A Flavonoid Glycoside Compound from Murraya paniculata (L.) Interrupts Metastatic Characteristics of A549 Cells by Regulating STAT3/NF-κB/COX-2 and EGFR Signaling Pathways

A comprehensive review of the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Murrayae Folium et Cacumen (MFC) is a plant considered to be a traditional Chinese medicine with culinary value as well. The dry leaves and twigs of Murraya paniculata and M. exotica are used to treat stomach aches, rheumatism, toothaches, swelling, and insect and snake bites. They are also used to prepare spicy chicken dishes. Aim of the review: This review comprehensively summarizes the available information on the botanical characterization, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of MFC. Methods: Relevant scientific literature up to August 2023 was included in the study. Chinese and English studies on MFC were collected from databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, Wiley, ACS, and CNKI (Chinese). Doctoral and Master's dissertations were also included. Results: In total, 720 compounds have been identified and reported in the literature, including flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, sterols, phenylpropenols, organic acids, spirocyclopentenones, and volatile oils. Flavonoids and coumarins are the two most important bioactive compounds responsible for these pharmacological activities. MFC has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-depressant, potential anti-Alzheimer's disease, chondroprotective, and analgesic properties. The pharmacological effects include interrupting the STAT3/NF-κB/COX-2 and EGFR signaling pathways, downregulating EpCAM expression, inhibiting NF-κB and ERK signals, inhibiting the EP/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and miR-29a/Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity, and upregulating Foxo3a expression. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of MFC support its use in traditional Chinese botanical medicines. MFC contains a wide range of chemical compounds. Flavonoids and coumarins promote strong pharmacological activity and, are low-toxicity natural phytomedicines that are widely used in medicine, food, ornamentation, and cosmetics, making MFC a promising compound for development and use in the treatment of several medical conditions.

Modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 signaling pathways in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis by natural compounds: a comprehensive and critical review

Tumor cells employ multiple signaling mediators to escape the hypoxic condition and trigger angiogenesis and metastasis. As a critical orchestrate of tumorigenic conditions, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is responsible for stimulating several target genes and dysregulated pathways in tumor invasion and migration. Therefore, targeting HIF-1 pathway and cross-talked mediators seems to be a novel strategy in cancer prevention and treatment. In recent decades, tremendous efforts have been made to develop multi-targeted therapies to modulate several dysregulated pathways in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. In this line, natural compounds have shown a bright future in combating angiogenic and metastatic conditions. Among the natural secondary metabolites, we have evaluated the critical potential of phenolic compounds, terpenes/terpenoids, alkaloids, sulfur compounds, marine- and microbe-derived agents in the attenuation of HIF-1, and interconnected pathways in fighting tumor-associated angiogenesis and invasion. This is the first comprehensive review on natural constituents as potential regulators of HIF-1 and interconnected pathways against cancer angiogenesis and metastasis. This review aims to reshape the previous strategies in cancer prevention and treatment.

Medicine Targeting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Treat Airway Remodeling and Pulmonary Fibrosis Progression

Objective. Dysregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the airway epithelium is associated with airway remodeling and the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Many treatments have been shown to inhibit airway remodeling and pulmonary fibrosis progression in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by regulating EMT and have few side effects. This review aimed to describe the development of airway remodeling through the EMT pathway, as well as the potential therapeutic targets in these pathways. Furthermore, this study aimed to review the current research on drugs to treat airway remodeling and their effects on the EMT pathway. Findings. The dysregulation of EMT was associated with airway remodeling in various respiratory diseases. The cytokines released during inflammation may induce EMT and subsequent airway remodeling. Various drugs, including herbal formulations, specific herbal compounds, cytokines, amino acid or protein inhibitors, microRNAs, and vitamins, may suppress airway remodeling by inhibiting EMT-related pathways.

The role of flavonoids in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer: A review on targeting signaling pathways and metastasis

One of the hallmarks of cancer is metastasis, a process that entails the spread of cancer cells to distant regions in the body, culminating in tumor formation in secondary organs. Importantly, the proinflammatory environment surrounding cancer cells further contributes to cancer cell transformation and extracellular matrix destruction. During metastasis, front-rear polarity and emergence of migratory and invasive features are manifestations of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). A variety of transcription factors (TFs) are implicated in the execution of EMT, the most prominent belonging to the Snail Family Transcriptional Repressor (SNAI) and Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox (ZEB) families of TFs. These TFs are regulated by interaction with specific microRNAs (miRNAs), as miR34 and miR200. Among the several secondary metabolites produced in plants, flavonoids constitute a major group of bioactive molecules, with several described effects including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antiobesogenic, and anticancer effects. This review scrutinizes the modulatory role of flavonoids on the activity of SNAI/ZEB TFs and on their regulatory miRNAs, miR-34, and miR-200. The modulatory role of flavonoids can attenuate mesenchymal features and stimulate epithelial features, thereby inhibiting and reversing EMT. Moreover, this modulation is concomitant with the attenuation of signaling pathways involved in diverse processes as cell proliferation, cell growth, cell cycle progression, apoptosis inhibition, morphogenesis, cell fate, cell migration, cell polarity, and wound healing. The antimetastatic potential of these versatile compounds is emerging and represents an opportunity for the synthesis of more specific and potent agents.

The effectiveness of blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) in lung cancer progression-a comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) are a class of herbs that have the effect of dilating blood vessels and dispersing stagnation. Modern pharmaceutical research has demonstrated that they are capable of improving hemodynamics and micro-flow, resist thrombosis and promote blood flow. BAST contain numerous active ingredients, which can theoretically regulate multiple targets at the same time and have a wide range of pharmacological effects in the treatment of diseases including human cancers. Clinically, BAST have minimal side effects and can be used in combination with Western medicine to improve patients' quality of life, lessen adverse effects and minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis of cancers.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

We aimed to summarize the research progression of BAST on lung cancer in the past five years and present a prospect for the future. Particularly, this review further analyzes the effects and molecular mechanisms that BAST inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant studies about BSAT were collected from PubMed and Web of science.

RESULTS

Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the highest mortality rate. Most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and are highly susceptible to metastasis. Recent studies have shown that BAST, a class of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the function of opening veins and dispersing blood stasis, significantly improve hemodynamics and microcirculation, prevent thrombosis and promote blood flow, and thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. In the current review, we analyzed 51 active ingredients extracted from BAST. It was found that BAST and their active ingredients contribute to the prevention of invasion and metastasis of lung cancer through multiple mechanisms, such as regulation of EMT process, specific signaling pathway and metastasis-related genes, tumor blood vessel formation, immune microenvironment and inflammatory response of tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

BSAT and its active ingredients have showed promising anticancer activity and significantly inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. A growing number of studies have realized their potential clinical significance in the therapy of lung cancer, which will provide substantial evidences for the development of new TCM for lung cancer therapy.

Application of different approaches to generate virtual patient populations for the quantitative systems pharmacology model of erythropoiesis

In a standard situation, a quantitative systems pharmacology model describes a "reference patient," and the model parameters are fixed values allowing only the mean values to be described. However, the results of clinical trials include a description of variability in patients' responses to a drug, which is typically expressed in terms of conventional statistical parameters, such as standard deviations (SDs) from mean values. Therefore, in this study, we propose and compare four different approaches: (1) Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC); (2) model fitting to Monte Carlo sample; (3) population of clones; (4) stochastically bounded selection to generate virtual patient populations based on experimentally measured mean data and SDs. We applied these approaches to generate virtual patient populations in the QSP model of erythropoiesis. According to the results of our research, stochastically bounded selection showed slightly better results than the other three methods as it allowed the description of any number of patients from clinical trials and could be applied in the case of complex models with a large number of variable parameters.

STAT3-EMT axis in tumors: modulation of cancer metastasis, stemness and therapy response

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism is responsible for metastasis of tumor cells and their spread to various organs and tissues of body, providing undesirable prognosis. In addition to migration, EMT increases stemness and mediates therapy resistance. Hence, pathways involved in EMT regulation should be highlighted. STAT3 is an oncogenic pathway that can elevate growth rate and migratory ability of cancer cells and induce drug resistance. The inhibition of STAT3 signaling impairs cancer progression and promotes chemotherapy-mediated cell death. Present review focuses on STAT3 and EMT interaction in modulating cancer migration. First of all, STAT3 is an upstream mediator of EMT and is able to induce EMT-mediated metastasis in brain tumors, thoracic cancers and gastrointestinal cancers. Therefore, STAT3 inhibition significantly suppresses cancer metastasis and improves prognosis of patients. EMT regulators such as ZEB1/2 proteins, TGF-β, Twist, Snail and Slug are affected by STAT3 signaling to stimulate cancer migration and invasion. Different molecular pathways such as miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs modulate STAT3/EMT axis. Furthermore, we discuss how STAT3 and EMT interaction affects therapy response of cancer cells. Finally, we demonstrate targeting STAT3/EMT axis by anti-tumor agents and clinical application of this axis for improving patient prognosis.

Modulation of TLR/NF-κB/NLRP Signaling by Bioactive Phytocompounds: A Promising Strategy to Augment Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Background

Tumors often progress to a more aggressive phenotype to resist drugs. Multiple dysregulated pathways are behind this tumor behavior which is known as cancer chemoresistance. Thus, there is an emerging need to discover pivotal signaling pathways involved in the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and cancer immunotherapy. Reports indicate the critical role of the toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing (NLRP) pathway in cancer initiation, progression, and development. Therefore, targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling is a promising strategy to augment cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy and to combat chemoresistance. Considering the potential of phytochemicals in the regulation of multiple dysregulated pathways during cancer initiation, promotion, and progression, such compounds could be suitable candidates against cancer chemoresistance.

Objectives

This is the first comprehensive and systematic review regarding the role of phytochemicals in the mitigation of chemoresistance by regulating the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway in chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Methods

A comprehensive and systematic review was designed based on Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane electronic databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to include papers on TLR/NF-κB/NLRP and chemotherapy/immunotherapy/chemoresistance by phytochemicals.

Results

Phytochemicals are promising multi-targeting candidates against the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway and interconnected mediators. Employing phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids, and sulfur compounds could be a promising strategy for managing cancer chemoresistance through the modulation of the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway. Novel delivery systems of phytochemicals in cancer chemotherapy/immunotherapy are also highlighted.

Conclusion

Targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling with bioactive phytocompounds reverses chemoresistance and improves the outcome for chemotherapy and immunotherapy in both preclinical and clinical stages.

Orientin, a Bio-Flavonoid from Trigonella hamosa L., Regulates COX-2/PGE-2 in A549 Cell Lines via miR-26b and miR-146a

Cancer is a severe health condition and considered one of the major healthcare issues and is in need of innovative strategy for a cure. The current study aimed to investigate the chemical profile of Trigonella hamosa L. and a potential molecular approach to explain its regulation in cancer progression through an inflammatory mediator (COX-2) in A549 non-small lung cancer cell lines via in silico, mechanistic and molecular aspects. T. hamosa was extracted and then subjected to a CCK-8 cell viability assay in different cancer cell lines including MDA-MB-231, A549 and HCT-116. Total extract was subjected to several chromatographic techniques to yield orientin (OT); the structure was elucidated by inspection of NMR spectroscopic data. To achieve anticancer effects of OT, a cell viability assay using a CCK-8 kit, immunoprecipitation by Western blot, cell migration using a wound healing assay, cell invasion using a Matrigel-Transwell assay, apoptosis by AO/EB dual staining, flow cytometric analysis and DAPI staining, a silenced COX-2 model to determine PGE-2 production and real-time PCR and Western blot of BCL-2, CYP-1A1, iNOS and COX-2 markers were carried out. The results demonstrated that OT decreased the cell proliferation and controlled cell migration and invasive properties. OT destabilized the COX-2 mRNA and downregulated its expression in A549 cell lines. Virtual binding showed interaction (binding energy −10.43) between OT and COX-2 protein compared to the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (CLX) (binding energy −9.4). The OT-CLX combination showed a superior anticancer effect. The synergistic effect of OT-CLX combination was noticed in controlling the migration and invasion of A549 cell lines. OT-CLX downregulated the expression of BCL-2, iNOS and COX-2 and activated the proapoptotic gene CYP-1A1. OT mitigated the COX-2 expression via upregulation of miR-26b and miR-146a. Interestingly, COX-2-silenced transfected A549 cells exhibited reduced expression of miR-26b and miR-146a. The findings confirmed the direct interaction of OT with COX-2 protein. PGE-2 expression was quantified in both naïve and COX-2-silenced A549 cells. OT downregulated the release of PGE-2 in both tested conditions. These results confirmed the regulatory effect of OT on A549 cell growth in a COX-2-dependent manner. OT activated apoptosis via activation of CYP-1A1 expression in an independent manner. These results revealed that the OT-CLX combination could serve as a potential synergistic treatment for effective inflammatory-mediated anticancer strategies.

Embedding similarities between embryos and circulating tumor cells: fundamentals of abortifacients used for cancer metastasis chemoprevention

Background

The global epidemiological studies reported lower cancer risk after long-term use of contraceptives. Our systematic studies demonstrated that abortifacients are effective in preventing cancer metastases induced by circulating tumor cells (CTCs). However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which abortifacients prevent CTC-based cancer metastases are almost unknown. The present studies were designed to interdisciplinarily explore similarities and differences between embryo implantation and cancer cell adhesion/invasion.

Methods

Biomarker expressions on the seeding embryo JEG-3 and cancer MCF-7 cells, as well as embedding uterine endometrial RL95-2 and vascular endothelial HUVECs cells were examined and compared before and after treatments with 17β-estradiol plus progesterone and abortifacients. Effects of oral metapristone and mifepristone on embryo implantation in normal female mice and adhesion/invasion of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in BALB/C female mice were examined.

Results

Both embryo JEG-3 and cancer MCF-7 cells expressed high sLex, CD47, CAMs, while both endometrial RL95-2 and endothelial HUVECs exhibited high integrins and ICAM-1. Near physiological concentrations of 17β-estradiol plus progesterone promoted migration and invasion of JEG-3 and MCF-7 cells via upregulating integrins and MMPs. Whereas, mifepristone and metapristone significantly inhibited migration and invasion of JEG-3 and MCF-7 cells, and inhibited JEG-3 and MCF-7 adhesion to matrigel, RL95-2 cells and HUVECs, respectively. The inhibitions were realized by downregulating sLex, MMPs in JEG-3 and MCF-7 cells, and downregulating integrins in RL95-2 cells and HUVECs, respectively. Mifepristone and metapristone significantly inhibited both embryo implantation and cancer cell metastasis in mice.

Conclusions

The similarities between the two systems provide fundamentals for abortifacients to intervene CTC adhesion/invasion to the distant metastatic organs. The present studies offer the rationale to repurpose abortifacients for safe and effective cancer metastasis chemoprevention.

Flavonoids as Multi-Target Compounds: A Special Emphasis on their Potential as Chemo-adjuvants in Cancer Therapy

Flavonoids are low molecular weight, polyphenolic phytochemicals, obtained from secondary metabolism of various plant compounds. They have a spectrum of pharmacological efficacies, including potential anticancer efficacy. Natural flavonoids are present in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea and wine. Flavonoids can attenuate or inhibit the initiation, promotion and progression of cancer by modulating various enzymes and receptors in diverse pathways that involve cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis and metastasis. Furthermore, in vitro, flavonoids have been shown to reverse multidrug resistance when used as chemo-adjuvants. Flavonoids (both natural and synthetic analogues) interact with several oncogenic targets through dependent and independent mechanisms to mediate their anticancer efficacy in different types of cancer cells.

Targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by polyphenols: Implication for cancer therapy

Cancer is one of the biggest challenges facing medicine and its cure is regarded to be the Holy Grail of medicine. Therapy in cancer is consisted as various artificial cytotoxic agents and radiotherapy, and recently immunotherapy. Recently much attention has been directed to the use of natural occurring agents in cancer therapy. One of the main group of agents utilized in this regard is polyphenols which are found abundantly in berries, fruits and vegetables. Polyphenols show to exert direct and indirect effects in progression of cancer, angiogenesis, proliferation and enhancing resistance to treatment. One of the cellular pathways commonly affected by polyphenols is PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which has far ranging effects on multiple key aspects of cellular growth, metabolism and death. In this review article, evidence regarding the biology of polyphenols in cancer via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is discussed and their application on cancer pathophysiology in various types of human malignancies is shown.

Scutellarin inhibits the invasive potential of malignant melanoma cells through the suppression epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Malignant melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin disease, due in large part to its propensity to metastasize. Scutellarin is an active flavone extracted from traditional Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand. Mazz. Recent studies have reported that scutellarin can be utilized to treat various types of tumors. In this study, we investigated the effects of scutellarin on melanoma cancer cell invasive potential and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects using A375 melanoma cells lines. The in-vitro antitumor activity of scutellarin was evaluated by CCK-8 assay, wound-healing assay, transwell assays, adhesion assays, and tube formation assays to assess the cell viability, migration, invasion, adhesion, and angiogenesis, respectively. Also, western blotting assay was used to assess the level of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway proteins in A375 cells. We found that scutellarin significantly inhibited melanoma cell lines and HUVECs viability in a time- and concentration-dependent manners. Additionally, scutellarin effectively suppressed tumor cell migration, invasion, adhesion through the suppression of EMT and angiogenesis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. These results indicated that scutellarin could markedly inhibit the invasive potential of melanoma cell lines by suppressing the EMT and angiogenesis through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. It suggests that scutellarin might be a potential compound in malignant melanoma treatment.

Inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR by Melafolone Improves Anti-PD-1 Therapy through Vascular Normalization and PD-L1 Downregulation in Lung Cancer

Checkpoint blockade therapy has been proven efficacious in lung cancer patients. However, primary/acquired resistance hampers its efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies to improve checkpoint blockade therapy. Here we tested whether dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by flavonoid melafolone improves program death 1 (PD-1) checkpoint blockade therapy through normalizing tumor vasculature and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) downregulation. Virtual screening assay, cellular thermal shift assay, and enzyme inhibition assay identified melafolone as a potential inhibitor of COX-2 and EGFR. In Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and CMT167 models, dual inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR by melafolone promoted survival, tumor growth inhibition, and vascular normalization, and ameliorated CD8⁺ T-cell suppression, accompanied by the downregulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and PD-L1 in the tumor cells. Mechanistically, dual inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR in lung cancer cells by melafolone increased the migration of pericyte, decreased the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, and enhanced the proliferation and effector function of CD8⁺ T cells through VEGF, TGF-β, or PD-L1 downregulation and PI3K/AKT inactivation. Notably, melafolone improved PD-1 immunotherapy against LLC and CMT167 tumors. Together, dual inhibition of COX-2 and EGFR by melafolone improves checkpoint blockade therapy through vascular normalization and PD-L1 downregulation and, by affecting vessels and immune cells, may be a promising combination strategy for the treatment of human lung cancer.

Synergistic Chemopreventive and Therapeutic Effects of Co-drug UA-Met: Implication in Tumor Metastasis

The anticancer properties of ursolic acid (UA) and metformin (Met) have been well demonstrated. However, whether these compounds can act synergistically to prevent and treat cancer is not known. We present in this study, the synergism between UA and Met, and that of a new codrug made of UA and Met (UA-Met) against several cancer cell lines. The combination of high concentration of UA (25, 50, 75, 100 μM) and Met (5, 10, 20, 40 mM) resulted in synergetic cytotoxicity on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells (CI < 0.8). Molecular and cellular studies showed that codrug UA-Met significantly inhibited the invasion (∼55.3 ± 2.74%) and migration (∼52.4 ± 1.57%) of TGF-β induced breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells in vitro at low concentration of 10 μM. These effects were accompanied by down-regulation of CXCR4, uPA, vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and MMP-2/9 proteins expression and regulation of the AMPK/m-TOR signaling pathways as expected from UA and Met. Moreover, UA-Met could reduce the progression of pulmonary metastasis by 4T1 cells (63.4 ± 3.52%) without influencing the glucose blood level in mice. Our study suggests that the codrug UA-Met is safe and effective in preventing cancer metastasis and possibly treatment of cancer.