Curcumin from Turmeric Rhizome: A Potential Modulator of DNA Methylation Machinery in Breast Cancer Inhibition

Research progress of DNA methylation in colorectal cancer (Review)

DNA methylation is one of the earliest and most significant epigenetic mechanisms discovered. DNA methylation refers, in general, to the addition of a methyl group to a specific base in the DNA sequence under the catalysis of DNA methyltransferase, with S‑adenosine methionine as the methyl donor, via covalent bonding and chemical modifications. DNA methylation is an important factor in inducing cancer. There are different types of DNA methylation, and methylation at different sites plays different roles. It is well known that the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) is affected by the methylation of key genes. The present review did not only discuss the potential relationship between DNA methylation and CRC but also discussed how DNA methylation affects the development of CRC by affecting key genes. Furthermore, the clinical significance of DNA methylation in CRC was highlighted, including that of the therapeutic targets and biomarkers of methylation; and the importance of DNA methylation inhibitors was discussed as a novel strategy for treatment of CRC. The present review did not only focus upon the latest research findings, but earlier reviews were also cited as references to older literature.

Curcumin blunts epithelial-mesenchymal transition to alleviate invasion and metastasis of prostate cancer through the JARID1D demethylation

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common and prevalent cancers in men worldwide. The majority of PCa-related deaths result from metastasis rather than primary tumors. Several studies have focused on the relationship between male-specific genes encoded on the Y chromosome and PCa metastasis; however, the relationship between the male specific protein encoded on the Y chromosome and tumor suppression has not been fully clarified. Here, we report a male specific protein of this type, the histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) demethylase JARID1D, which has the ability to inhibit the gene expression program related to cell invasion, and can thus form a phenotype that inhibits the invasion of PCa cells. However, JARID1D exhibits low expression level in advanced PCa, and which is related to rapid invasion and metastasis in patients with PCa. Curcumin, as a multi-target drug, can enhance the expression and demethylation activity of JARID1D, affect the androgen receptor (AR) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling cascade, and inhibit the metastatic potential of castration resistant cancer (CRPC). These findings suggest that using curcumin to increase the expression and demethylation activity of JARID1D may be a feasible strategy to inhibit PCa metastasis by regulating EMT and AR.

Epigenetic Orchestration of Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Possible Target for Curcumin as a Therapeutic

Epigenetic modulations play a major role in gene expression and thus are responsible for various physiological changes including age-associated neurological disorders. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), although symptomatically different, may share common underlying mechanisms. Most neurodegenerative diseases are associated with increased oxidative stress, aggregation of certain proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, inactivation/dysregulation of protein degradation machinery, DNA damage and cell excitotoxicity. Epigenetic modulations has been reported to play a significant role in onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases by regulating these processes. Previous studies have highlighted the marked antioxidant and neuroprotective abilities of polyphenols such as curcumin, by increased activity of detoxification systems like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase or glutathione peroxidase. The role of curcumin as an epigenetic modulator in neurological disorders and neuroinflammation apart from other chronic diseases have also been reported by a few groups. Nonetheless, the evidences for the role of curcumin mediated epigenetic modulation in its neuroprotective ability are still limited. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the role of mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic modulations and mitoepigenetics in age-associated neurological disorders such as PD, AD, HD, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and describes the neuroprotective effects of curcumin in the treatment and/or prevention of these neurodegenerative diseases by regulation of the epigenetic machinery.

Evaluation of effects of curcumin on acute esophagitis in the corrosive esophagitis model in rats

Ingestion of a corrosive substance may cause corrosive esophagitis. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and mucosal protective effects. In this study, the effects of curcumin on the acute phase of corrosive esophagitis were investigated. Twenty-seven Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups; sham (group I), control (group II), and experiment groups (group III, 100 mg/kg curcumin; group IV, 200 mg/kg curcumin). Forty percent sodium hydroxide solution was used to erode the esophagi of rats in groups other than the sham group. Curcumin was applied to animals in the experiment groups 10 min after the corrosion. After 24 h, animals were sacrificed, and esophagus samples were collected. According to the histopathological examination, the muscularis mucosa damage was regressed from 100% in group II to 71.4% in group III and 50% in group IV. Mild level of damage and collagen deposition in the tunica muscularis regressed from 66.7% of the animals in the control group to 42.9% in group III and to none in group IV. Further, an increase in submucosal collagen was present in all samples from groups II and III, while 83.3% of samples had an increase in submucosal collagen in group IV. There was a significant difference in the histopathological total score between the control group and group IV (p=0.02). The results showed that the administration of curcumin in a dose-dependent manner can relieve the acute phase of corrosive esophagitis.

Role of Curcuma longae Rhizoma in medical applications: research challenges and opportunities

Curcuma longae Rhizoma, commonly known as turmeric, is extensively utilized not only in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but also across various traditional medicine systems worldwide. It is renowned for its effectiveness in removing blood stasis, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. The primary bioactive metabolites of Curcuma longae Rhizoma-curcumin, β-elemene, curcumol, and curdione-have been extensively studied for their pharmacological benefits. These include anti-tumor properties, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, immune regulation, liver protection, and their roles as analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antivirals, antibacterials, hypoglycemics, and antioxidants. This review critically examines the extensive body of research regarding the mechanisms of action of Curcuma longae Rhizoma, which engages multiple molecular targets and signaling pathways such as NF-κB, MAPKs, and PI3K/AKT. The core objective of this review is to assess how the main active metabolites of turmeric interact with these molecular systems to achieve therapeutic outcomes in various clinical settings. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges related to the bioavailability of these metabolites and explore potential methods to enhance their therapeutic effects. By doing so, this review aims to provide fresh insights into the optimization of Curcuma longae Rhizoma for broader clinical applications.

Biomacromolecular carriers based hydrophobic natural products for potential cancer therapy

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. It was estimated that 90 % of cancer-related deaths were attributable to the development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) during chemotherapy, which results in ineffective chemotherapy. Hydrophobic natural products plays a pivotal role in the field of cancer therapy, with the potential to reverse MDR in tumor cells, thereby enhancing the efficacy of tumor therapy. However, their targeted delivery is considered a major hurdle in their application. The advent of numerous approaches for encapsulating bioactive ingredients in the nanodelivery systems has improved the stability and targeted delivery of these biomolecules. The manuscript comprehensively analyses the nanodelivery systems of bioactive compounds with potential cancer therapy applications, including liposomes, emulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles (NPs), and polymeric NPs. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of various nanoagents in the treatment of various cancer types are critically discussed. Further, the application of multiple-compbine delivery methods to overcome the limitations of single-delivery have need critically analyzed, which thus could help in the designing nanodrug delivery systems for bioactive compounds in clinical settings. Therefore, the review is timely and important for development of efficient nanodelivery systems involving hydrophobic natural products to improve pharmacokinetic properties for effective cancer treatment.

Therapeutic and pharmacological efficacy of plant-derived bioactive compounds in targeting breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) ranks number one among cancers affecting women globally. Serious concerns include delayed diagnosis, poor prognosis, and adverse side effects of conventional treatment, leading to residual morbidity. Therefore, an alternative treatment approach that is safe and effective has become the need of the hour. In this regard, plant-based medicines via a combination of conventional drugs are gaining increasing acceptance worldwide, playing a pivotal role in cancer management as proven by their efficacy evaluation studies. This review aims to fill the knowledge gaps by providing the preclinical evidence of cellular and molecular mechanisms of Indian phytomedicines in targeting varied pathways of breast cancer progression. A comprehensive search was performed on different platforms, followed by screening of relevant studies for review. In this article, the in-depth of various botanical drugs covering their nomenclature, dosage, toxicity, and modus operandi in BC cells have been extensively discussed. Various signaling pathways like Notch signaling, MAPK signaling, apoptosis, Wnt signaling, etc. regulated by herbal medicine treatment in BC are also highlighted to understand the drug mechanism better. This will guide the researchers to plan future strategies and generate more robust integrated evidence of plant-based drugs or botanical formulations for their potential role in the management of BC.

Transcriptomics and metabonomics study on the effect of exercise combined with curcumin supplementation on breast cancer in mice

Curcumin and exercise have been reported to show good anti-tumour effects. However, relevant research on the combined effects of physical exercise and curcumin supplementation on cancer and the underlying mechanisms is still lacking. The current study aimed to construct an anti-breast tumour mouse model using the combined effects of curcumin treatment and swimming exercise. Transcriptomic and metabolomic techniques were used to screen for differentially expressed genes and metabolites, evaluate the anticancer effects, and analyse the molecular regulatory mechanisms related to metabolism. Observation of the mouse phenotypes, including tumour appearance, in-vivo tumour imaging, and HE staining results of pathological sections, suggested a more obvious inhibitory effect of the combination of curcumin administration and exercise intervention on breast cancer than that of a single treatment. The combination treatment group had a total of 445 differentially expressed (154 upregulated and 291 downregulated) genes. Functional enrichment analysis showed the calcium signalling pathway, Wnt signalling pathway, PI3K Akt signalling pathway, and IL-17 signalling pathway to significantly participate in the anti-breast cancer process of curcumin-exercise combination treatment. Results of the intergroup differential metabolite analysis showed that the combined effect of curcumin and exercise involves two unique pathways, namely the amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, which includes chitosan, d-glucosamine 6-phosphate, l-fucose, and N-acetyl beta-mannosamine, and the amino acid biosynthesis, which includes dl-isoleucine, dl-tyrosine, and homocysteine. Collectively, the top-ranked genes and metabolites with the highest degree of associations were further revealed by O2PLS analysis. Overall, the study helped reveal the mechanism of action of curcumin-exercise combination treatment on breast cancer at multi-omics level.

Natural bioactive compounds targeting DNA methyltransferase enzymes in cancer: Mechanisms insights and efficiencies

The regulation of gene expression is fundamental to health and life and is essentially carried out at the promoter region of the DNA of each gene. Depending on the molecular context, this region may be accessible or non-accessible (possibility of integration of RNA polymerase or not at this region). Among enzymes that control this process, DNA methyltransferase enzymes (DNMTs), are responsible for DNA demethylation at the CpG islands, particularly at the promoter regions, to regulate transcription. The aberrant activity of these enzymes, i.e. their abnormal expression or activity, can result in the repression or overactivation of gene expression. Consequently, this can generate cellular dysregulation leading to instability and tumor development. Several reports highlighted the involvement of DNMTs in human cancers. The inhibition or activation of DNMTs is a promising therapeutic approach in many human cancers. In the present work, we provide a comprehensive and critical summary of natural bioactive molecules as primary inhibitors of DNMTs in human cancers. The active compounds hold the potential to be developed as anti-cancer epidrugs targeting DNMTs.

Curcumin can improve spinal cord injury by inhibiting DNA methylation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious central nervous system disease. Traumatic SCI often causes persistent neurological deficits below the injury level. Epigenetic changes occur after SCI. Studies have shown DNA methylation to be a key player in nerve regeneration and remodeling, and in regulating some pathophysiological characteristics of SCI. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol from turmeric. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, and can mitigate the cell and tissue damage caused by SCI. This report analyzed the specific functions of DNA methylation in central nervous system diseases, especially traumatic brain injury and SCI. DNA methylation can regulate the level of gene expressions in the central nervous system. Therefore, pharmacological interventions regulating DNA methylation may be promising for SCI.

Effect of Withaferin-A, Withanone, and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on DNA Methyltransferases: Potential in Epigenetic Cancer Therapy

BACKGROUND

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) have been reported to be potential drug targets in various cancers. The major hurdle in inhibiting DNMTs is the lack of knowledge about different DNMTs and their role in the hypermethylation of gene promoters in cancer cells. Lack of information on specificity, stability, and higher toxicity of previously reported DNMT inhibitors is the major reason for inadequate epigenetic cancer therapy. DNMT1 and DNMT3A are the two DNMTs that are majorly overexpressed in cancers.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we have presented computational and experimental analyses of the potential of some natural compounds, withaferin A (Wi-A), withanone (Wi-N), and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), as DNMT inhibitors, in comparison to sinefungin (SFG), a known dual inhibitor of DNMT1 and DNMT3A.

METHODS

We used classical simulation methods, such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, to investigate the binding potential and properties of the test compounds with DNMT1 and DNMT3A. Cell culture-based assays were used to investigate the inactivation of DNMTs and the resulting hypomethylation of the p16INK4A promoter, a key tumour suppressor that is inactivated by hypermethylation in cancer cells, resulting in upregulation of its expression.

RESULTS

Among the three test compounds (Wi-A, Wi-N, and CAPE), Wi-A showed the highest binding affinity to both DNMT1 and DNMT3A; CAPE showed the highest affinity to DNMT3A, and Wi-N showed a moderate affinity interaction with both. The binding energies of Wi-A and CAPE were further compared with SFG. Expression analysis of DNMTs showed no difference between control and treated cells. Cell viability and p16INK4A expression analysis showed a dose-dependent decrease in viability, an increase in p16INK4A, and a stronger effect of Wi-A compared to Wi-N and CAPE.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated the differential binding ability of Wi-A, Wi-N, and CAPE to DNMT1 and DNMT3A, which was associated with their inactivation, leading to hypomethylation and desilencing of the p16INK4A tumour suppressor in cancer cells. The test compounds, particularly Wi-A, have the potential for cancer therapy.

Germacrone mitigates cardiac remodeling by regulating PI3K/AKT-mediated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis

Cardiac remodeling is a common consequence of cardiovascular diseases and is closely associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Germacrone, a bioactive compound present in Rhizoma curcuma, has been shown to possess anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of germacrone against cardiac remodeling. Here, C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneous injection with isoproterenol (ISO) once daily for two weeks and were concurrent intragastric injection of germacrone. In vitro, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were used to verify the protective effect of germacrone on ISO-induced cardiac injury. Our findings indicated that ISO induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, while germacrone treatment significantly attenuates these effects, thereby attenuating myocardium remodeling and cardiac dysfunction. Mechanistically, germacrone reduced cardiac remodeling-induced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway, and the cardioprotective effects of germacrone were abrogated by a PI3K agonist. In conclusion, our results suggest that germacrone attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in cardiac remodeling by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway, and may therefore represent a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cardiac remodeling.

Role of curcumin on miR-26a and its effect on DNMT1, DNMT3b, and MEG3 expression in A549 lung cancer cell

CONTEXT

Most of the patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are in their advanced stages and as a result might not be cured in spite of the advances in aimed therapy. In the recent years, the role of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been expanded to cancer as potential targets for RNA-based epigenetic therapies. Curcumin, as an active ingredient, is associated with epigenetic alterations, and it might modulate the expression of tumor suppressor and oncogenic microRNAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we investigated the RNA-based epigenetic effects of curcumin on NSCLC, and the effect of curcumin on A549 cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The expression of miR-26a, MEG3, DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), and DNMT3 beta (DNMT3b) was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Data analysis was done using Prism®6 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA), and statistical analysis was performed using t-test between control and vitality samples.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) of miR-26a expression which in turn was associated with a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in expression of DNMTs and subsequently a significant increase in MEG3 expression (P < 0.05) in A549 cell line after adding curcumin in the media.

CONCLUSION

Considering all the data together, we could speculate the role of curcumin in ceasing the progression of cancer in its early stages and might be considered a potential drug for the treatment of NSCLC-derived lung cancer by establishing a meaningful relationship between epigenetic mechanisms and ncRNAs.

Role of indole curcumin in the epigenetic activation of apoptosis and cell cycle regulating genes

Background

Head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma is associated with the epigenetic silencing of various genes such as DAPK, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), BRCA1, p16INK4a, pVHL, p16, and RASSF1A. The most common epigenetic change observed in these genes is DNA methylation that directs the studies toward finding inhibitors for DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), the protagonist in the action. The present study focuses on analyzing the possibility whether indole curcumin can reverse epigenetic changes of the various tumor suppressor genes, characteristically silenced by methylation, by inhibiting the major methylation enzyme DNA methyltransferase 1 or DNMT1.

Materials and Methods

The cytotoxic effects of indole curcumin were studied through the MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assays. To determine the apoptosis-mediated death of HEp-2 cells, fluorescence imaging using different stains was done. Gene or mRNA expression analysis was done for p53, ATM, and DAPK genes.

Results

The results obtained from this study clearly indicate that the indole analog of curcumin plays a remarkable role in activating genes involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis induction through epigenetic regulation. The influence that the drug has on the methylation status of gene promoter sequence of the ATM gene is also very significant.

Conclusion

Indole curcumin, being an analog of curcumin, promises to be a very useful drug molecule having various potential targets. The target selected for this study was DNMT1 enzyme and the drug seems to actually show the effects; it was predicted to be having on the target molecule.

Greener Stability-Indicating HPLC Approach for the Determination of Curcumin in In-House Developed Nanoemulsion and Curcuma longa L. Extract

Despite the fact that several analytical methodologies have been reported for the determination of curcumin (CCM) in a wide range of sample matrices, the greener liquid chromatographic approaches to determine CCM are scarce in the literature. Therefore, this research is designed to develop and validate a greener stability-indicating “high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)” methodology to determine CCM in an in-house developed nanoemulsion, Curcuma longa L. extract, and commercial tablets. CCM was measured on a Nucleodur (150 mm × 4.6 mm) RP C18 column with 5 µm-sized particles. Ethanol and ethyl acetate (83:17 v/v) made up the greener eluent system, which was pumped at a flow speed of 1.0 mL/min. At a wavelength of 425 nm, CCM was detected. The greener HPLC methodology was linear in the 1–100 µg/mL range, with a determination coefficient of 0.9983. The greener HPLC methodology for CCM estimation was also rapid (Rt = 3.57 min), accurate (%recoveries = 98.90–101.85), precise (%CV = 0.90–1.11), and sensitive (LOD = 0.39 µg/mL and LOQ = 1.17 µg/mL). The AGREE approach predicted the AGREE score of 0.81 for the established HPLC technique, indicating an outstanding greenness profile. The utility of the greener HPLC methodology was demonstrated by determining CCM in the in-house developed nanoemulsion, Curcuma longa extract, and commercial tablets. The % amount of CCM in the in-house developed nanoemulsion, Curcuma longa extract, and commercial tablets was found to be 101.24%, 81.15%, and 78.41%, respectively. The greener HPLC methodology was able to detect its degradation product under various stress conditions, suggesting its stability-indication characteristics. These results suggested that CCM in developed nanoemulsion, plant extract samples, and commercial tablets may be routinely determined using the greener HPLC methodology.

Impacts of turmeric and its principal bioactive curcumin on human health: Pharmaceutical, medicinal, and food applications: A comprehensive review

The yellow polyphenolic pigment known as curcumin, originating from the rhizome of the turmeric plant Curcuma longa L., has been utilized for ages in ancient medicine, as well as in cooking and food coloring. Recently, the biological activities of turmeric and curcumin have been thoroughly investigated. The studies mainly focused on their antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impacts. This review seeks to provide an in-depth, detailed discussion of curcumin usage within the food processing industries and its effect on health support and disease prevention. Curcumin's bioavailability, bio-efficacy, and bio-safety characteristics, as well as its side effects and quality standards, are also discussed. Finally, curcumin's multifaceted uses, food appeal enhancement, agro-industrial techniques counteracting its instability and low bioavailability, nanotechnology and focused drug delivery systems to increase its bioavailability, and prospective clinical use tactics are all discussed.

Proteomes of Residual Tumors in Curcumin-Treated Rats Reveal Changes in Microenvironment/Malignant Cell Crosstalk in a Highly Invasive Model of Mesothelioma

Curcumin exhibits both immunomodulatory properties and anticarcinogenic effects which have been investigated in different experimental tumor models and cancer types. Its interactions with multiple signaling pathways have been documented through proteomic studies on malignant cells in culture; however, in vivo approaches are scarce. In this study, we used a rat model of highly invasive peritoneal mesothelioma to analyze the residual tumor proteomes of curcumin-treated rats in comparison with untreated tumor-bearing rats (G1) and provide insights into the modifications in the tumor microenvironment/malignant cell crosstalk. The cross-comparing analyses of the histological sections of residual tumors from two groups of rats given curcumin twice on days 21 and 26 after the tumor challenge (G2) or four times on days 7, 9, 11 and 14 (G3), in comparison with G1, identified a common increase in caveolin-1 which linked with significant abundance changes affecting 115 other proteins. The comparison of G3 vs. G2 revealed additional features for 65 main proteins, including an increase in histidine-rich glycoprotein and highly significant abundance changes for 22 other proteins regulating the tumor microenvironment, linked with the presence of numerous activated T cells. These results highlight new features in the multiple actions of curcumin on tumor microenvironment components and cancer cell invasiveness.

Dietary Phenolic Compounds as Anticancer Natural Drugs: Recent Update on Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Trials

Given the stochastic complexity of cancer diseases, the development of chemotherapeutic drugs is almost limited by problems of selectivity and side effects. Furthermore, an increasing number of protective approaches have been recently considered as the main way to limit these pathologies. Natural bioactive compounds, and particularly dietary phenolic compounds, showed major protective and therapeutic effects against different types of human cancers. Indeed, phenolic substances have functional groups that allow them to exert several anti-cancer mechanisms, such as the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest at different stages, and the inhibition of telomerase. In addition, in vivo studies show that these phenolic compounds also have anti-angiogenic effects via the inhibition of invasion and angiogenesis. Moreover, clinical studies have already highlighted certain phenolic compounds producing clinical effects alone, or in combination with drugs used in chemotherapy. In the present work, we present a major advance in research concerning the mechanisms of action of the different phenolic compounds that are contained in food medicinal plants, as well as evidence from the clinical trials that focus on them.

A chromosome-scale genome assembly of turmeric provides insights into curcumin biosynthesis and tuber formation mechanism

Curcuma longa, known as the 'golden spice' and 'life spice', is one of the most commonly utilized spices in the world and also has medicinal, cosmetic, dye and flavoring values. Herein, we present the chromosomal-level genome for turmeric to explore the differences between tubers and rhizomes in the regulation of curcumin biosynthesis and the mechanism of tuber formation. We assembled the turmeric genome into 21 pseudochromosomes using Pacbio long reads complemented with Hi-C technologies, which has a total length of 1.11 Gb with scaffold N50 of 50.12 Mb and contains 49,612 protein-coding genes. Genomic evolutionary analysis indicated that turmeric and ginger have shared a recent WGD event. Contraction analysis of gene families showed possible roles for transcription factors, phytohormone signaling, and plant-pathogen interactions associated genes in adaptation to harsh environments. Transcriptomic data from tubers at different developmental stages indicated that candidate genes related to phytohormone signaling and carbohydrate metabolic responses may be associated with the induction of tuber formation. The difference in curcumin content between rhizomes and tubers reflected the remodeling of secondary metabolites under environmental stress, which was associated with plant defense in response to abiotic stresses. Overall, the availability of the C. longa genome provides insight into tuber formation and curcumin biosynthesis in turmeric as well as facilitating the understanding of other Curcuma species.

Cellular reprogramming, chemoresistance, and dietary interventions in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis has been associated with significant risk factors, including family history, late menopause, obesity, poor eating habits, and alcoholism. Despite the advances in the last decades regarding cancer treatment, some obstacles still hinder the effectiveness of therapy. For example, chemotherapy resistance is common in locally advanced or metastatic cancer, reducing treatment options and contributing to mortality. In this review, we provide an overview of BC metabolic changes, including the impact of restrictive diets associated with chemoresistance, the therapeutic potential of the diet on tumor progression, pathways related to metabolic health in oncology, and perspectives on the future in the area of oncological nutrition.

Curcumin: A Promising Tool to Develop Preventive and Therapeutic Strategies against Non-Communicable Diseases, Still Requiring Verification by Sound Clinical Trials

Curcumin is a pleiotropic compound found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric) [...]

Therapeutic Influence on Important Targets Associated with Chronic Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Cancer Treatment

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are the interconnected pathological processes, which lead to cancer initiation and progression. The growing level of oxidative and inflammatory damage was shown to increase cancer severity and contribute to tumor spread. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is associated with the reduced capacity of the endogenous cell defense mechanisms and/or metabolic imbalance, is the main contributor to oxidative stress. An abnormal level of ROS was defined as a predisposing factor for the cell transformation that could trigger pro-oncogenic signaling pathways, induce changes in gene expression, and facilitate accumulation of mutations, DNA damage, and genomic instability. Additionally, the activation of transcription factors caused by a prolonged oxidative stress, including NF-κB, p53, HIF1α, etc., leads to the expression of several genes responsible for inflammation. The resulting hyperactivation of inflammatory mediators, including TNFα, TGF-β, interleukins, and prostaglandins can contribute to the development of neoplasia. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were shown to trigger adaptive reactions and the acquisition of resistance by tumor cells to apoptosis, while promoting proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. Moreover, the chronic inflammatory response leads to the excessive production of free radicals, which further aggravate the initiated reactions. This review summarizes the recent data and progress in the discovery of mechanisms that associate oxidative stress and chronic inflammation with cancer onset and metastasis. In addition, the review provides insights for the development of therapeutic approaches and the discovery of natural substances that will be able to simultaneously inhibit several key oncological and inflammation-related targets.

Combined DNA Methylation and Transcriptomic Assessments to Determine a Prognostic Model for PD-1-Negative Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has the highest incidence and mortality of any malignancy in the world. Immunotherapy has been a major breakthrough for HCC treatment, but immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in only a small percentage of HCC patients. In the present study, we screened programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) -negative HCC samples, which are frequently resistant to ICIs, and identified their methylation and transcription characteristics through the assessment of differential gene methylation and gene expression. We also screened for potential targeted therapeutic drugs using the DrugBank database. Finally, we used a LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression analysis to construct a prognostic model based on three differentially methylated and expressed genes (DMEGs). The results showed that ESTIMATE (Estimation of Stromal and Immune Cells in Malignant Tumors using Expression Data) scores for the tumor samples were significantly lower compared to normal sample ESTIMATE scores. In addition, we identified 31 DMEGs that were able to distinguish PD-1-negative samples from normal samples. A functional enrichment analysis showed that these genes were involved in a variety of tumor-related pathways and immune-related pathways, and the DrugBank screening identified potential therapeutic drugs. Finally, the prognostic model based on three DMEGs (UBD, CD5L, and CD213A2) demonstrated good predictive power for HCC prognosis and was verified using an independent cohort. The present study demonstrated the methylation characteristics of PD-1-negative HCC samples, identified several potential therapeutic drugs, and proposed a prognostic model based on UBD, CD5L, and CD213A2 methylation expression. In conclusion, this work provides an in-depth understanding of methylation in HCC samples that are not sensitive to ICIs.

Is Curcumin the Answer to Future Chemotherapy Cocktail?

The rise in cancer cases in recent years is an alarming situation worldwide. Despite the tremendous research and invention of new cancer therapies, the clinical outcomes are not always reassuring. Cancer cells could develop several evasive mechanisms for their survivability and render therapeutic failure. The continuous use of conventional cancer therapies leads to chemoresistance, and a higher dose of treatment results in even greater toxicities among cancer patients. Therefore, the search for an alternative treatment modality is crucial to break this viscous cycle. This paper explores the suitability of curcumin combination treatment with other cancer therapies to curb cancer growth. We provide a critical insight to the mechanisms of action of curcumin, its role in combination therapy in various cancers, along with the molecular targets involved. Curcumin combination treatments were found to enhance anticancer effects, mediated by the multitargeting of several signalling pathways by curcumin and the co-administered cancer therapies. The preclinical and clinical evidence in curcumin combination therapy is critically analysed, and the future research direction of curcumin combination therapy is discussed.