International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Recent Advances of Natural Products in Chemical and Biological Aspects

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Dear Colleagues,

Products of natural origin are derived from plants, minerals, animals, or microorganisms. Nature has been a source of active ingredients, from ancient times to the present day. In addition, there is currently a tendency to use this type of more natural substances.

Natural products, especially those from plants, have attracted significant interest since their composition contains compounds with interesting bioactive properties for health. It is therefore essential to understand and explore the chemical composition of these natural products in order to be able to elucidate the molecules responsible for biological activity. In addition, it is also important to know the interactions of cellular molecules that carry out the biological processes essential for the cell's functions and maintenance.

We are pleased to invite you to present original research and review articles on new advancements in the development and application of natural products.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the knowledge of different substances of natural origin in their chemical composition and potential biological activities.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Francisco Les
Prof. Dr. Marta Sofía Valero
Prof. Dr. María Pilar Arruebo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

bioactive compounds
polyphenols
antioxidants
natural products
phytochemicals
molecular research
chemical composition
therapeutic targets
action mechanisms

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Research

21 pages, 2496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhibition of Cancer Stem-like Cells by Curcumin and Other Polyphenol Derivatives in MDA-MB-231 TNBC Cells

by Maria Ros, Gerard Riesco-Llach, Emma Polonio-Alcalá, Pere Miquel Morla-Barcelo, Santiago Ruiz-Martínez, Lidia Feliu, Marta Planas and Teresa Puig

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(13), 7446; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137446 - 6 Jul 2024

Viewed by 837

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15% of all breast cancers and is highly aggressive. Despite an initial positive response to chemotherapy, most patients experience rapid disease progression leading to relapse and metastasis. This is attributed to the presence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) within the tumor, which are characterized by self-renewal, pluripotency, and resistance mechanisms. Targeting BCSCs has become critical as conventional therapies fail to eradicate them due to a lack of specific targets. Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), exhibits anticancer effects against breast cancer cells and BCSCs. The use of curcumin derivatives has been suggested as an approach to overcome the bioavailability and solubility problems of curcumin in humans, thereby increasing its anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cellular and molecular effects of six synthetic compounds derived from the natural polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (TL1, TL2) and curcumin derivatives (TL3, TL4, TL5, and TL6) on a TNBC mesenchymal stem-like cell line. The activity of the compounds against BCSCs was also determined by a mammosphere inhibition assay and studying different BCSC markers by Western blotting. Finally, a drug combination assay was performed with the most promising compounds to evaluate their potential synergistic effects with the chemotherapeutic agents doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel. The results showed that compounds exhibited specific cytotoxicity against the TNBC cell line and BCSCs. Interestingly, the combination of the curcumin derivative TL3 with doxorubicin and cisplatin displayed a synergistic effect in TNBC cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances of Natural Products in Chemical and Biological Aspects)

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