Ginkgolic Acid Suppresses Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Growth by Inducing Apoptosis and Inhibiting AKT/NF-κB Signaling

The Pharmacology and Toxicology of Ginkgolic Acids: Secondary Metabolites from Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgolic acids (GAs) are distinctive secondary metabolites of Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba) primarily found in its leaves and seeds, with the highest concentration located in the exotesta. GAs are classified as long-chain phenolic compounds, and exhibit structural similarities to lignoceric acid. Their structural diversity arises from variations in the length of side chains and their number of double bonds, resulting in six distinct forms within G. biloba extracts (GBE). Of these, GA (C15:1) is the most prevalent. As inhibitors of SUMOylation, GAs demonstrate significant antitumor activity, and can exert antineoplastic effects through multiple pathways, which positions them as potentially promising therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. Additionally, GAs exhibit notable anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, highlighting their multifaceted medicinal potential. Although the pharmacological properties of GAs have been extensively investigated, the associated risks of liver and kidney damage must not be overlooked. GAs can induce significant hepatic damage by promoting cellular apoptosis, oxidative stress, and the disruption of various metabolic processes. Furthermore, a limited number of studies have indicated that GAs may exhibit nephrotoxicity, as well as adverse effects on the skin and nervous system. Due to their recognized toxicity, the concentration of GAs is typically regulated to within 5[Formula: see text]ppm in the standardized G. biloba leaf extract EGb 761. Currently, there is no definitive evidence supporting the mutagenic toxicity of GAs. This review primarily synthesizes recent advancements in understanding the pharmacological and toxicological effects of GAs, along with their underlying mechanisms. It is anticipated that this review will stimulate scholarly discourse and elicit valuable insights.

Pharmacological Activities of Ginkgolic Acids in Relation to Autophagy

Plant-derived natural compounds are widely used as alternative medicine in healthcare throughout the world. Ginkgolic acids, the phenolic compounds isolated from the leaves and seeds of Ginkgo biloba, are among the chemicals that have been explored the most. Ginkgolic acids exhibit cytotoxic activity against a vast number of human cancers in various preclinical models in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the pharmacological activities of ginkgolic acids are also involved in antidiabetic, anti-bacteria, anti-virus, anti-fibrosis, and reno/neuroprotection. Autophagy as a highly conserved self-cleaning process that plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis and has been proven to serve as a protective mechanism in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. In this review, we surveyed the pharmacological activities of the major three forms of ginkgolic acids (C13:0, C15:1, and C17:1) that are linked to autophagic activity and the mechanisms to which these compounds may participate. A growing body of studies in last decade suggests that ginkgolic acids may represent promising chemical compounds in future drug development and an alternative remedy in humans.

miR-212-5p inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression by targeting METTL3

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of microRNA-212-5p (miR-212-5p) on the proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. Microarray datasets (EXP00394 and EXP00660) were downloaded from the dbDEMC database, and the differentially expressed microRNAs between high-grade and low-grade NPC were analyzed. miR-212-5p and methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) expression levels in NPC tissues and cells were determined by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Besides, the relationship between miR-212-5p expression and clinicopathological characteristics of patients was analyzed by the Chi-square test. Cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and flow cytometry were adopted to detect the effect of miR-212-5p on the cell proliferation and apoptosis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analysis were performed to explore the potential biological functions and the signal pathways related to the target genes of miR-212-5p. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter gene assay were used to verify the relationship between miR-212-5p and METTL3 3' untranslated region. Besides, western blot was adopted to detect the expression of METTL3. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the downstream pathways in which METTL3 was enriched. It was found that miR-212-5p was downregulated in NPC tissues, and the low miR-212-5p expression was associated with lymph node metastasis and poor differentiation. miR-212-5p overexpression inhibited the growth and promoted apoptosis of NPC cells; miR-212-5p inhibition functioned oppositely. Mechanistically, miR-212-5p inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of NPC cells via suppressing METTL3 expression. miR-212-5p/METTL3 was associated with processes of RNA transport and cell cycle. In conclusion, miR-212-5p inhibits the progression of NPC by targeting METTL3.