Interaction of quercetin with DNA

A comprehensive review on phytochemicals in the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer: Focusing on their mechanism of action

Background and Aims

Pancreatic cancer develops in the normal tissues of the pancreas from malignant cells. The chance of recovery is not good, and the chance of survival 5 years following diagnosis is quite low. Pancreatic cancer treatment strategies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy had relatively low success rates. Therefore, the present study aims to explore new therapies for treating pancreatic cancer.

Methods

The present study searched for information about pancreatic cancer pathophysiology, available treatment options; and their comparative benefits and challenges. Aiming to identify potential alternative therapeutics, this comprehensive review analyzed information from renowned databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

Results

In recent years, there has been a rise in interest in the possibility that natural compounds could be used as treatments for cancer. Cannabinoids, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and triptolide are some of the anticancer phytochemicals now used to manage pancreatic cancer. The above compounds are utilized by inhibiting or stimulating biological pathways such as apoptosis, autophagy, cell growth inhibition or reduction, oxidative stress, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, and increased resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in the management of pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

Right now, surgery is the only therapeutic option for patients with pancreatic cancer. However, most people who get sick have been diagnosed too late to benefit from potentially effective surgery. Alternative medications, like natural compounds and herbal medicines, are promising complementary therapies for pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we recommend large-scale standardized clinical research for the investigation of natural compounds to ensure their consistency and comparability in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Possible Side Effects of Polyphenols and Their Interactions with Medicines

Polyphenols are an important component of plant-derived food with a wide spectrum of beneficial effects on human health. For many years, they have aroused great interest, especially due to their antioxidant properties, which are used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Unfortunately, as with any chemical substance, depending on the conditions, dose, and interactions with the environment, it is possible for polyphenols to also exert harmful effects. This review presents a comprehensive current state of the knowledge on the negative impact of polyphenols on human health, describing the possible side effects of polyphenol intake, especially in the form of supplements. The review begins with a brief overview of the physiological role of polyphenols and their potential use in disease prevention, followed by the harmful effects of polyphenols which are exerted in particular situations. The individual chapters discuss the consequences of polyphenols’ ability to block iron uptake, which in some subpopulations can be harmful, as well as the possible inhibition of digestive enzymes, inhibition of intestinal microbiota, interactions of polyphenolic compounds with drugs, and impact on hormonal balance. Finally, the prooxidative activity of polyphenols as well as their mutagenic, carcinogenic, and genotoxic effects are presented. According to the authors, there is a need to raise public awareness about the possible side effects of polyphenols supplementation, especially in the case of vulnerable subpopulations.

Potential mechanisms of quercetin in cancer prevention: focus on cellular and molecular targets

Over the past few years, the cancer-related disease has had a high mortality rate and incidence worldwide, despite clinical advances in cancer treatment. The drugs used for cancer therapy, have high side effects in addition to the high cost. Subsequently, to reduce these side effects, many studies have suggested the use of natural bioactive compounds. Among these, which have recently attracted the attention of many researchers, quercetin has such properties. Quercetin, a plant flavonoid found in fresh fruits, vegetables and citrus fruits, has anti-cancer properties by inhibiting tumor proliferation, invasion, and tumor metastasis. Several studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer mechanism of quercetin, and these mechanisms are controlled through several signalling pathways within the cancer cell. Pathways involved in this process include apoptotic, p53, NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. In addition to regulating these pathways, quercetin controls the activity of oncogenic and tumor suppressor ncRNAs. Therefore, in this comprehensive review, we summarized the regulation of these signalling pathways by quercetin. The modulatory role of quercetin in the expression of various miRNAs has also been discussed. Understanding the basic anti-cancer mechanisms of these herbal compounds can help prevent and manage many types of cancer.

DNA Interaction with Naturally Occurring Antioxidant Flavonoids Quercetin, Kaempferol, and Delphinidin

Flavonoids are strong antioxidants that prevent DNA damage. The anticancer and antiviral activities of these natural products are implicated in their mechanism of actions. However, there has been no information on the interactions of these antioxidants with individual DNA at molecular level. This study was designed to examine the interaction of quercetin (que), kaempferol (kae), and delphinidin (del) with calf-thymus DNA in aqueous solution at physiological conditions, using constant DNA concentration (6.5 mmol) and various drug/DNA(phosphate) ratios of 1/65 to 1. FTIR and UV-Visible difference spectroscopic methods are used to determine the drug binding sites, the binding constants and the effects of drug complexation on the stability and conformation of DNA duplex. Structural analysis showed quercetin, kaempferol, and delphinidin bind weakly to adenine, guanine (major groove), and thymine (minor groove) bases, as well as to the backbone phosphate group with overall binding constants K(que) = 7.25 x 10(4)M(-1), K(kae) = 3.60 x 10(4)M(-1), and K(del) = 1.66 x 10(4)M(-1). The stability of adduct formation is in the order of que>kae>del. Delphinidin with a positive charge induces more stabilizing effect on DNA duplex than quercetin and kaempferol. A partial B to A-DNA transition occurs at high drug concentrations.

Plant polyphenols in cancer and heart disease: implications as nutritional antioxidants

Certain dietary antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C are important for maintaining optimum health. There is now much interest in polyphenolic products of the plant phenylpropanoid pathway as they have considerable antioxidant activity in vitro and are ubiquitous in our diet. Rich sources include tea, wine, fruits and vegetables although levels are affected by species, light, degree of ripeness, processing and storage. This confounds the formulation of databases for the estimation of dietary intakes. Most attention to date has focused on the flavonoids, a generic term which includes chalcones, flavones, flavanones, flavanols and anthocyanins. There is little convincing epidemiological evidence that intakes of polyphenols are inversely related to the incidence of cancer whereas a number of studies suggest that high intakes of flavonoids may be protective against CHD. In contrast, numerous cell culture and animal models indicate potent anticarcinogenic activity by certain polyphenols mediated through a range of mechanisms including antioxidant activity, enzyme modulation, gene expression, apoptosis, upregulation of gap junction communication and P-glycoprotein activation. Possible protective effects against heart disease may be due to the ability of some polyphenols to prevent the oxidation of LDL to an atherogenic form although anti-platelet aggregation activity and vasodilatory properties are also reported. However, some polyphenols are toxic in mammalian cells. Thus, until more is known about their bioavailability, metabolism and intracellular location, increasing intakes of polyphenols by supplements or food fortification may be unwise.

DNA adducts with antioxidant flavonoids: morin, apigenin, and naringin

Flavonoids have recently attracted a great interest as potential therapeutic drugs against a wide range of free-radical-mediated diseases. The anticancer and antiviral activities of these natural products are implicated in their mechanism of actions. While the antioxidant activity of these natural polyphenolic compounds is well known, their bindings to DNA are not fully investigated. This study was designed to examine the interactions of morin (Mor), naringin (Nar), and apigenin (Api) with calf thymus DNA in aqueous solution at physiological conditions, using constant DNA concentration (6.25 mM) and various drug/DNA(phosphate) ratios of 1/40 to 1. FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods were used to determine the ligand binding modes, the binding constant, and the stability of DNA in flavonoid-DNA complexes in aqueous solution. Spectroscopic evidence shows both intercalation and external binding of flavonoids to DNA duplex with overall binding constants of K(morin) = 5.99 x 10(3) M(-1), K(apigenin) = 7.10 x 10(4) M(-1), and K(naringin) = 3.10 x 10(3) M(-1). The affinity of ligand-DNA binding is in the order of apigenin > morin > naringin. DNA aggregation and a partial B- to A-DNA transition occurs upon morin, apigenin, and naringin complexation.

Polyphenols and cancer cell growth

Polyphenols constitute an important group of phytochemicals that gained increased research attention since it was found that they could affect cancer cell growth. Initial evidence came from epidemiologic studies suggesting that a diet that includes regular consumption of fruits and vegetables (rich in polyphenols) significantly reduces the risk of many cancers. In the present work we briefly review the effects of polyphenols on cancer cell fate, leading towards growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Their action can be attributed not only to their ability to act as antioxidants but also to their ability to interact with basic cellular mechanisms. Such interactions include interference with membrane and intracellular receptors, modulation of signaling cascades, interaction with the basic enzymes involved in tumor promotion and metastasis, interaction with oncogenes and oncoproteins, and, finally, direct or indirect interactions with nucleic acids and nucleoproteins. These actions involve almost the whole spectrum of basic cellular machinery--from the cell membrane to signaling cytoplasmic molecules and to the major nuclear components--and provide insights into their beneficial health effects. In addition, the actions justify the scientific interest in this class of compounds, and provide clues about their possible pharmaceutical exploitation in the field of oncology.

Antimutagenic effect of phenolic acids

In the present study, the Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA 100 was used in the plate-incorporation test to examine the antimutagenic potential of caffeic, ferulic and cichoric acids extracted from plant species of genera Echinacea (L) Moench, as well as of another phenolic acids, on 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylic acid (5NFAA) and sodium azide mutagenicity. All tested compounds possess antimutagenic activity. In the case of 5NFAA, the antimutagenic potency of tested compounds was in the order of gallic acid > ferulic acid > caffeic acid > syringic acid > vanillic acid. The mutagenic effect of sodium azide was inhibited by tested phenolic acids by about 20-35 %. The most effective compound, gallic acid inhibits this effect by 82 % in the concentration of 500 mug/plate. The only exception from favourable properties of tested phenolic acids is cichoric acid, which in the contrary significantly increased the mutagenic effect of 5NFAA.

Evidence of covalent binding of the dietary flavonoid quercetin to DNA and protein in human intestinal and hepatic cells

Quercetin-rich foods have the potential to prevent human disease. However, knowledge of its biological fate and mechanism of action is limited. This study extends previous observations of the oxidation of quercetin by peroxidases to quinone/quinone methide intermediates and, for the first time, demonstrates covalent binding of [14C]quercetin to macromolecules. This was first demonstrated using horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide with human liver microsomal protein to trap the intermediates. To extend this observation to the cellular level, human intestinal Caco-2 cells and hepatic Hep G2 cells were incubated for up to 2hr with [14C]quercetin, and cellular DNA and protein were isolated. The cellular uptake of [14C]quercetin was rapid, and the covalent binding of [14C]quercetin to DNA and protein was determined by liquid scintillation spectrometry after extensive purification. Both cell types demonstrated DNA binding with a maximum level of 5-15pmol/mg DNA. The level of covalent binding to protein was considerably higher in both cell types, 75-125pmol/mg protein. To determine potential specificity in the protein binding, Hep G2 cells were treated with [14C]quercetin, and the cell lysate was subjected to SDS-PAGE followed by staining and autoradiography. Several distinct radiolabeled protein bands did not correspond to the major Coomassie blue stained cellular proteins. We propose that this specific binding may mediate part of the antiproliferative and other cellular actions of quercetin.

Role of plant polyphenols in genomic stability

Polyphenols are a large and diverse class of compounds, many of which occur naturally in a range of food plants. The flavonoids are the largest and best-studied group of these. A range of plant polyphenols are either being actively developed or currently sold as dietary supplements and/or herbal remedies. Although, these compounds play no known role in nutrition (non-nutrients), many of them have properties including antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-oestrogenic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects that might potentially be beneficial in preventing disease and protecting the stability of the genome. However not all polyphenols and not all actions of individual polyphenols are necessarily beneficial. Some have mutagenic and/or pro-oxidant effects, as well as interfering with essential biochemical pathways including topoisomerase enzyme activities, prostanoid biosynthesis and signal transduction. There is a very large amount of in vitro data available, but far fewer animal studies, and these are not necessarily predictive of human effects because of differences in bacterial and hepatic metabolism of polyphenols between species. Epidemiological studies suggest that high green tea consumption in the Japanese population and moderate red wine consumption in the French population may be beneficial for heart disease and cancer, and these effects may relate to specific polyphenols. A small number of adequately controlled human intervention studies suggest that some, but not all polyphenol extracts or high polyphenol diets may lead to transitory changes in the antioxidative capacity of plasma in humans. However, none of these studies have adequately considered long-term effects on DNA or the chromosome and unequivocally associated these with polyphenol uptake. Furthermore, clinical trials have required intravenously administered polyphenols at concentrations around 1400mg/m(2) before effects are seen. These plasma concentrations are unlikely to be achieved using the dietary supplements currently available. More focused human studies are necessary before recommending specific polyphenolic supplements at specific doses in the human population.

Oxidant-induced apoptosis of glomerular cells: intracellular signaling and its intervention by bioflavinoid

Oxidant stress plays a crucial role in the generation of a wide range of glomerular disease. In the first part of this article, we describe intracellular signaling pathways involved in the oxidant-initiated apoptosis of mesangial cells, especially highlighting the tyrosine kinase-c-Jun/AP-1 pathway. In the second part, we address a novel potential of bioflavonoid quercetin as an inhibitor of apoptosis in glomerular cells. Possible mechanisms for the antiapoptotic action of quercetin and its therapeutic utility are discussed.

Unaltered meiotic chromosome segregation in Drosophila melanogaster raised on a 5% quercetin diet

Flavonoid plant pigments are an integral part of the human diet. Although potentially negative mitotic effects of flavonoids have been observed in model organisms, investigation into meiotic effects of flavonoids has been neglected. As flavonoids affect cell signalling and DNA replication, and because the flavonoid content of the human food supply is being increased, determining the effects of flavonoids on meiotic fidelity is important. Here, the effect of the human food supply's most prevalent flavonoid, quercetin, on the level of meiotic recombination and the amount of X and 4th chromosome non-disjunction in Drosophila melanogaster females was determined. This model organism was chosen since Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens share a remarkable number of commonalities in the meiotic processes of oogenesis and because genetic techniques allow a detailed analysis of meiotic processes in Drosophila. No significant effect on either non-disjunction levels or the percentage distribution of exchange bivalents was observed. A significant effect was observed on the number of offspring; F1 and F2 generations of flies raised on a quercetin diet produced over 10% more progeny than flies raised on a control diet. In this investigation, high quercetin consumption by Drosophila melanogaster females did not pose a threat to meiotic fidelity.

Review of the biology of Quercetin and related bioflavonoids

The French paradox is a dietary anomaly which has focused attention on the Mediterranean diet. Epidemiological studies revealed that this diet, replete in flavonoid-rich foods (Allium and Brassica vegetables, and red wine), correlated with the increased longevity and decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease seen in these populations. The most frequently studied flavonoid, quercetin, has been shown to have biological properties consistent with its sparing effect on the cardiovascular system. Quercetin and other flavonoids have been shown to modify eicosanoid biosynthesis (antiprostanoid and anti-inflammatory responses), protect low-density lipoprotein from oxidation (prevent atherosclerotic plaque formation), prevent platelet aggregation (antithrombic effects), and promote relaxation of cardiovascular smooth muscle (antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic effects). In addition, flavonoids have been shown to have antiviral and carcinostatic properties. However, flavonoids are poorly absorbed from the gut and are subject to degradation by intestinal micro-organisms. The amount of quercetin that remains biologically available may not be of sufficient concentration, theoretically, to explain the beneficial effects seen with the Mediterranean diet. The role of flavonoids may transcend their presence in food. The activity of flavonoids as inhibitors of reverse transcriptase suggests a place for these compounds in the control of retrovirus infections, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition to specific effects, the broad-modulating effects of flavonoids as antioxidants, inhibitors of ubiquitous enzymes (ornithine carboxylase, protein kinase, calmodulin), and promoters of vasodilatation and platelet disaggregation can serve as starting material for drug development programmes.