Anti-Colon Cancer Effects of 6-Shogaol Through G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest by p53/p21-cdc2/cdc25A Crosstalk

An overview of 6-shogaol: new insights into its pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic activities

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has traditionally been used as a cooking spice and herbal medicine for treating nausea and vomiting. More recently, ginger was found to effectively reduce the risk of diseases such as gastroenteritis, migraine, gonarthritis, etc., due to its various bioactive compounds. 6-Shogaol, the pungent phenolic substance in ginger, is the most pharmacologically active among such compounds. The aim of the present study was to review the pharmacological characteristic of 6-shogaol, including the properties of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumour, and its corresponding molecular mechanism. With its multiple mechanisms, 6-shogaol is considered a beneficial natural compound, and therefore, this review will shed some light on the therapeutic role of 6-shogaol and provide a theoretical basis for the development and clinical application of 6-shogaol.

Review of the anticancer properties of 6-shogaol: Mechanisms of action in cancer cells and future research opportunities

Cancer is a major global health challenge that affects every nation and accounts for a large portion of the worldwide disease burden. Furthermore, cancer cases will rise significantly in the next few decades. The Food and Drug Administration has approved more than 600 drugs for treating diverse types of cancer. However, many conventional anticancer medications cause side effects, and drug resistance develops as the treatment proceeds with a concomitant impact on patients' quality of life. Thus, exploring natural products with antitumor properties and nontoxic action mechanisms is essential. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) rhizome has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and it contains biologically active compounds, gingerols and shogaols. The main ginger shogaol is 6-shogaol, whose concentration dramatically increases during the processing of ginger, primarily due to the heat-induced conversion of 6-gingerol. Some studies have demonstrated that 6-shogaol possesses biological and pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. The mechanism of action of 6-shogaol as an anticancer drug includes induction of paraptosis, induction of apoptosis, increase in the production of reactive oxygen species, induction of autophagy, and the inhibition of AKT/mTOR signaling. Despite this knowledge, the mechanism of action of 6-shogaol is not fully understood, and the scientific data on its therapeutic dose, safety, and toxicity are not entirely described. This review article examines the potential of 6-shogaol as an anticancer drug, addressing the limitations of current medications; it covers 6-shogaol's attributes, mechanism of action in cancer cells, and opportunities for future research.

MiR-6839-5p inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion; a possible correlation with the suppressing VEGFA expression in human chondrosarcoma cells

MicroRNAs play an important role in the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of malignancy. In previous studies (detailed in our previous paper), the expression of miR-6839-5p was significantly increased in SW1353 cells after 125I seed 6 Gy irradiation, which indicated miR-6839-5p may play a tumor suppression function in chondrosarcoma cells. This study aimed to identify the effects of miR-6839-5p on the human chondrosarcoma cells, and investigate the potential target genes of miR-6839-5p. Firstly, chondrosarcoma cells (SW1353 and CAL78) were transfected with hsa-miR-6839-5p specific mimic. Secondly, Cell viability assay (MTT assay), Colony formation assay, Wound healing assay, Transwell assay, TUNEL staining and Western blotting experiments were performed, and the results proved miR-6839-5p can inhibit chondrosarcoma cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Meanwhile, miR-6839-5p significantly down-regulated apoptosis facilitator Bcl-2 expression, and promoted apoptosis of chondrosarcoma cells. It is reasonable to speculate miR-6839-5p might downregulate Bcl-2 expression to induce apoptosis in SW1353 human chondrosarcoma cells. Lastly, RNA extraction and bioinformatic analysis was performed on SW1353 cells transfected with hsa-miR-6839-5p specific mimic to investigate the potential target genes of miR-6839-5p. A total of 253 differentially expressed mRNA genes (105 up-regulated genes and 148 down-regulated genes) were found, and 23 differentially expressed downregulated genes were identified. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to validate the results, which demonstrated the expression of BST2, VEGFA, FPR3 and PPARA was significantly downregulated by miR-6839-5p mimic. Furthermore, miR-6839-5p inhibitor can restore or partially restore the expression value of the above four genes. The analysis results of miRNA target gene prediction database indicated VEGFA was the most likely direct target gene of miR-6839-5p.

Ginger Root Bioactive Compounds Specifically Inhibits Growth of Colon Cancer Cells in Culture

Objective

Colon cancer is affluent among many people, and having cancer greatly impacts the lives of many. Ginger is a common food, particularly in Asian cuisine. However, the health benefits of ginger as a whole food and 6-gingerol, its bioactive compound in prevention of colon cancer have not been fully addressed. This experiment investigated effects of ginger juice and 6-gingerol on colon cancer cell growth and death.

Methods

Fresh ginger roots were homogenized for juice preparation. Total phenolic contents of ginger juice were measured using Folin-C assay. Colon cancer SW480 cells and normal colon epithelial cells CCD-18Co were treated with ginger juice and/or 6-gingerol. Cell metabolic activity was assessed by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were accessed by immunoblotting. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA with a Tukey post-hoc test and statistical significance was set at P < .05.

Results

The results showed that ginger juice selectively inhibited SW480 cell growth at 25 µL/mL for 40 hours. High doses of ginger juice (at 50 and 100 µL/mL for 40 hours) inhibited the growth of both cell types. This was independent of caspase-3 activation. Six-gingerol specifically inhibited SW480 cell growth starting at 0.5 µmoL/L (P < .01). More than 1 µmoL/L 6-gingerol did not give more power to inhibit SW480 cell growth. The results also showed that CCD-18Co cell growth rates were not changed after 6-gingerol treatments (up to 10 µmoL/L, P > .1). Immunoblotting results revealed that the elevation of Myt1 levels and decreases in CDK1, p21 Wafl/Cip1 and pSer642-Wee1 only occurred in SW480 but not CCD-18Co cells when treated with 1 and/or 2.5 µmoL/L 6-gingerol for 40 hours.

Conclusion

6-gingerol can specifically inhibit SW480 cancer cells without killing normal CCd-18Co cells, through cell cycle arrest. Ginger juice can selectively inhibit colon cancer cell growth in a narrow window at ~25 µL/mL.

Pharmacodynamic components and mechanisms of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginger is a "medicine-food homology" natural herb and has a longstanding medicinal background in treating intestinal diseases. Its remarkable bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, flora regulatory, intestinal protective, and anticancer properties, make it a promising natural medicine for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention and treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The purpose is to review the relevant literature on ginger and pharmacodynamic components for CRC prevention and treatment, summarize the possible mechanisms of ginger from clinical studies and animal and in vitro experiments, to provide theoretical support for the use of ginger preparations in the daily prevention and clinical treatment of CRC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literatures about ginger and CRC were searched from electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI).

RESULTS

This article summarizes the molecular mechanisms of ginger and its pharmacodynamic components in the prevention and treatment of CRC, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, flora regulatory, intestinal protective, inhibit CRC cell proliferation, induce CRC cell cycle blockage, promote CRC cell apoptosis, suppress CRC cell invasion and migration, enhance the anticancer effect of chemotherapeutic drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Ginger has potential for daily prevention and clinical treatment of CRC.

Cynaroside Induces G1 Cell Cycle Arrest by Downregulating Cell Division Cycle 25A in Colorectal Cancer

Natural chemicals derived from herbal plants have recently been recognized as potentially useful treatment alternatives owing to their ability to target a wide range of important biological molecules. Cynaroside is one of these natural compounds with promising anticancer activity for numerous tumor types. Nevertheless, the anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of action of cynaroside on colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. In this study, cynaroside was found to markedly inhibit CRC cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. Cynaroside also inhibited cell proliferation in vivo and decreased the expression of KI67, a cell nuclear antigen. RNA sequencing revealed 144 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCT116 cells and 493 DEGs in RKO cells that were enriched in the cell cycle signaling pathway. Cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A), a DEG widely enriched in the cell cycle signaling pathway, is considered a key target of cynaroside in CRC cells. Cynaroside also inhibited DNA replication and arrested cells in the G1/S phase in vitro. The expression levels of CDC25A and related G1-phase proteins were significantly elevated after CDC25A overexpression in CRC cells, which partially reversed the inhibitory effect of cynaroside on CRC cell proliferation and G1/S-phase arrest. In summary, cynaroside may be used to treat CRC as it inhibits CDC25A expression.

Research progress of ginger in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors

Cancer seriously endangers human health. Gastrointestinal cancer is the most common and major malignant tumor, and its morbidity and mortality are gradually increasing. Although there are effective treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors, they are often accompanied by serious side effects. According to the traditional Chinese medicine and food homology theory, many materials are both food and medicine. Moreover, food is just as capable of preventing and treating diseases as medicine. Medicine and food homologous herbs not only have excellent pharmacological effects and activities but also have few side effects. As a typical medicinal herb with both medicinal and edible uses, some components of ginger have been shown to have good efficacy and safety against cancer. A mass of evidence has also shown that ginger has anti-tumor effects on digestive tract cancers (such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, laryngeal cancer, and pancreatic cancer) through a variety of pathways. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of action of the main components of ginger and their potential clinical applications in treating gastrointestinal tumors.

Anticancer perspective of 6-shogaol: anticancer properties, mechanism of action, synergism and delivery system

Cancer is a malignant disease that has plagued human beings all the time, but the treatment effect of commonly used anticancer drugs in clinical practice is not ideal by reason of their drug tolerance and Strong adverse reactions to patients. Therefore, it is imperative to find effective and low-toxic anticancer drugs. Many research works have shown that natural products in Chinese herbal medicine have great anticancer potential, such as 6-shogaol, a monomer composition obtained from Chinese herbal ginger, which has been confirmed by numerous in vitro or vivo studies to be an excellent anti-cancer active substance. In addition, most notably, 6-shogaol has different selectivity for normal and cancer cells during treatment, which makes it valuable for further research and clinical development. Therefore, this review focus on the anti-cancer attributes, the mechanism and the regulation of related signaling pathways of 6-shogaol. In addition, its synergy with commonly used anticancer drugs, potential drug delivery systems and prospects for future research are discussed. This is the first review to comprehensively summarize the anti-cancer mechanism of 6-shogaol, hoping to provide a theoretical basis and guiding significance for future anti-cancer research and clinical development of 6-shogaol.

The Prognostic Value of ADAMTS8 and Its Role as a Tumor Suppressor in Breast Cancer

A disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with therombospondin type1 motif 8 (ADAMTS8) plays an important role in many malignancies. However, the clinical and biological significance of ADAMTS8 in breast cancer remain unknown. In this study, the clinical data from 1066 breast cancer patients were analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and were analyzed using the correlation between ADAMTS8 expression and the clinicopathological features and prognoses. The CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry and Transwell assay were used to characterize the effects of ADAMTS8 on proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and western blotting were used to identify the potential molecular mechanism on how ADAMTS8 exert its biological function. ADAMTS8 overexpression correlated longer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). ADAMTS8 was considered as an independent prognostic factor for OS. ADAMTS8 overexpression inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest. ADAMTS8 was also involved in cell cycle regulation and was associated with the EGFR/Akt signaling pathway. ADAMTS8 knockdown showed the reverse effect. Together, the results showed that ADAMTS8 functioned as a tumor suppressor gene (TGS) and could be a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer.

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Studies of Selected Botanical Dietary Supplements Used in the United States

Based on their current wide bioavailability, botanical dietary supplements have become an important component of the United States healthcare system, although most of these products have limited scientific evidence for their use. The most recent American Botanical Council Market Report estimated for 2020 a 17.3% increase in sales of these products when compared to 2019, for a total sales volume of $11,261 billion. The use of botanical dietary supplements products in the United States is guided by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) from 1994, enacted by the U.S. Congress with the aim of providing more information to consumers and to facilitate access to a larger number of botanical dietary supplements available on the market than previously. Botanical dietary supplements may be formulated for and use only using crude plant samples (e.g., plant parts such as the bark, leaves, or roots) that can be processed by grinding into a dried powder. Plant parts can also be extracted with hot water to form an "herbal tea." Other preparations of botanical dietary supplements include capsules, essential oils, gummies, powders, tablets, and tinctures. Overall, botanical dietary supplements contain bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse chemotypes that typically are found at low concentration levels. These bioactive constituents usually occur in combination with inactive molecules that may induce synergy and potentiation of the effects observed when botanical dietary supplements are taken in their different forms. Most of the botanical dietary supplements available on the U.S. market have been used previously as herbal remedies or as part of traditional medicine systems from around the world. Their prior use in these systems also provides a certain level of assurance in regard to lower toxicity levels. This chapter will focus on the importance and diversity of the chemical features of bioactive secondary metabolites found in botanical dietary supplements that are responsible for their applications. Many of the active principles of botanical dietary substances are phenolics and isoprenoids, but glycosides and some alkaloids are also present. Biological studies on the active constituents of selected botanical dietary supplements will be discussed. Thus, the present chapter should be of interest for both members of the natural products scientific community, who may be performing development studies of the products available, as well as for healthcare professionals who are directly involved in the analysis of botanical interactions and evaluation of the suitability of botanical dietary supplements for human consumption.

Natural Hemp-Ginger Extract and Its Biological and Therapeutic Efficacy

The prevention and treatment of skin diseases remains a major challenge in medicine. The search for natural active ingredients that can be used to prevent the development of the disease and complement treatment is on the rise. Natural extracts of ginger and hemp offer a wide range of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. This study evaluates the effectiveness of hemp and ginger extract as a supportive treatment for skin diseases. It reports a synergistic effect of hemp and ginger extract. The contents of cannabinoids and components of ginger are determined, with the highest being CBD (587.17 ± 8.32 µg/g) and 6-gingerol (60.07 ± 0.40 µg/g). The minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus (156.5 µg/mL), Escherichia coli (625.2 µg/mL) and Candida albicans (78.3 µg/mL) was also analyzed. Analysis of WM-266-4 cells revealed the greatest decrease in metabolic activity in cells exposed to the extract at a concentration of 1.00 µg/mL. Regarding the expression of genes associated with cellular processes, melanoma aggressiveness, resistance and cell survival, a significant difference was found in the expression of ABCB5, CAV1 and S100A9 compared with the control (cells not exposed to the extract).

Anti-tumor pharmacology of natural products targeting mitosis

Cancer has been an insurmountable problem in the history of medical science. The uncontrollable proliferation of cancer cells is one of cancer’s main characteristics, which is closely associated with abnormal mitosis. Targeting mitosis is an effective method for cancer treatment. This review summarizes several natural products with anti-tumor effects related to mitosis, focusing on targeting microtubulin, inducing DNA damage, and modulating mitosis-associated kinases. Furthermore, the main disadvantages of several typical compounds, including drug resistance, toxicity to non-tumor tissues, and poor aqueous solubility and pharmacokinetic properties, are also discussed, together with strategies to address them. Improved understanding of cancer cell mitosis and natural products may pave the way to drug development for the treatment of cancer.

Investigating the Anti-Cancer Properties of 6-Shogaol in Zingiber officinale

Cancer is ranked as the first or second cause of death in 112 countries across the world with an estimated 19.3 million new cases of cancer along with 10 million deaths occurring in 2020. Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the fourth most common cancer worldwide. Investigating methods to reduce or prevent cancer through natural and holistic processes are becoming more of a common research topic around the world. Influenced through traditional Chinese medical practices and Ayurvedic medicine, scientists are now exploring anticancerous compounds present in plants and foods used in these cultures. For instance, ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used for centuries all over Asia for medicinal purposes and contains anticancer compounds. Our review focuses on one of ginger's constituents, 6-shogaol, and its role in colon cancer. We found that 6-shogaol has a significant effect on apoptosis by influencing caspase pathways and cell cycle arrest.

6-Shogaol induces apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells by targeting p53 signalling pathway and generation of reactive oxygen species

Combination therapies, using medicinal herbs, are broadly recommended to attenuate the chemotherapy adverse effects. Based on our previous findings considering the anti-leukaemic effects of ginger extract on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells, the present study was aimed to investigate the anti-cancer role of this pharmaceutical plant on ALL mice models. Moreover, we worked towards identifying the most anti-leukaemic derivative of ginger and the mechanism through which it may exert its cytotoxic impact. In vivo experiments were performed using five groups of six C57BL/6 nude mice, and the anti-leukaemic activity of ginger extract alone or in combination with methotrexate (MTX) was examined. Results showed increased survival rate and reduced damages in mice brain and liver tissues. Subsequently, MTT assay demonstrated synergistic growth inhibitory effect of 6-shogaol (6Sh) and MTX on ALL cell lines and patients primary cells. Eventually, the molecular anti-neoplastic mechanism of 6Sh was evaluated using Bioinformatics. Flow cytometry illustrated 6Sh-mediated apoptosis in Nalm-6 cells confirmed by Western blotting and RT-PCR assays. Further analyses exhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through 6Sh. The current study revealed the in vivo novel anti-leukaemic role of ginger extract, promoted by MTX. Moreover, 6-shogaol was introduced as the major player of ginger cytotoxicity through inducing p53 activity and ROS generation.

Ginger and its active compounds in cancer therapy: From folk uses to nano-therapeutic applications

Ginger is a spice that is renowned for its characteristic aromatic fragrance and pungent taste, with documented healing properties. Field studies conducted in several Asian and African countries revealed that ginger is used traditionally in the management of cancer. The scientific community has probed into the biological validation of its extracts and isolated compounds including the gingerols, shogaols, zingiberene, and zingerone, through in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Nonetheless, an updated compilation of these data together with a deep mechanistic approach is yet to be provided. Accordingly, this review highlights the mechanisms and therapeutics of ginger and its bioactive compounds focused on a cancer context and these evidence are based on the (i) cytotoxic effect against cancer cell lines, (ii) enzyme inhibitory action, (iii) combination therapy with chemotherapeutic and phenolic compounds, (iv) possible links to the microbiome and (v) the use of nano-formulations of ginger bioactive compounds as a more effective drug delivery strategy in cancer therapy.

Exploring the Antitumor Mechanisms of Zingiberis Rhizoma Combined with Coptidis Rhizoma Using a Network Pharmacology Approach

Background

Although the combination of Zingiberis rhizoma (ZR) and Coptidis rhizoma (CR) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine-based herbal pair used for its antitumor effect, the material basis and underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, a network pharmacology approach was used to elucidate the antitumor mechanisms of ZR-CR.

Materials and Methods

To predict the targets of ZR-CR in treating tumors, we constructed protein–protein interactions and hub component-target networks and performed pathway and process enrichment and molecular docking analysis. We used a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay to validate the predicted component-target affinities. Hub gene expression and survival analysis in patients with tumors were used to predict the clinical significance.

Results

The active components of ZR-CR—shogaol, daucosterol, ginkgetin, berberine, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and vanillic acid—exhibited antitumor activities via the MAPK, PI3K-AKT, TNF, FOXO, HIF-1, and VEGF signaling pathways. Molecular docking and SPR analyses suggested direct binding of berberine with AKT1 and TP53; quercetin with EGFR and VEGF165; and ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, and daucosterol with VEGF165 with weak affinities. Gene expression levels of the hub targets of ZR-CR were associated with overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with various tumor types.

Conclusions

The antitumor components of the ZR-CR herbal pair and the mechanisms underlying their antitumor effects were identified. These antitumor components deserve to be explored further in experimental and clinical studies.

[Expression of CDC25A in non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship with let-7 gene]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of CDC25A in non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and explore its correlation with the clinicpathological features of the patients and the expressions of let-7a1 and let-7c.

METHODS

We collected surgical specimens of pathologically confirmed NSCLC tissues and paired adjacent lung tissues from 44 patients and tissues of benign lung lesions from 9 patients. The expressions of CDC25A protein and mRNA in the tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR, respectively; the expressions of let-7a1 and let-7c mRNA were detected using tail-adding fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTS

The positivity rate of CDC25A protein expression was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues than in the adjacent tissues and benign pulmonary lesions (P < 0.05). CDC25A protein expression in NSCLC was not correlated with the patients' age, gender, pathological type, degree of tumor differentiation, or clinical stages (P > 0.05), and was significantly correlated with smoking and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). CDC25A mRNA expression was also significantly higher in NSCLC tissues than in the adjacent tissues and benign pulmonary lesions (F=6.33, P < 0.05), and was similar between the latter two tissues (P > 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that CDC25A expression had a significant negative correlation with let-7c expression in both NSCLC tissues (r=-0.42) and adjacent lung tissues (r=-0.40) but was not correlated with let-7a1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression level of CDC25A is significantly increased in NSCLC with a negative correlation with Let-7c expression, which identifies CDC25A as a possible downstream target gene of Let-7c.

Anti-Survival and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of 6-Shogaol on SW872 Human Liposarcoma Cells via Control of the Intrinsic Caspase Pathway, STAT-3, AMPK, and ER Stress

Notably, 6-Shogaol, a bioactive natural substance, has anticancer effects on many types of tumors. Up to date, the anticancer effect and mode of action of 6-Shogaol on liposarcoma are not known. In this study, we investigated whether 6-Shogaol inhibits the growth of SW872 and 93T449 cells, two different human liposarcoma cell lines. Of note, 6-Shogaol inhibited the growth of SW872 and 93T449 cells without affecting that of normal 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Specifically, 6-Shogaol further induced the apoptosis of SW872 cells, as evidenced by nuclear DNA fragmentation, increased sub G1 population, activation of the intrinsic caspase pathway, and PARP cleavage. However, pretreatment with either z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, or N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, attenuated the 6-Shogaol’s growth-suppressive and apoptosis-inducing effects on SW872 cells. Moreover, 6-Shogaol activated AMPK while inhibited STAT-3 in SW872 cells, and siRNA-based genetic silencing of AMPK or STAT-3 considerably blocked the growth-suppressive and apoptotic response of 6-Shogaol to SW872 cells. Moreover, 6-Shogaol also upregulated the expression and phosphorylation of GRP-78, eIF-2α, ATF4, and CHOP, known ER stress markers, in SW872 cells, illustrating the induction of ER stress. These findings collectively demonstrate that 6-Shogaol has strong antigrowth and proapoptotic effects on SW872 cells through regulation of the intrinsic caspase pathway, oxidative stress, STAT-3, AMPK, and ER stress.

Biological Activity of Some Aromatic Plants and Their Metabolites, with an Emphasis on Health-Promoting Properties

The biological activities of four aromatic plants, namely frankincense, myrrh, ginger, and turmeric, were reviewed in the current study. The volatile fraction (essential oil) as well as the nonvolatile fraction of these four plants showed different promising biological activities that are displayed in detail. These activities can include protection from and/or alleviation of some ailment, which is supported with different proposed mechanisms of action. This review aimed to finally help researchers to get a handle on the importance of considering these selected aromatic plants, which have not been thoroughly reviewed before, as a potential adjuvant to classical synthetic drugs to enhance their efficiency. Moreover, the results elicited in this review encourage the consumption of these medicinal plants as an integrated part of the diet to boost the body's overall health based on scientific evidence.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 disruption inhibits angiogenesis by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Angiogenesis is a complex process, which involves the sprouting of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Pathological retinal angiogenesis can lead to vision loss and even blindness. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) is involved in regulation of the cell cycle and is reported to contribute to tumor progression. However, the role of CDK1 in retinal angiogenesis is largely unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of CDK1 in retinal angiogenesis. Western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the expression of CDK1 in pathological angiogenesis using an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model. Small interfering (si)RNA sequences against CDK1 were synthesized and incubated with retinal cells. The efficiency of knockdown was confirmed by western blot and RT-qPCR assays. The effect of CDK1 siRNAs on angiogenesis in vitro was investigated using EdU cell proliferation, cell migration and tube formation assays. Subsequently, flow cytometry was used to assess the effects of CDK1 siRNAs on cell cycle distribution and on the induction of apoptosis. The expression levels of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes were detected using western blotting. CDK1 was overexpressed in pathological retinal angiogenesis. CDK1 siRNAs inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation. The possible mechanisms involved the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and the induction of apoptosis via an increase in the expression levels of p21 and p53. In conclusion, the data indicated that CDK1 was overexpressed in the OIR model and that silencing of CDK1 inhibited angiogenesis in vitro. CDK1 may be a novel therapeutic target for pathological retinal angiogenesis.

Gingers and Their Purified Components as Cancer Chemopreventative Agents

Chemoprevention by ingested substituents is the process through which nutraceuticals and/or their bioactive components antagonize carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis is the course of action whereby a normal cell is transformed into a neoplastic cell. This latter action involves several steps, starting with initiation and followed by promotion and progression. Driving these stages is continued oxidative stress and inflammation, which in turn, causes a myriad of aberrant gene expressions and mutations within the transforming cell population and abnormal gene expressions by the cells within the surrounding lesion. Chemoprevention of cancer with bioreactive foods or their extracted/purified components occurs primarily via normalizing these inappropriate gene activities. Various foods/agents have been shown to affect different gene expressions. In this review, we discuss how the chemoprevention activities of gingers antagonize cancer development.

Human Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells Inhibit the Proliferation of HeLa Cells via TGF-β1-Mediated JNK/P21 Signaling Pathways

Human menstrual blood-derived stem cells (hMBSCs) are a novel type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have a high proliferative rate, multilineage differentiation potential, low immunogenicity, and low oncogenicity, making them suitable candidates for regenerative medicine. The therapeutic efficacy of hMBSCs has been demonstrated in some diseases; however, their effects on cervical cancer remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether hMBSCs have anticancer properties on cervical cancer cells in vivo and in vitro, which has not yet been reported. In vitro, transwell coculturing experiments revealed that hMBSCs suppress the proliferation and invasion of HeLa cervical cancer cells by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. In vivo, we established a xenografted BALB/c nude mouse model by subcutaneously coinjecting HeLa cells with hMBSCs for 21 days. We found that hMBSCs significantly decrease the average volume and average weight of xenografted tumors. ELISA, TGF-β1 antibody, and recombinant human TGF-β1 (rhTGF-β1) were used to analyze whether TGF-β1 contributed to cell cycle arrest. We found that hMBSC-secreted TGF-β1 and rhTGF-β1 induced cell cycle arrest and increased the expression of phospho-JNK and phospho-P21 in HeLa cells, which was mostly reversed by TGF-β1 antibody. These results indicate that hMBSCs have antitumor properties on cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo, mediated by the TGF-β1/JNK/p21 signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study suggests that hMBSC-based therapy is promising for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Rapamycin‑induced miR‑30a downregulation inhibits senescence of VSMCs by targeting Beclin1

Vascular senescence is considered to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of rapamycin on miR‑30a and its relationship with autophagy and senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Young and aging VSMCs were treated with rapamycin or transfected with miR‑30a mimics. Measurement of cellular senescence was conducted using senescence‑associated (SA)‑β‑Galactosidase (gal) staining. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm binding for miR‑30a and Beclin1. The expression levels of miR‑30a and Beclin1 were determined with reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Autophagy‑related protein levels were determined using immunofluorescence or western blot assays. The results demonstrated that rapamycin treatment significantly decreased miR‑30a expression and increased Beclin1 expression in both young and aging cells, as well as promoted autophagy in VSMCs. In addition, rapamycin inhibited senescence in VSMCs and could also alleviate the aging VSMC cycle arrest. Dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR‑30a could directly bind the 3'untranslated region of Beclin1 and inhibit its expression. Furthermore, miR‑30a inhibited autophagy and promoted senescence of VSMCs. In conclusion, the present results indicated that rapamycin could inhibit the senescence of VSMCs by downregulating miR‑30a, which resulted in upregulation of Beclin1 and activation of autophagy. The current study is the first to demonstrate an inhibitory role of rapamycin on VSMC senescence and might provide novel insights and potential new molecular targets in senescence treatment.

CELF1/p53 axis: a sustained antiproliferative signal leading to villus atrophy under total parenteral nutrition

Intestinal villus atrophy is a major complication of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Our previous study revealed that TPN-induced villus atrophy is accompanied by elevated expression of CUGBP, Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1); however, its mechanism of action has not been fully understood. Herein, we report a pivotal role of CELF1/p53 axis, which induces a sustained antiproliferative signal, leading to suppressed proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). By using a rat model of TPN, we found synchronous upregulation of CELF1 and p53 in jejunum mucosa, accompanied by a 51% decrease in crypt cell proliferation rate. By using HCT-116 cells as an IEC model in vitro, we found that the expression of CELF1 altered dynamically in parallel to proliferation rate, suggesting a self-adaptive expression pattern in IECs in vitro. Furthermore, ectopic overexpression of CELF1 elicited a significant antiproliferative effect in HCT-116, Caco-2, and IEC-6 cells, whereas knockdown of CELF1 elicited a significant proproliferative effect. Moreover, cell-cycle assay revealed that ectopic overexpression of CELF1 induced sustained G2 arrest and G1 arrest in HCT-116 and IEC-6 cells, respectively, which could be abolished by p53 silencing. Mechanistically, polysomal profiling and nascent protein analysis revealed that regulation of p53 by CELF1 was mediated through accelerating its protein translation in polysomes. Taken together, our findings revealed a sustained suppression of IEC proliferation evoked by CELF1/p53 axis, which may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of TPN-induced villus atrophy.-Yan, J.-K., Zhang, T., Dai, L.-N., Gu, B.-L., Zhu, J., Yan, W.-H., Cai, W., Wang, Y. CELF1/p53 axis: a sustained antiproliferative signal leading to villus atrophy under total parenteral nutrition.

DNA damage response and repair in colorectal cancer: Defects, regulation and therapeutic implications

DNA damage response, a key factor involved in maintaining genome integrity and stability, consists of several kinase-dependent signaling pathways, which sense and transduce DNA damage signal. The severity of damage appears to determine DNA damage responses, which can include cell cycle arrest, damage repair and apoptosis. A number of recent studies have demonstrated that defection in signaling through this network is thought to be an underlying mechanism behind the development and progression of various types of human malignancies, including colorectal cancer. In this review, colorectal cancer and its molecular pathology as well as DNA damage response is briefly introduced. Finally, the involvement of key components of this network in the initiation/progression, prognosis, response to treatment and development of drug resistance is comprehensively discussed.

YBX1 regulates tumor growth via CDC25a pathway in human lung adenocarcinoma

Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) is involved in the multi-tumor occurrence and development. However, the regulation of YBX1 in lung tumorigenesis and the underlying mechanisms, especially its relationship with CDC25a, was remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression and clinical significance of YBX1 and CDC25a in lung adenocarcinoma and identified their roles in the regulation of lung cancer growth. The retrospective analysis of 116 patients with lung adenocarcinoma indicated that YBX1 was positively correlated with CDC25a expression. The Cox-regression analysis showed only high-ranking TNM stage and low CDC25a expression were an independent risk factor of prognosis in enrolled patients. High expression of YBX1 or CDC25a protein was also observed in lung adenocarcinoma cells compared with HLF cells. ChIP assay demonstrated the binding of endogenous YBX1 to the CDC25a promoter region. Overexpression of exogenous YBX1 up-regulated the expression of the CDC25a promoter-driven luciferase. By contrast, inhibition of YBX1 by siRNA markedly decreased the capability of YBX1 binding to CDC25a promoter in A549 and H322 cells. Inhibition of YBX1 expression also blocked cell cycle progression, suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis via the CDC25a pathway in vitro. Moreover, inhibition of YBX1 by siRNA suppressed tumorigenesis in a xenograft mouse model and down-regulated the expression of YBX1, CDC25a, Ki67 and cleaved caspase 3 in the tumor tissues of mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate inhibition of YBX1 suppressed lung cancer growth partly via the CDC25a pathway and high expression of YBX1/CDC25a predicts poor prognosis in human lung adenocarcinoma.

Arctii Fructus Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation and MMPs Mediated Invasion via AMPK

Although Arctii Fructus (AF) has been shown to have various pharmacological effects, there have been no studies concerning the inhibitory effects of AF on the metastatic properties of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to investigate whether AF could suppress CRC progression by inhibiting cell growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and the invasion ability of CRC cells. AF decreased proliferation of CRC cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Regarding metastatic properties, AF inhibited EMT by increasing the expression of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin, and decreasing the expression of the mesenchymal marker, N-cadherin, in CT26 cells. Moreover, AF decreased the migration and invasion of CT26 cells by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 activity. We confirmed that the decreased invasion ability and MMP-9 activity by AF treatment involved AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Collectively, this study demonstrates that AF inhibits the proliferation and metastatic properties of CRC cells.

Multiple Effects of Ginseng Berry Polysaccharides: Plasma Cholesterol Level Reduction and Enteric Neoplasm Prevention

The root of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has been used for centuries in Oriental medicine to improve general well-being and to relieve various medical conditions. It is commonly understood that ginsenosides are responsible for the pharmacological activities of ginseng. Compared to the root of ginseng, studies on the berry are considerably limited. In this study, we evaluated the effects of polysaccharides from Asian ginseng berries on plasma lipid levels, chemically-induced enteric inflammation and neoplasm, and cancer chemoprevention in different experimental models. We tested two polysaccharide preparations: regular ginseng berry polysaccharide extract (GBPE) and ginseng berry polysaccharide portion (GBPP, removed MV [Formula: see text]). We first observed that both oral GBPE and oral GBPP significantly reduced plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels in a dose-related manner in ob/ob mice, without obvious body weight changes. Then, in AOM/DSS-induced acute colitis mice, GBPE and GBPP significantly ameliorated the increased gut disease activity index and inhibited the reduction of the colon length. Further, the berry polysaccharides significantly suppressed chemically-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. This is consistent with the observation that GBPE and GBPP attenuated tumorigenesis in mice by significantly and dose-dependently reducing tumor load. Finally, in vitro HCT-116 and HT-29 human colon cancer cells were used. While these berry preparations had better antiproliferation effects on the HCT-116 than the HT-29 cells, the GBPE had significantly stronger inhibitory effects than GBPP. The observed in vitro GBPE's effect could contribute to the actions of its small-molecule non-polysaccharide compounds due to their direct antiproliferative activities. Results obtained from the present study suggest that ginseng berry polysaccharides may have a therapeutic role in the management of high lipid levels, enteric inflammation, and colon malignancies.

Cytotoxic and chemosensitization effects of Scutellarin from traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria altissima L. in human prostate cancer cells

Scutellaria altissima L. is a common traditional Chinese medicine used to treat inflammation in some countries. Scutellarin, an active major flavone glycoside isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria altissima L., has been shown to offer various beneficial biochemical effects on cerebrovascular diseases and inflammation. However, the antiproliferative effects of Scutellarin in prostate cancer and the underlying mechanism are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to ascertain whether Scutellarin inhibits cancer cell growth and to further explore the molecular mechanism. Scutellarin enhanced the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to cisplatin. MTT assays revealed that cell viability was significantly decreased in the prostate cancer cells treated with Scutellarin. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that Scutellarin suppressed cell proliferation by promoting G2/M arrest and inducing apoptosis. We employed western blotting to delineate the underlying mechanisms involved in the G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Comet assay and γH2AX immunocytochemistry were used to detect levels of DNA damage in PC3 cells exposed to Scutellarin and/or cisplatin. Our data revealed that Scutellarin significantly induced prostate cancer cell apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. An increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase were accompanied by the apoptosis induction. Additionally, Scutellarin altered the protein expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory genes by downregulating Cdc2, cyclin B1 and Bcl-2 and upregulating caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, Scutellarin sensitized PC3 cells to cisplastin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our data confirmed the cytotoxicity of Scutellarin against prostate cancer PC3 cells and provide new findings in regards to Scutellarin sensitizing prostate cancer cells to chemotherapy. Our findings suggest that Scutellarin has potential to be used as a novel antineoplastic therapeutic candidate for prostate cancer patients.

Evaluation of daily ginger consumption for the prevention of chronic diseases in adults: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess daily ginger consumption and explore its correlation with chronic diseases among adults and to analyze further how different levels of ginger intake affect the prevalence of chronic diseases.

METHODS

We examined the prevalence rate of chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease [CHD], hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, fatty liver, anemia, and tumor), as well as the daily ginger intake in a large cross-sectional study. In all, 4628 participants (1823 men and 2805 women) ages 18 to 77 y completed face-to-face dietary and health questionnaires. We extracted diagnoses and investigation results from the participants' health records. The association between the level of ginger intake (0-2 g/d, 2-4 g/d, and 4-6 g/d) and the prevalence of chronic diseases was analyzed by using χ2 statistical test and unconditional logistic model.

RESULTS

Overall, daily ginger consumption was associated with decreased risk for hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-0.98) and CHD (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.96) in adults ages ≥18 y. Differences were also observed in adults ages ≥40 y: hypertension (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.99), CHD (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.97). However, after 20 y, no association was seen for hypertension but there was still a difference between ginger consumption and CHD in adults ages ≥60 y (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96). Again, the probability of illness (hypertension or CHD) decreased when the level of daily ginger intake increased.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that ginger has a potential preventive property against some chronic diseases, especially hypertension and CHD, as well as its ability to reduce the probability of illness.

CDC25 Inhibition in Acute Myeloid Leukemia-A Study of Patient Heterogeneity and the Effects of Different Inhibitors

Cell division cycle 25 (CDC25) protein phosphatases regulate cell cycle progression through the activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), but they are also involved in chromatin modulation and transcriptional regulation. CDC25 inhibition is regarded as a possible therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We investigated the in vitro effects of CDC25 inhibitors on primary human AML cells derived from 79 unselected patients in suspension cultures. Both the previously well-characterized CDC25 inhibitor NSC95397, as well as five other inhibitors (BN82002 and the novel small molecular compounds ALX1, ALX2, ALX3, and ALX4), only exhibited antiproliferative effects for a subset of patients when tested alone. These antiproliferative effects showed associations with differences in genetic abnormalities and/or AML cell differentiation. However, the responders to CDC25 inhibition could be identified by analysis of global gene expression profiles. The differentially expressed genes were associated with the cytoskeleton, microtubules, and cell signaling. The constitutive release of 28 soluble mediators showed a wide variation among patients and this variation was maintained in the presence of CDC25 inhibition. Finally, NSC95397 had no or only minimal effects on AML cell viability. In conclusion, CDC25 inhibition has antiproliferative effects on primary human AML cells for a subset of patients, and these patients can be identified by gene expression profiling.

Phytochemistry and Anticancer Potential of Notoginseng

Asian ginseng, American ginseng, and notoginseng are three major species in the ginseng family. Notoginseng is a Chinese herbal medicine with a long history of use in many Oriental countries. This botanical has a distinct ginsenoside profile compared to other ginseng herbs. As a saponin-rich plant, notoginseng could be a good candidate for cancer chemoprevention. However, to date, only relatively limited anticancer studies have been conducted on notoginseng. In this paper, after reviewing its anticancer data, phytochemical isolation and analysis of notoginseng is presented in comparison with Asian ginseng and American ginseng. Over 80 dammarane saponins have been isolated and elucidated from different plant parts of notoginseng, most of them belonging to protopanaxadiol or protopanaxatriol groups. The role of the enteric microbiome in mediating notoginseng metabolism, bioavailability, and pharmacological actions are discussed. Emphasis has been placed on the identification and isolation of enteric microbiome-generated notoginseng metabolites. Future investigations should provide key insights into notoginseng's bioactive metabolites as clinically valuable anticancer compounds.

miRNA-497 Negatively Regulates the Growth and Motility of Chondrosarcoma Cells by Targeting Cdc25A

Chondrosarcoma (CHS) is the second most common malignant bone sarcoma with increased risk of invasion and metastasis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of CHS tumorigenesis remain unknown. Here we investigated the novel role of miR-497 in regulating chondrosarcoma cell growth and cell cycle arrest. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of miR-497 is aberrantly downregulated in human chondrosarcoma samples and cells. After transfection with miR-497 mimic or antagomir, the proliferation and apoptosis of JJ012 and OUMS-27 chondrosarcoma cells were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Results showed that the proliferation capacity of JJ012 and OUMS-27 cells was significantly decreased by miR-497 overexpression but increased by miR-497 repression. Apoptosis in both cell types was remarkably enhanced by miR-497 mimic but inhibited by miR-497 antagomir. By bioinformatics and luciferase reporter analysis, Cdc25A was proven to be a direct target of miR-497 in chondrosarcoma cells. Further studies indicated that miR-497 modulates the growth of chondrosarcoma cells by targeting Cdc25A, in which the cell cycle inhibitor p21 is involved through a p53-independent pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrated that miR-497 represents a potential tumor suppressor in human chondrosarcoma that regulates the growth of chondrosarcoma cells by targeting Cdc25A. This may provide a novel therapeutic target for chondrosarcoma.

Cancer Chemoprevention Effects of Ginger and its Active Constituents: Potential for New Drug Discovery

Ginger is a commonly used spice and herbal medicine worldwide. Besides its extensive use as a condiment, ginger has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the management of various medical conditions. In recent years, ginger has received wide attention due to its observed antiemetic and anticancer activities. This paper reviews the potential role of ginger and its active constituents in cancer chemoprevention. The phytochemistry, bioactivity, and molecular targets of ginger constituents, especially 6-shogaol, are discussed. The content of 6-shogaol is very low in fresh ginger, but significantly higher after steaming. With reported anti-cancer activities, 6-shogaol can be served as a lead compound for new drug discovery. The lead compound derivative synthesis, bioactivity evaluation, and computational docking provide a promising opportunity to identify novel anticancer compounds originating from ginger.