Cancer is the leading cause of death and one of the greatest barriers to increased life expectancy worldwide. Currently, chemotherapy with synthetic drugs remains one of the predominant ways for cancer treatment, which may lead to drug resistance and normal organ damage. Increasing researches have suggested that apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, is a promising way for cancer therapy. Furthermore, natural products are important sources for finding new drugs with high availability, low cost and low toxicity. As a well-known isoquinoline alkaloid, accumulating evidence has revealed that berberine (BBR) exerts potential pro-apoptotic effects on multiple cancers, including breast, lung, liver, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers. The related potential signal pathways are AMP-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and protein kinase B pathways. In this review, we provide a timely and comprehensive summary of the detailed molecular mechanisms of BBR in treating three types of cancer (breast, lung and liver cancer) by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, we also discuss the existing challenges and strategies to improve BBR’s bioavailability. Hopefully, this review provides valuable information for the comprehension of BBR in treating three types of cancer and highlight the pro-apoptotic effects of BBR, which would be beneficial for the further development of this natural compound as an effective clinical drug for treating cancers.

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Apoptosis Induction, a Sharp Edge of Berberine to Exert Anti-Cancer Effects, Focus on Breast, Lung, and Liver Cancer

Salidroside, a phenyl ethanol glycoside from Rhodiola crenulata, orchestrates hypoxic mitochondrial dynamics homeostasis by stimulating Sirt1/p53/Drp1 signaling.

Dehydrocostuslactone attenuated oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion-induced PC12 cell injury through inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Ellagic acid (EA), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, is detected in free form or linked to polyols or sugars, constituting hydrolyzable tannins or ellagitannins in distinct fruits, nuts, and herbs. Today, a considerable number of botanicals and enriched foods containing EA are commercially available as nutraceuticals and used to prevent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to the excellent neuroprotective capacity of EA. Here, this study aims to provide an overview of the physicochemical properties, source, and pharmacokinetics of EA and to emphasize the importance and mechanisms of EA in the prevention and management of MCI. To date, preclinical studies of EA and its derivatives in various cell lines and animal models have advanced the idea of dietary EA as a feasible agent capable of specifically targeting and improving MCI. The molecular mechanisms of EA and its derivatives to prevent or reduce MCI are mainly through reducing neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal apoptosis, synaptic dysfunction and loss, and defective mitochondrial functions. Nevertheless, well-designed and correctly large randomized controlled trials in the human population need to be performed to reinforce the scientific facticity of the beneficial effects of EA against MCI. Synchronously, the mechanism of EA against MCI is least provided cynosure and expects more attention from the emerging research community. Graphical Abstract

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Ellagic Acid: A Dietary-Derived Phenolic Compound for Drug Discovery in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of Shaoyao decoction on X-ray radiation-induced enteritis of C57BL/6 mice.

Highland mate: Edible and functional foods in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of hypoxia-related symptoms

Imaging in the second near-infrared II (NIR-II) window, a kind of biomedical imaging technology with characteristics of high sensitivity, high resolution, and real-time imaging, is commonly used in the diagnosis of brain diseases. Compared with the conventional visible light (400-750 nm) and NIR-I (750-900 nm) imaging, the NIR-II has a longer wavelength of 1000-1700 nm. Notably, the superiorities of NIR-II can minimize the light scattering and autofluorescence of biological tissue with the depth of brain tissue penetration up to 7.4 mm. Herein, we summarized the main principles of NIR-II in animal models of traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular visualization, brain tumor, inflammation, and stroke. Simultaneously, we encapsulated the in vivo process of NIR-II probes and their in vivo and in vitro toxic effects. We further dissected its limitations and following optimization measures.

Shaohui Wang

Papers

Highland mate: Edible and functional foods in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of hypoxia-related symptoms

Second near-infrared (NIR-II) imaging: a novel diagnostic technique for brain diseases.