Homoharringtonine: updated insights into its efficacy in hematological malignancies, diverse cancers and other biomedical applications

HHT has emerged as a notable compound in the realm of cancer treatment, particularly for hematological malignancies. Its multifaceted pharmacological properties extend beyond traditional applications, warranting an extensive review of its mechanisms and efficacy. This review aims to synthesize comprehensive insights into the efficacy of HHT in treating hematological malignancies, diverse cancers, and other biomedical applications. It focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and broader applications of HHT. A comprehensive search for peer-reviewed papers was conducted across various academic databases, including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, American Chemical Society, Google Scholar, PubMed/MedLine, and Wiley. The review highlights HHT's diverse mechanisms of action, ranging from its role in leukemia treatment to its emerging applications in managing other cancers and various biomedical conditions. It underscores HHT's influence on cellular processes, its efficacy in clinical settings, and its potential to alter pathological pathways. HHT demonstrates significant promise in treating various hematological malignancies and cancers, offering a multifaceted approach to disease management. Its ability to impact various physiological pathways opens new avenues for therapeutic applications. This review provides a consolidated foundation for future research and clinical applications of HHT in diverse medical fields.

Current stage of preclinical and clinical development of guggulsterone in cancers: Challenges and promises

Throughout human history, the utilization of medicinal herbs has been recognized as a crucial defense against various ailments, including cancer. Natural products with potential anticancer properties, capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, have garnered substantial attention. One such agent under investigation is guggulsterone (GS), a phytosterol derived from the gum resin of the Commiphora mukul tree. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of recent studies elucidating the anticancer molecular mechanisms and molecular targets of GS, guiding future research and potential applications as an adjuvant drug in cancer therapy. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies have explored the biological activities of the active ingredients in Commiphora mukul. Specifically, GS emerges as a potential cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic agent. The investigations delve into the impact of GS on constitutively activated survival pathways, including Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), and PI3-kinase/AKT signaling pathways. These pathways regulate antiapoptotic and proinflammatory genes, exerting control over growth and inflammatory responses. The findings highlight the potential of GS in disrupting survival pathways crucial for cancer cell viability. The inhibition of JAK/STAT, NF-kB, and PI3-kinase/AKT signaling pathways positions GS as a promising candidate for cancer therapy. The review synthesizes evidence from diverse studies, underscoring the multifaceted biological activities of GS in cancer prevention and treatment. To advance our understanding, future clinical and translational studies are imperative to determine effective doses in humans. Additionally, there is a need for the development of new pharmaceutical forms of GS to optimize therapeutic effects. This comprehensive review provides a foundation for ongoing research, offering insights into the potential of GS as a valuable addition to the armamentarium against cancer.

Optimize the parameters for the synthesis by the ionic gelation technique, purification, and freeze-drying of chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles for biomedical purposes

BACKGROUND

Polymeric nanoparticles can be used for wound closure and therapeutic compound delivery, among other biomedical applications. Although there are several nanoparticle obtention methods, it is crucial to know the adequate parameters to achieve better results. Therefore, the objective of this study was to optimize the parameters for the synthesis, purification, and freeze-drying of chitosan nanoparticles. We evaluated the conditions of agitation speed, anion addition time, solution pH, and chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate concentration.

RESULTS

Chitosan nanoparticles presented an average particle size of 172.8 ± 3.937 nm, PDI of 0.166 ± 0.008, and zeta potential of 25.00 ± 0.79 mV, at the concentration of 0.1% sodium tripolyphosphate and chitosan (pH 5.5), with a dripping time of 2 min at 500 rpm. The most representative factor during nanoparticle fabrication was the pH of the chitosan solution, generating significant changes in particle size and polydispersity index. The observed behavior is attributed to the possible excess of sodium tripolyphosphate during synthesis. We added the surfactants poloxamer 188 and polysorbate 80 to evaluate the stability improvement during purification (centrifugation or dialysis). These surfactants decreased coalescence between nanoparticles, especially during purification. The centrifugation increased the zeta potential to 40.8-56.2 mV values, while the dialyzed samples led to smaller particle sizes (152-184 nm). Finally, freeze-drying of the chitosan nanoparticles proceeded using two cryoprotectants, trehalose and sucrose. Both adequately protected the system during the process, and the sugar concentration depended on the purification process.

CONCLUSIONS

In Conclusion, we must consider each surfactant's benefits in formulations for selecting the most suitable. Also, it is necessary to do more studies with the molecule to load. At the same time, the use of sucrose and trehalose generates adequate protection against the freeze-drying process, even at a 5% w/v concentration. However, adjusting the percentage concentration by weight must be made to work with the CS-TPP NPs purified by dialysis.

Phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities evaluation and relationship of commercial spices in the lebanese market

Lebanese cuisine is renowned for its distinctive flavours and vibrant aromas. In Lebanese cuisine, spices are not just used for their flavour; they are also valued for their medicinal properties. This study consists of evaluating and comparing the total phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity of 21 samples of spices used in the Lebanese daily diet, such as cinnamon, allspice, coriander, cloves, etc. and the mixtures prepared in well-defined proportions. Several solvents were tested for the extraction of the phenolic compounds from spices, and the water and ethanol (v/v) mixture were retained for this study. Results showed that clove presented the highest polyphenol content (173.7 ± 2.98 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/g Dry Matter (DM)) and the highest antioxidant capacity by ABTS test (4875.68 ± 480.40 µmol trolox / g DM). and DPPH test (85.84 ± 0.5%). The examination of the results showed a positive significant correlation between the polyphenol contents and the antioxidant activity of the spices. The antimicrobial activity tested by the broth microdilution method was determined against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Enteritidis. The results showed high antimicrobial activity manifested by low value of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (MIC < 2.4 µg/mL) for cinnamon, turmeric, white pepper, red pepper, allspice, clove and nutmeg. In conclusion, spices used in Lebanese cuisine, such as clove, cinnamon, allspice and spices, were rich in phenolic compounds and presented important potential health benefits.

Mikania micrantha Kunth: An Ethnopharmacological Treasure Trove of Therapeutic Potential

Mikania micrantha is utilized as a therapeutic for the treatment of various human ailments including insect bites, rashes and itches of skin, chicken pox, healing of sores and wounds, colds and fever, nausea, jaundice, rheumatism, and respiratory ailments. This study aimed at summarizing the traditional uses, phytochemical profile, and biological activities of M. micrantha based on obtainable information screened from different databases. An up-to-date search was performed on M. micrantha in PubMed, Science Direct, clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases with specific keywords. No language restrictions were imposed. Published articles, theses, seminar/conference papers, abstracts, and books on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological evidence were considered. Based on the inclusion criteria, this study includes 53 published records from the above-mentioned databases. The results suggest that fresh leaves and whole plant are frequently used in folk medicine. The plant contains more than 150 different phytochemicals under the following groups: essential oils, phenolics and flavonoids, terpenes, terpene lactones, glycosides, and sulfated flavonoids. It contains carbohydrates and micronutrients including vitamins and major and trace minerals. M. micrantha possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-dermatophytic, anti-protozoal, anthelmintic, cytotoxic, anxiolytic, anti-diabetic, lipid-lowering and antidiabetic, spasmolytic, memory-enhancing, wound-healing, anti-aging, and thrombolytic activities. No clinical studies have been reported to date. M. micrantha might be one of the potential sources of phytotherapeutic compounds against diverse ailments in humans. Studies are required to confirm its safety profile in experimental animals prior to initiating clinical trials. Moreover, adequate investigation is also crucial to clarify exact mechanism of action for each biological effect.

Novel ultra-stretchable and self-healing crosslinked poly (ethylene oxide)-cationic guar gum hydrogel

Hydrogels are three-dimensional structures with specific features that render them useful for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and wound dressings. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the search for improved mechanical properties of hydrogels derived from natural products to extend their applications in various fields, and there are different methods to obtain strengthened hydrogels. Cationic guar gum has physicochemical properties that allow it to interact with other polymers and generate hydrogels. This study aimed to develop an ultra-stretchable and self-healing hydrogel, evaluating the influence of adding PolyOX [poly(ethylene oxide)] on the mechanical properties and the interaction with cationic guar gum for potential tissue engineering applications. We found that variations in PolyOX concentrations and pH changes influenced the mechanical properties of cationic guar gum hydrogels. After optimization experiments, we obtained a novel hydrogel, which was semi-crystalline, highly stretchable, and with an extensibility area of approximately 400 cm2, representing a 33-fold increase compared to the hydrogel before being extended. Moreover, the hydrogel presented a recovery of 96.8% after the self-healing process and a viscosity of 153,347 ± 4,662 cP. Therefore, this novel hydrogel exhibited optimal mechanical and chemical properties and could be suitable for a broad range of applications in different fields, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, or food storage.

Casticin as potential anticancer agent: recent advancements in multi-mechanistic approaches

Plants, with their range of pharmacologically active molecules, represent the most promising source for the production of new anticancer drugs and for the formulation of adjuvants in chemotherapy treatments to reduce drug content and/or counteract the side effects of chemotherapy. Casticin is a major bioactive flavonoid isolated from several plants, mainly from the Vitex species. This compound is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are mainly exploited in traditional medicine. Recently, the antineoplastic potential of casticin has attracted the attention of the scientific community for its ability to target multiple cancer pathways. The purpose of this review is, therefore, to present and critically analyze the antineoplastic potential of casticin, highlighting the molecular pathways underlying its antitumor effects. Bibliometric data were extracted from the Scopus database using the search strings "casticin" and "cancer" and analyzed using VOSviewer software to generate network maps to visualize the results. Overall, more than 50% of the articles were published since 2018 and even more recent studies have expanded the knowledge of casticin's antitumor activity by adding interesting new mechanisms of action as a topoisomerase IIα inhibitor, DNA methylase 1 inhibitor, and an upregulator of the onco-suppressive miR-338-3p. Casticin counteracts cancer progression through the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and metastasis arrest, acting on several pathways that are generally dysregulated in different types of cancer. In addition, they highlight that casticin can be considered as a promising epigenetic drug candidate to target not only cancer cells but also cancer stem-like cells.

Chemotherapeutic properties and side-effects associated with the clinical practice of terpene alkaloids: paclitaxel, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel

Over the years, many biological and synthetic agents have been explored and tested in attempts to halt the spread of cancer and/or cure it. Currently, several natural compounds have and are being considered in this regard. For example, paclitaxel is a potent anticancer drug that originates from the tree Taxus brevifolia. Paclitaxel has several derivatives, namely, docetaxel and cabazitaxel. These agents work by disrupting microtubule assembling dynamics and inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, ultimately triggering apoptosis. Such features have helped to establish paclitaxel as an authoritative therapeutic compound against neoplastic disorders. After the completion of compound (hemi) synthesis, this drug received approval for the treatment of solid tumors either alone or in combination with other agents. In this review, we explore the mechanisms of action of paclitaxel and its derivatives, the different formulations available, as well as the molecular pathways of cancer resistance, potential risks, and other therapeutic applications. In addition, the role of paclitaxel in hematological malignancies is explored, and potential limitations in the therapeutic use of paclitaxel at the clinical level are examined. Furthermore, paclitaxel is known to cause increased antigen presentation. The immunomodulatory potential of taxanes, alone or in combination with other pharmacologic agents, is explored. Despite terpene-alkaloids derivatives' anti-mitotic potential, the impact of this class of drugs on other oncogenic pathways, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the epigenetic modulation of the transcription profile of cancer cells, is also analyzed, shedding light on potential future chemotherapeutic approaches to cancer.

Exploring the therapeutic and anti-tumor properties of morusin: a review of recent advances

Morusin is a natural product that has been isolated from the bark of Morus alba, a species of mulberry tree. It belongs to the flavonoid family of chemicals, which is abundantly present in the plant world and is recognized for its wide range of biological activities. Morusin has a number of biological characteristics, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, neuro-protective, and antioxidant capabilities. Morusin has exhibited anti-tumor properties in many different forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, gastric, hepatocarcinoma, glioblastoma, and pancreatic cancer. Potential of morusin as an alternative treatment method for resistant malignancies needs to be explored in animal models in order to move toward clinical trials. In the recent years several novel findings regarding the therapeutic potential of morusin have been made. This aim of this review is to provide an overview of the present understanding of morusin's beneficial effects on human health as well as provide a comprehensive and up-to-date discussion of morusin's anti-cancer properties with a special focus on in vitro and in vivo studies. This review will aid future research on the creation of polyphenolic medicines in the prenylflavone family, for the management and treatment of cancers.

Targeted therapy using nanocomposite delivery systems in cancer treatment: highlighting miR34a regulation for clinical applications

The clinical application of microRNAs in modern therapeutics holds great promise to uncover molecular limitations and conquer the unbeatable castle of cancer metastasis. miRNAs play a decisive role that regulating gene expression at the post-transcription level while controlling both the stability and translation capacity of mRNAs. Specifically, miR34a is a master regulator of the tumor suppressor gene, cancer progression, stemness, and drug resistance at the cell level in p53-dependent and independent signaling. With changing, trends in nanotechnology, in particular with the revolution in the field of nanomedicine, nano drug delivery systems have emerged as a prominent strategy in clinical practices coupled with miR34a delivery. Recently, it has been observed that forced miR34a expression in human cancer cell lines and model organisms limits cell proliferation and metastasis by targeting several signaling cascades, with various studies endorsing that miR34a deregulation in cancer cells modulates apoptosis and thus requires targeted nano-delivery systems for cancer treatment. In this sense, the present review aims to provide an overview of the clinical applications of miR34a regulation in targeted therapy of cancer.

An updated overview of cyanidins for chemoprevention and cancer therapy

Anthocyanins are colored polyphenolic compounds that belong to the flavonoids family and are largely present in many vegetables and fruits. They have been used in traditional medicine in many cultures for a long time. The most common and abundant anthocyanins are those presenting an O-glycosylation at C-3 (C ring) of the flavonoid skeleton to form -O-β-glucoside derivatives. The present comprehensive review summarized recent data on the anticancer properties of cyanidings along with natural sources, phytochemical data, traditional medical applications, molecular mechanisms and recent nanostrategies to increase the bioavailability and anticancer effects of cyanidins. For this analysis, in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies published up to the year 2022 were sourced from scientific databases and search engines such as PubMed/Medline, Google scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley and TRIP database. Cyanidins' antitumor properties are exerted during different stages of carcinogenesis and are based on a wide variety of biological activities. The data gathered and discussed in this review allows for affirming that cyanidins have relevant anticancer activity in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Future research should focus on studies that bring new data on improving the bioavailability of anthocyanins and on conducting detailed translational pharmacological studies to accurately establish the effective anticancer dose in humans as well as the correct route of administration.

Recent advances in modified poly (lactic acid) as tissue engineering materials

As an emerging science, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine focus on developing materials to replace, restore or improve organs or tissues and enhancing the cellular capacity to proliferate, migrate and differentiate into different cell types and specific tissues. Renewable resources have been used to develop new materials, resulting in attempts to produce various environmentally friendly biomaterials. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a biopolymer known to be biodegradable and it is produced from the fermentation of carbohydrates. PLA can be combined with other polymers to produce new biomaterials with suitable physicochemical properties for tissue engineering applications. Here, the advances in modified PLA as tissue engineering materials are discussed in light of its drawbacks, such as biological inertness, low cell adhesion, and low degradation rate, and the efforts conducted to address these challenges toward the design of new enhanced alternative biomaterials.

Neurobiological effects of gallic acid: current perspectives

Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic molecule found naturally in a wide range of fruits as well as in medicinal plants. It has many health benefits due to its antioxidant properties. This study focused on finding out the neurobiological effects and mechanisms of GA using published data from reputed databases. For this, data were collected from various sources, such as PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, and Web of Science. The findings suggest that GA can be used to manage several neurological diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, strokes, sedation, depression, psychosis, neuropathic pain, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as neuroinflammation. According to database reports and this current literature-based study, GA may be considered one of the potential lead compounds to treat neurological diseases and disorders. More preclinical and clinical studies are required to establish GA as a neuroprotective drug.

Anticancer properties of bromelain: State-of-the-art and recent trends

Bromelain is a key enzyme found in pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.); a proteolytic substance with multiple beneficial effects for human health such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic, traditionally used in many countries for its potential therapeutic value. The aim of this updated and comprehensive review focuses on the potential anticancer benefits of bromelain, analyzing the cytotoxic, apoptotic, necrotic, autophagic, immunomodulating, and anti-inflammatory effects in cancer cells and animal models. Detailed information about Bromelain and its anticancer effects at the cellular, molecular and signaling levels were collected from online databases such as PubMed/MedLine, TRIP database, GeenMedical, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The results of the analyzed studies showed that Bromelain possesses corroborated pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, anti-edema, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-coagulant, anti-osteoarthritis, anti-trauma pain, anti-diarrhea, wound repair. Nonetheless, bromelain clinical studies are scarce and still more research is needed to validate the scientific value of this enzyme in human cancer diseases.

Phytates as a natural source for health promotion: A critical evaluation of clinical trials

Phytates are a type of organophosphorus compound produced in terrestrial ecosystems by plants. In plant feeds, phytic acid and its salt form, phytate, account for 60%-80% of total phosphorus. Because phytate is a polyanionic molecule, it can chelate positively charged cations such as calcium, iron, and zinc. Due to its prevalence in vegetal tissues and the fact that people consume plants, phytate was first considered a potential health benefit. This updated review aims to summarize the current data on the results of clinical trials of phytates on human health, highlighting both beneficial and undesirable effects. To obtain these updated data, published papers in electronic databases such as PubMed/MedLine, TRIP database, Wiley, Google Scholar, Baidu, and Scopus were searched. Study results have shown that phytate can have beneficial health effects such as antioxidant, anticancer potential and reduction of pathological calcifications in blood vessels and organs; but also, negative effects by reducing the absorption of minerals important for maintaining the homeostasis of the human body. According to these recent results derived from recent clinical studies, phytates may be a potential natural source for health benefits. To improve clinical efficacy and human health benefits, further dose-response studies are needed to determine effective therapeutic doses and potential interactions with conventional drugs.

Natural essential oils as a new therapeutic tool in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most revalent type of cancer in the world and the second most common cause of cancer death (about 1 million per year). Historically, natural compounds and their structural analogues have contributed to the development of new drugs useful in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. Essential oils are natural odorous products made up of a complex mixture of low molecular weight compounds with recognized biological and pharmacological properties investigated also for the prevention and treatment of cancer. The aim of this paper is to highlight the possible role of essential oils in CRC, their composition and the preclinical studies involving them. It has been reviewed the preclinical pharmacological studies to determine the experimental models used and the anticancer potential mechanisms of action of natural essential oils in CRC. Searches were performed in the following databases PubMed/Medline, Web of science, TRIP database, Scopus, Google Scholar using appropriate MeSH terms. The results of analyzed studies showed that EOs exhibited a wide range of bioactive effects like cytotoxicity, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic effects on cancer cells through various mechanisms of action. This updated review provides a better quality of scientific evidence for the efficacy of EOs as chemotherapeutic/chemopreventive agents in CRC. Future translational clinical studies are needed to establish the effective dose in humans as well as the most suitable route of administration for maximum bioavailability and efficacy. Given the positive anticancer results obtained from preclinical pharmacological studies, EOs can be considered efficient complementary therapies in chemotherapy in CRC.

Ursolic acid: a natural modulator of signaling networks in different cancers

Incidence rate of cancer is estimated to increase by 40% in 2030. Furthermore, the development of resistance against currently available treatment strategies has contributed to the cancer-associated mortality. Scientists are now looking for the solutions that could help prevent the disease occurrence and could provide a pain-free treatment alternative for cancers. Therefore, efforts are now put to find a potent natural compound that could sever this purpose. Ursolic acid (UA), a triterpene acid, has potential to inhibit the tumor progression and induce sensitization to conventional treatment drugs has been documented. Though, UA is a hydrophobic compound therefore it is usually chemically modified to increase its bioavailability prior to administration. However, a thorough literature indicating its mechanism of action and limitations for its use at clinical level was not reviewed. Therefore, the current study was designed to highlight the potential mechanism of UA, its anti-cancer properties, and potential applications as therapeutic compound. This endeavour is a valuable contribution in understanding the hurdles preventing the translation of its potential at clinical level and provides foundations to design new studies that could help enhance its bioavailability and anti-cancer potential for various cancers.

Bioactive Loaded Novel Nano-Formulations for Targeted Drug Delivery and Their Therapeutic Potential

Plant-based medicines have received a lot of attention in recent years. Such medicines have been employed to treat medical conditions since ancient times, and in those times only the observed symptoms were used to determine dose accuracy, dose efficacy, and therapy. Rather than novel formulations, the current research work on plant-based medicines has mostly concentrated on medicinal active phytoconstituents. In the past recent decades, however, researchers have made significant progress in developing "new drug delivery systems" (NDDS) to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce unwanted effects of bioactive compounds. Nanocapsules, polymer micelles, liposomes, nanogels, phytosomes, nano-emulsions, transferosomes, microspheres, ethosomes, injectable hydrogels, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and other innovative therapeutic formulations have all been created using bioactive compounds and plant extracts. The novel formulations can improve solubility, therapeutic efficacy, bioavailability, stability, tissue distribution, protection from physical and chemical damage, and prolonged and targeted administration, to name a few. The current study summarizes existing research and the development of new formulations, with a focus on herbal bioactive components.