ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6400-8691
Current Organisations
RMIT University
,
National University of Malaysia
,
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
,
Ministry Of Health
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-01-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S00520-019-4646-2
Abstract: More than 80% head and neck cancer patients endured radiotherapy-induced xerostomia which impacts their quality of life (QoL). This observational study evaluated the effect of herbal treatment on head and neck cancer patients' xerostomia and QoL. Head and neck cancer patients were recruited from July 2016 till March 2017 at National Cancer Institute, Ministry of Health, Malaysia. All study participants continued their standard oncology surveillance. Treatment group participants additionally received Chinese herbal treatment. The assessments included unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR), stimulated salivary flow rate (SSFR), and QoL questionnaire. Of 42 recruited participants, 28 were in the treatment group and 14 were in the control group. Participants were mainly Chinese (71.4%), stage III cancer (40.5%), and had nasopharynx cancer (76.2%). The commonly used single herbs were Wu Mei, San Qi, and Tian Hua Fen. Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, and Gan Lu Yin were the frequently prescribed herbal formulas. The baseline characteristics, USFR, SSFR, and QoL between control and treatment groups were comparable (p > 0.05). USFR between control and treatment groups were similar throughout the 6-month study period. SSFR for the treatment group significantly improved from 0.15 ± 0.28 ml/min (baseline) to 0.32 ± 0.22 ml/min (p = 0.04 at the 3rd month) and subsequently achieved 0.46 ± 0.23 ml/min (p = 0.001 at the 6th month). The treatment group had better QoL in terms of speech (p = 0.005), eating (p = 0.02), and head and neck pain (p = 0.04) at the 6th month. Herbal treatment may improve xerostomia and QoL in post-radiotherapy head and cancer patients.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-11-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-05-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S13020-023-00774-0
Abstract: Pancreatic cancer (PAC), a malignancy that is fatal and commonly diagnosed at a late stage. Despite considerable advancements in cancer treatment, the survival rate of PAC remains largely consistent for the past 60 years. The traditional Chinese medicine formula Pulsatilla Decoction (PD) has been clinically used to treat inflammatory diseases for millennia and recently as a supplementary anti-cancer treatment in China. However, the bioactive ingredients and mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer effect remains unclear. The composition and quality control of PD were verified through analysis by high performance liquid chromatography. Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The cell cycle distribution was analyzed through PI staining and flow cytometry analysis, while apoptotic cells were measured by double staining with Annexin V-FITC and PI. We used immunoblotting to examine protein expressions. The in vivo effects of β-peltatin and podophyllotoxin were evaluated on a subcutaneously-xenografted BxPC-3 cell nude mice model. The current study demonstrated that PD markedly inhibited PAC cell proliferation and triggered their apoptosis. Four herbal PD formula was then disassembled into 15 combinations of herbal ingredients and a cytotoxicity assay showed that the Pulsatillae chinensis exerted the predominant anti-PAC effect. Further investigation indicated that β-peltatin was potently cytotoxic with IC 50 of ~ 2 nM. β-peltatin initially arrested PAC cells at G2/M phase, followed by apoptosis induction. Animal study confirmed that β-peltatin significantly suppressed the growth of subcutaneously-implanted BxPC-3 cell xenografts. Importantly, compared to podophyllotoxin that is the parental isomer of β-peltatin but clinically obsoleted due to its severe toxicity, β-peltatin exhibited stronger anti-PAC effect and lower toxicity in mice. Our results demonstrate that Pulsatillae chinensis and particularly its bioactive ingredient β-peltatin suppress PAC by triggering cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and apoptosis.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 16-12-2020
DOI: 10.3389/FCELL.2020.598620
Abstract: The re-proliferation of quiescent cancer cells is considered to be the primary contributor to prostate cancer (Pca) recurrence and progression. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of safranal, a monoterpene aldehyde isolated from Crocus sativus (saffron), on the re-proliferation of quiescent Pca cells in vitro and in vivo . The results showed that safranal efficiently blocked the re-activation of quiescent Pca cells by downregulating the G 0 /G 1 cell cycle regulatory proteins CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, and phospho-Rb at Ser807/811 and elevating the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21 and p27. Further investigation on the underlying mechanisms revealed that safranal suppressed the mRNA and protein expression levels of Skp2, possibly through the deregulation of the transcriptional activity of two major transcriptional factors, E2F1 and NF-κB subunits. Moreover, safranal inhibited AKT phosphorylation at Ser473 and deregulated both canonical and non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways. Safranal suppressed the tumor growth of quiescent Pca cell xenografts in vivo . Furthermore, safranal-treated tumor tissues exhibited a reduction in Skp2, E2F1, NF-κB p65, p-IκBα (Ser32), c-MYC, p-Rb (Ser807), CDK4, CDK6, and CDK2 and an elevation of p27 and p21 protein levels. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that safranal suppresses cell cycle re-entry of quiescent Pca cells in vitro and in vivo plausibly by repressing the transcriptional activity of two major transcriptional activators of Skp2, namely, E2F1 and NF-κB, through the downregulation of AKT phosphorylation and NF-κB signaling pathways, respectively.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2021
Abstract: There are over 250 species of cinnamon. Each has its distinct morphology and phytochemical composition, which may result in varied therapeutic effects. However, clinical studies have rarely put emphasis on the species of cinnamon being investigated. This scoping review summarized the clinical evidence of Cinnamomum cassia (also known as Cinnamomum aromaticum), which is the species of cinnamon used in traditional Chinese medicine. Electronic searches were conducted on PubMed from its inception till August 2021. Clinical studies that were published in English, stating monotherapy with Cinnamomum cassia , Cinnamomum aromaticum , or “Rou Gui” were included. The 15 included clinical studies investigated the effects of Cinnamomum cassia on type-2 diabetes patients ( n =7), and healthy adults ( n =8). In the type 2 diabetes population, Cinnamomum cassia supplementation of as low as 1 g/d seemed to improve HbA1c in only poorly controlled diabetes. In the healthy population, Cinnamomum cassia supplementation appeared to influence blood glucose response in a dose-dependent manner, with current studies indicating a minimum of 5 g/dto achieve significant improvement. Studies also showed potential improvement in insulin sensitivity with prolonged Cinnamomum cassia supplementation. However, there were apparent heterogeneity among studies and uncertainties regarding the accuracy of reported cinnamon species. Therefore, the therapeutic effects of Cinnamomum cassia remain inconclusive. Future larger scale and more rigorous clinical studies, with clear identification of Cinnamomum species used, are needed for more conclusive evidence of the clinical effects of Cinnamomum cassia .
Publisher: Compuscript, Ltd.
Date: 2022
Abstract: Quiescent cancer cells (QCCs) reversibly reside in G 0 phase, thus allowing them to survive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which generally target proliferating cells. Surviving QCCs may re-proliferate, and consequently result in cancer progression, recurrence, and metastasis. Therefore, understanding the key players governing QCC survival and activation is crucial for developing QCC-targeting agents. This review presents an overview of (1) the mechanisms underlying the regulation of QCC status and (2) recent advances in the development of QCC-targeting therapeutic agents and their underlying mechanisms. The development of effective therapeutic modalities that target QCCs may enable new cancer treatments to prevent cancer progression and recurrence.
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.CTCP.2017.10.004
Abstract: Over 80% of head and neck cancer patients suffer from radiotherapy-induced xerostomia (dry mouth). Xerostomia affects cancer patients' quality of life, and xerostomia sometimes persists throughout the patients' lifetime. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbs in relieving radiotherapy induced xerostomia. Systematic searches were conducted on 6 databases (English and Chinese). Studies published up till May 2017 were considered for inclusion. A final 14 RCTs (total 994 head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy) compared Chinese herbs with no herbs, were included in analysis. Very low to moderate quality of evidence found Chinese herbal treatment may relief radiotherapy-induced xerostomia and other related complications (such as oral mucositis and loss of appetite) in head and neck cancer patients. There is limited evidence that Chinese herbal treatment may relief radiotherapy-induced xerostomia and other related complications in head and neck cancer patients.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-02-2021
DOI: 10.3390/MOLECULES26041113
Abstract: Mycomedicine is a unique class of natural medicine that has been widely used in Asian countries for thousands of years. Modern mycomedicine consists of fruiting bodies, spores, or other tissues of medicinal fungi, as well as bioactive components extracted from them, including polysaccharides and, triterpenoids, etc. Since the discovery of the famous fungal extract, penicillin, by Alexander Fleming in the late 19th century, researchers have realised the significant antibiotic and other medicinal values of fungal extracts. As medicinal fungi and fungal metabolites can induce apoptosis or autophagy, enhance the immune response, and reduce metastatic potential, several types of mushrooms, such as Ganoderma lucidum and Grifola frondosa, have been extensively investigated, and anti-cancer drugs have been developed from their extracts. Although some studies have highlighted the anti-cancer properties of a single, specific mushroom, only limited reviews have summarised erse medicinal fungi as mycomedicine. In this review, we not only list the structures and functions of pharmaceutically active components isolated from mycomedicine, but also summarise the mechanisms underlying the potent bioactivities of several representative mushrooms in the Kingdom Fungi against various types of tumour.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2021
Abstract: Saffron ( Stigma Croci ) is an autumn-flowering perennial plant, and its use has a history of over 3500 years. Saffron has often been considered as the costliest medicinal plant, a premium spice, and the best dye with a golden yellowish color. Iran currently produces the finest quality saffron and dominates its global production ( %). Other countries such as Australia, Canada, the USA, China, and some countries in Central Africa, produce saffron at a lower yield. In China, saffron is celebrated as “red gold” owing to the red stigmas of the flower and its price, which is comparable to the price of gold. Saffron has been one of the most attractive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs in the Zhong Guo Yao Dian (《中国药典》 Chinese Pharmacopoeia ) since its inclusion in the 2005 edition. The earliest use of saffron in TCM was recorded in the Ben Cao Shi Yi (《本草拾遗》 Supplement to Materia Medica ) written during the Tang dynasty (741 A.D.). However, saffron grown in inland China has been widely mistaken as originating from Tibet. This is because its Chinese name begins with “Xi” or “Zang,” which sounds similar to its Tibetan name (“Xi Zang”). In this review, we clarify the origin of saffron and its introduction to China and summarize its various applications.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 05-03-2021
Abstract: Quiescent cancer cells (QCCs) are cancer cells that are reversibly suspended in G0 phase with the ability to re-enter the cell cycle and initiate tumor growth, and, ultimately, cancer recurrence and metastasis. QCCs are also therapeutically challenging due to their resistance to most conventional cancer treatments that selectively act on proliferating cells. Considering the significant impact of QCCs on cancer progression and treatment, better understanding of appropriate experimental models, and the evaluation of QCCs are key questions in the field that have direct influence on potential pharmacological interventions. Here, this review focuses on existing and emerging preclinical models and detection methods for QCCs and discusses their respective features and scope for application. By providing a framework for selecting appropriate experimental models and investigative methods, the identification of the key players that regulate the survival and activation of QCCs and the development of more effective QCC-targeting therapeutic agents may mitigate the consequences of QCCs.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 17-12-2020
DOI: 10.3389/FPHAR.2020.564833
Abstract: PPAPs (Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols) are a class of compounds with erse bioactivities, including anticancer effects. Oblongifolin C (OC) is a PPAP isolated from the plant of Garcinia yunnanensis Hu. We previously discovered that OC induces apoptosis, inhibits autophagic flux, and attenuates metastasis in cancer cells. However, the protein targets and the detailed mechanism of action of OC remain unclear. To identify protein targets of OC, a non-labeled protein fishing assay was performed, and it was found that OC may interact with several proteins, including the heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 (HSPA8). Expanding on our previous studies on protein cathepsin B, this current study applied Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) to confirm the potential binding affinity between OC and two protein targets. This study highlights the inhibitory effect of OC on HSPA8 in cancer cells under heat shock stress, by specifically inhibiting the translocation of HSPA8. OC also enhanced the interaction between HSPA8, HSP90, and p53, upregulated the expression of p53 and significantly promoted apoptosis in cisplatin-treated cells. Additionally, a flow cytometry assay detected that OC sped up the apoptosis rate in HSPA8 knockdown A549 cells, while overexpression of HSPA8 delayed the OC-induced apoptosis rate. In summary, our results reveal that OC potentially interacts with HSPA8 and cathepsin B and inhibits HSPA8 nuclear translocation and cathepsin B activities, altogether suggesting the potential of OC to be developed as an anticancer drug.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2023
DOI: 10.1016/J.CANLET.2022.216011
Abstract: Quiescent cancer cells (QCCs), also known as dormant cancer cells, resist and survive chemo- and radiotherapy, resulting in treatment failure and later cancer recurrence when QCCs resume cell cycle progression. However, drugs selectively targeting QCCs are lacking. Saikosaponin A (SSA) derived from Bupleurum DC., is highly potent in eradicating multidrug-resistant prostate QCCs compared with proliferative prostate cancer cells. By further exacerbating the already increased autophagy through inactivation of Akt-mTOR signaling, SSA triggered cell death in QCCs. Contrarily, inhibition of autophagy or activation of Akt signaling pathway prevented SSA-induced cell death. The multicycle of Docetaxel treatments increased the proportion of QCCs, whereas administering SSA at intervals of Docetaxel treatments aggravated cell death in vitro and led to tumor growth arrest and cell death in vivo. In conclusion, SSA is posed as a novel QCCs-eradicating agent by aggravating autophagy in QCCs. In combination with the current therapy, SSA has potential to improve treatment effectiveness and to prevent cancer recurrence.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2023
No related grants have been discovered for Wan Najbah Nik Nabil.