Bioactive Compounds from Herbal Medicine Targeting Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the most widespread hematological cancers. It is characterized by a clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow and by the overproduction of monoclonal proteins. In recent years, the survival rate of patients with multiple myeloma has increased significantly due to the use of transplanted stem cells and of the new therapeutic agents that have significantly increased the survival rate, but it still cannot be completely cured and therefore the development of new therapeutic products is needed. Moreover, many patients have various side effects and face the development of drug resistance to current therapies. The purpose of this review is to highlight the bioactive active compounds (flavonoids) and herbal extracts which target dysregulated signaling pathway in MM, assessed by in vitro and in vivo experiments or clinical studies, in order to explore their healing potential targeting multiple myeloma. Mechanistically, they demonstrated the ability to promote cell cycle blockage and apoptosis or autophagy in cancer cells, as well as inhibition of proliferation/migration/tumor progression, inhibition of angiogenesis in the tumor vascular network. Current research provides valuable new information about the ability of flavonoids to enhance the apoptotic effects of antineoplastic drugs, thus providing viable therapeutic options based on combining conventional and non-conventional therapies in MM therapeutic protocols.

Multiple Myeloma: Challenges Encountered and Future Options for Better Treatment

“…In MM, quercetin inhibits its cell proliferation by downregulating the expression of IQ motif-containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) and activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Besides that, this compound is able to inhibit the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the interaction between IQGAP1 and ERK1/2 in MM cells [90]. Modulation of DNA methylation and histone acetylation are the two important mechanisms by which quercetin acts as an epigenetic modifier.…”

“…Genistein is also able to inhibit NF-κB expressed by MM cells, Akt phosphorylation, and MM cell proliferation. Furthermore, it is also able to induce apoptosis in MM cells and decrease the expression of NF-κB-regulated genes [90].…”