Novel cycloartane triterpenoid from Cimicifuga foetida (Sheng ma) induces mitochondrial apoptosis via inhibiting Raf/MEK/ERK pathway and Akt phosphorylation in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells

QI-pathological constitution is associated with mental fatigue in class among university students: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Mental fatigue in class is a common phenomenon among university students in China. However, there is limited research exploring the impact of QI-pathological constitution on mental fatigue in university students.

METHODS

We employed a convenience sampling method to survey 588 students aged 17 to 24 from a western university in China in May 2024. The study measured QI-pathological constitution and mental fatigue among these students. Additionally, diet quality, physical exercise, sleep quality, and academic pressure were assessed as controlled variables. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and structural equation modeling were utilized to analyze these cross-sectional data.

RESULTS

The results showed that university students experience low levels of mental fatigue in class (M = 2.41, SD = 0.75) and a slight QI-pathological constitution (M = 1.96, SD = 0.71 for QI stagnation and M = 2.41, SD = 0.91 for QI deficiency) on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1(never) to 5(often). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a weak positive association between QI-pathological constitution (r = 0.205, p < 0.01 for QI stagnation; and r = 0.256, p < 0.01 for QI deficiency) and mental fatigue in class. Controlling for diet quality, physical exercise, sleep quality, and academic pressure in the structural equation model showed that QI-pathological constitution has a significantly positive effect on mental fatigue in class (β = 0.228, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The study identified a low level of mental fatigue in class and a slight presence of QI-pathological constitution among university students. The QI-pathological constitution has a significantly positive impact on the level of mental fatigue experienced by university students in the classroom.

The Pantropical Genus Rhynchosia Lour. (Fabaceae: Cajaninae): Diversity of Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology

The pantropical genus Rhynchosia belongs to the family Fabaceae and consists of approximately 230 species distributed mainly in Africa, America, and Asia. Several species of the genus have been used ethnomedicinally since 300-400 AD. This review presents for the first time a global overview of the extent of ethnomedicinal uses of species in the genus in addition to their phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicology. Online databases such as NCBI, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, SpringerLink, Taylor and Francis Online, etc., were used to source for publications on Rhynchosia species. Based on this review, 30 species (19 %) are traditionally used for treating an array of ailments around the globe, most especially in Africa and Asia. Flavonoids are the most detected/isolated phytochemicals from the Rhynchosia species. Pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, butyrylcholinesterase, as well as eye-protective and melanogenic effects were elicited by the extracts and isolated compounds from Rhynchosia species. Toxicity tests have only been carried out on R. sublobata and R. elegans extracts. Future studies should focus on the toxicological evaluation and validation of ethnomedicinal claims on the traditional uses of Rhynchosia species that have not been pharmacologically tested.

Methanolic Extract of Cimicifuga foetida Induces G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis and Inhibits Metastasis of Glioma Cells

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most aggressive and challenging brain tumors, with limited treatment options. Cimicifuga foetida, a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promise due to its bioactive components. This study investigates the anti-glioma effects of a methanolic extract of C. foetida (CF-ME) in GBM cell lines.

METHODS

The effects of CF-ME and its index compounds (caffeic acid, cimifugin, ferulic acid, and isoferulic acid) on GBM cell viability were assessed using MTT assays on U87 MG, A172, and T98G cell lines. The ability of CF-ME to induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy and inhibit metastasis was evaluated using flow cytometry, Western blotting, and functional assays. Additionally, the synergistic potential of CF-ME with temozolomide (TMZ) was explored.

RESULTS

CF-ME significantly reduced GBM cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest, promoted apoptosis via caspase activation, and triggered autophagy. CF-ME also inhibited GBM cell invasion, migration, and adhesion, likely by modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Combined with TMZ, CF-ME further enhanced reduced GBM cell viability, suggesting a potential synergistic effect. However, the individual index compounds of CF-ME exhibited only modest inhibitory effects, indicating that the full anti-glioma activity may result from the synergistic interactions among its components.

CONCLUSIONS

CF-ME exhibited potent anti-glioma activity through multiple mechanisms, including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, and the inhibition of metastasis. Combining CF-ME with TMZ further enhanced its therapeutic potential, making it a promising candidate for adjuvant therapy in glioblastoma treatment.

In-depth characterization of cycloartane triterpenoids and discovery of species-specific markers from three Cimicifuga species guided by a strategy that integrates in-source fragment elimination, diagnostic ion recognition, and feature-based molecular networking

Characterization studies of the plant metabolome are crucial for revealing plant physiology, developing functional foods, and controlling quality. Mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling allows unprecedented qualitative coverage of complex biological extract composition. However, the electrospray ionization used in metabolite profiling generates multiple artifactual signals for a single analyte, which makes it challenging to filter out redundant signals and organize the signals corresponding to abundant constituents. This study proposed a strategy integrating in-source fragments elimination, diagnostic ions recognition, and feature-based molecular networking (ISFE-DIR-FBMN) to simultaneously characterize cycloartane triterpenoids (CTs) from three medicinal Cimicifuga species. The results showed that 63.1 % of the measured ions were redundant. A total of 184 CTs were annotated, with 27.1 % being reported for the first time. It presents a promising approach to assess the composition of natural extracts, thus facilitating new ingredient registrations or natural-extracts-based drug discovery campaigns. Besides, chemometrics analysis of the three Cimicifuga species identified 32 species-specific markers, highlighting significant differences among them. The valuable information can enhance the sustainable utilization and further development of Cimicifuga resources. The codes involved in ISFE-DIR-FBMN are freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/LHJ-Group/ISFE-DIR-FBMN.git).

Increasing the planting density of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt increased root biomass and cryptolepine yield

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt. is an important multipurpose medicinal plant used for the treatment of ailments such as malaria. Despite the ongoing efforts in domesticating the herb, the ideal planting density and its benefits are unknown. A study was conducted to determine the influence of six C. sanguinolenta accessions and three planting densities (15, 30 and 45 plants/1.8 m2) on root biomass, cryptolepine concentration and cryptolepine yield. Also, benefit-cost ratios were determined for each plant density across the four cultivation periods (9, 12, 15 and 18 months). The cultivation of C. sanguinolenta at the highest planting density (45 plants/1.8 m2) increased root biomass (value), cryptolepine content (2.08 mg/100 mg dry root) and cryptolepine yield (23.31 mg mg/1.8 m2) compared to those cultivated at lower planting densities (15 and 30 plants/1.8 m2). The duration for growing C. sanguinolenta had a more significant influence on cryptolepine yield but not the cryptolepine content. Plants cultivated for 15 months gave the maximum cryptolepine yield (10.33 g/bed), indicating 15 months as the optimum time to harvest the roots. The benefit-cost analysis revealed that growing the plant at a density of 45 plants/1.8 m2 (25,920 plants/acre) for 18 months was a more profitable venture with a benefit-cost ratio of 3.45. Commercial cultivation of C. sanguinolenta at 45 plants per bed area of 1.8 m2 (25,920 plants/acre) for 15-18 months is recommended as the most profitable and promising cropping practice to ensure the sustainable supply of planting material.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and clinical studies of Cimicifugae Rhizoma: a comprehensive review

Cimicifugae Rhizoma, generally known as "Sheng Ma" in China, has great medicinal and dietary values. Cimicifugae Rhizoma is the dried rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida L., Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim. and Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom., which has been used to treat wind-heat headache, tooth pain, aphtha, sore throat, prolapse of anus and uterine prolapse in traditional Chinese medicine. This review systematically presents the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical studies, quality control and toxicity of Cimicifugae Rhizoma in order to propose scientific evidence for its rational utilization and product development. Herein, 348 compounds isolated or identified from the herb are summarized in this review, mainly including triterpenoid saponins, phenylpropanoids, chromones, alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids. The crude extracts and its constituents had various pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-osteoporosis and relieving menopausal symptoms. The recent research progress of Cimicifugae Rhizoma in ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological effects demonstrates the effectiveness of its utilization and supplies valuable guidance for further research. This review will provide a basis for the future development and utilization of Cimicifugae Rhizoma.

Overexpression of AtMYB12 transcription factor simultaneously enhances quercetin-dependent metabolites in radish callus

The study aimed to enhance quercetin production in radish by optimizing Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated in-planta transformation. This protocol involved infecting radish seed embryo axis with A. tumefaciens EHA105 strain carrying the 35S::AtMYB12. Radish seeds were infected with the Agrobacterium suspension (0.8 OD600) for 30 min, followed by sonication for 60 s and vacuum infiltration for 90 s at 100 mm Hg. A 3-day co-cultivation in Murashige and Skoog medium with 150 μM acetosyringone yielded a transformation efficiency of 59.6% and a transgenic callus induction rate of 32.3%. Transgenic plant and callus lines were confirmed by GUS histochemical assay, PCR, and qRT-PCR. The transgenic lines showed an increased expression of flavonoid pathway genes (AtMYB12, CHS, F3H, and FLS) and antioxidant genes (GPX, APX, CAT, and SOD) compared to WT plants. Overexpression of AtMYB12 in transgenic callus increased enzyme activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. In half-strength MS medium with 116.8 mM sucrose, the highest growth index (7.63) was achieved after 20 days. In AtMYB12 overexpressed callus lines, phenolic content (357.31 mg g-1 dry weight), flavonoid content (463 mg g-1 dry weight), and quercetin content (48.24 mg g-1 dry weight) increased significantly by 9.41-fold. Micro-wounding, sonication, and vacuum infiltration improved in-planta transformation in radishes. These high-quercetin-content transgenic callus lines hold promise as valuable sources of flavonoids.

Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants in Kebridehar and Shekosh districts, Korahi zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Kebridehar and Shekosh districts, Ethiopia, to investigate an ethnobotanical study on traditional medicinal plants. Systematic random sampling techniques were used for data collection. Preference ranking, paired comparison, informant consensus factor, direct matrix ranking, and jaccard comparison were used for data analysis. A total of 44 medicinal plant species from 34 genera and 23 families have been documented as being used to treat 38 human, 5 livestock, and 1 both human and livestock ailment. The shrub category was the dominant growth form in the study area. The study showed that the most frequently used plant parts for the preparation of traditional medicine were roots (45.45 %), followed by leaves, glue, and liquid (11.36 % each). The most common route of administration was oral (30.77 %), followed by dermal (20.51 %). Jaccard's Coefficient of Similarity for Kebridehar and Shekosh for the reported traditional medicinal plants were 0.21, indicating some trend towards using common plants. Methanol extracts were more effective than ethanol extracts. The results of this study provide an insight into the anti-bacterial properties of the extracts of Aloe megalacantha, Ephorbiarobecchi, and Oppiliacampestris. This in vitro study demonstrated that these three folklore medicinal plants have good potential. In conclusion, the main threat to medicinal plants in the study area was drought. Therefore, it is recommended that the cultivation of medicinal plants be encouraged in home gardens.

Assessing lead and cadmium tolerance of Chenopodium ambrosioides during micropropagation: an in-depth qualitative and quantitative analysis

The tolerance of Chenopodium ambrosioides to some heavy metals under in vitro environment was thoroughly investigated. A micropropagation protocol was developed to facilitate the mass production of plants and to identify metals-tolerant species for potential use in the restoration of polluted areas. Nodal explants exhibited callus formation when treated with N6-benzyladenin (BA) (1.5 mg/l) and a combination of BA/α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at concentrations of 1.5/1.0 mg/l on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The optimal shoot formation was achieved with the callus grown on a medium enriched with 1.5/1.0 mg/l BA/NAA, resulting in an impressive number (21.89) and length (11.79 cm) of shoots. The in vitro shoots were rooted using NAA (1.0 and 1.5 mg/l) and were acclimatized in pots with 71% survival rate. After standardizing micropropagation protocol, the in vitro shoots were subjected to various doses of lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2 and cadmium chloride (CdCl2). Pb(NO3)2 and CdCl2 in the media let to a reduction in shoot multiplication, decreasing from 18.73 in the control group to 11.31 for Pb(NO3)2 and 13.89 for CdCl2 containing medium. However, Pb(NO3)2 and CdCl2 promoted shoot length from 5.61 in the control to 9.86 on Pb(NO3)2 and 12.51 on CdCl2 containing medium. In the case of Pb(NO3)2 treated shoots, the growth tolerance index (GTI) ranged from117.64% to 194.11%, whereas for CdCl2 treated shoots, the GTI ranged from 188.23% to 264.70%. Shoots treated with high level of Pb(NO3)2induced reddish-purple shoots, while a low level of Pb(NO3)2 induced shoots displayed both green and reddish-purple colors in the same explants. In CdCl2 treated culture, the toxic effects were narrow leaf lamina, elongated petiole and a dark reddish purple coloration. These findings highlight the remarkable potential of C. ambrosioides to maintain growth and organogenesis even in the presence Pb(NO3)2 and CdCl2 on the MS medium, indicating a high degree of metal tolerance.

Protective effects of catalpol on cardio-cerebrovascular diseases: A comprehensive review

Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa, has gained attention due to its potential use in treating cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs). This extensive review delves into recent studies on catalpol's protective properties in relation to various CVDs, such as atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure. The review also explores the compound's anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic characteristics, emphasizing the role of vital signaling pathways, including PGC-1α/TERT, PI3K/Akt, AMPK, Nrf2/HO-1, estrogen receptor (ER), Nox4/NF-κB, and GRP78/PERK. The article discusses emerging findings on catalpol's ability to alleviate diabetic cardiovascular complications, thrombosis, and other cardiovascular-related conditions. Although clinical studies specifically addressing catalpol's impact on CVDs are scarce, the compound's established safety and well-tolerated nature suggest that it could be a valuable treatment alternative for CVD patients. Further investigation into catalpol and related iridoid derivatives may unveil new opportunities for devising natural and efficacious CVD therapies.

Scoping the Need of Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Use of Bioresources in the Indian Himalayan Region

Globally, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKSs), which have evolved through rigorously tested methods and practices, are a testimony of human intelligence and endurance. The diversity of goods such as food, beverages, herbs, etc., and its associated systems, which form an integral part of modern cuisine and healthcare systems, are deeply rooted in IKS and immensely contributing to overall well-being of mankind. The present study is an attempt to document and understand the contribution of indigenous and local knowledge to biodiversity conservation and management. Appreciation to the value of traditional and indigenous knowledge is globally recognized for their principles of coexistence and sustainable use practices. Past studies indicate a strong relationship between indigenous knowledge and sustainable development goals. This knowledge is valuable not only to dependent communities, but also to the modern world for ensuring food security and human well-being. The documentation of such valuable knowledge is therefore fundamentally essential for mainstreaming and strengthening the discourses on sustainable ecosystem management, and to address the preponderance of poverty among indigenous communities. Amid the changing scenario of consumption and the trend of revisiting nature-based solutions, the IKS hold a tremendous scope of engaging the community people in sustainable harvest and utilization of natural resources.

Predicting the potential impacts of climate change on the endangered endemic annonaceae species in east africa

Globally, endemic species and natural habitats have been significantly impacted by climate change, and further considerable impacts are predicted. Therefore, understanding how endemic species are impacted by climate change can aid in advancing the necessary conservation initiatives. The use of niche modeling is becoming a popular topic in biological conservation to forecast changes in species distributions under various climate change scenarios. This study used the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator version 1 (ACCESS-CM2) general circulation model of coupled model intercomparison project phase 6 (CMIP6) to model the current distribution of suitable habitat for the four threatened Annonaceae species endemic to East Africa (EA), to determine the impact of climate change on their suitable habitat in the years 2050 (average for 2041-2060) and 2070 (average for 2061-2080). Two shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) SSP370 and SSP585 were used to project the contraction and expansion of suitable habitats for Uvariodendron kirkii, Uvaria kirkii, Uvariodendron dzomboense and Asteranthe asterias endemic to Kenya and Tanzania in EA. The current distribution for all four species is highly influenced by precipitation, temperature, and environmental factors (population, potential evapotranspiration, and aridity index). Although the loss of the original suitable habitat is anticipated to be significant, appropriate habitat expansion and contraction are projections for all species. More than 70% and 40% of the original habitats of Uvariodendron dzombense and Uvariodendron kirkii are predicted to be destroyed by climate change, respectively. Based on our research, we suggest that areas that are expected to shrink owing to climate change be classified as important protection zones for the preservation of Annonaceae species.

Anticancer effects of herbal medicine Emelia-M, Mshikazi and Delosma H against human leukaemia cells

Background

Leukaemia is one of the three major types of blood cancers that lead to the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. Emelia M (EMB), Mshikazi and Delosma H are herbal medicines that are being used by traditional healers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to treat leukaemia and other diseases.

Objectives

To gain insight into the safety (non-toxic effect), anti-cancer activity, mechanisms of action and phytochemical profiles of traditional herbal medicines (Emelia M (EMB), Mshikazi and Delosma H) in South Africa.

Methods

The viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), monocytic (THP-1) and T-lymphocyte (Jurkat) cell lines exposed to varying concentrations of aqueous extracts of the three herbal medicines were assessed using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay.

Results

All three extracts showed a dose-dependent effect on the viability of PBMCs. Cell viability decreased with increasing concentrations of extracts when compared with the untreated cells at 24 and 48 hours. The inhibitory activities (IC50) of the extract were found in the order of Mshikazi > EMB, > Delosma H. All the extracts induced apoptosis with minimal necrosis. Many bioactive compounds that have been previously reported to have anticancer effects were identified in the extracts.

Conclusion

Mshikazi extract significantly inhibited the growth of THP-1 and Jurkat cells and induced cell death through apoptosis than the other two extracts.

Stromal-vascular fraction and adipose-derived stem cell therapies improve cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis-induced rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on cartilage injury in an osteoarthritis (OA) rat model. Sodium iodoacetate (3 mg/50 μL) was used to induce OA in the left knee joint of rats. On day 14 after OA induction, 50 μL of SVF (5 × 10⁶cells), ADSCs (1 × 10⁶ cells), or 0.9% normal saline (NS) was injected into the left knee-joint cavity of each group. The macroscopic view and histological sections revealed that the articular cartilage in the NS group was damaged, inflamed, uneven and thin, and had hyperchromatic cell infiltration. Notably, the cartilage surface had recovered to nearly normal and appeared smooth and bright on day 14 in the SVF and ADSC groups. Additionally, the white blood cell counts in the SVF and ADSC groups were higher than those in the NS group on day 14. Plasma IL-1β levels on days 7 and 14 were reduced in the SVF and ADSC groups. These results indicated that both SVF and ADSC treatments may assist in articular cartilage regeneration after cartilage injury. Cell therapy may benefit patients with OA. However, clinical trials with humans are required before the application of SVF and ADSC treatments in patients with OA.

Habitat potential modelling and mapping of Teucrium polium using machine learning techniques

Determining suitable habitats is important for the successful management and conservation of plant and wildlife species. Teucrium polium L. is a wild plant species found in Iran. It is widely used to treat numerous health problems. The range of this plant is shrinking due to habitat destruction and overexploitation. Therefore, habitat suitability (HS) modeling is critical for conservation. HS modeling can also identify the key characteristics of habitats that support this species. This study models the habitats of T. polium using five data mining models: random forest (RF), flexible discriminant analysis (FDA), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), support vector machine (SVM), and generalized linear model (GLM). A total of 119 T. poliumlocations were identified and mapped. According to the RF model, the most important factors describing T. polium habitat were elevation, soil texture, and mean annual rainfall. HS maps (HSMs) were prepared, and habitat suitability was classified as low, medium, high, or very high. The percentages of the study area assigned high or very high suitability ratings by each of the models were 44.62% for FDA, 43.75% for GLM, 43.12% for SVM, 38.91% for RF, 28.72% for MARS, and 39.16% for their ensemble. Although the six models were reasonably accurate, the ensemble model had the highest AUC value, demonstrating a strong predictive performance. The rank order of the other models in this regard is RF, MARS, SVM, FDA, and GLM. HSMs can provide useful output to support the sustainable management of rangelands, reclamation, and land protection.

Chemical characterization, antiproliferative and antifungal activities of Clinacanthus nutans

Clinacanthus nutans Lindau (Family: Acanthaceae) is a medicinal herb widely distributed in the tropic and subtropic areas of Asia. C. nutans is traditionally consumed as vegetable or herbal tea, as well as a folk medicine for anticancer and antifungal activities. However, to date, chemical constituent responsible for observed health beneficial effects of this medicinal plant is not clear. In the current study, 32 compounds (1-32), including three new megastigmanes (1-3) were isolated from the aerial parts of C. nutans. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive NMR, MS, and CD spectroscopic data analysis, as well as chemical hydrolysis. Among the isolates, cycloartane triterpenoids (9, 10, and 12) displayed moderate anti-proliferative effects against HepG2 cell growth with IC₅₀ values ranging from 9.12 to 19.89 μM. Data obtained from flow cytometry analysis and western blotting assays revealed that compounds 9 and 12 induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells by modulating the expression of proteins associated to mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, megastigmanes 1, 2, 7, and 8 enhanced the anti-Candida albicans activity of amphotericin B (AmB), supporting the synergistic effects between megastigmanes and AmB. This is the first report of anticancer and antifungal potential of cycloartane triterpenoids and megastigmanes in C. nutans, which shed useful insights on the relationship between C. nutans's chemical constituent and its beneficial effects to health. Findings from this study support further development of this medicinal plant for potential pharmaceutical applications.

Cimicifuga dahurica extract inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 in vitro and in vivo

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim (C. dahurica) has a long history of treating breast cancer. From the Qing Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty and even earlier, C. dahurica has been documented in the treatment of breast carbuncle (Breast cancer is classified as breast carbuncle in Chinese medicine). In traditional prescriptions such as "Sheng Ge Decoction", "Sheng Ma Powder" and "Breast Carbuncle Pill", as the main medicine, C. dahurica plays an important role. At present, the systematic studies on the in vitro and in vivo effects of Cimicifuga against breast cancer are rare, especially the C. dahurica.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this article, we evaluated the in vitro activity and in vivo effects of CREE (extract of the root of C. dahurica) against breast cancer, and discussed the possible mechanism of CREE in promoting breast cancer cell apoptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main component in the CREE was analyzed by HPLC. The effects of CREE on the proliferation, migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells were evaluated through SRB, colony assay, LDH release, wound healing and transwell assay. The pro-apoptotic effect of CREE was investigated in Hochest33342 and Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. To verify the results of CREE in vivo effects, we applied nude mice subcutaneous xenograft experiments. The possible mechanism of CREE treating breast cancer was investigated through mitochondrial membrane potential and western blot experiments.

RESULTS

CREE contains cycloartane triterpene saponins. CREE can significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro and it can effectively inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 cell subcutaneous tumors in vivo. Besides, we also found that CREE up-regulated the expression levels of Bax, caspase-9/3 and cytochrome C, and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2. Therefore, regulation of the mitochondrial pathway may be one of the mechanisms by which CREE promotes breast cancer cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

CREE exhibits sufficient anti-breast cancer activity in vivo and in vitro, this study provides persuasive evidence for the further research and development of C. dahurica.

Biotechnological processes to obtain bioactive secondary metabolites from some Mexican medicinal plants

The consumption of medicinal plants has increased in recent decades due to the fact that they biosynthesize compounds with many biological activities; thus, some plant species with biological potential are being utilized as raw material by the industries for preparation of drugs, phytodrugs, or food supplements. This has the consequence of overexploitation and deforestation, which endangers plant species-of-interest. In recent years, alternatives have been sought to eradicate this problem. A solution that was given and is maintained is plant biotechnology, which favors the production of secondary metabolites (SMt) with important biological activity. Plant biotechnology allows us to increase the yield of a compound-of-interest, reduces its production times and costs, and allows constant and controlled production of the raw material, while aiding in the protection of medicinal plants that are found in danger of extinction. In the scientific literature, procuring the SMt by means of biotechnological processes is described, highlighting the study of five species from Mexican traditional medicine (Lopezia racemosa, Galphimia glauca, Cnidoscolus chayamansa, and Buddleja cordata), and the main biological activities are as follows: anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotector, neuroprotector, anxiolytic, antitumoral, antibacterial, and antioxidant, among others. KEY POINTS: • Secondary metabolites produce by biotechnology processes • Active secondary metabolites isolated from Mexican medicinal plants • Recent advances on the production of some bioactive secondary metabolites.

Antitumor Profile of Carbon-Bridged Steroids (CBS) and Triterpenoids

This review focuses on the rare group of carbon-bridged steroids (CBS) and triterpenoids found in various natural sources such as green, yellow-green, and red algae, marine sponges, soft corals, ascidians, starfish, and other marine invertebrates. In addition, this group of rare lipids is found in amoebas, fungi, fungal endophytes, and plants. For convenience, the presented CBS and triterpenoids are divided into four groups, which include: (a) CBS and triterpenoids containing a cyclopropane group; (b) CBS and triterpenoids with cyclopropane ring in the side chain; (c) CBS and triterpenoids containing a cyclobutane group; (d) CBS and triterpenoids containing cyclopentane, cyclohexane or cycloheptane moieties. For the comparative characterization of the antitumor profile, we have added several semi- and synthetic CBS and triterpenoids, with various additional rings, to identify possible promising sources for pharmacologists and the pharmaceutical industry. About 300 CBS and triterpenoids are presented in this review, which demonstrate a wide range of biological activities, but the most pronounced antitumor profile. The review summarizes biological activities both determined experimentally and estimated using the well-known PASS software. According to the data obtained, two-thirds of CBS and triterpenoids show moderate activity levels with a confidence level of 70 to 90%; however, one third of these lipids demonstrate strong antitumor activity with a confidence level exceeding 90%. Several CBS and triterpenoids, from different lipid groups, demonstrate selective action on different types of tumor cells such as renal cancer, sarcoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, lymphocytic leukemia, myeloid leukemia, liver cancer, and genitourinary cancer with varying degrees of confidence. In addition, the review presents graphical images of the antitumor profile of both individual CBS and triterpenoids groups and individual compounds.

5-HT7 receptors as a new target for prostate cancer physiopathology and treatment: an experimental study on PC-3 cells and FFPE tissues

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common types of cancer seen among men worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated that serotonin regulates cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro; the presence of 5-HT receptors in cancer cells; and the role of serotonin in tumor development. The most recently discovered of these receptors is 5-HT7 but also least characterized receptors of serotonin. The aim of this study is to investigate the existence and possible role of 5-HT7 receptors in healthy and cancerous prostate tissues and also investigate effects of receptor agonists and antagonists on PC-3 cells to evaluate potential therapeutic effects. PC-3 cells were cultured and effects of 5-HT7 receptor agonist (LP-44) and antagonist (SB-269970) were evaluated on these cells. After proliferation analyses, relative expression of apoptotic markers and 5-HT7 receptor mRNA expression levels were determined through real-time PCR. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and Hoechst 33258 staining assay methods were applied to determine apoptosis. Additional PCR studies were performed on healthy and cancerous prostate tissue to see existence of receptors in human samples. The viability of PC-3 cells was decreased by SB-269970 after 48 and 72 h of incubation. However, LP-44 increased PC-3 cell proliferation at all time points. In 10^-6 M SB-269970 treated PC-3 cells, there was significant increase in the expression of CAS-3 (4-fold), CAS-9 (2.5-fold), BAX (1.9-fold), and Tp-53 (4.8-fold) gene mRNA levels when compared to non-treated control group. Conversely, there was a significant decrease in NF-κB (2.9-fold) and 5-HT7 receptor (3.6-fold) mRNA expression in cells treated with SB-269970 when compared to control. SB-269970 that antagonized 5-HT7 receptors also induced apoptosis in Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay and Hoechst 33258 staining assays when compared with other groups. In human samples, 5-HT7 receptor mRNA expression was approximately 200-fold higher than that of heathy ones. In this study, for the first time, the 5-HT7 receptor antagonist SB-269970 has been shown to inhibit proliferation in PC-3 cells and to be associated with an apoptosis-inducing effect. These results suggest blocking 5-HT7 receptors can be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer.

The ethyl acetate extraction of Pileostegia tomentella (ZLTE) exerts anti-cancer effects on H1299 cells via ROS-induced canonical apoptosis

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the most common malignant tumor, the long-term survival of which has stagnated in the past several decades. Pileostegia tomentella Hand. Mazz is a traditional Chinese medicine called "Zhongliuteng" (ZLT) in the pharmacopeia, which has been proved to possess a potent anti-tumor effect on various cancers. In this study, the effects of ZLT N-butanol extraction (ZLTN) and ZLT ethyl acetate extraction (ZLTE) on the viability of non-small cell lung cancer cell (NSCLC) lines H1299 and A549 were evaluated. Here, we firstly reported that ZLTE significantly inhibited H1299 cells growth without affecting the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In addition, ZLTE induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner and increased the expression cleaved-PARP and decreased pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-7, pro-caspase-8, and pro-caspase-9. Moreover, ZLTE increased the level of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H1299 cells to lead to apoptosis, which was reversed by N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Taken together, our results revealed that ZLTE induced caspase-dependent apoptosis via ROS generation, suggesting that ZLTE is a promising herbal medicine for the treatment of NSCLC.

Process optimization of Syringa oblata Lindl. by response surface methodology and its effect on Staphylococcus xylosus biofilm

Syringa oblata Lindl. (S. oblata) is a medicinal plant with effective broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, which can also inhibit Streptococcus suis biofilm formation. The processing of herbal medicine can purify medicinal materials, provide acceptable taste, reduce toxicity, enhance efficacy, influence performance and facilitate preparation. Thus, the aim of this study was to enhance the biofilm inhibition activity of S. oblata toward Staphylococcus xylosus (S. xylosus) using the best processing method. The content of rutin and flavonoids and the ability to inhibit the biofilm formation by S. oblata were examined using four processing methods. One of the best methods, the process of stir-frying S. oblata with vinegar, was optimized based on the best rutin content by response surface methodology. The histidine content and hisB gene expression of S. xylosus biofilm in vitro, resulting from stir-frying S. oblata with vinegar, were evaluated and were found to be significantly decreased and down-regulated, respectively. The results show that S. oblata stir-fried with vinegar can be used to effectively treat diseases resulting from S. xylosus infection. This is because it significantly inhibited S. xylosus biofilm formation by interfering with the biosynthesis of histidine; thus, its mechanism of action is decreasing histidine synthesis.

Effects of GB34 acupuncture on hyperventilation-induced carbon dioxide reactivity and cerebral blood flow velocity in the anterior and middle cerebral arteries of normal subjects

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether acupuncture at GB34 affects cerebral blood flow (CBF) via the anterior cerebral arteries (ACAs) and middle cerebral arteries (MCAs).

METHODS

This study included 10 healthy young male volunteers. CBF velocity and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) were measured using transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). The changes in hyperventilation-induced carbon dioxide (CO₂) reactivity and modified blood flow velocity at 40 mm Hg (CV40) were observed for both ACAs and MCAs before and after GB34 acupuncture treatment. Blood pressure and heart rate were also measured before and after GB34 acupuncture treatment.

RESULTS

The CO₂ reactivity of the ipsilateral MCA significantly increased after GB34 acupuncture treatment, compared with that at baseline (P=0.007). In contrast, the CO₂ reactivity of both ACAs and the contralateral MCA remained unchanged. The CV40 of both ACAs and MCAs did not change after GB34 acupuncture treatment and neither did the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONS

GB34 acupuncture treatment increased CO₂ reactivity specifically in the ipsilateral MCA, but had no effect on either the ACAs or the contralateral MCA. These data suggest that GB34 acupuncture treatment improves the vasodilatory potential of the cerebral vasculature to compensate for fluctuations caused by changes in external conditions and could potentially be useful for the treatment of disorders of the ipsilateral MCA circulation.

Comparison Of Cimicifuga foetida extract and different hormone therapies regarding in causing breast pain in early postmenopausal women

This study aimed to compare the influence between Cimicifuga foetida extract and different hormone therapies on breast pain in early postmenopausal women. A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted among 96 early postmenopausal women. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: group A received 1 mg/day estradiol valerate plus 4 mg/day medroxyprogesterone acetate on days 19-30; group B received 1 mg/day estradiol valerate plus 100 mg/day micronized progesterone on days 19-30; group C received C. foetida extract, 1talet (contains 33.3 mg extract), t.i.d. Breast pain diary and numerical rating scale was used to access the breast pain. For 6 months' treatment, the total incidence of breast pain in group A and B was significantly higher than that in group C (p < .05). The duration (day) of breast pain in each month decreased over time in group A and B while it was continuously low and without significant change in group C (p > .05). The intensity of breast pain was mild in most participants and did not differ among three groups (p > .05). During treatment of early postmenopausal women with C. foetida extract for 6 months, the incidence and duration of breast pain were lower than upon treatment with E2 plus cyclic MPA or m-P and did not change over time.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of the genus Cimicifuga: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants of the genus Cimicifuga have long been used as an ethnomedicine in China, Europe, and North America for its high medicinal value and health benefits. Their dried rhizomes are widely used for treating wind-heat headache, toothache, aphtha, sore throat, measles, spot poison, archoptosis, and uterine prolapse. In addition, it is used as a dietary supplement for preventing women menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper aims to provide up-to-date information on the genus Cimicifuga, including botanical characterization, medicinal resources, traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacological research as well as the toxicology. The possible structural-activity relationships and molecular mechanisms of the bioactive constituents are discussed in ways that contribute to the structural optimization and preclinical safety assessment for further drug design.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relevant information on Cimicifuga was collected from scientific databases (such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SciFinder Scholar, Science Direct, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Web of Science, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database), Chinese herbal classics, ethnobotanical books, PhD and MSc dissertations, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, local magazines, and unpublished materials. In addition, the Plant List (TPL, www.theplantlist.org) was also used to validate the scientific names and synonyms of this plant. The literature cited in this review dated from 1953 to 2017.

RESULTS

The majority of chemical constituents of this plant include triterpenoid glycosides, phenylpropanoids, nitrogenous compounds, chromones, flavonoids and 4α-methyl steroid. Among them, the primary bioactive constituents are believed to be present in the triterpene glycoside fraction. To date, investigation of seven Cimicifuga spp. plants led to the identification of more than 457 compounds. Years of pharmacological research proved that the crude extracts and certain pure compounds obtained from Cimicifuga exhibited menopausal syndrome-treatment, anti-osteoporosis, antiviral, antitumor, antioxidant and antiangiogenic activities. On the other hand, Cimicifuga plant-induced toxicities of liver, cardiovascular, central and peripheral nervous systems have also been reported. Therefore, safety consideration should be placed into a high priority for herbal medicine Cimicifuga therapy in the early stages of development and clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS

This review presents information on botany, medicinal resources, and traditional medicinal history of some Cimicifuga plants. Modern pharmacology researchers have validated many traditional uses of Cimicifuga species. As the quality control and safety assessment of Cimicifuga plants is still incomplete, only a small part of the plant is permitted to be used as medicines. Expansion of medicinal resources in Cimicifuga is urgently needed to enable its full use. Currently research primarily focuses on the triterpenoid glycosides but there are many other types of compounds which may possess new biological activities however the systematic studies of these compounds are lacking. Extensive study is required on Cimicifuga plant before it can be fully used in clinics as a potent drug candidate.

Phytotherapy and Nutritional Supplements on Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of nonskin malignancy among women worldwide. In general, conventional cancer treatment options (i.e., surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and hormone therapy) are not completely effective. Recurrence and other pathologic situations are still an issue in breast cancer patients due to side effects, toxicity of drugs in normal cells, and aggressive behaviour of the tumours. From this point of view, breast cancer therapy and adjuvant methods represent a promising and challenging field for researchers. In the last few years, the use of some types of complementary medicines by women with a history of breast cancer has significantly increased such as phytotherapeutic products and nutritional supplements. Despite this, the use of such approaches in oncologic processes may be problematic and patient's health risks can arise such as interference with the efficacy of standard cancer treatment. The present review gives an overview of the most usual phytotherapeutic products and nutritional supplements with application in breast cancer patients as adjuvant approach. Regardless of the contradictory results of scientific evidence, we demonstrated the need to perform additional investigation, mainly well-designed clinical trials in order to establish correlations and allow for further validated outcomes concerning the efficacy, safety, and clinical evidence-based recommendation of these products.

Targeted apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells through mitochondrial dysfunction in response to Sambucus nigra agglutinin

Ovarian carcinoma (OC) patients encounter the severe challenge of clinical management owing to lack of screening measures, chemoresistance and finally dearth of non-toxic therapeutics. Cancer cells deploy various defense strategies to sustain the tumor microenvironment, among which deregulated apoptosis remains a versatile promoter of cancer progression. Although recent research has focused on identifying agents capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, yet molecules efficiently breaching their survival advantage are yet to be classified. Here we identify lectin, Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) to exhibit selectivity towards identifying OC by virtue of its specific recognition of α-2, 6-linked sialic acids. Superficial binding of SNA to the OC cells confirm the hyper-sialylated status of the disease. Further, SNA activates the signaling pathways of AKT and ERK1/2, which eventually promotes de-phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp-1). Upon its translocation to the mitochondrial fission loci Drp-1 mediates the central role of switch in the mitochondrial phenotype to attain fragmented morphology. We confirmed mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization resulting in ROS generation and cytochrome-c release into the cytosol. SNA response resulted in an allied shift of the bioenergetics profile from Warburg phenotype to elevated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, altogether highlighting the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in restraining cancer progression. Inability to replenish the SNA-induced energy crunch of the proliferating cancer cells on the event of perturbed respiratory outcome resulted in cell cycle arrest before G2/M phase. Our findings position SNA at a crucial juncture where it proves to be a promising candidate for impeding progression of OC. Altogether we unveil the novel aspect of identifying natural molecules harboring the inherent capability of targeting mitochondrial structural dynamics, to hold the future for developing non-toxic therapeutics for treating OC.

Ruanjian Sanjie decoction exhibits antitumor activity by inducing cell apoptosis in breast cancer

Traditional Chinese medicine, based on theories developed and practiced for >2,000 years, is one of the most common complementary and alternative types of medicine currently used in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. Ruanjian Sanjie (RJSJ) decoction, is composed of four herbs, including Ban xia (Pinellia ternata), Xia ku cao (Prunella vulgaris), Shan ci gu (Cremastra appendiculata) and Hai zao (Sargassum pallidum), and has traditionally been used for softening hard lumps and resolving hard tissue masses. However, the active compounds and mechanisms of action of RJSJ remain unknown. The present study demonstrated the antitumor activity of RJSJ against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice and breast cancer xenografts in nude mice. Notably, RJSJ does not induce body weight loss, immune function toxicity or myelosuppression in mice, indicating that it is safe and well tolerated. In addition, RJSJ shows potent cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells in vitro by the suppression of the anti-apoptotic proteins B-cell lymphoma 2 and survivin, leading to the activation of caspase-3/7 and caspase-9, and the apoptotic cascade. These findings provide a clear rationale to explore the therapeutic strategy of using RJSJ alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for breast cancer patients and the characterization of its active principles.

Phthalide derivatives from Ligusticum chuanxiong

Eleven new phthalide derivatives (1–11) have been isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong.

New potential beneficial effects of actein, a triterpene glycoside isolated from Cimicifuga species, in breast cancer treatment

Actein is a triterpene glycoside isolated from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga foetida (Chinese herb “shengma”) which could inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Nevertheless, the effect of actein on angiogenesis, which is an essential step for tumor growth and metastasis, has never been reported. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of actein on angiogenesis using human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1), matrigel plug and tumor-bearing mouse models. Our results showed that actein significantly inhibited the proliferation, reduced the migration and motility of endothelial cells, and it could suppress the protein expressions of VEGFR1, pJNK and pERK, suggesting that JNK/ERK pathways were involved. In vivo results showed that oral administration of actein at 10 mg/kg for 7 days inhibited blood vessel formation in the growth factor-containing matrigel plugs. Oral actein treatments (10–15 mg/kg) for 28 days resulted in decreasing mouse 4T1 breast tumor sizes and metastasis to lungs and livers. The apparent reduced angiogenic proteins (CD34 and Factor VIII) expressions and down-regulated metastasis-related VEGFR1 and CXCR4 gene expressions were observed in breast tumors. Our novel findings provide insights into the use of actein for development of anti-angiogenic agents for breast cancer.