New insights into the anticancer therapeutic potential of icaritin and its synthetic derivatives.

Icaritin is a natural prenylated flavonoid derived from the Chinese herb Epimedium. The compound has shown antitumor effects in various cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Icaritin exerts its anticancer activity by modulating multiple signaling pathways, such as IL-6/JAK/STAT3, ER-α36, and NF-κB, affecting the tumor microenvironment and immune system. Several clinical trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of icaritin in advanced HCC patients with poor prognoses, who are unsuitable for conventional therapies. The results have demonstrated that icaritin can improve survival, delay progression, and produce clinical benefits in these patients, with a favorable safety profile and minimal adverse events. Moreover, icaritin can enhance the antitumor immune response by regulating the function and phenotype of various immune cells, such as CD8+ T cells, MDSCs, neutrophils, and macrophages. These findings suggest that icaritin is a promising candidate for immunotherapy in HCC and other cancers. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and optimal dosing regimens of icaritin and its potential synergistic effects with other agents. Therefore, this comprehensive review of the scientific literature aims to summarize advances in the knowledge of icaritin in preclinical and clinical studies as well as the pharmacokinetic, metabolism, toxicity, and mechanisms action to recognize the main challenge, gaps, and opportunities to develop a medication that cancer patients can use. Thus, our main objective was to clarify the current state of icaritin for use as an anticancer drug.

Evaluation of the Capparis Herbacea Willd's Chemistry, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity.

BACKGROUND: The Capparidaceae family includes the medicinal herb Capparis herbacea Willd. The aerial and underground parts of plant C.herbacea were studied for their chemical composition, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. METHODS: Using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (7890A/5975C), 94 chemicals were identified in ethanol extract from leaves, roots, seeds, and stems of C. herbacea. Main components were (leaves) phytol 18.16%, hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester 16.75%, vitamin E 11.95%, (roots) sucrose 13.94%, hexadecanoic acid, ethylester 22.80%, octadecanoic acid, ethylester 37.77%; (seeds) hexadecanoic acid, ethylester 13.96%, ethyl9.cis.,11.trans.-octadecadienoate 48.54%, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 9.77%; (stems) 1-propene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, tributyl ester 42.69%, and tributylacetylcitrate 19.63%. Nine components were identified in the makeup of the C. herbacea sample's essential oil using the method of chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The main components were (in%): T-cadinol (29.56), meta-cymene (16.12), pulegone (14.11), and σ-amorphene (12.26). Chloroform and methanol extracts of Capparis herbacia roots at concentrations of 1 mg/ml showed higher average antioxidant activity, while ethyl acetate root extract at concentrations of 0.75 and 1 mg/ml showed higher average antioxidant activity compared to gallic acid AOA. CONCLUSION: In addition, plant extracts have cytotoxic activity. Essential oils of leaves and stems, fruit and roots of Capparis herbacia plants exhibited cytotoxicity, all larvae died, and larval mortality was 96%.

Resveratrol-Based Nanoformulations as an Emerging Therapeutic Strategy for Cancer.

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic stilbene derivative widely present in grapes and red wine. Broadly known for its antioxidant effects, numerous studies have also indicated that it exerts anti-inflammatory and antiaging abilities and a great potential in cancer therapy. Regrettably, the oral administration of resveratrol has pharmacokinetic and physicochemical limitations such as hampering its effects so that effective administration methods are demanding to ensure its efficiency. Thus, the present review explores the published data on the application of resveratrol nanoformulations in cancer therapy, with the use of different types of nanodelivery systems. Mechanisms of action with a potential use in cancer therapy, negative effects, and the influence of resveratrol nanoformulations in different types of cancer are also highlighted. Finally, the toxicological features of nanoresveratrol are also discussed.