Methylanthraquinone from Hedyotis diffusa WILLD induces Ca2+-mediated apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

Impact of traditional East Asian medicine as an add-on therapy on survival and recurrence after surgery for breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Patients with cancer increasingly incorporate complementary and alternative medicines, including traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM), for cancer prevention and treatment. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of TEAM for survival and recurrence after surgery in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: We searched nine electronic databases up to 25 August 2022, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TEAM to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer in female patients after mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. The primary outcome was 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), and secondary outcomes were 5-year overall survival, locoregional and distant recurrence rates, and toxicity. This study adhered to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence.

Results: From 368 citations, data from nine studies reporting on a total of 1240 patients were included in the systematic review, and eight studies were deemed suitable for the meta-analysis. TEAM combined with adjuvant chemotherapy showed a significant improvement in DFS (odds ratio [OR] 0.42%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28 to 0.61, p < 0.00001) and overall survival (OR 0.44%, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.73, p = 0.001) compared to adjuvant chemotherapy alone. The reduction in the rate of total recurrence was favorable for TEAM combined with adjuvant chemotherapy compared to adjuvant chemotherapy alone (Risk ratio 0.49%, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.70; p < 0.0001). TEAM after adjuvant chemotherapy showed a significant advantage in DFS compared to no TEAM (OR 0.61%, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.92, p = 0.02). No severe adverse events related to TEAM were reported. The overall certainty of the evidence for DFS, overall survival, and the total recurrence rate were moderate when postoperative breast cancer patients used TEAM combined with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Moderate-quality evidence suggests TEAM as an add-on therapy to adjuvant chemotherapy. TEAM may have the potential to improve long-term survival and prevent postoperative recurrence in patients with breast cancer. In future, more rigorous RCTs should be conducted to confirm these findings.

Mechanism exploration and prognosis study of Astragali Radix-Spreading hedyotis herb for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma based on bioinformatics approaches and molecular dynamics simulation

Background: Herb pair of Astragali Radix (AR) and Spreading Hedyotis Herb (SH) has been frequently prescribed in clinical for the treatment of lung cancer owing to its favorable efficacy. Yet, the mechanism under the therapeutic effects remained unveiled, which has limited its clinical applications, and new drug development for lung cancer.

Methods: The bioactive ingredients of AR and SH were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database, with the targets of obtained components predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. Genes related to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) were acquired from GeneCards, OMIM and CTD databases, with the hub genes of LUAD screened by CTD database. The intersected targets of LUAD and AR-SH were obtained by Venn, with David Database employed to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Survival analysis of the hub genes of LUAD was carried out using TCGA-LUAD dataset. Molecular docking of core proteins and active ingredients was performed by Auto-Dock Vina software, followed by molecular dynamics simulations of protein-ligand complexes with well-docked conformations.

Results: 29 active ingredients were screened out with 422 corresponding targets predicted. It is revealed that AR-SH can act on various targets such as EGFR, MAPK1, and KARS by ursolic acid (UA), Astragaloside IV(ASIV), and Isomucronulatol 7,2′-di-O-glucoside (IDOG) to alleviate the symptoms of LUAD. Biological processes involved are protein phosphorylation, negative regulation of apoptotic process, and pathways involved are endocrine resistance, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, PI3K-Akt, and HIF-1 pathway. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the binding energy of most of the screened active ingredients to proteins encoded by core genes was less than −5.6 kcal/mol, with some active ingredients showing even lower binding energy to EGFR than Gefitinib. Three ligand-receptor complexes including EGFR-UA, MAPK1-ASIV, and KRAS-IDOG were found to bind relatively stable by molecular dynamics simulation, which was consistent with the results of molecule docking.

Conclusion: We suggested that the herb pair of AR-SH can act on targets like EGFR, MAPK1 and KRAS by UA, ASIV and IDOG, to play a vital role in the treatment and the enhancement of prognosis of LUAD.

Network Pharmacology Analysis and Experimental Verification on Antiangiogenesis Mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa Willd in Liver Cancer

Purpose

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) is one of the most well-known herbs used in the therapy of cancer. However, the potential mechanisms of its antiangiogenic effects have not been fully explored. Here, we applied a network pharmacology approach to explore the potential mechanisms of HDW against liver cancer angiogenesis (LCA) and used a mouse orthotopic liver cancer model for experimental verification accordingly.

Methods

The effective components, primary active compounds, and possible targets in the therapy of LCA were predicted using network pharmacology and bioinformatics. In vivo testing of the pharmacodynamic foundation of HDW in the treatment of LCA was performed. Hepa1-6 cells were implanted in C57BL/6 mice to establish an orthotopic liver cancer model to evaluate the antitumor and antiangiogenesis effects of the drug. Furthermore, protein levels were evaluated by western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

We firstly confirmed the therapeutic effect of HDW on LCA and subsequently screened 7 active compounds from HDW according to their pharmacokinetic properties. Network analysis and enrichment analysis indicated that these compounds exhibit antiangiogenic effect by acting on multiple targets and thereby regulating multiple pathways mainly involved in Akt1, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-17, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Importantly, we preliminarily verified the results of the network pharmacology analysis in vivo.

Conclusion

Collectively, our work initially explored the therapeutic mechanism of HDW on tumor angiogenesis, which lays an experimental reference for further exploring its pharmacological action and its clinical application.

3D Microfluidic System for Evaluating Inhibitory Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine Oldenlandia diffusa on Human Malignant Glioma Invasion Combined with Network Pharmacology Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-invasion efficacy of the ethanol extract of Oldenlandia diffusa Will. (EEOD) on a three-dimensional (3D) human malignant glioma (MG) cell invasion and perfusion model based on microfluidic chip culture and the possible mechanism of action of Oldenlandia diffusa Will. (OD).

METHODS

The comprehensive pharmacodynamic analysis method in this study was based on microfluidic chip 3D cell perfusion culture technology, and the action mechanism of Chinese medicine (CM) on human MG cells was investigated through network pharmacology analysis. First, the components of EEOD were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). Then, cell viability and apoptosis were assessed to determine the optimum concentration of EEOD for invasion experiments, and two-dimensional (2D) migration and invasion abilities of U87 and U251 MG cells were evaluated using scratch wound and Transwell assays. The possible mechanism underlying the effects of EEOD on glioma was analyzed through a network pharmacology approach.

RESULTS

Thirty-five compounds of EEOD were detected by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. EEOD suppressed the viability of MG cells, promoted their apoptosis, and inhibited their migratory and invasive potentials (all P<0.05). Network pharmacology analysis showed that OD inhibited the invasion of MG cells by directly regulating MAPK and Wnt pathways through MAPK, EGFR, MYC, GSK3B, and other targets. The anti-invasion effect of OD was also found to be related to the indirect regulation of microtubule cytoskeleton organization.

CONCLUSIONS

]EEOD could inhibit the invasion of human MG cells, and the anti-invasion mechanism of OD might be regulating MAPK and Wnt signaling pathways and microtubule cytoskeleton organization.

Weipiling decoction alleviates N-methyl-N-nitro-N′-nitrosoguanidine-induced gastric precancerous lesions via NF-κB signalling pathway inhibition

Aim of the study

We aimed to explore how weipiling (WPL) decoction WPL alleviates gastric precancerous lesions (GPLs) and uncover its anti-inflammatory roles in GPL treatment.

Materials and methods

The anti-GPL action mechanisms of WPL were analysed using a network pharmacological method. The WPL extract was prepared in a traditional way and evaluated for its major components using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). BALB/c mice were exposed to N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) (150 μg/mL) for 6 weeks to induce GPLs. GPL mice were administered WPL (3.75 g/kg/day and 15 g/kg/day) for an additional 8 weeks. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to investigate histological alterations in gastric tissues. Expression of the T helper 1 (Th1) cell markers CD4⁺ and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) were tested using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Inflammatory protein and mRNA levels in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway were detected using western blotting and a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), respectively.

Results

We identified and selected 110 active compounds and 146 targets from public databases and references. Four representative components of WPL were established and quantified by HPLC–MS/MS analysis. WPL attenuated MNNG-induced GPLs, including epithelial shedding, cavity fusion, basement membranes with asymmetrical thickness, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, pro-inflammatory Th1-cell infiltration, and INF-γ production, indicating that WPL prevents inflammation in the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, WPL reversed MNNG-induced activation of the IκB/NF-κB signalling pathway and subsequently attenuated the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase (NOX)) family members NOX2 and NOX4.

Conclusion

WPL attenuated GPLs by controlling the generation of pro-inflammatory elements and inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway in vivo.

Chemical Constituents of Hedyotis diffusa and Their Anti-Inflammatory Bioactivities

Seven new anthraquinones with rare 2-isopropyldihydrofuran (1–3) and 2,2-dimethylpyrano (4–7) moieties together with thirty-four known compounds were isolated from the extracts of whole Hedyotis diffusa plants. Their structures were elucidated and established by various spectroscopic and spectrometric analytical methods. Among these isolates, selected compounds were examined for their anti-inflammatory activity. The results showed that rare substituted anthraquinones displayed potent inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.15 ± 0.01 to 5.52 ± 1.59 µM on the N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB)-induced superoxide anion generation and elastase release cellular models. Meanwhile, the proposed drug target of the active anthraquinone was studied by computer modeling. The binding affinity between the anti-inflammatory anthraquinone and elastase was evaluated by molecular docking. These results provided the scientific insight into the medicinal values of Hedyotis diffusa and vision of development as lead compounds.

Mechanism of Hedyotis Diffusa in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors among women in the world. In clinical practice, Hedyotis diffusa has pharmacological effects in treating cervical cancer, but its components are relatively complex, and the mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa in treating cervical cancer is still unclear. In this work, the potential active components and mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa in the treatment of cervical cancer were explored by means of network pharmacology. By constructing its active ingredient-target network, and enriching and analyzing the targets, we found the key targets and their effective components (beta-Sitosterol and Quercetin) that play a therapeutic role. Finally, we evaluated the prognostic value of the core target genes through survival analysis. Our work initially explored the therapeutic mechanism of cervical cancer, which lays a theoretical foundation for further exploring its pharmacological action and its clinical application.

Anticancer effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT） in breast cancer: Cellular and molecular targets

Breast cancer is a malignant epithelial tumor of ductal or lobular origin. Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed invasive cancer in women and is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a phenotypic process of conversion from epithelial to mesenchymal cells, allows tumor cells to acquire infiltration and metastasization properties. Therapies directed at pathways, which are primarily involved in malignant transformation, can lead to clinical implications. In recent years, EMT has gained increasing attention as a potential therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Moreover, for the past few decades, increasing numbers of studies have suggested that Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) compounds can significantly inhibit the growth and development of breast cancer cells through the inhibition of EMT in breast cancer cells. This review discusses some essential signaling pathways associated with EMT and summarizes the effects and mechanism of TCM components on that inhibit EMT in breast cancer therapy.

Phyto-Phospholipid Complexation as a Novel Drug Delivery System for Management of Cancer with Better Bioavailability: Current Perspectives and Future Prospects

Cancer is the foremost cause of death, and it supports the need for the identification of novel anticancer drugs to improve the efficacy of current-therapy. While the synthetic anticancer drug is associated with numerous side effects. Hence the plant active or phytoconstituents are in high demand for the treatment of cancer due to minimum side effects. But the polar nature of phytoconstituents hindered the absorption of the drug and lowered the therapeutic efficacy. The plant activity incorporated into Phyto-phospholipid Complexation can enhance bioavailability and improved therapeutic efficacy. In this review article, advantages, limitation and application of Phyto-phospholipid complexes have been illustrated. The article highlights the application of Phyto-phospholipid complexes as a promising drug carrier system to treat cancer.

Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Interaction and Histopathological Analyses of Hedyotis diffusa on Sorafenib in Rats

Sorafenib is one of the most effective target therapeutic agents for patients with late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. To seek possible alternative adjuvant agents to enhance the efficacy and improve the side effect of sorafenib, Hedyotis diffusa, one of the most prescribed phytomedicines for treating liver cancer patients in Taiwan, was evaluated in this work. We hypothesized that H. diffusa extract is a safety herb combination on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of sorafenib. We designed treatments of sorafenib in combination with or without H. diffusa extract to examine its pharmacokinetic properties and effects on liver inflammation. The HPLC-photodiode-array method was designed for monitoring the plasma level and pharmacokinetic parameter of sorafenib in rat plasma. The pharmacokinetic results demonstrated that the area under the curve of sorafenib (10 mg/kg, p.o.) in combination with various doses of H. diffusa formulation (1, 3, and 10 g/kg, p.o.) for 5 consecutive days were 5560 ± 1392, 7965 ± 2055, 7271 ± 1371, and 8821 ± 1705 min μg/mL, respectively, no significant difference when compared with sorafenib treatment alone. Furthermore, the hepatic activity in rats administered with sorafenib with/without H. diffusa extract was quantitatively scored by modified hepatic activity index grading. H. diffusa extract in the range of 1 to 10 g/kg per day did not elicit significant herb-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, based on the histopathological study. Consequently, our findings provided positive safety outcomes for the administration of sorafenib in combination with the phytomedicine H. diffusa.

Scutellaria barbata and Hedyotis diffusa herb pair for breast cancer treatment: Potential mechanism based on network pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Scutellaria barbata and Hedyotis diffusa (SH) herb pair is extensively used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for efficacy enhancement in cancer treatment in China and Asian countries. Superior clinical efficacy observations based on high dosages (≥60 g) motivated us to explore appropriate dosages and the underlying mechanisms of action.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the efficacy and potential mechanisms of actions of SH through in vitro and in vivo experiments and network pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SH lyophilized powder (SHLP) was prepared from decoctions and the active ingredients were identified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Proliferation and migration experiments in vitro and tumor growth in vivo were performed to evaluate the effects of SHLP on breast cancer. Corresponding potential target genes for SHLP components and breast cancer were extracted from established databases and the Protein-Protein Internetwork of shared genes were constructed using STRING database. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional annotation clusters were acquired and the top 30 pathways were presented. At last, as one of pathways indicated by enriched results, apoptosis was validated with flow cytometric analysis and caspase-3, 8, 9 activities.

RESULTS

Seventy-five ingredients were identified from SHLP by HPLC. High SHLP doses inhibited proliferation and migration of three types of breast cancer cells in vitro and tumor growth in nude mice. After target genes extraction and intersection, the top 30 KEGG clusters were enriched, including PI3K-Akt, cell cycle and other related pathways like VEGF, Micro-RNAs and NF-κB, besides, key genes in apoptosis were mapped. In the last, apoptosis was validated by flow cytometric analysis and caspase-3, 8, 9 activities after SHLP treatment.

CONCLUSION

High SHLP dosages inhibited breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, enriched by network pharmacology and confirmed by flow cytometric analysis and caspase activation, with apoptosis was identified as one of the mechanisms of action of SHLP. SHLP administration with higher doses is recommended for clinical usage.

Antitumor potential of Hedyotis diffusa Willd: A systematic review of bioactive constituents and underlying molecular mechanisms

Cancer is a major cause of death in the world. Chemotherapy can extend the life of cancer patients to some extent, but the quality of life is reduced. Therefore, the quest for more efficient and less toxic medication strategies is still at the forefront of current research. Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW), a Chinese herb medicine, has received great attention in the past two decades and has been well documented in clinics for antitumor activity in a variety of human cancers. This review discussed a total of 58 different kinds of active antitumor components isolated from HDW, including iridoids, flavonoids, flavonol glycosides, anthraquinones, phenolic acids, and their derivatives, sterols, and volatile oils. Their antitumor activities include inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis, regulation of the host immune response, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and protective autophagy. Besides, we provide up-to-date and systematic evidence for HDW antitumor activities and the possible underlying molecular mechanisms and reference for further development of novel drugs and dosage formulation in control of human cancers.

Gan-Qing-Ning Formula Inhibits the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Promoting Apoptosis and Inhibiting Angiogenesis in H22 Tumor-Bearing Mice

Objective

Gang-Qing-Ning (GQN) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the folk population for decades. However, scientific validation is still necessary to lend credibility to the traditional use of GQN against HCC. This study investigates the antitumor effect of GQN on H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice and its possible mechanism.

Methods

Fifty H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice were randomly assigned to five groups. Three groups were treated with high, medium, and low dosages of GQN (27.68, 13.84, and 6.92 g/kg, respectively); the positive control group was treated with cytoxan (CTX) (20 mg/kg) and the model group was treated with normal saline. After 10 days' treatment, the tumor inhibitory rates were calculated. Pathological changes in tumor tissue were observed, and the key proteins and genes of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway were measured, as well as the mRNA expression levels of VEGF in tumor tissue.

Results

The tumor inhibitory rates of high, medium, and low dosages of GQN groups were 47.39%, 38.26%, and 22.17%, respectively. The high dosage of the GQN group significantly increased the protein and mRNA expression levels of Bax, Cyt-C, and cleaved Caspase 3 (or Caspase 3) (P < 0.01) but decreased the expression levels of Bcl-2, VEGF, and microvessel density (MVD) (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The high dosage of GQN can significantly inhibit the tumor growth in H₂₂ tumor-bearing mice. It exerts the antitumor effect by enhancing proapoptotic factors and inhibiting the antiapoptotic factor of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.

A panoramic review of IL-6: Structure, pathophysiological roles and inhibitors

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine. Its deregulation is associated with chronic inflammation, and multifactorial auto-immune disorders. It mediates its biological roles through a hexameric complex composed of IL-6 itself, its receptor IL-6R, and glycoprotein 130 (IL-6/IL-6R/gp130). This complex, in turn, activates different signaling mechanisms (classical and trans-signaling) to execute various biochemical functions. The trans-signaling mechanism activates various pathological routes, like JAK/STAT3, Ras/MAPK, PI3K-PKB/Akt, and regulation of CD4+ T cells and VEGF levels, which cause cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Involvement of IL-6 in pathophysiology of these complex diseases makes it an important target for the treatment of these diseases. Though some anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies are being used clinically, but their high cost, only parenteral administration, and possibility of immunogenicity have limited their use, and warranted the development of novel small non-peptide molecules as IL-6 inhibitors. In the present report, all molecules reported in literature as IL-6 inhibitors have been classified as IL-6 production, IL-6R, and IL-6 signaling inhibitors. Reports available till date are critically studied to identify important and salient structural features common in these molecules. These analyses would assist medicinal chemists to design novel and potent IL-6 production and signaling inhibitors, through knowledge- and/or computer-based approaches, for the treatment of complex multifactorial diseases.

Anticancer Plants: A Review of the Active Phytochemicals, Applications in Animal Models, and Regulatory Aspects

The rising burden of cancer worldwide calls for an alternative treatment solution. Herbal medicine provides a very feasible alternative to western medicine against cancer. This article reviews the selected plant species with active phytochemicals, the animal models used for these studies, and their regulatory aspects. This study is based on a meticulous literature review conducted through the search of relevant keywords in databases, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Twenty plants were selected based on defined selection criteria for their potent anticancer compounds. The detailed analysis of the research studies revealed that plants play an indispensable role in fighting different cancers such as breast, stomach, oral, colon, lung, hepatic, cervical, and blood cancer cell lines. The in vitro studies showed cancer cell inhibition through DNA damage and activation of apoptosis-inducing enzymes by the secondary metabolites in the plant extracts. Studies that reported in vivo activities of these plants showed remarkable results in the inhibition of cancer in animal models. Further studies should be performed on exploring more plants, their active compounds, and the mechanism of anticancer actions for use as standard herbal medicine.

2-Hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone inhibits lung carcinoma cells through modulation of IL-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 pathway

BACKGROUND

2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (HMA), an anthraquinone monomer in traditional Chinese medicine Hedyotis diffusa, has been reported to inhibit the growth of several types of cancer, but its effect on lung cancer has not been adequately investigated.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that HMA inhibit the growth, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells in part via downregulation of interleukin (IL)-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

METHODS

Growth and apoptosis of lung cancer cells were quantitated by CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Migration and invasion of A549 cells were determined by wound-healing assay and transwell invasion assay, respectively. The effect of HMA on cytokines expression in A549 cells was evaluated by the cytokine antibody array assay. Gene expression and protein levels of related molecular markers were quantitated by real time-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

HMA significantly inhibited IL-6-stimulated growth and colony formation of A549 cells, increased the number of apoptotic cells, and inhibited invasion associated with downregulation of expression of IL-6-induced MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 genes. IL-6 increased the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 in A549 cells, which was reversed by HMA treatment. In addition, HMA reduced the expression of a series of inflammation-related cytokines in A549 cells supernatant, including IL-6, G-CSF, IL-6R, IL-8, MCP-1, RANTES, TNF-α.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that HMA may inhibit the growth and invasion of lung cancer cells in part via downregulation of IL-6-induced JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Analyzing hedyotis diffusa mechanisms of action from the genomics perspective

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Hedyotis diffusa is an herb used for anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibroblast treatment in the clinical practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, its pharmacological mechanisms have not been fully established and there is a lack of modern scientific verification. One of the best ways to further understand Hedyotis diffusa's mechanisms of action is to analyze it from the genomics perspective.

METHODS

In this study, we used network pharmacology approaches to infer the herb-gene interactions, the herb-pathway interactions, and the gene families. We then analyzed Hedyotis diffusa's mechanisms of action using the genomics context combined with the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinical practice and the pharmacological research.

RESULTS

The results obtained in the pathway and gene family analysis were consistent with the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinical experience and the pharmacological activities of Hedyotis diffusa.

CONCLUSIONS

Our approach can identify related genes and pathways correctly with little a priori knowledge, and provide potential directions to facilitate further research.

A Systems Pharmacology Approach for Identifying the Multiple Mechanisms of Action of the Wei Pi Xiao Decoction for the Treatment of Gastric Precancerous Lesions

The Wei Pi Xiao (WPX) decoction, based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used for the treatment of gastric precancerous lesions (GPL). Although WPX is known to be effective for the treatment of GPL, its active ingredients, cellular targets, and the precise molecular mechanism of action are not known. This study aimed to identify the multiple mechanisms of action of the WPX decoction in the treatment of GPL. The active compounds, drug targets, and the key pathways involved in the therapeutic effect of WPX in the treatment of GPL were analyzed by an integrative analysis pipeline. The information pertaining to the compounds present in WPX and their disease targets was obtained from TCMSP and GeneCards, respectively. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of WPX were investigated with gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. A total of 82 bioactive compounds and 146 related targets were identified in this study. Following target analyses, the targets were further mapped to 26 key biological processes and 21 related pathways to construct a target-pathway network and an integrated GPL pathway. The study demonstrated that the WPX formula primarily treats the dysfunctions of GPL arising from cell proliferation, apoptosis, and mucosal inflammation, which offered a novel insight into the pathogenesis of GPL and revealed the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of the WPX formula in GPL. This study offers a novel approach for the systematic investigation of the mechanisms of action of herbal medicines, which will provide an impetus to the GPL drug development pipeline.

Neural network analysis of Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions for patients with colorectal cancer

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an experiential form of medicine with a history dating back thousands of years. The present study aimed to utilize neural network analysis to examine specific prescriptions for colorectal cancer (CRC) in clinical practice to arrive at the most effective prescription strategy. The study analyzed the data of 261 CRC cases recruited from a total of 141,962 cases of renowned veteran TCM doctors collected from datasets of both the DeepMedic software and TCM cancer treatment books. The DeepMedic software was applied to normalize the symptoms/signs and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) prescriptions using standardized terminologies. Over 20 percent of CRC patients demonstrated symptoms of poor appetite, fatigue, loose stool, and abdominal pain. By analyzing the prescription patterns of CHM, we found that Atractylodes macrocephala (Bai-zhu) and Poria (Fu-ling) were the most commonly prescribed single herbs identified through analysis of medical records, and supported by the neural network analysis; although there was a slight difference in the sequential order. The study revealed an 81.9% degree of similarity of CHM prescriptions between the medical records and the neural network suggestions. The patterns of nourishing Qi and eliminating dampness were the most common goals of clinical prescriptions, which corresponds with treatments of CRC patients in clinical practice. This is the first study to employ machine learning, specifically neural network analytics to support TCM clinical diagnoses and prescriptions. The DeepMedic software may be used to deliver accurate TCM diagnoses and suggest prescriptions to treat CRC.

Exploring the Interaction Mechanism Between Cyclopeptide DC3 and Androgen Receptor Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Free Energy Calculations

Androgen receptor (AR) is a key target in the discovery of anti-PCa (Prostate Cancer) drugs. Recently, a novel cyclopeptide Diffusa Cyclotide-3 (DC3), isolated from Hedyotisdiffusa, has been experimentally demonstrated to inhibit the survival and growth of LNCap cells, which typically express T877A-mutated AR, the most frequently detected point mutation of AR in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). But the interaction mechanism between DC3 and AR is not clear. Here in this study we aim to explore the possible binding mode of DC3 to T877A-mutated AR from molecular perspective. Firstly, homology modeling was employed to construct the three-dimensional structure of the cyclopeptide DC3 using 2kux.1.A as the template. Then molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) methods were performed to determine the bind site and explore the detailed interaction mechanism of DC3-AR complex. The obtained results suggested that the site formed by H11, loop888-893, and H12 (site 2) was the most possible position of DC3 binding to AR. Besides, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions play dominant roles in the recognition and combination of DC3-AR complex. The essential residues dominant in each interaction were specifically revealed. This work facilitates our understanding of the interaction mechanism of DC3 binding to AR at the molecular level and contributes to the rational cyclopeptide drug design for prostate cancer.

Therapeutic effects of Hedyotis diffusa Willd in a COPD mouse model challenged with LPS and smoke

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) is a constituent of several Chinese medicines used clinically to treat inflammatory diseases, including airway inflammation. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether HDW serves a protective role in suppressing chronic airway inflammation and its underlying mechanisms. A mouse model of chronic smoking was induced via exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) for 30 days, increasing the exposure time for up to 5 min per day and the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mice were gavaged with HDW (50 or 100 mg/kg body weight), dexamethasone (1 mg/kg body weight) or normal saline (NS, 0.9%) 1 h prior to CS challenge. Compared with CS and LPS (SL)-induced mice, the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from HDW+SL mice were significantly decreased and IL-10 was markedly reduced. Histological examination of the lung tissues revealed that HDW treatment alleviates airway inflammation. In addition, the administration of HDW to human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells suppressed the activity of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway. The results of the present study demonstrate that HDW has a therapeutic effect in COPD and the underlying mechanism may be attributed to inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.

Chinese Medicine Treatment for Afatinib-Induced Paronychia

Afatinib (Gilotrif™) is widely used to treat patients with mutant activating epidermal growth factor receptor- (EGFR-) dependent lung adenocarcinoma; however, it has various adverse side effects. Here, we report a patient with afatinib-induced paronychia. After Chinese medicine treatment with the well-known anticancer Chinese herbs, Jen-Ren-Hwo-Minq-Saan, and decoction of Ban-Zhi-Lian (Scutellaria barbata) with Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd), patient's condition was significantly improved. This shows that these Chinese medicines can not only be used in cancer treatment but also be used in the afatinib-induced paronychia.

Anticancer activities and mechanisms of heat-clearing and detoxicating traditional Chinese herbal medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, pathogenic heat and toxins, which are akin to the inflammatory factors, are the causes of cancer and could promote its virulent development. Therefore, heat-clearing and detoxicating (HCD) herbs are essential components of TCM formulas for cancer treatment. An increasing interest has been focused on the study of HCD herbs and accumulated evidences have shown that HCD herbs or HCD herbs-based formulas exhibited remarkable anticancer effects when used alone or combined with other therapeutic approaches. Some of the HCD herb-derived products have been tested in clinical trials. Studies revealed that extracts or pure compounds of the HCD herbs showed a broad anticancer spectrum against both solid and hematologic malignancies without significant toxic effects. Notably, some HCD herbs or formulas could strongly enhance the anticancer activities of chemo- or radio-therapy and alleviate their side effects. The anticancer activities of HCD herb exacts or the pure compounds were reported to be through multiple cellular or molecular mechanisms, such as induction of cancer cell apoptosis, differentiation and cell cycle arrest, inhibition of cancer cell growth, invasion and metastasis, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. In this review, we provide comprehensive analysis and summary of research progress and future prospects in this field to facilitate the further study and application of HCD herbs.

Synergistic inhibition of leukemia WEHI-3 cell growth by arsenic trioxide and Hedyotis diffusa Willd extract in vitro and in vivo

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is clinically used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL); however, the therapeutic dose of ATO may prompt critical cardiac side effects. Combination therapy may be used to improve the therapeutic efficiency. To evaluate this possibility, the present study determined the combined effects of Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) extract and ATO in leukemic WEHI-3 cells. The results demonstrated that co-treatment of HDW with ATO resulted in a synergistic augmentation of cytotoxicity in cells at the concentration tested. In order to investigate the potential therapeutic application for leukemia, the combined effects of HDW and ATO were analyzed on the WEHI-3 cell-induced orthotopic leukemia animal model in vivo. The WEHI-3 cells in mice with leukemia were established by injecting murine WEHI-3 cells into BALB/c mice, and treating them with HDW and/or combined with ATO. The results indicated that HDW alone or HDW combined with ATO promoted the total survival rate of mice with leukemia, and these effects are dose-dependent. HDW alone or HDW combined with ATO did not affect the body weight, decreased the spleen weight and did not affect the liver weight. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that HDW alone or HDW combined with ATO resulted in a synergistic augmentation of apoptosis in WEHI-3 cells at the concentration tested. In order to further reveal the detailed mechanism of this synergistic effect on apoptosis, apoptosis-related proteins were also evaluated. The data revealed that HDW alone or HDW combined with ATO induced the expression of death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5 and the activation of poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase, caspase-3, -8 and -9. Furthermore, HDW alone or HDW combined with ATO decreased the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2, B-cell lymphoma-extra large and survivin, and increased the expression levels of Bak and t-Bid. Altogether, the results indicate that the combination of HDW with ATO may be a promising strategy used to increase the clinical efficacy of ATO in the treatment of APL.

Total coumarins of Hedyotis diffusa induces apoptosis of myelodysplastic syndrome SKM-1 cells by activation of caspases and inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway proteins

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hedyotis diffusa is an ethno-medicine used for anti-cancer treatment in the clinic of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The total coumarins of Hedyotis diffusa (TCHD) was a selected extract with observed antiproliferative activity, which has not been tested in treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the apoptosis-inducing effect of TCHD on human MDS cell line (SKM-1) and explore its action mechanism in association with caspase family and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical constituents and total coumarins content of TCHD were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and UV-vis spectrophotometry, respectively. MTT assay, Hoechst 33258 staining, and Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeling were applied to evaluate TCHD's efficacy on SKM-1 cells. Western blot analysis was also used to clarify the action mechanism of TCHD on protein expression level.

RESULTS

Two compounds, p-coumaric acid and E-6-O-p-coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester, were identified in TCHD, and its total coumarins content reached 87.4%. By MTT assay, apoptosis-inducing effect of TCHD on SKM-1 cells was found in a dose-dependent manner after 24-48h treatment, with IC₅₀ values of 104.48μg/ml and 100.66μg/ml, respectively. Morphological and flow cytometry observation also confirmed such effect of TCHD. Western blot analysis clarified its action mechanism associating with the activation of caspases and inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report regarding the apoptosis-inducing efficacy and mechanism of TCHD on SKM-1 cells, providing a promising candidate of TCM for MDS and AML therapy with fewer side effects.

The anti-tumor effect and bioactive phytochemicals of Hedyotis diffusa willd on ovarian cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hedyotis diffusa willd (HDW) is a widely used medicinal herb in China. It processed various medicinal properties including antioxidative, anti-inflamatory and anti-cancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effects of HDW on ovarian cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms as well as identify the bioactive compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Effects of HDW on the viability of ovarian cancer A2780 cells were detected by MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by cell morphologic observation through DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis. The migration of ovarian cancer cells which exposed to HDW were detected by wound healing and transwell assays. The protein levels of caspase 3/9, Bcl-2 and MMP-2/9 in human ovarian cancer cells treated with HDW were assessed by western blotting analysis. The potential bioactive compounds were characterized by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

RESULTS

HDW significantly inhibited the growth of A2780 ovarian cancer cells and induced apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis by HDW was associated with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the activation of caspase 3/9. Wound healing and transwell chamber assays indicated HDW suppressed the migration of ovarian cancer cells. HDW dramatically decreased MMP-2/9 expression. A HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis of HDW indicated the presence of 13 flavonoids compounds and one anthraquinone compound, which may contribute to the anticancer activity of the HDW.

CONCLUSIONS

HDW effectively restricted the growth of ovarian cancer cells and induced apoptosis through the mitochondria-associated apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, HDW suppressed the migration of ovarian cancer cells through down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. These results showed that HDW hold potential therapeutic effect for ovarian cancer patients.

Network pharmacology dissection of multiscale mechanisms of herbal medicines in stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma treatment

Increasing evidence has shown that Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) has efficient therapeutic effects for advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, while the therapeutic mechanisms underlying this treatment remain unclear.In this study, the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the survival benefit of CHM treatment, and correlation analysis was applied to identify the most effective components in the formulas. A network pharmacological approach was developed to decipher the potential therapeutic mechanisms of CHM.CHM treatment was an independent protective factor. The hazard ratio was 0.364 (95% CI 0.245-0.540; P < 0.001). The median survival time was 18 months for patients who received CHM treatment, while for patients without CHM treatment was decreased to 9 months (P < 0.001). Thirteen out of the total 204 herbs were significantly correlated with favorable survival outcomes (P < 0.05), likely representing the most effective components in these formulas. Bioinformatics analyses suggested that the simultaneous manipulation of multiple targets in proliferation pathways (such as epidermal growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and insulin like growth factor 2) and the process of cancer metastasis (collagen families, fibronectin 1 and matrix metalloproteinases families) might largely account for the mechanisms of the 13 herbs against gastric adenocarcinoma.A network pharmacology method was introduced to decipher the underlying mechanisms of CHM, which provides a good foundation for herbal research based on clinical data.

The Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (Rubiaceae): A Review on Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Quality Control and Pharmacokinetics

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (H. diffusa) is a well-known Chinese medicine with a variety of activities, especially its anti-cancer effect in the clinic. Up to now, 171 compounds have been reported from H. diffusa, including 32 iridoids, 26 flavonoids, 24 anthraquinones, 26 phenolics and their derivatives, 50 volatile oils and 13 miscellaneous compounds. In vitro and in vivo studies show these phytochemicals and plant extracts to exhibit a range of pharmacological activities of anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibroblast, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects. Although a series of methods have been established for the quality control of H. diffusa, a feasible and reliable approach is still needed in consideration of its botanical origin, collecting time and bioactive effects. Meanwhile, more pharmacokinetics researches are needed to illustrate the characteristics of H. diffusa in vivo. The present review aims to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetic characteristics of H. diffusa for its clinical use and further development.

The Nitric Oxide Prodrug JS-K Induces Ca(2+)-Mediated Apoptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common and deadly forms of human malignancies. JS-K, O(2)-(2, 4-dinitrophenyl) 1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl) piperazin-1-yl] diazen-1-ium-1, 2-diolate, has the ability to induce apoptosis of tumor cell lines. In the present study, JS-K inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner and significantly induced apoptosis. JS-K enhanced the ratio of Bax-to-Bcl-2, released of cytochrome c (Cyt c) from mitochondria and the activated caspase-9/3. JS-K caused an increasing cytosolic Ca(2+) and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Carboxy-PTIO (a NO scavenger) and BAPTA-AM (an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator) significantly blocked an increasing cytosolic Ca(2+) in JS-K-induced HepG2 cells apoptosis, especially Carboxy-PTIO. Meanwhile, Carboxy-PTIO and BAPTA-AM treatment both attenuate JS-K-induced apoptosis through upregulation of Bcl-2, downregulation of Bax, reduction of Cyt c release from mitochondria to cytoplasm and inactivation of caspase-9/3. In summary, JS-K induced HepG2 cells apoptosis via Ca(2+)/caspase-3-mediated mitochondrial pathway.

Chinese Herbal Medicines as an Adjunctive Therapy for Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pancreatic cancer is a common malignancy with a high mortality. Most patients present clinically with advanced pancreatic cancer. Moreover, the effect of radiotherapy or chemotherapy is limited. Complementary and alternative medicines represent exciting adjunctive therapies. In this study, we ascertained the beneficial and adverse effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in combination with conventional therapy for inoperable pancreatic cancer by using meta-analysis methods for controlled clinical trials. We extracted data for studies searched from six electronic databases that were searched and also assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. We evaluated the following outcome measures: 6-month and 1-year survival rate, objective response rate, disease control rate, quality of life, and adverse effects. The final analysis showed CHM is a promising strategy as an adjunctive therapy to treat advanced or inoperable pancreatic cancer and that CHM in combination with conventional therapy is a promising strategy for resistant disease. However, convincing evidence must be obtained and confirmed by high-quality trials in future studies.

Chemical Profiles and Protective Effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Renal Inflammation Mice

Protective effect of Hedyotis diffusa (H. diffusa) Willd against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced renal inflammation was evaluated by the productions of cytokines and chemokine, and the bioactive constituents of H. diffusa were detected by the ultra-fast liquid chromatography-diode array detector-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UFLC-DAD-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method. As the results showed, water extract of H. diffusa (equal to 5.0 g/kg body weight) obviously protected renal tissues, significantly suppressed the productions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, as well as significantly promoted the production of IL-10 in serum and renal tissues. According the chemical profiles of H. diffusa, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides and anthraquinones were greatly detected in serum from H. diffusa extract treatment mice. Two main chemotypes, including eight flavonoids and four iridoid glycosides were found in renal tissues from H. diffusa extract treatment mice. The results demonstrated that water extract of H. diffusa had protective effect on renal inflammation, which possibly resulted from the bioactive constituents consisting of flavonoids, iridoids and anthraquinones.

Characterization and identification of iridoid glucosides, flavonoids and anthraquinones in Hedyotis diffusa by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The multiple bioactive constituents in Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (H. diffusa) were extracted and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS(n)). The optimized separation condition was obtained using an Agilent ZorBax SB-C18 column (4.6×150 mm, 5 μm) and gradient elution with water (containing 0.1% formic acid) and acetonitrile (containing 0.1% formic acid), under which baseline separation for the majority of compounds was achieved. Among the compounds detected, 14 iridoid glucosides, 10 flavonoids, 7 anthraquinones, 1 coumarin and 1 triterpene were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized based on their retention times and mass spectra in comparison with the data from standards or references. The fragmentation behavior for different types of constituents was also investigated, which could contribute to the elucidation of these constituents in H. diffusa. The present study reveals that even more iridoid glycosides were found in H. diffusa than hitherto assumed. The occurrence of two iridoid glucosides and five flavonoids in particular has not yet been described. This paper marks the first report on the structural characterization of chemical compounds in H. diffusa by a developed HPLC-ESI-MS(n) method.

Ethanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa willd upregulates G0/G1 phase arrest and induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells by modulating caspase cascade signaling and altering associated genes expression was assayed by cDNA microarray

The authors' previous study has shown that water extract of Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) promoted immune response and exhibited anti-leukemic activity in BALB/c leukemic mice in vivo. In this study, the anti-proliferation effects of ethanol extract of H. diffusa Willd (EEHDW) on lung cancer cell lines (A549, H1355, and LLC), leukemia cell lines (HL-60, WEHI-3), and a mouse melanoma cell line (B16F10) in vitro were investigated. The results demonstrated that EEHDW suppressed the cell proliferation of A549, H1355, HL-60, WEHI-3, and B16F10 cells as well as reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. We found that EEHDW inhibited the cell proliferation of HL-60 cells in concentration-dependent manner. In addition, EEHDW triggered an arrest of HL-60 cells at G0/G1 phase and sub-G1 population (apoptotic cells). EEHDW provoked DNA condensation and DNA damage in HL-60 cells. The activities of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 were elevated in EEHDW-treated HL-60 cells. DNA microarray to investigate and display the gene levels related to cell growth, signal transduction, apoptosis, cell adhesion, cell cycle, DNA damage and repair, transcription and translation was also used. These findings suggest that EEHDW may be a potential herbal medicine and therapeutic agent for the treatment of leukemia.

Determination of Oleanolic and Ursolic Acids in Hedyotis diffusa Using Hyphenated Ultrasound-Assisted Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction and Chromatography

Oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) were extracted from Hedyotis diffusa using a hyphenated procedure of ultrasound-assisted and supercritical carbon dioxide (HSC–CO₂) extraction at different temperatures, pressures, cosolvent percentages, and SC–CO₂ flow rates. The results indicated that these parameters significantly affected the extraction yield. The maximal yields of OA (0.917 mg/g of dry plant) and UA (3.540 mg/g of dry plant) were obtained at a dynamic extraction time of 110 min, a static extraction time of 15 min, 28.2 MPa, and 56°C with a 12.5% (v/v) cosolvent (ethanol/water = 82/18, v/v) and SC–CO₂ flowing at 2.3 mL/min (STP). The extracted yields were then analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify the OA and UA. The present findings revealed that H. diffusa is a potential source of OA and UA. In addition, using the hyphenated procedure for extraction is a promising and alternative process for recovering OA and UA from H. diffusa at high concentrations.

Anticancer effect of 2,7-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in vitro and in vivo

CONTEXT

2,7-Dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (DDMN) is reported to have a remarkable anticancer activity against gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to study the anticancer effect and mechanism of DDMN on SGC-7901 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The MTT assay was used to determine the effect of DDMN on cell viability of SGC-7901 cells, and the cytotoxic effect was evaluated by the IC50 value. After treatment with different doses of DDMN (10, 20, and 40 μM) for 48 h, flow cytometry was used to investigate the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells induced by DDMN. Further, western blotting was performed to study anticancer mechanism by assaying apoptosis-related proteins containing Mcl-1, Bcl-xl, Bcl-2, Bax, Bak, Bad, cytochrome c, caspase-3, and caspase-9. Finally, xenograft assay was used to further evaluate the effect of DDMN on SGC-7901 cells by determining body weight of nude mice, tumor volumes, and apoptosis-related proteins.

RESULTS

These results suggest that DDMN can significantly inhibit (IC50 value = 20.92 μM) the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells demonstrated by flow cytometry analysis. Additionally, the results of western blotting indicated that DDMN can suppress the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-xl and Bcl-2, increase the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, Bad (40 μM), caspase-3 and caspase-9, and evidently promote the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. The xenograft assay further confirmed that DDMN had significant anticancer effects on SGC-7901 cells.

CONCLUSION

DDMN had significant anticancer effect on SGC-7901 cells in vitro and in vivo related to mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Hedyotis diffusa Willd extract inhibits the growth of human glioblastoma cells by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis via AKT/ERK pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (Rubiaceae) (HDW) has been widely applied for the treatment of tumors, inflammation and toxication in traditional Chinese medicine. The antitumor effect of HDW on glioblastoma has been rarely reported. We aim to evaluate the activity of this extract and explore the underlying mechanism in U87 human glioblastoma cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cytotoxicity of HDW extract on U87 cells was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse induced by HDW extract were determined by flow cytometry. Caspase activity was analyzed based on colorimetric assay with a microplate spectrophotometer. Protein expression was examined by Western blot.

RESULTS

HDW extract suppressed U87 cells growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry showed that HDW extract induced significant apoptosis, S/G2-M phase arrest and MMP collapse in U87 cells. Furthermore, dose-dependent activation of caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax and ERK was observed with HDW extract treatment. Decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio and Akt suppression were readily found as well.

CONCLUSIONS

Induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis played an essential role in antitumor activity of HDW extract in U87 cells, in which ERKs and Akt signaling proteins were also involved. These findings contributed to the feasibility of using HDW extract in glioblastoma treatment and the understanding of the molecular mechanism.

Hedyotis diffusa Water Extract Diminished the Cytotoxic Effects of Chemotherapy Drugs against Human Breast Cancer MCF7 Cells

Hedyotis diffusa is a Chinese herbal medicine widely used in combination with other herbal medicines such as Scutellaria barbata to treat various types of cancer. Late-stage and recurrent cancer patients usually use H. diffusa during chemotherapy in expecting to achieve additive or synergistic therapeutic effects. Several classes of active ingredients, including anthraquinones, iridoid glucosides and stigmasterols, have been isolated and characterized from H. diffusa. In the current study, we isolated alkaloid/flavonoid from H. diffusa and showed that the crude alkaloid/flavonoid extract rather than its three major components possessed antitumor activity against human breast cancer cell line MCF7. Co-administration of H. diffusa water extract diminished the cytotoxicities of chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and docetaxel towards the MCF7 cells, implicating that H. diffusa should not be used during breast cancer chemotherapy.

Fuzheng Qingjie recipe induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells via P38 MAPK activation and the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway

Fuzheng Qingjie (FZQJ) recipe is a polyherbal Chinese medicine capable of suppressing tumor growth and is used as an adjuvant therapy for various types of cancer. However, its anticancer mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we explored whether p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was involved in FZQJ-mediated mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were used to measure the viability of HepG2 cells. 4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and Annexin-V fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) were used to analyze the apoptosis of HepG2 cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ψ) and phosphorylated P38 MAPK protein were examined by a flow cytometer following 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro‑1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) and Alexa Fluor® 647 mouse anti-phosphorylated P38 MAPK antibody staining, respectively. The activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were measured using colorimetric assays. Additionally, Bcl-2 and Bax expression were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that water extract of FZQJ was able to induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells in vitro. FZQJ-induced apoptosis was accompanied by the loss of ∆ψ, downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax expression, and the activation of caspase-3, -9 and P38 MAPK. These results indicated that FZQJ induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells at least via P38 MAPK activation and the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Hedyotis diffusa Combined with Scutellaria barbata Are the Core Treatment of Chinese Herbal Medicine Used for Breast Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Study

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is the most common type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used in Taiwan, is increasingly used to treat patients with breast cancer. However, large-scale studies on the patterns of TCM prescriptions for breast cancer are still lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the core treatment of TCM prescriptions used for breast cancer recorded in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. TCM visits made for breast cancer in 2008 were identified using ICD-9 codes. The prescriptions obtained at these TCM visits were evaluated using association rule mining to evaluate the combinations of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) used to treat breast cancer patients. A total of 37,176 prescriptions were made for 4,436 outpatients with breast cancer. Association rule mining and network analysis identified Hedyotis diffusa plus Scutellaria barbata as the most common duplex medicinal (10.9%) used for the core treatment of breast cancer. Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San (19.6%) and Hedyotis diffusa (41.9%) were the most commonly prescribed herbal formula (HF) and single herb (SH), respectively. Only 35% of the commonly used CHM had been studied for efficacy. More clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these CHM used to treat breast cancer.

siRNA-participated chemotherapy: an efficient and specific therapeutic against gastric cancer

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the role of siRNA silencing fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) expression in promoting chemotherapy effect of gastric cancer and to explore its mechanism.

METHODS

Human gastric cancer cells MGC80-3 were divided into four groups: control group, cisplatin group (2 μg/L), cisplatin (2 μg/L) + siRNA group and siRNA group. The expressions of FGFR in four groups were detected by immunofluorescence. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), caspase-3 and Bax were detected by Western blot. Further, animal model of gastric cancer was established and divided into four groups as in vitro experiment. The expression of FGFR mRNA in tumor tissue was detected by the real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The size of tumor was measured to analyze the effects of treatment. Histopathological detections were performed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

For in vitro experiment, significant decrease inFGFR expression, inhibition of proliferation and promotion of apoptosis were observed in siRNA-treated cells, so as cisplatin group. siRNA also resulted in the reduction of VEGFR and rise in apoptosis-related protein (caspase-3). As for the experiment in vivo, siRNA also suppressed the expression of FGFR and enhanced tumor shrink. Furthermore, the co-administration of siRNA and cisplatin revealed a more excellent antitumor effect than other therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

siRNA can effectively suppress FGFR expression and cell proliferation, but promote apoptosis in vitro and also inhibit tumor growth and FGFR production in vivo. siRNA-participated chemotherapy may provide an efficient therapeutic approach to treat gastric cancer.

Chemical and preclinical studies on Hedyotis diffusa with anticancer potential

This paper presents the chemical and preclinical anticancer research on Hedyotis diffusa Willd. in detail, one of the most renowned herbs often prescribed in the polyherbal formulas for cancer treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. Anthraquinones, flavonoids, and terpenoids constitute the majority of the 69 compounds that have been isolated and identified from H. diffusa. The anticancer effects of the methanolic, ethanolic, and aqueous extracts in various preclinical cancer models have been described. This review also summarized the anticancer activity of constituents of the herb and the mechanisms of action. All the studies suggest that H. diffusa has enormous potential in the therapy of cancer and warrants further chemical and pharmacological investigation.

Development of a simple chromatographic method for distinguishing between two easily confused species, Hedyotis diffusa and Hedyotis corymbosa

Hedyotis diffusa Willd. and Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. are closely related species of Rubiaceae family and they can be easily confused. Although previous reports have been found in which ultraviolet spectrum, convolution spectrometry or X-ray diffraction are reported to be used for distinguishing between the two species, these methods require specialised equipment. Hence, this study aims to develop a simple chromatographic method for the purpose. Our results illustrate the use of a thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) profile to differentiate between the two species, with a blue zone appearing at around an R(f) of 0.36 in H. corymbosa but not in H. diffusa. The compound corresponding to this blue zone was later found to be hedyotiscone A. LC-MS with multiple reaction monitoring was used as a tool to identify and quantify hedyotiscone A in the test samples. In conclusion, a quick and simple TLC assay was conducted to distinguish between the two species H. diffusa and H. corymbosa.

Antitumor activities of an anthraquinone fraction isolated from in vitro cultures of Ophiorrhiza rugosa var decumbens

The biological effects of the anthraquinone fraction (AQf) isolated from in vitro cultures of Ophiorrhiza rugosa Wall. var decumbens (Rubiaceae) were evaluated. AQf showed differential activity on reactive oxygen species; it mediated the generation of superoxide radical and inhibited hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxidation. No considerable nitric oxide scavenging activity was observed for AQf. The AQf induced 50% cytotoxicity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Dalton's lymphoma ascites at concentrations of 130 and 60 µg/mL, respectively. It effectively reduced the inflammation induced by carrageenan in mice. An AQf concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight reduced solid tumor progression in mice. It also prolonged the life span of ascites tumor-bearing mice compared with control mice.