Apoptotic effect of methanol extract of Picrasma quassioides by regulating specificity protein 1 in human cervical cancer cells

Anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-melanogenic effects of the ethanol extract of Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn is a vascular plant belonging to the genus Picrasma of Simaroubaceae family and grows in Korea, China, India, Taiwan, and Japan. Picrasma quassioides extract has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties. Moreover, this plant has been also traditionally used to alleviate symptoms of eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, scabies, and boils in skin.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The Pq-EE has been reported in Chinese pharmacopoeia for its pharmacological effects on skin. However, the detailed mechanism on alleviating skin conditions is not understood. Hence, we investigated the skin improvement potential of Pq-EE against skin damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and mouse melanoma cell line (B16F10) to study the effects of Pq-EE on the epidermis. Additionally, in vitro antioxidant assays were performed using a solution that included either metal ions or free radicals.

RESULTS

In colorimetric antioxidant assays, Pq-EE inhibited free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. The Pq-EE did not affect cell viability and promoted cell survival under UVB exposure conditions in the MTT assay. The Pq-EE downregulated the mRNA levels of apoptotic factors. Moreover, MMP1 and inflammatory cytokine iNOS mRNA levels decreased with Pq-EE treatment. With regard to protein levels, caspases and cleaved caspases were more powerfully inhibited by Pq-EE than UVB-irritated conditions. p53 and Bax also decreased with Pq-EE treatment. The melanin contents and secretion were decreased at nontoxic concentrations of Pq-EE. The pigmentation pathway genes also were inhibited by treatment with Pq-EE.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we suggest the cell protective potential of Pq-EE against UVB and ROS, indicating its use in UV-protective cosmeceutical materials.

Alkaloids from Picrasma quassioides: An overview of their NMR data, biosynthetic pathways and pharmacological effects

Picrasma quassioides, a member of the Simaroubaceae family, is the subject of research in numerous pharmacological and chemical studies. This plant mainly contains alkaloids, quassinoids and terpenoids. These molecules exhibit various pharmacological benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-viral effects, on the cardiovascular system. Alkaloids make up the majority of these molecules. This review describes 127 alkaloid substances from P. quassioides. These alkaloids can be divided into the following classes: β-carbolines, canthinones and alkaloid dimers. A compilation of their nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data and possible biosynthetic pathways of these compounds and the pharmacological effects of P. quassioides are also included.

Pharmacological effects of Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn for inflammation, cancer and neuroprotection (Review)

Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn is an Asian shrub with a considerable history of traditional medicinal use. P. quassioides and its extracts exhibit good therapeutic properties against several diseases, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anticancer effects. However, the composition of compounds contained in P. quassioides is complex; although various studies have examined mixtures or individual compounds extracted from it, studies on the application of P. quassioides extracts remain limited. In the present review, the structures and functions of the compounds identified from P. quassioides and their utility in anti-inflammatory, anticancer and neuroprotectant therapies was discussed. The present review provided up-to-date information on pharmacological activities and clinical applications for P. quassioides extracts.

Genus Picrasma: A comprehensive review on its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and bioactivities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Picrasma belongs to the Simaroubaceae family and contains six species which are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and America. The barks, roots, stems, branches, or leaves of several Picrasma species have been applied as folk medicines to treat fever, sore throat, dysentery, eczema, nausea, loss of appetite, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and hypertension.

AIM OF THE STUDY

A systematic summary on the botanic characterization, ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, bioactivities and toxicity of species belonging to Picrasma was presented to facilitate the exploitation of the therapeutic potential of these plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literatures about Picrasma were retrieved from a series of scientific search engines including Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, CNKI, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Wiley, ACS publications, and SpringerLink between 1970 and 2020. Plant names were validated by "The Plant List" (www.theplantlist.org).

RESULTS

As ethnopharmacological uses, Picrasma species are valuable folk medicines to treat fever, inflammation, dysentery, eczema, cancer, diabetics, skin infection, and so on. Up to now, a total of 361 compounds including 126 alkaloids, 132 quassinoids, 67 triterpenoids, and 36 miscellaneous compounds were reported from Picrasma species. Quassinoids and alkaloids are the principal constituents in the genus. The extracts and phytochemical constituents of Picrasma species demonstrate a wide range of bioactivities including cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and other activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Picrasma species are widely used as traditional medicines, have diverse chemical constituents with obvious biological activities. Nevertheless, further studies are required on the Picrasma species to assert the ethnopharmacological uses, clarify their bioactive constituents, determine pharmacological actions, and toxicity. Therefore, the present review may provide a critical clue for future studies and further exploitations on Picrasma species.

Dehydrocrenatidine extracted from Picrasma quassioides induces the apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through the JNK and ERK signaling pathways

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an indicator disease in Asia due to its unique geographical and ethnic distribution. Dehydrocrenatidine (DC) is a β-carboline alkaloid abundantly present in Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn, a deciduous shrub or small tree native to temperate regions of southern Asia, and β-carboline alkaloids play anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative roles in various cancers. However, the mechanism and function of DC in human NPC cells remain only partially explored. The present study aimed to examine the cytotoxicity and biochemical role of DC in human NPC cells. The MTT method, cell cycle analysis, DAPI determination, Annexin V/PI double staining, and mitochondrial membrane potential examination were performed to evaluate the effects of DC treatment on human NPC cell lines. In addition, western blotting analysis was used to explore the effect of DC on apoptosis and signaling pathways in related proteins. The analysis results confirmed that DC significantly reduced the viability of NPC cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis through internal and external apoptotic pathways (including cell cycle arrest, altered mitochondrial membrane potential, and activated death receptors). Western blot analysis illustrated that DC's effect on related proteins in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway can induce apoptosis by enhancing ERK phosphorylation and inhibiting Janus kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. Notably, DC induced apoptosis by affecting the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK, and DC and inhibitors (SP600125 and U0126) in combination restored the overexpression of p-JNK and p-ERK. To date, this is the first study to confirm the apoptosis pathway induced by DC phosphorylation of p-JNK and p-REK in human NPC. On the basis of evidence obtained from this study, DC targeting the inhibition of NPC cell lines may be a promising future strategy for NPC treatment.

MicroRNA-296 Targets Specificity Protein 1 to Suppress Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. MicroRNA-296 (miR-296) is aberrantly expressed in a variety of human cancer types. However, the expression levels, biological roles, and underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-296 in cervical cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to detect miR-296 expression in cervical cancer and evaluate its roles and underlying mechanisms in cervical cancer. This study demonstrated that miR-296 was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Restoring the expression of miR-296 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Moreover, miR-296 directly targeted the 3'-untranslated regions of specificity protein 1 (SP1) and decreased its endogenous expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Similar to induced miR-296 expression, SP1 knockdown suppressed the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Besides, resumption expression of SP1 rescued the tumor-suppressing roles of miR-296 in cervical cancer. These results indicated that miR-296 may act as a tumor suppressor in cervical cancer by directly targeting SP1. Therefore, SP1 may be developed as a therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with this malignancy.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one and its major metabolites in rats

4,5-Dimethoxycanthin-6-one and 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one are the active ingredients of P. quassiodes. In the present work, a LC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one and its major metabolites 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one (M1) and 4-hydroxy-5-methoxycanthin-6-one (M2) in rat plasma and tissues, and applied to study their pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution after intramuscular administration of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one to rats. By protein precipitation with methanol for plasma samples and liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate for tissue samples, the analytes were separated on an ODS C₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisted of methanol and water (0.1% formic acid), and quantified by a MS detector in positive multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. MS transitions were m/z 281.0→167.1 for 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, m/z 267.0→168.1 for M1 and M2, m/z 251.0→195.1 for 3-methylcanthin-2,6-dione (IS). The pharmacokinetic results indicate that 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one is absorbed rapidly (T_max=5.4-6.4min), distributed rapidly and widely in the order of liver>kidney≈lung≈large intestine≈small intestine, and eliminated quickly (t_1/2z=64.9-77.7min) following the intramuscular administration. Furthermore, M1 and M2 were detected only in rat plasma and liver at the indicated times after the intramuscular administration.

Total ion chromatographic fingerprints combined with chemometrics and mass defect filter to predict antitumor components of Picrasma quassioids

A method of total ion chromatogram combined with chemometrics and mass defect filter was established for the prediction of active ingredients in Picrasma quassioides samples. The total ion chromatogram data of 28 batches were pretreated with wavelet transformation and correlation optimized warping to correct baseline drifts and retention time shifts. Then partial least squares regression was applied to construct a regression model to bridge the total ion chromatogram fingerprints and the antitumor activity of P. quassioides. Finally, the regression coefficients were used to predict the active peaks in total ion chromatogram fingerprints. In this strategy, mass defect filter was employed to classify and characterize the active peaks from a chemical point of view. A total of 17 constituents were predicted as the potential active compounds, 16 of which were identified as alkaloids by this developed approach. The results showed that the established method was not only simple and easy to operate, but also suitable to predict ultraviolet undetectable compounds and provide chemical information for the prediction of active compounds in herbs.

The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of three canthinone alkaloids after administration of Kumu injection to rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kumu injection (KMI) is made from the branches and stems of Picrasma quassiodes (D. Don) Benn. and has been used clinically for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection, acute tonsillitis, enteritis and bacillary dysentery. 3-methylcanthin-2,6-dione, 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one, 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one are the active ingredients of KMI because of its therapeutic effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To develop a LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of three active canthinone alkaloids (4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one and 3-methylcanthin-2,6-dione) in rat plasma and for the pharmacokinetic study of them after administered of KMI to rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were divided into 5 groups (n=5 per group), 3 groups administered intramuscularly with a single dose of KMI at 0.30, 0.45 and 0.90mL/kg respectively, and the other 2 groups administered intragastically or intravenously a single dose of KMI at 0.9mL/kg respectively. The concentrations of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one and 3-methylcanthin-2,6-dione in plasma were determined by the established LC-MS/MS method at different time points and the pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis.

RESULTS

Pharmacokinetic results indicated that all of the alkaloids were absorbed rapidly and 3-methylcanthin-2,6-dione was eliminated fastest in rats. After intramuscular administration of KMI to rats, the absolute bioavailability is excellent, and the pharmacokinetic profiles are characterized by the first order kinetics.

CONCLUSION

The established method is suitable for the quantitation of the three alkaloids in rat plasma. And this pharmacokinetic study suggested that intramuscular injection of KMI was suitable in clinical usage.

Identification of in vivo and in vitro metabolites of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

4,5-Dimthexycanthin-6-one and 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one are the main active ingredients of Picrasma quassioides, which is a widely used herbal medicine for the treatment of gastroenteritis, snakebite, infection and hypertension in China. In the present study, the in vitro metabolites of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one in rat, mouse, dog and human liver microsomes, as well as the in vivo metabolites in rat plasma and urine following a single oral dose of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with triple TOF mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF/MS/MS). The metabolites were elucidated based on an accurate mass measurement, the MS/MS fragmentation patterns, the retention times of the parent drug and its metabolites, and the relevant drug biotransformation rules. After incubation in liver mcrosomes for 50 min, 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one produced 8 phase I metabolites including 2 mono-demethylated metabolites (M1, M2), 3 mono-hydroxylated metabolites (M3-M5), and 3 mono-demethylated and mono-hydroxylated metabolites (M6-M8) in rat and mouse liver microsomes, 7 phase I metabolites (without M7) in dog and human liver microsomes. After a single oral administration of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one to rats, there were 3 phase I metabolites (M1, M2 and M5) detected in rat plasma and 5 phase I metabolites (M1-M5) in rat urine. Phase II metabolites were not detected in rat plasma and urine. Among these metabolites, mono-demethylated metabolites (M1 and M2) were the major metabolites of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, mono-hydroxylated metabolites (M3-M5) were the minor metabolites of 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one.

Anticancer activity of Ashwagandha against human head and neck cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the apoptotic activity of methanol extract of Ashwagandha (MEAG) and in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

We investigated the effects of MEAG on programmed cell death in HNSCC cells using a Live/Dead assay, detection of nuclear morphologic changes, Mitotracker, siRNA knockdown, and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Treatment with MEAG showed dose-dependent growth-inhibitory activity that attribute to caspase-dependent apoptosis. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase 9 suggested that MEAG leads to activation of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. MEAG selectively upregulated the expression of Bim protein at the transcriptional level and induced the translocation of Bim into the mitochondria. Knockdown of Bim by siRNA partially blocked MEAG-mediated apoptosis. MEAG also caused an increase in truncated Bid (t-Bid), cleaved caspase-8, and death receptor 5 (DR5). Interestingly, withaferin A (WA), a bioactive component of MEAG, clearly induced apoptosis accompanied by upregulation of Bim, t-Bid, caspase-8, and DR5 similar to the effects of MEAG.

CONCLUSIONS

These suggest that MEAG and WA may be potential natural materials for the treatment of HNSCC.

Pycnogenol Induces Nuclear Translocation of Apoptosis-inducing Factor and Caspase-independent Apoptosis in MC-3 Human Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Cell Line

Background:

Pycnogenol is extracted from the pine bark of a tree known as Pinus pinaster that has variety biological effects. However, its anticancer activity has not yet been completely studied. The aim of this study is to investigate anticancer effect of pycnogenol in MC-3 human mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) cell line.

Methods:

We describe the effect of anti-cancer of pycnogenol in MC-3 human oral MEC cells using trypan blue exclusion assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulphophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay, Western blot, preparation of cytosolic and nuclear fractions, immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Pycnogenol significantly decreased cell viability and also induced caspase-independent apoptosis. We confirmed that pycnogenol induced the translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor into nucleus and regulated apoptosis. Also, Bak protein stability was partly enhanced by pycnogenol to elevate the expression level of Bak protein.

Conclusions:

Overall, pycnogenol may be a fascinating therapeutic drug candidate for the treatment of MEC.

Licochalcone A, a natural chalconoid isolated from Glycyrrhiza inflata root, induces apoptosis via Sp1 and Sp1 regulatory proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Licochalcone A (LCA), a chalconoid derived from root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, has been known to possess a wide range of biological functions such as antitumor, anti-angiogenesis, antiparasitic, anti-oxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the anticancer effects of LCA on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have not been reported. Our data showed that LCA inhibited OSCC cell (HN22 and HSC4) growth in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistically, it was mediated via downregulation of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) expression and subsequent regulation of Sp1 downstream proteins such as p27, p21, cyclin D1, Mcl-1 and survivin. Here, we found that LCA caused apoptotic cell death in HSC4 and HN22 cells, as characterized by sub-G1 population, nuclear condensation, Annexin V staining, and multi-caspase activity and apoptotic regulatory proteins such as Bax, Bid, Bcl(-xl), caspase-3 and PARP. Consequently, this study strongly suggests that LCA induces apoptotic cell death of OSCC cells via downregulation of Sp1 expression, prompting its potential use for the treatment of human OSCC.