Astragaloside IV inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma by continually suppressing the development of fibrosis and regulating pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways

Traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancers of hepatobiliary system: from clinical evidence to drug discovery

Hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic cancer pose significant challenges in the field of digestive system diseases due to their highly malignant nature. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained attention as a potential therapeutic approach with long-standing use in China and well-recognized clinical benefits. In this review, we systematically summarized the clinical applications of TCM that have shown promising results in clinical trials in treating hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic cancer. We highlighted several commonly used TCM therapeutics with validated efficacy through rigorous clinical trials, including Huaier Granule, Huachansu, and Icaritin. The active compounds and their potential targets have been thoroughly elucidated to offer valuable insights into the potential of TCM for anti-cancer drug discovery. We emphasized the importance of further research to bridge the gap between TCM and modern oncology, facilitating the development of evidence-based TCM treatment for these challenging malignancies.

Dual role of Nrf2 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: promoting development, immune evasion, and therapeutic challenges

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant form of liver cancer and ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. The liver performs a wide range of tasks and is the primary organ responsible for metabolizing harmful substances and foreign compounds. Oxidative stress has a crucial role in growth and improvement of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (1)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an element that regulates transcription located in the cytoplasm. It controls the balance of redox reactions by stimulating the expression of many genes that depend on antioxidant response elements. Nrf2 has contrasting functions in the normal, healthy liver and HCC. In the normal liver, Nrf2 provides advantageous benefits, while in HCC it promotes harmful effects that support the growth and survival of HCC. Continuous activation of Nrf2 has been detected in HCC and promotes its advancement and aggressiveness. In addition, Activation of Nrf2 may lead to immune evasion, weakening the immune cells' ability to attack tumors and thereby promoting tumor development. Furthermore, chemoresistance in HCC, which is considered a form of stress response to chemotherapy medications, significantly impedes the effectiveness of HCC treatment. Stress management is typically accomplished by activating specific signal pathways and chemical variables. One important element in the creation of chemoresistance in HCC is nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 is a transcription factor that regulates the activation and production of a group of genes that encode proteins responsible for protecting cells from damage. This occurs through the Nrf2/ARE pathway, which is a crucial mechanism for combating oxidative stress within cells.

Research Progress on the Anti-Cancer Effects of Astragalus membranaceus Saponins and Their Mechanisms of Action

Astragalus membranaceus saponins are the main components of A. membranaceus, a plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, research on the anti-cancer effects of A. membranaceus saponins has received increasing attention. Numerous in vitro and in vivo experimental data indicate that A. membranaceus saponins exhibit significant anti-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, especially in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and induction of apoptosis, etc. This review compiles relevant studies on the anti-cancer properties of A. membranaceus saponins from various databases over the past two decades. It introduces the mechanism of action of astragalosides, highlighting their therapeutic benefits in the management of cancer. Finally, the urgent problems in the research process are highlighted to promote A. membranaceus saponins as an effective drug against cancer.

Nrf2 knockout attenuates the astragaloside IV therapeutic effect on kidney fibrosis from liver cancer by regulating pSmad3C/3L pathways

Fibrotic kidney injury from hepatocarcinogenesis seriously impacts treatment effect. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), an extract of Astragalus membranaceus, has several pharmacological activities, which are useful in the treatment of edema and fibrosis. Nrf2/HO-1 is a key antioxidant stress pathway and help treatment of kidney injury. Smad3 phosphorylation is implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis. Our previous study clarified that Smad3 is differentially regulated by different phosphorylated forms of Smad3 on hepatocarcinogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the contribution of AS-IV on the therapy of kidney fibrosis from hepatocarcinogenesis. And the focus was on whether the phosphorylation of Smad3 and the regulation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway were involved during AS-IV therapy and whether there is an effect of Nrf2 knockout on the phosphorylation of Smad3. We performed TGF-β1 stimulation on HK-2 cells and intervened with AS-IV. Furtherly, we investigated renal injury of AS-IV on Nrf2 knockout mice during hepatocarcinogenesis and its mechanism of action. On the one hand, in vitro results showed that AS-IV reduced the ROS and α-SMA expression of HK-2 by promoting the expression pSmad3C/p21 of and Nrf2/HO-1 and suppressed the expression of pSmad3L/PAI-1. On the other hand, the in vivo results of histopathological features, serological biomarkers, and oxidative damage indicators showed that Nrf2 knockout aggravated renal injury. Besides, Nrf2 deletion decreased the nephroprotective effect of AS-IV by suppressing the pSmad3C/p21 pathway and promoting the pSmad3L/PAI-1 pathway. The experimental results were as we suspected. And we identify for the first time that Nrf2 deficiency increases renal fibrosis from hepatocarcinogenesis and attenuates the therapeutic effects of AS-IV via regulating pSmad3C/3L signal pathway.

The combination of Tanshinone IIA and Astragaloside IV attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting the STING pathway

BACKGROUND

Astragaloside IV (As-IV) and Tanshinone IIA (Ta-IIA) are the main ingredients of traditional Chinese medicinal Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, respectively, both of which have been employed in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the combination (Co) of Ta-IIA and As-IV for cardiovascular diseases remain unclear and warrant further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and the underlying molecular mechanism of Co in treating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI).

METHODS

In order to assess the efficacy of Co, an in vivo MIRI mouse model was created by temporarily blocking the coronary arteries for 30 min and then releasing the blockage. Parameters such as blood myocardial enzymes, infarct size, and ventricular function were measured. Additionally, in vitro experiments were conducted using HL1 cells in both hypoxia-reoxygenation model and oxidative stress models. The apoptosis rate, expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, oxidative stress indexes, and release of inflammatory factors were detected. Furthermore, molecular docking was applied to examine the binding properties of Ta-IIA and As-IV to STING, and western blotting was performed to analyze protein expression of the STING pathway. Additionally, the protective effect of Ta-IIA, As-IV and Co via inhibiting STING was further confirmed in models of knockdown STING by siRNA and adding STING agonist.

RESULTS

Both in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that, compared to Ta-IIA or As-IV alone, the Co exhibited superior efficacy in reducing the area of myocardial infarction, lowering myocardial enzyme levels, and promoting the recovery of myocardial contractility. Furthermore, the Co showed more potent anti-apoptosis, antioxidant, and anti-inflammation effects. Additionally, the Co enhanced the inhibitory effects of Ta-IIA and As-IV on STING phosphorylation and the activation of STING signaling pathway. However, the administration of a STING agonist attenuated the protective effects of the Co, Ta-IIA, and As-IV by compromising their anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects in MIRI.

CONCLUSION

Compared to the individual administration of Ta-IIA or As-IV, the combined treatment demonstrated more potent ability in inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and the STING signaling pathway in the context of MIRI, indicating a more powerful protective effect against MIRI.

Emerging roles of circular RNAs in tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment of gastric cancer

With an estimated one million new cases reported annually, gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the fifth most diagnosed malignancy worldwide. The early detection of GC remains a major challenge, and the prognosis worsens either when patients develop resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy or when the cancer metastasizes. The precise pathogenesis underlying GC is not well understood, which further complicates its treatment. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a recently discovered class of noncoding RNAs that originate from parental genes through "back-splicing", have been shown to play a key role in various biological processes in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. CircRNAs have been linked to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, and the occurrence and progression of tumors. Prior studies have established that circRNAs play a crucial role in GC, impacting tumorigenesis, diagnosis, progression, and therapy resistance. This review aims to summarize how circRNAs contribute to GC tumorigenesis and progression, examine their roles in the development of drug resistance, discuss their potential as biotechnological drugs, and summarize their response to therapeutic drugs and microorganism in GC.

Biological landscape and nanostructural view in development and reversal of oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer

The treatment of cancer patients has been mainly followed using chemotherapy and it is a gold standard in improving prognosis and survival rate of patients. Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a third-platinum anti-cancer agent that reduces DNA synthesis in cancer cells to interfere with their growth and cell cycle progression. In spite of promising results of using OXA in cancer chemotherapy, the process of drug resistance has made some challenges. OXA is commonly applied in treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) as a malignancy of gastrointestinal tract and when CRC cells increase their proliferation and metastasis, they can obtain resistance to OXA chemotherapy. A number of molecular factors such as CHK2, SIRT1, c-Myc, LATS2 and FOXC1 have been considered as regulators of OXA response in CRC cells. The non-coding RNAs are able to function as master regulator of other molecular pathways in modulating OXA resistance. There is a close association between molecular mechanisms such as apoptosis, autophagy, glycolysis and EMT with OXA resistance, so that apoptosis inhibition, pro-survival autophagy induction and stimulation of EMT and glycolysis can induce OXA resistance in CRC cells. A number of anti-tumor compounds including astragaloside IV, resveratrol and nobiletin are able to enhance OXA sensitivity in CRC cells. Nanoparticles for increasing potential of OXA in CRC suppression and reversing OXA resistance have been employed in cancer chemotherapy. These subjects are covered in this review article to shed light on molecular factors resulting in OXA resistance.

Effects of astragaloside IV on glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head via regulating Akt-related pathways

We investigated the role of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) in preventing glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Network pharmacology was used to predict the molecular targets of AS-IV. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed to explore the binding mechanism and interaction mode between AS-IV and Akt. Rat models of glucocorticoid-induced ANFH with AS-IV intervention were established, and osteogenesis, angiogenesis, apoptosis and oxidative stress were evaluated before and after blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway with LY294002. The effects of glucocorticoid and AS-IV on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells incubated with and without LY294002 were determined. Downregulated p-Akt expression could be detected in the femoral heads of glucocorticoid-induced ANFH patients and rats. AS-IV increased trabecular bone integrity and vessel density of the femoral head in the model rats. AS-IV increased Akt phosphorylation and upregulated osteogenesis-, angiogenesis-, apoptosis- and oxidative stress-related proteins and mRNA and downregulated Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome c levels. AS-IV promoted human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation ability; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell proliferation; and osteogenic differentiation under glucocorticoid influence. AS-IV inhibited apoptosis. LY294002 inhibited these effects. AS-IV prevented glucocorticoid-induced ANFH by promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis via the Akt/Runx2 and Akt/HIF-1α/VEGF pathways, respectively, and suppressing apoptosis and oxidative stress via the Akt/Bad/Bcl-2 and Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathways, respectively.

Bioinformatics analysis and identification of upregulated tumor suppressor genes associated with suppressing colon cancer progression by curcumin treatment

Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) are commonly downregulated in colon cancer and play a negative role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression by affecting genomic integrity, the cell cycle, and cell proliferation. Curcumin (CUR), a Chinese herb-derived phytochemical, exerts antitumor effects on colon cancer. However, it remains unclear whether CUR exerts its antitumor effects by reactivating TSGs in colon cancer. Here, we demonstrated that CUR inhibited HT29 and HCT116 proliferation and migration by cell-counting kit-8, colony-formation, and wound-healing assays. Furthermore, the comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of mRNA sequencing revealed that 3,505 genes were significantly upregulated in response to CUR in HCT116 cells. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyses showed that the most upregulated genes were enriched in cancer pathways containing 37 TSGs. Five (ARHGEF12, APAF1, VHL, CEBPA, and CASP8) of the 37 upregulated TSGs were randomly selected for real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction and the verification results showed that these five genes were significantly reactivated after CUR treatment, suggesting that TSGs are related to CUR-mediated colon cancer inhibition. ARHGEF12 is a newly identified TSG and a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed to predict the binding sites of CUR and ARHGEF12, suggesting that CUR can prevent colon cancer cell invasion and metastasis by inhibiting ARHGEF12 and RhoA binding. In conclusion, the present study reveals that CUR inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation and migration by reactivating TSGs, revealing a new mechanism and potential target for colon cancer treatment.

Astragaloside IV inhibits pathological functions of gastric cancer-associated fibroblasts through regulation of the HOXA6/ZBTB12 axis

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play critical roles in the tumor microenvironment and exert tumor-promoting or tumor-retarding effects on cancer development. Astragaloside IV has been suggested to rescue the pathological impact of CAFs in gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of astragaloside IV in the regulation of CAF pathological functions in gastric cancer development. Homeobox A6 (HOXA6), and Zinc Finger and BTB Domain Containing 12 (ZBTB12) are highly expressed in gastric CAFs compared with normal fibroblasts (NFs) based on the GSE62740 dataset. We found that astragaloside IV-stimulated CAFs suppressed cell growth, migration, and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells. HOXA6 and ZBTB12 were downregulated after astragaloside IV treatment in CAFs. Further analysis revealed that HOXA6 or ZBTB12 knockdown in CAFs also exerted inhibitory effects on the malignant phenotypes of gastric cells. Additionally, HOXA6 or ZBTB12 overexpression in CAFs enhanced gastric cancer cell malignancy, which was reversed after astragaloside IV treatment. Moreover, based on the hTFtarget database, ZBTB12 is a target gene that may be transcriptionally regulated by HOXA6. The binding between HOXA6 and ZBTB12 promoter in 293T cells and CAFs was further confirmed. HOXA6 silencing also induced the downregulation of ZBTB12 mRNA and protein in CAFs. Astragaloside IV was demonstrated to regulate the expression of ZBTB12 by mediating the transcriptional activity of HOXA6. Our findings shed light on the therapeutic value of astragaloside IV for gastric cancer.

Pharmacological Effects of Astragaloside IV: A Review

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is one of the main active components extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Astragali and serves as a marker for assessing the herb's quality. AS-IV is a tetracyclic triterpenoid saponin in the form of lanolin ester alcohol and exhibits various biological activities. This review article summarizes the chemical structure of AS-IV, its pharmacological effects, mechanism of action, applications, future prospects, potential weaknesses, and other unexplored biological activities, aiming at an overall analysis. Papers were retrieved from online electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, and data from studies conducted over the last 10 years on the pharmacological effects of AS-IV as well as its impact were collated. This review focuses on the pharmacological action of AS-IV, such as its anti-inflammatory effect, including suppressing inflammatory factors, increasing T and B lymphocyte proliferation, and inhibiting neutrophil adhesion-associated molecules; antioxidative stress, including scavenging reactive oxygen species, cellular scorching, and regulating mitochondrial gene mutations; neuroprotective effects, antifibrotic effects, and antitumor effects.

Astragaloside IV promotes keratinocyte proliferation and migration through upregulating lncRNA H19 recruited ILF3 to enhance the stability of CDK4 mRNA

Skin is the first line of the body to resist pathogen invasion. A potentially fatal infection may result from problems with wound healing. Small molecule drugs like astragaloside IV (AS-IV) show pro-healing activities, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. Using real-time quantitative PCR and a western blot assay, the amount of gene expression was evaluated. The proliferation and migration of keratinocytes were determined by MTS and wound healing assay, respectively. The binding of lncRNA H19 to RBP protein ILF3 and the binding of ILF3 protein to CDK4 mRNA were confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation. Treatment with AS-IV enhanced the expression of lncRNA H19, ILF3, and CDK4 and improved the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes HaCaT. Additionally, apoptosis of keratinocytes was attenuated by AS-IV. Further studies showed that both lncRNA H19 and ILF3 were important for AS-IV-mediated keratinocyte growth and migration. In addition, lncRNA H19 recruited ILF3 to increase CDK4 mRNA level and enhanced cell proliferation. We discovered a lncRNA H19/ILF3/CDK4 axis that is activated by AS-IV to promote keratinocyte migration and proliferation. These results elucidate the mechanism of action of AS-IV and justify its application in further application in wound healing treatment.

Amelioratory effects of astragaloside IV on hepatocarcinogenesis via Nrf2-mediated pSmad3C/3L transformation

BACKGROUND

Phosphorylated Smad3 isoforms are reversible and antagonistic, and the tumour-suppressive pSmad3C can shift to an oncogenic pSmad3L signal. In addition, Nrf2 has a two-way regulatory effect on tumours, protecting normal cells from carcinogens and promoting tumour cell survival in chemotherapeutics. Accordingly, we hypothesised that the transformation of pSmad3C/3L is the basis for Nrf2 to produce both pro- and/or anti-tumourigenic effects in hepatocarcinogenesis. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), the major component of Astragalus membranaceus, exerts anti-fibrogenic and carcinogenic actions. Lately, AS-IV administration could delay the occurrence of primary liver cancer by persistently inhibiting the fibrogenesis and regulating pSmad3C/3 L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways synchronously. However, effect of AS-IV on hepatocarcinogenesis implicated in the bidirectional cross-talking of pSmad3C/3 L and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling, especially which one contributes palpably than the other still remains unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aims to settle the above questions by using in vivo (pSmad3C^+/- and Nrf2^-/- mice) and in vitro (plasmid- or lentivirus- transfected HepG2 cells) models of HCC.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The correlation of Nrf2 to pSmad3C/pSmad3L in HepG2 cells was analysed by Co-immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Pathological changes of Nrf2, pSmad3C, and pSmad3L in human HCC patients, pSmad3C^+/- mice, and Nrf2^-/- mice were gauged by immunohistochemical, haematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson, and immunofluorescence assays. Finally, western blot and qPCR were used to verify the bidirectional cross-talking of pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling protein and mRNA in vivo and in vitro models of HCC.

RESULTS

Histopathological manifestations and biochemical indicators revealed that pSmad3C^+/- could abate the ameliorative effects of AS-IV on fibrogenic/carcinogenic mice with Nrf2/HO-1 deactivation and pSmad3C/p21 transform to pSmad3L/PAI-1//c-Myc. As expected, cell experiments confirmed that upregulating pSmad3C boosts the inhibitory activity of AS-IV on phenotypes (cell proliferation, migration and invasion), followed by a shift of pSmad3L to pSmad3C and activation of Nrf2/HO-1. Synchronously, experiments in Nrf2^-/- mice and lentivirus-carried Nrf2shRNA cell echoed the results of pSmad3C knockdown. Complementarily, Nrf2 overexpression resulted in the opposite result. Furthermore, Nrf2/HO-1 contributes to AS-IV's anti-HCC effect palpably compared with pSmad3C/3L.

CONCLUSION

These studies highlight that harnessing the bidirectional crosstalk pSmad3C/3 L and Nrf2/HO-1, especially Nrf2/HO-1 signalling, acts more effectively in AS-IV's anti-hepatocarcinogenesis, which may provide an important theoretical foundation for the use of AS-IV against HCC.

Effects and mechanisms of Xiaochaihu Tang against liver fibrosis: An integration of network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Liver fibrosis is a potentially harmful chronic liver disease caused by various etiologies. There is currently no specific drug for liver fibrosis. Xiaochaihu Tang (XCHT) is a traditional formula combined of seven herbs, which was first recorded in the Treatise on Febrile Diseases in Han Dynasty of ancient China. It is widely used in clinic to hepatic protection, analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory treatment. And it has been recommended for treating chronic hepatitis and chronic cholecystitis in the latest guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of liver fibrosis with integrated traditional and western medicine. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to explore the therapeutic effects of XCHT on liver fibrosis and its underlying molecular mechanisms from the perspective of network pharmacology and experimental research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced and bile duct ligation (BDL) induced liver fibrosis models in mice were established to evaluate the anti-fibrosis effects of XCHT in vivo. Potential anti-fibrosis targets of XCHT were screened via network establishment. The underlying mechanisms were uncovered through GO and pathway enrichment analysis. Then, the core targets were identified from protein-protein interaction network by means of the Cytohubba plug-in of Cytoscape. Furthermore, two effective monomer components of XCHT were recognized by molecular docking. Moreover, the predicted components and pathways were verified by in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

When treated with XCHT, liver fibrosis was alleviated in both mice models, showing as the improvement of liver function, the protection of hepatocytes, the inhibition of HSC activation and the reduction of hepatic collagen accumulation. 540 monomer components, 300 therapeutic targets, 109 signaling pathways, 246 GO biological processes, 77 GO cellular components, 107 GO molecular functions items and core targets were identified by network analysis. Then, 6-gingerol and baicalein were identified as the core components of anti-fibrosis effects of XCHT via leptin or Nrf2 signaling pathway. Furthermore, the experiment in vitro also validated the results.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests XCHT could alleviate liver fibrosis through multi-targets and multi-pathways; 6-gingerol and baicalein are its core components which may play an important role via leptin or Nrf2 signaling pathway.

The Regulatory Effect of Phytochemicals on Chronic Diseases by Targeting Nrf2-ARE Signaling Pathway

Redox balance is essential to maintain the body's normal metabolism. Once disrupted, it may lead to various chronic diseases, such as diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancer, aging, etc. Oxidative stress can cause or aggravate a series of pathological processes. Inhibition of oxidative stress and related pathological processes can help to ameliorate these chronic diseases, which have been found to be associated with Nrf2 activation. Nrf2 activation can not only regulate the expression of a series of antioxidant genes that reduce oxidative stress and its damage, but also directly regulate genes related to the above-mentioned pathological processes to counter the corresponding changes. Therefore, targeting Nrf2 has great potential for the prevention or treatment of chronic diseases, and many natural phytochemicals have been reported as Nrf2 activators although the defined mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This review article focuses on the possible mechanism of Nrf2 activation by natural phytochemicals in the prevention or treatment of chronic diseases and the regulation of oxidative stress. Moreover, the current clinical trials of phytochemical-originated drug discovery by targeting the Nrf2-ARE pathway were also summarized; the outcomes or the relationship between phytochemicals and chronic diseases prevention are finally analyzed to propose the future research strategies and prospective.

Astragaloside IV, as a potential anticancer agent

Cancer is a global intractable disease, and its morbidity and mortality are increasing year by year in developing countries. Surgery and chemotherapy are often used to treat cancer, but they result in unsatisfactory outcomes, such as severe side effects and drug resistance. With the accelerated modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an increasing body of evidence has shown that several TCM components have significant anticancer activities. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is considered the main active ingredient of the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus. AS-IV exhibits various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antifibrotic, and anticancer activities. AS-IV possesses a wide range of activities, such as the modulation of reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzyme activities, participation in cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, and suppression of cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis. These effects are involved in the inhibition of different malignant tumors, such as lung, liver, breast, and gastric cancers. This article reviews the bioavailability, anticancer activity, and mechanism of AS-IV and provides suggestions for further research of this TCM.

A water-soluble polysaccharide from Eucommia folium: the structural characterization and anti-tumor activity in vivo

In this study, a water-soluble polysaccharide from Eucommia folium was extracted by hot water and purified using Sephadex G-200 gel columns. The results showed that the purified fraction (EFP) has a molecular weight of 9.98 × 10⁵ Da and consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid (molar ratio: 0.226: 1.739: 2.183: 1: 0.155: 0.321: 0.358: 0.047). The combination of infrared spectroscopy and NMR analysis proved that EFP is an acidic polysaccharide whose main chain consists of α-L-Araf-(1 → , → 3,5)-α-Araf-(1 → , → 3)-β-Galp-(1 → , → 3,6)-β-Glcp-(1 → , → 2)-α-D-Manp-(1 → , → 4)-α-GalpA-(1 → , → 2,4)-α-Rhap-(1 → . In addition, the in vivo antitumoral activity of EFP was studied using a H22 tumor-bearing mice model. EFP effectively inhibited tumor growth in mice following intragastric administration. By Combining with the results of the apoptosis assay and JC-1 staining analysis, we confirmed that EFP induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis demonstrated that EFP blocks the cell cycle at S phase.

Chemoprotective Effect of Decalactone on Hepatic Cancer via Diminishing the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the 5^th most common type of cancer in all types of cancers, globally. It is well known that the frequency of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress increases during the HCC. The goal of this study was to see if decalactone could prevent rats against HCC caused by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Single intraperitoneal administration of DEN (200 mg/kg) used as inducer and weekly intraperitoneal injection of phenobarbital (8 mg/kg) was used as promotor for induction the HCC in rats. Serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was used for the confirmation of HCC. Different doses of decalactone (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) were orally administered to the rats. The body weight was determined at regular time. The hepatic, non-hepatic, antioxidant markers and inflammatory mediators were scrutinized. All groups of animals were scarified and macroscopically examination of the liver tissue was performed and the weight of organ (hepatic tissue) were estimated. Decalactone increased body weight while also suppressing hepatic nodules and tissue weight. Decalactone treatment reduced AFP, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels while increasing albumin and total protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. Decalactone reduced lipid peroxidation (LPO) and increased catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels significantly (p < 0.001) (SOD). Decalactone lowered the levels of significantly (p < 0.001) inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory markers in the liver. Based on the findings, we may conclude that decalactone inhibited HCC in DEN-induced HCC animals via reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators.

HMOX1 Attenuates the Sensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Sorafenib via Modulating the Expression of ABC Transporters

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a common malignancy, and mechanisms of acquired sorafenib resistance during the treatment of HCC patients remain elusive. The present study performed integrated bioinformatics analysis and explored the potential action of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the sorafenib-resistant group as compared to the sorafenib-sensitive group from GSE140202 and GSE143233 were extracted. Fifty common DEGs between GSE140202 and GSE143233 were extracted. Ten hub genes were identified from the protein-protein interaction network based on common DEGs. Experimental results revealed the upregulation of HMOX1 in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. HMOX1 silence promoted the sensitivity to sorafenib in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells; overexpression of HMOX1 attenuated the sensitivity. In addition, HMOX1 silence downregulated the mRNA expression of ABC transporters in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells, while HMOX1 overexpression upregulated mRNA expression of ABC transporter expression in HCC cells. Further analysis also revealed that high expression of HMOX1 was associated with shorter OS and DSS in HCC patients. In conclusion, our analysis identified ten hub genes associated with sorafenib resistance in HCC. Further validation studies demonstrated that HMOX1 promoted sorafenib resistance of HCC cells via modulating ABC transporter expression.

Protective effects of three flavonoids from Dendrobium huoshanense flowers on alcohol-induced hepatocyte injury via activating Nrf2 and inhibiting NF-κB pathways

Dendrobium huoshanense flowers have been widely used for liver protection in China. This work was aimed to discover the natural products with activity of mitigating alcoholic hepatocyte injury from Dendrobium huoshanense flowers via bioactivity-guided isolation, and to clarify the underlying mechanisms of these natural products. As a result, three flavonoids, 3'-O-methylquercetin-3-O- β -D-galactopyranoside ( 1 ), 3'-O-methylquercetin-3-O- β -D-glucopyranoside ( 2 ) and quercetin-3-O- β -D-glucopyranoside ( 3 ), were firstly isolated from D. huoshanense flowers. Results exhibited that flavonoids 1-3 could enhance the cell viability, decrease the expression of ALT and AST, inhibit the cell apoptosis, alleviate the oxidative stress, and mitigate the inflammatory response of alcohol-induced L02 cells. Mechanism study exhibited that flavonoids 1 - 3 could increase the expression of Nrf2 as well as its downstream antioxidation genes of alcohol-induced L02 cells, while ML-385 (Nrf2 inhibitor) could abolish the inhibitory effects of 1 - 3 on alcohol-induced hepatocyte injury. Flavonoids 1 - 3 could also reduce the phosphorylation levels of I κ B α and NF- κ B p65 of alcohol-induced L02 cells, while SC75741 (NF- κ B inhibitor) could not enhance the inhibitory effects of 1 - 3 on alcohol-induced L02 cells injury. The data above indicated that flavonoids 1 - 3 could inhibit alcohol-induced hepatocyte injury, which might be attributed to alleviating oxidative stress and mitigating inflammatory response by activating Nrf2 and inhibiting NF- κ B pathways.

Astragaloside IV suppresses migration and invasion of TGF-β1-induced human hepatoma HuH-7 cells by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathways

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), one of the major compounds extract from Astragalus membranaceus, has shown attractive anti-cancer effects in certain malignancies. Oxidative stress (OS) is considered as a crucial factor in promoting the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In response to OS, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) upregulates and induces heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) to combat oxidative damages. The phosphorylation of the COOH-terminal of Smad3 (pSmad3C) activates p21 to resist HCC progression, while the phosphorylation of the linker region of Smad3 (pSmad3L) up-regulates c-Myc transcription to exert promoting effect towards HCC. This study aimed to explore whether AS-IV suppresses migration and invasion of human hepatoma HuH-7 cells by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and TGF-β₁/Smad3 pathways. HuH-7 cells were induced with TGF-β₁ (9 or 40 pM) to establish HCC model in vitro and pretreated with AS-IV at different concentration (5, 10, and 20 μM) for 24 h. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) of HuH-7 cells were measured. The expression of Nrf2, pSmad3C, Nrf2/pNrf2, HO-1, pSmad3C/3L, c-Myc, and p21 were detected. Exposure of HuH-7 cells to TGF-β₁ enhanced the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ROS production. Pretreatment with AS-IV (5, 10, and 20 μM) significantly reduced the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ROS production in HuH-7 cells. Furthermore, AS-IV increased the expressions of Nrf2/pNrf2, HO-1, pSmad3C, and p21, meanwhile reduced the expressions of pSmad3L and c-Myc. In conclusion, our study suggested that AS-IV inhibit HuH-7 cells migration and invasion, which related to activate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, up-regulation pSmad3C/p21 pathway, and down-regulation pSmad3L/c-Myc pathway. The present research supports the notion that AS-IV may be a latent agent for the treatment of HCC.