Ning Ding , Xiaojuan Tang , Yijing Zhang , Hongbiao Luo , Yanbo Tang , Chaoqun Zeng , Yongheng He , Liang Zhao
{"title":"天麻颗粒:连接传统医学与现代科学,通过铁下垂对抗结直肠癌","authors":"Ning Ding , Xiaojuan Tang , Yijing Zhang , Hongbiao Luo , Yanbo Tang , Chaoqun Zeng , Yongheng He , Liang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aims to investigate the ferroptosis-inducing effects of Tianma Granules (TMGs) in colorectal cancer and elucidate its molecular mechanisms. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, represents a novel therapeutic target for cancer. We combined network pharmacology with experimental validation to explore TMG’s anti-cancer potential through ferroptosis modulation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Network pharmacology identified 382 ferroptosis-related genes overlapping with 12,944 CRC-associated targets (<em>p</em> < 0.05), with SLC7A11, GPX4, SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 prioritized as core targets. <em>In vitro</em>, TMG dose-dependently suppressed CRC cell proliferation (<em>p</em> < 0.05), elevated reactive oxygen species (<em>p</em> < 0.05) and ferrous ion levels (<em>p</em> < 0.01), effects reversed by ferroptosis inhibitor, Ferrostatin-1. c-Casp3 levels were unchanged (<em>p</em> > 0.05), excluding apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial cristae fragmentation and vacuolation, hallmark features of ferroptosis. Molecular analyses demonstrated TMG-mediated downregulation of SLC7A11 and GPX4, alongside upregulation of SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 (<em>p</em> < 0.05). In xenograft models, high-dose TMG (23.2 g/kg) reduced tumor volume, attenuated cachexia, and elevated intratumoral ROS and Fe<sup>2+</sup> levels (<em>p</em> < 0.01), corroborating ferroptosis induction <em>in vivo</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TMG suppresses CRC progression by inducing ferroptosis via dual inhibition of SLC7A11/GPX4 and activation of SAT1/PTGS2/GLS2. This study bridges traditional medicine and ferroptosis biology, positioning TMG as a novel therapeutic candidate for CRC.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Ding N, Tang X, Zhang Y, et al. Tianma granules: Bridging traditional medicine and modern science to combat colorectal cancer via ferroptosis. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;78. <span><span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.004</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11529,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Pages 14-25"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Tianma granules: Bridging traditional medicine and modern science to combat colorectal cancer via ferroptosis\",\"authors\":\"Ning Ding , Xiaojuan Tang , Yijing Zhang , Hongbiao Luo , Yanbo Tang , Chaoqun Zeng , Yongheng He , Liang Zhao\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.004\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aims to investigate the ferroptosis-inducing effects of Tianma Granules (TMGs) in colorectal cancer and elucidate its molecular mechanisms. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, represents a novel therapeutic target for cancer. We combined network pharmacology with experimental validation to explore TMG’s anti-cancer potential through ferroptosis modulation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Network pharmacology identified 382 ferroptosis-related genes overlapping with 12,944 CRC-associated targets (<em>p</em> < 0.05), with SLC7A11, GPX4, SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 prioritized as core targets. <em>In vitro</em>, TMG dose-dependently suppressed CRC cell proliferation (<em>p</em> < 0.05), elevated reactive oxygen species (<em>p</em> < 0.05) and ferrous ion levels (<em>p</em> < 0.01), effects reversed by ferroptosis inhibitor, Ferrostatin-1. c-Casp3 levels were unchanged (<em>p</em> > 0.05), excluding apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial cristae fragmentation and vacuolation, hallmark features of ferroptosis. Molecular analyses demonstrated TMG-mediated downregulation of SLC7A11 and GPX4, alongside upregulation of SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 (<em>p</em> < 0.05). In xenograft models, high-dose TMG (23.2 g/kg) reduced tumor volume, attenuated cachexia, and elevated intratumoral ROS and Fe<sup>2+</sup> levels (<em>p</em> < 0.01), corroborating ferroptosis induction <em>in vivo</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TMG suppresses CRC progression by inducing ferroptosis via dual inhibition of SLC7A11/GPX4 and activation of SAT1/PTGS2/GLS2. This study bridges traditional medicine and ferroptosis biology, positioning TMG as a novel therapeutic candidate for CRC.</div><div><strong>How to cite:</strong> Ding N, Tang X, Zhang Y, et al. Tianma granules: Bridging traditional medicine and modern science to combat colorectal cancer via ferroptosis. 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Tianma granules: Bridging traditional medicine and modern science to combat colorectal cancer via ferroptosis
Background
This study aims to investigate the ferroptosis-inducing effects of Tianma Granules (TMGs) in colorectal cancer and elucidate its molecular mechanisms. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, represents a novel therapeutic target for cancer. We combined network pharmacology with experimental validation to explore TMG’s anti-cancer potential through ferroptosis modulation.
Results
Network pharmacology identified 382 ferroptosis-related genes overlapping with 12,944 CRC-associated targets (p < 0.05), with SLC7A11, GPX4, SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 prioritized as core targets. In vitro, TMG dose-dependently suppressed CRC cell proliferation (p < 0.05), elevated reactive oxygen species (p < 0.05) and ferrous ion levels (p < 0.01), effects reversed by ferroptosis inhibitor, Ferrostatin-1. c-Casp3 levels were unchanged (p > 0.05), excluding apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial cristae fragmentation and vacuolation, hallmark features of ferroptosis. Molecular analyses demonstrated TMG-mediated downregulation of SLC7A11 and GPX4, alongside upregulation of SAT1, PTGS2, and GLS2 (p < 0.05). In xenograft models, high-dose TMG (23.2 g/kg) reduced tumor volume, attenuated cachexia, and elevated intratumoral ROS and Fe2+ levels (p < 0.01), corroborating ferroptosis induction in vivo.
Conclusions
TMG suppresses CRC progression by inducing ferroptosis via dual inhibition of SLC7A11/GPX4 and activation of SAT1/PTGS2/GLS2. This study bridges traditional medicine and ferroptosis biology, positioning TMG as a novel therapeutic candidate for CRC.
How to cite: Ding N, Tang X, Zhang Y, et al. Tianma granules: Bridging traditional medicine and modern science to combat colorectal cancer via ferroptosis. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.06.004.
期刊介绍:
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology is an international scientific electronic journal, which publishes papers from all areas related to Biotechnology. It covers from molecular biology and the chemistry of biological processes to aquatic and earth environmental aspects, computational applications, policy and ethical issues directly related to Biotechnology.
The journal provides an effective way to publish research and review articles and short communications, video material, animation sequences and 3D are also accepted to support and enhance articles. The articles will be examined by a scientific committee and anonymous evaluators and published every two months in HTML and PDF formats (January 15th , March 15th, May 15th, July 15th, September 15th, November 15th).
The following areas are covered in the Journal:
• Animal Biotechnology
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• Biotechnology Industry
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• Chemical Engineering
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• Molecular Biology and Genetics
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