Gomisin A Suppresses Colorectal Lung Metastasis by Inducing AMPK/p38-Mediated Apoptosis and Decreasing Metastatic Abilities of Colorectal Cancer Cells

Induction of Human Wharton's Jelly of Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Be Chondrocytes and Transplantation in Guinea Pig Model with Spontaneous Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease commonly found in elderly people and obese patients. Currently, OA treatments are determined based on their condition severity and a medical professional's advice. The aim of this study was to differentiate human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSCs) into chondrocytes for transplantation in OA-suffering guinea pigs. hWJ-MSCs were isolated using the explant culture method, and then, their proliferation, phenotypes, and differentiation ability were evaluated. Subsequently, hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes were induced and characterized based on immunofluorescent staining, qPCR, and immunoblotting techniques. Then, early-OA-suffering guinea pigs were injected with hyaluronic acid (HA) containing either MSCs or 14-day-old hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes. Results showed that hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes expressed specific markers of chondrocytes including Aggrecan, type II collagen, and type X collagen proteins and β-catenin, Sox9, Runx2, Col2a1, Col10a1, and ACAN gene expression markers. Administration of HA plus hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes (HA-CHON) produced a better recovery rate of degenerative cartilages than HA plus MSCs or only HA. Histological assessments demonstrated no significant difference in Mankin's scores of recovered cartilages between HA-CHON-treated guinea pigs and normal articular cartilage guinea pigs. Transplantation of hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes was more effective than undifferentiated hWJ-MSCs or hyaluronic acid for OA treatment in guinea pigs. This study provides a promising treatment to be used in early OA patients to promote recovery and prevent disease progression to severe osteoarthritis.

An analysis of the nutritional effects of Schisandra chinensis components based on mass spectrometry technology

OBJECTIVE

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis) is a Traditional Chinese medicinal herb that can be used both for medicinal purposes and as a food ingredient due to its beneficial properties, and it is enriched with a wide of natural plant nutrients, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, lignans, triterpenes, organic acids, and sugars. At present, there is lack of comprehensive study or systemic characterization of nutritional and active ingredients of S. chinensis using innovative mass spectrometry techniques.

METHODS

The comprehensive review was conducted by searching the PubMed databases for relevant literature of various mass spectrometry techniques employed in the analysis of nutritional components in S. chinensis, as well as their main nutritional effects. The literature search covered the past 5 years until March 15, 2023.

RESULTS

The potential nutritional effects of S. chinensis are discussed, including its ability to enhance immunity, function as an antioxidant, anti-allergen, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety agent, as well as its ability to act as a sedative-hypnotic and improve memory, cognitive function, and metabolic imbalances. Meanwhile, the use of advanced mass spectrometry detection technologies have the potential to enable the discovery of new nutritional components of S. chinensis, and to verify the effects of different extraction methods on these components. The contents of anthocyanins, lignans, organic acids, and polysaccharides, the main nutritional components in S. chinensis, are also closely associated to its quality.

CONCLUSION

This review will provide guidelines for an in-depth study on the nutritional value of S. chinensis and for the development of healthy food products with effective components.

The potential effect of Schisandrin-B combination with panitumumab in wild-type and mutant colorectal cancer cell lines: Role of apoptosis and autophagy

Panitumumab is an approved monoclonal antibody for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, mutations in EGFR signaling pathway resulted in poor response. Schisandrin-B (Sch-B) is a phytochemical that was suggested to protect against inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation. The present study aimed to investigate the potential effect of Sch-B on panitumumab-induced cytotoxicity in wild-type Caco-2, and mutant HCT-116 and HT-29 CRC cell lines, and the possible underlying mechanisms. CRC cell lines were treated with panitumumab, Sch-B, and their combination. The cytotoxic effect of drugs was determined by MTT assay. The apoptotic potential was assessed in-vitro by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity. Additionally, autophagy was investigated via microscopic detection of autophagosomes and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) measurement of Beclin-1, Rubicon, LC3-II, and Bcl-2 expression. The drug pair enhanced panitumumab cytotoxicity in all CRC cell lines where IC50 of panitumumab was decreased in Caco-2 cell line. Apoptosis was induced through caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, and Bcl-2 downregulation. Caco-2 cell line treated with panitumumab showed stained acidic vesicular organelles, contrariwise, all cell lines treated with Sch-B or the drug pair displayed green fluorescence indicating the lack of autophagosomes. qRT-PCR revealed the downregulation of LC3-II in all CRC cell lines, Rubicon in mutant cell lines, and Beclin-1 in HT-29 cell line only. Sch-B at 6.5 µM promoted panitumumab-induced apoptotic cell death, in-vitro, via caspase-3 activation and Bcl-2 downregulation, rather than autophagic cell death. This novel combination therapy against CRC, allows the reduction of panitumumab dose to guard against its adverse effects.

Phenolic Phytochemicals for Prevention and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: A Critical Evaluation of In Vivo Studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed and second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Limitations with existing treatment regimens have demanded the search for better treatment options. Different phytochemicals with promising anti-CRC activities have been reported, with the molecular mechanism of actions still emerging. This review aims to summarize recent progress on the study of natural phenolic compounds in ameliorating CRC using in vivo models. This review followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reporting and Meta-Analysis. Information on the relevant topic was gathered by searching the PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases using keywords, such as "colorectal cancer" AND "phenolic compounds", "colorectal cancer" AND "polyphenol", "colorectal cancer" AND "phenolic acids", "colorectal cancer" AND "flavonoids", "colorectal cancer" AND "stilbene", and "colorectal cancer" AND "lignan" from the reputed peer-reviewed journals published over the last 20 years. Publications that incorporated in vivo experimental designs and produced statistically significant results were considered for this review. Many of these polyphenols demonstrate anti-CRC activities by inhibiting key cellular factors. This inhibition has been demonstrated by antiapoptotic effects, antiproliferative effects, or by upregulating factors responsible for cell cycle arrest or cell death in various in vivo CRC models. Numerous studies from independent laboratories have highlighted different plant phenolic compounds for their anti-CRC activities. While promising anti-CRC activity in many of these agents has created interest in this area, in-depth mechanistic and well-designed clinical studies are needed to support the therapeutic use of these compounds for the prevention and treatment of CRC.

Network Pharmacology Analysis of Bioactive Components and Mechanisms of Action of Qi Wei Wan Formula for Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Astragali Radix (AR) and Schisandrae chinensis Fructus (SCF) have been used individually and in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas for treating non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Qi Wei Wan (QWW), a 2-herb TCM formula composed of AR and SCF, is used to treat blood deficiency, fatigue, and metabolic abnormalities. We speculate that QWW may be more effective in treating NSCLC than AR or SCF alone. We identified 28 bioactive compounds in QWW and 322 targets of these compounds from databases. Network pharmacology analysis was used to identify 248 putative NSCLC-related gene targets of the bioactive compounds in QWW. Common target genes were analyzed to build protein–protein interaction networks. Implicated biological functions and pathways (p53, PI3K-Akt, etc) were identified by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyses. Molecular docking of core target proteins with the key active compounds was also performed. This study identified the potential gene targets and mechanisms involved in the anti-NSCLC effects of QWW.

Regulated cell death (RCD) in cancer: key pathways and targeted therapies

Regulated cell death (RCD), also well-known as programmed cell death (PCD), refers to the form of cell death that can be regulated by a variety of biomacromolecules, which is distinctive from accidental cell death (ACD). Accumulating evidence has revealed that RCD subroutines are the key features of tumorigenesis, which may ultimately lead to the establishment of different potential therapeutic strategies. Hitherto, targeting the subroutines of RCD with pharmacological small-molecule compounds has been emerging as a promising therapeutic avenue, which has rapidly progressed in many types of human cancers. Thus, in this review, we focus on summarizing not only the key apoptotic and autophagy-dependent cell death signaling pathways, but the crucial pathways of other RCD subroutines, including necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, parthanatos, entosis, NETosis and lysosome-dependent cell death (LCD) in cancer. Moreover, we further discuss the current situation of several small-molecule compounds targeting the different RCD subroutines to improve cancer treatment, such as single-target, dual or multiple-target small-molecule compounds, drug combinations, and some new emerging therapeutic strategies that would together shed new light on future directions to attack cancer cell vulnerabilities with small-molecule drugs targeting RCD for therapeutic purposes.

Therapeutic potential of naturally occurring lignans as anticancer agents

Cancer as a long-lasting and dramatic pandemic affects almost a third of the human being worldwide. At present, chemotherapy is the main clinical treatment strategy, but it is difficult to achieve satisfactory efficacy due to drug resistance and side effects. Natural products are becoming increasingly popular in cancer therapy due to their potent broad-spectrum anticancer potency and slight side effects. Lignans are complex diphenolic compounds, comprising a family of secondary metabolites existing widely in plants. Naturally occurring lignans have the potential to act on cancer cells by a range of mechanisms of action and could inhibit the colony formation, arrest the cell cycle in different phases, induce apoptosis, and suppress migration, providing privileged scaffolds for the discovery of novel anticancer agents. In recent five years, a variety of naturally occurring lignans were isolated and screened for their in vitro and/or in vivo anticancer efficacy, and some of them exhibited promising potential. This review has systematically summarized the resources, anticancer activity, and mechanisms of action of naturally occurring lignans, covering articles published between January 2017 and January 2022.

A comprehensive review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Schisandra chinensis (called bei-wuweizi in Chinese, S. chinensis) and Schisandra sphenanthera (called nan-wuweizi in Chinese, S. sphenanthera) are two highly similar plants in the Magnoliaceae family. Their dried ripe fruits are commonly used as traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of coughs, palpitation, spermatorrhea, and insomnia. They also are traditionally used as tonics in Russia, Japan, and Korea.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera are similar in appearance, traditional applications, ingredient compositions, and therapeutic effects. This review, therefore, aims to provide a systematic insight into the botanical background, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, quality control, and toxicology of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera, and to explore and present the similarities and differences between S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search regarding S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera was collected by using electronic databases including PubMed, SciFinder, Science Direct, Web of Science, CNKI, and the online ethnobotanical database.

RESULTS

In the 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP), there were 100 prescriptions containing S. chinensis, while only 11 contained S. sphenanthera. Totally, 306 and 238 compounds have been isolated and identified from S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera, respectively. Among these compounds, lignans, triterpenoids, essential oils, phenolic acid, flavonoids, phytosterols are the major composition. Through investigation of pharmacological activities, S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera have similar therapeutic effects including hepatoprotection, neuroprotection, cardioprotection, anticancer, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and hypoglycemic effect. Besides, S. chinensis turns out to have more effects including reproductive regulation and immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antitussive and antiasthmatic, anti-fatigue, antiarthritic, and bone remodeling effects. Both S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera have inhibitory effects on CYP3A and P-gp, which can mediate metabolism or efflux of substrates, and therefore interact with many drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera have great similarities. Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans are regarded to contribute to most of the bioactivities. Schisandrin A-C, schisandrol A-B, and schisantherin A, existing in both S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera but differing in the amount, are the main active components, which may contribute to the similarities and differences. Study corresponding to the traditional use is needed to reveal the deep connotation of the use of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera as traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, a joint study of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera can better show the difference between them, which can provide a reference for clinical application. It is worth mentioning that the inhibition of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera on CYP3A and P-gp may lead to undesirable drug-drug interactions.

Efficacy of Ninjin'yoeito in treating severe coronavirus disease 2019 in patients in an intensive care unit

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global emergency with high mortality. There are few effective treatments, and many severe patients are treated in an intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the Japanese Kampo medicine ninjin'yoeito (NYT) is effective in treating ICU patients with COVID-19. Nine patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the ICU were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent respiratory management with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and enteral nutrition. Four patients received NYT (7.5 g daily) from an elemental diet tube. We retrospectively examined the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), length of IMV, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, rate of tracheostomy, and mortality rate. The median age of the enrolled participants was 60.0 years (4 men and 5 women). The median body mass index was 27.6. The most common comorbidity was diabetes (4 patients, 44%), followed by hypertension (3 patients, 33%) and chronic kidney disease (2 patients, 22%). The median length of IMV, ICU stay, and hospital stay were all shorter in the NYT group than in the non-NYT group (IMV; 4.0 days vs 14.3 days, ICU; 5.3 days vs 14.5 days, hospital stay; 19.9 days vs 28.2 days). In the NYT and non-NYT groups, the median PNI at admission was 29.0 and 31.2, respectively. One week after admission, the PNI was 30.7 in the NYT group and 24.4 in non-NYT group. PNI was significantly (p = 0.032) increased in the NYT group (+13.6%) than in the non-NYT group (-22.0%). The Japanese Kampo medicine NYT might be useful for treating patients with severe COVID-19 in ICU. This study was conducted in a small number of cases, and further large clinical trials are necessary.

Multiple stage IV colorectal cancers in a patient who received multidisciplinary treatment, including chemotherapy and Japanese Kampo medicine: A case report

FOLFOXIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) plus bevacizumab is the preferred first-line treatment for right-sided metastatic colorectal cancer with RAS mutation. However, severe adverse events are common in Japanese patients. We report the successful management of multiple stage IV colorectal cancers in a patient who received multidisciplinary treatment, including chemotherapy and Japanese Kampo medicine. A 68-year-old man presented with epigastralgia and appetite loss and was diagnosed with multiple stage IV colorectal cancers. Colonoscopy identified type II tumors in the ascending colon, sigmoid colon, and upper rectum. Histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen revealed well- to moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Enhanced computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen showed multiple pulmonary nodules and para-aortic lymph node swelling. Laparoscopic loop-ileostomy was performed to avoid bowel obstruction due to severe stenosis of ascending colon cancer. Intraoperative observation revealed two white nodules suggestive of metastasis in the lateral area of the liver. Therefore, we diagnosed multiple stage IV colorectal cancers with multiple metastases (lung, liver, and distant lymph nodes). His postoperative course was uneventful, and chemotherapy was started. Since the cancer cells harbored a RAS mutation, he received FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab. Japanese Kampo medicine consisting of Hangeshashinto and Juzen-taiho-to, to prevent diarrhea and fatigue, was administered daily. After 12 courses of chemotherapy, though circumferential stenosis still existed in the ascending colon, the tumors in the sigmoid colon and upper rectum were unclear. Enhanced computed tomography showed shrinkage of the pulmonary nodules and para-aortic lymph node; therefore, laparoscopic-assisted ileocecal resection was performed. The postoperative histopathological examination revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient recovered uneventfully, and Kampo medicine consisting of Ninjin'yoeito was administered for postoperative weakness. Administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in this patient led to a near complete response that has been maintained without recurrence for 2 years and 8 months without reduced quality of life.

Resveratrol inhibited the metastatic behaviors of cisplatin-resistant human oral cancer cells via phosphorylation of ERK/p-38 and suppression of MMP-2/9

Cisplatin resistance is a major clinical problem in the clinical management of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Resveratrol is a natural phytoestrogen with antitumor activities. Whether resveratrol can overcome cisplatin resistance and prevent metastasis in OSCC cells is not known. In this study, we first examined the anti-metastatic capacity of resveratrol and then explored the underlying mechanisms using a cisplatin-resistant human OSCC cell line (CAR). The results demonstrated that at a non-toxic dose range (25 to 75 µM), 24-hr treatment of resveratrol was able to suppress the migration and invasion capacities of CAR cells dose dependently. Interestingly, 50 µM resveratrol treatment could significantly down-regulate the expression of the phosphorylated forms of ERK and p-38, in addition to those of MMP-2 and MMP-9. At the same time, the expression levels of phosphorylated ERK together with those unphosphorylated forms of ERK, p38, and JNK were all insignificantly altered. In conclusion, the signaling cascade for resveratrol's suppression of cisplatin-resistant human oral cancer CAR cells was revealed and summarized. Also the rapid effectiveness in suppressing metastatic behaviors of drug-resistant oral cancer cells of non-toxic resveratrol might extend its application to the drug-resistant oral cancer treatment in the near future. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Based on the evidence we provided in the study, we have proposed a model recording the possible pathway for resveratrol inhibiting the metastasis of cisplatin-resistant oral cancer cells. We suppose this signaling pathway may work in other cancer cell lines, and can be helpful in full understanding of the drug-resistance.

Gomisin A Alleviates Obesity by Regulating the Phenotypic Switch between White and Brown Adipocytes

Although gomisin A (GA) alleviates cancer and inflammation, its anti-obesity effect and the underlying mechanism have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the anti-obesity effects of GA by investigating the phenotypic changes involved in the browning and whitening of adipocytes. Here, obesity was induced to C57BL/6J mice using a high-fat diet (HFD). We administrated GA and checked weight changes for 12 weeks. We found that GA decreased the weight of weight gain, epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), and liver in the mice. In addition, the administration of GA elevated the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in the mice serum. Moreover, even after 12 weeks of treatment with GA, it did not cause any hepatic and renal toxicity. However, we found that GA induced the browning of eWAT and inhibited the whitening of brown adipose tissue. We further confirmed the anti-obesity mechanism of GA using 3T3-L1 cells, the human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs), and primary brown adipocytes (BAs) in vitroexperiments. We found that GA suppressed adipogenesis via the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Furthermore, GA-induced browning by increasing the expression levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in hAMSCs. The results of our study indicate that GA can inhibit weight gain by regulating the phenotypic changes involved in the browning and whitening of adipose tissues, which makes it a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity.

Pharmacodynamic effects and molecular mechanisms of lignans from Schisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.), a current review

Fruit of Schisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.) (S. chinensis) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in China, Korea, and many other east Asian countries. At present, S. chinensis commonly forms Chinese medicinal formulae with other herbal medicines to treat liver disease and neurological disease in clinical. Modern researches indicated that lignans were the main active ingredients of S. chinensis with high content and novel dibenzocyclooctadiene skeletal structure, exhibited considerable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Additionally, some of these lignans also showed certain potentials in anti-cancer, anti-fibrosis, and other effects. In the current review, we summarize literature reported lignans from S. chinensis in the past five years, and highlight the molecular mechanisms of lignans in exerting their biological functions. Also, we point out some deficiencies of existing researches and discuss the future direction of lignans study.

Effect of roasting temperature and time on volatile compounds, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and lignan of omija (Schisandra chinensis Baillon) fruit extract

In this study, roasting was applied to enhance the volatile compound content and antioxidant activity of hot-air dried omija (Schisandra chinensis Baillon) fruit. The major volatile compounds were furfural, 1,8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol. Total volatile compound concentration in omija roasted at 150 ℃ for 15 min was approximately 4 times higher than that in hot-air dried omija. Contents of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in roasted omija were significantly increased, compared to that of the hot-air dried omija (P < 0.05). The contents of schizandrin in extracts of hot-air dried omija and omija roasted at 150 ℃ for 10 min were determined to be 28.9 and 106.5 mg/100 g extract, respectively. The content of gomisin A from roasted omija was about 5 times higher than that of hot-air dried omija. Through this study, it is believed that the usability of omija will be expanded.

Effect of Angelica gigas Nakai Ethanol Extract and Decursin on Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most severe cancers, and its incidence and mortality rates have steadily increased in the past decade. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of Angelica gigas Nakai extract on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. We prepared A. gigas Nakai ethanol extract (AGE) using roots of A. gigas Nakai and detected its active compound decursin from AGE by ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis. AGE and decursin significantly decreased viability and colony formation of PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. AGE and decursin induced G0/G1 phase arrest through downregulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4). Caspase-3-dependent apoptosis of PANC-1 cells was promoted by AGE and decursin. Additionally, nontoxic concentrations of AGE and decursin treatment could suppress matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression and activity by inhibiting p38 phosphorylation. Taken together, this study demonstrates that AGE and decursin have potential properties to be considered in PC treatment.

Lignans and Terpenoids from the Leaves of Schisandra chinensis

Fifteen constituents, including one new lignan (schisandroside E) and one new terpenoid (schisandenoid A) as well as nine known lignans and four known terpenoids, were isolated from Schisandra chinensis leaves. The structures of schisandroside E and schisandenoid A were established by entirely meticulous spectroscopic analysis (NMR, MS, CD, IR and UV). All compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against MGC-803, Caco-2 and Ishikawa cell lines. Some compounds showed strong cytotoxicity against these three cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ <1 μm.

Redox regulation by SOD2 modulates colorectal cancer tumorigenesis through AMPK-mediated energy metabolism

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy. Many reports have implicated aberrant mitochondrial activity in the progression of CRC, with particular emphasis on the dysregulation of redox signaling and oxidative stress. In this study, we focused on manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD/SOD2), a key antioxidant enzyme, which maintains intracellular redox homeostasis. Current literature presents conflicting mechanisms for how SOD2 influences tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Here, we explored the role of SOD2 in CRC specifically. We found high levels of SOD2 expression in CRC tissues. We carried out a series of experiments to determine whether knockdown of SOD2 expression in CRC cell lines would reverse features of tumorigenesis. We found that reduced SOD2 expression decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion activity in CRC cells. Results from an additional series of experiments on mitochondrial function implicated a dual role for SOD2 in promoting CRC progression. First, proper level of SOD2 helped CRC cells maintain mitochondrial function by disposal of superoxide (O₂ ^.- ). Second, over-expression of SOD2 induced H₂ O₂ -mediated tumorigenesis by upregulating AMPK and glycolysis. Our results indicate that SOD2 may promote the occurrence and development of CRC by regulating the energy metabolism mediated by AMPK signaling pathways.

Gomisin A ameliorates metastatic melanoma by inhibiting AMPK and ERK/JNK-mediated cell survival and metastatic phenotypes

BACKGROUND

Gomisin A (G.A), a lignan compound extracted from the fruits of Schisandra chinensis, is known to exert anti-tumor effects on hepatocarcinoma and colorectal cancer cells. Suppression of proliferation and metastatic abilities of cancer cells are some effective cancer treatment methods.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of G.A on metastatic melanoma, and the mechanism by which it affects metastatic melanoma.

STUDY DESIGN

The anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of G.A were observed in in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

WST assay and flow cytometry were conducted to investigate the effect of G.A on proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in metastatic melanoma cell lines. Migration and invasion abilities of G.A-treated melanoma cells were observed by wound healing and invasion assays.

RESULTS

G.A (25-100 μM) decreased the viability of melanoma cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These anti-proliferative effects of G.A were found to be mediated by AMPK, ERK, and JNK activation. G.A (5-20 μM) decreased the migration and invasion of melanoma cells by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Consequently, G.A (2-50 mg/kg) inhibited lung metastasis by suppressing EMT and inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in melanoma cells.

CONCLUSION

These results conclude that G.A has the potential to reduce metastatic melanoma through its anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects.

Potential of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. in Human Health and Nutrition: A Review of Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Perspectives

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (SCE) is a plant with high potential for beneficial health effects, confirmed by molecular studies. Its constituents exert anti-cancer effects through the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as well as inhibition of invasion and metastasis in cancer cell lines and experimental animals. SCE displays antimicrobial effects against several pathogenic strains. It has anti-diabetic potential, supported by hypoglycemic activity. A diet rich in SCE improves pancreatic functions, stimulates insulin secretion, and reduces complications in diabetic animals. SCE prevents lipid accumulation and differentiation of preadipocytes, indicating its anti-obesity potential. SCE exerts a protective effect against skin photoaging, osteoarthritis, sarcopenia, senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction, and improves physical endurance and cognitive/behavioural functions, which can be linked with its general anti-aging potency. In food technology, SCE is applied as a preservative, and as an additive to increase the flavour, taste, and nutritional value of food. In summary, SCE displays a variety of beneficial health effects, with no side effects. Further research is needed to determine the molecular mechanisms of SCE action. First, the constituents responsible for its beneficial effects should be isolated and identified, and recommended as preventative nutritional additives, or considered as therapeutics.