Ginsenoside Rb prevents the metastasis of hepatocarcinoma by blocking the platelet-tumor cell interaction.

BACKGROUND: The interaction between platelets and tumor cells is a crucial step in the progression of tumor metastasis. Blocking platelet-tumor cell interaction is a potential target against metastasis. Ginsenoside Rb (G-Rb) exhibits potential anti-tumor pharmacological properties and may offer a therapeutic option for cancer. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate anti-metastatic effects of G-Rb through regulating the crosstalk of platelets with tumor cells. METHODS: In order to explore anti-metastatic effects of G-Rb in vitro, HepG2 cell and platelets were co-cultured to mimic the interaction of platelets with tumor cells. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to assess the effect of G-Rb on cell migration and invasion. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers was determined by RT-qPCR and western blot assays. The aggregation and activation of platelets were detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, a lung metastasis model of mice was established to evaluate inhibitory effects of G-Rb in vivo. Metastatic nodules on the lung surface were counted and sections of lung tissues were stained by H&E. RESULTS: G-Rb effectively suppressed tumor metastasis in the co-culture of platelets with HepG2 cell. First, G-Rb treatment significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of HepG2 cells induced by platelets. Second, the expressions of EMT-related markers, including N-cadherin, Snail, and MMP9, were decreased by the treatment of G-Rb in the presence of platelets. Meanwhile, G-Rb also suppressed platelet hyperactivity by regulating the adhesion to tumor cells, activation, TCIPA, and TGF-ß1 secretion of platelets in vitro. In addition, the results of in vivo experiments proved G-Rb administration not only significantly decreased lung metastasis but also attenuated platelets aberrant aggregation and activation in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that G-Rb inhibited tumor metastasis and platelet activation through mediating platelet-tumor cell interaction, indicating the potential values of G-Rb in tumor metastasis therapy.

The Artist's Conk Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma applanatum (Agaricomycetes): Mycological, Mycochemical, and Pharmacological Properties: A Review.

As a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine, Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat., also known as flat-ling Ganoderma (Chinese name bianlingzhi), old mother fungus (laomujun), and old ox liver (laoniugan), has high medicinal value. It is used as an anti-cancer drug in China and Japan. Besides, it can treat rheumatic tuberculosis and has the effect of relieving pain, clearing away heat, eliminating accumulation, stopping bleeding and eliminating phlegm. The purpose of this review is to analyze the research progress systematically and comprehensively in mycology, mycochemistry and pharmacological activities of G. applanatum, and discuss the prospect of prospective research and implementation of this medicinal material. A comprehensive literature search was performed on G. applanatum using scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, CNKI, Elsevier. Collected data from different sources was comprehensively summarized for mycology, mycochemistry and pharmacology of G. applanatum. A total of 324 compounds were recorded, the main components of which were triterpenoids, meroterpenoids, steroids, and polysaccharides. G. applanatum and its active ingredients have a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-tumor, liver protection, hypoglycemic, anti-fat, anti-oxidation, antibacterial and other activities. Although G. applanatum is widely used in traditional medicine and has diverse chemical constituents, more studies should be carried out in animals and humans to evaluate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in its biological activity.

Strategies to Increase the Production of Triterpene Acids in Ligzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum, Agaricomycetes): A Review.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) are the main active ingredient of Ganoderma lucidum, which has been widely accepted as a medicinal mushroom. Due to the low yield of GAs produced by liquid cultured Ganoderma mycelium and solid cultured fruiting bodies, the commercial production and clinical application of GAs are limited. Therefore, it is important to increase the yield of GA in G. lucidum. A comprehensive literature search was performed with no set data range using the following keywords such as "triterpene," "ganoderic acids," "Ganoderma lucidum," and "Lingzhi" within the main databases including Web of Science, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The data were screened using titles and abstracts and those relevant to the topic were included in the paper and was not limited to studies published in English. Present review focuses on the four aspects: fermentation conditions and substrate, extrinsic elicitor, genetic engineering, and mutagenesis, which play significant roles in increasing triterpene acids production, thus providing an available reference for further research on G. lucidum fermentation.