Project description:Despite advancements in cancer therapy, metastasis and chemoresistance remain critical challenges due to tumor heterogeneity and compensatory pathways. This study investigates the synergistic anti-tumor potential of Flos Sophorae Immaturus (FSI) and broccoli seed extract (BSE), two natural products aligned with the "medicinal food homology" paradigm. Using in vitro and in vivo models of lung and prostate cancers, we demonstrate that FSI-BSE (F/B extract) co-treatment exerts supra-additive effects by concurrently inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, with integrative LC-MS/MS, network pharmacology, molecular docking, transcriptomic profiling, and molecular experimental validation, this study revealed that F/B extract targets and disrupts the cell cycle regulators such as cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cell division cycle 25 (CDC25), as well as the EMT effectors (e.g., Matrix metalloproteinase, Snail, and E-cadherin). Additionally, F/B extract suppressed tumor growth without toxicity in xenograft mouse models, supported by unaltered organ histology and blood parameters. These findings demonstrate a polypharmacological strategy leveraging dietary botanicals to address cancer complexity. By bridging cell cycle arrest and EMT inhibition, F/B extract treatment offers a non-toxic adjuvant approach with translational potential, underscoring the therapeutic value of medicinal food homology in oncology.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNA) are ~21 nucleotide long, small endogenous non-coding RNAs that functioning in regulation of gene expression found in many eukaryotes. In this study, small RNA libraries of opium poppy from four different tissues (leaf, root, capsule, stem) were sequenced using high-throughput next generation Illumina sequencing (Solexa) technology to investigate potential mode of actions of miRNAs in alkaloid biosynthesis. A total of 27 opium poppy miRNAs which have roles in regulation of alkaloid biosynthesis were identified in this study.
Project description:In this exploratory study, we used laser microdissection to extract dopaminergic neurons from 10 human SNpc samples obtained at autopsy in Parkinson’s disease patients and control subjects. Extracted RNA and proteins were identified by RNA sequencing and nano-LC-MS/MS, respectively, and the differential expression between Parkinson’s disease and control group was assessed.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNA) are ~21 nucleotide long, small endogenous non-coding RNAs that functioning in regulation of gene expression found in many eukaryotes. In this study, small RNA libraries of opium poppy from four different tissues (leaf, root, capsule, stem) were sequenced using high-throughput next generation Illumina sequencing (Solexa) technology to investigate potential mode of actions of miRNAs in alkaloid biosynthesis. A total of 27 opium poppy miRNAs which have roles in regulation of alkaloid biosynthesis were identified in this study. A six chip study using miRNA isolated from four separate tissues (capsule, leaf, stem, root). small RNA libraries of opium poppy tissues were sequenced using high-throughput next generation Illumina sequencing (Solexa) technology to investigate potential mode of actions of miRNAs in alkaloid biosynthesis. Furthermore, the novel opium poppy miRNAs were also confirmed by a direct small RNA cloning strategy. The microarray platform were performed to measure and analyze the mirnome of the different opium poppy tissues.
Project description:Caesalpinia sappan L. has exhibited various pharmacological effects, yet its anticancer activities against colorectal cancer (CRC) and underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the anticancer properties of an ethanol extract of C. sappan L. (CSE) against CRC cells, focusing on the identification of bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action. A network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify potential CRC targets and bioactive compounds of CSE, using LC-MS for compound identification. The anticancer effects of CSE were then validated through in vitro and in vivo models of CRC. The network pharmacological approach identified 87 overlapping genes between CSE targets and CRC-related genes, with protein–protein interaction analysis highlighting 33 key target genes. CSE inhibited cell proliferation in human CRC cell lines, including HCT 116, KM12SM, HT-29, and COLO 205, and induced apoptosis via caspase 3/7 activation. Western blot analyses confirmed the modulation of critical signaling pathways, including STAT3, AKT, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Furthermore, CSE significantly suppressed tumor growth in MC38 CRC-bearing mice. These findings suggest that CSE possesses substantial potential as a natural anticancer agent for CRC treatment, highlighting the need for further exploration in therapeutic development.