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Niamah AK, Al-Sahlany STG, Verma DK, Shukla RM, Patel AR, Tripathy S, Singh S, Baranwal D, Singh AK, Utama GL, Chávez González ML, Alhilfi WAH, Srivastav PP, Aguilar CN. Emerging lactic acid bacteria bacteriocins as anti-cancer and anti-tumor agents for human health. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37054. [PMID: 39286220 PMCID: PMC11402949 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Modern cancer diagnostics and treatment options have greatly improved survival rates; the illness remains a major cause of mortality worldwide. Current treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, are not cancer-specific and may cause harm to healthy cells; therefore, it is imperative that new drugs for cancer be developed that are both safe and effective. It has been found that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the potential to produce bacteriocins, which could potentially offer a promising alternative for cancer treatment. They have been shown in several studies to be effective against cancer cells while having no effect on healthy cells. More research is needed to fully understand the potential of LAB bacteriocins as anti-cancer medicines, to find the appropriate dose and delivery route, and to conduct clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the products in human patients, as is suggested by this work. Furthermore, LAB bacteriocins may evolve into a significant new class of anti-cancer drugs and food products. Patients with cancer may have a safe and effective alternative treatment option in the form of anti-cancer foods and drugs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide an in-depth analysis of the recent breakthroughs and potential future technical advancements of significant bacteriocins that are produced by LAB, how these bacteriocins function, and how these bacteriocins may be utilized as an anti-cancer agent. In addition, the current analysis emphasizes the significant constraints and boundaries that bacteriocins face when they are used as an anti-cancer factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Kareem Niamah
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Basra City, Iraq
| | | | - Deepak Kumar Verma
- Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India
| | - Rakesh Mohan Shukla
- Processing and Food Engineering Division, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology (CoAE&T), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 025, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ami R Patel
- Division of Dairy Microbiology, Mansinhbhai Institute of Dairy and Food Technology-MIDFT, Dudhsagar Dairy Campus, Mehsana-384 002, Gujarat, India
| | - Soubhagya Tripathy
- Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India
| | - Smita Singh
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Chitkara School of Health Sciences, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India
| | - Deepika Baranwal
- Department of Home Science, Arya Mahila PG College, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India
| | - Amit Kumar Singh
- Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda 210 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Gemilang Lara Utama
- Faculty of Agro-Industrial Technology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia
- Center for Environment and Sustainability Science, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Mónica L Chávez González
- Bioprocesses and Bioproducts Group, Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Saltillo Campus., 25280, Coahuila, Mexico
| | | | - Prem Prakash Srivastav
- Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India
| | - Cristobal Noe Aguilar
- Bioprocesses and Bioproducts Group, Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Saltillo Campus., 25280, Coahuila, Mexico
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Liu W, Zhao Y, Liu Q, Wu D, Li W, Fu Z, Yang L, Liang Y. Systematic bioinformatics analysis reveals the role of shikonin in blocking colon cancer progression by identifying senescence-induced genes. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1360587. [PMID: 39188951 PMCID: PMC11345165 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1360587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Shikonin, a naturally occurring naphthoquinone compound extracted from comfrey plants, has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Cell senescence plays a key role in preventing tumor progression. It is unclear whether shikonin has an effect on cell senescence in colon cancer. In the current study, we first determine the IC50 values of shikonin on colon cancer cell lines HT29 and HCT116. Then, we verified the inhibitory effects of shikonin on the proliferation and migration abilities of colon cancer cell lines HT29 and HCT116 using cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and wound healing assays. Next, we identified a series of potential targets using high-throughput mRNA sequencing and identified 210 upregulated and 296 downregulated genes. KEGG profiling revealed eight downregulated genes associated with cell senescence: CCNB3, IL-1α, CXCL8, CDKN2A, MYC, IGFBP3, SQSTM1, and GADD45G. Among them, CXCL8 and CDKN2A were associated with poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer, suggesting that their downregulation by shikonin could improve patient survival. Furthermore, SA-β-galactosidase staining revealed that the percentage of cellular senescence in colon cancer cells was significantly increased after shikonin treatment. Molecular docking revealed that shikonin suppressed colon cancer progression by blocking CXCL8 activity. Based on these findings, we deem that shikonin might induce senescence and exert antitumor activity in colon cancer cells by downregulating CDKN2A and CXCL8. This provides a new molecular mechanism and potential therapeutic target for shikonin to inhibit colon cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenna Liu
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yujia Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenxuan Li
- Laboratory of RNA Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenkai Fu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Le Yang
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ying Liang
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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Yang H, Chen XW, Song XJ, Du HY, Si FC. Baitouweng decoction suppresses growth of esophageal carcinoma cells through miR-495-3p/BUB1/STAT3 axis. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:3193-3210. [PMID: 39072160 PMCID: PMC11271792 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i7.3193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in human populations worldwide. Baitouweng decoction is one of the most important Chinese medicine formulas, with the potential to treat cancer. AIM To investigate the role and mechanism of Baitouweng decoction on EC cells. METHODS Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in EC tissues and normal tissues were screened by the cDNA microarray technique and by bioinformatics methods. The target genes of microRNAs were predicted based on the TargetScan database and verified by dual luciferase gene reporter assay. We used Baitouweng decoction to intervene EC cells, and detected the activity of EC9706 and KYSE150 cells by the MTT method. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The expression of BUB1 mRNA and miR-495-3p was measured by qRT-PCR. The protein levels of BUB1, STAT3, p-STAT3, CCNB1, CDK1, Bax, Caspase3, and Caspase9 were measured by Western blot analysis. The migration and invasion abilities of the cells were measured by wound-healing assay and Transwell invasion assay, respectively. RESULTS DEGs identified are involved in biological processes, signaling pathways, and network construction, which are mainly related to mitosis. BUB1 was the key hub gene, and it is also a target gene of miR-495-3p. Baitouweng decoction could upregulate miR-495-3p and inhibit BUB1 expression. In vitro experiments showed that Baitouweng decoction significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of EC cells and induced apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest. After treatment with Baitouweng decoction, the expression of Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9 in EC cells increased significantly, while the expression of BUB1, CCNB1, and CDK1 decreased significantly. Moreover, the STAT3 signaling pathway may play an important role in this process. CONCLUSION Baitouweng decoction has a significant inhibitory effect on EC cell growth. BUB1 is a potential therapeutic target for EC. Further analysis showed that Baitouweng decoction may inhibit the growth of EC cells by upregulating miR-495-3p targeting the BUB1-mediated STAT3 signal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Traditional Chinese Medicine School, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Chen
- Henan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Traditional Chinese Medicine School, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Xue-Jie Song
- Henan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Traditional Chinese Medicine School, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Hai-Yang Du
- Henan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Traditional Chinese Medicine School, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Fu-Chun Si
- Henan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Traditional Chinese Medicine School, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China
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Ma B, Hou P, Liu R, Cang A, Zhao L. Exploration of the Active Component and Mechanisms of Shengyu Decoction Against Myelosuppression Using Network Pharmacology and in vitro Experimental Validation. Drug Des Devel Ther 2024; 18:2405-2420. [PMID: 38915868 PMCID: PMC11195678 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s458953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM) is a common adverse reaction with a high incidence rate that seriously affects human health. Shengyu Decoction (SYD) is often used to treat CIM. However, its pharmacodynamic basis and therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. Purpose This study aimed to clarify the active components and mechanisms of SYD in CIM. Methods LC-QTOF/MS was used to identify the absorbable components of SYD. A series of network pharmacology methods have been applied to explore hub targets and potential mechanisms. Molecular docking was used to identify the binding ability of potential active ingredients and hub targets. Finally, in vitro experiments were performed to validate these findings. Results In this study, 33 absorbable prototype components were identified using LC-QTOF/MS. A total of 62 possible targets of SYD in myelosuppression were identified. KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that some signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt and HIF-1 may be the mechanisms by which it functions. Among them, we verified the PI3K-Akt pathway. 6 Hub proteins were screened by Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Molecular docking results showed that four absorbable components in SYD showed good binding with six Hub targets. The effectiveness of the four predicted compounds and the mechanism were verified in vitro. It has also been shown that the active component could promote the proliferation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and block apoptosis of BMSCs, which may be related to the PI3K-Akt pathway. This result is consistent with the network pharmacology approach and molecular docking predictions. Conclusion Our results provided not only the candidate active component of SYD, but also a new insights into mechanism of SYD in the treatment of CIM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, 110010, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengyi Hou
- SCIEX Analytical Instrument Trading Co, Shanghai, 200000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ran Liu
- School of Food and Drug, Shenzhen Polytechnic, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Aijun Cang
- Department of Pharmacy, People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, 110010, People’s Republic of China
| | - Limei Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110010, People’s Republic of China
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Du J. Study of Therapeutic Mechanisms of Bupi Yichang Formula against Colon Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology, Machine Learning, and Experimental Verification. Crit Rev Immunol 2024; 44:67-87. [PMID: 38421706 DOI: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.2023051509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Bupi Yichang formula (BPYCF) has shown the anti-cancer potential; however, its effects on colon cancer and the mechanisms remain unknown. This study intended to explore the effects of BPYC on colon cancer and its underlying mechanisms. BPYCF-related and colon cancer-related targets were acquired from public databases, followed by differentially expressed genes (DEG) identification. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using clusterProfiler. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING database. CytoHubba and MCODE to screen the hub targets. A diagnostic model was built using random forest algorithm. Molecular docking was conducted using PyMOL and AutoDock. High-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis and in vitro validation were performed. Forty-six overlapping targets of BPYCF-related, colon cancer-related targets, and DEGs were obtained. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the targets were mainly enriched in response to lipopolysaccharide, neuronal cell body, protein serine/threonine/tyrosine, as well as C-type lectin receptor, NOD-like receptor, and TNF signaling pathways. Five targets were identified as the pivotal targets, among which, NOS3, CASP8, RIPK3, and TNFRSF10B were stably docked with the core active component, naringenin. Naringenin was also identified from the BPYCF sample through HPLC-MS analysis. In vitro experiments showed that BPYCF inhibited cell viability, reduced NOS3 expression, and elevated CASP8, RIPK3, and TNFRSF10B expression in colon cancer cells. BPYCF might treat colon cancer mainly by regulating NOS3, CASP8, RIPK3, and TN-FRSF10B. This study first revealed the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of BPYCF against colon cancer, paving the path for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for this cancer in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Du
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University
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6
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Liu K, Cao Z, Huang S, Kong F. Mechanism underlying the effect of Pulsatilla decoction in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: a network pharmacology and in vitro analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:405. [PMID: 37950195 PMCID: PMC10636957 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04244-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a poor prognosis. Moreover, there exist limited strategies for treating HCC. Pulsatilla decoction (PD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and several cancer types. Accordingly, we explored the mechanism of PD in HCC treatment via network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. METHODS Online databases were searched for gene data, active components, and potential target genes associated with HCC development. Subsequently, bioinformatics analysis was performed using protein-protein interaction and Network Construction and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) to screen for potential anticancer components and therapeutic targets of PD. Finally, the effect of PD on HCC was further verified by in vitro experiments. RESULTS Network pharmacological analysis revealed that 65 compounds and 180 possible target genes were associated with the effect of PD on HCC. These included PI3K, AKT, NF-κB, FOS, and NFKBIA. KEGG analysis demonstrated that PD exerted its effect on HCC mainly via the PI3K-AKT, IL-17, and TNF signaling pathways. Cell viability and cell cycle experiments revealed that PD could significantly inhibit cancer cell proliferation and kill HCC cells by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, western blotting confirmed that apoptosis was mediated primarily via the PI3K-AKT, IL-17, and TNF signaling pathways. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to elucidate the molecular mechanism and potential targets of PD in the treatment of HCC using network pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuijie Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhenyu Cao
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Siqi Huang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fanhua Kong
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Hubei Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Huang S, Qu M, Chen X, Yu S, Kong F. Determining the mechanism of pulsatilla decoction for treating gastric cancer: a network pharmacology-based study. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1174848. [PMID: 37361599 PMCID: PMC10289198 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1174848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide. Pulsatilla decoction (PD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, can treat inflammatory bowel disease and cancers. In this study, we explored the bioactive components, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of PD in the treatment of GC. Methods We conducted a thorough search of online databases to gather gene data, active components, and potential target genes associated with the development of GC. Subsequently, we conducted bioinformatics analysis utilizing protein-protein interaction (PPI), network construction, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) to identify potential anticancer components and therapeutic targets of PD. Finally, the efficacy of PD in treating GC was further validated through in vitro experiments. Results Network pharmacological analysis identified 346 compounds and 180 potential target genes associated with the impact of PD on GC. The inhibitory effect of PD on GC may be mediated through modulation of key targets such as PI3K, AKT, NF-κB, FOS, NFKBIA, and others. KEGG analysis showed that PD mainly exerted its effect on GC through the PI3K-AKT, IL-17, and TNF signaling pathways. Cell viability and cell cycle experiments showed that PD could significantly inhibit proliferation and kill GC cells. Moreover, PD primarily induces apoptosis in GC cells. Western blotting analysis confirmed that the PI3K-AKT, IL-17, and TNF signaling pathways are the main mechanisms by which PD exerts its cytotoxic effects on GC cells. Conclusion We have validated the molecular mechanism and potential therapeutic targets of PD in treating GC through network pharmacological analysis, thereby demonstrating its anticancer efficacy against GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Manying Qu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaowu Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shaochen Yu
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fanhua Kong
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Hubei Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Wu R, Xi Z, Liu M, Ren H, Dai R, Jiang X, Nik Nabil WN, Wang Y, Feng J, Chai Q, Dong Q, Xu H. Pulsatilla Decoction and its bioactive component β-peltatin induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. Chin Med 2023; 18:61. [PMID: 37246229 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00774-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer (PAC), a malignancy that is fatal and commonly diagnosed at a late stage. Despite considerable advancements in cancer treatment, the survival rate of PAC remains largely consistent for the past 60 years. The traditional Chinese medicine formula Pulsatilla Decoction (PD) has been clinically used to treat inflammatory diseases for millennia and recently as a supplementary anti-cancer treatment in China. However, the bioactive ingredients and mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer effect remains unclear. METHODS The composition and quality control of PD were verified through analysis by high performance liquid chromatography. Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The cell cycle distribution was analyzed through PI staining and flow cytometry analysis, while apoptotic cells were measured by double staining with Annexin V-FITC and PI. We used immunoblotting to examine protein expressions. The in vivo effects of β-peltatin and podophyllotoxin were evaluated on a subcutaneously-xenografted BxPC-3 cell nude mice model. RESULTS The current study demonstrated that PD markedly inhibited PAC cell proliferation and triggered their apoptosis. Four herbal PD formula was then disassembled into 15 combinations of herbal ingredients and a cytotoxicity assay showed that the Pulsatillae chinensis exerted the predominant anti-PAC effect. Further investigation indicated that β-peltatin was potently cytotoxic with IC50 of ~ 2 nM. β-peltatin initially arrested PAC cells at G2/M phase, followed by apoptosis induction. Animal study confirmed that β-peltatin significantly suppressed the growth of subcutaneously-implanted BxPC-3 cell xenografts. Importantly, compared to podophyllotoxin that is the parental isomer of β-peltatin but clinically obsoleted due to its severe toxicity, β-peltatin exhibited stronger anti-PAC effect and lower toxicity in mice. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that Pulsatillae chinensis and particularly its bioactive ingredient β-peltatin suppress PAC by triggering cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhichao Xi
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Mengfan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hangui Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Rongchen Dai
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wan Najbah Nik Nabil
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Pharmaceutical Services Program, Ministry of Health, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 46200, Malaysia
| | - Yalin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jiling Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qiong Chai
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qihan Dong
- Chinese Medicine Anti-Cancer Evaluation Program, Greg Brown Laboratory, Central Clinical School and Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
| | - Hongxi Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Zijie W, Anan J, Hongmei X, Xiaofan Y, Shaoru Z, Xinyue Q. Exploring the potential mechanism of Fritiliariae Irrhosae Bulbus on ischemic stroke based on network pharmacology and experimental validation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1049586. [DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1049586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To study the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of Fritiliariae Irrhosae Bulbus (FIB) in the treatment of ischemic strokes based on a network pharmacology strategy, with a combination of molecular docking and animal experiments.Methods: The active components and targets of FIB were screened by TCMSP database and TCMIP database, and the related targets of ischemic strokes were screened by GeneCards, OMIM, CTD, and DrugBank, then the intersection targets of the two were taken. The protein interaction network was constructed by STRING, the PPI network diagram was drawn by using Cytoscape software, and the key targets of FIB treatment of ischemic strokes were analyzed by MCODE. The DAVID database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, and the potential pathway of FIB against ischemic strokes was obtained. Molecular docking was performed by using AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 software. Finally, a mouse model of ischemic stroke was established, and the results of network pharmacology were verified by in vivo experiments. Realtime Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to detect the expression levels of relevant mRNAs in the mouse brain tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of related proteins in the mouse brain tissue.Results: 13 kinds of active components of FIB were screened, 31 targets were found in the intersection of FIB and ischemic strokes, 10 key targets were obtained by MCODE analysis, 236 biological processes were involved in GO enrichment analysis, and key targets of KEGG enrichment analysis were mainly concentrated in Neuroactive light receptor interaction, Calcium signaling pathway, Cholinergic synapse, Hepatitis B, Apoptosis—multiple specifications, Pathways in cancer and other significantly related pathways. There was good binding activity between the screened main active components and target proteins when molecular docking was performed. Animal experiments showed that the infarct volume of brain tissue in the FIB treatment group was considerably reduced. RT-qPCR and the results of Western Blot showed that FIB could inhibit the expression of active-Caspase3, HSP90AA1, phosphorylated C-JUN, and COX2.Conclusion: Based on network pharmacology, the effect of FIB in the treatment of ischemic strokes was discussed through the multi-component-multi-target-multi-pathway. The therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of FIB on ischemic strokes were preliminarily explored, which provided a ground work for further researches on the pharmacodynamic material basis, mechanism of action and clinical application.
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Hu X, Zhang K, Pan G, Wang Y, Shen Y, Peng C, Deng L, Cui H. Cortex Mori extracts induce apoptosis and inhibit tumor invasion via blockage of the PI3K/AKT signaling in melanoma cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1007279. [PMID: 36339598 PMCID: PMC9627489 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1007279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma, the most aggressive and deadliest form of skin cancer, has attracted increased attention due to its increasing incidence worldwide. The Cortex Mori (CM) has long been used as a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat various diseases, including cancer. The bioactive components and underlying mechanisms, however, remain largely unknown. The current study aims to investigate the anti-melanoma effects of CM and potential mechanisms through combined network pharmacology and bioinformatic analyses, and validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. We report here that CM has anti-melanoma activity both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, 25 bioactive compounds in CM were found to share 142 melanoma targets, and network pharmacology and enrichment analyses suggested that CM inhibits melanoma through multiple biological processes and signaling pathways, particularly the PI3K-AKT signaling inhibition and activation of apoptotic pathways, which were further confirmed by biochemical and histological examinations. Finally, partial CM-derived bioactive compounds were found to show anti-melanoma effects, validating the anti-melanoma potential of bioactive ingredients of CM. Taken together, these results reveal bioactive components and mechanisms of CM in inhibiting melanoma, providing them as potential anti-cancer natural products for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Southwest University Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Kui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Southwest University Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Guangzhao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Southwest University Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Yinggang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Southwest University Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Southwest University Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Southwest University Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Longfei Deng
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, China
- Southwest University Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Chongqing, China
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