Molecular Mechanisms of Sanguinarine in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Abstract

Historically, natural plant-derived drugs received a great impact of consideration in the treatment of several human-associated disorders. Cancer is a devastating disease and the second most cause of mortality. Sanguinarine (SANG), a naturally isolated plant alkaloidal agent, possesses chemo-preventive effects. Several studies have revealed that SANG impedes tumor metastasis and development by disrupting a wide range of cell signaling pathways and its molecular targets such as BCL-2, MAPKs, Akt, NF-κB, ROS, and microRNAs (miRNAs). Although its low chemical stability and poor oral bioavailability continue to be a key issue in its use as a medicinal molecule. A novel method (e.g., liposomes, nanoparticles, and micelles) and alternative analogs provide an exciting approach to alleviate these problems and broaden its pharmacokinetic profile. Cancer-specific miRNAs expression is synchronized by SANG, which has also been uncertain. In this critical study, we review the utilization of SANG mimics and nano-technologies to improve its support in cancer. We focus on recently disclosed studies on SANG anti-cancer properties.

Dihydromyricetin Inhibited Migration and Invasion by Reducing S100A4 Expression through ERK1/2/β-Catenin Pathway in Human Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

“…Chemotherapy effectively treats cancer, but many patients with cancer are either insensitive or resistant to chemotherapy. Therefore, effective mechanisms that enhance tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy are necessary [ 37 ].…”

The Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha in Renal Disease

“…Activated HIF-1 plays a crucial role in the tumor cell adaptive response to oxygen changes by transcriptionally activating more than 100 downstream genes that regulate important biological processes required for tumor survival and progression. Further studies on the HIF would help in developing cancer therapies [ 60 , 61 ] ( Figure 5 ).…”

Lead/Drug Discovery from Natural Resources

“…For example, cephalomannine was found to exert inhibitory effects in hypoxic lung cancer cells via the inhibition of the interaction between apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 (APEX1) and hypoxic-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) [ 30 ]. Another typical example is sanguinarine, a plant-derived cancer prevention and treatment alkaloid; it impedes tumor metastasis and development by disrupting a wide range of cell signaling pathways, and molecular targets such as B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), protein kinase B (Akt protein), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and microRNAs (miRNAs) [ 31 ].…”