Natural products have been of much interest in research studies owing to their wide pharmacological applications, chemical diversity, low side effects, and multitarget activities. The anti-carcinogenic effects of these products are partly mediated through modulation of miR-21 expression. To date, numerous downstream targets of miR-21 have been recognized, which include phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), ras homolog gene family member B (RHOB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. These signaling pathways, their regulation by oncomiR-21 in cancer, and the modulating impact of natural products are the main focus of this review.

Regulation of microRNA-21 expression by natural products in cancer. Shakeri A, Ghanbari M, Tasbandi A, Sahebkar A.
Phytother Res. 2021 Jul;35(7):3732-3746. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7069.

Cell Cycle Regulation of Stem Cells

In this review, we discuss current knowledge of miRNAs regulatory role in cell cycle progression of stem cells. We describe how specific miRNAs may control cell cycle associated molecules and checkpoints in embryonic, somatic and cancer stem cells. We further outline how these miRNAs could be regulated to influence cell cycle progression in stem cells as a potential clinical application.

Cell Cycle Regulation of Stem Cells by MicroRNAs. Mens MMJ, Ghanbari M. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2018 Jun;14(3):309-322. doi: 10.1007/s12015-018-9808-y.