Progress in Anti-tumor Treatment Of Cistanche Deserticola

Abstract: The traditional Chinese medicine Cistanche deserticola has a long medicinal history, which can tonify kidney yang, strengthen muscles and bones, and dispel wind and dampness. Modern research has found that the main active component of Cistanche deserticola, Cistanche glycosides, has pharmacological effects such as increasing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular blood flow, promoting hematopoietic function, immune function, and bone metabolism. In addition, experimental studies have shown that cistanche glycoside also has strong anti-tumor activity, and has an obvious inhibitory effect on breast cancer cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and liver cancer, so it is also used in clinical tumor treatment. The following will be a review from two aspects: the pharmacological effects of Cistanche deserticola glycosides in anti-tumor therapy and the clinical application of Cistanche deserticola in anti-tumor therapy, providing a reference basis for Cistanche deserticola in anti-tumor therapy.

Superman herbs cistanche-Antitumor

Keywords: Cistanche deserticola; Tumor; overview

Cistanche deserticola, also known as Xianling Spleen or Gangqian, is listed as a traditional Chinese medicine in the "Shennong Materia Medica Classic" and is commonly used in clinical practice. It has the effects of tonifying kidney yang, strengthening muscles and bones, dispelling wind and dampness, and is mainly used to treat erectile dysfunction and ejaculation caused by kidney yang deficiency and failure, muscle and bone weakness, rheumatic pain, numbness and contracture, and other diseases. In recent years, more and more experiments have shown that the role of Cistanche deserticola in anti-tumor therapy cannot be ignored [1]. This article will summarize and summarize the pharmacological effects of Cistanche deserticola glycosides in anti-tumor therapy and the clinical application of Cistanche deserticola in anti-tumor therapy.

Desert ginseng-Antitumor

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1 Pharmacological effects of Cistanche deserticola glycoside on anti-tumor therapy

1.1 Cistanche glycoside inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells Cancer cells are the source of cancer.

 It is different from normal cells in that it can infinitely proliferate and destroy normal cellular tissues, and has three major characteristics: infinite proliferation, transformability, and easy metastasis. In addition to the uncontrolled division, cancer cells can also locally invade surrounding normal tissues and even transfer to other parts of the body through the circulatory or lymphatic system, posing a great threat to human health. Therefore, inhibiting the proliferation process of cancer cells is very necessary for controlling the condition. Xu Xiaomeng et al. [2] demonstrated in vitro that Cistanche glycosides have significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), lung cancer cells (A-549), liver cancer cells (SMMC-7721), and colon cancer cells (HT-29) in vitro. Chen Suhua et al. [3] found that different concentrations of Cistanche glycosides can effectively inhibit the vitality of human gastric cancer cell line MGC803, reduce cell migration and invasion ability, and downregulate the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MTA2 proteins. It is concluded that Cistanche glycosides can inhibit the activity of MGC803 cells by regulating the expression of MTA2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 proteins. Another experiment [4] showed that Cistanche glycosides can inhibit the invasion of human gastric cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of the cell motility-related gene Rac1 and the phosphoprotein stimulated by vasodilators. In the anticancer activity of cistanche glycoside, the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signal has been favored by many researchers. Research [5] shows that Cistanche glycoside treatment can reduce the vitality of human lung adenocarcinoma cells and increase the expression of ERS-related molecules (p-PERK and CHOP), Upregulation of PUMA and downregulation of Bcl2 inhibit the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell xenograft tumors. The cell cycle includes G0, G1, S, and G2M phases. Experiment [6] showed that cistanche glycoside could inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells by inducing the G0/G1 phase of colorectal cancer cells and the G2/M phase of gallbladder cancer cells to block the cell cycle and down-regulate cell cycle proteins. Mouse experiments [6] have confirmed that Cistanche glycosides have certain anti-myeloma effects on multiple myeloma, and their anti-tumor activity is mainly mediated by inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In the treatment of esophageal cancer, ICA also exhibits strong anti-tumor activity. Cistanche glycoside treatment upregulated two ERS-related molecules (p-PERK, GRP78, ATF4, p-eIF2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells α The levels of CHOP and a pro-apoptotic protein (PUMA) were downregulated, while an anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl2) was also downregulated, thereby exerting anti-tumor activity [7]. The above two studies suggest that the apoptotic activity of Cistanche glycosides in cancer cells may be closely related to the activation of ERS signaling. Chen Desen et al. [8] demonstrated that Cistanche glycosides may inhibit the growth of LNCaP prostate cancer orthotopic transplantation tumor by inhibiting AR phosphorylation, enhancing PTEN expression, and blocking the proliferation of prostate cancer orthotopic transplantation tumor cells. Research [9] shows that Cistanche glycosides significantly inhibit the growth, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cell lines Du145 and PC3. Gu Chiming et al. [10] found that the medicinal serum containing Cistanche deserticola showed a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells in vitro experiments. The HPLC detection method in the experiment showed that Cistanche glycosides were the main component in the medicinal serum of Cistanche deserticola. Therefore, the glycosides in the serum of rats after administration may be the main component of Cistanche deserticola's anti-prostate cancer effect.

Main Chemical Constituents of Cistanche deserticola

1.2 Cistanche glycoside inhibits the migration of cancer cells

The growth and metastasis of tumors depend on blood vessels providing oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors, so disrupting angiogenesis can effectively inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. A study [11] has shown that in the chicken embryo chorioallantoic test, the treatment with Cistanche glycosides can significantly reduce the area and length of new blood vessels, thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of tumors. In the treatment of thyroid cancer, ICA can inhibit the survival, migration, invasion, and other processes of thyroid cancer cells by downregulating miR-625-3p and inactive PI3K/AKT, MEK/ERK signaling pathways, inducing cell apoptosis [12].

1.3 Cistanche glycoside promotes apoptosis of cancer cells

Apoptosis refers to the autonomous and orderly death of cells controlled by genes to maintain internal environmental stability. Promoting the apoptosis process of cancer cells can better exert anti-tumor effects. Kang Zhengjun et al. [13] proved that cistanche glycoside can significantly reduce the expression level of glucose-regulated protein 78 mRNA in human bladder cancer BIU87 cells, thereby promoting apoptosis of BIU87 cells. Ji Xin et al. [14] found in their experiment that Cistanche glycosides have a significant inhibitory effect on esophageal cancer cell line EC9706, which is concentration dependent. Cistanche glycoside can cause morphological changes in cell apoptosis in EC9706 cells, and its apoptotic mechanism may be related to the downregulation of Bcl-2 protein and upregulation of Bax protein expression. The research results of Zheng Chuanming et al. [15] indicate that Cistanche glycoside can inhibit the activity of thyroid cancer B-CPAP cells in a dose-dependent manner. Its main mechanism of action may be to promote high expression of ROS in cells, inhibit SOD expression, and lower expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, leading to irreversible cell damage and inducing cell apoptosis.

1.4 Immunomodulatory effects of Cistanche glycosides in anti-tumor therapy 

Effects of Cistanche-Antitumor

Under normal circumstances, the human immune system can recognize and eliminate tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, in cancer patients, tumor cells suppress the human immune system to survive, thereby surviving in various stages of the anti-tumor immune response. Cistanche glycoside treatment not only leads to tumor cell death but also participates in anti-tumor immunity and causes tumor regression. Therefore, immune regulation plays an important role in anti-tumor treatment. Wang Qian et al. [16] found that Cistanche glycosides can reverse the immune escape process of liver cancer cells through the Fas/FasL pathway. Cistanche glycosides can inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer HepG2.2.15 cells, upregulate the expression of Fas, and downregulate the expression of FasL in liver cancer cells. The results showed a significant decrease in T lymphocyte apoptosis rate, indicating that icariin can reduce the attack of liver cancer HepG2.2.15 cells on T lymphocytes. Pan Xiaoming [17] found that Cistanche glycosides can induce the maturation of dendritic cells derived from human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells in vitro, promoting the growth of dendritic cell factor IFN- γ And the secretion of IL-12 can promote the proliferation of T cells. Studies [18] have shown that Cistanche glycosides upregulate LMP/TAP-related molecules and induce the expression of MHC-I, thereby maintaining the immune function of the body in the remission stage of cancer. Studies [19] have shown that Cistanche glycosides can enhance the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response of immune adjuvants to tumor-bearing DBA/2J mice. Meanwhile, after the combination of Cistanche glycoside and immune adjuvant, the percentage of positive cells in the spleen cells of mice carrying tumors significantly increased. The above experimental results can prove that Cistanche glycosides can enhance the immunogenicity of immune adjuvants, thereby improving the recognition ability of T cells and CTL to tumor cells, laying the foundation for clearing tumor cells. Yuan Jiarui et al. [19] found that Cistanche glycosides have a significant inhibitory effect on lung cancer. The experiment showed that in C57BL/6 mice with Lewis lung cancer, Cistanche glycosides can increase the expression of IL-2 in serum and reduce TNF- α The expression of IL-10 and IL-17 indicates that Cistanche glycosides can enhance the body's anti-tumor ability by regulating immune function.

2 Clinical application of Cistanche deserticola in anti-tumor treatment

Cistanche deserticola efficacy-Improve immunity

Cistanche deserticola plays an important role in the clinical treatment of malignant tumors, and many researchers are providing a theoretical basis for its clinical research. Chen Chen [20] found through clinical observation that the combination of Cistanche deserticola and Psoralea corylifolia in the treatment of multiple bone metastases from breast cancer is superior to conventional treatment in terms of bone repair, tumor changes, and cancer cell proliferation, and the difference is statistically significant. Li Zailin [21] found that the combination of nor cantharidin and Cistanche deserticola in the treatment of primary liver cancer can alleviate symptoms, improve liver function in patients, and, in combination with symptomatic treatment with Western medicine, improve the overall clinical treatment effect. Ma Bidong et al. [22] demonstrated the clinical efficacy of Epimedium in treating tumor cachexia and sarcopenia. He concluded from the experiment that the Cistanche deserticola treatment group had higher food intake, body mass, and Karst score efficacy than the blank group (P<0.05). Ning Wei [23] randomly divided 98 patients with malignant tumors and bone metastases into two groups. The treatment group received Cistanche deserticola granules based on radiation therapy, while the control group only received radiation therapy. Conclusion: The combination of radiotherapy and Cistanche deserticola has a significant effect on the treatment of malignant tumors with bone metastasis, which can reduce the pain level of patients, improve their quality of life, and reduce the bone destruction caused by malignant tumor bone metastasis.

3 Outlook

Cistanche deserticola is a traditional Chinese medicine that only nourishes kidney yang, strengthens muscles and bones, and dispels wind and dampness. It has a long history of medicinal use, and the traditional Chinese medicine theory for modern anti-tumor treatment is gradually improving. The anticancer mechanism of Cistanche deserticola involves almost all aspects of the cancer pathway and is effective in various cancer treatments. This confirms the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine's multi-pathway and multi-target effects, and a large number of clinical studies have also confirmed the therapeutic effect of Cistanche deserticola. However, the current clinical application of Cistanche deserticola is still limited to self-designed empirical formulas, and there is currently no unified use standard, which greatly increases the difficulty of clinical application research of Cistanche deserticola. In future research, more large sample and multi-center clinical studies should be completed based on improving the traditional Chinese medicine theory of Cistanche deserticola anti-cancer. To clarify the effects of compatibility, dosage, and other factors on the anti-tumor effect of Cistanche deserticola, and promote its clinical application in anti-tumor therapy.

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