The small-molecule alkaloid halofuginone (HF) is obtained from febrifugine. Recent studies on HF have aroused widespread attention owing to its universal range of noteworthy biological activities and therapeutic functions, which range from parasite infections and fibrosis to autoimmune diseases. In particular, HF is believed to play an excellent anticancer role by suppressing the proliferation, adhesion, metastasis, and invasion of cancers. This review supports the goal of demonstrating various anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of HF. In the studies covered in this review, the anticancer molecular mechanisms of HF mainly included transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad-3/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), serine/threonine kinase proteins (Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1)/wingless/integrated (Wnt)/β-catenin, the exosomal microRNA-31 (miR-31)/histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) signaling pathway, and the interaction of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and immune cells. Notably, HF, as a novel type of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent inhibitor that is often combined with prolyl transfer RNA synthetase (ProRS) and amino acid starvation therapy (AAS) to suppress the formation of ribosome, further exerts a significant effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, the combination of HF with other drugs or therapies obtained universal attention. Our results showed that HF has significant potential for clinical cancer treatment.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health crisis that requires innovative solutions. Emerging multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella typhimurium has raised concern for its effect on pathogenic infection and mortality in humans caused by enteric diseases. To combat these MDR Salmonella typhimurium pathogens, highly effective and broad-spectrum antibiotics such as flufenicol (FFC) need to be evaluated for their potent antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium. However, the low solubility and low oral bioavailability of flufenicol need to be addressed to better combat AMR. In this work, we develop a novel nano-formulation, flufenicol nano-micelles (FTPPM), which are based on d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1,000 succinate (TPGS)/poloxamer 188 (P188), for the targeted treatment of biofilms formed by drug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium in the intestine. Herein, FTPPM were prepared via a thin film hydration method. The preparation process for the mixed micelles is simple and convenient compared with other existing nanodrug delivery systems, which can further decrease production costs. The optimized FTPPM demonstrated outstanding stability and sustained release. An evaluation of the in vivo anti-drug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium efficacy demonstrated that FTPPM showed a stronger efficacy (68.17 %) than did florfenicol-loaded TPGS polymer micelles (FTPM), flufenicol active pharmaceutical ingredients (FFC-API), and flufenicol commercially available medicine (FFC-CAM), and also exhibited outstanding biocompatibility. Notably, FTPPM also inhibited drug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium from forming biofilms. More importantly, FTPPM effectively restored intestinal flora disorders induced by drug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium in mice. In summary, FTPPM significantly improved the solubility and oral bioavailability of florfenicol, enhancing its efficacy against drug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium both in vitro and in vivo. FTPPM represent a promising drug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium treatment for curbing bacterial resistance via oral administration.

Breast cancer is the most common spontaneous malignancy in women, causing a serious threat to women's health. Experimental animal models have been important research tools in bringing insights into the related mechanisms of breast cancer, as well as in delivering improved therapies for the disease. To reveal the pathogenesis of various breast cancers and facilitate the development of new drugs,ideal animal models of breast cancer should share some common tumor molecular characteristics and biological behavior with that of human breast cancer. In this review,five types of experimental animal breast cancer models were included, which may provide a basis for research on diagnosis and treatment of human breast cancer.