Pulsatilla saponin E suppresses viability, migration, invasion and promotes apoptosis of NSCLC cells through negatively regulating Akt/FASN pathway via inhibition of flotillin-2 in lipid raft

Circadian clock and lipid metabolism disorders: a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer

Recent research has emphasized the interaction between the circadian clock and lipid metabolism, particularly in relation to tumors. This review aims to explore how the circadian clock regulates lipid metabolism and its impact on carcinogenesis. Specifically, targeting key enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis (SREBP, ACLY, ACC, FASN, and SCD) has been identified as a potential strategy for cancer therapy. By disrupting these enzymes, it may be possible to inhibit tumor growth by interfering with lipid metabolism. Transcription factors, like SREBP play a significant role in regulating fatty acid synthesis which is influenced by circadian clock genes such as BMAL1, REV-ERB and DEC. This suggests a strong connection between fatty acid synthesis and the circadian clock. Therefore, successful combination therapy should target fatty acid synthesis in addition to considering the timing and duration of drug use. Ultimately, personalized chronotherapy can enhance drug efficacy in cancer treatment and achieve treatment goals.

Chinese medicine formula 'Baipuhuang Keli' inhibits triple-negative breast cancer by hindering DNA damage repair via MAPK/ERK pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Baipuhuang Keli (BPH, constituted by Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel), Pu Gong Ying (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.), Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), Huang Bo (Phellodendron amurense Rupr.)) is a Chinese herbal formula with clearing heat and cooling blood, and removing toxin effects, which is suit for the case of breast cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Here, we aim to explore the effects of BPH on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its potential mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, cell viability assay, colony formation assay, soft agar assay, cell proliferation curve assay, and EdU assay were employed to determine the anti-proliferation effect induced by BPH. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. DNA damage in cells treated with BPH was indicated by comet assay, immunofluorescence, and Western Blot. Both the 4T1 orthotopic tumor model and the MDA-MB-231 subcutaneous tumor model were used to assess in vivo effect of BPH (312.5, and 625 mg/kg). The protein expression levels of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway and the MAPK/ERK pathway were detected by Western Blot.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that TNBC cells were more sensitive to BPH than mammary epithelial cells. Cell proliferation of TNBC cells was significantly inhibited by BPH in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, BPH induced DNA damage in TNBC cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner. DDR of TNBC cells was inhibited by BPH. MAPK/ERK pathway was inhibited in cells treated with BPH, and DNA damage can be reversed while EGF was added to activate MAPK/ERK pathway. The 4T1 orthotopic tumor model and the MDA-MB-231 subcutaneous tumor model further confirmed that BPH inhibited TNBC proliferation via inhibition of DDR and MAPK/ERK pathway in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we proved that BPH is a potential anticancer Chinese herbal formula for TNBC in the manner of in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Gitogenin suppresses lung cancer progression by inducing apoptosis and autophagy initiation through the activation of AMPK signaling

Lung cancer is a leading cause of tumor-associated death worldwide. Autophagy plays a key role in regulating lung cancer progression, and is a promising option for lung cancer treatment. Saponins are a group of naturally occurring plant glycosides, characterized by their strong foam-forming properties in aqueous solution, and exert various biological properties, such as anti-inflammation and anti-cancer. In the present study, we for the first time explored the effects of gitogenin (GIT), an important saponin derived from Tribulus longipetalus, on lung cancer progression both in vitro and in vivo. We found that GIT markedly reduced the proliferation and induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells through increasing the cleavage of Caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). In addition, GIT-incubated lung cancer cells exhibited clear accumulation of autophagosome, which was essential for GIT-suppressed lung cancer. Mechanistically, GIT-induced autophagy initiation was mainly through activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and blocking protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways, respectively. Moreover, the autophagic flux was disrupted in GIT-treated lung cancer cells, contributing to the accumulation of impaired autophagolysosomes. Importantly, we found that suppressing autophagy initiation could abolish GIT-induced cell death; however, autophagosomes accumulation sensitized lung cancer cells to cell death upon GIT treatment. More in vitro experiments showed that GIT led to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in lung cancer cells, which was also involved in the modulation of apoptosis. The in vivo findings confirmed the effects of GIT against lung cancer progression with undetectable toxicity to organs. In conclusion, we provided new insights into the treatment of lung cancer, and GIT might be an effective strategy for future clinical application.

A validated LC-MS/MS method for the determination of hederasaponin C: Application to Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic studies in the therapeutic area of acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

Hederasaponin C (HSC), one of the main components of pulsatilla chinensis, is considered as a potential drug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. In the present research, we developed a PK-PD model to describe the concentration-effect course of drug action following intraperitoneal injection of HSC in colitis rats. A sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method was firstly established for the the determination of HSC in rat plasma to explore the pharmacokinetics properties. The separation was performed on an Accucore C₁₈ column (2.1mm×100mm, 2.6μm) with the flow phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid water. The assay method was validated and demonstrated good adaptability for application in the pharmacokinetic study. Then the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in colon tissues were measured by ELISA assay. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was decreased after HSC administration, suggesting that HSC can significantly improve the level of inflammatory syndrome factor. The pharmacokinetics study showed that the T_max of HSC was 1 h. The concentration-effect curves showed hysteresis loop. And there has a hysteresis between the peaked concentration and the maximum effect of HSC. The present study established in vivo PK/PD models and the result showed a great potential of HSC for treating ulcerative colitis.

Current view on the problem of treating fibrocystic breast disease in terms of herbal medicine

Introduction: Fibrocystic breast disease, commonly called fibrocystic breasts or fibrocystic change, is a benign (noncancerous) condition, which is the most common pathology in women of reproductive age. Treatment of fibrocystic breast disease and concomitant pathologies can involve using herbs.

Materials and Methods: To make an analysis of literary sources on the development of fibrocystic breast disease in the pathogenesis of diseases of the female reproductive system (clinical human (75%) and animal studies (25%)) were published in the period of 2017–2021.

Results and discussion: The diversity of plants in the world is a promising ground for therapeutic improvisation, allowing for an individual approach to each patient, but, most importantly, creates possibilities for maneuvering in the event of ineffectiveness of any means. In some situations, herbal medicine is not only possible or permissible, but strictly mandatory, and is essentially the only effective therapeutic method, which is relatively safe provided the correct selection of combinations and control by a doctor who applies a certain method of phytotherapy, especially given a duration of treatment. The need for a deeper study is long overdue for the pharmacological capabilities of various plant raw materials in the treatment of not only this pathology, but others as well.

Conclusion: The development of phytotherapy should be based primarily on scientific developments, but this area can not be considered the prerogative of only phytotherapists, as herbal medicines should be in the arsenal of doctors of all specialties.

Pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms of Pulsatilla saponins

Saponins are found in a variety of higher plants and display a wide range of pharmacological activities, including expectorant, anti-inflammatory, vasoprotective and antimicrobial properties. Pulsatilla chinensis (P. chinensis, Bai Tou Weng, ) has been used medically in China for thousands of years for the treatment of diseases caused by bacteria, and it is rich in triterpenoid saponins. In recent decades, anemoside B4 (Pulchinenoside C) is well studied since it has been used as a quality control marker for P. chinensis. At the same time, more and more other active compounds were found in the genus of Pulsatilla. In this review, we summarize the pharmacological activities of Pulsatilla saponins (PS) and discuss the cellular or molecular mechanisms that mediate their multiple activities, such as inducing cancer cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, and protecting organs via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant measures. We aim to provide comprehensive analysis and summary of research progress and future prospects in this field to facilitate further study and drug discovery of PS.