Liposomal Quercetin Efficiently Suppresses Growth of Solid Tumors in Murine Models

Therapeutic potentials and targeting strategies of quercetin on cancer cells: Challenges and future prospects

BACKGROUND

Every cell in the human body is vital because it maintains equilibrium and carries out a variety of tasks, including growth and development. These activities are carried out by a set of instructions carried by many different genes and organized into DNA. It is well recognized that some lifestyle decisions, like using tobacco, alcohol, UV, or multiple sexual partners, might increase one's risk of developing cancer. The advantages of natural products for any health issue are well known, and researchers are making attempts to separate flavonoid-containing substances from plants. Various parts of plants contain a phenolic compound called flavonoid. Quercetin, which belongs to the class of compounds known as flavones with chromone skeletal structure, has anti-cancer activity.

PURPOSE

The study was aimed at investigating the therapeutic action of the flavonoid quercetin on various cancer cells.

METHODS

The phrases quercetin, anti-cancer, nanoparticles, and cell line were used to search the data using online resources such as PubMed, and Google Scholar. Several critical previous studies have been included.

RESULTS

Quercetin inhibits various dysregulated signaling pathways that cause cancer cells to undergo apoptosis to exercise its anticancer effects. Numerous signaling pathways are impacted by quercetin, such as the Hedgehog system, Akt, NF-κB pathway, downregulated mutant p53, JAK/STAT, G1 phase arrest, Wnt/β-Catenin, and MAPK. There are downsides to quercetin, like hydrophobicity, first-pass effect, instability in the gastrointestinal tract, etc., because of which it is not well-established in the pharmaceutical industry. The solution to these drawbacks in the future is using bio-nanomaterials like chitosan, PLGA, liposomes, and silk fibroin as carriers, which can enhance the target specificity of quercetin. The first section of this review covers the specifics of flavonoids and quercetin; the second section covers the anti-cancer activity of quercetin; and the third section explains the drawbacks and conjugation of quercetin with nanoparticles for drug delivery by overcoming quercetin's drawback.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this review presented details about quercetin, which is a plant derivative with a promising molecular mechanism of action. They inhibit cancer by various mechanisms with little or no side effects. It is anticipated that plant-based materials will become increasingly relevant in the treatment of cancer.

Polyphenol Compound 18a Modulates UCP1-Dependent Thermogenesis to Counteract Obesity

Recent studies increasingly suggest that targeting brown/beige adipose tissues to enhance energy expenditure offers a novel therapeutic approach for treating metabolic diseases. Brown/beige adipocytes exhibit elevated expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which is a thermogenic protein that efficiently converts energy into heat, particularly in response to cold stimulation. Polyphenols possess potential anti-obesity properties, but their pharmacological effects are limited by their bioavailability and distribution within tissue. This study discovered 18a, a polyphenol compound with a favorable distribution within adipose tissues, which transcriptionally activates UCP1, thereby promoting thermogenesis and enhancing mitochondrial respiration in brown adipocytes. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrated that 18a prevents high-fat-diet-induced weight gain and improves insulin sensitivity. Our research provides strong mechanistic evidence that UCP1 is a complex mediator of 18a-induced thermogenesis, which is a critical process in obesity mitigation. Brown adipose thermogenesis is triggered by 18a via the AMPK-PGC-1α pathway. As a result, our research highlights a thermogenic controlled polyphenol compound 18a and clarifies its underlying mechanisms, thus offering a potential strategy for the thermogenic targeting of adipose tissue to reduce the incidence of obesity and its related metabolic problems.

Quercetin Derivatives as Potential Therapeutic Agents: An Updated Perspective on the Treatment of Nicotine-Induced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, represented by many compounds that exhibit high anticancer properties. Quercetin (Q) and its main derivatives (rutin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, isorhamnetin, tamarixetin, rhamnetin, and hyperoside) in the class of flavonols have been documented to exert anticancer activity. Q has been shown to be useful in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as demonstrated by in vitro/in vivo studies, due to its antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenesis, and apoptotic properties. Some flavonoids (flavone, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins) have been demonstrated to be effective in nicotine-induced NSCLC treatment. However, the molecular mechanisms of quercetin derivatives (QDs) in nicotine-induced NSCLC treatment remain unclear. Thus, this review aims to summarize the available literature on the therapeutic effects of QDs in nicotine-induced NSCLC.

Nano Drug Delivery Strategies for an Oral Bioenhanced Quercetin Formulation

Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, has been credited with a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties. However, the oral use of quercetin is limited due to its poor water solubility, low bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and rapid plasma clearance. Quercetin has been studied extensively when used with various nanodelivery systems for enhancing quercetin bioavailability. To enhance its oral bioavailability and efficacy, various quercetin-loaded nanosystems such as nanosuspensions, polymer nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, emulsions, liposomes or phytosomes, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, and other lipid-based nanoparticles have been investigated in in-vitro cells, in-vivo animal models, and humans. Among the aforementioned nanosystems, quercetin phytosomes are attracting more interest and are available on the market. The present review covers insights into the possibilities of harnessing quercetin for several therapeutic applications and a special focus on anticancer applications and the clinical benefits of nanoquercetin formulations.

Sirtuin 1 as a potential biomarker of undernutrition in the elderly: a narrative review

Undernutrition and inflammatory processes are predictors of early mortality in the elderly and require a rapid and accurate diagnosis. Currently, there are laboratory markers for assessing nutritional status, but new markers are still being sought. Recent studies suggest that sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) has the potential to be a marker for undernutrition. This article summarizes available studies on the association of SIRT1 and undernutrition in older people. Possible associations between SIRT1 and the aging process, inflammation, and undernutrition in the elderly have been described. The literature suggests that low SIRT1 levels in the blood of older people may not be associated with physiological aging processes, but with an increased risk of severe undernutrition associated with inflammation and systemic metabolic changes.

Repositioned Natural Compounds and Nanoformulations: A Promising Combination to Counteract Cell Damage and Inflammation in Respiratory Viral Infections

Respiratory viral diseases are among the most important causes of disability, morbidity, and death worldwide. Due to the limited efficacy or side effects of many current therapies and the increase in antiviral-resistant viral strains, the need to find new compounds to counteract these infections is growing. Since the development of new drugs is a time-consuming and expensive process, numerous studies have focused on the reuse of commercially available compounds, such as natural molecules with therapeutic properties. This phenomenon is generally called drug repurposing or repositioning and represents a valid emerging strategy in the drug discovery field. Unfortunately, the use of natural compounds in therapy has some limitations, due to their poor kinetic performance and consequently reduced therapeutic effect. The advent of nanotechnology in biomedicine has allowed this limitation to be overcome, showing that natural compounds in nanoform may represent a promising strategy against respiratory viral infections. In this narrative review, the beneficial effects of some promising natural molecules, curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, and vitamin C, which have been already studied both in native form and in nanoform, against respiratory viral infections are presented and discussed. The review focuses on the ability of these natural compounds, analyzed in in vitro and in vivo studies, to counteract inflammation and cellular damage induced by viral infection and provide scientific evidence of the benefits of nanoformulations in increasing the therapeutic potential of these molecules.

Synthesis and Characterization of Quercetin-Iron Complex Nanoparticles for Overcoming Drug Resistance

Quercetin, one of the major natural flavonoids, has demonstrated great pharmacological potential as an antioxidant and in overcoming drug resistance. However, its low aqueous solubility and poor stability limit its potential applications. Previous studies suggest that the formation of quercetin-metal complexes could increase quercetin stability and biological activity. In this paper, we systematically investigated the formation of quercetin-iron complex nanoparticles by varying the ligand-to-metal ratios with the goal of increasing the aqueous solubility and stability of quercetin. It was found that quercetin-iron complex nanoparticles could be reproducibly synthesized with several ligand-to-iron ratios at room temperature. The UV-Vis spectra of the nanoparticles indicated that nanoparticle formation greatly increased the stability and solubility of quercetin. Compared to free quercetin, the quercetin-iron complex nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antioxidant activities and elongated effects. Our preliminary cellular evaluation suggests that these nanoparticles had minimal cytotoxicity and could effectively block the efflux pump of cells, indicating their potential for cancer treatment.

Apoptotic Mechanisms of Quercetin in Liver Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements

Due to rising incidence rates of liver cancer and worries about the toxicity of current chemotherapeutic medicines, the hunt for further alternative methods to treat this malignancy has escalated. Compared to chemotherapy, quercetin, a flavonoid, is relatively less harmful to normal cells and is regarded as an excellent free-radical scavenger. Apoptotic cell death of cancer cells caused by quercetin has been demonstrated by many prior studies. It is present in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Quercetin targets apoptosis, by upregulating Bax, caspase-3, and p21 while downregulating Akt, PLK-1, cyclin-B1, cyclin-A, CDC-2, CDK-2, and Bcl-2. Additionally, it has been reported to increase STAT3 protein degradation in liver cancer cells while decreasing STAT3 activation. Quercetin has a potential future in chemoprevention, based on substantial research on its anticancer effects. The current review discusses quercetin's mechanisms of action, nanodelivery strategies, and other potential cellular effects in liver cancer.

Liposomal Bilayer as a Carrier of Rosa canina L. Seed Oil: Physicochemical Characterization, Stability, and Biological Potential

Rosa canina L. seeds are rich in bioactive components that can add value to the various formulations. The focus of the study was the development of liposomes for R. canina oil to protect its sensitive compounds and prolong their shelf-life. Oil-loaded liposomes were characterized via the determination of the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, conductivity, mobility, density, surface tension, viscosity, and stability. Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy were employed to investigate the chemical composition of the non-treated and UV-treated samples, and the presence of different interactions. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were examined as well. The liposome size was 970.4 ± 37.4 nm, the PDI 0.438 ± 0.038, the zeta potential -32.9 ± 0.8 mV, the conductivity 0.068 ± 0.002 mS/cm, the mobility -2.58 ± 0.06 µmcm/Vs, the density 0.974 ± 0.004 g/cm³, the surface tension 17.2 ± 1.4 mN/m, and the viscosity 13.5 ± 0.2 mPa•s. The Raman and FT-IR spectra showed the presence of lipids, fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids. It was approved that the oil compounds were distributed inside the phospholipid bilayer and were combined with the membrane interface of the bilayer. The UV irradiation did not cause any chemical changes. However, neither the pure oil nor the oil-loaded liposomes showed any antimicrobial potential, while the antioxidant capacity of the oil-loaded liposomes was significantly low. The sizes of the liposomes did not change significantly during 60 days of storage. Due to the proven stability of the oil-loaded liposomes, as well as the liposome's ability to protect the sensitive oil compounds, their potential application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations could be investigated with a focus on the skin regeneration effects.

Nanodelivery of Dietary Polyphenols for Therapeutic Applications

Advancement in nanotechnology has unleashed the therapeutic potentials of dietary polyphenols by enhancing bioavailability, improving biological half-life, and allowing site-specific drug delivery. In this review, through citation of relevant literature reports, we discuss the application of nano-pharmaceutical formulations, such as solid lipid nanoparticles, nano-emulsions, nano-crystals, nano-polymersomes, liposomes, ethosomes, phytosomes, and invasomes for dietary polyphenols. Following this, we highlight important studies concerning different combinations of nano formulations with dietary polyphenols (also known as nanophytopolyphenols). We also provide nano-formulation paradigms for enhancing the physicochemical properties of dietary polyphenols. Finally, we highlight the latest patents that were granted on nano-formulations of dietary polyphenols. Based on our review, we observe that nanosized delivery of herbal constituents, spices, and dietary supplements have the ability to improve biological processes and address issues connected with herbal treatments.

Drug Delivery Systems and Flavonoids: Current Knowledge in Melanoma Treatment and Future Perspectives

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer with a high prevalence in the population. An early diagnosis is crucial to cure this disease. Still, when this is not possible, combining potent pharmacological agents and effective drug delivery systems is essential to achieve optimal treatment and improve patients' quality of life. Nanotechnology application in biomedical sciences to encapsulate anticancer drugs, including flavonoids, in order to enhance therapeutic efficacy has attracted particular interest. Flavonoids have shown effectiveness against various types of cancers including in melanoma, but they show low aqueous solubility, low stability and very poor oral bioavailability. The utilization of novel drug delivery systems could increase flavonoid bioavailability, thereby potentiating its antitumor effects in melanoma. This review summarizes the potential of different flavonoids in melanoma treatment and the several nanosystems used to improve their biological activity, considering published information that reported improved biological and pharmacological properties of encapsulated flavonoids.

Molecular insights and therapeutic implications of nanoengineered dietary polyphenols for targeting lung cancer: part II

Flavonoids represent a major group of polyphenolic compounds. Their capacity to inhibit tumor proliferation, cell cycle, angiogenesis, migration and invasion is substantially responsible for their chemotherapeutic activity against lung cancer. However, their clinical application is limited due to poor aqueous solubility, low permeability and quick blood clearance, which leads to their low bioavailability. Nanoengineered systems such as liposomes, nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers and nanotubes can considerably enhance the targeted action of the flavonoids with improved efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties, and flavonoids can be successfully translated from bench to bedside through various nanoengineering approaches. This review addresses the therapeutic potential of various flavonoids and highlights the cutting-edge progress in the nanoengineered systems that incorporate flavonoids for treating lung cancer.

Liposomes as Multifunctional Nano-Carriers for Medicinal Natural Products

Although medicinal natural products and their derivatives have shown promising effects in disease therapies, they usually suffer the drawbacks in low solubility and stability in the physiological environment, low delivery efficiency, side effects due to multi-targeting, and low site-specific distribution in the lesion. In this review, targeted delivery was well-guided by liposomal formulation in the aspects of preparation of functional liposomes, liposomal medicinal natural products, combined therapies, and image-guided therapy. This review is believed to provide useful guidance to enhance the targeted therapy of medicinal natural products and their derivatives.

Optimal Physicochemical Properties of Antibody-Nanoparticle Conjugates for Improved Tumor Targeting

Tumor-targeted antibody (mAb)/fragment-conjugated nanoparticles (NPs) represent an innovative strategy for improving the local delivery of small molecules. However, the physicochemical properties of full mAb-NPs and fragment-NPs-that is, NP material, size, charge, as well as the targeting antibody moiety, and the linker conjugation strategies-remain to be optimized to achieve an efficient tumor targeting. A meta-analysis of 161 peer-reviewed studies is presented, which describes the use of tumor-targeted mAb-NPs and fragment-NPs from 2009 to 2021. The use of these targeted NPs is confirmed to result in significantly greater tumor uptake of NPs than that of naked NPs (7.9 ± 1.9% ID g^-1 versus 3.2 ± 0.6% ID g^-1 , respectively). The study further demonstrates that for lipidic NPs, fragment-NPs provide a significantly higher tumor uptake than full mAb-NPs. In parallel, for both polymeric and organic/inorganic NPs, full mAb-NPs yield a significant higher tumor uptake than fragment-NPs. In addition, for both lipidic and polymeric NPs, the tumor uptake is improved with the smallest sizes of the conjugates. Finally, the pharmacokinetics of the conjugates are demonstrated to be driven by the NPs and not by the antibody moieties, independently of using full mAb-NPs or fragment-NPs, confirming the importance of optimizing the NP design to improve the tumor uptake.

Therapeutic effect of quercetin polymeric nanoparticles on ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mice

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is known as a sudden episode of kidney injury, which happens suddenly within a few hours or a few days. Quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid found in plants. Quercetin is known to have several biological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic effects. However, low water solubility and bioavailability are the limitations of quercetin for its clinical applications. Moreover, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common cause of AKI. There are no satisfactory strategies for I/R-induced AKI. Developing suitable preventive or therapeutic intervention for AKI is an important and urgent issue. We investigated the benefit effect of synthesized polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated polyethyleneimine (PEI) nanoparticles for targeted delivery of quercetin on AKI in a mouse model. An I/R-induced AKI mouse model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of quercetin polymeric nanoparticles by intravenous injection. Biochemical changes for renal function in blood samples were analyzed. Histological and immunohistochemical changes were also analyzed. The biochemical changes of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and cystatin C were significantly increased in I/R-induced AKI mice, which could be significantly reversed by quercetin polymeric nanoparticles. Quercetin polymeric nanoparticles could also significantly decrease the histological lesions, positive staining for 3-nitrotyrosine and cyclooxygenase-2, and lipid peroxidation in the kidneys of I/R-induced AKI mice. These results demonstrate for the first time that quercetin polymeric nanoparticles possess therapeutic potential for the treatment of I/R-induced AKI in vivo.

Liposome quercetin enhances the ablation effects of microwave ablation in treating the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate whether liposomal quercetin (LQ) could enhance the effects of microwave ablation (MVA) in treating the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model.

METHODS

Rabbits with VX2 liver tumors were randomly divided into three groups: intravenous LQ group (LQ group), MWA group and LQ combined with MWA (LQ + MWA) group. Five rabbits were randomly selected and sacrificed from each group at 12 h and on days 3, 7 and 14 of the operation. The tumor samples were detected and quantified by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

For up to 7 days, the coagulation necrosis volume (CV) of the LQ + MWA group was larger than that of MWA and LQ groups (p < 0.05). Fourteen days after the operation, the total tumor volume of the LQ + MWA group was smaller than that of the LQ group and the MWA group (p < 0.05). The survival time of the LQ + MWA group was significantly longer than that of the MWA and LQ groups (p < 0.01). Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), hypoxia inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1 α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor microvessel density (MVD) were lower in the LQ + MWA group than the MWA and LQ groups at 12 h, on days 3 and 7. At hour 12 and on days 3 and 7, HSP70 mRNA and HIF-1α mRNA expression of MWA group were significantly higher than that of the LQ and LQ + MWA groups (p < 0.001). At 12 h, and on days 3 and 7, apoptotic rate of tumor cells in LQ + MWA group was higher than that of the MWA and LQ groups (p < 0.05). At 12 h and on days 3, 7 and 14, the proliferation index of tumor cells in residual tumor in LQ + MWA group was lower than that in the MWA and LQ groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative infusion of LQ can significantly enhance the MWA effects of liver VX2 tumor, inhibit the excessive proliferation of residual tumor and angiogenesis, and decrease metastasis and prolong the survival period of experimental animals.

Ins and Outs of Heat Shock Proteins in Colorectal Carcinoma: Its Role in Carcinogenesis and Therapeutic Perspectives

Cancer cells can reprogram their metabolic activities and undergo uncontrolled proliferation by utilizing the power of heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs are highly conserved chaperones that facilitate the folding of intracellular proteins under stress. Constitutively, HSPs are expressed at low levels, but their expression upregulates in response to a wide variety of insults, including anticancer drugs, allowing cancer cells to develop chemoresistance. In recent years, several researchers have reported that HSPs could be an important therapeutic target in difficult-to-treat cancers such as colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Worldwide, CRC is the second most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The molecular complexity of CRC and the coexisting inflammatory conditions present a significant obstacle to developing effective treatment. Recently, considerable progress has been made in enhancing our understanding of the role of HSPs in CRC pathogenesis. Moreover, novel therapeutic strategies targeting HSPs, either alone or in combination with other anticancer agents, have been reported. Herein, we present an overview of the functional mechanisms and the diagnostic and prognostic potential of HSPs in CRC. We also discuss emerging anti-CRC strategies based on targeting HSPs.

Betulinic Acid Modulates the Expression of HSPA and Activates Apoptosis in Two Cell Lines of Human Colorectal Cancer

Betulinic acid (BA) is a pentacyclic triterpene usually isolated from botanical sources. Numerous studies have reported the inhibitory effect of BA against human colorectal cancer cells (CRC). However, its effect on the expression of the molecular chaperone HSPA is unclear. The aim of this research is to investigate the anti-cancer activities of BA purified from Piper retrofractum and study its effect on the expression of HSPA in colorectal cancer HCT116 and SW480 cells. The viability of both cancer cells was reduced after they were treated with an increasing dosage of BA. Flow cytometry assay revealed that levels of cell apoptosis significantly increased after incubation with BA in both cancer cells. Pro-apoptotic markers including Bax, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9 were increased while anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 was decreased after BA treatment. Western blot also showed that the expression of HSPA fluctuated upon BA treatment, whereby HSPA was increased at lower BA concentrations while at higher BA concentrations HSPA expression was decreased. Preliminary molecular docking assay showed that BA can bind to the nucleotide binding domain of the HSP70 at its ADP-bound state of the HSP70. Although further research is needed to comprehend the BA-HSPA interaction, our findings indicate that BA can be considered as potential candidate for the development of new treatment for colorectal cancer.

Nanotechnology Innovations to Enhance the Therapeutic Efficacy of Quercetin

Quercetin is a flavonol present in many vegetables and fruits. Generally, quercetin can be found in aglycone and glycoside forms, mainly in leaves. The absorption of this compound occurs in the large and small intestine, where it suffers glucuronidation, sulfidation, and methylation to improve hydrophilicity. After metabolization, which occurs mainly in the gut, it is distributed throughout the whole organism and is excreted by feces, urine, and exhalation of carbon dioxide. Despite its in vitro cytotoxicity effects, in vivo studies with animal models ensure its safety. This compound can protect against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative diseases due to its radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its poor bioavailability dampens the potential beneficial effects of this flavonoid. In that sense, many types of nanocarriers have been developed to improve quercetin solubility, as well as to design tissue-specific delivery systems. All these studies manage to improve the bioavailability of quercetin, allowing it to increase its concentration in the desired places. Collectively, quercetin can become a promising compound if nanotechnology is employed as a tool to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

Novel extraction, rapid assessment and bioavailability improvement of quercetin: A review

Quercetin (QUR) have got the attention of scientific society frequently due to their wide range of potential applications. QUR has been the focal point for research in various fields, especially in food development. But, the QUR is highly unstable and can be interrupted by using conventional assessment methods. Therefore, researchers are focusing on novel extraction and non-invasive tools for the non-destructive assessment of QUR. The current review elaborates the different novel extraction (ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and enzyme-assisted extraction) and non-destructive assessment techniques (fluorescence spectroscopy, terahertz spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, Raman spectroscopy, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) for the extraction and identification of QUR in agricultural products. The novel extraction approaches facilitate shorter extraction time, involve less organic solvent, and are environmentally friendly. While the non-destructive techniques are non-interruptive, label-free, reliable, accurate, and environmental friendly. The non-invasive spectroscopic and imaging methods are suitable for the sensitive detection of bioactive compounds than conventional techniques. QUR has potential therapeutic properties such as anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, antiallergic, antineoplastic agent, neuroprotector, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. Besides, due to the low bioavailability of QUR innovative drug delivery strategies (QUR loaded gel, QUR polymeric micelle, QUR nanoparticles, glucan-QUR conjugate, and QUR loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsions) have been proposed to improve its bioavailability and providing novel therapeutic approaches.

Naturally occurring small molecule compounds that target histone deacetylases and their potential applications in cancer therapy

Epigenetics is defined as the heritable alteration of gene expression without change to the DNA sequence. Epigenetic abnormalities play a role in various diseases, including cancer. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression occurs through histone chemical modifications and DNA methylation. Lysine acetylation is one of the major histone chemical modifications essential for epigenetic gene expression. Histone acetylation is reversibly regulated by histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases, which are molecular targets for cancer therapy. There has been an explosion of research in epigenetic-related drug discovery, and accordingly many small molecule compounds have been developed. Notably, several small molecule inhibitors of histone deacetylases have been approved for the treatment of cancer. This review will introduce natural products, their derivative inhibitors of histone deacetylases, and their clinical development.

Novel Delivery Systems of Polyphenols and Their Potential Health Benefits

Liposome-based delivery systems have been studied and used more frequently in recent years due to their advantages, such as low toxicity, specificity, and the ability to protect the encapsulated substance from environmental factors, which could otherwise degrade the active compound and reduce its effectiveness. Given these benefits, many researchers have encapsulated polyphenols in liposomes, thus increasing their bioavailability and stability. Similarly, polyphenols encapsulated in liposomes are known to produce more substantial effects on targeted cells than unencapsulated polyphenols, while having minimal cytotoxicity in healthy cells. Although polyphenols play a role in preventing many types of disease and generally have beneficial effects on health, we solely focused on their chemopreventive effects on cancer through liposomes in this review. Our goal was to summarize the applicability and efficacy of liposomes encapsulated with different classes of polyphenols on several types of cancer, thus opening the opportunity for future studies based on these drug delivery systems.

Prospects of Delivering Natural Compounds by Polymer-Drug Conjugates in Cancer Therapeutics

Synthetic chemotherapeutics have played a crucial role in minimizing mostly palliative symptoms associated with cancer; however, they have also created other problems such as system toxicity due to a lack of specificity. This has led to the development of polymer-drug conjugates amongst other novel drug delivery systems. Most of the formulations designed using delivery systems consist of synthetic drugs and face issues such as drug resistance, which has already rendered drugs such as antibiotics ineffective. This is further exacerbated by toxicity due to long term use. Given these problems and the fact that conjugation of synthetic compounds to polymers has been relatively slow with no formulation on the market after a decade of extensive studies, the focus has shifted to using this platform with medicinal plant extracts to improve solubility, specificity and increase drug release of medicinal and herbal bioactives. In recent years, various plant extracts such as flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids have been studied extensively using this approach. The success of formulations developed using novel drug-delivery systems is highly dependent on the tumour microenvironment especially on the enhanced permeability and retention effect. As a result, the compromised lymphatic network and 'leaky' vasculature exhibited by tumour cells act as a guiding principle in the delivering of these formulations. This review focuses on the state of the polymer-drug conjugates and their exploration with natural compounds, the progress and difficulties thus far, and future directions concerning cancer treatment.

Flavonoid-Decorated Nano-gold for Antimicrobial Therapy Against Gram-negative Bacteria Escherichia coli

Nano-gold (Aunps) have emerged as promising options that exhibit unique features discrete from traditional materials suited for biomedical applications. Aunps were synthesized using flavonoid quercetin (Q) as reducing agent, and resultant nanoparticles were further conjugated with the flavonoid. The resultant nano-system was expected to perform a dual role as antibacterial and as antioxidant agent. Nano-gold surface plasmon peaks were recorded at 560 nm with size around 62 nm and having slim distribution pattern. Spherical particle with smooth surface was observed under TEM and AFM studies. TEM micrographs confirmed a homogeneous particle population of size around 30 nm. Quercetin association to nano-gold was corroborated through FTIR and EDAX analysis. Antioxidant nature of nano-gold prevented rapid oxidation of brilliant cresyl blue dye, in presence of sodium hypochlorite. Antimicrobial action of QuAunp was tested against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Nano-gold designed produced a minimum inhibitory concentration of 7.6 μg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration 10.5 μg/ml against E. coli. Further TEM analysis and membrane permeability studies revealed the impact of QuAunps on bacterial membrane leading to cell damage.

Current methodologies to refine bioavailability, delivery, and therapeutic efficacy of plant flavonoids in cancer treatment

Over the last two decades, several advancements have been made to improve the therapeutic efficacy of plant flavonoids, especially in cancer treatment. Factors such as low bioavailability, poor flavonoid stability and solubility, ineffective targeted delivery, and chemo-resistance hinder the application of flavonoids in anti-cancer therapy. Many anti-cancer compounds failed in the clinical trials because of unexpected altered clearance of flavonoids, poor absorption after administration, low efficacy, and/or adverse effects. Hence, the current research strategies are focused on improving the therapeutic efficacy of plant flavonoids, especially by enhancing their bioavailability through combination therapy, engineering gut microbiota, regulating flavonoids interaction with adenosine triphosphate binding cassette efflux transporters, and efficient delivery using nanocrystal and encapsulation technologies. This review aims to discuss different methodologies with examples from reported dietary flavonoids that showed an enhanced anti-cancer efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo models. Further, the review discusses the recent progress in biochemical modifications of flavonoids to improve bioavailability, solubility, and therapeutic efficacy.

Luteolin inhibits proliferation, triggers apoptosis and modulates Akt/mTOR and MAP kinase pathways in HeLa cells

Flavonoids, a subclass of polyphenols, have been shown to be effective against several types of cancer, by decreasing proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the anti-carcinogenic potential of luteolin on HeLa human cervical cancer cells, through the use of a cell viability assay, DNA fragmentation assay, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, cell cycle analysis using Annexin/PI staining and flow cytometry, gene expression analysis and a protein profiling array. Luteolin treatment exhibited cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and its anti-proliferative properties were confirmed by accumulation of luteolin-treated cells in sub-G₁ phases. Cytotoxicity induced by luteolin treatment resulted in apoptosis, which was mediated through depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, luteolin treatment increased the expression of various proapoptotic genes, including APAF1, BAX, BAD, BID, BOK, BAK1, TRADD, FADD, FAS, and Caspases 3 and 9, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic genes, including NAIP, MCL-1 and BCL-2, was decreased. Cell cycle regulatory genes, including CCND1, 2 and 3, CCNE2, CDKN1A, CDKN2B, CDK4 and CDK2, were decreased following treatment. Expression of TRAILR2/DR5, TRAILR1/DR4, Fas/TNFRSF6/CD95 and TNFR1/TNFRSF1A, as well as pro-apoptotic proteins, including BAD, BAX and Cytochrome C were consistently increased, and the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, HIF1α, BCL-X, MCL1 and BCL2, were found to be decreased following treatment. Expression of AKT1 and 2, ELK1, PIK3C2A, PIK3C2B, MAPK14, MAP3K5, MAPK3 and MAPK1 was significantly decreased at the transcriptional level. Expression of GSK3b (p-ser9), PRAS 40 (p-Ther246), BAD (p-ser112), PTEN (p-ser380), AKT (p-ser473), ERK2 (p-Y185/Y187), RISK2 (p-ser386), P70S6k (p-Thr421/ser424), PDK1(p-ser241), ERK1 (p-T202/Y204) and MTOR (p-ser2448) was downregulated and expression of P53 (p-ser241) and P27(p-Thr198) was upregulated by luteolin in a dose-dependent manner, indicating its anti-proliferative and apoptosis enabling properties, and this may have been mediated via inhibition of the AKT and the MAPK pathways.

Recent Advances in Liposomal Drug Delivery System of Quercetin for Cancer Targeting: A Mechanistic Approach

Quercetin (QT, 3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), is a natural flavonoid with nutritional value and acts as a potential free-radical scavenger (antioxidant). QT has also been explored for its anti-cancer as well as anti-proliferative activities against numerous cancerous cells. Moreover, QT exhibits significant pro-apoptotic activity against tumor cells and is well established to control the growth of different carcinoma cells at various phases of the cell cycle. Hence, it can reduce the burden of human solid cancer and metastasis. Both these activities have been established in a diverse class of human cell lines in-vitro as well as in animal models (in-vivo). Apart from the promising therapeutic activities of QT molecule, their applications have been limited due to some major concerns, including low oral bioavailability and poor aqueous solubility. Also, rapid gastrointestinal digestion of QT seems to be a key barrier for its clinical translations for oral drug delivery in conventional dosage form. Henceforth, to overcome these drawbacks, QT is loaded with liposomal systems, which exhibit promising outcomes in the upregulation of QT by the epithelial system and also improved its targeting at the site of action. Furthermore, Liposomes based Drug Delivery Systems (LDDS) have showed significant therapeutic activity with conjugated drug moiety and exhibit safety, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mitigated toxicity despite having certain limitations associated with physiological and biological barriers. Herein, in this review, we have focused on the mechanism related with the chemotherapeutic activity of QT and also discussed the promising activity of QT-loaded LDDS as a potent chemotherapeutic agent for cancer therapy.

Characterization of a liposomal copper(II)-quercetin formulation suitable for parenteral use

Quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is a naturally derived flavonoid that is commonly found in fruits and vegetables. There is mounting evidence to suggest that quercetin has potential anticancer effects and appears to interact synergistically when used in combination with approved chemotherapeutic agents such as irinotecan and cisplatin. Unfortunately, quercetin has shown limited clinical utility, partly due to low bioavailability related to its poor aqueous solutions (< 10 μg/mL). In this study, liposomal formulations of quercetin were developed by exploiting quercetin's ability to bind copper. Quercetin powder was added directly to pre-formed copper-containing liposomes (2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol (CHOL) (55:45 M ratio)). As a function of time and temperature, the formation of copper-quercetin was measured. Using this methodology, a final quercetin-to-lipid (mol:mol) ratio of 0.2 was achievable and solutions containing quercetin at concentrations of > 5 mg/mL were attained, representing at least a > 100-fold increase in apparent solubility. The resulting formulation was suitable for intravenous dosing with no overt toxicities when administered at doses of 50 mg/kg in mice. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the copper-quercetin formulations had an AUC_0-24H of 8382.1 μg h/mL when administered to mice at 50 mg/kg. These studies suggested that quercetin (not copper-quercetin) dissociates from the liposomes after administration. The resulting formulation is suitable for further development and also serves as a proof-of-concept for formulating other flavonoids and flavonoid-like compounds. Given that quercetin exhibits an IC₅₀ of >10 μM when tested against cancer cell lines, we believe that the utility of this novel quercetin formulation for cancer indications will ultimately be as a component of a combination product.

Inhibition of growth and lung metastasis of breast cancer by tumor-homing triple-bioresponsive nanotherapeutics

Lung metastasis of breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Herein, we attempted to simultaneously inhibit the growth and lung metastasis of breast cancer by delivering quercetin (QU) using LyP-1-functionalized regenerated silk fibroin-based nanoparticles (NPs). The generated LyP-1-QU-NPs had a desirable diameter (203.2 nm) and a negatively charged surface (-12.7 mV). Interestingly, these NPs exhibited intrinsic responsibilities when triggered by various stimulating factors in the tumor microenvironment (acidic pH, reactive oxygen species, and glutathione). In vitro experiments revealed that the introduction of LyP-1 to the NP surface could significantly increase their cellular uptake efficiencies by 4 T1 cells, and facilitate their accumulation in mitochondria. Moreover, LyP-1-QU-NPs showed the strongest mitochondrial damage effect among all the treatment groups. We also found that LyP-1-QU-NPs not only exhibited excellent pro-apoptotic activities but also presented strong inhibitory effects on cell mobility (migration and invasion) through anti-glycolysis and pro-autophagy. Mice experiments confirmed that LyP-1-QU-NPs could efficiently inhibit the in situ growth of breast tumors and further restrict their lung metastasis. Collectively, our results demonstrate that LyP-1-QU-NPs, which integrates the functions of tumor cell targeting, mitochondria targeting, bioresponsive drug release, pro-apoptosis, and anti-mobility, can be developed as a promising nanotherapeutic for the effective treatment of breast cancer and its lung metastasis.

Crosstalk between obesity, diabetes, and alzheimer's disease: Introducing quercetin as an effective triple herbal medicine

Obesity and diabetes are the most common metabolic disorders, which are strongly related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in aging. Diabetes and obesity can lead to the accumulation of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and other symptoms of AD through several pathways, including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, adipokines dysregulation, and vascular impairment. Currently, the use of polyphenols has been expanded in animal models and in-vitro studies because of their comparatively negligible adverse effects. Among them, quercetin (QT) is one of the most abundant polyphenolic flavonoids, which is present in fruits and vegetables and displays many biological, health-promoting effects in a wide range of diseases. The low bioavailability and poor solubility of QT have also led researchers to make various QT-involved nanoparticles (NPs) to overcome these limitations. In this paper, we review significant molecular mechanisms induced by diabetes and obesity that increase AD pathogenesis. Then, we summarize in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence regarding the anti-Alzheimer, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of QT. Finally, QT in pure and combination form using NPs has been suggested as a promising therapeutic agent for future studies.

Natural Products as Modulators of Sirtuins

Natural products have been used for the treatment of human diseases since ancient history. Over time, due to the lack of precise tools and techniques for the separation, purification, and structural elucidation of active constituents in natural resources there has been a decline in financial support and efforts in characterization of natural products. Advances in the design of chemical compounds and the understanding of their functions is of pharmacological importance for the biomedical field. However, natural products regained attention as sources of novel drug candidates upon recent developments and progress in technology. Natural compounds were shown to bear an inherent ability to bind to biomacromolecules and cover an unparalleled chemical space in comparison to most libraries used for high-throughput screening. Thus, natural products hold a great potential for the drug discovery of new scaffolds for therapeutic targets such as sirtuins. Sirtuins are Class III histone deacetylases that have been linked to many diseases such as Parkinson`s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, type II diabetes, and cancer linked to aging. In this review, we examine the revitalization of interest in natural products for drug discovery and discuss natural product modulators of sirtuins that could serve as a starting point for the development of isoform selective and highly potent drug-like compounds, as well as the potential application of naturally occurring sirtuin inhibitors in human health and those in clinical trials.

Nanocrystal technology for improving therapeutic efficacy of flavonoids

BACKGROUND

Bioflavonoids, secondary metabolites of plants, are beneficial in regulating human physiological mechanisms. Bioflavonoids majorly exist in the dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, pulses, etc. In addition to their cardio-protective and neuroprotective activities, they also possess prominent pharmacological effects including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-thrombogenic actions. However, therapeutic efficacy of the bioflavonoids is hampered by their lipophilic nature, low solubility and variable bioavailability which catch the eyes of formulation scientists.

PURPOSE

Nanocrystal formulations were studied for many bioflavonoids, although enough attention has not been given to their commercial exploitation, unlike drug nanocrystals. Nanocrystals of bioflavonoid can be prepared by top-down technique, bottom-up technique or combination of both. This review primarily focuses on nanocrystal technology for bioflavonoids, methods of production, critical process parameters, in vitro and in vivo studies conducted to evaluate the efficiency.

METHOD

The detailed literature survey was systematically carried out using different electronic databases. It includes Scopus, Web of Science, Medline via PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Also up-to-date patent search was conducted to understand the prior art and available intellectual properties.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION

It was observed that several formulation and process parameters have an impact on flavonoids nanocrystals and their therapeutic efficacy. Also, clinical studies of flavonoid nanocrystals are barely done so far and thus, substantial safety and efficacy data is necessary for its commercial applications. Nevertheless, nanocrystals can be explored as a promising technology platform for improving overall therapeutic performance of flavonoids in future.

Quercetin liposomes ameliorate streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in diabetic rats

The effects of quercetin liposomes (Q-PEGL) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN) was investigated in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were used to establish a STZ induced DN model. DN rats randomly received one of the following treatments for 8 weeks: blank treatment (DN), free quercetin (Que), pegylated liposomes (PEGL) and pegylated quercetin liposomes (Q-PEGL). A group of healthy rats served as the normal control. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weights (BWs), renal hypertrophy index (rHI), serum and urine biochemistry, renal histopathology, oxidative stress and immunohistochemical measurements of AGEs were analyzed to compare the effect of different treatments. Que and Q-PEGL significantly improved DN biochemistry and pathological changes, although the treated rats still had some symptoms of DN. The therapeutic effect of Q-PEGL surpassed that of Que. Pegylated quercetin liposomes allow maintaining higher quercetin concentrations in plasma than non-encapsulated quercetin. In conclusion the use of quercetin liposomes allows to reduce disease symptoms in a rat model of DN.

Preparation of Quercetin Loaded Microparticles and their Antitumor Activity against Human Lung Cancer Cells (A549) in vitro

BACKGROUND

Novel quercetin-loaded microparticles (QM) were fabricated using coaxial electrospraying, characterized for surface morphology and release profile, and evaluated for antitumor activity in vitro.

METHODS

QM exhibited an average diameter of 1.69 ±1.13 mm, which was an appropriate size suitable for respiratory delivery. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the components in QM existed in an amorphous physical form, leading to favorable interactions between the drug (quercetin), the polymer matrix (polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) and other excipients (sodium dodecyl sulfate and sucralose).

RESULTS

QM performed much faster release rate compared with free quercetin powder (Q) in vitro. Furthermore, QM also showed more potent inhibitory effects on A549 cell growth with reduced cell viability, decreased cell migration and induced more G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest than Q.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the quercetin loaded microparticles exhibited more potent inhibitory effects than free quercetin on A549 cell. The increased antitumor activity could be attributed to the enhanced accumulation of quercetin in the A549 cells with the QM. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the exact mechanisms.

Transcription-Related Dynamics from Immune Disability into Endogenous Innovation

So far, thymus involution in adults is believed to be irreversible, and endogenous innovation for thymus-related immunodeficiency remains to be an intractable puzzle. With the expectation of addressing this dilemma, human ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) has been reengineered as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-tridimensional-spheroid biologics (ETSB) using a dynamic EMT-3D-floating system along with 160 Gy X-ray-amelioration, which inoculates subcutaneously into aging rhesus and athymic Balb/c nu/nu mice. Herein, it is bioinformatically validated that ETSB can reset Clock/Arntl-Per3/Tim molecule rhythm dynamics to re-prime thymus residual (parathyroid or fatty-like invalid vesicles yet no thymic architecture) to evolutionary transcription with overall cortex-medulla endogenized by TECs undergoing MET/EMT reversion. Rhythm dynamics immediately resettles the bHLH-LTβR-NFκB-RelA/B loop as a cascade to provoke the core immune microenvironment for multifunctional innovation of dynamic TCR orchestration, with harmonious naïve T-subsets and TRECs renewals (P < 0.005). Subsequently, peripheral biological burden and tumor metastasis dynamics are addressed by innovative TCR-defense/attack dynamics quickly (P < 0.005 vs Control), yet without autoimmune indication to hosts. Moreover, a functional blockade of core-rhythm dynamics deeply impedes the endogenous innovation of invalid thymus residual. Thus this study may help pioneer a prospective strategy to innovate panoramic central-peripheral immune microenvironments and defense dynamics for immune-deficient/aging victims.

cRGDfK-Grafted Small-Size Quercetin Micelles For Enhancing Therapy Efficacy Of Active Ingredient From The Chinese Medicinal Herb

Background

As an active ingredient of Chinese herbal medicine, quercetin (QU) can significantly induce apoptosis of tumor cells and give play to other effect such as decreasing both fibroblast population and collagen in cancer cell nest. However, the antitumor efficacy of quercetin was mostly evaluated at cellular level and rarely developed in vivo by intravenous injection, which may be ascribed to its inferior physicochemical properties including water insolubility, short plasma half-time, and insufficient enrichment in the tumor tissues.

Methods

The DSPE-PEG was used to construct quercetin-loaded micelles, and the integrin ligand cRGDfK was grafted to modify the nanocarrier for enhancing its cancer-specific homing. The MALDI-TOF-MS, DLS, TEM, and UV were orderly operated to characterize guidance molecules and micelles by morphology, size distribution, Zeta potential, and drug encapsulation efficiency. In addition, the surface plasmon resonance study and real-time confocal analysis were employed to demonstrate α_vβ₃ integrin-overexpressing B16 cells-specific binding and uptake. After further pharmacodynamics studies in vitro and in vivo, we also evaluate systemic toxicity about cRGDfK-PM-QU.

Results

The cRGDfK was successfully stitched with DSPE-PEG and modified on the surface of micelles. The ligand modification enhanced the negative charges of the micelles, but it did not induce significant changes in particle size. The quercetin micelles were about 15 nm in size and negatively charged, and had spherical morphology and high drug encapsulation efficiency. In vitro, the cRGDfK-modified micelles (cRGDfK-PM) showed α_vβ₃ integrin-overexpressing B16 cells-specific binding and uptake, and cRGDfK-PM-QU (QU loaded in cRGDfK-PM) induced more significant cell apoptosis and cytotoxic effects against B16 tumor cells than counterpart micelles (PM-QU). In vivo, the cRDGfK modification enhanced enrichment in B16 tumor tissue, improved the therapeutic efficacy of the quercetin-loaded micelles against B16 tumor, and exhibited lower systemic and pulmonary toxicity compared with counterpart micelles in the mouse mode.

Conclusion

Quercetin as a natural product has triggered increasing interest in the antitumor field. In this study, cRGDfK-modified DSPE-PEG micelles significantly optimized quercetin therapeutic efficacy and pulmonary toxicity as well as lowered systemic toxicity.

Flavonoids as P-gp Inhibitors: A Systematic Review of SARs

P-glycoprotein, also known as ABCB1 in the ABC transporter family, confers the simultaneous resistance of metastatic cancer cells towards various anticancer drugs with different targets and diverse chemical structures. The exploration of safe and specific inhibitors of this pump has always been the pursuit of scientists for the past four decades. Naturally occurring flavonoids as benzopyrone derivatives were recognized as a class of nontoxic inhibitors of P-gp. The recent advent of synthetic flavonoid dimer FD18, as a potent P-gp modulator in reversing multidrug resistance both in vitro and in vivo, specifically targeted the pseudodimeric structure of the drug transporter and represented a new generation of inhibitors with high transporter binding affinity and low toxicity. This review concerned the recent updates on the structure-activity relationships of flavonoids as P-gp inhibitors, the molecular mechanisms of their action and their ability to overcome P-gp-mediated MDR in preclinical studies. It had crucial implications on the discovery of new drug candidates that modulated the efflux of ABC transporters and also provided some clues for the future development in this promising area.

Hsp70 inhibitors: Implications for the treatment of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. Despite intensive advances in diagnosis and treatment of CRC, it is yet one of the leading cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent medical need for alternative therapeutic approaches to treat CRC. The 70 kDa heat shock proteins (Hsp70s) are a family of evolutionary conserved heat shock proteins, which play an important role in cell homeostasis and survival. They overexpress in various types of malignancy including CRC and are typically accompanied with poor prognosis. Hence, inhibition of Hsp70 may be considered as a striking chemotherapeutic avenue. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the progress made so far to discover compounds, which target the Hsp70 family, with particular emphasis on their efficacy in treatment of CRC. We also briefly explain the induction of Hsp70 as a strategy to prevent CRC.

Cranberry: A Promising Natural Source of Potential Nutraceuticals with Anticancer Activity

Studies have shown that cranberry and its components may exert anticancer properties. The present study aims to critically summarise the existing experimental studies evaluating the potential effects of cranberry on cancer prevention and treatment. PubMed database was searched to identify relevant studies. Current in vitro studies have indicated that cranberry and/or its components may act as chemopreventive agents, diminishing the risk for cancer by inhibiting cells oxidation and inflammatory-related processes, while they may also exert chemotherapeutic effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, inducing cell apoptosis and attenuating the ability of tumour cells to invade and metastasis. Limited in vivo studies have further documented potential anticancer activity. Cranberry could be considered as a conglomeration of potential effective anticancer druglike compounds.

Recent Treatment Advances and the Role of Nanotechnology, Combination Products, and Immunotherapy in Changing the Therapeutic Landscape of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia that is becoming more prevalent particularly in the older (65 years of age or older) population. For decades, "7 + 3" remission induction therapy with cytarabine and an anthracycline, followed by consolidation therapy, has been the standard of care treatment for AML. This stagnancy in AML treatment has resulted in less than ideal treatment outcomes for AML patients, especially for elderly patients and those with unfavourable profiles. Over the past two years, six new therapeutic agents have received regulatory approval, suggesting that a number of obstacles to treating AML have been addressed and the treatment landscape for AML is finally changing. This review outlines the challenges and obstacles in treating AML and highlights the advances in AML treatment made in recent years, including Vyxeos®, midostaurin, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, and venetoclax, with particular emphasis on combination treatment strategies. We also discuss the potential utility of new combination products such as one that we call "EnFlaM", which comprises an encapsulated nanoformulation of flavopiridol and mitoxantrone. Finally, we provide a review on the immunotherapeutic landscape of AML, discussing yet another angle through which novel treatments can be designed to further improve treatment outcomes for AML patients.

Traditional Chinese medicine combined with hepatic targeted drug delivery systems: A new strategy for the treatment of liver diseases

Liver diseases are clinically common and present a substantial public health issue. Many of the currently available drugs for the treatment of liver diseases suffer from limitations that include low hepatic distribution, lack of target effects, poor in vivo stability and adverse effects on other organs. Consequently, conventional treatment of hepatic diseases is ineffective. TCM is commonly used in the treatment of liver diseases worldwide, particularly in China, and has advantages over conventional therapy. HTDDS can be designed to enhance clinical efficacy in the treatment of liver diseases. We have conducted an extensive review of 335 studies reported since 1964. These included about 166 references involving the treatment of liver diseases with TCM (covering active components of TCM, single TCM and Chinese medicine formulas), 169 reports on HTDDS and background studies on liver-related diseases. Here we review the long history of TCM in the treatment of liver diseases.We have also reviewed the status of studies on active components of TCM using nanotechnology-based targeted delivery systems to provide support for further research and development of TCM-based targeted preparations for the treatment of liver disease.

Delivery of phytochemicals by liposome cargos: recent progress, challenges and opportunities

Bio-availability is a major concern in delivery of dietary phytochemicals for better bio-efficacy. The reduced bio-availability of food bioactive compounds is evident due to degradation during human digestion process which involves liberation, absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. The bio-efficacy of any nutrient can be increased by increasing bio-availability. Different technologies are available for engineered efficient delivery systems; still many challenges remain with advancement of delivery systems. The ease of preparedness and adaptability of liposomes has resulted in wide-range of applicability and acceptability in scientific field, especially as delivery vehicles. In view, of properties like biocompatibility and biodegradability, liposomes have been modified with different usable methodologies for delivery of phytochemicals. The aim of this review is to abridge liposomes, methods of preparation, their application as delivery cargo in dietary phytochemicals, result of using different preparation techniques on properties.

iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis reveals the deregulated proteins related to liver toxicity induced by melamine with or without cyanuric acid in mice

The administration of melamine alone or its combination with cyanuric acid was shown to have certain liver toxicity. However, the injury mechanism of melamine-related toxicity to liver remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the deregulated proteins related to liver toxicity induced by melamine with or without cyanuric acid in mice using iTRAQ quantitative proteomics technique. A total of 166 proteins were significantly changed by the melamine treatment, of which, 36 proteins were up-regulated and 130 proteins were down-regulated. Whereas, 242 proteins were significantly changed by the combined treatment of melamine and cyanuric acid, of which 81 proteins were up-regulated and 161 proteins were down-regulated. The enriched analysis of GO terms and KEGG pathway on the altered proteins showed that both enriched main GO terms and KEGG pathways appear to be different between the two kinds of treatments: melamine and mixture of melamine and cyanuric acid. Based on western blotting technique, it was confirmed that the expression of three proteins: heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), protein disulphide isomerase 6 (PDIA6) and heat shock 70 kDa protein 4-like (HSPA4L) were agreement with the findings in iTRAQ-Based quantitative analysis. These identified proteins might participate in the regulation of a wide range of biological processes, such as immune and inflammatory function, unfolded proteins response in endoplasmic reticulum, DNA damage, and the apoptosis of liver cells. These results from this study provide a new way to gain insight into the mechanisms of melamine-related toxicity to liver in animals.

Quercetin conjugated with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles improves learning and memory better than free quercetin via interacting with proteins involved in LTP

Biomedical application of quercetin (QT) as an effective flavonoid has limitations due to its low bioavailability. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) is a novel drug delivery system that enhances the bioavailability of quercetin. The effect of short time usage of quercetin on learning and memory function and its signaling pathways in the healthy rat is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of free quercetin and in conjugation with SPION on learning and memory in healthy rats and to find quercetin target proteins involved in learning and memory using Morris water maze (MWM) and computational methods respectively. Results of MWM show an improvement in learning and memory of rats treated with either quercetin or QT-SPION. Better learning and memory functions using QT-SPION reveal increased bioavailability of quercetin. Comparative molecular docking studies show the better binding affinity of quercetin to RSK2, MSK1, CytC, Cdc42, Apaf1, FADD, CRK proteins. Quercetin in comparison to specific inhibitors of each protein also demonstrates a better QT binding affinity. This suggests that quercetin binds to proteins leading to prevent neural cell apoptosis and improves learning and memory. Therefore, SPIONs could increase the bioavailability of quercetin and by this way improve learning and memory.