Swertia mussotii extracts induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in gastric cancer cells

Possible Mechanism of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants Seed Extract Suppresses the Migration and Invasion of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells SMMC-7721

Mexican tea (Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants) is rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids and could be a potential medicinal herb that can be used for prevention of human hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to elaborate the possible mechanism for the prevention or treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma using Mexican tea, and to provide new avenues for the utilization of the invasive plant. In this study, the D. ambrosioides seed extracts (CSE) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the effects of CSE on proliferation, migration, invasion, and gene expression of SMMC-7721 cells were investigated. Eight compounds were identified in CSE, and the compound with the highest content was ascaridole (25.82 %). The proliferation was significantly inhibited by CSE (p<0.05), and IC50 values were 0.587 g/L, 0.360 g/L, and 0.361 g/L at 24 h, 36 h, and 48 h, respectively. Migration and invasion were significantly inhibited (p<0.05). The network pharmacology and transcriptome analysis indicated that 2-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-3-one, cis-11-eicosenoic acid and 2-ethylcyclohexanone might be the active compounds. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the Wnt signaling pathway, which is related to migration and invasion, was significantly altered; this was verified by western blot assay. The expression of wnt11, lef1 and mmp7 genes in SMMC-7721 cells was significantly down-regulated (p<0.05), while gsk-3β was significantly up-regulated (p<0.05). These results indicate that CSE inhibits the invasion and migration of SMMC-7721 cells in hepatocellular carcinoma through the Wnt signaling pathway.

Xanthones and Phenylpropanoids from the Whole Herb of Swertia pseudochinensis and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity

An undescribed xanthone dimer, 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxy-7-(1',5',8'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxy-2'-xanthonyl)xanthone (1) was separated together with eleven known compounds (2-12) from the dried whole herb of Swertia pseudochinensis. It was the first time that the compounds 8-12 were isolated from the Swertia genus. The structure of compound 1 was illuminated based on chemical evidence and spectral data analysis (UV, 1D and 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS). Moreover, the inhibitory effects of all compounds on NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells were tested, compounds 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 showing significant inhibition. The IC₅₀ value of compound 12 was 3.05±1.10 μM. Using target screening and molecular docking, we hypothesized that compound 12 may bind neutrophil elastase to exert its anti-inflammatory effects.

Traditional Tibetan Medicine in Cancer Therapy by Targeting Apoptosis Pathways

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. Apoptosis, one of the pathways of programmed cell death, is a promising target for cancer therapy. Traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) has been used by Tibetan people for thousands of years, and many TTMs have been proven to be effective in the treatment of cancer. This paper summarized the medicinal plants with anticancer activity in the Tibetan traditional system of medicine by searching for Tibetan medicine monographs and drug standards and reviewing modern research literatures. Forty species were found to be effective in treating cancer. More importantly, some TTMs (e.g., Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Phyllanthus emblica L. and Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel) Maxim.) and their active ingredients (e.g., cordycepin, salidroside, and gallic acid) have been reported to possess anticancer activity by targeting some apoptosis pathways in cancer, such as Bcl-2/Bax, caspases, PI3K/Akt, JAK2/STAT3, MAPK, and AMPK. These herbs and natural compounds would be potential drug candidates for the treatment of cancer.

Iridoid compounds from the aerial parts of Swertia mussotii Franch. with cytotoxic activity

One new secoiridoid compound swertiamarin B (1), along with a known compound lytanthosalin (2), were isolated from ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Swertia mussotii. Their structures were elucidated by the detailed analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data. All compounds were first isolated from the Swertia genus. Their antitumor activities were evaluated for four human tumor cell lines (HCT-116, HepG2, MGC-803 and A549). Compounds 1 and 2 showed excellent cytotoxic activities toward the MGC-803 cell lines with IC₅₀ values 3.61 and 12.04 μM, respectively.

Gekkonidae, Lizard tail extracts elicit apoptotic response against non-small cell lung cancer via inhibiting Akt signaling

The genes of Gekkonidae, a lizard, are known to be very similar to human genes. According to previous research, lizard extracts inhibit angiogenesis and show anticancer activity against various cancers. In this regard, this study assessed whether lizard tail extracts (LTE) cause anticancer activity against lung cancer in mouse and human lung cancer cell lines. The results showed that LTE exhibited anticancer activity against lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, cell viability and proliferation decreased in two lung cancer cell lines, while annexin V and single-stranded DNA both increased, showing apoptotic activity caused by LTE. We also found that LTE induced apoptosis in a caspase-3/7 cascade-dependent manner and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt by participating in the PI3k/Akt pathway. In vivo, LTE decreased tumor volume in LLC bearing mice. Our results demonstrate the potential of LTE as a natural-derived anticancer drug to overcome the chemotherapy side effects during cancer treatment and contribute to the discovery of candidate substances.

Traditional Tibetan medicinal plants: a highlighted resource for novel therapeutic compounds

Around 70-80% of drugs used in traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) come from Qinghai Tibet Plateau, the majority of which are plants. The biological and medicinal culture diversity on Qinghai Tibet Plateau are amazing and constitute a less tapped resource for innovative drug research and development. Meanwhile, the problem of the exhausting Tibetan medicine resources is worrying. Here, the latest awareness, as well as the gaps of the traditional Tibetan medicinal plant issues in drug development and clinical usage of TTM compounds, was systematically reviewed and highlighted. The TTM resource studies should be enhanced within the context of deeper and more extensive investigations of molecular biology and genomics of TTM plants, phytometabolites and metabolomics and ethnopharmacology-based bioactivity, thus enabling the sustainable conservation and exploitation of Tibetan medicinal resource.