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Gliomas are tumors of the primary central nervous system associated with poor prognosis and high mortality. The 5-year survival rate of patients with gliomas received surgery combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy does not exceed 5%. Although temozolomide is commonly used in the treatment of gliomas, the development of resistance limits its use. MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs involved in numerous processes of glioma cells, such as proliferation, migration and apoptosis. MicroRNAs regulate cell cycle, PI3K/AKT signal pathway, and target apoptosis-related genes (e.g., BCL6), angiogenesis-related genes (e.g., VEGF) and other related genes to suppress gliomas. Evidence illustrates that microRNAs can regulate the sensitivity of gliomas to temozolomide, cisplatin, and carmustine, thereby enhancing the efficacy of these agents. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine (e.g., tanshinone IIA, xanthohumol, and curcumin) exert antiglioma effects by regulating the expression of microRNAs, and then microRNAs inhibit gliomas through influencing the process of tumors by targeting certain genes. In this paper, the mechanisms through which microRNAs regulate the sensitivity of gliomas to therapeutic drugs are described, and traditional Chinese medicine that can suppress gliomas through microRNAs are discussed. This review aims to provide new insights into the traditional Chinese medicine treatment of gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Safflower is an annual herb used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It consists of the dried flowers of the Compositae plant safflower. It is found in the central inland areas of Asia and is widely cultivated throughout the country. Its resistance to cold weather and droughts and its tolerance and adaptability to salts and alkalis are strong. Safflower has the effect of activating blood circulation, dispersing blood stasis, and relieving pain. A natural pigment named safflower yellow (SY) can be extracted from safflower petals. Chemically, SY is a water-soluble flavonoid and the main active ingredient of safflower. The main chemical constituents, pharmacological properties, and clinical applications of SY are reviewed in this paper, thereby providing a reference for the use of safflower in preventing and treating human diseases. Methods. The literature published in recent years was reviewed, and the main chemical components of SY were identified based on chemical formula and structure. The pharmacological properties of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), SYA, SYB, and anhydrosafflor yellow B (AHSYB) were reviewed. Results. The main chemical constituents of SY included HSYA, SYA, SYB, and AHSYB. These ingredients have a wide range of pharmacological activities. SY has protective effects on the heart, kidneys, liver, nerves, lungs, and brain. Moreover, its effects include, but are not limited to, improving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, abirritation, regulating lipids, and treating cancer and diabetic complications. HSYA is widely recognised as an effective ingredient to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Conclusion. SY has a wide range of pharmacological activities, among which improving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are the most significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules, have gained a reputation of the most substantial regulators in gene network with the ability to down-regulate their targets. Accumulating evidence shifted insight toward microRNAs regulation as the key element of cancer initiation, development, and aggression. Recent studies have attached the importance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to the treatment of various cancers, and the functional natural compounds have been considered as novel anticancer agents to directly inhibit tumor progression. In more recent decades, a wide range of biologically active components of TCM has gained increasing attention to their applications in the modulation of microRNAs. This review is on the purpose of demonstrating the significance of TCM bioactive ingredients in microRNAs regulation for cancer treatment according to the reports mainly in the recent six years, providing the evidence of efficient Chinese herbal medicine-based therapy and effective pro-diagnosis focusing on microRNAs expression of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) affects people's quality of life because of its high incidence rate and mortality. The Xianglian Pill (XLP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription used to treat gastrointestinal (GI） diseases. Its anti-tumor effect has been found in recent years, but it's bioactive compounds and mechanism of action in treating GC are remain unknown. This study reveals the bioactive compounds and mechanisms of XLP in the treatment of GC through network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification. The main compounds in XLP were searched and the active compounds with anti-GC activity were selected. Compounds targets and GC- related targets were predicted, and common targets were obtained. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of common targets is constructed, while GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on common targets. Finally, the anti-GC effects of active compounds in XLP were verified in GC cell lines MGC-803 and HGC-27 by wound healing assay, cell cycle assay, cell apoptosis assay and western blotting (WB) assay. A total of 33 active compounds of XLP were obtained. MTT assay showed that dehydrocostus lactone (DHL) and berberrubine (BRB) had lower IC 50 value in GC cells HGC-27 and MGC-803, and has a less inhibitory effect on normal gastric epithelial cells. Further, 73 common targets were obtained after the total target of DHL and BRB intersected with GC. Among them, CASP3, AKT1, SRC, STAT3,and CASP9 were the most associated genes in the PPI network. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that apoptosis played a major role in the biological processes and signaling pathways involved. Moreover, the in vitro experiment revealed that DHL and BRB inhibited GC cell viability via inducing cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, and promoting cell apoptosis by up-regulating the caspase3 expression and down-regulating the expression of Bcl2/Bax. DHL and BRB are the two main anti-GC active compounds in XLP, and their mechanism is mainly to inhibit cell cycle and promote cell apoptosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllanthus reticulatus (Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been used in Zhuang medicine since ancient times. Traditionally, it has the effect of removing toxins and detumescence and can be used to treat hepatitis in China and India. Our previous studies have proved that the ethyl acetate extract of its leaves (PRPE) has an anti-hepatoma effect. To predict targets of an ethyl acetate extract of Phyllanthus reticulatus leaves (PRPE) in hepatoma treatment via network pharmacology and verify the predictions in a mouse model of liver cancer. Chemical constituents and therapeutic targets of P. reticulatus (PRP) were searched and predicted via public databases. A protein-protein interaction network comprising common targets was constructed, and the key gene targets were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used for biological function and pathway enrichment analyses. The effects of PRP on BEL-7404 and HepG 2 cells were determined by MTT assay, apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and hoechst44432/PI. And a nude mouse xenograft model was established to verify the anti-tumour effect in vivo. The histopathology of tumours was observed by staining with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the gene and protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt1, p53, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax, respectively. Twenty-seven chemical components and 567 potential therapeutic targets of PRP were identified. GO analysis indicated that these targets are mainly associated with peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation and steroid metabolic process. KEGG analysis showed that the targets are mainly located in the PI3K/Akt, apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Ras and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling pathways. According to the p -adjust value, the PI3K/Akt pathway is the core pathway. In vitro, PRPE could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in hepatoma cells. IC 50 values of PRPE were 2.48 and 6.34 mg/mL for BEL-7404 and hepG 2 cells, respectively. PRPE significantly reduced tumour volume and weight. H&E results showed that PRPE repaired necrotic areas in hepatoma cells. PRPE reduced the protein expression of PI3K, Akt1 and Bcl-2 and increased the protein expression of p53 and Bax. Meanwhile, PRPE reduced the mRNA expression of PI3K, AKT1 and BCL 2 and increased the mRNA expression of TP53, CASP3 and BAX. The targets of PRPE are the PI3K/Akt, apoptosis, MAPK, Ras and VEGF signalling pathways. Passing through the PI3K/Akt pathway to induce apoptosis is the main mechanism of PRPE. [Display omitted] • The targets of PRP are mainly located in the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis signalling pathways. • PRPE could induce apoptosis in hepatoma cells. • PRPE reduced the protein expression of PI3K, Akt1 and Bcl-2 and increased the protein expression of p53 and Bax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]