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Gauttam VK, Munjal K, Chopra H, Ahmad A, Rana MK, Kamal MA. A Mechanistic Review on Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants and their Pharmacologically Active Molecules for Targeting Metabolic Syndrome. Curr Pharm Des 2024; 30:10-30. [PMID: 38155468 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128274446231220113957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) therapy with phytochemicals is an emerging field of study with therapeutic potential. Obesity, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and abnormal lipid profiles are all components of metabolic syndrome, which is a major public health concern across the world. New research highlights the promise of phytochemicals found in foods, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, as a sustainable and innovative method of treating this illness. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and insulin-sensitizing qualities are just a few of the many positive impacts shown by bioactive substances. Collectively, they alleviate the hallmark symptoms of metabolic syndrome by modulating critical metabolic pathways, boosting insulin sensitivity, decreasing oxidative stress, and calming chronic low-grade inflammation. In addition, phytochemicals provide a multimodal strategy by targeting not only adipose tissue but also the liver, skeletal muscle, and vascular endothelium, all of which have a role in the pathogenesis of MetS. Increasing evidence suggests that these natural chemicals may be useful in controlling metabolic syndrome as a complementary treatment to standard medication or lifestyle changes. This review article emphasizes the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals, illuminating their varied modes of action and their ability to alleviate the interconnected causes of metabolic syndrome. Phytochemical-based interventions show promise as a novel and sustainable approach to combating the rising global burden of metabolic syndrome, with the ultimate goal of bettering public health and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Kumar Gauttam
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Shiva Institute of Pharmacy, Bilaspur, Hmachal Pradesh, India
| | - Kavita Munjal
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Hitesh Chopra
- Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aftab Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahesh Kumar Rana
- Department of Agriculture, M.M. (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
- Enzymoics, 7 Peterlee Place, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
- Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
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Phytochemicals as Regulators of Tumor Glycolysis and Hypoxia Signaling Pathways: Evidence from In Vitro Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070808. [PMID: 35890106 PMCID: PMC9315613 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The full understanding of the complex nature of cancer still faces many challenges, as cancers arise not as a result of a single target disruption but rather involving successive genetic and epigenetic alterations leading to multiple altered metabolic pathways. In this light, the need for a multitargeted, safe and effective therapy becomes essential. Substantial experimental evidence upholds the potential of plant-derived compounds to interfere in several important pathways, such as tumor glycolysis and the upstream regulating mechanisms of hypoxia. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the natural compounds which demonstrated, in vitro studies, an effective anticancer activity by affecting key regulators of the glycolytic pathway such as glucose transporters, hexokinases, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase or lactate dehydrogenase. Moreover, we assessed how phytochemicals could interfere in HIF-1 synthesis, stabilization, accumulation, and transactivation, emphasizing PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways as important signaling cascades in HIF-1 activation. Special consideration was given to cell culture-based metabolomics as one of the most sensitive, accurate, and comprising approaches for understanding the response of cancer cell metabolome to phytochemicals.
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Kandhari K, Paudel S, Raina K, Agarwal C, Kant R, Wempe MF, O’Bryant C, Agarwal R. Comparative Pre-clinical Efficacy of Chinese and Indian Cultivars of Bitter Melon ( Momordica charantia) against Pancreatic Cancer. J Cancer Prev 2021; 26:266-276. [PMID: 35047453 PMCID: PMC8749318 DOI: 10.15430/jcp.2021.26.4.266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the high rates of incidence and mortality associated with pancreatic cancer (PanC), there is a need to develop alternative strategies to target PanC. Recent studies have demonstrated that fruits of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) exhibit strong anticancer efficacy against PanC. However, the comparative effects of different bitter melon varieties have not been investigated. This has important implications, given that several bitter melon cultivars are geographically available but their differential effects are not known; and that on a global level, individuals could consume different bitter melon varieties sourced from different cultivars for anti-PanC benefits. Considering these shortcomings, in the present study, comparative pre-clinical anti-PanC studies have been conducted using lyophilized-juice and aqueous-methanolic extracts of the two most widely consumed but geographically diverse bitter melon varieties (Chinese [bitter melon juice; BMJ] and Indian [bitter melon extract; BME] variants). We observed that both BMJ and BME possess comparable efficacy against PanC growth and progression; specifically, these preparations have the potential to (a) inhibit PanC cell proliferation and induce cell death; (b) suppress PanC tumor growth, proliferation, and induce apoptosis; (c) restrict capillary tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and decrease angiogenesis in PanC tumor xenografts. Thus, given the comparable pre-clinical anti-PanC efficacy of bitter melon cultivars, the geographical non-availability of a certain cultivar should not be a limiting factor in selecting a variant for moving forward for future clinical use/clinical trials either as a preventive or a therapeutic alternative for targeting PanC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kushal Kandhari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sandeep Paudel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Komal Raina
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Chapla Agarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rama Kant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Michael F. Wempe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Cindy O’Bryant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajesh Agarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Gupta S, Kumar A, Tejavath KK. A pharmacognostic approach for mitigating pancreatic cancer: emphasis on herbal extracts and phytoconstituents. FUTURE JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s43094-021-00246-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Pancreatic cancer is studied as one of the most lethal cancers with currently no control of its lethality, mainly due to its late diagnosis and lack of foolproof treatment processes. Despite continuous efforts being made in looking for therapies to deal with cancer, it keeps on being a labyrinth for the researchers. Efforts like discovering new treatment options, repurposing existing drugs, are continuously made to deal with this cancer.
Main body
With the urge to get answers and the fact that nature has all roots of therapeutics, efforts are made in the direction of finding those answers for providing ministrations for pancreatic cancer from plant products. Plant products are used as treatment options either directly in the form of extracts or an alternative to them is individual phytochemicals that are either isolated from the plants or are commercially synthesized for various purposes. In this review, we put forward such pharmacognostic initiatives made in combating pancreatic cancer, focusing mainly on plant extracts and various phytochemicals; along with the mechanisms which they triggered to fulfill the need for cytotoxicity to pancreatic cancer cells (in vitro and in vivo).
Conclusion
This study will thus provide insights into new combination therapy that can be used and also give a clue on which plant product and phytoconstituent can be used in dealing with pancreatic cancer.
Graphical abstract
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Synergism between SLC6A14 blockade and gemcitabine in pancreactic cancer: a 1H-NMR-based metabolomic study in pancreatic cancer cells. Biochem J 2020; 477:1923-1937. [PMID: 32379301 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Gemcitabine is the first-line chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. To overcome the often-acquired gemcitabine resistance, other drugs are used in combination with gemcitabine. It is well-known that cancer cells reprogram cellular metabolism, coupled with the up-regulation of selective nutrient transporters to feed into the altered metabolic pathways. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the amino acid transporter SLC6A14 is markedly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer and that it is a viable therapeutic target. α-Methyltryptophan (α-MT) is a blocker of SLC6A14 and is effective against pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that α-MT could synergize with gemcitabine in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We investigated the effects of combination of α-MT and gemcitabine on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in a human pancreatic cancer cell line, and examined the underlying mechanisms using 1H-NMR-based metabolomic analysis. These studies examined the intracellular metabolite profile and the extracellular metabolite profile separately. Combination of α-MT with gemcitabine elicited marked changes in a wide variety of metabolic pathways, particularly amino acid metabolism with notable alterations in pathways involving tryptophan, branched-chain amino acids, ketone bodies, and membrane phospholipids. The metabolomic profiles of untreated control cells and cells treated with gemcitabine or α-MT were distinctly separable, and the combination regimen showed a certain extent of overlap with the individual α-MT and gemcitabine groups. This represents the first study detailing the metabolomic basis of the anticancer efficacy of gemcitabine, α-MT and their combination.
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Dhar D, Raina K, Kumar D, Wempe MF, Bagby SM, Pitts TM, Orlicky DJ, Agarwal C, Messersmith WA, Agarwal R. Bitter melon juice intake with gemcitabine intervention circumvents resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic patient-derived xenograft tumors. Mol Carcinog 2020; 59:1227-1240. [PMID: 32816368 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chemoresistance to gemcitabine (GEM)-a frontline chemotherapeutic, resulting from its dysfunctional uptake and metabolism in cancer cells, is a major contributing factor for failed therapy in pancreatic cancer (PanC) patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need for agents that could reverse GEM resistance and allow continued chemosensitivity to the drug. We employed natural nontoxic agent (with anti-PanC potential) bitter melon juice (BMJ) and GEM to examine their combinatorial benefits against tumorigenesis of PanC patient-derived xenograft (PDX)-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas explants PDX272 (wild-type KRAS), PDX271 (mutant KRAS and SMAD4), and PDX266 (mutant KRAS). Anti-PanC efficacy of single agents vs combination in the three tumor explants, both at the end of active dosing regimen and following a drug-washout phase were compared. In animal studies, GEM alone treatment significantly inhibited PDX tumor growth, but effects were not sustained, as GEM-treated tumors exhibited regrowth posttreatment termination. However, combination-regimen displayed enhanced and sustained efficacy. Mechanistic assessments revealed that overcoming GEM resistance by coadministration with BMJ was possibly due to modulation of GEM transport/metabolism pathway molecules (ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M1, human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1, and deoxycytidine kinase). Study outcomes, highlighting significantly higher and sustained efficacy of GEM in combination with BMJ, make a compelling case for a clinical trial in PanC patients, wherein BMJ could be combined with GEM to target and overcome GEM resistance. In addition, given their specific effectiveness against KRAS-mutant tumors, this combination could be potentially beneficial to a broader PanC patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepanshi Dhar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Komal Raina
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota
| | - Dileep Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Michael F Wempe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Stacey M Bagby
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Todd M Pitts
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - David J Orlicky
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Chapla Agarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Wells A Messersmith
- Division of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Rajesh Agarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
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Sur S, Ray RB. Bitter Melon ( Momordica Charantia), a Nutraceutical Approach for Cancer Prevention and Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2064. [PMID: 32726914 PMCID: PMC7464160 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Many dietary plant products show promising anticancer effects. Bitter melon or bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a nutrient-rich medicinal plant cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of many countries. Traditionally, bitter melon is used as a folk medicine and contains many bioactive components including triterpenoids, triterpene glycoside, phenolic acids, flavonoids, lectins, sterols and proteins that show potential anticancer activity without significant side effects. The preventive and therapeutic effects of crude extract or isolated components are studied in cell line-based models and animal models of multiple types of cancer. In the present review, we summarize recent progress in testing the cancer preventive and therapeutic activity of bitter melon with a focus on underlying molecular mechanisms. The crude extract and its components prevent many types of cancers by enhancing reactive oxygen species generation; inhibiting cancer cell cycle, cell signaling, cancer stem cells, glucose and lipid metabolism, invasion, metastasis, hypoxia, and angiogenesis; inducing apoptosis and autophagy cell death, and enhancing the immune defense. Thus, bitter melon may serve as a promising cancer preventive and therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhayan Sur
- Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA;
| | - Ratna B. Ray
- Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA;
- Cancer Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
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Sur S, Nakanishi H, Flaveny C, Ippolito JE, McHowat J, Ford DA, Ray RB. Inhibition of the key metabolic pathways, glycolysis and lipogenesis, of oral cancer by bitter melon extract. Cell Commun Signal 2019; 17:131. [PMID: 31638999 PMCID: PMC6802351 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-019-0447-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of cancer which favours rapid energy production, biosynthetic capabilities and therapy resistance. In our previous study, we showed bitter melon extract (BME) prevents carcinogen induced mouse oral cancer. RNA sequence analysis from mouse tongue revealed a significant modulation in "Metabolic Process" by altering glycolysis and lipid metabolic pathways in BME fed group as compared to cancer group. In present study, we evaluated the effect of BME on glycolysis and lipid metabolism pathways in human oral cancer cells. METHODS Cal27 and JHU022 cells were treated with BME. RNA and protein expression were analysed for modulation of glycolytic and lipogenesis genes by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot analyses and immunofluorescence. Lactate and pyruvate level was determined by GC/MS. Extracellular acidification and glycolytic rate were measured using the Seahorse XF analyser. Shotgun lipidomics in Cal27 and JHU022 cell lines following BME treatment was performed by ESI/ MS. ROS was measured by FACS. RESULTS Treatment with BME on oral cancer cell lines significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of key glycolytic genes SLC2A1 (GLUT-1), PFKP, LDHA, PKM and PDK3. Pyruvate and lactate levels and glycolysis rate were reduced in oral cancer cells following BME treatment. In lipogenesis pathway, we observed a significant reduction of genes involves in fatty acid biogenesis, ACLY, ACC1 and FASN, at the mRNA and protein levels following BME treatment. Further, BME treatment significantly reduced phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and plasmenylethanolamine, and reduced iPLA2 activity. Additionally, BME treatment inhibited lipid raft marker flotillin expression and altered its subcellular localization. ER-stress associated CHOP expression and generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species were induced by BME, which facilitated apoptosis. CONCLUSION Our study revealed that bitter melon extract inhibits glycolysis and lipid metabolism and induces ER and oxidative stress-mediated cell death in oral cancer. Thus, BME-mediated metabolic reprogramming of oral cancer cells will have important preventive and therapeutic implications along with conventional therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhayan Sur
- 0000 0004 1936 9342grid.262962.bDepartment of Pathology, Saint Louis University, 1100 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104 USA
| | - Hiroshi Nakanishi
- 0000 0004 1936 9342grid.262962.bDepartment of Pathology, Saint Louis University, 1100 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104 USA
| | - Colin Flaveny
- 0000 0004 1936 9342grid.262962.bDepartment of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Joseph E. Ippolito
- 0000 0001 2355 7002grid.4367.6Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO USA
| | - Jane McHowat
- 0000 0004 1936 9342grid.262962.bDepartment of Pathology, Saint Louis University, 1100 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104 USA
| | - David A. Ford
- 0000 0004 1936 9342grid.262962.bBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO USA
| | - Ratna B. Ray
- 0000 0004 1936 9342grid.262962.bDepartment of Pathology, Saint Louis University, 1100 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104 USA
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