Active fractions of golden-flowered tea (Camellia nitidissima Chi) inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor mutated non-small cell lung cancer via multiple pathways and targets in vitro and in vivo

Huaier polysaccharides inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma via gut microbiota mediated M2 macrophage polarization

Liver cancer was the third cause of global cancer death, while China has the largest number of patients. And traditional Chinese medicine is an important strategy for liver cancer. There into, Huaier polysaccharides (HP), the major component of Trametes robiniophila Murr., as a preparation of Huaier granule, is recommended by clinical guidelines for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the anti-HCC mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we investigated whether HP could suppress HCC and revealed the underlying mechanism. Firstly, HP showed a weaker proliferation inhibitory effect on the mouse source and human HCC cells in vitro, but exhibited stronger anti-HCC effects in animals. And nude mice models confirmed that macrophages play an important role in the anti-HCC effect of HP. Then, we observed that HP reduced the polarization of M2 macrophages in tumor microenvironment and increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors by macrophages. Moreover, 16 s rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that HP altered the gut microbiota and related metabolites. Eventually, antibiotic intervention eliminated the efficacy and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, confirming that the gut microbiota is a key molecule for HP efficacy. In addition, MTT and EdU assay indicated that Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) were potential microbial metabolites influencing efficacy of HP. In conclusion, our data revealed that Huaier polysaccharides inhibited HCC via gut microbiota mediated M2 macrophage polarization, providing sufficient scientific support for Huaier polysaccharides clinical application and indicating the indispensable role of polysaccharides in life health.

SSR marker-based genetic diversity and structure analyses of Camellia nitidissima var. phaeopubisperma from different populations

Background

Camellia nitidissima var. phaeopubisperma is a variety in the section Chrysantha of the genus Camellia of the family Theaceae which is native to Fangchenggang, Guangxi, China. To date, the genetic diversity and structure of this variety remains to be understood.

Methods

In the present study, eight simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers previously screened were used to analyze the genetic diversity and structure of C. nitidissima var. phaeopubisperma natural populations from 14 growing areas in China, so as to determine the influence of environmental changes on genetic variations and provide the basis for introduction and selection of suitable growing sites of that variety.

Results

Our results show that, for the eight SSR loci, the observed numbers of alleles per locus (Na) and the effective numbers of alleles per locus (Ne) were nine and 3.206, respectively on average, and the Ne was lower than the Na for all loci; the observed heterozygosity (Ho) was lower than the expected heterozygosity (He). For all the eight loci, the fixation index (F) was greater than 0, and the intra-population inbreeding coefficient (Fis) for seven loci was positive. Three loci were moderately polymorphic (0.25 < polymorphism information content (PIC) <0.5), and five loci were highly polymorphic (PIC > 0.5); all eight loci had a moderate genetic differentiation level (0.05 < genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) <0.25). As shown by the genetic diversity analysis, the He was bigger than the Ho for 10 populations, indicating the presence of a certain degree of intra-population inbreeding. The F had a negative value for four populations, suggesting that excessive random mating was present within each of them. Results of the analysis of molecular variance show that 19% of the total variation was attributed to among-individuals and 78% of the total variation originated from within-individuals. The adjusted Fst (F'st) was 0.073, indicative of a moderate level of genetic differentiation among the populations. The value of gene flow was greater than 1 (7.367), suggesting that genetic differentiation among populations was not caused by genetic drift. Results of the STRUCTURE analysis show that all the samples tested could be clustered into five ancestor groups. Results of the Unweighted Pair Group Method using Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) clustering analyses show that the 84 plant samples could be divided into three clusters and natural populations from the 14 growing areas could be divided into two clusters. Clustering results of the populations were not affected by geographic distances, and gene flow occurred frequently among the populations, suggesting that the genetic variation among the natural populations of C. nitidissima var. phaeopubisperma from 14 growing areas was not influenced by environmental changes of these areas but mainly derived from the genetic variation present in pre-introduction populations.

Phylotranscriptomics resolved phylogenetic relationships and divergence time between 20 golden camellia species

Golden camellia species are endangered species with great ecological significance and economic value in the section Chrysantha of the genus Camellia of the family Theaceae. Literature shows that more than 50 species of golden camellia have been found all over the world, but the exact number remains undetermined due to the complex phylogenetic background, the non-uniform classification criteria, and the presence of various synonyms and homonyms; and phylogenetic relationships among golden camellia species at the gene level are yet to be disclosed. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the divergence time and phylogenetic relationships between all golden camellia species at the gene level to improve their classification system and achieve accurate identification of them. Phenotypic data and transcriptomic sequences of 20 golden camellia species commonly found in Guangxi, China were obtained. PCA and OPLS-DA analyses were conducted based on phenotypic data, and agglomerative clustering was performed to generate the clustering tree of the 20 golden camellia species. Single-copy homologous genes were used to generate phylogenetic trees using Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian Inference methods, and the results obtained with these three methods were compared. Then the molecular dating analysis was performed to reveal the divergence time and evolutionary relationships. Rhododendron griersonianum, Diospyros lotus, and Impatiens glandulifera were used as outgroups. The phylogenetic tree based on single-copy homologous genes showed that golden camellia species with shorter geographical distances were closer phylogenetically. Phylogenetic relationships based on phenotypic traits and those based on single-copy homologous genes were inconsistent, suggesting that species with a close genetic evolutionary relationship may show high variation in phenotypic traits and thus the analysis of evolutionary relationships based on phenotypic traits may result in inaccurate outcomes. Among three phylogenetic trees constructed by the three methods, the evolutionary sequences were different, but evolutionary relationships between most species were consistent. For 6 species, the divergence time estimated by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference varied much, that estimated by Bayesian Inference later than that estimated by Maximum Likelihood. Using these two methods, the resulting divergence time of 14 species was 3.452 Mya. The divergence time predicted in our study is later than that in the literature. In the present study phylogenetic relationships among 20 golden camellia species were analyzed at the transcriptome level to provide a supplement to the phylogenetic classification and evolutionary relationships explored using morphological traits and some molecular markers. Our findings show that the 20 golden camellia species diverged at a later time than other known species in the genus Camellia. Since our analyses were based on the failed molecular clock hypothesis, our conclusions are tentative. Further research using more systematic analyses and more methods should be conducted to confirm the phylogenetic relationships among golden camellia species.

Triterpenoid Saponins and Flavonoid Glycosides from the Flower of Camellia flavida and Their Cytotoxic and α-Glycosidase Inhibitory Activities

Camellia flavida var. flavida, commonly known as "Jinhua Tea", has its flowers and leaves traditionally utilized as tea and functional food sources. However, there is limited knowledge about its bioactive components and their biological activities. This study isolated ten previously unidentified glycoside compounds from the flowers of Camellia flavida, including three oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins (compounds 1-3) and seven flavonoid glycosides (compounds 4-10), collectively named flavidosides A-J. This study assessed the cytotoxicity of these compounds against a panel of human cancer cell lines and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Notably, flavidoside C showed significant cytotoxicity against BEL-7402 and MCF-7 cell lines, with IC50 values of 4.94 ± 0.41 and 1.65 ± 0.39 μM, respectively. Flavidoside H exhibited potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 1.17 ± 0.30 mM. These findings underscore the potential of Camellia flavida in the development of functional foods.

Bioinformatics-based drug repositioning and prediction of the main active ingredients and potential mechanisms of action for the efficacy of Dan-Lou tablet

Drug repositioning is gaining attention as a method for developing new drugs due to its low cost, short cycle time, and high success rate. One important approach is to explore new uses for already marketed drugs. In this study, we utilized the strategy of drug repositioning, focusing on the Dan-Lou tablet. We predicted the efficacy of Dan-Lou tablet against non-small cell lung cancer based on gene expression similarity and verified it by in vitro experiments. Next, we performed further analysis and validation using network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Based on the results, it was concluded that Dan-Lou tablet mainly acted through nine compounds, Quercetin, Luteolin, Scoparone, Isorhamnetin, Eugenol, Genistein, Coumestrol, Hederagenin, Succinic Acid, and mainly targeted CCL2, FEN1, TPI1, RMI2 by six pathways. This discovery not only provides a new idea for the development of Dan-Lou tablet but also provides useful predictive information for clinical treatment. The method we adopted has great development prospects as a way to predict the efficacy of new drugs and their main mechanisms of action, and it has a positive impact on the research and development of new drugs using drug repositioning and the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.

The L-type calcium channel CaV1.3: A potential target for cancer therapy

Cancer remains a prominent cause to life expectancy, and targeted cancer therapy stands as a pivotal approach in contemporary therapy. Calcium (Ca2+) signalling plays a multifaceted role in cancer progression, such as proliferation, invasion and distant metastasis. Otherwise, it also exerts an important influence on the efficacy of clinical treatment, including cancer therapy resistance. In this review we discuss the role of the L-type calcium channel CaV1.3 (calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 D) in different types of cancers, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for certain cancer types. The development of selective blockers of the CaV1.3 channel has been of great interest and is expected to be a new option for the treatment of cancers such as prostate cancer and endometrial cancer. We present the pharmacological properties of CaV1.3 and the current status of selective blocker development, and analyse the challenges and possible directions for breakthroughs in the development of tailored medicines.

Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as a Novel Frontier in Cancer Therapeutics

Recent advancements in nanomedicine and biotechnology have unveiled the remarkable potential of plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) as a novel and promising approach for cancer treatment. These naturally occurring nanoscale particles exhibit exceptional biocompatibility, targeted delivery capabilities, and the capacity to load therapeutic agents, positioning them at the forefront of innovative cancer therapy strategies. PDEVs are distinguished by their unique properties that facilitate tumor targeting and penetration, thereby enhancing the efficacy of drug delivery systems. Their intrinsic biological composition allows for the evasion of the immune response, enabling the efficient transport of loaded therapeutic molecules directly to tumor sites. Moreover, PDEVs possess inherent anti-cancer properties, including the ability to induce cell cycle arrest and promote apoptotic pathways within tumor cells. These vesicles have also demonstrated antimetastatic effects, inhibiting the spread and growth of cancer cells. The multifunctional nature of PDEVs allows for the simultaneous delivery of multiple therapeutic agents, further enhancing their therapeutic potential. Engineering and modification techniques, such as encapsulation, and the loading of therapeutic agents via electroporation, sonication, and incubation, have enabled the customization of PDEVs to improve their targeting efficiency and therapeutic load capacity. This includes surface modifications to increase affinity for specific tumor markers and the encapsulation of various types of therapeutic agents, such as small molecule drugs, nucleic acids, and proteins. Their plant-derived origin offers an abundant and renewable source to produce therapeutic vesicles, reducing costs and facilitating scalability for clinical applications. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the latest research on PDEVs as emerging anti-cancer agents in cancer therapy.

Mechanisms predictive of Tibetan Medicine Sophora moorcroftiana alkaloids for treatment of lung cancer based on the network pharmacology and molecular docking

BACKGROUND

Leguminous Sophora moorcroftiana (SM) is a genuine medicinal material in Tibet. Many research results have reveal the Sophora moorcroftiana alkaloids (SMA), as the main active substance, have a wide range of effects, such as antibacterial, antitumor and antiparasitic effects. However, there are few reports on the inhibition of lung cancer (LC) and its inhibitory mechanism, and the pharmacological mechanism of SMA is still unclear, Therefore, exploring its mechanism of action is of great significance.

METHODS

The SMA active components were obtained from the literature database. Whereas the corresponding targets were screened from the PubChem and PharmMapper database, UniProt database were conducted the correction and transformation of UniProt ID on the obtained targets. The GeneCards and OMIM databases identified targets associated with LC. Venny tools obtained the intersection targets of SMA and LC. R language and Cytoscape software constructed the visual of SMA - intersection targets - LC disease network. The intersection targets protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were built by the STRING database. The functions and pathways of the common targets of SMA and LC were enriched by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, molecular docking And A549 cells vitro experiment were performed to further validate our finding.

RESULTS

We obtained six kinds of alkaloids in SM, 635 potential targets for these compounds, and 1,303 genes related to LC. SMA and LC intersection targets was 33, including ALB, CCND1, ESR1, NOTCH1 and AR. GO enrichment indicated that biological process of SMA was mainly involved in the positive regulation of transcription and nitric oxide biosynthetic process, and DNA-templated, etc. Biological functions were mainly involved in transcription factor binding and enzyme binding, etc. Cell components were mainly involved in protein complexes, extracellular exosome, cytoplasm and nuclear chromatin, etc., Which may be associated with its anti-LC effects. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that main pathways involved in the anti-LC effects of SMA, including pathway in cancer, non small-cell lung cancer, p53, PI3K-Akt and FOXO signaling pathways. Molecular docking analyses revealed that the six active compounds had a good binding activity with the main therapeutic targets 2W96, 2CCH and 1O96. Experiments in vitro proved that SMA inhibited the proliferation of LC A549 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the present study, we have successfully revealed the SMA compounds had a multi-target and multi-channel regulatory mechanism in treatment LC, These findings provided a solid theoretical reference of SMA in the clinical treatment of LC.

Preparation, Antioxidant Activities and Bioactive Components of Kombucha Beverages from Golden-Flower Tea (Camellia petelotii) and Honeysuckle-Flower Tea (Lonicera japonica)

Kombucha is a fermented tea known for its health benefits. In this study, golden-flower tea (Camellia petelotii) and honeysuckle-flower tea (Lonicera japonica) were first used as raw materials to prepare kombucha beverages. The antioxidant activities, total phenolic contents, concentrations of bioactive components, and sensory scores of two kombucha beverages were assessed. Additionally, effects of fermentation with or without tea residues on kombucha beverages were compared. The results found that two kombucha beverages possessed strong antioxidant activities and high scores of sensory analysis. In addition, fermentation with golden-flower tea residues could remarkably enhance the antioxidant activity (maximum 2.83 times) and total phenolic contents (3.48 times), while fermentation with honeysuckle tea residues had a minor effect. Furthermore, concentrations of several bioactive compounds could be increased by fermentation with golden-flower tea residues, but fermentation with honeysuckle-flower tea residues had limited effects. Moreover, the fermentation with or without tea residues showed no significant difference on sensory scores of golden-flower tea kombucha and honeysuckle-flower tea kombucha, and golden-flower tea kombucha had higher sensory scores than honeysuckle-flower tea kombucha. Therefore, it might be a better strategy to produce golden-flower tea kombucha by fermentation with tea residues, while honeysuckle-flower tea kombucha could be prepared without tea residues.

Underlying Mechanisms of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases as Potential Targets for Preventive or Therapeutic Strategies Using Phytochemicals

During aging, several tissues and biological systems undergo a progressive decline in function, leading to age-associated diseases such as neurodegenerative, inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this review, we focus on the molecular underpinning of senescence and neurodegeneration related to age-associated brain diseases, in particular, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, along with introducing nutrients or phytochemicals that modulate age-associated molecular dysfunctions, potentially offering preventive or therapeutic benefits. Based on current knowledge, the dysregulation of microglia genes and neuroinflammation, telomere attrition, neuronal stem cell degradation, vascular system dysfunction, reactive oxygen species, loss of chromosome X inactivation in females, and gut microbiome dysbiosis have been seen to play pivotal roles in neurodegeneration in an interactive manner. There are several phytochemicals (e.g., curcumin, EGCG, fucoidan, galangin, astin C, apigenin, resveratrol, phytic acid, acacetin, daucosterol, silibinin, sulforaphane, withaferin A, and betulinic acid) that modulate the dysfunction of one or several key genes (e.g., TREM2, C3, C3aR1, TNFA, NF-kb, TGFB1&2, SIRT1&6, HMGB1, and STING) affected in the aged brain. Although phytochemicals have shown promise in slowing down the progression of age-related brain diseases, more studies to identify their efficacy, alone or in combinations, in preclinical systems can help to design novel nutritional strategies for the management of neurodegenerative diseases in humans.