Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of bioactive ingredients in Curcumae Rhizoma against breast cancer

Peng Zhao; Jianfei Qiu; Chaolan Pan; Yunyan Tang; Meijun Chen; Hui Song; Jue Yang; Xiaojiang Hao

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154810

Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of bioactive ingredients in Curcumae Rhizoma against breast cancer

Phytomedicine. 2023 Jun:114:154810. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154810. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Authors

Peng Zhao¹, Jianfei Qiu², Chaolan Pan¹, Yunyan Tang¹, Meijun Chen¹, Hui Song³, Jue Yang⁴, Xiaojiang Hao⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China.
² Key Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology and Characteristics, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China. Electronic address: songhui620@126.com.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: yaodadewo@163.com.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang & Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang, China. Electronic address: haoxj2013@126.com.

PMID: 37075623
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154810

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Despite great advances in the therapeutic strategies, the survival rate in the past decades of patients with breast cancer remains unsatisfactory. Growing evidence has demonstrated that Curcumae Rhizoma, called Ezhu in Chinese, showed various pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It has been widely used in Chinese medicine to treat many types of human cancer.

Purpose: To comprehensively summarize and analyze the effects of active substances in Curcumae Rhizoma on breast cancer malignant phenotypes and the underlying mechanisms, as well as discuss its medicinal value and future perspectives.

Method: We used "Curcumae Rhizoma" or the name of crude extracts and bioactive components in Curcumae Rhizoma in combination with "breast cancer" as key words. Studies focusing on their anti-breast cancer activities and mechanisms of action were extracted from Pubmed, Web of Science and CNKI databases up to October 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline was followed.

Results: Crude extracts and 7 main bioactive phytochemicals (curcumol, β-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, germacrone, curdione and curcumin) isolated from Curcumae Rhizoma have shown many anti-breast cancer pharmacological properties, including inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, reversing chemoresistance, and inducing cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and ferroptosis. The mechanisms of action were involved in regulating MAPK, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo and clinical studies demonstrated that these compounds exhibited high anti-tumor efficacy and safety against breast cancer.

Conclusion: These findings provide strong evidence that Curcumae Rhizoma acts as a rich source of phytochemicals and has robust anti-breast cancer properties.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Chemoresistance; Curcumae Rhizoma; Curcumin; Metastasis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Curcuma / chemistry
Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacology
Female
Humans
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
Rhizome / chemistry
Signal Transduction

Substances

Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases