Tanshinone IIA inhibits human prostate cancer cells growth by induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress in vitro and in vivo

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) based nano-delivery systems for anticancer therapeutics

BACKGROUND

The ancient Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), plays the important role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, Danshen could also be used for curing carcinogenesis. Up to now, the anti-tumor effects of the main active constituents of Danshen have made great progress. However, the bioavailability of the active constituents of Danshen were restricted by their unique physical characteristics, like low oral bioavailability, rapid degradation in vivo and so on.

PURPOSE

With the leap development of nano-delivery systems, the shortcomings of the active constituents of Danshen have been greatly ameliorated. This review tried to summarize the recent progress of the active constituents of Danshen based delivery systems used for anti-tumor therapeutics.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using 5 databases (Embase, Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases) for the identification of relevant data published before September 2023. The words "Danshen", "Salvia miltiorrhiza", "Tanshinone", "Salvianolic acid", "Rosmarinic acid", "tumor", "delivery", "nanomedicine" and other active ingredients contained in Danshen were searched in the above databases to gather information about pharmaceutical decoration for the active constituents of Danshen used for anti-tumor therapeutics.

RESULTS

The main extracts of Danshen could inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells effectively and a great deal of studies were conducted to design drug delivery systems to ameliorate the anti-tumor effect of the active contents of Danshen through different ways, like improving bioavailability, increasing tumor targeting ability, enhancing biological barrier permeability and co-delivering with other active agents.

CONCLUSION

This review systematically represented recent progress of pharmaceutical decorations for the active constituents of Danshen used for anti-tumor therapeutics, revealing the diversity of nano-decoration skills and trying to inspire more designs of Danshen based nanodelivery systems, with the hope that bringing the nanomedicine of the active constituents of Danshen for anti-tumor therapeutics from bench to bedside in the near future.

PPARG is a potential target of Tanshinone IIA in prostate cancer treatment: a combination study of molecular docking and dynamic simulation based on transcriptomic bioinformatics

Tanshinone IIA is a lipophilic organic compound from the root of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and is one of the most well-known Tanshinone molecules by pharmacologists. In recent years, in addition to effects of anti-cardiovascular and neurological diseases, Tanshinone IIA has also shown some degrees of anti-prostate cancer potential. Although they do have some studies focusing on the molecular mechanism of Tanshinone IIA's anti-prostate cancer effects, a further understanding on the transcriptomic and structural level is still lacking. In this study, transcriptomic sequencing technology and computer technology were employed to illustrate the effects of Tanshinone IIA on prostate cancer through bioinformatic analysis and molecular dynamics simulation, and PPARG was considered to be one of the targets for Tanshinone IIA according to docking scoring and dynamic calculation. Our study provides a novel direction to further understand the mechanism of the effects of Tanshinone IIA on prostate cancer, and further molecular biological studies need to be carried on to further investigate the molecular mechanism of Tanshinone IIA's anti-prostate cancer effect through PPARG.

Tanshinone IIA targeting cell signaling pathways: a plausible paradigm for cancer therapy

Natural compounds originating from plants offer a wide range of pharmacological potential and have traditionally been used to treat a wide range of diseases including cancer. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), a bioactive molecule found in the roots of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herb Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been shown to have remarkable anticancer properties through several mechanisms, such as inhibition of tumor cell growth and proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis, as well as induction of apoptosis and autophagy. It has demonstrated excellent anticancer efficacy against cell lines from breast, cervical, colorectal, gastric, lung, and prostate cancer by modulating multiple signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, IGF-1R, and Bcl-2-Caspase pathways. This review focuses on the role of Tan IIA in the treatment of various cancers, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Marine Natural Products with Activities against Prostate Cancer: Recent Discoveries

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with over 52,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Diagnostics and early treatment are potentially hindered by variations in screening protocols, still largely reliant on serum levels of acid phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen, with tumour diagnosis and grading relying on histopathological examination. Current treatment interventions vary in terms of efficacy, cost and severity of side effects, and relapse can be aggressive and resistant to the current standard of care. For these reasons, the scientific community is looking for new chemotherapeutic agents. This review reports compounds and extracts derived from marine organisms as a potential source of new drugs against prostate cancer. Whilst there are several marine-derived compounds against other cancers, such as multiple myeloma, leukemia, breast and lung cancer, already available in the market, the presently collated findings show how the marine environment can be considered to hold potential as a new drug source for prostate cancer, as well. This review presents information on compounds presently in clinical trials, as well as new compounds/extracts that may enter trials in the future. We summarise information regarding mechanisms of action and active concentrations.

The endoplasmic reticulum stress response in prostate cancer

In order to proliferate in unfavourable conditions, cancer cells can take advantage of the naturally occurring endoplasmic reticulum-associated unfolded protein response (UPR) via three highly conserved signalling arms: IRE1α, PERK and ATF6. All three arms of the UPR have key roles in every step of tumour progression: from cancer initiation to tumour growth, invasion, metastasis and resistance to therapy. At present, no cure for metastatic prostate cancer exists, as targeting the androgen receptor eventually results in treatment resistance. New research has uncovered an important role for the UPR in prostate cancer tumorigenesis and crosstalk between the UPR and androgen receptor signalling pathways. With an improved understanding of the mechanisms by which cancer cells exploit the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, targetable points of vulnerability can be uncovered.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer: Potential role in regulating MicroRNAs and epigenetic enzymes

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in gene regulation by influencing the translation and longevity of various target mRNAs and the expression of various target genes as well as by modifying histones and DNA methylation of promoter sites. Consequently, when dysregulated, microRNAs are involved in the development and progression of a variety of diseases, including cancer, by affecting cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Preparations from the dried root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Lamiaceae), also known as red sage or danshen, are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating data suggest that certain bioactive constituents of this plant, particularly tanshinones, have broad antitumor effects by interfering with microRNAs and epigenetic enzymes. This paper reviews the evidence for the antineoplastic activities of S. miltiorrhiza constituents by causing or promoting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and epigenetic changes to provide an outlook on their future roles in the treatment of cancer, both alone and in combination with other modalities.

Molecular Mechanism of Tanshinone against Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor of the male urinary system in Europe and America. According to the data in the World Cancer Report 2020, the incidence rate of PCa ranks second in the prevalence of male malignant tumors and varies worldwide between regions and population groups. Although early PCa can achieve good therapeutic results after surgical treatment, due to advanced PCa, it can adapt and tolerate androgen castration-related drugs through a variety of mechanisms. For this reason, it is often difficult to achieve effective therapeutic results in the treatment of advanced PCa. Tanshinone is a new fat-soluble phenanthraquinone compound derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza that can play a therapeutic role in different cancers, including PCa. Several studies have shown that Tanshinone can target various molecular pathways of PCa, including the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway, androgen receptor (AR) pathway, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which will affect the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and affect cell proliferation, apoptosis, tumor metabolism, genomic stability, and tumor drug resistance. Thus, the occurrence and development of PCa cells are inhibited. In this review, we summarized the in vivo and in vitro evidence of Tanshinone against prostate cancer and discussed the effect of Tanshinone on nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), AR, and mTOR. At the same time, we conducted a network pharmacology analysis on the four main components of Tanshinone to further screen the possible targets of Tanshinone against prostate cancer and provide ideas for future research.

Ribosome-Directed Therapies in Cancer

The human ribosomes are the cellular machines that participate in protein synthesis, which is deeply affected during cancer transformation by different oncoproteins and is shown to provide cancer cell proliferation and therefore biomass. Cancer diseases are associated with an increase in ribosome biogenesis and mutation of ribosomal proteins. The ribosome represents an attractive anti-cancer therapy target and several strategies are used to identify specific drugs. Here we review the role of different drugs that may decrease ribosome biogenesis and cancer cell proliferation.

The Expression Profiles of the Salvia miltiorrhiza 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A Reductase 4 Gene and Its Influence on the Biosynthesis of Tanshinones

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a medicinal plant that synthesises biologically-active tanshinones with numerous therapeutic properties. An important rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of their precursors is 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR). This study presents the organ-specific expression profile of the S. miltiorrhiza HMGR4 gene and its sensitivity to potential regulators, viz. gibberellic acid (GA₃), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and salicylic acid (SA). In addition, it demonstrates the importance of the HMGR4 gene, the hormone used, the plant organ, and the culture environment for the biosynthesis of tanshinones. HMGR4 overexpression was found to significantly boost the accumulation of dihydrotanshinone I (DHTI), cryptotanshinone (CT), tanshinone I (TI) and tanshinone IIA (TIIA) in roots by 0.44 to 5.39 mg/g dry weight (DW), as well as TIIA in stems and leaves. S. miltiorrhiza roots cultivated in soil demonstrated higher concentrations of the examined metabolites than those grown in vitro. GA₃ caused a considerable increase in the quantity of CT (by 794.2 µg/g DW) and TIIA (by 88.1 µg/g DW) in roots. In turn, IAA significantly inhibited the biosynthesis of the studied tanshinones in root material.

Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate as a Potent IDO1/TDO2 Dual Inhibitor Enhances Anti-PD1 Therapy for Colorectal Cancer in Mice

Although the antitumor efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has been proved in colorectal cancer (CRC), the results are unsatisfactory, presumably owing to the presence of tryptophan metabolism enzymes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase 2 (TDO2). However, only a few dual inhibitors for IDO1 and TDO2 have been reported. Here, we discovered that sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), a sulfonate derived from tanshinone IIA (TSN), reduced the enzymatic activities of IDO1 and TDO2 with a half inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of less than 10 μM using enzymatic assays for natural product screening. In IDO1- or TDO2- overexpressing cell lines, STS decreased kynurenine (kyn) synthesis. STS also reduced the percentage of forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) T cells in lymphocytes from the mouse spleen cocultured with CT26. In vivo, STS suppressed tumor growth and enhanced the antitumor effect of the programmed cell death 1 (PD1) antibody. Compared with anti-PD1 (α-PD1) monotherapy, combined with STS had lower level of plasma kynurenine. Immunofluorescence assay suggested that STS decreased the number of FOXP3+ T cells and increased the number of CD8+ T cells in tumors. Flow cytometry analysis of immune cells in tumor tissues demonstrated an increase in the percentage of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. According to our findings, STS acts as an immunotherapy agent in CRC by inhibiting both IDO1 and TDO2.

Hispolon Induces Apoptosis, Suppresses Migration and Invasion of Glioblastoma Cells and Inhibits GBM Xenograft Tumor Growth In Vivo

Hispolon, a polyphenol compound isolated from Phellinus linteus, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antitumor activities. This study aimed to explore the antitumor effects of hispolon on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that hispolon significantly inhibited GBM cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Hispolon also induced cell cycle G2/M phase arrest in GBM cells, as supported by flow cytometry analysis and confirmed by a decrease in cyclin B1, cdc2, and cdc25c protein expressions in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, hispolon suppressed the migration and invasion of GBM cells by modulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers via wound healing, transwell assays, and real-time PCR. Moreover, hispolon significantly reduced tumor growth in DBTRG xenograft mice and activated caspase-3 in hispolon-treated tumors. Thus, our findings revealed that hispolon is a potential candidate for the treatment of GBM.

Tanshinone IIA sensitizes TRAIL-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma through inducing the expression of death receptors (and suppressing STAT3 activation)

OBJECTIVE

This work was designed to explore whether the combination of Tanshinone IIA (T-IIA) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has a direct anti-cancer effect in glioblastoma (GBM) and the possible mechanisms.

METHODS

GBM cells (U-87 and U-251 MG) were treated with T-IIA or/and TRAIL, or the expression of death receptors (DRs), DR4 and DR5, was suppressed in GBM cells. The activity of GBM cells was determined by MTT, and the apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst33342 staining and flow cytometry. The expression levels of cleaved caspase-3/8/9, phosphorylated (p)-STAT3 as well as DR4 and DR5 in GBM cells were assessed by Western blotting. A nude mouse xenograft model was constructed to evaluate the effects of T-IIA and TRAIL cotreatment on tumor growth and apoptosis in vivo.

RESULTS

After T-IIA treatment, GBM cells resumed the sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis dependent on inhibition of p-STAT3 and activation of DR4, DR5 and caspases. DR4 or/and DR5 knockdown significantly abated the co-effect of T-IIA and TRAIL on GBM cell apoptosis and proliferation. Furthermore, T-IIA and TRAIL cotreatment markedly inhibited the growth of transplanted tumor and activated U87 cell apoptosis in nude mice.

CONCLUSION

T-IIA increases TRAIL-induced apoptosis by downregulating STAT3 and upregulating DR4 and DR5, indicating T-IIA therapy as a novel treatment strategy for TRAIL-resistant GBM.

Network Pharmacology Validation of Therapeutic Mechanisms of Tanshinone IIA in Colorectal Cancer

Curative therapies with fewer adverse effects are required for cancer treatment. Medicinal plants represent a promising source of novel therapeutic candidates. We employed network pharmacology to predict potential molecular mechanisms of salvia root-derived tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), followed by empirical validation. The Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP), DrugBank, and GeneCards databases were queried to identify overlapping Tan IIA (therapeutic)- and CRC (disease)-relevant protein targets. Cytoscape and STRING were used to generate component-target and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, respectively, and topology analysis identified highly connected nodes within the latter. Target proteins were subjected to gene ontology (GO)-based biological process annotation using DAVID, and to biological pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto encyclopedia and genome (KEGG) database. Enriched biological processes included cell cycling and proliferation, and enriched KEGG pathways included neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt, and cancer. Network pharmacology results predicted that Tan IIA impacts multiple targets and pathways, but that its therapeutic effect is predominantly attributable to cell cycle regulation, inhibition of cell proliferation, and induction of apoptosis. Investigation of the in vitro impact of Tan IIA on proliferation, viability, and cell cycling of 2 hoursuman CRC cell lines (SW480 and SW620), using the CCK-8 method and flow cytometry, demonstrated that Tan IIA significantly inhibits cell proliferation via inducing cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Network pharmacology-predicted hypotheses were thus empirically validated, providing a basis for in-depth study of the therapeutic mechanisms of Tan IIA in the context of CRC.

Tanshinone IIA: A Review of its Anticancer Effects

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a pharmacologically lipophilic active constituent isolated from the roots and rhizomes of the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). Tan IIA is currently used in China and other neighboring countries to treat patients with cardiovascular system, diabetes, apoplexy, arthritis, sepsis, and other diseases. Recently, it was reported that tan IIA could have a wide range of antitumor effects on several human tumor cell lines, but the research of the mechanism of tan IIA is relatively scattered in cancer. This review aimed to summarize the recent advances in the anticancer effects of tan IIA and to provide a novel perspective on clinical use of tan IIA.

Prospective therapeutic potential of Tanshinone IIA: An updated overview

In the past decades, the branch of complementary and alternative medicine based therapeutics has gained considerable attention worldwide. Pharmacological efficacy of various traditional medicinal plants, their products and/or product derivatives have been explored on an increasing scale. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a pharmacologically active lipophilic component of Salvia miltiorrhiza extract. Tan IIA shares a history of high repute in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Reckoning with these, the present review collates the pharmacological properties of Tan IIA with a special emphasis on its therapeutic potential against diverse diseases including cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity and neurogenerative diseases. Further, possible applications of various therapeutic preparations of Tan IIA were discussed with special emphasis on nano-based drug delivery formulations. Considering the tremendous advancement in the field of nanomedicine and the therapeutic potential of Tan IIA, the convergence of these two aspects can be foreseen with great promise in clinical application.

Tanshinone IIA regulates human AML cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis through miR-497-5p/AKT3 axis

Background

The roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza are used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and have high medicinal value. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza which can inhibit the growth of acute leukemia cell lines in vitro, although the mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

CCK-8 assays and BrdU stain were used to evaluate cell proliferation ability. Western blot analysis was used to detect protein expression. miR-497-5p expression level was detected by using qRT-PCR, and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) was used to detect cell apoptosis.

Results

Here we reported that Tan IIA could inhibit cell proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest, and promote cell apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Thus, Tan IIA had the anti-cancer activity in AML cell lines, which was likely mediated by up-regulation of miR-497-5p expression. Our data further showed that in AML cells, the same effects were observed with overexpression of miR-497-5p by a miR-497-5p mimic. We demonstrated that Tan IIA could inhibit the expression of AKT3 by up-regulating the expression of miR-497-5p. We subsequently identified that AKT3 was the direct target of miR-497-5p, and that treatment with Tan IIA obviously reversed the effect of treatment with an miR-497-5p inhibitor under harsh conditions. In turn, PCNA expression was increased and cleaved Caspase-3 was suppressed, which contributed to the growth of AML cells.

Conclusions

Our results showed that Tan IIA could inhibit cell proliferation in AML cells through miR-497-5p-mediated AKT3 downregulation pathway.

Tanshinone IIA alleviates hypoxia/reoxygenation induced cardiomyocyte injury via lncRNA AK003290/miR-124-5p signaling

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death globally and has thus placed a heavy burden on healthcare. Tanshinone IIA (TSA) is a major active compound, extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, that possesses various pharmacological activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of TSA in AMI and its underlying mechanism of action.

RESULTS

We have shown that TSA decreased the apoptosis rate, the amount of LDH, MDA as well as ROS of cardiomyocytes. Meantime, it elevated mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) which was decreased by H/R treatment. It was also determined that miR-124-5p targets AK003290 directly. TSA up-regulated the expression of AK003290 and its function can be reversed by knock down of AK003290 as well as miR-124-5p overexpression.

CONCLUSION

TSA exerts the protective role against H/R induced apoptosis, oxidative and MMP loss of cardiomyocytes via regulating AK003290 and miR-124-5p signaling.

The Synergistic Antitumor Effect of Tanshinone IIA Plus Adriamycin on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenograft in BALB/C Nude Mice and Their Influences on Cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 In Vivo

OBJECTIVE

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common diseases that seriously threaten human life and health. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) combined with adriamycin (ADM) on human hepatocellular carcinoma and developed a platform to assess the function if Chinese herbal ingredients combined with chemotherapy drugs have synergistic antitumor effects in vivo.

METHODS

Established animal model of human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cell in nude mice. Mice were divided into model control group, Tan IIA group, ADM group, and Tan IIA + ADM group. The changes from general condition, weight, tumor volume, and inhibition rate were observed. The data were gathered from serum AST level and histopathological changes. The content and activity of cytochrome P450 were determined by spectrophotometric analysis. CYP3A4 protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. The binding model crystal structure of Tan IIA and ADM with pregnane X receptor (PXR) was evaluated by Discovery Studio 2.1.

RESULTS

A combination of Tan IIA with ADM could improve life quality by relieving ADM toxicity, decreasing tumor volume, declining serum AST level, and improving liner pathological section in tumor-bearing mice. The inhibitory rates of Tan IIA, ADM, and cotreatment were 32.77%, 60.96%, and 73.18%, respectively. The Tan IIA group significantly enhanced the content of cytochrome b5, P450, and erythromycin-N-demethylase activity. CYP3A4 protein expression was enhanced obviously by the Tan IIA + ADM group. Virtual molecular docking showed that both Tan IIA and ADM could be stably docked with the same binding site of PXR but different interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Tan IIA in combination with ADM could improve the life quality in tumor-bearing mice and enhance the antitumor effect. The Tan IIA group increased the concentration of cytochrome P450 enzymes and activity. Combined Tan IIA with ADM could upregulate the CYP3A4 protein expression and make relevant interaction with protein PXR by virtual docking.

Inhibiting eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis

BACKGROUND

Ribosome biogenesis is a central process in every growing cell. In eukaryotes, it requires more than 250 non-ribosomal assembly factors, most of which are essential. Despite this large repertoire of potential targets, only very few chemical inhibitors of ribosome biogenesis are known so far. Such inhibitors are valuable tools to study this highly dynamic process and elucidate mechanistic details of individual maturation steps. Moreover, ribosome biogenesis is of particular importance for fast proliferating cells, suggesting its inhibition could be a valid strategy for treatment of tumors or infections.

RESULTS

We systematically screened ~ 1000 substances for inhibitory effects on ribosome biogenesis using a microscopy-based screen scoring ribosomal subunit export defects. We identified 128 compounds inhibiting maturation of either the small or the large ribosomal subunit or both. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that these inhibitors cause a broad spectrum of different rRNA processing defects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that the individual inhibitors affect a wide range of different maturation steps within the ribosome biogenesis pathway. Our results provide for the first time a comprehensive set of inhibitors to study ribosome biogenesis by chemical inhibition of individual maturation steps and establish the process as promising druggable pathway for chemical intervention.

The combination of Nutlin-3 and Tanshinone IIA promotes synergistic cytotoxicity in acute leukemic cells expressing wild-type p53 by co-regulating MDM2-P53 and the AKT/mTOR pathway

P53 dysfunction has been associated with various malignant tumors, including acute leukemia. The overexpression of mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) causes the inactivation of p53 in acute leukemia. MDM2 inhibitors that activate p53 and induce apoptosis are currently being developed for potential treatment of acute leukemia. However, MDM2 inhibitors alone have limited efficacy in acute leukemia therapeutics. Combining other drugs to enhance the efficacy of MDM2 inhibitors is the thus considered as a potential treatment scheme. Here, we report that the combination of Nutlin-3 and Tanshinone IIA synergistically induces cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagic cell death, thereby imparting anti-leukemia effect in an acute leukemia cell line with wild-type p53 by effectively activating p53, inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway, and activating the RAF/MEK pathway. Using primary samples from acute leukemia patients, we show that the combination of Nutlin-3 plus Tanshinone IIA synergistically induces cytotoxicity by activating p53 and inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway. This specific combination of Nutlin-3 and Tanshinone IIA is also effective in preventing the recurrence of refractory leukemia, such as Ph+ ALL with the ABL kinase T315I mutation and AML with the FLT3-ITD mutation. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that the Nutlin-3 plus Tanshinone IIA combination exerts synergistic anti-leukemia effects by regulating the p53 and AKT/mTOR pathways, although further investigation is warranted. Small-molecule MDM2 antagonists plus Tanshinone IIA may thus be a promising strategy for the treatment of acute leukemia.

The anticancer mechanism investigation of Tanshinone IIA by pharmacological clustering in protein network

BACKGROUND

Cancer is the second most common cause of death globally. The anticancer effects of Tanshinone II_A (Tan II_A) has been confirmed by numerous researches. However, the underlying mechanism remained to be integrated in systematic format. Systems biology embraced the complexity of cancer; therefore, a system study approach was proposed in the present study to explore the anticancer mechanism of Tan II_A based on network pharmacology.

METHOD

Agilent Literature Search (ALS), a text-mining tool, was used to pull protein targets of Tan II_A. Then, pharmacological clustering was applied to classify obtained hits, the anticancer module was analysed further. The top ten essential nodes in the anticancer module were obtained by ClusterONE. Functional units in the anticancer module were catalogued and validated by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. Meanwhile, KEGG and Cell Signalling Technology Pathway were employed to provide pathway data for potential anticancer pathways construction. Finally, the pathways were plotted using Cytoscape 3.5.1. Furthermore, in vitro experiments with five carcinoma cell lines were conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 258 proteins regulated by Tan II_A were identified through ALS and were visualized by protein network. Pharmacological clustering further sorted 68 proteins that intimately involved in cancer pathogenesis based on Gene Ontology. Subsequently, pathways on anticancer effect of Tan II_A were delineated. Five functional units were clarified according to literature: including regulation on apoptosis, proliferation, sustained angiogenesis, autophagic cell death, and cell cycle. The GO analysis confirmed the classification was statistically significant. The inhibiting influence of Tan II_A on p70 S6K/mTOR pathway was revealed for the first time. The in vitro experiments displayed the selectivity of Tan II_A on HeLa, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, A549, and ACHN cell lines, the IC₅₀ values were 0.54 μM, 4.63 μM, 1.42 μM, 17.30 μM and 204.00 μM, respectively. This result further reinforced the anticancer effect of Tan II_A treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides a systematic methodology for discovering the coordination of the anticancer pathways regulated by Tan II_A via protein network. And it also offers a valuable guidance for systematic study on the therapeutic values of other herbs and their active compounds.

Tanshinone IIA reduces SW837 colorectal cancer cell viability via the promotion of mitochondrial fission by activating JNK-Mff signaling pathways

Background

Mitochondrial homeostasis has been increasingly viewed as a potential target of cancer therapy, and mitochondrial fission is a novel regulator of mitochondrial function and apoptosis. The aim of our study was to determine the detailed role of mitochondrial fission in SW837 colorectal cancer cell viability, mobility and proliferation. In addition, the current study also investigated the therapeutic impact of Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), a type of anticancer adjuvant drug, on cancer mitochondrial homeostasis.

Results

The results of our data illustrated that Tan IIA promoted SW837 cell death, impaired cell migration and mediated cancer proliferation arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Functional investigation exhibited that Tan IIA treatment evoked mitochondrial injury, as witnessed by mitochondrial ROS overproduction, mitochondrial potential collapse, antioxidant factor downregulation, mitochondrial pro-apoptotic protein upregulation, and caspase-9-dependent apoptotic pathway activation. Furthermore, we confirmed that Tan IIA mediated mitochondrial damage by activating mitochondrial fission, and the inhibition of mitochondrial fission abrogated the proapoptotic effects of Tan IIA on SW837 cells. To this end, our results demonstrated that Tan IIA modulated mitochondrial fission via the JNK-Mff pathways. The blockade of the JNK-Mff axis inhibited Tan IIA-mediated mitochondrial fission and promoted the survival of SW837 cells.

Conclusions

Altogether, our results identified mitochondrial fission as a new potential target to control cancer viability, mobility and proliferation. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that Tan IIA is an effective drug to treat colorectal cancer by activating JNK-Mff-mitochondrial fission pathways.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12860-018-0174-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Blue light decreases tanshinone IIA content in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots via genes regulation

The effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants and hairy roots is receiving much attention. The roots and rhizomes of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge are widely used for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The main components are liposoluble tanshinones and hydrophilic phenolic acids. Moreover, hairy root culture of S. miltiorrhiza has been used in research of valuable plant-derived secondary metabolites. In this study, we examined the effect of LEDs with different combinations of wavelengths on the content of the main components in hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza. Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) content in hairy roots was significantly decreased with all light treatments containing blue light by >60% and was 9 times lower with LED treatment duration changed from 1 week to 3 weeks. HMGR, DXS2, DXR, GGPPS, CPS and CYP76AH1 genes involved in the tanshinone biosynthesis pathway were downregulated by blue light. Furthermore, light quality treatments have different effect on the accumulation of phenolic acids in hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza. The light treatments 6R3B, 6B3IR, 7RGB and 2R6BUV for 3 weeks could increase rosmarinic acid (RA) content slightly but not salvianolic acid B (SAB) content. Different secondary metabolite contents could be regulated by different wavelength combinations of LEDs. Blue light could reduce TSIIA content in hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza via gene regulation.

Synergistic antitumor effects of tanshinone IIA and sorafenib or its derivative SC-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of hepatic malignancy in the world. We aimed to determine the effect of tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) in combination with sorafenib or its derivative SC-1 on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and metastasis in human HCC cells.

Materials and methods

Cytotoxicity was detected by MTT assay. Apoptosis and sub-G1 populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by Transwell assay. Protein expression was detected by Western blot.

Results

Tan-IIA combined with sorafenib or SC-1 exerted synergistic cytotoxicity in HCC cells. Elevated proportions of sub-G1 and caspase activation were observed in the combinative treatments; in addition, marked inhibition of cell migration and invasion, which could be mediated by the modulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition was observed. pSTAT3 levels were significantly reduced as well.

Conclusion

A combination therapy using Tan-IIA and sorafenib or SC-1 could be a promising approach to target HCC, and further preclinical investigations are warranted to establish their synergetic advantage.

The antitumor natural product tanshinone IIA inhibits protein kinase C and acts synergistically with 17-AAG

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), the primary bioactive compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been reported to possess antitumor activity. However, its antitumor mechanisms are not fully understood. To resolve the potential antitumor mechanism(s) of Tan IIA, its gene expression profiles from our database was analyzed by connectivity map (CMAP) and the CMAP-based mechanistic predictions were confirmed/validated in further studies. Specifically, Tan IIA inhibited total protein kinase C (PKC) activity and selectively suppressed the expression of cytosolic and plasma membrane PKC isoforms ζ and ε. The Ras/MAPK pathway that is closely regulated by the PKC signaling is also inhibited by Tan IIA. While Tan IIA did not inhibit heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), it synergistically enhanced the antitumor efficacy of the Hsp90 inhibitors 17-AAG and ganetespib in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. In addition, Tan IIA significantly inhibited PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, and induced both cell cycle arrest and autophagy. Collectively, these studies provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms responsible for antitumor activity of Tan IIA.

Nutlin-3 plus tanshinone IIA exhibits synergetic anti-leukemia effect with imatinib by reactivating p53 and inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway in Ph+ ALL

Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) is triggered by BCR/ABL kinase. Recent efforts focused on the development of more potent tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that also inhibit mutant tyrosine kinases such as nilotinib and dasatinib. Although major advances in the treatment of this aggressive disease with potent inhibitors of the BCR/ABL kinases, patients in remission frequently relapse due to drug resistance possibly mediated, at least in part, by compensatory activation of growth-signaling pathways and protective feedback signaling of leukemia cells in response to TKI treatment. Continuous activation of AKT/mTOR signaling and inactivation of p53 pathway were two mechanisms of TKI resistance. Here, we reported that nutlin-3 plus tanshinone IIA significantly potentiated the cytotoxic and apoptotic induction effects of imatinib by down-regulation of the AKT/mTOR pathway and reactivating the p53 pathway deeply in Ph+ ALL cell line. In primary samples from Ph+ ALL patients, nutlin-3 plus tanshinone IIA also exhibited synergetic cytotoxic effects with imatinib. Of note, three samples from Ph+ ALL patients harboring T315I mutation also showed sensitivity to the combined treatment of imatinib, nutlin-3 plus tanshinone IIA. In Ph+ ALL mouse models, imatinib combined with nutlin-3 plus tanshinone IIA also exhibited synergetic effects on reduction in leukemia burden. These results demonstrated that nutlin-3 plus tanshinone IIA combined TKI might be a promising treatment strategy for Ph+ ALL patients.

Tanshinone IIA Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Bladder Cancer Cells via Modulation of STAT3-CCL2 Signaling

Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is an extract from the widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), and has been found to attenuate the proliferation of bladder cancer (BCa) cells (The IC₅₀ were: 5637, 2.6 μg/mL; BFTC, 2 μg/mL; T24, 2.7 μg/mL, respectively.). However, the mechanism of the effect of Tan-IIA on migration inhibition of BCa cells remains unclear. This study investigates the anti-metastatic effect of Tan-IIA in human BCa cells and clarifies its molecular mechanism. Three human BCa cell lines, 5637, BFTC and T24, were used for subsequent experiments. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell assays. Real-time RT-PCR and western blotting were performed to detect epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene expression. The enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) was evaluated by zymography assay. Tan-IIA inhibited the migration and invasion of human BCa cells. Tan-IIA suppressed both the protein expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9/-2 in human BCa cells. Tan-IIA up-regulated the epithelial marker E-cadherin and down-regulated mesenchymal markers such as N-cadherin and Vimentin, along with transcription regulators such as Snail and Slug in BCa cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Mechanism dissection revealed that Tan-IIA-inhibited BCa cell invasion could function via suppressed chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) expression, which could be reversed by the addition of CCL2 recombinant protein. Furthermore, Tan-IIA could inhibit the phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (Tyr705), which cannot be restored by the CCL2 recombinant protein addition. These data implicated that Tan-IIA might suppress EMT on BCa cells through STAT3-CCL2 signaling inhibition. Tan-IIA inhibits EMT of BCa cells via modulation of STAT3-CCL2 signaling. Our findings suggest that Tan-IIA can serve as a potential anti-metastatic agent in BCa therapy.

An Updated Review on Marine Anticancer Compounds: The Use of Virtual Screening for the Discovery of Small-Molecule Cancer Drugs

Marine secondary metabolites are a promising source of unexploited drugs that have a wide structural diversity and have shown a variety of biological activities. These compounds are produced in response to the harsh and competitive conditions that occur in the marine environment. Invertebrates are considered to be among the groups with the richest biodiversity. To date, a significant number of marine natural products (MNPs) have been established as antineoplastic drugs. This review gives an overview of MNPs, both in research or clinical stages, from diverse organisms that were reported as being active or potentially active in cancer treatment in the past seventeen years (from January 2000 until April 2017) and describes their putative mechanisms of action. The structural diversity of MNPs is also highlighted and compared with the small-molecule anticancer drugs in clinical use. In addition, this review examines the use of virtual screening for MNP-based drug discovery and reveals that classical approaches for the selection of drug candidates based on ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) filtering may miss potential anticancer lead compounds. Finally, we introduce a novel and publically accessible chemical library of MNPs for virtual screening purposes.

Tanshinone IIA increases protein expression levels of PERK, ATF6, IRE1α, CHOP, caspase‑3 and caspase‑12 in pancreatic cancer BxPC‑3 cell‑derived xenograft tumors

Tanshinone (Tan)-IIA is a derivative of phenanthrenequinone and the main active ingredient isolated from Salviae miltiorrhizae radix (Danshen). Previous studies have demonstrated that Tan‑IIA increased the protein expressions levels of protein kinase RNA‑like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), activating transcription factor (ATF) 6, caspase‑12 and CCAAT‑enhancer‑binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer BxPC‑3 cells. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effects of Tan‑IIA on pancreatic cancer cells have not been investigated in vivo. Further studies are required to elucidate the therapeutic potential of Tan‑IIA in inducing ER stress in cancer cells in vivo. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Tan‑IIA on the expression of ER stress‑related proteins in BxPC‑3‑derived xenograft tumors. A total of 30 male severe combined immunodeficiency mice (age, 4 weeks) were implanted with BxPC‑3 cells (2x106/0.2 ml) and subsequently treated with various doses of Tan‑IIA (0, 30 and 90 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. After mice were sacrificed on day 33, the xenograft tumors were dissected and total protein was extracted for western blot analysis. The results of the present study demonstrated that Tan‑IIA inhibited the growth of BxPC‑3‑derived xenograft tumors. In addition, Tan‑IIA increased the protein expression levels of PERK, ATF6, caspase‑12, inositol‑requiring enzyme (IRE) 1α, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 2α, phosphorylated (p)‑c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK), CHOP and caspase‑3 in a dose‑dependent manner. These results indicated that Tan‑IIA induced ER stress via increasing the protein expression levels of PERK, ATF6, caspase‑12, IRE1α, eIF2α, p‑JNK, CHOP and caspase‑3 in BxPC‑3 cells in vivo. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that Tan‑IIA has potential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Tanshinones and diethyl blechnics with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen)

Four novel compounds (1-4) as well as fourteen reported compounds (5-18) were isolated and purified from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). The structures of novel compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS data, etc. The anti-inflammatory properties of all the compounds on RAW264.7 macrophages and their cytotoxicity on H1299 and Bel-7402 cell lines coupled with a structure-activity relationship (SAR) were investigated. Compound 4 demonstrated the best anti-inflammatory activity and was chosen for further research. Compound 4 greatly suppressed secretion of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by LPS. Additionally, the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was decreased and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB was attenuated after treatment with compound 4 in vitro. Compound 4 was able to dramatically inhibit LPS-induced activation of JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 and remarkably disrupted the TLR4 dimerization in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Thus, the new compound 4 suppressed LPS-induced inflammation partially is due to the blocking TLR4 dimerization. In addition, the anti-cancer activity investigation indicated that most of isolated compounds exhibited cytotoxicity and the SAR analysis showed that the intact D ring was indispensable and unsaturated D ring played vital role.

Prostate cancer and the unfolded protein response

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle that contributes to several key cellular functions, including lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis, calcium storage, and organelle biogenesis. The ER also serves as the major site for protein folding and trafficking, especially in specialized secretory cells. Accumulation of misfolded proteins and failure of ER adaptive capacity activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) which has been implicated in several chronic diseases, including cancer. A number of recent studies have implicated UPR in prostate cancer (PCa) and greatly expanded our understanding of this key stress signaling pathway and its regulation in PCa. Here we summarize these developments and discuss their potential therapeutic implications.

Tanshinone IIA ameliorates apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress

The fat-soluble diterpenoids tanshinone IIA (TSA) is the major active element of Danshen, which has widespread cardioprotective effect. However, the mechanism of its beneficial effect on cardiomyocytes has not been fully investigated. Here, we aim to demonstrate that TSA ameliorates apoptosis of cardiomyocytes activated by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes are used, in which ERS-mediated apoptosis is induced by tunicamycin (Tm). Apoptosis of cardiomyocytes are detected by Hoechst staining and caspase 3 activity analysis. Protein expression of ERS markers are detected by Western blot, and level of miroRNA-133 (miR-133) is detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Tm treatment significantly triggers the apoptosis and ERS of cardiomyocytes. TSA dramatically ameliorates apoptosis and ERS of cardiomyocytes induced by Tm. Interestingly, level of miR-133 is reduced by Tm treatment, which is reversed by TSA. The cardioprotective effect of TSA on apoptosis and ERS of cardiomyocytes is blocked by anti-miR-133. These results suggest that TSA protects cardiomyocytes through ameliorated ERS-mediated apoptosis, which may be resulted from upregulation of miR-133.

Delivery of tanshinone IIA and α-mangostin from gold/PEI/cyclodextrin nanoparticle platform designed for prostate cancer chemotherapy

A new anti-cancer drug delivery system, based on gold nanoparticles, has been designed for hydrophobic active compounds. The system is a conjugate of gold/polyethyleneimine (AuNPs/PEI) nanoparticles and sulphated β-cyclodextrin (CD). Anionic cyclodextrin was attached to the positively charged AuNPs/PEI nanoparticles by ionic bonds. Tanshinone IIA and α-mangostin were extracted, purified and encapsulated into the AuNPs/PEI/CD nanoparticles. In vitro preliminary cell viability assays against prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145 showed that encapsulation resulted in increased cytotoxicity.

Laxative effects of Liriope platyphylla are tightly correlated with suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress in loperamide-induced constipation of SD rats

A dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response can result in various diseases, including cancer, inflammation, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. To investigate whether ER stress response can play an essential role in the induction and treatment of chronic constipation, alterations in the key parameters for ER stress were measured in loperamide (Lop) induced constipation Sprague Dawley (SD) rats treated with aqueous extracts of Liriope platyphylla (AEtLP), which has been shown to have a laxative effect. Symptoms of chronic constipation including alteration of stool parameters and the transverse colon's structure were successfully induced by Lop treatment. Laxative effects such as enhancement of stools parameters, recovery of the mucosa thickness, increased muscle thickness and recovery of flat luminal surface were also observed in the Lop+AEtLP treated group. Furthermore, enhancement of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) phosphorylation and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 beta (IRE1β) expression, key indicators for ER stress, that were observed in the Lop+vehicle treated group were significantly recovered in the Lop+AEtLP treated group, although the phosphorylation level of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) remained constant. Moreover, alterations in the transcription level of the marker genes X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) and growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein (GADD34) were similar to those of eIF2α and IRE1β. However, their level was slightly or completely recovered after AEtLP treatment. Overall, this study provides the first evidence that ER stress response may be tightly correlated with chronic constipation induced by Lop treatment, as well as the laxative effects of AEtLP.

Tanshinone IIA enhances chemosensitivity of colon cancer cells by suppressing nuclear factor-κB

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of tanshinone IIA (TSA) on colon cancer cells. Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting kit-8 assay and the results demonstrated that TSA treatment significantly decreased the cell viability of HCT1116 and COLO205 cells in a dose-dependent manner. TSA treatment also sensitized HCT1116 and COLO205 cells to fluorouracil therapy in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting was performed in order to investigate the molecular mechanisms of TSA action and determine the level of phosporylated p65 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-regulated genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), c-Myc, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). The results revealed that TSA treatment greatly decreased the level of phosphorylated p65 in the nucleus, which indicated the inhibition of NF-κB activation by TSA treatment. TSA also decreased the expression levels of VEGF, c-Myc, COX-2 and Bcl-2. Furthermore, the inhibition of NF-κB activation with the specific inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, increased the induction of cell death and chemosensitization effect of TSA in colon cancer cells. In conclusion, these results suggest that TSA induces cell death and chemosensitizes colon cancer cells through the suppression of NF-κB signaling.

Recent insights into the biological activities and drug delivery systems of tanshinones

Tanshinones, the major lipid-soluble pharmacological constituents of the Chinese medicinal herb Tanshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), have attracted growing scientific attention because of the prospective biomedical applications of these compounds. Numerous pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and cardio-cerebrovascular protection activities, are exhibited by the three primary bioactive constituents among the tanshinones, ie, tanshinone I (TNI), tanshinone IIA (TNIIA), and cryptotanshinone (CPT). However, due to their poor solubility and low dissolution rate, the clinical applications of TNI, TNIIA, and CPT are limited. To solve these problems, many studies have focused on loading tanshinones into liposomes, nanoparticles, microemulsions, cyclodextrin inclusions, solid dispersions, and so on. In this review, we aim to offer an updated summary of the biological activities and drug delivery systems of tanshinones to provide a reference for these constituents in clinical applications.

Tanshinone IIA ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory bowel disease via the pregnane X receptor

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) (C₁₉H₁₈O₃) is one of the major active lipophilic components in a conventional Chinese medicine called danshen, and it has long been used in the People’s Republic of China and other neighboring countries to treat patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous experiments by many teams determined which mechanism of Tan IIA is relevant to the treatment of IBD associated with inflammation and the pregnane X receptor (PXR). The current study demonstrated that Tan IIA is an efficacious PXR agonist and its ability to induce CYP3A4 mRNA and protein expression was mediated by the transactivation of PXR, a known target of abrogating inflammation in IBD. Clinical symptoms in mice and histological assessment data suggested that administration of Tan IIA in mice demonstrated significant protection and showed that in DSS-induced IBD it acts in a concentration-dependent manner. PXR-silenced mice treated with Tan IIA demonstrated low protection against DSS-induced mouse IBD and exacerbated the severity of IBD compared with wild-type mice; PXR-silenced mice demonstrated the necessity for PXR in Tan IIA-mediated upregulation of xenobiotic metabolism genes. The IBD treatment effects of Tan IIA are partially due to PXR-mediated upregulation of xenobiotic metabolism and downregulation of inflammatory mediators. The novel findings reported here may contribute to the effective utilization of Tan IIA and its derivatives as a PXR ligand in the treatment of human IBD. This suggests that Tan IIA may have considerable clinical utility.

A promising "TRAIL" of tanshinones for cancer therapy

An ideal cancer therapy specifically targets cancer cells while sparing normal tissues. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) elicits apoptosis by engaging its cognate death receptors (DRs—namely, DR4 and DR5. The cancer cell-selective proapoptotic action of TRAIL is highly attractive for cancer therapy, but clinical application of TRAIL is rather limited due to tumors’ inherent or acquired TRAIL resistance. Combining TRAIL with agents that reverse resistance to it has proved promising in the sensitization of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Noteworthy, natural compounds have already been validated as potential resources for TRAIL sensitizers. In this review, we focus on the recently identified TRAILsensitizing effect of tanshinones, the anticancer ingredients of the medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen in Chinese). Research from our laboratories and others have revealed the synergy of a tanshinones-TRAIL combination in diverse types of cancer cells through up-regulation of DR5 and/or down-regulation of antiapoptotic proteins such as survivin. Thus, in addition to their anticancer mechanisms, tanshinones as TRAIL sensitizers hold great potential to be translated to TRAIL-based therapeutic modalities for combatting cancer.

Drug-target networks for Tanshinone IIA identified by data mining

Tanshinone IIA is a pharmacologically active compound isolated from Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the management of cardiac diseases and other disorders. But its underlying molecular mechanisms of action are still unclear. The present investigation utilized a data mining approach based on network pharmacology to uncover the potential protein targets of Tanshinone IIA. Network pharmacology, an integrated multidisciplinary study, incorporates systems biology, network analysis, connectivity, redundancy, and pleiotropy, providing powerful new tools and insights into elucidating the fine details of drug-target interactions. In the present study, two separate drug-target networks for Tanshinone IIA were constructed using the Agilent Literature Search (ALS) and STITCH (search tool for interactions of chemicals) methods. Analysis of the ALS-constructed network revealed a target network with a scale-free topology and five top nodes (protein targets) corresponding to Fos, Jun, Src, phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAP2K1), whereas analysis of the STITCH-constructed network revealed three top nodes corresponding to cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), cytochrome P450 A1 (CYP1A1), and nuclear factor kappa B1 (NFκB1). The discrepancies were probably due to the differences in the divergent computer mining tools and databases employed by the two methods. However, it is conceivable that all eight proteins mediate important biological functions of Tanshinone IIA, contributing to its overall drug-target network. In conclusion, the current results may assist in developing a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of in a simple, compact, and visual manner.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate affects Marek's disease virus replication by inhibiting gB expression

CONTEXT

Previous studies demonstrated that sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) could inhibit MDV replication in vitro. The mechanism about how STS inhibits MDV replication is still not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we evaluated the effect of STS on gB gene/protein of Marek's disease virus (MDV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The concentration of 0.25 mg/ml of STS was used in this study. Meanwhile, 0.25 mg/ml of acyclovir (ACV) was used as a positive control. About 9-11-d-old embryonated specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken eggs were used to prepare CEF cells. CEF cells were infected with MDV 2 h, followed by treatment with STS. Real-time PCR and western blot assay were used to measure the gB (UL27) gene/protein expression in STS treatment group at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-infection.

RESULTS

Compared with MDV control, the gB gene copies were significantly decreased in STS and ACV treatment groups at 72 h and 96 h (p < 0.05), both in the DNA and in the mRNA level. Furthermore, the expression of gB protein was also inhibited by STS at 24, 72, and 96 h.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that STS could effectively inhibit the MDV replication by suppressing gB gene/protein expression in cell culture.

Tanshinone IIA attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressive fibrotic lung disorder with unknown etiology and a high mortality rate. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a lipophilic diterpene extracted from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge with diverse biological functions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Tan IIA on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Rats received an intraperitoneal injection of Tan IIA and normal rats were used as controls. Severe pulmonary edema, inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the BLM-treated rats and the counts of total cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes were significantly increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of those rats. These pathological changes were markedly attenuated by subsequent treatment with Tan IIA. In addition, BLM-induced increased expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2, malondialdehyde, inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide in rats, which was also suppressed by Tan IIA injection. The present findings suggest therapeutic potential of Tan IIA for pulmonary fibrosis.

Activation of p53 with ilimaquinone and ethylsmenoquinone, marine sponge metabolites, induces apoptosis and autophagy in colon cancer cells

The tumor suppressor, p53, plays an essential role in the cellular response to stress through regulating the expression of genes involved in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy. Here, we used a cell-based reporter system for the detection of p53 response transcription to identify the marine sponge metabolites, ilimaquinone and ethylsmenoquinone, as activators of the p53 pathway. We demonstrated that ilimaquinone and ethylsmenoquinone efficiently stabilize the p53 protein through promotion of p53 phosphorylation at Ser15 in both HCT116 and RKO colon cancer cells. Moreover, both compounds upregulate the expression of p21^WAF1/CIP1, a p53-dependent gene, and suppress proliferation of colon cancer cells. In addition, ilimaquinone and ethylsmenoquinone induced G₂/M cell cycle arrest and increased caspase-3 cleavage and the population of cells that positively stained with Annexin V-FITC, both of which are typical biochemical markers of apoptosis. Furthermore, autophagy was elicited by both compounds, as indicated by microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) puncta formations and LC3-II turnover in HCT116 cells. Our findings suggest that ilimaquinone and ethylsmenoquinone exert their anti-cancer activity by activation of the p53 pathway and may have significant potential as chemo-preventive and therapeutic agents for human colon cancer.

Efficacy of some non-conventional herbal medications (sulforaphane, tanshinone IIA, and tetramethylpyrazine) in inducing neuroprotection in comparison with interleukin-10 after spinal cord injury: A meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) may be responsible for further neural damages and therefore inhibition of inflammatory processes may exert a neuroprotection effect.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy of some non-conventional herbal medications including sulforaphane, tanshinone IIA, and tetramethylpyrazine in reducing inflammation and compare them with a known effective anti-inflammatory agent (interleukin-10 (IL-10)).

METHODS

We searched relevant articles in Ovid database, Medline (PubMed) EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Scopus up to June 2013. The efficacy of each treatment and study powers were compared using random effects model of meta-analysis. To our knowledge, no conflict of interest exists.

RESULTS

Eighteen articles entered into the study. The meta-analysis revealed that exogenous IL-10 was more effective in comparison with the mentioned herbal extracts. The proposed pathways for each medication's effect on reducing the inflammation process are complex and many overlaps may exist.

CONCLUSION

IL-10 has a strong effect in the induction of neuroprotection and neurorecovery after SCI by multiple pathways. Tetramethylpyrazine has an acceptable influence in reducing inflammation through the up-regulation of IL-10. Outcomes of sulforaphane and tanshinone IIA administration are acceptable but still weaker than IL-10.

The prevention and treatment effects of tanshinone IIA on oestrogen/androgen-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the major diseases of the urinary system in elderly men. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is the active ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Salvia, and it has effects of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, vascular smooth muscle relaxation and tumour growth inhibition. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Tan IIA in the prevention and treatment of BPH. In a rat model of oestradiol/testosterone-induced BPH, Tan IIA inhibited the increase in the thickness of the peri-glandular smooth muscle layer, suppressed the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in both prostate epithelial cells and stromal cells, downregulated the expression of androgen receptor (AR), oestrogen receptor α (ERα), cyclin B1 (CCNB1) and cyclin D1 (CCND1), and effectively prevented the development of the disorder. In vitro, Tan IIA inhibited the proliferation of human prostate stromal cell line WPMY-1 and epithelial cell line RWPE-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In WPMY-1 cells, Tan IIA treatment arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and downregulated the expression of CCNB1. However, in RWPE-1 cells, Tan IIA treatment arrested cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and reduced the expression of CCND1. Tan IIA also reduced the expression of ERα and AR in WPMY-1 and RWPE-1 cells. These results suggest that Tan IIA can inhibit the growth of prostate stromal and epithelial cells both in vivo and in vitro by a mechanism that may involve arresting the cell cycle and downregulating ERα and AR expression.