Epigenetics/epigenomics of triterpenoids in cancer prevention and in health

Exploring the therapeutic potential of lupeol: A review of its mechanisms, clinical applications, and advances in bioavailability enhancement

Lupeol, a naturally occurring triterpenoid, has garnered significant attention for its diverse range of biological activities and potential therapeutic applications. This comprehensive review delves into the various aspects of lupeol, including its sources, extraction methods, chemical characteristics, pharmacokinetics, safety evaluation, mechanisms of action, and applications in disease treatment. We highlight the compound's unique carbon skeleton and its role in inflammation regulation, antioxidant activity, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects. The review also underscores lupeol's potential in cancer therapy, cardiovascular protection, metabolic disease management, and wound healing. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives of lupeol's clinical application, emphasizing the need for further research to improve its bioavailability and explore its full therapeutic potential. The review concludes by recognizing the significance of lupeol in drug development and healthcare, with expectations for future breakthroughs in medical applications.

Non-coding RNAs in oral cancer: Emerging biomarkers and therapeutic frontier

Around the world, oral cancer (OC) is a major public health problem, resulting in a significant number of deaths each year. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Recent progress in DNA sequencing and transcriptome profiling has revealed extensive non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) transcription, underscoring their regulatory importance. NcRNAs influence genomic transcription and translation and molecular signaling pathways, making them valuable for various clinical applications. Combining spatial transcriptomics (ST) and spatial metabolomics (SM) with single-cell RNA sequencing provides deeper insights into tumor microenvironments, enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic precision for OC. Additionally, the exploration of salivary biomarkers offers a non-invasive diagnostic avenue. This article explores the potential of ncRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic tools for OC.

Epigenetic Effects of Natural Products in Inflammatory Diseases: Recent Findings

Inflammation is an essential step for the etiology of multiple diseases. Clinically, due to the limitations of current drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as serious side effects and expensive costs, it is urgent to explore novel mechanisms and medicines. Natural products have received extensive attention recently because of their multi-component and multi-target characteristics. Epigenetic modifications are crucial pathophysiological targets for developing innovative therapies for pharmacological interventions. Investigations examining how natural products improving inflammation through epigenetic modifications are emerging. This review state that natural products relieve inflammation via regulating the gene transcription levels through chromosome structure regulated by histone acetylation levels and the addition or deletion of methyl groups on DNA duplex. They could also exert anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the proteins in typical inflammatory signaling pathways by ubiquitin-related degradation and the effect of glycolysis derived free glycosyls. Studies on epigenetic modifications have the potential to facilitate the development of natural products as therapeutic agents. Future research directed at better understanding of how natural products modulate inflammatory processes through less studied epigenetic modifications including neddylation, SUMOylation, palmitoylation and lactylation, may provide new implications. Meanwhile, higher quality preclinical studies and more powerful clinical evidence are still needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the natural products. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01764204; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05845931; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04657926; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02330276.

Complicated role of ALKBH5 in gastrointestinal cancer: an updated review

Gastrointestinal cancer is the most common malignancy in humans, often accompanied by poor prognosis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is widely present in eukaryotic cells as the most abundant RNA modification. It plays a crucial role in RNA splicing and processing, nuclear export, translation, and stability. Human AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) is a type of RNA demethylase exhibiting abnormal expression in various gastrointestinal cancers.It is closely related to the tumorigenesis, proliferation, migration, and other biological functions of gastrointestinal cancer. However, recent studies indicated that the role and mechanism of ALKBH5 in gastrointestinal cancer are complicated and even controversial. Thus, this review summarizes recent advances in elucidating the role of ALKBH5 as a tumor suppressor or promoter in gastrointestinal cancer. It examines the biological functions of ALKBH5 and its potential as a therapeutic target, providing new perspectives and insights for gastrointestinal cancer research.

The Emerging Role of Natural Products in Cancer Treatment

The exploration of natural products as potential agents for cancer treatment has garnered significant attention in recent years. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the diverse array of natural compounds, including alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, lignans, polyketides, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids, highlighting their emerging roles in cancer therapy. These compounds, derived from various botanical sources, exhibit a wide range of mechanisms of action, targeting critical pathways involved in cancer progression such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Through a meticulous examination of preclinical and clinical studies, we provide insights into the therapeutic potential of these natural products across different cancer types. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages and challenges associated with their use in cancer treatment, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize their efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and delivery methods. Overall, this review underscores the importance of natural products in advancing cancer therapeutics and paves the way for future investigations into their clinical applications.

Novel triterpenoid pyrones, phthalimides and phthalates are selectively cytotoxic in CCRF-CEM cancer cells - Synthesis, potency, and mitochondrial mechanism of action

A series of triterpenoid pyrones was synthesized and subsequently modified to introduce phthalimide or phthalate moieties into the triterpenoid skeleton. These compounds underwent in vitro cytotoxicity screening, revealing that a subset of six compounds exhibited potent activity, with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. Further biological evaluations, including Annexin V and propidium iodide staining experiment revealed, that all compounds induce selective apoptosis in cancer cells. Measurements of mitochondrial potential, cell cycle analysis, and the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins confirmed, that apoptosis was mediated via the mitochondrial pathway. These findings were further supported by cell cycle modulation and DNA/RNA synthesis studies, which indicated a significant increase in cell accumulation in the G0/G1 phase and a marked reduction in S-phase cells, alongside a substantial inhibition of DNA synthesis. The activation of caspase-3 and the cleavage of PARP, coupled with a decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL proteins, underscored the induction of apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Given their high activity and pronounced effect on mitochondria function, trifluoromethyl pyrones 1f and 2f, and dihydrophthalimide 2h have been selected for further development.

RNA-seq analysis reveals modulation of inflammatory pathways by an enriched-triterpene natural extract in mouse and human macrophage cell lines

Chronic inflammation is crucial in developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown that a leaf extract of Eucalyptus tereticornis, with ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), and ursolic acid lactone (UAL) as the main molecules (78 %) mixed with unknown minor metabolites (22 %), provided superior anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects than reconstituted triterpenoid mixtures in macrophage cell lines and a pre-diabetic mouse model. Further identification of the molecular mechanisms of action of this mixture of triterpenes is required. This study aims to analyse the RNA expression profiles of mouse and human macrophage cell lines treated with the natural extract and its components. Activated macrophage cell lines were treated with the natural extract, UA, OA, UAL or a triterpene mixture (M1). RNA was extracted and sequenced using the DNBseq platform and the EnrichR software to perform gene enrichment analysis using the Gene Ontology database, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Reactome. To conduct clustering analysis, we standardised the normalised counts of each gene and applied k-means clustering. The combination of molecules in the natural extract has an additive or synergic effect that affects the expression of up-regulated genes by macrophage activation. Triterpenes (M1) regulated 76 % of human and 68 % of mouse genes, while uncharacterised minority molecules could regulate 24 % of human and 32 % of mouse genes. The extract inhibited the expression of many cytokines (IL6, IL1, OSM), chemokines (CXCL3), inflammatory mediators (MMP8 and MMP13) and the JAK-STAT signalling pathway in both models. The natural extract has a more powerful immunomodulatory effect than the triterpene mixture, increasing the number of genes regulated in mouse and human models. Our study shows that Eucalyptus tereticornis extract is a promising option for breaking the link between inflammation and insulin resistance.

A network pharmacology integrated serum pharmacochemistry strategy for uncovering efficacy of YXC on hepatocellular carcinoma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The YangzhengXiaoji capsule (YXC) has a wide range of applications as effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. However, the potential bioactive components and the mechanisms are yet unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The treatment mechanism of YXC on HCC using a network pharmacology integrated serum pharmacochemistry strategy to investigate associated targets and pathways.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We utilised HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology to identify components of the serum samples from both the model group and the YXC (H) group serum, which were collected from nude mice with orthotopic liver tumours. Following this, we conducted compound-target prediction and identified the overlap between the target genes in the YXC group and the oncogenes associated with HCC. The anticancer mechanisms of YXC were investigated by creating a compound-target-pathway network using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. The anticancer efficacy was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Also, potential predictive targets and pathways associated with YXC in HCC treatment were assessed by western blotting.

RESULTS

The YXC (H) serum had 47 bioactive compounds compared to other models, and identified 173 specific target genes. Using the compound-target-disease network, 141 possible target genes were identified. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed vital enrichment of pathways associated with HCC, including regulating Oncology related pathways of inflammation, immunity, apoptosis, and necrosis biological processes. YXC significantly inhibited HCC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. After YXC treatment, western blotting detected alterations in the p53/Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase-3 and PI3K/Akt pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

YXC can inhibit HCC development and advancement by a variety of components, targets and pathways, especially apoptosis-induction.

Selenoproteins in Health

Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring essential micronutrient that is required for human health. The existing form of Se includes inorganic and organic. In contrast to the inorganic Se, which has low bioavailability and high cytotoxicity, organic Se exhibits higher bioavailability, lower toxicity, and has a more diverse composition and structure. This review presents the nutritional benefits of Se by listing and linking selenoprotein (SeP) functions to evidence of health benefits. The research status of SeP from foods in recent years is introduced systematically, particularly the sources, biochemical transformation and speciation, and the bioactivities. These aspects are elaborated with references for further research and utilization of organic Se compounds in the field of health.

Progress and prospect: Biosynthesis of plant natural products based on plant chassis

Plant-derived natural products are a specific class of active substances with numerous applications in the medical, energy, and industrial fields. Many of these substances are in high demand and have become the fundamental materials for various purposes. Recently, the use of synthetic biology to produce plant-derived natural products has become a significant trend. Plant chassis, in particular, offer unique advantages over microbial chassis in terms of cell structure, product affinity, safety, and storage. The development of the plant hairy root tissue culture system has accelerated the commercialization and industrialization of synthetic biology in the production of plant-derived natural products. This paper will present recent progress in the synthesis of various plant natural products using plant chassis, organized by the types of different structures. Additionally, we will summarize the four primary types of plant chassis used for synthesizing natural products from plant sources and review the enabling technologies that have contributed to the development of synthetic biology in recent years. Finally, we will present the role of isolated and combined use of different optimization strategies in breaking the upper limit of natural product production in plant chassis. This review aims to provide practical references for synthetic biologists and highlight the great commercial potential of plant chassis biosynthesis, such as hairy roots.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate and cancer: focus on the role of microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that affect gene expression. The role of miRNAs in different types of cancers has been published and it was shown that several miRNAs are inappropriately expressed in different cancers. Among the mechanisms that can cause this lack of proper expression are epigenetics, chromosomal changes, polymorphisms or defects in processing proteins. Recent research shows that phytochemicals, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), exert important epigenetic-based anticancer effects such as pro-apoptotic or anti proliferative through miRNA gene silencing. Given that EGCG is able to modulate a variety of cancer-related process i.e., angiogenesis, proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis via targeting various miRNAs such as let-7, miR-16, and miR-210. The discovery of new miRNAs and the differences observed in their expression when exposed to EGCG provides evidence that targeting these miRNAs may be beneficial as a form of treatment. In this review, we aim to provide an overview, based on current knowledge, on how phytochemicals, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate, can be considered as potential miRNAs modulator to improve efficacy of current cancer treatments.

METTL14‑mediated RNA methylation in digestive system tumors

N6‑methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is one of the most common post‑transcriptional modification mechanism in eukaryotes. m6A is involved in almost all stages of the mRNA life cycle, specifically regulating its stability, splicing, export and translation. Methyltransferase‑like 14 (METTL14) is a particularly important m6A methylation 'writer' that can recognize RNA substrates. METTL14 has been documented to improve the activity and catalytic efficiency of METTL3. However, as individual proteins they can also regulate different biological processes. Malignancies in the digestive system are some of the most common malignancies found in humans, which are typically associated with poor prognoses with limited clinical solutions. METTL14‑mediated methylation has been implicated in both the potentiation and inhibition of digestive system tumor growth, cell invasion and metastasis, in addition to drug resistance. In the present review, the research progress and regulatory mechanisms of METTL14‑mediated methylation in digestive system malignancies were summarized. In addition, future research directions and the potential for its clinical application were examined.

Unraveling the Peculiar Features of Mitochondrial Metabolism and Dynamics in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in Western countries. Mitochondria, the "powerhouse" of cells, undergo distinctive metabolic and structural dynamics in different types of cancer. PCa cells experience peculiar metabolic changes during their progression from normal epithelial cells to early-stage and, progressively, to late-stage cancer cells. Specifically, healthy cells display a truncated tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and inefficient oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) due to the high accumulation of zinc that impairs the activity of m-aconitase, the enzyme of the TCA cycle responsible for the oxidation of citrate. During the early phase of cancer development, intracellular zinc levels decrease leading to the reactivation of m-aconitase, TCA cycle and OXPHOS. PCa cells change their metabolic features again when progressing to the late stage of cancer. In particular, the Warburg effect was consistently shown to be the main metabolic feature of late-stage PCa cells. However, accumulating evidence sustains that both the TCA cycle and the OXPHOS pathway are still present and active in these cells. The androgen receptor axis as well as mutations in mitochondrial genes involved in metabolic rewiring were shown to play a key role in PCa cell metabolic reprogramming. Mitochondrial structural dynamics, such as biogenesis, fusion/fission and mitophagy, were also observed in PCa cells. In this review, we focus on the mitochondrial metabolic and structural dynamics occurring in PCa during tumor development and progression; their role as effective molecular targets for novel therapeutic strategies in PCa patients is also discussed.

The Roles of Epigenetic Regulation and the Tumor Microenvironment in the Mechanism of Resistance to Systemic Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Primary liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major histologic type with a poor prognosis owing to the difficulty in early detection, the chemotherapy resistance, and the high recurrence rate of the disease. Despite recent advancements in HCC prevention and diagnosis, over 50% of patients are diagnosed at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage B or C. Systemic therapies are recommended for unresectable HCC (uHCC) with major vascular invasion, extrahepatic metastases, or intrahepatic lesions that have a limited response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, but the treatment outcome tends to be unsatisfactory due to acquired drug resistance. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the resistance to systemic therapies and the appropriate response strategies to solve this issue will contribute to improved outcomes in the multidisciplinary treatment of uHCC. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the mechanisms of resistance to drugs such as sorafenib, regorafenib, and lenvatinib in molecularly targeted therapy, with a focus on epigenetic regulation and the tumor microenvironment and outline the approaches to improve the therapeutic outcome for patients with advanced HCC.

Coicis Semen for the treatment of malignant tumors of the female reproductive system: A review of traditional Chinese medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics

Coicis Semen is an important food product and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) derived from the dried and mature seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi L.var.ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf. An increasing number of studies have investigated its use, either alone or in combination with other botanical drugs, to treat female reproductive system malignancies, and its pharmacological effects have been confirmed clinically. This review aims to provide an overview of Coicis Semen's historical role in treating female reproductive system malignancies based on TCM theory, to summarize clinical trials results, and to analyze information pertaining to the main phytochemical components, pharmacokinetics, related anti-cancer pharmacological effects, and toxicology of Coicis Semen. Information on Coicis Semen was collected from internationally accepted scientific databases. Seventy-four clinical trials were identified that used Coicis Semen in combination with other Chinese medicine to treat female reproductive system malignancies, most of which demonstrated good anti-tumor efficacy and few adverse reactions. To date, more than 80 individual compounds have been isolated from this botanical drug. In terms of anti-tumor effects, Coix seed oil has been studied the most. Pharmacokinetic data suggest that the active ingredients in Coicis Semen are widely distributed after administration, and Coicis Semen and its active compounds play a beneficial role in treating female reproductive system malignancies. Mechanistically, the anti-cancer effects may be related to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, suppression of the chronic inflammatory microenvironment of tumors, modulation of immune function, and regulation of the female reproductive system. Most acute toxicity and genotoxicity studies have shown that Coicis Semen is non-toxic. However, the existing studies have many limitations, and the future research direction should emphasize 1) the relationship between drug concentration and pharmacological action as well as toxicity; 2) the structural modification or the synthesis of analogues led by the active ingredients of Coicis Semen to enhance pharmacological activities and bioavailability; 3) accurately revealing the anti-cancer pharmacological effects of Coicis Semen and its compounds through multi-omics technology. We hope that this review can determine future directions and inform novel drug development for treating female reproductive malignancies.

Novel Strategies for the Bioavailability Augmentation and Efficacy Improvement of Natural Products in Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is emerging as a major cause of mortality globally. Oral cancer occupies a significant proportion of the head and neck, including the cheeks, tongue, and oral cavity. Conventional methods in the treatment of cancer involve surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, and these have not proven to completely eradicate cancerous cells, may lead to the reoccurrence of oral cancer, and possess numerous adverse side effects. Advancements in novel drug delivery approaches have gained popularity in cancer management with an increase in the number of cases associated with oral cancer. Natural products are potent sources for drug discovery, especially for anticancer drugs. Natural product delivery has major challenges due to its low solubility, poor absorption, inappropriate size, instability, poor permeation, and first-pass metabolism. Therefore, it is of prime importance to investigate novel treatment approaches for the delivery of bioactive natural products. Nanotechnology is an advanced method of delivering cancer therapy with minimal damage to normal cells while targeting cancer cells. Therefore, the present review elaborates on the advancements in novel strategies for natural product delivery that lead to the significant enhancement of bioavailability, in vivo activity, and fewer adverse events for the prevention and treatment of oral cancer. Various approaches to accomplish the desired results involve size reduction, surface property modification, and polymer attachment, which collectively result in the higher stability of the formulation.

DNA Methylome and Transcriptome Study of Triterpenoid CDDO in TPA-Mediated Skin Carcinogenesis Model

Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation and environmental carcinogens drive skin cancer development through redox imbalance and gene mutation. Antioxidants such as triterpenoids have exhibited anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potentials to alleviate skin carcinogenesis. This study investigated the methylome and transcriptome altered by tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or TPA with 2-cyano 2,3-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO). The results show that CDDO blocks TPA-induced transformation dose dependently. Several differential expressed genes (DEGs) involved in skin cell transformation, while counteracted by CDDO, were revealed by differential expression analysis including Lyl1, Lad1, and Dennd2d. In CpG methylomic profiles, the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in the promoter region altered by TPA while showing the opposite methylation status in the CDDO treatment group were identified. The correlation between DNA methylation and RNA expression has been established and DMRs showing inverse correlation were further studied as potential therapeutic targets. From the CpG methylome and transcriptome results, CDDO significantly restored gene expression of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) inhibited by TPA by decreasing their promoter CpG methylation. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) shows that CDDO neutralized the effect of TPA through modulating cell cycles, cell migration, and inflammatory and immune response regulatory pathways. Notably, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 (TNFR2) signaling was significantly downregulated by CDDO potentially contributing to prevention of TPA-induced cell transformation. Overall, incorporating the transcriptome, CpG methylome, and signaling pathway network, we reveal potential therapeutic targets and pathways by which CDDO could reverse TPA-induced carcinogenesis. The results could be useful for future human study and targets development for skin cancer.

The RNA m6A writer WTAP in diseases: structure, roles, and mechanisms

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is a widely investigated RNA modification in studies on the "epigenetic regulation" of mRNAs that is ubiquitously present in eukaryotes. Abnormal changes in m⁶A levels are closely related to the regulation of RNA metabolism, heat shock stress, tumor occurrence, and development. m⁶A modifications are catalyzed by the m⁶A writer complex, which contains RNA methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP), and other proteins with methyltransferase (MTase) capability, such as RNA-binding motif protein 15 (RBM15), KIAA1429 and zinc finger CCCH-type containing 13 (ZC3H13). Although METTL3 is the main catalytic subunit, WTAP is a regulatory subunit whose function is to recruit the m⁶A methyltransferase complex to the target mRNA. Specifically, WTAP is required for the accumulation of METTL3 and METTL14 in nuclear speckles. In this paper, we briefly introduce the molecular mechanism of m⁶A modification. Then, we focus on WTAP, a component of the m⁶A methyltransferase complex, and introduce its structure, localization, and physiological functions. Finally, we describe its roles and mechanisms in cancer.

Ursolic acid augments the chemosensitivity of drug-resistant breast cancer cells to doxorubicin by AMPK-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction

Multidrug resistance remains the major obstacle to successful therapy for breast carcinoma. Ursolic acid (UA), a triterpenoid compound, has been regarded as a potential neoplasm chemopreventive drug in some preclinical studies since it exerts multiple biological activities. In this research, we investigated the role of UA in augmenting the chemosensitivity of drug-resistant breast carcinoma cells to doxorubicin (DOX), and we further explored the possible molecular mechanisms. Notably, we found that UA treatment led to inhibition of cellular proliferation and migration and cell cycle arrest in DOX-resistant breast cancers. Furthermore, combination treatment with UA and DOX showed a stronger inhibitory effect on cell viability, colony formation, and cell migration; induced more cell apoptosis in vitro; and generated a more potent inhibitory effect on the growth of the MCF-7/ADR xenograft tumor model than DOX alone. Mechanistically, UA effectively increased p-AMPK levels and concomitantly reduced p-mTOR and PGC-1α protein levels, resulting in impaired mitochondrial function, such as mitochondrial respiration inhibition, ATP depletion, and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In addition, UA induced a DNA damage response by increasing intracellular ROS production, thus causing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. UA also suppressed aerobic glycolysis by prohibiting the expression and function of Glut1. Considered together, our data demonstrated that UA potentiated the susceptibility of DOX-resistant breast carcinoma cells to DOX by targeting energy metabolism through the AMPK/mTOR/PGC-1α signaling pathway, and it is a potential adjuvant chemotherapeutic candidate in MDR breast cancer.

Simultaneous Determination and Pharmacokinetics Study of Three Triterpenes from Sanguisorba officinalis L. in Rats by UHPLC–MS/MS

A selective and rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was established and validated for the determination of ziyuglycoside I, 3β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic-acid 28-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, and pomolic acid in rats after the oral administration of ziyuglycoside I, 3β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic-acid 28-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, pomolic acid, and Sanguisorba officinalis L. extract. The separation was carried out on an ACQUITY UPLC^®HSS T₃ column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.8 μm), using methanol and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate water as the mobile phase. The three compounds were quantified using the multiple reaction monitoring mode with the electrospray ion source in both the positive and negative mode. Liquid-liquid extraction was applied to the plasma sample preparation. Bifendate was selected as the internal standard. The intra-day and inter-day precision and the accuracy of the method were all within receivable ranges. The lower limit of quantification of ziyuglycoside I, 3β,19α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic-acid 28-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, and pomolic acid were 6.50, 5.75, and 2.63 ng/mL, respectively. The extraction recoveries of analytes in rat plasma ranged from 83 to 94%. The three components could be rapidly absorbed into the blood (T_max, 1.4–1.6 h) both in the single-administration group or S. officinalis extract group, but the first peak of PA occurred at 0.5 h and the second peak at 4–5 h in the S. officinalis extract. Three compounds were eliminated relatively slowly (t_1/2, 7.3–11 h). The research was to establish a rapid, sensible, and sensitive UHPLC–MS/MS method using the multi-ion mode for multi-channel simultaneous mensuration pharmacokinetics parameters of three compounds in rats after oral administration of S. officinalis extract. This study found, for the first time, differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of the three compounds in the monomer compounds and S. officinalis extract administration, which preliminarily revealed the transformation and metabolism of the three compounds in vivo.

The role, mechanism, and application of RNA methyltransferase METTL14 in gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal cancer is the most common human malignancy characterized by high lethality and poor prognosis. Emerging evidences indicate that N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotes, exerts important roles in regulating mRNA metabolism including stability, decay, splicing, transport, and translation. As the key component of the m6A methyltransferase complex, methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) catalyzes m6A methylation on mRNA or non-coding RNA to regulate gene expression and cell phenotypes. Dysregulation of METTL14 was deemed to be involved in various aspects of gastrointestinal cancer, such as tumorigenesis, progression, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Plenty of findings have opened up new avenues for exploring the therapeutic potential of gastrointestinal cancer targeting METTL14. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent advances regarding the biological functions of METTL14 in gastrointestinal cancer, discuss its potential clinical applications and propose the research forecast.

Molecular Mechanism of Anti-Colorectal Cancer Effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd and Its Extracts

With the sharp change in our diet and lifestyle, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing among young people and has become the second most common malignant tumor worldwide. Although the current treatment of CRC is getting updated rapidly, recurrence and metastasis are still inevitable. Therefore, new anticancer drugs are needed to break existing limitations. In recent years, Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) extracts have been proved to demonstrate excellent anti-colorectal cancer effects and have been widely used in clinical practices. In this review, we aim to explore the advantages, potential signaling pathways, and representative active ingredients of HDW in the treatment of CRC from the perspective of molecular mechanism, in order to provide new ideas for the future treatment of CRC.

Therapeutic Potential of Certain Terpenoids as Anticancer Agents: A Scoping Review

Cancer is a life-threatening disease and is considered to be among the leading causes of death worldwide. Chemoresistance, severe toxicity, relapse and metastasis are the major obstacles in cancer therapy. Therefore, introducing new therapeutic agents for cancer remains a priority to increase the range of effective treatments. Terpenoids, a large group of secondary metabolites, are derived from plant sources and are composed of several isoprene units. The high diversity of terpenoids has drawn attention to their potential anticancer and pharmacological activities. Some terpenoids exhibit an anticancer effect by triggering various stages of cancer progression, for example, suppressing the early stage of tumorigenesis via induction of cell cycle arrest, inhibiting cancer cell differentiation and activating apoptosis. At the late stage of cancer development, certain terpenoids are able to inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis via modulation of different intracellular signaling pathways. Significant progress in the identification of the mechanism of action and signaling pathways through which terpenoids exert their anticancer effects has been highlighted. Hence, in this review, the anticancer activities of twenty-five terpenoids are discussed in detail. In addition, this review provides insights on the current clinical trials and future directions towards the development of certain terpenoids as potential anticancer agents.

Redox signaling, mitochondrial metabolism, epigenetics and redox active phytochemicals

Biological redox signaling plays an important role in many diseases. Redox signaling involves reductive and oxidative mechanisms. Oxidative stress occurs when reductive mechanism underwhelms oxidative challenges. Cellular oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RO/NS) exceed the cellular reductive/antioxidant capacity. Endogenously produced RO/NS from mitochondrial metabolic citric-acid-cycle coupled with electron-transport-chain or exogenous stimuli trigger cellular signaling events leading to homeostatic response or pathological damage. Recent evidence suggests that RO/NS also modulate epigenetic machinery driving gene expression. RO/NS affect DNA methylation/demethylation, histone acetylation/deacetylation or histone methylation/demethylation. Many health beneficial phytochemicals possess redox capability that counteract RO/NS either by directly scavenging the radicals or via inductive mechanism of cellular defense antioxidant/reductive enzymes. Amazingly, these phytochemicals also possess epigenetic modifying ability. This review summarizes the latest advances on the interactions between redox signaling, mitochondrial metabolism, epigenetics and redox active phytochemicals and the future challenges of integrating these events in human health.

Maturation Process, Nutritional Profile, Bioactivities and Utilisation in Food Products of Red Pitaya Fruits: A Review

Red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus, red pulp with pink peel), also known as dragon fruit, is a well-known species of pitaya fruit. Pitaya seeds and peels have been reported to exhibit higher concentrations of total polyphenols, beta-cyanins and amino acid than pulp, while anthocyanins (i.e., cyanidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside and pelargonidin 3-glucoside) were only detected in the pulp extracts. Beta-cyanins, phenolics and flavonoids were found to increase gradually during fruit maturation and pigmentation appeared earlier in the pulp than peel. The phytochemicals were extracted and purified by various techniques and broadly used as natural, low-cost, and beneficial healthy compounds in foods, including bakery, wine, dairy, meat and confectionery products. These bioactive components also exhibit regulative influences on the human gut microbiota, glycaemic response, lipid accumulation, inflammation, growth of microbials and mutagenicity, but the mechanisms are yet to be understood. The objective of this study was to systematically summarise the effect of red pitaya’s maturation process on the nutritional profile and techno-functionality in a variety of food products. The findings of this review provide valuable suggestions for the red pitaya fruit processing industry, leading to novel formulations supported by molecular research.

The importance of Structural and Functional Analysis of Extracts in Plants

Plants and their extracts have traditionally been used against various pathologies and in some regions are the only therapeutic source for the treatment and prevention of many chronic diseases [...].

Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolism in Prostate Cancer with Triterpenoids

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of malignancy. It implements profound metabolic changes to sustain cancer cell survival and proliferation. Although the Warburg effect is a common feature of metabolic reprogramming, recent studies have revealed that tumor cells also depend on mitochondrial metabolism. Due to the essential role of mitochondria in metabolism and cell survival, targeting mitochondria in cancer cells is an attractive therapeutic strategy. However, the metabolic flexibility of cancer cells may enable the upregulation of compensatory pathways, such as glycolysis, to support cancer cell survival when mitochondrial metabolism is inhibited. Thus, compounds capable of targeting both mitochondrial metabolism and glycolysis may help overcome such resistance mechanisms. Normal prostate epithelial cells have a distinct metabolism as they use glucose to sustain physiological citrate secretion. During the transformation process, prostate cancer cells consume citrate to mainly power oxidative phosphorylation and fuel lipogenesis. A growing number of studies have assessed the impact of triterpenoids on prostate cancer metabolism, underlining their ability to hit different metabolic targets. In this review, we critically assess the metabolic transformations occurring in prostate cancer cells. We will then address the opportunities and challenges in using triterpenoids as modulators of prostate cancer cell metabolism.

Updated review on green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate as a cancer epigenetic regulator

In-depth insights in cancer biology over the past decades have highlighted the important roles of epigenetic mechanisms in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. The cancer epigenome usually experiences multiple alternations, including genome-wide DNA hypomethylation and site-specific DNA hypermethylation, various histone posttranslational modifications, and dysregulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). These epigenetic changes are plastic and reversible, and could potentially occur in the early stage of carcinogenesis preceding genetic mutation, offering unique opportunities for intervention therapies. Therefore, targeting the cancer epigenome or cancer epigenetic dysregulation with some selected agents (called epi-drugs) represents an evolving and promising strategy for cancer chemoprevention and therapy. Phytochemicals, as a class of pleiotropic molecules, have manifested great potential in modulating different cancer processes through epigenetic machinery, of which green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is one of the most extensively studied. In this review, we first summarize epigenetic events involved in the pathogenesis of cancer, including DNA/RNA methylations, histone modifications and ncRNAs' dysregulations. We then focus on the recently discovered roles of phytochemicals, with a special emphasis on EGCG, in modulating different cancer processes through regulating epigenetic machinery. We finally discuss limitations of EGCG as an epigenetic modulator for cancer chemoprevention and treatment and offer potential strategies to overcome the shortcomings.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of water soluble and non-aggregated silicon phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines against A549, SNU-398, SK-MEL128, DU-145, BT-20 and HFC cell lines as potential anticancer agents

Cancer has become an important public problem in worldwide since cancer incidence and mortality are growing rapidly. In this study, water soluble and non-aggregated silicon (IV) phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines containing (3,5-bis{3-[3-(diethylamino)phenoxy]propoxy}phenyl)methoxy groups have been synthesized and characterized to investigate their anticancer potential. Their DNA binding/nuclease, topoisomerases inhibition were investigated using UV-Vis absorption, thermal denaturation and agarose gel electrophoresis. The in vitro cytotoxic properties of the compounds on human lung (A549), breast (BT-20), liver (SNU-398), prostate (DU-145), melanoma (SK-Mel 128) carcinoma and human fibroblast (HFC) normal cell lines were evaluated by using MTT assay. In order to determine the mechanism of cancer cell growth suppression, cell cycle analysis was carried out using flow cytometer on A549 cell line. The K_b values of SiPc1a and SiNc2a were 6.85 ± (0.35) × 10⁶ and 1.72 ± (0.16) × 10⁴ M^-1 and T_m values of ct-DNA were calculated as 82.02 °C and 78.07 °C, respectively in the presence of both compounds. The Δ_Tm values of SiPc1a and SiNc2a were calculated as 6.45 and 2.50 °C, respectively. The nuclease effects of SiPc1a and SiNc2a with supercoiled plasmid pBR322 DNA demonstrated that both compounds did not trigger any DNA nuclease effects at the lowest concentrations without irradiation whereas both compounds in the presence of activating agent (H₂O₂) showed significant plasmid DNA nuclease actions under irradiation (22.5 J/cm²). SiPc1a and SiNc2a inhibited to topoisomerase I on increasing concentrations whilst they had lower inhibition action toward topoisomerase II that of topoisomerase I. The in vitro cytotoxicity studies displayed that SiPc1a had the highest cytotoxic effects among the tested compounds against A549, SNU-398, SK-MEL128, DU-145, BT-20 and HFC cell lines with CC₅₀ values ranged from 0.49 to 2.99 µM. Furthermore, SiPc1a inhibited cell proliferation by cell cycle arrest in G₀/G₁ phase. All of these results suggested that SiPc1a is a promising candidate as an anticancer agent.

Targeting Epigenetic 'Readers' with Natural Compounds for Cancer Interception

Natural compounds from diverse sources, including botanicals and commonly consumed foods and beverages, exert beneficial health effects via mechanisms that impact the epigenome and gene expression during disease pathogenesis. By targeting the so-called epigenetic 'readers', 'writers', and 'erasers', dietary phytochemicals can reverse abnormal epigenome signatures in cancer cells and preneoplastic stages. Thus, such agents provide avenues for cancer interception via prevention or treatment/therapeutic strategies. To date, much of the focus on dietary agents has been directed towards writers (e.g., histone acetyltransferases) and erasers (e.g., histone deacetylases), with less attention given to epigenetic readers (e.g., BRD proteins). The drug JQ1 was developed as a prototype epigenetic reader inhibitor, selectively targeting members of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family, such as BRD4. Clinical trials with JQ1 as a single agent, or in combination with standard of care therapy, revealed antitumor efficacy but not without toxicity or resistance. In pursuit of second-generation epigenetic reader inhibitors, attention has shifted to natural sources, including dietary agents that might be repurposed as 'JQ1-like' bioactives. This review summarizes the current status of nascent research activity focused on natural compounds as inhibitors of BET and other epigenetic 'reader' proteins, with a perspective on future directions and opportunities.

Rhus coriaria L. (Sumac) Demonstrates Oncostatic Activity in the Therapeutic and Preventive Model of Breast Carcinoma

Comprehensive scientific data provide evidence that isolated phytochemicals or whole plant foods may beneficially modify carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncostatic activities of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) using animal models (rat and mouse), and cell lines of breast carcinoma. R. coriaria (as a powder) was administered through the diet at two concentrations (low dose: 0.1% (w/w) and high dose: 1 % (w/w)) for the duration of the experiment in a syngeneic 4T1 mouse and chemically-induced rat mammary carcinoma models. After autopsy, histopathological and molecular analyses of tumor samples in rodents were performed. Moreover, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were conducted. The dominant metabolites present in tested R. coriaria methanolic extract were glycosides of gallic acid (possible gallotannins). In the mouse model, R. coriaria at a higher dose (1%) significantly decreased tumor volume by 27% when compared to controls. In addition, treated tumors showed significant dose-dependent decrease in mitotic activity index by 36.5% and 51% in comparison with the control group. In the chemoprevention study using rats, R. coriaria at a higher dose significantly reduced the tumor incidence by 20% and in lower dose non-significantly reduced tumor frequency by 29% when compared to controls. Evaluations of the mechanism of oncostatic action using valid clinical markers demonstrated several positive alterations in rat tumor cells after the treatment with R. coriaria. In this regard, histopathological analysis of treated tumor specimens showed robust dose-dependent decrease in the ratio of high-/low-grade carcinomas by 66% and 73% compared to controls. In treated rat carcinomas, we found significant caspase-3, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 expression increases; on the other side, a significant down-regulation of Bcl-2, Ki67, CD24, ALDH1, and EpCam expressions and MDA levels. When compared to control specimens, evaluation of epigenetic alterations in rat tumor cells in vivo showed significant dose-dependent decrease in lysine methylation status of H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 and dose-dependent increase in lysine acetylation in H4K16ac levels (H4K20m3 was not changed) in treated groups. However, only in lower dose of sumac were significant decreases in the expression of oncogenic miR210 and increase of tumor-suppressive miR145 (miR21, miR22, and miR155 were not changed) observed. Finally, only in lower sumac dose, significant decreases in methylation status of three out of five gene promoters-ATM, PTEN, and TIMP3 (PITX2 and RASSF1 promoters were not changed). In vitro evaluations using methanolic extract of R. coriaria showed significant anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (using Resazurin, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase-3/7, Bcl-2, PARP, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses). In conclusion, sumac demonstrated significant oncostatic activities in rodent models of breast carcinoma that were validated by mechanistic studies in vivo and in vitro.

Epigenetics/Epigenomics and Prevention of Early Stages of Cancer by Isothiocyanates

Cancer is a complex disease and cancer development takes 10-50 years involving epigenetics. Evidence suggests that approximately 80% of human cancers are linked to environmental factors impinging upon genetics/epigenetics. Because advanced metastasized cancers are resistant to radiotherapy/chemotherapeutic drugs, cancer prevention by relatively nontoxic chemopreventive "epigenetic modifiers" involving epigenetics/epigenomics is logical. Isothiocyanates are relatively nontoxic at low nutritional and even higher pharmacologic doses, with good oral bioavailability, potent antioxidative stress/antiinflammatory activities, possess epigenetic-modifying properties, great anticancer efficacy in many in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models. This review summarizes the latest advances on the role of epigenetics/epigenomics by isothiocyanates in prevention of skin, colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. The exact molecular mechanism how isothiocyanates modify the epigenetic/epigenomic machinery is unclear. We postulate "redox" processes would play important roles. In addition, isothiocyanates sulforaphane and phenethyl isothiocyanate, possess multifaceted molecular mechanisms would be considered as "general" cancer preventive agents not unlike chemotherapeutic agents like platinum-based or taxane-based drugs. Analogous to chemotherapeutic agents, the isothiocyanates would need to be used in combination with other nontoxic chemopreventive phytochemicals or drugs such as NSAIDs, 5-α-reductase/aromatase inhibitors targeting different signaling pathways would be logical for the prevention of progression of tumors to late advanced metastatic states.

The Potential of Phytochemicals in Oral Cancer Prevention and Therapy: A Review of the Evidence

The etiological factors of oral cancer are complex including drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, betel quid chewing, human papillomavirus infection, and nutritional deficiencies. Understanding the molecular mechanism of oral cancer is vital. The traditional treatment for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) and targeted molecular therapy still have numerous shortcomings. In recent years, the use of phytochemical factors to prevent or treat cancer has received increasing attention. These phytochemicals have little or no toxicity against healthy tissues and are thus ideal chemopreventive agents. However, phytochemicals usually have low water solubility, low bioavailability, and insufficient targeting which limit therapeutic use. Numerous studies have investigated the development of phytochemical delivery systems to address these problems. The present article provides an overview of oral cancer including the etiological factors, diagnosis, and traditional therapy. Furthermore, the classification, dietary sources, anticancer bioactivity, delivery system improvements, and molecular mechanisms against oral cancer of phytochemicals are also discussed in this review.

Targeting micro-RNAs by natural products: a novel future therapeutic strategy to combat cancer

MicroRNAs are a class of short, non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in normal physiology by attenuating translation or targeting messenger RNAs for degradation. Deregulation of miRNAs disturbs key molecular events in interconnected processes such as cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, self-renewal, apoptosis, metastasis and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. This process initiates, promotes and develops the pathophysiology of cancer. The modulation of miRNAs results in epigenetic changes in the genome, which eventually leads to cancer. Targeting deregulated miRNAs by natural products derived from plants is an ideal strategy to combat tumorigenesis. Owing to their fewer side effects, natural products have been used as chemotherapeutic agents against various cancers. These natural products modulate the dysregulated signaling pathways by downregulating the oncogenic miRNAs which play a crucial role in the development of tumorigenesis and maintain a fine balance of tumor suppressor miRNAs. This review article aims to highlight the key modifications of miRNAs which lead to tumorigenesis and the chemotherapeutic potential of natural products by targeting miRNAs and their possible mechanism of inhibition for developing an effective anti-cancer agent(s). They will have less damaging effects on normal cells for future chemotherapeutics.

The mechanisms of sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: theoretical basis and therapeutic aspects

Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor capable of facilitating apoptosis, mitigating angiogenesis and suppressing tumor cell proliferation. In late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sorafenib is currently an effective first-line therapy. Unfortunately, the development of drug resistance to sorafenib is becoming increasingly common. This study aims to identify factors contributing to resistance and ways to mitigate resistance. Recent studies have shown that epigenetics, transport processes, regulated cell death, and the tumor microenvironment are involved in the development of sorafenib resistance in HCC and subsequent HCC progression. This study summarizes discoveries achieved recently in terms of the principles of sorafenib resistance and outlines approaches suitable for improving therapeutic outcomes for HCC patients.

Emerging role of RNA methyltransferase METTL3 in gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal cancer, the most common solid tumor, has a poor prognosis. With the development of high-throughput sequencing and detection technology, recent studies have suggested that many chemical modifications of human RNA are involved in the development of human diseases, including cancer. m⁶A, the most abundant modification, was revealed to participate in a series of aspects of cancer progression. Recent evidence has shown that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), the first identified and a critical methyltransferase, catalyzes m⁶A methylation on mRNA or non-coding RNA in mammals, affecting RNA metabolism. Abnormal m⁶A levels caused by METTL3 have been reported to be involved in different aspects of cancer development, including proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In this review, we will shed light on recent findings regarding the biological function of METTL3 in gastrointestinal cancer and discuss future research directions and potential clinical applications of METTL3 for gastrointestinal cancer.