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Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activity
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Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activity

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2025) | Viewed by 3096

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jacek Tabarkiewicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Immunology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: natural products; immunology; autoimmune diseases; tumour immunology; dendritic cells; lncRNA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Several inflammatory diseases and neoplasms are becoming more common in aging populations throughout the world. The clinically used anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer drugs suffer from the disadvantage of side effects, high cost of treatment and in some cases restricted availability. Natural products play a significant role in human health in relation to the prevention of inflammatory conditions as well as malignant tumours. Natural products can also be used in supplementary treatment or be the source for the development of new therapeutical agents. The present Special Issue will focus on anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer natural products belonging to different chemicals and showing attempts to enumerate the possible leads for further drug development.

Prof. Dr. Jacek Tabarkiewicz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • medicinal plants
  • inflammation
  • cancer
  • malignant tumour
  • anti-inflammatory
  • anti-cancer

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 8490 KiB  
Article
Peptide Fractions Extracted from the Hemolymph of Hermetia illucens Inhibit Growth and Motility and Enhance the Effects of Traditional Chemotherapeutics in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells
by Donatella Lucchetti, Roberta Rinaldi, Giulia Artemi, Rosanna Salvia, Federica De Stefano, Carmen Scieuzo, Patrizia Falabella and Alessandro Sgambato
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 1891; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26051891 - 22 Feb 2025
Viewed by 347
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and multiple mutations. Chemotherapy is often associated with harmful side effects, and cancer cells may become resistant through various mechanisms. New approaches, which are able to address both the toxicity [...] Read more.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and multiple mutations. Chemotherapy is often associated with harmful side effects, and cancer cells may become resistant through various mechanisms. New approaches, which are able to address both the toxicity and resistance issues of chemotherapy, are of primary importance in cancer research. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), naturally occurring molecules in the innate immune system of all living organisms, have a wide spectrum of cytotoxic activities against cancer cells and could be a promising alternative to actual chemotherapeutics. Here, we tested peptide fractions, rich in AMPs, extracted from the hemolymph of the larvae of the insect Hermetia illucens on the HT29 and HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells, observing cell growth inhibition by cell accumulation in the G2/M phase and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, the peptide extract induced a significant cytoskeleton reorganization, resulting in reduced motility. These effects were more evident with the peptide fractions obtained from the Escherichia coli-infected larvae. The peptide fractions also enhanced the effects of traditional chemotherapeutics. Overall, the results obtained suggest the presence of biologically active molecules in the hemolymph of H. illucens larvae, confirming that insect-derived peptides are a promising research area in oncology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activity)
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22 pages, 9584 KiB  
Article
Biological Activity of Peptide Fraction Derived from Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae Haemolymph on Gastric Cancer Cells
by Roberta Rinaldi, Simona Laurino, Rosanna Salvia, Sabino Russi, Federica De Stefano, Rocco Galasso, Alessandro Sgambato, Carmen Scieuzo, Geppino Falco and Patrizia Falabella
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 1885; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26051885 - 22 Feb 2025
Viewed by 404
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterised by poor prognosis and limited responsiveness to chemotherapy. There is a need for new and more effective anticancer agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising class of biomolecules for [...] Read more.
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterised by poor prognosis and limited responsiveness to chemotherapy. There is a need for new and more effective anticancer agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising class of biomolecules for this purpose. Naturally occurring in the innate immune system, these peptides can also exert cytotoxic effects against cancer cells, earning them the designation of “anticancer peptides” (ACPs). They have the potential to be a viable support for current chemotherapy schedules due to their selectivity against cancer cells and minor propensity to induce chemoresistance in cells. Insects are an excellent source of AMPs. Among them, due to its ability to thrive in hostile and microorganism-rich environments, we isolated a peptide fraction from Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) haemolymph to evaluate a possible anticancer activity. We tested Peptide Fractions (PFs) against AGS and KATO III gastric cancer cell lines. Data obtained indicated that PFs, especially those resulting from Escherichia coli and Micrococcus flavus infection (to boost immune response), were able to inhibit tumour cell growth by inducing apoptosis or cell cycle arrest in a cell line-specific manner. These results support further investigation into the use of antimicrobial peptides produced from insects as possible anticancer agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activity)
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30 pages, 5381 KiB  
Article
Potentilla tormentilla Extract Loaded Gel: Formulation, In Vivo and In Silico Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Properties
by Jovana Bradic, Anica Petrovic, Milos Nikolic, Nikola Nedeljkovic, Marijana Andjic, Jovan Baljak, Vladimir Jakovljevic, Aleksandar Kocovic, Vanja Tadic, Aleksandra Stojanovic and Igor Simanic
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179389 - 29 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 979
Abstract
The objective of the study was to develop a novel topical gel by mixing Potentilla tormentilla ethanolic extract, thermosensitive poloxamer 407, and carbomer 940 and evaluating its stability and rheological behavior. The irritation potential of the gel was evaluated in accordance with the [...] Read more.
The objective of the study was to develop a novel topical gel by mixing Potentilla tormentilla ethanolic extract, thermosensitive poloxamer 407, and carbomer 940 and evaluating its stability and rheological behavior. The irritation potential of the gel was evaluated in accordance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Guidelines 404. The potential anti-inflammatory effects of the developed gel were evaluated in vivo in rats using the carrageenan-induced paw edema test. Moreover, the in silico binding affinity for chlorogenic and ellagic acid, as dominant components in the extract, against cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and 2 was also determined. Our findings suggest that the gel containing Potentilla tormentilla extract remained stable throughout the observation period, exhibited pseudoplastic behavior, and caused no irritation in rats, thus being considered safe for topical treatment. Additionally, the developed gel showed the capability to reduce rat paw edema, which highlights significant anti-inflammatory potential. In silico analysis revealed that chlorogenic and ellagic acid exhibited a reduced binding affinity against COX-1 but had a similar inhibitory effect on COX-2 as flurbiprofen, which was confirmed by molecular dynamics results. The study proposes the possible application of Potentilla tormentilla ethanolic extract gel for the alleviation of localized inflammatory diseases; however, future clinical evaluation is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activity)
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Review

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19 pages, 1172 KiB  
Review
Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Cancer Properties of Flaxseed
by Agnieszka Ewa Stepień, Julia Trojniak and Jacek Tabarkiewicz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031226 - 30 Jan 2025
Viewed by 935
Abstract
Bioactive molecules present in plant products determine their very valuable health-promoting properties. Among the plants, due to these properties, particular attention is paid to the seeds of common flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), which have been used for over 6000 years and are [...] Read more.
Bioactive molecules present in plant products determine their very valuable health-promoting properties. Among the plants, due to these properties, particular attention is paid to the seeds of common flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), which have been used for over 6000 years and are known for their benefits. A review of 117 scientific articles indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library, published between 1997 and 2024, was conducted. These seeds are characterized by a high content of valuable nutrients, such as essential omega-3 fatty acids, including α-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, isoflavones, phytoestrogens, flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals that influence the digestive system function and have anti-cancer properties. The presence of these bioactive compounds in flaxseeds provide anti-cancer properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activity)
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