Chloroform extract of Hedyotis diffusa Willd inhibits viability of human colorectal cancer cells via suppression of AKT and ERK signaling pathways

Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and medical uses of Oldenlandia (family Rubaceae): a review

The Oldenlandia genus comprises approximately 240 species of plants, yet only a limited number of these have been investigated for their chemical composition and medicinal properties. These species contain a wide range of compounds such as iridoids, anthraquinones, triterpenes, phytosterols, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, vitamins, essential oils, phenolic acids, and coumarins. These diverse phytochemical profiles underscore the pharmacological potential of Oldenlandia plants for various medical purposes. Among other chemical constituents, ursolic acid stands out as the most important active compound in Oldenlandia, owing to its proven anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective properties. The evaluation of Oldenlandia's pharmacological prospects indicates that the holistic utilization of the entire plant yields the most significant effects. Oldenlandia diffusa showcases anticancer and anti-inflammatory capabilities attributed to its varying constituents. Across a broad spectrum of pharmacological capacities, anticancer research predominates, constituting the majority of medical uses. Oldenlandia diffusa emerges as a standout for its remarkable anticancer effects against diverse malignancies. Antioxidant applications follow, with O. corymbosa demonstrating potent antioxidant properties alongside O. umbellata and O. diffusa. Subsequent priority lies in anti-inflammatory studies, wherein O. diffusa exhibits noteworthy efficacy, trailed by O. corymbosa also takes the lead in antimicrobial activity, with O. umbellata as a strong contender. Additional investigation is essential to ascertain the relative significance of these species in various pharmacological applications. This comprehensive assessment underscores the multifaceted potential of Oldenlandia as a versatile herbal resource, offering diverse pharmacological capacities. The call for sustained exploration and research remains essential to unlock the full extent of Oldenlandia's medicinal benefits.

Molecular Mechanism of Anti-Colorectal Cancer Effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd and Its Extracts

With the sharp change in our diet and lifestyle, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing among young people and has become the second most common malignant tumor worldwide. Although the current treatment of CRC is getting updated rapidly, recurrence and metastasis are still inevitable. Therefore, new anticancer drugs are needed to break existing limitations. In recent years, Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) extracts have been proved to demonstrate excellent anti-colorectal cancer effects and have been widely used in clinical practices. In this review, we aim to explore the advantages, potential signaling pathways, and representative active ingredients of HDW in the treatment of CRC from the perspective of molecular mechanism, in order to provide new ideas for the future treatment of CRC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery

As an important part of complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied to treat a host of diseases for centuries. Over the years, with the incidence rate of human colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing continuously and the advantage of TCM gradually becoming more prominent, the importance of TCM in both domestic and international fields is also growing with each passing day. However, the unknowability of active ingredients, effective substances, and the underlying mechanisms of TCM against this malignant tumor greatly restricts the translation degree of clinical products and the pace of precision medicine. In this review, based on the characteristics of TCM and the oral administration of most ingredients, we herein provide beneficial information for the clinical utilization of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CRC and retrospect the current preclinical studies on the related active ingredients, as well as put forward the research mode for the discovery of active ingredients and effective substances in TCM, to provide novel insights into the research and development of innovative agents from this conventional medicine for CRC treatment and assist the realization of precision medicine.

Differentiation of Hedyotis diffusa and Common Adulterants Based on Chloroplast Genome Sequencing and DNA Barcoding Markers

Chinese herbal tea, also known as Liang Cha or cooling beverage, is popular in South China. It is regarded as a quick-fix remedy to relieve minor health problems. Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (colloquially Baihuasheshecao) is a common ingredient of cooling beverages. H. diffusa is also used to treat cancer and bacterial infections. Owing to the high demand for H. diffusa, two common adulterants, Hedyotis brachypoda (DC.) Sivar and Biju (colloquially Nidingjingcao) and Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. (colloquially Shuixiancao), are commonly encountered in the market. Owing to the close similarity of their morphological characteristics, it is difficult to differentiate them. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genomes of the three species of Hedyotis using next-generation sequencing (NGS). By comparing the complete chloroplast genomes, we found that they are closely related in the subfamily Rubioideae. We also discovered that there are significant differences in the number and repeating motifs of microsatellites and complex repeats and revealed three divergent hotspots, rps16-trnQ intergenic spacer, ndhD and ycf1. By using these species-specific sequences, we propose new DNA barcoding markers for the authentication of H. diffusa and its two common adulterants.

The Analyses of Chemical Components From Oldenlandia hedyotidea (DC.) Hand.-Mazz and Anticancer Effects in vitro

Oldenlandia hedyotidea (DC.) Hand.-Mazz (OH), also known as sweet tea, is a valuable functional food with medicinal properties and is used for the treatment of cold, cough, gastroenteritis, heatstroke, herpes zoster, and rheumatoid arthritis. The phytochemicals in plant-based foods are responsible for the occurrence of these diseases to some extent. However, there is a scarcity of information on the chemical components of OH. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the phytochemical components of OH using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) and UHPLC triple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Triple-TOF-MS). The main component of the OH extract, asperulosidic acid, was additionally quantified using UHPLC with ultraviolet detection (UHPLC-UV). The anticancer activity of the OH extract was assessed by a cell proliferation assay and a scratch assay using an esophageal cancer cell line. Ten compounds were tentatively identified in the aqueous extract of OH, including five iridoids, two anthraquinones, and one phenolic acid. The content of asperulosidic acid in the aqueous extract of OH was approximately 42 μg ml^-1, and the extract exerted definite in vitro anticancer effects. The results can be used for quality control and assessment of the OH extract, which can serve as a promising source of functional ingredients for potential use in the food and drug industries.

Chloroform extract of Citrus unshiu Markovich peel induces apoptosis and inhibits stemness in HeLa human cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. However, chemotherapies for this cancer often cause many side effects and chemoresistance. Citrus unshiu Markovich peel (CECU) has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases in East Asia. Recently, the anticancer activities and mechanisms of action of CECU extract have been reported in a number of different cancer cell types, but no study has evaluated the therapeutic effect of this natural product on cervical cancer cells. In the current study, the anticancer activity and the underlying molecular mechanism of the chloroform extract of CECU was investigated on HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The results showed that CECU effectively inhibited the proliferation and migration of HeLa cells. Treatment of cells with CECU led to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and activation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, the proliferation inhibitory effect of CECU was due to the inactivation of AKT and ERK signaling, upregulation of p53 and p21, and downregulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin D1, but not reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, CECU inhibited the stem‑like features of HeLa cells by downregulating key cancer stemness biomarkers. Therefore, CECU may be an effective complementary and alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

Apoptotic Pathway as the Therapeutic Target for Anticancer Traditional Chinese Medicines

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death and it plays a vital role in human development and tissue homeostasis. Mounting evidence indicates that apoptosis is closely related to the survival of cancer and it has emerged as a key target for the discovery and development of novel anticancer drugs. Various studies indicate that targeting the apoptotic signaling pathway by anticancer drugs is an important mechanism in cancer therapy. Therefore, numerous novel anticancer agents have been discovered and developed from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) by targeting the cellular apoptotic pathway of cancer cells and shown clinically beneficial effects in cancer therapy. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion for the role, pharmacology, related biology, and possible mechanism(s) of a number of important anticancer TCMs and their derivatives mainly targeting the cellular apoptotic pathway. It may have important clinical implications in cancer therapy.