Sesame Extract Promotes Chemopreventive Effect of Hesperidin on Early Phase of Diethylnitrosamine-Initiated Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats

Thai Fermented Soybean (Thua-Nao) Prevents Early Stages of Colorectal Carcinogenesis Induced by Diethylnitrosamine and 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine Through Modulations of Cell Proliferation and Gut Microbiota in Rats

BACKGROUND

Thua-nao is a traditional fermented soybean product widely consumed in the northern areas of Thailand. There has been little research on the biological activity of Thua-nao, particularly its anticancer properties.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to examine the cancer chemopreventive effects of dried Thua-nao on liver and colorectal carcinogenesis induced by carcinogens in rats.

METHODS

Rats were injected with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) to induce preneoplastic lesions. Rats orally received dried Thua-nao for 13 weeks. The preneoplastic lesions, including glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci and aberrant crypt foci (ACF), were evaluated in the liver and colon, respectively. The cancer chemopreventive mechanisms of dried Thua-nao on liver and colorectal carcinogenesis were examined.

RESULTS

Dried Thua-nao administration suppressed colorectal aberrant crypt foci. Moreover, dried Thua-nao reduced proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells in the colon. Interestingly, dried Thua-nao modulated the gut microbiota in DEN- and DMH-induced rats. Isoflavones, including genistein and daidzein, represent promising chemopreventive agents in dried Thua-nao.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, these results highlight the cancer chemopreventive effect of dried Thua-nao in DEN and DMH-induced colorectal carcinogenesis through cell proliferation reduction and gut microbiota modulation.

Potential Chemopreventive Effects of Dietary Combination of Phytochemicals against Cancer Development

Cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Over 70% of epithelial malignancies are sporadic and are related to lifestyle. Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse correlation between cancer incidence and fruit and vegetable intake. Numerous preclinical studies using in vitro (cell lines) and in vivo animal models of oncogenesis have reported the chemopreventive effects of dietary phytochemical agents through alterations in different biomarkers and signaling pathways. However, there is contrasting evidence from preclinical studies and clinical trials. To date, the most studied compounds include curcumin, resveratrol, isoflavones, green tea extract (epigallocatechin gallate), black raspberry powder (anthocyanins and ellagitannins), bilberry extract (anthocyanins), ginger extract (gingerol derivatives), and pomegranate extract (ellagitannins and ellagic acid). Overall, the clinical evidence of the preventive effects of dietary phytochemicals against cancer development is still weak, and the amount of these phytochemicals needed to exert chemopreventive effects largely exceeds the common dietary doses. Therefore, we propose a combination treatment of natural compounds that are used clinically for another purpose in order to obtain excess inhibitory efficacy via low-dose administration and discuss the possible reasons behind the gap between preclinical research and clinical trials.

Current and Future Cancer Chemoprevention Strategies

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 and ranking as the second-leading cause of death in economically developed countries [...].

Thai Rat-Tailed Radish Prevents Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats by Blocking Mutagenicity, Inducing Hepatic Phase II Enzyme, and Decreasing Hepatic Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Expression

Raphanus sativus L. var. caudatus Alef (RS) is an indigenous Thai plant with nutritional and medicinal values such as anticancer activity, but only in vitro. The chemopreventive effects of RS were, therefore, investigated in the initial stage of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a carcinogen, was intraperitoneally injected into rats to induce liver cancer. Along with the DEN injection, either aqueous (RS-H₂O) or dichloromethane (RS-DCM) extract was administered orally. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect glutathione S-transferase placental (GST-P) positive foci and apoptotic cells in rat livers as indicators of initial-stage carcinogenesis. The underlying mechanisms of chemoprevention were investigated with (a) antimutagenic activity, (b) hepatic phase II enzyme induction, and (c) hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. The results showed that RS-DCM was more potent than RS-H₂O in decreasing GST-P positive foci and apoptotic cells induced by DEN. The mechanisms of RS-DCM (phenolics and sulforaphene contents) against liver carcinogenesis (1) block the activity of carcinogens; (2) elevate phase II detoxifying enzymes; and (3) suppress the pro-inflammatory gene expression. RS-H₂O (phenolics contents), in contrast, only decreases pro-inflammatory gene expression. In conclusion, the RS extract consisting of phenolics and isothiocyanates exerted significant chemopreventive activity against DEN-induced liver carcinogenesis.

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.

A systematic study of traditional Chinese medicine treating hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma based on target-driven reverse network pharmacology

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious global health problem, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the leading cause of HCC. It is standard care to administer antiviral treatment for HBV-related HCC patients with concurrent anti-cancer therapy. However, a drug with repressive effects on both HBV infection and HCC has not been discovered yet. In addition, drug resistance and side effects have made existing therapeutic regimens suboptimal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has multi-ingredient and multi-target advantages in dealing with multifactorial HBV infection and HCC. TCM has long been served as a valuable source and inspiration for discovering new drugs. In present study, a target-driven reverse network pharmacology was applied for the first time to systematically study the therapeutic potential of TCM in treating HBV-related HCC. Firstly, 47 shared targets between HBV and HCC were screened as HBV-related HCC targets. Next, starting from 47 targets, the relevant chemical components and herbs were matched. A network containing 47 targets, 913 chemical components and 469 herbs was established. Then, the validated results showed that almost 80% of the herbs listed in chronic hepatitis B guidelines and primary liver cancer guidelines were included in the 469 herbs. Furthermore, functional analysis was conducted to understand the biological processes and pathways regulated by these 47 targets. The docking results indicated that the top 50 chemical components bound well to targets. Finally, the frequency statistical analysis results showed the 469 herbs against HBV-related HCC were mainly warm in property, bitter in taste, and distributed to the liver meridians. Taken together, a small library of 913 chemical components and 469 herbs against HBV-related HCC were obtained with a target-driven approach, thus paving the way for the development of therapeutic modalities to treat HBV-related HCC.