Apigenin in cancer therapy: From mechanism of action to nano-therapeutic agent

Mini-encyclopedia of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals protecting health in primary and secondary care-clinically relevant 3PM innovation

Despite their subordination in humans, to a great extent, mitochondria maintain their independent status but tightly cooperate with the "host" on protecting the joint life quality and minimizing health risks. Under oxidative stress conditions, healthy mitochondria promptly increase mitophagy level to remove damaged "fellows" rejuvenating the mitochondrial population and sending fragments of mtDNA as SOS signals to all systems in the human body. As long as metabolic pathways are under systemic control and well-concerted together, adaptive mechanisms become triggered increasing systemic protection, activating antioxidant defense and repair machinery. Contextually, all attributes of mitochondrial patho-/physiology are instrumental for predictive medical approach and cost-effective treatments tailored to individualized patient profiles in primary (to protect vulnerable individuals again the health-to-disease transition) and secondary (to protect affected individuals again disease progression) care. Nutraceuticals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds demonstrating health-promoting, illness-preventing, and other health-related benefits. Keeping in mind health-promoting properties of nutraceuticals along with their great therapeutic potential and safety profile, there is a permanently growing demand on the application of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals. Application of nutraceuticals is beneficial only if meeting needs at individual level. Therefore, health risk assessment and creation of individualized patient profiles are of pivotal importance followed by adapted nutraceutical sets meeting individual needs. Based on the scientific evidence available for mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals, this article presents examples of frequent medical conditions, which require protective measures targeted on mitochondria as a holistic approach following advanced concepts of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM) in primary and secondary care.

Apigenin: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential against Cancer Spreading

Due to its propensity to metastasize, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Thanks in part to their intrinsic low cytotoxicity, the effects of the flavonoid family in the prevention and treatment of various human cancers, both in vitro and in vivo, have received increasing attention in recent years. It is well documented that Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), among other flavonoids, is able to modulate key signaling molecules involved in the initiation of cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, including JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, as well as the oncogenic non-coding RNA network. Based on these premises, the aim of this review is to emphasize some of the key events through which Apigenin suppresses cancer proliferation, focusing specifically on its ability to target key molecular pathways involved in angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), cell cycle arrest, and cancer cell death.

Apigenin and its combination with Vorinostat induces apoptotic-mediated cell death in TNBC by modulating the epigenetic and apoptotic regulators and related miRNAs

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a metastatic disease and a formidable treatment challenge as it does not respond to existing therapies. Epigenetic regulators play a crucial role in the progression and metastasis by modulating the expression of anti-apoptotic, pro-apoptotic markers and related miRNAs in TNBC cells. We have investigated the anti-TNBC potential of dietary flavonoid 'Apigenin' and its combination with Vorinostat on MDA-MB-231 cells. At Apigenin generated ROS, inhibited cell migration, arrested the cell cycle at subG0/G1 phases, and induced apoptotic-mediated cell death. Apigenin reduced the expression of the class-I HDACs at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels. In the immunoblotting study, Apigenin has upregulated pro-apoptotic markers and downregulated anti-apoptotic proteins. Apigenin inhibited the enzymatic activity of HDAC/DNMT and increased HAT activity. Apigenin has manifested its effect on miRNA expression by upregulating the tumor-suppressor miR-200b and downregulation oncomiR-21. Combination study reduced the growth of TNBC cells synergistically by modulating the expression of epigenetic and apoptotic regulators. Molecular docking and MD simulations explored the mechanism of catalytic inhibition of HDAC1 and HDAC3 and supported the in-vitro studies. The overall studies demonstrated an anti-TNBC potential of Apigenin and may help to design an effective strategy to treat metastatic phenotype of TNBC.

Research advances on molecular mechanism and natural product therapy of iron metabolism in heart failure

The progression of heart failure (HF) is complex and involves multiple regulatory pathways. Iron ions play a crucial supportive role as a cofactor for important proteins such as hemoglobin, myoglobin, oxidative respiratory chain, and DNA synthetase, in the myocardial energy metabolism process. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that HF is associated with iron dysmetabolism, and deficiencies in iron and overload of iron can both lead to the development of various myocarditis diseases, which ultimately progress to HF. Iron toxicity and iron metabolism may be key targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HF. Some iron chelators (such as desferrioxamine), antioxidants (such as ascorbate), Fer-1, and molecules that regulate iron levels (such as lactoferrin) have been shown to be effective in treating HF and protecting the myocardium in multiple studies. Additionally, certain natural compounds can play a significant role by mediating the imbalance of iron-related signaling pathways and expression levels. Therefore, this review not only summarizes the basic processes of iron metabolism in the body and the mechanisms by which they play a role in HF, with the aim of providing new clues and considerations for the treatment of HF, but also summarizes recent studies on natural chemical components that involve ferroptosis and its role in HF pathology, as well as the mechanisms by which naturally occurring products regulate ferroptosis in HF, with the aim of providing reference information for the development of new ferroptosis inhibitors and lead compounds for the treatment of HF in the future.

A comprehensive view on the apigenin impact on colorectal cancer: Focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms

Colon cancer (CC) is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide. Oncologists are facing challenges such as development of drug resistance and lack of suitable drug options for CC treatment. Flavonoids are a group of natural compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. According to research, they have a potential role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Apigenin is a flavonoid that is present in many fruits and vegetables. It has been used as a natural antioxidant for a long time and has been considered due to its anticancer effects and low toxicity. The results of this review study show that apigenin has potential anticancer effects on CC cells through various mechanisms. In this comprehensive review, we present the cellular targets and signaling pathways of apigenin indicated to date in in vivo and in vitro CC models. Among the most important modulated pathways, Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, JNK, STAT3, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, PKM2, and NF-kB have been described. Furthermore, apigenin suppresses the cell cycle in G2/M phase in CC cells. In CC cells, apigenin-induced apoptosis is increased by inhibiting the formation of autophagy. According to the results of this study, apigenin appears to have the potential to be a promising agent for CC therapy, but more research is required in the field of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics to establish the apigenin effects and its dosage for clinical studies.

Recent advancement in bioeffect, metabolism, stability, and delivery systems of apigenin, a natural flavonoid compound: challenges and perspectives

Apigenin is a bioflavonoid compound that is widely present in dietary plant foods and possesses biological activities that protect against immune, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Therefore, apigenin is widely used in food and medicine, and increasing attention has been drawn to developing new delivery systems for apigenin. This review highlights the biological effects, metabolism, stability, and bioactivity of apigenin. In addition, we summarized advancements in the delivery of apigenin, which provides some references for its widespread use in food and medicine. Better stability of apigenin may enhance digestion and absorption and provide health benefits. Constructing delivery systems (such as emulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers, hydrogels, and liposomes) for apigenin is an effective strategy to improve its bioavailability, but more animal and cell experiments are needed to verify these findings. Developing apigenin delivery systems for food commercialization is still challenging, and further research is needed to promote their in-depth development and utilization.

Target specific inhibition of West Nile virus envelope glycoprotein and methyltransferase using phytocompounds: an in silico strategy leveraging molecular docking and dynamics simulation

Mosquitoes are the primary vector for West Nile virus, a flavivirus. The virus's ability to infiltrate and establish itself in increasing numbers of nations has made it a persistent threat to public health worldwide. Despite the widespread occurrence of this potentially fatal disease, no effective treatment options are currently on the market. As a result, there is an immediate need for the research and development of novel pharmaceuticals. To begin, molecular docking was performed on two possible West Nile virus target proteins using a panel of twelve natural chemicals, including Apigenin, Resveratrol, Hesperetin, Fungisterol, Lucidone, Ganoderic acid, Curcumin, Kaempferol, Cholic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Pinocembrin, and Sanguinarine. West Nile virus methyltransferase (PDB ID: 2OY0) binding affinities varied from -7.4 to -8.3 kcal/mol, whereas West Nile virus envelope glycoprotein affinities ranged from -6.2 to -8.1 kcal/mol (PDB ID: 2I69). Second, substances with larger molecular weights are less likely to be unhappy with the Lipinski rule. Hence, additional research was carried out without regard to molecular weight. In addition, compounds 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 and 11 are more soluble in water than compound 04 is. Besides, based on maximum binding affinity, best three compounds (Apigenin, Curcumin, and Ganoderic Acid) has been carried out molecular dynamic simulation (MDs) at 100 ns to determine their stability. The MDs data is also reported that these mentioned molecules are highly stable. Finally, advanced principal component analysis (PCA), dynamics cross-correlation matrices (DCCM) analysis, binding free energy and dynamic cross correlation matrix (DCCM) theoretical study is also included to established mentioned phytochemical as a potential drug candidate. Research has indicated that the aforementioned natural substances may be an effective tool in the battle against the dangerous West Nile virus. This study aims to locate a bioactive natural component that might be used as a pharmaceutical.

Recent advances in bio-based extraction processes for the recovery of bound phenolics from agro-industrial by-products and their biological activity

Usually found bound to other complex molecules (e.g., lignin, hemicellulose), phenolic compounds (PC) are widely present in agro-industrial by-products, and their extraction is challenging. In recent times, research is starting to highlight the bioactive roles played by bound phenolics (BPC) in human health. This review aims at providing a critical update on recent advances in green techniques for the recovery of BPC, focusing on enzymatic-assisted (EAE) and fermentation-assisted extraction (FAE) as well as in the combination of technologies, showing variable yield and features. The present review also summarizes the most recent biological activities attributed to BPC extracts until now. The higher antioxidant activity of BPC-compared to FPC-coupled with their affordable by-product source make them medicinally potent and economically viable, promoting their integral upcycling and generating new revenue streams, business, and employment opportunities. In addition, EAE and FAE can have a biotransformative effect on the PC itself or its moiety, leading to improved extraction outcomes. Moreover, recent research on BPC extracts has reported promising anti-cancer and anti-diabetic activity. Yet further research is needed to elucidate their biological mechanisms and exploit the true potential of their applications in terms of new food products or ingredient development for human consumption.

Insights into the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of apigenin in liver injuries and diseases

Background

Liver diseases are a spectrum of diseases that include hepatic steatosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatic cancer. These diseases not only severely decrease the quality of life for patients, but also cause financial burden. Although apigenin (APG) has recently become the primary treatment for liver injuries and diseases (LIADs), there has been no systematic review of its use.

Purpose

To review the existing literature and put forward novel strategies for future APG research on LIADs.

Methods

A search was conducted in PubMed, Science Direct, Research Gate, Web of Science, VIP, Wanfang, and CNKI, and 809 articles were obtained. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 135 articles were included.

Results

APG is promising in treating LIADs via various mechanisms arising from its anti-inflammation, anti-proliferation, anti-infection, anti-oxidation, and anti-cancer properties.

Conclusion

This review summarizes the evidence supporting the use of APG as a treatment for LIADs and provides an insight into the intestinal microbiota, which may have important implications in its future clinical use.

Combination Chemotherapy with Selected Polyphenols in Preclinical and Clinical Studies-An Update Overview

This review article describes studies published over the past five years on the combination of polyphenols, which are the most studied in the field of anticancer effects (curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, and apigenin) and chemotherapeutics such as cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, etc. According to WHO data, research has been limited to five cancers with the highest morbidity rate (lung, colorectal, liver, gastric, and breast cancer). A systematic review of articles published in the past five years (from January 2018 to January 2023) was carried out with the help of all Web of Science databases and the available base of clinical studies. Based on the preclinical studies presented in this review, polyphenols can enhance drug efficacy and reduce chemoresistance through different molecular mechanisms. Considering the large number of studies, curcumin could be a molecule in future chemotherapy cocktails. One of the main problems in clinical research is related to the limited bioavailability of most polyphenols. The design of a new co-delivery system for drugs and polyphenols is essential for future clinical research. Some polyphenols work in synergy with chemotherapeutic drugs, but some polyphenols can act antagonistically, so caution is always required.

New Sesquiterpene Glycosides from the Flowers of Aster koraiensis and Their Inhibition Activities on EGF- and TPA-Induced Cell Transformation

In total, four new eudesmane-type sesquiterpene glycosides, askoseosides A-D (1-4), and 18 known compounds (5-22) were isolated from the flowers of Aster koraiensis via chromatographic techniques. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by spectroscopic/spectrometric methods, including NMR and HRESIMS, and the absolute configuration of the new compounds (1 and 2) was performed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) studies. Further, the anticancer activities of the isolated compounds (1-22) were evaluated using the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced as well as the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced cell transformation assay. Among the 22 compounds, compounds 4, 9, 11, 13-15, 17, 18, and 22 significantly inhibited both EGF- and TPA-induced colony growth. In particular, askoseoside D (4, EGF: 57.8%; TPA: 67.1%), apigenin (9, EGF: 88.6%; TPA: 80.2%), apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (14, EGF: 79.2%; TPA: 70.7%), and 1-(3',4'-dihydroxycinnamoyl) cyclopentane-2,3-diol (22, EGF: 60.0%; TPA: 72.1%) showed higher potent activities.

Fruit Extract, Rich in Polyphenols and Flavonoids, Modifies the Expression of DNMT and HDAC Genes Involved in Epigenetic Processes

Recently, the field of epigenetics has been intensively studied in relation to nutrition. In our study, the gene expression patterns of histone deacetylases (HDACs), which regulate the stability of histone proteins, and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), which regulate DNA methylation, were determined in mice. The animals were fed a human-equivalent dose of the aqueous extract of fruit seeds and peels, which is rich in flavonoids and polyphenols, for 28 days and then exposed to the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). The concentrations of trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid were determined in the consumed extract by HPLC and were 1.74 mg/L (SD 0.13 mg/L) and 2.37 mg/L (SD 0.32 mg/L), respectively, which corresponds to the consumption of 0.2-1 L of red wine, the main dietary source of resveratrol, in humans daily. Subsequently, 24 h after DMBA exposure, the expression patterns of the HDAC and DNMT genes in the liver and kidneys were determined by qRT-PCR. The DMBA-induced expression of the tested genes HDAC1, HDAC2, DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B was reduced in most cases by the extract. It has already been shown that inhibition of the DNMT and HDAC genes may delay cancer development and tumour progression. We hypothesise that the extract studied may exert chemopreventive effects.

Some Nanocarrier's Properties and Chemical Interaction Mechanisms with Flavones

Flavones such as 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (tropoflavin), 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone (baicalein), 3',4',5,6-tetrahydroxyflavone (luteolin), 3,3',4',5,5',7-hexahydroxyflavone (myricetin), 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone (apigenin), and 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin) are important both for their presence in natural products and for their pharmacological applications. However, due to their chemical characteristics and their metabolic processes, they have low solubility and low bioavailability. Knowledge about the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers and the possible mechanisms of covalent and non-covalent interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and drugs is essential for the design of nanocarriers to improve the bioavailability of molecules with pharmacological potential, such as tropoflavin, baicalein, luteolin, myricetin, apigenin, and chrysin. The parameters of characterization of some NPs of these flavones, such as size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and % release/time, utilized in biomedical applications and the covalent and non-covalent interactions existing between the polymeric NPs and the drug were analyzed. Similarly, the presence of functional groups in the functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as well as the effect of pH on the % adsorption of flavonoids on functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH), were analyzed. Non-covalent interaction mechanisms between polymeric NPs and flavones, and covalent interaction mechanisms that could exist between the NPs and the amino and hydroxyl functional groups, are proposed.

Anticancer Potential of Apigenin and Isovitexin with Focus on Oncogenic Metabolism in Cancer Stem Cells

It has been demonstrated that cancer stem cells (CSCs) go through metabolic changes that differentiate them from non-CSCs. The altered metabolism of CSCs plays a vital role in tumor initiation, progression, immunosuppression, and resistance to conventional therapy. Therefore, defining the role of CSC metabolism in carcinogenesis has emerged as a main focus in cancer research. Two natural flavonoids, apigenin and isovitexin, have been shown to act synergistically with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs by sensitizing CSCs, ultimately leading to improved therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this study is to present a critical and broad evaluation of the anti-CSC capability of apigenin and isovitexin in different cancers as novel and untapped natural compounds for developing drugs. A thorough review of the included literature supports a strong association between anti-CSC activity and treatment with apigenin or isovitexin. Additionally, it has been shown that apigenin or isovitexin affected CSC metabolism and reduced CSCs through various mechanisms, including the suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the inhibition of nuclear factor-κB protein expression, and the downregulation of the cell cycle via upregulation of p21 and cyclin-dependent kinases. The findings of this study demonstrate that apigenin and isovitexin are potent candidates for treating cancer due to their antagonistic effects on CSC metabolism.

Highly Biocompatible Apigenin-Loaded Silk Fibroin Nanospheres: Preparation, Characterization, and Anti-Breast-Cancer Activity

Breast cancer is among the most common fatal diseases among women. Low-toxicity apigenin (AGN) is of interest due to its good antitumor activity, but its clinical application is severely limited due to its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. An effective strategy to enhance the anti-breast-cancer activity of AGN is to develop it as a nanodelivery system. Silk fibroin (SF) is an ideal drug carrier with good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and a simple extraction process. This paper develops a novel and efficient apigenin-loaded silk fibroin nanodelivery system (SF-AGN) by nanoprecipitation with SF as a carrier. The system was characterized in terms of morphology, zeta potential, particle size, ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), and synchronous thermal analyses (TG-DSC), and the in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo pharmacokinetics were examined. Finally, the chronic toxicity of SF-AGN in mice was studied. The SF-AGN nanodelivery system has good dispersibility, a hydrated particle size of 163.35 nm, a zeta potential of -18.5 mV, an average drug loading of 6.20%, and good thermal stability. MTT studies showed that SF-AGN significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of AGN on 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that SF-AGN can dramatically improve the bioavailability of AGN. The results of toxicity experiments showed that SF-AGN is biocompatible and does not alter normal tissues or organs. In sum, the SF-AGN nanodelivery system is a promising drug-delivery system for the clinical treatment of breast cancer.

Focusing on the Role of Natural Products in Overcoming Cancer Drug Resistance: An Autophagy-Based Perspective

Autophagy is a critical cellular adaptive response in tumor formation. Nutritional deficiency and hypoxia exacerbate autophagic flux in established malignancies, promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and resistance to therapeutic interventions. Pro-survival autophagy inhibition may be a promising treatment option for advanced cancer. Furthermore, excessive or persistent autophagy is cytotoxic, resulting in tumor cell death. Targeted autophagy activation has also shown significant promise in the fight against tumor drug resistance. Several research groups have examined the ability of natural products (NPs) such as alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and anthraquinones to serve as autophagy inhibitors or activators. The data support the capacity of NPs that promote lethal autophagy or inhibit pro-survival autophagy from being employed against tumor drug resistance. This paper discusses the potential applications of NPs that regulate autophagy in the fight against tumor drug resistance, some limitations of the current studies, and future research needs and priorities.