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Zhai S, Wang R, Wang J, Xu X, Niu L, Guo M, Zhang Y, Shi Y, Tang X. Curcumol: a review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug delivery systems, structure-activity relationships, and potential applications. Inflammopharmacology 2024; 32:1659-1704. [PMID: 38520574 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-024-01447-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Curcumol (Cur), a guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid hemiketal, is an important and representative bioactive component extracted from the essential oil of the rhizomes of Curcumae rhizoma which is also known as "Ezhu" in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, Cur has received considerable attention from the research community due to its favorable pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-convulsant, and other activities, and has also exerted therapeutic effect on various cancers, liver diseases, inflammatory diseases, and infectious diseases. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that Cur is rapidly distributed in almost all organs of rats after intragastric administration with high concentrations in the small intestine and colon. Several studies focusing on structure-activity relationship (SAR) of Cur have shown that some Cur derivatives, chemically modified at C-8 or C-14, exhibited more potent anti-cancer activity and lower toxicity than Cur itself. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the latest advances in the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of Cur in the last decade with a focus on its anti-cancer and hepatoprotective potentials, as well as the research progress in drug delivery system and potential applications of Cur to date, to provide researchers with the latest information, to highlighted the limitations of relevant research at the current stage and the aspects that should be addressed in future research. Our results indicate that Cur and its derivatives could serve as potential novel agents for the treatment of a variety of diseases, particularly cancer and liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicheng Zhai
- School of Medical Engineering, Haojing College of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Tongyi Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Medical Engineering, Haojing College of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Tongyi Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and New Drug Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shiji Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangdong Xu
- School of Medical Engineering, Haojing College of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Tongyi Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Niu
- School of Medical Engineering, Haojing College of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Tongyi Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Guo
- School of Medical Engineering, Haojing College of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Tongyi Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongling Zhang
- School of Medical Engineering, Haojing College of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Tongyi Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yajun Shi
- Key Laboratory of Basic and New Drug Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shiji Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xuexue Tang
- School of Medical Engineering, Haojing College of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Tongyi Avenue, Xi Xian New District, Xianyang City, 712046, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China.
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Yu Q, Xu C, Song J, Jin Y, Gao X. Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese medicine/natural medicine in HR-positive Breast Cancer: A comprehensive Literature Review. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117322. [PMID: 37866466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE With the emergence of endocrine resistance, the survival and good prognosis of HR-positive breast cancer (HR + BC) patients are threatened. As a common complementary and alternative therapy in cancer treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used, and its internal mechanisms have been increasingly explored. AIM OF THE REVIEW In this review, the development status and achievements in understanding of the mechanisms related to the anti-invasion and anti-metastasis effects of TCM against HR + BC and the reversal of endocrine drug resistance by TCM in recent years have been summarized to provide ideas for antitumour research on the active components of TCM/natural medicine. METHODS We searched the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) (from inception to July 2023) with the key words "HR-positive breast cancer" or "HR-positive breast carcinoma", "HR + BC" and "traditional Chinese medicine", "TCM", or "natural plant", "herb", etc., with the aim of elucidating the intrinsic mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine in the treatment of HR + BC. RESULTS TCM/natural medicine monomers and formulas can regulate the expression of related genes and proteins through the PI3K/AKT, JAK2/STAT3, MAPK, Wnt and other signalling pathways, inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of HR + BC tumours, play a synergistic role in combination with endocrine drugs, and reverse endocrine drug resistance. CONCLUSION The wide variety of TCM/natural medicine components makes the research and development of new methods of TCM for BC treatments more selective and innovative. Although progress has been made on research on TCM/natural medicine, there are still many problems in clinical and basic experimental designs, and more in-depth scientific explorations and research are still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghong Yu
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China.
| | - Chuchu Xu
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China.
| | - Jiaqing Song
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China.
| | - Ying Jin
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China.
| | - Xiufei Gao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, NO. 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China.
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Shen X, Gao C, Li H, Liu C, Wang L, Li Y, Liu R, Sun C, Zhuang J. Natural compounds: Wnt pathway inhibitors with therapeutic potential in lung cancer. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1250893. [PMID: 37841927 PMCID: PMC10568034 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1250893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is abnormally activated in most lung cancer tissues and considered to be an accelerator of carcinogenesis and lung cancer progression, which is closely related to increased morbidity rates, malignant progression, and treatment resistance. Although targeting the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway shows significant potential for lung cancer therapy, it still faces challenges owing to its complexity, tumor heterogeneity and wide physiological activity. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the role of the abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in lung cancer progression. Moreover, Wnt inhibitors used in lung cancer clinical trials are expected to break existing therapeutic patterns, although their adverse effects limit the treatment window. This is the first study to summarize the research progress on various compounds, including natural products and derivatives, that target the canonical Wnt pathway in lung cancer to develop safer and more targeted drugs or alternatives. Various natural products have been found to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin in various ways, such as through upstream and downstream intervention pathways, and have shown encouraging preclinical anti-tumor efficacy. Their diversity and low toxicity make them a popular research topic, laying the foundation for further combination therapies and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuetong Shen
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Chundi Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Huayao Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Longyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, China
| | - Ye Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, China
| | - Ruijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
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Fang Z, Li S, Yushanjiang F, Feng G, Cui S, Hu S, Jiang X, Liu C. Curcumol alleviates cardiac remodeling via the AKT/NF-κB pathway. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 122:110527. [PMID: 37392572 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac remodeling is the final stage of almost all cardiovascular diseases, leading to heart failure and arrhythmias. However, the pathogenesis of cardiac remodeling is not fully understood, and specific treatment schemes are currently unavailable. Curcumol is a bioactive sesquiterpenoid that has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic properties. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of curcumol on cardiac remodeling and elucidate its relevant underlying mechanism. Curcumol significantly attenuated cardiac dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis, and hypertrophy in the animal model of isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac remodeling. Curcumol also alleviated cardiac electrical remodeling, thereby reducing the risk of ventricular fibrillation (VF) after heart failure. Inflammation and apoptosis are critical pathological processes involved in cardiac remodeling. Curcumol inhibited the inflammation and apoptosis induced by ISO and TGF-β1 in mouse myocardium and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs). Furthermore, the protective effects of curcumol were found to be mediated through the inhibition of the protein kinase B (AKT)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. The administration of an AKT agonist reversed the anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of curcumol and restored the inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation in TGF-β1-induced NRCMs. Our study suggests that curcumol is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of cardiac remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Fang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Cardiology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Feierkaiti Yushanjiang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Gaoke Feng
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Shengyu Cui
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Shan Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Xuejun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, China.
| | - Chengyin Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China.
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Ye Y, Yang Y, Yan L, Zhou L, Yu S, Du Q, Dong X, Yuan Q, Shan L, Guo L. Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Explore the Effects and Mechanisms of Qinghao Biejia Decoction and Its Active Compound Artemisinin B Against Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:2461-2479. [PMID: 37637262 PMCID: PMC10460181 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s414098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To explore the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Qinghao Biejia decoction (QBD) against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on network pharmacology and to verify the anticancer effect of artemisinin B (ART B), the active ingredient of QBD, on H1299 cells. Methods Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was applied to explore the chemoprofile of QBD. A zebrafish xenograft model was used to determine the anti-cancer efficacy of QBD. Cell counting kit-8 assay, terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase-mediated-dUTP nick-end labeling assay; immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the in vitro anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of QBD and ART B on H1299 cells. Subsequently, the related targets and action mechanisms of both QBD and ART B predicted by network pharmacological analyses were experimentally validated by real-time PCR and Western blot assays on H1299 cells. Results UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS identified a total of 69 compounds (such as ART B, mangiferin, and artemisinic acid) in QBD. The in vivo data showed that QBD significantly inhibited the growth of H1299 cells in xenograft larval zebrafish from 125 to 500 μg/mL. The in vitro data showed that QBD induced apoptosis of H1299 cells, accompanied by down-regulating the expression of BCL-2 and up-regulating the expression of BIM, PUMA, BAX, c-PARP, γ-H2A.X, c-CASP3, and c-CASP8. Alike QBD, ART B exerted similar anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on H1299 cells. Moreover, ART B inhibited expressions of BCL2L1, AKT1, AKT2, MMP-2, and EGFR, and up-regulated ALB expression. Mechanistically, ART B promoted apoptosis of H1299 cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Conclusion This study revealed the anti-NSCLC efficacy of QBD. ART B, the effective component of QBD, plays an anti-NSCLC role by down-regulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. It suggests that QBD and ART B are promising drug candidates for NSCLC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Ye
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuping Yang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Yan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Zhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shihui Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Quan Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqiao Dong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiang Yuan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Letian Shan
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Cell Resource Bank and Integrated Cell Preparation Center of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou Regional Cell Preparation Center (Shangyu Biotechnology Co., Ltd), Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Le Guo
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Yu YH, Zhang HJ, Yang F, Xu L, Liu H. Curcumol, a major terpenoid from Curcumae Rhizoma, attenuates human uterine leiomyoma cell development via the p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 310:116311. [PMID: 36894110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors in women of reproductive age. Curcumae Rhizoma, the main essential oil component of which is curcumol, is widely used for the treatment of phymatosis in China due to its antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antithrombin, anti-tissue fibrosis and anti-oxygen pharmacological activities, but its potential for the treatment of UFs has not been evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of curcumol intervention in human uterine leiomyoma cells (UMCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS Putative targets of curcumol intervention in UFs were identified using network pharmacology strategies. Molecular docking was performed to assess the binding affinity of curcumol to core targets. A concentration gradient of curcumol (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 μM) or RU-486 (mifepristone, 0, 10, 20, 40, 50, and 100 μM) was applied to UMCs, and cell viability was detected by the CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were examined by flow cytometry, and cell migration was assessed by a wound-healing assay. Additionally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of critical pathway components were evaluated by RT‒PCR and western blotting. Finally, the actions of curcumol on different tumor cell lines were summarized. RESULTS Network pharmacology predicted 62 genes with roles in the treatment of UFs with curcumol, and MAPK14 (p38MAPK) displayed a higher interaction degree. GO enrichment and KEGG analyses revealed that the core genes were abundantly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. The molecular binding of curcumol to core targets was relatively stable. In UMCs, 200, 300 and 400 μM curcumol treatment for 24 h decreased cell viability compared with that in the control group, and the greatest effect was detected at 48 h and maintained until 72 h. Curcumol arrested cells in the G0/G1 phase and subsequently suppressed mitosis, promoted early apoptosis and reduced the degree of wound healing in a concentration-dependent manner in UMCs. Furthermore, 200 μM curcumol decreased the mRNA and protein expression of p38MAPK, the mRNA expression of NF-κB, and the protein expression of Ki-67 and increased the mRNA and protein expression of Caspase 9. Curcumol (300 and 400 μM) decreased the mRNA and protein expression of p38MAPK, NF-κB, and Ki-67 and increased the protein expression of Caspase 9 in UMCs. Curcumol was demonstrated to treat tumor cell lines, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but its effects on benign tumors have not yet been reported. CONCLUSION Curcumol suppresses cell proliferation and cell migration while arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and inducing cell apoptosis in UMCs via a mechanism related to p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway regulation. Curcumol may be a potential therapeutic and preventive agent in the treatment of benign tumors such as UFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Hui Yu
- Gynecological Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Hao-Jun Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Gynecological Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Gynecological Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Gynecological Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Zhao P, Qiu J, Pan C, Tang Y, Chen M, Song H, Yang J, Hao X. Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of bioactive ingredients in Curcumae Rhizoma against breast cancer. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154810. [PMID: 37075623 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Despite great advances in the therapeutic strategies, the survival rate in the past decades of patients with breast cancer remains unsatisfactory. Growing evidence has demonstrated that Curcumae Rhizoma, called Ezhu in Chinese, showed various pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It has been widely used in Chinese medicine to treat many types of human cancer. PURPOSE To comprehensively summarize and analyze the effects of active substances in Curcumae Rhizoma on breast cancer malignant phenotypes and the underlying mechanisms, as well as discuss its medicinal value and future perspectives. METHOD We used "Curcumae Rhizoma" or the name of crude extracts and bioactive components in Curcumae Rhizoma in combination with "breast cancer" as key words. Studies focusing on their anti-breast cancer activities and mechanisms of action were extracted from Pubmed, Web of Science and CNKI databases up to October 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline was followed. RESULTS Crude extracts and 7 main bioactive phytochemicals (curcumol, β-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, germacrone, curdione and curcumin) isolated from Curcumae Rhizoma have shown many anti-breast cancer pharmacological properties, including inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, reversing chemoresistance, and inducing cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and ferroptosis. The mechanisms of action were involved in regulating MAPK, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo and clinical studies demonstrated that these compounds exhibited high anti-tumor efficacy and safety against breast cancer. CONCLUSION These findings provide strong evidence that Curcumae Rhizoma acts as a rich source of phytochemicals and has robust anti-breast cancer properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Jianfei Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology and Characteristics, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chaolan Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Yunyan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Meijun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Hui Song
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
| | - Jue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaojiang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China.
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Wu S, Sun Z, Guo Z, Li P, Mao Q, Tang Y, Chen H, Peng H, Wang S, Cao Y. The effectiveness of blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) in lung cancer progression-a comprehensive review. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 314:116565. [PMID: 37172918 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Blood-activating and stasis-transforming traditional Chinese medicines (BAST) are a class of herbs that have the effect of dilating blood vessels and dispersing stagnation. Modern pharmaceutical research has demonstrated that they are capable of improving hemodynamics and micro-flow, resist thrombosis and promote blood flow. BAST contain numerous active ingredients, which can theoretically regulate multiple targets at the same time and have a wide range of pharmacological effects in the treatment of diseases including human cancers. Clinically, BAST have minimal side effects and can be used in combination with Western medicine to improve patients' quality of life, lessen adverse effects and minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis of cancers. AIM OF THE REVIEW We aimed to summarize the research progression of BAST on lung cancer in the past five years and present a prospect for the future. Particularly, this review further analyzes the effects and molecular mechanisms that BAST inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Relevant studies about BSAT were collected from PubMed and Web of science. RESULTS Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the highest mortality rate. Most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and are highly susceptible to metastasis. Recent studies have shown that BAST, a class of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the function of opening veins and dispersing blood stasis, significantly improve hemodynamics and microcirculation, prevent thrombosis and promote blood flow, and thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. In the current review, we analyzed 51 active ingredients extracted from BAST. It was found that BAST and their active ingredients contribute to the prevention of invasion and metastasis of lung cancer through multiple mechanisms, such as regulation of EMT process, specific signaling pathway and metastasis-related genes, tumor blood vessel formation, immune microenvironment and inflammatory response of tumors. CONCLUSIONS BSAT and its active ingredients have showed promising anticancer activity and significantly inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. A growing number of studies have realized their potential clinical significance in the therapy of lung cancer, which will provide substantial evidences for the development of new TCM for lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Wu
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhe Sun
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zehuai Guo
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Peiqin Li
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Qianqian Mao
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yang Tang
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hongyu Chen
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Huiting Peng
- The First Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Sisi Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yang Cao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
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Liu G, Wang J, Han M, Li X, Zhou L, Dou T, Liu Y, HuangFu M, Guan X, Wang Y, Tang W, Liu Z, Li L, Ding H, Chen X. RNA-binding domain 2 of nucleolin is important for the autophagy induction of curcumol in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 115:154833. [PMID: 37137203 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Excessive autophagy induces cell death and is regarded as the treatment of cancer therapy. We have confirmed that the anti-cancer mechanism of curcumol is related to autophagy induction. As the main target protein of curcumol, RNA binding protein nucleolin (NCL) interacted with many tumor promoters accelerating tumor progression. However, the role of NCL in cancer autophagy and in curcumol's anti-tumor effects haven't elucidated. The purpose of the study is to identify the role of NCL in nasopharyngeal carcinoma autophagy and reveal the immanent mechanisms of NCL played in cell autophagy. METHODS & RESULTS In the current study, we have found that NCL was markedly upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. NCL overexpression effectively attenuated the level of autophagy in NPC cells, and NCL silence or curcumol treatment obviously aggravated the autophagy of NPC cells. Moreover, the attenuation of NCL by curcumol lead a significant suppression on PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in NPC cells. Mechanistically, NCL was found to be directly interact with AKT and accelerate AKT phosphorylation, which caused the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Meanwhile, the RNA Binding Domain (RBD) 2 of NCL interacts with Akt, which was also influenced by curcumol. Notably, the RBDs of NCL delivered AKT expression was related with cell autophagy in the NPC. CONCLUSION The results demonstrated that NCL regulated cell autophagy was related with interaction of NCL and Akt in NPC cells. The expression of NCL play an important role in autophagy induction and further found that was associated with its effect on NCL RNA-binding domain 2. This study may provide a new perspective on the target protein studies for natural medicines and confirm the effect of curcumol not only regulating the expression of its target protein, but also influencing the function domain of its target protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxiang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China; Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Key Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, 541199, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Guilin Medical University, 541001, PR China; Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi, PR China; Faculty of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, No. 109, 541004 Guilin, PR China
| | - Mengjie Han
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Xiaojuan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Luwei Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Tong Dou
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Yisa Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Mengjie HuangFu
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Xiao Guan
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Zhangchi Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Linjun Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Hongfang Ding
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, 541199 Guilin, PR China.
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Yang X, Peng Y, Wang YE, Zheng Y, He Y, Pan J, Liu N, Xu Y, Ma R, Zhai J, Ma Y, Guan S. Curcumae Rhizoma Exosomes-like nanoparticles loaded Astragalus components improve the absorption and enhance anti-tumor effect. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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Zhang X, Dong M, Zheng G, Zhu J, An B, Zhou Z, Bi Y, Sun M, Zhang C, Lian J, Tang S, Wang X, Liu W. Inhibition of proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma by knockdown of KIF3A via NF-κB signal pathway.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2421333/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
AbstractBackground The up-regulation of KIF3A possibly predicts the dismal prognostic outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present work is focused on investigating KIF3A’s function in the growth and migration of HCC cells. Methods KIF3A expression and its role in predicting HCC prognosis were assessed using the TCGA and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. KIF3A detection conditions in HCC patients were studied using an immunohistochemical panel. siKIF3A was created and then transfected into HepG2 HCC cells. Cell proliferation was examined with the use of the EDU and CCK8. Using the scratch wound healing assays, cell migration was assessed. RT-PCR and Western-blot (WB) assays were adopted for evaluating the expression of genes and proteins. Results KIF3A expression increased in HCC tissues as compared to matched non-carcinoma samples, and it was tightly associated with poor survival and risk factors (Ps < 0.05). KIF3A knockdown hindered the proliferation and migration of HCC cells (Ps < 0.05). KIF3A silencing reduced RelA (NF-κBp65) expression, thus, affecting the activity of HCC cells (Ps < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, the oncogene of hepatocellular carcinoma is KIF3A. Silencing KIF3A inhibited HCC cell growth and migration by suppressing the NF-κB signal pathway. KIF3A was identified as a potential new anti-HCC therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bang An
- Shantou University Medical College
| | | | | | - Meng Sun
- Shantou University Medical College
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Hou Y, Xiang B, Yang Z, Liu J, Xu D, Geng L, Zhan M, Xu Y, Zhang B. Down-regulation of interleukin-2 predicts poor prognosis and associated with immune escape in lung adenocarcinoma. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2023; 37:3946320231202748. [PMID: 37731383 PMCID: PMC10515527 DOI: 10.1177/03946320231202748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer and has a poor prognosis. Interleukin-2 (IL2) is a cytokine that stimulates lymphocyte proliferation. However, its role in LUAD remains unclear. Methods: The UALCAN, human protein atlas (HPA), and tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) databases were used to investigate IL2 expression in samples from patients with LUAD. The HPA, PrognoScan, and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases were used to examine the prognostic value of IL2 in LUAD. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were performed to analyze IL2-interacting genes identified through the GeneMANIA database. TIMER was used to analyze the correlation of IL2 expression with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression levels in LUAD. Results: Bioinformatic analysis using the TIMER, The University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer data analysis Portal (UALCAN), and HPA public databases showed that IL2 expression was lower in patients with LUAD than in the normal control group. Moreover, patients with low IL2 expression exhibited poor overall survival. Furthermore, IL2 expression was significantly positively correlated with various immune cells, including B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, in patients with LUAD. Additionally, IL2 expression was markedly positively associated with the above-mentioned immune cells. Furthermore, IL2 expression was positively correlated with PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 expression. Conclusion: Our results indicate that down-regulation of IL2 predicts poor prognosis and is associated with immune escape in LUAD, and IL2 could serve as a potential novel prognostic biomarker of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongwang Hou
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Baoli Xiang
- Respiratory Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Zhicong Yang
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Jiangmin Liu
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Dandan Xu
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Lina Geng
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Minghua Zhan
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Yuhuan Xu
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
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Curcumenol Targeting YWHAG Inhibits the Pentose Phosphate Pathway and Enhances Antitumor Effects of Cisplatin. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:3988916. [PMID: 35795276 PMCID: PMC9251105 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3988916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Objective Cervical cancer is a common cancer in women. The drug resistance of chemotherapeutic agents has always been an urgent problem to be solved in clinics. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein gamma polypeptide (YWHAG) in cervical cancer and explore the effect of Curcuma on cervical cancer and its possible mechanism. Methods YWHAG expression in cervical cancer was confirmed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Then, the effects of YWHAG on the proliferation and invasion of HeLa and C33A cervical cancer cells were detected by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay. The relationship between YWHAG and the pentose phosphorylation pathway was further studied. CCK-8, Edu, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to confirm that Curcuma inhibited the sensitivity of YWHAG to cisplatin chemotherapy and to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Results YWHAG was highly expressed in cervical cancer and was associated with poor prognosis. The proliferation and invasion abilities of HeLa and C33A cells decreased after YWHAG knockout. The TCGA database of cervical cancer showed a positive correlation between YWHAG and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha (HIF-1α) expression. YWHAG expression increased with HIF-1α overexpression. YWHAG knockdown reduced the protein expression in the pentose phosphorylation pathway. Curcumenol inhibited YWHAG expression. Compared with cisplatin alone, curcumenol combined with cisplatin can reduce cell proliferation and invasion and reduce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP9 expression. It can also increase apoptosis, decrease B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, and increase the expression of Bcl-2 antagonist X, caspase-3, and polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase. Conclusion YWHAG can interact with HIF-1α to affect the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells. YWHAG knockout can reduce the expression of pentose phosphorylation pathway-related proteins. Curcumenol can enhance cisplatin to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote tumor cell apoptosis. The combination of drugs may promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells through the YWHAG pathway.
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Exploring the Mechanism of Weikang Keli in Inhibiting Gastric Cancer through the MAPK Signaling Pathway: Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:2662288. [PMID: 35547655 PMCID: PMC9085321 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2662288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background With a high incidence and limited treatments, gastric cancer (GC) seriously threatens human health worldwide. Weikang Keli (WK) is a compound prescription summed up from clinical experience. In our previous studies, WK has been proved to exert antitumor effects. However, there are no research studies to discuss and verify its mechanism as a compound. Objective The aim of the study is to explore the potential molecular mechanism of WK in the treatment of GC with the aid of network pharmacology and verify it through experiments. Methods Related databases were used to obtain genes and targets of WK and gastric cancer. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network is constructed and visualized by Cytoscape 3.7.2. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to analyze core targets. The cell viability of MFC and BGC-823 cells was determined by CCK8. Immunofluorescence was used to determine autophagy of GC cells. Moreover, the effect of WK on the MAPK signaling pathway in GC cells and tumor tissues of ICR mice was detected by Western blot. Results A total of 106 cross targets of WK and GC were obtained. According to the enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG, we target the MAPK signaling pathway to discuss the mechanism of WK on GC. Cell experiments proved that WK inhibited the viability of gastric cancer cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Autophagosome aggregation and an increase in the expression of an autophagy marker protein LC3-II can also be observed in WK groups. Further animal experiments showed that the tumor inhibition rate of WK showed a dose-effect relationship. Moreover, the expressions of p-JNK, p-p38, and p-ERR1/2 proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway in WK Group were downregulated both in the cell and animal experiments, compared with the blank control group. Conclusion WK showed an explicit antitumor effect on gastric cancer through the MAPK signaling pathway, and the curative effect varies in different concentrations. Besides, in model mice, the antitumor effect of high-dose WK group is close to that of platinum. This study provided a theoretical basis for the application of WK in the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.
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Yang L, Xiong H, Li X, Li Y, Zhou H, Lin X, Chan TF, Li R, Lai KP, Chen X. Network Pharmacology and Comparative Transcriptome Reveals Biotargets and Mechanisms of Curcumol Treating Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients With COVID-19. Front Nutr 2022; 9:870370. [PMID: 35520289 PMCID: PMC9063984 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.870370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to 4,255,892 deaths worldwide. Although COVID-19 vaccines are available, mutant forms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have reduced the effectiveness of vaccines. Patients with cancer are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than patients without cancer. Identification of new drugs to treat COVID-19 could reduce mortality rate, and traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) has shown potential in COVID-19 treatment. In this study, we focused on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients with COVID-19. We aimed to investigate the use of curcumol, a TCM, to treat LUAD patients with COVID-19, using network pharmacology and systematic bioinformatics analysis. The results showed that LUAD and patients with COVID-19 share a cluster of common deregulated targets. The network pharmacology analysis identified seven core targets (namely, AURKA, CDK1, CCNB1, CCNB2, CCNE1, CCNE2, and TTK) of curcumol in patients with COVID-19 and LUAD. Clinicopathological analysis of these targets demonstrated that the expression of these targets is associated with poor patient survival rates. The bioinformatics analysis further highlighted the involvement of this target cluster in DNA damage response, chromosome stability, and pathogenesis of LUAD. More importantly, these targets influence cell-signaling associated with the Warburg effect, which supports SARS-CoV-2 replication and inflammatory response. Comparative transcriptomic analysis on in vitro LUAD cell further validated the effect of curcumol for treating LUAD through the control of cell cycle and DNA damage response. This study supports the earlier findings that curcumol is a potential treatment for patients with LUAD and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yang
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Hao Xiong
- Guilin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guilin, China
| | - Xin Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Yu Li
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Huanhuan Zhou
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ting Fung Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rong Li
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- *Correspondence: Rong Li
| | - Keng Po Lai
- Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Integrative Omics, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- Keng Po Lai
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- Xu Chen ;
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16
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Jia S, Guo P, Lu J, Huang X, Deng L, Jin Y, Zhao L, Fan X. Curcumol Ameliorates Lung Inflammation and Airway Remodeling via Inhibiting the Abnormal Activation of the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Chronic Asthmatic Mice. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2021; 15:2641-2651. [PMID: 34188444 PMCID: PMC8232843 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s292642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Curcumol exhibits anti-inflammatory effect, but its effect on chronic asthma lacked research. Therefore, this study explored the role of curcumol in asthma. Methods A chronic asthmatic mice model was established by ovalbumin induction. After treatment with curcumol, airway resistance in mice was detected by forced oscillation technique. The histopathological features of airway tissues, pulmonary inflammation, and inflammation cell recruitment in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Collagen deposition in the airways of mice was examined by Masson staining. The secretion of ovalbumin-IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in mouse serum and VEGFA secretion in BALF were analyzed by ELISA. Finally, the expressions of β-catenin, Wnt5a, VEGFA, TGF-β1, Fibronectin, and MMP-9 in mice lung tissues were determined by Western blot or immunohistochemical. Results Curcumol attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness, airway remodeling, and pulmonary inflammation in chronic asthmatic mice. Curcumol relieved collagen deposition in airway tissues, inflammation cell recruitment in BALF, and reduced the up-regulation of serum ovalbumin-IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 and BALF VEGFA in chronic asthmatic mice. In addition, curcumol attenuated the up-regulated expressions of β-catenin, Wnt5a, VEGFA, TGF-β1, Fibronectin, and MMP-9 in the lung tissues of chronic asthmatic mice, but curcumol treatment did not show such effects on healthy mice. Conclusion Our findings revealed that curcumol could ameliorate lung inflammation and airway remodeling by inhibiting the abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in chronic asthmatic mice, indicating that curcumol could be used as a novel anti-asthma drug for basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Jia
- Department of Respiration, Hengdian Wenrong's Hospital, Dongyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Pin Guo
- Lithotriptic Section, Dongyang Red Cross Hospital, Dongyang City, People's Republic of China
| | - Junhua Lu
- Department of Respiration, Hengdian Wenrong's Hospital, Dongyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xujun Huang
- Intensive Care Unit, Hengdian Wenrong's Hospital, Dongyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Laming Deng
- Department of Emergency, Hengdian Wenrong's Hospital, Dongyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Nursing, Hengdian Wenrong's Hospital, Dongyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lanyan Zhao
- Department of Respiration, Dongyang People's Hospital, Dongyang City, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofang Fan
- School of Basic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, People's Republic of China
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Gao J, Hou D, Hu P, Mao G. Curcumol increases the sensitivity of colon cancer to 5-FU by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Transl Cancer Res 2021; 10:2437-2450. [PMID: 35116559 PMCID: PMC8798486 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-21-689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance is the leading cause of treatment failure in colon cancer. Combination therapy is an effective strategy to inhibit cancer cells and prevent drug resistance. Therefore, we studied the antitumor effect of curcumol alone or combined with 5-FU on human colon cancer drug-resistant cells. Methods The 5-FU resistant HCT116 cell line (HCT116/5-FU) was established by repeated exposure to gradually increasing concentrations of 5-FU; Cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8); apoptosis rate of HCT116 cells was detected using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) assay kit; cell proliferation and invasion were detected using colony formation assays, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assays; activity of transplanted tumor in vivo in specific pathogen free (SPF) BALB/c nude mice (6 weeks old, male) was monitored by bioluminescence imaging, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Results Our study showed the potent antitumor effect of curcumol by induction of apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation, invasion, migration, and improvement of the therapeutic efficacy of 5-FU toward human colon cancer HCT116 cells. From our results, curcumol could chemosensitize 5-FU-resistant HCT116 cells. The combination of curcumol and 5-FU exerted a synergistic inhibitory effect on the induction of apoptosis. Also, this combination inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of both chemo-resistant and sensitive cells. Curcumol treatment decreased multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP-2), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), survivin, and β-catenin expression, which correlated with multidrug resistance (MDR) and the target genes of Wnt/β-catenin. It significantly increased the p-β-catenin level and Bad/Bcl-2 ratio in HCT116/5-FU cells compared with 5-FU treatment. In vivo, curcumol significantly inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors and the expression of Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colon cancer cells. Conclusions Curcumol as a potential chemotherapeutic agent combined with 5-FU can overcome colon cancer resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Gao
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital to Nantong University, Nanjing, China
| | - Daorong Hou
- Animal Core Facility, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital to Nantong University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guoxin Mao
- Department of Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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Kuai L, Luo Y, Qu K, Ru Y, Luo Y, Ding X, Xing M, Liu L, Sun X, Li X, Li B. Transcriptomic Analysis of the Mechanisms for Alleviating Psoriatic Dermatitis Using Taodan Granules in an Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Mouse Model. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:632414. [PMID: 33995034 PMCID: PMC8114823 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.632414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Taodan granules (TDGs) are clinically efficacious for treating psoriasis, buttheir specific mechanisms of action are unclear. In this study, we determined the concentrations of tanshinone IIA and curcumol using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to establish quality control parameters for assessing the mechanism of TDGs in treating psoriasis. Thereafter, a mouse model of psoriasis was treated with TDGs. TDGs attenuated imiquimod-induced typical erythema, scales, and thickening of the back and ear lesions in the psoriatic mouse model. Furthermore, PCNA and Ki67-positive cells were reduced in the epidermis of psoriatic lesions following TDG treatment. Finally, the sequencing results were verified using a multitude of methods, and the mechanism of action of TDGs against psoriasis was found to be via the upregulation of metabolic signaling pathways such as the Gly-Ser-Thr axis, the downregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways, and the decrease in Rac2 and Arhgdib concentrations. Overall, this study clarified the mechanism of TDG treatment for psoriasis and provided evidence for its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Kuai
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Luo
- Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Keshen Qu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Surgery, Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Ru
- Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Luo
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Ding
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng Xing
- Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Dermatology, Shaanxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi`an, China
| | - Liu Liu
- Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoying Sun
- Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Dermatology, Shaanxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi`an, China.,Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Liu K, Gao R, Wu H, Wang Z, Han G. Single-cell analysis reveals metastatic cell heterogeneity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:4260-4274. [PMID: 33759378 PMCID: PMC8093989 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Tumour metastasis and heterogeneity lead to poor survival outcomes and drug resistance in patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC). In this study, we aimed to assess intratumoural heterogeneity (ITH) in mRCC cells by performing a combined analysis of bulk data and single-cell RNA-sequencing data, and develop novel biomarkers for prognosis prediction on the basis of the potential molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis. Eligible single-cell cohorts related to mRCC were acquired using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset to identify potential mRCC subpopulations. We then performed gene set variation analysis to understand the differential function in primary RCC and mRCC samples. Subsequently, we applied weighted correlation network analysis to identify coexpressing gene modules that were related to the external trait of metastasis. Protein-protein interactions were used to screen hub subpopulation-difference (sub-dif) markers (ACTG1, IL6, CASP3, ACTB and RAP1B) that might be involved in the regulation of RCC metastasis and progression. Cox regression analysis revealed that ACTG1 was a protective factor (HR < 1), whereas the other four genes (IL6, CASP3, ACTB and RAP1B) were risk factors (HR > 1). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested the potential prognostic value of these sub-dif markers. The expression of sub-dif markers in mRCC was further evaluated in clinical samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, the genetic features of sub-dif marker expression patterns, such as genetic variation profiles, correlations with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and targeted signalling pathway activities, were assessed in bulk RNA-seq datasets. In conclusion, we established novel subpopulation markers as key prognostic factors affecting EMT-related signalling pathway activation in mRCC, which could facilitate the implementation of a treatment for mRCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Rui Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Guang Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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