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.

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.