Diterpenoid Tanshinones, the extract from Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) induced apoptosis in nine human cancer cell lines

Transcription factors in tanshinones: Emerging mechanisms of transcriptional regulation

Transcription factors play a crucial role in the biosynthesis of tanshinones, which are significant secondary metabolites derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza, commonly known as Danshen. These compounds have extensive pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects. This review delves into the roles of various transcription factor families, such as APETALA2/ethylene response factor, basic helix-loop-helix, myeloblastosis, basic leucine zipper, and WRKY domain-binding protein, in regulating the biosynthetic pathways of tanshinones. We discuss the emerging mechanisms by which these transcription factors influence the synthesis of tanshinones, both positively and negatively, by directly regulating gene expression or forming complex regulatory networks. Additionally, the review highlights the potential applications of these insights in enhancing tanshinone production through genetic and metabolic engineering, setting the stage for future advancements in medicinal plant research.

Study on the Antitumor Mechanism of Tanshinone IIA In Vivo and In Vitro through the Regulation of PERK-ATF4-HSPA5 Pathway-Mediated Ferroptosis

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge was first recorded in the Shennong Materia Medica Classic and is widely used to treat "the accumulation of symptoms and masses". The main active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Tanshinone IIA (TIIA), has shown anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antifibrosis, antibacterial, and antioxidative activities, etc. In this study, the results showed that TIIA could inhibit the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells and downregulate glutathione (GSH) and Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels; besides, TIIA induced the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and upregulated the total iron content. Based on network pharmacology analysis, the antitumor effect of TIIA was found to be focused on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mediated ferroptosis signaling pathway, with protein kinase R (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK)-activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)-heat shock 70 kDa protein 5 (HSPA5) as the main pathway. Herein, TIIA showed typical ferroptosis characteristics, and a ferroptosis inhibitor (ferrostatin-1) was used to verify the effect. The antitumor effects of TIIA, occurring through the inhibition of the PERK-ATF4-HSPA5 pathway, were further observed in vivo as significantly inhibited tumor growth and the improved pathological morphology of tumor tissue in H22-bearing mice. In summary, the antitumor mechanism of TIIA might be related to the downregulation of the activation of PERK-ATF4-HSPA5 pathway-mediated ferroptosis.

Diterpenoid Tanshinones Can Inhibit Lung Cancer Progression by Improving the Tumor Microenvironment and Downregulation of NF-κB Expression

Diterpenoid tanshinones (DTs) are a bioactive fraction extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of four compounds, namely, tanshinone IIA, tanshinone I, cryptotanshinone, and dihydrotanshinone. In this study, we aimed to propose a possible mechanism for the anti-lung cancer effect of DT. To do so, we utilized a lung cancer nude mice model and a lung cancer cell line (PC9) to investigate the effect of DT on lung cancer. We employed immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunofluorescence to analyze the pharmacological role of DT in the inhibition of lung cancer growth. The results showed that DT inhibited tumor growth, induced apoptosis in the nude mice model, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Additionally, DT inhibited PC9 lung cancer cells, growth, proliferation, and migration. The mechanism of action of DT involves not only directly inhibiting cell proliferation and migration but also improving the tumor microenvironment. DT significantly increased the expression of important intestinal gap junction proteins, such as zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and occludin I. This upregulation contributes to the reinforcement of the intestinal mucosal barrier, thereby reducing the paracellular transport of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) through the intestine. Consequently, the decreased LPS levels lead to the inhibition of NF-κB expression and downregulation of macrophage polarization, as indicated by the decreased expression of CD68. In conclusion, this study has confirmed that DT has anti-lung cancer properties by improving the inflammatory tumor microenvironment via regulating macrophage polarization and inhibiting LPS-associated immune response. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of DT action against lung cancer.

Mechanism of ferroptosis in breast cancer and research progress of natural compounds regulating ferroptosis

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide and its incidence increases with age, posing a significant threat to women's health globally. Due to the clinical heterogeneity of breast cancer, the majority of patients develop drug resistance and metastasis following treatment. Ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death dependent on iron, is characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxides, elevated levels of iron ions and lipid peroxidation. The underlying mechanisms and signalling pathways associated with ferroptosis are intricate and interconnected, involving various proteins and enzymes such as the cystine/glutamate antiporter, glutathione peroxidase 4, ferroptosis inhibitor 1 and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. Consequently, emerging research suggests that ferroptosis may offer a novel target for breast cancer treatment; however, the mechanisms of ferroptosis in breast cancer urgently require resolution. Additionally, certain natural compounds have been reported to induce ferroptosis, thereby interfering with breast cancer. Therefore, this review not only discusses the molecular mechanisms of multiple signalling pathways that mediate ferroptosis in breast cancer (including metastasis, invasion and proliferation) but also elaborates on the mechanisms by which natural compounds induce ferroptosis in breast cancer. Furthermore, this review summarizes potential compound types that may serve as ferroptosis inducers in future tumour cells, providing lead compounds for the development of ferroptosis-inducing agents. Last, this review proposes the potential synergy of combining natural compounds with traditional breast cancer drugs in the treatment of breast cancer, thereby suggesting future directions and offering new insights.

Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer: A review of its mechanism (Review)

Lung cancer is one of the commonest malignant tumors in the world today, causing millions of mortalities every year. New methods to treat lung cancer are urgently needed. Salviae miltiorrhiza Bunge is a common Chinese medicine, often used for promoting blood circulation. In the past 20 years, Salviae miltiorrhiza has made significant progress in the treatment of lung cancer and is considered to be one of the most promising methods to fight against the disease. A great amount of research has shown that the mechanism of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer mainly includes inhibiting the proliferation of lung cancer cells, promoting lung cancer cell apoptosis, inducing cell autophagy, regulating immunity and resisting angiogenesis. Research has shown that Salviae miltiorrhiza has certain effects on the resistance to chemotherapy drugs. The present review discussed the status and prospects of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer.

Terpenes with Antitumor Activity: A Patent Review

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a major public health concern, and is one of the leading causes of death globally. Surgical removal, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of them are treatment for cancer, many of which are ineffective or have serious side effects. In view of this, there is a search for new, more effective alternatives for cancer prevention and treatment. One possible source of compounds are natural products; among them, terpenes, a large class of organic compounds, have shown promise due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, and hypolipidemic properties, among others recorded in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to use a patent review to evaluate the development and use of terpenes, or formulations containing terpenes, in new therapeutic options for the treatment of various types of cancer.

METHODS

This patent review was carried out using the specialized patent databases of WIPO and Espacenet. The selection of patents was based on the following inclusion criteria which included pre-clinical and/or clinical trials, and demonstrated anti-tumor effects.

RESULTS

Eight patents were identified, six from China, and two from Japan. In this review, all patents confirmed having good antitumor activity for many types of cancer cells. In addition, the inventors indicate more studies pre-clinical and clinical trials giving greater clarity and accurate reflection of the activity of the products studied.

CONCLUSION

Natural products are an important source of compounds for use in the fight against cancer that can act synergistically, and help in the treatment of cancer.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Medical Plants from the Lamiaceae Family as Effective Sources of Active Compounds against Human Cancer Cell Lines

It is predicted that 1.8 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed worldwide in 2020; of these, the incidence of lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers will be 22%, 9%, 7%, and 5%, respectively according to the National Cancer Institute. As the global medical cost of cancer in 2020 will exceed about $150 billion, new approaches and novel alternative chemoprevention molecules are needed. Research indicates that the plants of the Lamiaceae family may offer such potential. The present study reviews selected species from the Lamiaceae and their active compounds that may have the potential to inhibit the growth of lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells; it examines the effects of whole extracts, individual compounds, and essential oils, and it discusses their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. The studied members of the Lamiaceae are sources of crucial phytochemicals that may be important modulators of cancer-related molecular targets and can be used as effective factors to support anti-tumor treatment.

Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Colon Cancer

The standard treatment for cancer is generally based on using cytotoxic drugs, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. However, the use of traditional treatments has received attention in recent years. The aim of the present work was to provide an overview of medicinal plants effective on colon cancer with special emphasis on bioactive components and underlying mechanisms of action. Various literature databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, were used and English language articles were considered. Based on literature search, 172 experimental studies and 71 clinical cases on 190 plants were included. The results indicate that grape, soybean, green tea, garlic, olive, and pomegranate are the most effective plants against colon cancer. In these studies, fruits, seeds, leaves, and plant roots were used for in vitro and in vivo models. Various anticolon cancer mechanisms of these medicinal plants include induction of superoxide dismutase, reduction of DNA oxidation, induction of apoptosis by inducing a cell cycle arrest in S phase, reducing the expression of PI3K, P-Akt protein, and MMP as well; reduction of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin B1 and cyclin E. Plant compounds also increase both the expression of the cell cycle inhibitors p53, p21, and p27, and the BAD, Bax, caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 8, and caspase 9 proteins levels. In fact, purification of herbal compounds and demonstration of their efficacy in appropriate in vivo models, as well as clinical studies, may lead to alternative and effective ways of controlling and treating colon cancer.

Danshen Improves Survival of Patients With Breast Cancer and Dihydroisotanshinone I Induces Ferroptosis and Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells

Danshen (salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, it is definite clinical effort and mechanism on breast cancer is unclear. In our study, we used the real-world database to investigate in vivo protective effort of danshen in the breast cancer patients through using population-based data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). In vitro, human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells) were used to investigate the effect and the underlying mechanism through XTT assay, flow cytometry, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity assay, GSH (reduced glutathione)/GSSG (oxidized glutathione), malondialdehyde (MDA), and western blot analysis. The in vivo effect was investigated through a xenograft nude mouse model. We found that dihydroisotanshinone I (DT), a pure compound present in danshen, can inhibit the growth of breast carcinoma cells, including MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, DT induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in these breast cancer cells. DT also repressed the protein expression of GPX4 (Glutathione peroxidase 4). For in vivo study, DT treatment also significantly inhibited the final tumor volume without adverse effects in a xenograft nude mouse model. In conclusion, danshen has protective efforts in breast cancer patients, which could be attributed to DT through inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis of breast cancer cells.

Chinese Medicines Improve Perimenopausal Symptoms Induced by Surgery, Chemoradiotherapy, or Endocrine Treatment for Breast Cancer

The application of surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and endocrine treatment successfully increases survival rates of breast cancer patients. However, perimenopausal symptoms, the main side effects of these treatments, often afflict patients and reduce their quality of life. Perimenopausal symptoms include vasomotor symptoms, sleep problems, arthromuscular symptoms, and osteoporosis. Currently, there are no satisfactory treatments for perimenopausal symptoms that result from these treatments. Therefore, alternative and complementary therapies including herbal medicines represented by Chinese medicines (CMs), acupuncture, massage, and psychotherapy are increasingly being expected and explored. In this paper, we review the effects and potentials of several CM formulae, along with some active ingredients or fractions from CMs, Chinese herbal extracts, and other herbal medicines, which have drawn attention for improving perimenopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients. We also elaborate their possible mechanisms. Moreover, further studies for evaluation of standardized clinical efficacy should be scientifically well-designed and continuously performed to investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of CMs for perimenopausal symptoms due to breast cancer therapy. The safety and value of estrogen-containing CMs for breast cancer should also be clarified.

Effect of methanol extract of Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice

Background

The dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix (SR), is one of the most popular medicinal herbs in Asian countries such as China and Korea. In Asian traditional medicine, SR is considered to have a bitter flavor, be slightly cold in nature, and exert therapeutic actions in the heart and liver meridians. Thus, SR has been used to control symptoms related to cardiovascular diseases. Hyperlipidemia is recognized as the main cause of cerebrovascular and heart diseases; consequently, therapeutic strategies for hyperlipidemia have been widely studied. In this study, the effects and molecular targets of methanol extract of SR (SRme) in hyperlipidemic mice were investigated.

Methods

High-fat diet was fed to mice to induce hyperlipidemia, and measurement of blood cholesterol and triglycerides were conducted to evaluate the effect of SRme on hyperlipidemic mice, and gene expression in mice liver was analyzed to identify key molecules which could be potential targets for developing anti-hyperlipidemic herbal medicines.

Results

There was no significant effect on the body weight gain of hyperlipidemic mice, but the triglyceride content in blood was significantly reduced by the administration of SRme to hyperlipidemic mice. Proteins such as minichromosome maintenance (Mcm) family which play a key role in DNA replication were identified as molecular targets in the amelioration of hyperlipidemia.

Conclusions

SRme ameliorated hyperlipidemia in high-fat diet fed mice by inhibiting increase of blood serum level of triglycerides. And several proteins such as Mcm proteins were deduced to be molecular targets in treating hyperlipidemia.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13020-017-0150-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.