Salvia miltiorrhiza extract inhibits TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and invasion through the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Exploring the Antiovarian Cancer Mechanisms of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge by Network Pharmacological Analysis and Molecular Docking

Background

Ovarian cancer was one of the gynecological malignant tumors. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB) was a kind of herbal medicine with an antitumor effect. However, the inhibitory effect of SMB on ovarian cancer and its potential mechanism were still unclear.

Objective

The antitumor effect of SMB on ovarian cancer was studied by network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques, and its possible molecular mechanisms were analyzed.

Method

The active ingredients of SMB and the target data of ovarian cancer were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicines for Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP) and the GeneCards database. The relationship between active ingredients of SMB and ovarian cancer targets was analyzed by String database, David 6.8 online database, and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, and then potential pathways were screened out. In addition, molecular docking technology was used to verify further the binding effect of antiovarian cancer pathway targets with active ingredients of SMB. Finally, survival analysis was performed for all potential targets.

Results

We analyzed 71 SMB-ovarian cancer common targets, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway might be an essential pathway for SMB to inhibit ovarian cancer. Luteolin, Tanshinone IIA, and Cryptotanshinone in SMB might play an important role. HSP90AA1, CDK2, and PIK3CG might be potential targets of SMB in inhibiting ovarian cancer.

Conclusion

Through network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis, we found that SMB might partially inhibit ovarian cancer by the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. We believe that SMB might be a potential therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer patients.

CXCR1 and its downstream NF-κB inflammation signaling pathway as a key target of Guanxinning injection for myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Guanxinning Injection (GXNI) is used clinically to treat cardiac injury, but its active components and mode of action remains unclear. Therefore, a myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) model-based integrated strategy including function evaluation, RNA-seq analysis, molecular docking, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) was employed to elucidate the effect and mechanism of GXNI and its main ingredient on cardiac injury. These results revealed that GXNI significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and myocardial injury in I/R mice. RNA-seq analysis clarified that CXCR1-mediated interleukin-8 pathway played a critical role in MIRI. Molecular docking screening identified danshensu (DSS) as the major active components of GXNI targeting CXCR1 protein, which was confirmed in an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocytes damage model showing that GXNI and DSS reduced the protein expression of CXCR1 and its downstream NF-κB, COX-2, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. CETSA and isothermal dose-response fingerprint curves confirmed that DSS combined with CXCR1 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, GXNI and DSS significantly decreased the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and the number of neutrophils in post I/R myocardial tissue. In conclusion, this study revealed that GXNI and its active components DSS exert inhibitory effects on inflammatory factor release and leukocyte infiltration to improve I/R-induced myocardial injury by down-regulating CXCR1-NF-κB-COX-2/ICAM-1/VCAM-1 pathway.

Effect of Diallyl Trisulfide on TNF-α-induced CCL2/MCP-1 Release in Genetically Different Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND/AIM

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) has been shown to prevent and inhibit breast carcinogenesis. CCL2/MCP-1 has been shown to play a significant role in breast cancer. This study explored DATS efficacy on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DATS efficacy on TNF-α induced TNBC cells were examined via trypan blue exclusion test, wound-healing assay, human cytokine arrays, ELISA, and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

DATS significantly induced cell death and inhibited cell migration. Expression of CCL2/MCP-1, IL-6, PDGF-BB, NT-3, and GM-CSF in TNF-α-treated cells increased. However, DATS significantly decreased the expression of CCL2/MCP-1 in TNF-α-treated MDA-MB-231 but not in MDA-MB-468 cells. DATS significantly down-regulated mRNA expression of IKBKE and MAPK8 in both cell lines, indicating a possible effect in genes involved in the NF-κB and MAPK signaling.

CONCLUSION

DATS may have a role in TNBC therapy and prevention by targeting CCL2.

Investigating the Effects of Salvia chorassanica Bunge and Shoot Extracts on Gastric Cancer Cells: Evidence of Different Behavior on Various Tumor Grades

Background: Different Salvia species have demonstrated anti-proliferative effects on various cancer cells. Owing to the poor literature on the anti-proliferative effects of Salvia species on gastric cancer cells, present study was conducted to determine the anticancer effects of a local Iranian Salvia, Salvia chorassanica, on two different gastric cell lines. Methods: Root, stem and leaf extract of Salvia chorassanica were prepared through maceration method and were then used to treat the AGS and MKN-45 cell lines in different concentrations. MTT assay was employed to determine the toxicity of all the types of extracts on the two studied cell lines. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase3, MMP2 and MMP9 genes were determined through reverse transcription Real time PCR (RT-PCR). Results: Bunge and shoot extracts demonstrated toxicity in both cell lines which were more considerable in AGS cells treated with root extract. In contrary to AGS cells, Caspase3 gene was up-regulated in all types of treatment while the MMP2 and MMP9 genes were down-regulated (p-value<0.001). Except of the MKN-45 cells treated with leaf extract, Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio was decreased in the treatment with all types of Salvia chorassanica extracts (p-value<0.001). Conclusion: Remarkable low IC50 concentration of root extract in MKN-45 cell line is indicating the significant cytotoxicity of Salvia chorassanica against gastric cancer cells. Moreover, gene expression analysis in MKN-45 needs further confirmation on the potential anti-metastatic roles of leaf and root extracts in higher grades of gastric cancer.

Phytotherapy in endometriosis: an up-to-date review

Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disease which symptoms can provide a severe impact on patient's quality of life with subsequent impact on psychological well-being. Different therapeutic strategies are available to treat this disease, such as surgery, hormonal therapies, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nevertheless, the efficacy of conventional medical treatments is limited or intermittent in most of the patients due to the associated side effects. Therefore, a woman with endometriosis often search for additional and alternative options, and phytotherapy might be a promising alternative and complementary strategy. Different medicinal plants, multicomponent herbal preparations, and phytochemicals were investigated for pharmacological proprieties in endometriosis therapy. In most of the cases, the effect on endometriosis was related to phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids reporting anti-inflammatory, proapoptotic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Moreover, some phytochemicals have been related to a strong phytoestrogenic effect modulating the estrogen activity. Although promising, available evidence is based on in vitro and animal models of endometriosis with a limited number of well-performed clinical studies. There are almost none randomized control trials in this area. Therefore, properly constructed clinical trials are mandatory to achieve more conclusive results about the promising role of phytotherapy in the management of endometriosis.

Overview of Salvia miltiorrhiza as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Diseases: An Update on Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) is a medicinal herb that has been used for the treatment for various diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in East Asia including Korea. Considering its extensive usage as a therapeutic agent for multiple diseases, there is a need to review previous research regarding its therapeutic benefits and their mechanisms. Therefore, we searched PubMed and PubMed Central for articles reporting its therapeutic effects on certain disease groups including cancers, cardiovascular, liver, and nervous system diseases. This review provides an overview of therapeutic benefits and targets of S. miltiorrhiza, including inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The findings on multi-functional properties of S. miltiorrhiza discussed in this article support the efficacy of S. miltiorrhiza extract on various diseases, but also call for further research on the multiple mechanisms that mediate its therapeutic effects.

Therapeutic Effects of Ten Commonly Used Chinese Herbs and Their Bioactive Compounds on Cancers

Effective cancer therapy is one of the biggest global challenges. Conventional cancer therapies have been at the forefront of combating cancers, but more evidence showed considerable side effects, limiting their use. There are various new therapies in development, but combined approaches for treating cancer are much expected. Natural herbs had been traditionally in use for cancer therapy in most parts of the world. In this review, we have examined ten commonly used Chinese herbs that have, for centuries, shown effectiveness in treating cancers. They demonstrated the abilities to promote the apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibit their metastasis, activate the patient's anticancer immunity, and synergistically increase the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy when used in combination. Clinical experiences had proved that these herbs and their bioactive compounds were effective against a plethora of cancers through a variety of mechanisms, effectively improving patients' quality of life without significant side effects. These advantages indicate that there are huge potentials in the development of Chinese herbs into cancer medicine as part of a promising, holistic cancer treatment modality.

A network pharmacology-based study on the anti-hepatoma effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae

BACKGROUND

Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis in various human cancers. However, the anticancer effects of RSM on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanisms of action remain to be fully elucidated.

METHODS

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of RSM in the treatment of HCC using a network pharmacology approach. In vivo and in vitro experiments were also performed to validate the therapeutic effects of RSM on HCC.

RESULTS

In total, 62 active compounds from RSM and 72 HCC-related targets were identified through network pharmacological analysis. RSM was found to play a critical role in HCC via multiple targets and pathways, especially the EGFR and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In addition, RSM was found to suppress HCC cell proliferation, and impair cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that RSM induced cell cycle G2/M arrest and apoptosis, and western blot analysis showed that RSM up-regulated the expression of BAX and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 in MHCC97-H and HepG2 cells. Furthermore, RSM administration down-regulated the expression of EGFR, PI3K, and p-AKT proteins, whereas the total AKT level was not altered. Finally, the results of our in vivo experiments confirmed the therapeutic effects of RSM on HCC in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide an integrative network pharmacology approach, in combination with in vitro and in vivo experiments, to illustrate the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of RSM action on HCC.

Effects of Baicalin on piglet monocytes involving PKC-MAPK signaling pathways induced by Haemophilus parasuis

Background

Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) is the causative agent of Glässer’s disease, characterized by arthritis, fibrinous polyserositis and meningitis, and resulting in worldwide economic losses in the swine industry. Baicalin (BA), a commonly used traditional Chinese medication, has been shown to possess a series of activities, such as anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, whether BA has anti-apoptotic effects following HPS infection is unclear. Here, we investigated the anti-apoptotic effects and mechanisms of BA in HPS-induced apoptosis via the protein kinase C (PKC)–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in piglet’s mononuclear phagocytes (PMNP).

Results

Our data demonstrated that HPS could induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, arrest the cell cycle and promote apoptosis via the PKC–MAPK signaling pathway in PMNP. Moreover, when BA was administered, we observed a reduction in ROS production, suppression of cleavage of caspase-3 in inducing apoptosis, and inhibition of activation of the PKC–MAPK signaling pathway for down-regulating p-JNK, p-p38, p-ERK, p-PKC-α and PKC-δ in PMNP triggered by HPS.

Conclusions

Our data strongly suggest that BA can reverse the apoptosis initiated by HPS through regulating the PKC–MAPK signaling pathway, which represents a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of HPS infection.

Chinese Medicines Improve Perimenopausal Symptoms Induced by Surgery, Chemoradiotherapy, or Endocrine Treatment for Breast Cancer

The application of surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and endocrine treatment successfully increases survival rates of breast cancer patients. However, perimenopausal symptoms, the main side effects of these treatments, often afflict patients and reduce their quality of life. Perimenopausal symptoms include vasomotor symptoms, sleep problems, arthromuscular symptoms, and osteoporosis. Currently, there are no satisfactory treatments for perimenopausal symptoms that result from these treatments. Therefore, alternative and complementary therapies including herbal medicines represented by Chinese medicines (CMs), acupuncture, massage, and psychotherapy are increasingly being expected and explored. In this paper, we review the effects and potentials of several CM formulae, along with some active ingredients or fractions from CMs, Chinese herbal extracts, and other herbal medicines, which have drawn attention for improving perimenopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients. We also elaborate their possible mechanisms. Moreover, further studies for evaluation of standardized clinical efficacy should be scientifically well-designed and continuously performed to investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of CMs for perimenopausal symptoms due to breast cancer therapy. The safety and value of estrogen-containing CMs for breast cancer should also be clarified.

Expression of activator protein-1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its clinical significance

Background

The abnormal expression of activator protein-1(AP-1) has recently been investigated in a variety of tumors. While the relationship between AP-1 and thyroid cancer is poorly studied, our study was to evaluate the protein expression and clinical value of AP-1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods

The expression of AP-1 was examined by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from PTC and correspondent paracancerous tissues of 82 patients.

Results

Compared with paracancerous tissues, AP-1 expression was significantly elevated in PTC tissues and the positive rate was 79.3% (65/82). Our study found a linear trend relationship between the expression of AP-1 and tumor size. However, the differences in AP-1 expression among gender, age, lymph node metastasis, number of lesions, location of the lesion, and extrathyroid invasion are not statistically significant.

Conclusions

The expression of AP-1 plays an important role in the proliferation process of PTC.

Casticin inhibits breast cancer cell migration and invasion by down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Casticin is one of the major active components isolated from Fructus viticis Increasing studies have revealed that casticin has potential anticancer activity in various cancer cells, but its effects on breast cancer cell migration and invasion are still not well known. Therefore, the ability of cell migration and invasion in the breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells treated by casticin was investigated. The results indicated that casticin significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion in the cells exposed to 0.25 and 0.50 µM of casticin for 24 h. Casticin treatment reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 (MMP-9) activity and down-regulated MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression, but not MMP-2. Casticin treatment suppressed the nuclear translocation of transcription factors c-Jun and c-Fos, but not nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and decreased the phosphorylated level of Akt (p-Akt). Additionally, the transfection of Akt overexpression vector to MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells could up-regulate MMP-9 expression concomitantly with a marked increase in cell invasion, but casticin treatment reduced Akt, p-Akt, and MMP-9 protein levels and inhibited the ability of cell invasion in breast cancer cells. Additionally, casticin attenuated lung metastasis of mouse 4T1 breast cancer cells in the mice and down-regulated MMP-9 expression in the lung tissues of mice treated by casticin. These findings suggest that MMP-9 expression suppression by casticin may act through inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway, which in turn results in the inhibitory effects of casticin on cell migration and invasion in breast cancer cells. Therefore, casticin may have potential for use in the treatment of breast cancer invasion and metastasis.

Plant-derived medicines for treatment of endometriosis: A comprehensive review of molecular mechanisms

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease with inflammatory lesions at extra-uterine sites, causing pelvic pain and fertility reduction. Conventional therapies primarily focus on reducing systemic levels of estrogens; however, they do not have desirable effectiveness and possess considerable side effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest in the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of endometriosis. In this paper, electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and Google Scholar were searched to obtain any studies evaluating any herbal products in the management of endometriosis. Data were collected from 1980 to 2018. Most of studies investigating the effect of herbal medicines in endometriosis were in vitro and animal and only three clinical trials were found; one on Pinus pinaster bark extract (Pycnogenol) and two on Chinese herbal formulas. The studies on phytochemicals had mostly focused on polyphenolic compounds (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein) and sesquiterpenes (β-caryophyllene, parthenolide). Various molecular mechanisms of action have been involved in beneficial effects of herbal medicines and phytochemicals including anti-inflammatory (via reduction of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin -1, interleukin -6, interleukin -8, transforming growth factor-beta, tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor-kappa B, growth factors, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), antioxidant (through downregulation of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and upregulation of superoxide dismutase), anti-proliferative and apoptotic (via enhancing Bcl-2-associated X protein/ B-cell lymphoma-2 and caspase3, 8 and 9 activity), anti-angiogenic (by downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors/ vascular endothelial growth factor), anti-invasive (via decreasing expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and matrix metalloproteinases), immunomodulatory, and estrogen modulating activities. So, medicinal plants seem to be a valuable source for identifying new drugs for treatment of endometriosis; however, since most of studies are preclinical, further clinical trials are required to achieve more conclusive results.

7-Methoxy-luteolin-8-C-β-6-deoxy-xylo-pyranos-3-uloside exactly (mLU8C-PU) isolated from Arthraxon hispidus inhibits migratory and invasive responses mediated via downregulation of MMP-9 and IL-8 expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

7-Methoxy-luteolin-8-C-β-6-deoxy-xylo-pyranos-3-uloside (mLU8C-PU) is a glycosylflavone of luteolin isolated from Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.). Luteolin is known to exert anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects on tumor cells. However, there are no reports on the effects of mLU8C-PU on tumor invasiveness and associated signaling pathways. In this study, we demonstrated the anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of mLU8C-PU in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We also investigated the effect of mLU8C-PU on invasion- related signal transducers, including protein kinase Cα (PKCα), c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK), activator protein-1 (AP-1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB). TPA-induced membrane translocation of PKCα, phosphorylation of JNK, and the nuclear translocations of AP-1 and NF-κB were downregulated by mLU8C-PU in MCF-7 cells. In addition, mLU8C-PU also inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression. These results indicate that mLU8C-PU inhibits migratory and invasive responses in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by suppressing MMP-9 and IL-8 expression through mitigating TPA-induced PKCα, JNK activation, and the nuclear translocation of AP-1 and NF-κB. These results suggest that mLU8C-PU may be used as an anti-metastatic agent.

Goji Berry Fruit Extracts Suppress Proliferation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Inhibiting EGFR-Mediated ERK/MAPK and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways

There are only a few scientifically robust mechanistic studies with Lycium fruits, also known as Goji berry, that have addressed preventive or therapeutic intervention of breast cancer. In the present study, we aim to investigate the antiproliferative effects of both Lycium barbarum fruit (Goji berry red fruit) and Lycium ruthenicum (Goji berry black fruit) extracts against triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells and explore the possible mechanisms of their anticancer effects. IC50 values were 87.0 and 79.4 μg/mL for goji berry black fruit extract and goji berry red fruit extract, respectively. Pretreatment with both extracts inhibited phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERK) in epidermal growth factor-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. The present study also examined whether the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway was involved in the regulation of Goji berry extract-induced cell death. Furthermore, treatment with Goji berry fruit extracts inhibited the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, but enhanced pro-apoptotic Bax expression at transcriptional levels and induced cancer cell apoptosis by activation of pro-apoptotic caspase-9 and caspase 3. Goji berry fruit extracts caused death of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by inhibiting EGFR/ERK-mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. This study suggests that Goji berry fruit extracts might be beneficial for treating triple-negative breast cancer.

The PPI network analysis of mRNA expression profile of uterus from primary dysmenorrheal rats

To elucidate the mechanisms of molecular regulations underlying primary dysmenorrhea (PD), we used our previously published mRNA expression profile of uterus from PD syndrome rats to construct protein-protein interactions (PPI) network via STRING Interactome. Consequently, 34 subnetworks, including a "continent" (Subnetwork 1) and 33 "islands" (Subnetwork 2-34) were generated. The nodes, with relative expression ratios, were visualized in the PPI networks and their connections were identified. Through path and module exploring in the network, the bridges were found from pathways of cellular response to calcium ion, SMAD protein signal transduction, regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter in response to stress and muscle stretch that were significantly enriched by the up-regulated mRNAs, to the cascades of cAMP metabolic processes and positive regulation of cyclase activities by the down-regulated ones. This link is mainly dependent on Fos/Jun - Vip connection. Our data, for the first time, report the PPI network analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs in the uterus of PD syndrome rats, to give insight into screening drugs and find new therapeutic strategies to relieve PD.