Anticancer Properties of Chrysin on Colon Cancer Cells, In vitro and In vivo with Modulation of Caspase-3, -9, Bax and Sall4

Reaction Pattern and Mechanistic Aspects of Iodine and Iodine-Based Reagents in Selenylation of Aliphatic, Aromatic, and (Hetero)Cyclic Systems

Organoselenium compounds have been the subject of extensive research since the discovery of the biologically active compound ebselen. Ebselen has recently been found to show activity against the main protease of the virus responsible for COVID-19. Other organoselenium compounds are also well-known for their diverse biological activities, with such compounds exhibiting interesting physical properties relevant to the fields of electronics, materials, and polymer chemistry. In addition, the incorporation of selenium into various organic molecules has garnered significant attention due to the potential of selenium to enhance the biological activity of these molecules, particularly in conjunction with bioactive heterocycles. Iodine and iodine-based reagents play a prominent role in the synthesis of organoselenium compounds, being valued for their cost-effectiveness, non-toxicity, and ease of handling. These reagents efficiently selenylate a broad range of organic substrates, encompassing alkenes, alkynes, and cyclic, aromatic, and heterocyclic molecules. They serve as catalysts, additives, inducers, and oxidizing agents, facilitating the introduction of different functional groups at alternate positions in the molecules, thereby allowing for regioselective and stereoselective approaches. Specific iodine reagents and their combinations can be tailored to follow the desired reaction pathways. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the progress in the selenylation of organic molecules using iodine reagents over the past decade, with a focus on reaction patterns, solvent effects, heating, microwave, and ultrasonic conditions. Detailed discussions on mechanistic aspects, such as electrophilic, nucleophilic, radical, electrochemical, and ring expansion reactions via selenylation, multiselenylation, and difunctionalization, are included. The review also highlights the formation of various cyclic, heterocyclic, and heteroarenes resulting from the in situ generation of selenium intermediates, encompassing cyclic ketones, cyclic ethers, cyclic lactones, selenophenes, chromones, pyrazolines, pyrrolidines, piperidines, indolines, oxazolines, isooxazolines, lactones, dihydrofurans, and isoxazolidines. To enhance the reader's interest, the review is structured into different sections covering the selenylation of aliphatic sp2/sp carbon and cyclic sp2 carbon, and then is further subdivided into various heterocyclic molecules.

Greasing the Wheels of Pharmacotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: the Role of Natural Polyphenols

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The main purpose of this review, mainly based on preclinical studies, is to summarize the pharmacological and biochemical evidence regarding natural polyphenols against colorectal cancer and highlight areas that require future research.

RECENT FINDINGS

Typically, colorectal cancer is a potentially preventable and curable cancer arising from benign precancerous polyps found in the colon's inner lining. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer, with a lifetime risk of approximately 4 to 5%. Genetic background and environmental factors play major roles in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Theoretically, a multistep process of colorectal carcinogenesis provides enough time for anti-tumor pharmacotherapy of colorectal cancer. Chronic colonic inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota imbalance have been found to increase the risk for colorectal cancer development by creating genotoxic stress within the intestinal environment to generate genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications. Currently, numerous natural polyphenols have shown anti-tumor properties against colorectal cancer in preclinical research, especially in colorectal cancer cell lines. In this review, the current literature regarding the etiology and epidemiology of colorectal cancer is briefly outlined. We highlight the findings of natural polyphenols in colorectal cancer from in vitro and in vivo studies. The scarcity of human trials data undermines the clinical use of natural polyphenols as anti-colorectal cancer agents, which should be undertaken in the future.

Co-administration of Chrysin and Luteolin with Cisplatin and Topotecan Exhibits a Variable Therapeutic Value in Human Cancer Cells, HeLa

Combinational treatment is a promising strategy for better cancer treatment outcomes. Chrysin and luteolin have demonstrated effective anticancer activity. Cisplatin and topotecan are commonly used for the treatment of human cancers. However, various side effects including drug resistance are an imperative restriction to use them as pharmacological therapy. Therefore, the aim was to use these agents in combination with flavones for better efficacy. In the present study, it was found that the combination of chrysin and cisplatin and luteolin and cisplatin significantly improved the anticancer effect as both the combinations showed synergistic interactions [combinational index (CI < 1)]. Remarkably, the combination of chrysin and luteolin with topotecan depicted the antagonistic interaction (CI > 1). Further, increased expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase 8 and the inhibition of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 were instituted in the synergistic doses (chrysin + cisplatin and luteolin + cisplatin), hence promoting apoptosis. Also, it was found that the synergistic combination inhibited the migration of HeLa cells by downregulation of metalloproteases and upregulation of TIMPs. However, there are no significant changes depicted in the antagonistic combinations which support their role in their antagonistic effects. Based on these results, it can be inferred that the two or more drug combinations need to be explored well for their interaction to enhance the therapeutic outcomes.

Stimulatory Anticancer Effect of Resveratrol Mediated by G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most high-risk cancers; however, it has been suggested that estrogen signaling in CRC could have a protective effect. Therefore, we focused on the function of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) among the estrogen receptors in CRC. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of resveratrol via GPER in CRC (RKO and WiDr) cells, CRC cell-derived xenograft models, and organoids (30T and 33T). Resveratrol significantly suppressed cell viability and proliferation in highly GPER-expressing RKO cells compared to that in low GPER-expressing WiDr cells. In xenograft models, resveratrol also delayed tumor growth and exhibited a high survival rate depending on GPER expression in RKO-derived tumors. Furthermore, resveratrol significantly inhibited the viability of organoids with high GPER expression. Additionally, the anticancer effect of resveratrol on CRC showed that resveratrol rapidly responded to GPER, while increasing the expression of p-ERK and Bax and cleaving PARP proteins.

Flavonoids' Dual Benefits in Gastrointestinal Cancer and Diabetes: A Potential Treatment on the Horizon?

Diabetes and gastrointestinal cancers (GI) are global health conditions with a massive burden on patients' lives worldwide. The development of both conditions is influenced by several factors, such as diet, genetics, environment, and infection, which shows a potential link between them. Flavonoids are naturally occurring phenolic compounds present in fruits and vegetables. Once ingested, unabsorbed flavonoids reaching the colon undergo enzymatic modification by the gut microbiome to facilitate absorption and produce ring fission products. The metabolized flavonoids exert antidiabetic and anti-GI cancer properties, targeting major impaired pathways such as apoptosis and cellular proliferation in both conditions, suggesting the potentially dual effects of flavonoids on diabetes and GI cancers. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of flavonoids on diabetes and GI cancers in four significant pathways. It also addresses the synergistic effects of selected flavonoids on both conditions. While this is an intriguing approach, more studies are required to better understand the mechanism of how flavonoids can influence the same impaired pathways with different outcomes depending on the disease.

Anti-cancer Activity of Chrysin in Cancer Therapy: a Systematic Review

Chrysin is a natural bioactive compound that is extracted from many trees, honey, and propolis. Chrysin has several pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. This study was performed to evaluate the anti-cancer activities of chrysin in cancer therapy. The present study was conducted by systematic review of studies published up to August 2021. Related studies were identified by searching Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Science Direct, SID, MagIran, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords of chrysin, cancer, anti-cancer, and cancer therapy were used for searching. The quality of the studies was assessed by the CONSORT checklist. A total of 21 studies were identified. The results of studies showed that chrysin has an anticancer effect by stimulating apoptosis in a wide range of human cells and rats. Chrysin is also an important factor in inhibiting tumor growth and neoplasticity. Chrysin inhibits the growth and proliferation of cancer cells by inducing cytotoxic effects. Therefore, due to the antitumor effects of chrysin and its safety and non-toxicity towards normal cells, this compound can be considered as an adjuvant along with chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment.

The Invasion and Metastasis of Colon Adenocarcinoma (COAD) Induced by SALL4

Objective

The development and progression of many cancers may be related to SALL4, the role and molecular mechanism of which are unclear in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD).

Methods

The SALL4 expression in adjacent normal mucosa tissues and carcinoma tissues of patients with COAD was detected through bioinformatic analysis based on TCGA database and immunohistochemistry. Single-cell analysis showed that the expression of SALL4 in normal tissue was noticeably low. GSEA analysis suggested that the SALL4 upregulated the GO and pathway of growth and cancer development and downregulated metabolization pathway. The relationship between lymph node metastasis, histological grading, clinical staging, and the expression of SALL4 in carcinoma tissues was analyzed. The upregulated or downregulated SALL4 expression of COAD cell lines was established. The influence of SALL4 on COAD cells invasion and proliferation was detected using plate cloning assay and Transwell. The expressions of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, and Twist were detected by Western blot. The EMT phenotype was analyzed by immunofluorescence.

Results

The study confirmed that the expression of SALL4 was upregulated in COAD and positively correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation, tumor staging, and metastasis. The overexpression of SALL4 was related to a poor prognosis, promoted the invasion and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells, and accelerated the occurrence of EMT, which was characterized by upregulation of Twist, vimentin, and N-cadherin expressions and downregulation of E-cadherin. The immunofluorescence staining confirmed the EMT phenotype. On the contrary, knocking out SALL4 gene reversed EMT, weakened cell proliferation and invasion, inhibited upregulation of Twist, vimentin, and N-cadherin expressions and downregulation of E-cadherin.

Conclusion

To sum up, TNM grading, histological grading, and lymphatic metastasis were significantly correlated with SALL4 in tumor tissues. SALL4 played a vital role in tumor proliferation, invasion, and tumor EMT and may be a novel target for COAD.

Identification of gene signatures for COAD using feature selection and Bayesian network approaches

The combination of TCGA and GTEx databases will provide more comprehensive information for characterizing the human genome in health and disease, especially for underlying the cancer genetic alterations. Here we analyzed the gene expression profile of COAD in both tumor samples from TCGA and normal colon tissues from GTEx. Using the SNR-PPFS feature selection algorithms, we discovered a 38 gene signatures that performed well in distinguishing COAD tumors from normal samples. Bayesian network of the 38 genes revealed that DEGs with similar expression patterns or functions interacted more closely. We identified 14 up-DEGs that were significantly correlated with tumor stages. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that tumor stage, STMN4 and FAM135B dysregulation were independent prognostic factors for COAD survival outcomes. Overall, this study indicates that using feature selection approaches to select key gene signatures from high-dimensional datasets can be an effective way for studying cancer genomic characteristics.

Pseudouridylate Synthase 7 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Colon Cancer Through Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is commonly malignant tumor. Herein, we demonstrate that pseudouridylate synthase 7 (PUS7) is closely related to colon cancer. But the biological role of PUS7 in colon cancer is not known.

AIMS

The present study aims to investigate the effects of PUS7 in colon cancer clinical samples and cells and the related molecular mechanism.

METHODS

A profile data set was downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas database, which included data from colon cancer tissue samples and normal tissue samples. The top 200 differentially expressed genes were subsequently investigated by a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. RT-PCR and western blot assays were used to determine gene expression levels. CCK8 assay, colony formation experiment, transwell and flow cytometry assay were used to determine cell viability, proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis, respectively.

RESULTS

PUS7 is a key gene from the most significant module of the PPI network. PUS7 was upregulated in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. Moreover, PUS7 overexpression is significantly related to the poor survival rate for 60 colon cancer's patients. Cell proliferation and invasion was significantly reduced by PUS7 inhibition and promoted by PUS7 overexpression. The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3/9, c-myc, E-cadherin and vimentin genes were significantly regulated in colon cancer cells transfected with PUS7 interference or overexpression. PUS7 overexpression significantly upregulated the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT and mTOR.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrate that PUS7 overexpression upregulates cell proliferation, invasion and inhibits cell apoptosis of colon cancer cells via activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Chrysin impairs genomic stability by suppressing DNA double-strand break repair in breast cancer cells

Chrysin, a natural compound isolated from various plants, such as the blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea L.), exhibits multiple pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Accumulating evidence shows that chrysin inhibits cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and regulating cell cycle arrest. However, whether chrysin is involved in regulating genomic stability and its underlying mechanisms in breast cancer cells have not been determined. Here, we demonstrated that chrysin impairs genomic stability in MCF-7 and BT474 cells, inhibits cell survival and enhances the sensitivity of MCF-7 cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Further experiments revealed that chrysin impairs DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, resulting in accumulation of DNA damage. Mechanistic studies showed that chrysin inhibits the recruitment of the key NHEJ factor 53BP1 and delays the recruitment of the HR factor RAD51. Thus, we elucidated novel regulatory mechanisms of chrysin in DSB repair and proposed that a combination of chrysin and chemotherapy has curative potential in breast cancers.

Therapeutic benefits of Salvia species: A focus on cancer and viral infection

Man is increasingly being faced with many health conditions, including viral infection, some of which increases the risk to cancer. These infectious agents contribute to the large number of persons with cancer and the worrisome number that die from the diseases. A good range of drugs are currently in place for treating patients infected with viruses, however, some of the drugs' effectiveness are limited by the emergence of drug-resistant strains of the viruses, as well as adverse effects of the drugs. Similarly, the inability of many anticancer drugs to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing hosts' normal cells limit their use. This warrants more research for newer drugs, especially from chemicals naturally encrypted in plants with anticancer and antiviral activities. In response to infection with cancer-inducing viruses, plants such as Salvia species synthesize and store secondary metabolites to protect themselves and kill these viruses as well as inhibit their ability to induce carcinogenesis. Hence, this review presented a discussion on the potential application of Salvia species in the prevention and management of cancer and viral infection. The study also discusses the cellular mechanisms of action of these herbal products against cancer cells and viruses, where available and provided suggestions on future research directions. The study is believed to spur more research on how to exploit Salvia phytochemicals as candidates for the development of nutraceuticals and drugs for managing cancers and viral infection.

SALL Proteins; Common and Antagonistic Roles in Cancer

Simple Summary

Transcription factors play essential roles in regulating gene expression, impacting the cell phenotype and function, and in the response of cells to environmental conditions. Alterations in transcription factors, including gene amplification or deletion, point mutations, and expression changes, are implicated in carcinogenesis, cancer progression, metastases, and resistance to cancer treatments. Not surprisingly, transcription factor activity is altered in numerous cancers, representing a unique class of cancer drug targets. This review updates and integrates information on the SALL family of transcription factors, highlighting the synergistic and/or antagonistic functions they perform in various cancer types.

Abstract

SALL proteins are a family of four conserved C2H2 zinc finger transcription factors that play critical roles in organogenesis during embryonic development. They regulate cell proliferation, survival, migration, and stemness; consequently, they are involved in various human genetic disorders and cancer. SALL4 is a well-recognized oncogene; however, SALL1–3 play dual roles depending on the cancer context and stage of the disease. Current reviews of SALLs have focused only on SALL2 or SALL4, lacking an integrated view of the SALL family members in cancer. Here, we update the recent advances of the SALL members in tumor development, cancer progression, and therapy, highlighting the synergistic and/or antagonistic functions they perform in similar cancer contexts. We identified common regulatory mechanisms, targets, and signaling pathways in breast, brain, liver, colon, blood, and HPV-related cancers. In addition, we discuss the potential of the SALL family members as cancer biomarkers and in the cancer cells’ response to therapies. Understanding SALL proteins’ function and relationship will open new cancer biology, clinical research, and therapy perspectives.

Enzymatic Metabolism of Flavonoids by Gut Microbiota and Its Impact on Gastrointestinal Cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is a prevalent global health disease with a massive burden on health care providers. Internal and external factors such as obesity, smoking, diet (red meat), low socioeconomic status and infection with Helicobacter pylori are the critical risk factors of GI cancers. Flavonoids are natural phenolic compounds found abundantly in fruits and vegetables. Upon ingestion, 90% of flavonoids consumed require further enzymatic metabolism by the gut microbiome to enhance their bioavailability and absorption. Several epidemiological studies reported that consumption of flavonoids and their enzymatic conversion by gut microbes is strongly associated with the reduced risk of GI cancer development. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the enzymatic conversion of flavonoids by the human gut microbiome. It also addresses the underlying anti-GI cancer effects on metabolic pathways such as apoptosis and cellular proliferation. Overall, metabolites produced from flavonoid's enzymatic conversion illustrate anti-GI cancer effects, but the mechanisms of action need further clarification.

Topical Nanoemulgel for the Treatment of Skin Cancer: Proof-of-Technology

The present study is a mechanistic validation of ‘proof-of-technology’ for the effective topical delivery of chrysin nanoemulgel for localized, efficient treatment of melanoma-affected skin. Background: Currently available treatments for skin cancer are inefficient due to systemic side effects and poor transcutaneous permeation, thereby presenting a formidable challenge for the development of novel nanocarriers. Methods: We opted for a novel approach and formulated a nanocomplex system composed of hydrophobic chrysin dissolved in a lipid mix, which was further nanoemulsified in Pluronic^® F-127 gel to enhance physicochemical and biopharmaceutic characteristics. Chrysin, a flavone extracted from passion flowers, exhibits potential anti-cancer activities; however, it has limited applicability due to its poor solubility. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the best self-nanoemulsifying region by varying the compositions of oil, Caproyl^® 90 surfactant, Tween^® 80, and co-solvent Transcutol^® HP. Chrysin-loaded nanoemulsifying compositions were characterized for various physicochemical properties. Results: This thermodynamically stable, self-emulsifying drug delivery system showed a mean droplet size of 156.9 nm, polydispersity index of 0.26, and viscosity of 9100 cps after dispersion in gel. Mechanical characterization using Texture Analyzer exhibited that the gel had a hardness of 487 g and adhesiveness of 500 g. Ex vivo permeation through rat abdominal skin revealed significant improvement in percutaneous absorption measured as flux, the apparent permeability coefficient, the steady-state diffusion coefficient, and drug deposition. In vitro cytotoxicity on A375 and SK-MEL-2 cell lines showed a significantly improved therapeutic effect, thus ensuring reduction in dose. The safety of the product was established through biocompatibility testing on the L929 cell line. Conclusion: Aqueous, gel-based, topical, nanoemulsified chrysin is a promising technology approach for effective localized transcutaneous delivery that will help reduce the frequency and overall dose usage and ultimately improve the therapeutic index.

Emerging cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer indications of chrysin

Chrysin has been shown to exert several beneficial pharmacological activities. Chrysin has anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective as well as gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, ocular, and skin protective effects through modulating signaling pathway involved in apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In the current review, we discussed the emerging cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic indications of chrysin in various cancers. Online databases comprising Scopus, PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, Science Direct, Web of Science, and the search engine Google Scholar were searched for available and eligible research articles. The search was conducted by using MeSH terms and keywords in title, abstract, and keywords. In conclusion, experimental studies indicated that chrysin could ameliorate cancers of the breast, gastrointestinal tract, liver and hepatocytes, bladder, male and female reproductive systems, choroid, respiratory tract, thyroid, skin, eye, brain, blood cells, leukemia, osteoblast, and lymph. However, more studies are needed to enhance the bioavailability of chrysin and evaluate this agent in clinical trial studies.

Chronic Inflammatory-Modulating Potential of Cassia auriculata with Proinflammatory Cytokine IL-1beta and Its Anticancer Effect on Lung Cancer Cell Line

BACKGROUND

Inflammation is a key element in tumor progression, over time, persistent inflammation causes damage to DNA and leads to cancer. The relationship between chronic inflammation and tumor development is well established, blocking of which can help in cancer prevention and treatment in the future.

OBJECTIVE

Hence, with this background, the present study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential of Cassia auriculata (CA) solvent fractions through in silico and in vitro means, respectively.

METHODS

Generally, inflammatory mediators play a key task in chronic inflammation, following its inflection was chosen for their interactions with nine structurally varied phytoconstituents of CA identified through GCMS. The ethanolic extract of CA was assessed for its apoptotic effects on A549 lung cancer cells by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, JC-10 staining, DNA fragmentation assay and quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

The interactions between bioactive components and target protein revealed that important molecules like 5,7-dihydroxy-2-[2-nethoxyphenyl]- 4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, a flavonoid, and three other components can bind target interleukin 1-beta associated with lung cancer. In vitro data also confirmed that the diverse active components of CA extract might follow the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway to provoke cancer cell death.

CONCLUSION

Hence, these findings strongly propose that Cassia auriculata (CA) solvent fractions could be exploited in the future to design ligands for obtaining novel leads for treating chronic inflammation linked with lung cancer, and also the extracts of CA can be recommended as a potential agent for lung cancer chemotherapy.

Evaluation of the Hemocompatibility and Anticancer Potential of Poly(ε-Caprolactone) and Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Microcarriers with Encapsulated Chrysin

In this work, novel chrysin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microcarriers were synthesized according to a modified oil-in-water single emulsion/solvent evaporation method, utilizing poly(vinyl alcohol) surfactant as stabilizer and dispersing agent for the emulsification, and were evaluated for their physico-chemical and morphological properties, loading capacity and entrapment efficiency and in vitro release of their load. The findings suggest that the novel micro-formulations possess a spherical and relatively wrinkled structure with sizes ranging between 2.4 and 24.7 µm and a highly negative surface charge with z-potential values between (-18.1)-(-14.1) mV. The entrapment efficiency of chrysin in the poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microcarriers was estimated to be 58.10% and 43.63%, whereas the loading capacity was found to be 3.79% and 15.85%, respectively. The average release percentage of chrysin was estimated to be 23.10% and 18.01%, respectively. The novel micromaterials were further biologically evaluated for their hemolytic activity through hemocompatibility studies over a range of hematological parameters and cytoxicity against the epithelial human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231. The poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microcarriers reached an IC50 value with an encapsulated chrysin content of 149.19 µM and 312.18 µM, respectively, and showed sufficient blood compatibility displaying significantly low (up to 2%) hemolytic percentages at concentrations between 5 and 500 µg·mL-1.

Complexation with Random Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin and (2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-Cyclodextrin Promotes Chrysin Effect and Potential for Liver Fibrosis Therapy

Liver fibrosis results from chronic liver injury and is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix in excess driven by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. Chrysin (CHR) is a natural flavonoid that is limited by its low solubility to exert its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the biocompatibility of CHR complexes with two cyclodextrins (CDs)-(2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) and random methyl-β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB), and their potential to induce anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic effects. Biocompatibility of the complexes was evaluated on Huh7 and LX2 cell lines: MTT and Live/Dead tests indicated the cell viability and an LDH test showed the cytotoxicity. Immunohistochemical staining of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) nuclear translocation was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of the complexes. Oxygen Radical Absorbance assay, Superoxide Dismutase activity and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) assays indicated the antioxidant properties of the chrysin complexes. Finally, the complexes’ anti-fibrotic potential was evaluated at the protein and gene level of α-sma. In HSCs, CDs induced higher cytotoxicity correlated with lower cell viability than CHR–CD. The 1:1 CHR–RAMEB pretreatment avoided p65 translocation. The 1:2 CHR–RAMEB complex increased ORAC values, improved SOD activity and produced the highest stimulation of GPx activity. CHR–RAMEB reduced α-sma expression at lower concentration than CHR–HPBCD, proving to be more efficient. In conclusion, both CHR–CD complexes proved to be biocompatible, but CHR–RAMEB showed improved anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic effects that could recommend its further use in liver fibrosis treatment.

Structurally characterized gallium-chrysin complexes with anticancer potential

Chemotherapeutic metal-based compounds are effective anticancer agents; however, their cytotoxic profile and significant side effects limit their wide application. Natural products, especially flavonoids, are a prominent alternative source of anticancer agents that can be used as ligands for the generation of new bioactive complexes with metal ions of known biochemical and pharmacological activities. Herein, we present the synthesis and detailed structural and physicochemical characterizations of three novel complex assemblies of Ga(iii) with the flavonoid chrysin and the ancillary aromatic chelators 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-bipyridine and imidazole. The complexes constitute the only crystallographically characterized structures having a metal core from the boron group elements and a flavonoid as the ligand. The in vitro biological evaluation of the three complexes in a series of cancer cell lines of different origin established their cytotoxicity and ROS generating potential. In particular, the Ga(iii)-chrysin-imidazole complex displayed the highest anticancer efficacy against all cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the low micromolar range (<1.18 μM), a result worth further investigation.

Broad-Spectrum Preclinical Antitumor Activity of Chrysin: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

Pharmacological profile of phytochemicals has attracted much attention to their use in disease therapy. Since cancer is a major problem for public health with high mortality and morbidity worldwide, experiments have focused on revealing the anti-tumor activity of natural products. Flavonoids comprise a large family of natural products with different categories. Chrysin is a hydroxylated flavonoid belonging to the flavone category. Chrysin has demonstrated great potential in treating different disorders, due to possessing biological and therapeutic activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, etc. Over recent years, the anti-tumor activity of chrysin has been investigated, and in the present review, we provide a mechanistic discussion of the inhibitory effect of chrysin on proliferation and invasion of different cancer cells. Molecular pathways, such as Notch1, microRNAs, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), PI3K/Akt, MAPK, etc., as targets of chrysin are discussed. The efficiency of chrysin in promoting anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents and suppressing drug resistance is described. Moreover, poor bioavailability, as one of the drawbacks of chrysin, is improved using various nanocarriers, such as micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, etc. This updated review will provide a direction for further studies in evaluating the anti-tumor activity of chrysin.

Plant flavone Chrysin as an emerging histone deacetylase inhibitor for prosperous epigenetic-based anticancer therapy

Aberrations in epigenetic mechanisms provide a fertile platform for tumour initiation and progression. Thus, agents capable of modulating the epigenetic environment of neoplasms will be a valuable addition to the anticancer therapeutics. Flavones are emerging as befitting anticancer agents due to their inherent antioxidant activity and the ability to restrain epi-targets namely histone deacetylases (HDACs). HDACs have broader implications in pathogenesis of various cancers. Chrysin, a flavone possessing the ability to inhibit HDACs could prove as a potential anticancer drug. Thus, in this article we focussed on Chrysin and its distinct antineoplastic effect against bellicose malignancies including lung, colorectal, cervical, gastric, melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer. The underlying signalling cascades triggered by Chrysin for inducing cytotoxic effect in these cancer models are discussed. Importantly, approaches towards combinatorial treatments by Chrysin and commercial anticancer agents are taken into account. The downstream molecular mechanism aroused by combined therapy for abrogating onerous cancer chemoresistance is delineated as well. Moreover, the nano-combinatorial approach involving co-encapsulation of Chrysin with other herbal and non-herbal agents for clinical excellence is elucidated.

Selective toxicity of chrysin on mitochondria isolated from liver of a HCC rat model

Flavonoids are natural compounds that show various biological effects, such as the anti-cancer effect. Chrysin is a flavonoid compound found in honey and propolis. Studies have shown that chrysin has anti-cancer activity due to induction of apoptosis signaling. In the present study, we examined the cytotoxic effect of chrysin against liver mitochondria obtained from the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rat model. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) was used for induction of HCC. Mitochondria were isolated from liver hepatocytes using differential centrifugation. Then, hepatocytes and mitochondria markers related to apoptosis signaling were investigated. Our finding indicated an increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, collapse in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), swelling in mitochondria, and cytochrome c release (about 1.6 fold) after exposure of mitochondria obtained from the HCC rats group with chrysin (10, 20, and 40 µM) compared to the normal rats group. Furthermore, Chrysin was able to increase caspase-3 activity in the HCC rats group (about 2.4 fold) compared to the normal rats group. According to the results, we proposed that chrysin could be considered as a promising complementary therapeutic candidate for the treatment of HCC, but it requires a further in vivo and clinical studies.

Chrysin: Pharmacological and therapeutic properties

Chrysin is a promising phytochemical that is categorized under the class of flavonoids based on its chemical structure. Naturally, it is widely present in propolis, honey, passion fruit, and even in mushrooms and other plant sources, whereas its synthetic counterparts are also being employed for pharmacological purposes. It has widely been employed in treatment of various degenerative disorders and provides cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory functions. Its antioxidant and disease preventing abilities are attributed to its structural diversity arising in ring-A and absence of oxygenation in B and C ring. In this review, the scientific studies are being reported emphasizing benefits and its allied health claims on chrysin in numerous metabolic malfunctions.

miRNA-766 induces apoptosis of human colon cancer cells through the p53/Bax signaling pathway by MDM4

miRNAs are closely associated with tumor genesis and development. The present study investigated the role of the expression of miRNA-766 in the survival of patients with colon cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and microarray analysis were used to analyze the expression of miRNA-766. The results revealed that the expression of miRNA-766 was decreased in patients with colon cancer. The overall survival and disease-free survival rates of patients with colon cancer with a high expression of miRNA-766 were prolonged, compared with those with a low expression of miRNA-766. The overexpression of miRNA-766 reduced cell growth and induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells through suppression of the MDM4/p53 pathway. By contrast, the downregulation of miRNA-766 promoted cell growth and reduced apoptosis in colon cancer cells through activation of the MDM4/p53 pathway. The promotion of MDM4 attenuated the anticancer effect of miRNA-766 in colon cancer cells. These results demonstrated that miRNA-766 induced cell apoptosis in human colon cancer through MDM4/p53.

MicroRNA‑25/ATXN3 interaction regulates human colon cancer cell growth and migration

The present study aimed to investigate the function of microRNA-25 (miR-25) in human colon cancer cell viability and migration in addition to the underlying possible mechanisms. miR-25 expression was upregulated in patients with colon cancer compared with the control group. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and gene chip technology were used to analyze the alterations of miR-25 in patients with colon cancer. Cell viability and cell migration were analyzed using MTT and wound healing assays, respectively, apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry, and western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein expression of ataxin-3 (ATXN3), apoptosis regulator Bax (Bax) and cyclin D1. Overexpression of miR-25 increased cell viability and migration, decreased apoptosis, decreased caspase-3/9 activity level in addition to decreased Bax protein expression, and increased cyclin D1 protein expression in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, miR-25 was demonstrated to target ATXN3 and suppress ATXN3 protein expression. Downregulation of miR-25 induced apoptosis of colon cancer cells via increased expression ATXN3. Small interfering-ATXN3 inhibited the anti-cancer effects of miR-25 downregulation in colon cancer. Collectively, the present results demonstrated that miR-25 promoted human colon cancer cell viability and migration by regulating ATXN3 expression.

Anti-Tumorigenic Activity of Chrysin from Oroxylum indicum via Non-Genotoxic p53 Activation through the ATM-Chk2 Pathway

The p53 tumor suppressor plays critical roles in cell cycle regulation and apoptotic cell death in response to various cellular stresses, thereby preventing cancer development. Therefore, the activation of p53 through small molecules is an attractive therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancers retaining wild-type p53. We used a library of 700 Myanmar wild plant extracts to identify small molecules that induce p53 transcriptional activity. A cell-based screening method with a p53-responsive luciferase-reporter assay system revealed that an ethanol extract of Oroxylum indicum bark increased p53 transcriptional activity. Chrysin was isolated and identified as the active ingredient in the O. indicum bark extract. A treatment with chrysin increased p53 protein expression and the p53-mediated expression of downstream target genes, and decreased cell viability in MCF7 cells, but not in p53-knockdown MCF7 cells. We also found that chrysin activated the ATM-Chk2 pathway in the absence of DNA damage. Hence, the inactivation of the ATM-Chk2 pathway suppressed p53 activation induced by chrysin. These results suggest the potential of chrysin as an anti-cancer drug through the activation of p53 without DNA damage.