Ophiopogonin B induces reactive oxygen species‑dependent apoptosis through the Hippo pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Advances in antitumor activity and mechanism of natural steroidal saponins: A review of advances, challenges, and future prospects

BACKGROUND

Cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide following cardiovascular diseases, presents a formidable challenge in clinical settings due to the extensive toxic side effects associated with primary chemotherapy drugs employed for cancer treatment. Furthermore, the emergence of drug resistance against specific chemotherapeutic agents has further complicated the situation. Consequently, there exists an urgent imperative to investigate novel anticancer drugs. Steroidal saponins, a class of natural compounds, have demonstrated notable antitumor efficacy. Nonetheless, their translation into clinical applications has remained unrealized thus far. In light of this, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review elucidating the antitumor activity, underlying mechanisms, and inherent limitations of steroidal saponins. Additionally, we propose a series of strategic approaches and recommendations to augment the antitumor potential of steroidal saponin compounds, thereby offering prospective insights for their eventual clinical implementation.

PURPOSE

This review summarizes steroidal saponins' antitumor activity, mechanisms, and limitations.

METHODS

The data included in this review are sourced from authoritative databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and others.

RESULTS

A comprehensive summary of over 40 steroidal saponin compounds with proven antitumor activity, including their applicable tumor types and structural characteristics, has been compiled. These steroidal saponins can be primarily classified into five categories: spirostanol, isospirostanol, furostanol, steroidal alkaloids, and cholestanol. The isospirostanol and cholestanol saponins are found to have more potent antitumor activity. The primary antitumor mechanisms of these saponins include tumor cell apoptosis, autophagy induction, inhibition of tumor migration, overcoming drug resistance, and cell cycle arrest. However, steroidal saponins have limitations, such as higher cytotoxicity and lower bioavailability. Furthermore, strategies to address these drawbacks have been proposed.

CONCLUSION

In summary, isospirostanol and cholestanol steroidal saponins demonstrate notable antitumor activity and different structural categories of steroidal saponins exhibit variations in their antitumor signaling pathways. However, the clinical application of steroidal saponins in cancer treatment still faces limitations, and further research and development are necessary to advance their potential in tumor therapy.

Natural compounds targeting YAP/TAZ axis in cancer: Current state of art and challenges

Cancer has become a burgeoning global healthcare concern marked by its exponential growth and significant economic ramifications. Though advancements in the treatment modalities have increased the overall survival and quality of life, there are no definite treatments for the advanced stages of this malady. Hence, understanding the diseases etiologies and the underlying molecular complexities, will usher in the development of innovative therapeutics. Recently, YAP/TAZ transcriptional regulation has been of immense interest due to their role in development, tissue homeostasis and oncogenic transformations. YAP/TAZ axis functions as coactivators within the Hippo signaling cascade, exerting pivotal influence on processes such as proliferation, regeneration, development, and tissue renewal. In cancer, YAP is overexpressed in multiple tumor types and is associated with cancer stem cell attributes, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Activation of YAP/TAZ mirrors the cellular "social" behavior, encompassing factors such as cell adhesion and the mechanical signals transmitted to the cell from tissue structure and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Therefore, it presents a significant vulnerability in the clogs of tumors that could provide a wide window of therapeutic effectiveness. Natural compounds have been utilized extensively as successful interventions in the management of diverse chronic illnesses, including cancer. Owing to their capacity to influence multiple genes and pathways, natural compounds exhibit significant potential either as adjuvant therapy or in combination with conventional treatment options. In this review, we delineate the signaling nexus of YAP/TAZ axis, and present natural compounds as an alternate strategy to target cancer.

TCM targets ferroptosis: potential treatments for cancer

Ferroptosis is caused by the accumulation of cellular reactive oxygen species that exceed the antioxidant load that glutathione (GSH) and phospholipid hydroperoxidases with GSH-based substrates can carry When the antioxidant capacity of cells is reduced, lipid reactive oxygen species accumulate, which can cause oxidative death. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulatory necrosis pathway, has emerged as a new modality of cell death that is strongly associated with cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the main methods of cancer treatment. However, resistance to these mainstream anticancer drugs and strong toxic side effects have forced the development of alternative treatments with high efficiency and low toxicity. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), especially herbs or herbal extracts, can inhibit tumor cell growth and metastasis by inducing ferroptosis, suggesting that they could be promising agents for cancer treatment. This article reviews the current research progress on the antitumor effects of TCMs through the induction of ferroptosis. The aim of these studies was to elucidate the potential mechanisms of targeting ferroptosis in cancer, and the findings could lead to new directions and reference values for developing better cancer treatment strategies.

Biochemical Screening, Fabrication of Green Nanoparticles and Its Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Studies of Endophytic Fungus Phlebia Species

Endophytes are organism dwelling totally dynamic and novel biotopes this makes them able to produce novel biochemicals that may become assets to the future. This study aims at understanding the biochemical components of the endophytic fungus Phlebia sp. synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles from it, and the antimicrobial as well as antioxidant ability of these green synthesised nanoparticles. Aqueous fungal extract was subjected for HRLCMS analysis which revealed 34 biochemicals within the extract. Silver and gold nanoparticles were also produced from the fungal extract. UV-vis analysis revealed a peak at 450 nm for silver nanoparticle and 550 nm for gold nanoparticles. FESEM analysis confirmed the presence of these nanoparticles with its spherical shape. Both of these nanoparticles were able to produce a conspicuous zone of inhibition in the antimicrobial tests against Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi. For both of the organisms under study, a concentration-dependent expansion of the zone of inhibition was discovered in the nanoparticles. However, with silver nanoparticles, a relatively high zone of inhibition and vulnerability of the organism was discovered. Four in vitro free radical scavenging assays, including the DPPH, Hydroxyl, Superoxide, and Nitric oxide radical scavenging assays, were used for antioxidant analysis. The results of every test demonstrated that green synthesised silver nanoparticles had higher activity than gold nanoparticles. All of the tests showed that silver nanoparticles were more active than gold nanoparticles with the maximum value of 86.254 ± 0.296% being discovered at the greatest concentration of superoxide radical scavenging assay.

Ophiopogon japonicus and its active compounds: A review of potential anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl., a well-known Chinese herb, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that O. japonicus and its active compounds exhibit potential anticancer effects in a variety of cancer cells in vitro and suppress tumor growth and metastasis without causing serious toxicity in vivo.

PURPOSE

This review aims to systemically summarize and discuss the anticancer effects and the underlying mechanisms of O. japonicus extracts and its active compounds.

METHODS

The review is prepared following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Various scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched using the keywords: Ophiopogon japonicus, tumor, cancer, carcinoma, content, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity.

RESULTS

O. japonicus extracts and the active compounds, such as ruscogenin-1-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][β-d-xylopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-d-fucopyranoside (DT-13), ophiopogonin B, and ophiopogonin D, exert potential anticancer effects, including the induction of cell cycle arrest, activation of apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis. In addition, the mechanisms underlying these effects, as well as the pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical utility of O. japonicus extracts and active compounds are discussed. Furthermore, this review highlights the research and application prospects of these compounds in immunotherapy and combination chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The traditional herb O. japonicus and its phytochemicals could be safe and reliable anticancer drug candidates, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. We hope that this review, which highlights the anticancer properties of O. japonicus, will contribute to drug optimization, therapeutic development, and future studies on cancer therapies based on this medicinal plant.

Molecular design and rational optimization of synergistic effect between the two wings of a roughly orthogonal cation-π-π stacking system at nasopharyngeal carcinoma YAP1-TEAD4 parallel Helix-Helix interaction interface

The Yes-associated protein-1 (YAP1) is an essential regulator of human Hippo signaling pathway and functions through interaction with TEA domain-4 (TEAD4) transcription factor involved in the tumorigenesis of nasopharyngeal cancer. Previously, a parallel helix-helix interaction (PHHI) was identified as the key hotspot at YAP1-TEAD4 complex interface and has been exploited as an attractive druggable target to disrupt the complex. In this study, we investigated a roughly orthogonal cation-π-π stacking system across the crystal PHHI packing interface by integrating computational modeling and binding assay, which forms between one YAP1 helical residue Phe69 and two TEAD4 helical residues Phe373/Lys376. A synergistic effect between cation-π and π-π interactions was observed; they separately represent two wings of the stacking system. The π-electron is primarily responsible for the synergistic effect. Combination between diverse aromatic/charged amino acids. as well as neutral alanine on the cation-π-π stacking, revealed that the presence of aromatic tryptophan and charged arginine at, respectively, the residues 373 and 376 of TEAD4 helix can considerably improve PHHI binding affinity by ~6-fold, whereas neutral alanine substitution on each residue and on both would reduce the affinity significantly, confirming a strong synergistic effect involved in the roughly orthogonal cation-π-π stacking system at YAP1-TEAD4 PHHI interface.

Naturally occurring steroidal saponins as potential anticancer agents: Current developments and mechanisms of action

Cancer is claimed as a prevalent cause of mortality throughout the world. Conventional chemotherapy plays a pivotal role in the treatment of cancers, but the multidrug resistance has already become one of the major impediments for efficacious cancer therapy, creating a great demand for the development of novel anticancer drugs. Steroidal saponins, abundantly found in nature, possess extensive structural variability, and some naturally occurring steroidal saponins exhibited profound anticancer properties through a variety of pathways. Hence, naturally occurring steroidal saponins are powerful lead compounds/candidates in the development of novel therapeutic agents. This review article described the recent progress in naturally occurring steroidal saponins as potential anticancer agents, and the mechanisms of action were also discussed, covering articles published between 2017 and 2021.

Synthetic and Naturally Occurring Heterocyclic Anticancer Compounds with Multiple Biological Targets

Cancer is a complex group of diseases initiated by abnormal cell division with the potential of spreading to other parts of the body. The advancement in the discoveries of omics and bio- and cheminformatics has led to the identification of drugs inhibiting putative targets including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family receptors, fibroblast growth factors (FGF), platelet derived growth factors (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), thymidine phosphorylase (TP), and neuropeptide Y4 (NY4), amongst others. Drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and drug ineffectiveness for various cancer chemo-treatments are widespread. Due to this, efficient therapeutic agents targeting two or more of the putative targets in different cancer cells are proposed as cutting edge treatments. Heterocyclic compounds, both synthetic and natural products, have, however, contributed immensely to chemotherapeutics for treatments of various diseases, but little is known about such compounds and their multimodal anticancer properties. A compendium of heterocyclic synthetic and natural product multitarget anticancer compounds, their IC50, and biological targets of inhibition are therefore presented in this review.

Long non-coding RNA LUADT1 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion by downregulating miR-1207-5p

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a typical type of malignant tumor. This research paper aims to study the function and mechanism of long non-coding RNA lung adenocarcinoma-related transcript 1 (lncRNA-LUADT1) in the progression of NPC. In this study, the expressions of lncRNA-LUADT1, miR-1207-5p, and TEAD1 in NPC tissues and cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR. Initially, the expression of lncRNA-LUADT1 and TEAD1 were significantly up-regulated in NPC tissues and cells, while miR-1207-5p was significantly down-regulated. Next, miR-1207-5p was confirmed to bind to lncRNA-LUADT1 or TEAD1 by bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assay. In addition, after interfering with lncRNA-LUADT1 expression, experiments of CCK8, EDU staining, and Transwell invasion were used to detect proliferation, invasion, and migration of NPC cells. The results showed that interfering with lncRNA-LUADT1 expression could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NPC cells. Western blot showed that lncRNA-LUADT1 knockdown significantly decreased the expression of Hippo/YAP pathway protein (YAP1 and TAZ). However, interfering with the expression of miR-1207-5p reversed these results. In addition, the nude mouse tumor formation experiment suggested that low-expressed lncRNA-LUADT1 reduced the volume and weight of tumor tissues. In summary, lncRNA-LUADT1 down-regulation could inhibit NPC cell proliferation and invasion, which may be achieved through regulating miR-1207-5p expression and affecting TEAD1 expression, thus inhibiting the activation of Hippo/YAP signaling pathway.