Chrysin induces death of prostate cancer cells by inducing ROS and ER stress

Hive Products: Composition, Pharmacological Properties, and Therapeutic Applications

Beekeeping provides products with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical characteristics. These products are characterized by abundance of bioactive compounds. For different reasons, honey, royal jelly, propolis, venom, and pollen are beneficial to humans and animals and could be used as therapeutics. The pharmacological action of these products is related to many of their constituents. The main bioactive components of honey include oligosaccharides, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and phenolics compounds. Royal jelly contains jelleins, royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and derivatives of hydroxy-decenoic acid, particularly 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome-preventing, and anti-aging properties. Propolis has a plethora of activities that are referable to compounds such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester. Peptides found in bee venom include phospholipase A2, apamin, and melittin. In addition to being vitamin-rich, bee pollen also includes unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, and phenolics compounds that express antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the constituents of hive products are particular and different. All of these constituents have been investigated for their properties in numerous research studies. This review aims to provide a thorough screening of the bioactive chemicals found in honeybee products and their beneficial biological effects. The manuscript may provide impetus to the branch of unconventional medicine that goes by the name of apitherapy.

Mechanistic exploration and experimental validation of the Xiaochaihu decoction for the treatment of breast cancer by network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Xiaochaihu (XCH) decoction is a traditional Chinese prescription that has been recorded in the pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China. In China, the XCH decoction is used clinically to treat a variety of tumors, including breast cancer. However, its potential mechanism of action is still undefined.

METHODS

The chemical compounds in the XCH decoction were identified via Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS. Then, we screened the active ingredients and targets in the XCH decoction from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Next, Cytoscape and Metascape were used to construct an active ingredient-target-disease network, which included a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, GO enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Finally, we used molecular docking and in vitro experiments to verify the results of network pharmacology analysis.

RESULTS

More than 70 major compounds were identified by Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS analysis from the XCH decoction. A total of 162 active ingredients and 153 targets related to the XCH decoction and breast cancer were identified, and a compound-target-disease network was constructed. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the XCH decoction regulated the drug response, apoptosis process, cancer pathway, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking and experimental validation indicated that the XCH decoction suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the XCH decoction can be used to treat breast cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis and downregulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Bioactive compounds from nature: Antioxidants targeting cellular transformation in response to epigenetic perturbations induced by oxidative stress

Oxidative stress results from a persistent imbalance in oxidation levels that promotes oxidants, playing a crucial role in the early and sustained phases of DNA damage and genomic and epigenetic instability, both of which are intricately linked to the development of tumors. The molecular pathways contributing to carcinogenesis in this context, particularly those related to double-strand and single-strand breaks in DNA, serve as indicators of DNA damage due to oxidation in cancer cases, as well as factors contributing to epigenetic instability through ectopic expressions. Oxidative stress has been considered a therapeutic target for many years, and an increasing number of studies have highlighted the promising effectiveness of natural products in cancer treatment. In this regard, we present significant research on the therapeutic targeting of oxidative stress using natural molecules and underscore the essential role of oxidative stress in cancer. The consequences of stress, especially epigenetic instability, also offer significant therapeutic prospects. In this context, the use of natural epi-drugs capable of modulating and reorganizing the epigenetic network is beginning to emerge remarkably. In this review, we emphasize the close connections between oxidative stress, epigenetic instability, and tumor transformation, while highlighting the role of natural substances as antioxidants and epi-drugs in the anti-tumoral context.

Chrysin Inhibits TAMs-Mediated Autophagy Activation via CDK1/ULK1 Pathway and Reverses TAMs-Mediated Growth-Promoting Effects in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The natural flavonoid compound chrysin has promising anti-tumor effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism by which chrysin inhibits the growth of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Through in vitro cell culture and animal models, we explored the impact of chrysin on the growth of NSCLC cells and the pro-cancer effects of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their mechanisms. We observed that M2-TAMs significantly promoted the growth and migration of NSCLC cells, while also markedly activating the autophagy level of these cells. Chrysin displayed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of NSCLC cells, and it could also suppress the pro-cancer effects of M2-TAMs and inhibit their mediated autophagy. Furthermore, combining network pharmacology, we found that chrysin inhibited TAMs-mediated autophagy activation in NSCLC cells through the regulation of the CDK1/ULK1 signaling pathway, rather than the classical mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway. Our study reveals a novel mechanism by which chrysin inhibits TAMs-mediated autophagy activation in NSCLC cells through the regulation of the CDK1/ULK1 pathway, thereby suppressing NSCLC growth. This discovery not only provides new therapeutic strategies for NSCLC but also opens up new avenues for further research on chrysin.

Raltitrexed induces apoptosis through activating ROS-mediated ER stress by impeding HSPA8 expression in prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in males, which frequently develops into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). CRPC metastasis is the main reason for its high mortality rate. At present, it lacks effective treatment for patients with CRPC. Raltitrexed (RTX) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer. However, the effect of RTX on prostate cancer and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. In the current study, we found that RTX could dose-dependently inhibit proliferation, migration, colony formation and induce apoptosis in DU145 and PC-3 cells. RTX also increased ROS generation in prostate cancer cells. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) significantly prevented RTX-induced cell apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling activation in prostate cancer cells. Additionally, we found RTX-induced ROS generation and ER stress activation depended on the expression of heat shock protein family A member 8 (HSPA8). Over-expression of HSPA8 could alleviate RTX-induced cell apoptosis, ROS generation and ER stress signaling activation. Finally, our study also showed that RTX attenuated the tumor growth of prostate cancer in the DU145 xenograft model and significantly downregulated HSPA8 expression and activated ER stress signaling pathway in tumor tissues. Our study is the first to reveal that RTX induces prostate cancer cells apoptosis through inhibiting the expression of HSPA8 and further inducing ROS-mediated ER stress pathway action. This study suggests that RTX may be a novel promising candidate drug for prostate cancer therapy.

Exploring the Prospective Role of Propolis in Modifying Aging Hallmarks

Aging populations worldwide are placing age-related diseases at the forefront of the research agenda. The therapeutic potential of natural substances, especially propolis and its components, has led to these products being promising agents for alleviating several cellular and molecular-level changes associated with age-related diseases. With this in mind, scientists have introduced a contextual framework to guide future aging research, called the hallmarks of aging. This framework encompasses various mechanisms including genomic instability, epigenetic changes, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, impaired nutrient sensing, and altered intercellular communication. Propolis, with its rich array of bioactive compounds, functions as a potent functional food, modulating metabolism, gut microbiota, inflammation, and immune response, offering significant health benefits. Studies emphasize propolis' properties, such as antitumor, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects, as well as its ability to mitigate inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and pathogenic gut bacteria growth. This article underscores current scientific evidence supporting propolis' role in controlling molecular and cellular characteristics linked to aging and its hallmarks, hypothesizing its potential in geroscience research. The aim is to discover novel therapeutic strategies to improve health and quality of life in older individuals, addressing existing deficits and perspectives in this research area.

Endoplasmic Reticulum as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer: Is there a Role for Flavonoids?

Flavonoids are classified into subclasses of polyphenols, a multipurpose category of natural compounds which comprises secondary metabolites extracted from vascular plants and are plentiful in the human diet. Although the details of flavonoid mechanisms are still not realized correctly, they are generally regarded as antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative; anti-mutagenic; anti-neoplastic; anti-aging; anti-diabetic, cardio-protective, etc. The anti-cancer properties of flavonoids are evident in functions such as prevention of proliferation, metastasis, invasion, inflammation and activation of cell death. Tumors growth and enlargement expose cells to acidosis, hypoxia, and lack of nutrients which result in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress; it triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR), which reclaims homeostasis or activates autophagy. Steady stimulation of ER stress can switch autophagy to apoptosis. The connection between ER stress and cancer, in association with UPR, has been explained. The signals provided by UPR can activate or inhibit anti-apoptotic or apoptotic pathways depending on the period and grade of ER stress. In this review, we will peruse the link between flavonoids and their impact on the endoplasmic reticulum in association with cancer therapy.

Investigation of a set of flavonoid compounds as Helicobacter pylori urease inhibitors: insights from in silico studies

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral, microaerophilic gram-negative bacterium, which is associated with the destruction of the lining of the stomach, leads to chronic inflammation of the stomach, which can cause stomach and duodenal ulcers. The problems caused by the treatment with antibiotics have caused researchers to use new approaches to treat infections caused by H. pylori, among them specific treatments with flavonoids. Urease enzyme, as one of the most important pathogenic and antigenic factors of this bacterium, is a suitable target for this purpose. In this study, the inhibitory effect of flavonoid compounds compared to acetohydroxamic acid on H. pylori urease enzyme was evaluated using molecular modeling methods. First, the interaction of flavonoids with urease enzyme compared with acetohydroxamic acid was investigated by molecular docking method to produce efficient docking poses. Then the physicochemical properties and toxicity of the best flavonoid compounds were analyzed using the swissadme server. Also, molecular dynamics calculations were performed to precisely understand the interactions between ligands and protein. The results of this study show that all the investigated flavonoid compounds are capable of inhibiting H. pylori urease. Among these compounds, six compounds chrysin, galangin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin and quercetin showed a greater tendency to bind to urease, compared to the acetohydroxamic acid inhibitor. These compounds are desirable in terms of physicochemical properties. This study also revealed that the flavonoids with their hydroxyl groups (-OH) play an important role during bond formation with amino acids Ala278, Ala169, His314, Asp362 and Asn168. Therefore, flavonoid compounds, due to their suitable location in the active site of the urease, create a more effective inhibition than the chemical drug acetohydroxamic acid and can be suitable candidates for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori under in vitro and in vivo investigations.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Pyrotinib and chrysin synergistically potentiate autophagy in HER2-positive breast cancer

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) has been the most challenging subtype of BC, consisting of 20% of BC with an apparent correlation with poor prognosis. Despite that pyrotinib, a new HER2 inhibitor, has led to dramatic improvements in prognosis, the efficacy of pyrotinib monotherapy remains largely restricted due to its acquired resistance. Therefore, identifying a new potential antitumor drug in combination with pyrotinib to amplify therapeutic efficacy is a pressing necessity. Here, we reported a novel combination of pyrotinib with chrysin and explored its antitumor efficacy and the underlying mechanism in HER2-positive BC. We determined that pyrotinib combined with chrysin yielded a potent synergistic effect to induce more evident cell cycle arrest, inhibit the proliferation of BT-474 and SK-BR-3 BC cells, and repress in vivo tumor growth in xenograft mice models. This may be attributed to enhanced autophagy induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, the combined treatment of pyrotinib and chrysin induced ubiquitination and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) degradation by upregulating zinc finger and BTB/POZ domain-containing family protein 16 (ZBTB16) in tumorigenesis of BC. Mechanistically, we identified that miR-16-5p was a potential upstream regulator of ZBTB16, and it showed a significant inverse correlation with ZBTB16. Inhibition of miR-16-5p overexpression by restoring ZBTB16 significantly potentiated the overall antitumor efficacy of pyrotinib combined with chrysin against HER2-positive BC. Together, these findings demonstrate that the combined treatment of pyrotinib and chrysin enhances autophagy in HER2-positive BC through an unrecognized miR-16-5p/ZBTB16/G6PD axis.

PEGylation of Chrysin Improves Its Water Solubility while Preserving the In Vitro Biological Activity

Chrysin is a natural flavonoid that despite having numerous biological properties, its therapeutic value is limited due to its very low solubility in aqueous media. In this work, chrysin was conjugated with methoxypolyethylene glycols (mPEGs) of different molecular weights (350, 500, 750, and 2000 g/mol), affording PEGylated chrysins with high yields and excellent purities. In all cases, an increase in the water solubility of the conjugates was observed, which was highest when 500 g/mol of mPEG was used in the PEGylation reaction. Furthermore, in aqueous solution, PEGylated chrysins formed aggregates of ellipsoid shape. Electrochemical studies showed that the redox properties were conserved after PEGylation. While in vitro antibacterial and antifungal studies probed that the intrinsic activity was conserved, in vitro antitumor activities against HepG2 (liver carcinoma cells) and PC3 (prostate cancer cell) showed that PEGylated chrysins retained the cytotoxic activity and the ability of induction of apoptosis for the evaluated human cancer cells.

Total Flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L. and Evaluation of Its Anticancer Activity

To overcome the shortcomings of traditional extraction methods, such as long extraction time and low efficiency, and considering the low content and high complexity of total flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L., in this experiment, we adopted ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis to improve the yield of total flavonoids, and combined this with molecular docking and network pharmacology to predict its core constituent targets, so as to evaluate its antitumor activity. The content of total flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L. reached 3.80 ± 0.13%, and the main components included Astragalin, Cynaroside, Ononin, Rutin, Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, Diosmetin, Isorhamnetin, and Luteolin. Cynaroside and Astragalin exert their cervical cancer inhibitory functions by regulating several signaling proteins (e.g., EGFR, STAT3, CCND1, IGFIR, ESR1). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the anticancer activity of both compounds was associated with the ErbB signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. MTT results showed that total flavonoids of Artemisia absinthium L. and its active components (Cynaroside and Astragalin) significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 of 396.0 ± 54.2 μg/mL and 449.0 ± 54.8 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, its active components can mediate apoptosis by inducing the accumulation of ROS.

Chrysin and chrysin-loaded nanocarriers induced immunogenic cell death on B16 melanoma cells

Induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Chrysin, which has potential anticancer effects, faces limitations in clinical applications due to its poor water solubility. This study aimed to formulate chrysin with PEG-poly(α-benzylcarboxylate-ε-caprolactone) (PBCL) nanoparticles (NPs) and assess their anticancer and ICD-inducing potency in melanoma cells, comparing with free chrysin. The co-solvent evaporation method was employed to develop chrysin-loaded NPs. UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and the dialysis bag method were used to evaluate the encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and drug release profile, respectively. The anticancer effects of the drugs were assessed using the MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays. Flow cytometry was employed to evaluate apoptosis and calreticulin (CRT) expression. ELISA and western blotting were used to detect heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), Annexin A1, GRP78 (Glucose-related protein78), and activated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (p-PERK). Chrysin-loaded PEG-PBCL NPs (chrysin-PEG-PBCL) showed an EE of 97 ± 1%. Chrysin-PEG-PBCL was 38.18 ± 3.96 nm in size, with a PDI being 0.62 ± 0.23. Chrysin-PEG-PBCL showed an initial burst release, followed by sustained release over 24 h. Chrysin-PEG-PBCL exhibited a significantly stronger anticancer effect in B16 cells. Chrysin-PEG-PBCL was found to be more potent in inducing apoptosis. Both free chrysin and chrysin NPs induced ICD as indicated by an increase in the levels of ICD biomarkers. Interestingly, chrysin NPs were found to be more potent inducers of ICD than the free drug. These findings demonstrate that chrysin and chrysin-PEG-PBCL NPs can induce ICD in B16 cells. PEG-PBCL NPs significantly enhanced the potency of chrysin in inducing ICD compared to its free form.

Targeting HIF-1 for prostate cancer: a synthesis of preclinical evidence

INTRODUCTION

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) mediates multiple intracellular processes that drive cellular metabolism and induce proliferation. Dysregulated HIF expression is associated with oncogenic cellular transformation. Moreover, high HIF levels correlate with tumor aggressiveness and chemoresistance, indicating the vital effect of HIF-1α on tumorigenicity. Currently, widespread in-vitro and in-vivo research is focusing on targeting HIF with drugs that have already been approved for use by the FDA, such as belzutifan, in renal cell carcinoma. HIF inhibition is mostly associated with tumor size reduction; however, drug toxicity remains a challenge.

AREA COVERED

In this review, we focus on the potential of targeting HIF in prostate cancer (PC) and summarize the scientific background of HIF activity in PC. This finding emphasizes the rationale for using HIF as a therapeutic target in this malignancy. We have listed known HIF inhibitors that are being investigated in preclinical studies and their potential as anticancer drugs for PC.

EXPERT OPINION

Although HIF-targeting agents have been investigated for over a decade, their use in therapy-resistant cancers remains relevant and should be explored further. In addition, the use of naturally occurring HIF inhibitors should be considered as an add-on therapy for the currently used regimens.

Effects of Chrysin on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro

OBJECTIVE

 Chrysin is a hydroxylated flavonoid derived from "propolis or bee glue," a natural product. Previous research on chrysin's biological functions, including anticancer activity, had been reported. However, chrysin's effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still scarce. This article aimed to test the cytotoxicity, antiproliferative, antimigration, anti-invasion, and apoptotic effects of purified chrysin in two OSCC cell lines, HSC4 and SCC25.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 The malignant phenotype was assessed using cell proliferation, wound healing, and transwell assays. Cell apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. The positive control was OSCC cells treated with cisplatin, and the negative control was OSCC cells incubated with 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide.

RESULTS

 Chrysin at concentrations of 100 and 200 µM could inhibit OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as enhance cell apoptosis, particularly in the early stages of apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

 In OSCC cell lines, chrysin has been demonstrated to be an effective antioncogenic agent. Additional research is required to confirm the results. Chrysin should be suggested as a possible alternative therapeutic application for OSCC.

Chrysin-Induced Regression of Angiogenesis via an Induction of DNA Damage Response and Oxidative Stress in In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Melanoma

Despite the progress made in treatments, melanoma is one of the cancers for which its incidence and mortality have increased during recent decades. In the research of new therapeutic strategies, natural polyphenols such as chrysin could be good candidates owing to their capacities to modulate the different fundamental aspects of tumorigenesis and resistance mechanisms, such as oxidative stress and neoangiogenesis. In the present study, we sought to determine whether chrysin could exert antitumoral effects via the modulation of angiogenesis by acting on oxidative stress and associated DNA damage. For the first time, we show a link between chrysin-induced antiproliferative effects, the activation of the DNA damage pathway, and its ability to limit angiogenesis. More specifically, herein, we show that chrysin induces single- and double-stranded DNA breaks via the activation of the DNA damage response pathway: ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated)/Chk2 (checkpoint kinase 2) and ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related)/Chk1 (checkpoint kinase 1) pathways. Strong activation of this DNA damage response was found to be partly involved in the ability of chrysin to limit angiogenesis and may partly involve a direct interaction between the polyphenol and DNA G-quadruplex structures responsible for the replication fork collapse. Moreover, these events were associated with a marked reduction in melanoma cells' capacity to secrete proangiogenic factor VEGF-A. The disruption of these key protein actors in tumor growth by chrysin was also confirmed in a syngeneic model of B16 melanoma. This last point is of importance to further consider the use of chrysin as a new therapeutic strategy in melanoma treatment.

Newly developed MEIS inhibitor selectively blocks MEIS High prostate cancer growth and induces apoptosis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most diagnosed cancer in males. Understanding the molecular mechanism and investigation of novel ways to block PCa growth or metastasis are vital and a medical necessity. In this study, we examined differential expression of MEIS1/2/3 and its associated factors in PCa cell lines. MEIS1/2/3 content, reactive oxygen species, and cell cycle status were analyzed in PCa cells post MEIS inhibitor (MEISi) treatments, which is developed in our laboratory as a first-in-class small molecule inhibitor. A correlation was detected between MEIS content and MEISi IC50 values of PCa cells. MEISi decreased the viability of PC-3, DU145, 22Rv-1 and LNCaP cells, and significantly increased apoptosis in parallel with the increased cellular ROS content. The efficacy of MEISi was shown to positively correlate with the levels of MEIS1/2/3 proteins and the long term exposure to MEISi elevated MEIS1/2/3 protein content in PCa cells. Our findings suggest that MEISi could be used to target PCa with high MEIS expression in order to reduce PCa viability and growth; however, more research is needed before this can be translated into clinical settings.

Propolis: A Detailed Insight of Its Anticancer Molecular Mechanisms

Cancer is the second most life-threatening disease and has become a global health and economic problem worldwide. Due to the multifactorial nature of cancer, its pathophysiology is not completely understood so far, which makes it hard to treat. The current therapeutic strategies for cancer lack the efficacy due to the emergence of drug resistance and the toxic side effects associated with the treatment. Therefore, the search for more efficient and less toxic cancer treatment strategies is still at the forefront of current research. Propolis is a mixture of resinous compounds containing beeswax and partially digested exudates from plants leaves and buds. Its chemical composition varies widely depending on the bee species, geographic location, plant species, and weather conditions. Since ancient times, propolis has been used in many conditions and aliments for its healing properties. Propolis has well-known therapeutic actions including antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. In recent years, extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that propolis possesses properties against several types of cancers. The present review highlights the recent progress made on the molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in the anticancer activities of propolis. Propolis exerts anticancer effects primarily by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis through regulating various signaling pathways and arresting the tumor cell cycle, inducing autophagy, epigenetic modulations, and further inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of tumors. Propolis targets numerous signaling pathways associated with cancer therapy, including pathways mediated by p53, β-catenin, ERK1/2, MAPK, and NF-κB. Possible synergistic actions of a combination therapy of propolis with existing chemotherapies are also discussed in this review. Overall, propolis, by acting on diverse mechanisms simultaneously, can be considered to be a promising, multi-targeting, multi-pathways anticancer agent for the treatment of various types of cancers.

Design, synthesis, antitumor activity and ct-DNA binding study of photosensitive drugs based on porphyrin framework

Photodynamic therapy is a promising novel tumor treatment method. In this study, novel porphyrin-chrysin photosensitizer derivatives were synthesized. Most of the compounds showed antitumor activity against human cervical cancer HeLa cells and human lung cancer A549 cells, among which compound 4c had the best photodynamic therapy effect on HeLa cells and A549 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 6.26 μM and 23.37 μM, respectively. Free-base porphyrin-chrysin derivatives bind to DNA through surface self-stacking, and zinc metalloporphyrin-chrysin derivatives bind to ct-DNA through intercalation. Notably, the tightness of compound binding to ct-DNA was positively correlated with its antitumor activity. What's more, three-dimensional quantitative conformation studies have shown that increasing the positive charge of the porphyrin ring and introducing a strong electron-withdrawing group at the meso position of the porphyrin ring at the para-position of the benzene ring or reducing the space volume of the compound can enhance the antitumor activity.

Antitumor Effects of Microencapsulated Gratiola officinalis Extract on Breast Carcinoma and Human Cervical Cancer Cells In Vitro

Flavonoid-containing Gratiola officinalis extract has been studied in relation to breast carcinoma and human cervical cancer cells in encapsulated and native form. Encapsulation was realized in polymer shells, which were formed by the layer-by-layer method using sequential adsorption of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) on the destructible cores. The extract was prepared by the author's method and characterized using high performance liquid chromatography. By means of optical and fluorescent microscopy, cell changes under the action of pure and encapsulated extracts were comprehensively studied, and statistical analysis was carried out. Cells were stained with propidium iodide, acridine orange, and Hoechst 33258. A fluorescence microscope with a digital video camera were used for cell imaging. The encapsulated extract caused 100% death of breast cancer SKBR-3 cells and 34% death of cervical cancer HeLa cells and prevented the formation of autophagosomes in both cultures. Analysis of the viability and morphological features of tumor cells under the action of microencapsulated extract allows us to consider microencapsulation as an effective strategy for delivering Gratiola officinalis extract to tumor cells and a promising way to overcome the protective autophagy.

Gambogenic acid induces apoptosis and autophagy through ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress via JNK pathway in prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor in males, which frequently develops into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with limited therapies. Gambogenic acid (GNA), a flavonoids compound isolated from Gamboge, exhibits anti-tumor capacity in various cancers. Our results showed that GNA revealed not only antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities but also the induction of autophagy in PCa cells. In addition, autophagy inhibitor chloroquine enhanced the pro-apoptosis effect of GNA. Moreover, the activation of JNK pathway and the induction of apoptosis and autophagy triggered by GNA were attenuated by JNK inhibitor SP600125. We also found that GNA significantly promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Meanwhile, suppressing ER stress with 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) markedly blocked the activation of JNK pathway induced by GNA. Further research indicated that ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) effectively abrogated ER stress and JNK pathway activation induced by GNA. Furthermore, NAC and 4-PBA significantly reversed GNA-triggered apoptosis and autophagy. Finally, GNA remarkably suppressed prostate tumor growth with low toxicity in vivo. In conclusion, the present study revealed that GNA induced apoptosis and autophagy through ROS-mediated ER stress via JNK signaling pathway in PCa cells. Thus, GNA might be a promising therapeutic drug against PCa.

Deciphering the interactions of phytochemicals with ovalbumin, the major food allergen from egg white: spectroscopic and computational studies

Ovalbumin (OVA), the major component of egg white, has been used as a model carrier protein to study the interaction of four bioactive phytochemicals 6-hydroxyflavone, chrysin, naringin, and naringenin. A static quenching mechanism was primarily associated with the complexation of the flavonoids with OVA. Hydrophobic forces play a major part in the stability of the complexes. The structural changes within the protein in response to flavonoid binding revealed a decrease in OVA's α-helical content. The hypothesized binding site for flavonoids in OVA overlaps with one or more immunoglobulin E-binding epitopes that may have some effect in the immunoglobulin E response pathway. The flavonoids remain in the same binding site throughout the simulation time and impart protein stability by forming different noncovalent interactions. This study presents comprehensive information about the interaction of the flavonoids with OVA and the associated structural variations after the binding, which might help researchers better comprehend similar medication pharmacodynamics and provide critical information for future therapeutic development.

The endoplasmic reticulum stress response in prostate cancer

In order to proliferate in unfavourable conditions, cancer cells can take advantage of the naturally occurring endoplasmic reticulum-associated unfolded protein response (UPR) via three highly conserved signalling arms: IRE1α, PERK and ATF6. All three arms of the UPR have key roles in every step of tumour progression: from cancer initiation to tumour growth, invasion, metastasis and resistance to therapy. At present, no cure for metastatic prostate cancer exists, as targeting the androgen receptor eventually results in treatment resistance. New research has uncovered an important role for the UPR in prostate cancer tumorigenesis and crosstalk between the UPR and androgen receptor signalling pathways. With an improved understanding of the mechanisms by which cancer cells exploit the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, targetable points of vulnerability can be uncovered.

Anti-cancer Activity of Chrysin in Cancer Therapy: a Systematic Review

Chrysin is a natural bioactive compound that is extracted from many trees, honey, and propolis. Chrysin has several pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. This study was performed to evaluate the anti-cancer activities of chrysin in cancer therapy. The present study was conducted by systematic review of studies published up to August 2021. Related studies were identified by searching Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Science Direct, SID, MagIran, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords of chrysin, cancer, anti-cancer, and cancer therapy were used for searching. The quality of the studies was assessed by the CONSORT checklist. A total of 21 studies were identified. The results of studies showed that chrysin has an anticancer effect by stimulating apoptosis in a wide range of human cells and rats. Chrysin is also an important factor in inhibiting tumor growth and neoplasticity. Chrysin inhibits the growth and proliferation of cancer cells by inducing cytotoxic effects. Therefore, due to the antitumor effects of chrysin and its safety and non-toxicity towards normal cells, this compound can be considered as an adjuvant along with chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment.

LC-TOF-MS/MS and GC-MS based phytochemical profiling and evaluation of wound healing activity of Oroxylum Indicum (L.) Kurz (Beka)

Background: Beka (Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz) has been used as a culinary herb and natural remedy by the local communities in Malaysia. The leaf of O. indicum is traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhea, high blood pressure, and improving digestive health. Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and wound healing properties (in vitro and in vivo models) of aqueous and ethanol extracts of O. indicum leaves. Methods: The total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents in the plant extracts were determined by the spectrophotometric methods. Further, the extract was characterized by Liquid Chromatography Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The wound healing activity was assessed using the in vitro scratch wound-healing assay and in vivo excisional wound model. Results: The results show the ethanol leaves extract had the higher TPC (164 mg GAE/g) when compared with the aqueous leaves extract (30 mg gallic acid equivalents/g). The ethanol leaves extract was also found to have higher TFC (101 mg Catechin equivalents/g) than the aqueous leaves extract (76 mg Catechin equivalents/g). The ethanol leaves extract was then used for further chemical analysis. The LC-TOF-MS/MS analysis showed that the leaves extracts of O. indicum contains many important compounds such as Orientin, Chrysin, Pinoquercetin, Cupressuflavone, Puerarin xyloside, Forsythiaside and Paederoside. In GC-MS analysis, 19 compounds were identified in ethanolic leaves extract. The wound healing studies shows that O. indicum has promising wound healing activity by increasing the rate of wound contraction significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study showed that O. indicum leaf contains important phytochemicals and the wound healing potential of the O. indicum extract may probably be as a result of the presence of various phytoconstituents.

Chrysin sensitizes osteosarcoma cells against TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Identifying novel curative and preventive approaches that can specifically target the osteosarcoma cells (OS) without affecting the normal cells is appreciable. The aim of this study is to investigate the combined effect of chrysin as an apigenin analog with high therapeutic potential and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) on the treatment of Saos-2 and MG-63 cells. Cell viability were determined using MTT method. The rate of apoptosis was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) cell death assay and caspase 8 activity assays. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein evaluation of candidate genes include Bcl-2, XIAP, c-IAP1, c-IAP2, and c-FLIP were accomplished before and after the treatment by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. Our results showed that chrysin synergistically increased the cytotoxic effects of TRAIL as follows: Chrysin plus TRAIL > TRAIL > Chrysin. Chrysin could sensitize both cells against the TRAIL-induced apoptosis, amplify the caspase 8 activity and this outcome is achieved by decreasing the expression levels of antiapoptotic genes. Our findings suggest that Chrysin can sensitize the OS cell lines against TRAIL through induction of the death receptor pathway. Moreover, the combinational therapy of these agents might be the promising therapeutic regimen for improving the clinical efficacy of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in patients with OS.

Rediscovery of Traditional Plant Medicine: An Underestimated Anticancer Drug of Chelerythrine

In many studies, the extensive and significant anticancer activity of chelerythrine (CHE) was identified, which is the primary natural active compound in four traditional botanical drugs and can be applied as a promising treatment in various solid tumors. So this review aimed to summarize the anticancer capacities and the antitumor mechanism of CHE. The literature searches revolving around CHE have been carried out on PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE databases. Increasing evidence indicates that CHE, as a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, exhibits its excellent anticancer activity as CHE can intervene in tumor progression and inhibit tumor growth in multiple ways, such as induction of cancer cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, prevention of tumor invasion and metastasis, autophagy-mediated cell death, bind selectively to telomeric G-quadruplex and strongly inhibit the telomerase activity through G-quadruplex stabilization, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and PKC. The role of CHE against diverse types of cancers has been investigated in many studies and has been identified as the main antitumor drug candidate in drug discovery programs. The current complex data suggest the potential value in clinical application and the future direction of CHE as a therapeutic drug in cancer. Furthermore, the limitations and the present problems are also highlighted in this review. Despite the unclearly delineated molecular targets of CHE, extensive research in this area provided continuously fresh data exploitable in the clinic while addressing the present requirement for further studies such as toxicological studies, combination medication, and the development of novel chemical methods or biomaterials to extend the effects of CHE or the development of its derivatives and analogs, contributing to the effective transformation of this underestimated anticancer drug into clinical practice. We believe that this review can provide support for the clinical application of a new anticancer drug in the future.

Chemotherapeutics activities of dietary phytoestrogens against prostate cancer: From observational to clinical studies

Prostate cancer remains one of the most frequent and deadliest malignancies in males, where the rate of disease progression is closely associated with the type of dietary intake, specifically Western-style diet. Indeed intake of the Asian diet, which contains abundant phytoestrogens, is inversely correlated with a higher risk of prostate cancer, suggesting a chemoprotective effect of phytoestrogen against cancer progression. Although the role of phytoestrogens in cancer treatment was well documented, their impact on prostate cancer is not well understood. Therefore, the present review discusses the possible chemopreventive effect of phytoestrogens, emphasizing their efficacy at the different stages of carcinogenesis. Furthermore, phytoestrogens provide a cytoprotective effect in conventional chemotherapy and enhance chemosensitivity to tumor cells, which have also been discussed. This compilation provides a solid basis for future research on phytoestrogens as a promising avenue for anticancer drug development and also recommends these beneficiary compounds in the daily diet to manage and prevent prostate cancer.

An ethnopharmacological review on the therapeutical properties of flavonoids and their mechanisms of actions: A comprehensive review based on up to date knowledge

Flavonoids -a class of low molecular weight secondary metabolites- are ubiquitous and cornucopia throughout the plant kingdom. Structurally, the main structure consists of C6-C3-C6 rings with different substitution patterns so that many sub-classes are obtained, for example: flavonols, flavonolignans, flavonoid glycosides, flavans, anthocyanidins, aurones, anthocyanidins, flavones, neoflavonoids, chalcones, isoflavones, flavones and flavanones. Flavonoids are evaluated to have drug like nature since they possess different therapeutic activities, and can act as cardioprotective, antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and also work against Alzheimer's disease and others. However, information on the relationship between their structure and biological activity is scarce. Therefore, the present review tries to summarize all the therapeutic activities of flavonoids, their mechanisms of action and the structure activity relationship.

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Latest updated ethnopharmacological review of the therapeutic effects of flavonoids.

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Flavonoids are attracting attention because of their therapeutic properties.

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Flavonoids are valuable candidates for drug development against many dangerous diseases.

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This overview summarizes the most important therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of flavonoids.

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General knowledge about the structure activity relationship of flavonoids is summarized.

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Substitution of chemical groups in the structure of flavonoids can significantly change their biological and chemical properties.

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The chemical properties of the basic flavonoid structure should be considered in a drug-based structural program.

Chrysin Modulates Aberrant Epigenetic Variations and Hampers Migratory Behavior of Human Cervical (HeLa) Cells

Purpose: Plant-derived phytochemicals have shown epigenetic modulatory effect in different types of cancer by reversing the pattern of DNA methylation and chromatin modulation, thereby restoring the function of silenced tumor-suppressor genes. In the present study, attempts have been made to explore chrysin-mediated epigenetic alterations in HeLa cells. Methods: Colony formation and migration assays followed by methylation-specific PCR for examining the methylation status of CpG promoters of various tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) and the expression of these TSGs at the transcript and protein levels were performed. Furthermore, global DNA methylation; biochemical activities of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), histone methyl transferases (HMTs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and histone acetyl transferases (HATs) along with the expression analysis of chromatin-modifying enzymes; and H3 and H4 histone modification marks analyses were performed after chrysin treatment. Results: The experimental analyses revealed that chrysin treatment encourages cytostatic behavior as well as inhibits the migration capacity of HeLa cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Chrysin reduces the methylation of various tumor-suppressor genes, leading to their reactivation at mRNA and protein levels. The expression levels of various chromatin-modifying enzymes viz DNMTs, HMTs, HDACs, and HATS were found to be decreased, and H3 and H4 histone modification marks were modulated too. Also, reduced global DNA methylation was observed following the treatment of chrysin. Conclusion: This study concludes that chrysin can be used as a potential epigenetic modifier for cancer treatment and warrants for further experimental validation.

Comprehensive Analysis of Cell Cycle-Related Genes in Patients With Prostate Cancer

This study aimed to identify critical cell cycle-related genes (CCRGs) in prostate cancer (PRAD) and to evaluate the clinical prognostic value of the gene panel selected. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) of dysregulated genes between PRAD and normal tissues demonstrated that the cell cycle-related pathways played vital roles in PRAD. Patients were classified into four clusters, which were associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Moreover, 200 prognostic-related genes were selected using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis and univariable Cox regression. The prognostic CCRG risk score was constructed using random forest survival and multivariate regression Cox methods, and their efficiency was validated in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and GSE70770. We identified nine survival-related genes: CCNL2, CDCA5, KAT2A, CHTF18, SPC24, EME2, CDK5RAP3, CDC20, and PTTG1. Based on the median risk score, the patients were divided into two groups. Then the functional enrichment analyses, mutational profiles, immune components, estimated half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), and candidate drugs were screened of these two groups. In addition, the characteristics of nine hub CCRGs were explored in Oncomine, cBioPortal, and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) datasets. Finally, the expression profiles of these hub CCRGs were validated in RWPE-1 and three PRAD cell lines (PC-3, C4-2, and DU-145). In conclusion, our study systematically explored the role of CCRGs in PRAD and constructed a risk model that can predict the clinical prognosis and immunotherapeutic benefits.

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.

Apigenin Induces Autophagy and Cell Death by Targeting EZH2 under Hypoxia Conditions in Gastric Cancer Cells

Hypoxia is a major obstacle to gastric cancer (GC) therapy and leads to chemoresistance as GC cells are frequently exposed to the hypoxia environment. Apigenin, a flavonoid found in traditional medicine, fruits, and vegetables and an HDAC inhibitor, is a powerful anti-cancer agent against various cancer cell lines. However, detailed mechanisms involved in the treatment of GC using APG are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the biological activity of and molecular mechanisms involved in APG-mediated treatment of GC under hypoxia. APG promoted autophagic cell death by increasing ATG5, LC3-II, and phosphorylation of AMPK and ULK1 and down-regulating p-mTOR and p62 in GC. Furthermore, our results show that APG induces autophagic cell death via the activation of the PERK signaling, indicating an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. The inhibition of ER stress suppressed APG-induced autophagy and conferred prolonged cell survival, indicating autophagic cell death. We further show that APG induces ER stress- and autophagy-related cell death through the inhibition of HIF-1α and Ezh2 under normoxia and hypoxia. Taken together, our findings indicate that APG activates autophagic cell death by inhibiting HIF-1α and Ezh2 under hypoxia conditions in GC cells.

Chrysin induces autophagy-dependent ferroptosis to increase chemosensitivity to gemcitabine by targeting CBR1 in pancreatic cancer cells

Recent studies have verified that inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the gemcitabine anti-tumor mechanisms of action. Human carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) plays an important role in protecting cells against oxidative damage. However, it is unclear whether CBR1 is involved in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression and resistance to gemcitabine. Based on the GEPIA database, we analyzed tumor tissue samples from PC patients using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and revealed that CBR1 was highly expressed in PC tissues and that this was significantly correlated with the clinicopathological features of PC. Genetic inhibition of CBR1 suppressed PC cell proliferation by regulating ROS generation. Furthermore, gemcitabine upregulated CBR1 expression, which could limit the anti-tumor activity of gemcitabine, and attenuation of CBR1 enhanced gemcitabine sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we report that chrysin directly binds to CBR1, which inhibited its enzymatic activity both at the molecular and cellular levels. Inhibition of CBR1 by chrysin increased cellular ROS levels and led to ROS-dependent autophagy, which resulted in the degradation of ferritin heavy polypeptide 1 (FTH1) and an increase in the intracellular free iron level that participates in ferroptosis in PC cells. Finally, our results showed that chrysin enhanced PC sensitivity to gemcitabine by inducing ferroptotic death in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings indicate that CBR1 is a potential therapeutic target for PC treatment. In addition, we elucidated a novel mechanism underlying the anti-tumor effects of chrysin.

Identifying key genes and small molecule compounds for nasopharyngeal carcinoma by various bioinformatic analysis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most prevalent head and neck cancer in southeast Asia. It is necessary to proceed further studies on the mechanism of occurrence and development of NPC.In this study, we employed the microarray dataset GSE12452 and GSE53819 including 28 normal samples and 49 nasopharyngeal carcinoma samples downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) to analysis. R software, STRING, CMap, and various databases were used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and proceed small molecule compounds analysis, among others.Totally, 424 DEGs were selected from the dataset. DEGs were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix organization, cilium organization, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, among others. Top 10 upregulated and top 10 downregulated hub genes were identified as hub DEGs. Piperlongumine, apigenin, menadione, 1,4-chrysenequinone, and chrysin were identified as potential drugs to prevent and treat NPC. Besides, the effect of genes CDK1, CDC45, RSPH4A, and ZMYND10 on survival of NPC was validated in GEPIA database.The data revealed novel aberrantly expressed genes and pathways in NPC by bioinformatics analysis, potentially providing novel insights for the molecular mechanisms governing NPC progression. Although further studies needed, the results demonstrated that the expression levels of CDK1, CDC45, RSPH4A, and ZMYND10 probably affected survival of NPC patients.

Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Its Compounds

Propolis is a natural material that honey bees (Apis mellifera) produce from various botanical sources. The therapeutic activity of propolis, including antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects, have been known since antiquity. Cancer is one of the major burdens of disease worldwide, therefore, numerous studies are being conducted to develop new chemotherapeutic agents and treatments for cancer. Propolis is a rich source of biologically active compounds, which affect numerous signaling pathways regulating crucial cellular processes. The results of the latest research show that propolis can inhibit proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis of cancer cells and stimulate apoptosis. Moreover, it may influence the tumor microenvironment and multidrug resistance of cancers. This review briefly summarizes the molecular mechanisms of anticancer activity of propolis and its compounds and highlights the potential benefits of propolis to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Polyphenols from Securidaca inappendiculata alleviated acute lung injury in rats by inhibiting oxidative stress sensitive pathways

Objective

Securidaca inappendiculata is a medicinal plant frequently used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in south China. In this study, we aimed to explore its bioactive constituent which contributes to the anti-inflammatory activity.

Methods

Polyphenol-enriched and polyphenol-deprived fractions (PRF and PDF, respectively) were separated from the ethanolic extract by HPD300 macroporous resin-based method, and their anti-inflammatory activities were investigated on a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) model in rats. The possible mechanism of action in alleviating acute inflammation was studied using RAW264.7 cells.

Results

Both Folin-Ciocalteu and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses showed that polyphenolic content in PRF was approximately 10 times higher than that of PDF, and this observation reflected in their antioxidative capacities. PRF but not PDF significantly decreased the level of malondialdehyde, suppressed the expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) protein, and improved the severity of ALI in rats. PRF at 10 μg/mL effectively downregulated the expression of proteins NAMPT, HMGB1, TLR4, and p-p65, and scavenged the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-primed RAW264.7 cells. N-acetyl-L-cysteine exhibited similar inhibitory effects on ROS production and NAMPT-mediated TLR4/NF-κB activation in vitro, whereas nicotinamide mononucleotide antagonized all the changes induced by PRF during cotreatments.

Conclusion

As an antioxidant, PRF exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity under both in vivo and in vitro conditions by downregulating NAMPT and TLR4/NF-κB. Accordingly, polyphenols were identified as important bioactive constituents in S. inappendiculata targeting oxidative stress-sensitive pro-inflammatory pathways.

Assessment of Rhamnus alaternus Leaves Extract: Phytochemical Characterization and Antimelanoma Activity

Rhamnus alaternus (Rhamnaceae) has been used as a laxative, purgative, diuretic, antihypertensive, and depurative. However, few scientific research studies on its antimelanoma activity have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antimelanoma effect of an enriched total oligomer flavonoid (TOF) extract, from R. alaternus, and to identify its phytochemical compounds. The chemical composition of TOF extract was assessed by HPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS²) analysis. Antimelanoma activity was determined on cultured tumor cell B16F10 by the crystal violet assay, the alkaline comet assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/ propidium iodide (V-FITC/PI) staining, the cell cycle distribution, and the wound healing assay. Regarding chemical composition, a mixture of quercetin diglucoside, quercetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, kaempferol-3-O-(2G-α-L-rhamnosyl)-rutinoside, rhamnetin hexoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, rhamnocitrin hexoside, pilosin hexoside, apigenin glucoside, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside was identified as major phytochemical compounds of the extracts. TOF extract inhibits melanoma B16F10 cell proliferation in dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis was confirmed by comet assay, AO/EB, and annexin V-FITC/PI test. TOF extract could also induce S phase cell cycle, inhibit, and delay the cell migration of B16F10 cells. The findings showed that TOF extract from R. alaternus could be a potentially good candidate for future use in alternative antimelanoma treatments.

Chrysin Inhibits Pseudo-allergic Reaction by Suppressing Mitochondrial STAT3 Activation via MAS-Related GPR Family Member X2

Chrysin, one of the most pharmacologically active natural flavonoids, has been extracted from various plants. Mast cells are an important part of innate immunity-mediating anaphylaxis. Pseudo-allergic reactions are currently believed to be associated with the MAS-related GPR family member X2 (MrgX2). In this study, the anti-pseudo allergy effect of chrysin and its underlying mechanisms were studied in vitro and in vivo. Chrysin inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and systemic pseudo-allergy in vivo. LAD2 cell degranulation, calcium ion (Ca²⁺) influx, and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content were significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. Chrysin suppressed pseudo-allergic reactions through the PLC/IP3/Ca²⁺ and ERK/STAT3 serine 727 pathways downstream of MrgX2. Therefore, mitochondrial ATP, but not glycolysis, is vital for pseudo-allergic reactions mediated by MrgX2. This study provides new insights for the treatment of pseudo-allergy.

Helenalin Facilitates Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest by Targeting Thioredoxin Reductase-1 in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Background

Helenalin is a pseudoguaianolide natural product with anti-cancer activities. This study investigated the underlying mechanism of the anti-prostate cancer effects of helenalin in vitro.

Material/Methods

CCK-8 assay was performed to detect the optimal concentrations of helenalin in DU145 and PC-3 cells. After exposure to helenalin and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitor, ROS production was assessed by DCFH-DA staining. Thioredoxin reductase-1 (TrxR1) expression was detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. Moreover, apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry. Following TrxR1 knockdown or overexpression, TrxR1 expression, ROS generation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion were examined in cells co-treated with helenalin.

Results

Helenalin distinctly repressed the viability of prostate cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. We chose 8 μM and 4 μM as the optimal concentrations of helenalin for DU145 and PC-3 cells, respectively. Helenalin treatment markedly triggered ROS production and lowered TrxR1 expression, which was ameliorated by ROS inhibitor. Exposure to helenalin facilitated apoptosis as well as G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, which was reversed by ROS inhibitor. Helenalin relieved the inhibitory effect of TrxR1 on ROS production. Furthermore, helenalin ameliorated the decrease in apoptosis rate and the shortening of G0/G1 phase as well as the increase in migration and invasion induced by TrxR1 overexpression.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed that helenalin accelerated ROS-mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via targeting TrxR1 in human prostate cancer cells.

Phytochemicals in cancer and their effect on the PI3K/AKT-mediated cellular signalling

Protein kinases belong to the largest family of enzymes controlling every aspect of cellular activity including gene expression, cell division, differentiation and metabolism. They are part of major intracellular signalling pathways. Hence, it is not surprising that they are involved in the development of major diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, dementia and, most importantly, cancer when they undergo mutations, modifications and unbalanced expression. This review will explore the possibility to draw a connection between the application of natural phytochemicals and the treatment of cancer. We have chosen to focus on the PI3K/AKT cellular signalling pathway which has been shown to be a major target by natural compounds in cell cultures and animal models.

Emerging cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer indications of chrysin

Chrysin has been shown to exert several beneficial pharmacological activities. Chrysin has anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective as well as gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, ocular, and skin protective effects through modulating signaling pathway involved in apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In the current review, we discussed the emerging cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic indications of chrysin in various cancers. Online databases comprising Scopus, PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, Science Direct, Web of Science, and the search engine Google Scholar were searched for available and eligible research articles. The search was conducted by using MeSH terms and keywords in title, abstract, and keywords. In conclusion, experimental studies indicated that chrysin could ameliorate cancers of the breast, gastrointestinal tract, liver and hepatocytes, bladder, male and female reproductive systems, choroid, respiratory tract, thyroid, skin, eye, brain, blood cells, leukemia, osteoblast, and lymph. However, more studies are needed to enhance the bioavailability of chrysin and evaluate this agent in clinical trial studies.

Microcystin-leucine arginine exposure contributes to apoptosis and follicular atresia in mice ovaries by endoplasmic reticulum stress-upregulated Ddit3

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), an intracellular toxin to cause reproduction toxicity, is produced by blooming cyanobacteria and widely distributed in eutrophic waters. It is revealed that MC-LR-induced female reproductive toxicity is more severe than male reproductive toxicity. Previous studies mainly focused on male reproductive toxicity, and the molecular mechanisms of MC-LR-induced apoptosis, follicular atresia and infertility in female remain largely unclear. Here, it was found that MC-LR treatment could induce apoptosis, inflammation, follicular atresia, and decrease of gonadal index in mice ovaries. RNA-Seq data showed that the up-regulation of DNA-damage inducible transcript 3 (Ddit3) under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress had predominantly regulatory role in MC-LR-induced apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, MC-LR exposure promoted cleavage of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6, 50kd), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (Ire1) expression, phosphorylation of IRE1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 5 (Map3k5) and Ddit3 expression, which was accompanied by the upregulation of death receptor 5 (Dr5) and active-caspase-3, and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression. ER stress inhibitor 4-Phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA) ameliorated these MC-LR-induced changes in protein or mRNA level. More importantly, knockdown of Ddit3 suppressed MC-LR-induced cell apoptosis and follicular atresia by directly regulating Dr5 and Bcl-2. Additionally, it was also found that MC-LR increased Map3k5 phosphorylation by inhibiting protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, and then promoted Ddit3 expression. In short, our data suggests that Ddit3 promotes MC-LR-induced mice ovarian cells apoptosis and follicular atresia via ER stress activation, which provides a new insight into the relation between infertility in females and the emerging water pollutant MC-LR.

Down-regulation of ACACA suppresses the malignant progression of Prostate Cancer through inhibiting mitochondrial potential

Background and aim: Silencing the expression of ACACA inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in prostate cancer LNCaP cells. However, the role of ACACA in other prostate cancer cells is not fully understood. Also, the effect of knocking down ACACA gene on mitochondria remains unclear. This study aimed to discover the specific role of ACACA gene in prostate cancer (PCa) DU145 and PC3 cells as well as its effects on mitochondrial potential.

Methods: The expression of ACACA gene was detected in human prostate cancer tissue microarrays and assessed in different clinical stages. Then, prostate cancer cell lines with low expression of ACACA were constructed to evaluate the changes in their cell cycle, proliferation, and metabolites. The effect of ACACA on tumor formation in vivo was analyzed. Also, mito-ATP production, mitochondrial staining, and mtDNA, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected.

Results: ACACA was expressed more strongly in prostate cancer tissues. The expression level of ACACA was higher in patients with advanced PCa than in patients with lower grades. The proliferation ability reduced in ACACA-knockdown cells. In in vivo tests, the tumor volume and weight were lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Mito-ATP production decreased significantly after ACACA suppression, mtDNA levels and MitoTracker staining decreased in the experimental group. The ratio of NAD+/NADH and ROS levels were upregulated in the experimental group.

Conclusion: Targeting ACACA gene and mitochondria might serve as a novel therapy for prostate cancer treatment.

Chrysin serves as a novel inhibitor of DGKα/FAK interaction to suppress the malignancy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)

Among current novel druggable targets, protein–protein interactions (PPIs) are of considerable and growing interest. Diacylglycerol kinase α (DGKα) interacts with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) band 4.1-ezrin-radixin-moesin (FERM) domain to induce the phosphorylation of FAK Tyr397 site and promotes the malignant progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Chrysin is a multi-functional bioactive flavonoid, and possesses potential anticancer activity, whereas little is known about the anticancer activity and exact molecular mechanisms of chrysin in ESCC treatment. In this study, we found that chrysin significantly disrupted the DGKα/FAK signalosome to inhibit FAK-controlled signaling pathways and the malignant progression of ESCC cells both in vitro and in vivo, whereas produced no toxicity to the normal cells. Molecular validation specifically demonstrated that Asp435 site in the catalytic domain of DGKα contributed to chrysin-mediated inhibition of the assembly of DGKα/FAK complex. This study has illustrated DGKα/FAK complex as a target of chrysin for the first time, and provided a direction for the development of natural products-derived PPIs inhibitors in tumor treatment.

Pre-clinical investigation of STAT3 pathway in bladder cancer: Paving the way for clinical translation

Effective cancer therapy requires identification of signaling networks and investigating their potential role in proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. Among molecular pathways, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been of importance due to its involvement in promoting proliferation, and invasion of cancer cells, and mediating chemoresistance. In the present review, our aim is to reveal role of STAT3 pathway in bladder cancer (BC), as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In respect to its tumor-promoting role, STAT3 is able to enhance the growth of BC cells via inhibiting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. STAT3 also contributes to metastasis of BC cells via upregulating of MMP-2 and MMP-9 as well as genes in the EMT pathway. BC cells obtain chemoresistance via STAT3 overexpression and its inhibition paves the way for increasing efficacy of chemotherapy. Different molecular pathways such as KMT1A, EZH2, DAB2IP and non-coding RNAs including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs can function as upstream mediators of STAT3 that are discussed in this review article.

Revisiting prostate cancer metabolism: From metabolites to disease and therapy

Prostate cancer (PCa), one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide, still presents important unmet clinical needs concerning treatment. In the last years, the metabolic reprogramming and the specificities of tumor cells emerged as an exciting field for cancer therapy. The unique features of PCa cells metabolism, and the activation of specific metabolic pathways, propelled the use of metabolic inhibitors for treatment. The present work revises the knowledge of PCa metabolism and the metabolic alterations that underlie the development and progression of the disease. A focus is given to the role of bioenergetic sources, namely, glucose, lipids, and glutamine sustaining PCa cell survival and growth. Moreover, it is described as the action of oncogenes/tumor suppressors and sex steroid hormones in the metabolic reprogramming of PCa. Finally, the status of PCa treatment based on the inhibition of metabolic pathways is presented. Globally, this review updates the landscape of PCa metabolism, highlighting the critical metabolic alterations that could have a clinical and therapeutic interest.