Scutellaria barbata D.Don (SBD) extracts suppressed tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis in Prostate cancer via PI3K/Akt pathway

Identifying Anti-NSCLC Bioactive Compounds in Scutellaria via 2D NMR-Based Metabolomic Analysis of Pharmacologically Classified Crude Extracts

We presented a strategy utilizing 2D NMR-based metabolomic analysis of crude extracts, categorized by different pharmacological activities, to rapidly identify the primary bioactive components of TCM. It was applied to identify the potential bioactive components from Scutellaria crude extracts that exhibit anti-non-small cell lung cancer (anti-NSCLC) activity. Four Scutellaria species were chosen as the study subjects because of their close phylogenetic relationship, but their crude extracts exhibit significantly different anti-NSCLC activity. Cell proliferation assay was used to assess the anti-NSCLC activity of four species of Scutellaria. 1H-13C HSQC spectra were acquired for the chemical profiling of these crude extracts. Based on the pharmacological classification (PCA, OPLS-DA and univariate hypothesis test) were performed to identify the bioactive constituents in Scutellaria associated with the anti-NSCLC activity. As a result, three compounds, baicalein, wogonin and scutellarin were identified as bioactive compounds. The anti-NSCLC activity of the three potential active compounds were further confirmed via cell proliferation assay. The mechanism of the anti-NSCLC activity by these active constituents was further explored via flow cytometry and western blot analyses. This study demonstrated 2D NMR-based metabolomic analysis of pharmacologically classified crude extracts to be an efficient approach to the identification of active components of herbal medicine.

Exploration of the effect and mechanism of Scutellaria barbata D. Don in the treatment of ovarian cancer based on network pharmacology and in vitro experimental verification

The mortality rate of ovarian cancer is the highest among gynecological cancers, posing a serious threat to women health and life. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SBD) can effectively treat ovarian cancer. However, its mechanism of action is unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of SBD in the treatment of ovarian cancer using network pharmacology, and to verify the experimental results using human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. The Herb and Disease Gene databases were searched to identify common targets of SBD and ovarian cancer. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network analyses were performed to identify the potential molecular mechanisms behind SBD. Finally, the molecular docking and main possible pathways were verified by experimental studies. Cell proliferation, the mRNA expression level of key genes and signaling pathway were all investigated and evaluated in vitro. A total of 29 bioactive ingredients and 137 common targets in SBD were found to inhibit ovarian cancer development. The active ingredients identified include quercetin, luteolin, and wogonin. Analysis of the PPI network showed that AKT1, VEGFA, JUN, TNF, and Caspase-3 shared centrality among all target genes. The results of the KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the cancer pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathways mediated the effects of SBD against ovarian cancer progression. Cell experiments showed that quercetin, luteolin, and wogonin inhibited the proliferation and clone formation of SKOV3 cells and regulated mRNA expression of 5 key genes by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Our results demonstrate that SBD exerted anti-ovarian cancer effects through its key components quercetin, luteolin and wogonin. Mechanistically, its anti-cancer effects were mediated by inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Therefore, SBD might be a candidate drug for ovarian cancer treatment.

Sennoside A induces autophagic death of prostate cancer via inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignancy in male reproductive system. Sennoside A (SA) is an anthraquinone active ingredient extracted from Rheum officinale Baill., which exerts anti-tumor activity on different tumors. In the present study, the toxicity of SA on PC3 and DU 145 cells was detected via CCK-8. The effects of SA on growth, apoptosis, and autophagy were determined through CCK-8, Hoechst stain, flow cytometry, western blot, and immunofluorescence examinations. An in vivo experiment was performed in xenografted mice with intraperitoneal introduction of 10 mg/kg SA and validated via TUNEL, immunohistochemistry and western blot. The results showed that SA inhibited the cell viability with a IC50 value of 52.36 and 67.48 µM in DU 145 and PC3 cells respectively, and enhanced the apoptosis of PC3 and DU 145 cells. Additionally, SA elevated the relative LC3B expression, and the relative protein expression of LC3II/LC3I and Beclin-1, but diminished the P62 protein expression. The relative protein level of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR was reduced with SA treatment, which was verified by the 740 Y-P application. The 740 Y-P treatments also restored the SA-induced the cell viability, apoptosis rate and relative LC3B expression. Meanwhile, SA inhibited the growth of PC cell and the relative protein level of PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis in vivo. Taken together, SA regulated the proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy via inactivating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis in PC.

Chinese herbal medicines for prostate cancer therapy: From experimental research to clinical practice

Prostate cancer remains the second most common malignancy in men worldwide, is a global health issue, and poses a huge health burden. Precision medicine provides more treatment options for prostate cancer patients, but its popularity, drug resistance, and adverse reactions still need to be focused on. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely accepted as an alternative therapy for cancer, with the advantages of multiple targets, multiple pathways, and low toxicity. We searched the experimental research and clinical practice of CHMs for prostate cancer treatment published in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in the last five years. We found five CHM formulas and six single CHM extracts as well as 12 CHM-derived compounds, which showed induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest, suppression of angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration of prostate cancer cells, reversal of drug resistance, and enhancement of anti-tumor immunity. The mechanisms of action include the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AR, EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, which are commonly implicated in the development of prostate cancer. We also summarized the advantages of CHMs in patients with hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer and provided ideas for their further experimental design and application.

PI3K/Akt signaling in urological cancers: Tumorigenesis function, therapeutic potential, and therapy response regulation

In addition to environmental conditions, lifestyle factors, and chemical exposure, aberrant gene expression and mutations involve in the beginning and development of urological tumors. Even in Western nations, urological malignancies are among the top causes of patient death, and their prevalence appears to be gender dependent. The prognosis for individuals with urological malignancies remains dismal and unfavorable due to the ineffectiveness of conventional treatment methods. PI3K/Akt is a popular biochemical mechanism that is activated in tumor cells as a result of PTEN loss. PI3K/Akt escalates growth and metastasis. Moreover, due to the increase in tumor cell viability caused by PI3K/Akt activation, cancer cells may acquire resistance to treatment. This review article examines the function of PI3K/Akt in major urological tumors including bladder, prostate, and renal tumors. In prostate, bladder, and kidney tumors, the level of PI3K and Akt are notably elevated. In addition, the activation of PI3K/Akt enhances the levels of Bcl-2 and XIAP, hence increasing the tumor cell survival rate. PI3K/Akt ] upregulates EMT pathways and matrix metalloproteinase expression to increase urological cancer metastasis. Furthermore, stimulation of PI3K/Akt results in drug- and radio-resistant cancers, but its suppression by anti-tumor drugs impedes the tumorigenesis.

Targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer therapy

Urological cancers have obtained much attention in recent years due to their mortality and morbidity. The most common and malignant tumor of urological cancers is prostate cancer that imposes high socioeconomic costs on public life and androgen-deprivation therapy, surgery, and combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are employed in its treatment. PI3K/Akt signaling is an oncogenic pathway responsible for migration, proliferation and drug resistance in various cancers. In the present review, the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer progression is highlighted. The activation of PI3K/Akt signaling occurs in prostate cancer, while PTEN as inhibitor of PI3K/Akt shows down-regulation. Stimulation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes survival of prostate tumor cells and prevents apoptosis. The cell cycle progression and proliferation rate of prostate tumor cells increase by PI3K/Akt signaling induction. PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates EMT and enhances metastasis of prostate tumor cells. Silencing PI3K/Akt signaling impairs growth and metastasis of prostate tumor cells. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling mediates drug resistance and reduces radio-sensitivity of prostate tumor cells. Anti-tumor compounds suppress PI3K/Akt signaling in impairing prostate tumor progression. Furthermore, upstream regulators such as miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs regulate PI3K/Akt signaling and it has clinical implications for prostate cancer patients.

Hedyotis diffusa-Sculellaria barbata (HD-SB) suppresses the progression of colorectal cancer cells via the hsa_circ_0039933/hsa-miR-204-5p/wnt11 axis

Our previous study confirmed that the combination of Hedyotis diffusa (HD) and Scutellaria barbata (SB) significantly inhibited colorectal cancer cell proliferation and the WNT signaling pathway. However, the exact molecular modulation remains unclear. In this study, colorectal cancer cells (SW620) were treated with 1 mg/mL HD-SB for 24 h, and high-throughput sequencing of circRNAs was performed. The level of hsa_circ_0039933 in three colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29, SW620, and HCT116) was verified by qPCR. After transfection of hsa_circ_0039933 overexpression plasmids or small interfering RNAs, CCK8, apoptosis, cell migration, and cell invasion were utilized to evaluate the function of hsa_circ_0039933 in the progression of colorectal cancer cells. We identified hsa_circ_0039933, which was downregulated in HD-SB-induced colorectal cancer cells and positively related to colorectal cancer progression. In SW620 cells with relatively high expression of hsa_circ_0039933, interfering with the expression of hsa_circ_0039933 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of SW620 cells. In HCT116 cells with relatively low expression of hsa_circ_0039933, overexpression of hsa_circ_0039933 promoted the proliferation and invasion and migration ability of HCT116. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0039933 targeted hsa-miR-204-5p to increase the expression of wnt11, leading to the activation of the Wnt pathway, thereby promoting the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. This work revealed the potential molecular mechanism of HD-SB for the treatment of colorectal cancer, which was to inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway through the hsa_circ_0039933/hsa-miR-204-5p/wnt11 axis, then suppressing proliferation, migration, and invasion in the colorectal cancer cell.