Myricetin: a potential plant-derived anticancer bioactive compound-an updated overview

Myricetin alleviates the mechanism of IL-1β production caused by the endocrine-disrupting chemical Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in RAW 264.7 cells

Myricetin, a flavonoid present in numerous fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants, is recognized for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. Nevertheless, its involvement in mitigating inflammation caused by the endocrine-disrupting chemical Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), commonly used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturing to improve flexibility, has not been investigated. Here, we found that DEHP markedly increased IL-1β production through inflammatory pathways in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Treatment with myricetin at a concentration of 10 μM significantly reduced the elevated IL-1β levels. Myricetin achieves this by inhibiting the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which are driven by reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby suppressing IL-1β transcription via nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Additionally, myricetin prevents ROS-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and subsequent caspase-1 activation, further decreasing IL-1β production. These dual actions highlight myricetin's therapeutic potential in countering the oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory pathways triggered by environmental toxins like DEHP.

Identification of Bioactive Metabolites of Capirona macrophylla by Metabolomic Analysis, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Antiparasitic Assays

Capirona macrophylla is a Rubiaceae known as "mulateiro". Ethnobotanical extracts have been used for skin treatment and in the management of leishmaniasis and malaria.

OBJECTIVES

The metabolites in aqueous extracts from wood bark, leaves, and stems were identified, and their in silico docking and in vitro cellular efficacy against Leishmania amazonensis and Plasmodium falciparum were evaluated.

METHODS

The extracts were analyzed by UHPLC/HRMSn using untargeted metabolomics approach with MSDial, MSFinder, and GNPS software for metabolite identification and spectra clustering. The most abundant metabolites underwent molecular docking using AutoDock via PyRx, targeting the dihydroorotate dehydrogenase from Leishmania and P. falciparum, and evaluated through molecular dynamics simulations using Gromacs. In vitro biological assays were conducted on 60 HPLC-fractions against these parasites.

RESULTS

Metabolomics analysis identified 5100 metabolites in ESI+ and 2839 in ESI- spectra among the "mulateiro" samples. GNPS clustering highlighted large clusters of quercetin and chlorogenic acid groups. The most abundant metabolites were isofraxidin, scopoletin, 5(S)-5-carboxystrictosidine, loliolide, quercetin, quinic acid, caffeoylquinic acid (and isomers), chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, tryptophan, N-acetyltryptophan, epicatechin, procyanidin, and kaempferol-3-O-robinoside-7-O-rhamnoside. Molecular docking pointed to 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol as promising inhibitors. The in vitro assays yielded four active HPLC-fractions against L. amazonensis with IC50 values ranging from 175.2 μg/mL to 194.8 μg/mL, and fraction G29 showed an IC50 of 119.8 μg/mL against P. falciparum.

CONCLUSIONS

The ethnobotanical use of "mulateiro" wood bark tea as an antimalarial and antileishmanial agent was confirmed through in vitro assays. We speculate that these activities are attributed to linoleic acids and quinic acids.

Evaluation of Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Potential of Green-Synthesized Silver and Gold Nanoparticles From Nepeta leucophylla Benth

In the present study, silver (AgNPs) and gold (AuNPs) nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared using the ethanolic extract of Nepeta leucophylla (NLe). This plant was considered owing to its richness in natural polyphenols and antioxidants that are well known for their reducing potential. Different techniques, such as UV (ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared radiation), and XRD (X-ray diffraction), were utilized for the characterization of NPs. The UV absorption peak was observed at 434 and 535 nm for NLe-AgNPs and NLe-AuNPs, respectively. FTIR suggested about the possible classes of biomolecules involved in the formation of metal NPs. XRD pattern confirmed the crystalline structure of gold and silver NPs and validated that the crystal structure under consideration is a face-centered cubic (FCC) pattern. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images revealed that the NLe-AgNPs and NLe-AuNPs NPs were spherical in shape, with average diameter of 11.4 and 7.8 nm, respectively. The antioxidant potential was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, which revealed that NLe exhibited the highest antioxidant potential (79.37%) compared to synthesized metal NPs. Further, cytotoxic potential was evaluated using MTT assay against Hep G2 cell lines. The IC50 values were determined to be 5.97 µg/mL for NLe, 12.31 µg/mL for NLe-AgNPs, and 34.58 µg/mL for NLe-AuNPs, demonstrating their effectiveness in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. The present results revealed that NLe may play a promising role in the cure of different deteriorative diseases. In future, more detailed studies based on animal model may be useful to support the present results and to evaluate further health benefits of NLe.

Phytochemical analysis of Stachys iva: Discovering the optimal extract conditions and its bioactive compounds

The Lamiaceae family is one of the widest plant families among Greek flora, consisting of a great variety of species, with the genus Stachys being one of its largest representatives, spread to most continents. The genus Stachys is also known for its beneficial properties and has been used for years as a traditional remedy for healing various health conditions. Stachys iva, an endemic plant in the Kozani Regional unit, has also been consumed as an infusion by locals and is reported to relieve common cold symptoms, have antimicrobial properties, and contribute to normalizing blood glucose levels. The present study aimed to identify the chemical compounds (such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phenylethanoid glycosides) responsible for the herb's pharmacological properties and determine the optimal extraction conditions to gather an extract with high therapeutic value without solvent and energy waste. Experiments conducted proved that extracting by simple stirring with deionized water for 75 min at 80°C is the best option. In contrast, the extract's total polyphenol content was determined, and the compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. In addition, other methods were utilized (e.g., ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl antiradical activity assay) to reveal potent antioxidant, anti-hydrogen peroxide, and anti-inflammatory activity, while the correlation between these properties and extraction conditions was also examined.

Exploring molecular targets: herbal isolates in cervical cancer therapy

OBJECTIVE

Cervical cancer (CxCa) stands as a significant global health challenge, ranking fourth in cancer-related mortality among the female population. While chemotherapy regimens have demonstrated incremental progress in extending overall survival, the outlook for recurrent CxCa patients remains disheartening. An imperative necessity arises to delve into innovative therapeutic avenues, with molecular targeted therapy emerging as a promising candidate. Previous investigations have shed light on the therapeutic effectiveness of five distinct herbal compounds, epicatechin, curcumin, myricetin, jatrorrhizine, and arborinine, within the context of CxCa.

METHODS

A systems biology approach was employed to discern differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CxCa tissues relative to healthy cervical epithelial tissues. A protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) was constructed, anchored in the genes related to CxCa. The central genes were discerned within the PPIN, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves explored their prognostic significance. An assessment of the binding affinity of the selected herbal compounds to the master regulator of prognostic markers in CxCa was conducted.

RESULTS

A significant correlation between the overexpression of MYC, IL6, JUN, RRM2, and VEGFA and an adverse prognosis in CxCa was indicated. The regulation of these markers is notably influenced by the transcription factor CEBPD. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the binding affinity between myricetin and the CEBPD DNA binding site was robust.

CONCLUSION

The findings presented herein have unveiled pivotal genes and pathways that play a central role in the malignant transformation of CxCa. CEBPD has emerged as a potential target for harnessing the therapeutic potential of myricetin in this context.

Flavonoids as promising molecules in the cancer therapy: An insight

Cancer continues to increase global morbidity and mortality rates. Despite substantial progress in the development of various chemically synthesized anti-cancer drugs, the poor prognosis of the disease still remains a big challenge. The most common drawback of conventional cancer therapies is the emergence of drug resistance eventually leading to the discontinuation of chemotherapy. Moreover, advanced target-specific therapies including immunotherapy and stem cell therapy are expensive enough and are unaffordable for most patients in poorer nations. Therefore, alternative and cheaper therapeutic strategies are needed to complement the current cancer treatment approaches. Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds produced naturally by plants and have great potential in human health and disease. These compounds possess antiproliferative, anti-oxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. Among the phytochemicals, flavonoids are very effective in treating a wide range of diseases from cardiovascular diseases and immunological disorders to cancer. They scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit cancer metastasis, modulate the immune system and induce apoptotic or autophagic cell death in cancers. This review will discuss the potential of various phytochemicals particularly flavonoids in attempts to target various cancers.