Preparation of Catechin Nanoemulsion from Oolong Tea Leaf Waste and Its Inhibition of Prostate Cancer Cells DU-145 and Tumors in Mice

Therapeutic Implications of Dietary Polyphenols-Loaded Nanoemulsions in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide, even the second foremost cause related to non-communicable diseases. Cancer cells typically possess several cellular and biological processes including, persistence, propagation, differentiation, cellular death, and expression of cellular-type specific functions. The molecular picture of carcinogenesis and progression is unwinding, and it appears to be a tangled combination of processes occurring within and between cancer cells and their surrounding tissue matrix. Polyphenols are plant secondary metabolites abundant in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other natural plant sources. Natural polyphenols have implicated potential anticancer activity by various mechanisms involved in their antitumor action, including modulation of signaling pathways majorly related to cellular proliferation, differentiation, relocation, angiogenesis, metastatic processes, and cell death. The applications of polyphenols have been limited due to the hydrophobic nature and lower oral bioavailability that could be possibly overcome through encapsulating them into nanocarrier-mediated delivery systems, leading to improved anticancer activity. Nanoemulsions (NEs) possess diverse feasible properties, including greater surface area, modifiable surficial charge, higher half-life, site-specific targeting, and formulation imaging capability necessary to create a practical therapeutic impact, and have drawn increased attention in cancer therapy research. This review has summarized and discussed the basic concepts, classification, delivery approaches, and anticancer mechanism of various polyphenols and polyphenols-encapsulated nanoemulsions with improved cancer therapy.

Nanoemulsion: An Emerging Novel Technology for Improving the Bioavailability of Drugs

The pharmaceutical sector has made considerable strides recently, emphasizing improving drug delivery methods to increase the bioavailability of various drugs. When used as a medication delivery method, nanoemulsions have multiple benefits. Their small droplet size, which is generally between 20 and 200 nanometers, creates a significant interfacial area for drug dissolution, improving the solubility and bioavailability of drugs that are weakly water-soluble. Additionally, nanoemulsions are a flexible platform for drug administration across various therapeutic areas since they can encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic medicines. Nanoemulsion can be formulated in multiple dosage forms, for example, gels, creams, foams, aerosols, and sprays by using low-cost standard operative processes and also be taken orally, topically, topically, intravenously, intrapulmonary, intranasally, and intraocularly. The article explores nanoemulsion formulation and production methods, emphasizing the role of surfactants and cosurfactants in creating stable formulations. In order to customize nanoemulsions to particular medication delivery requirements, the choice of components and production techniques is crucial in assuring the stability and efficacy of the finished product. Nanoemulsions are a cutting-edge technology with a lot of potential for improving medication bioavailability in a variety of therapeutic contexts. They are a useful tool in the creation of innovative pharmaceutical formulations due to their capacity to enhance drug solubility, stability, and delivery. Nanoemulsions are positioned to play a crucial role in boosting medication delivery and enhancing patient outcomes as this field of study continues to advance.

Molecular Insight into Prostate Cancer: Preventive Role of Selective Bioactive Molecules

Prostate cancer (CaP) is one of the most prevalent male malignancies, accounting for a considerable number of annual mortalities. However, the prompt identification of early-stage CaP often faces delays due to diverse factors, including socioeconomic inequalities. The androgen receptor (AR), in conjunction with various other signaling pathways, exerts a central influence on the genesis, progression, and metastasis of CaP, with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) serving as the primary therapeutic strategy. Therapeutic modalities encompassing surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal intervention, and radiotherapy have been formulated for addressing early and metastatic CaP. Nonetheless, the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment frequently triggers the activation of signaling pathways, culminating in the emergence of chemoresistance, an aspect to which cancer stem cells (CSCs) notably contribute. Phytochemicals emerge as reservoirs of bioactive agents conferring manifold advantages against human morbidity. Several of these phytochemicals demonstrate potential chemoprotective and chemosensitizing properties against CaP, with selectivity exhibited towards malignant cells while sparing their normal counterparts. In this context, the present review aims to elucidate the intricate molecular underpinnings associated with metastatic CaP development and the acquisition of chemoresistance. Moreover, the contributions of phytochemicals to ameliorating CaP initiation, progression, and chemoresistance are also discussed.

Efficient Utilization of Tea Resources through Encapsulation: Dual Perspectives from Core Material to Wall Material

With the high production and consumption of tea around the world, efficient utilization of tea byproducts (tea pruning, tea residues after production, and drinking) is the focus of improving the economy of the tea industry. This review comprehensively discusses the efficient utilization of tea resources by encapsulation from the dual perspectives of core material and wall material. The core material is mainly tea polyphenols, followed by tea oils. The encapsulation system for tea polyphenols includes microcapsules, nanoparticles, emulsions, gels, conjugates, metal-organic frameworks, liposomes, and nanofibers. In addition, it is also diversified for the encapsulation of tea oils. Tea resources as wall materials refer to tea saponins, tea polyphenols, tea proteins, and tea polysaccharides. The application of the tea-based delivery system widely involves functionally fortified food, meat preservation, film, medical treatment, wastewater treatment, and plant protection. In the future, the coencapsulation of tea resources as core materials and other functional ingredients, the precise targeting of these tea resources, and the wide application of tea resources in wall materials need to be focused on. In conclusion, the described technofunctional properties and future research challenges in this review should be followed.

Catechin, rutin and quercetin in Quercus mongolica Fisch leaves exert inhibitory effects on multiple cancer cells

We aimed to identify anti-tumor agents in Quercus mongolica Fisch (QMF). Bioactive compounds in QMF leaves, which were extracted using ethanol as a co-solvent. Five point zero six grams of flavonoids were obtained from 100 g of QMF leaves. Catechin (18.4%), rutin (6.3%), ellagic acid (34.9%), quercetin (5.1%) and kaempferol (20.6%) are the main ingredients of the extracts and were further purified by HPLC. CCK-8 cell proliferation assay showed that catechin and ellagic acid exerted strong inhibitory effects on the proliferation of all cancer cells with lower IC₅₀ values against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines, SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, HeLa human cervical carcinoma cell lines and SKOV3 human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (p < .05). Catechin, rutin and quercetin induced a higher rate of apoptosis and inhibited all cancer cell proliferation by inducing the G0/G1 phase and G2/M phase arrest (p < .05). However, ellagic acid induced tumor cell death, not through apoptosis and there may be other molecular mechanisms. High levels of catechin and ellagic acid in QMF can be developed as potential drugs to treat different types of cancer cells. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Quercus species have been widely studied because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-tumor properties. Bioactive compounds in the leaves of Quercus mongolica Fisch have high levels of catechin and ellagic acid, which exert significant inhibitory properties on the proliferation of various types of cancer cells. Therefore, the bioactive compounds may be potential natural drugs in the prevention of cancer development and progression.

Characterization of Gels and Films Produced from Pinhão Seed Coat Nanocellulose as a Potential Use for Wound Healing Dressings and Screening of Its Compounds towards Antitumour Effects

The reuse of agro-industrial waste assumes great importance today. Pinhão is the seed of Araucaria angustifolia, which is native to the mountains of southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The coat is a by-product of this seed and is rich in phenolic compounds. The present study aimed to use the residue as a precursor material for the production of nanocellulose through the mechanical defibrillation process and perform the characterization of the films and the gel to investigate the effect on the physical and regenerative properties when incorporated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The modulus of elasticity was higher when the MFC of pinhão was added to the PVA. Film and gel had their cytotoxicity tested by MTT assay using 3T3 fibroblast and Schwann cancer cells, and a migration assay was also performed using the scratch test on HaCat keratinocyte cells. For the scratch test, film and gel samples with low concentration presented a complete scratch closure in 72 h. Molecular docking was performed and quercetin had the ideal interaction score values, so it was used with the PACAP protein which presented a slightly moderate interaction with the protein synthesis of Schwann cells, presenting compactness of the compound after 14 ns.

Chemotherapeutics activities of dietary phytoestrogens against prostate cancer: From observational to clinical studies

Prostate cancer remains one of the most frequent and deadliest malignancies in males, where the rate of disease progression is closely associated with the type of dietary intake, specifically Western-style diet. Indeed intake of the Asian diet, which contains abundant phytoestrogens, is inversely correlated with a higher risk of prostate cancer, suggesting a chemoprotective effect of phytoestrogen against cancer progression. Although the role of phytoestrogens in cancer treatment was well documented, their impact on prostate cancer is not well understood. Therefore, the present review discusses the possible chemopreventive effect of phytoestrogens, emphasizing their efficacy at the different stages of carcinogenesis. Furthermore, phytoestrogens provide a cytoprotective effect in conventional chemotherapy and enhance chemosensitivity to tumor cells, which have also been discussed. This compilation provides a solid basis for future research on phytoestrogens as a promising avenue for anticancer drug development and also recommends these beneficiary compounds in the daily diet to manage and prevent prostate cancer.

Nano-Strategies for Enhancing the Bioavailability of Tea Polyphenols: Preparation, Applications, and Challenges

Tea polyphenols (TPs) are among the most abundant functional compounds in tea. They exhibit strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, their instability and low bioavailability limits their applications. Nanotechnology, which involves the use of nanoscale substances (sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nm) to improve the properties of substances, provides a solution for enhancing the stability and bioavailability of TPs. We reviewed the preparation, performance, effects, and applications of different types of TPs nanocarriers. First, we introduced the preparation of different nanocarriers, including nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanomicelles, and nanolipids. Then, we discussed various applications of tea polyphenol-loaded nanocarriers in functional ingredient delivery, food quality improvement, and active food packaging. Finally, the challenges and future development directions of TPs nanocarriers were elucidated. In conclusion, a nano-strategy may be the “key” to break the application barriers of TPs. Therefore, the use of nano-strategies for the safe, stable, and efficient release of TPs is the direction of future research.