Mechanisms of Actinidia chinensis Planch in treating colon cancer based on the integration of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification.

BACKGROUND: As an anticancer Chinese herbal medicine, the effective components and mechanism of Actinidia chinensis Planch (ACP, Tengligen) in the treatment of colon cancer are still unclear. In the present study, the integration of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cell experiments was employed to study the effective mechanism of ACP against colon cancer. METHODS: The Venn diagram and STRING database were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) of ACP-colon cancer, and further topological analysis was used to obtain the key target genes of ACP in colon cancer. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to visualize the related functions and pathways. Molecular docking between key targets and compounds was determined using software such as AutoDockTools. Finally, the effect of ACP on CT26 cells was observed in vitro. RESULTS: The study identified 40 ACP-colon key targets, including CASP3, CDK2, GSK3B, and PIK3R1. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses found that these genes were involved in 211 biological processes and 92 pathways, among which pathways in cancer, PI3K-Akt, p53, and cell cycle might be the main pathways of ACP against colon cancer. Molecular docking verified that the key components of ACP could stably bind to the corresponding targets. The experimental results showed that ACP could inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis, and downregulate the phosphorylation of PIK3R1, Akt, and GSK3B in CT26 cells. CONCLUSION: ACP is an anti-colon cancer herb with multiple components, and involvement of multiple target genes and signaling pathways. ACP can significantly inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells, which may be closely related to the regulation of PI3K/AKT/GSK3B signal transduction.

Exploring the components and mechanism of Solanum nigrum L. for colon cancer treatment based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Background: Solanum nigrum L. (SNL) (Longkui) is a Chinese herb that can be used to treat colon cancer. The present study explored the components and mechanisms of SNL in treating colon cancer by using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: The components of SNL were collected from the TCMSP, ETCM, HERB, and NPASS databases. Meanwhile, the target proteins of these ingredients were collected/predicted by the TCMSP, SEA, SwissTargetPrediction, and the STITCH databases colon cancer-related target genes were identified from TCGA and GTEx databases. The interaction networks were established via Cytoscape 3.7.2. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathways were enriched by using the David 6.8 online tool. Finally, the binding of key components and targets was verified by molecular docking, and the cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) was used to detect the efficiency of apigenin and kaempferol binding to the AURKB protein in CT26 cells. Results: A total of 37 SNL components, 796 SNL targets, 5,356 colon cancer genes, and 241 shared targets of SNL and colon cancer were identified. A total of 43 key targets were obtained through topology analysis. These key targets are involved in multiple biological processes, such as signal transduction and response to drug and protein phosphorylation. At the same time, 104 signaling pathways, such as pathways in cancer, human cytomegalovirus infection, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, are also involved. The binding of the four key components (i.e., quercetin, apigenin, kaempferol, and luteolin) and the key targets was verified by molecular docking. The CETSA results showed that apigenin and kaempferol were able to bind to the AURKB protein to exert anti-CRC effects. Conclusions: Quercetin, apigenin, kaempferol, and luteolin are the main components of SNL in treating colon cancer. SNL regulates multiple bioprocesses via signaling pathways, such as pathways in cancer, PI3K-Akt, and cell cycle signaling pathways.

Traditional Chinese medicine for colorectal cancer treatment: potential targets and mechanisms of action.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with complex pathogenesis, it is prone to metastasis, and its development involves abnormalities in multiple signaling pathways. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, target therapy, and immunotherapy remain the main treatments for CRC, but improvement in the overall survival rate and quality of life is urgently needed. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of preventing and treating CRC. It could affect CRC cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, invasion, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance by regulating multiple signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, MAPK, Wnt/ß-catenin, epidermal growth factor receptors, p53, TGF-ß, mTOR, Hedgehog, and immunomodulatory signaling pathways. In this paper, the main signaling pathways and potential targets of TCM and its active ingredients in the treatment of CRC were systematically summarized, providing a theoretical basis for treating CRC with TCM and new ideas for further exploring the pathogenesis of CRC and developing new anti-CRC drugs.

[Research on degradation of methylene blue by coal bottom ash-microwave irradiation method].

Coal bottom ash is rich in metals and transition metals, and with microwave irradiation these metals can effectively degradate organic matter. Methylene blue degradation by coal bottom ash-microwave irradiation mainly through hydroxyl radicals to degrade organic matter, and metals and rare metals in bottom ash can be used as a catalyst for deep oxidation of organic matter, can reduce processing costs, and reduce environmental pollution. In the present paper the main parameters including the amount of coal bottom ash, H2O2 dosage and time of microwave irradiation were investigated. The UV-visible spectra of methylene blue were determined. The results show that: under coal bottom ash and H2O2 microwave condition the degeneration rate of methylene blue was almost 100%. The dosage of coal ash can accelerate the reaction process, speeding up the degradation of methylene blue. The increase of H2O2 may provide more * OH and speed up the reaction process, but when up to a certain amount, the influence is weakened. The lengthening of microwave time may enhance the reaction temperature, and urge the methylene blue to degrade completely. For 0.125 g x L(-1) of methylene blue, by adding 1.0 g coal bottom ash, 5 mL H2O2 and under mesotherm microwave temperature for 4 min, the methylene blue can be all degradated.

[Determination of active species of heavy metals in sewage sludge by ICP-MS].

Sewage sludge samples for the research from the sewage disposal plants of the north, Mantang River and Xiannu River in Shenyang were extracted and separated by H2O, HAc and organic solvents of different polarities. The active species of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr existing in the sewage sludge were determined by ICP-MS, and the regularity and influential factors were studied under the alternation of environmental conditions. The results showed that the content of acid-soluble heavy metals was more than that of water-soluble ones, and both had coincident regularity under the alternation of time and temperature; the content of the organic solvents was positively correlated to the solvent polarity. The acid-soluble heavy metals were more active during the course of transforming, and the activity sequence of heavy metals in the same species was: water-soluble Zn>Cu>Cd> Pb>Cr, acid-soluble Cd>Cr>Cu>Zn>Pb, and organic-soluble Pb>Cd>Cr>Cu>Zn.