Role of Daucosterol Linoleate on Breast Cancer: Studies on Apoptosis and Metastasis

Eleutheroside A inhibits PI3K/AKT1/mTOR-mediated glycolysis in MDSCs to alleviate their immunosuppressive function in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

An immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that encourages tumor growth is a hallmark of gastric cancer (GC), which is implicated in the development, metastasis, and unfavorable prognosis of GC. Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr.&Maxim.) Harms (AS), also called Siberian Ginseng (Chinese: Ci wu jia), is a commonly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine with immune-enhancing, anti-tumor, anti-fatigue, neuroregulatory, blood circulation-improving, and antioxidant properties. Recently, it has also been demonstrated to improve anti-tumor immunity in GC. Eleutheroside A (EA), one of the primary bioactive saponins of AS, has immunoregulatory functions. Given the immunomodulatory and anti-tumor effects of EA, it is crucial to investigate its regulatory impact on the immune landscape of GC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To determine the effects of EA on immune responses in GC, a subcutaneous GC mouse model was established. Tumor growth, body weight changes, and immune responses in the mice treated with EA were measured. The proportion of CD4+T, CD8+T, B cells, NK cells, TAMs, DCs and MDSCs in the spleens were analyzed using flow cytometry. MDSCs and CD4+/CD8+ T cell infiltration in tumor tissue were analyzed using immunofluorescence. Bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq) data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and two single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets (accession numbers GSE183904 and GSE150290) were used to examine changes in MDSCs and T cell infiltration within the TME of GC and to identify MDSCs-related targets. Network pharmacology analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, dynamics simulations, molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were applied to explore the potential mechanisms underlying EA's intervention in MDSCs. Flow cytometry, qPCR, and western blotting and Seahorse assays were applied for analyzing MDSCs isolated from in vivo and in vitro-induced conditions, aiming to delineate the mechanism of EA on MDSCs glycolysis and immunosuppressive functions mediated by the PI3K/AKT1/mTOR signaling pathway.

RESULTS

In vivo, EA treatment effectively suppressed GC tumor growth and progression in mice, reducing the prevalence of MDSCs and increasing CD4+/CD8+ T cell levels. In vitro, EA not only decreased the frequency of MDSCs but also alleviated their immune-suppressing capabilities on CD4+/CD8+ T cells. Network pharmacology, coupled with scRNA-seq analysis, dynamic simulations, and molecular docking studies, suggested that EA might modulate the PI3K/AKT1/mTOR signaling pathway to influence glycolysis in MDSCs. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis confirmed that EA directly interacts with AKT1. Further validation experiments revealed that in the GC TME, EA treatment decreased the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT1, p-mTOR, HIF1α, as well as glycolytic genes and glycolytic activity in MDSCs. Additionally, EA led to the downregulation of p-STAT3 and its downstream immunosuppressive factors within these cells. Restoring AKT1 activation could reverse the inhibitory effects of EA on MDSCs glycolysis and the downregulation of immunosuppressive molecules. Moreover, HIF-1α inhibition abolished EA's inhibitory effects on MDSCs.

CONCLUSION

EA can attenuate the immune-suppressive capacity of MDSCs in GC by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT1/mTOR pathway and suppressing HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis, thereby offering a novel therapeutic approach to targeting the immune-suppressive microenvironment in GC.

Obscuroside E: A Novel Alkaloid Glycoside from Clematis obscura as an Insecticide Lead Candidate against Acyrthosiphon pisum and Plutella xylostella

To discover insecticide lead compounds from the insecticidal plant Clematis, a new alkaloid glycoside obscuroside E (1) and 17 known compounds (2-18) were identified from Clematis obscura and Clematis tibetana var. vernayi. Compound 1 displayed remarkable oral toxicities against Acyrthosiphon pisum (A. pisum) and Plutella xylostella (P. xylostella) with half-lethal concentration (LC50) values of 0.11 and 0.85 mg/mL, respectively, as well as potential antifeedant activity. Compound 1 inhibited α-amylase (α-AL) of A. pisum and P. xylostella with inhibition rates of 32.82 and 23.80% at LC70, respectively. It bound tightly to the crystal structure of α-AL in P. xylostella through five hydrogen bonds and three alkyl/pi alkyl interactions. Besides, compound 1 destroyed the microstructure of the midguts of A. pisum and P. xylostella, particularly the microvilli and nucleus. This study provides valuable insight into the better utilization of compound 1 as an insecticide lead candidate for the biocontrol of A. pisum and P. xylostella.

Bioactive Compounds from Vegetal Organs of Taraxacum Species (Dandelion) with Biomedical Applications: A Review

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) is a perennial flowering plant of the Asteraceae family that has spread globally and is well-known for its traditional uses. The aim of this work is to provide a detailed review of scientific literature on the genus Taraxacum from the last two decades, with particular emphasis on the biological and pharmacological characteristics of dandelions. The traditional use of Taraxacum species and their potential use in medicine are assessed. In addition, individual papers describing principal pathways and molecules modulated by Taraxacum in antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities are presented. This review of phytochemical studies reveals that dandelions contain a wide range of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, phytosterols, flavonoids, carotenoids, terpene, and coumarins, whose biological activities are actively explored in various areas of human health, some constituents having synergistic activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. The study provides a screening of Taraxacum sp. chemical composition, an assessment of the main pharmacological properties, and a description of relevant studies supporting the use of dandelion for its particularly valuable and diversified therapeutic potential in different diseases.

Quercetin 7-rhamnoside from Sorbaria sorbifolia exerts anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect via DHRS13/apoptotic pathway

BACKGROUND

Previous research demonstrated the effects of Sorbaria sorbifolia (SS) in combating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite SS's proven efficacy in treating HCC, the precise bioactive constituents contributing to its therapeutic benefits, along with the mechanisms behind them, warrant further exploration.

PURPOSE

The objective of our study was to illuminate the possible elements, targets, and modulatory pathways employed by specific bioactive components in SS for HCC treatment.

STUDY DESIGN

Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to analyze and quantify the bioactive constituents in the SS sample. By literature review, we gathered potential chemical constituents of SS. We used network pharmacology approaches to identify HCC-related targets of SS components, with an emphasis on core targets. To examine the core targets' importance in HCC biological processes, bioinformatics methods were utilized. Finally, molecular docking, MD simulations, and CESTA were employed to screen SS active ingredients capable of stably binding with core targets. To verify the anti-HCC effectiveness of these active components, we conducted several cellular experiments, including CCK8, wound healing, transwell, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays, as well as animal experiments like zebrafish HepG2 cell xenotransplantation, apoptosis assays, and HE staining. We also used lentivirus transfection to modulate core protein expression in HepG2 cells, creating cell models. Further cellular tests were performed to evaluate the ability of SS active ingredients to exert anti-HCC effects by interacting with the core protein to induce apoptosis. Finally, Western Blot and ELISA experiments were carried out to track changes in core protein and apoptosis-related pathway proteins after SS active ingredient treatment RESULTS: Our study identified 50 components in SS and 119 HCC-related target genes, with DHRS13 emerging as a core target. Further bioinformatics analysis indicated that DHRS13 expression in HCC patients correlated with prognosis and apoptotic pathways. Molecular docking revealed 20 active SS constituents effectively binding to DHRS13, MD simulations and CESTA pinpointed Quercetin 7-rhamnoside (Q7R) as the most stable binder. In-vitro and in-vivo tests verified Q7R's anti-HCC properties. Lentivirus transfection results showed that knockdown DHRS13 led to reduced cell growth and increased apoptosis, while overexpression DHRS13 led to increase cell growth and decrease apoptosis. Remarkably, our experiments found that Q7R acts as an inhibitor of DHRS13 and can reverse the suppressed apoptosis and excessive HCC proliferation caused by DHRS13 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Elevated DHRS13 expression contributes to HCC progression. Q7R effectively downregulates DHRS13, encouraging apoptosis and impeding HCC growth. As a result, Q7R shows potential as a therapeutic agent for HCC treatment, targeting the apoptotic pathway through DHRS13 regulation.

A novel normonoterpene glycoside and a new benzophenone derivative from Hypericum cerastioides and their in vitro cytotoxic activities

Phytochemical investigations on the aerial parts of Hypericum cerastioides led to the isolation and identification of a novel normonoterpene (1) and a previously undescribed benzophenone glycoside (3) along with eleven known secondary metabolites (2, 4-13). Their structures were deduced based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR analyses as well as HRESIMS. Compound 1 is a rare type of normonoterpene derivative with eight carbon atoms. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolates was also discussed. Compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against SW480, A375, DU145 and MCF7 cancer cell lines using doxorubicin as a reference drug. Compounds 1 and 7 demonstrated weak cytotoxicity.

Nuclear receptors behind the therapeutic effects of plant sterols on metabolism: A review

Plant sterols are known for their hypocholesterolemic action, and the molecular mechanisms behind this within the gut have been extensively discussed and demonstrated to the point that there is a degree of consensus. However, recent studies show that these molecules exert an additional umbrella of therapeutic effects in other tissues, which are related to immune function, lipid metabolism, and glucose metabolism. A strong hypothesis to explain these effects is the structural relationship between plant sterols and the ligands of a group of nuclear receptors. This review delves into the molecular aspects of therapeutic effects related with lipid and energy metabolism that have been observed and demonstrated for plant sterols, and turns the perspective to explore the involvement of nuclear receptors as part of these mechanisms.

Exploring the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of Salvia chinensis Benth in colorectal cancer: A network pharmacology and molecular docking study

While Salvia chinensis Benth (commonly known as "Shijianchuan" in Chinese, and abbreviated as SJC) is commonly used in adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) in traditional Chinese medicine, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, Initially, we examined the impact of SJC on CRC cells in an in vitro setting. Next, we initially retrieved the primary active components and targets of SJC from databases such as TCMSP and existing literature. Subsequently, we integrated differential gene expression data from the GEO database and collected CRC-related targets from resources like DisGeNET. The matching of these datasets enabled the identification of SJC-CRC targets. We constructed a protein-protein interaction network and identified core targets through topological analysis. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed using clusterProfiler. We established networks linking traditional Chinese medicine components to targets and core targets to signaling pathways. Additionally, we performed molecular docking to validate interactions between the main compounds and targets, and employed Western blot analysis to explore how the major components of SJC affect crucial signaling pathways. In this study, SJC inhibited the viability of HCT-116 and HT-29 cells. We identified a total of 11 active components in SJC along with 317 target genes. Among these, there were 8612 target genes associated with CRC, and we successfully matched 276 SJC-CRC target genes. Through topological analysis of the protein-protein interaction network, we pinpointed 20 core targets. It was revealed that SJC effects are linked to genes governing processes like cell apoptosis, proliferation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt through GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Additionally, we applied molecular docking techniques and observed that the majority of active compounds displayed robust binding affinity with the selected targets. In vitro experiments suggested that SJC and its key component, Ursolic acid, may exert its anti-CRC effects by modulating the core PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through inhibiting the phosphorylation of the target Akt1. This discovery is consistent with the predictions derived from network pharmacology methods. This study marks the inaugural utilization of bioinformatics methods in conjunction with in vitro experiments to comprehensively investigate the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms responsible for SJC anti-CRC effects.

Role of traditional Chinese medicine monomers in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury:a review of the mechanism

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a pathological process wherein reperfusion of an ischemic organ or tissue exacerbates the injury, posing a significant health threat and economic burden to patients and their families. I/R triggers a multitude of physiological and pathological events, such as inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, neuronal cell death, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Hence, the development of effective therapeutic strategies targeting the pathological processes resulting from I/R is crucial for the rehabilitation and long-term enhancement of the quality of life in patients with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers refer to bioactive compounds extracted from Chinese herbal medicine, possessing anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, and the ability to modulate programmed cell death (PCD). TCM monomers have emerged as promising candidates for the treatment of CIRI and its subsequent complications. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that TCM monomers can enhance the recovery of neurological function following CIRI by mitigating oxidative stress, suppressing inflammatory responses, reducing neuronal cell death and functional impairment, as well as minimizing cerebral infarction volume. The neuroprotective effects of TCM monomers on CIRI have been extensively investigated, and a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms can pave the way for novel approaches to I/R treatment. This review aims to update and summarize evidence of the protective effects of TCMs in CIRI, with a focus on their role in modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, PCD, glutamate excitotoxicity, Ca2+ overload, as well as promoting blood-brain barrier repairment and angiogenesis. The main objective is to underscore the significant contribution of TCM monomers in alleviating CIRI.

Linoleic Acid-Glucosamine Hybrid for Endogenous Iron-Activated Ferroptosis Therapy in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

As the most common subtype in ovarian malignancies, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) made less therapeutic progress in past decades due to the lack of effective drug-able targets. Herein, an effective linoleic acid (LA) and glucosamine (GlcN) hybrid (LA-GlcN) was synthesized for the treatment of HGSOC. The GlcN was introduced to recognize the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT 1) overexpressed in tumor cells to enhance the uptake of LA-GlcN, and the unsaturated LA was employed to trigger ferroptosis by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Since the iron content of HGSOC was ∼5 and 2 times, respectively, higher than that of the normal ovarian cells and low-grade serous ovarian cancer cells, these excess irons make them a good target to enhance the ferroptosis of LA-GlcN. The in vitro study demonstrated that LA-GlcN could selectively kill HGSOC cells without affecting normal cells; the in vivo study revealed that LA-GlcN at the dose of 50 mg kg^-1 achieved a comparable tumor inhibition as doxorubicin hydrochloride (4 mg kg^-1) while the overall survival of mice was extended largely due to the low toxicity, and when the dose was increased to 100 mg kg^-1, the therapeutic outcomes could be improved further. This dietary hybrid which targets the excess endogenous iron to activate ferroptosis represents a promising drug for HGSOC treatment.

Natural Sources, Pharmacological Properties, and Health Benefits of Daucosterol: Versatility of Actions

Daucosterol is a saponin present in various natural sources, including medicinal plant families. This secondary metabolite is produced at different contents depending on species, extraction techniques, and plant parts used. Currently, daucosterol has been tested and explored for its various biological activities. The results reveal potential pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer. Indeed, daucosterol possesses important anticancer effects in many signaling pathways, such as an increase in pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bcl2, a decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, upregulation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene, inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, and distortion of cell-cycle progression and tumor cell evolution. Its neuroprotective effect is via decreased caspase-3 activation in neurons and during simulated reperfusion (OGD/R), increased IGF1 protein expression (decreasing the downregulation of p-AKT3 and p-GSK-3b4), and activation of the AKT5 signaling pathway. At the same time, daucosterol inhibits key glucose metabolism enzymes to keep blood sugar levels within normal ranges. Therefore, this review describes the principal research on the pharmacological activities of daucosterol and the mechanisms of action underlying some of these effects. Moreover, further investigation of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology are suggested.

Complete Chloroplast Genomes Provide Insights Into Evolution and Phylogeny of Campylotropis (Fabaceae)

The genus Campylotropis Bunge (Desmodieae, Papilionoideae) comprises about 37 species distributed in temperate and tropical Asia. Despite the great potential in soil conservation, horticulture, and medicine usage, little is known about the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships of Campylotropis due to insufficient genetic resources. Here, we sequenced and assembled 21 complete chloroplast genomes of Campylotropis species. In combination with the previously published chloroplast genomes of C. macrocarpa and closely related species, we conducted comparative genomics and phylogenomic analysis on these data. Comparative analysis of the genome size, structure, expansion and contraction of inverted repeat (IR) boundaries, number of genes, GC content, and pattern of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed high similarities among the Campylotropis chloroplast genomes. The activities of long sequence repeats contributed to the variation in genome size and gene content in Campylotropis chloroplast genomes. The Campylotropis chloroplast genomes showed moderate sequence variation, and 13 highly variable regions were identified for species identification and further phylogenetic studies. We also reported one more case of matK pseudogene in the legume family. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Campylotropis and the sister relationship between Lespedeza and Kummerowia, the latter two genera were then sister to Campylotropis. The intrageneric relationships of Campylotropis based on genomic scale data were firstly reported in this study. The two positively selected genes (atpF and rps19) and eight fast-evolving genes identified in this study may help us to understand the adaptation of Campylotropis species. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the chloroplast genome evolution and phylogenetic relationships of Campylotropis.

Protective effect of phillyrin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats and oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis and autophagy in neurons

This study explored the role and potential molecular mechanism of phillyrin in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/R model was constructed, and cerebral infarction volume, brain water content, and neurological score were measured. Neuron morphological structures in brain tissues and primary neuron apoptosis were detected using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Hoechst 33258 staining, respectively. In MCAO/R rats, phillyrin markedly reduced cerebral infarction volume, neurological score, and brain water content and inhibited neuron apoptosis. In vitro experiments showed that phillyrin remarkably increased viability and decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release of H₂O₂-injured neurons. Moreover, phillyrin remarkably downregulated the proportion of apoptosis-related protein B-associated X (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) and reduced procaspase-3, phospho-Akt (p-Akt-1), and phosphorylation-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) levels in H₂O₂-injured neurons. Furthermore, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor ZSTK474 weakened the effects of phillyrin on p-mTOR, p-Akt-1, characteristic proteins of autophagy 3-II (LC3-II) and beclin-1 levels, and H₂O₂-induced neuronal apoptosis and autophagy. Taken together, phillyrin alleviates I/R injury by inhibiting neuronal cell apoptosis and autophagy pathway, which may provide a new treatment strategy for cerebral I/R injury.

Promoting Apoptosis, a Promising Way to Treat Breast Cancer With Natural Products: A Comprehensive Review

Breast cancer is one of the top-ranked malignant carcinomas associated with morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Chemotherapy is one of the main approaches to breast cancer treatment. Breast cancer initially responds to traditional first- and second-line drugs (aromatase inhibitor, tamoxifen, and carboplatin), but eventually acquires resistance, and certain patients relapse within 5 years. Chemotherapeutic drugs also have obvious toxic effects. In recent years, natural products have been widely used in breast cancer research because of their low side effects, low toxicity, and good efficacy based on their multitarget therapy. Apoptosis, a programmed cell death, occurs as a normal and controlled process that promotes cell growth and death. Inducing apoptosis is an important strategy to control excessive breast cancer cell proliferation. Accumulating evidence has revealed that natural products become increasingly important in breast cancer treatment by suppressing cell apoptosis. In this study, we reviewed current studies on natural product–induced breast cancer cell apoptosis and summarized the proapoptosis mechanisms including mitochondrial, FasL/Fas, PI3K/AKT, reactive oxygen species, and mitogen-activated protein kinase–mediated pathway. We hope that our review can provide direction in the search for candidate drugs derived from natural products to treat breast cancer by promoting cell apoptosis.

Evaluation of the Effects of Different Dietary Patterns on Breast Cancer: Monitoring Circulating Tumor Cells

The occurrence and development of breast cancer are closely related to dietary factors, especially dietary patterns. This study was to investigate the effects of dietary patterns on the process of tumor metastasis by in vivo circulating tumor cell (CTC) capture strategy and monitoring changes of CTC numbers in breast tumor mice model. Meanwhile, the effects of different dietary patterns on the development of lung metastases of breast cancer and the volume and weight of carcinoma in situ were investigated. In this study, the increase in the number of CTCs was significantly promoted by dietary patterns such as high-salt diet, high-sugar diet, and high-fat diet, while it was delayed by ketogenic diet, low-fat diet, low-protein diet, diet restriction, and Mediterranean diet. These results indicated that the in vivo capture and detection of CTCs provides a convenient method for real-time cancer metastasis monitoring, and through in-depth study of the effects of different dietary patterns on tumor growth and metastasis, it can expand a new horizon in future cancer treatments.

Exploring the Biological Mechanism of Huang Yam in Treating Tumors and Preventing Antitumor Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology

Drugs for the treatment of tumors could result in cardiotoxicity and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to explore the anticancer properties of Huang yam as well as its cardioprotective properties using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. The cardiovascular targets of the major chemical components of Huang yam were obtained from the following databases: TCMSP, ETCM, and BATMAN-TCM. The active ingredients of Huang yam were obtained from SwissADME. The cardiovascular targets of antitumor drugs were obtained using GeneCards, OMIM, DrugBank, DisGeNET, and SwissTargetPrediction databases. The drug-disease intersection genes were used to construct a drug-compound-target network using Cytoscape 3.7.1. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape's BisoGenet, and the core targets of Huang yam were screened to determine their antitumor properties and identify the cardiovascular targets based on topological parameters. Potential targets were imported into the Metascape platform for GO and KEGG analysis. The results were saved and visualized using R software. The components with higher median values in the network were molecularly docked with the core targets. The network contained 10 compounds, including daucosterol, delusive, dioxin, panthogenin-B, and 124 targets, such as TP53, RPS27A, and UBC. The GO function enrichment analysis showed that there were 478 items in total. KEGG enrichment analysis showed a total of 140 main pathways associated with abnormal transcription of cancer, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cell cycle, cancer pathway, ubiquitination-mediated proteolysis, and other pathways. Molecular docking results showed that daucosterol, delusive, dioxin, and panthogenin-B had the highest affinity for TP53, RPS27A, and UBC. The treatment of diseases using traditional Chinese medicine encompasses multiple active ingredients, targets, and pathways. Huang yam has the potential to treat cardiotoxicity caused by antitumor drugs.

Purple Sweet Potato Phytochemicals: Potential Chemo-preventive and Anticancer Activities

BACKGROUND: Purple sweet potato (PSP; Ipomoea batatas (L.) lam.) is a perennial plant from the morning glory family Convolvulaceae. This plant contains many functional compounds and a high concentration of anthocyanins and phenols, in contrast to other sweet potato plants of different colors. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that parts of PSP have interesting functions in the setting of cancer. AIM: This article is a collective review of the potential properties of PSP in cancer, with an emphasis on its effects in breast, bladder, colorectal, liver, gastric, and cervical cancers.METHODS: Major English research databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were searched for studies evaluating the activity of PSP against cancer published ended in Mei 2020. RESULTS: The search yielded 72 articles relevant to this topic. Of note, PSP phytochemicals such anthocyanins and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives act as an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals and regulates the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway, acts as an antimutagenic agent, and has anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and the NF-κB pathway as a Chemo-preventive mechanism. Furthermore, PSP can promote apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibit proliferation, cell growth inhibition, and inhibit cancer progression that actions collectively sum as anticancer activity in many cancer cells. The primary target-signaling pathway that is interfered by PSP is the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, which is a very common mutated pathway in cancer cells that regulates many physiologic processes inside the cells. CONCLUSION: As a promising medicinal plant that may serve as a Chemo-preventive and anticancer agent, further research on PSP is required to determine its clinical uses and potential as a food supplement.

Effects of dietary patterns combined with dietary phytochemicals on breast cancer metastasis

AIMS

Dietary phytochemicals and diet types (e.g., the Mediterranean diet) have been shown to have anti-cancer properties. However, the effects of combined treatment with dietary phytochemicals and different diet types on primary and metastatic tumor growth have yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of phytochemicals combined with diet types on breast cancer metastasis.

MAIN METHODS

The inhibitory effects on breast cancer metastasis of three phytochemicals (allicin, hesperidin, astragalus polysaccharides) and two diet types (Mediterranean diet, restricted diet), separately or in combination, were evaluated based on: (i) detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using an in vivo capture method; and (ii) primary tumor growth.

KEY FINDINGS

All dietary factors significantly inhibited the growth of primary tumors and metastases, with combinations showing enhancing the effects.

SIGNIFICANCE

Dietary phytochemicals and diet types should be further evaluated as adjunct therapies and lifestyle modifications in cancer patients. Furthermore, the in vivo CTC capture method allows dynamic monitoring of cancer metastasis over time, providing a useful approach to evaluating treatment effects in real-time.

Anti-Tumor Activity of Hypericum perforatum L. and Hyperforin through Modulation of Inflammatory Signaling, ROS Generation and Proton Dynamics

In this paper we review the mechanisms of the antitumor effects of Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort, SJW) and its main active component hyperforin (HPF). SJW extract is commonly employed as antidepressant due to its ability to inhibit monoamine neurotransmitters re-uptake. Moreover, further biological properties make this vegetal extract very suitable for both prevention and treatment of several diseases, including cancer. Regular use of SJW reduces colorectal cancer risk in humans and prevents genotoxic effects of carcinogens in animal models. In established cancer, SJW and HPF can still exert therapeutic effects by their ability to downregulate inflammatory mediators and inhibit pro-survival kinases, angiogenic factors and extracellular matrix proteases, thereby counteracting tumor growth and spread. Remarkably, the mechanisms of action of SJW and HPF include their ability to decrease ROS production and restore pH imbalance in tumor cells. The SJW component HPF, due to its high lipophilicity and mild acidity, accumulates in membranes and acts as a protonophore that hinders inner mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization, inhibiting mitochondrial ROS generation and consequently tumor cell proliferation. At the plasma membrane level, HPF prevents cytosol alkalization and extracellular acidification by allowing protons to re-enter the cells. These effects can revert or at least attenuate cancer cell phenotype, contributing to hamper proliferation, neo-angiogenesis and metastatic dissemination. Furthermore, several studies report that in tumor cells SJW and HPF, mainly at high concentrations, induce the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, likely by collapsing the mitochondrial membrane potential. Based on these mechanisms, we highlight the SJW/HPF remarkable potentiality in cancer prevention and treatment.

Exploring the Antitumor Mechanisms of Zingiberis Rhizoma Combined with Coptidis Rhizoma Using a Network Pharmacology Approach

Background

Although the combination of Zingiberis rhizoma (ZR) and Coptidis rhizoma (CR) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine-based herbal pair used for its antitumor effect, the material basis and underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, a network pharmacology approach was used to elucidate the antitumor mechanisms of ZR-CR.

Materials and Methods

To predict the targets of ZR-CR in treating tumors, we constructed protein–protein interactions and hub component-target networks and performed pathway and process enrichment and molecular docking analysis. We used a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay to validate the predicted component-target affinities. Hub gene expression and survival analysis in patients with tumors were used to predict the clinical significance.

Results

The active components of ZR-CR—shogaol, daucosterol, ginkgetin, berberine, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and vanillic acid—exhibited antitumor activities via the MAPK, PI3K-AKT, TNF, FOXO, HIF-1, and VEGF signaling pathways. Molecular docking and SPR analyses suggested direct binding of berberine with AKT1 and TP53; quercetin with EGFR and VEGF165; and ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, and daucosterol with VEGF165 with weak affinities. Gene expression levels of the hub targets of ZR-CR were associated with overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with various tumor types.

Conclusions

The antitumor components of the ZR-CR herbal pair and the mechanisms underlying their antitumor effects were identified. These antitumor components deserve to be explored further in experimental and clinical studies.

Daucosterol from Crateva adansonii DC (Capparaceae) reduces 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumors in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo anticancer effects of daucosterol which was earlier reported to possess in vitro anticancer effects. Breast tumor was induced in 30 rats using the environmental carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) while 6 control rats received olive oil (NOR). Animals with palpable tumors were randomized into five groups (n = 6) each as follows: negative control group treated with the vehicle (DMBA); positive control group treated with 5 mg/kg BW doxorubicin (DOXO + DMBA); three groups treated with daucosterol at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg BW (DAU + DMBA). Treatment lasted 28 days afterward, tumor (mass, volume, cancer antigen [CA] 15-3 level and histoarchitecture), hematological and toxicological parameters were examined. The tumor volume gradually increased in the DMBA group during the 28 days, with a tumor volume gain of ∼390 cm³ . Daucosterol at all doses reduced tumor volume (∼133.7 cm³ at 10 mg/kg) as well as protein, malondialdehyde (MDA), and CA 15-3 levels compared to DMBA rats. Tumor sections in daucosterol-treated rats showed a lower proliferation of mammary ducts with mild (5 and 10 mg/kg) to moderate (2.5 mg/kg) inflammatory responses. Moreover, it exhibited an antioxidant effect, evidenced by a significant and dose-dependent decreased in MDA levels, as well as an increase in catalase activity compared to the DMBA group. Daucosterol showed for the first time in vivo antitumor effects that corroborate its previous in vitro effects.

Ethnopharmacology of Fruit Plants: A Literature Review on the Toxicological, Phytochemical, Cultural Aspects, and a Mechanistic Approach to the Pharmacological Effects of Four Widely Used Species

Fruit plants have been widely used by the population as a source of food, income and in the treatment of various diseases due to their nutritional and pharmacological properties. The aim of this study was to review information from the most current research about the phytochemical composition, biological and toxicological properties of four fruit species widely used by the world population in order to support the safe medicinal use of these species and encourage further studies on their therapeutic properties. The reviewed species are: Talisia esculenta, Brosimum gaudichaudii, Genipa americana, and Bromelia antiacantha. The review presents the botanical description of these species, their geographical distribution, forms of use in popular medicine, phytochemical studies and molecules isolated from different plant organs. The description of the pharmacological mechanism of action of secondary metabolites isolated from these species was detailed and toxicity studies related to them were reviewed. The present study demonstrates the significant concentration of phenolic compounds in these species and their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, photosensitizing properties, among others. Such species provide important molecules with pharmacological activity that serve as raw materials for the development of new drugs, making further studies necessary to elucidate mechanisms of action not yet understood and prove the safety for use in humans.

Bioguided identification of daucosterol, a compound that contributes to the cytotoxicity effects of Crateva adansonii DC (capparaceae) to prostate cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Crateva adansonii DC (Capparaceae) is a shrub used to treat tumors in Cameroon. In our previous reports, a Crateva adansonii dichloromethane-methanol (DCM/MeOH) extract was shown to prevent chemically induced tumors in Wistar rats.

AIM OF STUDY

To determine the bioactive principle of Crateva adansonii extract and to elucidate its underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An activity-guided fractionation was realized using MTT assay. To investigate if the bioactive compound daucosterol (CA2) accounted for the previously observed anticancer effects of the C. adansonii extract, it was tested on cell growth, cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell death mechanism and cell migration. In addition, cell cycle- and apoptosis-regulating proteins were assessed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Daucosterol (CA2), a steroid saponin, was identified as major anticancer principle of the C. adansonii extract. Daucosterol significantly inhibited LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 prostate carcinoma cell growth and proliferation at the optimal concentration of 1 μg/mL. It also significantly increased the number of late apoptotic (DU145) and apoptotic (PC3) cells. The number of cells in S phase increased in DU145, while the number of G0/G1 cells decreased. Cell cycle proteins (cdk1, pcdk1, cyclin A and B) were down-regulated in DU145 and PC3 cells, whereas only cdk2 was down-regulated in PC3 cells. Moreover, the anti-apoptotic Akt, pAKT and Bcl-2 proteins were down-regulated, while the pro-apoptotic protein Bax was up-regulated. CA2 induced anti-metastatic effects by decreasing chemotaxis and cell migration, while it increased cell adhesion to fibronectin and collagen matrix.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that daucosterol is the major active principle responsible at least in part for the anticancer effect of the extract of Crateva adansonii.

Simultaneous separation and quantitation of three phytosterols from the sweet potato, and determination of their anti-breast cancer activity

The present study provides the method for simultaneous separation and determination of concentration and evaluates anti-breast cancer activity of three phytosterols from the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.): daucosterol linolenate (DLA), daucosterol linoleate (DL), and daucosterol palmitate (DP). A cell viability assay revealed that the three phytosterols had a stronger inhibitory effect on MCF-7 than MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, and had no effects on non-tumorigenic MCF-10A cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that DLA, DL, and DP suppressed tumor growth in MCF-7 xenograft breast cancer model in nude mice. Given the anti-breast cancer activity of DLA, DL, and DP, an HPLC method for the determination of their content in the sweet potato was developed. The method had satisfactory linearity (R² = 0.9992-0.9999). The limits of detection (LOD) were in the range of 2.5-10 μg/mL, the limits of quantification (LOQ) were 5-25 μg/mL, and the recovery rates were 97.64-103.02%. Additionally, the HPLC method was successfully validated in eight sweet potato cultivars. This novel technique can be applied for the determination of DLA, DL, and DP in the sweet potato.

Controlling metastatic cancer: the role of phytochemicals in cell signaling

PURPOSE

Cancer is a serious health issue and a leading cause of death worldwide. Most of the cancer patients (approximately 90%) do not die from the consequences of the primary tumor development, but due to a heavily treatable metastatic invasion. During the lengthy multistep process of carcinogenesis, there are a lot of opportunities available to reverse or slow down the tissue invasion or the process of tumor metastasis formation.

RESULTS

Current research has brought many promising results from anti-metastatic experimental studies, and has shown that chemoprevention by natural or semisynthetic phytochemicals with plethora of biological activities could be one of the potentially effective options in the fight against this problem. However, there is a lack of clinical trials to confirm these findings. In this review, we focused on summarization and discussion of the general features of metastatic cancer, and recent preclinical and clinical studies dealing with anti-metastatic potential of various plant-derived compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our findings, we can conclude and confirm our hypothesis that phytochemicals with pleiotropic anticancer effects can be very useful in retarding and/or reversing the metastasis process, and can also be used to prevent tissue invasion and metastases. But, further studies in this area are certainly necessary and desirable.

SP/NK-1R promotes gallbladder cancer cell proliferation and migration

Aberrant substance P/neurokinin‐1 receptor (SP/NK‐1R) system activation plays a critical role in various disorders, however, little is known about the expression and the detailed molecular mechanism of the SP and NK‐1R in gallbladder cancer (GBC). In this study, we firstly analyzed the expression and clinical significance of them in patients with GBC. Then, cellular assays were performed to clarify their biological role in GBC cells. Moreover, we investigated the molecular mechanisms regulated by SP/NK‐1R. Meanwhile, mice xenografted with human GBC cells were analyzed regarding the effects of SP/NK1R complex in vivo. Finally, patient samples were utilized to investigate the effect of SP/NK‐1R. The results showed that SP and NK‐1R were highly expressed in GBC. We found that SP strongly induced GBC cell proliferation, clone formation, migration and invasion, whereas antagonizing NK‐1R resulted in the opposite effects. Moreover, SP significantly enhanced the expression of NF‐κB p65 and the tumor‐associated cytokines, while, Akt inhibitor could reverse these effects. Further studies indicated that decreasing activation of NF‐κB or Akt diminished GBC cell proliferation and migration. In consistent with results, immunohistochemical staining showed high levels of Akt, NF‐κB and cytokines in tumor tissues. Most importantly, the similar conclusion was obtained in xenograft mouse model. Our findings demonstrate that NK‐1R, after binding with the endogenous agonist SP, could induce GBC cell migration and spreading via modulation of Akt/NF‐κB pathway.

Anti-breast-Cancer Activity Exerted by β-Sitosterol-d-glucoside from Sweet Potato via Upregulation of MicroRNA-10a and via the PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway

Breast cancer (BC) is a prominent source of cancer mortality in women throughout the world. β-Sitosterol-d-glucoside (β-SDG), a newly isolated phytosterol from sweet potato, possibly displays potent anticancer activity. However, the probable anticancer mechanisms involved are still unclear. This study sought to study how β-SDG from sweet potato affects two BC cell lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231) and nude mice bearing MCF7-induced tumors. In addition, we assessed how β-SDG affects tumor suppressor miR-10a and PI3K-Akt signaling in BC cells. Cell viability and proliferation were determined via MTT and colony-formation assays, and apoptosis was quantified by Hoechst staining and flow cytometry. In addition, miR-10a expression and apoptosis-related protein levels were measured. Our study indicated that β-SDG exhibited cytotoxic activities on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells via inducing apoptosis and activating caspase proteases in these cells. Furthermore, the experimental results in nude mice bearing MCF7-induced tumors demonstrated that oral β-SDG administration at medium (60 mg/kg) or high (120 mg/kg) doses was sufficient to substantially impair the growth of tumors and to decrease the levels of CEA, CA125, and CA153 by 64.71, 74.64, and 85.32%, respectively, relative to those of the controls ( P < 0.01). β-SDG was further found to regulate the expression of PI3K, p-Akt, Bcl-2-family members, and other factors involved in the PI3K-Akt-mediated mitochondrial signaling pathway via the tumor suppressor miR-10a. These findings indicated that β-SDG suppresses tumor growth by upregulating miR-10a expression and inactivating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, β-SDG could be developed as a potential therapeutic agent against MCF7-cell-related BC.