Are there new therapeutic options for treating lung cancer based on herbal medicines and their metabolites?

Empowering lung cancer treatment: Harnessing the potential of natural phytoconstituent-loaded nanoparticles

Lung cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, accounts for a substantial portion, representing 18.4% of all cancer fatalities. Despite advances in treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy, significant challenges persist, including chemoresistance, non-specific targeting, and adverse effects. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches to overcome these limitations. Natural compounds, particularly phytoconstituents, have emerged as promising candidates due to their potent anticancer properties and relatively low incidence of adverse effects compared to conventional treatments. However, inherent challenges such as poor solubility, rapid metabolism, and enzymatic degradation hinder their clinical utility. To address these obstacles, researchers have increasingly turned to nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (DDS). Nanocarriers offer several advantages, including enhanced drug stability, prolonged circulation time, and targeted delivery to tumor sites, thereby minimizing off-target effects. By encapsulating phytoconstituents within nanocarriers, researchers aim to optimize their bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. Moreover, the integration of nanotechnology with phytoconstituents allows for a nuanced understanding of the intricate molecular pathways involved in lung cancer pathogenesis. This integrated approach holds promise for modulating key cellular processes implicated in tumor growth and progression. Additionally, by leveraging the synergistic effects of phytoconstituents and nanocarriers, researchers seek to develop tailored therapeutic strategies that maximize efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. In conclusion, the integration of phytoconstituents with nanocarriers represents a promising avenue for advancing lung cancer treatment. This synergistic approach has the potential to revolutionize current therapeutic paradigms by offering targeted, efficient, and minimally toxic interventions. Continued research in this field holds the promise of improving patient outcomes and addressing unmet clinical needs in lung cancer management.

Himalayan flora: targeting various molecular pathways in lung cancer

The fatal amplification of lung cancer across the globe and the limitations of current treatment strategies emphasize the necessity for substitute therapeutics. The incorporation of phyto-derived components in chemo treatment holds promise in addressing those challenges. Despite the significant progressions in lung cancer therapeutics, the complexities of molecular mechanism and pathways underlying this disease remain inadequately understood, necessitating novel biomarker targeting. The Himalayas, abundant in diverse plant varieties with established chemotherapeutic potential, presents a promising avenue for investigating potential cures for lung carcinoma. The vast diversity of phytocompounds herein can be explored for targeting the disease. This review delves into the multifaceted targets of lung cancer and explores the established phytochemicals with their specific molecular targets. It emphasizes comprehending the intricate pathways that govern effective therapeutic interventions for lung cancer. Through this exploration of Himalayan flora, this review seeks to illuminate potential breakthroughs in lung cancer management using natural compounds. The amalgamation of Himalayan plant-derived compounds with cautiously designed combined therapeutic approaches such as nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery and synergistic therapy offers an opportunity to redefine the boundaries of lung cancer treatment by reducing the drug resistance and side effects and enabling an effective targeted delivery of drugs. Furthermore, additional studies are obligatory to understand the possible derivation of natural compounds used in current lung cancer treatment from plant species within the Himalayan region.

M, K M, Dey T, Zargar MI, Singh J. Recent advance of herbal medicines in cancer- a molecular approach

Bioactive compounds are crucial for an extensive range of therapeutic uses, and some exhibit anticancer activity. Scientists advocate that phytochemicals modulate autophagy and apoptosis, involved in the underlying pathobiology of cancer development and regulation. The pharmacological aiming of the autophagy-apoptosis signaling pathway using phytocompounds hence offers an auspicious method that is complementary to conventional cancer chemotherapy. The current review aims to explore the molecular level of the autophagic-apoptotic pathway to know its implication in the pathobiology of cancer and explore the essential cellular process as a druggable anticancer target and therapeutic emergence of naturally derived phytocompound-based anticancer agents. The data in the review were collected from scientific databases such as Google search, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Clinical Trials. With a broad outlook, we investigated their cutting-edge scientifically revealed and/or searched pharmacologic effects, a novel mechanism of action, and molecular signaling pathway of phytochemicals in cancer therapy. In this review, the evidence is focused on molecular pharmacology, specifically caspase, Nrf2, NF-kB, autophagic-apoptotic pathway, and several mechanisms to understand their role in cancer biology.

Efficacy and Safety of East Asian Herbal Medicine for Brain Metastases in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocol to Identify Specific Herbs

INTRODUCTION

Brain metastasis (BM) is a significant risk factor for survival and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While surgical resection and radiotherapy are the primary treatment modalities, the overall prognosis in NSCLC patients with BM remains poor, and all therapies lead to adverse events. East Asian herbal medicine (EAHM) has broad prospects as an adjuvant treatment, but its efficacy and safety remain controversial. We propose to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the clinical efficacy and safety of EAHM for the treatment of NSCLC with BMs and to identify specific herbs that can improve the prognosis.

METHODS

The PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Evidence Reports on Kampo Treatment, ICHUSHI, and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System databases will be searched from their inception to October 2022. Randomized controlled trials will be included. Two authors will evaluate the eligibility and quality of the included trials. The methodological quality will be assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and Stata 16 will be used for data synthesis. Publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots and Egger tests. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system will evaluate the quality of the synthesized evidence. Further sensitivity analyses will be performed to determine the efficacies of specific herbs in EAHM.

DISCUSSION

Given there are currently no systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the efficacy of EAHM as a treatment for NSCLC with BMs, a compilation and analysis of the available high-quality clinical research evidence are essential. The results will help establish guidelines for the application of specific herbs as a complementary alternative therapy for BMs in NSCLC. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022300527.

A spotlight on alkaloid nanoformulations for the treatment of lung cancer

Numerous naturally available phytochemicals have potential anti-cancer activities due to their vast structural diversity. Alkaloids have been extensively used in cancer treatment, especially lung cancers, among the plant-based compounds. However, their utilization is limited by their poor solubility, low bioavailability, and inadequacies such as lack of specificity to cancer cells and indiscriminate distribution in the tissues. Incorporating the alkaloids into nanoformulations can overcome the said limitations paving the way for effective delivery of the alkaloids to the site of action in sufficient concentrations, which is crucial in tumor targeting. Our review attempts to assess whether alkaloid nanoformulation can be an effective tool in lung cancer therapy. The mechanism of action of each alkaloid having potential is explored in great detail in the review. In general, Alkaloids suppress oncogenesis by modulating several signaling pathways involved in multiplication, cell cycle, and metastasis, making them significant component of many clinical anti-cancerous agents. The review also explores the future prospects of alkaloid nanoformulation in lung cancer. So, in conclusion, alkaloid based nanoformulation will emerge as a potential gamechanger in treating lung cancer in the near future.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems Entrapping Natural Bioactive Compounds for Cancer: Recent Progress and Future Challenges

Cancer is a prominent cause of mortality globally, and it becomes fatal and incurable if it is delayed in diagnosis. Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that is used to eliminate, diminish, or restrict tumor progression. Chemotherapeutic medicines are available in various formulations. Some tumors require just one type of chemotherapy medication, while others may require a combination of surgery and/or radiotherapy. Treatments might last from a few minutes to many hours to several days. Each medication has potential adverse effects associated with it. Researchers have recently become interested in the use of natural bioactive compounds in anticancer therapy. Some phytochemicals have effects on cellular processes and signaling pathways with potential antitumor properties. Beneficial anticancer effects of phytochemicals were observed in both in vivo and in vitro investigations. Encapsulating natural bioactive compounds in different drug delivery methods may improve their anticancer efficacy. Greater in vivo stability and bioavailability, as well as a reduction in undesirable effects and an enhancement in target-specific activity, will increase the effectiveness of bioactive compounds. This review work focuses on a novel drug delivery system that entraps natural bioactive substances. It also provides an idea of the bioavailability of phytochemicals, challenges and limitations of standard cancer therapy. It also encompasses recent patents on nanoparticle formulations containing a natural anti-cancer molecule.

Anti-Cancer Properties of Coix Seed Oil against HT-29 Colon Cells through Regulation of the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

This study aims to observe the effects of coix seed oil (CSO) on HT-29 cells and investigate its possible regulation mechanism of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Fatty acid analysis showed that coix seed oil mainly contains oleic acid (50.54%), linoleic acid (33.76%), palmitic acid (11.74%), and stearic acid (2.45%). Fourier transform infrared results found that the fatty acid functional groups present in the oil matched well with the vegetable oil band. The results from CCK-8 assays showed that CSO dose-dependently and time-dependently inhibited the viability of HT-29 cells in vitro. CSO inhibited cell viability, with IC₅₀ values of 5.30 mg/mL for HT-29 obtained after 24 h treatment. Morphological changes were observed by apoptotic body/cell nucleus DNA (Hoechst 33258) staining using inverted and fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis was used to evaluate the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. It showed that CSO induced cell apoptosis and cycle arrest in the G₂ phase. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting revealed that CSO induced cell apoptosis by downregulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, CSO can cause apoptosis in cancer cells by activating caspase-3, up-regulating Bax, and down-regulating Bcl-2. In conclusion, the results revealed that CSO induced G₂ arrest and apoptosis of HT-29 cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Experimental and clinical studies on the effects of Portulaca oleracea L. and its constituents on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders, a review

Various pharmacological effects for Portulaca oleracea were shown in previous studies. Therefore, the effects of P. oleracea and its derivatives on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic diseases according to update experimental and clinical studies are provided in this review article. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using appropriate keywords until the end of December 2020. The effects of P. oleracea and its constituents such as quercetin and kaempferol on an animal model of asthma were shown. Portulaca oleracea and its constituents also showed therapeutic effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis in both experimental and clinical studies. The possible bronchodilatory effect of P. oleracea and its ingredients was also reported. Portulaca oleracea and its constituents showed the preventive effect on lung cancer and a clinical study showed the effect of P. oleracea on patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, a various constituents of P. oleracea including, quercetin and kaempferol showed therapeutic effects on lung infections. This review indicates the therapeutic effect of P. oleracea and its constituents on various lung and allergic disorders but more clinical studies are required to establish the clinical efficacy of this plant and its constituents on lung and allergic disorders.

Emerging role of phytochemicals in targeting predictive, prognostic, and diagnostic biomarkers of lung cancer

Lung-cancer is the foremost cause of cancer in humans worldwide, of which 80-85% cases are composed of non-small cell lung carcinoma. All treatment decisions depend on the pattern of biomarkers selection to enhance the response to the targeted therapies. Although advanced treatments are available for lung-cancer, the disease treatment remains not adequate. There are several synthetic chemotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of lung cancer. However, due to their toxic effect, survival rate is still 15-18%. Besides, medicinal plants are a huge reservoir of natural products that provide protective effects against lung cancer. Likewise, successful studies of potential phytochemicals in targeting lung-cancer biomarkers have created a novel paradigm for the discovery of potent drugs against lung-cancer. Hence, to defeat severe toxicity and resistance towards the synthetic drugs, detailed studies are required regarding the available phytochemicals and targets responsible for the treatment of lung-cancer. The present review provides a comprehensive information about the lung-cancer biomarkers under the classification of predictive, prognostic, and diagnostic type. Moreover, it discusses and enlists the phytochemicals with mode of action against different biomarkers, effective doses in in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, the limitations associated with usage of phytochemicals as a drug to prevent/cure lung-cancer and the latest techniques employed to overcome such issues.

Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antitumor Activities of Green Grape Juice

(1) Plants, due to their phytochemicals, have long been known for their pharmacological potential and medicinal value. Verjuice, the acidic juice of unripe green grape, is still poorly characterized in terms of its chemical composition and biological activities. (2) In this study, we characterized the chemical composition, antioxidant and antitumor potential of verjuice extract. Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride reagents were used to identify the total phenol and total flavonoid composition. Various conventional methods were used to quantify the alkaloids and tannins. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay and Neutral Red assay were used to assess the antioxidant and antitumor activities, respectively. (3) We showed that the verjuice extract contains alkaloids, tannins, and a high quantity of total flavonoids and total phenols. Besides its antioxidant activity, verjuice significantly repressed human pulmonary adenocarcinoma (A549) cells’ viability in both dose- and time-dependent manners. Moreover, verjuice extract significantly enhanced the anticancer potential of cisplatin. (4) Altogether, these observations suggest a potential use of verjuice as a natural antitumor remedy.

Protective effect of vanillic acid against benzo(a)pyrene induced lung cancer in Swiss albino mice

Vanillic acid (VA) is found in high concentrations in various plants and used as traditional medicine for various diseases. The aim of the existing study is to illustrate the protective effects of VA against benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. B(a)P (50 mg/kg b.wt.) was given orally to induce lung cancer in mice. The body weight, tumor incidence, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and enzymatic/nonenzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione) were estimated. Further histochemical investigation through hematoxylin and eosin staining was also carried out. B(a)P administered groups showed increased levels of serum pathological markers CEA, NSE along with reduced final body weight as well as decreased tissue enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants activities, whereas VA treatment (200mg/kg/b.wt) along with B(a)P showed significantly reverted the above changes, which proves as prominent anticancer effects in experimentally induced lung cancer. Overall, these results suggest that VA has an efficient preventive action against B(a)P-induced lung cancer, and this is attributed to its free-radical scavenging antioxidant activities.

Scutellaria Radix Promotes Apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells via Induction of AMPK-Dependent Autophagy

Scutellaria Radix (SR) is an herb traditionally used in Asian countries to treat inflammatory diseases. Recent studies report that SR exhibits anticancer activities in various types of tumors. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic and autophagic effect of SR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer-associated death. Treatment of SR in two NSCLC cell lines, H358 and H2087 cells resulted in suppressed cell viability. Western blot assays showed increased expressions of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cleaved-caspase 3 and cleaved-Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), key factors of apoptosis. Co-treatment of SR with a caspase inhibitor Z-VAD led to nullification of the antiproliferative effect, suggesting the role of apoptosis in the action mechanism of SR. Further experiments revealed autophagy was involved in the effect of SR. SR-treated NSCLC cells expressed increased ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3)-II/LC3-I. When chloroquine was co-treated with SR, this ratio was further increased, indicating SR treatment induced autophagy in NSCLC cells. Interestingly, loss of autophagy by 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) co-treatment suppressed SR-induced apoptosis. We then evaluated the relevance of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the autophagic/apoptotic process in NSCLC by SR treatment. Immunoblot assays showed increased phosphorylation of AMPK α and P70-S6 kinase in SR-treated H358 and H2087 cells. Under AMPK-inhibited conditions by compound C, SR treatment failed to induce both autophagy and apoptosis. Taken together, this study identifies the positive effect of SR in H358 and H2087 cells by inducing apoptosis via AMPK-dependent autophagy. Thus, our results suggest the potential use of SR as a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients.

Magnolol: A Neolignan from the Magnolia Family for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

The past few decades have witnessed widespread research to challenge carcinogenesis; however, it remains one of the most important health concerns with the worst prognosis and diagnosis. Increasing lines of evidence clearly show that the rate of cancer incidence will increase in future and will create global havoc, designating it as an epidemic. Conventional chemotherapeutics and treatment with synthetic disciplines are often associated with adverse side effects and development of chemoresistance. Thus, discovering novel economic and patient friendly drugs that are safe and efficacious is warranted. Several natural compounds have proved their potential against this dreadful disease so far. Magnolol is a hydroxylated biphenyl isolated from the root and stem bark of Magnolia tree. Magnolol can efficiently prevent or inhibit the growth of various cancers originating from different organs such as brain, breast, cervical, colon, liver, lung, prostate, skin, etc. Considering these perspectives, the current review primarily focuses on the fascinating role of magnolol against various types of cancers, and the source and chemistry of magnolol and the molecular mechanism underlying the targets of magnolol are discussed. This review proposes magnolol as a suitable candidate that can be appropriately designed and established into a potent anti-cancer drug.

Conventional treatment integrated with Chinese herbal medicine improves the survival rate of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this study was to assess whether treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), can improve the five-year survival rate in patients suffering from advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), compared to patients treated by EGFR-TKIs alone.

INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The study is based on information in the sub-dataset of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from years 2000 to 2010, during which time a total of 14,244 patients were diagnosed with NSCLC in Taiwan. After selection by exclusion criteria and matching process, 2,616 NSCLC patients were included in the study. Statistical analysis was utilized to evaluate the differences in characteristic distribution, and to compare the survival rates between the CHM cohort and non-CHM cohort.

RESULTS

Patients with advanced NSCLC using CHM as an adjunct therapy exhibited a significantly improved survival rate [hazard ration (HR) = 0.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73-0.87, p value<0.001], compared with non-CHM users. Based on a survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier method, the 5-year survival rate of CHM users was 4.9% higher, with the most notable difference being an elevated 2-year survival rate of up to 12.75%. In addition to the survival rate analysis, we provide the ten most used single herbs and herbal formulas prescribed for patients with advanced NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide retrospective cohort study provides evidence supporting CHM as an effective adjunctive therapy to ameliorate the side effects of target therapy and prolong the five-year survival rate of patients with advanced NSCLC.

Aqueous extract of Sapindus mukorossi induced cell death of A549 cells and exhibited antitumor property in vivo

Sapindus mukorossi is a deciduous plant and has recently been recognized to have anticancer property. In the present study, we discovered that S. mukorossi leaf and stem aqueous extract (SaM) contained two polysaccharides mainly made of myo-inositol, galactose, glucose, and fructose and the aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor property the aqueous extract SaM. In vitro treatment of SaM diminished proliferative potential of lung adenocarcinomic cells and induced intracellular oxidative stress, as well as necrotic cell death. Moreover, exposure to SaM attenuated cell migration, demonstrating the effectiveness at reducing invasive property of malignant lung cells. Gene and protein expression studies indicated that SaM treatment altered the expression of proliferation/survival modulator NF-κB, tumor growth modulator ERK2, metastasis-associated molecules MMP9/12, and tumor suppressor p53 in A549 cells. Using model animals bearing Lewis lung cancer cell LL/2, we demonstrated that SaM was antitumoral and did not induce any undesired organ damage, immunotoxicity, and off-target inflammation. This work, to our knowledge, is the first study documents the antitumor bioactivity of aqueous extract riched in polysaccharides from S. mukorossi and provides insights into the potential pharmacological application of SaM as antitumor agent against lung cancer.

Evaluation of extracts prepared from 16 plants used in Yao ethnomedicine as potential anticancer agents

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Medicines of the Yao ethnic group in China are a special branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and are well documented for use in disease prevention. According to an ethnopharmacological survey, there are 1392 species of medicinal plants that have been documented as Yao ethnomedicines and 104 of these species are used routinely. This study evaluated a partial collection of these 104 core plant species for their potential as anticancer agents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature study of scientific journals and books in the local language was conducted. Based on an ethnopharmacological survey, 16 plant species widely used in Yao ethnomedicine were collected and 64 plant extracts were prepared from these plants. in vitro cytotoxicity screening was conducted with a panel of four human cancer cell lines, lung cancer A549, breast cancer BT20 and MCF-7, bone cancer U2OS. The potential toxicity of the extracts was evaluated using two normal human cell lines, human peripheral lung epithelial cells (HPL1A) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Additionally, the 10 extracts that demonstrated cytotoxicity in cancer cells with an IC₅₀ of less than 25.0µg/mL were examined for the ability to induce apoptosis in U2OS cells.

RESULTS

The up-to-date information regarding the traditional uses, pharmacological and biological activities, as well as the chemical constituents of the 16 plants are presented. Extracts from all 16 plants showed cytotoxicity against one to four of the human cancer cell lines and the cytotoxic effects of extracts from Melaleuca leucadendra, Stephania longa, Microsorium fortune and Bidens biternata were demonstrated for the first time. The highest anticancer potential was observed for extracts prepared from Melaleuca leucadendra Linn against all tested cancer cells (BT20, A549, U2OS, and MCF7) with an IC₅₀ range of 3.1-32.7µg/mL. The selectivity index of the active samples varied from 0.1 to 25, and five extracts from Bidens biternata, Wedelia calendulacea, Stephania longa and Achras zapota showed significant selectivity against cancer cell lines versus normal cell lines. All tested extracts induced apoptosis in U2OS cells, and for the first time extracts from Melaleuca leucadendra and Microsorium fortune were shown to induce apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated the in vitro anticancer efficacy and safety of 16 medicinal plants that have been historically used in Yao ethnomedicine. This study provides evidence to assist the clinical practice of Yao ethnomedicine and the development of chemotherapeutic agents from extracts prepared from these plants.

Effects of Banxia Xiexin Decoction () on Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis of Human A549 Lung Cancer Cells

OBJECTIVE

To examinie the synergistic effects of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (, Known as Banhasasim-tang in Korean) extract (BXDE) on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in the A549 human lung cancer cell lines.

METHODS

A549 cells were treated with varying concentrations (50-200 μg/mL) of cisplatin and BXDE alone or in combination for 96 h. We used 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan assay and flow cytometry to analyze cell viability and apoptosis, respectively.

RESULTS

The exposure of cells to cisplatin and BXDE alone or in combination decreased cell viability dose- and time-dependently (P<0.05), which was found to be mediated by the apoptotic pathway as confirmed by the increase in the annexin V⁺/propidium iodide- stained cell population and a ladder pattern of discontinuous DNA fragments. Furthermore, the apoptosis was inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe) fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-FMK).

CONCLUSIONS

BXDE significantly potentiated apoptotic effects of cisplatin in A549 cells. Moreover, apoptosis induced by BXDE might be the pivotal mechanism mediating its chemopreventative action against cancer.

Therapeutic potential of gambogic acid, a caged xanthone, to target cancer

Natural compounds have enormous biological and clinical activity against dreadful diseases such as cancer, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. In spite of the widespread research carried out in the field of cancer therapeutics, cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases with no perfect treatment till date. Adverse side effects and the development of chemoresistance are the imperative limiting factors associated with conventional chemotherapeutics. For this reason, there is an urgent need to find compounds that are highly safe and efficacious for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Gambogic acid (GA) is a xanthone structure extracted from the dry, brownish gamboge resin secreted from the Garcinia hanburyi tree in Southeast Asia and has inherent anti-cancer properties. In this review, the molecular mechanisms underlying the targets of GA that are liable for its effective anti-cancer activity are discussed that reveal the potential of GA as a pertinent candidate that can be appropriately developed and designed into a capable anti-cancer drug.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Phyllanthus emblica L on Benzopyrene-Induced Precancerous Lung Lesion by Regulating the IL-1β/miR-101/Lin28B Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Phyllanthus emblica L (PEL), a well-known medical plant, has been used in Asian countries for a long time. Increasing evidence suggests that it can prevent the tumorigenesis of cancer associated with nonresolving inflammation. However, the possible anti-inflammatory mechanism responsible for preventing tumorigenesis of precancerous lung lesions is not well elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male A/J mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 10 mice in each group: (1) blank group (saline), (2) benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] group, (3) and (4) B(a)P + PEL (5 g/kg/d, 10 g/kg/d, administered by gavage), (5) B(a)P + celecoxib (30 mg/kg/d, administered by gavage). Nodes on the lung surface were observed and calculated. The levels of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-α), IL-1β, miR-101, and Lin28B protein levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

PEL extract treatment significantly reduced the number of nodes on the lung surface and attenuated B(a)P-induced levels of proinflammatory cytokines MIP-2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in lung tissue. The protein expressions of COX-2 and HIF-α were significantly decreased by the treatment of PEL. In addition, both PEL extract and celecoxib markedly upregulate the expression of miR-101 while downregulating IL-1β and Lin28B levels.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated that treatment with PEL extract can not only protect the lung from inflammatory injury but effectively prevent precancerous lung lesions through regulating the IL-1β/miR-i101/Lin28B signaling pathway.

Stephania Tetrandra and Ginseng-Containing Chinese Herbal Formulation NSENL Reverses Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Cancer Xenografts

Chinese Herbal Formulation, supplement energy and nourish lung (SENL), effectively enhances chemotherapeutic efficacy in lung cancer treatment and reverses multi-drug resistance (MDR) in lung cancer cells in vitro. The present study is designed to assess the effect of a New SENL (NSENL, modification of SENL) formulation on resistance to chemotherapy of cisplatin (DDP)-resistant human lung cancer cell line (A549/DDP) xenografts in nude mice. We assessed six constituents in NSENL by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). BALB/c nude mice harboring A549/DDP cell xenografts were established to assess the antitumor effect of NSENL and its impact on the expression of MDR related genes. The six constituents in NSENL, including ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg3, astragaloside IV, ophiopogonin D and tetrandrine were quantitated simultaneously by HPLC. The combination of NSENL with DDP significantly inhibited tumor growth at a rate of up to 66.8% ([Formula: see text]). In addition, NSENL as monotherapy or combined with DDP downregulated multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) at both the mRNA and protein levels ([Formula: see text]), reduced glutathione S-transferase π (GST-π) protein expression and tumor microvascular density as well as decreased phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) ([Formula: see text]). These findings demonstrated that NSENL can reverse MDR in A549/DDP cells in vivo, an effect possibly associated with downregulation of MDR-associated genes as well as inhibition of bFGF/FGFR and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways.

A Review of the Potential of Phytochemicals from Prunus africana (Hook f.) Kalkman Stem Bark for Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer remains one of the major causes of death worldwide. In view of the limited treatment options for patients with prostate cancer, preventive and treatment approaches based on natural compounds can play an integral role in tackling this disease. Recent evidence supports the beneficial effects of plant-derived phytochemicals as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents for various cancers, including prostate cancer. Prunus africana has been used for generations in African traditional medicine to treat prostate cancer. This review examined the potential roles of the phytochemicals from P. africana, an endangered, sub-Saharan Africa plant in the chemoprevention and chemotherapy of prostate cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies have provided strong pharmacological evidence for antiprostate cancer activities of P. africana-derived phytochemicals. Through synergistic interactions between different effective phytochemicals, P. africana extracts have been shown to exhibit very strong antiandrogenic and antiangiogenic activities and have the ability to kill tumor cells via apoptotic pathways, prevent the proliferation of prostate cancer cells, and alter the signaling pathways required for the maintenance of prostate cancer cells. However, further preclinical and clinical studies ought to be done to advance and eventually use these promising phytochemicals for the prevention and chemotherapy of human prostate cancer.

A flavonoid compound from Chrysosplenium nudicaule inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of the human stomach cancer cell line SGC-7901

CONTEXT

Gastric cancer remains highly prevalent, but treatment options are limited. Natural products have proved to be a rich source of anticancer drugs. Chrysosplenium nudicaule Ledeb. (Saxifragaceae) is a perennial herb that grows in the highlands of China. It has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive diseases for hundreds of years. Recent studies revealed that this herb had anticancer activity, and the flavonoids were speculated to be the effective components. 6,7,3'-Trimethoxy-3,5,4'-trihydroxy flavone (TTF) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,3'trimethoxy-flavone-7-O-β-d-glucoside (DTFG) are flavonoid compounds isolated from Chrysosplenium nudicaule.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the effect of TTF and DTFG on SGC-7901 human stomach cancer cell in vitro to determine the anticancer and induction of apoptosis properties of TTF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The proliferation of cells treated with 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 μg/mL of TTF or DTFG for 24, 48, and 72 h was assessed by the MTT assay. After being treated with TTF, the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells was assessed by acridine orange staining, ultrastructure, electrophoresis of DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Results indicated that TTF inhibited the growth of cancer cells with an IC50 value of 8.33 μg/mL after 72 h incubation. However, DTFG showed no inhibitory effect on the growth of the cancer cell. Further studies on TTF also confirmed that it was able to induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells at a concentration as low as 4 μg/mL.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The apoptotic effect of TTF makes it a promising candidate for future chemotherapeutic application in treating stomach cancer.

Mangiferin enhances the sensitivity of human multiple myeloma cells to anticancer drugs through suppression of the nuclear factor κB pathway

Multiple myeloma (MM) is still an incurable hematological malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of ~35%, despite the use of various treatment options. The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MM. Thus, inhibition of the NF-κB pathway is a potential target for the treatment of MM. In a previous study, we showed that mangiferin suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. However, the treatment of MM involves a combination of two or three drugs. In this study, we examined the effect of the combination of mangiferin and conventional anticancer drugs in an MM cell line. We showed that the combination of mangiferin and an anticancer drug decreased the viability of MM cell lines in comparison with each drug used separately. The decrease in the combination of mangiferin and an anticancer drug induced cell viability was attributed to increase the expression of p53 and Noxa and decreases the expression of XIAP, survivin, and Bcl-xL proteins via inhibition of NF-κB pathway. In addition, the combination treatment caused the induction of apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 and the accumulation of the cells in the sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle. Our findings suggest that the combination of mangiferin and an anticancer drug could be used as a new regime for the treatment of MM.

Ethanol extract of Kilkyung-baeksan, a traditional herbal formula, induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in human lung cancer cell lines

Background

Despite current advances in diagnostics and medicines, the incidence of lung cancer is increasing and effective treatment is very challenging. Traditional herbal formulae as well as many herbal plant extracts have been recognized as attractive sources for novel multi-targeted therapy of cancer with minimal side effects.

Methods

The ethanol extract of Kilkyung-baeksan (EE-KKBS) and its component herbs were tested for their ability to inhibit cancer growth in several lung cancer cell lines. The effects of EE-KKBS and ethanol extract of Croton tiglium Linné seed (EE-CT) on cell cycle progression were measured by flow cytometric analysis using propidium iodide staining. Western blot analyses were performed to measure the expression profiles of proteins regulating cell cycle checkpoints.

Results

EE-KKBS inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells after 24–72 hours treatment. Lung cancer cells treated with either EE-KKBS or EE-CT showed strong G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. The expressions of p21 and p27, two key regulators of G1 cell cycle checkpoint, were significantly upregulated upon treatment with EE-KKBS and EE-CT.

Conclusion

EE-KKBS exerted its cytostatic activity through regulating G1 cell cycle checkpoint in lung cancer cells, and this activity is mainly mediated by one of its component herbs, seeds of Croton tiglium. Collectively, our data suggest that EE-KKBS could be a novel candidate for adjuvant therapy for lung cancer.

Anticancer effects of traditional Chinese herbs with phlegm-eliminating properties - An overview

ETHONOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cancer is considered to be the second leading cause of human death. It is unsatisfactory that in the past decades, the treatment for cancer has not progressed as fast as it was expected, as only 50% of newly diagnosed patients could be cured even today. The development of cancer is a multifactorial process, involving tumor cells themselves, the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironments, as well as the interactions between tumor cells and the host's immunity. Focusing on any single goal may bring limited benefits.

AIM AND METHODS OF THE STUDY

Phlegm-eliminating herbs, which can reduce phlegm and eliminate pathological metabolites, are commonly used to treat cancer in China. However, the underlying molecular targets and efficacy of herbal medicines in cancer treatment still remain unclear. In this study, we reviewed the potential anticancer mechanisms of some phlegm-eliminating herbs and their active ingredients from the articles through such scientific databases as MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

We found that the anticancer mechanisms of phlegm-eliminating herbs and ingredients include inducing apoptosis, anti-proliferation, preventing tumor invasion and metastasis, and reducing resistance to chemotherapy. In addition, some phlegm-eliminating herbs and their ingredients have anti-inflammatory and anti-metabolic syndrome effects.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that the phlegm-eliminating herbs and ingredients are potential candidates for anticancer treatment and cancer prevention by playing a comprehensive role.

Hydroquinone analog 4-[(Tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2‑yl) oxy] phenol induces C26 colon cancer cell apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in vivo

The 4[(Tetrahydro‑2H‑pyran‑2‑yl) oxy] phenol (XG‑d) hydroquinone analog, is found in Vaccinium vitis‑idaea  L. Although it is known for its antioxidant properties and high level of safety, its antitumor activity remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the anticancer effect of XG‑d was determined in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxicity of XG‑d against C26 murine colon carcinoma cells was found to occur in a time‑ and concentration‑dependent manner, whereas little effect was observed in the two normal cell lines (HK‑2 and L02) investigated. Oral administration of XG‑d (100 mg/kg) had effects on the tumor growth of tumor‑bearing mice. Furthermore, marked apoptosis was observed using Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometric analysis with annexin V/propidium iodide double staining. XG‑d also downregulated the expression of B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2), increased the expression levels of Bcl‑2‑associated X protein and activated caspase‑9, caspase‑3 and poly(adenosine diphosphate‑ribose) polymerase. The present study demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that XG‑d inhibited cancer cell growth via the induction of apoptosis and was also able to inhibit tumor growth in vivo. These results demonstrated that XG‑d may be used as a potential natural agent for cancer therapy with low toxicity.

Strongly fluorescent organogels and self-assembled nanostructures from pyrene coupled coumarin derivatives: application in cell imaging

The present work reports facile synthesis of pyrene coupled coumarin derivatives which could form self-assembled molecular gel and nano-flakes. The nanomaterials obtained via a self-assembly process could be potentially used in fluorescence imaging applications.

Medicinal Plants and Other Living Organisms with Antitumor Potential against Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. As a result, it is often associated with a significant amount of suffering and a general decrease in the quality of life. Herbal medicines are recognized as an attractive approach to lung cancer therapy with little side effects and are a major source of new drugs. The aim of this work was to review the medicinal plants and other living organisms with antitumor potential against lung cancer. The assays were conducted with animals and humans, and Lewis lung carcinoma was the most used experimental model. China, Japan, South Korea, and Ethiopia were the countries that most published studies of species with antitumor activity. Of the 38 plants evaluated, 27 demonstrated antitumor activity. In addition, six other living organisms were cited for antitumor activity against lung cancer. Mechanisms of action, combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, and new technologies to increase activity and reduce the toxicity of the treatment are discussed. This review was based on the NAPRALERT databank, Web of Science, and Chemical Abstracts. This work shows that natural products from plants continue to be a rich source of herbal medicines or biologically active compounds against cancer.

Anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of peptide fraction from the larvae of Musca domestica

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The larvae of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) have been used traditionally for malnutritional stagnation, decubital necrosis, osteomyelitis, ecthyma and lip scald and also to treat coma and gastric cancer in the traditional Chinese medicine. Its in vitro antitumor activity and immunomodulatory effect in naïve mice in relation to the traditional uses were also reported. However, the in vivo antitumor effect of this insect and its mechanism of action have not yet been well studied. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo antitumor potential of the peptide fraction from Musca domestica larvae (MDPF) and to elucidate its immunological mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mice inoculated with sarcoma S180 cells were orally administered with MDPF at three doses for 10 days. The effects of MDPF on the growth of mouse S180 sarcoma, splenocyte proliferation, the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), production and mRNA expression of cytokines from splenocytes, and serum antigen-specific antibody levels in tumor-bearing mice were measured.

RESULTS

MDPF could significantly not only inhibit the growth of mouse transplanted S180 sarcoma, but also promote splenocytes proliferation, NK cell and CTL activity from splenocytes, and enhance serum antigen-specific IgG, IgG2a and IgG2b antibody levels in S180-bearing mice. MDPF also significantly promoted the production of IFN-γ and up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ and Th1 transcription factors T-bet and STAT-4 in splenocytes from the S180-bearing mice. However, Th2 cytokine IL-10 and transcription factors GATA-3 and STAT-6 were not significantly changed both at transcriptional and protein levels following MDPF treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

MDPF significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable tumor in mice and its in vivo antitumor activity might be achieved by switching-on of Th1-based protective cell-mediated immunity. MDPF could act as antitumor agent with immunomodulatory activity.

Gambogic acid synergistically potentiates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer through suppressing NF-κB and MAPK/HO-1 signalling

Background:

Gambogic acid (GA) has been reported to have potent anticancer activity and is authorised to be tested in phase II clinical trials for treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study aims to investigate whether GA would be synergistic with cisplatin (CDDP) against the NSCLC.

Methods:

1-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan (MTT), combination index (CI) isobologram, western blot, quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, xenograft tumour models and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling analysis were used in this study.

Results:

The cell viability results showed that sequential CDDP-GA treatment resulted in a strong synergistic action in A549, NCI-H460, and NCI-H1299 cell lines, whereas the reverse sequence and simultaneous treatments led to a slight synergistic or additive action. Increased sub-G1 phase cells and enhanced PARP cleavage demonstrated that the sequence of CDDP-GA treatment markedly increased apoptosis in comparison with other treatments. Furthermore, the sequential combination could enhance the activation of caspase-3, -8, and 9, increase the expression of Fas and Bax, and decrease the expression of Bcl-2, survivin and X-inhibitor of apoptosis protein (X-IAP) in A549 and NCI-H460 cell lines. In addition, increased apoptosis was correlated with enhanced reactive oxygen species generation. Importantly, it was found that, followed by CDDP treatment, GA could inhibit NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signalling pathways, which have been validated to reduce ROS release and confer CDDP resistance. The roles of NF-κB and MAPK pathways were further confirmed by using specific inhibitors, which significantly increased ROS release and apoptosis induced by the sequential combination of CDDP and GA. Moreover, our results indicated that the combination of CDDP and GA exerted increased antitumour effects on A549 xenograft models through inhibiting NF-κB, HO-1, and subsequently inducing apoptosis.

Conclusion:

Gambogic acid sensitises lung cancer cells to CDDP in vitro and in vivo in NSCLC through inactivation of NF-κB and MAPK/HO-1 signalling pathways, providing a rationale for the combined use of CDDP and GA in lung cancer chemotherapy.

Combination of liquiritin, isoliquiritin and isoliquirigenin induce apoptotic cell death through upregulating p53 and p21 in the A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells

Liquiritin, isoliquiritin and isoliquirigenin are the active polyphenols present in Glycyrrhiza uralensis which has been used for the treatment of cancer and its complications. The present study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of liquiritin, isoliquiritin and isoliquirigenin on human non-small lung cancer cells including apoptosis-induction, inhibition of apoptotic pathways and to explore the underlying mechanism. Lactate dehydrogenase assays, FITC Annexin V staining assay were performed to evaluate cellular cytotoxicity and apoptosis activity. The results showed that pretreatment with these polyphenols induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Liquiritin, isoliquiritin and isoliquirigenin significantly increased cytotoxicity of, and upregulated p53 and p21 and downregulated the apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, it inhibited cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Western blot analysis showed it significantly decreased the protein expression of PCNA, MDM2, p-GSK-3β, p-Akt, p-c-Raf, p-PTEN, caspase-3, pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-9 and PARP, Bcl-2 in a concentration-dependent manner while the protein expression of p53, p21 and Bax was increased. In addition, Akt pathway was downregulated. These findings suggest that liquiritin, isoliquiritin and isoliquirigenin inhibited the p53-dependent pathway and showed crosstalk between Akt activities. These active polyphenols can be an alternative agent for the treatment of lung cancer.

Therapeutic applications of herbal medicines for cancer patients

Medicinal herbs and their derivative phytocompounds are being increasingly recognized as useful complementary treatments for cancer. A large volume of clinical studies have reported the beneficial effects of herbal medicines on the survival, immune modulation, and quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients, when these herbal medicines are used in combination with conventional therapeutics. Here, we briefly review some examples of clinical studies that investigated the use of herbal medicines for various cancers and the development of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in this emerging research area. In addition, we also report recent studies on the biochemical and cellular mechanisms of herbal medicines in specific tumor microenvironments and the potential application of specific phytochemicals in cell-based cancer vaccine systems. This review should provide useful technological support for evidence-based application of herbal medicines in cancer therapy.

Resveratrol and related stilbenes: their anti-aging and anti-angiogenic properties

Dietary stilbenes comprise a class of natural compounds that display significant biological activities of medicinal interest. Among them, their antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-angiogenesic properties are well established and subjects of numerous research endeavors. This mini-review aspires to account and present the literature reports published on research concerning various natural and synthetic stilbenes, such as trans-resveratrol. Special focus was given to most recent research findings, while the mechanisms underlying their anti-aging and anti-angiogenic effects as well as the respective signaling pathways involved were also presented and discussed.

Maturation of morphology, phenotype and functions of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) induced by polysaccharide Kureha (PSK)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of protein-bound polysaccharide Kureha(PSK) on murine dendritic cells (DCs). These impacts of PSK on DCs from bone marrow derived DCs(BMDCs) were assessed with inverted phase contrast microscope, conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for morphology, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, cytochemistry assay for key surface molecules, FITC-dextran for phagocytosis, bio-assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cytokine production. We found that under the influence of PSK, immature DCs changed into mature DCs with decrease of antigens up-taking, simultaneously high expression of key surface molecules of the MHC classII,CD40, CD80, CD86 and CD83 as well as more production of IL-12p70 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). These data indicate that PSK could markedly promote maturation of DCs and this adjuvant-like activity may have potential therapeutic value in vaccine preparation.