Phytochemicals in Cancer Treatment: From Preclinical Studies to Clinical Practice

Quercetin- and rutin-based nano-formulations for cancer treatment: A systematic review of improved efficacy and molecular mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Natural products, with incredible chemical diversity, have been widely studied for their antitumor potential. Quercetin (QU) and quercetin glycoside (rutin), both polyphenolic flavonoids, stick out amongst the natural products, through various studies. Rutin (RU) and its aglycone (QU) have various biological properties that include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities. However, several side effects have restricted the efficacy of these polyphenolic flavonoids, which makes it necessary to use new strategies involving low and pharmacological doses of QU and RU, either alone or in combination with other anticancer drugs.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to present a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the anticancer ability of different nano-formulations of RU and QU for improved treatment of various malignancies.

METHODS

Studies were recognized via systematic searches of ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Eligibility checks were conducted based upon predefined selection criteria. Ninety articles were included in this study.

RESULTS

There was conclusive evidence for the association between anticancer activity and treatment with RU or QU. Furthermore, studies indicated that nano-formulations of RU and QU have greater anticancer activities in comparison to either agent alone, which leads to increased efficiency for treating cancer.

CONCLUSION

The results of this systematic review demonstrate the anticancer activities of nano-formulations of RU and QU and their molecular mechanisms through preclinical studies. This paper also attempts to contribute to further research by addressing the current limitations/challenges and proposing additional studies to realize the full potential of RU- and QU-based formulations for cancer treatment.

Modulation of TLR/NF-κB/NLRP Signaling by Bioactive Phytocompounds: A Promising Strategy to Augment Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Background

Tumors often progress to a more aggressive phenotype to resist drugs. Multiple dysregulated pathways are behind this tumor behavior which is known as cancer chemoresistance. Thus, there is an emerging need to discover pivotal signaling pathways involved in the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and cancer immunotherapy. Reports indicate the critical role of the toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing (NLRP) pathway in cancer initiation, progression, and development. Therefore, targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling is a promising strategy to augment cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy and to combat chemoresistance. Considering the potential of phytochemicals in the regulation of multiple dysregulated pathways during cancer initiation, promotion, and progression, such compounds could be suitable candidates against cancer chemoresistance.

Objectives

This is the first comprehensive and systematic review regarding the role of phytochemicals in the mitigation of chemoresistance by regulating the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway in chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Methods

A comprehensive and systematic review was designed based on Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane electronic databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to include papers on TLR/NF-κB/NLRP and chemotherapy/immunotherapy/chemoresistance by phytochemicals.

Results

Phytochemicals are promising multi-targeting candidates against the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway and interconnected mediators. Employing phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids, and sulfur compounds could be a promising strategy for managing cancer chemoresistance through the modulation of the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway. Novel delivery systems of phytochemicals in cancer chemotherapy/immunotherapy are also highlighted.

Conclusion

Targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling with bioactive phytocompounds reverses chemoresistance and improves the outcome for chemotherapy and immunotherapy in both preclinical and clinical stages.

Low dose epigallocatechin-3-gallate revives doxorubicin responsiveness by a redox-sensitive pathway in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells

Pulmonary cancer confronts the greatest hurdle of resistance against most chemotherapeutic drugs. This may be circumvented with a combination of conventional chemotherapy with bioactive herbal adjuvant. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), was investigated for its chemo-sensitizing property along with doxorubicin (Dox), in an intrinsically nonresponsive lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) cell line, A549. A compromised functionality of Dox was reversed when EGCG was used as an adjuvant. On one hand, Dox (10 μM)-EGCG (0.5 μM) post treatment combination decreased the drug efflux, multidrug-resistance (MDR) signaling, invasiveness while, on the other hand, it increased drug internalization, cell-cycle arrest, stress-induced damage, and finally cell death. The resistant nature of A549 was probably due to constitutive activation of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its upstream/downstream antioxidant effectors, which were also pro-oxidatively coordinated by EGCG. In conclusion low dose EGCG improved Dox-toxicity and imparted oxidative damage-mediated antineoplastic efficacy by reorienting the redox signaling in A549 LAC cells.

Nano-Resveratrol: A Promising Candidate for the Treatment of Renal Toxicity Induced by Doxorubicin in Rats Through Modulation of Beclin-1 and mTOR

Background: Although doxorubicin (DXR) is one of the most used anticancer drugs, it can cause life-threatening renal damage. There has been no effective treatment for DXR-induced renal damage until now.

Aim: This work aims at examining the potential impact of nano-resveratrol (N-Resv), native resveratrol (Resv), and their combination with carvedilol (Card) against DXR-induced renal toxicity in rats and to investigate the mechanisms through which these antioxidants act to ameliorate DXR nephrotoxicity. Method: DXR was administered to rats (2 mg/kg, i.p.) twice weekly over 5 weeks. The antioxidants in question were taken 1 week before the DXR dose for 6 weeks.

Results: DXR exhibited an elevation in serum urea, creatinine, renal lipid peroxide levels, endoglin expression, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and beclin-1. On the other hand, renal podocin and mTOR expression and GSH levels were declined. In addition, DNA fragmentation was markedly increased in the DXR-administered group. Treatment with either Resv or N-Resv alone or in combination with Card ameliorated the previously measured parameters.

Conclusion: N-Resv showed superior effectiveness relative to Resv in most of the measured parameters. Histopathological examination revealed amelioration of renal structural and cellular changes after DXR by Card and N-Resv, thus validating the previous biochemical and molecular results.

The p53-Driven Anticancer Effect of Ribes fasciculatum Extract on AGS Gastric Cancer Cells

Cancer metastasis is directly related to the survival rate of cancer patients. Although cancer metastasis proceeds by the movement of cancer cells, it is fundamentally caused by its resistance to anoikis, a mechanism of apoptosis caused by the loss of adhesion of cancer cells. Therefore, it was found that inhibiting cancer migration and reducing anoikis resistance are important for cancer suppression, and natural compounds can effectively control it. Among them, Ribes fasciculatum, which has been used as a medicinal plant, was confirmed to have anticancer potential, and experiments were conducted to prove various anticancer effects by extracting Ribes fasciculatum (RFE). Through various experiments, it was observed that RFE induces apoptosis of AGS gastric cancer cells, arrests the cell cycle, induces oxidative stress, and reduces mobility. It was also demonstrated that anoikis resistance was attenuated through the downregulation of proteins, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Moreover, the anticancer effect of RFE depends upon the increase in p53 expression, suggesting that RFE is suitable for the development of p53-targeted anticancer materials. Moreover, through xenotransplantation, it was found that the anticancer effect of RFE confirmed in vitro was continued in vivo.

Myricetin (3,3',4',5,5',7-Hexahydroxyflavone) Prevents 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cardiotoxicity

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a strong anti-cancer drug used to manage numerous cancers. Cardiotoxicity, renal toxicity, and liver toxicity are some of the adverse effects which confine its clinical use to some extent. 5-FU-induced organ injuries are associated with redox imbalance, inflammation, and damage to heart functioning, particularly in the present study. Myricetin is an abundant flavonoid, commonly extracted from berries and herbs having anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities. We planned the current work to explore the beneficial effects of myricetin against 5-FU-induced cardiac injury in Wistar rats through a biochemical and histological approach. Prophylactic myricetin treatment at two doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) was given to rats orally for 21 days against cardiac injury induced by a single injection of 5-FU (150 mg/kg b.wt.) given on the 20th day intraperitoneally. The 5-FU injection induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and extensive cardiac damage. Nevertheless, myricetin alleviated markers of inflammation, apoptosis, cardiac toxicity, oxidative stress, and upregulated anti-oxidative machinery. The histology of heart further supports our biochemical findings mitigated by the prophylactic treatment of myricetin. Henceforth, myricetin mitigates 5-FU-induced cardiac damage by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiac-specific markers, as found in the present study.

Curcumin nanoformulations: Beneficial nanomedicine against cancer

Curcumin is a phytochemical achieved from the plant turmeric. It is extensively utilized for the treatment of several types of diseases such as cancers. Nevertheless, its efficiency has been limited because of rapid metabolism, low bioavailability, poor water solubility, and systemic elimination. Scientists have tried to solve these problems by exploring novel drug delivery systems such as lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) (e.g., solid lipid NPs, nanostructured lipid carriers, and liposomes), polymeric NPs, micelles, nanogels, cyclodextrin, gold, and mesoporous silica NPs. Among these, liposomes have been the most expansively studied. This review mainly focuses on the different curcumin nanoformulations and their use in cancer therapy in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Despite the development of curcumin-containing NPs for the treatment of cancer, potentially serious side effects, including interactions with other drugs, some toxicity aspects of NPs may occur that require more high-quality investigations to firmly establish the clinical efficacy.

Papaver Plants: Current Insights on Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition Along with Biotechnological Applications

The genus Papaver is highly esteemed in the pharmacy industry, in the culinary field, and as ornamental plants. These plants are also valued in traditional medicine. Among all Papaver species, Papaver somniferum L. (opium poppy) is the most important species in supplying phytochemicals for the formulation of drugs, mainly alkaloids like morphine, codeine, rhoeadine, thebaine, and papaverine. In addition, Papaver plants present other types of phytochemicals, which altogether are responsible for its biological activities. Therefore, this review covers the phytochemical composition of Papaver plants, including alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and essential oils. The traditional uses are reviewed along with their pharmacological activities. Moreover, safety aspects are reported to provide a deep overview of the pharmacology potential of this genus. An updated search was carried out in databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed to retrieve the information. Overall, this genus is a rich source of alkaloids of different types and also contains interesting phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, flavonols, and the characteristic indole derivatives nudicaulins. Among other pharmacological properties, numerous preclinical studies have been published about the analgesic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities of Papaver plants. Although it highlights the significant impact of this genus for the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions, as a future prospect, characterization works accompanying preclinical studies are required along with clinical and toxicology studies to establish a correlation between the scientific and traditional knowledge.

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia management using multitargeting bioactive natural compounds: A systematic and critical review

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL), a malignancy of the lymphoid line of blood cells, accounts for a large percentage of all childhood leukemia cases. Although the 5-year survival rate for children with ALL has greatly improved over years, using chemotherapeutics as its first-line treatment still causes short- and long-term side effects. Furthermore, induction of toxicity and resistance, as well as the high cost, limit their application. Phytochemicals, with remarkable cancer preventive and chemotherapeutic characteristics, may serve as old solutions to new challenges. Bioactive plant secondary metabolites have exhibited promising antileukemic and adjunctive effects by targeting various molecular processes, including autophagy, cell cycle, angiogenesis, and extrinsic/intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Although numerous reports have shown that numerous plant secondary metabolites can interfere with the progression of malignancies, including leukemia, there was no comprehensive review article on the effect of phytochemicals on pALL. This systematic review aims to provide critical and cohesive analysis of the potential of various naturally-occurring metabolites in the management of pALL with the understanding of underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of action.

Curcumin Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity and Hepatotoxicity Via Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Modulating iNOS, NF-κB, and TNF-α in Rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the widely used anti-tumor drugs. However, DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) and hepatotoxicity (DIH) are among the side effects that limited its therapeutic efficiency and clinical applicability. This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective and hepatoprotective potentials of curcumin (CMN)-a bioactive polyphenolic compound-in alleviating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) and hepatotoxicity (DIH) in male rats. A single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of DOX (20 mg/kg) was used to induce DIC and DIH. DOX-intoxicated rats were co-treated with CMN (100 mg/kg, oral) for 10 days before and 5 days after a single dose of DOX. We studied the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities of CMN on biochemical and immunohistochemical aspects. DOX disrupted cardiac and hepatic functions and stimulated oxidative stress and inflammation in both tissues that was confirmed biochemically and immunohistochemically. DOX enhanced inflammatory interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and upregulated immunoexpression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). DOX induced structural alterations in both cardiac and hepatic tissues. CMN demonstrated cardioprotective potential through reducing cardiac troponin I (cTn1) and aspartate amino transaminase (AST). In addition, CMN significantly ameliorated liver function through decreasing alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG). CMN demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential through decreasing IFN-γ levels and immunoexpression of iNOS, NF-κB, and TNF-α. Histopathologically, CMN restored DOX-associated cardiac and liver structural alterations. CMN showed anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potentials in both the cardiac and hepatic tissues. In addition, cTn1, IFN-γ, and AST could be used as blood-based biomarkers.

Myrsinane-type diterpenes from Euphorbia gedrosiaca with cell growth inhibitory activity and apoptotic effects on melanoma cancer cells

Phytochemical analysis of Euphorbia gedrosiaca Rech.f., Aellen & Esfand., an Iranian endemic spurge, afforded the isolation of four myrsinane types diterpene polyesters. Two new compounds (1-2) were based on a myrsinane skeleton while the others (3-4) were known diterpenes based on a cyclomyrsinane backbone. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS. The isolated compounds were tested to evaluate their cell growth inhibitory activity and apoptotic effects on melanoma cell lines, B16F10 and A375. The IC₅₀ values for compounds 1-4 were 58.45, 55.43, 86.52 and 82.27 μM, respectively, on B16F10, and 20.66, 21.88, 36.21 and 39.87 μM, respectively, on A375 cells. Non-treated cells were used as negative control (100% cell growth) and 5 nM Taxol were considered as a positive control.

phytochemdb: a platform for virtual screening and computer-aided drug designing

The phytochemicals of medicinal plants are regarded as a rich source of diverse chemical spaces that have been used as supplements and alternative medicines in the millennium. Even in this era of combinatorial chemical drugs, phytomedicines account for a large share of the statistics of newly approved drugs. In the field of computational aided and rational drug design, there is an urgent need to develop and build a useful phytochemical database management system with a user-friendly interface that allows proper data storage, retrieval and management. We showed ‘phytochemdb’, a manually managed database that compiles 525 plants and their corresponding 8093 phytochemicals, aiming to incorporate the activities of phytochemicals from medicinal plants. The database collects molecular formula, three-dimensional/two-dimensional structure, canonical SMILES, molecular weight, no. of heavy atoms, no. of aromatic heavy atoms, fraction Csp3, no. of rotatable bonds, no. of H-bond acceptors, no. of H-bond donors, molar refractivity, topological polar surface area, gastrointestinal absorption, Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB) permeant, P-gp substrate, CYP1A2 inhibitor, CYP2C19 inhibitor, CYP2C9 inhibitor, CYP2D6 inhibitor, CYP3A4 inhibitor, Log Kp, Ghose, Veber, Egan, Muegge, bioavailability scores, pan-assay interference compounds, Brenk, Leadlikeness, synthetic accessibility, iLOGP and Lipinski rule of five with the number of violations for each compound. It provides open contribution functions for the researchers who screen phytochemicals in the laboratory and have released their data. ‘phytochemdb’ is a comprehensive database that gathers most of the information about medicinal plants in one platform, which is considered to be very beneficial to the work of researchers on medicinal plants. ‘phytochemdb’ is available for free at https://phytochemdb.com/.

1,8 Cineole and Ellagic acid inhibit hepatocarcinogenesis via upregulation of MiR-122 and suppression of TGF-β1, FSCN1, Vimentin, VEGF, and MMP-9

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most burdened tumors worldwide, with a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Current treatment approaches involve different molecular targets. Phytochemicals have shown considerable promise in the prevention and treatment of HCC. We investigated the efficacy of two natural components, 1,8 cineole (Cin) and ellagic acid (EA), against diethylnitrosamine/2-acetylaminofluorene (DEN/2-AAF) induced HCC in rats. DEN/2-AAF showed deterioration of hepatic cells with an impaired functional capacity of the liver. In addition, the levels of tumor markers including alpha-fetoprotein, arginase-1, alpha-L-fucosidase, and ferritin were significantly increased, whereas the hepatic miR-122 level was significantly decreased in induced-HCC rats. Interestingly, treatment with Cin (100mg/kg) and EA (60mg/kg) powerfully restored these biochemical alterations. Moreover, Cin and EA treatment exhibited significant downregulation in transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), Fascin-1 (FSCN1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) key marker, vimentin, along with a restoration of histopathological findings compared to HCC group. Such effects were comparable to Doxorubicin (DOX) (2mg/kg); however, a little additive effect was evident through combining these phytochemicals with DOX. Altogether, this study highlighted 1,8 cineole and ellagic acid for the first time as promising phytochemicals for the treatment of hepatocarcinogenesis via regulating multiple targets.

Screening and identification of phytochemical drug molecules against mutant BRCA1 receptor of breast cancer using computational approaches

The American Cancer Society claims that breast cancer is the second most significant cause of cancer-related death, with over one million women diagnosed each year. Breast cancer linked to the BRCA1 gene has a significant risk of mortality and recurrence and is susceptible to alteration or over-expression, which can lead to hereditary breast cancer. Given the shortage of effective and possibly curative treatments for breast cancer, the present study combined molecular and computational analysis to find prospective phytochemical substances that can suppress the mutant gene (BRCA1) that causes the disease. Virtual screening and Molecular docking approaches are utilized to find probable phytochemicals from the ZINC database. The 3D structure of mutant BRCA1 protein with the id 3PXB was extracted from the NCBI-PDB. Top 10 phytochemical compounds shortlisted based on molecular docking score between - 11.6 and - 13.0. Following the ADMET properties, only three (ZINC000085490903 = - 12.50, ZINC000085490832 = - 12.44, and ZINC000070454071 = - 11.681) of the 10 selected compounds have drug-like properties. The molecular dynamic simulation study of the top three potential phytochemicals showed stabilized RMSD and RMSF values as compared to the APO form of the BRCA1 receptor. Further, trajectory analysis revealed that approximately similar radius of gyration score tends to the compactness of complex structure, and principal component and cross-correlation analysis suggest that the residues move in a strong correlation. Thermostability of the target complex (B-factor) provides information on the stable energy minimized structure. The findings suggest that the top three ligands show potential as breast cancer inhibitors.

Salviolone from Salvia miltiorrhiza Roots Impairs Cell Cycle Progression, Colony Formation, and Metalloproteinase-2 Activity in A375 Melanoma Cells: Involvement of P21(Cip1/Waf1) Expression and STAT3 Phosphorylation

Melanoma is a highly malignant solid tumor characterized by an elevated growth and propagation rate. Since, often, melanoma treatment cannot prevent recurrences and the appearance of metastasis, new anti-melanoma agents need to be discovered. Salvia miltiorrhiza roots are a source of diterpenoid derivatives, natural compounds with several biological activities, including antiproliferative and anticancer effects. Seven diterpenoid derivatives were purified from S. miltiorrhiza roots and identified by NMR and MS analysis. Tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone were detected as the main components of S. miltiorrhiza root ethanol extract. Although their antitumor activity is already known, they have been confirmed to induce a reduction in A375 and MeWo melanoma cell growth. Likewise, salviolone has been shown to impair the viability of melanoma cells without affecting the growth of normal melanocytes. The underlying anticancer activity of salviolone has been investigated and compared to that of cryptotanshinone in A375 cells, showing an increased P21 protein expression in a P53-dependent manner. In that way, salviolone, even more than cryptotanshinone, displays a multitarget effect on cell-cycle-related proteins. Besides, it modulates the phosphorylation level of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3. Unexpectedly, salviolone and cryptotanshinone induce sustained activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2 and the protein kinase B (Akt). However, the blockage of ERK1/2 or Akt activities suggests that kinase activation does not hinder their ability to inhibit A375 cell growth. Finally, salviolone and cryptotanshinone inhibit to a comparable extent some crucial malignancy features of A375 melanoma cells, such as colony formation in soft agar and metalloproteinase-2 activity. In conclusion, it has been shown for the first time that salviolone, harboring a different molecular structure than tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone, exhibits a pleiotropic effect against melanoma by hampering cell cycle progression, STAT3 signaling, and malignant phenotype of A375 melanoma cells.

Study of Stability, Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activity of Chios Mastic Gum Fractions (Neutral, Acidic) after Encapsulation in Liposomes

Mastic gum is a resinous sap produced by Pistacia lentiscus growing in the island of Chios (Greece) and has been recognized since Antiquity for its distinctive aroma as well as medical properties (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ones). The oral absorption of Chios Mastic gum (an insoluble polymer of poly-β-myrcene is among the most abundant contents) is poor due to its low water-solubility. We report in this study, two different Chios mastic gum extracts, the acidic mastic gum extract—AMGE—and the neutral one—NMGE, both prepared after removal of the contained polymer in order to ameliorate solubility and enhance in vivo activity. Liposomes are presented as a promising delivery system due to their physicochemical and biophysical properties to increase stability and absorption efficiency of the mastic gum extracts within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability in GI simulated conditions together with cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity of the two extracts (AMGE and NMGE) after encapsulation in a well characterized liposome formulation. Liposomes-AMGE complex showed an improved stability behavior in GI simulated conditions. Both assayed extracts showed significant dose dependent inhibition against the growth of liver cancer HepG2 cells and an interesting antimicrobial activity against several microorganisms. Conclusively, encapsulation could be evaluated as a beneficial procedure for further applications of mastic resin.

Pterostilbene downregulates BCR/ABL and induces apoptosis of T315I-mutated BCR/ABL-positive leukemic cells

In this study, we examined the antileukemic effects of pterostilbene, a natural methylated polyphenol analog of resveratrol that is predominantly found in berries and nuts, using various human and murine leukemic cells, as well as bone marrow samples obtained from patients with leukemia. Pterostilbene administration significantly induced apoptosis of leukemic cells, but not of non-malignant hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Interestingly, pterostilbene was highly effective in inducing apoptosis of leukemic cells harboring the BCR/ABL fusion gene, including ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant cells with the T315I mutation. In BCR/ABL⁺ leukemic cells, pterostilbene decreased the BCR/ABL fusion protein levels and suppressed AKT and NF-κB activation. We further demonstrated that pterostilbene along with U0126, an inhibitor of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, synergistically induced apoptosis of BCR/ABL⁺ cells. Our results further suggest that pterostilbene-promoted downregulation of BCR/ABL involves caspase activation triggered by proteasome inhibition-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. Moreover, oral administration of pterostilbene significantly suppressed tumor growth in mice transplanted with BCR/ABL⁺ leukemic cells. Taken together, these results suggest that pterostilbene may hold potential for the treatment of BCR/ABL⁺ leukemia, in particular for those showing ABL-dependent TKI resistance.

Molecular Docking of Phytochemicals Targeting GFRs as Therapeutic Sites for Cancer: an In Silico Study

Drug delivery in a safe manner is a major challenge in the drug development process. Growth factor receptors (GFRs) are known to have profound roles in the growth and progression of cancerous cells making these receptors a therapeutic target in the effective treatment of cancer. This work focused on exploring bioactive compounds that can target GFRs using in silico method. In this study, 50 bioactive compounds from different plant sources were screened as anticancer agent against GFRs using drug likeness parameters of Lipinski's rule of five. The molecular docking was performed between phytochemicals and GFRs. Ligands with acceptable drug likeness and binding energy comparable to the standard drugs were further screened to determine their pharmacokinetic activities. This study showed phytochemicals with the binding energy comparable with the standard drugs (Dovitinib and Gefitinib), while ADME, bioactivity score, and bioavailability radar analysis gave further insight on these compounds as potent anticancer agents.

Natural Products as the Modulators of Oxidative Stress: An Herbal Approach in the Management of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed and frequently occurred cancer in the males globally. The current treatment strategies available to treat prostate cancer are not much effective and express various adverse effects. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify novel treatment that can improve patient outcome. From times immemorial, natural products are highly recognized for novel drug development for various diseases including cancer. Cancer cells generally maintain higher basal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when compared to normal cells due to its high metabolic rate. However, initiation of excess intracellular ROS production can not be tolerated by the cancer cells and induce several cell death signals which are in contrast to normal cells. Therefore, small molecules of natural origin that induce ROS can potentially kill cancer cells in specific and provide a better opportunity to develop a novel drug therapy. In this review, we elaborated various classes of medicinal compounds and their mechanism of killing prostate cancer cells through direct or indirect ROS generation. This can generate a novel thought to develop promising drug candidate to treat prostate cancer patients.

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) inhibits the proliferation, adhesion, and migration of oral cancer cells by inhibiting the ERK, AKT, and CyclinD cell signaling pathways: an in-vitro study

Background: Lycium barbarum (L. barbarum), popularly referred to as Goji berry, is a promising herb known for its powerful anti-antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating inflammatory and infectious diseases. It has also shown good anti-cancer properties and has been tested against liver, colon, prostate, breast, and cervical cancers. However, no study has yet evaluated the role of goji berries against oral cancer. Hence, the present paper aims to evaluate the anticancer properties of L. barbarum against oral squamous cell carcinoma. Method: Ethanolic extract of L. barbarum (EELB) was tested for its anticancer properties by performing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation, cell proliferation, and scratch wound test. The impact of EELB on the signaling transduction pathways of Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), protein kinase (AKT1), cyclin D1 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was also assessed by western blot. Results: The results showed that EELB can impede CAL-27 cell growth, proliferation and migration in-vitro. It even reduced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT1 with concomitant downregulation of cyclin D1 (CCND1), cadherin 2 (CDH2), and vimentin (VIM) and upregulation of cadherin 1 (CDH1) expression suggesting its anti-proliferative and anti-EMT effects in oral cancer. Conclusion: Goji berry has good antiproliferative and anti-invasive properties. It affects potential EMT markers and signaling transduction pathways involved in oral cancers. Hence goji berry can be tried as a potential anticancer agent to manage oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Picropodophyllotoxin Induces G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells via ROS Generation and Activation of p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway

Picropodophyllotoxin (PPT), an epimer of podophyllotoxin, is derived from the roots of Podophyllum hexandrum and exerts various biological effects, including anti-proliferation activity. However, the effect of PPT on colorectal cancer cells and the associated cellular mechanisms have not been studied. In the present study, we explored the anticancer activity of PPT and its underlying mechanisms in HCT116 cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to monitor cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell cycle distribution, the induction of apoptosis, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), assess the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and multi-caspase activity. Western blot assays were performed to detect the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, apoptosis-related proteins, and p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase). We found that PPT induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, and ROS in the HCT116 cell line. In addition, PPT enhanced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, which regulates apoptosis and PPT-induced apoptosis. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was inhibited by an antioxidant agent (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, NAC) and a p38 inhibitor (SB203580). PPT induced depolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane and caspase-dependent apoptosis, which was attenuated by exposure to Z-VAD-FMK. Overall, these data indicate that PPT induced G1 arrest and apoptosis via ROS generation and activation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

The Bioactivity and Phytochemicals of Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.: A Multifunctional Underutilized Crop Plant

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. is an underutilized crop plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. In recent years, the plant received huge attention and was introduced in different countries owing to properties such as a high nutritional content, its nitrogen-fixing abilities, and different biological activities such as its antioxidant, immune modulation, anticancer, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis, antiviral, and antiaging affects, among others. In this review, an attempt has been made to comprehensively compile the biological activities of the plant to provide a panoramic view of the current efforts and further directions, which may lead to the development of pharmacological applications. This information will be helpful in creating interest towards P. erosus and it may be useful in developing the plant for medical applications and/or as a functional food. More than 50 phytochemicals have been reported from the plant, which belong to different chemical classes such as triterpenoids, organic acid, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Numerous biological activities were reported from the plant through in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, and human studies. However, well-defined clinical studies are still lacking for the establishment of any biological properties that could be further developed. Suggestions for the further development of P. erosus, according to current knowledge about the different biological properties, has also been provided.

Phytochemicals mediated modulation of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in cancer prevention and therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two main categories of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that can influence essential biological functions in various ways, as well as their expression and function are tightly regulated in physiological homeostasis. Additionally, the dysregulation of these ncRNAs seems to be crucial to the pathogenesis of human diseases. The latest findings indicate that ncRNAs execute vital roles in cancer initiation and progression, and the cancer phenotype can be reversed by modulating their expression. Available scientific discoveries suggest that phytochemicals such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and organosulfur compounds can significantly modulate multiple cancer-associated miRNAs and lncRNAs, thereby inhibiting cancer initiation and development. However, despite promising outcomes of experimental research, only a few clinical trials are currently being conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of these compounds. Nevertheless, understanding phytochemical-mediated ncRNA regulation in cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms on tumor pathophysiology can aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat this deadly disease.

A comprehensive review on immuno-nanomedicine for breast cancer therapy: Technical challenges and troubleshooting measures

Nanosized drug carriers have received a major attention in cancer therapeutics and theranostics. The immuno-nanomedicine is a combination of monoclonal antibody (mAb)/mAb-drug-nanoparticles. The immuno-nanomedicine offers a promising strategy to target cancer cells. However, the understating of nanotechnology, cancer biology, immunomedicine, and nanoparticle surface chemistry has provided a better clue to prepare the effective immuno-nanomedicine for cancer therapy. Moreover, the selection of nanoparticles type and its composition is essential for development of efficient drug delivery system (DDS) to target the cancer cell site. Immuno-nanomedicine works in the ligand-receptor binding mechanism through the interaction of mAb conjugated nanoparticles and specific antigen over expressed on target cancer cells. Therefore, the selection of specific receptors in the cancer cell and their ligand is important to prepare the active immuno-nanomedicines. Moreover, the factors such as drug loading, entrapment efficiency, size, shape, and ligand conjugation of a nanocarrier are considered as major factors for a better cancer cell, internalization, drug release, and cancer cell ablation. The target-based over-expression of antigen, mAb is engineered and conjugated with nanoparticles for successful targeting of the cancer cells without causing adverse effects to normal cells. Therefore, this review analyzed the fundamental factors in the immuno-nanomedicine for breast cancer and its technical challenges in the fabrication of the antibody alone/and drug conjugated nanoparticles.

Update and New Insights on Future Cancer Drug Candidates From Plant-Based Alkaloids

Cancer is a complex multifactorial disease that results from alterations in many physiological and biochemical functions. Over the last few decades, it has become clear that cancer cells can acquire multidrug resistance to conventional anticancer drugs, resulting in tumor relapse. Thus, there is a continuous need to discover new and effective anticancer drugs. Natural products from plants have served as a primary source of cancer drugs and continue to provide new plant-derived anticancer drugs. The present review describes plant-based alkaloids, which have been reported as active or potentially active in cancer treatment within the past 4 years (2017-2020), both in preclinical research and/or in clinical trials. In addition, recent insights into the possible molecular mechanism of action of alkaloid prodrugs naturally present in plants are also highlighted.

Polymeric Nanoparticles: Exploring the Current Drug Development and Therapeutic Insight of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recommendations

This manuscript aims to provide the latest update on polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery system for breast cancer treatment after 2015 and how research-oriented it is based on the available research data. Therefore, the authors have chosen breast cancer which is the most frequent and common reason for mortality in women worldwide. The first-line treatment for breast cancer treatment is chemotherapy, apart from surgery, radiation and hormonal therapy. Chemotherapy is associated with lesser therapeutics and undesirable side effects and hence. In addition, drug resistance affects the therapeutic dose to the target site. Although various nano-based formulations have been developed for effective treatment, the polymeric nanoparticles effectively avoid the lacunae of conventional chemotherapy. There has been an effort made to understand the chemotherapy drugs and their conventional formulation-related problems for better targeting and effective drug delivery for breast cancer treatment. Thus, the polymeric nanoparticles as a strategy overcome the associated problems with resulting dose reduction, enhanced bioavailability, reduced side effects, etc. This present review has compiled the research reports published from 2015 to 2021 from different databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, which are related to breast cancer treatment in which the drug delivery of numerous chemotherapeutic agents alone or in combination, including phytoconstituents formulated into various polymer-based nanoparticles.

In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Activities and Phytochemical Analysis of Different Solvent Extracts of Punica granatum L. (Pomegranate) Peels

Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern resulting in high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Furthermore, a high incidence of food poisoning diseases besides harmful implications of applying synthetic food additives in food preservation necessitates fabrication of safe food preservatives. Additionally, damaging effects of free radicals on human health has been reported to be involved in the incidence of serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases; hence, finding safe sources of antioxidants is vital. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the antibacterial, antiradical and carcinopreventive efficacy of different solvent extracts of pomegranate peels. Agar disk diffusion assay revealed that Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, E. coli and S. typhimurium were highly susceptible to methanolic fraction of Punica granatum L. peels recording inhibition zones of 23.7, 21.8, 15.6 and 14.7 mm respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the methanolic fraction of Punica granatum L. peels against S. aureus were 0.125 and 0.250 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the pomegranate acetonic and methanolic fractions revealed an impressive antiradical efficiency against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical recording radical scavenging activity percentages of 86.9 and 79.4%, respectively. In this regard, the acetonic fraction of pomegranate peels revealed the highest anti-proliferative efficiency after 48 h incubation against MCF7 cancer cells recording IC₅₀ of 8.15 µg/mL, while the methanolic extract was highly selective against transformed cancer cells compared to normal cell line recording selectivity index of 5.93. GC-MS results demonstrated that 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural was the main active component of methanolic and acetonic extracts of pomegranate peels recording relative percentages of 37.55 and 28.84% respectively. The study recommends application of pomegranate peel extracts in the biofabrication of safe food preservatives, antioxidants and carcinopreventive agents.

Aglycone flavonoid brachydin A shows selective cytotoxicity and antitumoral activity in human metastatic prostate (DU145) cancer cells

In prostate cancer, flavonoids possess a wide variety of anticancer effects, focused on the antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity, inactivation of the androgen receptor, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, metastasis inhibition, among others. This current research investigated the antitumoral in vitro activity of Brachydin A (BrA), a dimeric flavonoid isolated from Fridericia platyphylla, in human castration-resistant prostate cancer DU145. It was compared BrA selective effects in tumor prostate DU145 cells with non-tumor prostate epithelial PNT2 cells. Cell viability experiments (resazurin, neutral red, MTT, and LDH release assays) showed that BrA was sevenfold more cytotoxic to tumor cells than non-tumor prostate cells, with IC₅₀ values of 77.7 µM and 10.7 µM for PNT2 and DU145 cells, respectively. Furthermore, BrA induced necrosis and apoptosis (triple fluorescence staining assay) without interfering with oxidative stress (CM-H₂DCFDA) in DU145 cells. Also, BrA (15.36 µM) reduced cell proliferation on clonogenic assay (DU145 cells) but no change in cell number and protein content was observed when cell growth curve assay was used. Wound healing and transwell assays were used for checking the effects of BrA on cell migration and invasion, and BrA impaired these processes in PNT2 (wound healing) and DU145 cells (transwell). Our results inspire further studies to test BrA as a novel chemotherapeutic drug and to evaluate its effects on drug-resistant metastatic cancer cells.

Acetylenic Synthetic Betulin Derivatives Inhibit Akt and Erk Kinases Activity, Trigger Apoptosis and Suppress Proliferation of Neuroblastoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell Lines

Neuroblastoma (NB) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumors, still represent an important clinical challenge since no effective treatment is available for metastatic and recurrent disease. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of new chemotherapeutics to improve the outcome of patients. Betulin (Bet), a triterpenoid from the bark of birches, demonstrated interesting anti-cancer potential. The modification of natural phytochemicals with evidenced anti-tumor activity, including Bet, is one of the methods of receiving new compounds for potential implementation in oncological treatment. Here, we showed that two acetylenic synthetic Bet derivatives (ASBDs), EB5 and EB25/1, reduced the viability and proliferation of SK-N-AS and TE671 cells, as measured by MTT and BrdU tests, respectively. Moreover, ASBDs were also more cytotoxic than temozolomide (TMZ) and cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum [II], CDDP) in vitro, and the combination of EB5 with CDDP enhanced anti-cancer effects. We also showed the slowdown of cell cycle progression at S/G2 phases mediated by EB5 using FACS flow cytometry. The decreased viability and proliferation of pediatric cancers cells after treatment with ASBDs was linked to the reduced activity of kinases Akt, Erk1/2 and p38 and the induction of apoptosis, as investigated using Western blotting and FACS. In addition, in silico analyses of the ADMET profile found EB5 to be a promising anti-cancer drug candidate that would benefit from further investigation.

Natural Products for the Management of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Special Focus on Nanoparticles Based Studies

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality around the world. The progression of advanced prostate cancer to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) plays a major role in disease-associated morbidity and mortality, posing a significant therapeutic challenge. Resistance has been associated with the activation of androgen receptors via several mechanisms, including alternative dehydroepiandrosterone biosynthetic pathways, other androgen receptor activator molecules, oncogenes, and carcinogenic signaling pathways. Tumor microenvironment plays a critical role not only in the cancer progression but also in the drug resistance. Numerous natural products have shown major potential against particular or multiple resistance pathways as shown by in vitro and in vivo studies. However, their efficacy in clinical trials has been undermined by their unfavorable pharmacological properties (hydrophobic molecules, instability, low pharmacokinetic profile, poor water solubility, and high excretion rate). Nanoparticle formulations can provide a way out of the stalemate, employing targeted drug delivery, improved pharmacokinetic drug profile, and transportation of diagnostic and therapeutic agents via otherwise impermeable biological barriers. This review compiles the available evidence regarding the use of natural products for the management of CRPC with a focus on nanoparticle formulations. PubMed and Google Scholar search engines were used for preclinical studies, while ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed were searched for clinical studies. The results of our study suggest the efficacy of natural compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, apigenin, quercetin, fisetin, luteolin, kaempferol, genistein, berberine, ursolic acid, eugenol, gingerol, and ellagic acid against several mechanisms leading to castration resistance in preclinical studies, but fail to set the disease under control in clinical studies. Nanoparticle formulations of curcumin and quercetin seem to increase their potential in clinical settings. Using nanoparticles based on betulinic acid, capsaicin, sintokamide A, niphatenones A and B, as well as atraric acid seems promising but needs to be verified with preclinical and clinical studies.

Anticancer activity of Mandragora autumnalis: an in vitro and in vivo study

Ethanol crude extract and four solvent fractions were extracted from M. autumnalis leave to evaluate their anticancer effect in both models: in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro assessments were conducted using the MTT method in five cancer cell lines and one normal cell line. Ethanol extract and n-hexane fraction showed antitumor activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells with IC₅₀ values of 0.1 and 0.4 mg/ml, respectively, and low cytotoxicity against normal VERO cell line (IC₅₀ value > 4 mg/ml). Furthermore, expression levels of VEGF were tested in MCF-7 cells treated with M. autumnalis using Human VEGF Simple Step ELISA Kit. The results indicated downregulation of VEGF expression in the treated cells compared to the control group. Additionally, the LD₅₀ of M. autumnalis ethanol extract was calculated by applying an acute toxicity assay. Balb/C mice were inoculated with EMT6/p breast cancer cells and then treated with (137 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal injection) of ethanol extract for ten days. Interestingly, a significant (p < 0.001) reduction occurred in the tumor size of the treated group comparing to the control. Treatment in vivo toxicity was evaluated by measuring liver and kidney parameters. The tumor-bearing mice treated with the M. autumnalis extract showed normal serum level of AST, ALT, and creatinine. The results indicate that M. autumnalis has antitumor properties in both models in vitro and in vivo. However, further molecular investigation is required to understand the molecular bearings of M. autumnalis’ activity.

Evaluating the therapeutic potential of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) against DMBA-induced breast cancer in Sprague Dawley rats

The current research work was designed to investigate the protective effects of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer. Breast cancer was induced in rats by the administration of a single dose of 50 mg/kg DMBA via gavage. The rats were divided into four groups: G1 (negative control group), G2 (positive control group), G3 (rats receiving mushroom extract), and G4 (rats administered with doxorubicin). The mushroom extract significantly (p < .001) improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes in carcinogenic rats. Moreover, the mushroom extract also prevented the increase in the concentration of tumor biomarkers that are CEA, CA 15.3, and CRP in experimental rats. Liver function enzymes were also raised in G2 and G4 compared with G3. Besides, the RBCs and Hb were also reduced significantly in G4 while in G3. The mushroom extract effectively controlled the level of RBCs and Hb. An improvement in lipid profile was also measured in mushroom extract receiving rats. Conclusively, the mushroom extract alleviated DMBA-induced breast cancer potentially via improving antioxidants, reducing lipid peroxidation, and decreasing tumor biomarkers. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present research study examined the antitumor potential of white button mushroom. The mushroom effectively prevented the increase in tumor biomarkers, reduction in antioxidant enzymes, and increase in lipid peroxidation in rats with DMBA-induced breast cancer. The mushroom can be used as a potential source to prevent breast cancer and further research can be conducted to explore its anticancer mechanisms.

Microbial transglutaminase nanoflowers as an alternative nanomedicine for breast cancer theranostics

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women. With the aim of decreasing the toxicity of conventional breast cancer treatments, an alternative that could provide appropriate and effective drug utilization was envisioned. Thus, we contemplated and compared the in vitro effects of microbial transglutaminase nanoflowers (MTGase NFs) on breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Transglutaminase is an important regulatory enzyme acting as a site-specific cross-linker for proteins. With the versatility of MTGase facilitating the nanoflower formation by acting as molecular glue, it was demonstrated to have anti-cancer properties. The rational drug design based on a transglutaminase enzyme-assisted approach led to the uniform shape of petals in these nanoflowers, which had the capacity to act directly as an anti-cancer drug. Herein, we report the anti-cancer characteristics portrayed by enzymatic MTGase NFs, which are biocompatible in nature. This study demonstrated the prognostic and therapeutic significance of MTGase NFs as a nano-drug in breast cancer treatment. The results on MCF-7 cells showed a significantly improved in vitro therapeutic efficacy. MTGase NFs were able to exhibit inhibitory effects on cell viability (IC₅₀-8.23 μg ml⁻¹) within 24 h of dosage. To further substantiate its superior anti-proliferative role, the clonogenic potential was measured to be 62.8%, along with migratory inhibition of cells (3.76-fold change). Drastic perturbations were induced (4.61-fold increase in G0/G1 phase arrest), pointed towards apoptotic induction with a 58.9% effect. These results validated the role of MTGase NFs possessing a cytotoxic nature in mitigating breast cancer. Thus, MTGase bestows distinct functionality towards therapeutic nano-modality, i.e., nanoflowers, which shows promise in cancer treatment.

Development of a novel therapeutic nano-modality in the form of enzymatic transglutaminase nanoflowers; endowed with anti-cancerous action against breast cancers.

Natural Product-Based Studies for the Management of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Computational to Clinical Studies

Background: With prostate cancer being the fifth-greatest cause of cancer mortality in 2020, there is a dire need to expand the available treatment options. Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) progresses despite androgen depletion therapy. The mechanisms of resistance are yet to be fully discovered. However, it is hypothesized that androgens depletion enables androgen-independent cells to proliferate and recolonize the tumor. Objectives: Natural bioactive compounds from edible plants and herbal remedies might potentially address this need. This review compiles the available cheminformatics-based studies and the translational studies regarding the use of natural products to manage CRPC. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar searches for preclinical studies were performed, while ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed were searched for clinical updates. Studies that were not in English and not available as full text were excluded. The period of literature covered was from 1985 to the present. Results and Conclusion: Our analysis suggested that natural compounds exert beneficial effects due to their broad-spectrum molecular disease-associated targets. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed several bioactive compounds, including rutaecarpine, berberine, curcumin, other flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, and steroid-based phytochemicals. Molecular modeling tools, including machine and deep learning, have made the analysis more comprehensive. Preclinical and clinical studies on resveratrol, soy isoflavone, lycopene, quercetin, and gossypol have further validated the translational potential of the natural products in the management of prostate cancer.

Sulforaphane Causes Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Glioblastoma U87MG and U373MG Cell Lines under Hypoxic Conditions

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent and aggressive primary brain tumor. The median survival rate from diagnosis ranges from 15 to 17 months because the tumor is resistant to most therapeutic strategies. GBM exhibits microvascular hyperplasia and pronounced necrosis triggered by hypoxia. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables, has already demonstrated the ability to inhibit cell proliferation, by provoking cell cycle arrest, and leading to apoptosis in many cell lines. In this study, we investigated the antineoplastic effects of SFN [20-80 μM for 48 h] in GBM cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Cell viability assays, flow cytometry, and Western blot results revealed that SFN could induce apoptosis of GBM cells in a dose-dependent manner, under both conditions. In particular, SFN significantly induced caspase 3/7 activation and DNA fragmentation. Moreover, our results demonstrated that SFN suppressed GBM cells proliferation by arresting the cell cycle at the S-phase, also under hypoxic condition, and that these effects may be due in part to its ability to induce oxidative stress by reducing glutathione levels and to increase the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). Overall, we hypothesized that SFN treatment might serve as a potential therapeutic strategy, alone or in combination, against GBM.

Bioengineering of Extracellular Vesicles: Exosome-Based Next-Generation Therapeutic Strategy in Cancer

Extracellular nano vesicles and exosomes hold compelling evidence in intercellular communication. Exosomal intracellular signal transduction is mediated by the transfer of cargo proteins, lipids, micro (mi)RNAs, long noncoding (lnc)RNAs, small interfering (si)RNAs, DNA, and other functional molecules that play a pivotal role in regulating tumor growth and metastasis. However, emerging research trends indicate that exosomes may be used as a promising tool in anticancer treatment. This review features a majority of the bioengineering applications of fabricated exosomal cargoes. It also encompasses how the manipulation and delivery of specific cargoes-noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), recombinant proteins, immune-modulators, chemotherapeutic drugs, and other small molecules-may serve as a precise therapeutic approach in cancer management.

Computational Screening of Natural Compounds for Identification of Potential Anti-Cancer Agents Targeting MCM7 Protein

Minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (MCM7) is involved in replicative licensing and the synthesis of DNA, and its overexpression is a fascinating biomarker for various cancer types. There is currently no effective agent that can prevent the development of cancer caused by the MCM7 protein. However, on the molecular level, inhibiting MCM7 lowers cancer-related cellular growth. With this purpose, this study screened 452 biogenic compounds extracted from the UEFS Natural Products dataset against MCM protein by using the in silico art of technique. The hit compounds UEFS99, UEFS137, and UEFS428 showed good binding with the MCM7 protein with binding energy values of −9.95, −8.92, and −8.71 kcal/mol, which was comparatively higher than that of the control compound ciprofloxacin (−6.50). The hit (UEFS99) with the minimum binding energy was picked for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation investigation, and it demonstrated stability at 30 ns. Computational prediction of physicochemical property evaluation revealed that these hits are non-toxic and have good drug-likeness features. It is suggested that hit compounds UEFS99, UEFS137, and UEFS428 pave the way for further bench work validation in novel inhibitor development against MCM7 to fight the cancers.

Identification of tyrosine kinase inhibitors from Panax bipinnatifidus and Panax pseudoginseng for RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptors, by in silico approach

Breast and stomach cancer is reported as a leading cause for human mortality across the world. The overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) proteins, namely the human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2) and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2 (VEGFR2), is reported to be responsible for development and metastasis of breast and stomach cancer. Although several synthetic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as drug candidates targeting RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 are currently available in the market, these are expensive with the reported side effects. This confers an opportunity for development of alternative novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptors from the botanical sources. In the present study, we characterized 47 bioactive phytocompounds from the methanol extracts of the rhizomes of Asiatic traditional medicinal herbs-Panax bipinnatifidus and Panax pseudoginseng, of Indian Himalayan landraces using HPLC, GC-MS and high-sensitivity LC-MS tools. We performed molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis using Schrödinger suite 2020-3 to confirm the TKI phytocompounds showing the best binding affinity towards RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptors. The results of molecular docking studies confirmed that the phytocompound (ligand) luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) showed the highest binding affinity towards receptor HER2 (PDB ID: 3PP0) with docking score and Glide g score (G-Score) of - 13.272, while chlorogenic acid (IHP12) showed the highest binding affinity towards receptor VEGFR2 (PDB ID: 4AGC) with docking score and Glide g score (G-Score) of - 10.673. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis carried out for 100 ns has confirmed strong binding interaction between the ligand and receptor complex [luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) and HER2 (PDB ID: 3PP0)] and is found to be stabilized within 40 to 100 ns of MD simulation, whereas ligand-receptor complex [chlorogenic acid (IPH12) and VEGFR2 (PDB ID: 4AGC)] also showed strong binding interaction and is found to be stabilized within 18-30 ns but slightly deviated during 100 ns of MD simulation. In silico ADME-Tox study using SwissADME revealed that the ligands luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) and chlorogenic acid (IHP12) have passed majority parameters of the common drug discovery rules. The present study has confirmed luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) and chlorogenic acid (IHP12) as potential tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which were found to inhibit RTKs-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptor proteins, and thus paving the way for development of alternative potential TKIs (drug molecules) for treatment of HER2- and VEGFR2-positive breast and stomach cancer.

Modulation of inflammation by phytochemicals to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity of cancer chemotherapy

Treatment of cancer with chemotherapeutic drugs is associated with numerous adverse effects as well as the eventual development of resistance to chemotherapy. There is a great need for complementary therapies such as botanicals and nutritional supplements with little or no side effects that prevent resistance to chemotherapy and reduce its adverse effects. Inflammation plays a major role in the development of chemoresistance and the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Phytochemicals have well-established anti-inflammatory effects; thus, they could be used as complementary therapies along with chemotherapy to increase its efficacy and reduce its toxicity. Botanical compounds inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway, which plays an important role in the generation of inflammation, chemotherapy resistance, and modulation of cell survival and apoptosis. Botanicals have previously been studied extensively for their cancer chemopreventive activities and are generally considered safe for human consumption. The present review focuses on the modulation of inflammation by phytochemicals and their role in increasing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of cancer chemotherapy.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Isothiocyanates Using Elemental Sulfur

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are biologically active molecules found in several natural products and pharmaceutical ingredients. Moreover, due to their high and versatile reactivity, they are widely used as intermediates in organic synthesis. This review considers the best practices for the synthesis of ITCs using elemental sulfur, highlighting recent developments. First, we summarize the in situ generation of thiocarbonyl surrogates followed by their transformation in the presence of primary amines leading to ITCs. Second, carbenes and amines afford isocyanides, and the further reaction of this species with sulfur readily generates ITCs under thermal, catalytic or basic conditions. Additionally, we also reveal that in the catalyst-free reaction of isocyanides and sulfur, two—until this time overlooked and not investigated—different mechanistic pathways exist.

Dietary polyphenols in chemoprevention and synergistic effect in cancer: Clinical evidences and molecular mechanisms of action

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies has revealed that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could lower the risk of certain cancers. In this setting, natural polyphenols are potent anticancer bioactive compounds to overcome the non-target specificity, undesirable cytotoxicity and high cost of treatment cancer chemotherapy.

PURPOSE

The review focuses on diverse classifications of the chemical diversity of dietary polyphenol and their molecular targets, modes of action, as well as preclinical and clinical applications in cancer prevention.

RESULTS

The dietary polyphenols exhibit chemo-preventive activity through modulation of apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle progression, inflammation, invasion and metastasis. Polyphenols possess strong antioxidant activity and control multiple molecular events through activation of tumor suppressor genes and inhibition of oncogenes involved in carcinogenesis. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have evidenced that these dietary phytochemicals regulate critical molecular targets and pathways to limit cancer initiation and progression. Moreover, natural polyphenols act synergistically with existing clinically approved drugs. The improved anticancer activity of combinations of polyphenols and anticancer drugs represents a promising perspective for clinical applications against many human cancers.

CONCLUSION

The anticancer properties exhibited by dietary polyphenols are mainly attributed to their anti-metastatic, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, cell cycle arrest, apoptotic and autophagic effects. Hence, regular consumption of dietary polyphenols as food or food additives or adjuvants can be a promising tactic to preclude adjournment or cancer therapy.

Dietary rational targeting of redox-regulated genes

Nutrigenomics is the study of how food and associated nutrients affect gene expression. This field sits at the intersection of diet, the genome and health with the ultimate goal of exploiting its understanding to design a precision nutrition strategy for humans. We have studied diet and nutrigenomics in the context of something we call "dietary rational gene targeting." Here, healthy diet is used to alter disease-causing gene expression back toward the normal to treat various diseases and conditions while lowering treatment cost and toxicity. In this paper, we discuss the use of this strategy to modulate the expression of redox-associated genes to improve human health. Most human disorders are associated, at least to some extent, with oxidative stress and so treatments (including diet) that target redox-related genes have major potential clinical significance. Healthy dietary options here are wide-ranging and include whole foods and botanical-based beverages. In some cases, botanical supplements may also be useful gene modulators although their health benefits are less clear. Key redox gene targets for these dietary agents include antioxidant genes, related transcription factors, detoxification genes, and DNA repair genes. Other important considerations include bioavailability, the contribution of the microbiome, and advancing technologies. In this review, specific examples of redox associated genes and pathologies and their potential treatment with healthy diet are presented to illustrate our approach. This will also serve as a foundation for the design of future clinical studies to improve diet-related health.