Anticancer and cytotoxic effects of troxerutin on HeLa cell line: an in-vitro model of cervical cancer

Anticancer potential of phytochemicals from Oroxylum indicum targeting Lactate Dehydrogenase A through bioinformatic approach

In recent years, small molecule inhibition of LDHA (Lactate Dehydrogenase A) has evolved as an appealing option for anticancer therapy. LDHA catalyzes the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate in the glycolysis pathway to play a crucial role in aerobic glycolysis. Therefore, in the current investigation LDHA was targeted with bioactive phytochemicals of an ethnomedicinally important plant species Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz. A total of 52 phytochemicals were screened against LDHA protein through molecular docking, ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) assay and molecular dynamics simulation to reveal three potential lead compounds such as Chrysin-7-O-glucuronide (-8.2 kcal/mol), Oroxindin (-8.1 kcal/mol) and Oroxin A (-8.0 kcal/mol). ADMET assay unveiled favorable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicity properties for all the lead compounds. Molecular dynamics simulation exhibited significant conformational stability and compactness. MM/GBSA free binding energy calculations further corroborated the selection of top candidates where Oroxindin (-46.47 kcal/mol) was found to be better than Chrysin-7-O-glucuronide (-45.72 kcal/mol) and Oroxin A (-37.25 kcal/mol). Aldolase reductase and Xanthine dehydrogenase enzymes were found as potential drug targets and Esculin, the FDA approved drug was identified as structurally analogous to Oroxindin. These results could drive in establishing novel medications targeting LDHA to fight cancer.

Anti-tumor effects of Thymus Caramanicus Jalas extract in mice through oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer causes death in women. Thymus Caramanicus Jalas (TCJ) as a polyphenolic plant has an antiproliferative effect. Accordingly, this investigation studied the TCJ extract anti-tumor effects in a breast cancer model.

METHODS

Twenty-four female BALB/c mice were used in 4 groups including (1) breast cancer (control); (2), (3) and (4) breast cancer + 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg of TCJ extract (once daily for 20-days after breast tumor induction). The breast tumour was induced by 4T1 cell carcinoma injection. Then tumor size and weight were measured. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory markers and also Bcl-2, Bax, cytosolic cytochrome-c, apoptosis-inducing factor, and cleaved caspase-3 as biochemical apoptosis markers were evaluated in tumor tissue with western blotting analysis. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, hydrogen peroxidase (H2O2), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were exanimated.

KEY FINDINGS

Treatment with TCJ extract (500 mg/kg) decreased the tumor volume, tumor weight, GPx, SOD, and catalase enzyme activity versus the control group (P < 0.05). Also, TCJ (500 mg/kg) extract increased MDA, H2O2, inflammatory and apoptosis markers versus control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Current study showed that TCJ can induce anti-tumour effects via promoting inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in breast tumour tissue.

The protective effect of carvacrol on acetaminophen-induced renal damage in male rats

BACKGROUND

Acetaminophen overdose causes renal injury via oxidative stress and apoptosis induction. Carvacrol has several pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-apoptotic effect. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of carvacrol on acetaminophen-induced renal damage in rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided to five groups (n = 8) including control, carvacrol 10 mg/kg, acetaminophen, acetaminophen + carvacrol 5 mg/kg, and acetaminophen + carvacrol 10 mg/kg. Animals received a single dose of acetaminophen (500 mg/kg), then were treated with carvacrol for 1 week (daily). Afterwards, renal blood flow (RBF), mean arterial pressure, renal perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance (RVR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine were measured. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity levels were measured in the kidney tissue. Hematoxylin and eosin method was used for histological assessment. The Western blotting analysis was used to determine the Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 proteins expression level in the kidney tissue. Carvacrol (10 mg/kg) significantly increased the RBF, GPx and SOD activities and also reduced the RVR, serum creatinine, BUN, and MDA in the acetaminophen + carvacrol 10 mg/kg group versus acetaminophen group (P < 0.05). Also, carvacrol significantly decreased the cleaved caspase-3, Bax proteins expression level, and kidney tissue damage score in the acetaminophen + carvacrol 10 mg/kg group versus acetaminophen group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that carvacrol can attenuate the acetaminophen induced acute kidney damage via suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis biochemical factors.