It has been demonstrated that cancer stem cells (CSCs) go through metabolic changes that differentiate them from non-CSCs. The altered metabolism of CSCs plays a vital role in tumor initiation, progression, immunosuppression, and resistance to conventional therapy. Therefore, defining the role of CSC metabolism in carcinogenesis has emerged as a main focus in cancer research. Two natural flavonoids, apigenin and isovitexin, have been shown to act synergistically with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs by sensitizing CSCs, ultimately leading to improved therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this study is to present a critical and broad evaluation of the anti-CSC capability of apigenin and isovitexin in different cancers as novel and untapped natural compounds for developing drugs. A thorough review of the included literature supports a strong association between anti-CSC activity and treatment with apigenin or isovitexin. Additionally, it has been shown that apigenin or isovitexin affected CSC metabolism and reduced CSCs through various mechanisms, including the suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the inhibition of nuclear factor-κB protein expression, and the downregulation of the cell cycle via upregulation of p21 and cyclin-dependent kinases. The findings of this study demonstrate that apigenin and isovitexin are potent candidates for treating cancer due to their antagonistic effects on CSC metabolism.

Background: Arctium lappa L. is a well-known medicinal herb recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases. Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the protective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. lappa root in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. Methods: Arthritis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats through a single subcutaneous CFA injection into the right hind paws. After induction, the animals were orally administered A. lappa at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, or prednisolone (as a reference drug), for a duration of 30 days. Blood and ankle joint samples were collected for analysis. The anti-arthritic effects were assessed through nociceptive behavioral tests, paw edema, body weight measurements, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and histopathological evaluations. Results: The A. lappa root extract significantly improved body weight and reduced thermal hyperalgesia, as well as decreased paw edema in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001). Furthermore, A. lappa reduced inflammatory cytokines and increased antioxidant defenses in the serum of all treated rats (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Histologically, A. lappa notably restored the ankle joint architecture compared to untreated arthritic rats (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that A. lappa has significant anti-arthritic potential by reducing inflammatory cytokines and enhancing serum antioxidant levels, which supports its traditional use in the management of joint diseases.

Background: Herbal medicines can be used as a possible therapeutic agent in inflammatory diseases. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of Artemisia vulgaris (AV) hydro-alcoholic extract on oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in an experimental rat model of colitis. Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: Control, colitis, sulfasalazine, AV50, AV100, and AV200. The animals of the AV groups were treated with the hydro-alcoholic extract of A. vulgaris via gavage for 72 h. Body weight was measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. In the end, serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a lipid peroxidation marker, antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) levels as inflammatory biomarkers were measured. Macroscopic and microscopic damage in the rat's colon was also examined in histological studies. Results: The A. vulgaris extract treatment dose-dependently improved colonic injury (P < 0.001 to P < 0.05) and body weight (P < 0.001) in colitis rats. Moreover, it enhanced SOD activity and GSH levels (P < 0.001) and reduced serum MDA, TNF-α, and NO levels (P < 0.001 to P < 0.01) in the rats with colitis. Conclusions: Treatment with A. vulgaris could mitigate ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms, which is probably attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.