNA damage upregulates p21, Bax, and PTEN. In an activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) analysis of A549 cell's protein lysate using a biotinylated Lactucin probe, we found that Lactucin binds PGM, PKM, and LDHA PDH, four critical enzymes in central carbon metabolism in cancer cells, limiting cancer cells in its growth; thus, Lactucin inhibits cancer cell proliferation by downregulating the MAPK and the Central Carbon Metabolism pathway.

Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with about 90% of renal malignancies, and its incidence is increasing globally. Plant-derived compounds have gained significant attention in the scientific community for their preventative and therapeutic effects on cancer. To evaluate the anticancer potential of phytocompounds for RCC, we compiled a comprehensive and systematic review of the available literature. Our work was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. The literature search was performed using scholarly databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect and keywords such as renal cell carcinoma, phytochemicals, cancer, tumor, proliferation, apoptosis, prevention, treatment, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Based on in vitro results, various phytochemicals, such as phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sulfur-containing compounds, suppressed cell viability, proliferation and growth, showed cytotoxic activity, inhibited invasion and migration, and enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in RCC. In various animal tumor models, phytochemicals suppressed renal tumor growth, reduced tumor size, and hindered angiogenesis and metastasis. The relevant antineoplastic mechanisms involved upregulation of caspases, reduction in cyclin activity, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via modulation of a plethora of cell signaling pathways. Clinical studies demonstrated a reduced risk for the development of kidney cancer and enhancement of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Both preclinical and clinical studies displayed significant promise of utilizing phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of RCC. Further research, confirming the mechanisms and regulatory pathways, along with randomized controlled trials, are needed to establish the use of phytochemicals in clinical practice.

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia management using multitargeting bioactive natural compounds: A systematic and critical review

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL), a malignancy of the lymphoid line of blood cells, accounts for a large percentage of all childhood leukemia cases. Although the 5-year survival rate for children with ALL has greatly improved over years, using chemotherapeutics as its first-line treatment still causes short- and long-term side effects. Furthermore, induction of toxicity and resistance, as well as the high cost, limit their application. Phytochemicals, with remarkable cancer preventive and chemotherapeutic characteristics, may serve as old solutions to new challenges. Bioactive plant secondary metabolites have exhibited promising antileukemic and adjunctive effects by targeting various molecular processes, including autophagy, cell cycle, angiogenesis, and extrinsic/intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Although numerous reports have shown that numerous plant secondary metabolites can interfere with the progression of malignancies, including leukemia, there was no comprehensive review article on the effect of phytochemicals on pALL. This systematic review aims to provide critical and cohesive analysis of the potential of various naturally-occurring metabolites in the management of pALL with the understanding of underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of action.

Synthetic and Naturally Occurring Heterocyclic Anticancer Compounds with Multiple Biological Targets

Cancer is a complex group of diseases initiated by abnormal cell division with the potential of spreading to other parts of the body. The advancement in the discoveries of omics and bio- and cheminformatics has led to the identification of drugs inhibiting putative targets including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family receptors, fibroblast growth factors (FGF), platelet derived growth factors (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), thymidine phosphorylase (TP), and neuropeptide Y4 (NY4), amongst others. Drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and drug ineffectiveness for various cancer chemo-treatments are widespread. Due to this, efficient therapeutic agents targeting two or more of the putative targets in different cancer cells are proposed as cutting edge treatments. Heterocyclic compounds, both synthetic and natural products, have, however, contributed immensely to chemotherapeutics for treatments of various diseases, but little is known about such compounds and their multimodal anticancer properties. A compendium of heterocyclic synthetic and natural product multitarget anticancer compounds, their IC50, and biological targets of inhibition are therefore presented in this review.

Recent trends and advances in the epidemiology, synergism, and delivery system of lycopene as an anti-cancer agent

Dietary interventions are key nutritional strategies to prevent, improve, and prolong the survival of cancer patients. Lycopene, one of the strongest natural antioxidants, and its biologically active metabolites, have shown significant potential to prevent a variety of cancers, including prostate, breast, and stomach cancers, making it a promising anti-cancer agent. We review the potential regulatory mechanisms and epidemiological evidences of lycopene and its metabolites to delay the progression of cancers at different developmental stages. Recent studies have revealed that lycopene and its metabolites mediate multiple molecular mechanisms in cancer treatment such as redox homeostasis, selective anti-proliferation, apoptosis, anti-angiogenesis, tumour microenvironment regulation, and anti-metastasis and anti-invasion. Gut microbes and cholesterol metabolism are also the potential regulation targets of lycopene and its metabolites. As a dietary supplement, the synergistic interaction of lycopene with other drugs and nutrients is highlighted especially due to its binding activity with other nutrients in the diet found central to the fight against cancer. Furthermore, the application of several of novel lycopene delivery carriers are on the rise including nanoemulsions, nanostructured liposomes, and polymer nanoparticles for cancer prevention as discussed in this review with future needed development. Moreover, the synergistic mechanism between lycopene and other nutrients or drugs and novel delivery systems of lycopene should now be deeply investigated to improve its clinical application in cancer intervention in the future.

Cancer Preventive and Therapeutic Potential of Banana and Its Bioactive Constituents: A Systematic, Comprehensive, and Mechanistic Review

Background

The banana (Musa spp.) plant produces elongated and edible fruit. The two main parthenocarpic species of banana are Musa accuminata Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla. There are several health-promoting and disease-preventing effects of Musa accuminata Colla, which are attributed to its important bioactive compounds, including phenolics, carotenoids, biogenic amines, phytosterols, and volatile oils, found in the stem, fruit, pseudostem, leaf, flower, sap, inner trunk, root, and inner core. Banana possesses numerous pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, leishmanicidal, anthelmintic, and anticancer properties. Various individual studies have reported anticancer effects of different components of the banana plant. However, according to our understanding, an up-to-date, systematic, and critical analysis of existing scientific results has not yet been carried out.

Objectives

This review aims to include a thorough assessment of banana and its phytochemicals for cancer prevention and therapy with a focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of action.

Methods

The available research studies on anticancer activities of banana extracts, fractions and pure compounds were collected using various scholarly databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, based on predetermined selection criteria.

Results

Various banana extracts, fractions, and phytoconstituents, including ferulic acid, protocatechualdehyde, 2-pentanone, 4-epicyclomusalenone, cycloeucalenol acetate, and chlorogenic acid, have been shown to exhibit cancer preventative and anticancer activities in breast, cervical, colorectal, esophageal, hepatic, oral, prostate, and skin cancers. Bioactive components present in bananas have exhibited antiproliferative, cell cycle arrest-inducing, apoptotic, anti-adhesive, anti-invasive, and antiangiogenic effects through modulation of diverse, dysregulated oncogenic signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Based on the critical analysis of available literature, banana products and phytoconstituents show enormous potential for future development of drugs for cancer prevention and therapy. However, more mechanistic studies and well-designed clinical trials should be performed to establish its efficacy.

Knowledge graphs and their applications in drug discovery

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge graphs have proven to be promising systems of information storage and retrieval. Due to the recent explosion of heterogeneous multimodal data sources generated in the biomedical domain, and an industry shift toward a systems biology approach, knowledge graphs have emerged as attractive methods of data storage and hypothesis generation.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the author summarizes the applications of knowledge graphs in drug discovery. They evaluate their utility; differentiating between academic exercises in graph theory, and useful tools to derive novel insights, highlighting target identification and drug repurposing as two areas showing particular promise. They provide a case study on COVID-19, summarizing the research that used knowledge graphs to identify repurposable drug candidates. They describe the dangers of degree and literature bias, and discuss mitigation strategies.

EXPERT OPINION

Whilst knowledge graphs and graph-based machine learning have certainly shown promise, they remain relatively immature technologies. Many popular link prediction algorithms fail to address strong biases in biomedical data, and only highlight biological associations, failing to model causal relationships in complex dynamic biological systems. These problems need to be addressed before knowledge graphs reach their true potential in drug discovery.

Nanosponges Encapsulated Phytochemicals for Targeting Cancer: A Review

Cancer is the most ruinous disease globally. Natural products have impressive characteristics, such as exceptional chemical versatility, chemical and biological properties of macromolecular specificity and less toxicity which make them good leads in finding novel drugs. The phytochemicals not only help to prevent but also treat chronic cancerous conditions. The present review attempts to put forth some selected anticancer phytochemicals that had reported omics characteristic and specifically suppressed cancer with in vitro and in vivo activity. Certain issues pertaining to anticancer phytochemicals like delivery to target site in the body and achieving controlled release in order to prevent overdoses have been a major concern for medical researchers worldwide. The most conventional chemotherapy protocols for the treatment of cancer lead to adverse effects that limit biological efficacy and compromise patient outcomes. In order to defeat incompetency of current and upcoming natural anticancer agents and to attain targeted drug delivery with good efficacy and fewer side effects, there is a special focus on novel nanostructured particles and nano approaches consisting of carrier system. Recent studies have led to the discovery of mesoporous and nanoporous drug delivery mechanisms, such as inorganic or organic-based nanosponges. The metal based inorganic systems have exhibited toxicity and non-biodegradable character in vivo. As a result of problems related to inorganic systems, major shift of research from inorganic to organic nanosystems has occurred. About decades ago, researchers developed organic nanosponges to control the limitation of drug delivery and cancer therapies. This review article discusses the development and application of nanosponges encapsulated phytochemicals for cancer therapy.

Anticancer potential of garlic and its bioactive constituents: A systematic and comprehensive review

Vegetables of the Allium genus, such as garlic (Allium sativum L.), onions, shallots, leaks, and chives, have been used for many years for food consumption and for medicinal purposes. Historical medical texts have indicated the therapeutic applications of garlic as an antitumor, laxative, diuretic, antibacterial and antifungal agent. Specifically, garlic's antitumor abilities have been traced back 3500 years as a chemotherapeutic agent used in Egypt. Other beneficial effects of garlic consumption include lowering blood pressure, blood cholesterol, sugar and lipids. The processing and aging of garlic result in the production of non-toxic organosulfur by-products. These sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, alliin, S-allylcysteine, and S-allylmercaptocysteine, impact various stages of carcinogenesis. The anticancer mechanisms of action of these garlic-derived phytochemicals include altering mitochondrial permeability, inhibiting angiogenesis, enhancing antioxidative and proapoptotic properties, and regulating cell proliferation. All these effects of garlic's sulfur-compounds have been demonstrated in various human cancers. The intent of this literature research is to explore the potential of garlic-derived products and bioactive organosulfur compounds as cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. This investigation employs criteria for systematic review and critically analyzes published in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Concerns and limitations that have arisen in past studies regarding standards of measurement, bioavailability, and method of delivery are addressed. Overall, it is hoped that through this systematic and comprehensive review, future researchers can be acquainted with the updated data assembled on anticancer properties of garlic and its phytoconstituents.

Thymoquinone Augments Cyclophosphamide-Mediated Inhibition of Cell Proliferation in Breast Cancer Cells

Objective:

Cancer chemotherapy at the recommended doses is largely associated with toxicity, and also it is not effective enough to reduce the advancement of the disease at lower doses. Thymoquinone (TQ) is an active compound derived from black seeds (Nigella sativa) which exhibits anticancer activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the synergistic effect of TQ alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide (cyclo), and to unravel the role of TQ in fatty acid synthase (FASN) mediated molecular signaling in Her2 + and Her2- breast cancer cell lines.

Methods:

The effect of TQ on the growth of Her2+ SKBR-3 and Her2- MDA-231 breast cancer lines were evaluated as percent cell viability by cytotoxicity-based MTT assay. The analysis of cell cycle arrest was done through flow-cytometry followed by Western blot and RT-PCR to detect signaling events in the cells.

Results:

The data showed that TQ-cyclo (0.5mM-10µM) combination significantly inhibited the proliferation through the 5.49% and 57.72% accumulation of cells in sub-G1 and G1 respectively as 12% cells were shifted from G2/M phase in Her2+ breast cancer cells. Similarly, TQ-cyclo (0.5mM-20µM) combination exhibited that the 16.6% cells were arrested in Sub-G1 and only 3.54% cells were remained in G2/M phase as it was 22.89% in DMSO control in Her-2- breast cancers cells. Though TQ alone or in combination with cyclo alleviated the PI3K/Akt signaling by downregulating the phosphorylation of Akt and upregulating the PTEN, no changes was observed in FASN and Her-2 as well in both type of cells. The significant decreased expression of cyclin D1 was found in TQ-cyclo combinations.

Conclusion:

The current findings suggested that TQ can alter the cell cycle progression and induce cell death independent of FASN mediated signaling. In terms of clinical perspective, the present study clearly showed that TQ can broadly augment the effect of cyclo in breast cancer cases irrespective of Her-2+ or Her-.

Potential of Nanomaterial Applications in Dietary Supplements and Foods for Special Medical Purposes

Dietary supplements and foods for special medical purposes are special medical products classified according to the legal basis. They are regulated, for example, by the European Food Safety Authority and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as by various national regulations issued most frequently by the Ministry of Health and/or the Ministry of Agriculture of particular countries around the world. They constitute a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants or other compounds with a nutritional or physiological effect contained in the food/feed, alone or in combination, intended for direct consumption in small measured amounts. As nanotechnology provides "a new dimension" accompanied with new or modified properties conferred to many current materials, it is widely used for the production of a new generation of drug formulations, and it is also used in the food industry and even in various types of nutritional supplements. These nanoformulations of supplements are being prepared especially with the purpose to improve bioavailability, protect active ingredients against degradation, or reduce side effects. This contribution comprehensively summarizes the current state of the research focused on nanoformulated human and veterinary dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods for special medical purposes, their particular applications in various food products and drinks as well as the most important related guidelines, regulations and directives.

Targeting Cancer with Phytochemicals via Their Fine Tuning of the Cell Survival Signaling Pathways

The role of phytochemicals as potential prodrugs or therapeutic substances against tumors has come in the spotlight in the very recent years, thanks to the huge mass of encouraging and promising results of the in vitro activity of many phenolic compounds from plant raw extracts against many cancer cell lines. Little but important evidence can be retrieved from the clinical and nutritional scientific literature, where flavonoids are investigated as major pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic compounds. However, the actual role of these compounds in cancer is still far to be fully elucidated. Many of these phytochemicals act in a pleiotropic and poorly specific manner, but, more importantly, they are able to tune the reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling to activate a survival or a pro-autophagic and pro-apoptosis mechanism, depending on the oxidative stress-responsive endowment of the targeted cell. This review will try to focus on this issue.

Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of Aedes aegypti larvicidal and biting deterrent compounds from Veratrum lobelianum

An ethanol extract fromVeratrum lobelianumBernh. rhizomes showed larvicidal activity with LC50values of 11.79 ppm and 89.9 ppm against 1stand 4thinstar larvae, respectively, at 24 h post-treatment. The extract also showed proportion not biting (PNB) value of 0.76 at 100 μg/cm2against females ofAe.aegypti. Systematic bioassay-guided fractionation ofV.lobelianumextract resulted in the isolation of five compounds that were identified as ethyl palmitate (1), ethyl linoleate (2), β-sitosterol (3), resveratrol (4) and oxyresveratrol (5) by GC-MS,1H-NMR, and13C-NMR techniques, comparison with literature data, and confirmation with authentic compounds. Compound2exhibited larvicidal activity with an LC50value of 24.1 (22.0-26.2) ppm whereas1was inactive. β-Sitosterol (3) displayed the highest larvicidal activity with LC50= 1.7 (1.3-12.3) ppm and LC90= 5.1 (3.4-13.8) ppm. Compounds4and5had larvicidal activity with LC50values of 18.5 (15.3-23.3) and 22.6 (19.0-26.8) ppm, respectively, and had an equivalent PNB values of 0.75 at 25 nmol/cm2. In addition,4and5were explored for their human-based repellency againstAe.aegypti, attractiveness against male medfliesCeratitis capitata, and also evaluated against series of human carcinoma cells (A549, HEK293, HeLa, SH-SY5Y); however, no significant activity was found.

Effect of Methanolic Extract of Dandelion Roots on Cancer Cell Lines and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway

Ethnomedicinal knowledge of plant-derived bioactives could help us in discovering new therapeutic compounds of great potential. Certainly, dandelion has been used in traditional ethno-medicinal systems (i.e., Chinese, Arabian, Indian, and Native American) to treat different types of cancer. Though, dandelion is highly vigorous, but the potential mode of action is still unclear. In the current study, the antiproliferative activity of methanolic extracts of dandelion root (MEDr) on cell viability of HepG2, MCF7, HCT116, and normal Hs27 was investigated. It was observed that MEDr (500 μg/mL) drastically decreased the growth of HepG2 cell line, while the effect on MCF7 and HCT116 cell lines was less pronounced and no effect has been observed in Hs27 cell lines. The MEDr also enhanced the phosphorylation level of AMPK of HepG2 cells, which considered crucial in cancer treatment and other metabolic diseases. The AMPK activation by MEDr noticed in the current study has never been reported previously. The results regarding the number of apoptotic cells (HepG2 cells) were in line with the cell viability test. The current observations clearly demonstrated the potency of MEDr against liver cancer with validation that dandelion could control AMPK and thus cancer in the treated cell lines.