Puerarin induced in mantle cell lymphoma apoptosis and its possible mechanisms involving multi-signaling pathway

Natural products and derivatives for breast cancer treatment: From drug discovery to molecular mechanism

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer stands as the most common malignancy among women globally and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Conventional treatments, such as surgery, hormone therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and small-molecule targeted therapy, often fall short of addressing the complexity and heterogeneity of certain breast cancer subtypes, leading to drug resistance and metastatic progression. Thus, the search for novel therapeutic targets and agents is imperative. Given their low toxicity and abundant variety, natural products and their derivatives are increasingly considered valuable sources for small-molecule anticancer drugs.

PURPOSE

This review aims to elucidate the pharmacological impacts and underlying mechanisms of active compounds found in select natural products and their derivatives, primarily focusing on breast cancer treatment. It intends to underscore the potential of these substances in combating breast cancer and guide future research directions for the development of natural product-based therapeutics.

METHODS

We conducted comprehensive searches in electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus until October 2023, using keywords such as 'breast cancer', 'natural products', 'derivatives', 'mechanism', 'signaling pathways', and various keyword combinations.

RESULTS

The review presents a spectrum of phytochemicals, including but not limited to flavonoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids, and examines their actions in various animal and cellular models of breast cancer. The anticancer effects of these natural products and derivatives are manifested through diverse mechanisms, including induction of cell death via apoptosis and autophagy, and suppression of tumor angiogenesis.

CONCLUSION

An increasing array of natural products and their derivatives are proving effective against breast cancer. Future therapeutic strategies can benefit from strategic enhancement of the anticancer properties of natural compounds, optimization for targeted action, improved bioavailability, and minimized side effects. The forthcoming research on natural products should prioritize these facets to maximize their therapeutic potential.

Down-regulation of human papillomavirus E6 oncogene and antiproliferative effect of Schisandra chinensis and Pueraria lobata natural extracts on Hela cell line

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women that continues to be a public health problem worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely related as the causative agent of almost all cases of cervical cancer. Currently, there is no effective treatment for the persistence of HPV. Although vaccines have shown promising results in recent years, they are still a costly strategy for developing countries and have no therapeutic effect on existing infections, which is why the need arises to search for new strategies that can be used in treatment, suppressing oncogenic HPV and disease progression. Extracts of Schisandra Chinensis and Pueraria lobata have been used in traditional medicine, and it has been shown in recent years that some of their bioactive compounds have pharmacological, antioxidant, antitumor, apoptotic, and proliferation effects in HPV-positive cells. However, its mechanism of action has yet to be fully explored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The following study aimed to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and potential antiproliferative and viral oncogene effects of natural extracts of S. chinensis and P. lobata on HPV-18 positive cervical cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The HPV-18-positive HeLa cells were treated for 24 and 48 h with the ethanolic extracts of S chinensis and P. lobata. Subsequently, cell viability was evaluated using the resazurin method, the effect on the cell cycle of the extracts (1.0, 10, and 100 μg/mL) was measured by flow cytometry, the gene of expression of the E6/E7, P53, BCL-2, and E2F-1 were determined by RT-PCR and the protein expression of p53, Ki-67, x|and Bcl-2 by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the chemical characterization of the two extracts was carried out using LC-MS, and the total phenolics content (TPC), Total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH radical scavenging capacity were determined. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis U test with GraphPad Prism 6 software.

RESULTS

The natural extracts of Schisandra chinensis and Pueraria lobata induced down-regulation of E6 HPV oncogene (p<0.05) and a strong up-regulation of P53 (p<0.05), E2F-1 (p<0.05), and Bcl-2 (p<0.05) gene expression. Simultaneously, the natural extracts tend to increase the p53 protein levels and arrest the cell cycle of HeLa in the G1/S phase (p<0.05). Investigated extracts were characterized by the occurrence of bioactive lignans and isoflavones in S. chinensis and P. lobata, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The extracts of S. chinensis and P. lobata within their chemical characterization mainly present lignan and isoflavone-type compounds, which are probably responsible for inhibiting the expression of the HPV E6 oncogene and inducing an increase in the expression of p53, Bcl -2 and E2F-1 producing cell cycle detection in S phase in HeLa cells. Therefore, these extracts are good candidates to continue studying their antiviral and antiproliferative potential in cells transformed by HPV.

Protective effects and mechanism of puerarin targeting PI3K/Akt signal pathway on neurological diseases

Neurological diseases impose a tremendous and increasing burden on global health, and there is currently no curative agent. Puerarin, a natural isoflavone extracted from the dried root of Pueraria montana var. Lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa and Predeep, is an active ingredient with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and autophagy-regulating effects. It has great potential in the treatment of neurological and other diseases. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signal pathway is a crucial signal transduction mechanism that regulates biological processes such as cell regeneration, apoptosis, and cognitive memory in the central nervous system, and is closely related to the pathogenesis of nervous system diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that the excellent neuroprotective effect of puerarin may be related to the regulation of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway. Here, we summarized the main biological functions and neuroprotective effects of puerarin via activating PI3K/Akt signal pathway in neurological diseases. This paper illustrates that puerarin, as a neuroprotective agent, can protect nerve cells and delay the progression of neurological diseases through the PI3K/Akt signal pathway.

Potential Mechanisms of Plant-Derived Natural Products in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy globally; it seriously endangers women’s health because of its high morbidity and mortality. Conventional treatments are prone to drug resistance, recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs with high efficacy and low side effects to prevent and treat cervical cancer. In recent years, plant-derived natural products have been evaluated as potential anticancer drugs that preferentially kill tumor cells without severe adverse effects. A growing number of studies have shown that natural products can achieve practical anti-cervical-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of tumor-cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis and telomerase activity, enhancement of immunity and reversal of multidrug resistance. This paper reviews the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of plant-derived natural products on cervical cancer and provides references for developing anti-cervical-cancer drugs with high efficacy and low side effects.

Puerarin Inhibits the Progression of Bladder Cancer by Regulating circ_0020394/miR-328-3p/NRBP1 Axis

Background: Previous studies have shown puerarin to be a potential therapeutic drug for treatment of bladder cancer. But the role and possible molecular mechanism of puerarin remain unknown. Methods: Cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively. Western blot was used to measure the levels of all protein. Glucose consumption and lactate production were detected using a glucose and lactate assay kit. Circular RNA_0020394 (circ_0020394), microRNA-328-3p (miR-328-3p), and nuclear receptor binding protein 1 (NRBP1) levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The interaction between miRNA and circRNA or mRNA was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assay. In vivo experiments were performed to examine the effect of puerarin on tumor growth. Results: Puerarin suppressed cell viability, migration, invasion, and glycolysis, and induced apoptosis in bladder cancer. circ_0020394 was downregulated in puerarin-treated bladder cancer cells, and circ_0020394 overexpression attenuated the inhibitory effect of puerarin on cell progression. Moreover, circ_0020394 could bind to miR-328-3p, and miR-328-3p directly targeted NRBP1. Functionally, miR-328-3p could reverse the promotion effect of circ_0020394 overexpression on the progression of puerarin-treated cells, and silencing NRBP1 counteracted the effects of anti-miR-328-3p on puerarin-treated cells. Mechanically, circ_0020394 could increase NRBP1 expression by acting as miR-328-3p sponge in puerarin-treated bladder cancer cells. Besides, puerarin inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo by increasing miR-328-3p and decreasing the levels of circ_0020394 and NRBP1. Conclusions: Puerarin impedes cell viability, migration, invasion, and glycolysis, and promoted apoptosis in bladder cancer by regulating circ_0020394/miR-328-3p/NRBP1 axis.

A Critical Review on Anticancer Mechanisms of Natural Flavonoid Puerarin

Cancer is one of the prominent global causes of death and the foremost worldwide health concern. Despite unprecedented progress in cancer chemoprevention, a vast number of cancers, however, remain an undefeatable challenge for treatment modalities. Immense therapeutic activities of puerarin contribute to its use in various health disorders. In this review, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms and targets of puerarin, proving its potential as a novel anticancer agent, for future cancer therapy and chemoprevention. Several mechanisms account for anticancer activity of puerarin which includes downregulation of NF-kB signalling pathway, mTOR signalling pathway, PI3K and BCl-2 proteins and upregulation of miR-16, caspase proteins, c- Jun N terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. These alterations result in inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and/or induction of apoptosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in chemotherapy and chemoprevention could aid in the more pronounced exploration of puerarin in effective cancer treatment.

Molecular Mechanisms of Anticancer Activities of Puerarin

Medicinal plants are a vital source of natural products (NPs) that can cure cancer through modulation of different pathways, including oxidative stress, extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis, cell cycle, inflammation, NF-kB, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, AMPK (JNK), MEK/ERK (Raf)-MEK-ERK and autophagy. Puerarin (Pue), an important NP belonging to the isoflavone glycoside group, is derived from Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Pueraria thomsonii Benth, and Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.). This NP was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Health for the treatment of different diseases in 1993, but it was also later reported to exhibit anticancer activity. Pue causes cancer cells death through modulation of different mechanisms including oxidative stress, intrinsic and extrinsic, Survivin and XIAP, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK, JNK, cell cycle, AMPK, NF-kB, inflammation and autophagy pathways. Therefore, this review compiles for the first time the studies about the anticancer mechanism of Pue and provides comprehensive information about the anticancer effects of Pue. This review may serve as a basis for future research and clinical treatment.

Puerarin suppresses cell growth and migration in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells by inhibiting the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway

Puerarin is an effective component that is present in high concentrations in the Pueraria lobata plant and is extensively distributed throughout nature. Puerarin possesses a number of pharmacological effects and has strong pharmacological activity with few side effects and extensive clinical applications. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of Puerarin on the apoptosis of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cervical cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase activity and Annexin V/fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide analysis were used to analyze cell growth of HPV-positive HeLa cervical cancer cells treated with Puerarin. Western blotting was performed to measure protein expression in the treated cells. Puerarin significantly reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. In addition, it was observed that Puerarin significantly enhanced caspase-3/9 activities and significantly increased B-cell lymphoma 2-asscoiate X protein expression in HeLa cells. Puerarin suppressed phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated (p)-protein kinase B (Akt) and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein expression in HeLa cells. These results indicate that Puerarin induces apoptosis in HPV-positive HeLa cervical cancer cells via inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling.

miRNA-766 induces apoptosis of human colon cancer cells through the p53/Bax signaling pathway by MDM4

miRNAs are closely associated with tumor genesis and development. The present study investigated the role of the expression of miRNA-766 in the survival of patients with colon cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and microarray analysis were used to analyze the expression of miRNA-766. The results revealed that the expression of miRNA-766 was decreased in patients with colon cancer. The overall survival and disease-free survival rates of patients with colon cancer with a high expression of miRNA-766 were prolonged, compared with those with a low expression of miRNA-766. The overexpression of miRNA-766 reduced cell growth and induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells through suppression of the MDM4/p53 pathway. By contrast, the downregulation of miRNA-766 promoted cell growth and reduced apoptosis in colon cancer cells through activation of the MDM4/p53 pathway. The promotion of MDM4 attenuated the anticancer effect of miRNA-766 in colon cancer cells. These results demonstrated that miRNA-766 induced cell apoptosis in human colon cancer through MDM4/p53.

Effects and mechanism of puerarin on the human retinoblastoma cells

Puerarin is an isoflavonoid that is extracted from Kudzu root and is considered to have an anti-tumor effect. In the present study, the effects of puerarin on human retinoblastoma (RB) cells and the related pathways was determined. The retinoblastoma RB cell lines were used in this study. Cell viability and colony formation capacity were measured by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were examined by Transwell assay. The expression of cell cycle, EMT, and MAPK/ERK signal pathway-related proteins were detected by western blot following puerarin treatment. The results revealed that cell viability and proliferation of RB cells treated with puerarin were significantly lower in RB cells compared to the control group. Puerarin significantly decreased the proportion of cells during S phase which was accompanied with increase in cells at G0/1 and G2 phases. Moreover, puerarin suppressed cell migration, invasion and up-regulated E-Cadherin expression as well as down-regulated Vimentin and α-SMA expression. Furthermore, puerarin treatment suppressed the expression of p-MEK and p-ERK in RB cells. Our findings suggest that puerarin contributes to in the treatment of RB and other malignant tumors.

Puerarin inhibits bladder cancer cell proliferation through the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway

Puerarin, as a novel oncotherapeutic agent, may exert anticancer effects and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. To explore the effects of puerarin on human bladder cancer cells, and to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying these effects, a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to examine the proliferation of T24 and EJ cells following puerarin treatment. The effects of puerarin treatment on the cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), while puerarin-induced cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and FCM, and the cellular ultrastructural morphological changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Cell invasion was examined using a Transwell assay with Matrigel. The expression levels of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated (p)-mTOR, p70-S6 kinase (p70S6K) and p-p70S6K proteins in the mTOR signaling pathway were then assessed by western blotting. The results demonstrated that puerarin may inhibit bladder cancer cell viability, block the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and induce apoptosis in bladder cancer cells. The expression levels of p-mTOR and p-p70S6K proteins were downregulated, while no change was observed in the expression levels of mTOR and p70S6K proteins when T-24 and EJ cells were treated by puerarin. In the present study, puerarin was demonstrated to inhibit the viability of human bladder cancer cells. These effects may be due to the puerarin-induced downregulation of proteins in the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway, and the present study may provide the experimental basis for puerarin to be considered as a promising novel anti-tumor drug for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Puerarin attenuates the daunorubicin-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cells by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway via the inhibition of Ca2+ influx

Puerarin extracted from Radix Puerariae is well known for its pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of puerarin on the daunorubicin (DNR)-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cells and to elucidate the potential mechanisms involved. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis, respectively. Western blot analysis was used to assess changes in the expression levels of proteins, including caspase-3, Akt and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt). Ratiometric imaging of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) using cells loaded with Fura-2 was also carried out. Our results revealed that puerarin pre-treatment protected the H9c2 cells against DNR-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting cell apoptosis, which was also confirmed by the decrease in the expression of cleaved caspase-3. Additionally, p-Akt activation was associated with the suppressive effects of puerarin. Following pre-treatment with puerarin, the extracellular Ca2+ influx was restrained and this resulted in a reduction in the intracellular Ca2+ levels; these effects were abrogated by LY294002 [an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)]. The inhibition of Ca2+ influx suggested that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway participated in the suppressive effects of puerarin against H9c2 cell apoptosis. Taken togher, our findings demonstrate that puerarin attenuates the DNR-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cells by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway via the inhibition of Ca2+ influx, suggesting that puerarin may be a potential cardioprotective agent for use in the clinical treatment of cardiomyopathy triggered by DNR.

Puerarin induces cell apoptosis in human chondrosarcoma cell line SW1353 via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma with poor prognosis. Puerarin has been demonstrated to possess anticancer properties; however, the effects of puerarin in human chondrosarcoma cells remain unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of puerarin in SW1353 human chondrosarcoma cells. SW1353 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of puerarin for different durations. Cell viability was evaluated using MTT assays. Cell apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry. The activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were measured by enzymatic assay. The expression of RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt), phosphorylated-Akt, caspase-3 and apoptosis-associated proteins, including B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were detected by western blotting. Puerarin significantly decreased cell viability and significantly induced apoptosis of SW1353 cells. In addition, puerarin significantly increased the enzymatic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Puerarin treatment suppressed the expression of p-Akt and Bcl-2 but promoted the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in SW1353 cells. Notably, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 abrogated the decreased phosphorylation of Akt, suggesting that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is involved in mediating the anticancer effects of puerarin. The data from the present study indicated that puerarin exhibits anticancer effects in SW1353 cells and may be a potential therapeutic drug for patients with chondrosarcoma.