Anti-Tumour and Anti-Oxidative Potential of Diosgenin against 7, 12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene Induced Experimental Oral Carcinogenesis

Potential targets of diosgenin for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma and their bioinformatics and transcriptional profiling analyses

Diosgenin can inhibit the proliferation and cause apoptosis of various tumor cells, and its inhibitory effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its mechanism are still unclear. In this study, we predicted the targets of diosgenin for the treatment of OSCC through the database, then performed bioinformatics analysis of the targets, and further verified the effect of diosgenin on the activity of OSCC cell line HSC-3, the transcriptional profile of the targets and the molecular docking of the targets with diosgenin. The results revealed that there were 146 potential targets of diosgenin for OSCC treatment, which involved signaling pathways such as Ras, TNF, PI3K-AKT, HIF, NF-κB, and could regulate cellular activity through apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation and differentiation, inflammatory response, DNA repair, etc. Diosgenin significantly inhibited HSC-3 cell activity. The genes such as AKT1, MET1, SRC1, APP1, CCND1, MYC, PTGS2, AR, NFKB1, BIRC2, MDM2, BCL2L1, MMP2, may be important targets of its action, not only their expression was regulated by diosgenin but also their proteins had a high binding energy with diosgenin. These results suggest that diosgenin may have a therapeutic effect on OSCC through AKT1, MMP2 and other targets and multiple signaling pathways, which is of potential clinical value.

Anticancer Activity of Diosgenin and Its Molecular Mechanism

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, obtained from Trigonella foenum-graecum, Dioscorea, and Rhizoma polgonati, has shown high potential and interest in the treatment of various cancers such as oral squamous cell carcinoma, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, glioma, and leukemia. This article aims to provide an overview of the in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies reporting the diosgenin's anticancer effects. Preclinical studies have shown promising effects of diosgenin on inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and growth, promoting apoptosis, inducing differentiation and autophagy, inhibiting tumor cell metastasis and invasion, blocking cell cycle, regulating immunity and improving gut microbiome. Clinical investigations have revealed clinical dosage and safety property of diosgenin. Furthermore, in order to improve the biological activity and bioavailability of diosgenin, this review focuses on the development of diosgenin nano drug carriers, combined drugs and the diosgenin derivatives. However, further designed trials are needed to unravel the diosgenin's deficiencies in clinical application.

Dioscorea zingiberensis ameliorates diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and curbing the expression of p66Shc in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

OBJECTIVES

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a severe diabetic complication. Dioscorea zingiberensis (DZ) possesses excellent pharmacological properties with lower toxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of DZ in DN.

METHODS

DN was established by the high-fat diet combining intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in mice. The DZ (125 and 250 mg/kg/day) were intragastrical administered for 8 consecutive weeks. After treatment, blood, urine and kidney tissue were collected for biological detection, renal morphology, fibrosis and molecular mechanism research, respectively.

KEY FINDINGS

This study has shown that DZ significantly ameliorated kidney hypertrophy, renal structural damage and abnormal function of the kidney indicators (creatinine, urinary protein and blood urea nitrogen). Further molecular mechanism data suggested that the NLRP3/Cleaved-caspase-1 signal pathway was remarkably activated in DN, and DZ treatment reversed these changes, which indicated that it effectively attenuated inflammatory response caused by hyperglycaemia. In addition, DN inhibits hyperglycaemia-induced activation of oxidative stress by suppressing the expression of p66Shc proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

DZ could efficiently suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory responses to postpone the development of DN, and its mechanism might be related to inhibition of NLRP3 and p66Shc activities. Thus, DZ could be developed into a new therapeutic agent for DN.

Chemopreventive and Anti-tumor Potential of Natural Products in Oral Cancer

Oral cancer (OC) is a multifactorial disease caused by isolated or combined risk factors related to tobacco, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus infection. It is an aggressive pathology with a low five-year survival rate after surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy, frequently associated with severe side effects. Drugs with the highest anti-tumor effect are obtained from natural products with diverse biological and molecular activities and potential chemopreventive and anticancer properties. This review summarizes the natural products reported to have the chemopreventive and anti-tumor potential for OC treatment, showing that several of these compounds are promising candidates as chemopreventive agents, and those with the highest anti-tumor potential induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation and metastasis-related processes. For this reason, natural products have the potential to be important preventive and therapeutic options for OC in the future.

Diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, and its analogs: Effective therapies against different chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

Chronic diseases are a major cause of mortality worldwide, and despite the recent development in treatment modalities, synthetic drugs have continued to show toxic side effects and development of chemoresistance, thereby limiting their application. The use of phytochemicals has gained attention as they show minimal side effects. Diosgenin is one such phytochemical which has gained importance for its efficacy against the life-threatening diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, nervous system disorders, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, and many more.

AIM

To evaluate the literature available on the potential of diosgenin and its analogs in modulating different molecular targets leading to the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

METHOD

A detailed literature search has been carried out on PubMed for gathering information related to the sources, biosynthesis, physicochemical properties, biological activities, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and toxicity of diosgenin and its analogs.

KEY FINDINGS

The literature search resulted in many in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials that reported the efficacy of diosgenin and its analogs in modulating important molecular targets and signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK, etc., which play a crucial role in the development of most of the diseases. Reports have also revealed the safety of the compound and the adaptation of nanotechnological approaches for enhancing its bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties.

SIGNIFICANCE

Thus, the review summarizes the efficacy of diosgenin and its analogs for developing as a potent drug against several chronic diseases.

Polydatin Encapsulated Poly [Lactic-co-glycolic acid] Nanoformulation Counteract the 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a] Anthracene Mediated Experimental Carcinogenesis through the Inhibition of Cell Proliferation

In the present study, the authors have attempted to fabricate Polydatin encapsulated Poly [lactic-co-glycolic acid] (POL-PLGA-NPs) to counteract 7,12-dimethyl benzyl anthracene (DMBA) promoted buccal pouch carcinogenesis in experimental animals. The bio-formulated POL-PLGA-NPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern analysis, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition, the nano-chemopreventive potential of POL-PLGA-NPs was assessed by scrutinizing the neoplastic incidence and analyzing the status of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, phase I, phase II detoxification status, and histopathological changes and in DMBA-treated animals. In golden Syrian hamsters, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was generated by painting with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week for 14 weeks. After 100% tumor formation was observed, high tumor volume, tumor burden, and altered levels of biochemical status were observed in the DMBA-painted hamsters. Intra-gastric administration of varying concentration of POL-PLGA-NPs (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg b.wt) to DMBA-treated hamsters assumedly prevents oncological incidences and restores the status of the biochemical markers. It also significantly enhances the apoptotic associated and inhibits the cancer cell proliferative markers expression (p53, Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase 3, cyclin-D1). The present study reveals that POL-PLGA-NPs is a penitential candidate for nano-chemopreventive, anti-lipid peroxidative, and antioxidant potential, and also has a modulating effect on the phase I and Phase II detoxification system, which is associated with reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in experimental oral carcinogenesis.

One compound of saponins from Disocorea zingiberensis protected against experimental acute pancreatitis by preventing mitochondria-mediated necrosis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a painful inflammatory disorder of the exocrine pancreas, ranking as the most common gastrointestinal reasons for hospitalization with no specific therapy currently. Diosgenyl saponins extracted from natural products and diosgenin or its derivatives have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects in various diseases. However, the therapeutic effects of diosgenyl saponins from Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright in AP have not yet been determined. Five compounds were extracted and screened for taurocholate-induced necrosis in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Particularly, 26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3β, 22α, 26-trihydroxy-25(R)-furosta-5-en-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound 1) exhibited the best protective effects with no toxicity observed. Next, we showed compound 1 concentration-dependently inhibited necrotic cell death pathway activation and 2.5 mM compound 1 also prevented the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate production, and reactive oxygen species generation in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Finally, we showed compound 1 protected against three clinically representative murine models of AP and significantly improved pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury. These data provide in vitro and in vivo evidence that one compound of diosgenyl saponins can be potential treatment for AP. This study suggests natural saponins may serve as fruitful sources for exploring/identifying potential therapies for inflammatory diseases.

Biochemical profiling and chemopreventive activity of phloretin on 7,12-Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene induced oral carcinogenesis in male golden Syrian hamsters

OBJECTIVES

The present study was designed to examine the chemopreventive effects of phloretin against 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA) induced buccal pouch carcinogenesis in male golden Syrian hamsters in order to discover resources to improve the traditional medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hamsters were divided into four groups of 10 animals each. Group I was served as an untreated control. Group II hamsters were painted with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin on the left buccal pouches three times a week for 14 weeks. Group III hamsters were orally administrated with phloretin at a dose of 40 mg/kg body Weight (b.wt) on days alternate to DMBA application. Group IV hamsters were orally administrated with phloretin alone and served as the drug control. The experiment was terminated at the end of fourteenth week. The experimental animal's tumors were subjected into morphological examination and subsequently screened the pathological changes and estimate the activities of bi-products of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants enzymes and phase I and II detoxification enzyme status.

RESULTS

In DMBA alone treated hamster showed increased levels of lipid peroxidation by products, leads to decreased levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants status, activities of phase I and II detoxification enzyme status were altered. Normalized the neoplastic changes, decreased the levels of lipid by products, retain the antioxidants and restored the phase I and II enzymes were observed in phloretin administrated animals during DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Phloretin has possible chemopreventive role in which modulating the antioxidant and detoxification enzyme status, thereby retarding DMBA induced buccal pouch carcinogenesis.