Research progress on the anti-tumor effect of Codonopsis pilosula

Currently,the mortality rate of malignant tumors ranks second globally,surpassed only by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.The treatment of malignant tumors poses a formidable challenge to both modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).To date,TCM has developed a substantial foundational theoretical understanding and accumulated significant clinical experience in combating tumors.According to TCM foundational theories,"Qi deficiency"is a critical symptom associated with cancer,and"fortifying the body's vitality while expelling pathogens"is the cornerstone of TCM's approach to tumor treatment and bodily balance.Codonopsis pilosula(CP),a Qi-invigorating herb,is known to invigorat the spleen,benefit the lungs,nourish the blood,and promote bodily fluids.It is often employed as a substitute for ginseng in clinical settings.Prolonged clinical observations have identified key active constituents of CP,such as Codonopsis polysaccharides,isoimperatorin,saponins,lobetyolin,sesquiterpene lactones,and muscone.These ingredients exhibit various therapeutic properties,including anti-tumor,immunomodulatory,anti-infective,antioxidant,and hematopoiesis-enhancing effects.Additionally,when CP is combined with other TCM herbs like Astragalus and Atractylodes macrocephala,it bolsters the body's vital energy and rejuvenates both Qi and blood.CP can be used in combination with chemotherapy agents to mitigate the adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Moreover,CP demonstrates potential in preventing precancerous lesions.This review summarizes recent research findings on the anti-tumor properties of CP,elucidates the anti-tumor effects and molecular mechanisms of its active components,provides a basis for promoting the utilization of CP resources and its active constituents,and offers insights for the research and development of new anti-tumor drugs.

The Mechanism of Total Ginseng Extracts in the Treatment of Lung Cancer Progression Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

Objective:The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which total ginseng extract(TGE)inhibits the progression of lung cancer through network pharmacology and experimentation.Materials and Methods:A Lewis lung carcinomas(LLC)model was established by injecting cancer cells through the tail vein and through administering different doses of TGE.The infiltrated immune cells into the microenvironment of lung cancer metastasis through flow cytometry were evaluated,and the messenger RNA(mRNA)expression levels of various immune cell-related chemokines were determined using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction.Therapeutic targets and signaling pathways of TGE in nonsmall cell lung cancer were investigated using systematic pharmacology and virtual docking.Immunoblotting was performed to determine the impacts of TGE on migration-related proteins.Results:Flow cytometry showed that 1.82 g/kg TGE increased the infiltrated T cells and inhibited the recruitment of myeloid cells,which was caused by decreased mRNA expression of chemokines after TGE treatment.Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that the delayed progression of lung cancer by TGE might be related to the promotion of lung cancer cell apoptosis-associated signaling pathways.The virtual docking results indicated that the active components of ginseng are directly bound to apoptosis-related proteins.Immunoblotting showed that TGE inhibited tumor metastasis by regulating the expression of migration-related proteins.Conclusions:The study reveals the potential mechanism of ginseng extract in the treatment of lung cancer progression and provides a reliable basis for its clinical application.