Dietary compounds galangin and myricetin suppress ovarian cancer cell angiogenesis

Myricetin inhibits 4 T1 breast tumor growth in mice via induction of Nrf-2/GPX4 pathway-mediated Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a recently identified form of programmed cell death that is iron-dependent and closely involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Past studies have identified myricetin as being able to inhibit breast cancer growth through its targeting of apoptotic mechanisms, but the precise mechanisms whereby it exerts its antitumoral effects in breast cancer remain to be characterized in detail. Here, the effects of myricetin on the induction of ferroptosis in breast cancer cells were investigated. It was found that myricetin was able to significantly inhibit 4 T1 tumor cell viability and colony forming activity, increasing the level of MDA, Fe2+, and ROS within these cells. From a mechanistic perspective, myricetin was found to induce ferroptotic 4 T1 cell death via downregulating Nrf-2 and GPX4. In vivo experimentation demonstrated that myricetin treatment was sufficient to reduce the growth of subcutaneous breast tumors in female mice as evidenced by decreases in tumor weight and volume, while significantly inhibiting Nrf-2 and GPX4 expression within the tumors of treated mice. Myricetin is capable of readily suppressing breast tumor growth in mice via the induction of ferroptotic activity through the Nrf-2/GPX4 pathway. Myricetin may thus offer utility as a therapeutic agent for the management of breast cancer in clinical settings.

Analysis of Clinical Trials Using Anti-Tumor Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers

The potential anti-cancer effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers has been widely studied due to their advantages of well-defined structure, clear therapeutic effects, and easy quality control during the manufacturing process. However, clinical trial information on these monomers is scarce, resulting in a lack of knowledge regarding the research progress, efficacy, and adverse reactions at the clinical stage. Therefore, this study systematically reviewed the clinical trials on the anti-cancer effect of TCM monomers registered in the Clinicaltrials.gov website before 2023.4.30, paying special attention to the trials on tumors, aiming to explore the research results and development prospects in this field. A total of 1982 trials were started using 69 of the 131 TCM monomers. The number of clinical trials performed each year showed an overall upward trend. However, only 26 monomers entered into 519 interventional anti-tumor trials, with vinblastine (194, 37.38%) and camptothecin (146, 28.13%) being the most used. A total of 45 tumors were studied in these 519 trials, with lymphoma (112, 21.58%) being the most frequently studied. Clinical trials are also unevenly distributed across locations and sponsors/collaborators. The location and the sponsor/collaborator with the highest number of performed trials were the United States (651,32.85%) and NIH (77). Therefore, China and its institutions still have large room for progress in promoting TCM monomers in anti-tumor clinical trials. In the next step, priority should be given to the improvement of the research and development ability of domestic enterprises, universities and other institutions, using modern scientific and technological means to solve the problems of poor water solubility and strong toxic and side effects of monomers, so as to promote the clinical research of TCM monomers.

Flavonoids with Anti-Angiogenesis Function in Cancer

The formation of new blood vessels, known as angiogenesis, significantly impacts the development of multiple types of cancer. Consequently, researchers have focused on targeting this process to prevent and treat numerous disorders. However, most existing anti-angiogenic treatments rely on synthetic compounds and humanized monoclonal antibodies, often expensive or toxic, restricting patient access to these therapies. Hence, the pursuit of discovering new, affordable, less toxic, and efficient anti-angiogenic compounds is imperative. Numerous studies propose that natural plant-derived products exhibit these sought-after characteristics. The objective of this review is to delve into the anti-angiogenic properties exhibited by naturally derived flavonoids from plants, along with their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. Additionally, we summarize the structure, classification, and the relationship between flavonoids with their signaling pathways in plants as anti-angiogenic agents, including main HIF-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2/PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, JNK1/STAT3, and MAPK/AP-1 pathways. Nonetheless, further research and innovative approaches are required to enhance their bioavailability for clinical application.

Functional Food Chemical Ingredient Strategies for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Hepatic Fibrosis: Chemical Properties, Health Benefits, Action, and Application

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The liver is an important digestive gland in the body. Lifestyle and dietary habits are increasingly damaging our liver, leading to various diseases and health problems. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most serious liver disease problems in the world. Diet is one of the important factors in maintaining liver health. Functional foods and their components have been identified as novel sources of potential preventive agents in the prevention and treatment of liver disease in daily life. However, the effects of functional components derived from small molecules in food on different types of liver diseases have not been systematically summarized.

RECENT FINDINGS

The components and related mechanisms in functional foods play a significant role in the development and progression of NAFLD and liver fibrosis. A variety of structural components are found to treat and prevent NAFLD and liver fibrosis through different mechanisms, including flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, and peptides. On the other hand, the relevant mechanisms include oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune regulation, and a large number of literature studies have confirmed a close relationship between the mechanisms. The purpose of this article is to examine the current literature related to functional foods and functional components used for the treatment and protection against NAFLD and hepatic fibrosis, focusing on chemical properties, health benefits, mechanisms of action, and application in vitro and in vivo. The roles of different components in the biological processes of NAFLD and liver fibrosis were also discussed.

Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine-induced apoptosis signaling pathways in ovarian cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As a "silent killer" that threatens women's lives and health, ovarian cancer (OC) has the clinical characteristics of being difficult to detect, difficult to treat, and high recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be utilized as a long-term complementary and alternative therapy since it has shown benefits in alleviating clinical symptoms of OC, decreasing toxic side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, as well as enhancing patients' quality of life.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper reviews how TCM contributes to the apoptosis of OC cells through signaling pathways, including active constituents, extracts, and herbal formulas, with the aim of providing a basis for the development and clinical application of therapeutic strategies for TCM in OC.

METHODS

The search was conducted from scientific databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed databases aiming to elucidate the apoptosis signaling pathways in OC cells by TCM. The articles were searched by the keywords "ovarian cancer", "apoptosis", "signaling pathway", "traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herbal monomer", "Chinese herbal extract", and "herbal formula". The search was conducted from January 2013 to June 2023. A total of 97 potentially relevant articles were included, including 93 articles on Chinese medicine active constituents or extracts and 4 articles on Chinese herbal compound prescriptions.

RESULTS

TCM can induce apoptosis in OC cells by regulating signaling pathways with obvious advantages, including STAT3, PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, NF-κB, Nrf2, HIF-1α, Fas/Fas L signaling pathway, etc. CONCLUSION: Chinese medicine can induce apoptosis in OC cells through multiple pathways, targets, and routes. TCM has special advantages for treating OC, providing more reasonable evidence for the research and development of new apoptosis inducers.

Myricetin, a natural inhibitor of CD147, increases sensitivity of cisplatin in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological tumor, but it currently lacks effective therapeutic targets. CD147, which is overexpressed in OC, plays a crucial role in promoting malignant progression and is associated with poor prognosis in patients. Therefore, CD147 has been identified as a potential therapeutic target. However, there is a limited amount of research on the development of CD147 inhibitors.

METHODS

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay and virtual molecular docking analysis were performed to identify potential natural compounds targeting CD147. The anti‑tumor effects of myricetin were evaluated using various assays, including CCK8, Alkaline comet, immunofluorescence and xenograft mouse models. The underlying mechanism was investigated through western blot analysis and lentivirus short hairpin RNA (LV-shRNA) transfection.

RESULTS

Myricetin, a flavonoid commonly found in plants, was discovered to be a potent inhibitor of CD147. Our findings demonstrated that myricetin exhibited a strong affinity for CD147 and down-regulated the protein level of CD147 by facilitating its proteasome-dependent degradation. Additionally, we observed synergistic antitumor effects of myricetin and cisplatin both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, myricetin suppressed the expression of FOXM1 and its downstream DNA damage response (DDR) genes E×O1and BRIP1, thereby enhancing the DDR induced by cisplatin.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that myricetin, a natural inhibitor of CD147, may have clinical utility in the treatment of OC due to its ability to increase genomic toxicity when combined with cisplatin.

Phytochemicals Showing Antiangiogenic Effect in Pre-clinical Models and their Potential as an Alternative to Existing Therapeutics

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from a pre-existing vascular network, is an important hallmark of several pathological conditions, such as tumor growth and metastasis, proliferative retinopathies, including proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and endometriosis. Putting a halt to pathology-driven angiogenesis is considered an important therapeutic strategy to slow down or reduce the severity of pathological disorders. Considering the attrition rate of synthetic antiangiogenic compounds from the lab to reaching the market due to severe side effects, several compounds of natural origin are being explored for their antiangiogenic properties. Employing pre-clinical models for the evaluation of novel antiangiogenic compounds is a promising strategy for rapid screening of antiangiogenic compounds. These studies use a spectrum of angiogenic model systems that include HUVEC two-dimensional culture, nude mice, chick chorioallantoic membrane, transgenic zebrafish, and dorsal aorta from rats and chicks, depending upon available resources. The present article emphasizes the antiangiogenic activity of the phytochemicals shown to exhibit antiangiogenic behavior in these well-defined existing angiogenic models and highlights key molecular targets. Different models help to get a quick understanding of the efficacy and therapeutics mechanism of emerging lead molecules. The inherent variability in assays and corresponding different phytochemicals tested in each study prevent their immediate utilization in clinical studies. This review will discuss phytochemicals discovered using suitable preclinical antiangiogenic models, along with a special mention of leads that have entered clinical evaluation.

Myricetin attenuates hypoxia-induced inflammation in human adipocytes

BACKGROUND

Adipose tissue hypoxia plays a crucial role in the development of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation which has been associated with the pathogenesis of obesity-related diseases. Myricetin is a natural compound present in numerous plant-based foods with presumed anti-inflammatory and beneficial health effects. The impact of this flavonoid on hypoxia-induced expression of inflammatory adipokines and hypoxia-regulated pathways is unknown so far and has been addressed in the present study.

METHODS

Differentiated human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) adipocytes were cultured with or without myricetin under normoxic and hypoxic conditions for varying time periods. The effect of hypoxia and myricetin on the expression of the investigated adipokines was measured by real-time RT-PCR. Western blot analysis was used for the detection of transcription factors involved in hypoxia-regulated pathways.

RESULTS

Myricetin interfered in the hypoxia-induced regulation of adipokines and the underlying pathways, which are involved in transmitting the inflammatory response. It strongly repressed hypoxia-induced expression of apelin, leptin, chemerin, asprosin, and DPP-4 and HIF-1α accumulation in the nucleus was diminished. Furthermore, the activation of the key regulators in the inflammatory response NF-κB, Akt, and CREB was suppressed by myricetin under hypoxic conditions. Myricetin also decreased hypoxia-induced accumulation of the pro-tumorigenic transcription factors Snail and Slug in the nucleus.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results indicated that myricetin regulated hypoxia-induced expression of adipokines and hypoxia-regulated pathways in human adipocytes. Our study therefore provided evidence of the anti-inflammatory effects of myricetin in hypoxia-treated human adipocytes.

In vivo antiangiogenic effect of nimbolide, trans-chalcone and piperine for use against glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

Angiogenesis is an important hallmark of Glioblastoma (GBM) marked by elevated vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). As previously reported nimbolide (NBL), trans-chalcone (TC) and piperine (PPR) possess promising antiangiogenic activity in several cancers however, their comparative efficacy and mechanism of antiangiogenic activity in GBM against VEGFR-2 has not been elucidated.

METHODS

2D and 3D spheroids cultures of U87 (Uppsala 87 Malignant Glioma) were used for evaluation of non-cytotxoic dose for anti-angiogenic activity. The antiangiogenic effect was investigated by the GBM U87 cell line bearing chick CAM model. Excised U87 xenografts were histologically examined for blood vascular density by histochemistry. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the presence of avian and human VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 mRNA transcripts.

RESULTS

Using 2D and 3D spheroid models, the non-cytotoxic dose of NBL, TC and PPR was ≤ 11 µM. We found NBL, TC and PPR inhibit U87-induced neoangiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner in the CAM stand-alone model as well as in CAM U87 xenograft model. The results also indicate that these natural compounds inhibit the expression of notable angiogenic factors, VEGF-A and VEGFR-2. A positive correlation was found between blood vascular density and VEGF-A as well as VEGFR-2 transcripts.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, NBL, TC and PPR can suppress U87-induced neoangiogenesis via a reduction in VEGF-A and its receptor VEGFR-2 transcript expression at noncytotoxic concentrations. These phytochemicals showed their utility as adjuvants to GBM therapy, with Piperine demonstrating superior effectiveness among them all.

Total Flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L. and Evaluation of Its Anticancer Activity

To overcome the shortcomings of traditional extraction methods, such as long extraction time and low efficiency, and considering the low content and high complexity of total flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L., in this experiment, we adopted ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis to improve the yield of total flavonoids, and combined this with molecular docking and network pharmacology to predict its core constituent targets, so as to evaluate its antitumor activity. The content of total flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L. reached 3.80 ± 0.13%, and the main components included Astragalin, Cynaroside, Ononin, Rutin, Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, Diosmetin, Isorhamnetin, and Luteolin. Cynaroside and Astragalin exert their cervical cancer inhibitory functions by regulating several signaling proteins (e.g., EGFR, STAT3, CCND1, IGFIR, ESR1). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the anticancer activity of both compounds was associated with the ErbB signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. MTT results showed that total flavonoids of Artemisia absinthium L. and its active components (Cynaroside and Astragalin) significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 of 396.0 ± 54.2 μg/mL and 449.0 ± 54.8 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, its active components can mediate apoptosis by inducing the accumulation of ROS.

3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone restricts proliferation of androgen-independent human prostate adenocarcinoma cells by inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis and reduces tumour growth

Flavonoids are among the largest groups of secondary metabolites. Studies suggest that dietary intake of flavonoids reduces the risk of cancer. 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone (THF) belongs to the flavone class of flavonoids and potentially inhibits the growth of many cancers; however, it is unexplored in prostate cancer. This study reports the antiproliferative potential of THF in prostate cancer cell line via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cascades and examines the tumour reduction potential in swiss albino mice. The potency of THF was evaluated by employing cytotoxicity assays and wound healing assays. Cell cycle, ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and Annexin-V-FITC assay were performed using a flow cytometer. In vivo, anticancer potential was achieved using the mice Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) model. THF inhibits cell growth with IC50 of 64.30 µM (MTT), 81.22 µM (NRU) and 25.81 µM (SRB), substantiated by cell migration assay. Cell-cycle analysis revealed that THF increases the subdiploid population. Furthermore, the Annexin-V-FITC assay evoked a significant induction of late apoptosis at a higher concentration of THF. THF also disrupts MMP, caused by an increased generation of ROS. In the EAC model, THF significantly inhibits tumour growth and increases the percent survival of mice and ROS levels in EAC cells. Hence, it may be concluded that THF might execute its antiproliferative effect via inducing ROS generation and could be a promising lead for preclinical and clinical validations.

Potential anti-cancer activity of Moringa oleifera derived bio-active compounds targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) will become a highly detected malignancy in females worldwide in 2023, with over 2 million new cases. Studies have established the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α), a transcription factor that controls cellular response to hypoxic stress, and is essential for BC spread. HIF-1 is implicated in nearly every critical stage of the metastatic progression, including invasion, EMT, intravasation, extravasation, angiogenesis, and the formation of metastatic niches. HIF-1 overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality in BC patients. This is accomplished by controlling the expression of HIF-1 target genes involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, metabolism, and treatment resistance. Studies have indicated that inhibiting HIF-1 has an anti-cancer effect on its own and that inhibiting HIF-1-mediated signaling improves the efficacy of anti-cancer therapy. Approximately 74 % of recognized anti-cancer drugs are sourced from plant species. Studies on anti-cancer characteristics of phytochemicals derived from Moringa oleifera (MO), also known as the 'Tree of Life', have revealed a high therapeutic potential for BC. In this review, we have highlighted the various mechanisms through which bioactive compounds present in MO may modulate HIF and its regulatory genes/pathways, to prove their efficacy in treating and preventing BC.

Selected Flavonols in Breast and Gynecological Cancer: A Systematic Review

The consumption of foods that are rich in phenolic compounds has chemopreventive effects on many cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. A wide spectrum of their health-promoting properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, has been demonstrated. This paper analyzes the mechanisms of the anticancer action of selected common flavonols, including kemferol, myricetin, quercetin, fisetin, galangin, isorhamnetin, and morin, in preclinical studies, with particular emphasis on in vitro studies in gynecological cancers and breast cancer. In the future, these compounds may find applications in the prevention and treatment of gynecological cancers and breast cancer, but this requires further, more advanced research.

Myricetin: A Significant Emphasis on Its Anticancer Potential via the Modulation of Inflammation and Signal Transduction Pathways

Cancer is a major public health concern worldwide and main burden of the healthcare system. Regrettably, most of the currently used cancer treatment approaches such as targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery usually cause adverse complications including hair loss, bone density loss, vomiting, anemia and other complications. However, to overcome these limitations, there is an urgent need to search for the alternative anticancer drugs with better efficacy as well as less adverse complications. Based on the scientific evidences, it is proven that naturally occurring antioxidants present in medicinal plants or their bioactive compounds might constitute a good therapeutic approach in diseases management including cancer. In this regard, myricetin, a polyhydroxy flavonol found in a several types of plants and its role in diseases management as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepato-protective has been documented. Moreover, its role in cancer prevention has been noticed through modulation of angiogenesis, inflammation, cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, myricetin plays a significant role in cancer prevention through the inhibition of inflammatory markers such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Moreover, myricetin increases the chemotherapeutic potential of other anticancer drugs through modulation of cell signaling molecules activity. This review elaborates the information of myricetin role in cancer management through modulating of various cell-signaling molecules based on in vivo and in vitro studies. In addition, synergistic effect with currently used anticancer drugs and approaches to improve bioavailability are described. The evidences collected in this review will help different researchers to comprehend the information about its safety aspects, effective dose for different cancers and implication in clinical trials. Moreover, different challenges need to be focused on engineering different nanoformulations of myricetin to overcome the poor bioavailability, loading capacity, targeted delivery and premature release of this compound. Furthermore, some more derivatives of myricetin need to be synthesized to check their anticancer potential.

A Review on Dietary Flavonoids as Modulators of the Tumor Microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the local environment where malignant cells strive and survive, composed of cancer cells and their surroundings, regulating essential tumor survival, and promotion functions. Dietary flavonoids are abundantly present in common vegetables and fruits and exhibit good anti-cancer activities, which significantly inhibit tumorigenesis by targeting TME constituents and their interaction with cancer cells. This review aims to synthesize information concerning the modulation of TME by dietary flavonoids, as well as to provide insights into the molecular basis of its potential anti-tumor activities, with an emphasis on its ability to control intracellular signaling cascades that regulate the TME processes, involving cell proliferation, invasion and migration, continuous angiogenesis, and immune inflammation. This study will provide a theoretical basis for the development of the leading compound targeting TME for anti-cancer therapies from these dietary flavonoids.

Crosstalk between xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibiting and cancer chemotherapeutic properties of comestible flavonoids- a comprehensive update

Gout is an inflammatory disease caused by metabolic disorder or genetic inheritance. People throughout the world are strongly dependent on ethnomedicine for the treatment of gout and some receive satisfactory curative treatment. The natural remedies as well as established drugs derived from natural sources or synthetically made exert their action by mechanisms that are closely associated with anticancer treatment mechanisms regarding inhibition of xanthine oxidase, feedback inhibition of de novo purine synthesis, depolymerization and disappearance of microtubule, inhibition of NF-ĸB activation, induction of TRAIL, promotion of apoptosis, and caspase activation and proteasome inhibition. Some anti-gout and anticancer novel compounds interact with same receptors for their action, e.g., colchicine and colchicine analogues. Dietary flavonoids, i.e., chrysin, kaempferol, quercetin, fisetin, pelargonidin, apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, isorhamnetin, phloretinetc etc. have comparable IC₅₀ values with established anti-gout drug and effective against both cancer and gout. Moreover, a noticeable number of newer anticancer compounds have already been isolated from plants that have been using by local traditional healers and herbal practitioners to treat gout. Therefore, the anti-gout plants might have greater potentiality to become selective candidates for screening of newer anticancer leads.

The mechanism of ferroptosis regulating oxidative stress in ischemic stroke and the regulation mechanism of natural pharmacological active components

Cerebrovascular diseases, such as ischemic stroke, pose serious medical challenges worldwide due to their high morbidity and mortality and limitations in clinical treatment strategies. Studies have shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated inflammation, excitotoxicity, and programmed cell death of each neurovascular unit during post-stroke hypoxia and reperfusion play an important role in the pathological cascade. Ferroptosis, a programmed cell death characterized by iron-regulated accumulation of lipid peroxidation, is caused by abnormal metabolism of lipids, glutathione (GSH), and iron, and can accelerate acute central nervous system injury. Recent studies have gradually uncovered the pathological process of ferroptosis in the neurovascular unit of acute stroke. Some drugs such as iron chelators, ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) can protect nerves after neurovascular unit injury in acute stroke by inhibiting ferroptosis. In addition, combined with our previous studies on ferroptosis mediated by natural compounds in ischemic stroke, this review summarized the progress in the regulation mechanism of natural chemical components and herbal chemical components on ferroptosis in recent years, in order to provide reference information for future research on ferroptosis and lead compounds for the development of ferroptosis inhibitors.

Myricetin: targeting signaling networks in cancer and its implication in chemotherapy

The gaps between the complex nature of cancer and therapeutics have been narrowed down due to extensive research in molecular oncology. Despite gathering massive insight into the mysteries of tumor heterogeneity and the molecular framework of tumor cells, therapy resistance and adverse side effects of current therapeutic remain the major challenge. This has shifted the attention towards therapeutics with less toxicity and high efficacy. Myricetin a natural flavonoid has been under the spotlight for its anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The cutting-edge molecular techniques have shed light on the interplay between myricetin and dysregulated signaling cascades in cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis. However, there are limited data available regarding the nano-delivery platforms composed of myricetin in cancer. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive detail of myricetin-mediated regulation of different cellular pathways, its implications in cancer prevention, preclinical and clinical trials, and its current available nano-formulations for the treatment of various cancers.

Phytochemicals as Regulators of Tumor Glycolysis and Hypoxia Signaling Pathways: Evidence from In Vitro Studies

The full understanding of the complex nature of cancer still faces many challenges, as cancers arise not as a result of a single target disruption but rather involving successive genetic and epigenetic alterations leading to multiple altered metabolic pathways. In this light, the need for a multitargeted, safe and effective therapy becomes essential. Substantial experimental evidence upholds the potential of plant-derived compounds to interfere in several important pathways, such as tumor glycolysis and the upstream regulating mechanisms of hypoxia. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the natural compounds which demonstrated, in vitro studies, an effective anticancer activity by affecting key regulators of the glycolytic pathway such as glucose transporters, hexokinases, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase or lactate dehydrogenase. Moreover, we assessed how phytochemicals could interfere in HIF-1 synthesis, stabilization, accumulation, and transactivation, emphasizing PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways as important signaling cascades in HIF-1 activation. Special consideration was given to cell culture-based metabolomics as one of the most sensitive, accurate, and comprising approaches for understanding the response of cancer cell metabolome to phytochemicals.

Myricetin (3,3',4',5,5',7-Hexahydroxyflavone) Prevents 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cardiotoxicity

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a strong anti-cancer drug used to manage numerous cancers. Cardiotoxicity, renal toxicity, and liver toxicity are some of the adverse effects which confine its clinical use to some extent. 5-FU-induced organ injuries are associated with redox imbalance, inflammation, and damage to heart functioning, particularly in the present study. Myricetin is an abundant flavonoid, commonly extracted from berries and herbs having anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities. We planned the current work to explore the beneficial effects of myricetin against 5-FU-induced cardiac injury in Wistar rats through a biochemical and histological approach. Prophylactic myricetin treatment at two doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) was given to rats orally for 21 days against cardiac injury induced by a single injection of 5-FU (150 mg/kg b.wt.) given on the 20th day intraperitoneally. The 5-FU injection induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and extensive cardiac damage. Nevertheless, myricetin alleviated markers of inflammation, apoptosis, cardiac toxicity, oxidative stress, and upregulated anti-oxidative machinery. The histology of heart further supports our biochemical findings mitigated by the prophylactic treatment of myricetin. Henceforth, myricetin mitigates 5-FU-induced cardiac damage by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiac-specific markers, as found in the present study.

Antiangiogenic Phytochemicals Constituent of Diet as Promising Candidates for Chemoprevention of Cancer

Despite the extensive knowledge on cancer nature acquired over the last years, the high incidence of this disease evidences a need for new approaches that complement the clinical intervention of tumors. Interestingly, many types of cancer are closely related to dietary habits associated with the Western lifestyle, such as low fruit and vegetable intake. Recent advances around the old-conceived term of chemoprevention highlight the important role of phytochemicals as good candidates for the prevention or treatment of cancer. The potential to inhibit angiogenesis exhibited by many natural compounds constituent of plant foods makes them especially interesting for their use as chemopreventive agents. Here, we review the antitumoral potential, with a focus on the antiangiogenic effects, of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, such as quercetin or myricetin; terpenoids, such as ursolic acid or kahweol; and anthraquinones from Aloe vera, in different in vitro and in vivo assays, and the available clinical data. Although clinical trials have failed to assess the preventive role of many of these compounds, encouraging preclinical data support the efficacy of phytochemicals constituent of diet in the prevention and treatment of cancer, but a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action and better designed clinical trials are urgently needed.

Galangin: A metabolite that suppresses anti-neoplastic activities through modulation of oncogenic targets

With the dramatic increase in cancer incidence all over the world in the last decades, studies on identifying novel efficient anti-cancer agents have been intensified. Historically, natural products have represented one of the most important sources of new lead compounds with a wide range of biological activities. In this article, the multifaceted anti-cancer action of propolis-derived flavonoid, galangin, is presented, discussing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic effects in various cancer cells. In addition, co-effects with standard chemotherapeutic drugs as well as other natural compounds are also under discussion, besides highlighting modern nanotechnological advancements for overcoming the low bioavailability issue characteristic of galangin. Although further studies are needed for confirming the anti-cancer potential of galangin in vivo malignant systems, exploring this natural compound might open new perspectives in molecular oncology.

Inhibition of Proliferation in Ovarian Cancer Cell Line (PA-1) by the Action of Green Compound "Betanin"

Ovarian carcinoma has a cure rate of 30% which makes it deadlier than any other disease. There are a number of genetic and epigenetic changes that lead to ovarian carcinoma cell transformation. Chemoprevention of cancer through application of natural compounds is the need of present generation as other methods are rigorous and have many side effects. Betanin, a compound from Beta vulgaris extract is used in present study to check its potential for inhibition of (PA-1) cancer cell proliferation. Determination of IC50 values through MTT assay was carried out, in addition measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and induction of apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells through betanin was also observed. Results have shown betanin as a potential candidate for inhibition of ovarian cancer cell proliferation and it can be taken up as a serious compound for further studies for its application in cancer cure.

Repurposing Natural Dietary Flavonoids in the Modulation of Cancer Tumorigenesis: Decrypting the Molecular Targets of Naringenin, Hesperetin and Myricetin

In the past few years flavonoids have been gaining more attention regarding their (still un) exploited anticancer properties. Flavonoids are natural compounds present in fruits, vegetables, and seeds, meaning that they are already present in the daily life of every person, with a described broad-spectrum of pharmacological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In the present review we discuss the anticancer activity of three important flavonoids - myricetin (MYR) (flavanol group), hesperetin (HESP) and naringenin (NAR) (flavanone group). Although some mechanisms underlying their activities remain still unclear, they can act as potential inhibitors of key tumorigenic signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, p38 MAPK and NF-κB. Simultaneously, they can reset the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins that belong to the Bcl-2 and caspase family and decrease the intracellular levels of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Together with their synergetic effect they have the potential to become key elements in the prevention and/or treatment of several types of cancer, with the major improvement to the patient life quality, due to their non-existent toxicity.

Polyphenols as anticancer agents: Toxicological concern to healthy cells

Polyphenols are a group of diverse chemical compounds present in a wide range of plants. Various biological properties such as antiallergic, antiviral, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, antiinflammatory, antithrombotic, vasodilatory, and hepatoprotective effect of different polyphenols have been reported in the scientific literature. The major classes of polyphenols are flavonoids, stilbenoids, lignans, and polyphenolic acids. Flavonoids are a large class of food constituents comprising flavones, isoflavanones, flavanones, flavonols, catechins, and anthocyanins sub-classes. Even with seemingly broad biological activities, their use is minimal clinically. Among the other concurrent problems such as limited bioavailability, rapid metabolism, untargeted delivery, the toxicity associated with these polyphenols has been a topic of concern lately. These polyphenols have been reported to result in different forms of toxicity that include organ toxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, etc. In the present article, we have tried to unravel the toxicological aspect of these polyphenols to healthy cells. Further high-quality studies are needed to establish the clinical efficacy and toxicology concern leading to further exploration of these polyphenols.

Myricetin: A comprehensive review on its biological potentials

Myricetin is a critical nutritive component of diet providing immunological protection and beneficial for maintaining good health. It is found in fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine. The families Myricaceae, Polygonaceae, Primulaceae, Pinaceae, and Anacardiaceae are the richest sources of myricetin. Different researchers explored the therapeutic potential of this valuable constituent such as anticancer, antidiabetic, antiobesity, cardiovascular protection, osteoporosis protection, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective. In addition to these, the compound has been tested for cancer and diabetic mellitus during clinical trials. Health benefits of myricetin are related to its impact on different cell processes, such as apoptosis, glycolysis, cell cycle, energy balance, lipid level, serum protein concentrations, and osteoclastogenesis. This review explored the potential health benefits of myricetin with a specific emphasis on its mechanism of action, considering the most updated and novel findings in the field.

Myricetin supplementation decreases hepatic lipid synthesis and inflammation by modulating gut microbiota

The relationship between poor in vivo bioavailability and effective pharmacological activity are not yet fully clarified for many flavonoids. The analysis of flavonoids-induced alterations in the gut microbiota represents a promising approach to provide useful clues to elucidate the mechanism of action. Here, we investigate the effect of myricetin supplementation on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats and explore the associations with the gut microbiota through high-throughput analyses. The 12-week myricetin supplementation and fecal microbiota transplantation outcomes suggest that myricetin significantly slows the development of NAFLD. Meanwhile, the anti-NAFLD effects of myricetin are associated with the modulation of the gut microbiota composition. Myricetin reduces hepatic lipid synthesis and inflammation through modulations in fecal butyric-acid-related gut microbiota and protection of the gut barrier function. This study may facilitate the elucidation of the action mechanism of flavonoids with low bioavailability.

Galangin Alleviates Tumor Progression and Metastasis in Intraperitoneal Ovarian Cancer Model via Inhibiting Janus Kinase 1/Signal Transduction and Activator of Transcription 3 Signaling

To investigate the impact of galangin on tumor progression and metastasis in intraperitoneal ovarian cancer model. Ovarian cancer cells were treated with DMSO or galectin, cell viability was detected by MTS or acid phosphatase assay, SKOV3 cells were transfected with STAT3 targeted shRNA and the expression of signal transduction-related proteins in cells was analyzed by immunoblotting assay, the expression of IL-6, IL-2, INF-y was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay the peritoneal metastasis model of ovarian cancer was established using shSTAT3 transfected or untransfected SKOV3 cells and treated with galangin or DMSO. Tumor mass, number of small tumor nodules and ascites volume were detected in the mouse model. Ovarian cancer-bearing mice treated with galangin showed a dramatic decreased tumor burden as demonstrated by the 25 times-reduced total weight of small tumor nodules, 60%-reduced primary tumors, attenuated luciferase activity and completely blocked ascites production. Moreover, galangin inhibited cell viability in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Further, p-STAT3 was suppressed by galangin treatment both in vivo and vitro. Galangin inhibited the expression of p-JAK1, the upstream signaling of p-STAT3 and IL-6 in the downstream. Meanwhile, knockdown of STAT3 by shSTAT3 transfection mimicked the therapeutic effects of galangin in vivo and vitro. Galangin supresses IL-6 secretion, peritoneal metastasis and ascites production by inhibiting JAK1/STAT3 signaling.

The Hallmarks of Flavonoids in Cancer

Flavonoids represent an important group of bioactive compounds derived from plant-based foods and beverages with known biological activity in cells. From the modulation of inflammation to the inhibition of cell proliferation, flavonoids have been described as important therapeutic adjuvants against several diseases, including diabetes, arteriosclerosis, neurological disorders, and cancer. Cancer is a complex and multifactor disease that has been studied for years however, its prevention is still one of the best known and efficient factors impacting the epidemiology of the disease. In the molecular and cellular context, some of the mechanisms underlying the oncogenesis and the progression of the disease are understood, known as the hallmarks of cancer. In this text, we review important molecular signaling pathways, including inflammation, immunity, redox metabolism, cell growth, autophagy, apoptosis, and cell cycle, and analyze the known mechanisms of action of flavonoids in cancer. The current literature provides enough evidence supporting that flavonoids may be important adjuvants in cancer therapy, highlighting the importance of healthy and balanced diets to prevent the onset and progression of the disease.

Saponins Extracted from Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Flowers Induces Autophagy in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Tea flower saponins (TFS) possess effective anticancer properties. The diversity and complexity of TFS increases the difficulty of their extraction and purification from tea flowers. Here, multiple methods including solvent extraction, microporous resin separation and preparative HPLC separation were used to obtain TFS with a yield of 0.34%. Furthermore, we revealed that TFS induced autophagy—as evidenced by an increase in MDC-positive cell populations and mCherry-LC3B-labeled autolysosomes and an upregulation of LC3II protein levels. 3-MA reversed the decrease in cell viability induced by TFS, showing that TFS induced autophagic cell death. TFS-induced autophagy was not dependent on the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway. TFS-induced autophagy in OVCAR-3 cells was accompanied by ERK pathway activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This paper is the first report of TFS-mediated autophagy of ovarian cancer cells. These results provide new insights for future studies of the anti-cancer effects of TFS.

Galangin attenuated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibition of ferroptosis through activating the SLC7A11/GPX4 axis in gerbils

AIMS

To evaluate the impact of galangin treatment on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in gerbils and to identify potential mechanisms of the protective effect of galangin on hippocampal neurons after I/R injury.

PRINCIPAL METHODS

A cerebral ischemia model using bilateral common carotid artery ligation in gerbils was established. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the learning and memory ability of gerbils. The cell viability was evaluated with an MTT assay. The levels of lipid peroxide biomarkers were measured to estimate the injury due to lipid peroxide. The morphology was detected by electron micrography, immunofluorescence and Nissl staining. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to measure the molecular characteristics.

KEY FINDINGS

In the MWM, gerbils treated with galangin after I/R injury showed significant improvements in learning and memory. In addition, galangin treatment reduced the levels of lipid peroxide in the brains of gerbils that underwent I/R as well as reduced the amount of cell death and increased the expression of SLC7A11 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Furthermore, the expression of the marker of ferroptosis was decreased in galangin-treated gerbils, and the effect of galangin was weakened when SLC7A11 was knocked down. These results show that galangin can inhibit ferroptosis by enhancing the expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4 as well as reduce neuronal cell death.

SIGNIFICANCE

Galangin inhibits ferroptosis through activation of the SLC7A11/GPX4 axis and has a protective effect on hippocampal neurons in gerbils after I/R.

Antiangiogenic Activity of Flavonoids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract: An imbalance of angiogenesis contributes to many pathologies such as cancer, arthritis and retinopathy, hence molecules that can modulate angiogenesis are of considerable therapeutic importance. Despite many reports on the promising antiangiogenic properties of naturally occurring flavonoids, no flavonoids have progressed to the clinic for this application. This systematic review and meta-analysis therefore evaluates the antiangiogenic activities of a wide range of flavonoids and is presented in two sections. The first part of the study (Systematic overview) included 402 articles identified by searching articles published before May 2020 using ScienceDirect, PubMed and Web of Science databases. From this initial search, different classes of flavonoids with antiangiogenic activities, related pathologies and use of in vitro and/or in/ex vivo angiogenesis assays were identified. In the second part (Meta-analysis), 25 studies concerning the antiangiogenic evaluation of flavonoids using the in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay were included, following a targeted search on articles published prior to June 2020. Meta-analysis of 15 out of the 25 eligible studies showed concentration dependent antiangiogenic activity of six compared subclasses of flavonoids with isoflavones, flavonols and flavones being the most active (64 to 80% reduction of blood vessels at 100 µM). Furthermore, the key structural features required for the antiangiogenic activity of flavonoids were derived from the pooled data in a structure activity relationship (SAR) study. All in all, flavonoids are promising candidates for the development of antiangiogenic agents, however further investigations are needed to determine the key structural features responsible for their activity.

Molecular Mechanisms of the Action of Myricetin in Cancer

Natural compounds, such as paclitaxel and camptothecin, have great effects on the treatment of tumors. Such natural chemicals often achieve anti-tumor effects through a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, it is of great significance to conduct further studies on the anticancer mechanism of natural anticancer agents to lay a solid foundation for the development of new drugs. Myricetin, originally isolated from Myrica nagi, is a natural pigment of flavonoids that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells (such as liver cancer, rectal cancer, skin cancer and lung cancer, etc.). It can regulate many intracellular activities (such as anti-inflammatory and blood lipids regulation) and can even be bacteriostatic. The purpose of this paper is to outline the molecular pathways of the anticancer effects of myricetin, including the effect on cancer cell death, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell signaling pathway.

Galangin (GLN) Suppresses Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Human Glioblastoma Cells by Targeting Skp2-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Background

Galangin (GLN), a pure natural flavonoid compound found in plants, has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects against multiple cancer types, including glioma. However, its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) performs an important function in the genesis and development of cancer. Skp2, a pivotal component of SCF^Skp2 E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been shown to function as an oncogene in GBM invasion that contributes to the EMT process. Thus, we explored whether GLN inhibited Skp2-mediated EMT and the mechanism underlying the Skp2 degradation pathway.

Methods

CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to examine cell proliferation, migration, and invasion after treatment with or without GLN. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were performed to evaluate mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Co-immunoprecipitation was conducted to detect ubiquitinated Skp2 levels in vitro and in vivo after GLN treatment. Bioluminescence imaging was performed to examine the intracranial tumor size of U87 xenograft mice. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) experiment was used to detect interactions between Skp2 and GLN.

Results

GLN suppressed GBM cell growth, migration, and invasion, and also downregulated the expression of Skp2 and mesenchymal markers (Zeb1, N-cadherin, snail, vimentin) in vitro. Moreover, the overexpression of Skp2 in GBM cells decreased the effect of GLN on EMT. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GLN degraded skp2 protein through the ubiquitination proteasome pathway and directly interacted with skp2 protein, as shown through the MST assay.

Conclusion

This study is the first to identify Skp2 as a novel target of GLN for the treatment of GBM and report of Skp2 protein degradation in a ubiquitination proteasome pathway. Results from our study indicated the potential of GLN for the treatment of GBM through ubiquitin-mediated degradation of Skp2.

Implications of flavonoids as potential modulators of cancer neovascularity

PURPOSE

The formation of new blood vessels from previous ones, angiogenesis, is critical in tissue repair, expansion or remodeling in physiological processes and in various pathologies including cancer. Despite that, the development of anti-angiogenic drugs has great potential as the treatment of cancer faces many problems such as development of the resistance to treatment or an improperly selected therapy approach. An evaluation of predictive markers in personalized medicine could significantly improve treatment outcomes in many patients.

METHODS

This comprehensive review emphasizes the anticancer potential of flavonoids mediated by their anti-angiogenic efficacy evaluated in current preclinical and clinical cancer research.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Flavonoids are important groups of phytochemicals present in common diet. Flavonoids show significant anticancer effects. The anti-angiogenic effects of flavonoids are currently a widely discussed topic of preclinical cancer research. Flavonoids are able to regulate the process of tumor angiogenesis through modulation of signaling molecules such as VEGF, MMPs, ILs, HIF or others. However, the evaluation of the anti-angiogenic potential of flavonoids within the clinical studies is not frequently discussed and is still of significant scientific interest.

Galangin, a Flavonoid from Lesser Galangal, Induced Apoptosis via p53-Dependent Pathway in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Among women worldwide, ovarian cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers. Patients undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy might get adverse side effects and develop resistance to drugs. In recent years, natural compounds have aroused growing attention in cancer treatment. Galangin inhibited the growth of two cell lines, A2780/CP70 and OVCAR-3, more strongly than the growth of a normal ovarian cell line, IOSE 364. The IC₅₀ values of galangin on proliferation of A2780/CP70, OVCAR-3 and IOSE 364 cells were 42.3, 34.5, and 131.3 μM, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that galangin preferentially induced apoptosis in both ovarian cancer cells with respect to normal ovarian cells. Galangin treatment increased the level of cleaved caspase-3 and -7 via the p53-dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathway by up-regulating Bax protein and via the p53-dependent extrinsic apoptotic pathway by up-regulating DR5 protein. By down-regulating the level of p53 with 20 μM pifithrin-α (PFT-α), the apoptotic rates of OVCAR-3 cells induced by galangin treatment (40 μM) were significantly decreased from 18.2% to 10.2%, indicating that p53 is a key regulatory protein in galangin-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Although galangin up-regulated the expression of p21, it had little effect on the cell cycle of the two ovarian cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated p70S6K were decreased through galangin treatment, suggesting that the Akt/p70S6K pathways might be involved in the apoptosis. Our results suggested that galangin is selective against cancer cells and can be used for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancers in humans.

Folic acid (FA)-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles combined with MRP-1 siRNA improves the suppressive effects of myricetin on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common diagnosed cancer disease worldwide and its management remains a challenge. Synergistic cancer therapeutic strategy is interesting for multiple advantages, such as excellent targeting accuracy, low side effects, and promoted therapeutic efficiency. In the present study, myricetin (Myr)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) combined with multidrug resistance protein (MRP-1) siRNA was prepared. The surface of the synthesized nanoparticles was modified with folic acid (FA) to promote the therapeutic efficiency of Myr for the treatment of NSCLC. The collected particles were nano-sized and showed a sustained release of Myr in the physiological conditions. FA-conjugated nanoformulations displayed a significant uptake in lung cancer cells compared with that of the non-targeted nanoparticles. The in vitro drug release results suggested a sustained release in FA-conjugated MSN with Myr and MRP-1 nanoparticles compared to the free Myr and MSN combined with MRP-1/Myr. Treatments with FA-conjugated MSN combined with Myr and MRP-1 markedly reduced the cell viability of lung cancer cell lines, including A549 and NCI-H1299, which was accompanied with the decreased number of colony formation. In addition, FA-conjugated MSN loaded with Myr and MRP-1 significantly induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells, along with up-regulated expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3 and PARP. In vivo fluorescence results demonstrated that FA-conjugated MSN with Myr and MRP-1 nanoparticles could specifically accumulate at tumor sites. Compared with free Myr and MSN combined with MRP-1/Myr nanoparticles, FA-conjugated MSN loaded with Myr and MRP-1 nanoparticles could more effectively suppress tumor growth with little side effects. Overall, FA-conjugated nanoparticulate system could provide a novel and effective platform for the treatment of NSCLC.

Icariside II inhibits tumorigenesis via inhibiting AKT/Cyclin E/ CDK 2 pathway and activating mitochondria-dependent pathway

Cervical cancer contributes largely in women cancer-related mortality. Herein, Icariside II, a flavonoid extracted from edible and pharmaceutical plant Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, exhibited significant anticancer activity on cervical cancer. At first, it was observed that Icariside II inhibited Hela cell proliferation at IC₅₀ (9.2 μM) and the growth of Hela-originated xenografts in BALB/c nude mice. Next, we studied the underlying mechanisms of Icariside II from the aspects of cell growth and cell death. As for cell growth, Icariside II arrested cell cycle at G0/G1 phase through AKT/Cyclin E/CDK 2 from transcriptional and translational levels. As for cell death, Flow Cytometry and Immunofluorescence showed that Icariside II promoted cell death in a dose-dependet manner. And, Icariside II turned to activate the mitochondria-dependent pathway Caspase 9/Caspase 3 much more significantly than death receptor pathway Caspase 8/Caspase 3. Taken together, Icariside II presented anticancer effect on cervical cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Our study provides the evidence that Icariside II can be used as a suitable novel agent in cervical cancer treatment.

Myricetin Abrogates Cisplatin-Induced Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Response, and Goblet Cell Disintegration in Colon of Wistar Rats

Cisplatin [cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II] is an extensively prescribed drug in cancer chemotherapy; it is also useful for the treatment of diverse types of malignancies. Conversely, cisplatin is associated with a range of side effects such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and so on. Myricetin (3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-4chromenone) is a very common natural flavonoid found in fruits, tea, and plants. It has been found to have high-value pharmacological properties and strong health benefits. To examine the role of myricetin in colon toxicity induced by cisplatin, we conducted a concurrent prophylactic study in experimental animals that were treated orally with myricetin for 14 days at two doses—25 and 50 mg/kg of body weight. On the 14th day, a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg body weight) was administered in all groups except control. The effects of myricetin in cisplatin-induced toxicity in the colon were assessed in terms of antioxidant status, phase-II detoxification enzymes, the level of inflammatory markers, and goblet cell disintegration. Myricetin was found to restore the level of all the antioxidant enzymes analyzed in the study. In addition, the compound ameliorated cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation, increase in xanthine oxidase activity, and phase-II detoxifying enzyme activity. Myricetin also attenuated deteriorative effects induced by cisplatin by regulating the level of molecular markers of inflammation (NF-κB, Nrf-2, IL-6, and TNF-α), restoring Nrf-2 levels, and controlling goblet cell disintegration. The current study reinforces the conclusion that myricetin exerts protection in colon toxicity via up-regulation of inflammatory markers, improving anti-oxidant status, and protecting tissue damage.

Therapeutic and preventive properties of honey and its bioactive compounds in cancer: an evidence-based review

Despite the much improved therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment that have been developed over the past 50 years, cancer remains a major cause of mortality globally. Considerable epidemiological and experimental evidence has demonstrated an association between ingestion of food and nutrients with either an increased risk for cancer or its prevention. There is rising interest in exploring agents derived from natural products for chemoprevention or for therapeutic purposes. Honey is rich in nutritional and non-nutritional bioactive compounds, as well as in natural antioxidants, and its potential beneficial function in human health is becoming more evident. A large number of studies have addressed the anti-cancer effects of different types of honey and their phenolic compounds using in vitro and in vivo cancer models. The reported findings affirm that honey is an agent able to modulate oxidative stress and has anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory and anti-metastatic properties. However, despite its reported anti-cancer activities, very few clinical studies have been undertaken. In the present review, we summarise the findings from different experimental approaches, including in vitro cell cultures, preclinical animal models and clinical studies, and provide an overview of the bioactive profile and bioavailability of the most commonly studied honey types, with special emphasis on the chemopreventive and therapeutic properties of honey and its major phenolic compounds in cancer. The implications of these findings as well as the future prospects of utilising honey to fight cancer will be discussed.

Anti-tumor effects and associated molecular mechanisms of myricetin

Myricetin (3, 5, 7, 3', 4', 5'-hexahydroxyflavone) is a natural flavonol compound found in a large variety of plants, including berries, oranges, grapes, herbs, teas, and wine. In the last decade, a convergence of evidence has demonstrated that myricetin has good biological activity as an anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidation agent. In studies involving various types of cancer cells, myricetin has been shown to suppress cancer cell invasion and metastasis, to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cancer cells, and to inhibit their proliferation. These findings have raised interest in myricetin as a potential tumor inhibitor in human patients. In this review, evidence of myricetin's anti-tumor activity and its underlying molecular mechanisms published in the last decade are summarized.

The Mediterranean Diet, a Rich Source of Angiopreventive Compounds in Cancer

Diet-based chemoprevention of cancer has emerged as an interesting approach to evade the disease or even target its early phases, reducing its incidence or slowing down tumor progression. In its basis in the essential role of angiogenesis for tumor growth and metastasis, angioprevention proposes the use of inhibitors of angiogenesis in cancer prevention. The anti-angiogenic potential exhibited by many natural compounds contained in many Mediterranean diet constituents makes this dietary pattern especially interesting as a source of chemopreventive agents, defined within the angioprevention strategy. In this review, we focus on natural bioactive compounds derived from the main foods included in the Mediterranean diet that display anti-angiogenic activity, as well as their possible use as angiopreventive agents.

Galangin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis by downregulating CD44 in glioma

Galangin (3,5,7‑trihydroxyflavone), a natural flavonoid present in plants, has been reported to possess anticancer properties in various types of cancers comprising glioma. The underlying mechanism, however, has not been fully elucidated. CD44, a hall marker in glioma, has been reported to be associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, which play important roles in glioma progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether galangin can inhibit EMT, angiogenesis and CD44 expression in glioma. We observed that galangin inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner, suppressed the expression of CD44 and inhibited angiogenesis of glioma cells through downregulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in HUVECs. In addition, the overexpression of CD44 in U87 and U251 cells partly abolished the effects of galangin on glioma cells. Moreover, galangin suppressed tumor growth in an intracranial glioma mouse model. These results indicate that galangin is a potential novel drug for glioblastoma treatment due to its ability to suppress of CD44, EMT and angiogenesis.

A critical review on anti-angiogenic property of phytochemicals

Angiogenesis, a process involved in neovascularization, has been found to be associated with several metabolic diseases like cancer, retinopathy etc. Thus, currently, the focus on anti-angiogenic therapy for treatment and prevention of diseases has gained significant attention. Currently available Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs are targeting either vascular endothelial growth factor or it's receptor, but in the long term, these approaches were shown to cause several side effects and the chances of developing resistance to these drugs is also high. Therefore, identification of safe and cost-effective anti-angiogenic molecules is highly imperative. Over the past decades, dietary based natural compounds have been studied for their anti-angiogenic potential which provided avenues in improving the angiogenesis based therapy. In this review, major emphasis is given to the molecular mechanism behind anti-angiogenic effect of natural compounds from dietary sources.

Protective functions of myricetin in LPS-induced cardiomyocytes H9c2 cells injury by regulation of MALAT1

BACKGROUND

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is a crucial mediator in response to inflammation. Myricetin protects cardiomyocytes against inflammatory injury. However, it's still unexplored whether myricetin exerted anti-inflammatory properties via MALAT1. The purpose of our study was to validate the cardio-protective function of myricetin against myocarditis and its underlying mechanism in vitro.

METHODS

H9c2 cells were pre-incubated with myricetin before stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Enforced silence of MALAT1 was achieved by transducing short hairpin (sh)-MALAT1 into H9c2 cells. Next, cell viability and apoptotic cells were detected with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) apoptosis detection kit, respectively. Western blot assay was conducted to examine apoptosis-relative proteins, pro-inflammatory factors, and signaling regulators. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to quantify pro-inflammatory factors and MALAT1 at mRNA levels. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine protein concentration of pro-inflammatory factors.

RESULTS

Myricetin ameliorated LPS-elicited reduction of cell viability, augment of apoptosis, and overexpression of monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in H9c2 cells. Meanwhile, phosphorylation of p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha (IκBα) were suppressed. Besides, myricetin enhanced the expression of MALAT1 which was originally down-regulated by LPS. However, the protective effects of myricetin against LPS-caused inflammatory lesions were abrogated in MALAT1-deficiency cells, with the restored phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα.

CONCLUSION

Myricetin possessed an anti-inflammatory function against LPS-induced lesions in cardiomyocytes. Mechanically, myricetin up-regulated MALAT1, blocked LPS-evoked activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inflammatory pathway, and, finally, exerted cardio-protective effects.