Focus on Formononetin: Anticancer Potential and Molecular Targets

Formononetin triggers ferroptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells by regulating the mTORC1/SREBP1/SCD1 pathway

Introduction

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant type of breast cancer, and its prognosis is still the worst. It is necessary to constantly explore the pathogenesis and effective therapeutic targets of TNBC. Formononetin is an active ingredient with anti-tumor effects that we screened earlier. The main purpose of this study is to elucidate mechanism of the inhibitory effect of Formononetin on TNBC.

Methods

We conducted experiments through both in vivo and in vitro methodologies. The in vivo experiments utilized a nude mice xenotransplantation model, while the in vitro investigations employed two breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468. Concurrently, ferroptosis associated proteins, lipid peroxide levels, and proteins related to the rapamycin complex 1 were analyzed in both experimental settings.

Results

In our study, Formononetin exhibits significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of triple TNBC, both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, it elicits an increase in lipid peroxide levels, downregulates the expression of ferroptosis-associated proteins GPX4 and xCT, and induces ferroptosis in breast cancer cells. Concurrently, Formononetin impedes the formation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and suppresses the expression of downstream Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1(SREBP1). The utilization of breast cancer cells with SREBP1 overexpression or knockout demonstrates that Formononetin induces ferroptosis by modulating the mTORC1-SREBP1 signaling axis.

Discussion

In conclusion, this study provides evidence that Formononetin exerts an anti-proliferative effect on triple-negative breast cancer by inducing ferroptosis. Moreover, the mTORC1-SREBP1 signal axis is identified as the primary mechanism through which formononetin exerts its therapeutic effects. These findings suggest that formononetin holds promise as a potential targeted drug for clinical treatment of TNBC.

A comprehensive apoptotic assessment of niloticin in cervical cancer cells: a tirucallane-type triterpenoid from Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) Parker

Pharmacologically active small organic molecules derived from natural resources are prominent drug candidates due to their inherent structural diversity. Herein, we explored one such bioactive molecule, niloticin, which is a tirucallane-type triterpenoid isolated from the stem barks of Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) Parker. After initial screening with other isolated compounds from the same plant, niloticin demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against cervical cancer cells (HeLa) with an IC50 value of 11.64 μM. Whereas the compound exhibited minimal cytotoxicity in normal epithelial cell line MCF-10A, with an IC50 value of 83.31 μM. Subsequently, in silico molecular docking studies of niloticin based on key apoptotic proteins such as p53, Fas, FasL, and TNF β revealed striking binding affinity, reflecting docking scores of -7.2, -7.1, -6.8, and -7.2. Thus, the binding stability was evaluated through molecular dynamic simulation. In a downstream process, the apoptotic capability of niloticin was effectively validated through in vitro fluorimetric assays, encompassing nuclear fragmentation. Additionally, an insightful approach involving surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) re-establishes the occurrence of DNA cleavage during cellular apoptosis. Furthermore, niloticin was observed to induce apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. This was evidenced by the upregulation of upstream regulatory molecules such as CD40 and TNF, which facilitate the activation of caspase 8. Concurrently, niloticin-induced p53 activation augmented the expression of proapoptotic proteins Bax and Bcl-2 and downregulation of IAPs, leading to the release of cytochrome C and subsequent activation of caspase 9. Therefore, the reflection of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis is in good agreement with molecular docking studies. Furthermore, the anti-metastatic potential was evidenced by wound area closure and Ki67 expression patterns. This pivotal in vitro assessment confirms the possibility of niloticin being a potent anti-cancer drug candidate, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive anticancer assessment of niloticin in HeLa cells.

Metabolomics-based profiling of five Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) species using untargeted data analysis workflow

INTRODUCTION

The genus Salvia L., a member of the family Lamiaceae, is a keystone genus with a wide range of medicinal properties. It possesses a rich metabolite source that has long been used to treat different disorders.

OBJECTIVES

Due to a deficiency of untargeted metabolomic profiling in the genus Salvia, this work attempts to investigate a comprehensive mass spectral library matching, computational data annotations, exclusive biomarkers, specific chemotypes, intraspecific metabolite profile variation, and metabolite enrichment by a case study of five medicinal species of Salvia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Aerial parts of each species were subjected to QTRAP liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis workflow based on untargeted metabolites. A comprehensive and multivariate analysis was acquired on the metabolite dataset utilizing MetaboAnalyst 6.0 and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) Web Platform.

RESULTS

The untargeted approach empowered the identification of 117 metabolites by library matching and 92 nodes annotated by automated matching. A machine learning algorithm as substructural topic modeling, MS2LDA, was further implemented to explore the metabolite substructures, resulting in four Mass2Motifs. The automated library newly discovered a total of 23 metabolites. In addition, 87 verified biomarkers of library matching, 58 biomarkers of GNPS annotations, and 11 specific chemotypes were screened.

CONCLUSION

Integrative spectral library matching and automated annotation by the GNPS platform provide comprehensive metabolite profiling through a workflow. In addition, QTRAP LC-MS/MS with multivariate analysis unveiled reliable information about inter and intraspecific levels of differentiation. The rigorous investigation of metabolite profiling presents a large-scale overview and new insights for chemotaxonomy and pharmaceutical studies.

Formononetin protects against Aspergillus fumigatus Keratitis: Targeting inflammation and fungal load

PURPOSE

To investigate the potential treatment of formononetin (FMN) on Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis with anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity.

METHODS

The effects of FMN on mice with A. fumigatus keratitis were evaluated through keratitis clinical scores, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and plate counts. The expression of pro-inflammatory factors was measured using RT-PCR, ELISA, or Western blot. The distribution of macrophages and neutrophils was explored by immunofluorescence staining. The antifungal properties of FMN were assessed through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), propidium iodide (PI) staining, fungal spore adhesion, and biofilm formation assay.

RESULTS

In A. fumigatus keratitis mice, FMN decreased the keratitis clinical scores, macrophages and neutrophils migration, and the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In A. fumigatus-stimulated human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), FMN reduced the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NLRP3. FMN also decreased the expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR). Moreover, FMN reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by A. fumigatus in HCECs. Furthermore, FMN inhibited A. fumigatus growth, prevented spore adhesion and disrupted fungal biofilm formation in vitro. In vivo, FMN treatment reduced the fungal load in mice cornea at 3 days post infection (p.i.).

CONCLUSION

FMN demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, and exhibited a protective effect on mouse A. fumigatus keratitis.

Formononetin alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by targeting the PARP-1/PARG/Iduna signaling pathway

Formononetin has been demonstrated to protect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, however its mechanism has to be further researched. This study examined the effect of formononetin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats using the PARP-1/PARG/Iduna signaling pathway. In male SD rats, a model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was developed. Animals were randomly assigned to one of eight groups: Sham operation, Sham operation + formononetin, MCAO, MCAO + formononetin, PARP inhibitor (PJ34) + MCAO, formononetin + PJ34 + MCAO, PARG inhibitor (Ethacridine lactate) + MCAO, and ethacridine lactate + formononetin. The neurological deficit test, TTC staining, HE staining, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, and western blotting were utilized to assess formononetin's protective effects in MCAO rats. The data show that formononetin can effectively alleviate neurological dysfunction and pathological changes in brain tissue in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, reduce the area of cerebral infarction and neuronal apoptosis, decrease the protein levels of PARP-1, PARG, Caspase-3, P53, and AIF in brain tissue, and increase the protein levels of Iduna and p-AKT. As a result, we concluded that formononetin improves brain ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by modulating the PARP-1/PARG/Iduna signaling pathway.

Combination of Formononetin and Sulforaphane Natural Drug Repress the Proliferation of Cervical Cancer Cells via Impeding PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

Natural substances have been demonstrated to be an unrivalled source of anticancer drugs in the present era of pharmacological development. Plant-based substances, together with their derivatives through analogues, play a significant character in the treatment of cancer by altering the tumor microenvironment and several signaling pathways. In this study, it was investigated whether the natural drugs, formononetin (FN) and sulforaphane (SFN), when combined, assess the efficacy of inhibiting cervical cancer cell proliferation by impeding the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in HeLa cells. The cells were treated with the combination of FN and SFN (FN + SFN) in various concentrations (0-50 µM) for 24 h and then analyzed for various experiments. The combination of FN + SFN-mediated cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTT assay. DCFH-DA staining was used to assess the ROS measurement, and apoptotic changes were studied by dual (AO/EtBr) staining assays. Protein expressions of cell survival, cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis protein were evaluated by flow cytometry and western blotting. Results showed that the cytotoxicity of FN and SFN was determined to be around 23.7 µM and 26.92 µM, respectively. Combining FN and SFN causes considerable cytotoxicity in HeLa cells, with an IC50 of 21.6 µM after 24-h incubation. Additionally, HeLa cells treated with FN and SFN together showed increased apoptotic signals and considerable ROS generation. Consequently, by preventing the production of PI3K, AKT, and mToR-mediated regulation of proliferation and cell cycle-regulating proteins, the combined use of FN + SFN has been regarded as a chemotherapeutic medication. Further research will need to be done shortly to determine how effectively the co-treatment promotes apoptosis to employ them economically.

New Insights into Mechanisms Traditional Chinese Medicine for Allergic Rhinitis by Regulating Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Pathways

Allergy rhinitis (AR) is becoming more common and has serious medical and societal consequences. Sneezing, paroxysmal nasal blockage, nasal itching, mucosal edema, coughing, and rhinorrhea are symptoms of this type I allergic immunological illness. Immunoglobulin E-mediated inflammation is the cause of it. Because AR is prone to recurrent attacks, extended medication therapy may impair its effectiveness. In addition to negatively affecting the patients' physical health, this can also negatively impact their mental health. During AR development, there are inflammatory and oxidative stress responses that are linked to problems in a number of signal transduction pathways. By using the terms "allergic rhinitis", "traditional Chinese medicine", "inflammation", and "oxidative stress", we screened for pertinent research published over the previous five years in databases like PubMed. We saw that NF-KB, TLR, IL-33/ST2, PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Nrf2 are some of the most important inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in AR. Studies have revealed that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy reduced the risk of AR and was therapeutic; however, the impact of the therapy varies widely. The Chinese medical system places a high value on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been there for virtually all of China's 5000-year history. By influencing signaling pathways related to inflammation and oxidative stress, Chinese herbal medicine and its constituent compounds have been shown to prevent allergic rhinitis. This review will focus on this evidence and provide references for clinical treatment and scientific research applications.

Formononetin and Dihydroartemisinin Act Synergistically to Induce Apoptosis in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Lines

OBJECTIVE

Enhanced cell survival and drug resistance in tumor cells have been linked to the overexpression of antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family proteins, including Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of formononetin and dihydroartemisinin combination on the growth and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this experimental study, the cell survival and cell proliferation were tested by MTT assay and trypan blue staining. The evaluation of cell apoptosis was conducted using Hoechst 33342 staining and a colorimetric assay to measure caspase-3 activity. To determine the mRNA levels of Mcl-1, Bcl-2, Bax, and Cyclin D1, a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed.

RESULTS

We showed that treatment with either formononetin or dihydroartemisinin alone, led to significant decrease in the cell survival and growth, and triggered apoptosis in U937 and KG-1 AML cell lines. Moreover, treatment with each of the compounds alone significantly decreased the mRNA levels of Mcl-1, Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1 mRNA, while, the expression level of Bax mRNA was enhanced. Combination of two compounds showed a synergistic anti-cancer effect.

CONCLUSION

The anti-leukemic potential of formononetin and dihydroartemisinin is exerted through the effect on cell cycle progression and intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Therefore, they can be considered as a potential anti-leukemic agent alone or along with existing chemotherapeutic drugs.

Identification of formononetin as the active compound of CR-SR in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: An integrated approach combining network pharmacology and weighted gene co-expression networks

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a life-threatening disease for which there is no cure. Traditional Chinese medicine is a treasure trove of Medicinals that has been used for thousands of years. In China, the traditional herb pair, Curcumae Rhizoma and Sparganii Rhizoma (CR-SR) represent a classic herbal combination used for the treatment of HCC. However, the drug targets and pharmacological mechanism of action of CR-SR in the treatment of HCC are unclear. To address this, we screened the active components and drug targets of CR-SR from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and a high-throughput experiment- and reference-guided database of traditional Chinese medicines (HERB database). Combined with the weighted co-expression network analysis of dataset GSE76427, we constructed an active component-target-disease regulatory network. It was found that CR-SR's active components for HCC treatment included trans-gondoic acid, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, hederagenin, and formononetin. These compounds specifically targeted the genes Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1), Cyclin A2 (CCNA2), Checkpoint Kinase 1 (CHEK1), and Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 (NCOA2). ESR1, CCNA2, and CHEK1 genes showed significant differences in survival prognosis, expression levels, and statistical significance during the pathological stage. Moreover, their high affinity for formononetin was determined through molecular docking analysis. Cell assays and high-throughput sequencing were performed to reveal that the inhibitory effect of formononetin on HepG2 cell proliferation was related to hepatocyte metabolism and cell cycle regulation-related pathways. This study provides insights into potential HCC treatments.

Podophyllotoxin: Recent Advances in the Development of Hybridization Strategies to Enhance Its Antitumoral Profile

Podophyllotoxin is a naturally occurring cyclolignan isolated from rhizomes of Podophyllum sp. In the clinic, it is used mainly as an antiviral; however, its antitumor activity is even more interesting. While podophyllotoxin possesses severe side effects that limit its development as an anticancer agent, nevertheless, it has become a good lead compound for the synthesis of derivatives with fewer side effects and better selectivity. Several examples, such as etoposide, highlight the potential of this natural product for chemomodulation in the search for new antitumor agents. This review focuses on the recent chemical modifications (2017-mid-2023) of the podophyllotoxin skeleton performed mainly at the C-ring (but also at the lactone D-ring and at the trimethoxyphenyl E-ring) together with their biological properties. Special emphasis is placed on hybrids or conjugates with other natural products (either primary or secondary metabolites) and other molecules (heterocycles, benzoheterocycles, synthetic drugs, and other moieties) that contribute to improved podophyllotoxin bioactivity. In fact, hybridization has been a good strategy to design podophyllotoxin derivatives with enhanced bioactivity. The way in which the two components are joined (directly or through spacers) was also considered for the organization of this review. This comprehensive perspective is presented with the aim of guiding the medicinal chemistry community in the design of new podophyllotoxin-based drugs with improved anticancer properties.

The potential role of formononetin in cancer treatment: An updated review

Currently, cancer is one of the main research topics, due to its high incidence and drug resistance to existing anti-cancer drugs. Formononetin, a natural product with phytoestrogenic properties and diverse biological functions, has attracted the attention of researchers working on anticancer drugs. Formononetin emerges as an intriguing bioactive substance compared to other isoflavones as it exhibits potent chemotherapeutic activity with less toxicity. Formononetin effectively plays a significant role in inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion, and metastatic abilities of cancer cells by targeting major signaling pathways at the junction of interconnected pathways. It also induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by modulating mediator proteins. It causes upregulation of key factors such as p-AKT, p38, p21, and p53 and downregulation of NF-κB. Furthermore, formononetin regulates the neoplastic microenvironment by inactivating the ERK1/2 pathway and lamin A/C signaling and has been reported to inactivate JAK/STAT, PKB or AKT, and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and to suppress cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in human cancer cells. To assist researchers in further exploring formononetin as a potential anticancer therapeutic candidate, this review focuses on both in vitro and in vivo proof of concept studies, patents, and clinical trials pertinent to formononetin's anticancer properties. Overall, this review discusses formononetin from a comprehensive perspective to highlight its potential benefits as an anticancer agent.

Enhancing Anticancer Efficacy of Formononetin Microspheres via Microfluidic Fabrication

Formononetin is a flavonoid compound with anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its low solubility limits its clinical use. We employed microfluidic technology to prepare formononetin-loaded PLGA-PEGDA microspheres (Degradable polymer PLGA, Crosslinking agent PEGDA), which can encapsulate and release drugs in a controlled manner. We optimized and characterized the microspheres, and evaluated their antitumor effects. The microspheres had uniform size, high drug loading efficiency, high encapsulation efficiency, and stable release for 35 days. They also inhibited the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The antitumor mechanism involved the induction of reactive oxygen species and modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins. These findings suggested that formononetin-loaded PLGA-PEGDA microspheres, created using microfluidic technology, could be a novel drug delivery system that can overcome the limitations of formononetin and enhance its antitumor activity.

Gut microbiota disruption during sepsis and the influence of innate metabolites on sepsis prognosis

Sepsis causes high mortality in intensive care units. Although there have been many studies on the gut microbiota in patients with sepsis, the impact of sepsis on the gut microbiota has not been directly determined because the treatment of sepsis also affects the gut microbiota. Therefore, we designed this animal experiment to explore gut microbiota alterations during sepsis. Mice were divided into two groups, mice that survived less than 3 days and mice that survived more than 3 days. Fecal samples collected on the day of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), as well as on the 3rd and 7th days after CLP, were subjected to microbial community analysis and nontargeted metabolomics analysis. The results showed significantly lower bacterial diversity in fecal samples after CLP. At the genus level, the fecal samples obtained on the 3rd and 7th days after CLP exhibited significantly increased relative abundances of Bacteroides, Helicobacter, etc., and significantly decreased relative abundances of Alloprevotella, Prevotella, etc. Innate metabolite levels were significantly different in mice that survived less than 3 days and mice that survived more than 3 days. In conclusion, CLP-induced sepsis in mice changes the structure of the gut microbiome, and innate metabolites affect the prognosis of septic mice.

Sijunzi Decoction Targets IL1B and TNF to Reduce Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in Ulcerative Colitis: Evidence from Silicon Prediction and Experiment Validation

Purpose

This study was conducted to explore the mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction (SJZ) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

The study aimed to investigate the active components and targets of SJZ in the treatment of UC by screening databases such as TCMSP, GeneCards, OMIM, Distinct, TTD, and Drugbank. An online Venn tool, Cytoscape 3.7.2, and Autodock Tools were used to analyze the components and targets. The study also used a mouse model of UC to further investigate the effects of SJZ. HE staining, immunofluorescence, ELISA, qPCR, and Western blot were used to detect various indices.

Results

Eighty-three active components and 112 action targets were identified from SJZ, including 67 targets for treating UC-related NETs. The five core targets identified were AKT1, JUN, IL1B, PTGS2, and TNF, and molecular docking studies indicated that the five targets were well-docked with ginsenoside Rh2, isoflavones, and formononetin. Animal experiments demonstrated that SJZ could alleviate various parameters such as weight, colon length, spleen index, disease activity index, and intestinal pathology of the UC mice. Immunofluorescence and Western blot showed that SJZ could reduce the expression of IL1B and TNF in intestinal neutrophils while increasing the expression of Occludin. Cellular immunofluorescence suggests that SJZ can reduce the expression of TNF and IL1B in NETs. The qPCR results also suggested that SJZ could inhibit TNF signal. Furthermore, ELISA results suggested that SJZ could inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) while promoting the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-37, TGF-β).

Conclusion

SJZ treats UC by reducing the content of intestinal NETs, with primary targets on the NETs being IL1B and TNFand suppress TNF signal. The practical components of SJZ may be ginsenoside Rh2, isoflavones, and formononetin.

Tailoring Potential Natural Compounds for the Treatment of Luminal Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide, mainly affecting the epithelial cells from the mammary glands. When it expresses the estrogen receptor (ER), the tumor is called luminal BC, which is eligible for endocrine therapy with hormone signaling blockade. Hormone therapy is essential for the survival of patients, but therapeutic resistance has been shown to be worrying, significantly compromising the prognosis. In this context, the need to explore new compounds emerges, especially compounds of plant origin, since they are biologically active and particularly promising. Natural products are being continuously screened for treating cancer due to their chemical diversity, reduced toxicity, lower side effects, and low price. This review summarizes natural compounds for the treatment of luminal BC, emphasizing the activities of these compounds in ER-positive cells. Moreover, their potential as an alternative to endocrine resistance is explored, opening new opportunities for the design of optimized therapies.

Gut microbiota: A magical multifunctional target regulated by medicine food homology species

BACKGROUND

The relationship between gut microbiota and human health has gradually been recognized. Increasing studies show that the disorder of gut microbiota is related to the occurrence and development of many diseases. Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota are responsible for their extensive regulatory roles. In addition, naturally derived medicine food homology species with low toxicity and high efficiency have been clearly defined owing to their outstanding physiological and pharmacological properties in disease prevention and treatment.

AIM OF REVIEW

Based on supporting evidence, the current review summarizes the representative work of medicine food homology species targeting the gut microbiota to regulate host pathophysiology and discusses the challenges and prospects in this field. It aims to facilitate the understanding of the relationship among medicine food homology species, gut microbiota, and human health and further stimulate the advancement of more relevant research.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

As this review reveals, from the initial practical application to more mechanism studies, the relationship among medicine food homology species, gut microbiota, and human health has evolved into an irrefutable interaction. On the one hand, through affecting the population structure, metabolism, and function of gut microbiota, medicine food homology species maintain the homeostasis of the intestinal microenvironment and human health by affecting the population structure, metabolism, and function of gut microbiota. On the other hand, the gut microbiota is also involved in the bioconversion of the active ingredients from medicine food homology species and thus influences their physiological and pharmacological properties.

Modular characteristics and mechanism of action of herbs for type 2 diabetes treatment in Chinese medicine

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has emerged as a global epidemic, and conventional treatment approaches often face limitations in achieving long-term glycemic control and preventing complications. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a valuable alternative for managing T2D, with a long history of effectively using herbal formulations in clinical practice. However, the modular characteristics of these herbs and their specific mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. To comprehensively investigate the modular characteristics and mechanisms of Chinese herbs in treating T2D, as well as explore the synergistic interactions among different herbs and their modular components, we employed data mining, systematic pharmacology, and molecular docking. Our aim was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential therapeutic targets and pathways involved in herbal T2D treatment. In this study, a total of 1114 studies investigating the effects of TCM interventions in the treatment of T2D in adults were included. The analysis revealed 170 distinct types of Chinese herbs, 118 active components, and 238 common targets shared between the medicine and T2D. Additionally, this study identified six hub proteins (TNF, MMP2, PTGS, CASP3, CASP8, and CASP9) and two key chemicals (Diosgenin and Formononetin) found in TCM-mediated T2D suppression. It was observed that these proteins could bind with the ingredients. The MMP2-Diosgenin interaction exhibited the lowest binding free energy (-13.05 kJ/mol) and was primarily driven by hydrogen bonds with ALA-165. TNF-Diosgenin (-10.5 kcal/mol) showed three hydrogen bonds with LEU-37, ARG-82, and ASN-30. PTGS2 and Diosgenin (-8.71 kJ/mol) demonstrated a hydrogen bond with HIS-214. Furthermore, CASP9-Formononetin (-6.53 kcal/mol) exhibited the lowest binding free energy and hydrogen bonds with GLU-261 and SER-339 as the primary forces involved. CASP3-Formononetin (-6.07 kcal/mol) displayed three hydrogen bonds with ASN-342, TRP-348, and GLU-379. Lastly, CASP8 and Formononetin (-6.06 kJ/mol) formed a hydrogen bond with THR-390, TYR-392, and TYR-334. Moreover, critical therapeutic pathways, such as the immune inflammatory response, AGE-RAGE, and IL-17 signaling pathway, were found to be associated with T2D Chinese herb therapy. In conclusion, this study sheded light on the modular characteristics and mechanism of action of herbs used in Chinese Medicine for the treatment of T2D, which provided valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners in the field of Chinese Medicine, offering potential avenues for improved treatment strategies and personalized approaches to address the complex nature of T2D.

Multi-Anticancer Activities of Phytoestrogens in Human Osteosarcoma

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived bioactive compounds with estrogen-like properties. Their potential health benefits, especially in cancer prevention and treatment, have been a subject of considerable research in the past decade. Phytoestrogens exert their effects, at least in part, through interactions with estrogen receptors (ERs), mimicking or inhibiting the actions of natural estrogens. Recently, there has been growing interest in exploring the impact of phytoestrogens on osteosarcoma (OS), a type of bone malignancy that primarily affects children and young adults and is currently presenting limited treatment options. Considering the critical role of the estrogen/ERs axis in bone development and growth, the modulation of ERs has emerged as a highly promising approach in the treatment of OS. This review provides an extensive overview of current literature on the effects of phytoestrogens on human OS models. It delves into the multiple mechanisms through which these molecules regulate the cell cycle, apoptosis, and key pathways implicated in the growth and progression of OS, including ER signaling. Moreover, potential interactions between phytoestrogens and conventional chemotherapy agents commonly used in OS treatment will be examined. Understanding the impact of these compounds in OS holds great promise for developing novel therapeutic approaches that can augment current OS treatment modalities.

YuPingFengSan ameliorates LPS-induced acute lung injury and gut barrier dysfunction in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yupingfengsan (YPFS) is a traditional Chinese medicine decoction. YPFS comprises Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Huangqi), Atractylodes rubra Dekker (Baizhu), and Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.ex Ledeb.) Schischk (Fangfeng). YPFS is commonly used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, respiratory infections, and pneumonia, but the mechanism of action remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) cause morbidity and mortality in critical patients. YPFS is a commonly used herbal soup to treat respiratory and immune system diseases. Nevertheless, the effect of YPFS on ALI remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of YPFS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in mice and elucidate its potential molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The major components of YPFS were detected by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). C57BL/6J mice were given YPFS for seven days and then treated with LPS. IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, iNOS, NLRP3, PPARγ, HO-1, ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP5, ENaCα, ENaCβ, EnaCγ mRNA in lung and ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP5, ENaCα, ENaCβ, and EnaCγ mRNA in colon tissues were measured by Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The expressions of TLR4, MyD88, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), ASC, MAPK signaling pathway, Nrf2, and HO-1 in the lung were detected by Western blot. Plasma inflammatory factors Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Lung tissues were processed for H & E staining, and colon tissues for HE, WGA-FITC, and Alcian Blue staining.

RESULTS

The results showed that YPFS administration alleviated lung injury and suppressed the production of inflammatory factors, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Additionally, YPFS reduced pulmonary edema by promoting the expressions of aquaporin and sodium channel-related genes (AQP3, AQP4, AQP5, ENaCα, ENaCβ, and EnaCγ). Further, YPFS intervention exhibited a therapeutic effect on ALI by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and MAPK signaling pathways. Finally, YPFS improved gut barrier integrity and suppressed intestinal inflammation in LPS-challenged mice.

CONCLUSIONS

YPFS protected mice against LPS-induced ALI by attenuating lung and intestinal tissue damage. This study sheds light on the potential application of YPFS to treat ALI/ARDS.

Formononetin Inhibits Progression of Endometriosis via Regulation of p27, pSTAT3, and Progesterone Receptor: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

OBJECTIVES

Formononetin is one of the phytoestrogens that functions like a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). In this study, we evaluated the effects of formononetin on endometriosis progression in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After pathological confirmation, 10 eutopic and ectopic endometria were collected from patients with endometriosis. Ten eutopic endometria samples were collected from patients who did not have endometriosis. To determine the cytotoxic dose and therapeutic dose of formononetin, the concentration of 70% of the cells that survived after formononetin administration was estimated using a Cell counting kit-8 (CCK 8) assay. Western blot analysis was used to determine the relative expression levels of BAX, p53, pAKT, ERK, pERK, p27, and pSTAT3 in the eutopic endometria without endometriosis, eutopic endometria with endometriosis, and ectopic endometria with endometriosis as the formononetin concentration was increased. We confirmed the effect of formononetin on apoptosis and migration in endometriosis using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and wound healing assays, respectively. A mouse model of endometriosis was prepared using a non-surgical method, as previously described. The mice were intraperitoneally administered formononetin for four weeks after dividing them into control, low-dose formononetin (40 mg/kg/day) treatment, and high-dose (80 mg/kg/day) formononetin treatment groups. All the mice were euthanized after formononetin treatment. Endometriotic lesions were retrieved and confirmed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of p27 was performed.

RESULTS

We set the maximum concentration of formononetin administration to 80 μM through the CCK8 assay. Based on formononetin concentration, the expression levels of BAX, p53, pAKT, ERK, pERK, p27, and pSTAT3 proteins were measured using Western blot analysis (N = 4 per group). The expression level of pERK, p27, and pSTAT3 in eutopic endometrium with endometriosis tended to decrease with increasing formononetin concentration, and a significant decrease was noted at 80 μM. The expression of p27 in ectopic endometrium with endometriosis was also significantly decreased at 80 μM of formononetin. FACS analysis revealed that formononetin did not significantly affect apoptosis. In the wound healing assay, formononetin treatment revealed a more significant decrease in the proliferation of the eutopic endometrium in patients with endometriosis than in the eutopic endometrium without endometriosis. Relative expression of sex hormone receptors decreased with increasing formononetin doses. Although no significant differences were observed in the ER, PR-A, ERβ/ERα, and PR-B/PR-A, significant down-regulation of PR-B expression was noted after formononetin treatment at 80 μM. In the in vivo study, endometriotic lesions in the formononetin-treated group significantly decreased compared to those in the control group. The relative expression of p27 using IHC was highest in the control group and lowest in the high-dose formononetin treatment group.

CONCLUSIONS

Formononetin treatment was shown to inhibit the proliferation of eutopic and ectopic endometria in patients with endometriosis through the regulation of p27, pSTAT3, and PR-B. In an endometriosis mouse model, formononetin treatment significantly reduced the number of endometriotic lesions with decreased p27 expression. The results of this study suggest that formononetin may be used as a non-hormonal treatment option for endometriosis.

Effects of Natural Product-Derived Compounds on Inflammatory Pain via Regulation of Microglial Activation

Inflammatory pain is a type of pain caused by tissue damage associated with inflammation and is characterized by hypersensitivity to pain and neuroinflammation in the spinal cord. Neuroinflammation is significantly increased by various neurotransmitters and cytokines that are expressed in activated primary afferent neurons, and it plays a pivotal role in the development of inflammatory pain. The activation of microglia and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are the hallmark features of neuroinflammation. During the development of neuroinflammation, various intracellular signaling pathways are activated or inhibited in microglia, leading to the regulation of inflammatory proteins and cytokines. Numerous attempts have been conducted to alleviate inflammatory pain by inhibiting microglial activation. Natural products and their compounds have gained attention as potential candidates for suppressing inflammatory pain due to verified safety through centuries of use. Many studies have also shown that natural product-derived compounds have the potential to suppress microglial activation and alleviate inflammatory pain. Herein, we review the literature on inflammatory mediators and intracellular signaling involved in microglial activation in inflammatory pain, as well as natural product-derived compounds that have been found to suppress microglial activation. This review suggests that natural product-derived compounds have the potential to alleviate inflammatory pain through the suppression of microglial activation.

Potential Therapeutic Targets of Formononetin, a Type of Methoxylated Isoflavone, and Its Role in Cancer Therapy through the Modulation of Signal Transduction Pathways

Cancer is one of the main causes of death in all developed and developing countries. Various factors are involved in cancer development and progression, including inflammation and alterations in cellular processes and signaling transduction pathways. Natural compounds have shown health-promoting effects through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, having an important role in the inhibition of cancer growth. In this regard, formononetin, a type of isoflavone, plays a significant role in disease management through the modulation of inflammation, angiogenesis, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Furthermore, its role in cancer management has been proven through the regulation of different signal transduction pathways, such as the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT 3), Phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), and mitogen activating protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. The anticancer potential of formononetin has been reported against various cancer types, such as breast, cervical, head and neck, colon, and ovarian cancers. This review focuses on the role of formononetin in different cancer types through the modulation of various cell signaling pathways. Moreover, synergistic effect with anticancer drugs and methods to improve bioavailability are explained. Thus, detailed studies based on clinical trials are required to explore the potential role of formononetin in cancer prevention and treatment.

Investigation of apoptotic and antiproliferative effects of Turkish natural tetraploids Trifolium pratense L. extract on C6 glioblastoma cells via light and electron microscopy

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of primary brain tumors in adults, characterized by its ability to proliferate rapidly and its tendency to aggressively and strongly invaded the surrounding brain tissue. The standard treatment approach of GBM is surgical resection followed by simultaneous chemotherapy and radiation. However, a significant number of GBM cases develop resistance to currently used chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, there is a need for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents. Trifoliumpratense L. is an endemic plant containing various isoflavones such as biochanin A, genistein, daidzein, and formononetin in high concentrations, and it has been shown in various studies that these molecules can function as anticancer agents. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the possible anticarcinogenic effects of the Trifolium pratense L. which grown in our country and to obtain new treatment approaches alternative to the classical treatment protocols applied in the treatment of GBM. C6 glioblastoma cells were cultured with Trifolium pratense L. Cell proliferation, apoptotic cell morphology, and cell structure were evaluated with CCK8, Annexin V, cytochrome c, CD117, and Betatubulin labeling, respectively. And also, investigated effects of this Turkish tetraploid on GBM by TEM. Decreased cell proliferation and increased number of apoptotic cells were observed depending on the increasing doses of Trifolium pratense L. In addition, intense morphological changes were detected depending on increasing doses. In this context, we believe that the plant Trifolium pratense L., may be a new alternative and adjuvant agent for the treatment of GBM.

The Journey of Resveratrol from Vineyards to Clinics

With rising technological advancements, several factors influence the lifestyle of people and stimulate chronic inflammation that severely affects the human body. Chronic inflammation leads to a broad range of physical and pathophysiological distress. For many years, non-steroidal drugs and corticosteroids were most frequently used in treating inflammation and related ailments. However, long-term usage of these drugs aggravates the conditions of chronic diseases and is presented with morbid side effects, especially in old age. Hence, the quest for safe and less toxic anti-inflammatory compounds of high therapeutic potential with least adverse side effects has shifted researchers' attention to ancient medicinal system. Resveratrol (RSV) - 3,4,5^' trihydroxystilbene is one such naturally available polyphenolic stilbene derivative obtained from various plant sources. For over 2000 years, these plants have been used in Asian medicinal system for curing inflammation-associated disorders. There is a wealth of in vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence that shows RSV could induce anti-aging health benefits including, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, phytoesterogenic, and cardio protective properties. However, the issue of rapid elimination of RSV through the metabolic system and its low bio-availability is of paramount importance which is being studied extensively. Therefore, in this article, we scientifically reviewed the molecular targets, biological activities, beneficial and contradicting effects of RSV as evinced by clinical studies for the prevention and treatment of inflammation-mediated chronic disorders.

Effects of Isoflavone-Rich NADES Extract of Pueraria lobata Roots and Astaxanthin-Rich Phaffia rhodozyma Extract on Prostate Carcinogenesis in Rats

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common male malignancies worldwide. In the current study, we evaluated the effects of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) extract of Pueraria lobata roots rich in isoflavones (ISF) and Phaffia rhodozyma extract rich in astaxanthin (ASX) on an N-methyl-N-nitrosourea plus testosterone PCa model in rats. ISF consisted of puerarin, daidzein, genistein, formononetin and other polyphenols, while ASX contained lipids and unsaturated species in addition to astaxanthin. Extracts were administered through a whole promotion period in daily doses shown by our group to successfully inhibit benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) development - 200 mg/kg for ISF and 25 mg/kg for ASX. Though a similar effect was found for BPH processes accompanying PCa induction, the incidence of PCa in animals treated with placebo, ISF and ASX was 37%, 37% and 41%, respectively, showing no chemopreventive activity of ISF and ASX. PCa development was associated with a decrease in the Ca/Mg ratio in serum and an increase in prostate tissue. Treatment with both extracts produced a normalization effect on Ca balance in serum, which, combined with a decrease in the prostatic index, suggests some positive health effects of ISF and ASX.

Withaferin A: A Pleiotropic Anticancer Agent from the Indian Medicinal Plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Cancer represents the second most deadly disease and one of the most important public health concerns worldwide. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immune therapy are the major types of treatment strategies that have been implemented in cancer treatment. Unfortunately, these treatment options suffer from major limitations, such as drug-resistance and adverse effects, which may eventually result in disease recurrence. Many phytochemicals have been investigated for their antitumor efficacy in preclinical models and clinical studies to discover newer therapeutic agents with fewer adverse effects. Withaferin A, a natural bioactive molecule isolated from the Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, has been reported to impart anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines and preclinical cancer models by modulating the expression and activity of different oncogenic proteins. In this article, we have comprehensively discussed the biosynthesis of withaferin A as well as its antineoplastic activities and mode-of-action in in vitro and in vivo settings. We have also reviewed the effect of withaferin A on the expression of miRNAs, its combinational effect with other cytotoxic agents, withaferin A-based formulations, safety and toxicity profiles, and its clinical potential.

Biological impact and therapeutic perspective of targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and Challenges

Cancer progression results from activation of various signaling networks. Among these, PI3K/Akt signaling contributes to proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high incidence rate, especially in regions with high prevalence of viral hepatitis infection. Autoimmune disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol consumption, and inflammation can also lead to initiation and development of HCC. The treatment of HCC depends on the identification of oncogenic factors that lead tumor cells to develop resistance to therapy. The present review article focuses on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC progression. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes glucose uptake, favors glycolysis and increases tumor cell proliferation. It inhibits both apoptosis and autophagy while promoting HCC cell survival. PI3K/Akt stimulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increases matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression during HCC metastasis. In addition to increasing colony formation capacity and facilitating the spread of tumor cells, PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates angiogenesis. Therefore, silencing PI3K/Akt signaling prevents aggressive HCC cell behavior. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling can confer drug resistance, particularly to sorafenib, and decreases the radio-sensitivity of HCC cells. Anti-cancer agents, like phytochemicals and small molecules can suppress PI3K/Akt signaling by limiting HCC progression. Being upregulated in tumor tissues and clinical samples, PI3K/Akt can also be used as a biomarker to predict patients' response to therapy.

Molecular mechanisms behind ROS regulation in cancer: A balancing act between augmented tumorigenesis and cell apoptosis

ROS include hydroxyl radicals (HO^.), superoxide (O₂^..), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). ROS are typically produced under physiological conditions and play crucial roles in living organisms. It is known that ROS, which are created spontaneously by cells through aerobic metabolism in mitochondria, can have either a beneficial or detrimental influence on biological systems. Moderate levels of ROS can cause oxidative damage to proteins, DNA and lipids, which can aid in the pathogenesis of many disorders, including cancer. However, excessive concentrations of ROS can initiate programmed cell death in cancer. Presently, a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs and herbal agents are being investigated to induce ROS-mediated cell death in cancer. Therefore, preserving ROS homeostasis is essential for ensuring normal cell development and survival. On account of a significant association of ROS levels at various concentrations with carcinogenesis in a number of malignancies, further studies are needed to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms and develop the possibilities for intervening in these processes.

QSAR Research of Novel Tetrandrine Derivatives against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The new tetrandrine derivative is an anti-human liver cancer cell inhibitor which can be used to design and develop anti-human-liver-cancer drugs.

OBJECTIVE

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was established to predict the physical properties of new tetrandrine derivatives using their chemical structures.

METHODS

The best descriptors were selected through CODESSA software to build a multiple linear regression model. Then, gene expression programming (GEP) was used to establish a nonlinear quantitative QSAR model with descriptors to predict the activity of a series of novel tetrandrine chemotherapy drugs. The best active compound 31 was subjected to molecular docking experiments through SYBYL software with a small fragment of the protein receptor (PDB ID:2J6M).

RESULTS

Four descriptors were selected to build a multiple linear regression model with correlation coefficients R2, R2CV and S2 with the values of 0.8352, 0.7806 and 0.0119, respectively. The training and test sets with a correlation coefficient of 0.85 and 0.83 were obtained via an automatic problem-solving program (APS) using the four selected operators as parameters, with a mean error of 1.49 and 1.08. Compound 31 had a good docking ability with an overall score of 5.8892, a collision rate of -2.8004 and an extreme value of 0.9836.

CONCLUSION

The computer-constructed drug molecular model reveals the factors affecting the activity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which provides directions and guidance for the development of highly effective anti-humanhepatocellular- carcinoma drugs in the future.

Cucurbitacins as Potent Chemo-Preventive Agents: Mechanistic Insight and Recent Trends

Cucurbitacins constitute a group of cucumber-derived dietary lipids, highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids, with potential medical uses. These compounds are known to interact with a variety of recognized cellular targets to impede the growth of cancer cells. Accumulating evidence has suggested that inhibition of tumor cell growth via induction of apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenesis are major promising chemo-preventive actions of cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins may be a potential choice for investigations of synergism with other drugs to reverse cancer cells' treatment resistance. The detailed molecular mechanisms underlying these effects include interactions between cucurbitacins and numerous cellular targets (Bcl-2/Bax, caspases, STAT3, cyclins, NF-κB, COX-2, MMP-9, VEGF/R, etc.) as well as control of a variety of intracellular signal transduction pathways. The current study is focused on the efforts undertaken to find possible molecular targets for cucurbitacins in suppressing diverse malignant processes. The review is distinctive since it presents all potential molecular targets of cucurbitacins in cancer on one common podium.

Sodium formononetin-3'-sulphonate alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Sodium formononetin-3'-sulphonate (Sul-F) may alleviate I/R injury in vivo with uncertain mechanism. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis participates in the process of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Our aim is to figure out the effect of Sul-F on cerebral I/R injury and to verify whether it works through suppressing ER stress-mediated apoptosis.

RESULTS

The cerebral lesions of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in SD rats were aggravated after 24 h of reperfusion, including impaired neurological function, increased infarct volume, intensified inflammatory response and poor cell morphology. After intervention, the edaravone (EDA, 3 mg/kg) group and Sul-F high-dose (Sul-F-H, 80 mg/kg) group significantly alleviated I/R injury via decreasing neurological score, infarct volume and the serum levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), as well as alleviating pathological injury. Furthermore, the ER stress level and apoptosis rate were elevated in the ischemic penumbra of MCAO group, and were significantly blocked by EDA and Sul-F-H. In addition, EDA and Sul-F-H significantly down-regulated the ER stress related PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 and IRE1 signal pathways, which led to reduced cell apoptosis rate compared with the MCAO group. Furthermore, there was no difference between the EDA and Sul-F-H group in terms of therapeutic effect on cerebral I/R injury, indicating a therapeutic potential of Sul-F for ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Sul-F-H can significantly protects against cerebral I/R injury through inhibiting ER stress-mediated apoptosis in the ischemic penumbra, which might be a novel therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.

An optimized herbal combination for the treatment of liver fibrosis: Hub genes, bioactive ingredients, and molecular mechanisms

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and it is associated with long-term adverse outcomes and mortality. As a primary resource for complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has accumulated a large number of effective formulas for the treatment of liver fibrosis in clinical practice. However, studies on how to systematically optimize TCM formulas are still lacking.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To provide a methodological reference for the systematic optimization of TCM formulae against liver fibrosis and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms; To provide an efficient method for searching for lead compounds from natural sources and developing from herbal medicines; To enable clinicians and patients to make more reasonable choices and promote the effective treatment toward those patients with liver fibrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

TCM formulas related to treating liver fibrosis were collected from the Web of Science, PubMed, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang, and the Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP). Furthermore, the TCM compatibility patterns were mined using association analysis. The core TCM combinations were found by designing an optimized formulas algorithm. Finally, the hub target proteins, potential molecular mechanisms, and active compounds were explored through integrative pharmacology and docking-based inverse virtual screening (IVS) approaches.

RESULTS

We found that the herbs for reinforcing deficiency, activating blood, removing blood stasis, and clearing heat were the basis of TCM formulae patterns. Furthermore, the combination of Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge; Chinese salvia/Danshen), Astragali Radix (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge; Astragalus/Huangqi), and Radix Bupleuri (Bupleurum chinense DC.; Bupleurum/Chaihu) was identified as core groups. A total of six targets (TNF, STAT3, EGFR, IL2, ICAM1, PTGS2) play a pivotal role in TCM-mediated liver fibrosis inhibition. (-)-Cryptotanshinone, Tanshinaldehyde, Ononin, Thymol, Daidzein, and Formononetin were identified as active compounds in TCM. And mechanistically, TCM could affect the development of liver fibrosis by regulating inflammation, immunity, angiogenesis, antioxidants, and involvement in TNF, MicroRNAs, Jak-STAT, NF-kappa B, and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that key components had good potential to bind to the target genes.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this study provides a methodological reference for the systematic optimization of TCM formulae and exploration of underlying molecular mechanisms.

Alpinumisoflavone Impairs Mitochondrial Respiration via Oxidative Stress and MAPK/PI3K Regulation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Alpinumisoflavone is a natural prenylated isoflavonoid extracted from the raw fruit of Cudrania tricuspidata. Several studies have reported the beneficial characteristics of alpinumisoflavone, such as its antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-bacterial, osteoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Alpinumisoflavone also has anti-cancer effects on thyroid, renal, and ovarian cancers, but its therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not yet been demonstrated. We investigated the anti-cancer effects of alpinumisoflavone on HCC using human liver cancer cell lines, Hep3B and Huh7. Our results confirmed that alpinumisoflavone inhibited viability and regulated the MAPK/PI3K pathway in Hep3B and Huh7 cells. We also verified that alpinumisoflavone can depolarize the mitochondrial membrane potential and suppress the mitochondrial respiration in HCC cells. Moreover, we confirmed the dysregulation of the mitochondrial complexes I, III, and V involving mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation at the mRNA level and the accumulation of calcium ions in the mitochondrial matrix. Lastly, we demonstrated that alpinumisoflavone induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis via regulation of the Bcl-xL and BAK proteins. This study elucidates the anti-cancer effects of alpinumisoflavone on HCC.

Curcumin in the treatment of urological cancers: Therapeutic targets, challenges and prospects

Urological cancers include bladder, prostate and renal cancers that can cause death in males and females. Patients with urological cancers are mainly diagnosed at an advanced disease stage when they also develop resistance to therapy or poor response. The use of natural products in the treatment of urological cancers has shown a significant increase. Curcumin has been widely used in cancer treatment due to its ability to trigger cell death and suppress metastasis. The beneficial effects of curcumin in the treatment of urological cancers is the focus of current review. Curcumin can induce apoptosis in the three types of urological cancers limiting their proliferative potential. Furthermore, curcumin can suppress invasion of urological cancers through EMT inhibition. Notably, curcumin decreases the expression of MMPs, therefore interfering with urological cancer metastasis. When used in combination with chemotherapy agents, curcumin displays synergistic effects in suppressing cancer progression. It can also be used as a chemosensitizer. Based on pre-clinical studies, curcumin administration is beneficial in the treatment of urological cancers and future clinical applications might be considered upon solving problems related to the poor bioavailability of the compound. To improve the bioavailability of curcumin and increase its therapeutic index in urological cancer suppression, nanostructures have been developed to favor targeted delivery.

Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms of Novel Simple O-Substituted Isoflavones against Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion

Isoflavones have been widely studied and have attracted extensive attention in fields ranging from chemotaxonomy and plant physiology to human nutrition and medicine. Isoflavones are often divided into three subgroups: simple O-substituted derivatives, prenylated derivatives, and glycosides. Simple O-substituted isoflavones and their glycosides, such as daidzein (daidzin), genistein (genistin), glycitein (glycitin), biochanin A (astroside), and formononetin (ononin), are the most common ingredients in legumes and are considered as phytoestrogens for daily dietary hormone replacement therapy due to their structural similarity to 17-β-estradiol. On the basis of the known estrogen-like potency, these above isoflavones possess multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-angiogenetic, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antilipidemic, anti-osteoporotic, and neuroprotective activities. However, there are very few review studies on the protective effects of these novel isoflavones and their related compounds in cerebral ischemia reperfusion. This review primarily focuses on the biosynthesis, metabolism, and neuroprotective mechanism of these aforementioned novel isoflavones in cerebral ischemia reperfusion. From these published works in in vitro and in vivo studies, simple O-substituted isoflavones could serve as promising therapeutic compounds for the prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia reperfusion via their estrogenic receptor properties and neuron-modulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. The detailed mechanism of the protective effects of simple O-substituted isoflavones against cerebral ischemia reperfusion might be related to the PI3K/AKT/ERK/mTOR or GSK-3β pathway, eNOS/Keap1/Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway, TLRs/TIRAP/MyD88/NFκ-B pathway, and Bcl-2-regulated anti-apoptotic pathway. However, clinical trials are needed to verify their potential on cerebral ischemia reperfusion because past studies were conducted with rodents and prophylactic administration.

The mechanism of formononetin/calycosin compound optimizing the effects of temozolomide on C6 malignant glioma based on metabolomics and network pharmacology

The complex of formononetin and calycosin (FMN/CAL) shows a synergistic effect on temozolomide in the treatment of malignant glioma, however the mechanism is unclear. We investigated the mechanism through means of metabolomics, network pharmacology and molecular biology. FMN/CAL enhanced the inhibition of TMZ on the growth and infiltration of C6 glioma. The metabolomic results showed that the TMZ sensitization of FMN/CAL mainly involved 5 metabolic pathways and 4 metabolites in cells, 1 metabolic pathway and 2 metabolites in tumor tissues, and 7 metabolic pathways and 8 metabolites in serum. Further network pharmacological analysis revealed that NOS2 was a potential target for FMN/CAL to regulate the metabolism in TMZ-treated C6 glioma cells, serums and tissues, and TNF-α was another potential target identified in tissues. FMN/CAL down-regulated the expression of NOS2 in tumor cells and tissues, and reduced the secretion of TNF-α in tumor region. FMN/CAL promoted TMZ-induced C6 cell apoptosis by inhibiting NOS2, but the inhibition of cell vitality and migration was not through NOS2. Our work revealed that FMN/CAL can increase the sensitivity of malignant glioma to TMZ by inhibiting NOS2-dependent cell survival, which provides a basis for the application of this combination in adjuvant treatment of glioma.

Prostate Cancer Therapy Using Docetaxel and Formononetin Combination: Hyaluronic Acid and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Targeted Peptide Dual Ligands Modified Binary Nanoparticles to Facilitate the in vivo Anti-Tumor Activity

Objective

To evaluate the prostate cancer therapy efficiency of the synergistic combination docetaxel (DTX) and formononetin (FMN) in one nano-sized drug delivery system. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted peptide (GE11) dual ligands were applied to modify the nano-systems.

Methods

In this study, GE11-modified nanoparticles (GE-NPs) were applied for the loading of DTX, and HA-decorated NPs (HA-NPs) were used to encapsulate FMN. HA and GE11 dual ligand-modified binary nanoparticles (HAGE-DTX/FMN-NPs) were constructed by the self-assembling of GE-NPs and HA-NPs. The anti-PCa ability of the system was evaluated in vitro on PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells (PC3 cells) and in vivo on PC3 tumor-bearing mice in comparison with single NPs and free drugs formulations.

Results

HA/GE-DTX/FMN-NPs were nano-sized particles with smaller particles coating on the inner core and achieved a size of 189.5 nm. HA/GE-DTX/FMN-NPs showed a cellular uptake efficiency of 59.6%, and a more efficient inhibition effect on PC3 cells compared with single ligand-modified NPs and free drugs. HA/GE-DTX/FMN-NPs showed significantly higher tumor inhibition efficiency than their single drug-loaded counterparts and free drugs.

Conclusion

HA/GE-DTX/FMN-NPs have a synergistic anti-tumor effect and also could the reduce unexpected side effects during the cancer therapy. It could be used as a promising anti-PCa system.

Ampelopsin targets in cellular processes of cancer: Recent trends and advances

Cancer is being considered as a serious threat to human health globally due to limited availability and efficacy of therapeutics. In addition, existing chemotherapeutic drugs possess a diverse range of toxic side effects. Therefore, more research is welcomed to investigate the chemo-preventive action of plant-based metabolites. Ampelopsin (dihydromyricetin) is one among the biologically active plant-based chemicals with promising anti-cancer actions. It modulates the expression of various cellular molecules that are involved in cancer progressions. For instance, ampelopsin enhances the expression of apoptosis inducing proteins. It regulates the expression of angiogenic and metastatic proteins to inhibit tumor growth. Expression of inflammatory markers has also been found to be suppressed by ampelopsin in cancer cells. The present review article describes various anti-tumor cellular targets of ampelopsin at a single podium which will help the researchers to understand mechanistic insight of this phytochemical.

Formononetin: A Pathway to Protect Neurons

Formononetin (FMN) is a phytoestrogen member of the flavonoid family, which has the pharmacological effects of antioxidative, antihypertensive, antitumor, and anti-infective. FMN demonstrates potential in the prevention and treatment of diseases, specifically neurological diseases, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), ischemic stroke, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, Alzheimer’s disease, and nerve tumor. Herein, a literature search is conducted to provide information on the signaling pathways of neuroprotection of formononetin based on the neuroprotective study. The significant neuroprotective function of FMN makes it a novel candidate for the development of drugs targeting the central nervous system.

Astragalus membranaceus Additive Improves Serum Biochemical Parameters and Reproductive Performance in Postpartum Dairy Cows

The purpose of the study was to assess the recovery, immune function, and breeding efficiency of postpartum dairy cows fed Astragalus membranaceus (AM) as a feed additive. The experiment used a completely randomized design. Cows were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) Control group fed total mixed ration (TMR; CON group, n = 15); (2) AM group fed TMR and AM (AM group, n = 15). The AM group was fed 675 g/day. The experimental results showed that compared with the CON group. The breeding interval of the AM group of dairy cows had a tendency to shorten (0.05 < p < 0.1). Plasma viscosity (PV), Plasma fibrinogen (FIB), the red cell aggregation index (TRCAI), Calcitonin (CT), Immunoglobulin M (IgM), and Luteinizing hormone (LH) results of AM group showed a time-treatment interaction (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the result of the study revealed that feeding AM as feed additives to dairy cows during the postpartum period had positive effects on wound recovery, immune function, endocrine regulation, and breeding efficiency.

Study of the Preparation and Properties of Chrysin Binary Functional Monomer Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Chrysin is a natural bioactive molecule with various groups, and it has been a challenge to separate and enrich chrysin from natural products. Molecularly imprinted polymers have been widely used in the extraction of natural products, but the number and type of functional monomers limits the separation effect. The synergistic action of multiple functional monomers can improve the separation effect. In this paper, molecularly imprinted polymers (Bi-MIPs) were prepared using methacrylic acid and acrylamide as binary functional monomers for the separation and enrichment of chrysin. The Bi-MIPs were characterized using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The performances of Bi-MIPs were assessed, which included adsorption isotherms, selective recognition and adsorption kinetics. The experimental results show that Bi-MIPs are shaped as a uniform sphere with an abundant pocket structure on its surface. The adsorption of chrysin on the Bi-MIPs followed a pseudo-second-order and adapted Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption performance of the Bi-MIPs was determined at different temperatures, and the Bi-MIPs showed excellent adsorption performance at 30 °C. The initial decomposition temperature of the Bi-MIPs was 220 °C. After five times of adsorption and desorption, the adsorption performance of the Bi-MIPs decreased by only 7%. In contrast with single functional monomer molecularly imprinted polymers (Si-MIPs), the Bi-MIPs showed excellent specificity, with an imprinting factor of 1.54. The Bi-MIPs are promising materials in the separation and enrichment of chrysin for their high adsorption capacity, low cost and being environmentally friendly.

Metabolic modeling-based drug repurposing in Glioblastoma

The manifestation of intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity hinders the development of ubiquitous cancer treatments, thus requiring a tailored therapy for each cancer type. Specifically, the reprogramming of cellular metabolism has been identified as a source of potential drug targets. Drug discovery is a long and resource-demanding process aiming at identifying and testing compounds early in the drug development pipeline. While drug repurposing efforts (i.e., inspecting readily available approved drugs) can be supported by a mechanistic rationale, strategies to further reduce and prioritize the list of potential candidates are still needed to facilitate feasible studies. Although a variety of ‘omics’ data are widely gathered, a standard integration method with modeling approaches is lacking. For instance, flux balance analysis is a metabolic modeling technique that mainly relies on the stoichiometry of the metabolic network. However, exploring the network’s topology typically neglects biologically relevant information. Here we introduce Transcriptomics-Informed Stoichiometric Modelling And Network analysis (TISMAN) in a recombinant innovation manner, allowing identification and validation of genes as targets for drug repurposing using glioblastoma as an exemplar.

Withanolide modulates the potential crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy in different colorectal cancer cell lines

Withaferin A (WFA), a withanolide, is isolated from plants of Withania somnifera (L.) Dual (Solanaceae), known as Indian ginseng, Indian winter cherry or Ashwagandha. It has been reported to exert multifaceted anti-neoplastic effects. Here, we analyzed the impact of WFA on apoptosis and autophagy activation in different human colorectal cancer cell lines. We observed that WFA exposure caused an increased aggregation of cells in the subG1 arrest in cell cycle, and increased the number of late apoptotic cells. WFA also induced the apoptosis via PARP and caspase-3 cleavage accompanied with suppression of levels of anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. The influence of WFA on autophagy was validated by acridine orange, MDC staining, and immunocytochemistry of LC3. It was found that 24 h treatment of WFA increased the acridine and MDC stained autophagosome with induced the LC3 and other autophagy markers Atg7 and beclin-1 activation. We used Z-DEVD-FMK, a caspase-3 blocker, and 3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor, to confirm whether these effects were specific to apoptosis and autophagy, and observed the recovery of both these processes upon exposure to WFA. Moreover, the activation of β-catenin protein was attenuated by WFA. Interestingly, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-promoted β-catenin knockdown augmented the WFA-induced active form of p-GSK-3β, and stimulated autophagy and apoptosis through PARP and LC3 activation. These findings suggested that WFA could stimulate activation of both apoptosis and autophagy process via modulating β-catenin pathway.

Serum biomarker-based osteoporosis risk prediction and the systemic effects of Trifolium pratense ethanolic extract in a postmenopausal model

Background

Recent years, a soaring number of marketed Trifolium pratense (red clover) extract products have denoted that a rising number of consumers are turning to natural alternatives to manage postmenopausal symptoms. T. pratense ethanolic extract (TPEE) showed immense potential for their uses in the treatment of menopause complications including osteoporosis and hormone dependent diseases. Early diagnosis of osteoporosis can increase the chance of efficient treatment and reduce fracture risks. Currently, the most common diagnosis of osteoporosis is performed by using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, the major limitation of DXA is that it is inaccessible and expensive in rural areas to be used for primary care inspection. Hence, serum biomarkers can serve as a meaningful and accessible data for osteoporosis diagnosis.

Methods

The present study systematically elucidated the anti-osteoporosis and estrogenic activities of TPEE in ovariectomized (OVX) rats by evaluating the bone microstructure, uterus index, serum and bone biomarkers, and osteoblastic and osteoclastic gene expression. Leverage on a pool of serum biomarkers obtained from this study, recursive feature elimination with a cross-validation method (RFECV) was used to select useful biomarkers for osteoporosis prediction. Then, using the key features extracted, we employed five classification algorithms: extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest, support vector machine, artificial neural network, and decision tree to predict the bone quality in terms of T-score.

Results

TPEE treatments down-regulated nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, alkaline phosphatase, and up-regulated estrogen receptor β gene expression. Additionally, reduced serum C-terminal telopeptides of type 1 collagen level and improvement in the estrogen dependent characteristics of the uterus on the lining of the lumen were observed in the TPEE intervention group. Among the tested classifiers, XGBoost stood out as the best performing classification model with the highest F1-score and lowest standard deviation.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that TPEE treatment showed therapeutic benefits in the prevention of osteoporosis at the transcriptional level and maintained the estrogen dependent characteristics of the uterus. Our study revealed that, in the case of limited number of features, RFECV paired with XGBoost model could serve as a powerful tool to readily evaluate and diagnose postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-022-00622-7.

Combined LC-MS/MS and Molecular Networking Approach Reveals Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Compounds from Erismadelphus exsul Bark

Erismadelphus exsul Mildbr bark is widely used in Gabonese folk medicine. However, little is known about the active compounds associated with its biological activities. In the present study, phytochemical profiling of the ethanolic extract of Erismadelphus exsul was performed using a de-replication strategy by coupling HPLC-ESI-Q/TOF with a molecular network approach. Eight families of natural compounds were putatively identified, including cyclopeptide alkaloids, esterified amino acids, isoflavonoid- and flavonoid-type polyphenols, glycerophospholipids, steroids and their derivatives, and quinoline alkaloids. All these compounds were identified for the first time in this plant. The use of molecular networking obtained a detailed phytochemical overview of this species. Furthermore, antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazylhydrate (DPPH) and ferric reducing capacity (FRAP)) and in vitro antimicrobial activities were assessed. The crude extract, as well as fractions obtained from Erismadelphus exsul, showed a better reactivity to FRAP than DPPH. The fractions were two to four times more antioxidant than ascorbic acid while reacting to FRAP, and there was two to nine times less antioxidant than this reference while reacting to DPPH. In addition, several fractions and the crude extract exhibited a significant anti-oomycete activity towards the Solanaceae phytopathogen Phytophthora infestans in vitro, and, at a lower extent, the antifungal activity against the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici had growth inhibition rates ranging from 0 to 100%, depending on the tested concentration. This study provides new insights into the phytochemical characterization and the bioactivities of ethanolic extract from Erismadelphus exsul bark.

Screening of Immune-Related Genes and Predicting the Immunotherapeutic Effects of Formononetin in Breast Cancer: A Bioinformatics Analysis

Objective

Immunotherapy is a promising breast cancer treatment. Nonetheless, tumor heterogeneity and the interaction between immune cells in the tumor microenvironment limit its effectiveness. Formononetin—extracted from the Chinese medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus—can inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis and angiogenesis, and reverse multidrug resistance. However, its efficacy and mechanism of action on the immune cells in breast cancer remain unclear. Here, we screened immune-related genes of breast cancer to determine the potential of formononetin as a therapeutic.

Methods

GSE103512 and GSE139038 breast cancer microarray data and immune-related gene data were obtained from the GEO and ImmPort databases, respectively, to analyze the differentially expressed immune-related genes (IRGs) in breast cancer tissues compared with normal breast tissues. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was performed using the STRING database to screen differentially expressed IRGs based on the topological parameters. The Kaplan–Meier test was applied to detect differentially expressed IRGs associated with breast cancer survival, and the interaction of formononetin with differentially expressed IRGs was analyzed using molecular docking. Finally, the relationship between differentially expressed IRGs and breast cancer immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the TIMER2.0 database.

Results

A total of 29 differentially expressed IRGs of breast cancer were screened through GEO and ImmPort databases and 10 key differentially expressed IRGs based on the topological parameters from the PPI network. Among these, CXCL12, ESR1, IGF1, and FOS were associated with breast cancer survival. Furthermore, IGF1, ESR1, and CXCL12 were found to have stable binding sites for formononetin. These genes were associated with substantial immune cell infiltration in breast cancer tissues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, formononetin may exert antitumor effects by acting on CXCL12, ESR1, and IGF1 and may have a potential synergistic effect with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Targeting Nrf2-Mediated Oxidative Stress Response in Traumatic Brain Injury: Therapeutic Perspectives of Phytochemicals

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), known as mechanical damage to the brain, impairs the normal function of the brain seriously. Its clinical symptoms manifest as behavioral impairment, cognitive decline, communication difficulties, etc. The pathophysiological mechanisms of TBI are complex and involve inflammatory response, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and so on. Among them, oxidative stress, one of the important mechanisms, occurs at the beginning and accompanies the whole process of TBI. Most importantly, excessive oxidative stress causes BBB disruption and brings injury to lipids, proteins, and DNA, leading to the generation of lipid peroxidation, damage of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, neuronal apoptosis, and neuroinflammatory response. Transcription factor NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), a basic leucine zipper protein, plays an important role in the regulation of antioxidant proteins, such as oxygenase-1(HO-1), NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), to protect against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis. Recently, emerging evidence indicated the knockout (KO) of Nrf2 aggravates the pathology of TBI, while the treatment of Nrf2 activators inhibits neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammatory responses via reducing oxidative damage. Phytochemicals from fruits, vegetables, grains, and other medical herbs have been demonstrated to activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway and exert neuroprotective effects in TBI. In this review, we emphasized the contributive role of oxidative stress in the pathology of TBI and the protective mechanism of the Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response for the treatment of TBI. In addition, we summarized the research advances of phytochemicals, including polyphenols, terpenoids, natural pigments, and otherwise, in the activation of Nrf2 signaling and their potential therapies for TBI. Although there is still limited clinical application evidence for these natural Nrf2 activators, we believe that the combinational use of phytochemicals such as Nrf2 activators with gene and stem cell therapy will be a promising therapeutic strategy for TBI in the future.