ABSTRACT
Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death caused by abnormal accumulation of iron-dependent reactive oxygen species （ROS） and imbalance of redox with the participation of iron ions. In recent years， studies have found that ferroptosis is associated with various diseases and can especially regulate the development of tumors. Chinese medicine has unique advantages in tumor prevention and treatment. How to use ferroptosis theory to guide the prevention and treatment of cancer and other tumor diseases by Chinese medicine is a new research hotspot. This paper summarizes the proposal， action mechanism， and signaling pathway of ferroptosis， its application in tumor therapy， and the research on the activity of Chinese medicine based on ferroptosis. Results found that the occurrence of ferroptosis is related to iron metabolism， lipid ROS metabolism， and other signaling pathways and gene expressions. Ferroptosis can regulate tumor initiation and development， treatment， and tumor immunity， which provides strategies for tumor treatment and anti-tumor drug development. By analyzing the biological activity of Chinese medicine against ferroptosis， we found that Chinese medicines （Scutellariae Radix， Puerariae Lobatae Radix， Astragali Radix， Ginkgo， Epimedii Folium， Artemisiae Annuae Herba， and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma）， Chinese herbal compounds （ Naotaifang， Si Junzitang， and Shenmai injection）， and Chinese medicine effective components （baicalein， dihydroartemisinin， puerarin， piperlongumine， luteolin， and quercetin） can exert antitumor and other biological activities by regulating ferroptosis. Therefore， Chinese medicine has great potential in preventing and controlling tumors and other diseases by regulating ferroptosis. This paper provides theoretical basis and research ideas for the in-depth study of ferroptosis theory and guides the prevention and treatment of tumor diseases by Chinese medicine.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the prevention and treatment of total flavonoids from Gleditsiae Spina (TFGS) on lung cancer and its mechanisms. Methods: Mouse Lewis lung cancer (LLC) and embryonic lung fibroblast (L929) cells were treated with different doses of TFGS for 48 h, cell proliferation and adhesion were examined by MTT assay, and gap junctional intercellual communication (GJIC) was measured through scrape loading and dye transfer. The mice were randomly divided into model, quercetin (100 mg/kg, positive control), high-and low-dose (100 and 30 mg/kg) TFGS groups. The mice were ip injected with urethane twice weekly for five weeks to induce lung carcinogenesis and treated once daily for 10 weeks following the first urethane injection. The prevention of TFGS on chemocarcinogenesis was evaluated and the expression of gap junctional protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in lung tissue with tumors was compared by immunohistochemistry. The LLC cells were injected into the lateral axilla and tail vein respectively to establish the LLC sc allograft and experimental lung metastasis. The tumor-inocubating mice were randomly divided into model, doxorubicin (5 mg/kg, positive control), high-and low-dose (same as above) TFGS groups. The mice received the treatment for three weeks following tumor inocubation, and the effects of TFGS on the tumor size, metastasis, and life span were evaluated. Results: TFGS inhibited LLC cell proliferation in a dose dependent manner but had no effect on L929 cell proliferation in vitro. TFGS with a little effect on cell proliferation decreased cell adhesion and promoted GJIC in a dose dependent manner in LLC cells but did not affect the L929 cell adhesion. TFGS was able to prevent carcinogenesis induced by urethane and enhance Cx43 staining in lung region with tumor in immunohistochemistry. Compared with untreated model mice, GJIC reduced the tumor size and metastasis and prolongated life span in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: TFGS could promote GJIC to prevent and treat tumor and might be a potential antitumor agent.