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Wang F, Liang L, Yu M, Wang W, Badar IH, Bao Y, Zhu K, Li Y, Shafi S, Li D, Diao Y, Efferth T, Xue Z, Hua X. Advances in antitumor activity and mechanism of natural steroidal saponins: A review of advances, challenges, and future prospects. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155432. [PMID: 38518645 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide following cardiovascular diseases, presents a formidable challenge in clinical settings due to the extensive toxic side effects associated with primary chemotherapy drugs employed for cancer treatment. Furthermore, the emergence of drug resistance against specific chemotherapeutic agents has further complicated the situation. Consequently, there exists an urgent imperative to investigate novel anticancer drugs. Steroidal saponins, a class of natural compounds, have demonstrated notable antitumor efficacy. Nonetheless, their translation into clinical applications has remained unrealized thus far. In light of this, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review elucidating the antitumor activity, underlying mechanisms, and inherent limitations of steroidal saponins. Additionally, we propose a series of strategic approaches and recommendations to augment the antitumor potential of steroidal saponin compounds, thereby offering prospective insights for their eventual clinical implementation. PURPOSE This review summarizes steroidal saponins' antitumor activity, mechanisms, and limitations. METHODS The data included in this review are sourced from authoritative databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and others. RESULTS A comprehensive summary of over 40 steroidal saponin compounds with proven antitumor activity, including their applicable tumor types and structural characteristics, has been compiled. These steroidal saponins can be primarily classified into five categories: spirostanol, isospirostanol, furostanol, steroidal alkaloids, and cholestanol. The isospirostanol and cholestanol saponins are found to have more potent antitumor activity. The primary antitumor mechanisms of these saponins include tumor cell apoptosis, autophagy induction, inhibition of tumor migration, overcoming drug resistance, and cell cycle arrest. However, steroidal saponins have limitations, such as higher cytotoxicity and lower bioavailability. Furthermore, strategies to address these drawbacks have been proposed. CONCLUSION In summary, isospirostanol and cholestanol steroidal saponins demonstrate notable antitumor activity and different structural categories of steroidal saponins exhibit variations in their antitumor signaling pathways. However, the clinical application of steroidal saponins in cancer treatment still faces limitations, and further research and development are necessary to advance their potential in tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengge Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China
| | - Lu Liang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, the State & NMPA Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR, PR China
| | - Ma Yu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, 59 Qinglong Road, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Wenjie Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China
| | - Iftikhar Hussain Badar
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150030, PR China; Department of Meat Science and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Yongping Bao
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Zhu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China
| | - Yanlin Li
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China
| | - Saba Shafi
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China
| | - Dangdang Li
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China
| | - Yongchao Diao
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz 55128, Germany.
| | - Zheyong Xue
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China.
| | - Xin Hua
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China; Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, PR China.
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Synergistic anticancer effects of timosaponin AIII and ginsenosides in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells. J Ginseng Res 2018; 43:488-495. [PMID: 31308821 PMCID: PMC6606842 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Timosaponin AIII (TA3) is a steroidal saponin extracted from Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Here, we investigated the anticancer effects of TA3 in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells. TA3 attenuates migration and invasion of MG63 cells via regulations of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are involved with cancer metastasis in various cancer cells. TA3 reduced enzymatic activities and transcriptional expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MG63 cells. TA3 also inhibited Src, focal adhesion kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, β-catenin, and cAMP response element binding signaling, which regulate migration and invasion of cells. TA3 induced apoptosis of MG63 cells via regulations of caspase-3, caspase-7, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Then, we tested several ginsenosides to be used in combination with TA3 for the synergistic anticancer effects. We found that ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc have synergistic effects on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Methods We investigated the anticancer effects of TA3 and synergistic effects of various ginseng saponins on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. To test antimetastatic effects, we performed wound healing migration assay, Boyden chamber invasion assays, gelatin zymography assay, and Western blot analysis. Annexin V/PI staining apoptosis assay was performed to determine the apoptotic effect of TA3 and ginsenosides. Results TA3 attenuated migration and invasion of MG63 cells and induced apoptosis of MG63 cells. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc showed the synergistic effects on TA3-induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Conclusions The results strongly suggest that the combination of TA3 and the two ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc may be a strong candidate for the effective antiosteosarcoma agent.
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