Cinnamic aldehyde suppresses hypoxia-induced angiogenesis via inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression during tumor progression

Combinatorial Effects of the Natural Products Arctigenin, Chlorogenic Acid, and Cinnamaldehyde Commit Oxidation Assassination on Breast Cancer Cells

Major obstacles in current breast cancer treatment efficacy include the ability of breast cancer cells to develop resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and the off-target cytotoxicity of these drugs on normal cells, leading to debilitating side effects. One major difference between cancer and normal cells is their metabolism, as cancer cells acquire glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism alterations throughout tumorigenesis. In this study, we sought to exploit this metabolic difference by investigating alternative breast cancer treatment options based on the application of phytochemicals. Herein, we investigated three phytochemicals, namely cinnamaldehyde (CA), chlorogenic acid (CGA), and arctigenin (Arc), regarding their anti-breast-cancer properties. These phytochemicals were administered alone or in combination to MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and HCC1419 breast cancer or normal MCF-10A and MCF-12F breast cells. Overall, our results indicated that the combination treatments showed stronger inhibitory effects on breast cancer cells versus single treatments. However, only treatments with CA (35 μM), CGA (250 μg/mL), and the combination of CA + CGA (35 μM + 250 μg/mL) showed no significant cytotoxic effects on normal mammary epithelial cells, suggesting that Arc was the driver of normal cell cytotoxicity in all other treatments. CA + CGA and, to a lesser extent, CGA alone effectively induced breast cancer cell death accompanied by decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential, increased mitochondrial superoxide, reduced mitochondrial and glycolytic ATP production, and led to significant changes in cellular and mitochondrial morphology. Altogether, the combination of CA + CGA was determined as the best anti-breast-cancer treatment strategy due to its strong anti-breast-cancer effects without strong adverse effects on normal mammary epithelial cells. This study provides evidence that targeting the mitochondria may be an effective anticancer treatment, and that using phytochemicals or combinations thereof offers new approaches in treating breast cancer that significantly reduce off-target effects on normal cells.

Cinnamaldehyde Downregulation of Sept9 Inhibits Glioma Progression through Suppressing Hif-1α via the Pi3k/Akt Signaling Pathway

Purpose

Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is the main ingredient in cinnamon, and it has been proven to have an inhibitory effect on many different tumor types. However, it lacks effect on glioma. This paper explores the effect CA has on glioma cells U87 and U251 at the cellular and molecular levels.

Methods

The relationship between Hif-1α and Sept9 was found by CGGA. Cell Viability Assay (CCK8) was made to detect the proliferation ability. The scratch experiment and the transwell experiment were applied to the migration and invasion ability. Annexin V-FITC/PI were used to detect the cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to determine the specified protein level.

Results

Cell proliferation assay results revealed CA to inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner. It promoted apoptosis for upregulating the expression of Bax and downregulating the expression of Bcl-2. Wound Healing Assay and transwell test found CA to have anti-invasion ability and that it upregulated the expression of E-cadherin and downregulated the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9. The molecular mechanism was studied from a tumor microenvironment (TME) perspective. Pi3k inhibitor (LY294002) was used for interfering with cells, and the results found CA to demonstrate a similar effect. Hif-1α and Sept9 expressions were inhibited, and Akt and p-Akt were also inhibited. By using CoCl₂ to make hypoxia, CA was discovered to inhibit the high expression of Hif-1α and Sept9, demonstrating a correlation with the Pi3k/Akt pathway. It is suggested that the mechanism of Sept9 under hypoxia regulation can be realized through the Pi3k/Akt pathway.

Conclusions

This study proves for the first time that CA is an effective drug for inhibiting the proliferation of glioma through Sept9 and reveals Sept9 to be related to the Pi3k/Akt pathway in terms of tumor microenvironment, providing a molecular basis for the further study of CA in glioma treatment.

Inhibition of the HIF-1 Survival Pathway as a Strategy to Augment Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-to-minimally invasive treatment modality that utilizes photoactivatable drugs called photosensitizers to disrupt tumors with locally photoproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Photosensitizer activation by light results in hyperoxidative stress and subsequent tumor cell death, vascular shutdown and hypoxia, and an antitumor immune response. However, sublethally afflicted tumor cells initiate several survival mechanisms that account for decreased PDT efficacy. The hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) pathway is one of the most effective cell survival pathways that contributes to cell recovery from PDT-induced damage. Several hundred target genes of the HIF-1 heterodimeric complex collectively mediate processes that are involved in tumor cell survival directly and indirectly (e.g., vascularization, glucose metabolism, proliferation, and metastasis). The broad spectrum of biological ramifications culminating from the activation of HIF-1 target genes reflects the importance of HIF-1 in the context of therapeutic recalcitrance. This chapter elaborates on the involvement of HIF-1 in cancer biology, the hypoxic response mechanisms, and the role of HIF-1 in PDT. An overview of inhibitors that either directly or indirectly impede HIF-1-mediated survival signaling is provided. The inhibitors may be used as pharmacological adjuvants in combination with PDT to augment therapeutic efficacy.

Cinnamic Aldehyde, the main monomer component of Cinnamon, exhibits anti-inflammatory property in OA synovial fibroblasts via TLR4/MyD88 pathway

Cinnamon is a wildly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment, but the underlying mechanism remains ambiguous. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of cinnamic aldehyde (CA), a bioactive substance extracted from Cinnamon, on synovial inflammation in OA. A total of 144 CA-OA co-targeted genes were identified by detect databases (PubChem, HIT, TCMSP, TTD, DrugBank and GeneCards). The results of GO enrichment analysis indicated that these co-targeted genes have participated in many biological processes including 'inflammatory response', 'cellular response to lipopolysaccharide', 'response to drug', 'immune response', 'lipopolysaccharide-mediated signalling pathway', etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed these co-targeted genes were mainly enriched in 'Toll-like receptor signalling pathway', 'TNF signalling pathway', 'NF-kappa B signalling pathway', etc. Molecular docking demonstrated that CA could successfully bind to TLR2 and TLR4. The results of in vitro experiments showed no potential toxicity of 10, 20 and 50 μM/L CA on human OA FLS, and CA can significantly inhibit the inflammation in LPS-induced human FLS. Further experimental mechanism evidence confirmed CA can inhibited the inflammation in LPS-induced human OA FLS via blocking the TLR4/MyD88 signalling pathway. Our results demonstrated that CA exhibited strong anti-inflammation effect in OA FLS through blocking the activation of TLR4/MyD88 signalling pathway, suggesting its potential as a hopeful candidate for the development of novel agents for the treatment of OA.

Digitoxin promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and migration by reducing HIF-1α and STAT3 in KRAS mutant human colon cancer cells

Colon cancer patients with mutant KRAS are resistant to cetuximab, an antibody directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor. New treatment options are needed to improve survival in patients with KRAS mutated colorectal cancer. Digitoxin is a cardiotonic drug, which has been demonstrated to exhibit anticancer effects in a number of cancers. However, the anticancer mechanisms of digitoxin in KRAS mutant human colon cancer cells remain elusive. Our result demonstrated that digitoxin but not cetuximab markedly decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and p-STAT3 protein in KRAS mutant colon cancer cells. Further analysis revealed that digitoxin inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis, without affecting the expression level of HIF-1α mRNA or degradation of HIF-1α protein. The phosphorylation levels of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and eIF4E binding protein-1 (4E-BP1) were significantly suppressed by digitoxin. Digitoxin inhibited the expression and activation of STAT3 through upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), SHP1 and protein inhibitors of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) and direct binding to STAT3. Meanwhile, digitoxin inhibited HIF-1α in STAT3-independent manner in KRAS mutant colon cancer cells. Moreover, digitoxin promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation and migration, which was potentially mediated by suppression of HIF-1α and STAT3. We also found that digitoxin administration inhibited tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Taken together, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of digitoxin for the treatment of cetuximab-resistant human colon cancer.

Two Promising Anti-Cancer Compounds, 2-Hydroxycinnaldehyde and 2-Benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde: Where do we stand?

Natural bioactive compounds with anti-carcinogenic activity are gaining tremendous interest in the field of oncology. Cinnamon, an aromatic condiment commonly used in tropical regions, appeared incredibly promising as adjuvant for cancer therapy. Indeed, its whole or active parts (e.g., bark, leaf) exhibited significant anti-carcinogenic activity, which is mainly due to two cinnamaldehyde derivatives, namely 2-hydroxycinnaldehyde (HCA) and 2-benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde (BCA). In addition to their anti-cancer activity, HCA and BCA exert immunomodulatory, anti-platelets, and anti-inflammatory activities. Highly reactive α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl pharmacophore, called Michael acceptor, contribute to their therapeutic effects. The molecular mechanisms, underlying their anti-tumoral and anti-metastatic effects are miscellaneous, strongly suggesting that these compounds are multi-targeting compounds. Nevertheless, unravelling the exact molecular mechanisms of HCA and BCA remain a challenging matter which is necessary for optimal controlled-drug targeting delivery, safety, and efficiency. Eventually, their poor pharmacological properties (e.g., systemic bioavailability and solubility) represent a limitation, and depend both on their administration route (e.g., per os, intravenously) and the nature of the formulation (e.g., free, smart nano-). This concise review focused on the potential of HCA and BCA as adjuvants in Cancer. We described their medicinal effects as well as provide an update about their molecular mechanisms reported either in-vitro, ex-vivo, or in animal models.

Effects of Cinnamaldehyde on the Viability and Expression of Chemokine Receptor Genes in Temozolomide-treated Glioma Cells

BACKGROUND/AIM

The effects of cinnamaldehyde on glioma are still unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of cinnamaldehyde on the viability and expression of chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 in temozolomide (TMZ)-treated glioma cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell viability and CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression were measured by western blotting at 72 h after treatment with various concentrations of cinnamaldehyde and TMZ.

RESULTS

Cell viability was significantly lower after treatment with 300 μM TMZ, 50 μM cinnamaldehyde, 75 μM cinnamaldehyde, or combined treatment with 300 μM TMZ plus 50 μM or 75 μM cinnamaldehyde than after no treatment (i.e., without TMZ or cinnamaldehyde); and significantly lower after combined treatment with 300 μM TMZ plus 75 μM cinnamaldehyde but not 50 μM cinnamaldehyde, than treatment with 300 μM TMZ alone. Western blotting showed that either single treatments or combined treatments had lower CXCR4 expression (compared to the no-treatment control). Compared to 300 μM TMZ alone, both combined treatment of 300 μM TMZ plus 50 μM cinnamaldehyde or 75 μM cinnamaldehyde had significantly lowered CXCR4 expression. However, CXCR7 expression was not significantly different in all groups.

CONCLUSION

Cinnamaldehyde, acting with TMZ, reduces glioma cell viability possibly via decreasing CXCR4 expression.

MicroRNA‑576‑3p inhibits the migration and proangiogenic abilities of hypoxia‑treated glioma cells through hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α

The most common and aggressive type of brain cancer in adults is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and hypoxia is a common feature of glioblastoma. As the histological features of glioma include capillary endothelial cell proliferation, they are highly prone to invading the surrounding normal brain tissue, which is often one of the reasons for the failure of treatment. However, the mechanisms involved in this process are not fully understood. MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of non‑coding RNA that are able to inhibit the malignant progression of tumor cells through the regulation of downstream genes. In the present study, the low expression of miR‑576‑3p was detected in glioma samples and hypoxia‑treated glioma cells using a reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The present study focused on the effects of miR‑576‑3p on hypoxia‑induced glioma. The results of the functional experiments revealed that the overexpression of miR‑576‑3p significantly inhibited the migration and pro‑angiogenic abilities of the glioma cells under hypoxic conditions (P<0.05) compared with in the lentivirus‑miR‑negative control group. Furthermore, luciferase reporter gene assays were used to validate the hypothesis that miR‑576‑3p interacts with the 3'‑untranslated region of hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α (HIF‑1α) and induces a reduction in the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase‑2 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Rescue experiments demonstrated that the restoration of HIF‑1α expression attenuated the effect of miR‑576‑3p on the migration and proangiogenic abilities of glioma cells. In conclusion, the present study confirms that miR‑576‑3p is a novel GBM inhibitor and its inhibition of the migration and proangiogenic capacity of hypoxia‑induced glioma cells is mediated by HIF‑1α.

The inhibition of hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and metastasis by cinnamaldehyde is mediated by decreasing HIF-1α protein synthesis via PI3K/Akt pathway

Tumor hypoxia is positively correlated with tumor aggressiveness and hence is a negative prognostic factor in cancer. As normal cells usually do not experience such low oxygen levels, hypoxic cell signaling has attracted significant attention for the development of tumor-selective treatment strategies. In response to hypoxia, the master transcriptional regulator, HIF-1α plays central role in cellular adaptation by transactivating several crucial downstream target genes, which are involved in angiogenesis, metastasis, and EMT. In this study, we investigated the effect of cinnamaldehyde (CA), the main active ingredient of Cinnamon cassia bark extract, on hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and metastasis. The study in vitro comprised two cell lines, viz, sarcoma 180 and B16F10 melanoma, which were further confirmed in their respective transplantable in vivo models. Results show that CA administration inhibited tumor angiogenesis, EMT, and metastasis. At the molecular level, this was accompanied by a reduction in VEGF secretion, VEGF receptor (FLK) phosphorylation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, and activity as well as a reduction in the EMT-related factors TWIST and ZEB1. Next, we focused our study particularly on the modulation of HIF-1 α by CA, which revealed that CA decreased HIF-1 α protein level by inhibiting its synthesis without affecting its proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, the PI3/Akt/mTOR pathway, which plays an important role in HIF-1α transcription and translation, was also inhibited by CA both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, it can be concluded that CA decreased angiogenesis and metastasis in tumor cells by inhibiting HIF-1α protein accumulation probably by targeting the PI3/Akt/mTOR pathway. © 2019 BioFactors, 45(3):401-415, 2019.

Gastric Mucosal Lesions in Tibetans with High-Altitude Polycythemia Show Increased HIF-1A Expression and ROS Production

Background

Living at a high plateau in a very hostile environment and low oxygen levels often leads to the development of high-altitude polycythemia (HAPC) and gastric mucosal lesions caused by high-level reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hypoxia-inducible factor-1A (HIF-1A) helps maintain oxygen homeostasis by promoting the transcription of various genes and can be affected by ROS levels. To evaluate the molecular mechanism by which HAPC causes the gastric mucosal lesions, the expression of HIF-1A was measured in Tibetans with HAPC and in healthy subjects. Ultrastructural, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed in the gastric tissues of both groups, and the expression of HIF-1A in the gastric mucosa was detected using qPCR and Western Blot.

Results

The microvessel density and average diameter of gastric mucosal vessels were significantly greater in the HAPC patients than in the healthy subjects (p < 0.05). The number of red blood cells in the gastric mucosa was also significantly higher in the HAPC group than in the healthy subjects (p < 0.05). In addition, the density of the mitochondrial vacuoles and endoplasmic reticulum and pathological apoptosis were significantly increased in the gastric cells from HAPC patients compared to those from the healthy subjects. The levels of ROS and HIF-1A in the gastric mucosa were increased in HAPC patients compared to those in controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

An increased level of HIF-1A was associated with HAPC development in the stomach of Tibetans living at a high altitude. ROS upregulated the levels of HIF-1A. Thus, ROS-mediated HIF-1A signaling transduction may be the mechanism associated with HAPC-induced gastric lesions.

Effects of PEP-1-FK506BP on cyst formation in polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common inherited disorders, involving progressive cyst formation in the kidney that leads to renal failure. FK506 binding protein 12 (FK506BP) is an immunophilin protein that performs multiple functions, including regulation of cell signaling pathways and survival. In this study, we determined the roles of PEP-1-FK506BP on cell proliferation and cyst formation in PKD cells. Purified PEP-1-FK506BP transduced into PKD cells markedly inhibited cell proliferation. Also, PEP-1-FK506BP drastically inhibited the expression levels of p-Akt, p-p70S6K, p-mTOR, and p-ERK in PKD cells. In a 3D-culture system, PEP-1-FK506BP significantly reduced cyst formation. Furthermore, the combined effects of rapamycin and PEP-1-FK506BP on cyst formation were markedly higher than the effects of individual treatments. These results suggest that PEP-1-FK506BP delayed cyst formation and could be a new therapeutic strategy for renal cyst formation in PKD. [BMB Reports 2017; 50(9): 460-465].

Zingerone suppresses angiogenesis via inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases during tumor development

Angiogenesis is an essential step for tumor survival and progression, and the inhibition of angiogenesis is a good strategy for tumor therapeutics. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of zingerone in a mouse tumor model. Zingerone suppressed tumor progression and tumor angiogenesis. Moreover, we found that zingerone inhibited the angiogenic activities of endothelial cells by both direct and indirect means. A mechanistic study showed that the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in tumor cells were decreased by treatment with zingerone. Interestingly, zingerone-mediated inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was involved in the JNK pathway. In conclusion, zingerone showed strong anti-angiogenic activity via the inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 during tumor progression, suggesting that zingerone may be a potential therapeutic drug for human cancers.

Cinnamicaldehyde regulates the expression of tight junction proteins and amino acid transporters in intestinal porcine epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Cinnamicaldehyde (CA) is a key flavor compound in cinnamon essential oil possessing various bioactivities. Tight junction (TJ) proteins are vital for the maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier function, transport, absorption and utilization of dietary amino acids and other nutrients. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that CA may regulate the expression of TJ proteins and amino acid transporters in intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-1) isolated from neonatal pigs.

RESULTS

Compared with the control, cells incubated with 25 μmol/L CA had increased transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and decreased paracellular intestinal permeability. The beneficial effect of CA on mucosal barrier function was associated with enhanced protein abundance for claudin-4, zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3. Immunofluorescence staining showed that 25 μmol/L CA promoted the localization of claudin-1 and claudin-3 to the plasma membrane without affecting the localization of other TJ proteins, including claudin-4, occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3, compared with the control cells. Moreover, protein abundances for rBAT, xCT and LAT2 in IPEC-1 cells were enhanced by 25 μmol/L CA, while that for EAAT3 was not affected.

CONCLUSIONS

CA improves  intestinal mucosal barrier function by regulating the distribution of claudin-1 and claudin-3 in enterocytes, as well as enhancing protein abundance for amino acid transporters rBAT, xCT and LAT2 in enterocytes. Supplementation with CA may provide an effective nutritional strategy to improve intestinal integrity and amino acid transport and absorption in piglets.

Efficacy of the traditional Japanese medicine goreisan for the resolution of spermatic cord hydrocele in children

PURPOSE

Goreisan, a traditional Japanese medicine, has previously been used for hydrostatic modulation. This retrospective study investigated the efficacy of goreisan for spermatic cord hydrocele resolution in children.

METHODS

Seventy-two boys treated for spermatic cord hydrocele between 2012 and 2015 were included; Goreisan was administered to 16 [group G, median age 3 (1-8) years], and 56 were followed without medication [group C, median age 1 (0-8) years]. An age-matched comparison was conducted between 14/16 group G patients (group g) and 14/56 group C patients (group c).

RESULTS

Incidences of resolution were higher in groups G and g than in groups C and c, respectively, both during the study period and within the first 6-month observation period; groups G and g also had a significantly lower incidence of surgery for hydrocele than in groups C and c, respectively. The interval from the commencement of observation until hydrocele resolution was significantly shorter in group G than in group C, but not in group g than in group c.

CONCLUSION

Goreisan can effectively promote the resolution of spermatic cord hydrocele in children and may be a valid treatment choice for this condition.

Imperatorin suppresses proliferation and angiogenesis of human colon cancer cell by targeting HIF-1α via the mTOR/p70S6K/4E-BP1 and MAPK pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Angelica dahurica is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine to treat migraine headache, toothache and cancer. Imperatorin is an active natural furocoumarin component originating from Angelica dahurica and has been shown to exhibit multiple bioeffector functions, including anti-cancer activity. However, the mechanism by which imperatorin inhibits tumor growth is not fully understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of imperatorin as a treatment of cancer and to identify the underlying mechanisms of its anticancer activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HCT116, HeLa, and Hep3B cells were used in this study. Major assays were promoter-reporter gene assay, MTT, western blot analysis, immunofluorescence assay, reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), flow cytometric analysis, clonogenic assay, EdU labeling and immunofluorescence, xenografted assay, and VEGF ELISA.

RESULTS

We here demonstrated the effect of imperatorin on hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) activation. Imperatorin showed a potent inhibitory activity against HIF-1 activation induced by hypoxia in various human cancer cell lines. This compound markedly decreased the hypoxia-induced accumulation of HIF-1α protein dose-dependently, whereas it did not affect the expressions of HIF-1β and topoisomerase-I (Topo-I). Further analysis revealed that imperatorin inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis, without affecting the expression level of HIF-1α mRNA or degradation of HIF-1α protein. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), eIF4E binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2), SAPK/JNK and p38 were significantly suppressed by imperatorin. Furthermore, imperatorin prevented hypoxia-induced expression of HIF-1 target genes and flow cytometric analysis indicated that imperatorin induced G1 phase arrest in human colon cancer cell (HCT116). We found that imperatorin administration inhibits tumor growth and blocks tumor angiogenesis in a xenograft tumor model.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that imperatorin inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis by downregulating the mTOR/p70S6K/4E-BP1 and MAPK pathways. These conclusions suggest that imperatorin is an effective inhibitor of HIF-1 and provide new perspectives into the mechanism of its anticancer activity.

Cinnamon extract reduces VEGF expression via suppressing HIF-1α gene expression and inhibits tumor growth in mice

Although many anti-VEGF agents are available for cancer treatment, side effects of these agents limit their application for cancer treatment and prevention. Here we studied the potential use of a diet-based agent as an inhibitor for VEGF production. Using a VEGF reporter assay, our data showed that an extract from cinnamon (CE) was a potent inhibitor of VEGF production in human cancer cells and suggested inhibition might be mediated through the suppression of HIF-1α gene expression and protein synthesis. Furthermore, CE treatment was found to inhibit expression and phosphorylation of STAT3 and AKT, which are key factors in the regulation of HIF-1α expression, and significantly reduce angiogenesis potential of cancer cells by migration assay. Consistent with these results, we observed significant suppression of VEGF expression, blood vessel formation, and tumor growth in a human ovarian tumor model in mice treated with CE. Cinnamaldehyde, a major component in cinnamon, was identified as one active component in CE that inhibits VEGF expression. Taken together, our findings provide a novel mechanism underlying anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor actions of CE and support the potential use of CE in cancer prevention and treatment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of rapamycin on endometriosis in mice

The aims of the present study were to investigate the impact of rapamycin (RAPA) on the endometriosis (EMS) lesions in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, and to examine the possible mechanism involved in a novel therapy in EMS. Following the successful establishment of an EMS-SCID mouse model, the mice were randomly assigned into the RAPA, control and saline treatment groups. Subsequent to treatment for 2 weeks, the serum hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected using ELISA. The levels of HIF-1α and VEGF, as well as the size of EMS lesions, were compared among the three groups. In addition, the HIF-1α, VEGF and CD34 protein expression levels, and the microvessel density (MVD) of the lesions were determined by immunohistochemical analysis. Compared with the control and saline groups, the volume of EMS lesions in the RAPA-treated SCID mice was significantly reduced. Furthermore, the serum level and protein expression of VEGF, and the MVD in the lesions of the RAPA-treated group were significantly reduced when compared with the other two groups. These parameters were comparable in the control and saline groups. In conclusion, RAPA may inhibit the growth of endometriotic lesions, most possibly through the inhibition of the expression of VEGF in lesions, thereby inhibiting angiogenesis.

Cinnamaldehydes in Cancer Chemotherapy

Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde-derived compounds are candidates for the development of anticancer drugs that have received extensive research attention. In this review, we summarize recent findings detailing the positive and negative aspects of cinnamaldehyde and its derivatives as potential anticancer drug candidates. Furthermore, we describe the in vivo pharmacokinetics and metabolism of cinnamaldehydes. The oxidative and antioxidative properties of cinnamaldehydes, which contribute to their potential in chemotherapy, have also been discussed. Moreover, the mechanism(s) by which cinnamaldehydes induce apoptosis in cancer cells have been explored. In addition, evidence of the regulatory effects of cinnamaldehydes on cancer cell invasion and metastasis has been described. Finally, the application of cinnamaldehydes in treating various types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers, has been discussed in detail. The effects of cinnamaldehydes on leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, and oral cancer have been summarized briefly. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.