Modulation of diverse oncogenic signaling pathways by oroxylin A: An important strategy for both cancer prevention and treatment

Unlocking the potential of Berberine: Advancing cancer therapy through chemosensitization and combination treatments

Despite considerable progress in cancer treatment options, resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs remains a significant challenge. This review focuses on Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid found in various medicinal plants, which has garnered attention in the field of oncology for its anticancer potential either alone or in combination with other compounds and its ability to modulate chemoresistance, acting as a natural chemosensitizer. BBR's ability to modulate chemoresistance is attributed to its diverse mechanisms of action, including inducing DNA breaks, inhibition of drug efflux pumps, modulation of apoptosis and necroptosis, downregulating multidrug resistance genes, enhancing immune response, suppressing angiogenesis and targeting multiple pathways within cancer cells, including protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1), janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT), Wnt/β-catenin etc. Moreover, BBR, in combination with other compounds, also offers a promising approach to cancer therapy, enforcing its broad-spectrum anticancer effects. Therefore, this review aims to elucidate the intricate mechanism of action of BBR in combinatorial therapy as a potential chemosensitizer to increase the efficiency of several drugs, including cisplatin, doxorubicin, lapatinib, tamoxifen, irinotecan, niraparib, etc. in various cancers. Additionally, this review briefly covers the origin and biological activities of BBR, exploring the specific actions underlying its anticancer effects. Further, pharmacokinetic properties of BBR are also discussed, providing insight into its therapeutic potential and optimization of its use in cancer treatment.

Natural compounds targeting YAP/TAZ axis in cancer: Current state of art and challenges

Cancer has become a burgeoning global healthcare concern marked by its exponential growth and significant economic ramifications. Though advancements in the treatment modalities have increased the overall survival and quality of life, there are no definite treatments for the advanced stages of this malady. Hence, understanding the diseases etiologies and the underlying molecular complexities, will usher in the development of innovative therapeutics. Recently, YAP/TAZ transcriptional regulation has been of immense interest due to their role in development, tissue homeostasis and oncogenic transformations. YAP/TAZ axis functions as coactivators within the Hippo signaling cascade, exerting pivotal influence on processes such as proliferation, regeneration, development, and tissue renewal. In cancer, YAP is overexpressed in multiple tumor types and is associated with cancer stem cell attributes, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Activation of YAP/TAZ mirrors the cellular "social" behavior, encompassing factors such as cell adhesion and the mechanical signals transmitted to the cell from tissue structure and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Therefore, it presents a significant vulnerability in the clogs of tumors that could provide a wide window of therapeutic effectiveness. Natural compounds have been utilized extensively as successful interventions in the management of diverse chronic illnesses, including cancer. Owing to their capacity to influence multiple genes and pathways, natural compounds exhibit significant potential either as adjuvant therapy or in combination with conventional treatment options. In this review, we delineate the signaling nexus of YAP/TAZ axis, and present natural compounds as an alternate strategy to target cancer.

Smart osteoclasts targeted nanomedicine based on amorphous CaCO3 for effective osteoporosis reversal

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is characterized by an imbalance in bone homeostasis, resulting in the excessive dissolution of bone minerals due to the acidified microenvironment mediated by overactive osteoclasts. Oroxylin A (ORO), a natural flavonoid, has shown potential in reversing osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. The limited water solubility and lack of targeting specificity hinder the effective accumulation of Oroxylin A within the pathological environment of osteoporosis.

RESULTS

Osteoclasts' microenvironment-responsive nanoparticles are prepared by incorporating Oroxylin A with amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and coated with glutamic acid hexapeptide-modified phospholipids, aiming at reinforcing the drug delivery efficiency as well as therapeutic effect. The obtained smart nanoparticles, coined as OAPLG, could instantly neutralize acid and release Oroxylin A in the extracellular microenvironment of osteoclasts. The combination of Oroxylin A and ACC synergistically inhibits osteoclast formation and activity, leading to a significant reversal of systemic bone loss in the ovariectomized mice model.

CONCLUSION

The work highlights an intelligent nanoplatform based on ACC for spatiotemporally controlled release of lipophilic drugs, and illustrates prominent therapeutic promise against osteoporosis.

Delineating the role of nuclear receptors in colorectal cancer, a focused review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands as one of the most prevalent form of cancer globally, causing a significant number of deaths, surpassing 0.9 million in the year 2020. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, CRC ranks third in incidence and second in mortality in both males and females. Despite extensive studies over the years, there is still a need to establish novel therapeutic targets to enhance the patients' survival rate in CRC. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors (TFs) that regulate numerous essential biological processes such as differentiation, development, physiology, reproduction, and cellular metabolism. Dysregulation and anomalous expression of different NRs has led to multiple alterations, such as impaired signaling cascades, mutations, and epigenetic changes, leading to various diseases, including cancer. It has been observed that differential expression of various NRs might lead to the initiation and progression of CRC, and are correlated with poor survival outcomes in CRC patients. Despite numerous studies on the mechanism and role of NRs in this cancer, it remains of significant scientific interest primarily due to the diverse functions that various NRs exhibit in regulating key hallmarks of this cancer. Thus, modulating the expression of NRs with their agonists and antagonists, based on their expression levels, holds an immense prospect in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutical modalities of CRC. In this review, we primarily focus on the role and mechanism of NRs in the pathogenesis of CRC and emphasized the significance of targeting these NRs using a variety of agents, which may represent a novel and effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of this cancer.

Exploring the nexus of nuclear receptors in hematological malignancies

Hematological malignancies (HM) represent a subset of neoplasms affecting the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic systems, categorized primarily into leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Their prognosis varies considerably, with a frequent risk of relapse despite ongoing treatments. While contemporary therapeutic strategies have extended overall patient survival, they do not offer cures for advanced stages and often lead to challenges such as acquisition of drug resistance, recurrence, and severe side effects. The need for innovative therapeutic targets is vital to elevate both survival rates and patients' quality of life. Recent research has pivoted towards nuclear receptors (NRs) due to their role in modulating tumor cell characteristics including uncontrolled proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis evasion, invasion and migration. Existing evidence emphasizes NRs' critical role in HM. The regulation of NR expression through agonists, antagonists, or selective modulators, contingent upon their levels, offers promising clinical implications in HM management. Moreover, several anticancer agents targeting NRs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This review highlights the integral function of NRs in HM's pathophysiology and the potential benefits of therapeutically targeting these receptors, suggesting a prospective avenue for more efficient therapeutic interventions against HM.

Crosstalk between Non-Coding RNAs and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer: Identification of Novel Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents

Head and neck cancers (HNC) encompass a broad spectrum of neoplastic disorders characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. While contemporary therapeutic interventions offer promise, challenges persist due to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Central to HNC pathogenesis is the aberration in numerous signaling cascades. Prominently, the Wnt signaling pathway has been critically implicated in the etiology of HNC, as supported by a plethora of research. Equally important, variations in the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified to modulate key cancer phenotypes such as cellular proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastatic potential, recurrence, and treatment resistance. This review aims to provide an exhaustive insight into the multifaceted influence of ncRNAs on HNC, with specific emphasis on their interactions with the Wnt/β-catenin (WBC) signaling axis. We further delineate the effect of ncRNAs in either exacerbating or attenuating HNC progression via interference with WBC signaling. An overview of the mechanisms underlying the interplay between ncRNAs and WBC signaling is also presented. In addition, we described the potential of various ncRNAs in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic modalities. In summary, this assessment posits the potential of ncRNAs as therapeutic agents targeting the WBC signaling pathway in HNC management.

Oroxylin a promoted apoptotic extracellular vesicles transfer of glycolytic kinases to remodel immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma model

Although oroxylin A, a natural flavonoid compound, suppressed progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, whether the tumor microenvironment especially the communication between cancer cells and immune cells was under its modulation remained obscure. Here we investigated the effect of extracellular vesicles from cancer cells elicited by oroxylin A on macrophages in vitro. The data shows oroxylin A elicits apoptosis-related extracellular vesicles through caspase-3-mediated activation of ROCK1in HCC cells, which regulates M1-like polarization of macrophage. Moreover, oroxylin A downregulates the population of M2-like macrophage and promotes T cells infiltration in tumor microenvironment, accompanied by suppression of HCC development and enhancement of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in mice model. Mechanistically, glycolytic proteins enriched in oroxylin A-elicited extracellular vesicles from HCC cells are transferred to macrophages where ROS-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome is activated, therefore contributing to anti-tumor phenotype of macrophage. Taken together, this study highlights that oroxylin A promotes metabolic shifts between tumor cells and immune cells, facilitates to inhibit tumor development, and improves immunotherapy response in HCC model.

Whole exome sequencing identifies novel variants of PIK3CA and validation of hotspot mutation by droplet digital PCR in breast cancer among Indian population

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy with very high incidence and relatively high mortality in women. The PIK3CA gene plays a pivotal role in the pathogenicity of breast cancer. Despite this, the mutational status of all exons except exons 9 and 20 still remains unknown.

METHODS

This study uses the whole exome sequencing (WES) based approach to identify somatic PIK3CA mutations in Indian BC cohorts. The resultant hotspot mutations were validated by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Further, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was applied to elucidate the conformational and functional effects of hotspot position on PIK3CA protein.

RESULTS

In our cohort, PIK3CA showed a 44.4% somatic mutation rate and was among the top mutated genes. The mutations of PIK3CA were confined in Exons 5, 9, 11, 18, and 20, whereas the maximum number of mutations lies within exons 9 and 20. A total of 9 variants were found in our study, of which 2 were novel mutations observed on exons 9 (p.H554L) and 11 (p.S629P). However, H1047R was the hotspot mutation at exon 20 (20%). In tumor tissues, there was a considerable difference between copy number of wild-type and H1047R mutant was detected by ddPCR. Significant structural and conformational changes were observed during MD simulation, induced due to point mutation at H1047R/L position.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides a comprehensive view of novel as well as reported single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in PIK3CA gene associated with Indian breast cancer cases. The mutation status of H1047R/L could serve as a prognostic value in terms of selecting targeted therapy in BC.

Nrf2-mediated therapeutic effects of dietary flavones in different diseases

Oxidative stress (OS) is a pathological status that occurs when the body's balance between oxidants and antioxidant defense systems is broken, which can promote the development of many diseases. Nrf2, a redox-sensitive transcription encoded by NFE2L2, is the master regulator of phase II antioxidant enzymes and cytoprotective genes. In this context, Nrf2/ARE signaling can be a compelling target against OS-induced diseases. Recently, natural Nrf2/ARE regulators like dietary flavones have shown therapeutic potential in various acute and chronic diseases such as diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and cancer. In this review, we aim to summarize nrf2-mediated protective effects of flavones in different conditions. Firstly, we retrospected the mechanisms of how flavones regulate the Nrf2/ARE pathway and introduced the mediator role Nrf2 plays in inflammation and apoptosis. Then we review the evidence that flavones modulated Nrf2/ARE pathway to prevent diseases in experimental models. Based on these literature, we found that flavones could regulate Nrf2 expression by mechanisms below: 1) dissociating the binding between Nrf2 and Keap1 via PKC-mediated Nrf2 phosphorylation and P62-mediated Keap1 autophagic degradation; 2) regulating Nrf2 nuclear translocation by various kinases like AMPK, MAPKs, Fyn; 3) decreasing Nrf2 ubiquitination and degradation via activating sirt1 and PI3K/AKT-mediated GSK3 inhibition; and 4) epigenetic alternation of Nrf2 such as demethylation at the promoter region and histone acetylation. In conclusion, flavones targeting Nrf2 can be promising therapeutic agents for various OS-related disorders. However, there is a lack of investigations on human subjects, and new drug delivery systems to improve flavones' treatment efficiency still need to be developed.

Antagonistic Activity of Oroxylin A against Fusarium graminearum and Its Inhibitory Effect on Zearalenone Production

Fusarium graminearum produces zearalenone (ZEA), a mycotoxin that is widely found in food and feed products and is toxic to humans and livestock. Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) inhibits F. graminearum, and Oroxylin A appears to be a major antifungal compound in PSE. The aim of this study is to quantify the Oroxylin A content in PSE using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and to investigate the antagonistic activity of Oroxylin A against F. graminearum and its inhibitory effect on ZEA production. The results indicate that Oroxylin A inhibits both fungal growth and ZEA production in a dose-dependent manner. Oroxylin A treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of zearalenone biosynthesis protein 1 (ZEB1) and zearalenone biosynthesis protein 2 (ZEB2). The metabolomics analysis of F. graminearum mycelia indicated that the level of ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) deceased (p < 0.05) after Oroxylin A treatment (64-128 ng/mL). Moreover, as the Oroxylin A treatment content increased from 64 to 128 ng/mL, the levels of cis-aconitate (p < 0.05) and fumarate (p < 0.01) were upregulated successively. A correlation analysis further showed that the decreased R5P level was positively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression, while the increased cis-aconitate and fumarate levels were negatively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. These findings demonstrate the potential of Oroxylin A as a natural agent to control toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxin.

Natural flavones from edible and medicinal plants exhibit enormous potential to treat ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic aspecific gut inflammatory disorder that primarily involves the recta and colons. It mostly presents as a long course of repeated attacks. This disease, characterized by intermittent diarrhoea, fecal blood, stomachache, and tenesmus, severely decreases the living quality of sick persons. UC is difficult to heal, has a high recurrence rate, and is tightly related to the incidence of colon cancer. Although there are a number of drugs available for the suppression of colitis, the conventional therapy possesses certain limitations and severe adverse reactions. Thus, it is extremely required for safe and effective medicines for colitis, and naturally derived flavones exhibited huge prospects. This study focused on the advancement of naturally derived flavones from edible and pharmaceutical plants for treating colitis. The underlying mechanisms of natural-derived flavones in treating UC were closely linked to the regulation of enteric barrier function, immune-inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, gut microflora, and SCFAs production. The prominent effects and safety of natural-derived flavones make them promising candidate drugs for colitis treatment.

Oroxylin A: A Promising Flavonoid for Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases

There have been magnificent advancements in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of chronic diseases over the past several years, but these diseases continue to be a considerable cause of death worldwide. Most of the approved medications available for the prevention and treatment of these diseases target only a single gene/protein/pathway and are known to cause severe side effects and are less effective than they are anticipated. Consequently, the development of finer therapeutics that outshine the existing ones is far-reaching. Natural compounds have enormous applications in curbing several disastrous and fatal diseases. Oroxylin A (OA) is a flavonoid obtained from the plants Oroxylum indicum, Scutellaria baicalensis, and S. lateriflora, which have distinctive pharmacological properties. OA modulates the important signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, ERK1/2, Wnt/β-catenin, PTEN/PI3K/Akt, and signaling molecules, such as TNF-α, TGF-ꞵ, MMPs, VEGF, interleukins, Bcl-2, caspases, HIF-1α, EMT proteins, Nrf-2, etc., which play a pivotal role in the molecular mechanism of chronic diseases. Overwhelming pieces of evidence expound on the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-cancer potentials of this flavonoid, which makes it an engrossing compound for research. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies also displayed the promising potential of OA against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc. Therefore, the current review focuses on delineating the role of OA in combating different chronic diseases and highlighting the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of its action.