Sanguinarine exhibits potent efficacy against cervical cancer cells through inhibiting the STAT3 pathway in vitro and in vivo

Prognostic and therapeutic potential of STAT3: Opportunities and challenges in targeting HPV-mediated cervical carcinogenesis

Cervical cancer (CaCx) ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer among women globally. Persistent infection of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) is major etiological factor associated with CaCx. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), a prominent member of the STAT family, has emerged as independent oncogenic driver. It is a target of many oncogenic viruses including HPV. How STAT3 influences HPV viral gene expression or gets affected by HPV is an area of active investigation. A better understanding of host-virus interaction will provide a prognostic and therapeutic window for CaCx control and management. In this comprehensive review, we delve into carcinogenic role of STAT3 in development of HPV-induced CaCx. With an emphasis on fascinating interplay between STAT3 and HPV genome, the review explores the diverse array of opportunities and challenges associated with this field to harness the prognostic and therapeutic potential of STAT3 in CaCx.

Bioactivity and mechanism of action of sanguinarine and its derivatives in the past 10 years

Sanguinarine is a quaternary ammonium benzophenanthine alkaloid found in traditional herbs such as Chelidonium, Corydalis, Sanguinarum, and Borovula. It has been proven to possess broad-spectrum biological activities, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiosteoporosis, neuroprotective, and antipathogenic microorganism activities. In this paper, recent progress on the biological activity and mechanism of action of sanguinarine and its derivatives over the past ten years is reviewed. The results showed that the biological activities of hematarginine and its derivatives are related mainly to the JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, TGF-β, MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. The limitations of using sanguinarine in clinical application are also discussed, and the research prospects of this subject are outlined. In general, sanguinarine, a natural medicine, has many pharmacological effects, but its toxicity and safety in clinical application still need to be further studied. This review provides useful information for the development of sanguinarine-based bioactive agents.

Insights on Antitumor Activity and Mechanism of Natural Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids

Benzophenanthridine alkaloids are a class of isoquinoline compounds, which are widely found in the plants of papaveraceae, corydalis, and rutaceae. Biological activities and clinical studies have shown that benzophenanthridine alkaloids have inhibitory effects on many cancers. Considering that the anticancer activities and mechanisms of many natural benzophenanthridine alkaloids have been discovered in succession, the purpose of this paper is to review the anticancer effects of benzophenanthridine alkaloids and explore the application potential of these natural products in the development of antitumor drugs. A literature survey was carried out using Scopus, Pubmed, Reaxys, and Google Scholar databases. This review summarizes and analyzes the current status of research on the antitumor activity and antitumor mechanism of natural products of benzophenanthridine from different sources. The research progress of the antitumor activity of natural products of benzophenanthridine from 1983 to 2023 was reviewed. The antitumor activities of 90 natural products of benzophenanthridine and their related analogues were summarized, and the results directly or indirectly showed that natural products of benzophenanthridine had the effects of antidrug-resistant tumor cell lines, antitumor stem cells, and inducing ferroptosis. In conclusion, benzophenanthridine alkaloids have inhibitory effects on a variety of cancers and have the potential to counteract tumor resistance, and they have great application potential in the development of antitumor drugs.

Insights into the potential of Sanguinarine as a promising therapeutic option for breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression and metastasis of BC. A significant proportion of BC is characterized by a hypoxic TME, which contributes to the development of drug resistance and cancer recurrence. Sanguinarine (SAN), an isoquinoline alkaloid found in Papaver plants, has shown promise as an anticancer agent. The present review focuses on exploring the molecular mechanisms of hypoxic TME in BC and the potential of SAN as a therapeutic option. The review presents the current understanding of the hypoxic TME, its signaling pathways, and its impact on the progression of BC. Additionally, the review elaborates on the mechanisms of action of SAN in BC, including its effects on vital cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, drug resistance, and tumor-induced immune suppression. The review highlights the importance of addressing hypoxic TME in treating BC and the potential of SAN as a promising therapeutic option.

Natural alkaloids targeting EGFR in non-small cell lung cancer: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions

The phytochemicals contribute to the processes of protection and interaction by acting as antioxidants, anti-mutagens, anticarcinogens, and antimicrobial agents. Among the diverse families of phytoconstituents, alkaloids play an essential role in medicine. These are low-molecular-mass compounds containing nitrogen and are generally alkaline. In this study, in silico molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina for thirty-one alkaloids against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Erlotinib was used as a reference ligand for this study. Erlotinib has been linked to various serious side effects over the past decade, including folliculitis, diarrhoea, paronychia, fatigue, conjunctivitis, ectopion, and epiphora of the lower eyelids. This study found sanguinarine (-10.7 kcal mol^-1) to be the most potent inhibitor of EGFR as compared to erlotinib (-7.5 kcal mol^-1). Other alkaloids namely, isocolumbin (-9.3 kcal mol^-1), lunamarine (-9.1 kcal mol^-1), ajmaline (-8.6 kcal mol^-1), magnoflorine (-8.6 kcal mol^-1) and jatrorrhizine (-8.5 kcal mol^-1) also showed potent inhibition against EGFR, but the stability of these molecules with EGFR was less than sanguinarine and more than erlotinib. These were stable and ideal pharmaceutical alkaloids because of their significant interactions, minimal Gibbs free energy, safety, effectiveness and selectivity. Amongst the 31 alkaloids subjected to ADMET prediction, 29 alkaloids followed Lipinski's rule of five. These 29 alkaloids were predicted to have high bioavailability, high lead-likeness score, low toxicity and were easier to synthesize. Compared to erlotinib, other molecules showed less or no inhibition of EGFR. The six named compounds listed above may be potent inhibitors for EGFR mutated cancers, as for example non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Cardiotoxicity of sanguinarine via regulating apoptosis and MAPK pathways in zebrafish and HL1 cardiomyocytes

Sanguinarine, a plant phytoalexin, possesses extensive biological activities including antimicrobial, insecticidal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis effect. But its cardiotoxicity has rarely been studied. Here, we assess the cardiotoxicity of sanguinarine in vivo using larval zebrafish from 48 hpf to 96 hpf. The results show that sanguinarine caused severe malformation and the dysfunction of the heart including reductions of heart rate, red blood cell number, blood flow dynamics, stroke volume and increase of SV-BA distance, subintestinal venous congestion. Further studies showed that apoptosis in the zebrafish heart region was observed after sanguinarine exposure using TUNEL assay and AO staining method. In addition, the genes, such as sox9b, myl7, nkx2.5 and bmp10, which play crucial parts in the development and the function of the heart, were changed after sanguinarine treatment. caspase3, caspase9, bax and bcl2, apoptosis-related genes, were also altered by sanguinarine. Further studies were performed to study the cardiotoxicity in vitro using cardiomyocytes HL1 cell line. The results showed that remarkable increase of apoptosis and ROS level in HL1 cells were induced by sanguinarine. Moreover, the MAPK pathway (JNK and P38) were notably enhanced and involved in the cardiotoxicity induced by sanguinarine. Our findings will provide better understanding of sanguinarine in the toxic effect on heart.

Comprehensive Analysis of Cell Cycle-Related Genes in Patients With Prostate Cancer

This study aimed to identify critical cell cycle-related genes (CCRGs) in prostate cancer (PRAD) and to evaluate the clinical prognostic value of the gene panel selected. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) of dysregulated genes between PRAD and normal tissues demonstrated that the cell cycle-related pathways played vital roles in PRAD. Patients were classified into four clusters, which were associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Moreover, 200 prognostic-related genes were selected using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis and univariable Cox regression. The prognostic CCRG risk score was constructed using random forest survival and multivariate regression Cox methods, and their efficiency was validated in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and GSE70770. We identified nine survival-related genes: CCNL2, CDCA5, KAT2A, CHTF18, SPC24, EME2, CDK5RAP3, CDC20, and PTTG1. Based on the median risk score, the patients were divided into two groups. Then the functional enrichment analyses, mutational profiles, immune components, estimated half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), and candidate drugs were screened of these two groups. In addition, the characteristics of nine hub CCRGs were explored in Oncomine, cBioPortal, and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) datasets. Finally, the expression profiles of these hub CCRGs were validated in RWPE-1 and three PRAD cell lines (PC-3, C4-2, and DU-145). In conclusion, our study systematically explored the role of CCRGs in PRAD and constructed a risk model that can predict the clinical prognosis and immunotherapeutic benefits.

Sanguinarine mediated apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via generation of reactive oxygen species and suppression of JAK/STAT pathway

Effective treatment of lung cancer remains a significant clinical challenge due to its multidrug resistance and side effects of the current treatment options. The high mortality associated with this malignancy indicates the need for new therapeutic interventions with fewer side effects. Natural compounds offer various benefits such as easy access, minimal side effects, and multi-molecular targets and thus, can prove useful in treating lung cancer. Sanguinarine (SNG), a natural compound, possesses favorable therapeutic potential against a variety of cancers. Here, we examined the underlying molecular mechanisms of SNG in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cells. SNG suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis via downregulation of the constitutively active JAK/STAT pathway in all the NSCLC cell lines. siRNA silencing of STAT3 in NSCLC cells further confirmed the involvement of the JAK/STAT signaling cascade. SNG treatment increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which contributed to a leaky mitochondrial membrane leading to cytochrome c release accompanied by caspase activation. In addition, we established the antitumor effects of SNG through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as inhibiting ROS production prevented the apoptosis-inducing potential of SNG. In vivo xenograft tumor model further validated our in vitro findings. Overall, our study investigated the molecular mechanisms by which SNG induces apoptosis in NSCLC, providing avenues for developing novel natural compound-based cancer therapies.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer pathogenesis and therapy: An update on the role of ROS in anticancer action of benzophenanthridine alkaloids

Reactive oxygen species play crucial role in biological homeostasis and pathogenesis of human diseases including cancer. In this line, now it has become evident that ROS level/concentration is a major factor in the growth, progression and stemness of cancer cells. Moreover, cancer cells maintain a delicate balance between ROS and antioxidants to promote pathogenesis and clinical challenges via targeting a battery of signaling pathways converging to cancer hallmarks. Recent findings also entail the therapeutic importance of ROS for the better clinical outcomes in cancer patients as they induce apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, poor clinical outcomes associated with cancer therapies are the major challenge and use of natural products have been vital in attenuation of these challenges due to their multitargeting potential with less adverse effects. In fact, most available drugs are derived from natural resources, either directly or indirectly and available evidence show the clinical importance of natural products in the management of various diseases, including cancer. ROS play a critical role in the anticancer actions of natural products, particularly phytochemicals. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids of the benzyl isoquinoline family of alkaloids, such as sanguinarine, possess several pharmacological properties and are thus being studied for the treatment of different human diseases, including cancer. In this article, we review recent findings, on how benzophenanthridine alkaloid-induced ROS play a critical role in the attenuation of pathological changes and stemness features associated with human cancers. In addition, we highlight the role of ROS in benzophenanthridine alkaloid-mediated activation of the signaling pathway associated with cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy.

Developmental toxicity caused by sanguinarine in zebrafish embryos via regulating oxidative stress, apoptosis and wnt pathways

Sanguinarine, derived from the root of Sanguinaria canadensis, have multiple biological activities, such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis effect, but little is known about its toxicity on normal embryonic development. Here, we study the developmental toxicity using zebrafish model. Notably, sanguinarine caused a significant increase of the malformation rate and decrease of hatching rates and body length of zebrafish embryos. Sanguinarine also impaired the normal development of heart, liver and nerve system of zebrafish embryos. Further, the ROS level and MDA concentrations were remarkably increased, while the activity of T-SOD was decreased. In addition, obvious increase of apoptosis were observed by AO staining or TUNEL assay. Further studies showed that the oxidative stress-, apoptosis-related genes were changed, while genes of nrf2 and wnt pathways were inhibited by sangunarine. To sum up, our study will be helpful to understand the adverse effect of sanguinarine on embryonic development and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Efficient extraction and purification of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids from Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. by combination of ultrahigh pressure extraction and pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography with anti-breast cancer activity in vitro

INTRODUCTION

Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. (Papaveraceae family) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used to treat muscle pain, inflamed wounds, and bee bites. Benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids are the main active ingredients in M. cordata. In this work, sanguinarine and chelerythrine were efficiently extracted and purified by ultrahigh-pressure extraction (UHPE) technique and pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography (PZRCCC) from M. cordata.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an efficient UHPE method followed by an efficient separation technique using PZRCCC for benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids from the study plant species, and to evaluate the study samples for anti-breast cancer activity.

METHODOLOGY

The optimal extraction conditions were optimised as extraction pressure 200 MPa, extraction solvent 95% ethanol, solid-liquid ratio 1:30 (g/mL) and extraction time 2 min. A two-phase n-hexane/ethyl acetate/i-propanol/water (1:3:1.5:4.5, v/v) solvent system was optimised with 10 mmol triethylamine in the upper phase and 10 mmol trifluoroacetic acid in lower phase in PZRCCC. The sample loading was optimised as 2.50 g. Moreover, the samples were evaluated for anti-breast cancer activity later on.

RESULTS

The 2.50 g sample loading yielded 0.45 g of sanguinarine and 0.59 g chelerythrine in one-step separation using PZRCCC. The anti-breast cancer activities of sanguinarine and chelerythrine were found stronger than positive control (vincristine 5.04 μg/mL) with half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 0.96 and 3.00 μg/mL, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the established methods were efficient in extraction (UHPE) and separation (PZRCCC) of the sanguinarine and chelerythrine from M. cordata.

The Anticancer Effect of Natural Plant Alkaloid Isoquinolines

Isoquinoline alkaloids-enriched herbal plants have been used as traditional folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic effects. They induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy, leading to cell death. While the molecular mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood, it has been suggested that binding to nucleic acids or proteins, enzyme inhibition, and epigenetic modulation by isoquinoline alkaloids may play a role in the effects. This review discusses recent evidence on the molecular mechanisms by which the isoquinoline alkaloids can be a therapeutic target of cancer treatment.

The Toxicity and Attenuation Methods of Toxic Chinese Materia Medica for its Reasonable Application: A Review

Over a millennia, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat various diseases in China. In recent years, more and more Chinese materia medica (CMM) have been studied in scientific research projects, applied in clinical practice, and their extracts have even appeared in some health products. However, the toxicity of some CMM is often overlooked, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, etc. In this review, the toxic components and their toxicological mechanisms of some toxic CMM were listed according to the chemical structure classification of toxic components. Afterwards, the traditional methods (processing and compatibility) and modern methods (structural modification, biotransformation, etc.) of attenuation of CMM were discussed. Since ancient times, it has been said that "fight fire with fire, fight poison with poison," and toxic CMM are of great significance in the treatment of difficult and severe diseases. The rational application of toxic CMM and their components in clinical practice was also exemplified in this review. While the pharmacological effects of TCMs have been emphasized, the scientific attenuation and rational application of toxic components should be concerned. We hope this review can provide a reference for future related research.

Participation of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Cancer with Phytochemicals

Cancer is a global health concern and one of the main causes of disease-related death. Even with considerable progress in investigations on cancer therapy, effective anti-cancer agents and regimens have thus far been insufficient. There has been compelling evidence that natural phytochemicals and their derivatives have potent anti-cancer activities. Plant-based anti-cancer agents, such as etoposide, irinotecan, paclitaxel, and vincristine, are currently being applied in medical treatments for patients with cancer. Further, the efficacy of plenty of phytochemicals has been evaluated to discover a promising candidate for cancer therapy. For developing more effective cancer therapy, it is required to apprehend the molecular mechanism deployed by natural compounds. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been realized to play a pivotal role in regulating cellular signaling pathways, affecting the efficacy of therapeutic agents in cancer. This review presents a feature of phytochemicals with anti-cancer activity, focusing mainly on the relationship between phytochemicals and miRNAs, with insights into the role of miRNAs as the mediators and the regulators of anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals.

Mechanism of Sanguinarine in Inhibiting Macrophages to Promote Metastasis and Proliferation of Lung Cancer via Modulating the Exosomes in A549 Cells

Objective

Sanguinarine (SNG) is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid obtained from the roots of Sanguinaria canadensis and has an anticancer effect. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of SNG in inhibiting macrophages via regulating the exosomes derived from lung carcinoma cells to reduce metastasis and proliferation of lung carcinoma.

Methods

Human lung cancer cells (A549 cells) were treated with 4μM of SNG. Exosomes of A549 cells were extracted from A549 cells supernatant, and THP-1 cells were cultured with exosomes. Then, the supernatant of THP-1 cells was collected and cultured with A549 cells. Cell proliferation was measured via plate clone formation and CCK-8 assays. Migration was assessed by using Transwell assay and scratch test. Cellular invasion was detected by Transwell assay. Apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. Moreover, the protein expressions of GAPDH, P65 and P-P65 in THP-1 cells were measured by Western blot. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and chemotactic cytokines ligand 2 (CCL-2) extracted from THP-1 cells were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

Compared to the control group, exosomes could activate THP-1 cells, and the invasion, migration, and proliferation of A549 cells were consequently enhanced. Exosomes could increase the protein expression of p-p65 and the RNA expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CCL-2 in THP-1 cells. Compared with the exosome group, SNG-treated exosomes inhibited THP-1 cells so that the invasion, proliferation, and migration of A549 cells were attenuated and apoptosis was promoted. In THP-1 cells, SNG-treated exosomes inhibited P-P65 expression and the RNA expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CCL-2.

Conclusion

Exosomes treated by SNG inhibited THP-1 cells so that the invasion, proliferation, and migration of A549 cells were inhibited, and the apoptosis was promoted. The mechanism is possibly associated with the inhibition of NF-κB pathway in THP-1 cells.

Crocin treatment promotes the oxidative stress and apoptosis in human thyroid cancer cells FTC-133 through the inhibition of STAT/JAK signaling pathway

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine malignancy, which accounts for nearly 1% of all the cancer worldwide. Crocin has a diverse biological function, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, specifically in the respiratory related diseases. Using in vitro techniques, this work was intended to illuminate the anti-cancer effect of crocin in follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) (FT 133 cells), and the potential molecular mechanism convoluted. The outcome of the present work showed that crocin was able to prevent the proliferation and triggering the apoptosis in a dose-dependent mode, of FTC-133 cells by methyl thiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide and staining assay (acridine orange/propiduim iodide [PI], 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, and PI dye). Crocin did not show toxicity to the normal thyroid (PCCL3) cells. Crocin-induced reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential activity, caspase-8 and -9, lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) activity while suppressing antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione) in FTC-133 cells. In addition, crocin was also participated in a halting of the proteins related to cell cycle, cyclin D1, and pro-apoptotic proteins; Bax and caspase-3 expression, together with the elevation of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2. Further, crocin have a dual inhibition of two major pathways, nuclear factor-κB, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathways. In conclusion, crocin can inhibit follicular thyroid carcinoma proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.

Sanguinarine Induces Apoptosis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cells via Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species

Sanguinarine (SNG), a natural compound with an array of pharmacological activities, has promising therapeutic potential against a number of pathological conditions, including malignancies. In the present study, we have investigated the antiproliferative potential of SNG against two well-characterized papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) cell lines, BCPAP and TPC-1. SNG significantly inhibited cell proliferation of PTC cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that SNG markedly attenuated deregulated expression of p-STAT3, without affecting total STAT3, and inhibited growth of PTC via activation of apoptotic and autophagy signaling cascade, as SNG treatment of PTC cells led to the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8; cleavage of PARP and activation of autophagy markers. Further, SNG-mediated anticancer effects in PTC cells involved the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an inhibitor of ROS, prevented SNG-mediated antiproliferative, apoptosis and autophagy inducing action. Interestingly, SNG also sensitized PTC cells to chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin, which was inhibited by NAC. Finally, SNG suppressed the growth of PTC thyrospheres and downregulated stemness markers ALDH2 and SOX2. Altogether, the findings of the current study suggest that SNG has anticancer potential against PTC cells as well its derived cancer stem-like cells, most likely via inactivation of STAT3 and its associated signaling molecules.