Toward chelerythrine optimization: Analogues designed by molecular simplification exhibit selective growth inhibition in non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Chelerythrine chloride inhibits the progression of colorectal cancer by targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts through intervention with WNT10B/β-catenin and TGFβ2/Smad2/3 axis

Chelerythrine chloride (CHE) is a benzodiazepine alkaloid derived from natural herbs with significant anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the exact role and underlying mechanisms of CHE in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. Therefore, this study is aimed to investigate the influence of CHE on the progression of CRC. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay (CCK-8), transwell, apoptosis rate, cell cycle distribution, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and colony formation determined the anti-proliferative activity of CHE in CRC cell lines. Transcriptome sequencing and western blot were used to explore the mechanism. Finally, H&E staining, Ki67, TUNEL, and immunofluorescence were conducted to verify the anti-CRC activity and potential mechanisms of CHE in vivo. CHE had a prominent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of CRC cells. CHE induces G1 and S phase arrest and induces cell apoptosis by ROS accumulation. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a key role in CRC metastasis. Then, this study found that CHE regulates WNT10B/β-catenin and TGFβ2/Smad2/3 axis, thereby decreasing the expression of α-SMA, which is a maker of CAFs. Taken together, CHE is a candidate drug and a potent compound for metastatic CRC, which can intervene CAFs in a dual pathway to effectively inhibit the invasion and migration of cancer cells, which can provide a new choice for future clinical treatment.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of Argemone mexicana-inspired antimicrobials

Due to the lack of new antimicrobial drug discovery in recent years and an ever-growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant "superbugs", there is a pressing need to explore alternative ways to combat pathogenic bacterial and fungal infections. Building upon our previous work in the field of medicinal phytochemistry, the present study is focused on designing, synthesizing, and testing the altered bioactivity of new variants of two original bioactive molecules found in the Argemone mexicana plant. Herein, we report upon 14 variants of berberine and four variants of chelerythrine that have been screened against a pool of 12 microorganisms (five Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, and three fungi). Additionally, the crystal structures of two berberine variants are described. Several berberine variants show enhanced antibacterial activity compared to the unaltered plant-derived molecule. We also report promising preliminary tumor cytotoxicity effects for a number of the berberine derivatives.

Antitumor Effects of Chelerythrine: A Literature Review

Chelerythrine (CHE), one of the main active components of the medicinal plant, Chelidonium majus, (Figure 1) Botanical authority is traditionally used as a natural medicine for its significant antitumor activity. The relevant literature on the antitumor activity of CHE has been reviewed to provide a theoretical basis for further study and utilization. This review aimed to provide new ideas for developing tumor-targeted drugs.

Chelerythrine induces apoptosis via ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress and STAT3 pathways in human renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a heterogeneous histological disease and it is one of the most common kidney cancer. The treatment of RCC has been improved for the past few years, but its mortality still remains high. Chelerythrine (CHE) is a natural benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid and a widely used broad‐range protein kinase C inhibitor which has anti‐cancer effect on various types of human cancer cells. However, its effect on RCC has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the effect and mechanism of CHE on RCC cells. Our study showed that CHE induced colony formation inhibition and G2/M cell cycle arrest in a dose‐dependent manner in RCC cells. In addition, CHE increased cellular ROS level, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inactivating STAT3 activities and inducing apoptosis in RCC cells which were suppressed by NAC, a special ROS inhibitor. We further found that both knockdown of ATF4 protein and overexpression of STAT3 protein could reduce CHE‐induced apoptosis in Caki cells. These results demonstrated that the apoptosis induced by CHE was mediated by ROS‐caused ER stress and STAT3 inactivation. Collectively, our studies provided support for CHE as a potential new therapeutic agent for the management of RCC.

Medicinal plants of the genus Macleaya (Macleaya cordata, Macleaya microcarpa): A review of their phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology

In the genus Macleaya, Macleaya cordata and Macleaya microcarpa have been recognized as traditional herbs that are primarily distributed in China, North America, and Europe and have a long history of medicinal usage. These herbs have been long valued and studied for detumescence, detoxification, and insecticidal effect. This review aims to provide comprehensive information on botanical, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological studies on plants in the genus Macleaya. Plants from the genus of Macleaya provide a source of bioactive compounds, primarily alkaloids, with remarkable diversity and complex architectures, thereby having attracted attention from researchers. To date, 291 constituents have been identified and/or isolated from this group. These purified compounds and/or crude extract possess antitumor, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, and antibacterial activities in addition to certain potential toxicities. Macleaya species hold potential for medicinal applications. However, despite the pharmacological studies on these plants, the mechanisms underlying the biological activities of active ingredients derived from Macleaya have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. Additionally, there is a need for research focusing on in vivo medical effects of Macleaya compounds and, eventually, for clinical trials.