Tinospora cordifolia Induces Differentiation and Senescence Pathways in Neuroblastoma Cells

Indian herb Tinospora cordifolia and Tinospora species: Phytochemical and therapeutic application

Clinical investigations are increasingly focusing on natural materials with medical benefits because, in contrast to medicines, they have extremely few adverse effects. Tinospora species of the Menispermaceae family has many bioactive principles for plant nutraceuticals. A thorough assessment of the existing literature revealed that Indian Tinospora species are an important group of medicinal herbs used for a variety of pharmacological activities. While, Tinospora cordifolia is widely recognized as a significant herb in the Indian System of Medicines (ISM) due to its bioactive components and has been used in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, urinary problems, fever, jaundice, helminthiasis, leprosy, dysentery, skin diseases, and many more. Using the search phrases "phytochemistry," "traditional uses," and "pharmacological evaluation of Indian Tinospora species," appropriate articles were carefully extracted from the MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and WOS databases. Around 180 articles, related to the India Tinospora species, were selected from a pool of 200 papers published between 1991 and 2023. T. cordifolia has received a lot of scientific attention because of its diverse therapeutic characteristics in treating various diseases. Our present study in this review encompasses 1.) Phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological potential of T. cordifolia as well as other Indian Tinospora species. 2.) Safety and toxicity study and available marketed formulation of T. cordifolia for the treatment of various diseases. The chemical constitution and pharmacological characteristics of other Tinospora species must also be investigated, indicating a need for further scientific research.

Unveiling Various Facades of Tinospora cordifolia Stem in Food: Medicinal and Nutraceutical Aspects

Natural products with curative properties are gaining immense popularity in scientific and food research, possessing no side effects in contrast to other drugs. Guduchi, or Tinospora cordifolia, belongs to the menispermaceae family of universal drugs used to treat various diseases in traditional Indian literature. It has received attention in recent decades because of its utilization in folklore medicine for treating several disorders. Lately, the findings of active phytoconstituents present in herbal plants and their pharmacological function in disease treatment and control have stimulated interest in plants around the world. Guduchi is ethnobotanically used for jaundice, diabetes, urinary problems, stomachaches, prolonged diarrhea, skin ailments, and dysentery. The treatment with Guduchi extracts was accredited to phytochemical constituents, which include glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, and diterpenoid lactones. This review places emphasis on providing in-depth information on the budding applications of herbal medicine in the advancement of functional foods and nutraceuticals to natural product researchers.

Dietary intervention with Tinospora cordifolia improved aging-related decline in locomotor coordination and cerebellar cell survival and plasticity in female rats

Reduced bone mineral density, and muscle strength are the hallmark of aging-related motor coordination deficits and related neuropathologies. Since cerebellum regulates motor movements and balance perception of our body, therefore it may be an important target to control the age-related progression of motor dysfunctions. Dry stem powder of Tinospora cordifolia (TCP) was tested as a food supplement to elucidate its activity to attenuate age-associated locomotor dysfunctions. Intact acyclic middle-aged female rats were used in this study as the model system of the transition phase from premenopause to menopause in women along with cycling young adult rats. Normal chow or 30% High Fat Diet (HFD), supplemented with or without TCP was fed to animals for 12 weeks and then tested for locomotor performance on rotarod followed by post-sacrifice protein expression studies. In comparison to young adults, middle-aged animals showed an increase in number of falls and lesser time spent in rotarod performance test, whereas, animals given TCP supplemented feed showed improvement in performance with more pronounced effects observed in normal chow than HFD fed middle-aged rats. Further, due to its multicomponent nature TCP was found to target the expression of various markers of neuroinflammation, apoptosis, cell survival, and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum region. The current findings suggest that TCP supplementation in the diet may prove to be a potential interventional strategy for the management of frailty and fall-associated morbidities caused by aging-related deterioration of bone mineral density, and muscle strength.

Dietary Supplementation With Tinospora cordifolia Improves Anxiety-Type Behavior and Cognitive Impairments in Middle-Aged Acyclic Female Rats

The midlife transition period in women marks the progressive flattening of neurological health along with increased adiposity, dyslipidemia, frailty, and inflammatory responses mainly attributed to the gradual decline in estrogen levels. Conflicting reports of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) necessitate the exploration of novel therapeutic interventions using bioactive natural products having the least toxicity and a holistic mode of action for the preservation of metabolic homeodynamics with aging in women. The present study was planned to investigate the effects of aging and/or a high-fat diet (HFD) on cognitive impairments and anxiety and further their management by dietary supplement with the Tinospora cordifolia stem powder (TCP). Acyclic female rats were included in this study as the model system of the perimenopause phase of women along with young 3-4 months old rats as controls. Rats were fed on with and without TCP supplemented normal chow or HFD for 12 weeks. Animals fed on a TCP supplemented normal chow showed consistent management of body weight over a 12-week regimen although their calorie intake was much higher in comparison to their age-matched controls. Post-regimen, neurobehavioral tests, such as novel object recognition and elevated plus maze, performed on these animals showed improvement in their learning and memory abilities as well as the anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, due to the presence of multiple components, TCP was observed to modulate the expression of key marker proteins to ameliorate neuroinflammation and apoptosis and promote cell survival and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions of the brain. These findings suggest that TCP supplementation in diet during the midlife transition period in women may be a potential interventional strategy for the management of menopause-associated anxiety and cognitive impairments and healthy aging.

Aging-related changes in metabolic indicators in female rats and their management with Tinospora cordifolia

Conflicting reports of HRT necessitates exploration of therapeutic interventions with the least side effects to preserve metabolic homeodynamics in women later in life. The current study was designed to elucidate the cumulative effects of aging and/or high fat diet (HFD) on some metabolic indicators and their management by Tinospora cordifolia stem powder (TCP) using middle-aged acyclic and young adult cyclic female rats as the model system. Animals were fed on either normal chow or HFD supplemented with or without TCP. Blood and liver tissue were collected for biochemical, and histological studies as well as for expression of proteins regulating lipid metabolism. Animals fed with TCP supplemented normal chow feed showed bodyweight management over 12-weeks despite their high feed and calories intake compared to young and age-matched controls as well as HFD-fed animals. TCP dose used was not toxic and rather prevented age-associated liver dysfunctions and ameliorated dyslipidemia and oxidative stress, normalized blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and secretary pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further, bodyweight management effect of TCP was observed to target AMPK signalling pathway as the mediator of lipogenesis, sterol biosynthesis, lipolysis, and β-oxidation of fatty acids. These findings suggest that TCP supplementation in diet may be a potential interventional strategy to ameliorate aging-associated hepatic and metabolic dysfunctions and to promote healthy aging.

Research Progress of Natural Small-Molecule Compounds Related to Tumor Differentiation

Tumor differentiation is a therapeutic strategy aimed at reactivating the endogenous differentiation program of cancer cells and inducing cancer cells to mature and differentiate into other types of cells. It has been found that a variety of natural small-molecule drugs can induce tumor cell differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. Relevant molecules involved in the differentiation process may be potential therapeutic targets for tumor cells. Compared with synthetic drugs, natural small-molecule antitumor compounds have the characteristics of wide sources, structural diversity and low toxicity. In addition, natural drugs with structural modification and transformation have relatively concentrated targets and enhanced efficacy. Therefore, using natural small-molecule compounds to induce malignant cell differentiation represents a more targeted and potential low-toxicity means of tumor treatment. In this review, we focus on natural small-molecule compounds that induce differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells, osteoblasts and other malignant cells into functional cells by regulating signaling pathways and the expression of specific genes. We provide a reference for the subsequent development of natural small molecules for antitumor applications and promote the development of differentiation therapy.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers: Protection mechanisms and strategies against oxidative stress-related diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers (Menispermaceae) is a Mediterranean herb, used in Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and folk medicines. The herb is also used in conventional medicine to treat oxidative stress-related diseases and conditions, including inflammation, pain, diarrhea, asthma, respiratory infections, cancer, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The taxonomy, botanical classification, geographical distribution, and ethnobotanical uses of T. cordifolia, as well as the phytochemical compounds found in the herb, the toxicology of and pharmacological and clinical studies on the effects of T. cordifolia are all covered in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To gather information on T. cordifolia, we used a variety of scientific databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. The information discussed focuses on biologically active compounds found in T. cordifolia, and common applications and pharmacological activity of the herb, as well as toxicological and clinical studies on its properties.

RESULTS

The findings of this study reveal a connection between the use of T. cordifolia in conventional medicine and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and other biological effects. The entire plant, stem, leaves, root, and extracts of T. cordifolia have been shown to have a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impact. Toxicological testing demonstrated that this plant may have medicinal applications. T. cordifolia contains a variety of biologically active compounds from various chemical classes, including alkaloids, terpenoids, sitosterols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Based on the reports researched for this review, we believe that chemicals in T. cordifolia may activate Nrf2, which leads to the overexpression of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, GPx, GST, and GR, and thereby induces the adaptive response to oxidative stress. T. cordifolia is also able to reduce NF-κB signalling by inhibiting PI3K/Akt, activating AMPK and sirtuins, and downregulating PI3K/Akt.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that the pharmacological properties displayed by T. cordifolia back up its conventional uses. Antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective activities were all demonstrated in T. cordifolia stem extracts. To validate pharmacodynamic targets, further research is needed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of the known compounds against gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory processes, and microbial infections, as immunostimulants, and in chemotherapy. The T. cordifolia safety profile was confirmed in a toxicological analysis, which prompted pharmacokinetic assessment testing to confirm its bioavailability.

Differentiation of IMR32 Neuroblastoma Is Accompanied by a Global Change in the Transcriptome

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common cancers in infants and is often multidrug-resistant. One of the methods of treating neuroblastomas is to create conditions for their differentiation. In this work, we performed a full-transcriptome analysis of gene expression in an undifferentiated and differentiated in vitro human neuroblastoma cell line IMR-32 and identified the signaling pathways and biological processes that undergo the greatest changes during differentiation. The results obtained show that a complex heterogeneous population of nerve cells is formed at different stages of differentiation. In the cell population of differentiating neuroblastoma, the expression of genes in which cortical neuronal progenitor cells are enriched increases; at the same time, there are cells expressing markers of early postmitotic neurons. Cells differentiate in several different directions according to the type of synaptic mediator. At the same time, the differentiation of IMR-32 cells is accompanied by an increase in the transcription of genes that suppress the differentiation of nerve cells, Sox2 and PROM1, the expression of which is normally suppressed during in vivo differentiation.

Tinospora cordifolia ameliorates brain functions impairments associated with high fat diet induced obesity

Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem worldwide and its prevalence has increased markedly in both the developing and developed nations. It is associated with a range of co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cognitive dysfunctions. Therefore, the need for a safe and effective treatment has led to the exploration of natural products for the management of obesity. In the present study, we tested the anxiolytic, anti-apoptotic, and anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Tinospora cordifolia in a high fat diet-induced obesity rat model system. Young female Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: (1) Low fat diet (LFD), fed on normal chow feed; (2) High fat diet (HFD), fed on diet containing 30% fat by weight; and (3) High fat diet containing extract (HFDE), fed on high fat diet supplemented with the stem powder of T. cordifolia (TCP). The rats from each group were kept on their respective feeding regimen for 12 weeks. The body weight and calorie intake were recorded weekly. The elevated plus maze test and rotarod performance test were performed to evaluate the anxiety-like behavior and locomotor coordination, respectively. The levels of serum cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were estimated and various markers for inflammation, synaptic plasticity, apoptosis, and energy homeostasis were studied by western blotting. The HFDE rats showed reduced anxiety-like behavior and improved locomotor behavior as compared to HFD-induced obese rats. The TCP supplementation in high fat diet suppressed the expression of inflammatory molecules, including serum cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), and modulated apoptosis and synaptic plasticity. TCP was found to be effective in managing body weight in HFD-fed rats by maintaining energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis. T. cordifolia may be recommended as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent the adverse effects of obesity and obesity-associated brain dysfunctions.

From ayurvedic folk medicine to preclinical neurotherapeutic role of a miraculous herb, Tinospora cordifolia

In Ayurveda, the age-old Indian traditional system of medicine, health is considered to be achieved as equilibrium of physical and mental wellbeing and brain related ailments are recognized as 'Vatavyadi'. Rasayana herbs were mainly used for pharmacological treatment of neurological diseases and Tinospora cordifolia is one of the popular Rasayana herbs of Ayurveda. The traditional claims of therapeutic activity of this herb for treatment of fever, diabetes, anxiety, immunodeficiency, memory deficit and psychological problems have been explored by different research groups using reverse pharmacology and advance technological approaches. The aim of current review is to compile and discuss the neurotherapeutic potential of T. cordifolia in the light of various preclinical and clinical studies from literature. This review summarizes the information about different extracts of this herb and decoctions used for various neuro-related problems such as neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammation, sleep disorders, neural cancers, memory and cognition deficits and psychological problems besides other potential activities. The review also provides the knowledge of underlying therapeutic mechanism of T. cordifolia and its active phytoconstituents.

Nonirritant and Cytocompatible Tinospora cordifolia Nanoparticles for Topical Antioxidant Treatments

Tinospora cordifolia extract contains antioxidants such as polyphenols, and thus, it has been used as a natural phytochemical antioxidant therapeutic agent. Many of these compounds are insoluble or only partially soluble in water. In this study, we produced a novel aqueous nanoparticle formulation, with an average particle size of 182.9 ± 3.8 nm, to improve the dispersion of the bioactive compounds in water and to increment its bioavailability. The nanoparticles are composed of polyphenols, alkaloids, and glycosides. We studied the effect of this nanoparticle formulation on mouse 3T3 fibroblast cell viability and New Zealand rabbit dermal irritability tests. Concentrations of 2.5, 25, and 250 µg/mL resulted in similar cell viability to cells in culture media. An intermediate concentration of 12.45 mg/ml was used for the acute dermal irritability test. There were no severe alterations that compromised animal health. These results represent a precedent for application of such nanoparticles derived from plant stems, such as Tinospora cordifolia, in biomedicine and in antiaging cosmetic treatments.

Anti-brain cancer activity of chloroform and hexane extracts of Tinospora cordifolia Miers: an in vitro perspective

Background

Plants have been suggested as safest source of therapeutic agents, with multi targeted mode of action and least side effects. Tinospora cordifolia, commonly known as Guduchi in India, is one of the most highly valued herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. It possesses potential anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, immune-stimulatory and various other beneficial activities.

Purpose

The present study was aimed to investigate the differentiation inducing potential of chloroform and hexane extracts of T. cordifolia using U87MG glioblastoma and IMR-32 neuroblastoma cell lines as model system.

Results

Chloroform (Chl-TCE) and hexane (Hex-TCE) extracts significantly reduced the rate of proliferation and induced cell differentiation as evidenced by MTT assay and immunostaining for GFAP and MAP-2 in glioblastoma and neuroblastoma, respectively. Further these extracts increased the expression of stress markers HSP70 and Mortalin and induced senescence. Chloroform and hexane extracts also inhibited the migration of U87MG glioblastoma and IMR-32 neuroblastoma as indicated by wound scratch assay and supported by reduced expression of NCAM. Furthermore these extracts are not toxic to normal cells as they showed no inhibitory effects on primary astrocytic and neuronal cultures.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that chloroform and hexane extracts of T. cordifolia retard the rate of proliferation, induce differentiation and inhibit migration of human glioblastomas and neuroblastomas, thus may act as potential phytotherapeutic intervention in treatment of neural cancers.

Cancer stem cells in neuroblastoma therapy resistance

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common cancer of infancy and accounts for nearly one tenth of pediatric cancer deaths. This mortality rate has been attributed to the > 50% frequency of relapse despite intensive, multimodal clinical therapy in patients with progressive NB. Given the disease’s heterogeneity and developed resistance, attaining a cure after relapse of progressive NB is highly challenging. A rapid decrease in the timeline between successive recurrences is likely due to the ongoing acquisition of genetic rearrangements in undifferentiated NB-cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this review, we present the current understanding of NB-CSCs, their intrinsic role in tumorigenesis, their function in disease progression, and their influence on acquired therapy resistance and tumor evolution. In particular, this review focus on the intrinsic involvement of stem cells and signaling in the genesis of NB, the function of pre-existing CSCs in NB progression and therapy response, the formation and influence of induced CSCs (iCSCs) in drug resistance and tumor evolution, and the development of a CSC-targeted therapeutic approach.

Structural tuning of acridones for developing anticancer agents targeting dihydrofolate reductase

Targeting dihydrofolate reductase, here, we report the tumor growth inhibitory activity of substituted acridones. The screening of the molecules over 60 cell line panel of human cancer cells identified (S)-oxiran-2-ylmethyl 9-oxo-9,10-dihydroacridine-4-carboxylate (19) with average GI₅₀ 0.3 μM. The specificity of the compound to CCRF-CEM, MOLT-4 and SR cell lines of leukemia and SW-620, SF268, LOXIMVI, ACHN and MCF7 cancerous cells exhibiting GI₅₀ in the nM range was observed. C6 Glioma cells treated with compound 19 showed differentiated cell morphology and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. The interactions of the compound with dihydrofolate reductase were ascertained with the help of enzyme immunoassays, molecular docking and molecular dynamic studies.

Tinospora cordifolia as a potential neuroregenerative candidate against glutamate induced excitotoxicity: an in vitro perspective

BACKGROUND

Glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter of CNS acts as a neurotoxin at higher concentrations. Prolonged activation of glutamate receptors results in progressive neuronal damage by aggravating calcium influx, inducing mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress. Excitotoxic cell death is associated with the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders such as trauma, brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. The current study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective and neuroregenerative potential of Tinospora cordifolia against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity using primary cerebellar neuronal cultures as a model system.

METHODS

Monosodium salt of glutamate was used to induce neurotoxic injury in primary cerebellar neurons. Four extracts including Hexane extract, Chloroform extract, Ethyl acetate, and Butanol extract were obtained from fractionation of previously reported aqueous ethanolic extract of T. cordifolia and tested for neuroprotective activity. Out of the four fractions, Butanol extract of T. cordifolia (B-TCE) exhibited neuroprotective potential by preventing degeneration of neurons induced by glutamate. Expression of different neuronal, apoptotic, inflammatory, cell cycle regulatory and plasticity markers was studied by immunostaining and Western blotting. Neurite outgrowth and migration were also studied using primary explant cultures, wound scratch and gelatin zymogram assay.

RESULTS

At molecular level, B-TCE pretreatment of glutamate-treated cultures normalized the stress-induced downregulation in the expression of neuronal markers (MAP-2, GAP-43, NF200) and anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-xL). Further, cells exposed to glutamate showed enhanced expression of inflammatory (NF-κB, AP-1) and senescence markers (HSP70, Mortalin) as well as the extent of mitochondrial damage. However, B-TCE pretreatment prevented this increase and inhibited glutamate-induced onset of inflammation, stress and mitochondrial membrane damage. Furthermore, B-TCE was observed to promote regeneration, migration and plasticity of cerebellar neurons, which was otherwise significantly inhibited by glutamate treatment.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that B-TCE may have neuroprotective and neuroregenerative potential against catastrophic consequences of glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity and could be a potential therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative diseases.

An Aqueous Extract of Tuberaria lignosa Inhibits Cell Growth, Alters the Cell Cycle Profile, and Induces Apoptosis of NCI-H460 Tumor Cells

Tuberaria lignosa (Sweet) Samp. is found in European regions, and has antioxidant properties due to its composition in ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds. Given its traditional use and antioxidant properties, the tumor cell growth inhibitory potential of aqueous extracts from T. lignosa (prepared by infusion and decoction) was investigated in three human tumor cell lines: MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), and HCT-15 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma). Both extracts inhibited the growth of these cell lines; the most potent one being the T. lignosa extract obtained by infusion in the NCI-H460 cells (GI₅₀ of approximately 50 μg/mL). Further assays were carried out with this extract in NCI-H460 cells. At 100 μg/mL or 150 μg/mL it caused an increase in the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase and a decrease of cells in S phase of the cell cycle. Additionally, these concentrations caused an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells. In agreement, a decrease in total poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and pro-caspase 3 levels was found. In conclusion, the T. lignosa extract obtained by infusion was more potent in NCI-H460 cells, altering the cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. This work highlights the importance of T. lignosa as a source of bioactive compounds with tumor cell growth inhibitory potential.