Resveratrol inhibits the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in mammary epithelial cells

Anti-Cancer Properties of Resveratrol: A Focus on Its Impact on Mitochondrial Functions

Cancer is one of the most serious public health issues worldwide, demanding ongoing efforts to find novel therapeutic agents and approaches. Amid growing interest in the oncological applications of phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols, resveratrol-a naturally occurring polyphenolic stilbene derivative-has emerged as a candidate of interest. This review analyzes the pleiotropic anti-cancer effects of resveratrol, including its modulation of apoptotic pathways, cell cycle regulation, inflammation, angiogenesis, and metastasis, its interaction with cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment. The effects of resveratrol on mitochondrial functions, which are crucial to cancer development, are also discussed. Future research directions are identified, including the elucidation of specific molecular targets, to facilitate the clinical translation of resveratrol in cancer prevention and therapy.

Wine polyphenols exert antineoplasic effect on androgen resistant PC-3 cell line through the inhibition of the transcriptional activity of COX-2 promoter mediated by NF-kβ

OBJECTIVE

Mediterranean diet may play a role in the prevention of prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with increased cellular proliferation, prevents apoptosis and favors tumor invasion. We intend to clarify whether resveratrol and other polyphenols effectively inhibit COX-2 activity and induce apoptosis in hormone-resistant PC-3 cell line.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

PC-3 cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of gallic acid, tannic acid, quercetin, and resveratrol in presence of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 50 μg/ml) that induces COX-2 expression. Total RNA was extracted and COX-2 expression was analyzed by relative quantification real-time PCR (ΔΔCt method). COX-2 activity was determined by PGE-2 detection using ELISA. Caspase 3/7 luminescence assay was used to disclose apoptosis. Transitory transfection with short human COX-2 (phPES2 -327/+59) and p5xNF-kβ-Luc plasmids determined COX-2 promoter activity and specifically that dependant of NF-kβ.

RESULTS

COX-2 expression was not modified in media devoid of PMA. However, under PMA induction tannic acid (2.08 ±.21), gallic acid (2.46 ±.16), quercetin (1.78 ±.14) and resveratrol (1.15 ±.16) significantly inhibited COX-2 mRNA with respect to control (3.14 ±.07), what means a 34%, 23%, 46% and 61% reduction, respectively. The inhibition in the levels of PGE-2 followed a similar pattern. All compounds studied induced apoptosis at 48 h, although at a different rate. PMA caused a rise in activity 7.4 ±.23 times phPES2 -327/+59 and 2.0 ±.1 times p5xNF-kβ-Luc at 6h compared to basal. Resveratrol suppressed these effects 17.1 ±.21 and 32.4 ±.18 times, respectively. Similarly, but to a lesser extent, the rest of evaluated polyphenols diminished PMA inductor effect on the activity of both promoters.

CONCLUSIONS

Polyphenols inhibit transcriptional activity of COX-2 promoter mediated by NF-kβ. This effect could explain, at least in part, the induction of apoptosis in vitro by these substances in castration resistant PCa.

Effects of resveratrol on calcium regulation in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Intracellular calcium overload plays a key role in severe acute pancreatitis. Resveratrol can decrease the severity of pancreatitis; however, the mechanism of action of resveratrol has not been determined. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between calcium overload and the effects of resveratrol in severe acute pancreatitis. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (sham operation), model group (0.1 ml/100 g of 3.5% sodium taurocholate used to induce severe acute pancreatitis), and treated group (treated with resveratrol, 10 mg/kg). In model group, the severity of pancreatitis was aggravated; this was evaluated by pancreatic weight/body weight and lung weight/body weight ratios, serum amylase activities, and pancreatic histopathological scoring; the Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities decreased while PLA(2) activity and [Ca(2+)](i) increased gradually with time. Compared to the control group, in the model group, these changes were observed in the pancreatic tissue at the 3 h time point and in the lung tissue at the 6 h time point. Resveratrol ameliorated the changes in the laboratory parameters and significantly reduced the pathological damage in the tissues at the corresponding time points. In conclusion, intracellular calcium overload leads to tissue damage in severe acute pancreatitis, and the beneficial effects of resveratrol appear to be mediated by reducing the intracellular calcium overload; this not only limits pancreatic cellular injury but also secondary lung injury.

Simultaneous determination of six major stilbenes and flavonoids in Smilax china by high performance liquid chromatography

A simple, sensitive and specific HPLC method was developed for simultaneous determination of the six major active constituents in Smilax china, namely taxifolin-3-O-glycoside (1), piceid (2), oxyresveratrol (3), engeletin (4), resveratrol (5) and scirpusin A (6), respectively. The samples were separated on an Aglient Zorbax XDB-C18 column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.02% phosphoric acid (v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and detected at 300 nm. The six target compounds were completely separated within 35 min. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r2>0.999) within test ranges. The reproducibility was evaluated by intra- and inter-day assays and R.S.D. values were less than 3.7%. The recoveries were between 93.7 and 103.0%. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of six constituents in 15 commercial samples of S. china. The results indicated that the developed HPLC assay was readily utilized as a quality control method for S. china.

Biphasic effects of dietary antioxidants on oxidative stress-mediated carcinogenesis

There is now strong evidence implicating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the corresponding response to oxidative stress as key factors in the pathogenesis of several human diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative disorders, and in ageing. The carcinogenicity of oxidative stress is primarily attributable to the genotoxicity of ROS, but ROS can promote cancer through diverse cellular processes. Therefore, dietary or pharmaceutical augmentation of the endogenous antioxidant defense capacity has been considered a plausible way to prevent ROS-mediated carcinogenicity, but actual antioxidant therapies have been equivocal at best. In fact, most free-radical scavengers act in reversible oxidation-reduction reactions, and some antioxidants can act both as antioxidants and prooxidants, depending on their structures and the conditions. This article summarizes the possible cancer-preventive and -enhancing mechanisms of dietary antioxidants, with an emphasis on epigenetic mechanisms.

The roles of polyphenols in cancer chemoprevention

Oxidative stress imposed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology associated with neoplasia, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. The ROS-induced development of cancer involves malignant transformation due to altered gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms as well as DNA mutations. Considerable attention has been focused on identifying naturally occurring antioxidative phenolic phytochemicals that are able to decrease ROS levels, but the efficacies of antioxidant therapies have been equivocal at best. Several studies have shown that some antioxidants exhibit prooxidant activity under certain conditions and potential carcinogenicity under others, and that dietary supplementation with large amounts of a single antioxidant may be deleterious to human health. This article reviews the intracellular signaling pathways that respond to oxidative stress and how they are modulated by naturally occurring polyphenols. The possible toxicity and carcinogenicity of polyphenols is also discussed.

Self-assembled complexes of non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymeric ligands with inorganic species: highly active and reusable solid-phase polymeric catalysts

I present herein the development of highly active and reusable polymeric catalysts produced by self-assembly process of non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymeric ligands with inorganic species. Thus, PWAA 1 prepared from H3PW12O40 and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(acrylamide with ammonium salt)] is suitable for oxidation of alcohols, amines, and sulfides in aqueous hydrogen peroxide. PdAS 2 produced by self-organization of (NH4)2PdCl4 and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)10-co-diphenylphosphinostyrene] is an excellent recyclable catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in water, water-organic solvent, and organic solvent. It is commercially available from Tokyo Kasei Kogyo (TCI). PdAS-V 3 assembled from (NH4)2PdCl4 and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)5-co-diphenylphosphinostyrene] provides recycling system of itself for Mizorogi-Heck reaction. TiSS 4 made from Ti(O-i-Pr)4 and poly(styryl-linked binaphtholate-co-styrene) promotes an enantioselective carbonyl-ene reaction as a recyclable catalyst.

Development of Novel Solid-phase Polymeric Catalysts for Organic Syntheses

Highly active and reusable polymeric catalysts were produced by a self-assembly process of non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymeric ligands with inorganic species. Thus a new insoluble tungsten polymeric catalyst PWAA 1 was prepared from H(3)PW(12)O(40) and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(acrylamide with ammonium salt)], which was suitable for the oxidation of alcohols, amines, and sulfides in aqueous hydrogen peroxide. A new insoluble palladium polymeric catalyst PdAS 2 was produced by self-organization of (NH(4))(2)PdCl(4) and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)(10)-co-diphenylphosphinostyrene], which is an excellent recyclable catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in water, water-organic solvents, and organic solvents. It is commercially available from Tokyo Kasei Kogyo (TCI). An improved insoluble palladium polymeric catalyst PdAS-V 3 was assembled from (NH(4))(2)PdCl(4) and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)(5)-co-diphenylphosphinostyrene], providing a reusable system for the Mizorogi-Heck reaction. A solid-phase titanium asymmetric polymeric catalyst TiSS 4 was made from Ti (O-i-Pr)(4) and poly(styryl-linked binaphtholate-co-styrene) which promotes an enantioselective carbonyl-ene reaction as a recyclable catalyst.

Vitamins, Phytochemicals, Diets, and Their Implementation in Cancer Chemoprevention

With progressive "Westernization" of the dietary pattern in Asian countries, such as Korea and Japan, unhealthy signs, such as increases in obesity and incidence rate of cancers, are starting to appear in recent statistics. These results support the hypothesis that a dietary pattern of low fats and high antioxidants based on plant foods will reduce the risk of cancer Recently, antioxidative vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals derived from our daily diet have received much attention because of their potential chemopreventive activities. Their chemopreventive mechanisms have been suggested mainly due to their protective effects against oxidative DNA damage. However. several studies have shown that dietary antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals, are not beneficial; they may rather, cause DNA damage. These results suggest that a metabolomics approach might demonstrate that antioxidant rich whole diets play a more important role, rather than individual antioxidants in cancer prevention. On the other hand, the chemopreventive mechanisms of dietary vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals may be associated with the inhibition of other carcinogenic processes, particularly tumor promotion, rather than that of tumor initiation. In this article, possible cancer-preventive mechanisms of dietary vitamins and phenolic phytochemicals, are reviewed.

Influence of lipophilicity on the interactions of hydroxy stilbenes with cytochrome P450 3A4

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine, was recently suggested to act as an irreversible, mechanism-based inactivator of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). We found a significant inhibition of human CYP3A4-dependent transformation of cyclosporine by resveratrol, with IC50 = 4.5 microM. We studied the kinetics parameters of CYP3A4 transformation of resveratrol and structurally related, naturally occurring stilbenes. Resveratrol, piceid, resveratroloside, 5,4'-dihydroxy-3-O-methoxystilbene, and 5,3-dihydroxy-4'-O-methoxystilbene were all shown to inhibit hydroxylation of testosterone by CYP3A4. Both methoxy-stilbenes had lower IC50 values, ranging from 0.43 to 0.47 microM, suggesting that lipophilicity rather than number or positions of free hydroxyls (3,5 or 5,4') determines the CYP3A4 inhibition capacity of polyphenols. In line with these findings, both glucosyl-stilbenes were found to be weak inhibitors of CYP3A4. The affinity of the enzyme towards methoxy-stilbenes, expressed as apparent Km, was indeed higher than those for the parent resveratrol and its glucosides, in CYP3A4 reaction mixtures. Vmax values were similar, except for piceid. These results support the role of lipophilicity in the interaction of polyphenols with CYP3A4. It is suggested that selective structural modifications of substrates add significantly to knowledge acquired through molecular modifications of the enzyme.

Resveratrol scavenges reactive oxygen species and effects radical-induced cellular responses

Scavenging or quenching of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in oxidative stress has been the subject of many recent studies. Resveratrol, found in various natural food products, has been linked to decreased coronary artery disease and preventing cancer development. The present study measured the effect of resveratrol on several different systems involving the hydroxyl, superoxide, metal/enzymatic-induced, and cellular generated radicals. The rate constant for reaction of resveratrol with the hydroxyl radical was determined, and resveratrol was found to be an effective scavenger of hydroxyl, superoxide, and metal-induced radicals as well as showing antioxidant abilities in cells producing ROS. Resveratrol exhibits a protective effect against lipid peroxidation in cell membranes and DNA damage caused by ROS. Resveratrol was also found to have a significant inhibitory effect on the NF-kappaB signaling pathway after cellular exposure to metal-induced radicals. It was concluded that resveratrol in foods plays an important antioxidant role.