Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2025) | Viewed by 10356

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Su-Yun Lyu

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
Interests: anticancer drug discovery; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and the development of new and effective anticancer drugs is urgently needed. Natural products have a long history of use in traditional medicine, and they have been the inspiration for many modern drugs, including anticancer agents. The vast chemical diversity found in nature provides a rich source of novel structures that can be exploited for the development of new drugs with improved efficacy and safety profiles.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the discovery of anticancer drugs based on natural products. This is due to several factors, including the increasing prevalence of cancer, the limited efficacy of current treatments, and the need for new drugs that are less toxic and have fewer side effects.

Natural products offer several advantages for the discovery of anticancer drugs. They are typically well tolerated by the body, they often have multiple mechanisms of action, and they can be used in combination with other drugs to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity.

We are inviting submissions to this Special Issue of IJMS, titled "Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products".

Suggested topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

Discovery of novel anticancer agents from natural sources;
Preclinical and clinical studies of natural products for cancer treatment;
Mechanisms of action of natural products in cancer cells;
Development of natural product-based combination therapies for cancer;
Natural products for cancer prevention and chemoprevention.

Prof. Dr. Su-Yun Lyu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

anticancer drug discovery
natural products
phytochemicals
traditional medicine
drug development
preclinical studies
clinical trials

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 4963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization and Functional Analysis of a Novel Fungal Immunomodulatory Protein Gene from Ganoderma leucocontextum in B16-F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells

by Jiayi Yang, Mengyuan Jin, Lida Zhang, Yingying Wu and Xuanwei Zhou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5063; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115063 - 24 May 2025

Viewed by 466

Abstract

Ganoderma leucocontextum, a newly identified species from the Tibetan Plateau, has been mainly studied for its polysaccharides and triterpenoids, with no prior reports on fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs). This study explores the biological activity of FIP-gle2, cloned from G. leucocontextum and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The effects and mechanisms of recombinant FIP-gle2 (rFIP-gle2) on cell activity and melanin synthesis in mouse melanoma B16-F10 cells were investigated in vitro. The results showed that the FIP-gle2 gene, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 333 bp, encodes a 111-amino acid polypeptide with a molecular weight of 12.60 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.48. We achieved a yield of 184.18 mg/L of rFIP-gle2. In vitro functional experiments showed that rFIP-gle2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of B16-F10 melanoma cells and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at concentrations above 1 μg/mL. At 3 μg/mL, rFIP-gle2 effectively inhibited tyrosinase activity and reduced melanin content, downregulating microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), and tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP-1 and TRP-2). Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes in treated cells were enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, with Western blotting confirming enhanced phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 proteins. Thus, P. pastoris is an effective host for rFIP-gle2 production, which shows potential for applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and food fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 4135 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-Tumorigenic Effects of Sea Buckthorn Root Extracts on Head and Neck Cancer Cells—A Systematic Analysis

by Alina Gazizova, Manuel Gronbach, Christina Oppermann, Udo Kragl and Nadja Engel

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4625; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104625 - 12 May 2025

Viewed by 514

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a common treatment method for cancer that is often associated with strong side effects. To reduce these, research on extracts from medicinal plants and their active ingredients has been conducted. Although sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a well-established medicinal plant, little is known about the chemical components responsible for its putative anticancer activity. This study focuses on both chemical and medical analyses of methanolic sea buckthorn root extracts. Cell viability measurements were performed on head and neck cancer cell lines, as well as non-tumorigenic control cells. Microwave and classical extractions under reflux were used to prepare the methanolic extracts. LC/MS and NMR were used to determine the structures of the molecules contained within these extracts. The aqueous phase of one sea buckthorn root extract reduced the viability of cancer cells, whereas the viability of non-tumorigenic control cells remained unaltered. The cell cycle phases of cancer cells treated with the extract shifted in comparison to control treatment. After 24 h, the number of cells in proliferative phases had increased. Two fractions of the extract that evoked alterations were identified. After a 48 h treatment, one of the fractions showed a higher number of apoptotic cells than the control. LC/MS and NMR analyses were conducted to attempt to identify the active compounds. We propose that the bioactivity of this extract is caused by a mixture of 2′-hydroxyflavone isomers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanism of Action and Interaction of Garlic Extract and Established Therapeutics in Prostate Cancer

by Marco Hoffmann, Jana Sauer, Marie Book, Thomas Frank Ermler, Petra Fischer, Sven Gerlach, Kareem Beltagi, Agnieszka Morgenroth, Radu Alexa, Jennifer Kranz and Matthias Saar

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1777; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041777 - 19 Feb 2025

Viewed by 2836

Abstract

A detailed characterization of the mechanism of action of garlic extract (GE) on prostate cancer (PCa) cells is essential to ensure its safe use as a complementary therapy, particularly when combined with established treatments. A case report highlighted the potential benefits of GE in PCa management. A patient diagnosed with PCa, presenting an initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 11.8 ng/mL, maintained PSA levels between 3.5 and 6 ng/mL for over 14 years with daily GE intake. To study GE’s anti-proliferative effects and interactions with established therapeutics, healthy prostate epithelial cells (PNT2) and PCa cells (LNCaP, PC3, VCaP) were treated with GE. Proliferation, Integrin β1 pattern, DNA-damage, as well as androgen receptor (AR) and Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) expression were investigated. GE reduced the proliferation of LNCaP and PC3 cells compared to healthy PNT2 cells but had contrary effects on VCaP cells. The combination of GE with standard therapies, including chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and Poly-(ADP-ribose)-Polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), reduced the efficacy of these treatments in tumor cells, potentially due to the GE-induced upregulation of the metabolic enzyme CYP2C9 in PCa cell lines. These findings indicate that while GE has anti-proliferative effects, the use of highly concentrated natural extracts must be carefully assessed by expert physicians on a case-by-case basis, especially when combined with established therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Therapeutic Potential of Adina rubella Hance Stem and Picroside III as a Differentiation Inducer in AML Cells via Mitochondrial ROS Accumulation

by Chan-Seong Kwon, Byeol-Eun Jeon, Ji-Eun Lee, Hyeon-Young Kim, Ryun-Young Kang, Keun-Hu Kim, Eun-Ju Lee, Ju-Yeon Jang, Tae-Jin Kim, Ho-Jin Shin and Sang-Woo Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1350; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031350 - 5 Feb 2025

Viewed by 2953

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the accumulation of immature myeloid cells and a differentiation block, highlighting the urgent need for novel differentiation-inducing therapies. This study evaluated Adina rubella Hance (ARH) stem as a potent differentiation inducer by systematically screening 200 plant extracts. ARH stem promoted phenotypic differentiation in AML cells. In addition to its differentiation-inducing effects, ARH stem exhibited strong antileukemic activities, such as inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing cell death, and enhancing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) levels, the latter of which is critical for its differentiation-promoting activity. Comparative analysis with the extracts from other parts of the plant confirmed the superior efficacy of the stem extract because of its unique chemical composition. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis identified Picroside III as a major active compound within the stem extract, capable of recapitulating ARH stem-induced differentiation and demonstrating significant antileukemic properties. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of ARH stem and its active component, Picroside III, as promising agents for differentiation-based treatment strategies in AML. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2597 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy through Solid Lipid Nanoparticle of Purpurin-18-N-Propylimide Methyl Ester for Cancer Treatment

by Sooho Yeo, Huiqiang Wu, Il Yoon, Hye-Soo Kim, Young Kyu Song and Woo Kyoung Lee

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10382; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910382 - 26 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1107

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an innovative cancer treatment that utilizes light. When light irradiates, purpurin-18-N-propylimide methyl ester (P18 N PI ME) generates reactive oxygen species that destroy cancer cells. The hydrophobic nature of P18 N PI ME presents challenges regarding its aggregation in the body, which can affect its effectiveness. This study aimed to enhance the bioavailability and effectiveness of cancer treatment by synthesizing P18 N PI ME and formulating P18 N PI ME-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). The efficacy of PDT was estimated using the 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) assay and photocytotoxicity tests on the HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) and A549 (human lung carcinoma) cell lines. The P18 N PI ME-loaded SLNs demonstrated particle sizes in the range of 158.59 nm to 248.43 nm and zeta potentials in the range of –15.97 mV to –28.73 mV. These SLNs exhibited sustained release of P18 N PI ME. DPBF analysis revealed enhanced PDT effects with SLNs containing P18 N PI ME compared with standalone P18 N PI MEs. Photocytotoxicity assays indicated toxicity under light irradiation but no toxicity in the dark. Furthermore, the smallest-sized formulation exhibited the most effective photodynamic activity. These findings indicate the potential of P18 N PI ME-loaded SLNs as promising strategies for PDT in cancer therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 4910 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modulation of Breast Cancer Cell Apoptosis and Macrophage Polarization by Mistletoe Lectin in 2D and 3D Models

by Chang-Eui Hong and Su-Yun Lyu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158459 - 2 Aug 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1527

Abstract

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album L. var. coloratum) is renowned for its medicinal properties, including anti-cancer and immunoadjuvant effects. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which Korean mistletoe lectin (V. album L. var. coloratum agglutinin; VCA) modulates breast cancer cell apoptosis and macrophage polarization. The specific objectives were to (1) investigate the direct effects of VCA on MCF-7 breast cancer cells and THP-1-derived M1/M2 macrophages; (2) analyze the impact of VCA on the paracrine interactions between these cell types; and (3) compare the efficacy of VCA in 2D vs. 3D co-culture models to bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies. We employed both 2D and 3D models, co-culturing human M1/M2 macrophages with human MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a Transwell system. Our research demonstrated that M1 and M2 macrophages significantly influenced the immune and apoptotic responses of breast cancer cells when exposed to VCA. M1 macrophages exhibited cytotoxic characteristics and enhanced VCA-induced apoptosis in both 2D and 3D co-culture models. Conversely, M2 macrophages initially displayed a protective effect by reducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells, but this protective effect was reversed upon exposure to VCA. Furthermore, our findings illustrate VCA’s ability to modulate M1 and M2 polarization in breast cancer cells. Finally, the use of magnetic 3D cell cultures suggests their potential to yield results comparable to conventional 2D cultures, bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Anticancer Drug Discovery Based on Natural Products

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI