The American journal of Chinese medicine
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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the subtype of breast cancer with more aggressive growth and metastasis and without efficient therapies. Hence, it is worthwhile to search for potential effective drug candidates. According to our previous study, isoliquiritigenin (ISL) exerted a potent anticancer effect on breast cancer proliferation. ⋯ Further study displayed that ISL decreased c-Jun expression through the increase of miR-200c. Interestingly, we also detected that ISL might increase miR-200c expression through the demethylation of miR-200c promoter region. These findings indicated that ISL could be potentially developed as a novel drug candidate for TNBC in microRNA-based cancer therapies.
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Gliomas are the mostly observed form of primary brain tumor, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) shows the highest incidence. The survival rate of GBM is fairly poor; thus, discovery of effective treatment options is required. Among several suggested targets for therapy, the Axl/IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway has gained recent interest because of its important role within cancer microenvironment. ⋯ In addition, gene expression, protein expression, and half-life of synthesized Axl protein were all suppressed by quercetin. By applying shRNA for knockdown of Axl, we could confirm that the role of Axl was crucial in the apoptotic effect of quercetin on GBM cells. In conclusion, we suggest quercetin as a potential anticancer agent, which may improve cancer microenvironment of GBM via the Axl/IL-6/STAT3 pathway.
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Mistletoe extracts (Viscum album L.) have been widely used as complementary and alternative medicines for the treatment of cancer, and their cytotoxic effects have been reported on various types of cancer. However, the molecular targets of mistletoe extracts have not been well studied. Herein, we investigated molecules associated with the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of mistletoe extract using 4T1 murine breast cancer cells. ⋯ Furthermore, mistletoe extract effectively suppressed tumor growth in 4T1 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. In addition to tumor growth inhibition, mistletoe extract inhibited lung metastasis in the tumor-bearing mice and cell invasiveness by downregulating the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor, and markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (snail and fibronectin). Taken together, our results suggest that mistletoe extract targets the STAT3-FOXM1 pathway for its cytotoxic effects, and that mistletoe extracts might be useful for the treatment of patients with cancers highly expressing the STAT3-FOXM1 pathway.
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Sanguisorba officinalis L. (Rosaceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant and its roots have been used as an important traditional medicine for over 2000 years. Ziyuglycoside I (Ziyu), an active compound isolated from the roots of S. officinalis L., has shown biological effects such as anti-oxidant, antiviral, and antiwrinkle activities. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action of Ziyu on cytotoxicity, migration, and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts. ⋯ Ziyu also activated ERK1/2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase during osteoblast differentiation, and ERK1/2 inhibitor attenuated Ziyu-mediated RUNX2 expression and nuclear accumulation. Furthermore, Ziyu-mediated early and late osteoblast differentiation was significantly suppressed by the inhibition of ERK1/2, which was accompanied by attenuation in the mRNA levels of osteoblast-related genes including bone sialoprotein, osteopontin, and osteocalcin. Taken together, the findings of this study provide evidence that Ziyu promotes cell migration, osteoblast differentiation, and bone mineralization and suggest a potential role for Ziyu in the treatment of bone diseases.
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Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. Leaves (VBL) are a component of traditional herbal medicines. However, molecular mechanisms of VBL in stress-related memory impairment are still unclear. ⋯ CRS-exposed mice treated with VBL had dramatically decreased total Tau and Tau phosphorylation in the synapse of the HC and PFC which might be mediated by the regulation of CaMKII and GSK3[Formula: see text] phosphorylation. Additionally, VBL reduced CRS-induced upregulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits (NMDAR1, 2A, and 2B). Thus, VBL exerts spatial memory improvement by regulating CRS-induced NMDA receptor neurotoxicity and Tau hyperphosphorylation.