Beneficial Actions of Orostachys japonica and Its Compounds against Tumors via MAPK Signaling Pathways

Abstract

Tumors are one of the most life-threatening diseases, and a variety of cancer treatment options have been continuously introduced in order to overcome cancer and improve conventional therapy. Orostachys japonica (O. japonica), which is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Orostachys of the Crassulaceae family, has been revealed to exhibit pharmacological properties against various tumors in numerous studies. The present review aimed to discuss the biological actions and underlying molecular mechanisms of O. japonica and its representative compounds—kaempferol and quercetin—against tumors. O. japonica reportedly has antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antimetastatic activities against various types of malignant tumors through the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, a blockade of downstream vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-VEGFR2 pathways, and the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In addition, emerging studies have highlighted the antitumor efficacy of kaempferol and quercetin. Interestingly, it was found that alterations of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades are involved in the pivotal mechanisms of the antitumor effects of O. japonica and its two compounds against cancer cell overgrowth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In summary, O. japonica could be considered a preventive and therapeutic medicinal plant which exhibits antitumor actions by reversing altered patterns of MAPK cascades, and kaempferol and quercetin might be potential components that can contribute to the efficacy and underlying mechanism of O. japonica.

Efficacy of FRO on Acne Vulgaris Pathogenesis

“…In the present study, the TPC of FRO was determined to be 118.2 mg GAE/g ( Table 1 ). FRV and Orostachys japonicus A. Burger [ 48 ], two ingredients of FRO, contain gallic acid, fisetin, quercetin, and kaempferol, alongside many phenolics, such as protocatechuic acid, fustin, sulfuretin, butein, hexacosanol, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and methyl gallate [ 34 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. The HPLC peaks of FRO that were not identified with the standards used in this study may be these phenolics ( Figure 1 ).…”

Flavonols and Flavones as Potential anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Compounds

“…Finally, quercetin can remove ROS through various mechanisms involved in regulation of ROS production and modulation of antioxidant-related gene expression. Clinically, quercetin exhibits antitumor effect and is used for cancer and metastasis prevention [ 145 ]. It has also been shown to have therapeutic effects in cardiovascular diseases and significant antidepressant outcome [ 146 ].…”

Profiling the Phytochemicals of Orostachys margaritifolia: Biological Activities, LC-ESI/MS, and HPLC Analyses

“…The most extensively studied pharmacological aspect of the Orostachys genus is their anticancer activity, as detailed in recent articles reviewed by Hur et al [ 17 ]. Additionally, scientific evidence suggests that this genus also exhibits various physiological effects, including hepatoprotective [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], anti-inflammatory [ 21 , 22 ], anti-angiogenic [ 23 ], anti-adipogenic [ 24 ], anti-diabetic [ 25 ], and immunostimulatory [ 26 ] activities.…”