Regulation of MicroRNAs by Natural Products and Bioactive Compounds Obtained From Common Medicinal Plants: Novel Strategy in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved non-protein coding small RNAs, known to contribute to the epigenetic regulation process in various cancer cells, including the regulation of progression, proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells, differentiation of the cells and process of apoptosis. In addition to, they are crucial for the regulation of cancer stem cells, and management the process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition of cancer cells, implicating in the cancer cells. Further to this, their roles are changeable depending on biological processes, for example miR-17, miR-20a, miR-19b-1, miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-92-1, miR-21, and miR-155 may have critical roles as oncogenic miRNAs (oncomiRs), while miR-15, miR-16, let-7, miR-34, miR-48, miR-84, miR-241 may have anticancer activities as tumor suppressor miRNAs. Therefore, the regulation of miRNAs levels by active natural compounds and/or products could be a promising strategy for cancer treatment, especially in order to inhibit cancer progression and proliferation, prevent metastasis, control the process of transition of cancer cells, and overcome chemotherapeutic resistance by increasing drug sensitivity as well. Recent studies and clinical trials which are aimed to find novel targets for the treatment of cancer, have emphasized the importance of the consumption of natural anticancer agents-rich diet. In the current review, we aimed to provide overview anticancer effects of natural compounds and/or products, isolated from medicinal plants, on miRNAs which are closely related to cancer progression and metastasis.

Anticancer properties and mechanism of action of the quassinoid ailanthone

“…The capacity of AIT to modulate the expression and activity of several microRNA is important to underline. Although many anticancer natural products have been shown to dysregulate miRNA functions (Gezici & Sekeroglu, 2017), there are only rare examples of miRNA up‐ or downregulated by quassinoids. The anticancer product brucein D, a quassinoid isolated from B. javanica , was found to downregulate miR‐95 which contributed to its activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (Xiao et al, 2014).…”

Anticancer, Antiproliferative, Lysosomal and Lactate Dehydrogenase Inhibitory Effects of Fruit Extracts from Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) on Human Lung Cancer Cells

“…In this regard, the researchers encouraged to discover novel and more effective plant-based bioactive compounds that involving in prevention and treatment various cancers, as natural anticancer agents (3,23). Thus, this research has been already examined anticancer and antiproliferative effects of the sumac extracts against the tested human lung cancer cell lines.…”

Targeting miRNA by Natural Products: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

“…These substances produce epigenetic changes in the cell by modification of histones and DNA. As a result, an increase or decrease in the expression of some genes or miRNAs occurs [ 18 ]. Thus, using natural products could adjust miRNA profiles, inhibit metastasis, increase drug susceptibility, inhibit cancer progression, and treat or prevent many diseases such as NAFLD [ 19 ].…”

“…The second group is tumour suppressor miRNAs that are downregulated or silenced in cancers and illnesses. As a result, their inhibitory trait is removed from the oncogenic signalling pathways [ 18 ]. miRNAs are affected by genetic and epigenetic modifications occurring in the cell genome.…”

“…ese substances produce epigenetic changes in the cell by modification of histones and DNA. As a result, an increase or decrease in the expression of some genes or miRNAs occurs [18].…”