Phytochemicals modulate cancer aggressiveness: A review depicting the anticancer efficacy of dietary polyphenols and their combinations

Potential Benefits of Green Tea in Prostate Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

Prostate cancer is a prevalent and debilitating disease that necessitates effective prevention and treatment strategies. Green tea, a well-known beverage derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, contains bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including catechins and polyphenols. This comprehensive review aims to explore the potential benefits of green tea in prostate cancer prevention and treatment by examining existing literature. Green tea possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties attributed to its catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate. Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse association between green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk, with potential protection against aggressive forms of the disease. Laboratory studies demonstrate that green tea components inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis, and modulate signaling pathways critical to prostate cancer development and progression. Clinical trials and human studies further support the potential benefits of green tea. Green tea consumption has been found to be associated with a reduction in prostate-specific antigen levels, tumor markers, and played a potential role in slowing disease progression. However, challenges remain, including optimal dosage determination, formulation standardization, and conducting large-scale, long-term clinical trials. The review suggests future research should focus on combinatorial approaches with conventional therapies and personalized medicine strategies to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from green tea interventions.

The entrancing role of dietary polyphenols against the most frequent aging-associated diseases

Aging, a fundamental physiological process influenced by innumerable biological and genetic pathways, is an important driving factor for several aging-associated disorders like diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In the modern era, the several mechanisms associated with aging have been deeply studied. Treatment and therapeutics for age-related diseases have also made considerable advances; however, for the effective and long-lasting treatment, nutritional therapy particularly including dietary polyphenols from the natural origin are endorsed. These dietary polyphenols (e.g., apigenin, baicalin, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, kaempferol, quercetin, resveratrol, and theaflavin), and many other phytochemicals target certain molecular, genetic mechanisms. The most common pathways of age-associated diseases are mitogen-activated protein kinase, reactive oxygen species production, nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells signaling pathways, metal chelation, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and inflammation. Polyphenols slow down the course of aging and help in combatting age-linked disorders. This exemplified in the form of clinical trials on specific dietary polyphenols in various aging-associated diseases. With this context in mind, this review reveals the new insights to slow down the aging process, and consequently reduce some classic diseases associated with age such as aforementioned, and targeting age-associated diseases by the activities of dietary polyphenols of natural origin.

Hypoxia A Typical Target in Human Lung Cancer Therapy

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Comprehensive knowledge of the cellular and molecular etiology of LC is perilous for the development of active treatment approaches. Hypoxia in cancer is linked with malignancy, and its phenotype is implicated in the hypoxic reaction, which is being studied as a prospective cancer treatment target. The hypervascularization of the tumor is the main feature of human LC, and hypoxia is a major stimulator of neo-angiogenesis. It was seen that low oxygen levels in human LC are a critical aspect of this lethal illness. However, as there is a considerable body of literature espousing the presumed functional relevance of hypoxia in LC, the direct measurement of oxygen concentration in Human LC is yet to be determined. This narrative review aims to show the importance and as a future target for novel research studies that can lead to the perception of LC therapy in hypoxic malignancies.

The effect of resveratrol, curcumin and quercetin combination on immuno-suppression of tumor microenvironment for breast tumor-bearing mice

Resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin are the secondary metabolites from medicinal food homology plants, that have been proven their potency in cancer treatment. However, the antitumor effect of a single component is weak. So, herein, we designed an antitumor compound named RCQ composed of resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin. This study examined the effect on tumorigenesis and development of 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mice following administering RCQ by intragastric administration. RCQ increased the recruitment of T cells and reduced the accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Meanwhile, RCQ suppressed the development of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes into immunosuppressive cell subpopulations, including CD4+ T cells to T helper Type 2 type (Th2), tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) to the N2 TANs, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) cells to M2 TAMs. RCQ reversed the predominance of immunosuppressive infiltrating cells in the tumor microenvironment and tipped the immune balance toward an immune activation state. In vitro the study showed that RCQ significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduce mitochondrial membrane potentials in cancer cells, and modulate pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. In conclusion, RCQ can promote the ROS apoptosis mechanism of tumor cells and alleviate immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment to enhance the anti-tumor effect.

Application of Metal-Based Nanomaterials in In Vitro Diagnosis of Tumor Markers: Summary and Prospect

Cancer, which presents with high incidence and mortality rates, has become a significant health threat worldwide. However, there is currently no effective solution for rapid screening and high-quality treatment of early-stage cancer patients. Metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs), as a new type of compound with stable properties, convenient synthesis, high efficiency, and few adverse reactions, have become highly competitive tools for early cancer diagnosis. Nevertheless, challenges such as the difference between the microenvironment of detected markers and the real-life body fluids remain in achieving widespread clinical application of MNPs. This review provides a comprehensive review of the research progress made in the field of in vitro cancer diagnosis using metal-based nanoparticles. By delving into the characteristics and advantages of these materials, this paper aims to inspire and guide researchers towards fully exploiting the potential of metal-based nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Application of Polyphenols and Flavonoids in Oncological Therapy

The use of naturally derived drugs in anti-cancer therapies has grown exponentially in recent years. Among natural compounds, polyphenols have shown potential therapeutic applications in treatment due to their protective functions in plants, their use as food additives, and their excellent antioxidant properties, resulting in beneficial effects on human health. Building more efficient cancer therapies with fewer side effects on human health can be achieved by combining natural compounds with conventional drugs, which are typically more aggressive than natural chemicals with polyphenols. This article reviews a wide variety of studies where polyphenolic compounds can play a key role as anticancer drugs, alone or in combination with other drugs. Moreover, the future directions of applications of various polyphenols in cancer therapy are shown.

Cannabis sativa L. modulates altered metabolic pathways involved in key metabolisms in human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells: A metabolomics study

The present study investigated the ability of Cannabis sativa leaves infusion (CSI) to modulate major metabolisms implicated in cancer cells survival, as well as to induce cell death in human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. MCF-7 cell lines were treated with CSI for 48 h, doxorubicin served as the standard anticancer drug, while untreated MCF-7 cells served as the control. CSI caused 21.2% inhibition of cell growth at the highest dose. Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) profiling of the control cells revealed the presence of carbohydrate, vitamins, oxidative, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids metabolites. Treatment with CSI caused a 91% depletion of these metabolites, while concomitantly generating selenomethionine, l-cystine, deoxyadenosine triphosphate, cyclic AMP, selenocystathionine, inosine triphosphate, adenosine phosphosulfate, 5'-methylthioadenosine, uric acid, malonic semialdehyde, 2-methylguanosine, ganglioside GD2 and malonic acid. Metabolomics analysis via pathway enrichment of the metabolites revealed the activation of key metabolic pathways relevant to glucose, lipid, amino acid, vitamin, and nucleotide metabolisms. CSI caused a total inactivation of glucose, vitamin, and nucleotide metabolisms, while inactivating key lipid and amino acid metabolic pathways linked to cancer cell survival. Flow cytometry analysis revealed an induction of apoptosis and necrosis in MCF-7 cells treated with CSI. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of CSI revealed the presence of cannabidiol, rutin, cinnamic acid, and ferulic. These results portray the antiproliferative potentials of CSI as an alternative therapy for the treatment and management of breast cancer as depicted by its modulation of glucose, lipid, amino acid, vitamin, and nucleotide metabolisms, while concomitantly inducing cell death in MCF-7 cells.

Combination Chemotherapy with Selected Polyphenols in Preclinical and Clinical Studies-An Update Overview

This review article describes studies published over the past five years on the combination of polyphenols, which are the most studied in the field of anticancer effects (curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, and apigenin) and chemotherapeutics such as cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, etc. According to WHO data, research has been limited to five cancers with the highest morbidity rate (lung, colorectal, liver, gastric, and breast cancer). A systematic review of articles published in the past five years (from January 2018 to January 2023) was carried out with the help of all Web of Science databases and the available base of clinical studies. Based on the preclinical studies presented in this review, polyphenols can enhance drug efficacy and reduce chemoresistance through different molecular mechanisms. Considering the large number of studies, curcumin could be a molecule in future chemotherapy cocktails. One of the main problems in clinical research is related to the limited bioavailability of most polyphenols. The design of a new co-delivery system for drugs and polyphenols is essential for future clinical research. Some polyphenols work in synergy with chemotherapeutic drugs, but some polyphenols can act antagonistically, so caution is always required.

Nimbolide attenuates complete Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis through expression regulation of toll-like receptors signaling pathway

Nimbolide is an active constituent of Azadirachta indica and is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, immune-modulatory, and anti-cancer effects. Few studies suggest that nimbolide treatment influences the responses to rheumatoid arthritis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms involved are not yet well established. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the effect of nimbolide on expression regulation of toll-like receptors to attenuate rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid arthritis model was established by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) intra-dermally into the sub-plantar region of the left hind paw of rats. Nimbolide (20 mg/kg) and piroxicam (10 mg/kg) were given to arthritic rats. Rats treated with nimbolide showed a significant reduction in inflammatory cells, rheumatoid factor, ESR, and improved the body weight. The results indicated that nimbolide possesses the capacity to attenuate rheumatoid arthritis by downregulating toll-like receptors, IL-17, IL-23, HSP70, and IFN-γ expression levels. Nimbolide treatment showed significant reduction in the severity of inflammation and destruction of joints and showed comparable effects to piroxicam, which is a standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It can be concluded that nimbolide can be considered as a potential candidate for therapeutic targeting of the toll-like receptors pathway in rheumatoid arthritis.

New Insights Into the Anticancer Effects of p-Coumaric Acid: Focus on Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is considered the second most deadly cancer in the world. Studies have indicated that diet can prevent the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in polyphenols due to their plausible effect on cancer prevention and treatment. p-Coumaric acid (p-CouA), a phenolic compound, is a cinnamic acid derivative found in several fruits, vegetables, and herbs. A growing body of evidence suggests that p-CouA may be an effective agent for preventing and managing colorectal cancer. In this current review, we briefly highlight the bioavailability of p-CouA. We also provide an up-to-date overview of molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects, focusing on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle blockade. Finally, we discuss the impact of p-CouA on clonogenicity and multidrug resistance of colorectal cancer cells.

Impact of gallic acid on tumor suppression: Modulation of redox homeostasis and purinergic response in in vitro and a preclinical glioblastoma model

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest primary brain tumor in adults due to the high rate of relapse with current treatment. Therefore, the search for therapeutic alternatives is urgent. Gallic acid (GA), a potent natural antioxidant, has antitumor and modulatory actions on purinergic signaling. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of GA on the rat GBM (C6) cell line and on astrocyte culture and analyzed its role in regulating oxidative stress and purinergic enzymes involved in GBM proliferation. Cells were exposed to GA from 50 to 400 µM for 24 and/or 48 h. Next, the effect of GA was evaluated in the preclinical model of GBM. Wistar rats were treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg of GA for 15 days, and cerebral and systemic redox status and degradation of adenine nucleotides and nucleosides in circulating platelets, lymphocytes, and serum were evaluated. Our results demonstrated that GA has selective anti-glioma activity in vitro, without inducing cytotoxicity in astrocyte. Furthermore, GA prevented oxidative stress and changes in the hydrolysis of nucleotides in GBM cells. The anti-glioma effect was also observed in vivo, as GA reduced tumor volume by 90%. Interestingly, GA decreased the oxidative damage induced by a tumor in the brain, serum, and platelets, and, also prevented changes in the degradation of nucleotides and nucleosides in lymphocytes, platelets, and serum. These results indicate, for the first time, the therapeutic potential of GA in a preclinical model of GBM, whose effects may be related to its role in redox and purinergic modulation.

Curcuminoids as Modulators of EMT in Invasive Cancers: A Review of Molecular Targets With the Contribution of Malignant Mesothelioma Studies

Curcuminoids, which include natural acyclic diarylheptanoids and the synthetic analogs of curcumin, have considerable potential for fighting against all the characteristics of invasive cancers. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process for embryonic morphogenesis, however, the last decade has confirmed it orchestrates many features of cancer invasiveness, such as tumor cell stemness, metabolic rewiring, and drug resistance. A wealth of studies has revealed EMT in cancer is in fact driven by an increasing number of parameters, and thus understanding its complexity has now become a cornerstone for defining future therapeutic strategies dealing with cancer progression and metastasis. A specificity of curcuminoids is their ability to target multiple molecular targets, modulate several signaling pathways, modify tumor microenvironments and enhance the host’s immune response. Although the effects of curcumin on these various parameters have been the subject of many reviews, the role of curcuminoids against EMT in the context of cancer have never been reviewed so far. This review first provides an updated overview of all EMT drivers, including signaling pathways, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and tumor microenvironment components, with a special focus on the most recent findings. Secondly, for each of these drivers the effects of curcumin/curcuminoids on specific molecular targets are analyzed. Finally, we address some common findings observed between data reported in the literature and the results of investigations we conducted on experimental malignant mesothelioma, a model of invasive cancer representing a useful tool for studies on EMT and cancer.

The Therapeutic Potential of Kaemferol and Other Naturally Occurring Polyphenols Might Be Modulated by Nrf2-ARE Signaling Pathway: Current Status and Future Direction

Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid, which has been widely investigated in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic complications, and neurological disorders. Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is a transcription factor involved in mediating carcinogenesis and other ailments, playing an important role in regulating oxidative stress. The activation of Nrf2 results in the expression of proteins and cytoprotective enzymes, which provide cellular protection against reactive oxygen species. Phytochemicals, either alone or in combination, have been used to modulate Nrf2 in cancer and other ailments. Among them, kaempferol has been recently explored for its anti-cancer and other anti-disease therapeutic efficacy, targeting Nrf2 modulation. In combating cancer, diabetic complications, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders, kaempferol has been shown to regulate Nrf2 and reduce redox homeostasis. In this context, this review article highlights the current status of the therapeutic potential of kaempferol by targeting Nrf2 modulation in cancer, diabetic complications, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disorders. In addition, we provide future perspectives on kaempferol targeting Nrf2 modulation as a potential therapeutic approach.

Hypoxia responsive phytonanotheranostics: A novel paradigm towards fighting cancer

Hypoxia enhances tumor aggressiveness, thereby reducing the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Phytomedicine, which is nowadays considered as the new panacea owing to its dynamic physiological properties, is often plagued by shortcomings. Incorporating these wonder drugs in nanoparticles (phytonanomedicine) for hypoxia therapy is a new prospect in the direction of cancer management. Similarly, the concept of phytonanotheranostics for the precise tumor lesion detection and treatment monitoring in the hypoxic scenario is going on a rampant speed. In the same line, smart nanoparticles which step in for "on-demand" drug release based on internal or external stimuli are also being explored as a new tool for cancer management. However, studies regarding these smart and tailor-made nanotheranostics in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment are very limited. The present review is an attempt to collate these smart stimuli-responsive phytonanotherapeutics in one place for initiating future research in this upcoming field for better cancer treatment.

Parthenolide reverses the epithelial to mesenchymal transition process in breast cancer by targeting TGFbeta1: In vitro and in silico studies

AIMS

Breast cancer metastasis is the leading cause of mortality among breast cancer patients. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that plays a fundamental role in facilitating breast cancer metastasis. The present study assessed the efficacy of parthenolide (PTL Tanacetum parthenium) on EMT and its underlying mechanisms in both lowly metastatic, estrogen-receptor positive, MCF-7 cells and highly metastatic, triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells.

MAIN METHODS

MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with PTL (2 μM and 5 μM). Cell viability was determined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethy lthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Apoptosis was analyzed by the FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) annexin V apoptosis detection kit. The monolayer wound scratch assay was employed to evaluate cancer cell migration. Proteins were separated and identified by Western blotting. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR.

KEY FINDINGS

PTL treatment significantly reduced cell viability and migration while inducing apoptosis in both cell lines. Also, PTL treatment reverses the EMT process by decreasing the mesenchymal marker vimentin and increasing the epithelial marker E-cadherin compared to the control treatment. Importantly, PTL downregulates TWIST1 (a transcription factor and regulator of EMT) gene expression, concomitant with the reduction of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ1) protein and gene expression in both cell lines. Additionally, molecular docking studies suggest that PTL may induce anticancer properties by targeting TGFβ1 in both breast cancer cell lines.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings provide insights into the therapeutic potential of PTL to mitigate EMT and breast cancer metastasis. These promising results demand in vivo studies.

The Role of Bioactive Compounds in Natural Products Extracted from Plants in Cancer Treatment and Their Mechanisms Related to Anticancer Effects

Cancer is one of the greatest causes of death worldwide. With the development of surgery, radiotherapy, and medical agents, the outcomes of cancer patients have greatly improved. However, the underlying mechanisms of cancer are not yet fully understood. Recently, natural products have been proven to be beneficial for various conditions and have played important roles in the development of novel therapies. A substantial amount of evidence indicates that bioactive compounds could improve the outcomes of cancer patients via various pathways, such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, epigenetic modification, and modulation of oxidative stress. Here, we review the current evidence of bioactive compounds in natural products for the treatment of cancer and summarize the underlying mechanisms in this pathological process.

Impacts and mechanisms of alternative mRNA splicing in cancer metabolism, immune response, and therapeutics

Alternative pre-mRNA splicing (AS) provides the potential to produce diversity at RNA and protein levels. Disruptions in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing can lead to diseases. With the development of transcriptome and genome sequencing technology, increasing diseases have been identified to be associated with abnormal splicing of mRNAs. In tumors, abnormal alternative splicing frequently plays critical roles in cancer pathogenesis and may be considered as new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer intervention. Metabolic abnormalities and immune disorders are important hallmarks of cancer. AS produces multiple different isoforms and diversifies protein expression, which is utilized by the immune and metabolic reprogramming systems to expand gene functions. The abnormal splicing events contributed to tumor progression, partially due to effects on immune response and metabolic reprogramming. Herein, we reviewed the vital role of alternative splicing in regulating cancer metabolism and immune response. We discussed how alternative splicing regulates metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells and antitumor immune response, and the possible strategies to targeting alternative splicing pathways or splicing-regulated metabolic pathway in the context of anticancer immunotherapy. Further, we highlighted the challenges and discuss the perspectives for RNA-based strategies for the treatment of cancer with abnormally alternative splicing isoforms.

In vitro antibacterial activity of nimbolide against Helicobacter pylori

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Nimbolide is one of hundreds of phytochemicals that have been identified within the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). As an evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent, components of the neem tree have been used for millennia in traditional medicine to treat dental, gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and blood-related ailments, ulcers, headaches, heartburn, and diabetes. In modern times, natural oils and extracts from the neem tree have been found to have activities against a variety of microorganisms, including human pathogens.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Helicobacter pylori, a prevalent gastric pathogen, shows increasing levels of antibiotic resistance. Thus, there is an increasing demand for novel therapeutics to treat chronic infections. The in vitro activity of neem oil extract against H. pylori was previously characterized and found to be bactericidal. Given the numerous phytochemicals found in neem oil extract, the present study was designed to define and characterize specific compounds showing bactericidal activity against H. pylori.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Azadirachtin, gedunin, and nimbolide, which are all common in neem extracts, were tested for antimicrobial activity; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for nine strains of H. pylori. The specific properties of nimbolide were further characterized against H. pylori strain G27. Bactericidal kinetics, reversibility, effectiveness at low pH, and activity under bacteriostatic conditions were examined. The hemolytic activity of nimbolide was also measured. Finally, neem oil extract and nimbolide effectiveness against H. pylori biofilms were examined in comparison to common antibiotics used to treat H. pylori infection.

RESULTS

Nimbolide, but not azadirachtin or gedunin, was effective against H. pylori; MICs and MBCs against the nine tested strains ranged between 1.25-5 μg/mL and 2.5-10 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, neem oil extract and nimbolide were both effective against H. pylori biofilms. Nimbolide exhibited no significant hemolytic activity at biologically relevant concentrations. The bactericidal activity of nimbolide was time- and dose-dependent, independent of active H. pylori growth, and synergistic with low pH. Furthermore, nimbolide-mediated H. pylori cell death was irreversible after exposure to high nimbolide concentrations (80 μg/mL, after 2 h of exposure time and 40 μg/mL after 8 h of exposure).

CONCLUSIONS

Nimbolide has significant bactericidal activity against H. pylori, killing both free living bacterial cells as well as cells within a biofilm. Furthermore, the lack of hemolytic activity, synergistic activity at low pH and bactericidal properties even against bacteria in a state of growth arrest are all ideal pharmacological and biologically relevant properties for a potential new agent. This study underscores the potential of neem oil extract or nimbolide to be used as a future treatment for H. pylori infection.

Phytocompounds from the medicinal and dietary plants: Multi-target agents for cancer prevention and therapy

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Due to cervical cancer's high incidence and mortality, there is an unmet demand for effective diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive agents. At present, the preferred treatment strategies for advanced metastatic cervical cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, cervical cancer is gradually developing resistance to chemotherapy, thereby reducing its efficacy. Over the last several decades, phytochemicals, a general term for compounds produced from plants, have gained attention for their role in preventing cervical cancer. This role in cervical cancer prevention has garnered attention on the medicinal properties of fruits and vegetables. Phytochemicals are currently being evaluated for their ability to block proteins involved in carcinogenesis and chemoresistance against cervical cancer. Chemoresistance to cancer drugs like cisplatin, doxorubicin, and 5-fluorouracil has become a significant limitation of drug-based chemotherapy. However, the combination of cisplatin with other phytochemicals has been identified as a promising alternative to subjugate cisplatin resistance. Phytochemicals are promising chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic agents as they possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative potential against many cancers, including cervical cancer. Furthermore, the ability of the phytochemicals to modulate cellular signaling pathways through up and down regulation of various proteins has been claimed for their therapeutic potential. Phytochemicals also display a wide range of biological functions, including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, inhibition of invasion, and migration in cervical cancer cells. Numerous studies have revealed the critical role of different signaling proteins and their signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Here, we review the ability of several dietary phytochemicals to alter carcinogenesis by modulating various molecular targets.

Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs) in NSCLC: From Prognosis to Therapy Design

Designing optimal (neo)adjuvant therapy is a crucial aspect of the treatment of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Standard methods of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy represent effective strategies for treatment. However, in some cases with high metastatic activity and high levels of circulating tumour cells (CTCs), the efficacy of standard treatment methods is insufficient and results in treatment failure and reduced patient survival. CTCs are seen not only as an isolated phenomenon but also a key inherent part of the formation of metastasis and a key factor in cancer death. This review discusses the impact of NSCLC therapy strategies based on a meta-analysis of clinical studies. In addition, possible therapeutic strategies for repression when standard methods fail, such as the administration of low-toxicity natural anticancer agents targeting these phenomena (curcumin and flavonoids), are also discussed. These strategies are presented in the context of key mechanisms of tumour biology with a strong influence on CTC spread and metastasis (mechanisms related to tumour-associated and -infiltrating cells, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and migration of cancer cells).

Multitargeting Effects of Calebin A on Malignancy of CRC Cells in Multicellular Tumor Microenvironment

Background

Tumor microenvironment (TME) provides the essential prerequisite niche for promoting cancer progression and metastasis. Calebin A, a component of Curcuma longa, has long been investigated as a safe multitargeted agent with antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the multicellular-TME-induced malignancy and the antitumorigenic potential of Calebin A on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in 3D-alginate cultures are not yet understood, and more in-depth research is needed.

Methods

3D-alginate tumor cultures (HCT116 cells) in the multicellular proinflammatory TME (fibroblast cells/T lymphocytes), tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β)-TME (fibroblast cells/TNF-β) were treated with/without Calebin A to address the pleiotropic actions of Calebin A in the CRC.

Results

We found that Calebin A downmodulated proliferation, vitality, and migration of HCT116 cells in 3D-alginate cultures in multicellular proinflammatory TME or TNF-β-TME. In addition, Calebin A suppressed TNF-β-, similar to multicellular-TME-induced phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in a concentration-dependent manner. NF-κB-promoting proinflammatory mediators, associated with tumor growth and antiapoptotic molecules (i.e.,MMP-9, CXCR4, Ki-67, β1-integrin, and Caspase-3) and its translocation to the nucleus in HCT116 cells, were increased in both TME cultures. The multicellular-TME cultures further induced the survival of cancer stem cells (CSCs) (upregulation of CD133, CD44, and ALDH1). Last but not the least, Calebin A suppressed multicellular-, similar to TNF-β-TME-induced rigorous upregulation of NF-κB phosphorylation, various NF-κB-regulated gene products, CSCs activation, and survival in 3D-alginate tumor cultures.

Conclusions

The downmodulation of multicellular proinflammatory-, similar to TNF-β-TME-induced CRC proliferation, survival, and migration by the multitargeting agent Calebin A could be a new therapeutic strategy to suppress inflammation and CRC tumorigenesis.

Gallic acid for cancer therapy: Molecular mechanisms and boosting efficacy by nanoscopical delivery

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Majority of recent research efforts in the field aim to address why cancer resistance to therapy develops and how to overcome or prevent it. In line with this, novel anti-cancer compounds are desperately needed for chemoresistant cancer cells. Phytochemicals, in view of their pharmacological activities and capacity to target various molecular pathways, are of great interest in the development of therapeutics against cancer. Plant-derived-natural products have poor bioavailability which restricts their anti-tumor activity. Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic acid exclusively found in natural sources such as gallnut, sumac, tea leaves, and oak bark. In this review, we report on the most recent research related to anti-tumor activities of GA in various cancers with a focus on its underlying molecular mechanisms and cellular pathwaysthat that lead to apoptosis and migration of cancer cells. GA down-regulates the expression of molecular pathways involved in cancer progression such as PI3K/Akt. The co-administration of GA with chemotherapeutic agents shows improvements in suppressing cancer malignancy. Various nano-vehicles such as organic- and inorganic nano-materials have been developed for targeted delivery of GA at the tumor site. Here, we suggest that nano-vehicles improve GA bioavailability and its ability for tumor suppression.

Free low-molecular weight phenolics composition and bioactivity of Vaccinium padifolium Sm fruits

Uveira-da-serra (Vaccinium padifolium Sm) is a native blueberry from Madeira Island (Portugal). In this study, the free low-molecular weight phenolic composition of Vaccinium padifolium berries (uva-da-serra - UdS), was established using a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) strategy combined with liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-ESI-MSMS). Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical-scavenging activities and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were also evaluated. Twenty-six phenolic compounds were identified in the UdS, being chlorogenic acid (17.4 mg/g DW), epigallocatechin (2.33 mg/g DW), caffeic acid (0.66 mg/g DW), quercetin-3-glucoside (0.38 mg/g DW) and myricetin (0.33 mg/g DW) the predominant compounds. As far we are aware, this is the first time that the free low molecular weight phenolic composition of Vaccinium padifolium Sm is characterized, also unveiling (-)epigallocatechin gallate, o-coumaric acid and m-coumaric acids presence in a Vaccinium specie. TPC (3021.8 mg GAE/100 g DW), TFC (2645.2 mg QE/100 g DW), DPPH (20509.0 µmol TE/g DW), ORAC (18510.0 µmol TE/g DW) and ABTS (19338.0 µmol TE/g DW) suggest a high antioxidant potential which is to health benefits including on cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease prevention, making UdS a useful biosource with potential applications in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Anti-Cancer Activity of Phytochemicals Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is overexpressed in cancer, leading to a poor prognosis in patients. Diverse cellular factors are able to regulate HIF-1α expression in hypoxia and even in non-hypoxic conditions, affecting its progression and malignant characteristics by regulating the expression of the HIF-1α target genes that are involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, metabolism, therapeutic resistance, et cetera. Numerous studies have exhibited the anti-cancer effect of HIF-1α inhibition itself and the augmentation of anti-cancer treatment efficacy by interfering with HIF-1α-mediated signaling. The anti-cancer effect of plant-derived phytochemicals has been evaluated, and they have been found to possess significant therapeutic potentials against numerous cancer types. A better understanding of phytochemicals is indispensable for establishing advanced strategies for cancer therapy. This article reviews the anti-cancer effect of phytochemicals in connection with HIF-1α regulation.

Super Magnetic Niosomal Nanocarrier as a New Approach for Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Case Study on SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231 Cell Lines

In the present study, a magnetic niosomal nanocarrier for co-delivery of curcumin and letrozole into breast cancer cells has been designed. The magnetic NiCoFe2O4 core was coated by a thin layer of silica, followed by a niosomal structure, allowing us to load letrozole and curcumin into the silica layer and niosomal layer, respectively, and investigate their synergic effects on breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the nanocarriers demonstrated a pH-dependent release due to the niosomal structure at their outer layer, which is a promising behavior for cancer treatment. Additionally, cellular assays revealed that the nanocarriers had low cellular uptake in the case of non-tumorigenic cells (i.e., MCF-10A) and related high viability but high cellular uptake in cancer cell lines (i.e., MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3) and related low viability, which is evidenced in their high cytotoxicity against different breast cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the letrozole/curcumin co-loaded nanocarrier is higher than that of the aqueous solutions of both drugs, indicating their enhanced cellular uptake in their encapsulated states. In particular, NiCoFe2O4@L-Silica-L@C-Niosome showed the highest cytotoxicity effects on MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. The observed cytotoxicity was due to regulation of the expression levels of the studied genes in breast cancer cells, where downregulation was observed for the Bcl-2, MMP 2, MMP 9, cyclin D, and cyclin E genes while upregulation of the expression of the Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 genes was observed. The flow cytometry results also revealed that NiCoFe2O4@L-Silica-L@C-Niosome enhanced the apoptosis rate in both MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cells compared to the control samples. The findings of our research show the potential of designing magnetic niosomal formulations for simultaneous targeted delivery of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs into cancer cells in order to enhance their synergic chemotherapeutic effects. These results could open new avenues into the future of nanomedicine and the development of theranostic agents.

Assessment of Photo-Induced Cytotoxic Activity of Cachrys sicula and Cachrys libanotis Enriched-Coumarin Extracts against Human Melanoma Cells

Photochemotherapy is one of the most interesting current therapeutic approaches for the treatment of melanoma. Different classes of naturally occurring phytochemicals demonstrated interesting photoactive properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the photocytotoxic potential of two Cachrys species from Southern Italy: C. sicula and C. libanotis (Apiaceae). The enriched-coumarin extracts were obtained from aerial parts through both traditional maceration and pressurized cyclic solid-liquid (PCSL) extraction using Naviglio extractor^®. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of furanocoumarins were performed with GC-MS. The photocytotoxic effects were verified on C32 melanoma cells irradiated at a dose of 1.08 J/cm². The apoptotic responses were also assessed. Moreover, phenolic content and the in vitro antioxidant potential were estimated. Xanthotoxin, bergapten, and isopimpinellin were identified. All the samples induced concentration-dependent photocytotoxic effects (IC₅₀ ranging from 3.16 to 18.18 μg/mL). The C. libanotis sample obtained with Naviglio extractor^® was the most effective one (IC₅₀ = 3.16 ± 0.21 μg/mL), followed by C. sicula sample obtained with the same technique (IC₅₀ = 8.83 ± 0.20 μg/mL). Both Cachrys samples obtained through PCSL induced up-regulation of apoptotic signals such as BAX (Bcl2-associated X protein) and PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) cleavage. Moreover, these samples proved to be more photoactive, giving a greater upregulation of p21 protein in the presence of UVA radiation. Obtained results suggest that investigated species could be promising candidates for further investigations aimed to find new potential drugs for the photochemotherapy of skin cancer.

Alternative splicing modulates cancer aggressiveness: role in EMT/metastasis and chemoresistance

Enhanced metastasis and disease recurrence accounts for the high mortality rates associated with cancer. The process of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) contributes towards the augmentation of cancer invasiveness along with the gain of stem-like and the subsequent drug-resistant behavior. Apart from the well-established transcriptional regulation, EMT is also controlled post-transcriptionally by virtue of alternative splicing (AS). Numerous genes including Fibroblast Growth Factor receptor (FGFR) as well as CD44 are differentially spliced during this trans-differentiation process which, in turn, governs cancer progression. These splicing alterations are controlled by various splicing factors including ESRP, RBFOX2 as well as hnRNPs. Here, we have depicted the mechanisms governing the splice isoform switching of FGFR and CD44. Moreover, the role of the splice variants generated by AS of these gene transcripts in modulating the metastatic potential and stem-like/chemoresistant behavior of cancer cells has also been highlighted. Additionally, the involvement of splicing factors in regulating EMT/invasiveness along with drug-resistance as well as the metabolic properties of the cells has been emphasized. Tumorigenesis is accompanied by a remodeling of the cellular splicing profile generating diverse protein isoforms which, in turn, control the cancer-associated hallmarks. Therefore, we have also briefly discussed about a wide variety of genes which are differentially spliced in the tumor cells and promote cancer progression. We have also outlined different strategies for targeting the tumor-associated splicing events which have shown promising results and therefore this approach might be useful in developing therapies to reduce cancer aggressiveness in a more specific manner.

Participation of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Cancer with Phytochemicals

Cancer is a global health concern and one of the main causes of disease-related death. Even with considerable progress in investigations on cancer therapy, effective anti-cancer agents and regimens have thus far been insufficient. There has been compelling evidence that natural phytochemicals and their derivatives have potent anti-cancer activities. Plant-based anti-cancer agents, such as etoposide, irinotecan, paclitaxel, and vincristine, are currently being applied in medical treatments for patients with cancer. Further, the efficacy of plenty of phytochemicals has been evaluated to discover a promising candidate for cancer therapy. For developing more effective cancer therapy, it is required to apprehend the molecular mechanism deployed by natural compounds. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been realized to play a pivotal role in regulating cellular signaling pathways, affecting the efficacy of therapeutic agents in cancer. This review presents a feature of phytochemicals with anti-cancer activity, focusing mainly on the relationship between phytochemicals and miRNAs, with insights into the role of miRNAs as the mediators and the regulators of anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals.

Current Perspectives of the Applications of Polyphenols and Flavonoids in Cancer Therapy

The development of anticancer therapies that involve natural drugs has undergone exponential growth in recent years. Among the natural compounds that produce beneficial effects on human health, polyphenols have shown potential therapeutic applications in cancer due to their protective functions in plants, their use as food additives, and their excellent antioxidant properties. The possibility of combining conventional drugs-which are usually more aggressive than natural compounds-with polyphenols offers very valuable advantages such as the building of more efficient anticancer therapies with less side effects on human health. This review shows a wide range of trials in which polyphenolic compounds play a crucial role as anticancer medicines alone or in combination with other drugs at different stages of cancer: cancer initiation, promotion, and growth or progression. Moreover, the future directions in applications of various polyphenols in cancer therapy are emphasized.

Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles in Cardiovascular System

Numerous studies document an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with a subsequent decrease in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in different cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. Many natural polyphenols have been demonstrated to decrease ROS generation and/or to induce the endogenous antioxidant enzymatic defense system. Moreover, different polyphenolic compounds have the ability to increase the activity/expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with a subsequent enhancement of NO generation. However, as a result of low absorption and bioavailability of natural polyphenols, the beneficial effects of these substances are very limited. Recent progress in delivering polyphenols to the targeted tissues revealed new possibilities for the use of polymeric nanoparticles in increasing the efficiency and reducing the degradability of natural polyphenols. This review focuses on the effects of different natural polyphenolic substances, especially resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, and cherry extracts, and their ability to bind to polymeric nanoparticles, and summarizes the effects of polyphenol-loaded nanoparticles, mainly in the cardiovascular system.

Cytotoxic Effect of Vanicosides A and B from Reynoutria sachalinensis Against Melanotic and Amelanotic Melanoma Cell Lines and in silico Evaluation for Inhibition of BRAFV600E and MEK1

Vanicosides A and B are the esters of hydroxycinnamic acids with sucrose, occurring in a few plant species from the Polygonaceae family. So far, vanicosides A and B have not been evaluated for anticancer activity against human malignant melanoma. In this study, we tested these two natural products, isolated from Reynoutria sachalinensis rhizomes, against two human melanoma cell lines (amelanotic C32 cell line and melanotic A375 cell line, both bearing endogenous BRAFV600E mutation) and two normal human cell lines-keratinocytes (HaCaT) and the primary fibroblast line. Additionally, a molecular docking of vanicoside A and vanicoside B with selected targets involved in melanoma progression was performed. Cell viability was studied using an MTT assay. A RealTime-Glo™ Annexin V Apoptosis and Necrosis assay was used for monitoring programmed cell death (PCD). Vanicoside A demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against the amelanotic C32 cell line (viability of the C32 cell line was decreased to 55% after 72 h incubation with 5.0 µM of vanicoside A), significantly stronger than vanicoside B. This stronger cytotoxic activity can be attributed to an additional acetyl group in vanicoside A. No significant differences in the cytotoxicity of vanicosides were observed against the less sensitive A375 cell line. Moreover, vanicosides caused the death of melanoma cells at concentrations from 2.5 to 50 µM, without harming the primary fibroblast line. The keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) was more sensitive to vanicosides than fibroblasts, showing a clear decrease in viability after incubation with 25 µM of vanicoside A as well as a significant phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, but without a measurable cell death-associated fluorescence. Vanicosides induced an apoptotic death pathway in melanoma cell lines, but because of the initial loss of cell membrane integrity, an additional cell death mechanism might be involved like permeability transition pore (PTP)-mediated necrosis that needs to be explored in the future. Molecular docking indicated that both compounds bind to the active site of the BRAFV600E kinase and MEK-1 kinase; further experiments on their specific inhibitory activity of these targets should be considered.