Dendrobium (commonly known as Shihu in China), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb recognized in the Pharmacopoeia of China (2020 edition), boasts a rich history of medicinal application. Extensive research has been conducted on its Chinese medicinal prescription due to its demonstrated anti-tumour effects in clinical settings. Dendrobium is comprised of a diverse range of chemical compounds, notably the Bibenzyls, Erianin, and Gigantol, which have exhibited significant inhibitory and therapeutic effects on cervical cancer, thereby suggesting potential therapeutic value. However, the comprehensive investigation of Chrysotoxine, a naturally occurring active ingredient of Bibenzyls in Dendrobium, remains incomplete in treatment of cervical cancer. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive investigation of Chrysotoxine and its regulatory impact on ferroptosis in cervical cancer. Initially, the effects of chrysotoxine on the cervical cancer cell line HeLa were assessed using CCK-8, transwell, colony formation, and flow cytometry to evaluate cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. Subsequently, network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were employed to identify the molecular targets of chrysotoxine in cervical cancer. Finally, confocal microscopy assessed the expression levels of ROS and lipid compounds in response to chrysotoxine treatment, and the influence of chrysotoxine on signaling pathways was investigated using Western blot analysis, guided by KEGG pathway analysis. Our cell-based experiments revealed that CTX effectively suppresses the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis in CC. Subsequently, we comprehensively analyzed that HSP90AA1, ESR1, PIK3CA, mTOR and MAPK1 may be the possible targets of CTX in CC by combining network pharmacology with molecular docking techniques. Finally, we observed that CTX enhances the production of intracellular ROS and excessive lipid peroxides. Simultaneously, we detected that CTX promotes ferroptosis-based p53/GPX4/SLC7A11 pathway and inhibits PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway-induced cell death of CC by Western blot. Our study indicates that chrysotoxine shows promise as a novel medication for treating CC. The findings provide a scientific foundation for the regulation of cervical cancer by chrysotoxine, presenting new insights into the application of traditional Chinese medicine for fighting CC.

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Traditional treatment methods have become limited. Naringenin, a flavonoid abundant in various fruits and herbal medicines, has demonstrated anti-tumor properties among other effects. This research undertook to elucidate the mechanism of naringenin in the context of cervical cancer treatment by leveraging network pharmacology and performing experimental validation. Initial steps involved predicting potential naringenin targets and subsequently screening for overlaps between these targets and those related to cervical cancer, followed by analysis of their interrelationships. Molecular docking was subsequently utilized to verify the binding effect of the central target. Within the framework of network pharmacology, it was discovered that naringenin might possess anti-cancer properties specific to cervical cancer. Following this, the anti-tumor effects of naringenin on Hela cell viability, migration, and invasion were assessed employing CCK-8, transwell, wound healing assays, and western blotting. Experimental data indicated that naringenin attenuates the migration and invasion of Hela cells via downregulation EGFR/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Thus, our findings suggest that naringenin has therapeutic impacts on cervical cancer via multiple mechanisms, primarily by inhibiting the migration and invasion through the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. This study offers fresh insights for future clinical studies.

The eggs of black widow spider (L. tredecimguttatus) have been demonstrated to be rich in toxic proteinaceous components. The study on such active components is of theoretical and practical importance. In the present work, using a combination of multiple biochemical and biological strategies, we isolated and characterized the proteinaceous components from the aqueous extract of the black widow spider eggs. After gel filtration of the egg extract, the resulting main protein and peptide peaks were further fractionated by ion exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Two proteinaceous components, named latroeggtoxin-III and latroeggtoxin-IV, respectively, were purified to homogeneity. Latroeggtoxin-III was demonstrated to have a molecular weight of about 36 kDa. Activity analysis indicated that latroeggtoxin-III exhibited neurotoxicity against cockroaches but had no obvious effect on mice, suggesting that it is an insect-specific toxin. Latroeggtoxin-IV, with a molecular weight of 3.6 kDa, was shown to be a broad-spectrum antibacterial peptide, showing inhibitory activity against all five species of bacteria tested, with the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, the implications of the proteinaceous toxins in egg protection and their potential applications were analyzed and discussed.

Eurotium cristatum, the dominant fungus in Fu brick tea (FBT) production, critically determines its characteristic quality. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—the predominant and bioactive tea catechins—undergoes substantial modification during FBT processing, though its microbial-driven biotransformation pathways remain poorly understood. This study comprehensively analyzed E. cristatum-mediated EGCG metabolism during liquid-state fermentation, characterizing the metabolite profiles and their functional implications. Fermentation greatly increased total phenolics (40.16%) and flavonoids (3.2-fold) contents through fungal enzymatic activities (tannase, polyphenol oxidase, catalase, cellulase, and α-amylase). These enzymes catalyzed EGCG's sequential conversion into primary intermediates (gallic acid and epigallocatechin), followed by structural diversification via sulfation, glycosylation, methylation, and polymerization, significantly enhancing antioxidant capacity. Untargeted metabolomics revealed 128 differential metabolites, with nine major EGCG derivatives characterized and demonstrating potent antioxidant activity. Notably, EGCG displayed dual roles: as a bioconversion substrate and a growth stimulant, increasing E. cristatum biomass by 61.54% through pH and carbon-to‑nitrogen (C/N) ratio modulation. Our findings elucidate the enzymatic mechanisms and metabolic network of EGCG biotransformation by E. cristatum, providing insights for potential FBT quality enhancement.

• Volatiles and nutrition value of different chopped pepper seeds were firstly analyzed. • A total of 53 volatiles were identified by GC-IMS. • 13 key volatiles were proposed to discriminate different chopped pepper seeds. • Chopped pepper seeds are rich in minerals, fatty acids and amino acids. • VOCs are closely correlated with amino acids and fatty acids by correlation analysis.

Black widow spider (L. tredecimguttatus) has toxic components not only in the venomous glands, but also in other parts of the body and its eggs. It is biologically important to investigate the molecular basis of the egg toxicity. In the present work, an aqueous extract was prepared from the eggs of the spider and characterized using multiple physiological and biochemical strategies. Gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry demonstrated that the eggs are rich in high-molecular-mass proteins and the peptides below 5 kDa. The lyophilized extract of the eggs had a protein content of 34.22% and was shown to have a strong toxicity towards mammals and insects. When applied at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL, the extract could completely block the neuromuscular transmission in mouse isolated phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparations within 12.0 ± 1.5 min. Using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, the egg extract was demonstrated to be able to inhibit the voltage-activated Na+, K+ and Ca2+ currents in rat DRG neurons. In addition, the extract displayed activities of multiple hydrolases. Finally, the molecular basis of the egg toxicity was discussed. The eggs of black widow spiders are rich in proteinous compounds particularly the high-molecular-mass proteins with different types of biological activity The neurotoxic and other active compounds in the eggs are believed to play important roles in the eggs’ toxic actions.