The Multitarget Activity of Natural Extracts on Cancer: Synergy and Xenohormesis

It is estimated that over 60% of the approved drugs and new drug developments for cancer and infectious diseases are from natural origin. The use of natural compounds as a potential source of antitumor agents has been deeply studied in many cancer models, both in vitro and in vivo. Most of the Western medicine studies are based on the use of highly selective pure compounds with strong specificity for their targets such as colchicine or taxol. Nevertheless, approximately 60% of fairly specific drugs in their initial research fail because of toxicity or ineffectiveness in late-stage preclinical studies. Moreover, cancer is a multifaceted disease that in most cases deserves a polypharmacological therapeutic approach. Complex plant-derived mixtures such as natural extracts are difficult to characterize and hardly exhibit high pharmacological potency. However, in some cases, these may provide an advantage due to their multitargeted mode of action and potential synergistic behavior. The polypharmacology approach appears to be a plausible explanation for the multigargeted mechanism of complex natural extracts on different proteins within the same signalling pathway and in several biochemical pathways at once. This review focuses on the different aspects of natural extracts in the context of anticancer activity drug development, with special attention to synergy studies and xenohormesis.

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The truncated somatostatin receptor sst5TMD4 stimulates the production of pro-angiogenic factors in in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models

Endocrine Abstracts ◽

10.1530/endoabs.35.p516 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Raul M Luque ◽

Mario Duran-Prado ◽

David Rincon-Fernandez ◽

Marta Hergueta-Redondo ◽

Michael D Culler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Somatostatin Receptor ◽

Angiogenic Factors ◽

Cancer Models

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Vitamin D as potential therapeutic anticancer agent

Journal of Cancer Science and Therapeutics ◽

10.36879/jcst.19.000106 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-3

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Anticancer Activity ◽

Anticancer Agent ◽

Antitumor Agents ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Anticancer Properties ◽

Chemotherapy Agents

The role of vitamin D is implicated in carcinogenesis through numerous biological processes like induction of apoptosis, modulation of immune system inhibition of inflammation and cell proliferation and promotion of cell differentiation. Its use as additional adjuvant drug with cancer treatment may be novel combination for improved outcome of different cancers. Numerous preclinical, epidemiological and clinical studies support the role of vitamin D as an anticancer agent. Anticancer properties of vitamin D have been studied widely (both in vivo and in vitro) among various cancers and found to have promising results. There are considerable data that indicate synergistic potential of calcitriol and antitumor agents. Possible mechanisms for modulatory anticancer activity of vitamin D include its antiproliferative, prodifferentiating, and anti-angiogenic and apoptic properties. Calcitriol reduces invasiveness and metastatic potential of many cancer cells by inhibiting angiogenesis and regulating expression of the key molecules involved in invasion and metastasis. Anticancer activity of vitamin D is synergistic or additive with the antineoplastic actions of several drugs including cytotoxic chemotherapy agents like paclitaxel, docetaxel, platinum base compounds and mitoxantrone. Benefits of addition of vitamin D should be weighed against the risk of its toxicity.

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The Revolutionary Roads to Study Cell–Cell Interactions in 3D In Vitro Pancreatic Cancer Models

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13040930 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 930

Author(s):

Donatella Delle Cave ◽

Riccardo Rizzo ◽

Bruno Sainz ◽

Giuseppe Gigli ◽

Loretta L. del Mercato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Therapeutic Response ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Cellular Models ◽

Common Cancer ◽

Cancer Models ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Tumor Environment

Pancreatic cancer, the fourth most common cancer worldwide, shows a highly unsuccessful therapeutic response. In the last 10 years, neither important advancements nor new therapeutic strategies have significantly impacted patient survival, highlighting the need to pursue new avenues for drug development discovery and design. Advanced cellular models, resembling as much as possible the original in vivo tumor environment, may be more successful in predicting the efficacy of future anti-cancer candidates in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss novel bioengineered platforms for anticancer drug discovery in pancreatic cancer, from traditional two-dimensional models to innovative three-dimensional ones.

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Design, Synthesis, Molecular Modeling and Antitumor Evaluation of Novel Indolyl-Pyrimidine Derivatives with EGFR Inhibitory Activity

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26071838 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (7) ◽

pp. 1838

Author(s):

Naglaa M. Ahmed ◽

Mahmoud M. Youns ◽

Moustafa K. Soltan ◽

Ahmed M. Said

Keyword(s):

Molecular Modeling ◽

Antitumor Activity ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Antiproliferative Activity ◽

Antitumor Agents ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Normal Cells

Scaffolds hybridization is a well-known drug design strategy for antitumor agents. Herein, series of novel indolyl-pyrimidine hybrids were synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo for their antitumor activity. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of all compounds was obtained against MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cancer cell lines, as well as against WI38 normal cells using the resazurin assay. Compounds 1–4 showed broad spectrum cytotoxic activity against all these cancer cell lines compared to normal cells. Compound 4g showed potent antiproliferative activity against these cell lines (IC50 = 5.1, 5.02, and 6.6 μM, respectively) comparable to the standard treatment (5-FU and erlotinib). In addition, the most promising group of compounds was further evaluated for their in vivo antitumor efficacy against EAC tumor bearing mice. Notably, compound 4g showed the most potent in vivo antitumor activity. The most active compounds were evaluated for their EGFR inhibitory (range 53–79 %) activity. Compound 4g was found to be the most active compound against EGFR (IC50 = 0.25 µM) showing equipotency as the reference treatment (erlotinib). Molecular modeling study was performed on compound 4g revealed a proper binding of this compound inside the EGFR active site comparable to erlotinib. The data suggest that compound 4g could be used as a potential anticancer agent.

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Assessment of Conjugate Complexes of Chitosan and Urtica dioica or Equisetum arvense Extracts for the Control of Grapevine Trunk Pathogens

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050976 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 976

Author(s):

Natalia Langa-Lomba ◽

Laura Buzón-Durán ◽

Pablo Martín-Ramos ◽

José Casanova-Gascón ◽

Jesús Martín-Gil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urtica Dioica ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Equisetum Arvense ◽

Grapevine Trunk Diseases ◽

Trunk Diseases ◽

Synergistic Behavior ◽

Reported Data ◽

Basic Substances

In the work presented herein, we analyze the efficacy of three basic substances that comply with European Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, namely chitosan, horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) and nettle (Urtica dioica L.), for the control of grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) in organic farming. The E. arvense and U. dioica aqueous extracts, prepared according to SANCO/12386/2013 and SANTE/11809/2016, have been studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), identifying their main active constituents. The three basic substances, either alone or in combination (forming conjugate complexes), have been tested in vitro against eight Botryosphaeriaceae species, and in vivo, in grafted plants artificially inoculated with Neofusicoccum parvum and Diplodia seriata. A clear synergistic behavior between chitosan and the two plant extracts has been observed in the mycelial growth inhibition tests (resulting in EC90 values as low as 208 μg·mL−1 for some of the isolates), and statistically significant differences have been found in terms of vascular necroses lengths between treated and non-treated plants, providing further evidence of aforementioned synergism in the case of D. seriata. The reported data supports the possibility of extending the applications of these three basic substances in Viticulture beyond the treatment of mildew.

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Meet me halfway: Are in vitro 3D cancer models on the way to replace in vivo models for nanomedicine development?

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.001 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sabina Pozzi ◽

Anna Scomparin ◽

Sahar Israeli-Dangoor ◽

Daniel Rodriguez ◽

Paula Ofek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

In Vivo Models ◽

Cancer Models ◽

The Way

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Newly Developed Self-Assembling Antioxidants as Potential Therapeutics for the Cancers

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11020092 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Babita Shashni ◽

Yukio Nagasaki

Keyword(s):

Cancer Survival ◽

Self Assembling ◽

Therapeutic Regime ◽

Cancer Models ◽

Secondary Messengers ◽

Potential Therapeutics ◽

Target Effects ◽

Tempo Radical

Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as significant for cancer survival by functioning as oncogene activators and secondary messengers. Hence, the attenuation of ROS-signaling pathways in cancer by antioxidants seems a suitable therapeutic regime for targeting cancers. Low molecular weight (LMW) antioxidants such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpyperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), although they are catalytically effective in vitro, exerts off-target effects in vivo due to their size, thus, limiting their clinical use. Here, we discuss the superior impacts of our TEMPO radical-conjugated self-assembling antioxidant nanoparticle (RNP) compared to the LMW counterpart in terms of pharmacokinetics, therapeutic effect, and adverse effects in various cancer models.

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An In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation of the Antimetastatic Effects of a Chinese Medicinal Decoction, Erxian Decoction, on Human Ovarian Cancer Models

Integrative Cancer Therapies ◽

10.1177/1534735412464519 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 336-346 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ellie S. M. Chu ◽

Stephen C. W. Sze ◽

Ho P. Cheung ◽

Qing Liu ◽

Tzi B. Ng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Human Ovarian Cancer ◽

Erxian Decoction ◽

Cancer Models

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IN VITRO AND IN VIVO EVALUATION OF 2-CHLOROE THYLN ITROSOUREA DERIVATIVES AS ANTITUMOR AGENTS

Experimental Oncology ◽

10.31768/2312-8852.2015.37(1):23-29 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 23-29

Author(s):

A Sen ◽

K K Goswami ◽

A Mallick ◽

A K Saxena ◽

U Sanyal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Antitumor Agents ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Optimum Dose ◽

Mouse Tumor ◽

Drug Induced ◽

In Vivo Evaluation ◽

Liver And Kidney

Aim: To evaluate potential of Naphthal-NU, Napro-NU and 5-Nitro-naphthal-NU, 2-chloroethylnitrosourea compounds with substituted naphthalimide in the pre-clinical studies. Materials and Methods: In vitro cytotoxicity of three nitrosoureas was determined in human and mouse tumor cell lines by MTT assays. In vivo anti-tumor potential was evaluated in Sarcoma-180 (S-180) and Ehrlich’s carcinoma (EC) solid tumors. Apoptosis in S-180 cells was analyzed by using Annexin V-Propidium Iodide (PI). Histological analysis of liver and kidney was performed at optimum dose (50 mg/kg). Expression status of CD4+, CD8+ and CD25+ cells in treated mouse were also examined. Results: Significant tumor growth retardation by the compounds was noted in early and advanced disease groups, as the life span of drug treated mice increased considerably. Drug induced killing was observed by induction of apoptosis. Naphthal-NU and 5-Nitro-naphthal-NU were effective to normalize the tumor induced structural abnormalities of liver and kidney. The compounds have no immunotoxic effect on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and down regulate CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Conclusion: Overall data holds promise for the antitumor activity with lower toxicity of the compounds that can be utilized for the treatment of human malignant tumors.

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