Suppression of colorectal carcinogenesis by naringin

Aspirin prevents colorectal cancer by regulating the abundance of Enterococcus cecorum and TIGIT+Treg cells

Although aspirin can reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), there is still uncertainty about its significance as a treatment for CRC, and the mechanism of aspirin in CRC is not well understood. In this study, we used aspirin to prevent AOM/DSS-induced CRC in mice, and the anti-CRC efficacy of aspirin was assessed using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and by determining the mouse survival rate and tumour size. 16S rDNA sequencing, flow cytometry (FCM), and Western blotting were also conducted to investigate the changes in the gut microbiota, tumour immune microenvironment, and apoptotic proteins, respectively. The results demonstrated that aspirin significantly exerted anti-CRC effects in mice. According to 16S rDNA sequencing, aspirin regulated the composition of the gut microbiota and dramatically reduced the abundance of Enterococcus cecorum. FCM demonstrated that there were more CD155 tumour cells and CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells showed increased TIGIT levels. Moreover, increased TIGIT expression on Treg cells is associated with reduced Treg cell functionality. Importantly, the inhibition of Treg cells is accompanied by the promotion of CD19 + GL-7 + B cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + CCR4 + Th2 cells, and CD4 + CCR6 + Th17 cells. Overall, aspirin prevents colorectal cancer by regulating the abundance of Enterococcus cecorum and TIGIT + Treg cells.

Naringin activates semaphorin 3A to ameliorate TGF-β-induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition related to atrial fibrillation

The loss of semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), which is related to endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in atrial fibrosis, is implicated in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). To explore the mechanisms by which EndMT affects atrial fibrosis and assess the potential of a Sema3A activator (naringin) to prevent atrial fibrosis by targeting transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-induced EndMT, we used human atria, isolated human atrial endocardial endothelial cells (AEECs), and used transgenic mice expressing TGF-β specifically in cardiac tissues (TGF-β transgenic mice). We evaluated an EndMT marker (Twist), a proliferation marker (proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PCNA), and an endothelial cell (EC) marker (CD31) through triple immunohistochemistry and confirmed that both EndMT and EC proliferation contribute to atrial endocardial fibrosis during AF in TGF-β transgenic mice and AF patient tissue sections. Additionally, we investigated the impact of naringin on EndMT and EC proliferation in AEECs and atrial fibroblasts. Naringin exhibited an antiproliferative effect, to which AEECs were more responsive. Subsequently, we downregulated Sema3A in AEECs using small interfering RNA to clarify a correlation between the reduction in Sema3A and the elevation of EndMT markers. Naringin treatment induced the expression of Sema3A and a concurrent decrease in EndMT markers. Furthermore, naringin administration ameliorated AF and endocardial fibrosis in TGF-β transgenic mice by stimulating Sema3A expression, inhibiting EndMT markers, reducing atrial fibrosis, and lowering AF vulnerability. This suggests therapeutic potential for naringin in AF treatment.

Regulatory mechanism and therapeutic potentials of naringin against inflammatory disorders

Naringin is a natural flavonoid with therapeutic properties found in citrus fruits and an active natural product from herbal plants. Naringin has become a focus of attention in recent years because of its ability to actively participate in the body's immune response and maintain the integrity of the immune barrier. This review aims to elucidate the mechanism of action and therapeutic efficacy of naringin in various inflammatory diseases and to provide a valuable reference for further research in this field. The review provided the chemical structure, bioavailability, pharmacological properties, and pharmacokinetics of naringin and found that naringin has good therapeutic potential for inflammatory diseases, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative stress, anti-ulcerative and detoxifying effects in the disease. Moreover, we found that the great advantage of naringin treatment is that it is safe and can even alleviate the toxic side effects associated with some of the other drugs, which may become a highlight of naringin research. Naringin, an active natural product, plays a significant role in systemic diseases' anti-inflammatory and antioxidant regulation through various signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms.

Involucrasin B Inhibits the Proliferation of Caco-2 Cells by Regulating the TGFβ/SMAD2-3-4 Pathway

(1) Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor worldwide and the second most common cause of cancer death. However, effective anti-CRC drugs are still lacking in clinical settings. This article investigated the anti-proliferative effect of involucrasin B on CRC Caco-2 cells. (2) Methods: This study employed a sulforhodamine B (SRB) method, colony formation experiments, flow cytometry, FastFUCCI assay, dual luciferase assay, and Western blot analysis for the investigation. (3) Results: The SRB method and colony formation experiments showed that involucrasin B exhibited an inhibitory effect on the Caco-2 cells cultured in vitro. Subsequently, the flow cytometry, FastFUCCI assay, and Western blotting results showed that involucrasin B induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase dose-dependently. Involucrasin B significantly enhanced the TGFβ RII protein level and SMAD3 phosphorylation, thus inhibiting the expression of CDK4 and cyclin D1 and causing G1 cell cycle arrest. (4) Conclusion: This study shows that involucrasin B exerts its anti-proliferative effect by regulating the TGFβ/SMAD2-3-4 pathway to cause G1 cycle arrest in Caco-2 cells.

Small-molecule drugs of colorectal cancer: Current status and future directions

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the world's fourth most deadly cancer. CRC, as a genetic susceptible disease, faces significant challenges in optimizing prognosis through optimal drug treatment modalities. In recent decades, the development of innovative small-molecule drugs is expected to provide targeted interventions that accurately address the different molecular characteristics of CRC. Although the clinical application of single-target drugs is limited by the heterogeneity and high metastasis of CRC, novel small-molecule drug treatment strategies such as dual/multiple-target drugs, drug repurposing, and combination therapies can help overcome these challenges and provide new insights for improving CRC treatment. In this review, we focus on the current status of a range of small molecule drugs that are being considered for CRC therapy, including single-target drugs, dual/multiple-target drugs, drug repurposing and combination strategies, which will pave the way for targeting CRC vulnerabilities with small-molecule drugs in future personalized treatment.

Recent advances in anti-inflammatory active components and action mechanisms of natural medicines

Inflammation is a series of reactions caused by the body's resistance to external biological stimuli. Inflammation affects the occurrence and development of many diseases. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been used widely to treat inflammatory diseases, but long-term use can cause toxic side-effects and affect human functions. As immunomodulators with long-term conditioning effects and no drug residues, natural products are being investigated increasingly for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this review, we focus on the inflammatory process and cellular mechanisms in the development of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, and coronavirus disease-2019. Also, we focus on three signaling pathways (Nuclear factor-kappa B, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) to explain the anti-inflammatory effect of natural products. In addition, we also classified common natural products based on secondary metabolites and explained the association between current bidirectional prediction progress of natural product targets and inflammatory diseases.

Naringin improves post-ischemic myocardial injury by activation of KATP channels

Naringin (NRG) is a flavonoid with recognized cardioprotective effects. Then, it was investigated the cardioprotective mechanisms of NRG against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The rats were pretreated for 7 days (v.o.) with NRG (25 mg/kg) or n-acetylcysteine (NAC, 100 mg/kg) and their isolated hearts were subjected to global ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (60 min). Furthermore, isolated hearts were perfused with 5 μM NRG in the presence of 10 μM glibenclamide (GLI) and subjected to I/R protocol. In healthy ventricular cardiomyocyte, it was evaluated the acute effect of 5 μM NRG on the GLI sensitive current. The results showed that NRG pretreatment restored the cardiac function and electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations induced by I/R injury, decreasing arrhythmia scores and the occurrence of severe arrhythmias. Lactate dehydrogenase and infarct area were decreased while superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and citrate synthase activities increased. Expression of SOD CuZn and SOD Mn not was altered. NRG treatment decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation without alter sulfhydryl groups and protein carbonylation. Also, NRG (5 μM) increased the glibenclamide sensitive current in isolated cardiomyocytes. In isolated heart, the cardioprotection of NRG was significantly reduced by GLI. Furthermore, NRG promoted downregulation of Bax expression and Bax/Bcl-2. Histopathological analysis showed that NRG decreased cell edema, cardiomyocytes and nucleus diameter. Thus, NRG has a cardioprotective effect against cardiac I/R injury which is mediated by its antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions and KATP channels activation.

Targeting beta-catenin signaling for prevention of colorectal cancer - Nutraceutical, drug, and dietary options

Progressive up-regulation of β-catenin signaling is very common in the transformation of colorectal epithelium to colorectal cancer (CRC). Practical measures for opposing such signaling hence have potential for preventing or slowing such transformation. cAMP/PKA activity in colon epithelium, as stimulated by COX-2-generated prostaglandins and β2-adrenergic signaling, boosts β-catenin activity, whereas cGMP/PKG signaling has the opposite effect. Bacterial generation of short-chain fatty acids (as supported by unrefined high-carbohydrate diets, berberine, and probiotics), dietary calcium, daily aspirin, antioxidants opposing cox-2 induction, and nicotine avoidance, can suppress cAMP production in colonic epithelium, whereas cGMP can be boosted via linaclotides, PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil or icariin, and likely high-dose biotin. Selective activation of estrogen receptor-β by soy isoflavones, support of adequate vitamin D receptor activity with UV exposure or supplemental vitamin D, and inhibition of CK2 activity with flavanols such as quercetin, can also oppose β-catenin signaling in colorectal epithelium. Secondary bile acids, the colonic production of which can be diminished by low-fat diets and berberine, can up-regulate β-catenin activity by down-regulating farnesoid X receptor expression. Stimulation of PI3K/Akt via insulin, IGF-I, TLR4, and EGFR receptors boosts β-catenin levels via inhibition of glycogen synthase-3β; plant-based diets can down-regulate insulin and IGF-I levels, exercise training and leanness can keep insulin low, anthocyanins and their key metabolite ferulic acid have potential for opposing TLR4 signaling, and silibinin is a direct antagonist for EGFR. Partially hydrolyzed phytate can oppose growth factor-mediated down-regulation of β-catenin by inhibiting Akt activation. Multifactorial strategies for safely opposing β-catenin signaling can be complemented with measures that diminish colonic mutagenesis and DNA hypomethylation - such as avoidance of heme-rich meat and charred or processed meats, consumption of phase II-inductive foods and nutraceuticals (e.g., Crucifera), and assurance of adequate folate status.

Therapeutic potential of Coptis chinensis for arthritis with underlying mechanisms

Arthritis is a common degenerative disease of joints, which has become a public health problem affecting human health, but its pathogenesis is complex and cannot be eradicated. Coptis chinensis (CC) has a variety of active ingredients, is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drug. In which, berberine is its main effective ingredient, and has good therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), gouty arthritis (GA). RA, OA and GA are the three most common types of arthritis, but the relevant pathogenesis is not clear. Therefore, molecular mechanism and prevention and treatment of arthritis are the key issues to be paid attention to in clinical practice. In general, berberine, palmatine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine and jatrorrhizine hydrochloride in CC play the role in treating arthritis by regulating Wnt1/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. In this review, active ingredients, targets and mechanism of CC in the treatment of arthritis were expounded, and we have further explained the potential role of AHR, CAV1, CRP, CXCL2, IRF1, SPP1, and IL-17 signaling pathway in the treatment of arthritis, and to provide a new idea for the clinical treatment of arthritis by CC.

Evaluation and Optimization of Quality Based on the Physicochemical Characteristics and Metabolites Changes of Qingpi during Storage

Qingpi, the dried immature pericarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco, is a commonly used medicinal food with some health-promoting benefits. In general, it is essential that Qingpi be stored for a period of time, but there are no reports about the number of storage years needed to obtain the best quality of Qingpi. Our aim was to determine the best storage time of Qingpi by studying the physicochemical properties and metabolite changes in product stored from 1 to 5 years. As a result, the color of Qingpi became darker during storage. Both the levels of three flavonoids (hesperidin, nobiletin, and tangeretin) and total flavonoids (TFs) and the antioxidant activity decreased during storage and the total phenolics (TPs) content fluctuated during storage. Cluster analysis was performed on the color parameters measured using a color difference meter, revealing that the color of Qingpi differed before and after 3 years of storage. A total of 9 special differential metabolites were identified that could be used to distinguish the storage years of Qingpi. This is the first study to report the quality changes of Qingpi during storage. The optimized results of the quality evaluation indicated that Qingpi should be stored for no more than 3 years.

Flavonoid Intake in Relation to Colorectal Cancer Risk and Blood Bacterial DNA

Flavonoids have been inversely associated to colorectal cancer (CRC) and are plausible intermediaries for the relation among gut microbiome, intestinal permeability and CRC. We analyzed the relation of flavonoid intake with CRC and blood bacterial DNA. We conducted a case-control study in Italy involving 100 incident CRC cases and 200 controls. A valid and reproducible food-frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits and to estimate six flavonoid subclass intakes. We applied qPCR and 16S rRNA gene profiling to assess blood bacterial DNA. We used multiple logistic regression to derive odds ratios (ORs) of CRC and Mann-Whitney and chi--square tests to evaluate abundance and prevalence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) according to flavonoid intakes. Inverse associations with CRC were found for anthocyanidins (OR for the highest versus the lowest tertile = 0.24, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.11-0.52) and flavanones (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.08-0.42). We found different abundance and prevalence according to anthocyanidin and flavanone intake for OTUs referring to Oligoflexales order, Diplorickettsiaceae family, Staphylococcus, Brevundimonas, Pelomonas and Escherischia-Shigella genera, and Flavobacterium and Legionella species. The study provides evidence to a protective effect of dietary anthocyanidins and flavanones on CRC and suggests an influence of flavonoids on blood bacterial DNA, possibly through intestinal permeability changes.