Coptisine-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells (HCT-116) is mediated by PI3K/Akt and mitochondrial-associated apoptotic pathway

Herbal Therapies for Cancer Treatment: A Review of Phytotherapeutic Efficacy

Natural products have proven to be promising anti-cancer agents due to their diverse chemical structures and bioactivity. This review examines their central role in cancer treatment, focusing on their mechanisms of action and therapeutic benefits. Medicinal plants contain bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and polyphenols, which exhibit various anticancer properties. These compounds induce apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, interfere with microtubule formation, act on topoisomerase targets, inhibit angiogenesis, modulate key signaling pathways, improve the tumor microenvironment, reverse drug resistance and activate immune cells. Herbal anti-cancer drugs offer therapeutic advantages, particularly selective toxicity against cancer cells, reducing the adverse side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy. Recent studies and clinical trials highlight the benefits of herbal medicines in alleviating side effects, improving tolerance to chemotherapy and the occurrence of synergistic effects with conventional treatments. For example, the herbal medicine SH003 was found to be safe and potentially effective in the treatment of solid cancers, while Fucoidan showed anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial for patients with advanced cancer. The current research landscape on herbal anticancer agents is extensive. Numerous studies and clinical trials are investigating their efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action in various cancers such as lung, prostate, breast and hepatocellular carcinoma. Promising developments include the polypharmacological approach, combination therapies, immunomodulation and the improvement of quality of life. However, there are still challenges in the development and use of natural products as anti-cancer drugs, such as the need for further research into their mechanisms of action, possible drug interactions and optimal dosage. Standardizing herbal extracts, improving bioavailability and delivery, and overcoming regulatory and acceptance hurdles are critical issues that need to be addressed. Nonetheless, the promising anticancer effects and therapeutic benefits of natural products warrant further investigation and development. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to advance herbal cancer therapy and integrate these agents into mainstream cancer treatment.

Integrated Approaches Revealed the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Zuojin Pill Against Gastric Mucosa Injury in a Rat Model with Chronic Atrophic Gastritis

Background

The Zuojin Pill (ZJP) is widely used for treating chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in clinical practice, effectively ameliorating symptoms such as vomiting, pain, and abdominal distension in patients. However, the underlying mechanisms of ZJP in treating CAG has not been fully elucidated.

Purpose

This study aimed to clarify the characteristic function of ZJP in the treatment of CAG and its potential mechanism.

Methods

The CAG model was established by alternant administrations of ammonia solution and sodium deoxycholate, as well as an irregular diet. Therapeutic effects of ZJP on body weight, serum biochemical indexes and general condition were analyzed. HE staining and AB-PAS staining were analyzed to characterize the mucosal injury and the thickness of gastric mucosa. Furthermore, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict the regulatory mechanism and main active components of ZJP in CAG treatment. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to measure the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, gastric mucosal barrier-associated proteins and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway proteins.

Results

The results demonstrated that ZJP significantly improved the general state of CAG rats, alleviated weight loss and gastric histological damage and reduced the serum biochemical indicators. Network pharmacology and molecular docking found that ZJP in treating CAG by inhibiting inflammation, suppressing apoptosis, and protecting the gastric mucosal barrier via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Further experiments confirmed that ZJP obviously modulated the expression of key proteins involved in gastric mucosal cell apoptosis, such as Bax, Bad, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, Cytochrome C, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xl. Moreover, ZJP significantly reversed the protein expression of Occludin, ZO-1, Claudin-4 and E-cadherin.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that ZJP treats CAG by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This research provided a scientific basis for the rational use of ZJP in clinical practice.

Treatment of colorectal cancer by traditional Chinese medicine: prevention and treatment mechanisms

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden, with high morbidity and mortality rates. It is often diagnosed at middle to advanced stage, affecting approximately 35% of patients at the time of diagnosis. Currently, chemotherapy has been used to improve patient prognosis and increase overall survival. However, chemotherapy can also have cytotoxic effects and lead to adverse reactions, such as inhibiting bone marrow hematopoiesis, causing digestive dysfunction, hand-foot syndrome, and even life-threatening conditions. In response to these adverse effects, researchers have proposed using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an option to treat cancer. TCM research focuses on prescriptions, herbs, and components, which form essential components of the current research in Chinese medicine. The study and implementation of TCM prescriptions and herbs demonstrate its distinctive holistic approach to therapy, characterized by applying multi-component and multi-target treatment. TMC components have advantages in developing new drugs as they consist of single ingredients, require smaller medication dosages, have a precise measure of pharmacodynamic effects, and have a clear mechanism of action compared to TCM prescriptions and herbs. However, further research is still needed to determine whether TMC components can fully substitute the therapeutic efficacy of TCM prescriptions. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the research advancements made in TCM prescriptions, herbs, and components. The findings of this study can serve as a theoretical basis for researchers who are interested in exploring the potential of TCM for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Toxicodynamic of combined mycotoxins: MicroRNAs and acute-phase proteins as diagnostic biomarkers

Mycotoxins, ubiquitous contaminants in food, present a global threat to human health and well-being. Mitigation efforts, such as the implementation of sound agricultural practices, thorough food processing, and the advancement of mycotoxin control technologies, have been instrumental in reducing mycotoxin exposure and associated toxicity. To comprehensively assess mycotoxins and their toxicodynamic implications, the deployment of effective and predictive strategies is imperative. Understanding the manner of action, transformation, and cumulative toxic effects of mycotoxins, moreover, their interactions with food matrices can be gleaned through gene expression and transcriptome analyses at cellular and molecular levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) govern the expression of target genes and enzymes that play pivotal roles in physiological, pathological, and toxicological responses, whereas acute phase proteins (APPs) exert regulatory control over the metabolism of therapeutic agents, both endogenously and posttranscriptionally. Consequently, this review aims to consolidate current knowledge concerning the regulatory role of miRNAs in the initiation of toxicological pathways by mycotoxins and explores the potential of APPs as biomarkers following mycotoxin exposure. The findings of this research highlight the potential utility of miRNAs and APPs as indicators for the detection and management of mycotoxins in food through biological processes. These markers offer promising avenues for enhancing the safety and quality of food products.

Coptisine inhibits neointimal hyperplasia through attenuating Pak1/Pak2 signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells without retardation of re-endothelialization

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Vascular injury-induced endothelium-denudation and profound vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and dis-regulated apoptosis lead to post-angioplasty restenosis. Coptisine (CTS), an isoquinoline alkaloid, has multiple beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Recent studies identified it selectively inhibits VSMCs proliferation. However, its effects on neointimal hyperplasia, re-endothelialization, and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

METHODS

Cell viability was assayed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence of Ki67 and TUNEL. Quantitative phosphoproteomics (QPP) was employed to screen CTS-responsive phosphor-sites in the key regulators of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Neointimal hyperplasia was induced by balloon injury of rat left carotid artery (LCA). Adenoviral gene transfer was conducted in both cultured cells and LCA. Re-endothelialization was evaluated by Evan's blue staining of LCA.

RESULTS

1) CTS had strong anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in cultured rat VSMCs, with the EC50 4∼10-folds lower than that in endothelial cells (ECs). 2) Rats administered with CTS, either locally to LCA's periadventitial space or orally, demonstrated a potently inhibited balloon injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia, but had no delaying effect on re-endothelialization. 3) The QPP results revealed that the phosphorylation levels of Pak1S144/S203, Pak2S20/S197, Erk1T202/Y204, Erk2T185/Y187, and BadS136 were significantly decreased in VSMCs by CTS. 4) Adenoviral expression of phosphomimetic mutants Pak1D144/D203/Pak2D20/D197 enhanced Pak1/2 activities, stimulated the downstream pErk1T202/Y204/pErk2T185/Y187/pErk3S189/pBadS136, attenuated CTS-mediated inhibition of VSMCs proliferation and promotion of apoptosis in vitro, and potentiated neointimal hyperplasia in vivo. 5) Adenoviral expression of phosphoresistant mutants Pak1A144/A203/Pak2A20/A197 inactivated Pak1/2 and totally simulated the inhibitory effects of CTS on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated VSMCs proliferation and PDGF-inhibited apoptosis in vitro and neointimal hyperplasia in vivo. 6) LCA injury significantly enhanced the endogenous phosphorylation levels of all but pBadS136. CTS markedly attenuated all the enhanced levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that CTS is a promising medicine for prevention of post-angioplasty restenosis without adverse impact on re-endothelialization. CTS-directed suppression of pPak1S144/S203/pPak2S20/S197 and the subsequent effects on downstream pErk1T202/Y204/pErk2T185/Y187/pErk3S189 and pBadS136 underline its mechanisms of inhibition of VSMCs proliferation and stimulation of apoptosis. Therefore, the phosphor-sites of Pak1S144/S203/Pak2S20/S197 constitute a potential drug-screening target for fighting neointimal hyperplasia restenosis.

New Insights into Mechanisms Traditional Chinese Medicine for Allergic Rhinitis by Regulating Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Pathways

Allergy rhinitis (AR) is becoming more common and has serious medical and societal consequences. Sneezing, paroxysmal nasal blockage, nasal itching, mucosal edema, coughing, and rhinorrhea are symptoms of this type I allergic immunological illness. Immunoglobulin E-mediated inflammation is the cause of it. Because AR is prone to recurrent attacks, extended medication therapy may impair its effectiveness. In addition to negatively affecting the patients' physical health, this can also negatively impact their mental health. During AR development, there are inflammatory and oxidative stress responses that are linked to problems in a number of signal transduction pathways. By using the terms "allergic rhinitis", "traditional Chinese medicine", "inflammation", and "oxidative stress", we screened for pertinent research published over the previous five years in databases like PubMed. We saw that NF-KB, TLR, IL-33/ST2, PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Nrf2 are some of the most important inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in AR. Studies have revealed that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy reduced the risk of AR and was therapeutic; however, the impact of the therapy varies widely. The Chinese medical system places a high value on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been there for virtually all of China's 5000-year history. By influencing signaling pathways related to inflammation and oxidative stress, Chinese herbal medicine and its constituent compounds have been shown to prevent allergic rhinitis. This review will focus on this evidence and provide references for clinical treatment and scientific research applications.

Exploring the pharmacological mechanisms and key active ingredients of total flavonoids from Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo against rheumatoid arthritis based on multi-technology integrated network pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo (LR, Lamiaceae) is a traditional Tibetan medicinal material in China. Tibetan medicine classic and research report suggested that LR could be used to cure rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the anti-RA active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of LR have not been elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the mechanisms and key active ingredients of total flavonoids from LR (TFLR) against RA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, the mechanisms of TFLR against RA were investigated on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model by analyzing paw appearance, paw swelling, arthritis score, spleen index, thymus index, inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17) levels in serum, histopathology of ankle joint and synovium from knee joint (hematoxylin-eosin, safranin O-fast green and DAB-TUNEL staining), and apoptosis-related protein (PI3K, Akt1, p-Akt, Bad, p-Bad, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2) levels in the synovium of ankle joints (Western blot). Then, the crucially active ingredients of TFLR against RA were explored by network pharmacology, ingredient analysis, in vitro metabolism and TNF-α-induced human RA synovial fibroblast MH7A proliferation assays. Network pharmacology was applied to predict the key active ingredients of TFLR against RA. The ingredient analysis and in vitro metabolism of TFLR were performed on HPLC, and MH7A proliferation assay were applied to evaluate the predicted results of network pharmacology.

RESULTS

TFLR shown excellently anti-RA effect by reducing paw swelling, arthritis score, spleen index, thymus index and inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17) levels, and improving the histopathological changes of ankle joint and synovium from knee joint in CIA rats. Results of Western blot indicated that TFLR reversed the changes of PI3K, p-Akt, p-Bad, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 levels in the ankle joint synovium of CIA rats. Results of network pharmacology exhibited that luteolin was identified as the pivotal active ingredient of TFLR against RA. The ingredient analysis of TFLR indicated that the main ingredient in TFLR was luteoloside. The in vitro metabolism study of TFLR suggested that luteoloside could be converted to luteolin in artificial gastric juice and intestinal juice. Results of MH7A proliferation assay showed that there was no significant difference between TFLR and equal luteoloside on the viability of MH7A cells, indicating that luteoloside was the key active ingredient of TFLR against RA. Additionally, the luteolin (same mol as luteoloside) showed better inhibitory effect on the viability of MH7A cells than luteoloside.

CONCLUSION

TFLR showed anti-RA effect, and the mechanism was related to promoting synovial cell apoptosis mediated by PI3K/Akt/Bad pathway. Meanwhile, this work indicated that luteoloside was the key active ingredient of TFLR against RA. This work lays a foundation for providing TFLR product with clear mechanism and stable quality to treat RA.

Lappaconitine sulfate inhibits proliferation and induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis via regulating PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway in HeLa cells

Lappaconitine (LA), a diterpenoid alkaloid extracted from the root of Aconitum sinomontanum Nakai, exhibits broad pharmacological effects, including anti-tumor activity. The inhibitory effect of lappaconitine hydrochloride (LH) on HepG2 and HCT-116 cells and the toxicity of lappaconitine sulfate (LS) on HT-29, A549, and HepG2 cells have been described. But the mechanisms of LA against human cervical cancer HeLa cells still need to be clarified. This study was designed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of lappaconitine sulfate (LS) on the growth inhibition and apoptosis in HeLa cells. The cell viability and proliferation were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, respectively. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry analysis and 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined through the 5, 5', 6, 6'-tetrachloro-1, 1', 3, 3'-tetraethylbenzimi-dazolyl carbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining. The cell cycle arrest-, apoptosis-, and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase 3β (PI3K/AKT/GSK3β) pathway-related proteins were estimated by western blot analysis. LS markedly reduced the viability and suppressed the proliferation of HeLa cells. LS induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest through the inhibition of Cyclin D1, p-Rb, and induction of p21 and p53. Furthermore, LS triggered apoptosis through the activation of mitochondrial-mediated pathway based on decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio and MMP and activation of caspase-9/7/3. Additionally, LS led to constitutive downregulation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway. Collectively, LS inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through mitochondrial-mediated pathway by suppression of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway in HeLa cells.

Coptisine, the Characteristic Constituent from Coptis chinensis, Exhibits Significant Therapeutic Potential in Treating Cancers, Metabolic and Inflammatory Diseases

Naturally derived alkaloids belong to a class of quite significant organic compounds. Coptisine, a benzyl tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, is one of the major bioactive constituents in Coptis chinensis Franch., which is a famous traditional Chinese medicine. C. chinensis possesses many kinds of functions, including the ability to eliminate heat, expel dampness, purge fire, and remove noxious substances. In Asian countries, C. chinensis is traditionally employed to treat carbuncle and furuncle, diabetes, jaundice, stomach and intestinal disorders, red eyes, toothache, and skin disorders. Up to now, there has been plenty of research of coptisine with respect to its pharmacology. Nevertheless, a comprehensive review of coptisine-associated research is urgently needed. This paper was designed to summarize in detail the progress in the research of the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and formulation of coptisine. The related studies included in this paper were retrieved from the following academic databases: The Web of Science, PubMed, Google scholar, Elsevier, and CNKI. The cutoff date was January 2023. Coptisine manifests various pharmacological actions, including anticancer, antimetabolic disease, anti-inflammatory disease, and antigastrointestinal disease effects, among others. Based on its pharmacokinetics, the primary metabolic site of coptisine is the liver. Coptisine is poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal system, and most of it is expelled in the form of its prototype through feces. Regarding safety, coptisine displayed potential hepatotoxicity. Some novel formulations, including the [Formula: see text]-cyclodextrin-based inclusion complex and nanocarriers, could effectively enhance the bioavailability of coptisine. The traditional use of C. chinensis is closely connected with the pharmacological actions of coptisine. Although there are some disadvantages, including poor solubility, low bioavailability, and possible hepatotoxicity, coptisine is still a prospective naturally derived drug candidate, especially in the treatment of tumors as well as metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Further investigation of coptisine is necessary to facilitate the application of coptisine-based drugs in clinical practice.

The composition, pharmacological effects, related mechanisms and drug delivery of alkaloids from Corydalis yanhusuo

Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang, also known as yanhusuo, yuanhu, yanhu and xuanhu, is one of the herb components of many Chinese Traditional Medicine prescriptions such as Jin Ling Zi San and Yuanhu-Zhitong priscription. C. yanhusuo was traditionally used to relieve pain and motivate blood and Qi circulation. Now there has been growing interest in pharmacological effects of alkaloids, the main bioactive components of C. yanhusuo. Eighty-four alkaloids isolated from C. yanhusuo are its important bioactive components and can be characterized into protoberberine alkaloids, aporphine alkaloids, opiate alkaloids and others and proper extraction or co-administration methods modulate their contents and efficacy. Alkaloids from C. yanhusuo have various pharmacological effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, cancer and others through multiple molecular mechanisms such as modulating neurotransmitters, ion channels, gut microbiota, HPA axis and signaling pathways and are potential treatments for many diseases. Plenty of novel drug delivery methods such as autologous red blood cells, self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems, nanoparticles and others have also been investigated to better exert the effects of alkaloids from C. yanhusuo. This review summarized the alkaloid components of C. yanhusuo, their pharmacological effects and mechanisms, and methods of drug delivery to lay a foundation for future investigations.

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

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

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Cerebrospinal Fluid Metabolomics to Reveal the Protection of Coptisine against Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Anti-Inflammation and Antioxidant

Coptisine (Cop) exerts a neuroprotective effect on central nervous system disease, particularly ischemic stroke. However, its protective mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Cop on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) rats with a middle cerebral artery occlusion model by integrating a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabolomics approach with biochemical assessment. Our results showed that Cop could improve neurobehavioral function and decrease the ischemia size in IR rats. In addition, Cop was found to decrease inflammatory mediators (e.g., prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and attenuate oxidative stress response (e.g., increase the superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression and decrease 8-iso-PGF2α level). Furthermore, the GC-MS-based cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolomics analysis indicated that Cop influenced the level of glycine, 2,3,4-trihydroxybutyric acid, oleic acid, glycerol, and ribose during IR injury. Cop exhibited a good neuroprotective effect against cerebral IR injury and metabolic alterations, which might be mediated through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

S. M, Birudala G, Jamous YF, Alshargi O, Kotha KK, Sudhan HH, Mani RR, Muthumanickam A, Niranjan D, Jain NK, Agrawal A, Jadon AS, Mayasa V, Jha NK, Kolesarova A, Slama P, Roychoudhury S. Reactive oxygen species mediated apoptotic death of colon cancer cells: therapeutic potential of plant derived alkaloids

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most deaths causing diseases worldwide. Several risk factors including hormones like insulin and insulin like growth factors (e.g., IGF-1) have been considered responsible for growth and progression of colon cancer. Though there is a huge advancement in the available screening as well as treatment techniques for CRC. There is no significant decrease in the mortality of cancer patients. Moreover, the current treatment approaches for CRC are associated with serious challenges like drug resistance and cancer re-growth. Given the severity of the disease, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic agents with ideal characteristics. Several pieces of evidence suggested that natural products, specifically medicinal plants, and derived phytochemicals may serve as potential sources for novel drug discovery for various diseases including cancer. On the other hand, cancer cells like colon cancer require a high basal level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to maintain its own cellular functions. However, excess production of intracellular ROS leads to cancer cell death via disturbing cellular redox homeostasis. Therefore, medicinal plants and derived phytocompounds that can enhance the intracellular ROS and induce apoptotic cell death in cancer cells via modulating various molecular targets including IGF-1 could be potential therapeutic agents. Alkaloids form a major class of such phytoconstituents that can play a key role in cancer prevention. Moreover, several preclinical and clinical studies have also evidenced that these compounds show potent anti-colon cancer effects and exhibit negligible toxicity towards the normal cells. Hence, the present evidence-based study aimed to provide an update on various alkaloids that have been reported to induce ROS-mediated apoptosis in colon cancer cells via targeting various cellular components including hormones and growth factors, which play a role in metastasis, angiogenesis, proliferation, and invasion. This study also provides an individual account on each such alkaloid that underwent clinical trials either alone or in combination with other clinical drugs. In addition, various classes of phytochemicals that induce ROS-mediated cell death in different kinds of cancers including colon cancer are discussed.

In Silico and In Vitro Identification of P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors from a Library of 375 Phytochemicals

Cancer therapy with clinically established anticancer drugs is frequently hampered by the development of drug resistance of tumors and severe side effects in normal organs and tissues. The demand for powerful, but less toxic, drugs is high. Phytochemicals represent an important reservoir for drug development and frequently exert less toxicity than synthetic drugs. Bioinformatics can accelerate and simplify the highly complex, time-consuming, and expensive drug development process. Here, we analyzed 375 phytochemicals using virtual screenings, molecular docking, and in silico toxicity predictions. Based on these in silico studies, six candidate compounds were further investigated in vitro. Resazurin assays were performed to determine the growth-inhibitory effects towards wild-type CCRF-CEM leukemia cells and their multidrug-resistant, P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-overexpressing subline, CEM/ADR5000. Flow cytometry was used to measure the potential to measure P-gp-mediated doxorubicin transport. Bidwillon A, neobavaisoflavone, coptisine, and z-guggulsterone all showed growth-inhibitory effects and moderate P-gp inhibition, whereas miltirone and chamazulene strongly inhibited tumor cell growth and strongly increased intracellular doxorubicin uptake. Bidwillon A and miltirone were selected for molecular docking to wildtype and mutated P-gp forms in closed and open conformations. The P-gp homology models harbored clinically relevant mutations, i.e., six single missense mutations (F336Y, A718C, Q725A, F728A, M949C, Y953C), three double mutations (Y310A-F728A; F343C-V982C; Y953A-F978A), or one quadruple mutation (Y307C-F728A-Y953A-F978A). The mutants did not show major differences in binding energies compared to wildtypes. Closed P-gp forms generally showed higher binding affinities than open ones. Closed conformations might stabilize the binding, thereby leading to higher binding affinities, while open conformations may favor the release of compounds into the extracellular space. In conclusion, this study described the capability of selected phytochemicals to overcome multidrug resistance.

Nanocarriers for Active Ingredients of Chinese Medicine (AIFCM) Used in Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapy

Active ingredients of Chinese medicine (AIFCM) are pharmacological substances taken from traditional Chinese medicine that show promise in treating gastrointestinal cancer. Compared with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, AIFCM have advantages such as multi-target and multi-level treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Nanocarriers have the following advantages, better bioavailability, passive or active targeting of tumor sites and responsive release of drugs. The use of nanocarriers for delivery of AIFCM in treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, can overcome the disadvantages of some AIFCM, such as insolubility and low bioavailability. In this review, we first outline the background on gastrointestinal cancer, main curative factors and conventional therapeutic approaches. Then, the mechanisms for AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer therapy are presented in the following four aspects: gene regulation, immune modulation, cellular pathway transduction, and alteration of intestinal flora. Thirdly, preparation of various nanocarriers and results when combining AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer are presented. Fourth, application of novel targeted nanocarriers and responsive nanocarriers in gastrointestinal tumors is further introduced. Finally, the application of AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer is summarized and prospected, hoping to shed some light on the nanocarrier-bound AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.

Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Coptis chinensis Franch: Focus on Coptisine as a Potential Therapeutic Candidate against Gastric Cancer Cells

Gastric cancer (GC) has high incidence rates and constitutes a common cause of cancer mortality. Despite advances in treatment, GC remains a challenge in cancer therapy which is why novel treatment strategies are needed. The interest in natural compounds has increased significantly in recent years because of their numerous biological activities, including anti-cancer action. The isolation of the bioactive compounds from Coptis chinensis Franch was carried out with the Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) technique, using a biphasic solvent system composed of chloroform (CHCl₃)—methanol (MeOH)—water (H₂O) (4:3:3, v/v) with an addition of hydrochloric acid and trietylamine. The identity of the isolated alkaloids was confirmed using a high resolution HPLC-MS chromatograph. The phytochemical constituents of Coptis chinensis such as berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine and coptisine significantly inhibited the viability and growth of gastric cancer cell lines ACC-201 and NCI-N87 in a dose-dependent manner, with coptisine showing the highest efficacy as revealed using MTT and BrdU assays, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed the coptisine-induced population of gastric cancer cells in sub-G1 phase and apoptosis. The combination of coptisine with cisplatin at the fixed-ratio of 1:1 exerted synergistic and additive interactions in ACC-201 and NCI-N87, respectively, as determined by means of isobolographic analysis. In in vivo assay, coptisine was safe for developing zebrafish at the dose equivalent to the highest dose active in vitro, but higher doses (greater than 10 times) caused morphological abnormalities in larvae. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation to further studies on more detailed mechanisms of the bioactive compounds from Coptis chinensis Franch anti-cancer action that inhibit GC cell survival in in vitro settings.

Total flavonoids from the dried root of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg inhibit colorectal cancer growth through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

The dried root of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg is used as a traditional Chinese medicine in southern China, as a folk remedy for carcinomas and gastrointestinal diseases. The total flavonoids of T. hemsleyanum (THTF) provide its main bioactive constituents. However, the mechanisms underlying its potential activity on colorectal cancer are still unknown. Here, we investigated the antitumor effect of THTF on colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. It was found that THTF inhibited HCT-116 and HT-29 cell growth, with an IC₅₀ of 105.60 and 140.80 μg/mL, respectively. THTF suppressed clonogenicity and promoted apoptosis in HCT-116. In vivo, THTF (120 mg/kg) delayed tumor growth in HCT-116 xenografts without influencing on body weight, organ pathology and indexes, and blood routine level. Mechanistically, THTF inhibited the expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR at the protein level and transcriptional levels. Molecular docking indicated eight compounds in THTF (kaempferol 3-rutinoside, rutinum, isoquercitrin, L-epicatechin, quercetin, astragalin, kaempferol 3-sambubioside, and catechin) strongly bound with amino acid sites of PI3K and mTOR proteins, indicating a high affinity. The results suggest that THTF delayed colorectal tumor growth by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and might be a potential candidate for colorectal cancer prevention.

Coptidis Rhizoma Suppresses Metastatic Behavior by Inhibiting TGF-β-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in 5-FU-Resistant HCT116 Cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most lethal malignancy worldwide. The high mortality rate of CRC is largely due to cancer metastasis. Recently, suppressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been considered a promising strategy for treating metastatic cancer, especially drug-resistant metastatic cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimetastatic effect of Coptidis Rhizoma, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms, using a 5-fluorouracil-resistant colon tumor cell model (HCT116/R). Coptidis Rhizoma 30% ethanol extract (CRE) significantly inhibited HCT116/R cells migration and invasion. CRE effectively inhibited EMT in HCT116/R cells by upregulating the expression of an epithelial marker (E-cadherin) and downregulating the expression of mesenchymal markers (vimentin, Snail, and ZEB2) at both the protein and gene levels. Immunofluorescence assays also confirmed consistent patterns in the levels of E-cadherin and vimentin. In addition, the anti-EMT activity of CRE and its related effects were associated with the CRE-mediated suppression of the TGF-β pathway, as shown by changes in the levels of downstream molecules (phosphorylated Akt and p38), and inhibition of migration, invasion, and protein expression of TGF-β after treatment/cotreatment with a TGF-β inhibitor (SB431542). In conclusion, Coptidis Rhizoma exerts an antimetastatic effect, especially in the treatment of drug-resistant cancer, and the possible mechanisms are associated with inhibiting EMT via TGF-β signaling. Thus, Coptidis Rhizoma will likely become a potential therapeutic candidate for simultaneously mitigating drug resistance and metastasis in CRC.

Bioactive components of Banxia Xiexin Decoction for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases based on flavor-oriented analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) was first recorded in a Chinese medical classic, Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases, which was written in the Eastern Han dynasty of China. This ancient prescription consists of seven kinds of Chinese herbal medicine, namely, Pinellia ternata, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix scutellariae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Ginseng, Jujube, and Radix Glycyrrhizaepreparata. In clinic practice, its original application in China mainly has focused on the treatment of chronic gastritis for several hundred years. BXD is also effective in treating other gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs) in modern medical application. Despite available literature support and clinical experience, the treatment mechanisms or their relationships with the bioactive compounds in BXD responsible for its pharmacological actions, still need further explorations in more diversified channels. According to the analysis based on the five-flavor theory of TCM, BXD is traditionally viewed as the most representative prescription for pungent-dispersion, bitter-purgation and sweet-tonification. Consequently, based on the flavor-oriented analysis, the compositive herbs in BXD can be divided into three flavor groups, namely, the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups, each of which has specific active ingredients that are possibly relevant to GID treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper summarized recent literatures on BXD and its bioactive components used in GID treatment, and provided the pharmacological or chemical basis for the further exploration of the ancient prescription and the relative components.

METHOD

ology: Relevant literature was collected from various electronic databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Citations were based on peer-reviewed articles published in English or Chinese during the last decade.

RESULTS

Multiple components were found in the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups in BXD. The corresponding bioactive components include gingerol, shogaol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in the pungent group; berberine, palmatine, coptisine, baicalein, and baicalin in the bitter group; and ginsenosides, polysaccharides, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid in the sweet group. These components have been found directly or indirectly responsible for the remarkable effects of BXD on GID.

CONCLUSION

This review provided some valuable reference to further clarify BXD treatment for GID and their possible material basis, based on the perspective of the flavor-oriented analysis.

Purified PTEN-Long Induces Liver Cancer Cells to Undergo Autophagy and Apoptosis

Background

PTEN-Long is a translational variant of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN). This tumor suppressor is frequently lost or mutated and even it has been shown as the determinant in several human tumors. Therefore, we will determine the significant roles of PTEN-Long in the development of liver cancer.

Methods

In the present study, we characterized the antitumor effects of PTEN-Long and PTEN in proliferation, migration of HepG2 cells, apoptosis and autophagy in liver cancer cells. To extends, we have also measured the effects of purified PTEN and PTEN-Long in the above index of HepG2 cells.

Results

PTEN and PTEN-Long were ectopic-expressed in HepG2 cells, and their phenotypic effects were recorded. As expected, there was less expression of PTEN-Long and PTEN in liver cancer samples than in paired normal tissues. Ectopic expression of PTEN-Long or PTEN significantly decreased the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells and increased apoptosis. PTEN ectopic-expression increased the number of GFP-/RFP+-LC3 puncta and levels of beclin-1 and LC3BII/LC3BI, suggesting autophagy induction. Purified PTEN-Long freely entered cells, decreased proliferation, and increased autophagy and apoptosis, while purified PTEN did not.

Conclusions

Our results identify an antitumor function of purified PTEN-Long and suggest its potential utility for liver cancer treatment.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in Breast Cancer Treatment: A Review of Its Phytochemistry, Derivatives, Nanoparticles, and Potential Mechanisms

Breast cancer is one of the most deadly malignancies in women worldwide. Salvia miltiorrhiza, a perennial plant that belongs to the genus Salvia, has long been used in the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The main anti-breast cancer constituents in S. miltiorrhiza are liposoluble tanshinones including dihydrotanshinone I, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and cryptotanshinone, and water-soluble phenolic acids represented by salvianolic acid A, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid C, and rosmarinic acid. These active components have potent efficacy on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms mainly include induction of apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle arrest, anti-metastasis, formation of cancer stem cells, and potentiation of antitumor immunity. This review summarized the main bioactive constituents of S. miltiorrhiza and their derivatives or nanoparticles that possess anti-breast cancer activity. Besides, the synergistic combination with other drugs and the underlying molecular mechanisms were also summarized to provide a reference for future research on S. miltiorrhiza for breast cancer treatment.

Evidence for Anticancer Effects of Chinese Medicine Monomers on Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers worldwide. Although clinical reports have indicated the anticancer effects of Chinese herbal medicine, the multiple underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms of action remain to be fully characterized. Chinese medicine (CM) monomers, which are the active components of CM, serve as the material basis of the functional mechanisms of CM. The aim of this review is to summarize the current experimental evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies for the effects of CM monomers in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment, providing some useful references for future research.

Current Advances in Coptidis Rhizoma for Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers

Cancer is a serious disease with an increasing number of reported cases and high mortality worldwide. Gastrointestinal cancer defines a group of cancers in the digestive system, e.g., liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer. Coptidis Rhizoma (C. Rhizoma; Huanglian, in Chinese) is a classical Chinese medicinal botanical drug for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and has been shown to have a wide variety of pharmacological activity, including antifungal, antivirus, anticancer, antidiabetic, hypoglycemic, and cardioprotective effects. Recent studies on C. Rhizoma present significant progress on its anticancer effects and the corresponding mechanisms as well as its clinical applications. Herein, keywords related to C. Rhizoma, cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and omics were searched in PubMed and the Web of Science databases, and more than three hundred recent publications were reviewed and discussed. C. Rhizoma extract along with its main components, berberine, palmatine, coptisine, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine, epiberberine, oxyepiberberine, oxyberberine, dihydroberberine, columbamine, limonin, and derivatives, are reviewed. We describe novel and classic anticancer mechanisms from various perspectives of pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and pharmaceutics. Researchers have transformed the chemical structures and drug delivery systems of these components to obtain better efficacy and bioavailability of C. Rhizoma. Furthermore, C. Rhizoma in combination with other drugs and their clinical application are also summarized. Taken together, C. Rhizoma has broad prospects as a potential adjuvant candidate against cancers, making it reasonable to conduct additional preclinical studies and clinical trials in gastrointestinal cancer in the future.

Alkaloids exhibit a meaningful function as anticancer agents by restraining cellular signaling pathways

Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing organic compounds widely found in natural products, which play an essential role in clinical treatment. Cellular signaling pathways in tumors are a series of enzymatic reaction pathways that convert extracellular signals into intracellular signals to produce biological effects. The ordered function of cell signaling pathways is essential for tumor cell proliferation, differentiation, and programmed death. This review describes the antitumor progression mediated by various alkaloids after inhibiting classical signaling pathways; related studies are systematically retrieved and collected through PubMed. We selected the four currently most popular pathways for discussion and introduced the molecular mechanisms mediated by alkaloids in different signaling pathways, including the NF-kB signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and P53 signaling pathway. The research progress of alkaloids related to tumor signal transduction pathways and the realization of alkaloids as cancer prevention drugs by targeting signal pathways remains.

Astilbin ameliorates oxidative stress and apoptosis in D-galactose-induced senescence by regulating the PI3K/Akt/m-TOR signaling pathway in the brains of mice

An increasing amount of evidence has shown that injection of D-galactose (D-gal) can mimic natural aging that typically is associated with brain injury. Oxidative stress and apoptosis has been shown to play an essential role in aging process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effectsof astilbin (ASB) on D-Gal-induced agingin miceand to further explore the underlying mechanisms. We randomly divided 50 mice into 5 groups.To establish this model of aging, 40micewere intraperitoneally administered D-Gal (500 mg/kg). The mice in the treatmentgroupswere intragastricaly administratedASB at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg. H&E and TUNEL staining were used to determine the effect of ASB on the number of apoptotic cells in the brain. Furthermore, biochemical indices of serum, oxidative stress factors, and apoptosis factors were determined to clarify the underlying mechanism using reagent test kits and western blotting. The results showed that varying doses of ASB could improve D-Gal-induced histopathological damageand significantly alleviatedthe aging induced by D-Galin mice. ASB remarkably decreased the activities of malondialdehyde (MDA)(p < 0.01)and Acetyl cholinesterase (AChE)(p < 0.05) and markedlyincreased the content of catalase (CAT)(p < 0.01)and superoxide dismutase (SOD)(p < 0.01), respectively. In addition, Western blotting revealed thatASB treatment (40 mg/kg)attenuated the D-gal-induced Bax and Caspase 3 protein expression(p < 0.01) and reversed the increase in Bcl-2protein expressionin brain. Moreover, ASB treatment significantly upregulated the protein expression ofp-PI3K/PI3K and altered the p-Akt/Akt ratio (p < 0.05), while inhibiting the expression of p-m-TOR relative to m-TOR(p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of P53 tended to decreasein the low ASB treatmentgroup (40 mg/kg), whereas no change was observed in the high ASB treatmentgroup (80 mg/kg). In the intestinal flora, the richness of the normal group and the ASB group was higher than that of the D-Gal group. Heat map analysis also showed that ASB promoted Lactobacillus and other probiotics and also confirmed the advantages of ASB. The observed changes in intestinal flora further verified the efficacy of ASB.

Natural substances derived from herbs or plants are promising sources of anticancer agents against colorectal cancer via triggering apoptosis

OBJECTIVES

Nowadays, one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers is colorectal cancer (CRC). Chemotherapy is still one of the main methods to treat cancer. However, the currently available synthetic chemotherapy drugs often cause serious adverse reactions. Apoptosis is generally considered as an ideal way for induction the death of tumour cells without the body's inflammatory response, and it is reported that lots of natural agents could trigger various cancer cells to apoptosis. The overarching aim of this project was to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which natural substances induce apoptosis in CRC cells and to be used as an alternative therapeutic option in the future.

KEY FINDINGS

The mechanisms for the pro-apoptotic effects of natural substances derived from herbs or plants include death receptor pathway, mitochondrial pathway, endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway, related signal transduction pathways (PI3K/Akt, MAPK, p53 signalling), and so on.

SUMMARY

This paper updated this information regarding the anti-tumour effects of natural agents via induction of apoptosis against CRC, which would be beneficial for future new drug research regarding natural products from herbs or plants.

Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. Alkaloids on PC12 Cell Damage Induced by Aβ 25-35

BACKGROUND

Aβ deposition abnormally in the mitochondria can damage the mitochondrial respiratory chain and activate the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway, resulting in AD-like symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the protective effects of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLA) on Aβ 25-35-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells explore its possible protective mechanisms.

METHODS

PC12 cells were treated with DNLA with different concentrations (0.035 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L, and 3.5 mg/L) for 6 h, followed by administration with Aβ 25-35 (10 μM) for 24 h. MTT assay and flow cytometer observe the effect of DNLA on Aβ 25-35-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of PC12 cell. Based on the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway to study the antiapoptotic effect of DNLA on this model and its relationship with oxidative stress, flow cytometer detected the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ELISA kits were used to detect superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) content in cells. The JC-1 fluorescent staining observed the effect of DNLA on the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) with inverted immunofluorescence microscopy. Western blot was used to detect the levels of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway-related protein and its major downstream proteins Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase-9, and cleaved-caspase-3.

RESULTS

DNLA can significantly improve the viability and apoptosis rate of PC12 cell damage induced by Aβ 25-35. It also can restore the reduced intracellular ROS content and MMP, while SOD activity and GSH content increase significantly. The expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, cleaved-caspase-9, and cleaved-caspase-3 decreased when the Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly increased.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that it can significantly inhibit the apoptosis of PC12 cell damage induced by Aβ 25-35. The mechanism may reduce the level of cellular oxidative stress and thus inhibit the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway.

CK-3, A Novel Methsulfonyl Pyridine Derivative, Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Proliferation and Invasion by Blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK Pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis that highly expresses phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK). The PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways play a crucial role in HCC tumor formation, cell cycle, apoptosis and survival. However, no effective targeted therapies against these pathways is available, mainly due to the extensive and complex negative feedback loops between them. Here we used CK-3, a dual blocker of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways, against HCC cell lines to verify its anti-tumor activity in vitro. CK-3 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HCC, as demonstrated with MTT and colony formation assays. The anti-metastatic potential of CK-3 was demonstrated with wound healing and cell invasion assays. The ability of CK-3 to block both the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways was also confirmed. CK-3 induced the apoptosis of Hep3B cells, while Bel7402 cells died via mitotic catastrophe (MC). Oral administration of CK-3 also inhibited the subcutaneous growth of BEL7402 cells in nude mice. Simultaneous PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathway inhibition with CK-3 may be superior to single pathway monotherapies by inhibiting their feedback-regulation, and represents a potential treatment for HCC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery

As an important part of complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied to treat a host of diseases for centuries. Over the years, with the incidence rate of human colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing continuously and the advantage of TCM gradually becoming more prominent, the importance of TCM in both domestic and international fields is also growing with each passing day. However, the unknowability of active ingredients, effective substances, and the underlying mechanisms of TCM against this malignant tumor greatly restricts the translation degree of clinical products and the pace of precision medicine. In this review, based on the characteristics of TCM and the oral administration of most ingredients, we herein provide beneficial information for the clinical utilization of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CRC and retrospect the current preclinical studies on the related active ingredients, as well as put forward the research mode for the discovery of active ingredients and effective substances in TCM, to provide novel insights into the research and development of innovative agents from this conventional medicine for CRC treatment and assist the realization of precision medicine.

Research for Expression and Prognostic Value of GABRD in Colon Cancer and Coexpressed Gene Network Construction Based on Data Mining

Colon cancer is one of the top five cancers with the highest incidence rate in the world. In order to better understand the pathogenesis and progression of colon cancer, it is still necessary to investigate the abnormally expressed genes in cancer tissue. In this study, the Oncomine database was used for expression analysis, and it was found that the expression level of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit delta (GABRD) gene was upregulated in colon cancer tissue compared with that in normal tissue. UALCAN was used to analyze the expression of GABRD in different groups of age, gender, cancer stage, N stage, and histological subtype. Then, it was also found that the expression of GABRD in each subgroup of colon cancer tissue was all high compared with that in normal tissue. LinkedOmics was used to screen out the differentially expressed genes related to GABRD expression in colon cancer. GO annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses found that the correlated genes may be related to breast cancer, human papillomavirus infection, Notch signaling pathway, and other pathways. Thereafter, GSEA was performed to obtain GABRD-related kinases, miRNAs, and transcription factors, and gene interaction networks were constructed. It was found that GABRD may be involved in cell cycle regulation. Finally, websites like GEPIA were used to detect the predictive ability of GABRD on the prognosis of patients with colon cancer. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that the upregulation of GABRD expression was related to the poor prognosis of patients with colon cancer. Overall, in this study, the potential role and prognostic ability of GABRD in colon cancer were explored through data mining, which can be a clue for further research on GABRD.

Anti-proliferative effects of diterpenoids from Sagittaria trifolia L. tubers on colon cancer cells by targeting the NF-κB pathway

A new labdane-type diterpenoid, ent-19-ol-13-epi-manoyl oxide,19-undecane ester, together with ten known diterpenes, were isolated from the ethanolic crude extract of the fresh tubers of Sagittaria trifolia L. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined by extensive 2-D NMR experiments and by comparison with the data reported in the literature. These compounds showed different inhibitory effects on various human cancer cells. Among these, compound 11 exhibited potential inhibition effects against human colon cancer cells. Moreover, flow cytometry demonstrated that compound 11 arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase and induced cellular apoptosis, accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential reduction. Mechanistic studies revealed that treatment with compound 11 inhibited IKKα/β phosphorylation and IκBα phosphorylation, which subsequently caused the blockage of NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Compound 11 also inhibited the expression of c-Myc, Cyclin D1, and Bcl-2, the downstream targets of NF-κB. Therefore, our findings provided insight into the anticancer components of Sagittaria trifolia L. tubers, which could facilitate their utilization as functional food ingredients.

Hansenia weberbaueriana (Fedde ex H.Wolff) Pimenov & Kljuykov Extract Suppresses Proliferation of HepG2 Cells via the PTEN-PI3K-AKT Pathway Uncovered by Integrating Network Pharmacology and Iin Vitro Experiments

Previous studies have shown that Hansenia weberbaueriana (Fedde ex H.Wolff) Pimenov & Kljuykov extracts (HWEs) have antitumor activity, but their mechanism in vitro is still unclear. In this study, we first combined network pharmacology with experimental evaluation and applied a comprehensive strategy to explore and prove the therapeutic potential and potential mechanism of HWE. The mRNA expression profiles of PTEN, PIK3A, and AKT1 are from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) of the Broad Institute. Our results showed that HWE has a good inhibition on HepG2 cells, and a slight inhibition on other cells. The results of the CCLE database showed that PTEN/PIK3A/AKT1 mRNA expression was up-regulated in HepG2 cells. Through further study, it was found that HWE increased the release of LDH, induced early and late apoptosis, and increased ROS levels in HepG2 cells. Western blot showed that HWE regulates the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins. Meanwhile, the expression of PTEN was increased, and the expression of phosphorylated PI3K and Akt was down-regulated after HWE treatment. Our results show that HWE promotes HepG2 cell apoptosis via the PTEN-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study is the first to report the potential role of HWE in the treatment of liver cancer.

Incaspitolide A isolated from Carpesium cernuum L. inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells and induces apoptosis via regulation of the PI3K/Akt/xIAP pathway

Carpesium cernuum L. is a traditional medicine primarily used in Southwestern China, and it has been shown to exhibit a range of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. Incaspitolide A (IA) is a sesquiterpene isolated from C. cernuum L. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antiproliferative effects of IA on PC-3 prostate cancer cells and determine the underlying mechanism. Results from a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay demonstrated that IA significantly reduced the numbers of viable PC-3 cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. Phase-contrast microscopy revealed that the number and morphology of cells were markedly altered. Hoechst and EdU staining assays showed that IA reduced the proliferation of PC-3 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that IA arrested cell cycle progression at the S phase and promoted cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis demonstrated that treatment with IA resulted in downregulation of phosphorylated (p-) PI3K, p-Akt, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (xIAP), CKD2, cyclin A2 and pro-Caspase-3 protein expression, and upregulation of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and P53 expression. The present results suggested that IA inhibited the growth of PC-3 cells and induced apoptosis. The underlying mechanism appeared to involve the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/xIAP pathway. The present study indicated that IA may serve as a therapeutic for the management of prostate cancer and provided a theoretical basis for the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.

Coptisine ameliorates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis via improving intestinal barrier dysfunction and suppressing inflammatory response

Ulcerative colitis (UC), as an autoimmune disease, has been troubling human health for many years. Up to now, the available treatments remain unsatisfactory. Rhizoma Coptidis has been widely applied to treat gastrointestinal diseases in China for a long time, and coptisine (COP) is identified as one of its major active components. This study aimed to evaluate the bioactivity of COP on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice colitis and clarify the potential mechanism of action. The results revealed that COP treatment markedly alleviated DSS-induced clinical symptoms by relieving body weight loss and the disease activity index (DAI) score. Specifically, the colon length in the COP (50 and 100 mg/kg) groups were obviously longer than that in the DSS group (7.21 ± 0.34, 8.59 ± 0.45 cm vs. 6.71 ± 0.59 cm, P < 0.01). HE staining analysis revealed that COP treatment significantly protected the integrity of intestinal barrier and alleviated inflammatory cells infiltration. Western blot assay confirmed that COP notably improved the intestinal epithelial barrier function by enhancing the expressions of colonic tight junction proteins and inhibited the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins. In addition, COP treatment remarkably suppressed the levels of colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO), adhesion molecules and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17), while enhanced IL-10 and TGF-β. The mechanism anti-inflammatory of COP might be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of IκBα, and the translocation of NF-κB p65 from cytoplasm to nucleus. In summary, the study indicated that COP ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, at least partly through maintaining the integrity of intestinal epithelial barrier, inhibiting apoptosis and inflammatory response.

A bioinformatics and transcriptomics based investigation reveals an inhibitory role of Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction on hepatic glucose production of T2DM mice via PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Excessive hepatic glucose production (HGP) largely promotes the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the inhibition of HGP significantly ameliorates T2DM. Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction (HRD), a classic traditional Chinese herb medicine, is widely used for the treatment of diabetes in clinic for centuries and proved effective. However, the relevant mechanisms of HRD are not fully understood.

PURPOSE

Based on that, this study was designed to identify the potential effects and underlying mechanisms of HRD on HGP by a comprehensive investigation that integrated in vivo functional experiments, network pharmacology, molecular docking, transcriptomics and molecular biology.

METHODS

After confirming the therapeutic effects of HRD on T2DM mice, the inhibitory role of HRD on HGP was evaluated by pyruvate and glucagon tolerance tests, liver positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and the detection of gluconeogenic key enzymes. Then, network pharmacology and transcriptomics approaches were used to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Molecular biology, computational docking analysis and in vitro experiments were applied for final mechanism verification.

RESULTS

Here, our results showed that HRD can decrease weight gain and blood glucose, increase fasting insulin, glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity in T2DM mice. Dysregulated lipid profile was also corrected by HRD administration. Pyruvate, glucagon tolerance tests and liver PET imaging all indicated that HRD inhibited the abnormal HGP of T2DM, and the expressions of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) were significantly suppressed by HRD as expected. Network pharmacology and transcriptomics approaches illustrated that PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway may be responsible for the inhibitory effect of HRD on HGP. Afterward, further western blot and immunoprecipitation found that HRD did activate PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway in T2DM mice, which confirmed previous results. Additionally, the conclusion was further supported by molecular docking and in vitro experiments, in which identified HRD compound, oxyberberine, was proven to exert an obvious effect on Akt.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrated that HRD can treat T2DM by inhibiting hepatic glucose production, the underlying mechanisms were associated with the activation of PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway.

Epigallocatechin Gallate Protects against MNNG-Induced Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Carcinoma in Rats via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway

Objective

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on precancerous lesions of gastric carcinoma (PLGC) and to determine whether EGCG protects against PLGC by regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Methods

Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group (NC), PLGC model group (MC), and group of PLGC rats treated with EGCG (MC + EGCG). 1-Methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and sodium salicylate were combined and used to establish the PLGC rat animal model. The therapeutic effect of EGCG on PLGC was evaluated by body weight and pathological lesions of gastric mucosa in PLGC rats. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was applied to measure the mRNA expressions of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR. The protein expressions of cleaved caspase-3, PTEN, PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, p-mTOR, and mTOR were determined by automated western immunoblotting.

Results

The body weight decreased in PLGC rats while EGCG significantly increased body weight. The gastric mucosa of PLGC rats exhibited the pathological lesions of atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and atypical hyperplasia while EGCG could ameliorate the pathological lesions. EGCG could upregulate the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and PTEN and reduce the expressions of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR.

Conclusions

EGCG ameliorated pathological lesions of PLGC and exerted the effect of apoptosis promotion in PLGC rats. The apoptotic pathway triggered by EGCG may be related to inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. It provided a theoretical basis for the PLGC treatment and gastric cancer prevention.

The Anticancer Effect of Natural Plant Alkaloid Isoquinolines

Isoquinoline alkaloids-enriched herbal plants have been used as traditional folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic effects. They induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy, leading to cell death. While the molecular mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood, it has been suggested that binding to nucleic acids or proteins, enzyme inhibition, and epigenetic modulation by isoquinoline alkaloids may play a role in the effects. This review discusses recent evidence on the molecular mechanisms by which the isoquinoline alkaloids can be a therapeutic target of cancer treatment.

Anticancer activities of TCM and their active components against tumor metastasis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of multiple targets, slight side effects and good therapeutic effects. Good anti-tumor effects are shown by Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription, Chinese patent medicine, single Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound. Clinically, TCM prolonged the survival time of patients and improved the life quality of patients, due to less side effects. Cancer metastasis is a complex process involving numerous steps, multiple genes and their products. During the process of tumor metastasis, firstly, cancer cell increases its proliferative capacity by reducing autophagy and apoptosis, and then the cancer cell capacity is stimulated by increasing the ability of tumors to absorb nutrients from the outside through angiogenesis. Both of the two steps can increase tumor migration and invasion. Finally, the purpose of tumor metastasis is achieved. By inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis of tumor cells, angiogenesis and EMT outside the tumor can inhibit the invasion and migration of cancer, and consequently achieve the purpose of inhibiting tumor metastasis. This review explores the research achievements of Traditional Chinese Medicine on breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatic carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and other cancer metastasis in the past five years, summarizes the development direction of TCM on cancer metastasis research in the past five years and makes a prospect for the future.

The Flavonol Isoquercitrin Promotes Mitochondrial-Dependent Apoptosis in SK-Mel-2 Melanoma Cell via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

Isoquercitrin (IQ), a major flavonol present in Prunus mume fruit, has gained much attention in recent studies because of its superior bioavailability and physiological effects. In this study, the anti-cancer mechanism of IQ against human melanoma, particularly its effect on the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, was investigated. Treatment with IQ at 25 μM concentration effectively inhibited the proliferation of SK-MEL-2 skin cancer cells while the same concentration did not exhibit cytotoxicity against human keratinocytes HaCaT. Morphological analysis and clonogenic assay also showed that IQ can alter the growth and long-term survival of SK-MEL-2 cells. IQ also induced apoptosis in the melanoma cells as manifested in the nuclear morphology changes, DNA fragmentation, increase in the apoptosis rate (17.69% at 25 μM) and accumulation of sub-G1 cell cycle phase population (19.55% at 25 μM). Western blot analysis revealed the involvement of the mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathway in the anti-cancer property of IQ. Treatment with IQ resulted in the decrease in the levels of procaspase-8 and -9, and Bcl-2 protein, and an increase in the expression of cleaved PARP and Bax. Moreover, AIF and Endo G protein expression increased, indicating a caspase-independent mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. The anti-proliferative activity of IQ against SK-MEL-2 can also be attributed to the downregulation of the PI3K/AktmTOR signaling pathway. These findings showed that IQ can be developed into a chemopreventive therapeutic agent against the melanoma cells.

Coptisine induces autophagic cell death through down-regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and up-regulation of ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells

Coptisine is isoquinoline alkaloid derived from Coptidis Rhizoma and is known to have potential anti-cancer activity toward various carcinomas. Targeting autophagy is one of the main approaches for cancer therapy, but whether the anti-cancer efficacy of coptisine involves autophagy is still unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of coptisine on autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Hep3B cells, and identified the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that coptisine increased cytotoxicity and autophagic vacuoles in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the expressions of light chain 3 (LC3)-I/II, Beclin-1 and autophagy genes were markedly increased by coptisine, while the expression of p62 decreased. In addition, we found that pretreatment with bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of autophagosome-lysosome fusion, markedly reduced coptisine-mediated autophagic cell death, but 3-methyladenine, an inhibitor for autophagosome formation did not. Moreover, our results showed that although coptisine up-regulated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) that partially induced LC3-I/II, coptisine-mediated AMPK signaling did not directly regulate autophagic cell death. Additionally, we found that coptisine suppressed the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR), and this effect was notably enhanced by PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Meanwhile, coptisine significantly increased both the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the recruitment of mitophagy-regulated proteins to mitochondria. Furthermore, N-acetylcysteine, a potential ROS scavenger, substantially suppressed the expression of mitophagy-regulated proteins and LC3 puncta by coptisine. Overall, our results demonstrate that coptisine-mediated autophagic cell death was regulated by PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and mitochondrial ROS production associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, these findings suggest that coptisine exerts its anti-cancer effects through induction of autophagy in HCC Hep3B cells.

Biologically active isoquinoline alkaloids covering 2014-2018

Isoquinoline alkaloids, an important class of N-based heterocyclic compounds, have attracted considerable attention from researchers worldwide since the early 19th century. Over the past 200 years, many compounds from this class were isolated, and most of them and their analogs possess various bioactivities. In this review, we survey the updated literature on bioactive alkaloids and highlight research achievements of this alkaloid class during the period of 2014-2018. We reviewed over 400 molecules with a broad range of bioactivities, including antitumor, antidiabetic and its complications, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and other activities. This review should provide new indications or directions for the discovery of new and better drugs from the original naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloids.

Red Emissive Carbon Dots Prepared from Polymers as an Efficient Nanocarrier for Coptisine Delivery in vivo and in vitro

Negatively charged fluorescent carbon dots (CDs, E_m =608 nm) were hydrothermally prepared from thiophene phenylpropionic acid polymers and then successfully loaded with the positively charged anticancer cargo coptisine, which suffers from poor bioavailability. The formed CD-coptisine complexes were thoroughly characterized by particle size, morphology, drug loading efficiency, drug release, cellular uptake and cellular toxicity in vitro and antitumor activities in vivo. In this nano-carrier system, red emissive CDs possess multiple advantages as follows: 1) high drug loading efficiency (>96 %); 2) sustained drug release; 3) enhanced drug efficacy towards cancer cells; 4) EPR effect; 5) drug release tracing with near-infrared imaging. These properties indicated that red emissive CDs prepared from polymers could be used as a novel drug delivery system with integrated therapeutic and imaging functions in cancer therapy, which are expected to have great potential in future clinical applications.

Total triterpenoids from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa exerted gastroprotective activities on indomethacin-induced gastric damage via modulating microRNA-423-5p-mediated TFF/NAG-1 and apoptotic pathways

Our previous studies have demonstrated that the total triterpenes from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa (CSTT) exhibit effective therapeutic effects on gastric ulcer patients and animals. The present aim is to further investigate the mechanisms involved. The results indicated that CSTT could ameliorate IND-induced gastric injury, which was related to promoting IND-damaged GES-1 cell proliferation and migration, improving the IND-damaged rat GBF, ulcer area, inhibition rate and pathologic changes of gastric mucous tissue, increasing the amount of adhered gastric mucus, attenuating the volume and total acidity of the gastric effluents, and augmenting the gastric pH; further studies showed that CSTT obviously downregulated miR-423-5p mRNA, NAG-1 mRNA and protein expression, Bax, Bad, cytosol cytochrome C, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-9 protein expression and cytosol cytochrome C concentration, and upregulated TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 mRNA and protein expression, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, and pro-caspase-9 protein expression, mitochondrial viability, mitochondrial cytochrome C concentration and Bcl-2/Bax, Bcl-xl/Bad ratios. These findings demonstrated that CSTT protected against IND-induced gastric damage by depressing miR-423-5p expression and modulating the TFF/NAG-1 pathway, which in turn restrained mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis.

Effect of miR-184 on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Its Mechanism

Objective:

Previous studies have shown that abnormal expression of microRNA-184 leads to a variety of cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, suggesting microRNA-184 as a new treatment target for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. However, the molecular mechanism of microRNA-184 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains unclear. It is important to investigate the effect and role of microRNA-184 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods:

The clinical and laboratory inspection data of 120 patients with pancreatic cancer admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were compared. MicroRNA-184 expression in tumor tissues and cells was evaluated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Flow cytometry and Annexin V/propidium iodide staining were performed to examine cell cycle and apoptosis. Western blotting analysis was conducted to measure the protein expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, JNK1, C-Myc, C-Jun, caspase-9, and caspase-3.

Results:

MicroRNA-184 expression was low in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Survival curve showed that patients with lower expression of microRNA-184 in tumor tissues had a worse prognosis and shorter survival time (P < .05), and the multivariate analysis identified that microRNA-184 was an independent prognostic indicator (P < .05). In vitro studies showed that microRNA-184 overexpression induced apoptosis and suppressed cell cycle transition from G1 to S and G2 phases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, molecular studies revealed that inhibition of microRNA-184 promoted the gene expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, JNK1, C-Myc, and C-Jun compared with the control group. Overexpression of microRNA-184 led to significantly increased expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and significantly decreased expression of Bcl-2.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that microRNA-184 inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells by downregulating the expression of C-Myc, C-Jun, and Bcl-2. Our verification of the role of microRNA-184 may provide a novel biomarker for the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Berberine inhibits proliferation and induces G0/G1 phase arrest in colorectal cancer cells by downregulating IGF2BP3

AIMS

Berberine (BBR) is one of isoquinoline alkaloids from Coptidis Rhizoma and possesses extensive pharmacological activities, including anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) activity. However, the detailed mechanisms remain to be determined. The current study aims to investigate the ability and the potential mechanism of BBR against CRC.

MAIN METHODS

By mining recognized CRC datasets and RNA-seq results of cells and tumors treated with BBR for perform bioinformatics analysis to find key targets IGF2BP3. Overexpression and knockdown of IGF2BP3 assays were used to explore the biological role of IGF2BP3 in the process of BBR against CRC.

KEY FINDINGS

Our results showed that BBR inhibits proliferation and induces G0/G1 phase arrest in CRC cells by downregulating IGF2BP3. Specifically, Knockdown of IGF2BP3 could suppress the PI3K/AKT pathway to inhibit cell proliferation and cycle transition. The negative effects of BBR in CRC cells could be rescued by overexpressing IGF2BP3.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our data might provide a theoretical basis for the future use of BBR in colorectal cancer prevention.

Induction of Apoptosis by Coptisine in Hep3B Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Activation of the ROS-Mediated JNK Signaling Pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate worldwide, and treatment is very limited due to its high recurrence and low diagnosis rate, and therefore there is an increasing need to develop more effective drugs to treat HCC. Coptisine is one of the isoquinoline alkaloids, and it has various pharmacological effects. However, the evidence for the molecular mechanism of the anticancer efficacy is still insufficient. Therefore, this study investigated the antiproliferative effect of coptisine on human HCC Hep3B cells and identified the action mechanism. Our results showed that coptisine markedly increased DNA damage and apoptotic cell death, which was associated with induction of death receptor proteins. Coptisine also significantly upregulated expression of proapoptotic Bax protein, downregulated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and activated caspase-3, -8, and -9. In addition, coptisine remarkably increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. However, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, significantly attenuated the apoptosis-inducing effect of coptisine. It is worth noting that coptisine significantly upregulated phosphorylation of ROS-dependent c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), whereas treatment with JNK inhibitor could suppress an apoptosis-related series event. Taken together, our results suggest that coptisine has an anticancer effect in Hep3B cells through ROS-mediated activation of the JNK signaling pathway.

Anti-malarial activity of traditional Kampo medicine Coptis rhizome extract and its major active compounds

Background

Herbal medicine has been a rich source of new drugs exemplified by quinine and artemisinin. In this study, a variety of Japanese traditional herbal medicine (‘Kampo’) were examined for their potential anti-malarial activities.

Methods

A comprehensive screening methods were designed to identify novel anti-malarial drugs from a library of Kampo herbal extracts (n = 120) and related compounds (n = 96). The anti-malarial activity was initially evaluated in vitro against chloroquine/mefloquine-sensitive (3D7) and-resistant (Dd2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The cytotoxicity was also evaluated using primary adult mouse brain cells. After being selected through the first in vitro assay, positive extracts and compounds were examined for possible in vivo anti-malarial activity.

Results

Out of 120 herbal extracts, Coptis rhizome showed the highest anti-malarial activity (IC₅₀ 1.9 µg/mL of 3D7 and 4.85 µg/mL of Dd2) with a high selectivity index (SI) > 263 (3D7) and > 103 (Dd2). Three major chlorinated compounds (coptisine, berberine, and palmatine) related to Coptis rhizome also showed anti-malarial activities with IC₅₀ 1.1, 2.6, and 6.0 µM (against 3D7) and 3.1, 6.3, and 11.8 µM (against Dd2), respectively. Among them, coptisine chloride exhibited the highest anti-malarial activity (IC₅₀ 1.1 µM against 3D7 and 3.1 µM against Dd2) with SI of 37.8 and 13.2, respectively. Finally, the herbal extract of Coptis rhizome and its major active compound coptisine chloride exhibited significant anti-malarial activity in mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii 17X strain with respect to its activity on parasite suppression consistently from day 3 to day 7 post-challenge. The effect ranged from 50.38 to 72.13% (P < 0.05) for Coptis rhizome and from 81 to 89% (P < 0.01) for coptisine chloride.

Conclusion

Coptis rhizome and its major active compound coptisine chloride showed promising anti-malarial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and -resistant (Dd2) strains in vitro as well as in vivo mouse malaria model. Thus, Kampo herbal medicine is a potential natural resource for novel anti-malarial agents.

Effect of epiberberine from Coptis chinensis Franch on inhibition of tumor growth in MKN-45 xenograft mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Gastric cancer is one of the major malignancies worldwide. Epiberberine (EPI) is a major alkaloid from Coptis chinensis Franch and the antitumor property of EPI remains poorly understood.

METHOD

The inhibition on gastric cancer cells was observed by MTT assays and colony formation experiments. The apoptosis, cell cycle, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in gastric cancer cells were analyzed by Flow cytometry. The anti-tumor effect of EPI was evaluated with the MKN-45-beraring nude mice, and the potential mechanisms were explored by RNA-seq, qPCR, siRNA silencing and western blotting.

RESULTS

EPI inhibited the proliferation of human gastric cancer cell lines MKN-45 (harboring wild-type p53) and HGC-27 (harboring mutant p53) in a dose dependent manner. EPI induced the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in these two cell lines, of which MKN-45 cells are more sensitive to EPI than HGC-27 cells. Further experiments indicated that EPI induced the accumulation of ROS and decreased of ΔΨm in MKN-45 cells. The significant differentially expressed genes obtained by RNA-seq were distinctly enriched in the p53 signaling pathway. The apoptosis induced by EPI in MKN-45 cells would be effectively inhibited with the treatment of p53 siRNA and p53 inhibitor PFT-α. Western blotting demonstrated that EPI diminished the expression of Bcl-2 and XIAP, and increased those of p53, Bax, p21, p27, Cytochrome C and Cleaved-caspase 3. Animal experiments confirmed that EPI significantly alleviated tumor growth in MKN-45 xenograft mice via p53/Bax pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicated that EPI could be a novel anti-tumor candidate against MKN-45-related gastric cancer via targeting p53-dependent mitochondria-associated pathway.