Tumoricidal properties of thymoquinone on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells via the modulation of autophagy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is deadly anaplastic changes in the gastrointestinal tract with high-rate mortality. In recent years, the application of phytocompounds has been extended along with different therapeutic protocols. Here, we monitored the effects of Thymoquinone (TQ) on autophagy via mitochondrial function after modulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.Human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were treated with TQ (60 µM) and 15 µM Wnt3a inhibitor (LGK974) for 48 h. The survival rate was evaluated using an MTT assay. The expression of Wnt-related factors (c-Myc, and Axin), angiogenesis (VE-Cadherin), and mitophagy-related factors (PINK1, OPTN) was assessed using real-time PCR assay. Protein levels of autophagy factors (Beclin-1, LC3, and P62) were monitored using western blotting. Using flow cytometry analysis, the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123 was evaluated. The migration properties were analyzed using a scratch wound healing assay.Data indicated that TQ can reduce the viability of HT-29 cells compared to the control cells (p < 0.05). The expression of VE-Cadherin was inhibited while the expression of PINK1 was induced in treated cells (p < 0.05). Both LGK974 and TQ-treated cells exhibited activation of autophagy flux (Beclin-1↑, LC3II/I↑, and p62↓) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). TQ can increase intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123, indicating the inhibition of efflux mechanisms in cancer cells. Along with these changes, the migration of cells was also reduced (p < 0.05).TQ is a potential phytocompound to alter the dynamic growth of human colorectal HT-29 cells via the modulation of autophagy, and mitophagy-related mechanisms.

A systematic review on potential anticancer activities of Ficus carica L. with focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Many substances derived from nutritional or medicinal plants have been studied for their chemopreventive and antineoplastic properties. Among those studied, Ficus carica has shown to have a significant ability to inhibit tumor formation and development of cancer cells through modulating various signaling mechanisms and interaction including a large number of cell signaling molecules. PURPOSE: The goal of this study is to provide a critical and complete evaluation of F. carica's anticancer capacity in various malignancies, as well as related molecular targets. METHODS: Research was conducted electronically on scholarly scientific databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus. Published papers were analyzed and investigated using the keywords, Ficus carica, figs, cancer, malignancies and tumor based on established selection criteria. In this systematic review, 27 individual studies were considered. RESULTS: Treatment with F. carica alone or in combination with other medications was linked to anticancer activity with significant evidence. Furthermore, F. carica has been shown to use multitargeted pathways to prevent cancer initiation and development by modulating numerous dysregulated signaling cascades involved in cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, autophagy inflammatory processes, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that F. carica and its phytochemicals have the potential for cancer prevention and therapy. Nonetheless, additional mechanistic studies with pure compounds derived from F. carica and well-designed clinical trials are needed to advance our knowledge to clinical application.

A Mechanistic Review on Medicinal Plants Used for Diabetes Mellitus in Traditional Persian Medicine.

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Traditional medicines worldwide suggest a wide range of natural remedies for the prevention and treatment of chronic disorders, including diabetes mellitus. This mechanistic review aims to highlight the significance of medicinal plants traditionally used as dietary supplements in Persian medicine in adjunct with restricted conventional drugs for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Mounting evidence suggests that these natural agents perform their protective and therapeutic effect on diabetes mellitus via several cellular mechanisms, including regeneration of pancreatic ß cell, limitation of glycogen degradation and gluconeogenesis, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, antiapoptosis, antioxidative stress, as well as modulation of intracellular signaling transduction pathways. In conclusion, traditional medicinal plants used in Persian medicine can be considered as dietary supplements with therapeutic potential for diabetes mellitus and maybe potential sources of new orally active agent(s).