Extract from Zanthoxylum piperitum Induces Apoptosis of AGS Gastric Cancer Cells Through Akt/MDM2/p53 Signaling Pathway

Zanthoxylum piperitum Benn. Attenuates Monosodium Urate-Induced Gouty Arthritis: A Network Pharmacology Investigation of Its Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms

Background: Monosodium urate crystal accumulation in the joints is the cause of gout, an inflammatory arthritis that is initiated by elevated serum uric acid levels. It is the most prevalent form of inflammatory arthritis, affecting millions worldwide, and requires effective treatments. The necessity for alternatives with fewer side effects is underscored by the frequent adverse effects of conventional therapies, such as urate-lowering drugs. IL-1β is a potential therapeutic target due to its significant role in the inflammatory response induced by MSU. Zanthoxylum piperitum Benn. (ZP), a shrub that possesses antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, has demonstrated potential in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Methods: For anti-inflammatory properties of ZP, Raw264.7 cell stimulated LPS were treated ZP and using RNA-seq with Bone marrow derived macrophage, we observed to change inflammatory gene. Pharmacological networks were conducted to select target gene associated with ZP. For in vivo, mice were injected MSU in footpad for induce gouty arthritis model. The components of ZP were analyzed using GC-MS, and distilled extracts of ZP (deZP) were prepared. Results: In vitro, deZP decreased inflammatory cytokines. However, in vivo, it also decreased paw thickness and IL-1β levels. The anti-inflammatory effects of deZP are believed to be mediated through the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, as indicated by RNA sequencing and network pharmacology analyses. Conclusions: ZP has an anti-inflammatory effect and regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro and in vivo. Further research, including clinical trials, is required to confirm the safety of deZP, determine the optimal dosing, and evaluate its long-term effects.

Alliin Induces Reconstitution of Testes Damaged by Estrogen Overstimulation by Regulating Apoptosis

We analyzed the effect of alliin on the recovery of mouse testicular function and structure following estradiol treatment as well as on apoptosis regulation. During the cultivation of testicular cells, high-concentration estradiol suppressed Casp-3; PCNA, mTOR, and PI3K signaling increased; and cell proliferation in the testes was abnormally increased. Therefore, estradiol treatment increased the proportion of abnormal cells. The estradiol and 2.5 μM of alliin treatment increased Casp-3 levels and suppressed Bcl-2, PCNA, mTOR, and PI3K expression. Additionally, treatment with estradiol caused tissue loss. Furthermore, Ca2+ deposition decreased, TNF-r protein expression increased, and the levels of other protein markers of cell survival and death decreased. Tissue recovery and restoration of the testes occurred after alliin treatment; the gene expression of cell survival and death markers, except for TNF-r, increased with increasing Ca2+ deposition. Cell proliferation and tissue reorganization may correlate with an increased signal of intrinsic apoptosis owing to increased Ca2+ deposition. Therefore, treatment with alliin may regulate the apoptosis of cells with normal or abnormal signal transduction and help to revert testicular dysfunction.

Benzo[b]fluoranthene induces male reproductive toxicity and apoptosis via Akt-Mdm2-p53 signaling axis in mouse Leydig cells: Integrating computational toxicology and experimental approaches

This study aims to explore the male reproductive toxicity of Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and related mechanisms. The results of computational toxicology analysis indicated male reproductive toxicity of BbF was related to apoptosis of Leydig cells and that Akt/p53 pathway might play a key role. In experiments, BbF induced testosterone decline, decreased concentration and motility of sperm and aggravated testicular pathological injury in mice. Besides, BbF led to apoptosis in Leydig cells, and decreased expressions of p-Akt and Bcl2, while improving the expressions of p53, Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 in vivo and in vitro. Further, compared with BbF group, Akt activator SC79 significantly reduced cell apoptosis rate, improved cell viability, promoted the expressions of p-Akt and p-Mdm2, and reversed the above molecular expressions. Similarly, p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-α also significantly enhanced the cell vitality, alleviated the apoptosis of TM3 cells induced by BbF, and decreased the expressions of Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3, with the up-regulation of Bcl2. To sum up, by inhibiting Akt-Mdm2 signaling, BbF activated the p53-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, further inducing the apoptosis of Leydig cells, therefore resulting in testosterone decline and male reproductive damage. Besides, this study provided a valid mode integrating computational toxicology and experimental approaches in toxicity testing.

Anticancer Phytochemical-Based Nanoformulations: Therapeutic Intervention in Cancer Cell Lines

Phytochemicals have the potential to treat resistant cancer. They are delivered to the target site via nano-based carriers. Promising results are seen in preclinical and in vitro models, as phytochemical-based nanoformulations have improved cell cytotoxicity compared to single agents. They can synergistically inhibit cancer cell growth through p53 apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, synergic viability in reproducible glioma models at half inhibitory concentrations has been shown. Through caspase activation, phytochemical-based nanoformulations also increase cell death in 4T1 breast cancer cell lines. They have shown improved cytotoxicity at half inhibitory concentrations compared to single-agent drugs in cervical cancer. In terms of colorectal cancer, they have the potential to arrest cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and synergistically inhibit cell proliferation. In squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, they inhibit protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. This review reports on developments in the therapeutic management of various cancers using phytochemical-based nanoformulations, which have shown potential benefits in the clinical management of cancer patients, halting/slowing the progression of the disease and ameliorating chemotherapy-induced toxicities.

Mechanism of Herb Pairs Astragalus mongholicus and Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton in Treating Gastric Carcinoma: A Network Pharmacology Combines with Differential Analysis and Molecular Docking

Background

Gastric carcinoma (GC) is a kind of digestive tract tumor that is highly malignant and has a very poor prognosis. Although both Astragalus mongholicus (AM, huáng qí) and Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton (CPV, é zhú) can slow the onset and progression of GC, the mechanism by which AM-CPV works in the treatment of GC is uncertain.

Materials and Methods

The traditional Chinese medicine network databases TCMSP, TCMID, and ETCM were used to identify the key functional components and associated targets of AM and CPV. To establish a theoretical foundation, the development of gastric cancer (GC) was predicted utilizing a GEO gene chip and TCGA difference analysis mixed with network pharmacology. A herbal-ingredient-target network and a core target-signal pathway network were created using GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. The molecular docking method was used to evaluate seventeen main targets and their compounds.

Results

Cell activity, reactive oxygen species modification, metabolic regulation, and systemic immune activation may all be involved in the action mechanism of the AM-CPV drug-pair in the treatment of GC. It inhibits the calcium signaling route, the AGE-RAGE signaling system, the cAMP signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling network, and the MAPK signaling pathway, slowing the progression of GC. The number of inflammatory substances in the tumor microenvironment is reduced, GC cell proliferation is deprived, apoptosis is promoted, and GC progression is retarded through controlling the IL-17 signaling route, TNF signaling pathway, and other inflammation-related pathways.

Conclusions

The AM-CPV pharmaceutical combination regulates GC treatment via a multitarget, component, and signal pathway with a cooperative and bidirectional regulatory mechanism. Its active constituents may treat GC by regulating the expression of STAT1, MMP9, IL6, HSP90AA1, JUN, CCL2, IFNG, CXCL8, and other targets, as well as activating or inhibiting immune-inflammatory and cancer signaling pathways.

The p53-Driven Anticancer Effect of Ribes fasciculatum Extract on AGS Gastric Cancer Cells

Cancer metastasis is directly related to the survival rate of cancer patients. Although cancer metastasis proceeds by the movement of cancer cells, it is fundamentally caused by its resistance to anoikis, a mechanism of apoptosis caused by the loss of adhesion of cancer cells. Therefore, it was found that inhibiting cancer migration and reducing anoikis resistance are important for cancer suppression, and natural compounds can effectively control it. Among them, Ribes fasciculatum, which has been used as a medicinal plant, was confirmed to have anticancer potential, and experiments were conducted to prove various anticancer effects by extracting Ribes fasciculatum (RFE). Through various experiments, it was observed that RFE induces apoptosis of AGS gastric cancer cells, arrests the cell cycle, induces oxidative stress, and reduces mobility. It was also demonstrated that anoikis resistance was attenuated through the downregulation of proteins, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Moreover, the anticancer effect of RFE depends upon the increase in p53 expression, suggesting that RFE is suitable for the development of p53-targeted anticancer materials. Moreover, through xenotransplantation, it was found that the anticancer effect of RFE confirmed in vitro was continued in vivo.