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Essential Oils in Cancer Therapy
Published in K. Hüsnü Can Başer, Gerhard Buchbauer, Handbook of Essential Oils, 2020
Carmen Trummer, Gerhard Buchbauer
Pinus koraiensis Sieb. and Zucc, (Pinaceae) is an evergreen tree widespread in Korea, China, and eastern Russia. The EO of P. koraiensis contains a lot of different components, including camphene (21.1%), d-limonene (21.0%), α-pinene (16.7%) ,and borneol (11.5%) (Kim et al., 2012). Cho et al. (2014) analyzed the effects of P. koraiensis EO, obtained from the leaves, on HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. P. koraiensis EO has been found to reduce cell proliferation on HCT116 cells through G1 arrest. This happens without affecting normal cells. Additionally, P. koraiensis EO was able to suppress PAK1 expression in a dose-dependent manner, thereby a decrease in ERK and AKT phosphorylation and beta-catenin expression occurred. This study demonstrated the potent anticancer activity of P. koraiensis EO, which may be a novel chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Unification of medicines and excipients: The roles of natural excipients for promoting drug delivery
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2023
Minfang Feng, Xingxing Dai, Cuiting Yang, Yingying Zhang, Yuting Tian, Qingsong Qu, Mengke Sheng, Zhixun Li, Xinhui Peng, Shuai Cen, Xinyuan Shi
Polysaccharides, as natural polymers, can self-assemble to form gels on the basis of their properties, which also endow the gel with a specific effect and play the role of medicine and excipient. Li et al. [40] employed algal polysaccharides as one of the materials to self-assemble into a gel containing calcium which manifests in a higher healing speed of ulcers and promotes mucosa regeneration. Pinus koraiensis polysaccharide was applied in forming hydrogel as a drug carrier material loaded with paclitaxel and played the synergistic effect based on its antitumor activity [129]. Li et al. [224] assemble the lysozyme/carboxymethylcellulose nanogels to deliver methotrexate. The result indicated that the bioavailability and activity of the drug were increased, and the release of the drug was slowed down. Besides, other natural compounds, such as saponins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, etc., also demonstrate the ability to self-assemble. For example, Umile Gianfranco Spizzirri et al. synthesized hydrogels by coupling polyacrylic acid and catechin [89] to control drug release, remarkably improving the therapeutics’ stability. GA can form hydrogel for its amphiphilic structure [47]. Moreover, GA can be made into the injectable moldable hydrogel to perform its antibacterial effect better due to its high biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. Studies also proved that small molecules like rhein can self-assemble to form gels with sustained release properties, helping achieve better therapeutic effects [186].