Molecular Insights into the Multifunctional Role of Natural Compounds: Autophagy Modulation and Cancer Prevention

Bioactive small compounds effectively inhibit ChREBP overexpression to treat NAFLD and T2DM: A computational drug development approach

A glucose-dependent carbohydrate-signaling gene regulator named Carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), has recently been discovered as a major metabolic regulator of enzymes involved in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type-II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As a result, this research is aimed to identify natural small molecules as drug candidates that target the ChREBP in order to counter aggressive NAFLD and T2DM. A comprehensive in silico drug design strategy was implemented to find possible inhibitors of the targeted protein. A site-specific molecular docking approach was used to screen 20 FDA approved anti-diabetic drugs and 494 phytochemicals from the natural sources against the ChREBP, and the top ten compounds were selected for further studies based on their binding affinities. The ADME and toxicity profiles of the selected ten drug compounds demonstrated their efficacy and safety. The result of the MD simulations of the protein-ligand complex structures indicated their stability and potential activity. A comprehensive data screening process following docking, ADMET properties, and MD simulation approaches, five compounds (dieckol, isocorilagin, stachyurin, stachysetin and thonningianin A) with favorable values against the targeted ChREBP were demonstrated which indicates their strong potential as promising and effective drug candidates for the treatment of NAFLD and T2DM.

Identifying Potential Autophagy Modulators in Panch Phoron Spices (P5S): An In Silico approach

Despite recent breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, cancer remains a worldwide health challenge with high mortality. Autophagy plays a major role in the progression and development. Starving cancer cells obtain nutrients through the upregulation of autophagy. Several compounds derived from natural sources, including animals, plants, and microorganisms, have been identified as potential novel anticancer drugs. Spices play an important role in human health and possess many medicinal properties. Our study aimed to identify potential autophagy modulators from panch phoron spices (P5S) through in silico approaches. Herein, we report a structure-based virtual screening of compounds isolated from P5S (i.e., cumin, fenugreek, fennel, black mustard, and black cumin) against the molecular targets of autophagy. Using various computational tools, we attempted to identify potential modulators of autophagy. Among all the screening results (such as binding energy, hydrogen bonding, drug-likeness, bioactivity, ADME properties, and toxicity), P5S, stigmasterol, and tigogenin showed the best drug-like properties and binding affinity toward the selected targets of autophagy. Furthermore, the stability of both complexes was evaluated by performing a 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) using Schrodinger's Desmond Module. Our results provide insight into the efficacy of P5S components against cancer. Therefore, targeting autophagy using these molecules may be an effective and potential drug candidate for cancer treatment. In conclusion, stigmasterol and tigogenin may act as potential candidates for anticancer drugs by targeting autophagy.

Elucidating gastric cancer mechanisms and therapeutic potential of Adociaquinone A targeting EGFR: A genomic analysis and Computer Aided Drug Design (CADD) approach

Gastric cancer predominantly adenocarcinoma, accounts for over 85% of gastric cancer diagnoses. Current therapeutic options are limited, necessitating the discovery of novel drug targets and effective treatments. The Affymetrix gene expression microarray dataset (GSE64951) was retrieved from NCBI-GEO data normalization and DEGs identification was done by using R-Bioconductor package. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of DEGs was performed using DAVID. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by STRING database plugin in Cytoscape. Subclusters/modules of important interacting genes in main network were extracted by using MCODE. The hub genes from in the network were identified by using Cytohubba. The miRNet tool built a hub gene/mRNA-miRNA network and Kaplan-Meier-Plotter conducted survival analysis. AutoDock Vina and GROMACS MD simulations were used for docking and stability analysis of marine compounds against the 5CNN protein. Total 734 DEGs (507 up-regulated and 228 down-regulated) were identified. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in processes like cell-cell adhesion and ATP binding. Eight hub genes (EGFR, HSPA90AA1, MAPK1, HSPA4, PPP2CA, CDKN2A, CDC20, and ATM) were selected for further analysis. A total of 23 miRNAs associated with hub genes were identified, with 12 of them targeting PPP2CA. EGFR displayed the highest expression and hazard rate in survival analyses. The kinase domain of EGFR (PDBID: 5CNN) was chosen as the drug target. Adociaquinone A from Petrosia alfiani, docked with 5CNN, showed the lowest binding energy with stable interactions across a 50 ns MD simulation, highlighting its potential as a lead molecule against EGFR. This study has identified crucial DEGs and hub genes in gastric cancer, proposing novel therapeutic targets. Specifically, Adociaquinone A demonstrates promising potential as a bioactive drug against EGFR in gastric cancer, warranting further investigation. The predicted miRNA against the hub gene/proteins can also be used as potential therapeutic targets.

A comprehensive identification of potential molecular targets and small drugs candidate for melanoma cancer using bioinformatics and network-based screening approach

Melanoma is the third most common malignant skin tumor and has increased in morbidity and mortality over the previous decade due to its rapid spread into the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This study used integrated bioinformatics and network-based methodologies to reliably identify molecular targets and small molecular medicines that may be more successful for Melanoma diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The statistical LIMMA approach utilized for bioinformatics analysis in this study found 246 common differentially expressed genes (cDEGs) between case and control samples from two microarray gene-expression datasets (GSE130244 and GSE15605). Protein-protein interaction network study revealed 15 cDEGs (PTK2, STAT1, PNO1, CXCR4, WASL, FN1, RUNX2, SOCS3, ITGA4, GNG2, CDK6, BRAF, AGO2, GTF2H1 and AR) to be critical in the development of melanoma (KGs). According to regulatory network analysis, the most important transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators of DEGs and hub-DEGs are ten transcription factors and three miRNAs. We discovered the pathogenetic mechanisms of MC by studying DEGs' biological processes, molecular function, cellular components and KEGG pathways. We used molecular docking and dynamics modeling to select the four most expressed genes responsible for melanoma malignancy to identify therapeutic candidates. Then, utilizing the Connectivity Map (CMap) database, we analyzed the top 4-hub-DEGs-guided repurposable drugs. We validated four melanoma cancer drugs (Fisetin, Epicatechin Gallate, 1237586-97-8 and PF 431396) using molecular dynamics simulation with their target proteins. As a result, the results of this study may provide resources to researchers and medical professionals for the wet-lab validation of MC diagnosis, prognosis and treatments.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Spectroscopic investigation and structural simulation in human serum albumin with hydroxychloroquine/Silybum marianum and a possible potential COVID-19 drug candidate

In this study, the interaction between human serum albumin (HSA) and the hydroxychloroquine/Silybum marianum (HCQ/SM) mixture was investigated using various techniques. The observed high binding constant (Kb) and Stern-Volmer quenching constant (KSV) indicate a strong binding affinity between the HCQ/SM mixture and HSA. The circular dichroism (CD) analysis revealed that HCQ/SM induced conformational changes in the secondary structure of HSA, leading to a decrease in the α-helical content. UV-Vis analysis exhibited a slight redshift, indicating that the HCQ/SM mixture could adapt to the flexible structure of HSA. The experimental results demonstrated the significant conformational changes in HSA upon binding with HCQ/SM. Theoretical studies were carried out using molecular dynamics simulation via the Gromacs simulation package to explore insights into the drug interaction with HSA-binding sites. Furthermore, molecular docking studies demonstrated that HCQ/SM-HSA exhibited favorable docking scores with the receptor (5FUZ), suggesting a potential therapeutic relevance in combating COVID-19 with a value of -6.24 kcal mol-1. HCQ/SM exhibited stronger interaction with both SARS-CoV-2 virus main proteases compared to favipiravir. Ultimately, the experimental data and molecular docking analysis presented in this research offer valuable insights into the pharmaceutical and biological properties of HCQ/SM mixtures when interacting with serum albumin.

The experimental significance of isorhamnetin as an effective therapeutic option for cancer: A comprehensive analysis

Isorhamnetin (C16H12O7), a 3'-O-methylated derivative of quercetin from the class of flavonoids, is predominantly present in the leaves and fruits of several plants, many of which have traditionally been employed as remedies due to its diverse therapeutic activities. The objective of this in-depth analysis is to concentrate on Isorhamnetin by addressing its molecular insights as an effective anticancer compound and its synergistic activity with other anticancer drugs. The main contributors to Isorhamnetin's anti-malignant activities at the molecular level have been identified as alterations of a variety of signal transduction processes and transcriptional agents. These include ROS-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibition of mTOR and P13K pathway, suppression of MEK1, PI3K, NF-κB, and Akt/ERK pathways, and inhibition of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-1α expression. A significant number of in vitro and in vivo research studies have confirmed that it destroys cancerous cells by arresting cell cycle at the G2/M phase and S-phase, down-regulating COX-2 protein expression, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, MEK1, ERKs, and PI3K signaling pathways, and up-regulating apoptosis-induced genes (Casp3, Casp9, and Apaf1), Bax, Caspase-3, P53 gene expression and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway. Its ability to suppress malignant cells, evidence of synergistic effects, and design of drugs based on nanomedicine are also well supported to treat cancer patients effectively. Together, our findings establish a crucial foundation for understanding Isorhamnetin's underlying anti-cancer mechanism in cancer cells and reinforce the case for the requirement to assess more exact molecular signaling pathways relating to specific cancer and in vivo anti-cancer activities.

Guidelines for the role of autophagy in drug delivery vectors uptake pathways

The process of autophagy refers to the intracellular absorption of cytoplasm (such as proteins, nucleic acids, tiny molecules, complete organelles, and so on) into the lysosome, followed by the breakdown of that cytoplasm. The majority of cellular proteins are degraded by a process called autophagy, which is both a naturally occurring activity and one that may be induced by cellular stress. Autophagy is a system that can save cells' integrity in stressful situations by restoring metabolic basics and getting rid of subcellular junk. This happens as a component of an endurance response. This mechanism may have an effect on disease, in addition to its contribution to the homeostasis of individual cells and tissues as well as the control of development in higher species. The main aim of this study is to discuss the guidelines for the role of autophagy in drug delivery vector uptake pathways. In this paper, we discuss the meaning and concept of autophagy, the mechanism of autophagy, the role of autophagy in drug delivery vectors, autophagy-modulating drugs, nanostructures for delivery systems of autophagy modulators, etc. Later in this paper, we talk about how to deliver chemotherapeutics, siRNA, and autophagy inducers and inhibitors. We also talk about how hard it is to make a drug delivery system that takes nanocarriers' roles as autophagy modulators into account.

Identification of antidiabetic inhibitors from Allophylus villosus and Mycetia sinensis by targeting α-glucosidase and PPAR-γ: In-vitro, in-vivo, and computational evidence

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder arising from insulin deficiency and defectiveness of the insulin receptor functioning on transcription factor where the body loses control to regulate glucose metabolism in β-cells, pancreatic and liver tissues to homeostat glucose level. Mainstream medicines used for DM are incapable of restoring normal glucose homeostasis and have side effects where medicinal plant-derived medicine administrations have been claimed to cure diabetes or at least alleviate the significant symptoms and progression of the disease by the traditional practitioners. This study focused on screening phytocompounds and their pharmacological effects on anti-hyperglycemia on Swiss Albino mice of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extract of both plants Mycetia sinensis and Allophylus villosus as well as the in-silico investigations. Qualitative screening of phytochemicals and total phenolic and flavonoid content estimation were performed significantly in vitro analysis. FTIR and GC-MS analysis précised the functional groups and phytochemical investigations where FTIR scanned 14, 23 & 17 peaks in n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Mycetia sinensis whereas the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Allophylus villosus scanned 11 peaks, 18 peaks, and 29 peaks, respectively. In GC-MS, 24 chemicals were identified in Mycetia sinensis extracts, whereas 19 were identified in Allophylus villosus extracts. Moreover, both plants' ethyl acetate and ethanol fractioned extracts were reported significantly (p < 0.05) with concentrations of 250 mg and 500 mg on mice for oral glucose tolerance test, serum creatinine test and serum alkaline phosphatase test. In In silico study, a molecular docking study was done on these 43 phytocompounds identified from Mycetia sinensis and Allophylus villosus to identify their binding affinity to the target Alpha Glucosidase (AG) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma protein (PPARG). Therefore, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analysis, quantum mechanics-based DFT (density-functional theory), and molecular dynamics simulation were done to assess the effectiveness of the selected phytocompounds. According to the results, phytocompounds such as 2,4-Dit-butyl phenyl 5-hydroxypentanoate and Diazo acetic acid (1S,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl obtained from Mycetia sinensis and Allophylus villosus extract possess excellent antidiabetic activities.

Inhibiting autophagy to boost antitumor immunity with tetramethylpyrazine-loaded and PD-L1-targeting liposomal nanoparticles

Cancer immunotherapy has been recognized as a revolutionary breakthrough and has yielded impressive results. However, a major challenge facing immunotherapy is its limited efficacy, which may be largely due to the inadequate infiltration of immune cells into the tumor microenvironment (TME). Autophagy inhibition has been identified to enhance the recruitment of immune cells into the tumor by upregulating the expression and secretion of chemokines. Here, we verified a novel autophagy inhibitor tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) from natural products using a mCherry-GFP-LC3 probe-based autophagy flux reporter system. We then devised a liposomal system capable of co-delivering DOX and TMP using the thin-film dispersion method and modified the liposome with PD-L1 binding peptide JY4 (DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO). We found that DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO exhibited potent antitumor efficacy in vitro. In addition, DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO could effectively inhibit the autophagic flux to enhance the recruitment of immune cells into the tumor by upregulating CCL5 and CXCL10. The liposome exhibited favorable biocompatibility and safety while facilitating the accumulation of therapeutic drugs in tumors. DOX-TMP-JY4LIPO significantly inhibited tumor growth in LLC xenograft mice, accompanied by increased granzymes- and perforin-mediated cytotoxic immune responses. Our findings demonstrate that the TMP-loaded and PD-L1-targeting liposomal nanoparticles can significantly boost antitumor immunity by inhibiting autophagy, suggesting a novel natural product-based nanomedicine for immunotherapy.

Age-related advanced glycation end-product accumulation impairs mitochondrial regulation after vitrification†

Vitrification is an important assisted reproductive technology, although it induces mitochondrial dysfunction in embryos. Herein, we aimed to investigate whether age-associated accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in oocytes impairs the recovery of embryos from cryopreservation-induced mitochondrial dysfunction/damage. Mouse eight-cell stage embryos developed in vitro were vitrified and warmed and incubated up to the blastocyst stage. AGE levels in oocytes were higher in both aged mice and AGE accumulation mouse models (MGO-mice) than those in young and control mice. In addition, the level of SIRT1 upregulation was lower for embryos of aged and MGO-mice than that for embryos of young and control mice. The highest mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content was detected in blastocysts derived from vitrified embryos of aged and MGO-mice. The spent culture medium of blastocysts derived from both aged and MGO-mice contained higher mtDNA content than that of the blastocysts derived from young and control mice. EX527 increased mtDNA content in the spent culture medium of vitrified embryos derived from young mice. In addition, p62 aggregate levels were higher in vitrified embryos of control mice than those in vitrified embryos of MGO-mice. The SIRT1 activator, resveratrol, increased p62 aggregation levels in vitrified embryos derived from young and aged mice, whereas vitrification did not affect p62 aggregation levels in embryos from aged mice. Therefore, age-associated AGE accumulation induces decreased responsive SIRT1 upregulation following vitrified-warmed treatment and impairs mitochondrial quality control activity in vitrified embryos.

Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) methanolic extract regulates multiple checkpoints in 15-lipoxygenase mediated inflammopathies: Computational simulation and in vitro evidence

Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) has long been used in traditional folk medicine to prevent and cure a variety of inflammatory diseases. In this study, the antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging and reducing power), anti-inflammatory activity (RBC Membrane Stabilization and 15-LOX inhibition), and anticoagulation activity (Serin protease inhibition and Prothrombin Time assays) of the methanolic extract of amla were conducted. Amla exhibited a substantial amount of phenolic content (TPC: 663.53 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (TFC: 418.89 mg GAE/g). A strong DPPH scavenging effect was observed with an IC50 of 311.31 µg/ml as compared to standard ascorbic acid with an IC50 of 130.53 µg/ml. In reducing power assay, the EC50 value of the extract was found to be 196.20 µg/ml compared to standard ascorbic acid (EC50 = 33.83 µg/ml). The IC50 value of the RBC membrane stabilization and 15-LOX assays was observed as 101.08 µg/ml (IC50 of 58.62 µg/ml for standard aspirin) and 195.98 µg/ml (IC50 of 19.62 µg/ml for standard quercetin), respectively. The extract also strongly inhibited serine protease (trypsin) activity with an IC50 of 505.81 µg/ml (IC50 of 295.44 µg/ml for standard quercetin). The blood coagulation time (PTT) was found to be 11.91 min for amla extract and 24.11 min for standard Warfarin. Thus, the findings of an in vitro study revealed that the methanolic extract of amla contains significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulation activity. Furthermore, in silico docking and simulation of reported phytochemicals of amla with human 15-LOXA and 15-LOXB were carried out to validate the anti-inflammatory activity of amla. In this analysis, epicatechin and catechin showed greater molecular interaction and were considerably stable throughout the 100 ns simulation with 15-lipoxygenase A (15-LOXA) and 15-lipoxygenase B (15-LOXB) respectively.

Autophagic mechanisms in longevity intervention: role of natural active compounds

The term 'autophagy' literally translates to 'self-eating' and alterations to autophagy have been identified as one of the several molecular changes that occur with aging in a variety of species. Autophagy and aging, have a complicated and multifaceted relationship that has recently come to light thanks to breakthroughs in our understanding of the various substrates of autophagy on tissue homoeostasis. Several studies have been conducted to reveal the relationship between autophagy and age-related diseases. The present review looks at a few new aspects of autophagy and speculates on how they might be connected to both aging and the onset and progression of disease. Additionally, we go over the most recent preclinical data supporting the use of autophagy modulators as age-related illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic dysfunction. It is crucial to discover important targets in the autophagy pathway in order to create innovative therapies that effectively target autophagy. Natural products have pharmacological properties that can be therapeutically advantageous for the treatment of several diseases and they also serve as valuable sources of inspiration for the development of possible new small-molecule drugs. Indeed, recent scientific studies have shown that several natural products including alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, and phenolics, have the ability to alter a number of important autophagic signalling pathways and exert therapeutic effects, thus, a wide range of potential targets in various stages of autophagy have been discovered. In this review, we summarised the naturally occurring active compounds that may control the autophagic signalling pathways.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Pharmacoinformatic Integrated Analysis of Bioactive Phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica (Neem) to Treat Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic hormonal and metabolic disorder in which our body cannot generate necessary insulin or does not act in response to it, accordingly, ensuing in discordantly high blood sugar (glucose) levels. Diabetes mellitus can lead to systemic dysfunction in the multiorgan system, including cardiac dysfunction, severe kidney disease, lowered quality of life, and increased mortality risk from diabetic complications. To uncover possible therapeutic targets to treat diabetes mellitus, the in silico drug design technique is widely used, which connects the ligand molecules with target proteins to construct a protein-ligand network. To identify new therapeutic targets for type 2 diabetes mellitus, Azadirachta indica is subjected to phytochemical screening using in silico molecular docking, pharmacokinetic behavior analysis, and simulation-based molecular dynamic analysis. This study has analyzed around 63 phytochemical compounds, and the initial selection of the compounds was made by analyzing their pharmacokinetic properties by comparing them with Lipinski’s rule of 5. The selected compounds were subjected to molecular docking. The top four ligand compounds were reported along with the control drug nateglinide based on their highest negative molecular binding affinity. The protein-ligand interaction of selected compounds has been analyzed to understand better how compounds interact with the targeted protein structure. The results of the in silico analysis revealed that 7-Deacetyl-7-oxogedunin had the highest negative docking score of −8.9 Kcal/mol and also demonstrated standard stability in a 100 ns molecular dynamic simulation performed with insulin receptor ectodomain. It has been found that these substances may rank among the essential supplementary antidiabetic drugs for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is suggested that more in vivo and in vitro research studies be carried out to support the conclusions drawn from this in silico research strategy.

Advanced implications of nanotechnology in disease control and environmental perspectives

Nanotechnology encompasses a wide range of devices derived from biology, engineering, chemistry, and physics, and this scientific field is composed of great collaboration among researchers from several fields. It has diverse implications notably smart sensing technologies, effective disease diagnosis, and sometimes used in treatment. In medical science, the implications of nanotechnology include the development of elements and devices that interact with the body at subcellular (i.e., molecular) levels exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity. There is a plethora of new chances for medical science and disease treatment to be discovered and exploited in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. In different sectors, nanomaterials are used just because of their special characteristics. Their large surface area of them enables higher reactivity with greater efficiency. Furthermore, special surface chemistry is displayed by nanomaterials which compare to conventional materials and facilitate the nanomaterials to decrease pollutants efficiently. Recently, nanomaterials are used in some countries to reduce the levels of contaminants in water, air, and soil. Moreover, nanomaterials are used in the cosmetics and medical industry, and it develops the drug discovery (DD) system. Among a huge number of nanomaterials, Cu, Ag, TiO₂, ZnO, Fe₃O₄, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are extensively used in different industries for various purposes. This extensive review study has introduced the major scientific and technical features of nanotechnology, as well as some possible clinical applications and positive feedback in environmental waste management and drug delivery systems.

A Comprehensive Analysis and Anti-Cancer Activities of Quercetin in ROS-Mediated Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce carcinogenesis by causing genetic mutations, activating oncogenes, and increasing oxidative stress, all of which affect cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. When compared to normal cells, cancer cells have higher levels of ROS, and they are responsible for the maintenance of the cancer phenotype; this unique feature in cancer cells may, therefore, be exploited for targeted therapy. Quercetin (QC), a plant-derived bioflavonoid, is known for its ROS scavenging properties and was recently discovered to have various antitumor properties in a variety of solid tumors. Adaptive stress responses may be induced by persistent ROS stress, allowing cancer cells to survive with high levels of ROS while maintaining cellular viability. However, large amounts of ROS make cancer cells extremely susceptible to quercetin, one of the most available dietary flavonoids. Because of the molecular and metabolic distinctions between malignant and normal cells, targeting ROS metabolism might help overcome medication resistance and achieve therapeutic selectivity while having little or no effect on normal cells. The powerful bioactivity and modulatory role of quercetin has prompted extensive research into the chemical, which has identified a number of pathways that potentially work together to prevent cancer, alongside, QC has a great number of evidences to use as a therapeutic agent in cancer stem cells. This current study has broadly demonstrated the function-mechanistic relationship of quercetin and how it regulates ROS generation to kill cancer and cancer stem cells. Here, we have revealed the regulation and production of ROS in normal cells and cancer cells with a certain signaling mechanism. We demonstrated the specific molecular mechanisms of quercetin including MAPK/ERK1/2, p53, JAK/STAT and TRAIL, AMPKα1/ASK1/p38, RAGE/PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis, HMGB1 and NF-κB, Nrf2-induced signaling pathways and certain cell cycle arrest in cancer cell death, and how they regulate the specific cancer signaling pathways as long-searched cancer therapeutics.

5-fluorouracil and curcumin with pectin coating as a treatment regimen for titanium dioxide with dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer model

Colorectal cancer was inducted in Wister rats using titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) and dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and treatment using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and curcumin (CUR), individually and following a synergistic approach. Compatibility studies are evaluated by using FT-IR spectra analysis, and Vero cell lines as well as HCT-116 cell lines are used for evaluating the synergistic approach. It was then followed by induction of colorectal cancer in rats for 70 days and treatment using 5-FU and CUR with pectin coating (individually and in combination) for 28 days. The reports state that 5-FU and CUR combination was found to be compatible. The synergistic effect was evaluated for1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 2:1 ratio of 5-FU:CUR, where 1:4 ratio shows a CI₅₀ value of 0.853, selected further for the animal studies. The 1:4 ratio of 5-FU and CUR (50:200) shows to be effective for the treatment of colorectal cancer within 28 days, proven using histopathology report, bodyweight analysis, and hematological reports. 5-FU and CUR (1:4) ratio with pectin coating was proven effective for the treatment of colorectal cancer induced by TiO₂NPs with DMH and was found to produce a synergistic effect.

Unboxing the molecular modalities of mutagens in cancer

The etiology of the majority of human cancers is associated with a myriad of environmental causes, including physical, chemical, and biological factors. DNA damage induced by such mutagens is the initial step in the process of carcinogenesis resulting in the accumulation of mutations. Mutational events are considered the major triggers for introducing genetic and epigenetic insults such as DNA crosslinks, single- and double-strand DNA breaks, formation of DNA adducts, mismatched bases, modification in histones, DNA methylation, and microRNA alterations. However, DNA repair mechanisms are devoted to protect the DNA to ensure genetic stability, any aberrations in these calibrated mechanisms provoke cancer occurrence. Comprehensive knowledge of the type of mutagens and carcinogens and the influence of these agents in DNA damage and cancer induction is crucial to develop rational anticancer strategies. This review delineated the molecular mechanism of DNA damage and the repair pathways to provide a deep understanding of the molecular basis of mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. A relationship between DNA adduct formation and cancer incidence has also been summarized. The mechanistic basis of inflammatory response and oxidative damage triggered by mutagens in tumorigenesis has also been highlighted. We elucidated the interesting interplay between DNA damage response and immune system mechanisms. We addressed the current understanding of DNA repair targeted therapies and DNA damaging chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment and discussed how antiviral agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunotherapeutic agents combined with traditional approaches lay the foundations for future cancer therapies.

Natural flavonoids effectively block the CD81 receptor of hepatocytes and inhibit HCV infection: a computational drug development approach

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health concern, and almost two million people are infected per year globally. This is occurred by the diverse spectrum of viral genotypes, which are directly associated with chronic liver disease (fibrosis, and cirrhosis). Indeed, the viral genome encodes three principal proteins as sequentially core, E1, and E2. Both E1 and E2 proteins play a crucial role in the attachment of the host system, but E2 plays a more fundamental role in attachment. The researchers have found the "E2-CD81 complex" at the entry site, and therefore, CD81 is the key receptor for HCV entrance in both humans, and chimpanzees. So, the researchers are trying to block the host CD81 receptor and halt the virus entry within the cellular system via plant-derived compounds. Perhaps that is why the current research protocol is designed to perform an in silico analysis of the flavonoid compounds for targeting the tetraspanin CD81 receptor of hepatocytes. To find out the best flavonoid compounds from our library, web-based tools (Swiss ADME, pKCSM), as well as computerized tools like the PyRx, PyMOL, BIOVIA Discovery Studio Visualizer, Ligplot+ V2.2, and YASARA were employed. For molecular docking studies, the flavonoid compounds docked with the targeted CD81 protein, and herein, the best-outperformed compounds are Taxifolin, Myricetin, Puerarin, Quercetin, and (-)-Epicatechin, and outstanding binding affinities are sequentially - 7.5, - 7.9, - 8.2, - 8.4, and - 8.5 kcal/mol, respectively. These compounds have possessed more interactions with the targeted protein. To validate the post docking data, we analyzed both 100 ns molecular dynamic simulation, and MM-PBSA via the YASARA simulator, and finally finds the more significant outcomes. It is concluded that in the future, these compounds may become one of the most important alternative antiviral agents in the fight against HCV infection. It is suggested that further in vivo, and in vitro research studies should be done to support the conclusions of this in silico research workflow.

Dichotomous role of autophagy in cancer

Autophagy is an evolutionary conserved catabolic process that plays physiological and pathological roles in a cell. Its effect on cellular metabolism, the proteome, and the number and quality of organelles, diversely holds the potential to alter cellular functions. It acts paradoxically in cancer as a tumor inhibitor as well as a tumor promoter. In the early stage of tumorigenesis, it prevents tumor initiation by the so-called "quality control mechanism" and suppresses cancer progression. For late-staged tumors that are exposed to stress, it acts as a vibrant process of degradation and recycling that promotes cancer by facilitating metastasis. Despite this dichotomy, the crucial role of autophagy is evident in cancer, and associated with mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR), p53, and Ras-derived major cancer networks. Irrespective of the controversy regarding autophagic manipulation, promotion and suppression of autophagy act as potential therapeutic targets in cancer treatment and may provide various anticancer therapies.

Investigating the Anticancer Potential of Salvicine as a Modulator of Topoisomerase II and ROS Signaling Cascade

Salvicine is a new diterpenoid quinone substance from a natural source, specifically in a Chinese herb. It has powerful growth-controlling abilities against a broad range of human cancer cells in both in vitro and in vivo environments. A significant inhibitory effect of salvicine on multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells has also been discovered. Several research studies have examined the activities of salvicine on topoisomerase II (Topo II) by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. As opposed to the well-known Topo II toxin etoposide, salvicine mostly decreases the catalytic activity with a negligible DNA breakage effect, as revealed by several enzymatic experiments. Interestingly, salvicine dramatically reduces lung metastatic formation in the MDA-MB-435 orthotopic lung cancer cell line. Recent investigations have established that salvicine is a new non-intercalative Topo II toxin by interacting with the ATPase domains, increasing DNA-Topo II interaction, and suppressing DNA relegation and ATP hydrolysis. In addition, investigations have revealed that salvicine-induced ROS play a critical role in the anticancer-mediated signaling pathway, involving Topo II suppression, DNA damage, overcoming multidrug resistance, and tumor cell adhesion suppression, among other things. In the current study, we demonstrate the role of salvicine in regulating the ROS signaling pathway and the DNA damage response (DDR) in suppressing the progression of cancer cells. We depict the mechanism of action of salvicine in suppressing the DNA-Topo II complex through ROS induction along with a brief discussion of the anticancer perspective of salvicine.

Overexpression of TP53INP2 Promotes Apoptosis in Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer via Caspase-8/TRAF6 Signaling Pathway

Clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) is a tumor of high malignancy, which can escape apoptosis. The tumor protein p53-inducible nuclear protein 2 (TP53INP2), known as an autophagy protein, is the essential part for autophagosome formation and sensitizes cells to apoptosis. Our study is aimed at exploring the role of TP53INP2 in ccRCC. We have identified the autophagy-related genes (ARGs) of differential expression in ccRCC patients with the help of the TCGA database by bioinformatics analysis. Our assays of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot were for the determination on the both levels of mRNA and protein. Overexpression of TP53INP2 on cellular proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of ccRCC was verified in the ways of performing CCK-8, wound scrape, transwell and flow cytometry assays in vitro, and a mice tumor model in vivo. Transmission electron microscopy was used to measure autophagy formation. The underlying mechanisms of TP53INP2 on ccRCC were determined via coimmunoprecipitation. TP53INP2 was found highly associated with an outcome of worse overall survival (OS) in Kaplan-Meier curves, and this parameter in ccRCC tissues was also lower than the normal tissues. Overexpression of TP53INP2 inhibited ccRCC cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as the tumor growth of mice. Those cells treated with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) or TP53INP2 increased the apoptosis rate. TP53INP2 promoted autophagy formation and elevated the ratio of LC3 II/LC3 I. However, TP53INP2 did not significantly decrease the p-mTOR level. In addition, TP53INP2 activates the expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8, and PARP. Caspase-8 and TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) were found to bind to each other in the presence of TP53INP2. TP53INP2 induces apoptosis in ccRCC cells through caspase-8/TRAF6 pathway, rather than the autophagy-dependent pathway.

Recent Advances in Ovarian Cancer: Therapeutic Strategies, Potential Biomarkers, and Technological Improvements

Aggressive and recurrent gynecological cancers are associated with worse prognosis and a lack of effective therapeutic response. Ovarian cancer (OC) patients are often diagnosed in advanced stages, when drug resistance, angiogenesis, relapse, and metastasis impact survival outcomes. Currently, surgical debulking, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy remain the mainstream treatment modalities; however, patients suffer unwanted side effects and drug resistance in the absence of targeted therapies. Hence, it is urgent to decipher the complex disease biology and identify potential biomarkers, which could greatly contribute to making an early diagnosis or predicting the response to specific therapies. This review aims to critically discuss the current therapeutic strategies for OC, novel drug-delivery systems, and potential biomarkers in the context of genetics and molecular research. It emphasizes how the understanding of disease biology is related to the advancement of technology, enabling the exploration of novel biomarkers that may be able to provide more accurate diagnosis and prognosis, which would effectively translate into targeted therapies, ultimately improving patients’ overall survival and quality of life.

Potential Therapeutic Action of Autophagy in Gastric Cancer Managements: Novel Treatment Strategies and Pharmacological Interventions

Gastric cancer (GC), second most leading cause of cancer-associated mortality globally, is the cancer of gastrointestinal tract in which malignant cells form in lining of the stomach, resulting in indigestion, pain, and stomach discomfort. Autophagy is an intracellular system in which misfolded, aggregated, and damaged proteins, as well as organelles, are degraded by the lysosomal pathway, and avoiding abnormal accumulation of huge quantities of harmful cellular constituents. However, the exact molecular mechanism of autophagy-mediated GC management has not been clearly elucidated. Here, we emphasized the role of autophagy in the modulation and development of GC transformation in addition to underlying the molecular mechanisms of autophagy-mediated regulation of GC. Accumulating evidences have revealed that targeting autophagy by small molecule activators or inhibitors has become one of the greatest auspicious approaches for GC managements. Particularly, it has been verified that phytochemicals play an important role in treatment as well as prevention of GC. However, use of combination therapies of autophagy modulators in order to overcome the drug resistance through GC treatment will provide novel opportunities to develop promising GC therapeutic approaches. In addition, investigations of the pathophysiological mechanism of GC with potential challenges are urgently needed, as well as limitations of the modulation of autophagy-mediated therapeutic strategies. Therefore, in this review, we would like to deliver an existing standard molecular treatment strategy focusing on the relationship between chemotherapeutic drugs and autophagy, which will help to improve the current treatments of GC patients.

p53 Modulation of Autophagy Signaling in Cancer Therapies: Perspectives Mechanism and Therapeutic Targets

The key tumor suppressor protein p53, additionally known as p53, represents an attractive target for the development and management of anti-cancer therapies. p53 has been implicated as a tumor suppressor protein that has multiple aspects of biological function comprising energy metabolism, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, growth and differentiation, senescence, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and cancer biology. Autophagy, a cellular self-defense system, is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process involved in various physiological processes that maintain cellular homeostasis. Numerous studies have found that p53 modulates autophagy, although the relationship between p53 and autophagy is relatively complex and not well understood. Recently, several experimental studies have been reported that p53 can act both an inhibitor and an activator of autophagy which depend on its cellular localization as well as its mode of action. Emerging evidences have been suggested that the dual role of p53 which suppresses and stimulates autophagy in various cencer cells. It has been found that p53 suppression and activation are important to modulate autophagy for tumor promotion and cancer treatment. On the other hand, activation of autophagy by p53 has been recommended as a protective function of p53. Therefore, elucidation of the new functions of p53 and autophagy could contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches in cancer biology. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of p53 and autophagy shows reciprocal functional interaction that is a major importance for cancer treatment and manegement. Additionally, several synthetic drugs and phytochemicals have been targeted to modulate p53 signaling via regulation of autophagy pathway in cancer cells. This review emphasizes the current perspectives and the role of p53 as the main regulator of autophagy-mediated novel therapeutic approaches against cancer treatment and managements.

Exhaustive Plant Profile of “Dimocarpus longan Lour” with Significant Phytomedicinal Properties: A Literature Based-Review

Background: “Dimocarpus longan Lour” is a tropical and subtropical evergreen tree species mainly found in China, India, and Thailand; this plant, found naturally in Bangladesh, even locally, is used as “kaviraj” medication for treating different diseases, such as gastrointestinal disorders, wounds, fever, snake bites, menstrual problem, chickenpox, bone fractures, neurological disorders, and reproductive health. Different parts of this plant, especially juice pulp, pericarp, seeds, leaves, and flowers, contain a diverse group of botanical phytocompounds, and nutrient components which are directly related to alleviating numerous diseases. This literature-based review provides the most up-to-date data on the ethnomedicinal usages, phytochemical profiling, and bio-pharmacological effects of D. longan Lour based on published scientific articles. Methodology: A literature-based review was conducted by collecting information from various published papers in reputable journals and cited organizations. ChemDraw, a commercial software package, used to draw the chemical structure of the phytochemicals. Results: Various phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, and polyphenols were collected from the various sections of the plant, and other compounds like vitamins and minerals were also obtained from this plant. As a treating agent, this plant displayed many biologicals activities, such as anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-tyrosinase, radical scavenging activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-microbial, activation of osteoblast differentiation, anti-fungal, immunomodulatory, probiotic, anti-aging, anti-diabetic, obesity, neurological issues, and suppressive effect on macrophages cells. Different plant parts have displayed better activity in different disease conditions. Still, the compounds, such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, corilagin acid, quercetin, 4-O-methyl gallic acid, and (-)-epicatechin showed better activity in the biological system. Gallic acid, corilagin, and ellagic acid strongly exhibited anti-cancer activity in the HepG2, A549, and SGC 7901 cancer cell lines. Additionally, 4-O-methyl gallic acid and (-)-epicatechin have displayed outstanding antioxidant activity as well as anti-cancer activity. Conclusion: This plant species can be considered an alternative source of medication for some diseases as it contains a potential group of chemical constituents.

Potential Role of Natural Products to Combat Radiotherapy and Their Future Perspectives

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) are the common cancer treatments. In addition to these limitations, the development of adverse effects from chemotherapy and RT reduces the quality of life for cancer patients. Cellular radiosensitivity, or the ability to resist and overcome cell damage caused by ionizing radiation (IR), is directly related to cancer cells' response to RT. Therefore, radiobiological research is emphasizing chemical compounds 'radiosensitization of cancer cells so that they are more reactive in the IR spectrum. Recent years researchers have seen an increase in interest in natural products that have antitumor effects with minimal side effects. Natural products, on the other hand, are easy to recover and therefore less expensive. There have been several scientific studies done based on these compounds that have tested their ability in vitro and in vivo to induce tumor radiosensitization. The role of natural products in RT, as well as their usefulness and potential applications, is the goal of this current review.

Potential of Bioactive Food Components against Gastric Cancer: Insights into Molecular Mechanism and Therapeutic Targets

Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is a cancer that develops from the lining of the stomach. Accumulated evidence and epidemiological studies have indicated that bioactive food components from natural products play an important role in gastric cancer prevention and treatment, although its mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. Particularly, experimental studies have shown that natural bioactive food products display a protective effect against gastric cancer via numerous molecular mechanisms, such as suppression of cell metastasis, anti-angiogenesis, inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and modulation of autophagy. Chemotherapy remains the standard treatment for advanced gastric cancer along with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, as well as immunotherapy, and its adverse side effects including neutropenia, stomatitis, mucositis, diarrhea, nausea, and emesis are well documented. However, administration of naturally occurring bioactive phytochemical food components could increase the efficacy of gastric chemotherapy and other chemotherapeutic resistance. Additionally, several studies have suggested that bioactive food components with structural stability, potential bioavailability, and powerful bioactivity are important to develop novel treatment strategies for gastric cancer management, which may minimize the adverse effects. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the potential therapeutic effects of natural bioactive food products on the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer with intensive molecular mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and safety efficacy.

Phytochemicals as a Complement to Cancer Chemotherapy: Pharmacological Modulation of the Autophagy-Apoptosis Pathway

Bioactive plant derived compounds are important for a wide range of therapeutic applications, and some display promising anticancer properties. Further evidence suggests that phytochemicals modulate autophagy and apoptosis, the two crucial cellular pathways involved in the underlying pathobiology of cancer development and regulation. Pharmacological targeting of autophagy and apoptosis signaling using phytochemicals therefore offers a promising strategy that is complementary to conventional cancer chemotherapy. In this review, we sought to highlight the molecular basis of the autophagic-apoptotic pathway to understand its implication in the pathobiology of cancer, and explore this fundamental cellular process as a druggable anticancer target. We also aimed to present recent advances and address the limitations faced in the therapeutic development of phytochemical-based anticancer drugs.

Pharmacological Studies on Traditional Plant-Based Remedies

For years, plant-based remedies have been used as a traditional practice to treat and prevent a broad range of diseases [...].

Antioxidant Compound, Oxyresveratrol, Inhibits APP Production through the AMPK/ULK1/mTOR-Mediated Autophagy Pathway in Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Oxyresveratrol (OxyR), a well-known polyphenolic phytoalexin, possesses a wide range of pharmacological and biological properties, comprising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective activities. Autophagy is a cellular self-degradation system that removes aggregated or misfolded intracellular components via the autophagosome-lysosomal pathway. Astrocyte accumulation is one of the earliest neuropathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and amyloid precursor protein (APP) is the hallmark of AD. OxyR could affect APP modulation via the autophagy pathway. Here, we have reported that OxyR promotes autophagy signaling and attenuates APP production in primary cortical astrocytes based on immunofluorescence and immunoblotting assay results. Co-treatment with the late-stage autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) and OxyR caused significantly higher microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II protein levels and LC3 puncta counts, demonstrating that OxyR stimulated autophagic flux. We also found that OxyR significantly reduced the levels of the autophagy substrate p62/SQSTM1, and p62 levels were significantly augmented by co-treatment with OxyR and CQ, because of the impaired deficiency of p62 in autolysosome. Likewise, pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), resulted in significantly fewer OxyR-induced LC3 puncta and lower LC3-II expression, suggesting that OxyR-mediated autophagy was dependent on the class III PI3-kinase pathway. In contrast, OxyR caused significantly lower LC3-II protein expression when pretreated with compound C, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, indicating that AMPK signaling regulated the OxyR-induced autophagic pathway. Additionally, co-treatment with OxyR with rapamycin intended to inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) caused significantly lower levels of phospho-S6 ribosomal protein (pS6) and higher LC3-II expression, implying that OxyR-mediated autophagy was dependent on the mTOR pathway. Conversely, OxyR treatment significantly upregulated unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) expression, and ULK1 small interfering RNAs (siRNA) caused significantly lower OxyR-induced LC3 puncta counts and LC3-II expression, indicating that ULK1 was essential for initiating OxyR-induced autophagy. However, we found that OxyR treatment astrocytes significantly increased the expression of lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1). Finally, we established a stress-induced APP production model using corticosterone (CORT) in cortical astrocytes, which produced significantly more APP than the equivalent using dexamethasone (DEX). In our experiment we found that CORT-induced APP production was significantly attenuated by OxyR through the autophagy pathway. Therefore, our study reveals that OxyR regulates AMPK/ULK1/mTOR-dependent autophagy induction and APP reduction in mouse cortical astrocytes.