Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer: Potential role in regulating MicroRNAs and epigenetic enzymes

Abstract

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in gene regulation by influencing the translation and longevity of various target mRNAs and the expression of various target genes as well as by modifying histones and DNA methylation of promoter sites. Consequently, when dysregulated, microRNAs are involved in the development and progression of a variety of diseases, including cancer, by affecting cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Preparations from the dried root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Lamiaceae), also known as red sage or danshen, are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating data suggest that certain bioactive constituents of this plant, particularly tanshinones, have broad antitumor effects by interfering with microRNAs and epigenetic enzymes. This paper reviews the evidence for the antineoplastic activities of S. miltiorrhiza constituents by causing or promoting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and epigenetic changes to provide an outlook on their future roles in the treatment of cancer, both alone and in combination with other modalities.

Baicalin Promotes Apoptosis of Human Medullary Breast Cancer via the ERK/p38 MAPK Pathway

“…In accordance with the preview studies, we found that baicalin significantly promoted both early and late apoptosis rates of Bcap-37 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptosis is a complex signaling pathway that is mediated by a series of apoptosis-related genes, including Bax, p38, p53, Bcl-2, and ERK1 (Lu et al, 2022; Wang et al, 2019). Also, a study revealed that baicalin promotes apoptosis of MCF-7 cells through up-regulating p53 and Bax (Wang et al, 2008).…”

3-Hydroxytanshinone Inhibits the Activity of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-α by Interfering with the Function of α-Enolase in the Glycolytic Pathway

“…Salvia miltiorrhiza is extensively used as an herbal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. The plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family, and its medicinal components include the roots or rhizomes [18]. The chemical compounds extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza can be classified into two main groups: (i) fat-soluble tanshinone compounds, predominantly Tanshinone I and Tanshinone IIA, and (ii) water-soluble phenolic compounds, primarily including salvianolate [19].…”

“…Diue to the growing clinical demand for tanshinones, there has been a surge in research aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of tanshinones and maximizing their pharmacological impacts through the exploration of structure-activity relationships [20]. Several studies have demonstrated that the chemical components of Salvia miltiorrhiza, particularly tanshinone IIA, exhibit potent antitumor characteristics such as inhibiting cell proliferation, arresting the cell cycle, triggering apoptosis, and promoting autophagic cell death in different tumor cell varieties [18]. Tanshinone IIA serves as a representative compound in S. miltiorrhiza.…”

Research progress on the mechanism of action of Salvia miltiorrhiza and its components in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma

“…In addition, literature has shown that S. miltiorrhiza plays a role in regulating the inflammatory microenvironment of the uterus [49], improving endometrial receptivity during the implantable window period [50], reversing drug resistance, inhibiting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis [51], and antioxidant activity [52], which remains to be further explored and verified. There is a lot of research on S. miltiorrhiza anti-EC, but the effect and mechanism of preventing cancer are still insufficient.…”