Genistein has been known to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several kinds of cancer cells. While knowledge of genistein in regulating epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colon cancer cells is unknown. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of genistein on EMT of colon cancer cells, HT-29 cells were used and treated by genistein and TNF-α in this paper. EMT was determined by cell invasion assays using a transwell chamber and the expression changes of EMT-related markers were confirmed by RT–PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. Genistein inhibited cell migration at 200 μmol/L. Genistein reversed the EMT of colon cancer cells by upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of N-cadherin, accompanied by the suppression of EMT related makers, such as Snail2/slug, ZEB1, ZEB2, FOXC1, FOXC2 and TWIST1. Moreover, genistein can inhibit the expression of notch-1, p-NF-κB and NF-κB, while promote the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase-3 in HT-29 cells. The present study demonstrated that genistein suppressed the migration of colon cancer cells by reversal the EMT via suppressing the Notch1/NF-κB/slug/E-cadherin pathway. Genistein may be developed as a potential antimetastasis agent to colon cancer.

As an ancient Chinese herbal medicine, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) has been used both as food and medicine for nutrient supplements and treatment of human diseases in China for years. Fatigue, as a complex and multi-cause symptom, harms life from all sides. Millions worldwide suffer from fatigue, mainly caused by physical labor, mental stress, and chronic diseases. Multiple medicines, especially P. ginseng, were used for many patients or sub-healthy people who suffer from fatigue as a treatment or healthcare product. This review covers the extract and major components of P. ginseng with the function of anti-fatigue and summarizes the anti-fatigue effect of P. ginseng for different types of fatigue in animal models and clinical studies. In addition, the anti-fatigue mechanism of P. ginseng associated with enhancing energy metabolism, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity is discussed.

A water-soluble polysaccharide (BP-1) was extracted and purified from highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and its average molecular weight was about 6.7 × 10⁴ Da. In this study, the immunomodulatory activity of BP-1 on the immunosuppressive BALB/c mice model and its molecular mechanism were elucidated. It was found that the weight indexes of spleen and thymus were significantly increased by BP-1 (80 mg kg⁻¹ and 160 mg kg⁻¹) treatment in the immunosuppressive mice model. The results showed that BP-1 (80 mg kg⁻¹ and 160 mg kg⁻¹) could significantly increase the number of bone marrow cells (BMC) and peripheral blood white blood cells (WBC) in the immunosuppressive mice model. In addition, the result further confirmed that BP-1 could increase the serum levels of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ, so as to improve the immune function of immunosuppressive mice. The results showed that BP-1 (80 mg kg⁻¹ and 160 mg kg⁻¹) could promote the proliferation of spleen cells and the natural killer (NK) cell activity in vivo. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and ELISA results revealed that BP-1 (80 mg kg⁻¹ and 160 mg kg⁻¹) could enhance the production of IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IgG and IgM in the spleen of immunosuppressive mice. The HE (hematoxylin and eosin) stained histopathological images showed that BP-1 (80 mg kg⁻¹ and 160 mg kg⁻¹) could repair the damage induced by CTX in the spleen cells of immunosuppressive mice. The result of macrophages showed that BP-1 (80 mg kg⁻¹ and 160 mg kg⁻¹) could promote the proliferation and phagocytosis activity of macrophages in immunosuppressive mice. Furthermore, BP-1 could activate macrophages by the TLR-4, TRAF6, TAK1 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 pathways in vivo. These results suggested that BP-1 has a remarkable immunomodulatory activity on the immunosuppressive mice model.