Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, a flavone derived from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum, suppresses lung adenocarcinoma via the calcium signaling pathway

Kaempferol 3-O-Rutinoside, a Flavone Derived from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, Reduces Body Temperature through Accelerating the Elimination of IL-6 and TNF-α in a Mouse Fever Model

Fever is a serious condition that can lead to various consequences ranging from prolonged illness to death. Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (T. hemsleyanum) has been used for centuries to treat fever, but the specific chemicals responsible for its antipyretic effects are not well understood. This study aimed to isolate and identify the chemicals with antipyretic bioactivity in T. hemsleyanum extracts and to provide an explanation for the use of T. hemsleyanum as a Chinese herbal medicine for fever treatment. Our results demonstrate that kaempferol 3-rutinoside (K3OR) could be successfully isolated and purified from the roots of T. hemsleyanum. Furthermore, K3OR exhibited a significant reduction in rectal temperature in a mouse model of fever. Notably, a 4 μM concentration of K3OR showed more effective antipyretic effects than ibuprofen and acetaminophen. To explore the underlying mechanism, we conducted an RNA sequencing analysis, which revealed that PXN may act as a key regulator in the fever process induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the mouse model of fever, K3OR significantly promoted the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α during the early stage in the LPS-treated group. However, during the middle to late stages, K3OR facilitated the elimination of IL-6 and TNF-α in the LPS-treated group. Overall, our study successfully identified the chemicals responsible for the antipyretic bioactivity in T. hemsleyanum extracts, and it answered the question as to why T. hemsleyanum is used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating fever. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of T. hemsleyanum in managing fever, and they provide a basis for further research and development in this field.

Metabolite Profiling of Colvillea racemosa via UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Analysis in Correlation to the In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential against A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Line

In this study, flower and leaf extracts of Colvillea racemosa were considered a source of bioactive compounds. In this context, the objective of the study focused on investigating the anticancer potential as well as the phytochemical composition of both extracts. The extracts were analyzed by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS, and the bioactivity was tested using in vitro antioxidant assays (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS) in addition to cytotoxic assays on non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549). Our results clearly indicated the potent radical scavenging capacity of both extracts. Importantly, the flower extract exhibited a greater antioxidant capacity than the leaf extract. In terms of cytotoxic activity, leaf and flower extracts significantly inhibited cell viability with IC50 values of 17.0 and 17.2 µg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical characterization enabled the putative annotation of 42 metabolites, such as saccharides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids. Among them, the flavonoid C-glycosides stand out due to their high relative abundance and previous reports on their anticancer bioactivity. For a better understanding of the bioactive mechanisms, four flavonoids (vitexin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, luteolin, and isoorientin) were selected for molecular docking on hallmark protein targets in lung cancer as represented by γ-PI3K, EGFR, and CDK2 through in-silico studies. In these models, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and vitexin had the highest binding scores on γ-PI3K and CDK2, followed by isoorientin, so they could be highly responsible for the bioactive properties of C. racemosa extracts.

Bioactives and metabolites of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum root extract alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by targeting the SYK protein in the B cell receptor signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum is an endemic Chinese herb with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. However, the effect and mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of T. hemsleyanum root extract against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) have not yet been fully investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanisms of T. hemsleyanum root extract in DSS-induced UC mice and knockdown cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

T. hemsleyanum root extract was obtained and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The therapeutic effects of T. hemsleyanum root extract on DSS-induced UC mice were evaluated by the disease activity index (DAI) score, colon length, serum inflammatory cytokines and oxidant/antioxidant levels, and histopathological features of the ileum and colon. Genome-wide gene expression profiles of ileal and colonic tissues were collected by transcriptomics, and signaling pathways were analyzed by the KEGG database. UC-related pathways were uploaded to the STRING database, then the protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were determined by Cytoscape, and the enriched genes were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). The protein-ligand complexes were docked by AutoDock, and the genes were knocked down in Caco-2 cells by shRNA. The non-targeted metabolomic profiling of ileal contents was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), and gut microflora were sequenced by an Illumina MiSeq System.

RESULTS

Ten components that alleviated UC symptoms in mice by decreasing the DAI and serum inflammatory cytokines and oxidant levels, promoting intestinal development, and increasing serum antioxidant levels were identified in T. hemsleyanum root extract. T. hemsleyanum root extract activated the B cell receptor signaling pathway in the colon tissue of UC mice, in which two components, rutin and astragaline, bound to the spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) protein but also restored gut microflora diversity and increased the proportion of probiotics. Furthermore, metabolites of T. hemsleyanum root extract were involved in vitamin metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and ferroptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The rutin and astragaline components of T. hemsleyanum root extract, by binding to SYK protein, activated the B cell receptor signaling pathway and restored gut microflora diversity to alleviate UC symptoms in mice.

Tumor Microenvironment-Sensitive Ca2+ Nanomodulator Combined with the Sonodynamic Process for Enhanced Cancer Therapy

Tumor therapy presents significant challenges, and conventional treatments exhibit limited therapeutic effectiveness. Imbalance of calcium homeostasis as a key cause of tumor cell death has been extensively studied in tumor therapy. Calcium overload therapy has garnered significant interest as a new cancer treatment strategy. This study involves the synthesis of a transformable nanosonosensitizer with a shell of a calcium ion nanomodulator. The nanosystem is designed to induce mitochondrial dysfunction by combining the calcium ion nanomodulator, nanosonosensitizer, and chemotherapeutic drug. Under ultrasound-activated conditions, CaCO3 dissolves in the tumor microenvironment, causing the nanosonosensitizer to switch from the "off" to the "on" state of ROS generation, exacerbating mitochondrial calcium overload. A two-dimensional Ti3C2/TiO2 heterostructure generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultrasound and exhibits an efficient sonodynamic effect, enhancing calcium overload. Under ultrasound irradiation, Ti3C2/TiO2@CaCO3/KAE causes multilevel damage to mitochondria by combining the effects of rapid Ca2+ release, inhibiting Ca2+ efflux, enhancing tumor inhibition, and converting a "cold" tumor into a "hot" tumor. Therefore, this study proposes a method to effectively combine mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) by the preparing pH-sensitive, double-activated, and multifunctional Ti3C2/TiO2-based nanosystems for cancer therapy.

The Anticancer Potential of Kaempferol: A Systematic Review Based on In Vitro Studies

Given the heterogeneity of different malignant processes, planning cancer treatment is challenging. According to recent studies, natural products are likely to be effective in cancer prevention and treatment. Among bioactive flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables, kaempferol (KMP) is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This systematic review aims to highlight the potential therapeutic effects of KMP on different types of solid malignant tumors. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were performed in EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration Library, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After the application of study criteria, 64 studies were included. In vitro experiments demonstrated that KMP exerts antitumor effects by controlling tumor cell cycle progression, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, as well as by inhibiting angiogenesis. KMP was also able to inhibit important markers that regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhanced the sensitivity of cancer cells to traditional drugs used in chemotherapy, including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. This flavonoid is a promising therapeutic compound and its combination with current anticancer agents, including targeted drugs, may potentially produce more effective and predictable results.

Total Flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L. and Evaluation of Its Anticancer Activity

To overcome the shortcomings of traditional extraction methods, such as long extraction time and low efficiency, and considering the low content and high complexity of total flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L., in this experiment, we adopted ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis to improve the yield of total flavonoids, and combined this with molecular docking and network pharmacology to predict its core constituent targets, so as to evaluate its antitumor activity. The content of total flavonoids in Artemisia absinthium L. reached 3.80 ± 0.13%, and the main components included Astragalin, Cynaroside, Ononin, Rutin, Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, Diosmetin, Isorhamnetin, and Luteolin. Cynaroside and Astragalin exert their cervical cancer inhibitory functions by regulating several signaling proteins (e.g., EGFR, STAT3, CCND1, IGFIR, ESR1). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the anticancer activity of both compounds was associated with the ErbB signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. MTT results showed that total flavonoids of Artemisia absinthium L. and its active components (Cynaroside and Astragalin) significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 of 396.0 ± 54.2 μg/mL and 449.0 ± 54.8 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, its active components can mediate apoptosis by inducing the accumulation of ROS.

Disturbing cytoskeleton by engineered nanomaterials for enhanced cancer therapeutics

Cytoskeleton plays a significant role in the shape change, migration, movement, adhesion, cytokinesis, and phagocytosis of tumor cells. In clinical practice, some anti-cancer drugs achieve cytoskeletal therapeutic effects by acting on different cytoskeletal protein components. However, in the absence of cell-specific targeting, unnecessary cytoskeletal recombination in organisms would be disastrous, which would also bring about severe side effects during anticancer process. Nanomedicine have been proven to be superior to some small molecule drugs in cancer treatment due to better stability and targeting, and lower side effects. Therefore, this review summarized the recent developments of various nanomaterials disturbing cytoskeleton for enhanced cancer therapeutics, including carbon, noble metals, metal oxides, black phosphorus, calcium, silicon, polymers, peptides, and metal-organic frameworks, etc. A comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of cytoskeleton therapy as well as the future prospects and challenges towards clinical application were also discussed. We aim to drive on this emerging topic through refreshing perspectives based on our own work and what we have also learnt from others. This review will help researchers quickly understand relevant cytoskeletal therapeutic information to further advance the development of cancer nanomedicine.

Therapeutic effects of medicinal plants and their constituents on lung cancer, in vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence

The most common type of cancer in the world is lung cancer. Traditional treatments have an important role in cancer therapy. In the present review, the most recent findings on the effects of medicinal plants and their constituents or natural products (NP) in treating lung cancer are discussed. Empirical studies until the end of March 2022 were searched using the appropriate keywords through the databases PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus. The extracts and essential oils tested were all shown to effect lung cancer by several mechanisms including decreased tumour weight and volume, cell viability and modulation of cytokine. Some plant constituents increased expression of apoptotic proteins, the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase and subG0/G1 phase, and Cyt c levels. Also, natural products (NP) activate apoptotic pathways in lung cancer cell including p-JNK, Akt/mTOR, PI3/ AKT\ and Bax, Bcl2, but suppressed AXL phosphorylation. Plant-derived substances altered the cell morphology, reduced cell migration and metastasis, oxidative marker production, p-eIF2α and GRP78, IgG, IgM levels and reduced leukocyte counts, LDH, GGT, 5'NT and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Therefore, medicinal plant extracts and their constituents could have promising therapeutic value for lung cancer, especially if used in combination with ordinary anti-cancer drugs.

Optimization of tetrastigma hemsleyanum extraction process based on GA-BPNN model and analysis of its antioxidant effect

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg) is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine with various applications. In this study, we aimed to optimize the extraction process for the total extraction yield of five flavonoid components, namely kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and astragalin from the Tetrastigma hemsleyanum root (THR), and explore its potential molecular mechanisms in treating oxidative diseases as well as antioxidant activity. To achieve these objectives, we employed the genetic algorithm-back propagation neural network (GA-BPNN), the Box-Behnken design (BBD) with 4-factors and 3-levels to establish the optimal ethanol extraction process for the total extraction yield of the 5 components. Using public databases, the "component core targets-disease core target genes" networks were built, as well as molecular docking. Furthermore, DPPH was used to examine the antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained from THR under the optimal extraction process. The experimental value of the total extraction yield of the 5 components achieved a maximum of 788.12 mg/kg when the ethanol concentration was 73%, the solid-liquid ratio was 26 g/mL, and the ultrasonic duration was 30 min, and the ultrasonic temperature was 76 °C. When docked with protein molecules such as 6Y8I, quercetin, and other components received moderate to high scores. When the total concentration of the 5 components was 3.033 μg/mL, the DPPH radical scavenging rate was 89.81%. Compared with the BBD method, the GA-BPNN method is more efficient and reliable for optimizing the extraction process of active ingredients in THR because of its good data-fitting ability.

Beneficial role of kaempferol and its derivatives from different plant sources on respiratory diseases in experimental models

Respiratory illnesses impose a significant health burden and cause deaths worldwide. Despite many advanced strategies to improve patient outcomes, they are often less effective. There is still considerable room for improvement in the treatment of various respiratory diseases. In recent years, alternative medicinal agents derived from food plants have shown better beneficial effects against a wide variety of disease models, including cancer. In this regard, kaempferol (KMF) and its derivatives are the most commonly found dietary flavonols. They have been found to exhibit protective effects on multiple chronic diseases like diabetes, fibrosis, and so on. A few recent articles have reviewed the pharmacological actions of KMF in cancer, central nervous system diseases, and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, there is no comprehensive review that exists regarding the beneficial effects of KMF and its derivatives on both malignant- and non-malignant respiratory diseases. Many experimental studies reveal that KMF and its derivatives are helpful in managing a wide range of respiratory diseases, including acute lung injury, fibrosis, asthma, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and their underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, we also discussed the chemistry and sources, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties, methods to enhance bioavailability, as well as our perspective on future research with KMF and its derivatives.

Antiarthritic potential of the butanol fraction of Sesuvium sesuvioides: An in vitro, in vivo, and in silico evaluation

Sesuvium sesuvioides (Fenzl) Verdc (Aizoaceae) has been traditionally used in the treatment of inflammation, arthritis, and gout. However, its antiarthritic potential has not been evaluated scientifically. The current study was designed to assess the antiarthritic properties of the n-butanol fraction of S. sesuvioides (SsBu) by phytochemical analysis, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, and in silico studies. Phytochemical analysis showed total phenolic contents (90.7 ± 3.02 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid contents (23.7 ± 0.69 mg RE/g), and further analysis by GC-MS identified possible bioactive phytocompounds belonging to phenols, flavonoids, steroids, and fatty acids. The in vitro antioxidant potential of SsBu was assessed by DPPH (175.5 ± 7.35 mg TE/g), ABTS (391.6 ± 17.1 mg TE/g), FRAP (418.2 ± 10.8 mg TE/g), CUPRAC (884.8 ± 7.97 mg TE/g), phosphomolybdenum (5.7 ± 0.33 mmol TE/g), and metal chelating activity (9.04 ± 0.58 mg EDTAE/g). Moreover, in the in vitro studies, inhibition (%) of egg albumin and bovine serum albumin denaturation assays showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of SsBu at the dose of 800 μg/ml was comparable to that of diclofenac sodium used as a standard drug. The in vivo antiarthritic activity was assessed to determine the curative impact of SsBu against formalin-induced (dose-dependent significant (p < 0.05) effect 72.2% inhibition at 750 mg/kg compared to standard; 69.1% inhibition) and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis (40.8%; inhibition compared to standard, 42.3%). SsBu significantly controlled PGE-2 level compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and restored the hematological parameters in rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with SsBu significantly reduced oxidative stress by reinstating superoxide dismutase, GSH, and malondialdehyde along with pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6 and TNF-α) in arthritic rats. Molecular docking revealed the antiarthritic role of major identified compounds. Kaempferol-3-rutinoside was found to be more potent for COX-1 (-9.2 kcal/mol) and COX-2 inhibition (-9.9 kcal/mol) than diclofenac sodium (COX-1, -8.0 and COX-2, -6.5 kcal/mol). Out of the 12 docked compounds, two for COX-1 and seven for COX-2 inhibition showed more potent binding than the standard drug. The results from the in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches finally concluded that the n-butanol fraction of S. sesuvioides had antioxidant and antiarthritic potential, which may be due to the presence of potential bioactive compounds.

Kaempferol inhibits non-homologous end joining repair via regulating Ku80 stability in glioma cancer

BACKGROUND

Targeting DNA damage response and DNA repair proficiency of cancers is an important anticancer strategy. Kaempferol (Kae), a natural flavonoid, displays potent antitumor properties in some cancers. However, the precise underlying mechanism of Kae regulates DNA repair system are poorly understood.

PURPOSE

We aim to evaluate the efficacy of Kae in the treatment of human glioma as well as the molecular mechanism regarding DNA repair.

STUDY DESIGN

Effects of Kae on glioma cells were detected using CCK-8 and EdU labeling assays. The molecular mechanism of Kae on glioma was determined using RNAseq. The inhibition effects of Kae on DNA repair were verified using Immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and pimEJ5-GFP report assays. For in vivo study, orthotopic xenograft models were established and treated with Kae or vehicle. Glioma development was monitored by bioluminescence imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and brain sections Hematoxylin/Eosin (HE) staining. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was used to detect expression of Ku80, Ki67 and γH2AX in engrafted glioma tissue.

RESULTS

We found that Kae remarkably inhibits viability of glioma cells and decreases its proliferation. Mechanistically, Kae regulates multiple functional pathways associated with cancer, including non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair. Further studies revealed that Kae inhibits release of Ku80 from the double-strand breaks (DSBs) sites via reducing ubiquitylation and degradation of Ku80. Therefore, Kae significantly suppresses NHEJ repair and induces accumulation of DSBs in glioma cells. Moreover, Kae displays a dramatic inhibition effects on glioma growth in an orthotopic transplantation model. These data demonstrate that Kae can induce deubiquitination of Ku80, suppress NHEJ repair and inhibit glioma growth.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that inhibiting release of Ku80 from the DSBs by Kae may be a potential effective approach for glioma treatment.

Exploring the Remarkable Chemotherapeutic Potential of Polyphenolic Antioxidants in Battling Various Forms of Cancer

Plant-derived compounds, specifically antioxidants, have played an important role in scavenging the free radicals present under diseased conditions. The persistent generation of free radicals in the body leads to inflammation and can result in even more severe diseases such as cancer. Notably, the antioxidant potential of various plant-derived compounds prevents and deregulates the formation of radicals by initiating their decomposition. There is a vast literature demonstrating antioxidant compounds' anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer potential. This review describes the molecular mechanism of various flavonoids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, epicatechin, and epicatechin gallate, against different cancers. Additionally, the pharmaceutical application of these flavonoids against different cancers using nanotechnologies such as polymeric, lipid-based nanoparticles (solid-lipid and liquid-lipid), liposomes, and metallic nanocarriers is addressed. Finally, combination therapies in which these flavonoids are employed along with other anti-cancer agents are described, indicating the effective therapies for the management of various malignancies.

Antitumor effects of polysaccharides from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg via regulation of intestinal flora and enhancing immunomodulatory effects in vivo

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with high medicinal value, and antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biological activities. However, while several studies have focused on flavonoids in Tetrastigma hemsleyanum tubers, there are few studies on the enhanced immune effect of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum polysaccharides (THP). In this study, we evaluated the antitumor effect of THP in a lung tumor model and explored the mechanism of antitumor activity through intestinal flora. In addition, a cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression model was used to declare the immunomodulatory effect of THP in the immunosuppressive state induced by antitumor drugs. The results showed that THP increased the content of ileum secreted immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and cecum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and improved microbial community diversity, regulating the relative abundance of dominant microbiota flora from the phylum level to the genus level, and recovering the intestinal microflora disorder caused by tumors. Additionally, THP can increase the organ indices and improve immune organ atrophy. THP can upregulate routine blood counts and stimulate the production of the serum cytokines. THP also promoted the macrophage phagocytic index, NK-cell activation, and complement and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) levels. The detection of Splenic lymphocyte proliferation and T lymphocyte subsets also sideways reflects that THP can restore CTX-induced immune inhibition in mice. In conclusion, this study suggests that THP can effectively achieve the enhanced antitumor effects, regulate gut microbiota and improve the immunosuppression induced by antitumor drugs. Therefore, THP can enhance the immune capacity and provide novel immunomodulatory and antineoplastic adjuvant agents.

Active fractions of golden-flowered tea (Camellia nitidissima Chi) inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor mutated non-small cell lung cancer via multiple pathways and targets in vitro and in vivo

As a medicine-food homology (MFH) plant, golden-flowered tea (Camellia nitidissima Chi, CNC) has many different pharmacologic activities and is known as "the queen of the tea family" and "the Panda of the Plant world". Several studies have revealed the pharmacologic effects of CNC crude extract, including anti-tumor, anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective activity. However, there are few studies on the anti-tumor active fractions and components of CNC, yet the underlying mechanism has not been investigated. Thus, we sought to verify the anti-non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) effects of four active fractions of CNC. Firstly, we determined the pharmacodynamic material basis of the four active fractions of CNC (Camellia. leave. saponins, Camellia. leave. polyphenols, Camellia. flower. saponins, Camellia. flower. polyphenols) by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and confirmed the differences in their specific compound contents. Then, MTT, colony formation assay and EdU incorporation assay confirmed that all fractions of CNC exhibit significant inhibitory on NSCLC, especially the Camellia. leave. saponins (CLS) fraction on EGFR mutated NSCLC cell lines. Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed that the inhibition of NSCLC cell growth by CLS may be via three pathways, including "Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction," "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway" and "MAPK signaling pathway." Subsequently, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot (WB) revealed TGFB2, INHBB, PIK3R3, ITGB8, TrkB and CACNA1D as the critical targets for the anti-tumor effects of CLS in vitro. Finally, the xenograft models confirmed that CLS treatment effectively suppressed tumor growth, and the key targets were also verified in vivo. These observations suggest that golden-flowered tea could be developed as a functional tea drink with anti-cancer ability, providing an essential molecular mechanism foundation for MFH medicine treating NSCLC.

Anti-osteoporosis effects and regulatory mechanism of Lindera aggregata based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

Osteoporosis (OP) is characterized by the flaccidity of bones or bone bi-disease caused by kidney deficiency. Lindera aggregate has been used to strengthen kidney function in China for thousands of years. It has been approved by Chinese Pharmacopoeia that the root of Lindera aggregata (RLA) can replenish and tonify the kidney, which is thought to be an effective way to alleviate OP. In this study, a network pharmacology approach was applied to explore the active components and potential mechanisms of RLA in osteoporosis treatment. Then, the ethanolic extract of the root of L. aggregata (EERL) was prepared and these predicted results were validated by prednisone-induced zebrafish embryos model. Moreover, the candidate compounds were identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The anti-OP results showed that EERL could significantly reverse the bone loss of zebrafish induced by prednisone. The mRNA expressions results showed that EERL decreased osteoclast bone resorption by regulating the RANK/RANKL/OPG system. Also, it increased bone formation by regulating the gene expressions of spp1, mmp2, mmp9, runx2b, alp, and entpd5a. Our results demonstrated the reliability of the network pharmacology method, and also revealed the anti-OP effect and potential mechanism of RLA.

Computer-aided identification of cholinergic and monoaminergic inhibitory flavonoids from Hibiscus sabdariffa L

BACKGROUND

The reduced levels of acetylcholine and dopamine lead to Alzheimer's disease AD and Parkinson disease PD, respectively, due to the action of cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase B.

METHODS

Therapeutic options for AD and PD involve respective cholinergic and monoaminergic inhibitors, and considering the adverse outcomes of cholinergic- and monoaminergic- inhibitory therapeutics, phytoconstituents may be promising alternatives. Reports have shown that different extracts of the calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa exhibit anticholinesterase and monoamine oxidase B inhibitory properties with potential to delay and prevent the development of AD and PD. However, there is limited knowledge on the multitarget cholinergic and monoaminergic inhibitory activities of individual compounds in this plant. Computational methods were used to identify the specific compounds responsible for the observed cholinergic and monoaminergic inhibitory activities of the H. sabdariffa calyx extracts.

RESULTS

Results confirm that three flavonoids: delphinidin-3-sambubioside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and quercetin-3-rutinoside showed strong binding affinity with acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase B while the observed stability of the ligands-enzymes complexes over the MD simulation time suggests their cholinergic and monoaminergic inhibitory properties.

CONCLUSION

The three flavonoids may be responsible for the reported anticholinergic and monoaminergic inhibitory potentials of H. sabdariffa extracts and could be enlisted as multi-target inhibitory agents for cholinesterases and monoamine oxidase B.

Kaempferol: A flavonoid with wider biological activities and its applications

Kaempferol and its derivatives are naturally occurring phytochemicals with promising bioactivities. This flavonol can reduce the lipid oxidation in the human body, prevent the organs and cell structure from deterioration and protect their functional integrity. This review has extensively highlighted the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activity of kaempferol. However, poor water solubility and low bioavailability of kaempferol greatly limit its applications. The utilization of advanced delivery systems can improve its stability, efficacy, and bioavailability. This is the first review that aimed to comprehensively collate some of the vital information published on biosynthesis, mechanism of action, bioactivities, bioavailability, and toxicological potential of kaempferol. Besides, it provides insights into the future direction on the improvement of bioavailability of kaempferol for wide applications.

Neochlorogenic acid anchors MCU-based calcium overload for cancer therapy

Cancer is a major threat to human health worldwide, yet the clinical therapies remain unsatisfactory. In this study, we found that a Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves flavone (TLF) intervention could achieve tumor inhibition. Besides, neochlorogenic acid (NA), which had the highest absorbance peak in the HPLC profile of TLF, showed superior anti-proliferation ability over TLF, and could effectively trigger apoptosis, restrain migration, and facilitate cytoskeleton collapse, suggesting its key role in TLF's anticancer property. Molecular docking analysis suggested that NA was capable of binding with mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU), and further experiments confirmed that NA upregulated the MCU level to permit excess calcium ion influx, leading to mitochondrial calcium imbalance, dysfunction, structure alteration, and ROS elevation. Moreover, tumor-bearing mice were applied to further confirm the excellent tumor inhibition ability of NA under Ca²⁺-abundant conditions. Therefore, this study uncovered that NA could effectively trigger robust MCU-mediated calcium overload cancer therapy, which could be utilized in novel strategies for future cancer treatment.

CaCO3 nanoparticles incorporated with KAE to enable amplified calcium overload cancer therapy

Calcium overload therapy has attracted widespread attention in oncological field, whereas its efficacy has been limited due to insufficient calcium ions in tumor site and poor efficiency of calcium entering tumor, resulting in dissatisfied therapeutic effect. Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (KAE), a biosafe flavone with excellent anti-cancer ability, can effectively disrupt calcium homeostasis regulation and facilitate calcium influx, while calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) serves as an ideal calcium ions supplier. Inspired by these concepts, KAE loaded into CaCO₃ nanoparticles and incorporated with the cancer cell membrane (M) for synergistic tumor therapy. In this therapeutic platform (M@CaCO₃@KAE), membrane coating ensures targeted delivery of CaCO₃@KAE. Upon reaching tumor, CaCO₃@KAE specifically responds to tumor microenvironment, consequently releases KAE and calcium ions. KAE effectively breaks the calcium balance, while calcium ions remarkably aggravate and magnify KAE-mediated calcium overload. Accordingly, mitochondrial structure and functions are destructed, causing cytoskeleton collapse and oxidative stress, leading to cancerous cellular apoptosis. With the combined and cascaded efficacy, considerable in vitro and in vivo tumor inhibition was achieved by M@CaCO₃@KAE. This study provides an alternative nano-system, acting as a biomimetic calcium bomb, to ensure targeted, synergistic, efficient and biosafe calcium overload tumor therapy.