Dehydroabietic Acid Is a Novel Survivin Inhibitor for Gastric Cancer

Exploring the therapeutic potential of diterpenes in gastric cancer: Mechanisms, efficacy, and clinical prospects

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health challenge, particularly prevalent in East Asia. Despite advancements in various treatment modalities, the prognosis for patients, especially those in advanced stages, remains poor, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This review explores the promising potential of diterpenes, naturally occurring compounds with robust anticancer properties, derived from diverse sources such as plants, marine organisms, and fungi. Diterpenes have shown the ability to influence reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, ferroptosis, and autophagy, positioning them as attractive candidates for novel cancer therapies. This review explores the mechanisms of action of diterpenes and their clinical implications for the treatment of GC. Additionally, it addresses the challenges in translating these compounds from preclinical studies to clinical applications, emphasizing the need for further research to enhance their therapeutic profiles and minimize potential side effects. The discussion underscores the importance of diterpenes in future anticancer strategies, particularly in the fight against gastric cancer.

Heterogeneity and interplay: the multifaceted role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor and therapeutic strategies

The journey of cancer development is a multifaceted and staged process. The array of treatments available for cancer varies significantly, dictated by the disease's type and stage. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), prevalent across various cancer types and stages, play a pivotal role in tumor genesis, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. The strategy of concurrently targeting cancer cells and CAFs holds great promise in cancer therapy. In this review, we focus intently on CAFs, delving into their critical role in cancer's progression. We begin by exploring the origins, classification, and surface markers of CAFs. Following this, we emphasize the key cytokines and signaling pathways involved in the interplay between cancer cells and CAFs and their influence on the tumor immune microenvironment. Additionally, we examine current therapeutic approaches targeting CAFs. This article underscores the multifarious roles of CAFs within the tumor microenvironment and their potential applications in cancer treatment, highlighting their importance as key targets in overcoming drug resistance and enhancing the efficacy of tumor therapies.

Synthesis, antitumor evaluation and computational study of thiazolidinone derivatives of dehydroabietic acid-based B ring-fused-thiazole

In an attempt to search for new natural product-based antitumor agents, a series of novel thiazolidinone derivatives of dehydroabietic acid-based B ring-fused-thiazole were designed and synthesized. The primary antitumor tests showed that compounds 5 m exhibited almost the best inhibitory activity against the tested cancer cells. The computational study suggested NOTCH1, IGF1R, TLR4, and KDR were the core targets of the title compounds, and the IC50 of SCC9 and Cal27 is strong correlation with the binding ability of TLR4 and compounds.

Research status of indole-modified natural products

Indole is a heterocyclic compound formed by the fusion of a benzene ring and pyrrole ring, which has rich biological activity. Many indole-containing compounds have been sold on the market due to their excellent pharmacological activity. For example, vincristine and reserpine have been widely used in clinical practice. The diverse structures and biological activities of natural products provide abundant resources for the development of new drugs. Therefore, this review classifies natural products by structure, and summarizes the research progress of indole-containing natural product derivatives, their biological activities, structure-activity relationship and research mechanism which has been studied in the past 13 years, so as to provide a basis for the development of new drug development.

Antiedematogenic and Analgesic Activities of Abietic Acid in Mice

Exacerbated inflammatory responses to harmful stimuli can lead to significant pain, edema, and other complications that require pharmacological intervention. Abietic acid (AA) is a diterpene found as a significant constituent in pine species, and evidence has identified its biological potential. The present study aimed to evaluate abietic acid's antiedematogenic and anti-inflammatory activity in mice. Swiss mice (Mus musculus) weighing 20-30 g were treated with AA at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. The central nervous system (CNS) effects were evaluated using open-field and rotarod assays. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory screening was assessed by the acetic acid and formalin tests. The antiedematogenic activity was investigated by measuring paw edema induced by carrageenan, dextran, histamine, arachidonic acid, and prostaglandin, in addition to using a granuloma model. The oral administration of abietic acid (200 mg/Kg) showed no evidence of CNS effects. The compound also exhibited significant antiedematogenic and anti-inflammatory activities in the carrageenan and dextran models, mostly related to the inhibition of myeloperoxidase (MOP) activity and histamine action and, to a lesser extent, the inhibition of eicosanoid-dependent pathways. In the granuloma model, abietic acid's effect was less expressive than in the acute models investigated in this study. In conclusion, abietic acid has analgesic and antiedematogenic activities related to anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Dihydromyricetin suppresses tumor growth via downregulation of the EGFR/Akt/survivin signaling pathway

Deregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is frequently observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study aimed to determine the impact of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on NSCLC, a natural compound extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata with various pharmacological activities. Results of the present study demonstrated that DHM may act as a promising antitumor agent for NSCLC therapy, inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, results of the present study demonstrated that exposure to DHM downregulated the activity of wild-type (WT) and mutant EGFRs (mutations, exon 19 deletion, and L858R/T790M mutation). Moreover, western blot analysis indicated that DHM induced cell apoptosis via suppression of the antiapoptotic protein, survivin. Results of the present study further demonstrated that depletion or activation of EGFR/Akt signaling may regulate survivin expression though modulating ubiquitination. Collectively, these results suggested that DHM may act as a potential EGFR inhibitor, and may provide a novel choice of treatment strategy for patients with NSCLC.

Protective effect of traditional Chinese medicine on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver cancer by targeting ferroptosis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease with high incidence and is closely related to metabolic syndrome. If not controlled, it may eventually become hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of programmed cell death (PCD), is closely related to NAFLD and HCC, and the mechanisms of action involved are more complex. Some studies have demonstrated that many drugs inhibit ferroptosis and protect liver steatosis or carcinogenesis. The role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), especially herbs or herbal extracts, has received increasing attention. However, there are relatively few review articles on the regulation of NAFLD by TCM through ferroptosis pathway. Here, we summarize the TCM intervention mechanism and application affecting NAFLD/NAFLD-HCC via regulation of ferroptosis. This article focuses on the relationship between ferroptosis and NAFLD or NAFLD-HCC and the protective effect of TCM on both by targeting ferroptosis. It not only summarizes the mechanism of early prevention and treatment of NAFLD, but also provides reference ideas for the development of TCM for the treatment of metabolic diseases and liver diseases.

Resveratrol inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and migration, and induces the apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells through the MALAT1/miR-383-5p/DDIT4 signaling pathway

Background

We aimed to study the effects and potential mechanism of resveratrol (RS) in gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

The human GC cell line SGC7901 was treated with different concentrations of RS (0, 1, 5 µM) for 24 hours. The messenger ribonucleic acid or protein expressions levels of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), micro ribonucleic acid-383-5p (miR-383-5p), and DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) in GC cells were determined by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain assays. Cells were then transfected with miR-383-5p inhibitor (inhibitor), inhibitor negative control (NC), MALAT1-interfering RNA (si-MALAT1), si-DDIT4 and negative interference control (si-NC). The Cell Counting Kit-8 method, scratch assay, and transwell assay were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Additionally, flow cytometry was used to examine apoptosis, and the target relationship was examined by a luciferase-reporter gene analysis.

Results

RS treatment downregulated the expression of MALAT1, repressed cell proliferation, inhibited cell migration and invasion (all P<0.05), and induced apoptosis (P<0.05) in GC cells. When the cells were treated with RS and inhibited the expression of MALAT1 meanwhile, the above anti-cancer effects were more significant (all P<0.05). Target prediction and the luciferase-reporter gene analysis showed that MALAT1 targeted miR-383-5p (P<0.05). When suppressing the expression of MALAT1 and miR-383-5p, the anti-cancer effects caused by the silencing of MALAT1 were absent (all P<0.05). We also found that miR-383-5p targeted DDIT4 protein. When the expression of miR-383-5p and DDIT4 in the GC cells was inhibited, the promoting cancer effects caused by the inhibition of miR-383-5p were reversed (all P<0.05).

Conclusions

This study found that RS inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human GC cells through the metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1)/miR-383-5p/DDIT4 pathway and induced apoptosis.