The anti-tumor effect of taxifolin on lung cancer via suppressing stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and oncogenesis in nude mice

Suppression of Metastasis and Angiogenesis by Taxifolin Ruthenium-p-cymene Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles in Lung Carcinoma

Flavonoid-based organometallic complexes were revealed to be novel bioactive compounds. The taxifolin ruthenium-p-cymene nanoparticle (TaxRu-NPs) was produced in this study, and the toxicological assessment was done prior to in vivo chemotherapeutic research. Furthermore, the in vitro chemotherapeutic investigation used the A549 and NCI-H460 lung cancer cell lines. The in vitro study found that TaxRu-NPs induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells and hindered their ability to form colonies and migrate. The in vivo study showed that treatment with TaxRu-NPs restored the histological structure of a normal lung with less hyperplasia and lymphocytic infiltration. Furthermore, the treatment downregulated the angiogenic marker VEGF and the cell survival protein β-catenin and upregulated apoptotic markers like p53 and caspase-3. TaxRu-NPs treatment additionally raised the apoptotic index and decreased cancer cell growth. Finally, TaxRu-NPs effectively alleviate lung cancer by activating p53-mediated apoptosis and preventing angiogenesis and metastasis by decreasing the VEGF/β-catenin pathway.

Promotion of apoptosis in melanoma cells by taxifolin through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway: Screening of natural products using WGCNA and CMAP platforms

Melanoma is a skin cancer originating from melanocytes. The global incidence rate of melanoma is rapidly increasing, posing significant public health challenges. Identifying effective therapeutic agents is crucial in addressing this growing problem. Natural products have demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity. In this study, a plant flavonoid, taxifolin, was screened using Weighted Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) in combination with the Connectivity Map (CMAP) platform. Taxifolin was confirmed to inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of melanoma A375 and MV-3 cells by promoting apoptosis. Additionally, it suppressed the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) process of melanoma cells. Cyber pharmacological analysis revealed that taxifolin exerts its inhibitory effect on melanoma through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, specifically by downregulating the protein expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT. Notably, the addition of SC-79, an activator of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, reversed the effects of taxifolin on cell migration and apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that taxifolin treatment slowed tumor growth in mice without significant toxic effects. Based on these findings, taxifolin holds promise as a potential drug for melanoma treatment.

The Potential of Integrative Cancer Treatment Using Melatonin and the Challenge of Heterogeneity in Population-Based Studies: A Case Report of Colon Cancer and a Literature Review

Melatonin is a multifunctional hormone regulator that maintains homeostasis through circadian rhythms, and desynchronization of these rhythms can lead to gastrointestinal disorders and increase the risk of cancer. Preliminary clinical studies have shown that exogenous melatonin alleviates the harmful effects of anticancer therapy and improves quality of life, but the results are still inconclusive due to the heterogeneity of the studies. A personalized approach to testing clinical parameters and response to integrative treatment with nontoxic and bioavailable melatonin in patient-centered N-of-1 studies deserves greater attention. This clinical case of colon cancer analyzes and discusses the tumor pathology, the adverse effects of chemotherapy, and the dynamics of markers of inflammation (NLR, LMR, and PLR ratios), tumors (CEA, CA 19-9, and PSA), and hemostasis (D-dimer and activated partial thromboplastin time). The patient took melatonin during and after chemotherapy, nutrients (zinc, selenium, vitamin D, green tea, and taxifolin), and aspirin after chemotherapy. The patient's PSA levels decreased during CT combined with melatonin (19 mg/day), and melatonin normalized inflammatory markers and alleviated symptoms of polyneuropathy but did not help with thrombocytopenia. The results are analyzed and discussed in the context of the literature on oncostatic and systemic effects, alleviating therapy-mediated adverse effects, association with survival, and N-of-1 studies.

Targeting the key players of phenotypic plasticity in cancer cells by phytochemicals

Plasticity of phenotypic traits refers to an organism's ability to change in response to environmental stimuli. As a result, the response may alter an organism's physiological state, morphology, behavior, and phenotype. Phenotypic plasticity in cancer cells describes the considerable ability of cancer cells to transform phenotypes through non-genetic molecular signaling activities that promote therapy evasion and tumor metastasis via amplifying cancer heterogeneity. As a result of metastable phenotypic state transitions, cancer cells can tolerate chemotherapy or develop transient adaptive resistance. Therefore, new findings have paved the road in identifying factors and agents that inhibit or suppress phenotypic plasticity. It has also investigated novel multitargeted agents that may promise new effective strategies in cancer treatment. Despite the efficiency of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, drug toxicity, development of resistance, and high-cost limit their use in cancer therapy. Recent research has shown that small molecules derived from natural sources are capable of suppressing cancer by focusing on the plasticity of phenotypic responses. This systematic, comprehensive, and critical review analyzes the current state of knowledge regarding the ability of phytocompounds to target phenotypic plasticity at both preclinical and clinical levels. Current challenges/pitfalls, limitations, and future perspectives are also discussed.

Synthesis of Taxifolin-Loaded Polydopamine for Chemo-Photothermal-Synergistic Therapy of Ovarian Cancer

Chemotherapy is a well-established method for treating cancer, but it has limited effectiveness due to its high dosage and harmful side effects. To address this issue, researchers have explored the use of photothermal agent nanoparticles as carriers for precise drug release in vivo. In this study, three different sizes of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA-1, PDA-2, and PDA-3) were synthesized and evaluated. PDA-2 was selected for its optimal size, encapsulation rate, and drug loading rate. The release of the drug from PDA-2@TAX was tested at different pH and NIR laser irradiation levels. The results showed that PDA-2@TAX released more readily in an acidic environment and exhibited a high photothermal conversion efficiency when exposed to an 808 nm laser. In vitro experiments on ovarian cancer cells demonstrated that PDA-2@TAX effectively inhibited cell proliferation, highlighting its potential for synergistic chemotherapy-photothermal treatment.

A study on the role of Taxifolin in inducing apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells: screening results using weighted gene co-expression network analysis

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a frequent malignant tumor in the pancreas. The incomplete understanding of cancer etiology and pathogenesis, as well as the limitations in early detection and diagnostic methods, have created an urgent need for the discovery of new therapeutic targets and drugs to control this disease. As a result, the current therapeutic options are limited. In this study, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) method was employed to identify key genes associated with the progression and prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) patients in the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database. To identify small molecule drugs with potential in the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), we compared key genes to the reference dataset in the CMAP database. First, we analyzed the antitumor properties of small molecule drugs using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), AO/EB and Transwell assays. Subsequently, we integrated network pharmacology with molecular docking to explore the potential mechanisms of the identified molecules' anti-tumor effects. Our findings indicated that the progression and prognosis of PAAD patients in pancreatic cancer were associated with 11 genes, namely, DKK1, S100A2, CDA, KRT6A, ITGA3, GPR87, IL20RB, ZBED2, PMEPA1, CST6, and MUC16. These genes were filtered based on their therapeutic potential through comparing them with the reference dataset in the CMAP database. Taxifolin, a natural small molecule drug with the potential for treating PAAD, was screened by comparing it with the reference dataset in the CMAP database. Cell-based experiments have validated the potential of Taxifolin to facilitate apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells while restraining their invasion and metastasis. This outcome is believed to be achieved via the HIF-1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study provided a theoretical basis for screening genes related to the progression of pancreatic cancer and discovered potentially active small molecule drugs. The experimental results confirm that Taxifolin has the ability to promote apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.

Determination of In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Taxifolin and Epirubicin on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Mouse Breast Cancer Cells

Background: One of the most significant characteristics of cancer is epithelial-mesenchymal transition and research on the relationship between phenolic compounds and anticancer medications and epithelial-mesenchymal transition is widespread. Methods: In order to investigate the potential effects of Taxifolin on enhancing the effectiveness of Epirubicin in treating breast cancer, specifically in 4T1 cells and an allograft BALB/c model, the effects of Taxifolin and Epirubicin, both individually and in combination, were examined. Cell viability assays and cytotoxicity assays in 4T1 cells were performed. In addition, 4T1 cells were implanted into female BALB/c mice to conduct in vivo studies and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Taxifolin and Epirubicin alone or in combination. Tumor volumes and histological analysis were also assessed in mice. To further understand the mechanisms involved, we examined the messenger RNA and protein levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes, as well as active Caspase-3/7 levels, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Results: In vitro results demonstrated that the coadministration of Taxifolin and Epirubicin reduced cell viability and cytotoxicity in 4T1 cell lines. In vivo, coadministration of Taxifolin and Epirubicin suppressed tumor growth in BALB/c mice with 4T1 breast cancer cells. Additionally, this combination treatment significantly increased the levels of active caspase-3/7 and downregulated the messenger RNA and protein levels of N-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin, snail, and slug, but upregulated the E-cadherin gene. It significantly decreased the messenger RNA levels of the Zeb1 and Zeb2 genes. Conclusion: The in vitro and in vivo results of our study indicate that the concurrent use of Epirubicin with Taxifolin has supportive effects on breast cancer treatment.

The role of flavonoids in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer: A review on targeting signaling pathways and metastasis

One of the hallmarks of cancer is metastasis, a process that entails the spread of cancer cells to distant regions in the body, culminating in tumor formation in secondary organs. Importantly, the proinflammatory environment surrounding cancer cells further contributes to cancer cell transformation and extracellular matrix destruction. During metastasis, front-rear polarity and emergence of migratory and invasive features are manifestations of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). A variety of transcription factors (TFs) are implicated in the execution of EMT, the most prominent belonging to the Snail Family Transcriptional Repressor (SNAI) and Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox (ZEB) families of TFs. These TFs are regulated by interaction with specific microRNAs (miRNAs), as miR34 and miR200. Among the several secondary metabolites produced in plants, flavonoids constitute a major group of bioactive molecules, with several described effects including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antiobesogenic, and anticancer effects. This review scrutinizes the modulatory role of flavonoids on the activity of SNAI/ZEB TFs and on their regulatory miRNAs, miR-34, and miR-200. The modulatory role of flavonoids can attenuate mesenchymal features and stimulate epithelial features, thereby inhibiting and reversing EMT. Moreover, this modulation is concomitant with the attenuation of signaling pathways involved in diverse processes as cell proliferation, cell growth, cell cycle progression, apoptosis inhibition, morphogenesis, cell fate, cell migration, cell polarity, and wound healing. The antimetastatic potential of these versatile compounds is emerging and represents an opportunity for the synthesis of more specific and potent agents.

Chemical profiling and investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity of extracts from Polygonum perfoliatum L

Polygonum perfoliatum L. is an herbal medicine that has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various health conditions ranging from ancient internal to surgical and gynecological diseases. Numerous studies suggest that P. perfoliatum extract elicits significant anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral effects. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms of its anti-liver cancer effects remain poorly understood. Our study suggests that P. perfoliatum stem extract (PPLA) has a favorable safety profile and exhibits a significant anti-liver cancer effect both in vitro and in vivo. We identified that PPLA activates the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, and key regulatory genes including ADRA1B, PLCB2, PRKG2, CALML4, and GLO1 involved in this activation. Moreover, PPLA modulates the expression of genes responsible for the cell cycle. Additionally, we identified four constituents of PPLA, namely taxifolin, myricetin, eriodictyol, and pinocembrin, that plausibly act via the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that PPLA, along with its constituting compounds taxifolin, myricetin, and eriodictyol, exhibit potent anti-cancer activities and hold the promise of being developed into therapeutic agents.

In-vitro and ex-vivo antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities of Box-Behnken design optimized Solanum xanthocarpum extract loaded niosomes

One of the most prevalent lifestyle diseases, diabetes mellitus (DM) is brought on by an endocrine issue. DM is frequently accompanied by hyperglycemia, a disease that typically results in an excess of free radicals that stress tissues. The medical community is currently concentrating on creating therapeutic medications with roots in nature to lessen the damage associated with hyperglycemia. Solanum xanthocarpum has a number of medicinal benefits. The investigation aimed to produce and analyze niosomal formulations containing S. xanthocarpum extract (SXE). Niosomes were made by implementing the solvent evaporation process, which was further optimized using Box-Behnken design. Drug release, DPPH assessments, α-amylase inhibition assay, α-glucosidase inhibition assay, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) investigation were all performed on the developed formulation (SXE-Ns-Opt). SXE-Ns-Opt displayed a 253.6 nm vesicle size, a PDI of 0.108, 62.4% entrapment efficiency, and 84.01% drug release in 24 h. The rat's intestinal CLSM image indicated that the rhodamine red B-loaded SXE-Ns-Opts had more intestinal penetration than the control. Additionally, the antioxidant effect of the obtained formulation was demonstrated as 89.46% as compared to SXE (78.10%). Additionally, acarbose, SXE, and SXE-Ns-Opt each inhibited the activity of α-amylase by 95.11%, 85.88%, and 89.87%, and also suppressed the enzyme of α-glucosidase by 88.47%, 81.07%, and 85.78%, respectively. To summarise, the establishment of the SXE-Ns-Opt formulation and its characterization demonstrated the legitimacy of the foundation. A promising candidate for the treatment of diabetes mellitus has been shown as in vitro studies, antioxidant against oxidative stress, CLSM of rat's intestine and a high degree of penetration of formulation.

Taxifolin Inhibits the Growth of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer via Downregulating Genes Displaying Novel and Robust Associations with Immune Evasion Factors

Using an LL2 cell-based syngeneic mouse LC model, taxifolin suppressed allografts along with the appearance of 578 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These DEGs were associated with enhancement of processes related to the extracellular matrix and lymphocyte chemotaxis as well as the reduction in pathways relevant to cell proliferation. From these DEGs, we formulated 12-gene (TxflSig) and 7-gene (TxflSig1) panels; both predicted response to ICB (immune checkpoint blockade) therapy more effectively in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than numerous well-established ICB biomarkers, including PD-L1. In both panels, the mouse counterparts of ITGAL, ITGAX, and TMEM119 genes were downregulated by taxifolin. They were strongly associated with immune suppression in LC, evidenced by their robust correlations with the major immunosuppressive cell types (MDSC, Treg, and macrophage) and multiple immune checkpoints in NSCLC and across multiple human cancer types. ITGAL, ITGAX, and IIT (ITGAL-ITGAX-TMEM119) effectively predicted NSCLC's response to ICB therapy; IIT stratified the mortality risk of NSCLC. The stromal expressions of ITGAL and ITGAX, together with tumor expression of TMEM119 in NSCLC, were demonstrated. Collectively, we report multiple novel ICB biomarkers-TxflSig, TxflSig1, IIT, ITGAL, and ITGAX-and taxifolin-derived attenuation of immunosuppressive activities in NSCLC, suggesting the inclusion of taxifolin in ICB therapies for NSCLC.

Anticancer Potential of Flavonoids: An Overview with an Emphasis on Tangeretin

Natural compounds with pharmacological activity, flavonoids have been the subject of an exponential increase in studies in the field of scientific research focused on therapeutic purposes due to their bioactive properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antibacterial, antiviral, neuroprotective, radioprotective, and antitumor activities. The biological potential of flavonoids, added to their bioavailability, cost-effectiveness, and minimal side effects, direct them as promising cytotoxic anticancer compounds in the optimization of therapies and the search for new drugs in the treatment of cancer, since some extensively antineoplastic therapeutic approaches have become less effective due to tumor resistance to drugs commonly used in chemotherapy. In this review, we emphasize the antitumor properties of tangeretin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruits that has shown activity against some hallmarks of cancer in several types of cancerous cell lines, such as antiproliferative, apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-metastatic, anti-angiogenic, antioxidant, regulatory expression of tumor-suppressor genes, and epigenetic modulation.

Taxifolin Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth by Facilitating CD8+ T Cell Infiltration and Inducing a Novel Set of Genes including Potential Tumor Suppressor Genes in 1q21.3

Taxifolin inhibits breast cancer (BC) via novel mechanisms. In a syngeneic mouse BC model, taxifolin suppressed 4T-1 cell-derived allografts. RNA-seq of 4T-1 tumors identified 36 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upregulated by taxifolin. Among their human homologues, 19, 7, and 2 genes were downregulated in BCs, high-proliferative BCs, and BCs with high-fatality risks, respectively. Three genes were established as tumor suppressors and eight were novel to BC, including HNRN, KPRP, CRCT1, and FLG2. These four genes exhibit tumor suppressive actions and reside in 1q21.3, a locus amplified in 70% recurrent BCs, revealing a unique vulnerability of primary and recurrent BCs with 1q21.3 amplification with respect to taxifolin. Furthermore, the 36 DEGs formed a multiple gene panel (DEG36) that effectively stratified the fatality risk in luminal, HER2+, and triple-negative (TN) equivalent BCs in two large cohorts: the METABRIC and TCGA datasets. 4T-1 cells model human TNBC cells. The DEG36 most robustly predicted the poor prognosis of TNBCs and associated it with the infiltration of CD8+ T, NK, macrophages, and Th2 cells. Of note, taxifolin increased the CD8+ T cell content in 4T-1 tumors. The DEG36 is a novel and effective prognostic biomarker of BCs, particularly TNBCs, and can be used to assess the BC-associated immunosuppressive microenvironment.

Metabolomics-Based Analysis of the Effects of Different Cultivation Strategies on Metabolites of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a famous plant with a high medicinal value which has been recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition). The medicinal properties of D. officinale are based on its chemical composition. However, there are no reports on how different cultivation methods affect its chemical composition. In order to reveal this issue, samples of the D. officinale were collected in this study through tree epiphytic cultivation, stone epiphytic cultivation, and greenhouse cultivation. Polysaccharides were determined by phenol sulfuric acid method and secondary metabolites were detected by the UPLC-MS technique. In addition, with regards to metabolomics, we used multivariate analyses including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares analysis (OPLS-DA) to screen for differential metabolites which met the conditions of variable importance projection values >1, fold change >4, and p < 0.05. The differential metabolites were taken further for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis, which was based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, and validated by antioxidant activity. Comparing the three groups of samples according to the standards of the ChP (2020 edition), the results showed that the polysaccharide content of the samples from stony epiphytic cultivation and greenhouse cultivation was significantly higher than that of the samples from live tree epiphytic cultivation. Metabolomic analysis revealed that there were 185 differential metabolites among the 3 cultivation methods, with 99 of the differential metabolites being highest in the stone epiphytic cultivation. The results of the metabolic pathway enrichment analysis showed that the different cultivation strategies mainly effected four carbohydrate metabolic pathways, five secondary metabolite synthesis pathways, six amino acid metabolic pathways, one nucleotide metabolism pathway, three cofactor and vitamin metabolism pathways, and one translation pathway in genetic information processing. Furthermore, D. officinale from stone epiphytic cultivation which had the best antioxidant activity was implicated in differential metabolite production. This study revealed the effects of different cultivation methods on the chemical composition of D. officinale and also provided a reference for establishing the quality control standards to aid its development and utilization.

New Perspectives of Taxifolin in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and Huntington's disease (HD) are characterized by cognitive and motor dysfunctions and neurodegeneration. These diseases have become more severe over time and cannot be cured currently. Until now, most treatments for these diseases are only used to relieve the symptoms. Taxifolin (TAX), 3,5,7,3,4-pentahydroxy flavanone, also named dihydroquercetin, is a compound derived primarily from Douglas fir and Larix gemelini. TAX has been confirmed to exhibit various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-virus, and regulation of oxidative stress effects. In the central nervous system, TAX has been demonstrated to inhibit Aβ fibril formation, protect neurons and improve cerebral blood flow, cognitive ability, and dyskinesia. At present, TAX is only applied as a health additive in clinical practice. This review aimed to summarize the application of TAX in neurodegenerative diseases and the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms, such as suppressing inflammation, attenuating oxidative stress, preventing Aβ protein formation, maintaining dopamine levels, and thus reducing neuronal loss.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of taxifolin against vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA)

Background and objective: The medicinal effects of flavonoids are widely described in the literature; however, their antimicrobial effects against antibiotic resistant bacteria are yet to be highlighted. This study was aimed at investigating the growth and biofilm inhibitory effects of taxifolin, a flavonoid, against vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). Methods: Seven VRSA isolates were used to assess the antimicrobial and antibiofilm influence of taxifolin. The agar-well diffusion method was used to determine the zones of inhibition caused by taxifolin, and resazurin-based microdilution technique was used to assess the minimum inhibitory concentration. Crystal violet staining technique was used to assess the biomass of biofilms formed by the microorganisms. GraphPad Prism software was used to present the data in figures. Results: Taxifolin inhibited bacterial growth in a dose-dependent fashion and reduced bacterial viability. It similarly attenuated the biofilm production activity of bacterial isolates in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Current findings suggest the antibacterial and antibiofilm influence of taxifolin against VRSA in a dose-dependent manner.

TWIST1 activates cancer stem cell marker genes to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumorigenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Overexpression of EMT master transcription factors can promote differentiated cells to undergo cancer reprogramming processes and acquire a stem cell-like status.

METHODS

The KYSE-30 and YM-1 ESCC cell lines were transduced with retroviruses expressing TWIST1 or GFP and analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and immunostaining to investigate the correlation between TWIST1 and stemness markers expression. Cells expressing TWIST1 were characterized for mRNA candidates by qRT-PCR and for protein candidates by Flow cytometry and Immunocytochemistry. TWIST1-ESCC cells were also evaluated for apoptosis and drug resistance.

RESULTS

Here we identify a role for TWIST1 in the establishment of ESCC cancer stem cell (CSC)-like phenotype, facilitating the transformation of non-CSCs to CSCs. We provide evidence that TWIST1 expression correlates with the expression of CSC markers in ESCC cell lines. ChIP assay results demonstrated that TWIST1 regulates CSC markers, including CD44, SALL4, NANOG, MEIS1, GDF3, and SOX2, through binding to the E-box sequences in their promoters. TWIST1 promoted EMT through E-cadherin downregulation and vimentin upregulation. Moreover, TWIST1 expression repressed apoptosis in ESCC cells through upregulation of Bcl-2 and downregulation of the Bax protein, and increased ABCG2 and ABCC4 transporters expression, which may lead to drug resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support a critical role for TWIST1 in CSC-like generation, EMT progression, and inhibition of apoptosis in ESCC. Thus, TWIST1 represents a therapeutic target for the suppression of esophageal cell transformation to CSCs and ESCC malignancy.

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.

P53-Related Anticancer Activities of Drimia calcarata Bulb Extracts Against Lung Cancer

Current lung cancer treatment strategies are ineffective, and lung cancer cases continue to soar; thus, novel anticancer drugs and targets are needed, and medicinal plants are promising to offer better alternatives. This study was aimed at analysing two p53 splice variants during the potential anticancer activities of Drimia calcarata (Dc) methanol and water extracts against different human lung cancer cell lines of varying p53 mutation status, and these included mutant H1573 and mutant H1437 and p53-wild type (A549) cells. The anticancer activities of the Dc extracts were assessed by establishing the cytotoxic effect and the apoptosis-inducing capacity of these extracts, using the MTT assay and Annexin V analysis, respectively, with the latter confirmed using fluorescence microscopy. The molecular mechanisms induced by these extracts were further evaluated using cell cycle analysis and RT-PCR. Both extracts demonstrated safety against noncancerous lung MRC-5 fibroblasts and exhibited significant anticancer potency (p < 0.001) against the H1437 (IC₅₀ values: 62.50 μg/ml methanol extract and 125 μg/ml WE), H1573 (IC₅₀ value: 125 μg/ml for both extracts) and A549 (IC₅₀ value: 500 μg/ml ME). The water extract had no effect on the viability of A549 cells. Treated H1437 cells underwent p53-dependent apoptosis and S-phase cell cycle arrest while H1573 treated cells underwent p53-independed apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest through upregulation of p21 mRNA expression levels. The expression levels of STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A and STAT5B genes increased significantly (p < 0.001) following the treatment of H1573 cells with ME and WE. Treatment of H1437 cells with ME upregulated the STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A and STAT5B mRNAs. Our results indicate that the proliferative inhibitory effect of D. calcarata extracts on A549 and H1573 cells is correlated with the suppression of Bcl-2, STAT3 and STAT5B while that is not the case in H1437 cells. Thus, our results suggest that the dysregulation of anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2, STAT3, STAT5A and STAT5B in H1437 may play a role in cancer cell survival, which may consequently contribute to the development of p53-mutated non-small human lung cancer. Our results indicate that D. calcarata is a promising source of anticancer agents for the treatment of p53-mutant human non-small lung cancer cells than the p53-wild type human non-small lung cancer cells.

Taxifolin and Lucidin as Potential E6 Protein Inhibitors: p53 Function Re-Establishment and Apoptosis Induction in Cervical Cancer Cells

Simple Summary

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers continue to be a major medical concern, and there exists an urgent need to improve the current therapeutic approaches by combining strategies or proposing new compounds to offer more specific and less invasive treatments. The aim of this work was to discover potential inhibitors of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex formation. We started this work with an initial in silico approach including molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, and these tools allowed us to select potential inhibitors, using E6 protein as a target. In addition, we found that lucidin and taxifolin were able to selectively decrease the viability of HPV-positive cells to re-establish p53 protein levels and to induce apoptosis. These findings represent a promising starting point for the development of anti-HPV drugs.

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in women worldwide, with 99% of cases associated with a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Given that HPV prophylactic vaccines do not exert a therapeutic effect in individuals previously infected, have low coverage of all HPV types, and have poor accessibility in developing countries, it is unlikely that HPV-associated cancers will be eradicated in the coming years. Therefore, there is an emerging need for the development of anti-HPV drugs. Considering HPV E6’s oncogenic role, this protein has been proposed as a relevant target for cancer treatment. In the present work, we employed in silico tools to discover potential E6 inhibitors, as well as biochemical and cellular assays to understand the action of selected compounds in HPV-positive cells (Caski and HeLa) vs. HPV-negative (C33A) and non-carcinogenic (NHEK) cell lines. In fact, by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we found three phenolic compounds able to dock in the E6AP binding pocket of the E6 protein. In particular, lucidin and taxifolin were able to inhibit E6-mediated p53 degradation, selectively reduce the viability, and induce apoptosis in HPV-positive cells. Altogether, our data can be relevant for discovering promising leads for the development of specific anti-HPV drugs.

Taxifolin Modulates Transcriptomic Response to Heat Stress in Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Taxifolin is a natural flavonoid known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects on animals. In this work, we have studied the effect of this compound on rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, a major object of aquaculture, under slowly increasing ambient temperature and Gyrodactylus flatworm infection. Transcriptomic profiling of liver samples performed by using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing platform shows that a combined taxifolin/heat treatment, unlike heat treatment alone, downregulates the production of isopentenyl diphosphate, likely affecting the production of cholesterol and other sterols. Taxifolin treatment also modulates multiple apoptosis regulators and affects the expression of HSPs in response to increasing temperature. On the other hand, the expression of antioxidant enzymes in response to heat is not significantly affected by taxifolin. As for the Gyrodactylus infection, the parasite load is not affected by taxifolin treatment, although it was lower in the high-temperature group. Parasite load also did not induce a statistically significant transcriptomic response within the no heat/no taxifolin group.

Dihydroquercetin Attenuates Silica-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inhibiting Ferroptosis Signaling Pathway

Silicosis is a fatal occupational lung disease which currently has no effective treatment. Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) is a flavonoid compound known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer bioactivity. However, whether DHQ protects against silica-induced lung fibrosis remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of DHQ on silica-induced lung fibrosis and the underlying molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Our results demonstrated that DHQ treatment markedly attenuated SiO₂-induced inflammation and fibrosis degree of lung tissues in the C57BL/6 mice. Additionally, experiments in vitro also confirmed that conditioned medium from DHQ-treated human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells significantly decreased expression of fibrosis markers of human fetal lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5), such as α-SMA, collagen1 and fibronectin. Interestingly, HBE cells treated by DHQ showed few morphological features of ferroptosis compared with SiO₂-treated cells. Furthermore, DHQ treatment remarkably inhibited ferroptosis in activated HBE cells by decreasing the accumulation of iron and lipid peroxidation products, and increasing levels of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), whereas stimulation of ferroptosis by specific inducer erastin deeply impaired anti-fibrosis effect of DHQ in vitro. More importantly, our results showed that DHQ also evidently suppressed ferritinophagy by down-regulation of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3), and up-regulation of ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4) in activated HBE cells. Nevertheless, activation of ferritinophagy by specific inducer rapamycin (Rapa) evidently blocked DHQ-inhibited HBE cells ferritinophagy and anti-fibrosis effect of DHQ. Overall, our research revealed that inhibition of ferritinophagy-mediated HBE cells ferroptosis was responsible for DHQ to ameliorate SiO₂-induced lung fibrosis, which provided a preliminary theoretical basis for the clinical application of DHQ in the treatment of silicosis.

Fabrication of chitosan/PVP/dihydroquercetin nanocomposite film for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of wound healing

The high cost of wound healing treatment, the slow recovery of wounds, and the uncertainty of being affected by the body's physiological activities constitute a serious burden on public health. In this work, we report the preparation and characterization of chitosan (CS), PVP, and dihydroquercetin (DHQ) nanofiber film used as wound excipients, as well as in vivo and in vitro evaluations, and verify that the film is effective in wounds. The results show that the prepared film has good morphology, thermal stability and hydrophilicity. In vitro studies have shown that it has antibacterial activity against S.aureus and E.coli, and the DPPH free radical scavenging rate proves that the fiber film has antioxidant activity. MTT cytotoxicity test proved that the film is non-toxic to Hacat cells. Animal experiments have proved that wounds treated with CS-PVP-DHQ nanofiber film heal faster. This article also studied the composite nanofiber film by inducing autophagy pathway and increasing the expression of pan-keratin, vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF and CD31 to promote wound healing. Therefore, the nanofiber film herein show great potential in wound healing applications.

Polyphenols as the Potential Disease-modifying Therapy in Cancer

BACKGROUND

Disease-modifying therapy in cancer can be defined as long-term treatment that has a beneficial outcome on the course of cancer, affecting the underlying pathophysiology. The anticancer potential of polyphenols is widely studied. However, there is a significant gap between experimental data obtained in vitro and in vivo and the current polyphenol role in cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, the reason for this inconsistency is discussed, which might be in the design of polyphenols clinical trials. The approach of long-term polyphenol disease-modifying therapy in cancer is encouraged.

CONCLUSION

As the physiologic concentrations of polyphenols are not sufficient for reaching the cytotoxic levels, the immune-modulatory effects and effects on cancer intrinsic signal transduction pathways should be considered in polyphenol clinical trials design. Such effects apparently can not cause the rapid regression of the disease. However, more likely, they can modulate the course of the disease, leading to favorable changes in the patient's condition in case of long-term treatment that can be considered to be cancer disease modification.

Targeting p-AKT/mTOR/MAP kinase signaling, NLRP3 inflammasome and apoptosis by fluvastatin with or without taxifolin mitigates gonadal dysfunction induced by bisphenol-A in male rats

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical substance that is widely used in industry for manufacturing of plastic bottles and resins. Recent reports found that BPA may mimic the effects of estrogen to a great manner that might disrupt the normal hormonal balance in the human body. Fluvastatin is an agent used for treatment of hypercholesterolemia that was proven to possess promising antioxidant ant anti-inflammatory properties. Taxifolin is a polyphenolic compound with potential antioxidant and antiestrogenic effects. The present study investigated the prospect of fluvastatin with or without taxifolin to mitigate testicular dysfunction elicited by BPA in rats. In a model of BPA-induced testicular toxicity, the hormonal profile was assessed and the testicular tissues were examined by biochemical analysis, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Fluvastatin with or without taxifolin improved the body weight gain, hormonal profile, testicular weight and functions, sperm characteristics, the antioxidant status, and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms together with enhancement of autophagy and suppression of the proapoptotic events induced by BPA in the testicular tissues. In addition, fluvastatin with or without taxifolin significantly mitigated the histopathological and the immunohistochemical changes induced by BPA in the testicular tissues. These desirable effects were more pronounced with fluvastatin/taxifolin combination relative to the use of each of these agents alone. In tandem, fluvastatin/taxifolin combination might counteract the pathogenic events induced by BPA in the testicular tissues which may be considered as a novel strategy for amelioration of these disorders.

Chiral Flavonoids as Antitumor Agents

Flavonoids are a group of natural products with a great structural diversity, widely distributed in plant kingdom. They play an important role in plant growth, development and defense against aggressors. Flavonoids show a huge variety of biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, antimicrobial and antitumor, being able to modulate a large diversity of cellular enzymatic activities. Among natural flavonoids, some classes comprise chiral molecules including flavanones, flavan-3-ols, isoflavanones, and rotenoids, which have one or more stereogenic centers. Interestingly, in some cases, individual compounds of enantiomeric pairs have shown different antitumor activity. In nature, these compounds are mainly biosynthesized as pure enantiomers. Nevertheless, they are often isolated as racemates, being necessary to carry out their chiral separation to perform enantioselectivity studies. Synthetic chiral flavonoids with promising antitumor activity have also been obtained using diverse synthetic approaches. In fact, several new chiral bioactive flavonoids have been synthesized by enantioselective synthesis. Particularly, flavopiridol was the first cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor which entered clinical trials. The chiral pool approaches using amino acid as chiral building blocks have also been reported to achieve small libraries of chrysin derivatives with more potent in vitro growth inhibitory effect than chrysin, reinforcing the importance of the introduction of chiral moieties to improve antitumor activity. In this work, a literature review of natural and synthetic chiral flavonoids with antitumor activity is reported for the first time.

Taxifolin suppresses the malignant progression of gastric cancer by regulating the AhR/CYP1A1 signaling pathway

The development of novel approaches for the treatment of gastric cancer is of utmost importance. Taxifolin (Tax) has been reported to possess biological activities against a number of types of cancer. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of Tax on gastric cancer and to explore its potential mechanisms of action. For this purpose, AGS and NCI‑N87 cells, as well as BALB/c mice with gastric cancer cell‑derived tumors were treated with Tax. Cell Counting Kit‑8 and colony formation assays were performed to detect cell viability and proliferation, respectively. Wound‑healing and Transwell assays were also conducted to determine the cell migratory and invasive abilities, respectively. Western blot analysis was performed to determine protein expression in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that Tax significantly inhibited the viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) signaling pathway. SB203580, an AhR agonist, partly abolished the inhibitory effects of Tax on gastric cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, Tax also suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Collectively, the present study demonstrated that Tax significantly suppressed the tumor characteristics of gastric cancer. Tax may thus prove to be a potential therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.

Taxifolin inhibits keratinocyte proliferation and ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model via regulating cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 and PPAR-γ pathway

Psoriasis is a skin disease with autoimmune tendency, and taxifolin is an effective flavonoid with anti-inflammatory activity. It has been reported that taxifolin alleviates psoriatic dermatitis, but the detailed regulatory mechanism of keratinocyte proliferation is unclear. In this study, we revealed the mechanism of taxifolin on imiquimod-induced inflammatory infiltration and keratinocyte over-proliferation. Our results show that taxifolin prevented proliferation cycle of keratinocyte in a concentration-dependent manner. Over-proliferation and abnormal apoptosis of epidermal cells were obvious in the mouse model of psoriasis induced by imiquimod. Taxifolin treatment improved erythema and scales of psoriatic lesions in mice, and reduced the proportion of CD3 + cells, especially γδT cells, in lesions and thymus. Therefore, taxifolin decreased the expression level of IL-17A-dominated inflammatory cytokines. Proteomic analysis showed that 30 up-regulated proteins and 23 down-regulated proteins were compared with the lesions before and after the treatment with taxifolin. Among them, cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), the key enzyme of the pro-inflammatory mediator, was the most significantly down-regulated protein. And enriched KEGG pathway shown that PPAR-γ pathway was most involved. Taxifolin significantly reduced p-cPLA2 and increased PPAR-γ protein level in keratinocytes and lesions induced by IL-17 and imiquimod respectively. Meanwhile, phosphorylation of ERK and P-38 were also inhibited. These results suggest that taxifolin prevented imiquimode-induced excessive immune activation and keratinocyte proliferation by decreasing p-cPLA2 and regulating the PPAR-γ pathway. Our study provides new insights into the cellular regulatory mechanisms of taxifolin in psoriasis.

Pharmacological basis and new insights of taxifolin: A comprehensive review

The pharmacological characteristics of phytochemicals have prompted a lot of interest in their application in disease management. Due to the high incidence of cancer related mortality and morbidity throughout the world; experiments have concentrated on identifying the anticancer potential of natural substances. Many phytochemicals such as flavonoids and their derivatives produced from food offer a variety of new anti-cancer agents which prevent the cancer progression. Taxifolin, a unique bioactive flavonoid, is a dietary component that has grabbed the interest of dietitians and medicinal chemists due to its wide range of health benefits. It is a powerful antioxidant with a well-documented effect in the prevention of several malignancies in humans. Taxifolin has shown promising inhibitory activity against inflammation, malignancies, microbial infection, oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. Anti-cancer activity has been shown to be relatively significant than other activities investigated in vitro and in vivo with a little or no side effects to the normal healthy cells. In summary this review offers the synopsis of recent breakthroughs in the use of taxifolin as a cancer treatment, as well as mechanisms of action. However, to develop a medicine for human usage, more study on pharmacokinetic profile, profound molecular mechanisms, and drug safety criteria should be conducted utilizing well-designed randomized clinical trials.

Selective in vitro cytotoxicity effect of Drimia calcarata bulb extracts against p53 mutant HT-29 and p53 wild-type Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells through STAT5B regulation

Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of oncological-related deaths and the third most diagnosed malignancy, worldwide. The emergence of chemoresistance is a fundamental drawback of colorectal cancer therapies and there is an urgent need for novel plant-derived therapeutics. In this regard, other compounds are needed to improve the efficacy of treatment against colorectal cancer. Medicinal plants have been effectively used by traditional doctors for decades to treat various ailments with little to no side effects. Drimia calcarata (D. calcarata) is one of the plants used by Pedi people in South Africa to treat a plethora of ailments. However, the anticancer therapeutic use of D. calcarata is less understood. Thus, this study was aimed at evaluating the potential anticancer activities of D. calcarata extracts against human colorectal cancer cells. The phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity were analysed using LC-MS, DPPH, and FRAP. The inhibitory effects and IC50 values of D. calcarata extracts were determined using the MTT assay. Induction of cellular apoptosis was assessed using fluorescence microscopy, the Muse® Cell Analyser, and gene expression analysis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Water extract (WE) demonstrated high phenolic, tannin, and flavonoid contents than the methanol extract (ME). LC-MS data demonstrated strong differences between the ME and WE. Moreover, WE showed the best antioxidant activity than ME. The MTT data showed that both ME and WE had no significant activity against human embryonic kidney Hek 293 cell line that served as non-cancer control cells. Caco-2 cells demonstrated high sensitivity to the ME and demonstrated resistance toward the WE, while HT-29 cells exhibited sensitivity to both D. calcarata extracts. The expression of apoptosis regulatory genes assessed by PCR revealed an upregulation of p53 by ME, accompanied by downregulation of Bcl-2 and high expression of Bax after treatment with curcumin. The Bax gene was undetected in HT-29 cells. The methanol extract induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in colorectal Caco-2 and HT-29 cells and WE induced the extrinsic apoptotic pathway in HT-29 cells. ME downregulated STAT1, 3, and 5B in HT-29 cells. The D. calcarata bulb extracts, therefore, contain potential anticancer agents that can be further targeted for cancer therapeutics.

Flavonoids: A Myth or a Reality for Cancer Therapy?

Nutraceuticals are biologically active molecules present in foods; they can have beneficial effects on health, but they are not available in large enough quantities to perform this function. Plant metabolites, such as polyphenols, are widely diffused in the plant kingdom, where they play fundamental roles in plant development and interactions with the environment. Among these, flavonoids are of particular interest as they have significant effects on human health. In vitro and/or in vivo studies described flavonoids as essential nutrients for preventing several diseases. They display broad and promising bioactivities to fight cancer, inflammation, bacterial infections, as well as to reduce the severity of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. Therefore, it is not surprising that interest in flavonoids has sharply increased in recent years. More than 23,000 scientific publications on flavonoids have described the potential anticancer activity of these natural molecules in the last decade. Studies, in vitro and in vivo, show that flavonoids exhibit anticancer properties, and many epidemiological studies confirm that dietary intake of flavonoids leads to a reduced risk of cancer. This review provides a glimpse of the mechanisms of action of flavonoids on cancer cells.

Attenuation of diethyl nitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma by taxifolin and/or alogliptin: The interplay between toll-like receptor 4, transforming growth factor beta-1, and apoptosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver malignancies worldwide. Alogliptin is an anti-diabetic that may have effective anticancer properties against many types of malignancies. Taxifolin is a flavonoid that has potent antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of alogliptin and/or taxifolin on diethyl nitrosamine-induced HCC in rats. One hundred male Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups as follows: Control; HCC; HCC + Alogliptin; HCC + Taxifolin; and HCC + Alogliptin + Taxifolin group. The survival rate, liver function tests, tissue antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), nuclear factor (erythroid derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1α), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were measured. Also, hepatic caspase 3, caspase 9, beclin-1, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) in addition to serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and α-L-Fucosidase (AFU) were assessed. Specimens of the liver were subjected to histopathological examination. Alogliptin and/or taxifolin induced significant improvement of liver function tests with significant increase in the survival rate, tissue antioxidant enzymes, Nrf2, caspase 3, caspase 9, Beclin-1 and JNK activities associated with significant decrease in serum AFP and AFU, tissue MDA, TGF-β1, IL-1α and TLR4 expression compared to HCC group. These results were significant with taxifolin/alogliptin combination when compared to the use of each of these agents alone. In conclusion, taxifolin/alogliptin combination might be used as adjuvant therapy for attenuation of HCC.

The Hallmarks of Flavonoids in Cancer

Flavonoids represent an important group of bioactive compounds derived from plant-based foods and beverages with known biological activity in cells. From the modulation of inflammation to the inhibition of cell proliferation, flavonoids have been described as important therapeutic adjuvants against several diseases, including diabetes, arteriosclerosis, neurological disorders, and cancer. Cancer is a complex and multifactor disease that has been studied for years however, its prevention is still one of the best known and efficient factors impacting the epidemiology of the disease. In the molecular and cellular context, some of the mechanisms underlying the oncogenesis and the progression of the disease are understood, known as the hallmarks of cancer. In this text, we review important molecular signaling pathways, including inflammation, immunity, redox metabolism, cell growth, autophagy, apoptosis, and cell cycle, and analyze the known mechanisms of action of flavonoids in cancer. The current literature provides enough evidence supporting that flavonoids may be important adjuvants in cancer therapy, highlighting the importance of healthy and balanced diets to prevent the onset and progression of the disease.

EMT, cancer stem cells and autophagy; The three main axes of metastasis

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are major factors contributing to the metastasis of cancer cells. Consequently, the signaling pathways involved in both processes are appropriate therapeutic targets in the treatment of metastasis. Autophagy is another process that has recently attracted the attention of many researchers; depending on the type of cancer and tissue and the stage of cancer, this process can play a dual role in the development of cancer cells. Studies on cancer cells have shown that different signaling pathways are involved in all three processes, namely, cancer stem cells, autophagy, and EMT. The purpose of this study was to investigate and elucidate the relationship between the effective signaling pathways in all three processes, which could play an effective role in determining appropriate therapeutic goals.

Taxifolin ameliorates iron overload-induced hepatocellular injury: Modulating PI3K/AKT and p38 MAPK signaling, inflammatory response, and hepatocellular regeneration

Although physiological levels of iron are essential for numerous biological processes, excess iron causes critical tissue injury. Under iron overload conditions, non-chelated iron generates reactive oxygen species that mediate iron-induced tissue injury with subsequent induction of apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammatory responses. Because liver is a central player in iron metabolism and storage, it is vulnerable to iron-induced tissue injury. Taxifolin is naturally occurring compound that has shown potent antioxidant and potential iron chelation competency. The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential protective effects of taxifolin against iron-induced hepatocellular injury and to elucidate the underlining mechanisms using rats as a mammalian model. The results of the current work indicated that taxifolin inhibited iron-induced apoptosis and enhanced hepatocellular survival as demonstrated by decreased activity of caspase-3 and activation of the pro-survival signaling PI3K/AKT, respectively. Western blotting analysis revealed that taxifolin enhanced liver regeneration as indicated by increased PCNA protein abundance. Taxifolin mitigated the iron-induced histopathological aberration and reduced serum activity of liver enzymes (ALT and AST), highlighting enhanced liver cell integrity. Mechanistically, taxifolin modulated the redox-sensitive MAPK signaling (p38/c-Fos) and improved redox status of the liver tissues as indicated by decreased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation along with enhanced total antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, it decreased liver iron content and down-regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Collectively, these data highlight, for the first time, the ameliorating effects of taxifolin against iron overload-induced hepatocellular injury that is potentially mediated through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential iron chelation activities.