Quercetin ameliorates reactive oxygen species generation, inflammation, mucus depletion, goblet disintegration, and tumor multiplicity in colon cancer: Probable role of adenomatous polyposis coli, β-catenin

Immune-inflammatory modulation by natural products derived from edible and medicinal herbs used in Chinese classical prescriptions

BACKGROUND

Edible and medicinal herbs1 (EMHs) refer to a class of substances with dual attribution of food and medicine. These substances are traditionally used as food and also listed in many international pharmacopoeias, including the European Pharmacopoeia, the United States Pharmacopoeia, and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Some classical formulas that are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine include a series of EMHs, which have been shown to be effective with obvious characteristics and advantages. Notably, these EMHs and Chinese classical prescriptions2 (CCPs) have also attracted attention in international herbal medicine research because of their low toxicity and high efficiency as well as the rich body of experience for their long-term clinical use.

PURPOSE

Our purpose is to explore the potential therapeutic effect of EMHs with immune-inflammatory modulation for the study of modern cancer drugs.

STUDY DESIGN

In the present study, we present a detailed account of some EMHs used in CCPs that have shown considerable research potential in studies exploring modern drugs with immune-inflammatory modulation.

METHODS

Approximately 500 publications in the past 30 years were collected from PubMed, Web of Science and ScienceDirect using the keywords, such as natural products, edible and medicinal herbs, Chinese medicine, classical prescription, immune-inflammatory, tumor microenvironment and some related synonyms. The active ingredients instead of herbal extracts or botanical mixtures were focused on and the research conducted over the past decade were discussed emphatically and analyzed comprehensively.

RESULTS

More than ten natural products derived from EMHs used in CCPs are discussed and their immune-inflammatory modulation activities, including enhancing antitumor immunity, regulating inflammatory signaling pathways, lowering the proportion of immunosuppressive cells, inhibiting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, immunosuppressive factors, and inflammatory mediators, are summarized.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the immune-inflammatory modulating role of those EMHs used in CCPs and provide new ideas for cancer treatment in clinical settings.

Anonna crassiflora suppresses colonic carcinogenesis through its antioxidant effects, bioactive amines, and phenol content in rats

Marolo (Annona crassiflora) is an underutilized Brazilian Cerrado fruit with few reports in the literature about its bioactive compounds and functional properties. In this context, the chemoprevention against the carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced pre-neoplastic lesions in Wistar rat colon was investigated and correlated with marolo's antioxidant activity and the contents of phenolic compounds and bioactive amines. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total flavonoids compounds (TFC) were determined in the marolo pulp extract by spectrophotometric and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography and diode array detection (UPLC-DAD) analysis. Free bioactive amines were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) after post column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde. In addition, the in vitro antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH, and ABTS. Wistar rats were treated orally with marolo pulp at 0.7, 1.4 and 2.8 g/kg body weight (bw)/day added to a standard ration. Four subcutaneous injections of DMH (40 mg/kg bw) were used to induce a pre-neoplastic lesion that was assessed by the aberrant crypt foci (ACF) assay. The marolo pulp (fresh weigh) showed high content of total phenolic compounds (9.16 mg GAE/g), with predominance of chlorogenic acid (1.86 µg/g) and epicatechin (0.99 µg/g), and total flavonoids (7.26 mg CE/g), ∼85 % of the TPC. The marolo pulp had significant contents of tyramine (31.97 mg/kg), putrescine (20.65 mg/kg), and spermidine (6.32 mg/kg). The marolo pulp inhibited (p < 0.05) pre-neoplastic lesions induced by DMH administration at the all concentrations tested. These findings indicate that marolo pulp has a colon carcinogenesis chemopreventive effect, which could be due to, at least in parts, its antioxidant action associated with its phenolics and flavonoids content as well of spermidine.

A comprehensive view on the quercetin impact on bladder cancer: Focusing on oxidative stress, cellular, and molecular mechanisms

Bladder cancer (BC) is known as a prevalent genitourinary malignancy and has a significant mortality rate worldwide. Despite recent therapeutic approaches, the recurrence rate is high, highlighting the need for a new strategy to reduce the BC cell progression. Quercetin, a flavonoid compound, demonstrated promising anticancer properties and could be used in the management of various malignancies such as BC. This comprehensive review summarized quercetin's cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer activities. The study's findings indicated that quercetin prevents the proliferation of the human BC cell line, promotes apoptosis of BIU-87 cells, reduces the expression of p-P70S6K, and induces apoptosis by p-AMPK. Moreover, quercetin restricts tumor growth through the AMPK/mTOR cascade and prevents colony formation of human BC cells by triggering DNA damage. Studying this review article will help researchers better understand quercetin's functional role in the prevention and treatment of BC.

Inhibition of Cancer Development by Natural Plant Polyphenols: Molecular Mechanisms

Malignant tumors remain one of the main sources of morbidity and mortality around the world. A chemotherapeutic approach to cancer treatment poses a multitude of challenges, primarily due to the low selectivity and genotoxicity of the majority of chemotherapeutic drugs currently used in the clinical practice, often leading to treatment-induced tumors formation. Highly selective antitumor drugs can largely resolve this issue, but their high selectivity leads to significant drawbacks due to the intrinsic tumor heterogeneity. In contrast, plant polyphenols can simultaneously affect many processes that are involved in the acquiring and maintaining of hallmark properties of malignant cells, and their toxic dose is typically much higher than the therapeutic one. In the present work we describe the mechanisms of the action of polyphenols on cancer cells, including their effects on genetic and epigenetic instability, tumor-promoting inflammation, and altered microbiota.

Experimental Murine Models for Colorectal Cancer Research

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent malignancy worldwide and in both sexes. Numerous animal models for CRC have been established to study its biology, namely carcinogen-induced models (CIMs) and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). CIMs are valuable for assessing colitis-related carcinogenesis and studying chemoprevention. On the other hand, CRC GEMMs have proven to be useful for evaluating the tumor microenvironment and systemic immune responses, which have contributed to the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. Although metastatic disease can be induced by orthotopic injection of CRC cell lines, the resulting models are not representative of the full genetic diversity of the disease due to the limited number of cell lines suitable for this purpose. On the other hand, patient-derived xenografts (PDX) are the most reliable for preclinical drug development due to their ability to retain pathological and molecular characteristics. In this review, the authors discuss the various murine CRC models with a focus on their clinical relevance, benefits, and drawbacks. From all models discussed, murine CRC models will continue to be an important tool in advancing our understanding and treatment of this disease, but additional research is required to find a model that can correctly reflect the pathophysiology of CRC.

The function of natural compounds in important anticancer mechanisms

The existence of malignant tumors has been a threat to human life, health, and safety. Although the rapid development of radiotherapy, drug therapy, surgery, and local therapy has improved the quality of life of tumor patients, there are still some risks. Natural compounds are widely used in cancer because they are easy to obtain, have a good curative effects and have no obvious side effects, and play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of various cancers. Phenolic, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and other natural components of traditional Chinese medicine have certain anti-tumor activities, which can promote apoptosis, anti-proliferation, anti-metastasis, inhibit angiogenesis, change the morphology of cancer cells and regulate immune function, etc., and have positive effects on breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, rectal cancer and so on. To better understand the effects of natural compounds on cancer, this paper screened out four important pathways closely related to cancer, including cell death and immunogenic cell death, immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, inflammation and related pathways and tumor metastasis, and systematically elaborated the effects of natural compounds on cancer.

Quercetin inhibits the amphiregulin/EGFR signaling-mediated renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition and renal fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy

Quercetin is a widely distributed, bioactive flavonoid compound, which displays potential to inhibit fibrosis in several diseases. The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of quercetin treatment on renal fibrosis and investigate the mechanism. Human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) stimulated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and a rat model of unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) that contributes to fibrosis were used to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of quercetin. PD153035 (N-[3-Bromophenyl]-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4-amine) was used to inactivate EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor). The level of fibrosis, proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in HK-2 were measured. All data are presented as means ± standard deviation (SD). p-value < .05 was considered statistically significant. In UUO rats, quercetin reduced the area of fibrosis as well as inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. In cultured HK-2 cells, quercetin significantly ameliorated the EMT induced by TGF-β1, which was accompanied by increased amphiregulin (AREG) expression. Moreover, quercetin inhibited AREG binding to the EGFR receptor, thereby further affecting other downstream pathways. Quercetin may alleviate fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the activation of AREG/EGFR signaling indicating a potential therapeutic effect of quercetin in renal fibrosis.

Fructus ligustri lucidi suppresses inflammation and restores the microbiome profile in murine colitis models

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is pathologically characterized by an inappropriate immune response to the gut commensal microbes accompanied by persistent epithelial barrier dysfunction, and its progression increases the susceptibility to colitis-associated cancer (CAC), as well as other complications. Fructus ligustri lucidi (FLL) has a long historical application in traditional Chinese medicine due to its various pharmacological effects, including antioxidation and anti-inflammation. The present study aimed to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of FLL in treating colitis.

METHODS

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with ultraviolet (UV) was performed to validate the quality of FLL; Network pharmacology analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database predicted the therapeutic value of FLL against UC and CAC; 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was administered to mice to establish murine models of experimental colitis, and FLL was given for the next 14 days at different concentrations; 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were performed on fecal samples to delineate the alteration in microbiome profile; Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry experiments were conducted to confirm the predicted cellular mechanisms.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology analysis and WGCNA predicted that the targets of the FLL were associated with the progression of UC and the survival of patients with colorectal cancer by regulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-17 signaling pathways, immune cell functions, responses to bacterial and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cell proliferation. In vivo experiments corroborated that the high dose of FLL significantly attenuated the progression of experimental colitis by reversing the weight loss and bloody stool, reconstructing the integrity of colorectal epithelium, and suppressing the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, FLL treatment reduced the transition of macrophages (Mφs) to the proinflammatory phenotype and promoted Mφs-regulated wound healing, and suppressed the production of ROS in intestinal organoids (IOs) and crypts. 16S rRNA and untargeted metabolomics showed that the administration of FLL inhibited DSS-caused colonization of the potentially pathogenic gut microorganisms and reversed DSS-influenced metabolic profile.

CONCLUSION

FLL is a potent anti-colitis drug by suppressing inflammation and rescuing dysbiosis.

Hesperetin alleviates DMH induced toxicity via suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation in the colon of Wistar rats

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH), a colon-specific environmental toxicant is one among the carcinogen responsible for the cause of colon cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Hesperetin (HST) against colon toxicity induced by DMH in Wistar rats. HST, a flavonoid widely found in citrus fruits possesses several biological activities including anti-microbial, anti-oxidant properties among others. A single dose of DMH (40 mg/kg body weight) was administered subcutaneously on 1st day for induction of colon toxicity followed by oral treatment with HST at a dose of 20 mg/kg bodyweight for 14 consecutive days. DMH administration leads to excessive ROS generation, resulting in an imbalance in redox homeostasis and causing membrane lipid peroxidation, which is also partly due to the decrease in the level of tissue antioxidant machinery. Our result showed HST significantly ameliorates DMH-induced lipid peroxidation and also substantially increases the activity/level of various anti-oxidant proteins (GR, GPx, GST, GSH, and SOD). HST was also found to reduce the expression of inflammatory proteins (TNF-α, IL-6, i-NOS, COX-2, NF-kB-p65), goblet cell disintegration as well as mucin depletion (sulfo and sialomucin) in the colon that was found to be elevated upon administration of DMH. Our histological results further provide confirmation of the protective role of HST against DMH-induced pathological alterations. The results of the present study demonstrate supplementation of HST is beneficial in ameliorating DMH-induced toxicity by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, goblet cell disintegration as well mucin depletion in the colon of Wistar rats.

Chemopreventive potential of Diosmin against benzo[a]pyrene induced lung carcinogenesis in Swiss Albino mice

Lung cancer, one of the most common cancer is a cause of concern associated with cancer-related mortality. Benzo[a]pyrene [B(a)P], a potent carcinogen as well as an environmental contaminant is reported to be found in cigarette smoke among various sources. The present study focuses on the chemopreventive potential of Diosmin against B[a]P-induced lung carcinogenesis and its possible mechanism in male Swiss Albino mice (SAM). SAM were treated orally with Diosmin (200 mg/kg b.w.) for 16 weeks and/or B[a]P (50 mg/kg b.w) for a period of 4 weeks. B[a]P treated cancerous mice showed increased peroxidation of membrane lipid as well as a decrease in the level/activity of antioxidant proteins. Cancerous mice also showed an increased level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Diosmin treatment, however, leads to decreased peroxidation of lipids, increased antioxidant proteins as well decrease in the level of CEA and NSE. B[a]P-induced cancerous animals also exhibited increased expression of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), COX2 as well as prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) while Diosmin-treated mice were found to have an ameliorative effect. Histopathological results further confirm the protective effect of Diosmin in averting B[a]P-induced pathological alterations of lung tissue. Overall, our results suggest Diosmin exerts its chemopreventive potential possibly via targeting the CREB/cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/PGE2 pathway thereby repressing inflammation.

Bioactive components of Banxia Xiexin Decoction for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases based on flavor-oriented analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) was first recorded in a Chinese medical classic, Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases, which was written in the Eastern Han dynasty of China. This ancient prescription consists of seven kinds of Chinese herbal medicine, namely, Pinellia ternata, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix scutellariae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Ginseng, Jujube, and Radix Glycyrrhizaepreparata. In clinic practice, its original application in China mainly has focused on the treatment of chronic gastritis for several hundred years. BXD is also effective in treating other gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs) in modern medical application. Despite available literature support and clinical experience, the treatment mechanisms or their relationships with the bioactive compounds in BXD responsible for its pharmacological actions, still need further explorations in more diversified channels. According to the analysis based on the five-flavor theory of TCM, BXD is traditionally viewed as the most representative prescription for pungent-dispersion, bitter-purgation and sweet-tonification. Consequently, based on the flavor-oriented analysis, the compositive herbs in BXD can be divided into three flavor groups, namely, the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups, each of which has specific active ingredients that are possibly relevant to GID treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper summarized recent literatures on BXD and its bioactive components used in GID treatment, and provided the pharmacological or chemical basis for the further exploration of the ancient prescription and the relative components.

METHOD

ology: Relevant literature was collected from various electronic databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Citations were based on peer-reviewed articles published in English or Chinese during the last decade.

RESULTS

Multiple components were found in the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups in BXD. The corresponding bioactive components include gingerol, shogaol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in the pungent group; berberine, palmatine, coptisine, baicalein, and baicalin in the bitter group; and ginsenosides, polysaccharides, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid in the sweet group. These components have been found directly or indirectly responsible for the remarkable effects of BXD on GID.

CONCLUSION

This review provided some valuable reference to further clarify BXD treatment for GID and their possible material basis, based on the perspective of the flavor-oriented analysis.

The potential biological effects of quercetin based on pharmacokinetics and multi-targeted mechanism in vivo

Quercetin is a plant-derived polyphenol flavonoid that has been proven to be effective for many diseases. However, the mechanism and in vivo metabolism of quercetin remains to be clarified. It achieves a wide range of biological effects through various metabolites, gut microbiota and its metabolites, systemic mediators produced by inflammation and oxidation, as well as by multiple mechanisms. The all-round disease treatment of quercetin is achieved through the organic combination of multiple channels. Therefore, this article clarifies the metabolic process of quercetin in the body, and explores the new pattern of action of quercetin in the treatment of diseases.

Application of Quercetin in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Many cellular signaling pathways contribute to the regulation of cell proliferation, division, motility, and apoptosis. Deregulation of these pathways contributes to tumor cell initiation and tumor progression. Lately, significant attention has been focused on the use of natural products as a promising strategy in cancer treatment. Quercetin is a natural flavonol compound widely present in commonly consumed foods. Quercetin has shown significant inhibitory effects on tumor progression via various mechanisms of action. These include stimulating cell cycle arrest or/and apoptosis as well as its antioxidant properties. Herein, we summarize the therapeutic effects of quercetin in gastrointestinal cancers (pancreatic, gastric, colorectal, esophageal, hepatocellular, and oral).

A Comprehensive View on the Quercetin Impact on Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the third type of cancer in incidence and second in mortality worldwide, with the newly diagnosed case number on the rise. Among the diagnosed patients, approximately 70% have no hereditary germ-line mutations or family history of pathology, thus being termed sporadic CRC. Diet and environmental factors are to date considered solely responsible for the development of sporadic CRC; therefore; attention should be directed towards the discovery of preventative actions to combat the CRC initiation, promotion, and progression. Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid plant secondary metabolite with a well-characterized antioxidant activity. It has been extensively reported as an anti-carcinogenic agent in the scientific literature, and the modulated targets of quercetin have been also characterized in the context of CRC, mainly in original research publications. In this fairly comprehensive review, we summarize the molecular targets of quercetin reported to date in in vivo and in vitro CRC models, while also giving background information about the signal transduction pathways that it up- and downregulates. Among the most relevant modulated pathways, the Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, MAPK/Erk, JNK, or p38, p53, and NF-κB have been described. With this work, we hope to encourage further quests in the elucidation of quercetin anti-carcinogenic activity as single agent, as dietary component, or as pharmaconutrient delivered in the form of plant extracts.

Bioactive food components for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment: A good match

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer worldwide, accounts for about 10% of the total cancer cases, and ranks as the second cause of death by cancer. CRC is more prevalent in developed countries in close causal relation with occidental diets. Due to anatomy, the diet has a strong impact on CRC. High contents in meat are acknowledged risk factors whereas a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is an established CRC protective factor. Fruits and vegetables contain numerous Bioactive Food Components (BFCs), physiologically active food compounds, beneficial on health. Preventive and therapeutic benefits of BFCs in cancer have increasingly been reported over the past 20 years. BFCs show both chemopreventive and anti-tumor properties in CRC but more interestingly, abundant research describes BFCs as enhancers of conventional cancer treatments. Despite these promising results, their clinical transferability is slowed down by bioavailability interrogations and their poorly understood hormetic effect. In this review, we would like to reposition BFCs as well-fitted for applications in CRC. We provide a synthetic overview of trustworthy BFC applications in CRC, with a special highlight on combinatory approaches and conventional cancer treatment potentiation strategies.

From Diospyros kaki L. (Persimmon) Phytochemical Profile and Health Impact to New Product Perspectives and Waste Valorization

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) fruit's phytochemical profile includes carotenoids, proanthocyanidins, and gallic acid among other phenolic compounds and vitamins. A huge antioxidant potential is present given this richness in antioxidant compounds. These bioactive compounds impact on health benefits. The intersection of nutrition and sustainability, the key idea behind the EAT-Lancet Commission, which could improve human health and decrease the global impact of food-related health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, bring the discussion regarding persimmon beyond the health effects from its consumption, but also on the valorization of a very perishable food that spoils quickly. A broad option of edible products with better storage stability or solutions that apply persimmon and its byproducts in the reinvention of old products or even creating new products, or with new and better packaging for the preservation of food products with postharvest technologies to preserve and extend the shelf-life of persimmon food products. Facing a global food crisis and the climate emergency, new and better day-to-day solutions are needed right now. Therefore, the use of persimmon waste has also been discussed as a good solution to produce biofuel, eco-friendly alternative reductants for fabric dyes, green plant growth regulator, biodegradable and edible films for vegetable packaging, antimicrobial activity against foodborne methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus found in retail pork, anti-Helicobacter pylori agents from pedicel extracts, and persimmon pectin-based emulsifiers to prevent lipid peroxidation, among other solutions presented in the revised literature. It has become clear that the uses for persimmon go far beyond the kitchen table and the health impact consumption demonstrated over the years. The desired sustainable transition is already in progress, however, mechanistic studies and clinical trials are essential and scaling-up is fundamental to the future.