Dandelion Polysaccharide Exerts Anti-Angiogenesis Effect on Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating VEGF/HIF-1α Expression

Jianwei Xiaoyan granule ameliorates chronic atrophic gastritis by regulating HIF-1α-VEGF pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jianwei Xiaoyan Granule (JWXYG) is the traditional Chinese medicine preparation in Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, which has been widely used in clinical treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). However, the material basis and potential mechanism of JWXYG in the treatment of CAG are not clear.

PURPOSE

To explore the material basis and potential mechanism of JWXYG in the treatment of CAG.

METHODS

In this study, the components of JWXYG were analyzed by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Then, the CAG model in rats established by a composite modeling method and MC cell model induced by MNNG were used to explore the improvement effect of JWXYG on CAG. Finally, the potential mechanism of JWXYG in the treatment of CAG was preliminarily predicted based on network pharmacology and validated experimentally.

RESULTS

Thirty-one components of JWXYG were analyzed through HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, such as albiflorin, paeoniflorin, lobetyolin firstly. Research results in vivo showed that the gastric mucosa became thinner, intestinal metaplasia appeared, the number of glands was reduced, the serum levels of PG I and PG II increased and the contents of G17 and IL-6 reduced in CAG model rats. After 4 weeks of JWXYG (2.70 g/kg) administration, these conditions were significantly improved. In addition, cell viability, migration, and invasion of MNNG-induced MC cells was inhibited by JWXYG treatment (800 μg/mL). Furthermore, the results of network pharmacology indicated that HIF-1 and VEGF signaling pathways might play important roles in the therapeutic process. Then the results of Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence confirmed that with JWXYG treatment, the increased expression of HIF-1α, VEGF and VEGFR2 in gastric issue of CAG rats were restrained. Eventually, potential components of JWXYG in the treatment of CAG were predicted through molecular docking to elucidate the material basis.

CONCLUSION

JWXYG could inhibit angiogenesis by regulating HIF-1α-VEGF pathway to exert therapeutic effects on CAG. Our study explored the potential mechanisms and material basis of JWXYG in the treatment of CAG and provides experimental data for the clinical rational application of JWXYG.

The phytochemical and pharmacological profile of dandelion

Dandelion (Taraxacum genus), a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family is widely distributed in hillside grasslands, roadsides, fields, and river beaches in middle and low-altitude areas. It has a long history of traditional Chinese medicine usage as a heat-clearing and detoxifying agent, often consumed as tea or vegetable. Multiple pharmacological studies have demonstrated the antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immune-regulating, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and other effects of the Taraxacum genus. Bioactive compounds associated with these effects include triterpenes and their saponins, phenolic acids, sterols and their glycosides, flavonoids, organic acids, volatile oils, and saccharides.

Survival strategies: How tumor hypoxia microenvironment orchestrates angiogenesis

During tumor development, the tumor itself must continuously generate new blood vessels to meet their growth needs while also allowing for tumor invasion and metastasis. One of the most common features of tumors is hypoxia, which drives the process of tumor angiogenesis by regulating the tumor microenvironment, thus adversely affecting the prognosis of patients. In addition, to overcome unsuitable environments for growth, such as hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, hyperacidity, and immunosuppression, the tumor microenvironment (TME) coordinates angiogenesis in several ways to restore the supply of oxygen and nutrients and to remove metabolic wastes. A growing body of research suggests that tumor angiogenesis and hypoxia interact through a complex interplay of crosstalk, which is inextricably linked to the TME. Here, we review the TME's positive contribution to angiogenesis from an angiogenesis-centric perspective while considering the objective impact of hypoxic phenotypes and the status and limitations of current angiogenic therapies.

The roles and potential mechanisms of plant polysaccharides in liver diseases: a review

Plant polysaccharides (PP) demonstrate a diverse array of biological and pharmacological properties. This comprehensive review aims to compile and present the multifaceted roles and underlying mechanisms of plant polysaccharides in various liver diseases. These diseases include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), fibrosis, drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to elucidate the intricate mechanisms and therapeutic potential of plant polysaccharides, shedding light on their significance and potential applications in the management and potential prevention of these liver conditions. An exhaustive literature search was conducted for this study, utilizing prominent databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI. The search criteria focused on the formula "(plant polysaccharides liver disease) NOT (review)" was employed to ensure the inclusion of original research articles up to the year 2023. Relevant literature was extracted and analyzed from these databases. Plant polysaccharides exhibit promising pharmacological properties, particularly in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The ongoing progress of studies on the molecular mechanisms associated with polysaccharides will offer novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic liver diseases (CLDs).

Iron deficiency affects oxygen transport and activates HIF1 signaling pathway to regulate phenotypic transformation of VSMC in aortic dissection

BACKGROUND

Aortic dissection (AD) is a macrovascular disease which is pathologically characterized by aortic media degeneration.This experiment aims to explore how iron deficiency (ID) affects the function of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and participates in the occurrence and development of AD by regulating gene expression.

METHODS

The relationship between iron and AD was proved by Western-blot (WB) and immunostaining experiments in human and animals. Transcriptomic sequencing explored the transcription factors that were altered downstream. WB, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to demonstrate whether ID affected HIF1 expression through oxygen transport. HIF1 signaling pathway and phenotypic transformation indexes were detected in cell experiments. The use of the specific HIF1 inhibitor PX478 further demonstrated that ID worked by regulating HIF1.

RESULTS

The survival period of ID mice was significantly shortened and the pathological staining results were the worst. Transcriptomic sequencing indicated that HIF1 was closely related to ID and the experimental results indicated that ID might regulate HIF1 expression by affecting oxygen balance. HIF1 activation regulates the phenotypic transformation of VSMC and participates in the occurrence and development of AD in vivo and in vitro.PX478, the inhibition of HIF1, can improve ID-induced AD exacerbation.

Natural polysaccharides and their derivatives targeting the tumor microenvironment: A review

Polysaccharides have gained attention as valuable supplements and natural medicinal resources, particularly for their anti-tumor properties. Their low toxicity and potent anti-tumor effects make them promising candidates for cancer prevention and treatment. The tumor microenvironment is crucial in tumor development and offers potential avenues for novel cancer therapies. Research indicates that polysaccharides can positively influence the tumor microenvironment. However, the structural complexity of most anti-tumor polysaccharides, often heteropolysaccharides, poses challenges for structural analysis. To enhance their pharmacological activity, researchers have modified the structure and properties of natural polysaccharides based on structure-activity relationships, and they have discovered that many polysaccharides exhibit significantly enhanced anti-tumor activity after chemical modification. This article reviews recent strategies for targeting the tumor microenvironment with polysaccharides and briefly discusses the structure-activity relationships of anti-tumor polysaccharides. It also summarises the main chemical modification methods of polysaccharides and discusses the impact of chemical modifications on the anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides. The review aims to lay a theoretical foundation for the development of anti-tumor polysaccharides and their derivatives.

Extraction, purification, structural features, biological activities, modifications, and applications from Taraxacum mongolicum polysaccharides: A review

Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz), as a famous medicinal and edible plant, has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, diuresis, and resolving masses. Phytochemistry investigations revealed that T. mongolicum has various bioactive ingredients, mainly including flavonoids, sterols, polysaccharides, phenolic acids and volatile oils. There is growing evidence have shown that the polysaccharides from T. mongolicum (TMPs) are a class of representative pharmacologically bioactive macromolecules with a variety of biological activities both in vitro and in vivo, such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic, anti-bacterial, regulation of intestinal microbial, and anti-fatigue activities, etc. Additionally, the structural modification and potential applications of TMPs were also outlined. The present review aims to comprehensively and systematically collate the recent research progress on extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, biological activities, mechanism of action, structural modification, and potential industry applications of TMPs to support their therapeutic potential and health care functions. Overall, the present review provides a theoretical overview for further development and utilization of TMPs in the fields of pharmaceutical and health food.

Dandelion polysaccharide treatment protects against dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis by suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation and activating Nrf2 in mouse colon

The treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) is still an intractable medical problem. Polysaccharides are promising candidates for the treatment of UC and have received widespread attention in recent years. The objective of this study was to explore the protective effect and underlying mechanism of dandelion polysaccharide (DP) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Our results showed that oral administration of DP could dramatically alleviate colonic lesions, as evidenced by reduced DAI scores, shortening of colon length, and ameliorating pathologic abnormalities in colons. Additionally, the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and the infiltration of inflammation-regulation cells, marked by myeloperoxidase and F4/80, were also inhibited after DP treatment. Moreover, DP treatment also markedly suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB-p65 and the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, DP also activated the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and reduced the oxidative stress induced by DSS. Overall, these results suggest that DP could be a promising novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of UC.

Antitumor mechanism of cannabidiol hidden behind cancer hallmarks

Cannabinoids have been utilized for recreational and therapeutic purposes for over 4,000 years. As the primary ingredient in exogenous cannabinoids, Cannabidiol (CBD) has drawn a lot of interest from researchers due to its negligible psychotropic side effects and potential tumor-suppressing properties. However, the obscure mechanisms that underlie them remain a mystery. Complex biological mechanisms are involved in the progression of cancer, and malignancies have a variety of acquired biological capabilities, including sustained proliferation, death evasion, neovascularization, tissue invasion and metastasis, immune escape, metabolic reprogramming, induction of tumor-associated inflammation, cancerous stemness and genomic instability. Nowadays, the role of CBD hidden in these hallmarks is gradually revealed. Nevertheless, flaws or inconsistencies in the recent studies addressing the anti-cancer effects of CBD still exist. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the potential mechanisms underlying the role of CBD in a range of tumor-acquired biological capabilities. We propose potential drugs that may have a synergistic effect with CBD and provide optional directions for future research.

Targeting ESM1/ VEGFα signaling axis: a promising therapeutic avenue for angiogenesis in cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Endothelial-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) dysregulation is widespread in various malignancies. However, the exact significance of ESM1 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is not yet well understood. Methods: The expression of ESM1 in CSCC was probed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay using human specimens and validated and explored ESM1 in CSCC based on TNMplot and TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas Program) data repository. Further, the GSEA analysis and in vitro experiments of human CSCC cell lines, including SiHa and ME-180, were performed to investigate the masked molecular mechanisms of ESM1 in CSCC. Results: ESM1 was overexpressed in clinical CSCC tissues compared with paracancer controls, was an independent prognostic factor and was associated with poor prognosis in CSCC patients. These findings were further confirmed in the TNMplot and TCGA datasets. Furthermore, GSEA analysis revealed that the ESM1 high expression group was significantly enriched in carcinoma angiogenesis and the VEGFα signaling pathway. In addition, in vitro assays with human CSCC cell lines, including SiHa and ME-180, demonstrated that knockdown of ESM1 expression inhibited tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, resulting in attenuated VEGFα expression and blocked phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and ERK-1/2. Conclusion: In CSCC patients, ESM1 was considerably overexpressed. Upregulation of ESM1 is predictive of poor clinical outcomes in CSCC. Furthermore, ESM1 overexpression promoted carcinoma angiogenesis and CSCC progression through the VEGF/ERK signaling pathway. Hence, ESM1 and associated genes might be useful prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for CSCC individuals.

Long non-coding RNA LINC01480 is activated by Foxo3a and promotes hydroquinone-induced TK6 cell apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play a critical role in the damage caused to the body by environmental exogenous chemicals; however, few studies have explored their effects during exposure to benzene and its metabolite, hydroquinone (HQ). An emerging lncRNA, LINC01480, was found to be associated with the immune microenvironment of some cancers, but its specific function remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of LINC01480 in HQ-induced apoptosis. The biological function of LINC01480 was investigated through gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments. Mechanically, nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation experiment, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), dual-luciferase reporter assay, and rescue experiments were performed. In this study, when TK6 cells were treated with HQ (0, 5, 10, and 20 μM) for 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, the expression of LINC01480 was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT decreased, and apoptosis increased. As compared to the control group, HQ-induced apoptosis was significantly reduced, and the relative survival rate of TK6 cells increased after silencing LINC01480, while overexpression of LINC01480 further sensitized TK6 cells to HQ-induced apoptotic cell death. LINC01480 negatively regulated the PI3K/AKT pathway in TK6 cells, and the apoptosis-inhibiting effect of LINC01480 silencing was reversed after inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. In addition, ChIP and the dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that the transcription factor Foxo3a promoted LINC01480 transcription by directly binding to the promoter regions - 149 to - 138 of LINC01480. Moreover, short-term HQ exposure promoted the expression of Foxo3a. From these findings, we can conclude that LINC01480 is activated by Foxo3a, and promotes HQ-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway, suggesting that LINC01480 might become a possible target for therapeutic intervention of HQ-induced toxicity.

Polysaccharides from Chinese materia medica: Perspective towards cancer management

Cancer has always been a focus of global attention, and the difficulty of treatment and poor prognosis have always plagued humanity. Conventional chemotherapeutics and treatment with synthetic disciplines will cause adverse side effects and drug resistance. Therefore, searching for a safe, valid, and clinically effective drug is necessary. At present, some natural compounds have proved to have the potential to fight cancer. Polysaccharides obtained from Chinese materia medica are good anti-cancer ingredients. Polysaccharides are macromolecular compounds of equal or distinct monosaccharides with an α- or β-glycosidic bonds. The anti-cancer activity has been fully demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. However, Chinese materia medica polysaccharides are only used as adjuvant therapy for cancer-related diseases. Hence, this review mainly discusses the chemical composition, biological activity, absorption in vivo, and clinical application of Chinese materia medica polysaccharides. Also, we discussed the anti-cancer mechanism. We also discussed the current research's limitations on treating cancer with Chinese materia medica polysaccharides and insights into future research.

An Overview of Antitumour Activity of Polysaccharides

Cancer incidence and mortality are rapidly increasing worldwide; therefore, effective therapies are required in the current scenario of increasing cancer cases. Polysaccharides are a family of natural polymers that hold unique physicochemical and biological properties, and they have become the focus of current antitumour drug research owing to their significant antitumour effects. In addition to the direct antitumour activity of some natural polysaccharides, their structures offer versatility in synthesizing multifunctional nanocomposites, which could be chemically modified to achieve high stability and bioavailability for delivering therapeutics into tumor tissues. This review aims to highlight recent advances in natural polysaccharides and polysaccharide-based nanomedicines for cancer therapy.

Isolation of a New Polysaccharide from Dandelion Leaves and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Activities

Dandelion, in China, has a long history as a medicinal and edible plant, and possesses high nutritional and medical value. The present study aimed to isolate a new polysaccharide (DLP-3) from dandelion leaves and to evaluate its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The structure of DLP-3 was analyzed using HPLC, FT-IR, SEM, GC-MS, and NMR spectroscopy. DLP-3 mainly consisted of Man, Rha, GlcA, Glc, Gal, and Ara with molar ratios of 2.32, 0.87, 1.21, 3.84, 1.00, and 1.05, respectively, with a molecular weight of 43.2 kDa. The main linkages of DLP-3 contained (1→4)-α-d-Glc, (1→4,6)-α-d-Glc, (1→6)-α-d-Gal, (1→2)-α-d-Man, (1→4)-α-d-Man, β-l-Ara-(1→, and α-l-Rha-(1→. DLP-3 exhibited a smooth surface, purely flake-like structure, and a triple helix conformation. Moreover, DLP-3 presented obvious antioxidant and antibacterial activities in a concentration-dependent manner. DLP-3 showed significant anticancer activities by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of DLP-3 as a natural functional active substance in functional foods.

Protective Effect of the Polysaccharides from Taraxacum mongolicum Leaf by Modulating the p53 Signaling Pathway in H22 Tumor-Bearing Mice

Dandelion is an edible plant with a variety of bioactive components. This paper mainly reports the antitumor activity of dandelion polysaccharide DLP120 on H22 tumor-bearing mice. DLP120 is an acidic polysaccharide composed of pectin and arabinogalactan. The results indicate that DLP120 markedly inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner and attenuated and regulated negative effects on organs. In addition, DLP120 not only increased the viability of spleen lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, but also increased the proportion of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood. Furthermore, Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining showed that tumor tissues and cells exhibited typical pathology features. Annexin V FITC/PI staining and cell cycle distribution results further confirmed apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in S and G2 phases. Notably, there was a significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Western blotting results demonstrated that the expression of p53 was up-regulated in the DLP120 group. Moreover, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax was up-regulated while the inhibitory-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was down-regulated. In addition, the expression of Fas and FasL, associated with the death receptor pathway, were also up-regulated. Overall, administration of DLP120 in H22 tumor-bearing mice can not only enhance immunity but also directly induce tumor cell apoptosis.

Active ingredients and molecular targets of Taraxacum mongolicum against hepatocellular carcinoma: network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation analysis

Background

Taraxacum mongolicum (TM) is a widely used herb. Studies have reported that TM exhibits growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing on multiple tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The active ingredients, targets, and molecular mechanisms of TM against HCC need to be further elucidated.

Methods

We identified the active ingredients and targets of TM via HERB, PubChem, SwissADME, SwissTargetPrediction, and PharmMapper. We searched HCC targets from GeneCards, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), and DisGeNET. Then, the intersection of drug targets and disease targets was uploaded to the STRING database to construct protein-protein interactions (PPI) networking whose topology parameters were analyzed in Cytoscape software to screen hub targets. Next, we used Metascape for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and we employed AutoDock vina, AMBER18 and PyMOL software along with several auxiliary tools for molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Finally, based on the in silico findings, cellular experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of TM on HSP90AA1 gene expression.

Results

A total of 228 targets and 35 active ingredients were identified. Twenty two hub targets were selected through PPI networking construction for further investigation. The enrichment analysis showed that protein kinase binding, mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways were mainly involved. Molecular docking and MD simulation results supported good interaction between HSP90 protein and Austricin/Quercetin. The in vitro assay showed that TM inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells and the expression of HSP90AA1 gene.

Conclusions

This study is the first to use network pharmacology, molecular docking, MD simulation and cellular experiments to elucidate the active ingredients, molecular targets, and key biological pathways responsible for TM anti-HCC, providing a theoretical basis for further research.

The potential of dandelion in the fight against gastrointestinal diseases: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F. H. Wigg.), as a garden weed grown globally, has long been consumed as a therapeutic herb. Its folkloric uses include treatments of digestive disorders (dyspepsia, anorexia, stomach disorders, gastritis and enteritis) and associate complex ailments involving uterine, liver and lung disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aims to critically assess the current state of research and summarize the potential roles of dandelion and its constituents in gastrointestinal (GI) -protective actions. A focus is placed on the reported bioactive components, pharmacological activities and modes of action (including molecular mechanisms and interactions among bioactive substances) of dandelion products/preparations and derived active constituents related to GI protection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The available information published prior to August 2021 was reviewed via SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, Wiley On-line Library, and The Plant List. The search was based on the ethnomedical remedies, pharmacological activities, bioactive compounds of dandelion for GI protection, as well as the interactions of the components in dandelion with the gut microbiota or biological regulators, and with other ingested bioactive compounds. The key search words were "Taraxacum" and "dandelion".

RESULTS

T. coreanum Nakai, T. mongolicum and T. officinale are the most commonly used species for folkloric uses, with the whole plant, leaves and root of dandelion being used more frequently. GI-protective substances of dandelion include taraxasterol, taraxerol, caffeic acid, chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, luteolin and its glucosides, polysaccharides, inulin, and β-sitosterol. Dandelion products and derived constituents exhibit pharmacological effects against GI disorders, mainly including dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, small intestinal ulcer, ulcerative colitis, liver diseases, gallstones, acute pancreatitis, and GI malignancy. The underlying molecular mechanisms may include immuno-inflammatory mechanisms, apoptosis mechanism, autophagy mechanism, and cholinergic mechanism, although interactions of dandelion's constituents with GI health-related biological entities (e.g., GI microbiota and associated biological modulators) or other ingested bioactive compounds shouldn't be ignored.

CONCLUSION

The review reveals some in vivo and in vitro studies on the potential of dandelion derived products as complementary and alternative medicines/therapeutics against GI disorders. The whole herb may alleviate some symptoms related GI immuno-inflammatory basing on the abundant anti-inflammatory and anti-oxide active substances. Dandelion root could be a nontoxic and effective anticancer alternative, owing to its abundant terpenoids and polysaccharides. However, research related to GI protective dandelion-derived products remains limited. Besides the need of identifying bioactive compounds/complexes in various dandelion species, more clinical studies are also required on the metabolism, bioavailability and safety of these substances to support their applications in food, medicine and pharmaceuticals.

Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-tumor polyprenylphloroglucinols from Calophyllum polyanthum and primary mechanism

Five compounds were isolated from Calophyllum polyanthum leaves (10.09 g) by bioassay-guided fractionation to evaluate their anti-tumor activity. Among these compounds, apetalic acid (1) demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against 8 types of tumor cells (MHCC97H, CNE1, CNE2, B16, LOVO, SW480, A549, 1299), especially against two colon cancer cells (LOVO, SW480). Apetalic acid could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induce apoptosis. It could significantly up-regulate the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes (BAX, Caspase-9,) and proteins (BAX, Cleaved-caspase-9, Cleaved-caspase-3) and down-regulated the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis gene (Bcl-2) and proteins (Bcl-2, phosphorylated AKT). Possible mechanism of the antitumor activity of apetalic acid derived from Calophyllum polyanthum supports its use in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α: A critical target for inhibiting the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (Review)

Metastasis is one of the major reasons for patient mortality in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the progression of HCC to a metastatic state depends on the local microenvironment. Hypoxia is a key condition affecting the microenvironment of HCC. Currently, various studies have shown that the expression of hypoxia-ainducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is associated with the invasion and metastasis of HCC. High expression of HIF-1α often leads to poor prognosis in patients with HCC. In this review, the molecular structure of HIF-1α is described, and the expression pattern of HIF-1α in HCC under hypoxia, which is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in HCC, is explained. The molecular mechanisms of HIF-1α function and the metastasis of HCC are further discussed. The modulation of HIF-1α can reduce sorafenib resistance and improve the prognosis of patients after TACE. Therefore, HIF-1α may be a critical target for inhibiting HCC metastasis in the future.

The Regulatory Roles of Polysaccharides and Ferroptosis-Related Phytochemicals in Liver Diseases

Liver disease is a global health burden with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Liver injuries can develop into severe end-stage diseases, such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, without valid treatment. Therefore, identifying novel drugs may promote liver disease treatment. Phytochemicals, including polysaccharides, flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenes, are abundant in foods and medicinal plants and have various bioactivities, such as antioxidation, immunoregulation, and tumor killing. Recent studies have shown that many natural polysaccharides play protective roles in liver disease models in vitro and in vivo, such as fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, and liver cancer. The mechanisms of liver disease are complex. Notably, ferroptosis, a new type of cell death driven by iron and lipid peroxidation, is considered to be the key mechanism in many hepatic pathologies. Therefore, polysaccharides and other types of phytochemicals with activities in ferroptosis regulation provide novel therapeutic strategies for ferroptosis-related liver diseases. This review summarizes our current understanding of the mechanisms of ferroptosis and liver injury and compelling preclinical evidence of natural bioactive polysaccharides and phytochemicals in treating liver disease.

A review on plant polysaccharide based on drug delivery system for construction and application, with emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharide

Carbohydrate polymers with unique chemical composition, molecular weight and functional chemical groups show multiple potentials in drug delivery. Most carbohydrate polymers such as plant polysaccharides exhibit advantages of biodegradability, ease of modification, low immunogenicity and low toxicity. They can be conjugated, cross-linked or functionally modified, and then used as nanocarrier materials. Polysaccharide drug delivery system can avoid the phagocytosis of the reticuloendothelial system, prevent the degradation of biomolecules, and increase the bioavailability of small molecules, thus exerting effective therapeutic effects. Therefore, they have been fully explored. In this paper, we reviewed the construction methods of drug delivery systems based on carbohydrate polymers (astragalus polysaccharide, angelica polysaccharide, lycium barbarum polysaccharide, ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide, bletilla polysaccharide, glycyrrhiza polysaccharide, and epimedium polysaccharides, etc). The application of polysaccharide drug delivery systems to deliver small molecule chemotherapeutic drugs, gene drugs, and metal ion drugs was also briefly introduced. At the same time, the role of the polysaccharide drug delivery system in tumor treatment, targeted therapy, and wound healing was discussed. In addition, the research of polysaccharide delivery systems based on the therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine was also summarized and prospected.

Taraxasterol prompted the anti-tumor effect in mice burden hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating T lymphocytes

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common digestive malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, however, the treatment of HCC and prognosis of patients are not optimistic, finding more effective treatments are imperative. Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg is a perennial herb of compositae, and our study has demonstrated that Taraxacum officinale polysaccharide has certain anti-tumor effect on HCC cells. Taraxasterol (TS) is a natural product extracted from Taraxacum officinale with strong physiological, pharmacological and biological activities, but the effect of TS on HCC is yet to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of dandelion sterol on HCC in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that TS significantly inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis and blocked cell cycle in HCC cell lines HepG2 and Huh7 cells in vitro. TS inhibited the tumor growth of H22 bearing mice and the expression of Ki67 in vivo. More importantly, TS regulated the immunity of H22 bearing mice by elevating the ratio of CD4⁺ T cells in spleen, and increasing the number of T cell infiltration in tumor tissue. Except immunomodulation, the mechanism of tumor growth inhibition may be related to the regulation of apoptosis related proteins and IL-6/STAT3 pathway. TS significantly inhibited the growth of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. The study would provide a theoretical basis for the new application of TS and the adjuvant treatment of malignant tumor with traditional Chinese medicine.

Uncovering the mechanisms of dandelion against triple-negative breast cancer using a combined network pharmacology, molecular pharmacology and metabolomics approach

BACKGROUND

Taraxacum mongolicum, also called dandelion, has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for mammary abscess, mammary gland hyperplasia, and various other diseases afflicting the breast. In modern pharmacological research, dandelion has been proven to be effective against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the mechanisms of this anti-tumor effect have not been fully elucidated.

PURPOSE

The aim of this investigation was to understand the multi-target mechanisms through which dandelion counteracts TNBC via a network pharmacology strategy as well as to validate its effectiveness by means of molecular pharmacology and metabolomics assessments.

METHODS

A liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC-Q-TOF/MS) was employed to identify the absorbed components of dandelion in rat plasma. The network pharmacology-based prediction was utilized to uncover the potential mechanisms through which dandelion counteracts TNBC, during which potential targets were identified and pathway enrichment analysis was performed. Subsequently, TNBC cells and 4T1 tumor-bearing mice were used to further verify the molecular mechanisms of dandelion.

RESULTS

Twelve active compounds were identified in rat plasma, which were connected with 50 TNBC-related targets. The pathway enrichment showed that dandelion could treat TNBC through regulating a series of biological processes involving cell cycle and metabolism. Experimentally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that dandelion could arrest the G0/G1 and G2/M cell cycles in 4T1 cells. Further western blot analysis evidenced that the protein expression of kinase 6 (CDK6) as well as cyclins B1 and B2 in mice tumor tissue were suppressed by dandelion. In addition, cell metabolomics analysis revealed the changes in the endogenous metabolite levels that result from dandelion treatments, such as the downregulation of arginine and spermine levels. All these findings were consistent with the predicted targets and pathways.

CONCLUSION

This study comprehensively demonstrates the multi-target mechanisms of dandelion against TNBC using network pharmacology, molecular pharmacology, and metabolomics approaches. These findings will provide important stepping stones for further mechanism investigations and may lead to the development of highly effective dandelion-based treatments for TNBC.

Polysaccharides as Potential Anti-tumor Biomacromolecules —A Review

Cancer, as one of the most life-threatening diseases, has attracted the attention of researchers to develop drugs with minimal side effects. The bioactive macromolecules, such as the polysaccharides, are considered the potential candidates against cancer due to their anti-tumor activities and non-toxic characteristics. The present review provides an overview on polysaccharides' extraction, isolation, purification, mechanisms for their anti-tumor activities, structure-activity relationships, absorption and metabolism of polysaccharides, and the applications of polysaccharides in anti-tumor therapy. Numerous research showed extraction methods of polysaccharides had a significant influence on their activities. Additionally, the anti-tumor activities of the polysaccharides are closely related to their structure, while molecular modification and high bioavailability may enhance the anti-tumor activity. Moreover, most of the polysaccharides exerted an anti-tumor activity mainly through the cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenesis, apoptosis, and immunomodulation mechanisms. Also, recommendations were made to utilize the polysaccharides against cancer.

Frankincense myrrh attenuates hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating tumor blood vessel development through multiple epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), frankincense and myrrh are the main components of the antitumor drug Xihuang Pill. These compounds show anticancer activity in other biological systems. However, whether frankincense and/or myrrh can inhibit the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown, and the potential molecular mechanism(s) has not yet been determined.

AIM

To predict and determine latent anti-HCC therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of frankincense and myrrh in vivo.

METHODS

In the present study, which was based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (http://tcmspw.com/tcmsp.php), Universal Protein database (http://www.uniprot.org), GeneCards: The Human Gene Database (http://www.genecards.org/) and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (http://www.ctdbase.org/), the efficacy of and mechanism by which frankincense and myrrh act as anti-HCC compounds were predicted. The core prediction targets were screened by molecular docking. In vivo, SMMC-7721 human liver cancer cells were transplanted as xenografts into nude mice to establish a subcutaneous tumor model, and two doses of frankincense plus myrrh or one dose of an EGFR inhibitor was administered to these mice continuously for 14 d. The tumors were collected and evaluated: the tumor volume and growth rate were gauged to evaluate tumor growth; hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to estimate histopathological changes; immunofluorescence (IF) was performed to detect the expression of CD31, α-SMA and collagen IV; transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was conducted to observe the morphological structure of vascular cells; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the levels of secreted HIF-1α and TNF-α; reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to measure the mRNA expression of HIF-1α, TNF-α, VEGF and MMP-9; and Western blot (WB) was performed to determine the levels of proteins expressed in the EGFR-mediated PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.

RESULTS

The results of the network pharmacology analysis showed that there were 35 active components in the frankincense and myrrh extracts targeting 151 key targets. The molecular docking analysis showed that both boswellic acid and stigmasterol showed strong affinity for the targets, with the greatest affinity for EGFR. Frankincense and myrrh treatment may play a role in the treatment of HCC by regulating hypoxia responses and vascular system-related pathological processes, such as cytokine-receptor binding, and pathways, such as those involving serine/threonine protein kinase complexes and MAPK, HIF-1 and ErbB signaling cascades. The animal experiment results were verified. First, we found that, through frankincense and/or myrrh treatment, the volume of subcutaneously transplanted HCC tumors was significantly reduced, and the pathological morphology was attenuated. Then, IF and TEM showed that frankincense and/or myrrh treatment reduced CD31 and collagen IV expression, increased the coverage of perivascular cells, tightened the connection between cells, and improved the shape of blood vessels. In addition, ELISA, RT-qPCR and WB analyses showed that frankincense and/or myrrh treatment inhibited the levels of hypoxia-inducible factors, inflammatory factors and angiogenesis-related factors, namely, HIF-1α, TNF-α, VEGF and MMP-9. Furthermore, mechanistic experiments illustrated that the effect of frankincense plus myrrh treatment was similar to that of an EGFR inhibitor with regard to controlling EGFR activation, thereby inhibiting the phosphorylation activity of its downstream targets: the PI3K/Akt and MAPK (ERK, p38 and JNK) pathways.

CONCLUSION

In summary, frankincense and myrrh treatment targets tumor blood vessels to exert anti-HCC effects via EGFR-activated PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, highlighting the potential of this dual TCM compound as an anti-HCC candidate.

Halofuginone Sensitizes Lung Cancer Organoids to Cisplatin via Suppressing PI3K/AKT and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Cisplatin is the major DNA-damaging anticancer drug that cross-links the DNA in cancer cells, but many patients inevitably develop resistance with treatment. Identification of a cisplatin sensitizer might postpone or even reverse the development of cisplatin resistance. Halofuginone (HF), a natural small molecule isolated from Dichroa febrifuga, has been found to play an antitumor role. In this study, we found that HF inhibited the proliferation, induced G0/G1 phase arrest, and promoted apoptosis in lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. To explore the underlying mechanism of this antitumor effect of halofuginone, we performed RNA sequencing to profile transcriptomes of NSCLC cells treated with or without halofuginone. Gene expression profiling and KEGG analysis indicated that PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways were top-ranked pathways affected by halofuginone. Moreover, combination of cisplatin and HF revealed that HF could sensitize the cisplatin-resistant patient-derived lung cancer organoids and lung cancer cells to cisplatin treatment. Taken together, this study identified HF as a cisplatin sensitizer and a dual pathway inhibitor, which might provide a new strategy to improve prognosis of patients with cisplatin-resistant lung cancer.

Natural Products: A Promising Therapeutics for Targeting Tumor Angiogenesis

Tumor-associated angiogenesis is a key target for anti-cancer therapy. The imbalance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic signals elicited by tumor cells or tumor microenvironment always results in activating "angiogenic switch". Tumor angiogenesis functions in multi-aspects of tumor biology, including endothelial cell apoptosis, tumor metastasis, and cancer stem cell proliferation. Numerous studies have indicated the important roles of inexpensive and less toxic natural products in targeting tumor angiogenesis-associated cytokines and apoptotic signaling pathways. Our current knowledge of tumor angiogenesis is based mainly on experiments performed on cells and animals, so we summarized the well-established models for angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we classified and summarized the anti-angiogenic natural agents (Polyphenols, Polysaccharides, Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Saponins) in targeting various tumor types according to their chemical structures at present, and discussed the mechanistic principles of these natural products on regulating angiogenesis-associated cytokines and apoptotic signaling pathways. This review is to help understanding the recent progress of natural product research for drug development on anti-tumor angiogenesis.

Revealing the metabolic mechanism of dandelion extract against A549 cells using UPLC-QTOF MS

Dandelion extract shows potential anticancer activity and is expected to be a new type of natural anti-cancer drug. However, the effect mechanism of dandelion extract to lung cancer cells is still unclear. Here, untargeted metabolomics approach based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrograph (LC-MS) was used to characterize the metabolic responses of A549 cell to dandelion extract exposure, to provide new clues for the anti-tumor mechanism of dandelion extract from the perspective of metabolomics. A total of 16 differentially expressed and time-related metabolites were identified between dandelion extract exposure and control groups. The perturbed metabolic pathways of A549 cells after dandelion extract exposure mainly include the glycerophospholipid metabolism and purine metabolism. These results concluded that dandelion extract may exert anticancer activity by affecting the malignant proliferation, disturbing the stability of cell membrane structure, reducing the adhesion of tumor cells to extracellular matrix and fibronectin and finally inducing tumor cell death.

Updates and advances on pharmacological properties of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz and its potential applications

As a well-recognized dietary and medicinal plant, Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz (TMHM) has been used for making wines, candies, energy drinks, and other functional foods. The TMHM contains a diverse range of active phytoconstituents, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, sesquiterpene lactones, pigments, coumarins and sterols. Recent pharmacological evidence has revealed multiple biological effects of TMHM, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and gastric-protective effects, which contribute to the ameliorative effects of TMHM on inflammation-associated diseases, constipation, gastric disorders, empyrosis, hyperlipidemia, and swollen carbuncles. Although recent advances have highlighted the potential of TMHM to be applied in the clinical practice, food, and nutraceutical industry, the mechanistic understanding and systematic information on TMHM are still scarce. Here, in this timeline review, we have attempted to compile literary documents on pharmacological potential of TMHM concerning its chemical composition, biological activities, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics to promote further researches on clinical and therapeutic potential of TMHM and its food/nutraceutical applications.

A natural acylphloroglucinol triggered antiproliferative possessions in HEL cells by impeding STAT3 signaling and attenuating angiogenesis in transgenic zebrafish model

Leukemia is responsible for a reason of death, globally. Even though there are several treatment regimens available in the clinics against this disease, a perfect chemotherapeutic agent for the same is still under investigation. Natural plant-derived secondary metabolites are used in clinics to treat leukemia for better benefits with reduced side-effects. Likely, several bioactive compounds from Callistemon sp. were reported for their bioactive benefits. Furthermore, acylphloroglucinol derivatives from Callistemon salignus, showed both antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities in various adherent human cancer cell lines. Thus, in the present study, a natural acylphloroglucinol (2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxyisobutyrophenone, L72) was tested for its antiproliferative efficacy in HEL cells. The MTT and the cell cycle analysis study revealed that L72 treatment can offer antiproliferative effects, both time and dose-dependent manner, causing G₂/M cell cycle arrest. The western blot analysis revealed that L72 treatment triggered intrinsic apoptotic machinery and activated p21. Likewise, L72 could downregulate the gene expressions of XIAP, FLT3, IDH2, and SOD2, which was demonstrated by qPCR analysis, thus promoting its antiproliferative action. The L72 could impede STAT3 expression, which was evidenced by insilico autodock analysis and western blot analysis using STAT3 inhibitor, Pimozide. The treatment of transgenic (Flk-1+/egfr+) zebrafish embryos resulted in the STAT3 gene inhibition, proving its anti-angiogenic effect, as well. Thus, the study revealed that L72 could act as an antiproliferative agent, by triggering caspase-dependent intrinsic apoptosis, reducing cell proliferation by attenuating STAT3, and activating an anti-angiogenic pathway via Flk-1inhibition.

Reviews on mechanisms of in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities of water-soluble plant polysaccharides

Degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and antimicrobial resistance are becoming prominent health problems needing utmost public health attention. Curative interventions such as the use of pharmaceutical drugs and alternative plant medicines are increasingly being explored. Plant polysaccharides have gained attention for their promising bioactivities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Bioactive plant polysaccharides are also being preferred for their relatively few side effects compared to conventional pharmaceuticals. The elucidation of the bioactive potential of plant polysaccharides in disease treatment entails an understanding of the factors that determine their biofunctional properties using functional and mechanistic assays. This review summarizes the literature on the composition, structural, functional, and mechanistic determinations of the antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of plant polysaccharides. The outcome of this review highlights the leading trends in the elucidation of the antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of plant polysaccharides and underscores the promising health benefits of plant polysaccharides.

Fucoxanthin Exerts Anti-Tumor Activity on Canine Mammary Tumor Cells via Tumor Cell Apoptosis Induction and Angiogenesis Inhibition

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid derived from brown algae. It is known to exhibit anticancer activity, including the promotion of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in several tumors. However, it remains unclear whether fucoxanthin exhibits anticancer activity against mammary gland tumors. In this study, we evaluated fucoxanthin activity against canine mammary tumor cells (CMT-U27) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate its effect on cell viability, migration, tube formation, and angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) expression. Our results showed that fucoxanthin induced apoptosis via caspase activation in CMT-U27 cells. In rat aortic ring assay, fucoxanthin suppressed endothelial cell sprouting. Furthermore, fucoxanthin inhibited tube formation and migration in HUVECs. The number of migrated cells was assessed using CMT-U27 cells. The results demonstrated that fucoxanthin exerted anti-angiogenic activity on HUVECs and CMT-U27 cells by promoting Ang2 expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that fucoxanthin induced tumor cell death and inhibited angiogenesis, suggesting that fucoxanthin could be considered as a promising therapeutic agent for canine mammary gland tumors.