Ginsenoside compound K inhibits nuclear factor-kappa B by targeting Annexin A2

Mechanism of action of protopanaxadiol ginsenosides on hepatocellular carcinoma and network pharmacological analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies globally, posing a major challenge to global health care. Protopanaxadiol ginsenosides (PDs) have been believed to significantly improve liver diseases. PDs, such as Rg3, have been developed as a new class of anti-cancer drugs. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, Rg3, and Rh2 exhibit effective anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. Studies have confirmed that PDs could be used to treat HCC. However, the mechanism of action of PDs on HCC remains unclear. In the study, we reviewed the anti-HCC effects and mechanisms of PDs including Rb1, Rd, Rg3, Rg5, Rh2, Rk1, and Compound K (CK). Then, we searched for relevant targets of PDs and HCC from databases and enriched them for analysis. Subsequently, molecular docking was simulated to reveal molecular mechanisms. We found that PDs may treat HCC through multiple signaling pathways and related targets. PDs could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HCC while promoting apoptosis and inducing differentiation. In conclusion, this review and network pharmacological analysis might offer a direction for in-depth research on related mechanisms. These insights will aid in the direction of further pharmacological studies and the development of safe and effective clinical drugs.

Adhesive ginsenoside compound K patches for cartilage tissue regeneration

Biomaterial-based drug delivery systems have been developed to expedite cartilage regeneration; however, challenges related to drug recovery, validation, and efficient drug delivery remain. For instance, compound K (CK) is a major metabolite of ginsenosides that is known to protect against joint degeneration by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of immune cells. However, its effects on cartilage degradation and tissue regeneration remain unclear. Additionally, tissue-adhesive drug delivery depots that stably adhere to cartilage defects are required for CK delivery. In this study, CK-loaded adhesive patches were reported to seal cartilage defects and deliver CK to defect sites, preventing cartilage degradation and accelerating cartilage tissue regeneration. Adhesive patches are stable and suitable for application in surgical procedures under physiological conditions and show excellent adhesiveness to cartilage surfaces. In addition, there were no significant differences in the adhesive polymeric networks before and after CK loading. CK-loaded hydrocaffeic acid-conjugated chitosan patches significantly inhibited the stimulation of cartilage-degrading enzymes and apoptosis in osteoarthritic cartilage by releasing CK in cartilage defects. Additionally, the NFkB signaling pathway of released CK from the adhesive patches in the treatment of osteoarthritis is revealed. Thus, the CK-loaded adhesive patches are expected to significantly contribute to cartilage regeneration.

Compound K Production: Achievements and Perspectives

Compound K (CK) is one of the major metabolites found in mammalian blood and organs following oral administration of Panax plants. CK, also known as minor ginsenoside, can be absorbed in the systemic circulation. It has garnered significant attention in healthcare and medical products due to its pharmacological activities, such as antioxidation, anticancer, antiproliferation, antidiabetics, neuroprotection, and anti-atherogenic activities. However, CK is not found in natural ginseng plants but in traditional chemical synthesis, which uses toxic solvents and leads to environmental pollution during the harvest process. Moreover, enzymatic reactions are impractical for industrial CK production due to low yield and high costs. Although CK could be generated from major ginsenosides, most ginsenosides, including protopanaxatriol-oleanane and ocotillol-type, are not converted into CK by catalyzing β-glucosidase. Therefore, microbial cell systems have been used as a promising solution, providing a safe and efficient approach to CK production. This review provides a summary of various approaches for the production of CK, including chemical and enzymatic reactions, biotransformation by the human intestinal bacteria and endophytes as well as engineered microbes. Moreover, the approaches for CK production have been discussed to improve the productivity of target compounds.

Hyptis obtusiflora C. Presl ex Benth Methanolic Extract Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Gastritis Activities via Suppressing AKT/NF-κB Pathway

Inflammation is an indispensable part of the human body's self-defense mechanism against external stimuli. The interactions between Toll-like receptors and microbial components trigger the innate immune system via NF-κB signaling, which regulates the overall cell signaling including inflammatory responses and immune modulations. The anti-inflammatory effects of Hyptis obtusiflora C. Presl ex Benth, which has been used as a home remedy for gastrointestinal disorders and skin disease in rural areas of Latin America, have not yet been studied. Here, we investigate the medicinal properties of Hyptis obtusiflora C. Presl ex Benth methanol extract (Ho-ME) for inflammatory response suppression. Nitric oxide secretion in RAW264.7 cells triggered by TLR2, 3, or 4 agonists was reduced by Ho-ME. Reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and interleukin (IL)-1b mRNA expression was observed. Decreased transcriptional activity in TRIF- and MyD88-overexpressing HEK293T cells was detected with a luciferase assay. Additionally, serially downregulated phosphorylation of kinase in the NF-κB pathway by Ho-ME was discovered in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 cells. Together with the overexpression of its constructs, AKT was identified as a target protein of Ho-ME, and its binding domains were reaffirmed. Moreover, Ho-ME exerted gastroprotective effects in an acute gastritis mouse model generated by the administration of HCl and EtOH. In conclusion, Ho-ME downregulates inflammation via AKT targeting in the NF-κB pathway, and the combined results support Hyptis obtusiflora as a new candidate anti-inflammatory drug.

Compound K: A systematic review of its anticancer properties and probable mechanisms

Panax ginseng is a common natural product, which is well-known to have a wide range of pharmacological activities in cancer. Its metabolite, compound K (CK), has been reported to have anticancer activity. We aimed to systematically review the literature for evidence of anticancer effects of CK. We conducted a systematic search in eight databases. We included all in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the anticancer effects of CK with no restrictions. Quality assessment was applied by ToxRTool. Fifty-four articles were included in our study. The purity of CK in our included studies was at least 95%. The in vitro studies reported that CK had a potential anticancer activity on several cell lines including human lung cancer cell lines (A549, PC-9), nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (Hk-1), liver cancer cell line (BEL 7402), and pediatric acute myeloid leukemia cell lines (Kasumi-1, MV4-11). The in vivo studies reported a significant decrease in tumor volume in mice treated with CK. CK is a potential supplementary treatment in cancer chemotherapies. The safety and further clinical trials of CK should be explored for future drug development.

The relationship of skin disorders, COVID-19, and the therapeutic potential of ginseng: a review

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made significant impacts on global public health, including the development of several skin diseases that have arisen primarily as a result of the pandemic. Owing to the widespread expansion of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), the development of effective treatments for these skin diseases is drawing attention as an important social issue. For many centuries, ginseng and its major active ingredients, ginsenosides and saponins, have been widely regarded as herbal medicines. Further, the anti-viral action of ginseng suggests its potential effectiveness as a therapeutic agent against COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this review was to examine the association of skin lesions with COVID-19 and the effect of ginseng as a therapeutic agent to treat skin diseases induced by COVID-19 infection. We classified COVID-19-related skin disorders into three categories: caused by inflammatory, immune, and complex (both inflammatory and immune) responses and evaluated the evidence for ginseng as a treatment for each category. This review offers comprehensive evidence on the improvement of skin disorders induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection using ginseng and its active constituents.

Research progress of ginseng in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

Cancer has become one of the major causes of human death. Several anticancer drugs are available; howeve their use and efficacy are limited by the toxic side effects and drug resistance caused by their continuous application. Many natural products have antitumor effects with low toxicity and fewer adverse effects. Moreover, they play an important role in enhancing the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, reducing toxic side effects, and reversing chemoresistance. Consequently, natural drugs are being applied as potential therapeutic options in the field of antitumor treatment. As natural medicinal plants, some components of ginseng have been shown to have excellent efficacy and a good safety profile for cancer treatment. The pharmacological activities and possible mechanisms of action of ginseng have been identified. Its broad range of pharmacological activities includes antitumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-stress, anti-fibrotic, central nervous system modulating, cardioprotective, and immune-enhancing effects. Numerous studies have also shown that throuth multiple pathways, ginseng and its active ingredients exert antitumor effects on gastrointestinal (GI) tract tumors, such as esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers. Herein, we introduced the main components of ginseng, including ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and sterols, etc., and reviewed the mechanism of action and research progress of ginseng in the treatment of various GI tumors. Futhermore, the pathways of action of the main components of ginseng are discussed in depth to promote the clinical development and application of ginseng in the field of anti-GI tumors.

E3 ubiquitin ligase Trim33 ubiquitylates Annexin A2 to promote NF-κB induced skin inflammation in psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Tripartite motif-containing protein 33, a member of the TRIM E3 ligase family, is shown to be involved in tumorigenesis, cell proliferation and inflammation. Alteration of several TRIM family proteins in psoriatic epidermis has been shown to participate in psoriasis pathogenesis. However, little is known about Trim33 expression and its role in psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the expression and biological roles of Trim33 in psoriatic process, with a focus on identifying its novel substrates in psoriatic keratinocytes.

METHODS

Gene expression of Trim33 in biopsies from psoriasis patients compared with healthy volunteers was analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunofluorescence (IF). Identification of Trim33 substrates were performed using immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry. Protein expression and localization were assessed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Expression of cytokines was analysed with qPCR.

RESULTS

qPCR and IF analysis revealed increased expression of Trim33 in psoriatic epidermis. Overexpression of Trim33 promoted the expression of psoriasis-related proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and NLRP3 inflammasome. Intriguingly, Trim33 induced lysine 63 (K63)-linked ubiquitination of Annexin A2 (Anxa2), which promoted its interaction with p50/p65 subunits of NF-κB, favoured the retention of p50/p65 in the nucleus and promoted the expression of inflammation-related NF-κB downstream genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the upregulation of Trim33 in psoriatic epidermis and its pivotal role in promoting the inflammation of keratinocytes by Anxa2/NF-κB pathway. Our findings imply that Trim33 might be further explored as potential target for psoriasis treatment.

Functional Mechanism of Ginsenoside Compound K on Tumor Growth and Metastasis

Ginsenosides, as the most important constituents of ginseng, have been extensively investigated in cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics. Among the ginsenosides, Compound K (CK), a rare protopanaxadiol type of ginsenoside, has been most broadly used for cancer treatment due to its high anticancer bioactivity. However, the functional mechanism of CK in cancer is not well known. This review describes the structure, transformation and pharmacological activity of CK and discusses the functional mechanisms of CK and its metabolites, which regulate signaling pathways related to tumor growth and metastasis. CK inhibits tumor growth by inducing tumor apoptosis and tumor cell differentiation, regulates the tumor microenvironment by suppressing tumor angiogenesis-related proteins, and downregulates the roles of immunosuppressive cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). There is currently much research on the potential development of CK as a new strategy when administered alone or in combination with other compounds.

Anticancer properties and pharmaceutical applications of ginsenoside compound K: A review

Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is the major intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginsenosides that exhibits anticancer potential in various cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. The anticancer types, mechanisms, and effects of CK in the past decade have been summarized in this review. Briefly, CK exerts anticancer effects via multiple molecular mechanisms, including the inhibition of proliferation, invasion, and migration, the induction of apoptosis and autophagy, and anti‐angiogenesis. Some signaling pathways play a significant role in related processes, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JNK/MAPK pathway, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the effects of CK combined with nanocarriers for anticancer efficiency are discussed in this review. Furthermore, we aimed to review the research progress of CK against cancer in the past decade, which might provide theoretical support and effective reference for further research on the medicinal value of small molecules, such as CK.

Anti-Gastritis and Anti-Lung Injury Effects of Pine Tree Ethanol Extract Targeting Both NF-κB and AP-1 Pathways

An ethanol extract (Pd-EE) of Pinus densiflora Siebold and Zucc was derived from the branches of pine trees. According to the Donguibogam, pine resin has the effects of lowering the fever, reducing pain, and killing worms. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Pd-EE has anti-inflammatory effects. During in vitro trials, NO production, as well as changes in the mRNA levels of inflammation-related genes and the phosphorylation levels of related proteins, were confirmed in RAW264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide depending on the presence or absence of Pd-EE treatment. The activities of transcription factors were checked in HEK293T cells transfected with adapter molecules in the inflammatory pathway. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of Pd-EE was also estimated in vivo with acute gastritis and acute lung injury models. LC-MS analysis was conducted to identify the components of Pd-EE. This extract reduced the production of NO and the mRNA expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, protein expression levels of p50 and p65 and phosphorylation levels of FRA1 were decreased. In the luciferase assay, the activities of NF-κB and AP-1 were lowered. In acute gastritis and acute lung injury models, Pd-EE suppressed inflammation, resulting in alleviated damage.

Extracellular vesicles and immunogenic stress in cancer

Tumor progression requires bidirectional cell-to-cell communication within a complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) as carriers have the capacity to shuttle regulatory molecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, between cancer cells and multiple stromal cells, inducing remarkable phenotypic alterations in the TME. Recently proposed the concept “immunogenic stress”, which means in some stressed microenvironment, cancer cells can release EVs containing specific immunoregulatory mediators, depending on the initiating stress-associated pathway, thereby provoking the changes of immune status in the TME. Considerable evidence has revealed that the intracellular mechanisms underlying the response to diverse stresses are mainly autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress reactions and the DNA damage response (DDR). In addition, the activation of immunogenic stress responses endows hosts with immune surveillance capacity; in contrast, several cargoes in EVs under immunogenic stress trigger a passive immune response by mediating the function of immune cells. This review discusses the current understanding of the immunogenic stress pathways in cancer and describes the interrelation between EVs and immunogenic stress to propose potential treatment strategies and biomarkers.

The Anti-Tumor Effect and Underlying Apoptotic Mechanism of Ginsenoside Rk1 and Rg5 in Human Liver Cancer Cells

Ginsenoside Rk1 and Rg5 are minor ginseng saponins that have received more attention recently because of their high oral bioavailability. Each of them can effectively inhibit the survival and proliferation of human liver cancer cells, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that G-Rk1 and G-Rg5 yielded 142 potential targets, and shared 44 putative targets associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Enrichment analysis of the overlapped genes showed that G-Rk1 and G-Rg5 may induce apoptosis of liver cancer cells through inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathways. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to confirm the inhibition of cell viability with G-Rk1 or G-Rg5 in highly metastatic human cancer MHCC-97H cells. We evaluated the apoptosis of MHCC-97H cells by using flow cytometry and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The translocation of Bax/Bak led to the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c and Smac. A sequential activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were observed after that. The levels of anti-apoptotic proteins were decreased after treatment of G-Rk1 or G-Rg5 in MHCC-97H cells. Taken together, G-Rk1 and G-Rg5 promoted the endogenous apoptotic pathway in MHCC-97H cells by targeting and regulating some critical liver cancer related genes that are involved in the signal pathways associated with cell survival and proliferation.

Ginsenoside CK Inhibits Hypoxia-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation through the HIF-1α/NF-κB Feedback Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a kind of malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is crucial for HCC progression and prognosis. Characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, and excessive activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway have been identified as the key inducers of EMT in HCC. In our study, we verified the crosstalk between HIF-1α signaling and NF-κB pathway and their effects on EMT in HCC cells. The results show that CoCl₂-induced hypoxia could promote IκB phosphorylation to activate NF-κB signaling and vice versa. Moreover, we found that ginsenoside CK, a metabolite of protopanaxadiol saponins, could inhibit the proliferation and colony formation of different HCC cell lines. Furthermore, ginsenoside CK could impair the metastatic potential of HCC cell lines under hypoxic conditions. Mechanistically, ginsenoside CK suppressed HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling and expression level of EMT-related proteins and cytokines in hypoxia-induced or TNFα-stimulated HCC cell lines. An in vivo study revealed that the oral delivery of ginsenoside CK could inhibit the growth of xenograft tumors and block HIF-1α and NF-κB signaling as well as EMT marker expression. Our study suggests that ginsenoside CK is a potential therapy for HCC patients that functions by targeting the HIF-1α/NF-κB crosstalk.

Roles of Annexin A protein family in autophagy regulation and therapy

Annexin A is a kind of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins, which contributes to the formation of the cell membranes and cytoskeleton and played a part as a membrane skeleton to stabilize lipid bilayer. Autophagy is one of the most important programmed cell death mechanisms. And recently some reports suggest that annexin A family protein is associated with autophagy for annexin A can regulate the formation of vesicular lipid membranes and promote cell exocytosis. In this review, we summarized the roles of annexin A protein family in autophagy regulation and targeted medical treatment for better diagnoses and therapies.

Ginsenoside Compound K: Insights into Recent Studies on Pharmacokinetics and Health-Promoting Activities

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is an herb popular for its medicinal and health properties. Compound K (CK) is a secondary ginsenoside biotransformed from major ginsenosides. Compound K is more bioavailable and soluble than its parent ginsenosides and hence of immense importance. The review summarizes health-promoting in vitro and in vivo studies of CK between 2015 and 2020, including hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, anti-aging/skin protective, and others. Clinical trial data are minimal and are primarily based on CK-rich fermented ginseng. Besides, numerous preclinical and clinical studies indicating the pharmacokinetic behavior of CK, its parent compound (Rb1), and processed ginseng extracts are also summarized. With the limited evidence available from animal and clinical studies, it can be stated that CK is safe and well-tolerated. However, lower water solubility, membrane permeability, and efflux significantly diminish the efficacy of CK and restrict its clinical application. We found that the use of nanocarriers and cyclodextrin for CK delivery could overcome these limitations as well as improve the health benefits associated with them. However, these derivatives have not been clinically evaluated, thus requiring a safety assessment for human therapy application. Future studies should be aimed at investigating clinical evidence of CK.

Annexin A2 promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis via the immune microenvironment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. Annexin A2 (ANXA2), is found to promote cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. However, the underlining mechanisms of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC remain poorly understood up to now. Herein, we summarized the molecular function of ANXA2 in HCC and its relationship with prognosis. Furthermore, we tentatively elucidated the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 immune escape of HCC by upregulating the proportion of regulatory T cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules, and by downregulating the proportion of natural killer cells and dendritic cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules or effector molecules. We expect a lot of in-depth studies to further reveal the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC in the future.

Amino acid sequences characterization and anti-inflammatory potency evaluation of Portulaca oleracea L. oligopeptides in macrophages

The Portulaca oleracea L. oligopeptides are seldom explored because they are often present in a complex matrix. In the current study, eleven novel Portulaca oleracea L. oligopeptides (POPs) were isolated and their mino acid sequence identified. Further, the anti-inflammatory potency was explored in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Results showed that POP-1∼[EHGEYE] possessed excellent anti-inflammatory potency by attenuating the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (TNF-α, NO, IL-1β); inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expressions and regulating the MAPK, PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. This may be an important molecular mechanism of POPs in anti-inflammatory damage.

POP-1 performed excellent anti-inflammatory potency by attenuating the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (TNF-α, NO, IL-1β); inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expressions and regulating the MAPK, PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.