Naringenin attenuates cell viability and migration of C6 glioblastoma cell line: a possible role of hedgehog signaling pathway

Advancements in nanotheranostics for glioma therapy

Gliomas are brain tumors mainly derived from glial cells that are difficult to treat and cause high mortality. Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical excision are the conventional treatments for gliomas. Patients who have surgery or have undergone chemotherapy for glioma treatment have poor prognosis with tumor recurrence. In particular, for glioblastoma, the 5-year average survival rate is 4-7%, and the median survival is 12-18 months. A number of issues hinder effective treatment such as, poor surgical resection, tumor heterogeneity, insufficient drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier, multidrug resistance, and difficulties with drug specificity. Nanotheranostic-mediated drug delivery is becoming a well-researched consideration, and an efficient non-invasive method for delivering chemotherapeutic drugs to the target area. Theranostic nanomedicines, which incorporate therapeutic drugs and imaging agents for personalized therapies, can be used for preventing overdose of non-responders. Through the identification of massive and complicated information from next-generation sequencing, machine learning enables for precise prediction of therapeutic outcomes and post-treatment management for patients with cancer. This article gives a thorough overview of nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery with a brief introduction to drug delivery challenges. In addition, this assessment offers a current summary of preclinical and clinical research on nanomedicines for gliomas. In the future, nanotheranostics will provide personalized treatment for gliomas and other treatable cancers.

Differential Interactions of Flavonoids with the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor In Silico and Their Impact on Receptor Activity In Vitro

The molecular mechanisms underlying the observed anticancer effects of flavonoids remain unclear. Increasing evidence shows that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) plays a crucial role in neoplastic disease progression, establishing it as a potential drug target. This study evaluated the potential of hydroxy flavonoids, known for their anticancer properties, to interact with AHR, both in silico and in vitro, aiming to understand the mechanisms of action and identify selective AHR modulators. A PAS-B domain homology model was constructed to evaluate in silico interactions of chrysin, naringenin, quercetin apigenin and agathisflavone. The EROD activity assay measured the effects of flavonoids on AHR's activity in human breast cancer cells (MCF7). Simulations showed that chrysin, apigenin, naringenin, and quercetin have the highest AHR binding affinity scores (-13.14 to -15.31), while agathisflavone showed low scores (-0.57 and -5.14). All tested flavonoids had the potential to inhibit AHR activity in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of an agonist (TCDD) in vitro. This study elucidates the distinct modulatory effects of flavonoids on AHR, emphasizing naringenin's newly described antagonistic potential. It underscores the importance of understanding flavonoid's molecular mechanisms, which is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies based on these molecules.

Rheum khorasanicum. Hydroalcoholic root extract induces cell death in human colorectal adenocarcinoma: An in vitro and in silico study

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second greatest cause of cancer-related death in the world and chemotherapy, as an important part of CRC treatment, has some drawbacks, including systemic toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to discover new and more effective CRC treatment plans. Rheum khorasanicum (R. khorasanicum) is a medicinal plant with high flavonoids, stilbenes, and anthraquinone contents, so it can be a potential source of antioxidants and can be used for therapeutic purposes and trigger apoptosis in cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of hydroalcoholic root extract of R. khorasanicum treatment on inducing mitochondrial apoptosis of HT-29 and Caco-2 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Firstly, the total phenolic and flavonoid content was determined. Then, the cytotoxic effects of R. khorasanicum on cells of three different types, including HT-29 and Caco-2 colon cancer cells as well as normal 3T3 cells were assessed using the MTT assay. To investigate the characteristics of cellular death, flow cytometry, and western blotting were performed. The results of this study indicated considerable phenolic (356.4±9.4 GAE/gDW) and flavonoid (934.55±17.1 QE/gDW) contents in R. khorasanicum. MTT assay's finding indicated that 100, 60, and 30μg/mL concentrations of R. khorasanicum reduce cell viability in HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines significantly (P<0.05). It has been also revealed that R. khorasanicum extract induces apoptosis rather than necrosis in these cell lines. Moreover, Bcl-2 expression was significantly reduced in both HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines, while Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression soared considerably in the groups under R. khorasanicum treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, our findings have suggested that high phenol and flavonoid contents of R. khorasanicum root extract possibly play an important role in cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in HT-29 and Caco-2 colon cancer cells.

Investigation on the mechanisms by which the herbal remedies induce anti-prostate cancer activity: uncovering the most practical natural compound

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most reported cancers among men worldwide. Targeting the essential proteins associated with PCa could be a promising method for cancer treatment. Traditional and herbal remedies (HRs) are the most practical approaches for PCa treatment. Here, the proteins and enzymes associated with PCa were determined based on the information obtained from the DisGeNET database. The proteins with a gene-disease association (GDA) score greater than 0.7 and the genes that have a disease specificity index (DSI) = 1 were selected as the target proteins. 28 HRs with anti-PCa activity as a traditional treatment for PCa were chosen as potential bioactive compounds. More than 500 compound-protein complexes were screened to find the top-ranked bioactives. The results were further evaluated using the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and binding free energy calculations. The outcomes revealed that procyanidin B2 3,3'-di-O-gallate (B2G2), the most active ingredient of grape seed extract (GSE), can act as an agonist for PTEN. PTEN has a key role in suppressing PCa cells by applying phosphatase activity and inhibiting cell proliferation. B2G2 exhibited a considerable binding affinity to PTEN (11.643 kcal/mol). The MD results indicated that B2G2 could stabilize the key residues of the phosphatase domain of PTEN and increase its activity. Based on the obtained results, the active ingredient of GSE, B2G2, could play an agonist role and effectively increase the phosphatase activity of PTEN. The grape seed extract is a useful nutrition that can be used in men's diets to inhibit PCa in their bodies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Temozolomide and flavonoids against glioma: from absorption and metabolism to exosomal delivery

Patients with glioblastoma multiforme and anaplastic astrocytoma are treated with temozolomide. Although it has been demonstrated that temozolomide increases GBM patient survival, it has also been connected to negative immune-related adverse effects. Numerous research investigations have shown that flavonoids have strong antioxidant and chemo-preventive effects. Consequently, it might lessen chemotherapeutic medicines' side effects while also increasing therapeutic effectiveness. The need for creating innovative, secure, and efficient drug carriers for cancer therapy has increased over time. Recent research indicates that exosomes have enormous potential to serve as carriers and cutting-edge drug delivery systems to the target cell. In recent years, researchers have been paying considerable attention to exosomes because of their favorable biodistribution, biocompatibility, and low immunogenicity. In the present review, the mechanistic information of the anti-glioblastoma effects of temozolomide and flavonoids coupled with their exosomal delivery to the targeted cell has been discussed. In addition, we discuss the safety aspects of temozolomide and flavonoids against glioma. The in-depth information of temozolomide and flavonoids action via exosomal delivery can unravel novel strategies to target Glioma.

Naringenin Nanoformulations for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a grade-IV astrocytoma, which is the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor, spreads rapidly and has a life-threatening catastrophic effect. GBM mostly occurs in adults with an average survival time of 15 to 18 months, and the overall mortality rate is 5%. Significant invasion and drug resistance activity cause the poor diagnosis of GBM. Naringenin (NRG) is a plant secondary metabolite byproduct of the flavanone subgroup. NRG can cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver drugs into the central nervous system when conjugated with appropriate nanocarriers to overcome the challenges associated with gliomas through naringenin-loaded nanoformulations. Here, we discuss several nanocarriers employed that are as delivery systems, such as polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanosuspensions, and nanoemulsions. These naringenin-loaded nanoformulations have been tested in various in vitro and in vivo models as a potential treatment for brain disorders. This review nanoformulations of NRG can a possible therapeutic alternative for the treatment of neurological diseases are discussed.

Anti-collagenase, Anti-elastase, Anti-urease, and Anti-cancer Potentials of Isokaempferide as Natural Compound: In vitro and in silico Study

One of the main goals of medicinal chemistry in recent years has been the development of new enzyme inhibitors and anti-cancer medicines. The isokaempferide' ability to inhibit the enzymes urease, elastase, and collagenase were also studied. The results showed that isokaempferide was the most effective compound against the assigned enzymes, with IC 50 values of 23.05 µM for elastase, 12.83 µM for urease, and 33.62 µM for collagenase respectively. It should be emphasized that natural compound was more effective at inhibiting some enzymes. Additionally, the compound was tested for their anti-cancer properties using colon, lung, breast cancer cell lines. The chemical activities of isokaempferide against urease, collagenase, and elastase were investigated utilizing the molecular docking study. The anti-cancer activities of the compound were evaluated against lung cancer cells such as SPC-A-1, SK-LU-1, 95D, breast cancer cells like MCF7, Hs 578Bst, Hs 319.T, and UACC-3133 cell lines, and colon cancer cell lines like CL40, SW1417, LS1034, and SW480. The chemical activities of isokaempferide against some of the expressed surface receptor proteins (EGFR, estrogen receptor, CD47, progesterone receptor, folate receptor, CD44, HER2, CD155, CXCR4, CD97, and endothelin receptor) in the mentioned cell lines were assessed using the molecular docking calculations. The results showed the probable interactions and their characteristics at an atomic level. The docking scores revealed that isokaempferide has a strong binding affinity to the enzymes and proteins. In addition, the compound formed powerful contact with the enzymes and receptors. Thus, isokaempferide could be potential inhibitor for enzymes and cancer cells.

Therapeutic properties, biological effects, antiliver cancer, and anticolon cancer effects of some natural compounds: A biochemical approach

Natural compounds, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, or terpenoids, are physiologically active components found in plants (pigments), often known as phytochemicals or phytonutrients. The in vitro cytotoxic and anticolon cancer effects of biologically bavachin, bavachinin, artepillin C, and aromadendrin compounds against SW48, SNU-C1, COLO 205, RKO, LS411N, and SW1417 cancer cell lines were assessed. Results of enzymes and antibacterial, antifungal were in level of micromolar that is good impacts. These natural compounds may be antidiabetic, anticancer, and antibacterial candidates for drug design. IC50 results were obtained between 14-19 and 5-119 µM for α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Good inhibitor Bavachinin was detected for both enzymes (IC50 for α-amylase: 14.37 µM and IC50 for α-glucosidase: 5.27 µM). The chemical activities of aromadendrin, artepillin C, bavachin, and bavachinin against pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase were assessed by conducting the molecular docking study. The chemical activities of aromadendrin, artepillin C, bavachin, and bavachinin against some of the expressed surface receptor proteins (CD44, CD47, CXCR4, EGFR, folate receptor, HER2, and endothelin receptor) in the mentioned cell lines were investigated using the molecular docking calculations. The results illustrated the atomic-level properties and potential interactions. These chemicals have high binding affinities to the enzymes and proteins, according to the docking scores. In addition, the compounds formed strong contacts with the enzymes and receptors. Thus, these compounds could be potential inhibitors for enzymes and cancer cells.

Tracing the pathways and mechanisms involved in the anti-breast cancer activity of glycyrrhizin using bioinformatics tools and computational methods

A complete investigation to understand the pathways that could be affected by glycyrrhizin (licorice), as anti-breast cancer (BC) agent, has not been performed to date. This study aims to investigate the pathways involved in the anti-cancer activity of glycyrrhizin against BC. For this purpose, the target genes of glycyrrhizin were obtained from the ChEMBL database. The BC-associated genes for three types of BC (breast carcinoma, malignant neoplasm of breast, and triple-negative breast neoplasms) were retrieved from DisGeNET. The target genes of glycyrrhizin and the BC-associated genes were compared, and the genes with disease specificity index (DSI) > 0.6 were selected for further evaluation using in silico methods. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were analyzed. The potential complexes were further evaluated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results revealed that among 80 common genes, ten genes had DSI greater than 0.6, which included POLK, TACR2, MC3R, TBXAS1, HH1R, SLCO4A1, NPY2R, ADRA2C, ADRA1A, and SLCO2B1. The binding affinity of glycyrrhizin to the cognate proteins and binding characteristics were assessed using molecular docking and binding free energy calculations (MM/GBSA). POLK, TBXAS1, and ADRA1A showed the highest binding affinity with -8.9, -9.3, and -9.6 kcal/mol, respectively. The final targets had an association with BC at several stages of tumor growth. By affecting these targets, glycyrrhizin could influence and control BC efficiently. MD simulation suggested the pathways triggered by the complex glycyrrhizin-ADRA1A were more likely to happen.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Antiviral and antimicrobial applications of chalcones and their derivatives: From nature to greener synthesis

Chalcones and their derivatives have been widely studied due to their versatile pharmacological and biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antitumor effects. These compounds have shown suitable antiviral effects through the selective targeting of a variety of viral enzymes, including lactate dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), fumarate reductase, protein tyrosine phosphatase, topoisomerase-II, protein kinases, integrase/protease, and lactate/isocitrate dehydrogenase, among others. Chalcones and their derivatives have displayed excellent potential for combating pathogenic bacteria and fungi (especially, multidrug-resistant bacteria). However, relevant mechanisms should be further explored, focusing on inhibitory effects against DNA gyrase B, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA), and efflux pumps (e.g., NorA), among others. In addition, the antifungal and antiparasitic activities of these compounds (e.g., antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial properties) have prompted additional explorations. Nonetheless, systematic analysis of the relevant mechanisms, biosafety issues, and pharmacological properties, as well as clinical translation studies, are vital for practical applications. Herein, recent advancements pertaining to the antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antifungal activities of chalcones and their derivatives are deliberated, focusing on the relevant mechanisms of action, crucial challenges, and future prospects. Furthermore, due to the great importance of greener and more sustainable synthesis of these valuable compounds, especially on an industrial scale, the progress made in this field has been briefly discussed. Hopefully, this review can serve as a catalyst for researchers to delve deeper into the exploration and designing of novel chalcone compounds with medicinal properties, especially against pathogenic viruses and multidrug-resistant bacteria as major causes of concern for human health.

Let-7g Upregulation Attenuated the KRAS-PI3K-Rac1-Akt Axis-Mediated Bioenergetic Functions

The aberrant activation of signaling pathways contributes to cancer cells with metabolic reprogramming. Thus, targeting signaling modulators is considered a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer. Subcellular fractionation, coimmunoprecipitation, biochemical analysis, and gene manipulation experiments revealed that decreasing the interaction of kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) with p110α in lipid rafts with the use of naringenin (NGN), a citrus flavonoid, causes lipid raft-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-GTP-ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1)-protein kinase B (Akt)-regulated metabolic dysfunction of glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), leading to apoptosis in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. The use of lethal-7g (let-7g) mimic and let-7g inhibitor confirmed that elevated let-7g resulted in a decrease in KRAS expression, which attenuated the PI3K-Rac1-Akt-BCL-2/BCL-xL-modulated mitochondrial energy metabolic functions. Increased let-7g depends on the suppression of the RNA-specificity of monocyte chemoattractant protein-induced protein-1 (MCPIP1) ribonuclease since NGN specifically blocks the degradation of pre-let-7g by NPC cell-derived immunoprecipitated MCPIP1. Converging lines of evidence indicate that the inhibition of MCPIP1 by NGN leads to let-7g upregulation, suppressing oncogenic KRAS-modulated PI3K-Rac1-Akt signaling and thereby impeding the metabolic activities of aerobic glycolysis and mitochondrial OXPHOS.

Multiple therapeutic approaches of glioblastoma multiforme: From terminal to therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer showing poor prognosis. Currently, treatment methods of GBM are limited with adverse outcomes and low survival rate. Thus, advancements in the treatment of GBM are of utmost importance, which can be achieved in recent decades. However, despite aggressive initial treatment, most patients develop recurrent diseases, and the overall survival rate of patients is impossible to achieve. Currently, researchers across the globe target signaling events along with tumor microenvironment (TME) through different drug molecules to inhibit the progression of GBM, but clinically they failed to demonstrate much success. Herein, we discuss the therapeutic targets and signaling cascades along with the role of the organoids model in GBM research. Moreover, we systematically review the traditional and emerging therapeutic strategies in GBM. In addition, we discuss the implications of nanotechnologies, AI, and combinatorial approach to enhance GBM therapeutics.

Anticancer Mechanism of Flavonoids on High-Grade Adult-Type Diffuse Gliomas

High-grade adult-type diffuse gliomas are the most common and deadliest malignant adult tumors of the central nervous system. Despite the advancements in the multimodality treatment of high-grade adult-type diffuse gliomas, the five-year survival rates still remain poor. The biggest challenge in treating high-grade adult-type diffuse gliomas is the intra-tumor heterogeneity feature of the glioma tumors. Introducing dietary flavonoids to the current high-grade adult-type diffuse glioma treatment strategies is crucial to overcome this challenge, as flavonoids can target several molecular targets. This review discusses the anticancer mechanism of flavonoids (quercetin, rutin, chrysin, apigenin, naringenin, silibinin, EGCG, genistein, biochanin A and C3G) through targeting molecules associated with high-grade adult-type diffuse glioma cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, migration, invasion, autophagy and DNA repair. In addition, the common molecules targeted by the flavonoids such as Bax, Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, caspase-8, caspase-3, p53, p38, Erk, JNK, p38, beclin-1 and LC3B were also discussed. Moreover, the clinical relevance of flavonoid molecular targets in high-grade adult-type diffuse gliomas is discussed with comparison to small molecules inhibitors: ralimetinib, AMG232, marimastat, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. Despite the positive pre-clinical results, further investigations in clinical studies are warranted to substantiate the efficacy and safety of the use of flavonoids on high-grade adult-type diffuse glioma patients.

Anti-cancer, Anti-collagenase and Anti-elastase Potentials of Some Natural Derivatives: In vitro and in silico Studies

The anti-cancer activities of the compounds were evaluated against KYSE-150, KYSE-30, and KYSE-270 cell lines and also on investigated esophageal line HET 1 A as a standard. Modified inhibitory impact on enzymes of collagenase and elastase were used Thring and Moon methods, respectively. Among both compounds, both of them recorded impact on cancer cells being neutral against the control, both had IC50 lower than 100 µM and acted as a potential anticancer drug. The chemical activities of Skullcapflavone I and Skullcapflavone II against elastase and collagenase were investigated utilizing the molecular modeling study. IC50 values of Skullcapflavone I and Skullcapflavone II on collagenase enzyme were obtained 106.74 and 92.04 µM and for elastase enzyme were 186.70 and 123.52 µM, respectively. Anticancer effects of these compounds on KYSE 150, KYSE 30, and KYSE 270 esophageal cancer cell lines studied in this work. For Skullcapflavone I, IC50 values for these cell lines were obtained 14.25, 19.03, 25.10 µM, respectively. Also, for Skullcapflavone II were recorded 20.42, 34.17, 22.40 µM, respectively. The chemical activities of Skullcapflavone I and Skullcapflavone II against some of the expressed surface receptor proteins (CD44, EGFR, and PPARγ) in the mentioned cell lines were assessed using the molecular docking calculations. The calculations showed the possible interactions and their characteristics at an atomic level.

Effects of the Ethanol and Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Terminalia chebula Retz. on Proliferation, Migration, and HIF-1α and CXCR-4 Expression in MCF-7 Cells: an In Vitro Study

Over recent years, much attention has been devoted to the field of screening natural products and/or their novel structures because of reversing cancer progression. The current research work was intended to explore the cytotoxic activity of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of dried fruit of Terminalia chebula Retz. (T. chebula) in MCF-7 cell line. High-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method and Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric techniques were performed. Anti-proliferative activities of T. chebula fruit extracts on the MCF-7 cell line were evaluated using MTT assay. Effects of both extracts on the migration of MCF-7 cells and the size of MCF-7-derived spheroids were also evaluated. Moreover, antioxidant properties were measured by DPPH and FRAP methods. Western blotting was used to measure the HIF-1α and CXCR-4 protein levels. Chebulagic acid, gallic acid, chebulinic acid, and ellagic acid were found as major compounds in both extracts. The total phenolic contents based on gallic acid equivalent (GAE) in the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of T. chebula were found to be 453.68 ± 0.31 and 495.12 ± 0.43 mg GAE/g dry weight of the extract, respectively. Both extracts exerted a significant dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7 cells. They also had a marked negative effect on the average size of MCF-7-derived spheroids and their migration rate. None of the extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than vitamin C. Furthermore, both extracts at a concentration of 125 µg/ml could meaningfully decrease the expression levels of HIF-1α and CXCR-4 in MCF-7 cells. These data represent that T. chebula may be a valuable medicinal resource in the regulation of breast cancer proliferation, growth, and metastasis.

The effect of hydro alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seeds on inflammatory mediators in C6 glioma cell line

SUBJECT

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is a highly valued nutritional plant, which has long been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of human diseases. The multifaceted pharmacological impacts of N. sativa, such as attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation, make it a suitable therapeutic candidate against cardiovascular, hepatic, and neurological disorders as well as cancer. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of N. sativa seeds on several pro-inflammatory cytokines in the C6 glioma cell line and to compare it with the effect of the extract on the normal fibroblast cell line.

METHODS

C6 and fibroblast cell lines were treated with the extract of N. sativa seeds, and 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) after 72h of treatment. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out to assess the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF-β1) at the mRNA level in both cell lines after 72h of treatment with non-toxic and IC50 concentrations obtained from C6 cell line.

RESULTS

The IC50 values for the hydroalcoholic extract of N. sativa seeds were 260±20μg/mL in the C6 cell line and 398±27μg/mL in fibroblast cells. The real-time PCR results indicated that the treatment of C6 and fibroblast cells with the extract at the IC50 value of N. sativa in C6 for 72h could increase the mRNA expression levels of IL-10 and reduce the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 in C6 and fibroblast cells. The N. sativa extract showed a higher anti-inflammatory effect on C6 cells in comparison with fibroblast cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Regarding the anti-inflammatory effect of Nigella sativa in C6 cell line, it may be considered a promising candidate to fortify antitumor actions in combination with other therapeutic options in the treatment of patients with GBM.

Hedgehog signaling regulates the development and treatment of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and fatal malignant tumor type of the central nervous system. GBM affects public health and it is important to identify biomarkers to improve diagnosis, reduce drug resistance and improve prognosis (e.g., personalized targeted therapies). Hedgehog (HH) signaling has an important role in embryonic development, tissue regeneration and stem cell renewal. A large amount of evidence indicates that both normative and non-normative HH signals have an important role in GBM. The present study reviewed the role of the HH signaling pathway in the occurrence and progression of GBM. Furthermore, the effectiveness of drugs that target different components of the HH pathway was also examined. The HH pathway has an important role in reversing drug resistance after GBM conventional treatment. The present review highlighted the relevance of HH signaling in GBM and outlined that this pathway has a key role in the occurrence, development and treatment of GBM.

Anti-breast Adenocarcinoma and Anti-urease Anti-tyrosinase Properties of 5-Pentylresorcinol as Natural Compound with Molecular Docking Studies

5-Pentylresorcinol is a type of the group of resorcinol compounds that is resorcinol in that has hydrogen atom at position 5 is replaced by a pentyl group. It has a role as a lichen metabolite. This compound showed excellent to good inhibitory activities against studied these enzymes with IC₅₀ values of 65.96 µM for urease and 34.81 µM for tyrosinase. Standard compounds for enzymes had IC₅₀ values of 1.94±0.24 µM against urease and 84.36±5.17 µM against tyrosinase. The IC₅₀ of 5-pentylresorcinol against MCF7 cell line was 165.72 µg/mL; against Hs 578Bst cell line was 102.14 µg/mL; against Hs 319.T cell line was 12.34 µg/mL; and against UACC-3133 cell line was 73.07 µg/mL, respectively. The chemical activities of 5-pentylresorcinol against urease and tyrosinase were evaluated using the molecular modeling study. The anti-cancer activity of 5-pentylresorcinol was also investigated by treating the compound on the BRCT repeat region from the breast cancer-associated protein (BRCA1), and their interactions were assessed utilizing the molecular docking calculations. The results revealed the probable interactions and their characteristics at an atomic level. The docking scores of 5-pentylresorcinol against urease, tyrosinase, and BRCA1 are -3.073, -5.262, and -3.238 (kcal/mol), respectively.

Naringenin: A potential flavonoid phytochemical for cancer therapy

Naringenin is an important phytochemical which belongs to the flavanone group of polyphenols, and is found mainly in citrus fruits like grapefruits and others such as tomatoes and cherries plus medicinal plants derived food. Available evidence demonstrates that naringenin, as herbal medicine, has important pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancer activities. Collected data from in vitro and in vivo studies show the inactivation of carcinogens after treatment with pure naringenin, naringenin-loaded nanoparticles, and also naringenin in combination with anti-cancer agents in various malignancies, such as colon cancer, lung neoplasms, breast cancer, leukemia and lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate tumors, oral squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer, brain tumors, skin cancer, cervical and ovarian cancer, bladder neoplasms, gastric cancer, and osteosarcoma. Naringenin inhibits cancer progression through multiple mechanisms, like apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis hindrance, and modification of various signaling pathways including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, NF-ĸB, and TGF-β pathways. In this review, we demonstrate that naringenin is a natural product with potential for the treatment of different types of cancer, whether it is used alone, in combination with other agents, or in the form of the naringenin-loaded nanocarrier, after proper technological encapsulation.

m6A Regulatory Gene-Mediated Methylation Modification in Glioma Survival Prediction

The median survival of patients with gliomas is relatively short. To investigate the epigenetic mechanisms associated with poor survival, we analyzed publicly available datasets from patients with glioma. This analysis revealed 12 prognosis-related m6A regulatory genes that may be responsible for poor prognosis. These genes may be involved in genomic changes inherent to oxidative phosphorylation, adipogenesis, hedgehog signaling, and Myc signaling. We reconstructed a risk model with univariate and multivariate Cox analyses and identified older age and the m6A risk score as independent risk factors for predicting the prognosis of glioma patients, which is associated with glioma immune infiltration. In conclusion, m6A regulatory genes may serve as both reliable biomarkers and potential targets to increase the chance of survival of patients with glioma.

Nanoliposomal formulation of pistachio hull extract: preparation, characterization and anti-cancer evaluation through Bax/Bcl2 modulation

BACKGROUND

Pistachio is one of the main crops in Iran. Pistachio green hull, as a by-product of this fruit, is obtained in large quantities after the processing of pistachios. This novel work was designed to examine the possible anti-cancer impact of the pistachio hull extract in the liposomal form (PHEL) on HepG2 cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The thin-film hydration approach was used for preparing liposomes and the physicochemical features of the liposomes were subsequently characterized. Afterward, apoptosis and the expression of genes related to apoptosis were assessed using flow cytometry assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. According to the results, the size range of PHEL was between 198 and 201 nm with a negative surface charge of - 39.2 to - 42.9 mV. As revealed by the flow cytometry results, this liposomal extract exhibits good potential for the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, the qPCR results demonstrated the up-regulation of p53 and Bax expressions and the down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression with an associated Bax/Bcl-2 ratio up-regulation.

CONCLUSION

The flow cytometry and real-time PCR results indicated the potential of this liposomal extract as an anti-cancer drug candidate for the treatment of liver cancer in the future, and the mitochondrial pathway involving the up-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio can mediate its impact.