Artocarpus altilis(Parkinson) Fosberg Extracts and Geranyl Dihydrochalcone Inhibit STAT3 Activity in Prostate Cancer DU145 Cells

Molecular Basis of Prostate Cancer and Natural Products as Potential Chemotherapeutic and Chemopreventive Agents

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignant cancer in males. It involves a complex process driven by diverse molecular pathways that closely related to the survival, apoptosis, metabolic and metastatic characteristics of aggressive cancer. Prostate cancer can be categorized into androgen dependent prostate cancer and castration-resistant prostate cancer and cure remains elusive due to the developed resistance of the disease. Natural compounds represent an extraordinary resource of structural scaffolds with high diversity that can offer promising chemical agents for making prostate cancer less devastating and curable. Herein, those natural compounds of different origins and structures with potential cytotoxicity and/or in vivo anti-tumor activities against prostate cancer are critically reviewed and summarized according to the cellular signaling pathways they interfere. Moreover, the anti-prostate cancer efficacy of many nutrients, medicinal plant extracts and Chinese medical formulations were presented, and the future prospects for the application of these compounds and extracts were discussed. Although the failure of conventional chemotherapy as well as involved serious side effects makes natural products ideal candidates for the treatment of prostate cancer, more investigations of preclinical and even clinical studies are necessary to make use of these medical substances reasonably. Therefore, the elucidation of structure-activity relationship and precise mechanism of action, identification of novel potential molecular targets, and optimization of drug combination are essential in natural medicine research and development.

Dihydrochalcones: Methods of Acquisition and Pharmacological Properties-A First Systematic Review

Dihydrochalcones are a class of secondary metabolites, for which demand in biological and pharmacological applications is still growing. They posses several health-endorsing properties and, therefore, are promising candidates for further research and development. However, low content of dihydrochalcones in plants along with their low solubility and bioavailability restrict the development of these compounds as clinical therapeutics. Therefore, chemomicrobial and enzymatic modifications are required to expand their application. This review aims at analyzing and summarizing the methods of obtaining dihydrochalcones and of presenting their pharmacological actions that have been described in the literature to support potential future development of this group of compounds as novel therapeutic drugs. We have also performed an evaluation of the available literature on beneficial effects of dihydrochalcones with potent antioxidant activity and multifactorial pharmacological effects, including antidiabetic, antitumor, lipometabolism regulating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory ones. In addition, we provide useful information on their properties, sources, and usefulness in medicinal chemistry.

Understanding cancer and its treatment in Thai traditional medicine: An ethnopharmacological-anthropological investigation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Thai traditional medicine (TTM) is widely practiced in Thailand and continues to gain importance in cancer management, but little is known about the TTM practitioners' emic concepts and practice.

AIM OF THE STUDY

With this study we firstly aim to document the practice of cancer treatment and prevention by TTM practitioners and, secondly, to evaluate how such traditional concepts and practices are correlated with biomedical ones. This in turn can form the basis for developing novel strategies for designing pharmacological experiments and longer term strategies to develop TTM practice.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews with 33 TTM practitioners were performed in five provinces in different regions of Thailand. The following information were recorded; basic information of informants, descriptions of cancer (mareng in Thai), causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Plants used in the treatment and prevention of mareng were also collected.

RESULTS

Using an in depth ethnographic approach four representative case studies to assist in a better understanding of the characteristics of mareng, its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are reported here. Five characteristics of mareng - waste accumulation (khong sia), chronic illnesses (krasai), inflammation (kan aksep), bad blood (luead) and lymph (namlueang), and the imbalance of four basic elements (dhātu si) - have been identified. Explanatory models of cancer in TTM were linked with biomedical concepts and relevant pharmacological actions. Traditional uses and available scientific evidence of medicinal plants mentioned in the case studies for the treatment or prevention of mareng are presented and discussed.

CONCLUSION

Here for the first time five main characteristics of cancer based on Thai traditional medical concepts are analysed. Our findings are relevant not only for the planning of clinical studies or pharmacological experiment in the search for novel compounds for cancer treatment and prevention, but also for the integration of Thai traditional medicine in cancer care.

Cyclocommunol induces apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma partially through a Mcl-1-dependent mechanism

BACKGROUND

Crude extract of breadfruit has been reported to have antitumor activity against various cancer cell lines with unknown mechanism.

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the proapoptotic effect of cyclocommunol (CYC), a prenylflavonoid from breadfruit, in two oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines, SCC2095 and Ca922.

METHODS

The antiproliferative effects of CYC were assessed by MTT assays and PI/annexin V analysis. SCC2095 cells were transiently transfected with Mcl-1 plasmid in overexpression experiment. Other methods used to investigate the mechanism of CYC included Western blotting, acridine orange staining and confocal microscopic visualization.

RESULTS

Our results showed that CYC suppressed the viability of SCC2095 and Ca922 with IC₅₀ values at 48 h of 4.2 and 5.0 µM, respectively. This decrease in viability occurred in a caspase-dependent apoptotic manner. In addition, CYC down-regulated the phosphorylation/expression of Akt/mTOR and Mcl-1, accompanied by reactive oxygen species generation, and autophagy induction. Notably, overexpression of Mcl-1 using Mcl-1-tag-myc partially rescued CYC-mediated caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage, and cytotoxicity. In summary, our study demonstrated the proapoptotic activity of CYC on OSCC, partially through down-regulation of Mcl-1.

CONCLUSION

CYC from breadfruit has translational value as a proapoptotic agent for OSCC.