Silibinin is a flavonoid compound extracted from the seeds of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. It has the functions of liver protection, blood-lipid reduction and anti-tumor effects. However, the potential molecular mechanism of silibinin against tumors is still unknown. This study aimed to assess the anti-tumor effects of silibinin in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC2) cells and Balb/c nude mice, and explore its potential mechanism based on network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. A total of 347 targets interacting with silibinin were collected, and 75 targets related to the tumor growth process for silibinin were filtrated. Based on the PPI analysis, CASP3, SRC, ESR1, JAK2, PRKACA, HSPA8 and CAT showed stronger interactions with other factors and may be the key targets of silibinin for treating tumors. The predicted target proteins according to network pharmacology were verified using Western blot analysis in ACC2 cells and Balb/c nude mice. In the pharmacological experiment, silibinin was revealed to significantly inhibit viability, proliferation, migration and induce the apoptosis of ACC2 cells in vitro, as well as inhibit the growth and development of tumor tissue in vivo. Western blot analysis showed that silibinin affected the expression of proteins associated with cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis, such as MMP3, JNK, PPARα and JAK. The possible molecular mechanism involved in cancer pathways, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and viral carcinogenesis pathway via the inhibition of CASP3, MMP3, SRC, MAPK10 and CDK6 and the activation of PPARα and JAK. Overall, our results provided insight into the pharmacological mechanisms of silibinin in the treatment of tumors. These results offer a support for the anti-tumor uses of silibinin.

Marine natural products are increasingly utilized in nutrition, cosmetics, and medicine, garnering significant attention from researchers globally. With the expansion of marine resource exploration in recent years, the demand for marine natural products has risen, necessitating rapid and cost-effective activity evaluations using model organisms. Zebrafish, a valuable vertebrate model, has become an efficient tool for screening and identifying safe, active molecules from marine natural products. This review, based on nearly 10 years of literature, summarizes the current status and progress of zebrafish models in evaluating marine natural product bioactivity. It also highlights their potential in exploring marine resources with health benefits, offering a reference for the future development and utilization of marine biological resources.

Razor clams, which are rich in diverse lipids, are notable for their unique health benefits and functional properties. This study comprehensively characterized and compared the composition and bioactivities of razor clam lipids after freeze drying (FD) and hot air drying (HD) using UPLC-MS/MS-based lipidomics and zebrafish models. Lipidomics analysis identified 1056 lipids classified into five lipid classes, among which glycerophospholipid (GP) was the most abundant, accounting for 57.39% of the total lipids. The total lipids were also grouped into 24 lipid subclasses, including dominated triglycerides, phosphatidylethanolamines, and phosphatidylcholines. Differential lipid species were identified between the FD, HD, and fresh (FS) sample groups, with 174, 141, and 154 species differing between FD vs. FS, HD vs. FS, and FD vs. HD, respectively. The antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of lipids extracted from FD, HD, and FS razor clams were evaluated using the zebrafish model. Lipids from FD and FS razor clams exhibited all bioactivities at some concentrations, while HD lipids showed antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory activities but lacked antioxidant activity. In summary, the lipid composition and bioactivities of fresh razor clams were altered following FD and HD processes, with significant differences observed between the two methods. These findings underscore the nutritional value of fresh razor clams after processing and provide insights for developing razor clam products.