Preparation of Curcumin Prodrugs and Their in Vitro Anti-tumor Activities

The curcumin prodrugs, which could be selectively activated in tumor cells, were prepared to establish a basis for the targeted chemotherapy for cancer. On the basis of the molecular structure of curcumin, the N-maleoyl-L-valine-curcumin （NVC）, N-maleoyl- glycine-curcumin （NGC） were chemically synthesized and identified by IR and NMR spectroscopy. After treatment with these two prodrugs for 6--24 h, the rates of growth inhibition on human bladder cancer EJ cells and renal tubular epithelial （HKC） cells were detected by MTT colorimetry. Our results showed that after the treatment with 20 μmol/L--40 μmol/L NVC and NGC for 6--24 h, the growth inhibitory effects on EJ cells were 6.71%-65.13 % （P〈0.05）, 10. 96 %-73.01 % （p〈0. 05）, respectively, in both dose- and time-dependent manners. When compared with the curcumin of same concentrations, the growth inhibitory effects of these two prodrugs on HKC cells were significantly decreased （P〈0.01）. It is concluded that activation of curcumin prodrugs via hydrolysis functions of cellular esterase could inhibit the growth activities of tumor cells, and reduce the side effects on normal diploid cells. This provided a novel strategy for further exploration of tumor targeted chemotherapeutic drugs.

Herb pair of Huangqi-Danggui exerts anti-tumor immunity to breast cancer by upregulating PIK3R1

Background:According to traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),drugs supplementing the vital energy,Qi,can eliminate tumors by restoring host immunity.The objective of this study is to investigate the underlying immune mechanisms of anti-tumor activity associated with Qi-supplementing herbs,specifically the paired use of Huangqi and Danggui.Methods:Analysis of compatibility regularity was conducted to screen the combination of Qi-supplementing TCMs.Using the MTT assay and a transplanted tumor mice model,the anti-tumor effects of combination TCMs were investigated in vitro and in vivo.High content analysis and flow cytometry were then used to evaluate cellular immunity,followed by network pharmacology and molecular docking to dissect the significant active compounds and potential mechanisms.Finally,the anti-tumor activity and the mechanism of the active ingredients were verified by molecular experiments.Results:There is an optimal combination of Huangqi and Danggui that,administered as an aqueous extract,can activate immunity to suppress tumor and is more effective than each drug on its own in vitro and in vivo.Based on network pharmacology analysis,PIK3R1 is the core target for the anti-tumor immunity activity of combined Huangqi and Danggui.Molecular docking analysis shows 6 components of the combined Danggui and Huangqi extract(quercetin,jaranol,isorhamnetin,kaempferol,calycosin,and suchilactone)that bind to PIK3R1.Jaranol is the most important component against breast cancer.The suchilactone/jaranol combination and,especially,the suchilactone/kaempferol combination are key for immunity enhancement and the anti-tumor effects of the extract.Conclusions:The combination of Huangqi and Danggui can activate immunity to suppress breast cancer and is more effective than the individual drugs alone.

Extracellular vesicles in anti-tumor drug resistance: Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

Drug resistance presents a significant challenge to achieving positive clinical outcomes in anti-tumor therapy.Prior research has illuminated reasons behind drug resistance,including increased drug efflux,alterations in drug targets,and abnormal activation of oncogenic pathways.However,there's a need for deeper investigation into the impact of drug-resistant cells on parental tumor cells and intricate crosstalk between tumor cells and the malignant tumor microenvironment(TME).Recent studies on extracellular vesicles(EVs)have provided valuable insights.EVs are membrane-bound particles secreted by all cells,mediating cell-to-cell communication.They contain functional cargoes like DNA,RNA,lipids,proteins,and metabolites from mother cells,delivered to other cells.Notably,EVs are increasingly recognized as regulators in the resistance to anti-cancer drugs.This review aims to summarize the mechanisms of EV-mediated anti-tumor drug resistance,covering therapeutic approaches like chemo-therapy,targeted therapy,immunotherapy and even radiotherapy.Detecting Ev-based biomarkers to predict drug resistance assists in bypassing anti-tumor drug resistance.Additionally,targeted inhibition of EV biogenesis and secretion emerges as a promising approach to counter drug resistance.We highlight the importance of conducting in-depth mechanistic research on EVs,their cargoes,and functional ap-proaches specifically focusing on EV subpopulations.These efforts will significantly advance the devel-opment of strategies to overcome drug resistance in anti-tumor therapy.

Glucocorticoids-based prodrug design:Current strategies and research progress

Attributing to their broad pharmacological effects encompassing anti-inflammation,antitoxin,and immunosuppression,glucocorticoids(GCs)are extensively utilized in the clinic for the treatment of diverse diseases such as lupus erythematosus,nephritis,arthritis,ulcerative colitis,asthma,keratitis,macular edema,and leukemia.However,longterm use often causes undesirable side effects,including metabolic disorders-induced Cushing's syndrome(buffalo back,full moon face,hyperglycemia,etc.),osteoporosis,aggravated infection,psychosis,glaucoma,and cataract.These notorious side effects seriously compromise patients'quality of life,especially in patients with chronic diseases.Therefore,glucocorticoid-based advanced drug delivery systems for reducing adverse effects have received extensive attention.Among them,prodrugs have the advantages of low investment,low risk,and high success rate,making them a promising strategy.In this review,we propose the strategies for the design and summarize current research progress of glucocorticoid-based prodrugs in recent decades,including polymer-based prodrugs,dendrimer-based prodrugs,antibody-drug conjugates,peptide-drug conjugates,carbohydrate-based prodrugs,aliphatic acid-based prodrugs and so on.Besides,we also raise issues that need to be focused on during the development of glucocorticoid-based prodrugs.This review is expected to be helpful for the research and development of novel GCs and prodrugs.

Treatment of primary nasal tuberculosis with anti-tumor necrosis factor immunotherapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary nasal tuberculosis(TB)is a rare form of extrapulmonary TB,particularly in patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)immunotherapy.As a result,its diagnosis remains challenging.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old male patient presented to the ear,nose,and throat department with right-sided nasal obstruction and bloody discharge for 1 month.He was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and received anti-TNF immunotherapy for 3 years prior to presentation.Biopsy findings revealed chronic granulomatous inammation and a few acid-fast bacilli,suggestive of primary nasal TB.He was referred to our TB management department for treatment with oral anti-TB agents.After 9 months,the nasal lesions had disappeared.No recurrence was noted during follow-up.CONCLUSION The diagnosis of primary nasal TB should be considered in patients receiving TNF antagonists who exhibit thickening and crusting of the nasal septum mucosa or inferior turbinate,particularly when pathological findings suggest granulomatous inflammation.

Exploring Ester Prodrugs: A Comprehensive Review of Approaches, Applications, and Methods

The review provides an overview of the approaches, applications, and methods for ester prodrugs. Ester prodrugs are pharmacologically inactive compounds in their original form but become active drugs on biotransformation within the body, which offers advantages concerning the solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of the active drug. Several approaches of ester prodrugs have been reviewed in this review, including simple ester prodrugs, amino acid ester prodrugs, sugar ester prodrugs, lipid ester prodrugs, and polymeric ester prodrugs. This review incorporates in vitro and in vivo methods as well as the characterization of physical and chemical properties for ester prodrugs, cell culture systems, enzymatic assays, and animal models—all of these having a very important bearing on the evaluation of stability, bioavailability, and efficacy for ester prodrugs. While the benefits of using ester prodrugs are significant, there are also disadvantages like instability, poor or variable enzymatic hydrolysis, and toxicity from released promoieties or by-products. This review discusses solutions to the various limitations that include enhancing stability with ionizable promoieties and using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling. The review also highlights the application of ester prodrugs in neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, and the ongoing efforts to address the critical limitations in treatment efficacy. Future prodrug strategies are poised to advance significantly by harnessing diverse transport mechanisms across the blood-brain barrier and integrating nanotechnology.

A natural compound-empowered podophyllotoxin prodrug nanoassembly magnifies efficacy-toxicity benefits in cancer chemotherapy

Small-molecule prodrug nanoassembly technology with a unique advantage in off-target toxicity reduction has been widely used for antitumor drug delivery.However,prodrug activation remains a rate-limiting step for exerting therapeutic actions,which requires to quickly reach the minimum valid concentrations of free drugs.Fortunately,we find that a natural compound(BL-193)selectively improves the chemotherapy sensitivity of breast cancer cells to podophyllotoxin(PPT)at ineffective dose concentrations.Based on this,we propose to combine prodrug nanoassembly with chemotherapy sensitization to fully unleash the chemotherapeutic potential of PPT.Specifically,a redox-sensitive prodrug(PSSF)of PPT is synthesized by coupling 9-fluorenyl-methanol(Fmoc-OH)with PPT linked via disulfide bond.Intriguingly,PSSF with aπ-conjugated structure readily co-assembles with BL-193 into stable nanoassembly.Significantly,BL-193 serves as an excellent chemosensitizer that creates an ultra-low-dose chemotherapeutic windowfor PPT.Moreover,prodrug design and precise hybrid nanoassembly well manage off-target toxicity.As expected,such a BL-193-empowered prodrug nanoassembly elicits potent antitumor responses.This study offers a novel paradigm to magnify chemotherapy efficacy-toxicity benefits.

Spatiotemporal transformable nano-assembly for on-demand drug delivery to enhance anti-tumor immunotherapy

Induction of tumor cell senescence has become a promising strategy for anti-tumor immunotherapy,but fibrotic matrix severely blocks senescence inducers penetration and immune cells infiltration.Herein,we designed a cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs)triggered structure-transformable nano-assembly(HSD-P@V),which can directionally deliver valsartan(Val,CAFs regulator)and doxorubicin(DOX,senescence inducer)to the specific targets.In detail,DOX is conjugated with hyaluronic acid(HA)via diselenide bonds(Se-Se)to form HSD micelles,while CAFs-sensitive peptide is grafted onto the HSD to form a hydrophilic polymer,which is coated on Val nanocrystals(VNs)surface for improving the stability and achieving responsive release.Once arriving at tumor microenvironment and touching CAFs,HSD-P@V disintegrates into VNs and HSD micelles due to sensitive peptide detachment.VNs can degrade the extracellularmatrix,leading to the enhanced penetration of HSD.HSD targets tumor cells,releases DOX to induce senescence,and recruits effector immune cells.Furthermore,senescent cells are cleared by the recruited immune cells to finish the integrated anti-tumor therapy.In vitro and in vivo results show that the nanoassembly remarkably inhibits tumor growth as well as lungmetastasis,and extends tumorbearing mice survival.This work provides a promising paradigm of programmed delivering multi-site nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy.

Anti-Tumor and Anti-Diabetic Effects of Sarsasapogenin

In this paper,the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of sarsasapogenin,such as anti-oxidant,anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects,are reviewed in order to provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent development and clinical application of sarsasapogenin.

Preparation of kakkatin derivatives and their anti-tumor activity

BACKGROUND Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that plant-derived compounds from Puerariae flos(PF)has significant biological activities against liver damage,tumors and inflammation.Kakkatin is an isoflavone polyphenolic compound isolated from PF flower.However,the effect of kakkatin and its derivatives on anti-tumor has not been well explored.AIM To design and synthesize a kakkatin derivative[6-(hept-6-yn-1-yloxy)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one(HK)]to explore its anti-tumor biological activity.METHODS Hept-6-yn-1-yl ethanesulfonate was introduced to replace hydrogen at the hydroxyl position of kakkatin phenol,and the derivative of kakkatin was prepared;the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide was used to detect cell viability,a clone formation assay was adopted to detect cell proliferation,apoptosis,necrosis,and cell cycles were analyzed by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry.Cell migration and invasion ability were evaluated by cell scratch assay and transwell assay.The potential mechanism of HK on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)SMMC-7721 cells was explored through network pharmacology and molecular docking,and finally real-time PCR assays was used to verify the potential targets and evaluate the biological activity of HK.RESULTS Compared with kakkatin,the modified HK did not significantly increase the inhibitory activity of gastric cancer MGC803 cells,but the inhibitory activity of HCC SMMC-7721 cells was increased by about 30 times,with an IC50 value of 2.5μM,and the tumor inhibition effect was better than cisplatin,which could significantly inhibit the cloning,invasion and metastasis of HCC SMMC-7721 cells,and induce apoptosis and G2/M cycle arrest.Its mechanism of action is mainly related to the upregulation of PDE3B and NFKB1 target proteins in the cAMP pathway.CONCLUSION HK have a significant inhibitory effect on HCC SMMC-7721 cells,and the targets of their action may be PDE3B and NFKB1 proteins in the cAMP pathway,making it a good lead drug for the treatment of HCC.

Mechanism of Anti-tumor Effects of Viola Medicinal Materials Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

[Objectives]To explore the relationship between anti-tumor components,targets,and pathways involved in Viola medicinal materials,study its main active components,and evaluate its inhibitory activity.[Methods]Through network pharmacological analysis,molecular docking simulation experiments and in vitro experiments,the main components and corresponding targets of Viola were screened out,and their anti-tumor signaling pathways were confirmed.MTT colorimetric assay was used to investigate the inhibitory effect of different extraction layers of Viola on the growth of tumor cells.[Results]18 anti-tumor active components such as 2α,19α-Dihydroxyursolic acid,Corlumine,Madolin U,Trifolirhizin and etc.,and 52 action targets such as PTGS2,PTGS1,P2RX7,MMP1,and GABRB3,and anti-tumor signaling pathways were confirmed.The results of molecular docking showed that all the selected Viola compounds had good binding activity.The results of MTT colorimetric assay showed that the petroleum ether layer and n-butanol layer had a good inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor cell lines.[Conclusions]Viola medicinal materials have the potential of anti-tumor,triterpenoids and flavonoids may be the main active components,and the petroleum ether layer and n-butanol layer have better inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor cells.

Screening for Anti-tumor Activity of Fractions from Buddleja officinalis Maxim

[Objectives]The anti-tumor activity of fractions from Buddleja officinalis Maxim.by petroleum ether,ethyl acetate,n-butanol and water solvent was studied.[Methods]The ethanol extract from B.officinalis Maxim.was extracted and then concentrated with petroleum ether,ethyl acetate,n-butanol and water,respectively,and the extracts were obtained.The inhibitory effects of the four different fractions on the growth of three tumor cell lines in vitro were detected by CCK-8 method,and the median inhibitory concentration(IC 50 value)was calculated.[Results]The four fractions inhibited the growth of the three tumor cell lines in vitro,among which the n-butanol fraction had the best anti-tumor activity.The IC 50 values of the n-butanol fraction on human gastric cancer(SGC-7901),human breast cancer(MCF-7)and human liver cancer(BEL-7404)cell lines were 0.08,1.58 and 0.12 mg/mL,respectively.[Conclusions]Petroleum ether,ethyl acetate,n-butanol and water fractions from the ethanol extract of B.officinalis Maxim.had certain anti-tumor effects,and the n-butanol fraction had the best anti-tumor activity.

Advances in Research of Anti-tumor Effect of Aconiti Radix

In this paper,the anti-tumor effects of Aconiti Radix were reviewed and summarized,and the clinical feasibility of Aconiti Radix as a potential anti-tumor drug was analyzed,in order to provide a useful reference for the future research and development of new anti-cancer drugs of Aconiti Radix.

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.

Activatable theranostic prodrug scaffold with tunable drug release rate for sequential photodynamic and chemotherapy

Glutathione(GSH)-activated prodrugs are promising for overcoming the limitations of conventional anti-tumor drugs.However,current GSH-responsive disulfide groups exhibit unregulated reactivity,making it impossible to precisely control the drug release rate.We herein report a series of GSH-responsive prodrugs with a“three-in-one”molecular design by integrating a fluorescence report unit,stimuliresponsive unit and chemodrug into one scaffold with tunable aromatic nucleophilic substitution(SNAr)reactivity.The drug release rate of these prodrugs is tailored by modification of substituent groups with different electron-withdrawing or-donating abilities on the BODIPY core.Furthermore,the prodrugs self-assemble in water to form nanoparticles that serve as photosensitizers to produce reactive oxygen species upon irradiation for photodynamic therapy(PDT).The PDT process also increases the concentration of GSH in cells,further promoting the release of drugs for chemotherapy.This strategy provides a powerful platform for sequential photodynamic and chemotherapy with tunable drug release rates and synergistic therapeutic effects.

Dual-acceptor engineering of donor-acceptor type molecules for all-round boosting anti-tumor phototherapy

The integration of robust photon-absorption capacity,high reactive oxygen speciesyields and photothermal conversion efficiency(PCE)into a single phototheranosticnano-agents is ideal but rarely reported.This study employed a dual-acceptorengineering strategy utilizing isoindigo and selenium-substituted[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine to augment the molar extinction coefficient and spin-orbitcoupling effect,respectively,resulting in a substantial enhancement of photonabsorptionability and non-radiative decay energy-release process of donoracceptortype phototherapy molecules.As the optimal phototherapy agent,IID-PSe exhibited a high molar extinction coefficient two times that of photosensitizer,excellent 1O2 yield(15%)and PCE(34%),exhibiting great potential forphototherapy.After encapsulating with DSPE-PEG2000,IID-PSe NPs showedexcellent anti-tumor phototherapy ability both in vitro and in vivo.This workprovides an effective idea for designing high-performance photosensitive dyeswith high efficiency phototherapy output.

Anti-tumor Effect and Protective Effect on Chemotherapeutic Damage of Water Soluble Extracts from Hedyotis diffusa

Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (Ru-biaceae) is a medicinal herbwidely distributed in northeast Asian countries. In traditional Chinese medicine, it has the effectof 'clearing away heat and toxic material, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis'.It is a well known Chinese folk-medicine used for the treatment of appendicitis, sore throat, mumps,acne, sebo-rheic dermatitis and various kinds of tumors, such as tumors of digestive tract,carcinoma of liver. It was reported that the MeOH extract of H. diffusa demonstrated a significantantitumor activity and ursolic acid succeeded in being isolated from the MeOH extract as an activecomponent . Shan BN, et al suggested that the direct aqueous extract of H. diffusa hadimmuno-modulating activity and antitumor activity in vitro through stimulating the immune system tokill or engulf tumor cells. But regarding anti-tumor activity in vivo of water soluble extracts fromH. diffusa, no detail was reported. Therefore, we prepared water soluble extracts (H_1 and H_2)from H. diffusa and evaluated their anti-tumor property in vivo experiments as well as protectiveeffect on chemo-therapeutic damage.

Purification and Characterization of Flammulin,a Basic Protein with Anti-tumor Activities from Flammulina velutipes

Aim To purify and characterize flammulin, a basic protein with anti-tumoractivities. Methods Ammonium sulfate, ethanol fractionation and column chromatography were used forseparation and purification. Electrophoretic analysis, amino acid analysis, and MS of flammulin werecarried out. Results Flammulin was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and crystallized. With amolecular mass of 19891.13 Da, pI 8.9, λ_(max) = 276 - 278 nm, λ_(min) = 250 nm, flammulin wascharacterized by its lack of methionine. Fingerprint mapping of flammulin was determined by MALDI-MSfollowing in-gel protease digestion; no close matches were identified. Conclusion Flammulin waspurified to electrophoretic homogeneity, and its characteristics are discussed for the first time.

Cytochrome P450 Directed Prodrug Activation Therapy in Research of Cancer Enzymology

Cancer enzymology is a promising filiation of bio-medical sciences. In thepast decades, enzymes, such as GST(glutathione S-transferase) , PKC(protein kinase C) , Topo(DNAtopoisomerases), TK(tyrosine kinase), CD (bacterial cytosine deaminase), CPG2(carboxypeptidase G2) ,and PNP (purine nucleoside phosphorylase), have been known to bear close relations to cancer. Theirspecific expression and influence on the process of tumor initiation, promotion and progressionattract scientists to apply them as a biochemical marker of certain malignant tumor, a predictor ofresponse in cancer chemotherapy; to apply them to drug design, tumor prevention and as adjuvant toradiotherapy or surgery.

PEPT1-mediated prodrug strategy for oral delivery of peramivir

Peramivir was a novel and highly potent neuraminidase(NA) inhibitor for the treatment of influenza A and B. However, it exhibited a very low oral bioavailability(only 3%) due to the high polarity(log P of-1.4) and the low membrane permeability across the intestine. To utilize the PEPT1-mediated prodrug strategy to improve the oral absorption and develop the oral alternative, seven amino acid ester prodrugs and seven amino acid amide prodrugs have been synthesized. The permeability of these prodrugs across Caco-2 cells were screened. Peramivr-(CH_2)_2-l-Val and Peramivir-l-Ile were of the highest permeability in ester prodrugs and amide prodrugs, respectively, and then they were selected for further studies. Glycylsarcosine(gly-sar) uptake by Caco-2 could be inbihited by Peramivir-(CH_2)_2-l-Val and Peramivir-l-Ile in a concentration-dependent manner, and the IC 50 was 1.34 ± 0.31 m M and 1.78 ± 0.48 m M, respectively. The direct uptake of Peramivir-(CH_2)_2-l-Val and Peramivirl-Ile in MDCK-PEPT1 cells were significantly higher than in MDCK mock cells, and could be markedly inhibited by gly-sar. The uptake of Peramivir-(CH_2)_2-l-Val and Peramivir-l-Ile(0.01 to 50 m M) in MDCK-hPEPT1 cells conformed to Michaelis–Menten Equation. The oral bioavailability of peramivir was 65.3% and 37.3% after the oral administration of Peramivir-(CH_2)_2-l-Val and Peramivir-l-Ile to rats, respectively. The oral absorption and bioactivation of Peramivir-(CH_2)_2-l-Val was rapid and extensive, and no Peramivir-(CH_2)_2-l-Val was found in plasma. Because the amide bond was relatively stable, Peramivir-l-Ile could not be totally converted to the parent drug in vivo. Peramivir-(CH_2)_2-l-Val with good oral profiles and rapid bioactivation might be a promising prodrug for the further clinic development. The present study also corroborated the idea that the PEPT1-mediated prodrug approach has enormous promise for improving the oral absorption of poorly absorbed drug.