A Network Pharmacological Approach to Reveal the Pharmacological Targets and Its Associated Biological Mechanisms of Prunetin-5-O-Glucoside against Gastric Cancer

Transcriptome analysis revealed the genes and major pathways involved in prunetrin treated hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Liver cancer represents a complex and severe ailment that poses tough challenges to global healthcare. Transcriptome sequencing plays a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of cancer biology and accelerating the development of more effective methods for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In the course of our current investigation, we identified a total of 1,149 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), encompassing 499 upregulated and 650 downregulated genes, subsequent to prunetrin (PUR) treatment. Our methodology encompassed gene and pathway enrichment analysis, functional annotation, KEGG pathway assessments, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis of the DEGs. The preeminent genes within the DEGs were found to be associated with apoptotic processes, cell cycle regulation, the PI3k/Akt pathway, the MAPK pathway, and the mTOR pathway. Furthermore, key apoptotic-related genes exhibited close interconnections and cluster analysis found three interacting hub genes namely, TP53, TGFB1 and CASP8. Validation of these genes was achieved through GEPIA and western blotting. Collectively, our findings provide insights into the functional landscape of liver cancer-related genes, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms driving disease progression and highlighting potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Potential Anticancer Effects of Isoflavone Prunetin and Prunetin Glycoside on Apoptosis Mechanisms

Cancer is a deadly disease caused by cells that deviate from the normal differentiation and proliferation behaviors and continue to multiply. There is still no definitive cure, and many side effects occur even after treatment. However, apoptosis, one of the programs imprinted on cells, is becoming an important concept in controlling cancer. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds found in plants, are naturally bioactive compounds, have been studied for their anticancer effects, and have fewer side effects than chemical treatments. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens belonging to the flavonoid family, and this review discusses in depth the potential anticancer effects of prunetin, one of the many flavonoid families, via the apoptotic mechanism. In addition, a glycoside called prunetin glucoside has been investigated for its anticancer effects through apoptotic mechanisms. The primary intention of this review is to identify the effects of prunetin and its glycoside, prunetin glucoside, on cell death signaling pathways in various cancers to enhance the potential anticancer effects of these natural compounds.

Effects of catechin on the malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Catechin is a kind of flavonoids, mainly derived from the plant Camellia sinensis. It has a strong antioxidant effect, and it also has significant therapeutic effects on anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, and anti-infection. This study was intended to look at how catechin affected the malignant biological activity of gastric cancer cells. We used databases to predict the targets of catechin and the pathogenic targets of gastric cancer. Venn diagram was used to find the intersection genes, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were performed on intersection genes. Using the STRING database, the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was built. The top 8 genes were screened by Cytoscape 3.9.1, then their binding was verified by molecular docking. The proliferation ability, cell cycle, apoptosis and migration of gastric cancer cells were detected, as well as the protein expression levels of PI3K, p-AKT, and AKT and the mRNA expression levels of AKT1, VEGFA, EGFR, HRAS, and HSP90AA1 in gastric cancer cells. Our research revealed that different concentrations of catechin could effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells, regulate the cell cycle, and promote the death of these cells, and it's possible that the PI3K/Akt pathway was crucial in mediating this impact. Moreover, adding the PI3K/Akt pathway agonist significantly reduced the promoting effect of catechin on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. This study suggested that catechin was a potential drug for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Investigation of prunetrin induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via Akt/mTOR/MAPK pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as a leading cause of mortality, and despite recent advancements in the overall survival rates, the prognosis remains dismal. Prunetin 4-O-glucoside (Prunetrin or PUR), an active compound derived from Prunus sp., was explored for its impact on HepG2 and Huh7 cells. The cytotoxicity assessment revealed a notable reduction in cell viability in both cell lines, while exhibiting non-toxicity towards HaCaT cells. Colony formation studies underscored PUR's inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, dose-dependently. Mechanistically, PUR downregulated cell cycle proteins (CDC25c, Cdk1/CDC2, and Cyclin B1), inducing G2/M phase arrest, corroborated by flow cytometry. Western blot analyses exhibited dose-dependent cleavages of PARP and caspase 3, indicative of apoptosis. Treatment with the apoptotic inhibitor z-vmd-fmk provided evidence of PUR-induced apoptosis. Annexin V and PI flow cytometry further affirmed apoptotic induction. Enhanced expression of cleaved-caspase 9 and the pro-apoptotic protein Bak, coupled with reduced anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL, and affirmed PUR's induction of intrinsic apoptosis. Additionally, PUR activated the MAPK pathway, evidenced by elevated phospho p38 and phospho ERK expressions in both cell lines. Notably, a concentration-dependent decrease in mTOR and Akt expressions indicated PUR's inhibition of the Akt/mTOR pathway in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. These findings illuminate PUR's multifaceted impact, revealing its potential as a promising therapeutic agent against HepG2 and Huh7 cells through modulation of cell cycle, apoptosis, and key signaling pathways.

A network pharmacology- and transcriptomics-based investigation reveals an inhibitory role of β-sitosterol in glioma via the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway

Glioma is characterized by rapid cell proliferation, aggressive invasion, altered apoptosis and a poor prognosis. β-Sitosterol, a kind of phytosterol, has been shown to possess anticancer activities. Our current study aims to investigate the effects of β-sitosterol on gliomas and reveal the underlying mechanisms. Our results show that β-sitosterol effectively inhibits the growth of U87 cells by inhibiting proliferation and inducing G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. In addition, β-sitosterol inhibits migration by downregulating markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, network pharmacology and transcriptomics approaches illustrate that the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway may be responsible for the inhibitory effect of β-sitosterol on glioma. Afterward, the results show that β-sitosterol effectively suppresses the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, β-sitosterol significantly inhibits tumor growth in a U87 xenograft nude mouse model. β-Sitosterol inhibits U87 cell proliferation and migration and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in U87 cells by blocking the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway. These results suggest that β-sitosterol may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of glioma.

Src is a target molecule of mannose against pancreatic cancer cells growth in vitro & in vivo

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant cancer with limited treatment options. Mannose, a common monosaccharide taken up by cells through the same transporters as glucose, has been shown to induce growth retardation and enhance cell death in response to chemotherapy in several cancers, including PDAC. However, the molecular targets and mechanisms underlying mannose's action against PDAC are not well understood. In this study, we used an integrative approach of network pharmacology, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification to investigate the pharmacological targets and mechanisms of mannose against PDAC. Our results showed that the protein Src is a key target of mannose in PDAC. Additionally, computational analysis revealed that mannose is a highly soluble compound that meets Lipinski's rule of five and that the expression of its target molecules is correlated with survival rates and prognosis in PDAC patients. Finally, we validated our findings through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that mannose plays a critical role in inhibiting PDAC growth by targeting Src, suggesting that it may be a promising therapeutic candidate for PDAC.

Mechanistic Action of Cell Cycle Arrest and Intrinsic Apoptosis via Inhibiting Akt/mTOR and Activation of p38-MAPK Signaling Pathways in Hep3B Liver Cancer Cells by Prunetrin-A Flavonoid with Therapeutic Potential

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis and a low survival rate. Drugs without side effects are desperately needed since chemotherapy has a negative effect on the host cells. Previous research has firmly established that plant-based compounds have significant bioactivities without a negative impact on the host. Flavonoids, in particular, are a class of compounds with both anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Prunetrin (PUR) is a glycosyloxyisoflavone (Prunetin 4'-O-glucoside) derived from Prunus sp., and its other form, called prunetin, showed optimistic results in an anti-cancerous study. Hence, we aimed to discover the anti-cancer ability of prunetrin in liver cancer Hep3B cells. Our cytotoxicity results showed that PUR can decrease cell viability. The colony formation assay confirms this strongly and correlates with cell cytotoxicity results. Prunetrin, in a dose-dependent manner, arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and decreased the expression of cyclin proteins such as Cyclin B1, CDK1/CDC2, and CDC25c. Prunetrin treatment also promoted the strong cleavage of two important apoptotic hallmark proteins called PARP and caspase-3. It also confirms that apoptosis occurs through the mitochondrial pathway through increased expression of cleaved caspase-9 and increased levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bak. Bak was significantly increased with the declining expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Next, it inhibits the mTOR/AKT signaling pathways, proving that prunetrin includes apoptosis and decreases cell viability by suppressing these pathways. Further, it was also observed that the activation of p38-MAPK was dose-dependent. Taken together, they provide evidence that prunetrin has an anti-cancerous ability in Hep3B liver cancer cells by arresting the cell cycle via p38 and inhibiting mTOR/AKT.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Explore the Effect and Mechanism of Kanglaite Injection Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Purpose

Kanglaite injection (KLTi), made of Coix seed oil, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of numerous cancers. However, the anticancer mechanism requires further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the underlying anticancer mechanisms of KLTi in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells.

Methods

Public databases were searched for active compounds in KLTi, their potential targets and TNBC-related targets. KLTi's core targets and signaling pathways were determined through compound-target network, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was carried out to predict the binding activity between active ingredients and key targets. In vitro experiments were conducted to further validate the predictions of network pharmacology.

Results

Fourteen active components of KLTi were screened from the database. Fifty-three candidate therapeutic targets were selected, and bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify the top two active compounds and three core targets. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that KLTi exerts therapeutic effects on TNBC through the cell cycle pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the main compounds of KLTi exhibited good binding activity to key target proteins. Results from in vitro experiments showed that KLTi inhibited proliferation and migration of TNBC cell lines 231 and 468, induced apoptosis, blocked cells in the G2/M phase, downregulated the mRNA expression of seven G2/M phase-related genes cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1), cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A), cell division cycle 25B (CDC25B), maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), and aurora kinase A (AURKA), as well as downregulated CDK1 protein expression and up-regulated protein expression of Phospho-CDK1.

Conclusion

By utilizing network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments, KLTi was confirmed to have anti-TNBC effects by arresting cell cycle and inhibiting CDK1 dephosphorylation.

Pretreatment with rosavin attenuates PM2.5-induced lung injury in rats through antiferroptosis via PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway

Inflammation and oxidative stress caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increase the incidence and mortality rates of respiratory disorders. Rosavin is the main chemical component of Rhodiola plants, which exerts anti-oxidative and antiinflammatory effects. In this research, the potential therapeutic effect of rosavin was investigated by the PM2.5-induced lung injury rat model. Rats were instilled with PM2.5 (7.5 mg/kg) suspension intratracheally, while rosavin (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) was delivered by intraperitoneal injection before the PM2.5 injection. It was observed that rosavin could prevent lung injury caused by PM2.5. PM2.5 showed obvious ferroptosis-related ultrastructural alterations, which were significantly corrected by rosavin. The pretreatment with rosavin downregulated the levels of tissue iron, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal, and increased the levels of glutathione. The expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was upregulated by rosavin, together with other ferroptosis-related proteins. RSL3, a specific ferroptosis agonist, reversed the beneficial impact of rosavin. The network pharmacology approach predicted the activation of rosavin on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. LY294002, a potent PI3K inhibitor, decreased the upregulation of Nrf2 induced by rosavin. In conclusion, rosavin prevented lung injury induced by PM2.5 stimulation and suppressed ferroptosis via upregulating PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

The Potential Therapeutic Properties of Prunetin against Human Health Complications: A Review of Medicinal Importance and Pharmacological Activities

BACKGROUND

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds found to be present in nature and abundant in flowers and fruits. Flavonoidal class phytochemicals have gained interest in the scientific field because of their important pharmacological activities. Several scientific studies have revealed anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, analgesic, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-parasitic and anti-allergic activities of flavonoidal class phytochemicals. Prunetin is an O-methylated isoflavone that belongs to the phytochemical phytoestrogen class, found to be present in licorice, red cherry, soybean and legumes.

METHODS

Biological potential and pharmacological activities of prunetin have been investigated in the present work through scientific data analysis of numerous scientific research works. Numerous literature databases have been searched in order to collect the scientific information on prunetin in the present work. Pharmacological activities of prunetin have been investigated in the present work through literature data analysis of different scientific research works. Scientific data have been collected from Google Scholar, Google, PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus. Analytical data on prunetin has been collected from literature sources and analyzed in the present work.

RESULTS

Scientific data analysis revealed the biological importance of prunetin in medicine. Prunetin was found to be present in the pea, peach, Oregon cherry, skimmed cheese, cheese, cow kefir and goat kefir. Prunetin is also present in the Prunus avium, Andira surinamensis, Butea superba, Dalbergia sympathetica, Ficus nervosa, Pterospartum tridentatum and Pycnanthus angolensis. Pharmacological data analysis revealed the biological importance of prunetin on bone disorders, cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma, urinary bladder cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, human airway, gut health and enzymes. Scientific data analysis revealed biological effectiveness of prunetin for their angiogenic effects, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, estrogenic and vasorelaxant potential. Analytical data revealed the importance of modern analytical techniques for qualitative and quantitative analysis of prunetin in the scientific fields.

CONCLUSION

Scientific data analysis in the present investigation revealed the biological importance and pharmacological activities of prunetin in medicine.

Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis Explores the Mechanisms of Cordyceps sinensis in the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus

Objective

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is the most common potentially malignant disorder of the oral cavity. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of Cordyceps sinensis in the treatment of OLP and provides a theoretical support for improving current treatment regimens for OLP.

Methods

The active components and therapeutic targets of Cordyceps sinensis were predicted and screened using the TCMSP, SymMap, PubMed, HIT 2.0, and PharmMapper databases, while the relevant OLP targets were predicted and screened using the DisGeNET and GeneCards databases. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) were examined using the String database, and Cytoscape was used to combine and illustrate the findings. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were carried out using RStudio, and AutoDock Vina and Pymol were used for molecular docking and visualization, respectively.

Results

A total of 404 potential target genes were discovered after evaluating 21 active compounds from Cordyceps sinensis. Potential therapeutic targets included 67 targets that matched and overlapped with OLP, including TNF, IL-6, CD4, EGFR, and IL1B. Key targets were predominantly engaged in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the MAPK signaling pathway, according to the GO and KEGG analyses. These targets have a connection to biological processes including apoptosis signaling pathway regulation, T cell activation, and oxidative stress response. The molecular docking results showed that TNF, IL-6, CD4, EGFR, and IL1B could bind to their corresponding active components.

Conclusions

Cordyceps sinensis contains multiple components and acts on multiple targets and multiple pathways. Particularly, Cordyceps sinensis targets TNF, IL-6, CD4, EGFR, and IL1B, regulates PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as takes part in biological processes including apoptosis, T cell activation, and oxidative stress. Cordyceps sinensis could be a crucial choice in the therapy of OLP.

Investigations of nitazoxanide molecular targets and pathways for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma using network pharmacology and molecular docking

Nitazoxanide has been investigated for colorectal cancer and breast cancer. However, its molecular targets and pathways have not yet been explored for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. Utilizing a network pharmacology approach, nitazoxanide’s potential targets and molecular pathways for HCC treatment were investigated. HCC targets were extracted from the GeneCards database. Potential targets of nitazoxanide were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction and Super Pred. Intersecting targets were analyzed with VENNY online tool. Using Cytoscape, a protein-protein interaction (PPI), cluster, and core targets-pathways networks were constructed. Using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted. The nitazoxanide was molecularly docked with anti-HCC core targets by employing Auto Dock Vina. A total of 168 potential targets of nitazoxanide, 13,415 HCC-related targets, and 153 intersecting targets were identified. The top eight anti-HCC core targets were identified: SRC, EGFR, CASP3, MMP9, mTOR, HIF1A, ERBB2, and PPARG. GO enrichment analysis showed that nitazoxanide might have anti-HCC effects by affecting gene targets involved in multiple biological processes (BP) (protein phosphorylation, transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RTKs) signaling pathway, positive regulation of MAP kinase activity, etc.). KEGG pathways and core targets-pathways network analysis indicated that pathways in cancer and proteoglycans in cancer are two key pathways that significantly contribute to the anti-HCC effects of nitazoxanide. Results of molecular docking demonstrated the potential for active interaction between the top eight anti-HCC core targets and nitazoxanide. Our research offers a theoretical basis for the notion that nitazoxanide may have distinct therapeutic effects in HCC, and the identified pharmacological targets and pathways might function as biomarkers for HCC therapy.

Prunetinoside Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Provoked Inflammatory Response via Suppressing NF-κB and Activating the JNK-Mediated Signaling Pathway in RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells

Inflammation is a multifaceted response of the immune system at the site of injury or infection caused by pathogens or stress via immune cells. Due to the adverse effects of chemical drugs, plant-based compounds are gaining interest in current research. Prunetinoside or prunetin-5-O-glucoside (PUG) is a plant-based active compound, which possesses anti-inflammatory effects on immune cells. In this study, we investigate the effect of PUG on mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells with or without stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cytotoxicity results showed that PUG is non-cytotoxic to the cells and it reversed the cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated cells. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined using a NO detection kit and IL-6 ELISA kit, respectively, and showed a significant decrease in NO and IL-6 in PUG-treated cells. Western blot and qRT-PCR were performed for the expression of two important pro-inflammatory cytokines, COX2 and iNOS, and found that their expression was downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. Other pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα, had reduced mRNA expression after PUG treatment. Furthermore, a Western blot was performed to calculate the expression of NF-κB and MAPK pathway proteins. The results show that PUG administration dramatically reduced the phosphorylation of p-Iκbα, p-NF-κB 65, and p-JNK. Remarkably, after PUG treatment, p-P38 and p-ERK remain unchanged. Furthermore, docking studies revealed that PUG is covalently linked to NF-κB and suppresses inflammation. In conclusion, PUG exerted the anti-inflammatory mechanism by barring the NF-κB pathway and activating JNK. Thus, prunetinoside could be adopted as a therapeutic compound for inflammatory-related conditions.

Glycosidic flavonoids and their potential applications in cancer research: a review

Purpose of review

Every year, the cancer patient registry increases, and the leading cause of death in a global context. Plant-based molecules are gaining attention in cancer research due to the side effects of chemotherapy. A glycosidic derivative of flavonoid (GDF) plays a significant role in cancer proliferation mechanisms. GDF inhibits cell proliferation by elevating the expression of apoptotic proteins, altering the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- κB), and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) in cancer cells.

Recent findings

Reported studies on the flavonoids orientin, vitexin, prunetionoside, chrysin, and scutellarein increased attention and are being widely investigated for their potential role in different parts of cancer research. Prunetionoside is a flavonoid with high cytotoxic potential and capable of inducing necroptosis in AGS gastric cancer cells. Similarly, scutellarein is a flavonol, induces an extrinsic apoptotic pathway and downregulates the expression level of cyclin proteins in HepG2 liver cancer cells. Vitexin is reported to be capable of deregulating the expression levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-PI3K in A549 lung cancer cells. Orientin inhibits IL-8 expression and invasion in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by suppressing MMP-9 in the presence of TPA via STAT3/AP-1/ERK/PKCα-mediated signaling pathways. It also induces mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HT29 colon cancer cells. Chrysin is a flavonoid present in honey that has been shown to play an important role in cervical and colon cancer by suppressing the AKT/mTOR/PI3K pathway and increasing ROS accumulation, LDH leakage, respectively.

Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch.Bip. methanolic extract exerts potent antimicrobial activity and causes cancer cell death via induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis and S-phase arrest

This study was done to evaluate the anticancer potential of Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch.Bip. leaves methanolic extract in detail for the first time, in addition to investigating its antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial assay revealed that the extract exerted high activity against P. vulgaris (MIC = 156.25 µg/ml) and C. albicans (MIC = 625 µg/ml), while moderate activity was observed against other microbes. The extract was also screened against HepG2, A549, HCT116 and MCF7 cancer cells and was found to be active across all cells with highest selectivity and cytotoxic activity being observed for A549 cells (IC₅₀ = 1.21 µg/ml). Further mechanistic studies on A549 cells showed that the extract resulted in S-phase arrest and induced apoptosis via activation of caspase-3, p53 and Bax, in addition to downregulation of Bcl-2. HR-LCMS analysis indicated the presence of 3-hydroxycoumarin, quercetin 3,3'-dimethyl ether and skullcapflavone II which might be responsible for the extract's bioactivity.