Dietary Natural Products for Prevention and Treatment of Liver Cancer

NMR-based metabolomic investigation of dogs with acute flaccid paralysis due to tick paralysis

BACKGROUND

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a complex clinical syndrome with various aetiologies. If untreated, AFP may lead to death due to failure of respiratory muscles. Tick paralysis, which is a noninfectious neurologic syndrome of AFP, occurs following tick attachment, engorgement, and injection of tick saliva toxins. There is no specific diagnostic test for tick paralysis, and mortality increases as definitive diagnosis is delayed. Although metabolomic investigation of tick saliva was conducted, there is a lack of research on metabolomic evaluation of hosts affected by tick paralysis.

OBJECTIVES

Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate metabolomic changes in serum samples of dogs with tick paralysis due to Rhipicephalus sanguineus using NMR-based metabolomics and to identify potential diagnostic/prognostic markers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty dogs infested with R. sanguineus, with clinical findings compatible with AFP and with a confirmed tick paralysis diagnosis ex juvantibus, constituted the Paralysis Group. Ten healthy dogs, which were admitted either for vaccination and/or check-up purposes, constituted the Control Group. After the confirmation tick paralysis, medical history, vaccination and nutritional status, body surface area and estimated tick numbers of all the dogs were noted. Physical examination included body temperature, heart and respiratory rate, capillary refill time evaluation and Modified Glasgow Coma Scale calculation. Serum samples were extracted from venous blood samples of all the dogs and were prepared for NMR analysis, and NMR-based metabolomics identification and quantification were performed.

RESULTS

NMR-based serum metabolomics of the present study revealed distinct up/down-regulated expressions, presenting a promising avenue. Moreover, it was observed that energy metabolism and especially liver functions were impaired in dogs with tick paralysis, and not only the respiratory system but also the kidneys were affected.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the present approach may help to better understand the pathological mechanisms developing in cases of AFP due to tick paralysis.

Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1: A novel antitumor target in gastrointestinal cancers

Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is a member of the type I receptor tyrosine kinase family. ROR1 is pivotal in embryonic development and cancer, and serves as a biomarker and therapeutic target. It has soluble and membrane-bound subtypes, with the latter highly expressed in tumors. ROR1 is conserved throughout evolution and may play a role in the development of gastrointestinal cancer through multiple signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms. Studies suggest that overexpression of ROR1 may increase tumor invasiveness and metastasis. Additionally, ROR1 may regulate the cell cycle, stem cell characteristics, and interact with other signaling pathways to affect cancer progression. This review explores the structure, expression and role of ROR1 in the development of gastrointestinal cancers. It discusses current antitumor strategies, outlining challenges and prospects for treatment.

Modulation of the Nrf-2 and HO-1 signalling axis is associated with Betaine's abatement of fluoride-induced hepatorenal toxicities in rats

Sodium fluoride (NaF) ingestion has several detrimental effects in humans and rodents. NaF mechanisms of toxicity include perturbation of intracellular redox homeostasis and apoptosis. Betaine (BET) is a modified amino acid with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. This study investigates BET's effect on NaF-induced hepatorenal toxicities in rats. Experimental rats (n = 30) were randomly assigned to groups (n = 6) and treated by gavage for 28 days. Group I (2 mL of distilled water), Group II (NaF: 9 mg/kg) alone, Group III: (BET: 100 mg/kg), Group IV: (NaF: 9 mg/kg and BET 1: 50 mg/kg), and Group V: (NaF: 9 mg/kg and BET 2: 100 mg/kg). Our findings revealed significantly (p < 0.05) increased hepatic transaminase activities alongside creatinine and urea levels following NaF-alone treatment in addition to increased oxidative status, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and total sulfhydryl groups. The reduced levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 and the activities of heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase in NaF-alone treated rats equally compromised cellular molecular responses to oxidative stress. Also, NaF increased (p < 0.05) hepatorenal inflammatory biomarkers-nitric oxide, interleukin-10, myeloperoxidase, and xanthine oxidase. Furthermore, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased (p < 0.05) in rats treated with NaF alone. Contrastingly, BET was observed to alleviate the harmful effects of NaF. Treatment with BET mitigated NaF-induced oxido-inflammatory responses and apoptosis in the experimental rat's hepatorenal system. The study demonstrates the potential of BET to abate NaF-induced hepatorenal toxicity.

A comprehensive review of phytoconstituents in liver cancer prevention and treatment: targeting insights into molecular signaling pathways

Primary liver cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary liver cancer that usually affects adults. Liver cancer is a fatal global condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite advances in technology, the mortality rate remains alarming. There is growing interest in researching alternative medicines to prevent or reduce the effects of liver cancer. Recent studies have shown growing interest in herbal products, nutraceuticals, and Chinese medicines as potential treatments for liver cancer. These substances contain unique bioactive compounds with anticancer properties. The causes of liver cancer and potential treatments are discussed in this review. This study reviews natural compounds, such as curcumin, resveratrol, green tea catechins, grape seed extracts, vitamin D, and selenium. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that these medications reduce the risk of liver cancer through their antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and antimetastatic properties. This article discusses the therapeutic properties of natural products, nutraceuticals, and Chinese compounds for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer.

Trend analysis and age-period-cohort effects on morbidity and mortality of liver cancer from 2010 to 2020 in Guangzhou, China

Introduction

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant gastrointestinal tumors worldwide. This study intends to provide insight into the epidemiological characteristics and development trends of liver cancer incidence and mortality from 2010 to 2020 in Guangzhou, China.

Methods

Data were collected from the Cancer Registry and Reporting Office of Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Cross-sectional study, Joinpoint regression (JPR) model, and Age-Period-Cohort (APC) model were conducted to analyze the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) trend of liver cancer among the entire study period.

Results

The age-standardized incidence and mortality of liver cancer in Guangzhou showed an overall decreasing trend. The disparity in risk of morbidity and mortality between the two sexes for liver cancer is increasing. The cohort effect was the most significant among those born in 1965~1969, and the risk of liver cancer incidence and mortality in the total population increased and then decreased with the birth cohort. Compared with the birth cohort born in 1950~1954 (the reference cohort), the risk of liver cancer incidence and mortality in the males born in 1995~1999 decreased by 32% and 41%, respectively, while the risk in the females decreased by 31% and 32%, respectively.

Conclusions

The early detection, prevention, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of liver cancer in Guangzhou have made remarkable achievements in recent years. However, the risk of liver cancer in the elderly and the middle-aged males is still at a high level. Therefore, the publicity of knowledge related to the prevention and treatment of liver cancer among the relevant population groups should be actively carried out to enhance the rate of early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer and to advocate a healthier lifestyle.

Assessment of disease control rate and safety of sorafenib in targeted therapy for advanced liver cancer

OBJECTIVE

The clinical efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced liver cancer (ALC) were evaluated based on transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

METHODS

92 patients with ALC admitted to our hospital from May 2020 to August 2022 were randomly rolled into a control (Ctrl) group and an observation (Obs) group, with 46 patients in each. Patients in the Ctrl group received TACE treatment, while those in the Obs group received sorafenib molecular targeted therapy (SMTT) on the basis of the treatment strategy in the Ctrl group (400 mg/dose, twice daily, followed by a 4-week follow-up observation). Clinical efficacy, disease control rate (DCR), survival time (ST), immune indicators (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+), and adverse reactions (ARs) (including mild fatigue, liver pain, hand-foot syndrome (HFS), diarrhea, and fever) were compared for patients in different groups after different treatments.

RESULTS

the DCR in the Obs group (90%) was greatly higher to that in the Ctrl group (78%), showing an obvious difference (P < 0.05). The median ST in the Obs group was obviously longer and the median disease progression time (DPT) was shorter, exhibiting great differences with those in the Ctrl group (P < 0.05). Moreover, no great difference was observed in laboratory indicators between patients in various groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the Obs group exhibited better levels in all indicators. Furthermore, the incidence of ARs in the Obs group was lower and exhibited a sharp difference with that in the Ctrl group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SMTT had demonstrated good efficacy in patients with ALC, improving the DCR, enhancing the immune response of the body, and reducing the incidence of ARs, thereby promoting the disease outcome. Therefore, it was a treatment method worthy of promotion and application.

Analysing the Anticancer Properties of Pterostilbene Through Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) and Molecular Docking Studies

Aim The aim of this study is to examine the possible therapeutic effect of pterostilbene (PTS), a chemical present in grapes and blueberries, in the treatment of liver cancer by analysing its interactions with important proteins linked to the wingless/integrated (Wnt) signaling system. Objective Using computational techniques like molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) studies, this research focuses on examining the pharmacokinetics and molecular interactions of PTS with proteins such as vimentin (Vim), glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3-β), epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Wnt, all of which are connected to the Wnt signaling pathway in liver cancer. Methods The study includes the synthesis of proteins and ligands, ADME investigations for PTS, and AutoDock Vina molecular docking simulations to evaluate binding affinities and interactions. PTS is obtained from PubChem, while protein structures are obtained from the Protein Data Bank. Results Strong binding affinities between PTS and essential proteins in the Wnt signaling cascade are shown by molecular docking, which also highlights noteworthy hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic contacts. According to an ADME study, PTS has advantageous pharmacokinetic properties, such as moderate solubility, membrane permeability, and a minimal chance of drug interactions. Conclusion The extensive study highlights PTS's potential as a viable treatment option for liver cancer. The study promotes its investigation in cutting-edge liver cancer therapy approaches and urges more investigation into the molecular mechanisms, underpinning its anticancer properties. This paper sheds important light on the role of natural chemicals in cancer therapy and emphasizes the need for computational methods in drug discovery.

Pharmacokinetics and apparent Michaelis constant for metabolite conversion of sorafenib in healthy and hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing rats

Aim: Investigation of the pharmacokinetics of sorafenib (SRF) in rats with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A reproducible ultra-HPLC-MS method for simultaneous determination of serum SRF, N-hydroxymethyl sorafenib and N-demethylation sorafenib. Results: Both the maximum serum concentrations (2.5-times) and the area under the serum concentration-time curve from 0 h to infinity (4.5-times) of SRF were observed to be significantly higher, with a greater than 3.0-fold decrease in the clearance rate in the HCC-bearing rats compared with these values in healthy animals. Further study revealed approximately 3.8- and 3.2-times increases in the apparent Michaelis constant for N-hydroxymethyl sorafenib and N-demethylation sorafenib conversions in the HCC-bearing rats. Conclusion: The low efficiency for the SRF conversions was a key contributor to the increased serum concentrations of SRF.

Prediction of potential targets and toxicological insights of Astragalus in liver cancer based on network pharmacology: Integrating systems biology, drug interaction networks, and toxicological perspectives

This study investigates Astragalus's efficacy as a novel therapeutic option for primary liver cancer (PLC), capitalizing on its anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. We utilized network pharmacology to unveil Astragalus's potential targets against PLC, revealing significant gene expression alterations in treated samples-20 genes were up-regulated, and 20 were down-regulated compared to controls. Our analysis extended to single-cell resolution, where we processed scRNA-seq data to discern 15 unique cell clusters within the immune, malignant, and stromal compartments through advanced algorithms like UMAP and tSNE. To delve deeper into the functional implications of these gene expression changes, we conducted comprehensive gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses, alongside Gene Set Variation Analysis, to elucidate the biological processes and pathways involved. Further, we constructed protein-protein interaction networks to visualize the intricate molecular interplay, highlighting the down-regulation of MT1E in PLC cells, a finding corroborated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Molecular docking studies affirmed the potent interaction between Astragalus's active compounds and MT proteins, underscoring a targeted therapeutic mechanism. Our investigation also encompassed a detailed cellular landscape analysis, identifying nine cell subgroups related to MT1 expression and specifying five cell subsets through the SingleR package. Advanced trajectory and cell-cell interaction analyses offered deeper insights into the dynamics of MT1-associated cellular subpopulations. This comprehensive methodology not only underpins Astragalus's promising role in PLC treatment but also advances our understanding of its molecular and cellular mechanisms, paving the way for targeted therapeutic strategies.

Liver organoids and their application in liver cancer research

Liver cancer, a common and intractable liver-related disease, is a malignant tumor with a high morbidity, which needs a high treatment cost but still lacks perfect clinical treatment methods. Looking for an effective platform for liver cancer study and drug screening is urgent and important. Traditional analytical methods for liver disease studies mainly rely on the 2D cell culture and animal experiments, which both cannot fully recapitulate physiological and pathological processes of human liver. For example, cell culture can only show basic functions of cells in vitro, while animal models always hold the problem of species divergence. The organoids, a 3D invitro culture system emerged in recent years, is a cell-bound body with different cell types and has partial tissue functions. The organoid technology can reveal the growth state, structure, function and characteristics of the tissue or organ, and plays an important role in reconstructing invitro experimental models that can truly simulate the human liver. In this paper, we will give a brief introduction of liver organoids and review their applications in liver cancer research, especially in liver cancer pathogenesis, drug screening, precision medicine, regenerative medicine, and other fields. We have also discussed advantages and disadvantages of organoids, as well as future directions and perspectives towards liver organoids.

Natural foods resources and dietary ingredients for the amelioration of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gastric-persistent pathogen that can cause peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, and mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. This pathogen is commonly treated with antibiotic-based triple or quadruple therapy. However, antibiotic therapy could result in the bacterial resistance, imbalance of gut microbiota, and damage to the liver and kidneys, etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Interestingly, natural food resources, like vegetables, fruits, spices, and edible herbs, have potent inhibitory effects on H. pylori. In this review, we systematically summarized these foods with supporting evidence from both animal and clinical studies. The results have indicated that natural foods may possess temporary inhibition effect on H. pylori rather than durable eradication, and may help to reduce H. pylori colonization, enhance the effect of antibiotics and modulate the host's immune response.

Risk factors and prevention of liver cancer: A bibliometric and visual analysis

Liver cancer has become an important public health problem. In this study, bibliometrics and visual analysis were performed on the literature related to the risk factors and prevention of liver cancer, in order to understand the latest research progress of the risk factors and prevention of liver cancer. The Web of Science database was used as a retrieval platform to retrieve the published research results from 2012 to 2023. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were utilized for bibliometrics and visual analysis. A total of 2388 articles were screened according to exclusion criteria. Between 2012 and 2018, the number of articles published fluctuated. From 2018 to 2023, the number of published documents showed a steady upward trend. The 3 journals with the most publications are World Journal of Gastroenterology, PLOS ONE, and Hepatology. The United States and China are the countries with the most publications, while Harvard University, the National Institutes of Health and the University of Texas System are the 3 institutions with the most publications. Keywords such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol, obesity, recrudescence rate, global burden are hot words in the field of liver cancer risk factors and prevention. The current research mainly focuses on the influence of environmental factors, behavioral lifestyle and biological factors on liver cancer, as well as the primary and secondary prevention of liver cancer, but there are still many undetermined factors to be explored.

A holistic approach to prostate cancer treatment: natural products as enhancers to a medically minded approach

Prostate cancer (PC) has historically been the most diagnosed cancer in men. Though treatment for prostate cancer is often effective, it is also often very taxing on the body and commonly has negative quality of life implications. One such example is androgen suppression therapy (AST), which has severe side effects that can be mitigated through physical activity. Natural agents and protocols are increasingly studied for their merit against cancer and for their potential to treat cancer in ways that preserve the quality of life. Many agents and lifestyle choices have been shown to have success against prostate cancer. There is promising evidence that simple treatments such as green tea, pomegranate, and a regular exercise routine can be effective against prostate cancer. These treatments have the potential to enhance current treatment protocols. In this review, we will discuss the viability of many natural agents as treatments for prostate cancer and its complications.

Stimuli-responsive (nano)architectures for phytochemical delivery in cancer therapy

The use of phytochemicals for purpose of cancer therapy has been accelerated due to resistance of tumor cells to conventional chemotherapy drugs and therefore, monotherapy does not cause significant improvement in the prognosis and survival of patients. Therefore, administration of natural products alone or in combination with chemotherapy drugs due to various mechanisms of action has been suggested. However, cancer therapy using phytochemicals requires more attention because of poor bioavailability of compounds and lack of specific accumulation at tumor site. Hence, nanocarriers for specific delivery of phytochemicals in tumor therapy has been suggested. The pharmacokinetic profile of natural products and their therapeutic indices can be improved. The nanocarriers can improve potential of natural products in crossing over BBB and also, promote internalization in cancer cells through endocytosis. Moreover, (nano)platforms can deliver both natural and synthetic anti-cancer drugs in combination cancer therapy. The surface functionalization of nanostructures with ligands improves ability in internalization in tumor cells and improving cytotoxicity of natural compounds. Interestingly, stimuli-responsive nanostructures that respond to endogenous and exogenous stimuli have been employed for delivery of natural compounds in cancer therapy. The decrease in pH in tumor microenvironment causes degradation of bonds in nanostructures to release cargo and when changes in GSH levels occur, it also mediates drug release from nanocarriers. Moreover, enzymes in the tumor microenvironment such as MMP-2 can mediate drug release from nanocarriers and more progresses in targeted drug delivery obtained by application of nanoparticles that are responsive to exogenous stimulus including light.

Early detection of genotoxic hepatocarcinogens in rats using γH2AX and Ki-67: prediction by machine learning

Direct DNA double-strand breaks result in phosphorylation of H2AX, a variant of the histone H2 protein. Phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX) may be a potential indicator in the evaluation of genotoxicity and hepatocarcinogenicity. In this study, γH2AX and Ki-67 were detected in the short-term responses (24 h after chemical administration) to classify genotoxic hepatocarcinogens (GHs) from non-GH chemicals. One hundred and thirty-five 6-week-old Crl: CD(SD) (SPF) male rats were treated with 22 chemicals including 11 GH and 11 non-GH, sacrificed 24 h later, and immunostained with γH2AX and Ki-67. Positivity rates of these markers were measured in the 3 liver ZONEs 1-3; portal, lobular, and central venous regions. These values were input into 3 machine learning models-Naïve Bayes, Random Forest, and k-Nearest Neighbor to classify GH and non-GH using a 10-fold cross-validation method. All 11 and 10 out of 11 GH caused significant increase in γH2AX and Ki-67 levels, respectively (P < .05). Of the 3 machine learning models, Random Forest performed the best. GH were identified with 95.0% sensitivity (76/80 GH-treated rats), 90.9% specificity (50/55 non-GH-treated rats), and 90.0% overall correct response rate using γH2AX staining, and 96.2% sensitivity (77/80), 81.8% specificity (45/55), and 90.4% overall correct response rate using Ki-67 labeling. Random Forest model using γH2AX and Ki-67 could independently predict GH in the early stage with high accuracy.

Procyanidin improves experimental colitis by regulating macrophage polarization

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with an unclear pathogenesis for which successful treatments are still lacking. It has been reported that procyanidin, a natural antioxidant, relieves colitis, but the specific mechanism is elusive.

PURPOSE

Our present study was designed to investigate the effects of procyanidin on colitis and the regulation of the M1 macrophage phenotype and related signaling pathways.

METHODS

In vivo, we used two classic colitis models to observe the effect of procyanidin on macrophage polarization. In vitro, we further validated the therapeutic effect of procyanidin in the RAW264.7 cell line and peritoneal macrophages.

RESULTS

The current findings provide new evidence that procyanidin ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis by preventing the polarization of macrophages to the M1 type and downregulating the levels of proinflammatory factors in cells. We also showed that procyanidin prevented lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced elevation of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of proinflammatory macrophages, which was achieved by activating the STAT3 and NF-κB pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to demonstrate that procyanidin alleviates experimental colitis by inhibiting the polarization of proinflammatory macrophages. These data reveal new ideas for the pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Alnus nitida Leaf Extract as a Potential Antioxidant and Anticancer Agent

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts is gaining attention as a substitute to the conventional physical and chemical synthesis methods. This study reports a facile, cost-effective, and ecofriendly synthesis of AgNPs using leaf extract of Alnus nitida (A. nitida) and their antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using various analytical techniques including UV-visible spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering. The antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of the extract and AgNPs was evaluated using different in vitro models. The UV-vis analysis revealed a surface plasmon resonance peak of 400 nm corresponding to the synthesis of AgNPs. SEM analysis confirmed the formation of heterogeneously dispersed particles of nano size, while the XRD and FTIR spectra confirmed the crystallinity and existence of different functional groups that helped in capping and stability of AgNPs. The antioxidant activity of AgNPs and extract, studied by 1,1-diphenyl 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), 2, 2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and H2O2 scavenging assays, showed a dose-dependent effect. The AgNPs at 1000 μg/mL significantly scavenged DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and H2O2 by 66.45, 74.65, 78.81, and 72.56% with an average IC50 value of 33.31, 18.50, 16.46, and 15.65 μg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxic potential investigated by MTT assay revealed promising antiproliferative effects against different cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of AgNPs on MDA-MB-231, A549, and Hep-G2 cells were 14.88, 3.6, and 5.38 μg/mL, respectively. The results showed that AgNPs were more effective against lung and hepatocellular carcinoma. The selectivity index showed that AgNPs remained highly selective in retarding the growth of A549 and Hep-G2 cells as compared to normal cell lines HPAEpiC and HRPTEpiC. Overall, this study showed that biosynthesized AgNPs were associated with considerable antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. Our work suggests that A. nitida-mediated AgNPs should be evaluated further in order to develop safe and effective formulations for the treatment of different degenerative diseases.

Combining Crocin and Sorafenib Improves Their Tumor-Inhibiting Effects in a Rat Model of Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Cirrhotic-Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, with continuously increasing cases and fatalities. Diagnosis often occurs in the advanced stages, confining patients to systemic therapies such as sorafenib. Sorafenib (SB), a multi-kinase inhibitor, has not yet demonstrated sufficient efficacy against advanced HCC. There is a strong argument in favor of studying its use in combination with other medications to optimize the therapeutic results. According to our earlier work, crocin (CR), a key bioactive component of saffron, hinders HCC development and liver cancer stemness. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic use of CR or its combination with SB in a cirrhotic rat model of HCC and evaluated how effectively SB and CR inhibited tumor growth in this model. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was administered intraperitoneally to rats once a week for 15 weeks, leading to cirrhosis, and then 19 weeks later, leading to multifocal HCC. After 16 weeks of cancer induction, CR (200 mg/kg daily) and SB (10 mg/kg daily) were given orally to rats for three weeks, either separately or in combination. Consistently, the combination treatment considerably decreased the incidence of dyschromatic nodules, nodule multiplicity, and dysplastic nodules when compared to the HCC group of single therapies. Combined therapy also caused the highest degree of apoptosis, along with decreased proliferating and β-catenin levels in the tumor tissues. Additionally, when rats received combined therapy with CR, it showed anti-inflammatory characteristics where nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) were considerably and additively lowered. As a result, CR potentiates the suppressive effects of SB on tumor growth and provides the opportunity to strengthen the therapeutic effects of SB in the treatment of HCC.

Advanced therapeutics avenues in hepatocellular carcinoma: a novel paradigm

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of primary liver cancer, and it poses a significant risk to patients health and longevity due to its high morbidity and fatality rates. Surgical ablation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and, most recently, immunotherapy have all been investigated for HCC, but none have yielded the desired outcomes. Several unique nanocarrier drug delivery techniques have been studied for their potential therapeutic implications in the treatment of HCC. Nanoparticle-based imaging could be effective for more accurate HCC diagnosis. Since its inception, nanomedicine has significantly transformed the approach to both the treatment and diagnostics of liver cancer. Nanoparticles (NPs) are being studied as a potential treatment for liver cancer because of their ability to carry small substances, such as treatment with chemotherapy, microRNA, and therapeutic genes. The primary focus of this study is on the most current discoveries and practical uses of nanomedicine-based diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for liver cancer. In this section, we had gone over what we know about metabolic dysfunction in HCC and the treatment options that attempt to fix it by targeting metabolic pathways. Furthermore, we propose a multi-target metabolic strategy as a viable HCC treatment option. Based on the findings given here, the scientists believe that smart nanomaterials have great promise for improving cancer theranostics and opening up new avenues for tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Dietary Plant Polysaccharides for Cancer Prevention: Role of Immune Cells and Gut Microbiota, Challenges and Perspectives

Dietary plant polysaccharides, one of the main sources of natural polysaccharides, possess significant cancer prevention activity and potential development value in the food and medicine fields. The anti-tumor mechanisms of plant polysaccharides are mainly elaborated from three perspectives: enhancing immunoregulation, inhibiting tumor cell growth and inhibiting tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The immune system plays a key role in cancer progression, and immunomodulation is considered a significant pathway for cancer prevention or treatment. Although much progress has been made in revealing the relationship between the cancer prevention activity of polysaccharides and immunoregulation, huge challenges are still met in the research and development of polysaccharides. Results suggest that certain polysaccharide types and glycosidic linkage forms significantly affect the biological activity of polysaccharides in immunoregulation. At present, the in vitro anti-tumor effects and immunoregulation of dietary polysaccharides are widely reported in articles; however, the anti-tumor effects and in vivo immunoregulation of dietary polysaccharides are still deserving of further investigation. In this paper, aspects of the mechanisms behind dietary polysaccharides' cancer prevention activity achieved through immunoregulation, the role of immune cells in cancer progression, the role of the mediatory relationship between the gut microbiota and dietary polysaccharides in immunoregulation and cancer prevention are systematically summarized, with the aim of encouraging future research on the use of dietary polysaccharides for cancer prevention.

Aged black garlic extract inhibits the growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells by downregulating MCL-1 expression through the ROS-JNK pathway

The black garlic is produced from the raw garlic by Milliard reaction at high temperature (~60-90°C) and humidity (~70-90%). In this process, the pungent odor and gastrointestinal irritation effects of the raw garlic are reduced. At the same time, unstable compounds such as allicin are converted into stable organosulfur compounds with antioxidant activity. Previous studies have confirmed that black garlic extract has anti-tumor effects and could inhibit the proliferation of various tumor cells, including breast cancer cells MCF-7. However, the mechanisms of the anti-tumor effects remain unclear. In this study, we found that the black garlic extract could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells, promote their apoptosis, and inhibit their epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Mechanistically, the black garlic extract reduced the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1, which was achieved by modulating the ROS-JNK signaling pathway. In addition, the black garlic extract also decreased the expression of BCL-2 and increased the expression of BAX and BIM. We also found that the black garlic extract, in combination with venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, synergistically kills the estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells. These results suggested that black garlic extract has great therapeutic value and prospects for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treatment.

The Management of Diabetes Mellitus Using Medicinal Plants and Vitamins

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious chronic metabolic disease that is associated with hyperglycemia and several complications including cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. DM is caused by high levels of blood sugar in the body associated with the disruption of insulin metabolism and homeostasis. Over time, DM can induce life-threatening health problems such as blindness, heart disease, kidney damage, and stroke. Although the cure of DM has improved over the past decades, its morbidity and mortality rates remain high. Hence, new therapeutic strategies are needed to overcome the burden of this disease. One such prevention and treatment strategy that is easily accessible to diabetic patients at low cost is the use of medicinal plants, vitamins, and essential elements. The research objective of this review article is to study DM and explore its treatment modalities based on medicinal plants and vitamins. To achieve our objective, we searched scientific databases of ongoing trials in PubMed Central, Medline databases, and Google Scholar websites. We also searched databases on World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to collect relevant papers. Results of numerous scientific investigations revealed that phytochemicals present in medicinal plants (Allium sativum, Momordica charantia, Hibiscus sabdariffa L., and Zingiber officinale) possess anti-hypoglycemic activities and show promise for the prevention and/or control of DM. Results also revealed that intake of vitamins C, D, E, or their combination improves the health of diabetes patients by reducing blood glucose, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, and blood pressure levels. However, very limited studies have addressed the health benefits of medicinal plants and vitamins as chemo-therapeutic/preventive agents for the management of DM. This review paper aims at addressing this knowledge gap by studying DM and highlighting the biomedical significance of the most potent medicinal plants and vitamins with hypoglycemic properties that show a great potential to prevent and/or treat DM.

Mechanism of action of Asparagus officinalis extract against multiple myeloma using bioinformatics tools, in silico and in vitro study

Introduction: Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a perennial flowering plant species. Its main components have tumor-prevention, immune system-enhancement, and anti-inflammation effects. Network pharmacology is a powerful approach that is being applied increasingly to research of herbal medicines. Herb identification, study of compound targets, network construction, and network analysis have been used to elucidate how herbal medicines work. However, the interaction of bioactive substances from asparagus with the targets involved in multiple myeloma (MM) has not been elucidated. We explored the mechanism of action of asparagus in MM through network pharmacology and experimental verification. Methods: The active ingredients and corresponding targets of asparagus were acquired from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology database, followed by identification of MM-related target genes using GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases, which were matched with the potential targets of asparagus. Potential targets were identified and a target network of traditional Chinese medicine was constructed. The STRING database and Cytoscape were utilized to create protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and further screening of core targets. Results: The intersection of target genes and core target genes of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway was enriched, the top-five core target genes were selected, and the binding affinity of corresponding compounds to the top-five core targets was analyzed using molecular docking. Network pharmacology identified nine active components of asparagus from databases based on oral bioavailability and drug similarity, and predicted 157 potential targets related to asparagus. Enrichment analyses showed that "steroid receptor activity" and the "PI3K/AKT signaling pathway" were the most enriched biological process and signaling pathway, respectively. According to the top-10 core genes and targets of the PPI pathway, AKT1, interleukin (IL)-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)A, MYC, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were selected for molecular docking. The latter showed that five core targets of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway could bind to quercetin, among which EGFR, IL-6, and MYC showed strong docking, and the diosgenin ligand could bind to VEGFA. Cell experiments showed that asparagus, through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, inhibited the proliferation and migration of MM cells, and caused retardation and apoptosis of MM cells in the G0/G1 phase. Discussion: In this study, the anti-cancer activity of asparagus against MM was demonstrated using network pharmacology, and potential pharmacological mechanisms were inferred using in vitro experimental data.

The Risk of Breast Cancer between Western and Mediterranean Dietary Patterns

Breast cancer is a significant public health problem globally and prevention strategies have become of great interest as its incidence rises. Exploring the connection between dietary patterns and the reduction of breast cancer risk is considered a promising approach. High levels of fiber, phytochemicals, a good antioxidant profile, and a composition of advantageous fatty acids are characteristics of healthy dietary programs such as the Mediterranean diet. This review summarized and discussed the active compounds that are considered important in preventing breast cancer, including dietary components from recent related reports. These include polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, phytochemicals, and alcohol. Although the exact mechanism for preventing breast cancer using these dietary factors is not well understood, the combination of all the elements in a healthy diet plays a role in reducing breast cancer risk. Considering the elevated probability of breast cancer relapse and mortality, it is crucial to investigate the correlation between a nutritious dietary pattern and breast cancer, while identifying bioactive components that have the potential to mitigate the risk of breast cancer incidence.

Natural Products as a Potential Source of Promising Therapeutics for COVID-19 and Viral Diseases

Background

A global pandemic has recently been observed due to the new coronavirus disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Since there are currently no antiviral medicines to combat the highly contagious and lethal COVID-19 infection, identifying natural sources that can either be viricidal or boost the immune system and aid in the fight against the disease can be an essential therapeutic support.

Methods

This review was conducted based on published papers related to the herbal therapy of COVID-19 by search on databases including PubMed and Scopus with herbal, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and therapy keywords.

Results

To combat this condition, people may benefit from the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants, such as increasing their immune system or providing an antiviral impact. As a result, SARS-CoV-2 infection death rates can be reduced. Various traditional medicinal plants and their bioactive components, such as COVID-19, are summarized in this article to assist in gathering and debating techniques for combating microbial diseases in general and boosting our immune system in particular.

Conclusion

The immune system benefits from natural products and many of these play a role in activating antibody creation, maturation of immune cells, and stimulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. The lack of particular antivirals for SARS-CoV-2 means that apitherapy might be a viable option for reducing the hazards associated with COVID-19 in the absence of specific antivirals.

Nodakenin Induces ROS-Dependent Apoptotic Cell Death and ER Stress in Radioresistant Breast Cancer

Angelica gigas exerts powerful anti-tumor and anti-cancer effects in various cancer cell types. However, there have been few studies regarding the anti-cancer effect of nodakenin, a bioactive compound of Angelica gigas, in vivo and in vitro on breast cancers. I found that nodakenin, in a concentration-dependent manner, inhibits breast cancer cell viability and decreases the tumor volume in mice. Additionally, nodakenin induces caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in breast cancer cells; however, the combination of Z-VAD-FMK and nodakenin suppresses the caspase-3-dependent apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, nodakenin mediates apoptotic cell death via the PERK-mediated signaling pathway and calcium (Ca²⁺) release, and nodakenin combined with thapsigargin induces synergistic cell death by inhibiting sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺-ATPase. However, knockdown of PERK or CHOP inhibits Ca²⁺ generation and caspase-dependent apoptosis in nodakenin-treated breast cancer cells. Nodakenin induces ROS and Ca²⁺ generation, ER stress, and apoptotic cell death; however, the knockdown of Nox4 inhibits ROS generation and ER stress- and caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. In addition, nodakenin combined with radiation overcomes radioresistance in radioresistant breast cancer cells by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotypes, including the decrease in E-cadherin and the increase in N-cadherin and vimentin. Therefore, these findings indicate that nodakenin may be a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancers.

6-Shogaol Overcomes Gefitinib Resistance via ER Stress in Ovarian Cancer Cells

In women, ovary cancer is already the fifth leading cause of mortality worldwide. The use of cancer therapies, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, may be a powerful anti-cancer therapeutic strategy; however, these therapies still have many problems, including resistance, toxicity, and side effects. Therefore, natural herbal medicine has the potential to be used for cancer therapy because of its low toxicity, fewer side effects, and high success. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effect of 6-shogaol in ovarian cancer cells. 6-shogaol induces ER stress and cell death via the reduction in cell viability, the increase in LDH cytotoxicity, caspase-3 activity, and Ca²⁺ release, and the upregulation of GRP78, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF-4, CHOP, and DR5. Moreover, 6-shogaol treatment medicates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell death by upregulating Nox4 and releasing ROS. The knockdown of Nox4 in ovarian cancer cells inhibits ER stress and cell death by blocking the reduction in cell viability and the enhancement of LDH cytotoxicity, caspase-3 activity, Ca²⁺, and ROS release. In gefitinib-resistant ovarian cancer cells, A2780R and OVCAR-3R, 6-shogaol/gefitinib overcomes gefitinib resistance by inhibiting EMT phenomena such as the reduction in E-cadherin, and the increase in N-cadherin, vimentin, Slug, and Snail. Therefore, our results suggest that 6-shogaol exerts a potential anti-cancer effect in ovarian cancer and combination treatment with 6-shogaol and gefitinib may provide a novel anti-tumor therapeutic strategy in gefitinib-resistant ovarian cancer.

Narrow Leafed Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) β-Conglutin Seed Proteins as a New Natural Cytotoxic Agents against Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer (BC) is the most widespread tumor in women and the second type of most common cancer worldwide. Despite all the technical and medical advances in existing therapies, between 30 and 50% of patients with BC will develop metastasis, which contributes to the failure of existing treatments. This situation urges the need to find more effective prevention and treatment strategies like the use of plant-based nutraceutical compounds. In this context, we purified three Narrow Leafed Lupin (NLL) β-conglutins isoforms using affinity-chromatography and evaluated their effectiveness in terms of viability, proliferation, apoptosis, stemness properties, and mechanism of action on both BC cell lines and a healthy one. NLL β-conglutins proteins have very promising effects at the molecular level on BC cells at very low concentrations, emerging as a potential natural cytotoxic agent and preserving the viability of healthy cells. These proteins could act through a dual mechanism involving tumorigenic and stemness-related genes such as SIRT1 and FoxO1, depending on the state of p53. More studies must be carried out to completely understand the underlying mechanisms of action of these nutraceutical compounds in BC in vitro and in vivo, and their potential use for the inhibition of other cancer cell types.

A Water-Soluble Hydrogen Sulfide Donor Suppresses the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Inhibiting the AKT/GSK-3β/β-Catenin and TGF-β/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a disease with high morbidity, high mortality, and low cure rate. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely adopted in tissue engineering and drug delivery. 5-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1, 2-dithiol-3-thione (ADT-OH) is one of commonly used H₂S donors. In our previous study, HA-ADT was designed and synthesized via coupling of HA and ADT-OH. In this study, compared with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, a fast H₂S-releasing donor) and morpholin-4-ium (4-methoxyphenyl)-morpholin-4-ylsulfanylidenesulfido-λ5-phosphane (GYY4137, a slow H₂S-releasing donor), HA-ADT showed stronger inhibitory effect on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle of human HCC cells. HA-ADT promoted apoptosis by suppressing the expressions of phospho (p)-protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), p-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), p-β-catenin, and also inhibited autophagy via the downregulation of the protein levels of p-Smad2, p-Smad3, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in human HCC cells. Moreover, HA-ADT inhibited HCC xenograft tumor growth more effectively than both NaHS and GYY4137. Therefore, HA-ADT can suppress the growth of HCC cells by blocking the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin and TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathways. HA-ADT and its derivatives may be developed as promising antitumor drugs.

Simvastatin Induces Apoptosis And Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Induced In Rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent primary aggressive cancer, a crucial cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Simvastatin is a well-known safe cholesterol-lowering medication that has been recently shown to suppress cancer progression. Apoptosis is a well-organized and controlled cellular process that happens both physiologically and pathologically leading to executing cell death. Apoptosis is frequently downregulated in cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to test the effect of simvastatin on HCC progression. HCC was induced in experimental rats by means of diethylnitrose amine (DEN) and thioacetamide (TAA) injections. Gross examination and liver index along with biochemical analysis of hepatic function were evaluated. Serum alpha-feto protein (AFP) concentration was measured by ELISA. Histopathological examination was used for assessing necroinflammatory scores and fibrosis degree. Apoptosis was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Simvastatin was found to induce apoptosis successfully in HCC and improve liver fibrosis, overall hepatic function, and necroinflammatory score. Simvastatin, therefore, may be a potential adjunctive therapeutic option in clinical settings of treating HCC.

Cancer chemopreventive potential of cooked glutinous purple rice on the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

Cancer prevention using dietary phytochemicals holds great potential, particularly in the alternative treatment of liver cancer. Our previous study found that the methanol extract of cooked purple rice performed various biological functions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimutagenic activities in in vitro assays. This study aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive effects of cooked glutinous purple rice extract (CRE) obtained from routine rice cooking method on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatic preneoplastic lesions in rats, along with its inhibitory mechanisms. CRE containing γ-oryzanols and high amounts of polyphenolic compounds, particularly cyanidin-3-glucoside, was fed to rats over a period 15 weeks. Additionally, injections of triple DEN at a concentration of 100 mg/kg BW were administered to rats once a week during the second, third, and fourth weeks of the experiment. The results revealed that CRE did not induce the formation of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive foci as a precancerous lesion during rat hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating non-carcinogenicity. Furthermore, CRE significantly reduced the number and size of GST-P positive foci in DEN-initiated rats. It also modulated microenvironment homeostasis by reducing the number of PCNA positive hepatocytes and by enhancing the number of apoptotic positive hepatocytes in the livers of DEN-initiated rats. Using RT-PCR analysis, CRE decreased the mRNA expression of some proinflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6, interleukin-1 beta, inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2, by attenuating the expression of cyclin E, the proliferation marker, while also inducing the expression of the apoptotic gene, Bcl2 associated X. The inhibitory mechanism at the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis of CRE may be involved with the attenuation of cell proliferation, the enhancement of apoptosis, and the modulation of the proinflammatory system. Anthocyanins, flavonoids, and γ-oryzanol represent a group of promising chemopreventive agents in cooked glutinous purple rice extract. The outcomes of this study can provide an improved understanding of the potential role of the phytochemicals contained in cooked purple glutinous rice with regard to cancer alleviation.

Anticancer Effects of Fucoxanthin through Cell Cycle Arrest, Apoptosis Induction, Angiogenesis Inhibition, and Autophagy Modulation

Cancer accounts for one in seven deaths worldwide and is the second leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease. One of the standard cancer treatments is chemotherapy which sometimes can lead to chemoresistance and treatment failure. Therefore, there is a great need for novel therapeutic approaches to treat these patients. Novel natural products have exhibited anticancer effects that may be beneficial in treating many kinds of cancer, having fewer side effects, low toxicity, and affordability. Numerous marine natural compounds have been found to inhibit molecular events and signaling pathways associated with various stages of cancer development. Fucoxanthin is a well-known marine carotenoid of the xanthophyll family with bioactive compounds. It is profusely found in brown seaweeds, providing more than 10% of the total creation of natural carotenoids. Fucoxanthin is found in edible brown seaweed macroalgae such as Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica, and Eisenia bicyclis. Many of fucoxanthin's pharmacological properties include antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anticancer, and antihypertensive effects. Fucoxanthin inhibits many cancer cell lines' proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, it modulates miRNA and induces cell cycle growth arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy. Moreover, the literature shows fucoxanthin's ability to inhibit cytokines and growth factors such as TNF-α and VEGF, which stimulates the activation of downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt autophagy, and pathways of apoptosis. This review highlights the different critical mechanisms by which fucoxanthin inhibits diverse cancer types, such as breast, prostate, gastric, lung, and bladder development and progression. Moreover, this article reviews the existing literature and provides critical supportive evidence for fucoxanthin's possible therapeutic use in cancer.

Induction of Apoptosis by Matrine Derivative ZS17 in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma BEL-7402 and HepG2 Cells through ROS-JNK-P53 Signalling Pathway Activation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and ranks third among cancer-related deaths worldwide. Using matrine as a lead compound, 12 matrine derivatives were designed and synthesised, and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated in four cancer cell lines. Eight of the twelve compounds showed strong antiproliferative activity, with an IC50 of <10 μM. The compound ZS17 exhibited strong antiproliferative activity in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 3.014−3.388 μM, which was much lower than that of matrine. Furthermore, we explored the role of ZS17 in inducing apoptosis in HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, as well as possible mechanisms involved. ZS17 inhibited the proliferation of BEL-7402 and HepG2 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. In addition, we found that ZS17 significantly induced apoptosis and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, promoted JNK phosphorylation, activated p53, and activated the caspase signalling pathway. Furthermore, the antioxidant NAC, JNK inhibitor SP600125, and Si-JNK increased cell viability, re-established cell metastasis, and inhibited ZS17-induced apoptosis. An in vivo antitumour assay demonstrated that ZS17 significantly reduced the number of migrating HepG2 cells in zebrafish embryos and suppressed the growth of HepG2 xenografts in nude mice without any obvious side effects. Our study demonstrated that the ROS-JNK-P53 pathway plays an important role in the destruction of liver tumour cells by ZS17. Thus, ZS17 may represent a promising chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC patients.

Serum metabolic effects of corn oligopeptides with 7-day supplementation on early post-surgery primary liver cancer patients: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Liver cancer as the main leading cancer has caused heavy burdens globally. The prognosis of liver cancer is closely related with postoperative nutrition support. Corn oligopeptides (COPs) are protein hydrolysates produced by enzymatic treatments, which have shown potential bioactivities, such as inhibiting angiotensin I-converting enzyme, resisting lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant. However, the correlation between COPs and liver cancer patients is still unknown and the potential mechanism of COPs on liver cancer is unclear as well. The aim of this study was to assess effects of 7-day intervention of COPs after surgery on liver function and serum metabolic profiles of liver cancer patients.

METHODS

Patients were assigned into COPs intervention group (n=50) and control group (n=91) for 7 days. Investigations were scheduled at 1st day and 7th day after liver resection surgery respectively, mainly including anthropometric, biochemical indexes and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis.

RESULTS

Seven-day supplementation of COPs on early post-surgery liver cancer patients down-regulated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and up-regulated prothrombin time activity and prealbumin levels. LC/MS analysis revealed metabolic signatures including regulation of 16 metabolites, which was closely related with two metabolic pathways (nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, fatty acid metabolism).

CONCLUSIONS

COPs supplementation has displayed the potentials on alleviating the injury of liver function and it may be due to regulation of fatty acid metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, lipid peroxidation and anti-inflammatory action. More researches are warranted in future to confirm the exact mechanisms.

Natural Products as Anticancer Agents: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Natural products have been an invaluable and useful source of anticancer agents over the years. Several compounds have been synthesized from natural products by modifying their structures or by using naturally occurring compounds as building blocks in the synthesis of these compounds for various purposes in different fields, such as biology, medicine, and engineering. Multiple modern and costly treatments have been applied to combat cancer and limit its lethality, but the results are not significantly refreshing. Natural products, which are a significant source of new therapeutic drugs, are currently being investigated as potential cytotoxic agents and have shown a positive trend in preclinical research and have prompted numerous innovative strategies in order to combat cancer and expedite the clinical research. Natural products are becoming increasingly important for drug discovery due to their high molecular diversity and novel biofunctionality. Furthermore, natural products can provide superior efficacy and safety due to their unique molecular properties. The objective of the current review is to provide an overview of the emergence of natural products for the treatment and prevention of cancer, such as chemosensitizers, immunotherapeutics, combinatorial therapies with other anticancer drugs, novel formulations of natural products, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their anticancer properties.

Identification of subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma and screening of prognostic molecular diagnostic markers based on cell adhesion molecule related genes

Cell adhesion molecules can predict liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) metastasis and determine prognosis, while the mechanism of the role of cell adhesion molecules in LIHC needs to be further explored. LIHC-related expression data were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the gene expression omnibus (GEO) databases, and genes related to cell adhesion were sourced from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. First, the TCGA-LIHC dataset was clustered by the nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm to find different subtypes of LIHC. Then the difference of prognosis and immune microenvironment between patients of different subtypes was evaluated. In addition, a prognostic risk model was obtained by least shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox analysis, while a nomogram was drawn. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis between high and low risk groups was conducted. Finally, the expressions of model genes were explored by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The 371 LIHC patients were classified into four subtypes by NMF clustering, and survival analysis revealed that disease-free survival (DFS) of these four subtypes were clearly different. Cancer-related pathways and immune microenvironment among these four subtypes were dysregulated. Moreover, 58 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between four subtypes were identified and were mainly associated with PPAR signaling pathway and amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, a prognostic model consisting of IGSF11, CD8A, ALCAM, CLDN6, JAM2, ITGB7, SDC3, CNTNAP1, and MPZ was built. A nomogram consisting of pathologic T and riskScore was built, and the calibration curve illustrated that the nomogram could better forecast LIHC prognosis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) demonstrated that DEGs between high and low risk groups were mainly involved in cell cycle. Finally, the qRT-PCR illustrated the expressions of nine model genes between normal and LIHC tissue. A prognostic model consisting of IGSF11, CD8A, ALCAM, CLDN6, JAM2, ITGB7, SDC3, CNTNAP1, and MPZ was obtained, which provides an important reference for the molecular diagnosis of patient prognosis.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of drug-eluting beads and conventional transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective

To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of drug-eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) for first-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system.

Methods

Based on the real-world clinical data of HCC patients receiving interventional therapy, a partitioned survival model was constructed for cost-effectiveness analysis. The model period is 1 month, and the research time limit is 10 years. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is used as the evaluation index. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were used to analyze the uncertainty of parameters to test the stability of the model results.

Results

The ICER of the DEB-TACE group was 11,875.62 $/QALYs, which was lower than the willingness to pay threshold (WTP) of 31,499.23 $/QALYs. One-way sensitivity analysis suggested that the utility value of progression-free survival (PFS) in the DEB-TACE group had the greatest impact. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that at the level of WTP of 31,499.23 $/QALYs, DEB-TACE had a cost-effective probability of 92%.

Conclusion

Under the current economic level in my country, DEB-TACE is more cost-effective than cTACE in the treatment of HCC patients.

Natural polyphenols: a potential prevention and treatment strategy for metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is the term for a combination of hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and central obesity as factors leading to cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Epidemiological investigation has shown that polyphenol intake is negatively correlated with the incidence of MS. Natural polyphenols are widely found in cocoa beans, tea, vegetables, fruits, and some Chinese herbal medicines; they are a class of plant compounds containing a variety of phenolic structural units, which are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in plants. Polyphenols are composed of flavonoids (such as flavanols, anthocyanidins, anthocyanins, isoflavones, etc.) and non-flavonoids (such as phenolic acids, stilbenes, and lignans). Modern pharmacological studies have proved that polyphenols can reduce blood pressure, improve lipid metabolism, lower blood glucose, and reduce body weight, thereby preventing and improving MS. Due to the unique characteristics and potential development and application value of polyphenols, this review summarizes some natural polyphenols that could treat MS, including their chemical properties, plant sources, and pharmacological action against MS, to provide a basis for the further study of polyphenols in MS.

Study of the Antioxidant Properties of Filipendula ulmaria and Alnus glutinosa

The demographic situation of the last few decades is characterized by the increased numbers of elderly and senile people, i.e., by the aging of the population. In humans, ageing is closely associated with the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), development of systemic inflammation and related vascular atherosclerotic alterations and metabolic disorders, like obesity, diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases. As these age-related alterations are directly associated with up-regulation of ROS production and development of chronic oxidative stress, their onset can be essentially delayed by continuous daily consumption of dietary antioxidants-natural products of plant origin. Such antioxidants (in the form of plant extracts, biologically active complexes or individual compounds) can be supplemented to functional foods, i.e., dietary supplementations for daily diet aiming prolongation of active life and delay of the senescence onset. Thereby, use of widely spread medicinal plants might essentially improve cost efficiency of this strategy and availability of antioxidant-rich functional foods. Therefore, here we addressed, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, the antioxidant activity of the extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Filipendula ulmaria and Alnus glutinosa growing in the Kaliningrad region of Russia, and assessed the contents of the biologically active substances underlying these properties. It was found that the extract prepared with the leaves of Filipendula ulmaria and female catkins of Alnus glutinosa demonstrated high antioxidant activity, although the former plant was featured with a higher antioxidant potential. The highest antioxidant activity detected in the methanol extracts of Alnus glutinosa reached 1094.02 ± 14.53 µmol TE/g, radical scavenging of activity was 584.45 ± 35.3 µmol TE/g, reducing capacity at interaction with iron complex-471.63 ± 7.06 µmol TE/g. For the methanol extracts of Filipendula ulmaria the antioxidant activity reached 759.78 ± 19.08 µmol TE/g, antioxidant activity for free radical removal was 451.08 ± 24.45 µmol TE/g and antioxidant activity for restorative ability with iron complex was 332.28 ± 10.93 µmol TE/g. These values are consistent with the total yields of the extracts and their content of ellagic acid. The ethyl acetate extracts of the both plants showed just minimal antioxidant activity. Thus, the considered extracts have an essential potential. This creates good prospects for the further use of herbal extracts of Filipendula ulmaria and Alnus glutinosa as a source of natural antioxidants.

Cruciferous vegetables as a treasure of functional foods bioactive compounds: Targeting p53 family in gastrointestinal tract and associated cancers

In the past few years, phytochemicals from natural products have gotten the boundless praise in treating cancer. The promising role of cruciferous vegetables and active components contained in these vegetables, such as isothiocyanates, indole-3-carbinol, and isothiocyanates, has been widely researched in experimental in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis models. The chemopreventive agents produced from the cruciferous vegetables were recurrently proven to affect carcinogenesis throughout the onset and developmental phases of cancer formation. Likewise, findings from clinical investigations and epidemiological research supported this statement. The anticancer activities of these functional foods bioactive compounds are closely related to their ability to upregulate p53 and its related target genes, e.g., p21. As the “guardian of the genome,” the p53 family (p53, p63, and p73) plays a pivotal role in preventing the cancer progression associated with DNA damage. This review discusses the functional foods bioactive compounds derived from several cruciferous vegetables and their use in altering the tumor-suppressive effect of p53 proteins. The association between the mutation of p53 and the incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies (gastric, small intestine, colon, liver, and pancreatic cancers) is also discussed. This review contains crucial information about the use of cruciferous vegetables in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract malignancies.

Diallyl Disulfide: A Bioactive Garlic Compound with Anticancer Potential

Cancer is a life-threatening disease caused by the uncontrolled division of cells, which culminates in a solid mass of cells known as a tumor or liquid cancer. It is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and the number of cancer patients has been increasing at an alarming rate, with an estimated 20 million cases expected by 2030. Thus, the use of complementary or alternative therapeutic techniques that can help prevent cancer has been the subject of increased attention. Garlic, the most widely used plant medicinal product, exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antibacterial, hypo-lipidemic, antithrombotic, and anticancer effects. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a major organosulfur compound contained within garlic. Recently, several experimental studies have demonstrated that DADS exhibits anti-tumor activity against many types of tumor cells, including gynecological cancers (cervical cancer, ovarian cancer), hematological cancers (leukemia, lymphoma), lung cancer, neural cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, gastrointestinal tract and associated cancers (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer), hepatocellular cancer cell line, etc. The mechanisms behind the anticancer action of DADS include epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and migration. This article aims to review the available information regarding the anti-cancer potential of DADS, as well as summarize its mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics from published clinical and toxicity studies.

Phytochemical Profile and Chemopreventive Properties of Cooked Glutinous Purple Rice Extracts Using Cell-Based Assays and Rat Model

Purple rice has gained attention for its health promoting potential due to a high content of bioactive phytochemicals. The heat generated during cooking alters the quality and quantity of nutrients and phytochemicals in food. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile and chemopreventive properties of cooked glutinous purple rice using cell-based assays and a rat model. Purple rice was cooked in a rice cooker and was then further extracted with solvents to obtain dichloromethane and methanol extracts. The methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice contained great amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Protocatechuic acid (2.26–5.40 mg/g extract) and cyanidin 3-glucoside (34.3–65.7 mg/g extract) were the major phenolic acid and anthocyanin contents, respectively. After cooking, the content of anthocyanins, γ-oryzanols, and phytosterols decreased, while the amount of some phenolic acid and tocol contents increased. Methanol extracts of glutinous purple rice inhibited reactive oxygen species production about 60% in PMA-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, reduced nitric oxide formation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (26–39% inhibition), and exhibited antimutagenicity against several mutagens using the Ames test, but dichloromethane extracts presented only mild anti-inflammatory activities. Although methanol extracts induced mild mutagenicity (mutagenic index 2.0–2.5), they did not induce micronucleated hepatocyte formation and certain hepatic CYP450 isozyme activities in rats. However, the mutagenicity of the methanol extract significantly declined after cooking. In summary, the methanol extract of the cooked glutinous purple rice might be a promising cancer chemopreventive fraction, which was neither genotoxic nor posing adverse effects on phytochemical–drug interaction in rats.

Prognostic Value of Exosomal Noncoding RNA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-analysis

High morbidity, recurrence and mortality make hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) a leading cause of cancer-related burden and deaths. The lack of prognostic evaluation methods weakened the therapeutic efficacy for HCC. Exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a key role in cancer development. Our meta-analysis aimed to assess the prognostic value of exosome-transferred noncoding RNAs in predicting the outcomes of patients with HCC. We obtained 16 articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE up to 4 November 2021. The ncRNAs were divided into three parts：microRNAs (miRNA), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) and circular RNAs (circRNA). In the pooled hazard ratios (HRs), upregulated miRNAs were 3.06 (95% CI = 2.51-3.73), downregulated miRNAs were 3.28 (95% CI = 2.61-4.11), lncRNAs were 3.34 (95% CI = 1.87-5.96), and circRNAs were 1.76 (95% CI = 1.36-2.14). As the results of subgroup analysis, upregulated miRNAs had a pooled HR of 3.10 (95% CI = 1.66-5.81), and the HR of downregulated miRNAs was 3.04 (95% CI = 2.17-4.28) for multivariate analysis of overall survival (OS). Meanwhile, upregulated miRNAs had a pooled HR of 2.61 (95% CI = 1.89-3.60), and the HR of downregulated miRNAs was 3.77 (95% CI = 1.11-12.73) for multivariate analysis of other endpoints. Remarkably, miR-21 has a pooled HR of 2.48 (95%CI = 1.52-4.05, I 2 = 0) for disease-free survival (DFS). In conclusion, the expression of exosomal noncoding RNAs can be used to evaluate the prognosis of patients with HCC. Exosome-transferred miR-21 might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in HCC.

Effects and Mechanisms of Curcumin for the Prevention and Management of Cancers: An Updated Review

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the world. Curcumin is the main ingredient in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), and is widely used in the food industry. It shows anticancer properties on different types of cancers, and the underlying mechanisms of action include inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing invasion and migration, promoting cell apoptosis, inducing autophagy, decreasing cancer stemness, increasing reactive oxygen species production, reducing inflammation, triggering ferroptosis, regulating gut microbiota, and adjuvant therapy. In addition, the anticancer action of curcumin is demonstrated in clinical trials. Moreover, the poor water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin can be improved by a variety of nanotechnologies, which will promote its clinical effects. Furthermore, although curcumin shows some adverse effects, such as diarrhea and nausea, it is generally safe and tolerable. This paper is an updated review of the prevention and management of cancers by curcumin with a special attention to its mechanisms of action.

Proteomics Analysis of Antitumor Activity of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Oral cancer is a malignant neoplasm of oral cavity. It accounts for approximately 5% of all malignant tumors. Approximately 97% of all oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, followed by adenocarcinomas, and rarely malignant melanomas. It occurs particularly in males (twice as common in males than in females) of middle age (above 40 years). Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. has traditionally been known for its effective antitumor activity and is currently used in China for cancer therapy. A. pilosa Ledeb. has been traditionally used for the treatment of abdominal pain, sore throat, headache, blood discharge, parasitic infections, and eczema in Korea and other Asian countries. Most studies on A. pilosa Ledeb. are related to the leaves and a few investigated the roots of the plant. However, detailed mechanisms of antitumor activity of A. pilosa Ledeb. have not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, to date, there have been no reports on the antitumor effect of A. pilosa Ledeb. in oral squamous cells. In this study, we used proteomic technology to observe changes in proteins related to anticancer activity of A. pilosa Ledeb. and identified target proteins among altered proteins to reveal the underlying mechanism of action.

Anticancer Effects and Mechanisms of Berberine from Medicinal Herbs: An Update Review

Cancer has been a serious public health problem. Berberine is a famous natural compound from medicinal herbs and shows many bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and antimicrobial activities. In addition, berberine shows anticancer effects on a variety of cancers, such as breast, lung, gastric, liver, colorectal, ovarian, cervical, and prostate cancers. The underlying mechanisms of action include inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, suppressing metastasis, inducing apoptosis, activating autophagy, regulating gut microbiota, and improving the effects of anticancer drugs. This paper summarizes effectiveness and mechanisms of berberine on different cancers and highlights the mechanisms of action. In addition, the nanotechnologies to improve bioavailability of berberine are included. Moreover, the side effects of berberine are also discussed. This paper is helpful for the prevention and treatment of cancers using berberine.

Daidzin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma survival by interfering with the glycolytic/gluconeogenic pathway through downregulation of TPI1

Daidzin (DDZ) is a natural brassin-like compound extracted from the soybean, and has been found to have therapeutic potential against tumors in recent years. This study investigates the therapeutic effect of DDZ on hepatocellular carcinoma cells and elucidates the possible mechanisms of action. The viability of HCCLM3 and Hep3B cells was detected by MTT assay. Western blots and qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels of proliferation and apoptosis related genes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for metabolome analysis. In vivo antitumor effects were assessed in nude mice engrafted with HCC cell lines. Our results show that DDZ treatment dose-dependently inhibited cell viability, migration, and survival. The expressions of CDK1, BCL2, MYC, and survivin were reduced, while the expressions of BAX and PARP were increased in DDZ treated cells. The differentially expressed metabolites detected in DDZ treated cultures are associated with glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Bioinformatic analysis identified TPI1, a gene in the glycolysis pathway with prognostic value for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and DDZ treatment downregulated this gene. In vivo experiments show that DDZ significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight, and inhibited Ki67 expression within tumors. This study shows that DDZ interfered with the survival and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, likely via TPI1 and the gluconeogenesis pathway.