Current Insight into the Therapeutic Potential of Phytocompounds and their Nanoparticle-based Systems for Effective Management of Lung Cancer

: Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the primary cause of cancer-related death in both men and women worldwide. Due to diagnosis at an advanced stage, it is associated with high mortality in the majority of patients. At present, various treatment approaches are available such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. However, all these approaches usually cause serious side effects like degeneration of normal cells, bone marrow depression, alopecia, extensive vomiting, etc. To overcome the aforementioned problems, researchers have focused on the alternative therapeutic approach in which various natural compounds are reported, which possessed anti-lung cancer activity. Phytocompounds exhibit their anti-lung cancer activity via targeting various cell-signaling pathways, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and regulating antioxidant status and detoxification. Apart from the excellent anti-cancer activity, clinical administration of phytocompounds is confined because of their high lipophilicity and low bioavailability. Therefore, researchers show their concern in the development of a stable, safe, and effective approach of treatment with minimal side effects by the development of nanoparticle-based delivery of these phytocompounds to the target site. Targeted delivery of phytocompound through nanoparticles overcomes the aforementioned problems. In this article, the molecular mechanism of phytocompounds, their emerging combination therapy, and their nanoparticles-based delivery systems in the treatment of lung cancer have been discussed.

P492 The UC Diet and Antibiotics for Treatment of Mild to Moderate Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis: A prospective open label pilot study

Background Strategies that target the microbiome may offer an alternative therapeutic approach for Ulcerative Colitis (UC). The goal of the pilot trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel microbe-directed UC diet (UCD) for clinical remission, as well as use of antibiotics for dietary refractory patients as an alternative strategy for remission. Methods This was a prospective, single arm, open label, pilot study in patients aged 8–19, with a pediatric UC activity index (PUCAI) scores >10 on stable maintenance therapy. Patients failing to enter remission (PUCAI<10) on diet could receive a 14-day course of Amoxycillin, Metronidazole and Doxycycline (AMD), and were re-assessed on day 21. The primary endpoint was intention to treat (ITT) remission at week 6 with UCD. Results Twenty-four UCD treatment courses were given to 23 eligible children (mean age 15.3±2.9 years). Median PUCAI decreased from baseline 35 (30–40) to 12.5 (5–27.5) week 6 (P=0.001). Clinical remission with UCD alone was achieved in 9/24 (37.5%). Median calprotectin declined from baseline 818 (630.0–1880.0) to 592.0 (140.7–902.4) week 6. Eight patients received treatment with antibiotics after failing diet, 4/8 (50.0%) subsequently entered remission 3 weeks later. Conclusion The UC Diet appears to be effective for induction of remission in children with mild to moderate UC suggesting that diet could play a role in the disease. Sequential use of UCD followed by antibiotic therapy needs to be evaluated as a microbiome targeted steroid sparing strategy.

The Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Capsella Bursa-Pastoris Is Mediated via SREBP2 and HNF-1α-Regulated PCSK9 Inhibition in Obese Mice and HepG2 Cells

The objective of the present study was to investigate the mechanism by which capsella bursa-pastoris ethanol extract (CBE), containing 17.5 milligrams of icaritin per kilogram of the extract, and icaritin, mediate hypocholesterolemic activity via the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) in obese mice and HepG2 cells. CBE significantly attenuated serum total and LDL cholesterol levels in obese mice, which was associated with significantly decreased PCSK9 gene expression. HepG2 cells were cultured using delipidated serum (DLPS), and CBE significantly reduced PCSK9 and maintained the LDLR level. CBE co-treatment with rosuvastatin attenuated statin-mediated PCSK9 expression, and further increased LDLR. The icaritin contained in CBE decreased intracellular PCSK9 and LDLR levels by suppressing transcription factors SREBP2 and HNF-1α. Icaritin also significantly suppressed the extracellular PCSK9 level, which likely contributed to post-translational stabilization of LDLR in the HepG2 cells. PCSK9 inhibition by CBE is actively attributed to icaritin, and the use of CBE and icaritin could be an alternative therapeutic approach in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Potential non-coding RNAs from microorganisms and its therapeutic use in the treatment of different human cancers

Abstract:: Cancer therapy describes treatment of cancer, often with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Additionally, RNA interference (RNAi) is likely to consider as a new emerging, alternative therapeutic approach for silencing/targeting cancer-related genes. RNAi can exert antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects by targeting functional carcinogenic molecules or knocking down gene products of cancer-related genes. However, in contrast to conventional cancer therapies, RNAi based therapy is seemed to have fewer side effects. Transcription signal sequence and conserved sequence analysis showed that microorganisms could be a potent source of non-coding RNAs. This review concluded thatmapping of RNAi mechanism and RNAi based drugs delivery approaches are expected to lead the better prospective of cancer therapy.

Current Landscape of Natural Products against Coronaviruses: Perspectives in COVID-19 Treatment and Anti-viral Mechanism

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus, and the infection by SARS-CoV-2, termed as COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019, and this outbreak became a pandemic in February of 2020. Till now, there is no effective drug or vaccine against this virus that can make a complete cure; however, a number of drugs are in trials. Objectives: In this review, we have focused on an alternative therapeutic approach using natural products utilizing the host anti-viral responses for resolving COVID-19 pathogenesis. Methods: We have searched databases like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles related to natural products and viral diseases, with a specific focus on coronaviruses, as well as other RNA viruses and recent updates on the COVID-19 pandemic, and collected articles and reviewed them comprehensively. Results: Scientific studies clarified the viral pathogenesis that involved viral entrance into host cells and anti-viral response inside the cells, which can be effectively targeted by numerous natural compounds from different sources. Many of these compounds can potentially target viral genomic material or protein machinery. Natural products that were found effective against other coronaviruses, especially SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV (which emerged in 2002 and 2012, respectively), might be effective against SARS-CoV-2 due to their structural similarities. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic is a global emergency thus, urgent drug development is necessary. Natural products can be the biggest source of drugs, as they have been found to be effective in other coronaviruses previously; however, time is required to establish the clinical success of these drugs for clinical applications.

Hypoxia and its therapeutic possibilities in paediatric cancers

In tumours, hypoxia—a condition in which the demand for oxygen is higher than its availability—is well known to be associated with reduced sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and with immunosuppression. The consequences of hypoxia on tumour biology and patient outcomes have therefore led to the investigation of strategies that can alleviate hypoxia in cancer cells, with the aim of sensitising cells to treatments. An alternative therapeutic approach involves the design of prodrugs that are activated by hypoxic cells. Increasing evidence indicates that hypoxia is not just clinically significant in adult cancers but also in paediatric cancers. We evaluate relevant methods to assess the levels and extent of hypoxia in childhood cancers, including novel imaging strategies such as oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Preclinical and clinical evidence largely supports the use of hypoxia-targeting drugs in children, and we describe the critical need to identify robust predictive biomarkers for the use of such drugs in future paediatric clinical trials. Ultimately, a more personalised approach to treatment that includes targeting hypoxic tumour cells might improve outcomes in subgroups of paediatric cancer patients.