Astragalus polysaccharides increase the sensitivity of SKOV3 cells to cisplatin

The Latest Research Progress: Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine as Promising Candidates for Ovarian Cancer Therapy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ovarian cancer ranks the first in the mortality of gynecological tumors. Because there are no obvious symptoms in the early stage of ovarian cancer, most patients are in the advanced stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. The incidence of ovarian cancer is increasing year by year, and the incidence of ovarian cancer has a trend of younger age. In recent years. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a significant impact on improving the quality of life of cancer patients, reducing drug toxicity, preventing metastasis and recurrence, enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and prolonging survival time, so patients have benefited a lot.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review summarizes the mechanisms and molecular pathways through which active ingredients of TCM act in ovarian cancer. It explores the advantages of TCM in treating ovarian cancer. This review provides theoretical support for the use of TCM in the treatment of ovarian cancer, offering new perspectives for its clinical prevention and treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review conducted a literature search on PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for relevant studies on TCM active ingredients in preventing ovarian cancer. The search terms included "ovarian cancer" combined with "Chinese herbal medicine," "Herbal medicine," "Traditional Chinese medicine," and "Active ingredients of Chinese medicine". Based on existing experimental and clinical research, the paper systematically summarized and analyzed the mechanisms of TCM in treating ovarian cancer.

RESULTS

Active ingredients of TCM inhibit the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer through inducing tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, suppressing tumor cell migration and invasion, inducing tumor cell autophagy, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs. Chinese medicine provides a comprehensive treatment option for ovarian cancer patients, synergizing with radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs to enhance treatment effectiveness and introduce new hope and possibilities in clinical therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Active ingredients of TCM can inhibit the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer, but further clinical research is needed to support their application.

Astragalus membranaceus: A Review of Its Antitumor Effects on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The rising global morbidity and mortality rates of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) underscore the urgent need for more effective treatments. Current therapeutic modalities-including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy-face several limitations. Recently, Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has captured significant attention due to its broad pharmacological properties, such as immune regulation, anti-inflammatory effects, and the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enzyme activities. This review delivers a comprehensive summary of the most recent advancements and ongoing applications of Astragalus membranaceus in NSCLC treatment, underlining its potential for integration into existing treatment protocols. It also highlights essential areas for future research, including the elucidation of its molecular mechanisms, optimization of dosage and administration, and evaluation of its efficacy and safety alongside standard therapies, all of which could potentially improve therapeutic outcomes for NSCLC patients.

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide combined with cisplatin reverses cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer by inducing ferroptosis via regulating GPX4

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance poses a significant challenge in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that the combination of certain polysaccharides derived from plants with DDP is an effective approach to overcoming drug resistance in some cancers. Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels has been used for centuries in China to treat gynecological ailments. Numerous studies indicate that Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP), an extract from Angelica sinensis, can inhibit various forms of cancer. However, the impact of ASP on ovarian cancer remains unexplored. Through both in vitro and in vivo experiments, our study revealed the capability of ASP to effectively reversing DDP resistance in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells, while exhibiting acceptable safety profiles in vivo. To elucidate the mechanism underlying drug resistance reversal, we employed RNA-seq analysis and identified GPX4 as a key gene. Considering the role of GPX4 in ferroptosis, we conducted additional research to explore the effects of combining ASP with DDP on SKOV3/DDP cells. In summary, our findings demonstrate that the combination of ASP and DDP effectively suppresses GPX4 expression in SKOV3/DDP cells, thereby reversing their resistance to DDP.

Structure Elucidation of a Novel Polysaccharide Isolated from Euonymus fortunei and Establishing Its Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties

Euonymusfortunei polysaccharides (EFPs) have not been extensively investigated yet in terms of their extraction and biological activity. The orthogonal experimental design was employed in this study to evaluate the optimum yield of EFPs. A maximum yield of 2.63 ± 0.23% was attained using material-liquid ratios of 60 mL/g, extraction temperature of 80°C, ultrasonic power of 144 W, and extraction time of 75 mins. The polysaccharide content reached 53.47 ± 0.31% when deproteinized thrice. An analysis of monosaccharide composition revealed that these polysaccharides consist of Gal, Glc, Man, Fuc, and Rha with a molar ratio of 7.14 ∶ 23.99 ∶ 6.29 ∶ 6.55 ∶ 1.00, respectively, in EFPs. Subsequently, the in vitro scavenging capacities of 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ·OH and superoxide anion radicals, along with the reducing power of EFPs, were studied. Results revealed that EFPs have higher antioxidant activity, particularly ·OH scavenging, as well as reducing power, as compared to Astragalus polysaccharides (ASPs) and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs). The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method was used to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of polysaccharides on SKOV3 cell proliferation, and the results revealed their inhibition at concentrations in the range of 200-800 μg/mL. In addition, findings from flow cytometry further confirmed that EFPs blocked the cell cycle at G0/G1 and S phases and induced SKOV3 cell apoptosis. In a word, EFPs could be exploited and used further based on the experimental results from this study.

Anticancer Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharide and Its Application in Cancer Immunotherapy

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) derived from A. membranaceus plays a crucial role in traditional Chinese medicine. These polysaccharides have shown antitumor effects and are considered safe. Thus, they have become increasingly important in cancer immunotherapy. APS can limit the spread of cancer by influencing immune cells, promoting cell death, triggering cancer cell autophagy, and impacting the tumor microenvironment. When used in combination with other therapies, APS can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce toxicity and side effects. APS combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, relay cellular immunotherapy, and cancer vaccines have broadened the application of cancer immunotherapy and enhanced treatment effectiveness. By summarizing the research on APS in cancer immunotherapy over the past two decades, this review elaborates on the anticancer mechanism of APS and its use in cancer immunotherapy and clinical trials. Considering the multiple roles of APS, this review emphasizes the importance of using APS as an adjunct to cancer immunotherapy and compares other polysaccharides with APS. This discussion provides insights into the specific mechanism of action of APS, reveals the molecular targets of APS for developing effective clinical strategies, and highlights the wide application of APS in clinical cancer therapy in the future.

The combination of Brassica rapa L. polysaccharides and cisplatin enhances the anti liver cancer effect and improves intestinal microbiota and metabolic disorders

Polysaccharides are commonly used as low-toxicity anticancer active substances to enhance the chemotherapeutic effect of cisplatin and reduce toxicity. Brassica rapa L. polysaccharides have been shown to have hepatoprotective effects; however, their anticancer effects in combination with cisplatin and their mechanisms have not been reported. An acidic polysaccharide from Brassica rapa L. (BRCPe) using hydroalcohol precipitation-assisted sonication was Characterized. The effects of BRCPe combined with cisplatin treatment on tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model were investigated. The impact of the combined treatment on the composition of intestinal flora, levels of short-chain fatty acids and endogenous metabolites in tumor mice were analyzed based on macrogenomic and metabolomic data Our results showed that the BRCPe combined with low-dose Cisplatin group showed better inhibitory activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth in terms of tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor suppression rate compared with the BRCPe and Cisplation alone group, and reduced the side effects of cisplatin-induced body weight loss, immune deficiency, and liver injury. Furthermore, BRCPe combined with cisplatin was found to induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell through the activation of the caspase cascade reaction. In addition, the intervention of BRCPe were observed to modulate the composition, structure and functional structure of intestinal flora affected by cisplatin. Notably, Lachnospiraceae bacteria, Lactobacillus murinus, Muribaculaceae, and Clostridiales bacteria were identified as significant contributors to microbial species involved in metabolic pathways. Moreover, BRCPe effectively regulate the metabolic disorders in cisplatin-induced hepatocellular carcinoma mice. In conclusion, BRCPe could potentially function as an adjuvant or dietary supplement to augment the effectiveness of cisplatin chemotherapy through the preservation of a more efficient intestinal microenvironmental homeostasis.

Advances in research on the anti-tumor mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharides

The dry root of the soybean plant Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge) Hsiao or A. membranaceus (Fisch) Bge, Astragali Radix (AR) has a long medicinal history. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), the natural macromolecule that exhibits immune regulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and other pharmacological activities, is an important active ingredient extracted from AR. Recently, APS has been increasingly used in cancer therapy owing to its anti-tumor ability as it prevents the progression of prostate, liver, cervical, ovarian, and non-small-cell lung cancer by suppressing tumor cell growth and invasion and enhancing apoptosis. In addition, APS enhances the sensitivity of tumors to antineoplastic agents and improves the body's immunity. This macromolecule has prospects for broad application in tumor therapy through various pathways. In this article, we present the latest progress in the research on the anti-tumor effects of APS and its underlying mechanisms, aiming to provide novel theoretical support and reference for its use in cancer therapy.

Progress in the study of reproductive toxicity of platinum-based antitumor drugs and their means of prevention

Platinum-based antitumor drugs are broad-spectrum agents with unique mechanisms of action. Combination chemotherapy regimens based on platinum drugs are commonly used in cancer treatment. However, these drugs can cause various adverse reactions in the human body through different routes of administration, including reproductive toxicity, genetic toxicity, and embryonic developmental toxicity. Preventing adverse effects is crucial to enhance patients' quality of life and reduce healthcare costs. This article discusses the types and developmental history of antitumor active platinum compounds, their mechanisms of action, routes of administration, and their potential reproductive, genetic, and embryonic developmental toxicity. This text explores preventive measures based on animal experimental results. Its aim is to provide references for personalized treatment and occupational protection when using platinum drugs. The continuous progress of science and technology, along with the deepening of medical research, suggests that the application of platinum drugs will broaden. Therefore, the development of new platinum drugs will be an important direction for future research.

Synergist for antitumor therapy: Astragalus polysaccharides acting on immune microenvironment

Various new treatments are emerging constantly in anti-tumor therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, the efficacy is still not satisfactory. Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Radix astragali. Studies found that astragalus polysaccharides have gained great significance in increasing the sensitivity of anti-tumor treatment, reducing the side effects of anti-tumor treatment, reversing the drug resistance of anti-tumor drugs, etc. In this review, we focused on the role of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment. We reviewed the immunomodulatory effect of astragalus polysaccharides on macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes. We found that astragalus polysaccharides can promote the activities of macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes and induce the expression of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, we summarized the clinical applications of astragalus polysaccharides in patients with digestive tract tumors. We summarized the effective mechanism of astragalus polysaccharides on digestive tract tumors, including apoptosis induction, proliferation inhibition, immunoactivity regulation, enhancement of the anticancer effect and chemosensitivity. Therefore, in view of the multiple functions of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment and its clinical efficacy, the combination of astragalus polysaccharides with antitumor therapy such as immunotherapy may provide new sparks to the bottleneck of current treatment methods.

Application of natural polysaccharides and their novel dosage forms in gynecological cancers: therapeutic implications from the diversity potential of natural compounds

Cancer is one of the most lethal diseases. Globally, the number of cancers is nearly 10 million per year. Gynecological cancers (for instance, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial), relying on hidden diseases, misdiagnoses, and high recurrence rates, have seriously affected women's health. Traditional chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy effectively improve the prognosis of gynecological cancer patients. However, with the emergence of adverse reactions and drug resistance, leading to the occurrence of complications and poor compliance of patients, we have to focus on the new treatment direction of gynecological cancers. Because of the potential effects of natural drugs in regulating immune function, protecting against oxidative damage, and improving the energy metabolism of the body, natural compounds represented by polysaccharides have also attracted extensive attention in recent years. More and more studies have shown that polysaccharides are effective in the treatment of various tumors and in reducing the burden of metastasis. In this review, we focus on the positive role of natural polysaccharides in the treatment of gynecologic cancer, the molecular mechanisms, and the available evidence, and discuss the potential use of new dosage forms derived from polysaccharides in gynecologic cancer. This study covers the most comprehensive discussion on applying natural polysaccharides and their novel preparations in gynecological cancers. By providing complete and valuable sources of information, we hope to promote more effective treatment solutions for clinical diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers.

Aidi injection enhances the anti-tumor impact of doxorubicin in H22 tumor-containing mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Aidi injection (AD) is a traditional medical preparation that has a Chinese origin. It is extensively used particularly in combination with doxorubicin (DOX) for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the combination's synergistic mechanism has not yet been clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the anti-tumor impact of AD in combination with DOX and their synergistic mechanism in HCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An H22 mouse xenograft model was utilized to study the impact of AD, DOX, and their combination on HCC in vivo. Their effects on cell vitality, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression were also investigated in H22 cells in vitro. Subsequently, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were utilized to investigate the impacts of AD, DOX, and their combination on cell viability, migration, invasion, tube formation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression.

RESULTS

The study established that the tumor inhibition rate of AD combined with DOX reached 79.51%, which was significantly higher than that of AD (25.14%) or DOX (49.48%) alone. Additionally, the Q-value characterizing the synergy between AD and DOX was 1.72, demonstrating a strong synergistic effect. Furthermore, compared to AD or DOX administration alone, the combined administration group significantly decreased the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level in the serum, increased the tumor necrosis area, increased the Bax/Bcl-2, Cyt-c, caspase-9, Fas, Fasl, caspase-8, and caspase-3 protein expression, and significantly increased the CD31 and Ki67 protein expression in tumor tissue. Compared to AD or DOX alone, AD combined with DOX treatment had a synergistic effect on H22 cells (combination index values < 0.9), which inhibited cell viability, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), induced apoptosis, promoted MMP loss, and increased ROS generation, cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 levels, and caspase-3 activity. Moreover, combined administration showed a more pronounced inhibition of cell viability, migration, invasion, tube formation, and VEGF protein expression in HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONS

AD enhances the anti-tumor effect of DOX by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis and cell proliferation. The findings of this study lay experimental foundations for the clinical combination of AD and DOX.

Toosendanin reduces cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer through modulating the miR-195/ERK/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance is prevalent in ovarian cancer (OC) patients and contributes to the poor prognosis. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop new agent to intervene and even reverse DDP resistance in OC. Toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid extracted from the bark or fruits of Melia toosendan Sieb et Zucc, has been proved to possess significant antitumor activities. However, the efficacy of TSN on DDP resistance in OC has not been reported yet.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of TSN on DDP resistance in OC and explore the molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Human OC cell line (SKOV3) and DDP-resistant cell line (SKOV3/DDP) were used. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 and colony formation assay. Annexin V/PI double staining and hoechst 33342 nuclear staining were employed to detect cell apoptosis. Transwell and wound-healing assay were used to determine the invasion and migration potential of cells respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting were performed to detect the expression of molecules related to miR-195/ERK/β-catenin pathway. The effects and mechanism of TSN on DDP resistance of OC in vivo was investigated using xenograft model, TUNEL staining assay and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

TSN improved the DDP sensitivity of SKOV3/DDP cells in vitro and in vivo, reflected in promoting inhibition of proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) as well as induction of apoptosis by DDP. TSN could modulate the miR-195/ERK/β-catenin axis by upregulating the miR-195-5p expression and then suppressing ERK/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway which were activated in SKOV3/DDP cells. Moreover, co-treatment of β-catenin pathway activator LiCl or miR-195-5p silencing partially recovered the DDP resistance which was previously repressed by TSN.

CONCLUSION

Both in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that TSN could reduce DDP resistance in OC through regulating the miR-195/ERK/β-catenin pathway, highlighting the potential of TSN as an effective agent for favoring overcoming clinical DDP resistance in OC.

Extraction, structure, and activity of polysaccharide from Radix astragali

Radix astragali polysaccharide (RAP) is a water-soluble heteropolysaccharide. It is an immune promoter and regulator, and has antivirus, antitumor, anti-aging, anti-radiation, anti-stress, anti-oxidation and other activitys. The extraction, separation, purification, structure, activity and modification of RAP were summarized. Some extraction methods of RAP had been introduced, and the separation and purification methods of RAP were reviewed, and the structure and activity of RAP were highly discussed. Current derivatization of RAP was outlined. Through the above discussion that the yield of crude polysaccharides from Radix astragali by enzyme-assisted extraction was significantly higher than that by other extraction methods, but each extraction method had different extraction effects under certain conditions, and the activity efficiency of RAP was also different. Therefore, it is particularly important to optimize the extraction method with known better yield for the study of RAP. In addition, the purification and separation of RAP are the key factors affecting the yield and activity of RAP. At the same time, there are still few studies on the derivatiration of Radix astragali polysaccharide, but the researches in this area are very important. RAP also has many important pharmacological effects on human body, but its practical application needs further study. Finally, studies on the structure-activity relationship of RAP still need to be carried out by many scholars. This review would provide some help for further researches on various important applications of RAP.

Therapeutic Prospects of Polysaccharides for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is ranked as the leading cause of death among cancers of the female reproductive tract. First-line platinum treatment faces the severe challenges associated with the patient relapse and poor prognosis. Thus, it is imperative to develop natural antitumor drugs for OC with high efficacy. Natural polysaccharides have significant biological activities and antitumor effects. Our work has demonstrated that polysaccharides play key roles by inhibiting the cell proliferation and growth, regulating the tumor cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, suppressing the tumor cell migration and invasion, improving the immunomodulatory activities, and enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy (cisplatin) in OC, which provide powerful evidence for the application of polysaccharides as novel anticancer agents, supplementary remedies, and adjunct therapeutic agents alone or in combination with cisplatin for preventing and treating the OC.

Pharmacological Effects of Cisplatin Combination with Natural Products in Cancer Chemotherapy

Cisplatin and other platinum-based drugs, such as carboplatin, ormaplatin, and oxaliplatin, have been widely used to treat a multitude of human cancers. However, a considerable proportion of patients often relapse due to drug resistance and/or toxicity to multiple organs including the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and the cardiovascular, hematologic, and nervous systems. In this study, we sought to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of the science highlighting the use of cisplatin in cancer therapy, with a special emphasis on its molecular mechanisms of action, and treatment modalities including the combination therapy with natural products. Hence, we searched the literature using various scientific databases., such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and relevant sources, to collect and review relevant publications on cisplatin, natural products, combination therapy, uses in cancer treatment, modes of action, and therapeutic strategies. Our search results revealed that new strategic approaches for cancer treatment, including the combination therapy of cisplatin and natural products, have been evaluated with some degree of success. Scientific evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrates that many medicinal plants contain bioactive compounds that are promising candidates for the treatment of human diseases, and therefore represent an excellent source for drug discovery. In preclinical studies, it has been demonstrated that natural products not only enhance the therapeutic activity of cisplatin but also attenuate its chemotherapy-induced toxicity. Many experimental studies have also reported that natural products exert their therapeutic action by triggering apoptosis through modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p53 signal transduction pathways and enhancement of cisplatin chemosensitivity. Furthermore, natural products protect against cisplatin-induced organ toxicity by modulating several gene transcription factors and inducing cell death through apoptosis and/or necrosis. In addition, formulations of cisplatin with polymeric, lipid, inorganic, and carbon-based nano-drug delivery systems have been found to delay drug release, prolong half-life, and reduce systemic toxicity while other formulations, such as nanocapsules, nanogels, and hydrogels, have been reported to enhance cell penetration, target cancer cells, and inhibit tumor progression.

Polysaccharides isolated from Bangia fuscopurpurea induce apoptosis and autophagy in human ovarian cancer A2780 cells

Although ovarian cancer is common, its prognosis remains poor because of drug resistance and early metastasis. Polysaccharides extracted from Bangia fuscopurpurea (BFP) are potential anti-cancer agents, but the mechanisms underlying their effects in human ovarian cancer remain unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of action of BFP polysaccharides in A2780 ovarian cancer cells using cell migration, invasion, apoptosis, and autophagy assays. Transwell assays indicated that BFP inhibited cell migration and invasion. Flow cytometry analysis showed that BFP treatment induced apoptosis and reactive oxygen species production, while significantly reducing mitochondrial membrane potential. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses revealed changes in the expression of apoptosis- and autophagy-related cellular mRNAs and proteins, respectively, following BFP treatment for 24 h. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that BFP induced autophagy in A2780 cells. These findings demonstrate that BFP may be useful for developing functional foods for cancer therapy.

The anti-cancerous activity of adaptogenic herb Astragalus membranaceus

BACKGROUND

Cancer is the most dreadful disease increasing rapidly causing an economic burden globally. A standardized chemotherapy regimen planned with curative intent weakens the immune system and damages healthy cells making the patient prone to infections and severe side effects with pain and fatigue.

PURPOSE

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) has a long history of use in the treatment of severe adverse diseases. For thousands of years, it has been used in mixed herbal decoctions for the treatment of cancer. Due to growing interest in this plant root for its application to treat various types of cancers and tumors, has attracted researcher's interest.

METHOD

The literature search was done from core collections of electronic databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed and Science Direct using keywords given below and terms like pharmacological and phytochemical details of this plant.

OUTCOME

Astragalus membranaceus has demonstrated the ability to modulate the immune system during drug therapy making the patient physically fit and prolonged life. It has become a buzzword of herbalists as it is one of the best of seven important adaptogenic herbs with a protective effect against chronic stress and cancer. It demonstrated significant amelioration of the perilous toxic effects induced by concurrently administered chemo onco-drugs.

CONCLUSION

The natural phytoconstituents of this plant formononetin, astragalus polysaccharide, and astragalosides which show high potential anti-cancerous activity are studied and discussed in detail. One of them are used in clinical trials to overcome cancer related fatigue. Overall, this review aims to provide an insight into Astragalus membranaceus status in cancer therapy.

Astragalus polysaccharides inhibit ovarian cancer cell growth via microRNA-27a/FBXW7 signaling pathway

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), a natural antioxidant found in Astragalus membranaceus emerging as a novel anticancer agent, exerts antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity in various cancer cell types, but its effect on ovarian cancer (OC) remains unknown. In the present study, we tried to elucidate the role and mechanism of APS in OC cells. Our results showed that APS treatment suppressed the proliferation and induced apoptosis in OC cells. Afterward, the microRNA (miRNA) profiles in APS-treated cells were determined by a microarray assay, and whether APS affected OV-90 cells through regulation of miRNA was determined. Among these aberrant miRNAs, miR-27a was selected for further study as its oncogenic roles in various human cancers. Moreover, we found overexpression of miR-27a reversed the antiproliferation and pro-apoptotic effects of APS on OC cells. F-box and WD-40 domain protein 7 (FBXW7), a classical tumor suppressor, was found directly targeted by miR-27a and its translation was suppressed by miR-27a in OC cells. Finally, it was also observed that knockdown of FBXW7 by si-FBXW7 reversed the tumor suppressive activity of APS in OC cells, which is similar to the effects of miR-27a overexpression. Our findings demonstrate that APS can suppress OC cell growth in vitro via miR-27a/FBXW7 axis, and this observation reveals the therapeutic potential of APS for treatment of OC.

Efficacy of Chemotherapy Integrated With Traditional Korean Medicine in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background:

This retrospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy (CTX) integrated with Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, in a single Korean center.

Methods:

From January, 2014 to February, 2019, patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who had received CTX were enrolled. Overall survival (OS), demographic characteristics, and adverse events were examined. Statistical analysis was utilized to evaluate the differences in characteristics and to compare the survival rates between the CTX group and CTX+TKM group. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare the differences in survival time. A Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the hazard ratio of the risk of mortality.

Results:

A total 37 participants were included and visited a TKM hospital 7.4 ± 8.3 months after being diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The median age of the participants was 62 years; 26 patients (70.3%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status between 0 and 2, and 23 patients (62.2 %) had first-line CTX failure. The median OS of all patients was 3.8 months (95% CI, 3.1-4.6). The CTX + TKM group showed longer survival (4.1 months; 95% CI, 2.4- .8) than the CTX group (2.4 months, 95% CI 0.2-4.6) but this was not statistically significant (P = .217). Chemotherapy with TKM treatment for more than 30 days (CTX + TKM ≥ 30) significantly prolonged median OS (9.1 months; 95% CI, 3.6-14.5; P = .025) compared to chemotherapy alone. Cox hazard ratio analysis revealed that CTX + TKM ≥ 30 and prior chemotherapy were significantly independent prognostic factors for OS. The main herbs in the TKM treatment were Rhus verniciflua Stokes and Astragalus. Severe adverse events with respect to TKM treatment were not reported.

Conclusions:

TKM treatment integrated with chemotherapy may prolong OS in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer compared to chemotherapy treatment alone. More rigorous prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm this result.

Epigenetic Programming Through Breast Milk and Its Impact on Milk-Siblings Mating

Background

The epigenetic effects of transmission of certain regulatory molecules, such as miRNAs, through maternal milk on future generations, are still unknown and have not been fully understood yet. We hypothesized that breastfeeding regularly by adoptive-mother may cause transmission of miRNAs as epigenetic regulating factors to the infant, and the marriage of milk-siblings may cause various pathologies in the future generations.

Results

A cross-fostering model using a/a and A^vy/a mice had been established. F2 milk-sibling and F2 control groups were obtained from mating of milk-siblings or unrelated mice. Randomized selected animals in the both F2 groups were sacrificed for miRNA expression studies and the remainings were followed for phenotypic changes (coat color, obesity, hyperglycemia, liver pathology, and life span). The lifespan in the F2 milk-sibling group was shorter than the control group (387 vs 590 days, p = 0.011) and they were more obese during the aging period. Histopathological examination of liver tissues revealed abnormal findings in F2 milk-sibling group. In order to understand the epigenetic mechanisms leading to these phenotypic changes, we analyzed miRNA expression differences between offspring of milk-sibling and control matings and focused on the signaling pathways regulating lifespan and metabolism. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with pathways regulating metabolism, survival, and cancer development such as the PI3K-Akt, ErbB, mTOR, and MAPK, insulin signaling pathways. We further analyzed the expression patterns of miR-186-5p, miR-141-3p, miR-345-5p, and miR-34c-5p and their candidate target genes Mapk8, Gsk3b, and Ppargc1a in ovarian and liver tissues.

Conclusion

Our findings support for the first time that the factors modifying the epigenetic mechanisms may be transmitted by breast milk and these epigenetic interactions may be transferred transgenerationally. Results also suggested hereditary epigenetic effects of cross-fostering on future generations and the impact of mother-infant dyad on epigenetic programming.

Modulation of Apoptosis by Plant Polysaccharides for Exerting Anti-Cancer Effects: A Review

Cancer has become a significant public health problem with high disease burden and mortality. At present, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the main means of treating cancer, but they have shown serious safety problems. The severity of this problem has caused further attention and research on effective and safe cancer treatment methods. Polysaccharides are natural products with anti-cancer activity that are widely present in a lot of plants, and many studies have found that inducing apoptosis of cancer cells is one of their important mechanisms. Therefore, this article reviews the various ways in which plant polysaccharides promote apoptosis of cancer cells. The major apoptotic pathways involved include the mitochondrial pathway, the death receptor pathway, and their upstream signal transduction such as MAPK pathway, PI3K/AKT pathway, and NF-κB pathway. Moreover, the paper has also been focused on the absorption and toxicity of plant polysaccharides with reference to extant literature, making the research more scientific and comprehensive. It is hoped that this review could provide some directions for the future development of plant polysaccharides as anticancer drugs in pharmacological experiments and clinical researches.

Astragalus Polysaccharides Inhibits Tumorigenesis and Lipid Metabolism Through miR-138-5p/SIRT1/SREBP1 Pathway in Prostate Cancer

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) is a traditional Chinese medicine and have been proved to involve in multiple biological processes, including inflammation, metabolism, and carcinogenics. However, the specific mechanisms by which APS on prostate cancer (PCa) remains largely unknown. In the current study, we found APS greatly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of PCa cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. In addition, cellular triglyceride and cholesterol levels were also decreased significantly under APS treatment. Microarray data revealed the SIRT1 expression was markably suppressed under APS exposure. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that over-expression of SIRT1 inhibits the expression and nuclear translocation of SREBP1 via activating AMPK phosphorylation to suppress lipid metabolism. Otherwise, knockdown of SIRT1 significantly promotes AMPK/SREBP1 signaling and its associated target genes. Besides, we also found miR-138-5p was greatly inhibited the SIRT1 expression to regulating cell metabolism by targeting its 3′UTR region. To summarize, our findings suggested that APS inhibits tumorigenesis and lipid metabolism through miR-138-5p/SIRT1/SREBP1 pathways in PCa.

Astragalus polysaccharide inhibits breast cancer cell migration and invasion by regulating epithelial‑mesenchymal transition via the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) serves an important role in tumor migration and invasion. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), which is the main component of the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus membranaceus, has been identified to display an antitumor effect. However, the effects and mechanisms of APS during breast cancer migration and invasion are not completely understood. The present study investigated whether APS inhibited breast cancer migration and invasion by modulating the EMT pathway. An MTT assay and a Ki67 immunofluorescence staining assay demonstrated that APS inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The results of the wound healing and Transwell Matrigel invasion assays suggested that APS decreased the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. The western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses further demonstrated that APS had a regulatory effect on EMT-related molecules. APS decreased the expression levels of Snail and vimentin, but increased E-cadherin expression. APS also downregulated Wnt1, β-catenin and downstream target expression. Additionally, the present results suggested that APS decreased the proliferation, and EMT-mediated migration and invasion of cells by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The present study suggested that APS may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for breast cancer.

Origin recognition complex subunit 1 regulates cell growth and metastasis in glioma by altering activation of ERK and JNK signaling pathway

Origin recognition complex subunit 1(ORC1) is reported to be closely associated with the cell cycle. However, studies on the role of ORC1 in glioma remain undefined. The aim of the present study was to determine whether ORC1 affects cell migration, invasion, apoptosis, and proliferation and to explore the possible underlying mechanism. GEO database analysis indicated that ORC1 was significantly upregulated in glioma, while Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis indicated that ORC1 primarily regulated the cell cycle and affects apoptotic signaling pathways. Analysis of protein-protein interaction (PPI) and gene ontology (GO) to further study the relevant mechanisms revealed that the function of the interaction between proteins and ORC1 was primarily concentrated in the regulation of cell cycle, and apoptosis played a critical role in the whole PPI network. Western blot assay and RT-PCR assay indicated that ORC1 was significantly upregulated in glioma tissues. Western blot assay and RT-PCR indicated that ORC1 was significantly upregulated in glioma cell lines. Cell migration, invasion, apoptosis, and proliferation were detected using Transwell and wound healing assays, flow cytometry, colony formation, and CCK8, respectively. Furthermore, OCR1 inhibition reduced invasion and migration, promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, OCR1 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and induced G2 phase arrest. Moreover, OCR1 downregulation suppressed activation of the ERK/JNK signaling pathway. The effects of ORC1 on biological processes were reversed by ERK and JNK inhibitors. These results indicate that ORC1 could be a novel prognostic marker of glioma via the activation of the ERK/JNK signaling pathway.

The Modulatory Properties of Astragalus membranaceus Treatment on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: An Integrated Pharmacological Method

Background: Studies have shown that the natural products of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) can effectively interfere with a variety of cancers, but their mechanism of action on breast cancer remains unclear. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a severely poor prognosis due to its invasive phenotype and lack of biomarker-driven-targeted therapies. In this study, the potential mechanism of the target composition acting on TNBC was explored by integrated pharmacological models and in vitro experiments.

Materials and Methods: Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the relational database of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), the drug and target components were initially screened to construct a common network module, and multiattribute analysis was then used to characterize the network and obtain key drug-target information. Furthermore, network topology analysis was used to characterize the betweenness and closeness of key hubs in the network. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the affinity between compounds and targets and obtain accurate combination models. Finally, in vitro experiments verified the key component targets. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, invasion assay, and flow cytometric analysis were used to assess cell viability, invasiveness, and apoptosis, respectively, after Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) intervention. We also performed western blot analysis of key proteins to probe the mechanisms of correlated signaling pathways.

Results: We constructed “compound-target” (339 nodes and 695 edges) and “compound-disease” (414 nodes and 6458 edges) networks using interaction data. Topology analysis and molecular docking were used as secondary screens to identify key hubs of the network. Finally, the key component APS and biomarkers PIK3CG, AKT, and BCL2 were identified. The in vitro experimental results confirmed that APS can effectively inhibit TNBC cell activity, reduce invasion, promote apoptosis, and then counteract TNBC symptoms in a dose-dependent manner, most likely by inhibiting the PIK3CG/AKT/BCL2 pathway.

Conclusion: This study provides a rational approach to discovering compounds with a polypharmacology-based therapeutic value. Our data established that APS intervenes with TNBC cell invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis via the PIK3CG/AKT/BCL2 pathway and could thus offer a promising therapeutic strategy for TNBC.

Meta-Analysis of Astragalus-Containing Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: Efficacy and Safety to Tumor Response

This meta analysis evaluated the comparative safety and efficacy for the addition of Astragalus-based Chinese medicines combined with chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Systematic literature search was performed by PubMed, EMBSAE, Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese Science and Technology Journals (CQVIP), China Academic Journals (CNKI), and Chinese Biomedical Literature database. A total of 22 studies which reported on 1,409 subjects were identified. This meta-analysis indicated that the combination of Astragalus-based Chinese medicines and chemotherapy may increase the efficiency of tumor response rate (TRR) for the treatment of CRC patients (RR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.24–1.87; p < 0.0001), improve their life quality based on KPS (RR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.85–3.42; p < 0.00001 and WMD: 10.96; 95% CI: 9.45–12.47; p < 0.00001), and reduce the adverse reactions, including neutropenia (RR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.44–0.62; p < 0.00001), anemia (RR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.34–0.70; p < 0.0001), thrombocytopenia (RR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.46–0.77; p = 0.0001), nausea and vomiting (RR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.46–0.68; p < 0.00001), diarrhea (RR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.40–0.75; p = 0.0001), and neurotoxicity (RR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.49–0.65; p < 0.00001). Hepatic dysfunction (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.53–1.09; p = 0.13) and renal dysfunction (RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.51–1.76; p = 0.87) were similar between two groups. The results showed that Astragalus-based Chinese medicines combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of CRC may increase the efficiency of TRR, reduce chemotherapeutic agents-associated adverse reactions, and improve their life quality when compared with chemotherapy alone, but further randomized studies are warranted.

Identifying the Antiproliferative Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Breast Cancer: Coupling Network Pharmacology With Targetable Screening From the Cancer Genome Atlas

Background:Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), natural plant compounds, have recently emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment, but little is known concerning their effects on breast cancer (BC) tumorigenesis.

Methods: We obtained breast cancer genetic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, network pharmacology to further clarify its biological properties. Survival analysis and molecular docking techniques were implemented for the final screening to obtain key target information. Our experiments focused on the detection of intervention effects of APS on BC cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess the expression of key targets.

Results: A total of 1,439 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by TCGA and used to build disease networks. Module analysis, gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed characteristic of the DEGs network. Topological properties were used to identify key targets, survival analysis and molecular docking finally found that the targets of APS regulation of BC cells may be CCNB1, CDC6, and p53. Through cell viability, migration and invasion assays, we found that APS interferes with the development of breast cancer in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, qRT-PCR verification suggested that the expression of CCNB1 and CDC6 in breast cancer cells was significantly downregulated in response to APS, while expression of the tumor suppressor gene P53 was significantly increased.

Conclusion: Results of this study suggest therapeutic potential for APS in BC treatment, possibly through interventions with CCNB1, CDC6, and P53. Furthermore, these findings illustrate the feasibility of using network pharmacology to connect large-scale target data as a way to discover the mechanism of natural products interfering with disease.

Alpinetin inhibits proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells via suppression of STAT3 signaling

Natural bioactive components are increasingly being applied in cancer research. Alpinetin is a type of natural flavonoid primarily derived from Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, which exhibits anti‑bacterial and anti‑inflammatory properties. Therefore, it may possess anticancer potential and be employed therapeutically for different diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer effects of alpinetin on the SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line. The effect of alpinetin treatment on SKOV3 cell proliferation, apoptosis, spheroid and colony formation were measured using Cell Counting kit‑8, cell apoptosis, 3D spheroid and colony formation assays, respectively. Analysis of the cell cycle was performed using flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to determine the protein expression levels of B‑cell lymphoma (Bcl)‑2, Bcl‑2‑associated X protein, cleaved caspase‑3, cleaved poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase (PARP), cyclin D1, cyclin‑dependent kinase (CDK) 4, CDK6, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, phosphorylated (p)‑STAT3, c‑myc, survivin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‑1, TIMP‑2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑2 and MMP‑9. In addition, a wound healing assay was used to determine cancer cell migration. The results revealed alpinetin suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis of SKOV3 cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner, and cells were arrested in the G1 phase. Alpinetin treatment upregulated protein expression levels of Bax, cleaved caspase‑3 and PARP, and downregulated protein expression levels of Bcl‑2, cyclin D1, CDK4 and CDK6. Alpinetin also inhibited cell migration, through increased protein expression levels of TIMP‑1 and TIMP‑2, and decreased protein expression levels of MMP‑2 and MMP‑9. Alpinetin also significantly suppressed colony and spheroid formation by SKOV3 cells. In addition, the STAT3 pathway was suppressed as demonstrated by downregulation of p‑STAT3 and reduced expression of downstream factors, including c‑myc and survivin. Overall, these results indicated that alpinetin may have anticancer effects on human ovarian cancer by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway.