Furanodienone induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by suppressing EGFR/HER2 signaling in HER2-overexpressing human breast cancer cells

Evaluation of cytotoxic effect of siphonochilone from African ginger: an in vitro analysis

Plants provide a wide array of compounds that can be explored for potential anticancer properties. Siphonochilone, a furanoterpene that represents one of the main components of the African plant Siphonochilus aethiopicus, shows numerous health benefits. However, to date, its antiproliferative properties have not been tested. The aim of this study was to analyze the cytotoxic effects of siphonochilone on a panel of cancer cell lines and its underlying mechanism of action. Our results demonstrated that siphonochilone exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on pancreatic, breast, lung, colon, and liver cancer cell lines showing a IC50 ranging from 22 to 124 μM at 72 h of treatment and highlighting its cytotoxic effect against MCF7 and PANC1 breast and pancreas cancer cell lines (22.03 and 39.03 μM, respectively). Cell death in these tumor lines was mediated by apoptosis by the mitochondrial pathway, as evidenced by siphonochilone-induced depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, siphonochilone treatment involves the generation of reactive oxygen species that may contribute to apoptosis induction. In this work, we described for the first time the cytotoxic properties of siphonochilone and provided data about the molecular processes of cell death. Although future studies will be necessary, our results support the interest in this molecule in relation to their clinical application in cancer, and especially in breast and pancreatic cancer.

Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of bioactive ingredients in Curcumae Rhizoma against breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Despite great advances in the therapeutic strategies, the survival rate in the past decades of patients with breast cancer remains unsatisfactory. Growing evidence has demonstrated that Curcumae Rhizoma, called Ezhu in Chinese, showed various pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It has been widely used in Chinese medicine to treat many types of human cancer.

PURPOSE

To comprehensively summarize and analyze the effects of active substances in Curcumae Rhizoma on breast cancer malignant phenotypes and the underlying mechanisms, as well as discuss its medicinal value and future perspectives.

METHOD

We used "Curcumae Rhizoma" or the name of crude extracts and bioactive components in Curcumae Rhizoma in combination with "breast cancer" as key words. Studies focusing on their anti-breast cancer activities and mechanisms of action were extracted from Pubmed, Web of Science and CNKI databases up to October 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline was followed.

RESULTS

Crude extracts and 7 main bioactive phytochemicals (curcumol, β-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, germacrone, curdione and curcumin) isolated from Curcumae Rhizoma have shown many anti-breast cancer pharmacological properties, including inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, reversing chemoresistance, and inducing cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and ferroptosis. The mechanisms of action were involved in regulating MAPK, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo and clinical studies demonstrated that these compounds exhibited high anti-tumor efficacy and safety against breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide strong evidence that Curcumae Rhizoma acts as a rich source of phytochemicals and has robust anti-breast cancer properties.

Screening of Apoptosis Pathway-Mediated Anti-Proliferative Activity of the Phytochemical Compound Furanodienone against Human Non-Small Lung Cancer A-549 Cells

Furanodienone (FDN), a major bioactive component of sesquiterpenes produced from Rhizoma Curcumae, has been repeatedly acknowledged for its intrinsic anticancer efficacy against different types of cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cytotoxic potential of furanodienone against human lung cancer (NSCLC A549) cells in vitro, as well as its underlying molecular mechanisms in the induction of apoptosis. Herein, we found that FDN significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, treatment with FDN potentially triggered apoptosis in A549 cells via not only disrupting the nuclear morphology, but by activating capsase-9 and caspase-3 with concomitant modulation of the pro- and antiapoptotic gene expression as well. Furthermore, FDN revealed its competence in inducing cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in A549 cells, which was associated with decreased expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), along with increased expression of CDK inhibitor p21Cip1. Intriguingly, FDN treatment efficiently downregulated the Wnt signaling pathway, which was correlated with increased apoptosis, as well as cell cycle arrest, in A549 cells. Collectively, FDN might represent a promising adjuvant therapy for the management of lung cancer.

Terpenoids from Curcumae Rhizoma: Their anticancer effects and clinical uses on combination and versus drug therapies

Cancer is a fatal disease with high mortality and low survival rate worldwide. At present, there is still no known cure for most cancers. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a noteworthy reservoir for anticancer agents in drug discovery and development. Curcumae Rhizoma (called Ezhu in Chinese) is widely prescribed in TCM for anticancer therapy owing to its broad-spectrum antineoplastic activities. Especially, the terpenoids isolated from the essential oil of Curcumae Rhizoma form an integral part of cancer research and are well established as a potential anticancer agent. For example, β-elemene has been developed into a new drug for the treatment of solid tumors in China, and is currently undergoing clinical trials in the United States. The review aims to systematically summarize the recent advances on the anticancer effects and related molecular mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma, and its terpenoids (β-elemene, Furanodiene, Furanodienone, Germacrone, Curcumol, Curdione). In addition, we evaluated and compared the anticancer efficacy and clinical use of the terpenoids with combination therapies and traditional therapies. Therefore, this review provides sufficient evidence for the anticancer therapeutic potential of Curcumae Rhizoma and its terpenoids, and will contribute to the development of potential anticancer drugs.

Inhibitory activities of curzerenone, curdione, furanodienone, curcumol and germacrone on Ca2+-activated chloride channels

Calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) as a kind of widely expressed ion channels play crucial roles in a variety of physiological regulation. TMEM16A has been identified as the molecular basis of CaCCs in numerous cell types and is considered a new drug target for many diseases. Regulating the function of TMEM16A through small molecule modulators has become a new strategy to improve respiratory and digestive dysfunction and even tumor therapy. Herein, we obtained 5 sesquiterpenoids, named curzerenone, curdione, furanodienone, curcumol and germacrone with TMEM16A inhibition and revealed their mechanism of action by fluorescent and electrophysiological assays. Cell-based YFP fluorescence data demonstrated that 5 compounds inhibited TMEM16A-mediated I^- influx in a dose-dependent manner. To explore the mechanism of 5 compounds on CaCCs, FRT cells with high expression of TMEM16A, HBE, HT-29 and T84 cells and mouse colons were used in short-circuit current assay. Our results showed that 5 compounds inhibited the Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- currents generated by the E_act, ATP and UTP stimulation, and this inhibitory effect was related not only to the direct inhibition of channel opening, but also the inhibition of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration and K⁺ channel activity. In addition to CaCCs, these 5 compounds also had definite inhibitory activities against cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) at the cellular level. In summary, these compounds have the potential to regulate the activites of TMEM16A/CaCCs and CFTR channels in vitro, providing a new class of lead compounds for the development of drugs for diseases related to chloride channel dysfunction.

Nanostructured liquid crystalline particles as delivery vectors for isofuranodiene: Characterization and in-vitro anticancer activity

Isofuranodiene is an oxygenated sesquiterpene containing a furan ring isolated from the essential oil of Smyrnium olusatrum L. (Apiaceae) owning notable anticancer activity. Despite its biological potential, the high lipophilicity along with a relatively low stability due to Cope rearrangement giving rise to a less active compound, make the perspective of its therapeutical use unlikely. On this basis, in the present work we evaluated bulk and dispersed non lamellar liquid crystalline phases as effective delivery vectors for isofuranodiene, and capable of preserving its structure and enhancing the biological activity. Small-angle X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, and UV resonance Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the nanosystems in an integrated experimental approach. Encapsulation of isofuranodiene in the lipid matrix resulted in a transition from a cubic Im3m to a reversed hexagonal phase because of the highly lipophilic character of the drug, as obtained in SAXS measurements, and in significant shifts in the components of the Raman spectrum of isofuranodiene. The anticancer activity of isofuranodiene-loaded lipidic nanoparticles was assessed on MDA-MB 231 cell line by MTT assay and was found to be higher than that of pristine isofuranodiene.

Furanodienone overcomes temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma through the downregulation of CSPG4-Akt-ERK signalling by inhibiting EGR1-dependent transcription

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive type of brain tumour. Patients with GBM respond poorly to chemotherapy and have poor survival outcomes. Neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2), also known as chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), has been shown to contribute to critical processes, such as cell survival, proliferation, and chemotherapy resistance, during glioma progression. In this study, we found that furanodienone (FUR), a diene-type sesquiterpene isolated from the rhizomes of Rhizoma curcumae, exhibited a potential cytotoxic effect on temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant GBM cells in vitro by inhibiting CSPG4 and related signalling pathways. Studies investigating the mechanism demonstrated that FUR suppressed CSPG4-Akt-ERK signalling, inflammatory responses, and cytokine levels but activated caspase-dependent pathways and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, an immunofluorescence assay and a dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that inhibition of EGR1-mediated transcription might have contributed to the FUR-dependent blockade of CSPG4 signalling and glioma cell survival. These results established a link between FUR-induced CSPG4 inhibition and the suppression of EGR1-dependent transcription. Attenuation of ERK1/2 and cytokine signalling might have generated the EGR1-dependent negative feedback loop of the CSPG4 pathway during FUR-induced apoptosis. These findings suggested that FUR could be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of malignant glioma via targeting CSPG4 signalling.

Therapeutic Efficiency of an External Chinese Herbal Formula of Mammary Precancerous Lesions by BATMAN-TCM Online Bioinformatics Analysis Tool and Experimental Validation

Ruyan Neixiao Cream (RYNXC), a patented Chinese herbal formula, was reported to have the effect of treating mammary precancerous disease. In this study, we predicted the potential targets, pathways, and diseases of the ingredients contained in each herbal of RYNXC and constructed an ingredients-targets-diseases network. Then, we analyzed molecular mechanisms of this Chinese herbal formula by MCF-10AT cells and model rats of breast precancerous lesions. BATMAN-TCM prediction showed that ESR1, PGR, PTGS2, EGFR, and Src were mRNA targets of RYNXC. Our results suggested that RYNXC transdermal fluid downregulated ESR1, PGR, PTGS2, EGFR, and Src expression at gene and protein level in MCF-10AT cells. In the rat breast precancerous lesions model, high and low dose RYNXC could also significantly reduce genes and proteins expression of ESR1, PGR, PTGS2, EGFR, and Src. Taken together these data indicate that RYNXC targets multiple molecules responsible for breast precancerous lesion and is an effective Chinese herbal formula. So RYNXC may be a promising external drug for breast precancerous lesions.

Non-Curcuminoids from Turmeric and Their Potential in Cancer Therapy and Anticancer Drug Delivery Formulations

Over the past decades curcuminoids have been extensively studied for their biological activities such as antiulcer, antifibrotic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antimutagenic, antifertility, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, antivenom, antioxidant, antihypotensive, antihypocholesteremic, and anticancer activities. With the perception of limited toxicity and cost, these compounds forms an integral part of cancer research and is well established as a potential anticancer agent. However, only few studies have focused on the other bioactive molecules of turmeric, known as non-curcuminoids, which are also equally potent as curcuminoids. This review aims to explore the comprehensive potency including the identification, physicochemical properties, and anticancer mechanism inclusive of molecular docking studies of non-curcuminoids such as turmerones, elemene, furanodiene (FN), bisacurone, germacrone, calebin A (CA), curdione, and cyclocurcumin. An insight into the clinical studies of these curcumin-free compounds are also discussed which provides ample evidence that favors the therapeutic potential of these compounds. Like curcuminoids, limited solubility and bioavailability are the most fragile domain, which circumscribe further applications of these compounds. Thus, this review credits the encapsulation of non-curcuminoid components in diverse drug delivery systems such as co-crystals, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, microspheres, polar-non-polar sandwich (PNS) technology, which help abolish their shortcomings and flaunt their ostentatious benefits as anticancer activities.

Furanodienone induces G0/G1 arrest and causes apoptosis via the ROS/MAPKs-mediated caspase-dependent pathway in human colorectal cancer cells: a study in vitro and in vivo

Furanodienone, a major bioactive constituents of sesquiterpene derived from Rhizoma Curcumae, has been proven to possess the potent anticancer efficacy on human breast cancer cells. Here, we investigated the cytotoxicity of furanodienone on human colorectal carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo, as well as its underlying molecular mechanisms in the induction of apoptosis. In this study, we found that furanodienone significantly inhibited proliferation of RKO and HT-29 cells, induced mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by collapse of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and reduction of ATP level, and promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that functions upstream of caspase-dependent apoptosis. The antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, a ROS scavenger, abolished this apoptosis induced by furanodienone. In addition, furanodienone elevated the expression of p-p38, p-JNK, but decreased p-ERK, as a result of the produced ROS. The specific inhibitors U0126, SP600125 and SB202190 attenuated the expression of MAPKs, and regulated the expression of cleaved caspase-8, -9 and -3. Furthermore, the potential inhibitory effect of furanodienone on CRC cells was also corroborated in mouse xenograft model. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that furanodienone-triggered ROS plays a pivotal role in apoptosis as an upstream molecule-modulating activity of caspases in mitochondrial pathway via stimulating MAPKs signaling pathway. Our finding may provide a novel candidate for development of antitumor drugs targeting on colorectal cancer.

Eugenol alleviated breast precancerous lesions through HER2/PI3K-AKT pathway-induced cell apoptosis and S-phase arrest

Eugenol can be separated from the oil extract of clove bud, and has many pharmacological functions such as anticancer and transdermal absorption. HER2/PI3K-AKT is a key signaling pathway in the development of breast cancer. In this study, 80 μM eugenol could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HER-2 positive MCF-10AT cells and the inhibition rate was up to 32.8%, but had no obvious inhibitory effect on MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells with HER2 weak expression. Eugenol also significantly induced human breast precancerous lesion MCF-10AT cell apoptosis and cell cycle S-phase arrest, but the biological effects nearly disappeared after HER2 over-expression through transfecting pcDNA3.1-HER2. In MCF-10AT cells treated by 180 μM eugenol, the protein expressions of HER2, AKT, PDK1, p85, Bcl2, NF-κB, Bad and Cyclin D1 were decreased and the decreased rates were respectively 63.0%, 60.0%, 52.9%, 62.9%, 37.1%, 47.2%, 61.7%, 59.1%, while the p21, p27 and Bax expression were increased by 4.48-, 4.76- and 2.57-fold respectively. In the rat models of breast precancerous lesion, 1 mg eugenol for external use significantly inhibited the progress of breast precancerous lesion and the occurrence rate of breast precancerous lesions and invasive carcinomas was decreased by about 30.5%. Furthermore eugenol for external (1 mg) markedly decreased the protein expressions of HER2 (62.9%), AKT (58.6%), PDK1 (56.4%), p85 (54.3%), Bcl2 (59.3%), NF-κB (65.7%), Bad (64.0%), Cyclin D1 (43.0%), while p21, p27 and Bax protein expressions were respectively increased 1.83-, 2.52- and 2.51-fold. The results showed eugenol could significantly inhibit the development of breast precancerous lesions by blocking HER2/PI3K-AKT signaling network. So eugenol may be a promising external drug for breast precancerous lesions.

Chemical constituents and biological research on plants in the genus Curcuma

Curcuma, a valuable genus in the family Zingiberaceae, includes approximately 110 species. These plants are native to Southeast Asia and are extensively cultivated in India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Peru, Australia, and the West Indies. The plants have long been used in folk medicine to treat stomach ailments, stimulate digestion, and protect the digestive organs, including the intestines, stomach, and liver. In recent years, substantial progress has been achieved in investigations regarding the chemical and pharmacological properties, as well as in clinical trials of certain Curcuma species. This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on the chemistry and briefly discusses the biological activities of Curcuma species. A total of 720 compounds, including 102 diphenylalkanoids, 19 phenylpropene derivatives, 529 terpenoids, 15 flavonoids, 7 steroids, 3 alkaloids, and 44 compounds of other types isolated or identified from 32 species, have been phytochemically investigated. The biological activities of plant extracts and pure compounds are classified into 15 groups in detail, with emphasis on anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities.

Exploring the pharmacological mechanism of Yanghe Decoction on HER2-positive breast cancer by a network pharmacology approach

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Certain Chinese medicine formulae from traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are effective for treating and preventing diseases in clinical practice. Yanghe Decoction (YHD) is a Chinese medicine formula that is used to treat breast cancer, especially HER-positive breast cancer; however, the active compounds, potential targets, and pharmacological and molecular mechanism of its action against cancer remain unclear. Therefore, further investigation is required.

METHODS

A network pharmacology approach comprising drug-likeness evaluation, oral bioavailability prediction, Caco-2 permeability prediction, multiple compound target prediction, multiple know target collection, breast cancer genes collection, and network analysis has been used in this study.

RESULTS

Four networks are set up, including HER2-positive breast cancer network, compound-compound target network of YHD, YHD-HER2-positive breast cancer network and compound-known target-HER2-positive breast cancer network, and some HER2-positive breast cancer and YHD related targets, clusters, biological processes and pathways are found. We also found some potential anti-cancer compounds.

CONCLUSION

Our works successfully predict, illuminate and confirm the molecular synergy of YHD for HER2-positive breast cancer and found the potential HER2-positive breast cancer associated targets, cluster, biological processes and pathways. This study not only provide clues to the researcher who explores pharmacological and molecular mechanism of YHD acting on HER2-positive breast cancer, but also demonstrates a feasible method for discovering potential drugs from Chinese medicine formulae.

Optimization and in vitro antiproliferation of Curcuma wenyujin's active extracts by ultrasonication and response surface methodology

Background

Curcuma wenyujin, a member of the genus Curcuma, has been widely prescribed for anti-cancer therapy. Multiple response surface optimization has attracted a great attention, while, the research about optimizing three or more responses employing response surface methodology (RSM) was very few.

Results

RSM and desirability function (DF) were employed to get the optimum ultrasonic extraction parameters, in which the extraction yields of curdione, furanodienone, curcumol and germacrone from C. wenyujin were maximum. The yields in the extract were accurately quantified using the validated high performance liquid chromatography method with a good precision and accuracy. The optimization results indicated that the maximum combined desirability 97.1 % was achieved at conditions as follows: liquid–solid ratio, 8 mL g⁻¹; ethanol concentration, 70 % and ultrasonic time, 20 min. The extraction yields gained from three verification experiments were in fine agreement with those of the model’s predictions. The surface morphologies of the sonication-treated C. wenyujin were loose and rough. The extract of C. wenyujin presented obvious antiproliferative activities against RKO and HT-29 cells in vitro.

Conclusion

Response surface methodology was successfully applied to model and optimize the ultrasonic extraction of four bioactive components from C. wenyujin for antiproliferative activitiy.Graphical abstract

Antiproliferative activity of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton extract using ultrasonic assistance and response surface methodology

The objective of the study was to optimize the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of curdione, furanodienone, curcumol, and germacrone from Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton (Val.) and investigate the antiproliferative activity of the extract. Under the suitable high-performance liquid chromatography condition, the calibration curves for these four tested compounds showed high levels of linearity and the recoveries of these four compounds were between 97.9 and 104.3%. Response surface methodology (RSM) combining central composite design and desirability function (DF) was used to define optimal extraction parameters. The results of RSM and DF revealed that the optimum conditions were obtained as 8 mL g^-1 for liquid-solid ratio, 70% ethanol concentration, and 20 min of ultrasonic time. It was found that the surface structures of the sonicated herbal materials were fluffy and irregular. The C. phaeocaulis Val. extract significantly inhibited the proliferation of RKO and HT-29 cells in vitro. The results reveal that the RSM can be effectively used for optimizing the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of bioactive components from C. phaeocaulis Val. for antiproliferative activity.

Anti-cancer properties of terpenoids isolated from Rhizoma Curcumae--a review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhizoma Curcumae is a popular type of traditional Chinese medicine whose essential oils are widely used in the treatment of cancer in China. This review aims to systematically summarize and analyze the anti-cancer properties of terpenoids, the main components of essential oils in Rhizoma Curcumae, and thus enable the development of new anti-cancer drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on the recent progress of anti-cancer studies on terpenoids isolated from Rhizoma Curcumae, including β-elemene, δ-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, curcumol, and germacrone, was gathered and analyzed.

RESULTS

Among these terpenoids, β-elemene is the most widely studied, whereas δ-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, curcumol, and germacrone have just recently attracted the attention of researchers. The anti-cancer effects of these terpenoids are related to the retardation of cell cycle arrest, the induction of apoptosis, and the inhibition of metastasis or tissue invasion, among others.

CONCLUSIONS

Most studies have focused on the in vitro data, and in vivo data is urgently needed. Further insight into the anti-cancer activity and the molecular basis of these compounds, combined with efforts in pharmaceutical chemistry and/or pharmaceutics, will potentially enable the development of new anti-cancer agents.