Acetone Extract of Cornus officinalis Leaves Exerts Anti-Melanoma Effects via Inhibiting STAT3 Signaling

Effects of natural products on angiogenesis in melanoma

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and originates from genetic mutations in melanocytes. The disease is multifactorial, but its main cause is overexposure to UV radiation. Currently, available chemotherapy expresses little to no results, which may justify the extensive use of natural products to treat this cancer. In this study, we reviewed the inhibition of melanoma angiogenesis by natural products and its potential mechanisms using literature from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid, ScienceDirect and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. According to summarizes 27 natural products including alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, and steroids that effectively inhibit angiogenesis in melanoma. In addition to these there are 15 crude extracts that can be used as promising agents to inhibit angiogenesis, but their core components still deserve further investigation. There are current studies on melanoma angiogenesis involving oxidative stress, immune-inflammatory response, cell proliferation and migration and capillary formation. The above natural products can be involved in melanoma angiogenesis through core targets such as VE-cadherin, COX-2, iNOS, VEGF, bFGF, FGF2,MMP2,MMP9,IL-1β,IL-6 play a role in inhibiting melanoma angiogenesis. Effective excavation of natural products can not only clarify the mechanism of drug action and key targets, but also help to promote the preclinical research of natural products for melanoma treatment and further promote the development of new clinical drugs, which will bring the gospel to the vast number of patients who are deeply afflicted by melanoma.

A comprehensive review of Cornus officinalis: health benefits, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects for functional drug and food development

Introduction

Cornus officinalis sieb. et zucc, a deciduous tree or shrub, is renowned for its "Cornus flesh" fruit, which is widely acknowledged for its medicinal value when matured and dried. Leveraging C. officinalis as a foundational ingredient opens avenues for the development of environmentally friendly health foods, ranging from beverages and jams to preserves and canned products. Packed with diverse bioactive compounds, this species manifests a spectrum of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular protective properties.

Methods

This study employs CiteSpace visual analysis software and a bibliometric analysis platform, drawing upon the Web of Science (WOS) database for literature spanning the last decade. Through a comprehensive analysis of available literature from WOS and Google Scholar, we present a thorough summary of the health benefits, phytochemistry, active compounds, and pharmacological effects of C. officinalis. Particular emphasis is placed on its potential in developing functional drugs and foods.

Results and Discussion

While this review enhances our understanding of C. officinalis as a prospective therapeutic agent, its clinical applicability underscores the need for further research and clinical studies to validate findings and establish safe and effective clinical applications.

Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Iridoid and Anthocyanin-Rich Extract Reduces Various Oxidation, Inflammation, and Adhesion Markers in a Cholesterol-Rich Diet Rabbit Model

Atherogenesis leads to the development of atherosclerosis, a progressive chronic disease characterized by subendothelial lipoprotein retention and endothelial impairment in the arterial wall. It develops mainly as a result of inflammation and also many other complex processes, which arise from, among others, oxidation and adhesion. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits are abundant in iridoids and anthocyanins-compounds with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to determine the effect of two different doses (10 mg and 50 mg per kg of body weight, respectively) of iridoid and anthocyanin-rich resin-purified Cornelian cherry extract on the markers that are important in the progress of inflammation, cell proliferation and adhesion, immune system cell infiltration, and atherosclerotic lesion development in a cholesterol-rich diet rabbit model. We used biobank blood and liver samples that were collected during the previous original experiment. We assessed the mRNA expression of MMP-1, MMP-9, IL-6, NOX, and VCAM-1 in the aorta, and the serum levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, CRP, PON-1, MCP-1, and PCT. The application of the Cornelian cherry extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw resulted in a significant reduction in MMP-1, IL-6, and NOX mRNA expression in the aorta and a decrease in VCAM-1, ICAM-1, PON-1, and PCT serum levels. The administration of a 10 mg/kg bw dose caused a significant decrease in serum ICAM-1, PON-1, and MCP-1. The results indicate the potential usefulness of the Cornelian cherry extract in the prevention or treatment of atherogenesis-related cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis or metabolic syndrome.

Salvianolactone acid A isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by regulating PPAR-γ

BACKGROUND

Severe inflammation of the lungs results from acute lung injury (ALI), a common life-threatening lung disease with a high mortality rate. The ligand-activated transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ plays essential roles in diverse biological processes including inflammation, metabolism, development, and immune response. Salvianolactone acid A (SA) is a terpenoid derived from the herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. However, there is a scarcity of experimental evidence indicating whether the effect of SA on ALI occurs via PPAR-γ.

METHODS

SA (20 or 40 mg/kg, i.g., 1 time/day) was administered to mice for 3 d, followed by the induction of ALI by intranasal lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg). The lung function and levels of inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), immune cells, apoptosis, and PPAR-γ were examined. The antagonistic activity of GW9662 (GW, 1 µM, specific PPAR-γ blocker) and PPAR-γ transfection silencing against SA (10 μM) in BEAS-2B cells induced by LPS (10 μg/ml, 24 h) was also investigated to assess whether the observed effects caused by SA were mediated by PPAR-γ.

RESULTS

The results showed that lung histopathological injury, the B-line, the fluorescence intensity of live small animal, and the biomarkers in BALF or lung in the treatment of SA could regulate significantly. In addition, SA obviously decreased the levels of ROS and apoptosis in the primary lung cells, and MDA, increased the levels of GSH-Px and SOD. SA reduced levels of macrophages and neutrophils. Furthermore, SA reduced the protein levels of Keap-1, Cleaved-caspase-3, Cleaved-caspase-9, p-p65/p65, NLRP3, IL-1β, and upregulated the levels of p-Nrf2/Nrf2, HO-1, Bcl-2/Bax, PPAR-γ, p-AMPK/AMPK in lung tissue. In addition, silencing and inhibition of PPAR-γ effectively decreased the protective effects of SA in BEAS-2B cells induced by LPS, which might indicate that the active molecules of SA regulate ALI via mediation by PPAR-γ, which exhibited that the effect of SA related to PPAR-γ.

CONCLUSIONS

The anti-ALI effects of SA were partially mediated through PPAR-γ signaling. These data provide the molecular justification for the usage of SA in treating ALI and can assist in increasing the comprehensive utilization rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Aqueous extracts of Corni Fructus protect C2C12 myoblasts from DNA damage and apoptosis caused by oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

Although the various pharmacological effects of Corni Fructus are highly correlated with its antioxidant activity, the blocking effect against oxidative stress in muscle cells is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extracts of Corni Fructus (CFE) against oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in murine skeletal C2C12 myoblasts.

METHODS AND RESULTS

MTT assay for cell viability, DCF-DA staining for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Comet assay for DNA damage, annexin V-FITC and PI double staining for apoptosis, JC-1 staining and caspase assay for monitor mitochondrial integrity, and western blotting for related protein levels were conducted in H₂O₂ oxidative stressed C2C12 cells. Our results showed that CFE pretreatment significantly ameliorated the loss of cell viability and inhibited apoptosis in H₂O₂-treated C2C12 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. DNA damage induced by H₂O₂ was also markedly attenuated in the presence of CFE, which was associated with suppression of ROS generation. In addition, H₂O₂ reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and caused downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax expression, although these were abrogated by CFE pretreatment. Moreover, CFE blocked H₂O₂-induced cytosolic release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the present results demonstrate that CFE could protect C2C12 cells from H₂O₂-induced damage by eliminating ROS generation, thereby blocking mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway. These results indicate that CFE has therapeutic potential for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-mediated myoblast injury.

Eriodictyol and Homoeriodictyol Improve Memory Impairment in Aβ25–35-Induced Mice by Inhibiting the NLRP3 Inflammasome

(1) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, and it is now widely accepted that neuroinflammation plays a key role in its pathogenesis. Eriodictyol (Eri) and homoeriodictyol (Hom), dihydroflavonoids extracted from a variety of plants, have been confirmed to display a relationship with neuroprotection. (2) Methods: An AD mouse model was constructed by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of the Aβ_25–35 peptide, and Eri and Hom were administered orally for 4 weeks. UPLC-MS/MS was used to determine whether Eri and Hom cross the blood–brain barrier to exert their therapeutic effects. Histological changes in the brain and levels of Aβ were evaluated, and Y-maze and new object recognition experiments were conducted to assess the effects of Eri and Hom on Aβ_25–35-induced memory impairment in mice. The levels of oxidative stress and apoptosis in peripheral immune cells and progenitor cells in the hippocampal region were analyzed by flow cytometry and in vitro assays. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to measure the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and inflammatory factors in the brain. The effect of nigericin (an agonist of the NLRP3 inflammasome) on Eri and Hom intervention in LPS-induced N9 microglia was examined using a High Content Screening System. (3) Results: Eri and Hom reduced neuronal damage in mouse brain tissue, decreased Aβ levels in the brain, downregulated oxidative stress and apoptosis levels, and improved learning and memory capacity by crossing the blood–brain barrier to exert its effects. Moreover, Eri and Hom inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and ameliorated immune cell disorder. Furthermore, the effect of Eri and Hom on LPS-induced N9 microglia disappeared after the addition of nigericin to agonize NLRP3 receptors. (4) Conclusions: Eri and Hom improved Aβ_25–35-induced memory impairment in mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome.