Salvianolic acid B acts against non‑small cell lung cancer A549 cells via inactivation of the MAPK and Smad2/3 signaling pathways

Interrelation of Natural Polyphenol and Fibrosis in Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus and a major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Renal fibrosis, which corresponds to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and leads to scarring, is a characteristic feature of the various progressive stages of DN. It can trigger various pathological processes leading to the activation of autophagy, inflammatory responses and a vicious circle of oxidative stress and inflammation. Although it is known that DN can be alleviated by mechanisms linked to antioxidants, reducing inflammation and improving autophagy, how to improve DN by reducing fibrosis using natural polyphenols needs to be studied further. Nowadays, natural polyphenolic compounds with excellent safety and efficacy are playing an increasingly important role in drug discovery. Therefore, this review reveals the multiple mechanisms associated with fibrosis in DN, as well as the different signaling pathways (including TGF-β/SMAD, mTORC1/p70S6K, JAK/STAT/SOCS and Wnt/β-catenin) and the potential role in the fibrotic niche. In parallel, we summarize the types of polyphenolic compounds and their pharmacodynamic effects, and finally evaluate the use of polyphenols to modulate relevant targets and pathways, providing potential research directions for polyphenols to improve DN. In summary, the problem of long-term monotherapy resistance can be reduced with natural polyphenols, while reducing the incidence of toxic side effects. In addition, potential targets and their inhibitors can be identified through these pathways, offering potential avenues of research for natural polyphenols in the pharmacological treatment of multisite fibrosis.

Salvianolic acid B inhibits the growth and metastasis of A549 lung cancer cells through the NDRG2/PTEN pathway by inducing oxidative stress

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) has demonstrated anticancer activity against various types of cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of Sal B-mediated anticancer effects remains incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the impact of Sal B on the growth and metastasis of human A549 lung cells, as well as elucidate its potential mechanisms. In this study, different concentrations of Sal B were administered to A549 cells. The effects on migration and invasion abilities were assessed using MTT, wound healing, and transwell assays. Flow cytometry analysis was employed to evaluate Sal B-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were conducted to measure the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and E-cadherin. Commercial kits were utilized for detecting intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NAD+. Additionally, a xenograft model with transplanted A549 tumors was employed to assess the anti-tumor effect of Sal B in vivo. The expression levels of NDRG2, p-PTEN, and p-AKT were determined through western blotting. Our findings demonstrate that Sal B effectively inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion in A549 cells while inducing dose-dependent apoptosis. These apoptotic responses and inhibition of tumor cell metastasis are accompanied by alterations in intracellular ROS levels and NAD+/NADH ratio. Furthermore, our in vivo experiment reveals that Sal B significantly suppresses A549 tumor growth compared to an untreated control group while promoting increased cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. Importantly, we observe that Sal B upregulates NDRG2 expression while downregulating p-PTEN and p-AKT expressions. Collectively, our results provide compelling evidence supporting the ability of Sal B to inhibit both growth and metastasis in A549 lung cancer cells through oxidative stress modulation as well as involvement of the NDRG2/PTEN/AKT pathway.

Targeting the key players of phenotypic plasticity in cancer cells by phytochemicals

Plasticity of phenotypic traits refers to an organism's ability to change in response to environmental stimuli. As a result, the response may alter an organism's physiological state, morphology, behavior, and phenotype. Phenotypic plasticity in cancer cells describes the considerable ability of cancer cells to transform phenotypes through non-genetic molecular signaling activities that promote therapy evasion and tumor metastasis via amplifying cancer heterogeneity. As a result of metastable phenotypic state transitions, cancer cells can tolerate chemotherapy or develop transient adaptive resistance. Therefore, new findings have paved the road in identifying factors and agents that inhibit or suppress phenotypic plasticity. It has also investigated novel multitargeted agents that may promise new effective strategies in cancer treatment. Despite the efficiency of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, drug toxicity, development of resistance, and high-cost limit their use in cancer therapy. Recent research has shown that small molecules derived from natural sources are capable of suppressing cancer by focusing on the plasticity of phenotypic responses. This systematic, comprehensive, and critical review analyzes the current state of knowledge regarding the ability of phytocompounds to target phenotypic plasticity at both preclinical and clinical levels. Current challenges/pitfalls, limitations, and future perspectives are also discussed.

Salvianolic Acid B Significantly Suppresses the Migration of Melanoma Cells via Direct Interaction with β-Actin

Melanoma is the most aggressive and difficult to treat of all skin cancers. Despite advances in the treatment of melanoma, the prognosis for melanoma patients remains poor, and the recurrence rate remains high. There is substantial evidence that Chinese herbals effectively prevent and treat melanoma. The bioactive ingredient Salvianolic acid B (SAB) found in Salvia miltiorrhiza, a well-known Chinese herbal with various biological functions, exhibits inhibitory activity against various cancers. A375 and mouse B16 cell lines were used to evaluate the main targets and mechanisms of SAB in inhibiting melanoma migration. Online bioinformatics analysis, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, molecular fishing, dot blot, and molecular docking assays were carried out to clarify the potential molecular mechanism. We found that SAB prevents the migration and invasion of melanoma cells by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of melanoma cells. As well as interacting directly with the N-terminal domain of β-actin, SAB enhanced its compactness and stability, thereby inhibiting the migration of cells. Taken together, SAB could significantly suppress the migration of melanoma cells via direct binding with β-actin, suggesting that SAB could be a helpful supplement that may enhance chemotherapeutic outcomes and benefit melanoma patients.

Salvianolic Acid B: A Review of Pharmacological Effects, Safety, Combination Therapy, New Dosage Forms, and Novel Drug Delivery Routes

Salvianolic acid B is extracted from the roots and rhizomes of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., family Labiatae). It is a water-soluble, weakly acidic drug that has demonstrated antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects on various organs and tissues such as the lung, heart, kidney, intestine, bone, liver, and skin and protective effects in diseases such as depression and spinal cord injury. The mechanisms underlying the protective effects of salvianolic acid B are mainly related to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti- or pro-apoptotic, anti- or pro-autophagy, anti-fibrotic, and metabolism-regulating functions. Salvianolic acid B can regulate various signaling pathways, cells, and molecules to achieve maximum therapeutic effects. This review summarizes the safety profile, combination therapy potential, and new dosage forms and delivery routes of salvianolic acid B. Although significant research progress has been made, more in-depth pharmacological studies are warranted to identify the mechanism of action, related signaling pathways, more suitable combination drugs, more effective dosage forms, and novel routes of administration of salvianolic acid B.

The effectiveness of blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) in lung cancer progression-a comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) are a class of herbs that have the effect of dilating blood vessels and dispersing stagnation. Modern pharmaceutical research has demonstrated that they are capable of improving hemodynamics and micro-flow, resist thrombosis and promote blood flow. BAST contain numerous active ingredients, which can theoretically regulate multiple targets at the same time and have a wide range of pharmacological effects in the treatment of diseases including human cancers. Clinically, BAST have minimal side effects and can be used in combination with Western medicine to improve patients' quality of life, lessen adverse effects and minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis of cancers.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

We aimed to summarize the research progression of BAST on lung cancer in the past five years and present a prospect for the future. Particularly, this review further analyzes the effects and molecular mechanisms that BAST inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant studies about BSAT were collected from PubMed and Web of science.

RESULTS

Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the highest mortality rate. Most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and are highly susceptible to metastasis. Recent studies have shown that BAST, a class of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the function of opening veins and dispersing blood stasis, significantly improve hemodynamics and microcirculation, prevent thrombosis and promote blood flow, and thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. In the current review, we analyzed 51 active ingredients extracted from BAST. It was found that BAST and their active ingredients contribute to the prevention of invasion and metastasis of lung cancer through multiple mechanisms, such as regulation of EMT process, specific signaling pathway and metastasis-related genes, tumor blood vessel formation, immune microenvironment and inflammatory response of tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

BSAT and its active ingredients have showed promising anticancer activity and significantly inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. A growing number of studies have realized their potential clinical significance in the therapy of lung cancer, which will provide substantial evidences for the development of new TCM for lung cancer therapy.

Nanotechnology-empowered lung cancer therapy: From EMT role in cancer metastasis to application of nanoengineered structures for modulating growth and metastasis

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in both males and females, and it is the first causes of cancer-related deaths. Chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy are conventional treatment of lung cancer and recently, immunotherapy has been also appeared as another therapeutic strategy for lung tumor. However, since previous treatments have not been successful in cancer therapy and improving prognosis and survival rate of lung tumor patients, new studies have focused on gene therapy and targeting underlying molecular pathways involved in lung cancer progression. Nanoparticles have been emerged in treatment of lung cancer that can mediate targeted delivery of drugs and genes. Nanoparticles protect drugs and genes against unexpected interactions in blood circulation and improve their circulation time. Nanoparticles can induce phototherapy in lung cancer ablation and mediating cell death. Nanoparticles can induce photothermal and photodynamic therapy in lung cancer. The nanostructures can impair metastasis of lung cancer and suppress EMT in improving drug sensitivity. Metastasis is one of the drawbacks observed in lung cancer that promotes migration of tumor cells and allows them to establish new colony in secondary site. EMT can occur in lung cancer and promotes tumor invasion. EMT is not certain to lung cancer and it can be observed in other human cancers, but since lung cancer has highest incidence rate, understanding EMT function in lung cancer is beneficial in improving prognosis of patients. EMT induction in lung cancer promotes tumor invasion and it can also lead to drug resistance and radio-resistance. Moreover, non-coding RNAs and pharmacological compounds can regulate EMT in lung cancer and EMT-TFs such as Twist and Slug are important modulators of lung cancer invasion that are discussed in current review.

Effect of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. on Inflammation, Senescence and Cell Migration

Aromatic plants are reported to display pharmacological properties, including anti-aging. This work aims to disclose the anti-aging effect of the essential oil (EO) of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., an aromatic and medicinal plant widely used as a spice, as well as of the hydrodistillation residual water (HRW), a discarded by-product of EO hydrodistillation. The phytochemical characterization of EO and HRW was assessed by GC-MS and HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSⁿ, respectively. The DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays were used to disclose the antioxidant properties. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages by assessing NO production, iNOS, and pro-IL-1β protein levels. Cell migration was evaluated using the scratch wound assay, and the etoposide-induced senescence was used to assess the modulation of senescence. The EO is mainly characterized by carvacrol, while the HRW is predominantly characterized by rosmarinic acid. The HRW exerts a stronger antioxidant effect in the DPPH and FRAP assays, whereas the EO was the most active sample in the ABTS assay. Both extracts reduce NO, iNOS, and pro-IL-1β. The EO has no effect on cell migration and presents anti-senescence effects. In opposition, HRW reduces cell migration and induces cellular senescence. Overall, our study highlights interesting pharmacological properties for both extracts, EO being of interest as an anti-aging ingredient and HRW relevant in cancer therapy.

Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer: A review of its mechanism (Review)

Lung cancer is one of the commonest malignant tumors in the world today, causing millions of mortalities every year. New methods to treat lung cancer are urgently needed. Salviae miltiorrhiza Bunge is a common Chinese medicine, often used for promoting blood circulation. In the past 20 years, Salviae miltiorrhiza has made significant progress in the treatment of lung cancer and is considered to be one of the most promising methods to fight against the disease. A great amount of research has shown that the mechanism of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer mainly includes inhibiting the proliferation of lung cancer cells, promoting lung cancer cell apoptosis, inducing cell autophagy, regulating immunity and resisting angiogenesis. Research has shown that Salviae miltiorrhiza has certain effects on the resistance to chemotherapy drugs. The present review discussed the status and prospects of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer.

Salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge: A potential antitumor agent

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb widely found in China since ancient times with a high economic and medicinal value. Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B) is an important natural product derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza and this review summarizes the anticancer activity of Sal-B. Sal-B inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by targeting multiple cell signaling pathways. This review aims to review experimental studies to describe the possible anticancer mechanisms of Sal-B and confirm its potential as a therapeutic drug.

Overexpression of hsa_circ_0061817 Can Inhibit the Proliferation and Invasion of Lung Cancer Cells Based on Active Compounds

Objective

This study was aimed at investigating the expression level of hsa_circ_0061817 in lung adenocarcinoma cells and its effect on cell proliferation and invasion and the possible mechanism of hsa_circ_0061817 in lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

The overexpression plasmids of hsa_circ_0061817 (OE-hsacirc_0061817) were transfected into human lung A549 cells and mouse LLC-LUC cells, respectively. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8, and the cell proliferation was detected by cell clone formation assay and EdU assay. Transwell test was used to detect the ability of cell invasion, and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. WB was applied to determine the expression of apoptosis and epithelial mesenchymal transition- (EMT-) related proteins and also target proteins for observation the effect of OE-hsa_circ_0061817 on the growth of A549 cells in nude mice. Bioinformatics method was used to predict the binding microRNA (miRNA) of hsa_circ_0061817 and construct the regulatory network of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and functional analysis of miRNA target genes.

Results

Compared with PLO-ciR group, the cell viability, proliferation, and invasive ability of A549 and LLC-LUC were significantly reduced in OE-hsa_circ_00061817 group, while the apoptosis increased in OE-hsa_circ_00061817 group compared to PLO-ciR group. WB results showed that the expression of caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 9, and E-cadherin increased significantly, while the expression levels of vimentin and N-cadherin decreased severely. Most importantly, OE-hsa_circ_00061817 inhibited the growth of A549 tumor-bearing nude mice. According to TargetScan and mirBase databases, hsa_circ_0061817 may competitively bind hsa_mir-181b-3p, hsa-mir-337-3p, hsa-mir-421, and hsa-mir-548d-3p. The results of functional enrichment showed that miRNA target genes were involved in many cancer-related biological processes, including negative regulation of apoptosis, gene expression, transcriptional imbalance in cancer, transforming growth factor-β, and P53 signal pathway.

Conclusions

Over expression of hsa_circ_0061817 inhibits the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and LLC-LUC cells and may reduce the invasive ability of lung adenocarcinoma cells by weakening the process of EMT, which provides a new target for the prevention and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer: Potential role in regulating MicroRNAs and epigenetic enzymes

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in gene regulation by influencing the translation and longevity of various target mRNAs and the expression of various target genes as well as by modifying histones and DNA methylation of promoter sites. Consequently, when dysregulated, microRNAs are involved in the development and progression of a variety of diseases, including cancer, by affecting cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Preparations from the dried root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Lamiaceae), also known as red sage or danshen, are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating data suggest that certain bioactive constituents of this plant, particularly tanshinones, have broad antitumor effects by interfering with microRNAs and epigenetic enzymes. This paper reviews the evidence for the antineoplastic activities of S. miltiorrhiza constituents by causing or promoting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and epigenetic changes to provide an outlook on their future roles in the treatment of cancer, both alone and in combination with other modalities.