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Pandey P, Lakhanpal S, Bishoyi AK, Jyothi SR, Mishra S, Verma M, Singh A, Alam MW, Rab SO, Saeed M, Khan F. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from plant extracts: a comprehensive review focused on anticancer therapy. Front Pharmacol 2025; 16:1600347. [PMID: 40438589 PMCID: PMC12116548 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1600347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2025] [Accepted: 04/24/2025] [Indexed: 06/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a deadly disease and is one of the primary causes of mortality worldwide. Cancer therapy presents significant challenges, such as chemotherapy resistance, high toxicity, recurrence, and metastasis. As a result, the development of novel therapeutic agents for cancer continues to be a top goal to expand the number of efficient treatments available. The advent of nanotechnology is an important turning point in several scientific disciplines. Owing to the increasing difficulty of this problem, researchers have begun to focus their attention on the possibility of employing plants or extracts from plants as a potential tumor treatment. More than 3,000 medicinal plant species have been documented worldwide for their utilization in cancer treatment. Nevertheless, crude plant extracts lack specificity, and their dosages are not clearly specified. To enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these natural substances, researchers have used them in conjunction with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Plants possess intricate phytochemical components including sugars, polyphenols, amino acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and proteins, which can function as reducing and stabilizing agents. In recent years, the application of plant-derived AgNPs has increased significantly, particularly in cancer treatment. These green-synthesized AgNPs are regarded as outstanding tools for the detection of cancer and targeted drug delivery at the tumor site. By leveraging the distinctive characteristics of nanoparticles and the antioxidant and anticancer qualities of plants, these green-synthesized AgNPs selectively eradicate tumor cells while sparing normal healthy cells. This comprehensive review aimed to summarize the key aspects of plant extracts as anticancer agents, biosynthesis of AgNPs, and recent advancements in the antitumor efficacy of green-synthesized AgNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Pandey
- Centre for Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India
| | - Sorabh Lakhanpal
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Bishoyi
- Marwadi University Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - S. Renuka Jyothi
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Swati Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Meenakshi Verma
- University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Ajay Singh
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Mir Waqas Alam
- Department of Physics, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Safia Obaidur Rab
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Saeed
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Khan
- Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Zhang T, Xiaohan C. Unveiling the Role of JAK2/STAT3 signaling in chemoresistance of gynecological cancers: From mechanisms to therapeutic implications. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2025; 211:104712. [PMID: 40187711 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2025.104712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2025] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/07/2025] Open
Abstract
Gynecological cancers, encompassing ovarian, cervical, endometrial, vulvar, and vaginal cancers, present a significant global health burden due to high incidence rates and associated mortality. Among these, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers are particularly challenging, characterized by late-stage diagnoses, distinct pathological features, and significant resistance to chemotherapy. A major contributor to treatment failure is chemoresistance, driven by multifactorial mechanisms such as dysregulation of apoptosis, DNA repair, metabolic reprogramming, and the tumor microenvironment. The Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in promoting chemoresistance, enhancing tumor cell survival, stemness, and immune evasion through the transcriptional regulation of anti-apoptotic and multidrug resistance genes. Persistent activation of this pathway not only sustains tumor progression but also limits the efficacy of standard chemotherapeutics, such as paclitaxel, cisplatin, and platinum-based agents. This review comprehensively examines the molecular mechanisms underlying JAK2/STAT3-mediated chemoresistance in gynecological cancers, highlighting its interactions with critical regulatory networks, including non-coding RNAs, cytokine signaling, hypoxia, and extracellular vesicles. We further explore therapeutic interventions targeting the JAK2/STAT3 axis, encompassing small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, nanoparticles, and oncolytic viruses. Natural products and synthetic compounds targeting this pathway demonstrate significant potential in overcoming resistance and improving chemotherapy response. The findings underscore the critical role of JAK2/STAT3 signaling in the persistence and progression of chemoresistant gynecological cancers and advocate for the integration of pathway-targeted therapies into current treatment paradigms. By disrupting this axis, emerging therapies offer a promising strategy to enhance drug sensitivity and improve patient outcomes, paving the way for more effective and personalized approaches in gynecological oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiao Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Lens Research of Liaoning Province, Eye Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
| | - Chang Xiaohan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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González-Fernández S, Blanco-Agudín N, Rodríguez D, Fernández-Vega I, Merayo-Lloves J, Quirós LM. Silver Nanoparticles: A Versatile Tool Against Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases. Antibiotics (Basel) 2025; 14:289. [PMID: 40149100 PMCID: PMC11939477 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics14030289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2025] [Revised: 03/05/2025] [Accepted: 03/06/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles possess remarkable properties that render them highly beneficial for medical applications in both infectious and non-infectious diseases. Among their most renowned attributes is their antimicrobial activity. They have demonstrated efficacy against a wide range of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. Additionally, the antitumor and anti-diabetic properties of silver nanoparticles, along with their ability to promote wound healing and their application as biosensors, underscore their therapeutic potential for various non-infectious conditions. As silver nanoparticles are employed for medical purposes, their potential toxicity must be considered. While silver nanoparticles present a promising alternative in the therapeutic domain, further research is needed to elucidate their precise mechanisms of action, optimize their efficacy, and mitigate any potential health risks associated with their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara González-Fernández
- Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (S.G.-F.); (N.B.-A.)
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, University of Oviedo, 33012 Oviedo, Spain; (I.F.-V.); (J.M.-L.)
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 33940 El Entrego, Spain
| | - Noelia Blanco-Agudín
- Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (S.G.-F.); (N.B.-A.)
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, University of Oviedo, 33012 Oviedo, Spain; (I.F.-V.); (J.M.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - David Rodríguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - Iván Fernández-Vega
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, University of Oviedo, 33012 Oviedo, Spain; (I.F.-V.); (J.M.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jesús Merayo-Lloves
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, University of Oviedo, 33012 Oviedo, Spain; (I.F.-V.); (J.M.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
- Department of Surgery, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Luis M. Quirós
- Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (S.G.-F.); (N.B.-A.)
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, University of Oviedo, 33012 Oviedo, Spain; (I.F.-V.); (J.M.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
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