Natural product procyanidin B1 as an antitumor drug for effective therapy of colon cancer

The biological functions of proanthocyanidin and its application in pig production

Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are natural polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in various plants, which are mixtures of oligomers and polymers formed by the polymerization of different numbers of catechins and epicatechins. PACs exhibit a range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-atherosclerotic, hypoglycemic, and antihypertensive effects, as well as the ability to regulate intestinal flora and promote fat metabolism. These properties render PACs highly promising for applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, garnering substantial interest from researchers globally. Additionally, PACs demonstrate significant nutritional benefits in animal husbandry. Dietary PACs can enhance animal growth, mitigate oxidative stress, decrease feeding expenses, and offer an environmentally friendly, antibiotic-free alternative. Therefore, PACs have great application potential in the field of pig production. This article reviews the basic properties, biological functions, and research status and application in pig production of PACs, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for the development of substitute antibiotic feed additives.

Procyanidin B1 Promotes PSMC3-NRF2 Ubiquitination to Induce Ferroptosis in Glioblastoma

NRF2 signaling is a crucial antioxidant defense mechanism against ferroptosis in tumors, and targeting NRF2 is essential for tumor therapy. However, the effectiveness of NRF2 inhibitors remains unexplored. The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine serve as important sources of NRF2 inhibitors. In this study, we established an intracranial glioblastoma (GBM) orthotopic model and observed the effects of procyanidin B1 on tumor growth and ferroptosis. Using protein-small-molecule docking, z-stack assay of laser confocal imaging, surface plasmon resonance assay, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and western blotting, we detected the binding between procyanidin B1 and NRF2 and the effect of PSMC3 on the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of NRF2 in GBM cells. Our results showed that procyanidin B1 acted as a novel NRF2 inhibitor to suppress GBM cell proliferation and prolonged the survival of GBM-bearing mice; it also mediated the interaction between PSMC3 and NRF2 to promote ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation of NRF2, which induced ferroptosis in GBM cells. In addition, we found that procyanidin B1 enhanced H₂O₂ accumulation by downregulating NRF2 during ferroptosis in GBM cells. The botanical agent procyanidin B1 induced ferroptosis and exerted anti-tumor effects through PSMC3-mediated ubiquitin-dependent degradation of NRF2 proteins, providing a potential drug candidate for adjuvant therapy in patients with GBM.

Phytochemical analysis and anticancer effect of Camellia oleifera bud ethanol extract in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

Camellia oleifera is a medicine food homology plant widely cultivated in the Yangtze River Basin and southern China due to its camellia oil. Camellia oleifera bud and fruit exist simultaneously, and its bud is largely discarded as waste. However, C. oleifera bud has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the chemical components of C. oleifera bud ethanol extract (EE) and first evaluate its anticancer effects in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Based on UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS analysis, seventy components were identified. For anticancer activity, C. oleifera bud EE had remarkable cytotoxic effect on non-small cell lung cancer A549 (IC50: 57.53 ± 1.54 μg/mL) and NCI-H1299 (IC50: 131.67 ± 4.32 μg/mL) cells, while showed lower cytotoxicity on non-cancerous MRC-5 (IC50 > 320 μg/mL) and L929 (IC50: 179.84 ± 1.08 μg/mL) cells. It dramatically inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. Additionally, it induced apoptosis in A549 cells through a mitochondria-mediated pathway, which decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, upregulated Bax, activated caspase 9 and caspase 3, and resulted in PARP cleavage. Wound healing and transwell invasion assays demonstrated that C. oleifera bud EE inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The above findings indicated that C. oleifera bud EE revealed notable anticancer effects by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and suppressing migration and invasion of A549 cells. Hence, C. oleifera bud ethanol extract could serve as a new source of natural anticancer drugs.

Bioactive compounds from Actinidia arguta fruit as a new strategy to fight glioblastoma

In recent years, there has been a significant demand for natural products as a mean of disease prevention or as an alternative to conventional medications. The driving force for this change is the growing recognition of the abundant presence of valuable bioactive compounds in natural products. On recent years Actinia arguta fruit, also known as kiwiberry, has attracted a lot of attention from scientific community due to its richness in bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, organic acids, vitamins, carotenoids and fiber. These bioactive compounds contribute to the fruit's diverse outstanding biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer properties. Due to these properties, the fruit may have the potential to be used in the treatment/prevention of various types of cancer, including glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, displaying 90 % of recurrence rate within a span of 2 years. Despite the employment of an aggressive approach, the prognosis remains unfavorable, emphasizing the urgent requirement for the development of new effective treatments. The preclinical evidence suggests that kiwiberry has potential impact on glioblastoma by reducing the cancer self-renewal, modulating the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of the cell phenotype and metabolism, and influencing the consolidation of the tumor microenvironment. Even though, challenges such as the imprecise composition and concentration of bioactive compounds, and its low bioavailability after oral administration may be drawbacks to the development of kiwiberry-based treatments, being urgent to ensure the safety and efficacy of kiwiberry for the prevention and treatment of glioblastoma. This review aims to highlight the potential impact of A. arguta bioactive compounds on glioblastoma, providing novel insights into their applicability as complementary or alternative therapies.