Amentoflavone from Ginkgo biloba inhibits EMT-driven lung cancer metastasis by targeting TGFBR2: Integrative network pharmacology, machine learning, and experimental validation.
Liu K, Chen K, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Cai Y
Medicinal Plants
Ginkgo tree growing in your neighborhood or local park — one of the oldest tree species on Earth — produces compounds in its leaves that scientists are now validating as potential weapons against one of the deadliest cancers, giving new meaning to traditional medicinal uses of ginkgo that go back thousands of years.
Ginkgo biloba, the ancient fan-leaved tree commonly planted in parks and streets, contains a natural substance called amentoflavone. Researchers discovered that this compound can slow the spread of lung cancer cells by blocking a molecular 'switch' that cancer uses to become mobile and invade other parts of the body. Both computer simulations and real experiments in mice confirmed that the compound works, suggesting ginkgo's long history as a medicinal plant has a modern scientific basis.
Key Findings
The machine learning model predicting amentoflavone's cancer targets achieved an AUC (accuracy score) of 0.951 in testing and 0.814 in external validation, indicating high reliability.
Amentoflavone significantly reduced lung cancer cell migration in lab experiments by downregulating the TGFBR2 protein and blocking a downstream chain reaction (Smad2/3 phosphorylation) that drives tumor spread.
In living mice, amentoflavone suppressed lung tumor metastasis in vivo by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, and appeared well tolerated under tested conditions.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A natural compound found in Ginkgo biloba leaves called amentoflavone was shown to block the spread of lung cancer cells in lab and animal studies by interfering with a key signaling protein (TGFBR2) that tumors use to migrate. Researchers combined computational modeling, machine learning, and biological experiments to confirm the mechanism.
Abstract Preview
In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), fatal outcomes predominantly result from metastatic dissemination, highlighting an urgent need for metastasis-directed therapies. Amentoflavone (AMF), a natur...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Chloroplast Genome Editing Eliminates Gluten Immunogenicity in Triticum aestivum
It could mean that people with celiac disease — roughly 1 in 100 worldwide — may one day safely eat bread made from real wheat, without sacrificing the taste...
Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo, also known as the maidenhair tree, and often misspelled "gingko" is a species of gymnosperm tree native to East Asia. It is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils similar to the living spec...