Ottelione A inhibited proliferation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in mice

The Dual Therapeutic Potential of Ottelione A on Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Toxicity in Mice

BACKGROUND

Some herbal natural products play an important role in protecting organisms from the toxic effect of some xenobiotics. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of Ottelione A (OTTE) against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced toxicity in mice.

METHODS

Adult male Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups: group I was used as a normal control received olive oil; group II received DMSO; group III received OTTE; group IV received CCl4 in olive oil, (injected i.p) 3 times/week for 6 weeks; group V received the same CCl4 regimen as group IV followed by OTTE injected for 15 days, and group VI first received OTTE injected for 15 days followed by the same CCl4 regimen as group IV. Some biochemical and histological parameters were investigated.

RESULTS

Our results showed that the administration of CCl4 caused hepatotoxicity, as monitored by the significant increase in biochemical parameters concerning the olive oil group. Treatment with OTTE appeare d to be effective against hepatotoxic and liver changes induced by CCl4, as evidenced by the improvement of the same parameters.

CONCLUSION

Ottelione A (OTTE) has good antioxidant and therapeutic properties, which can help in preventing CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in both pre-treatment and post-treatment modes.

Antioxidant, cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of the rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet Linn. in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing Swiss albino mice

Due to having a long history of traditional uses as a functional food, Zingiber zerumbet was selected here to explore the inherent antioxidant and antineoplastic activities of methanolic extract of its rhizome (MEZZR) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. The rich polyphenol containing MEZZR showed a marked DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide radicals and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity with an IC₅₀ of 3.43 ± 1.25, 11.38 ± 1.39, 23.12 ± 3.39 and 16.47 ± 1.47 µg/ml, respectively, when compared to the standard catechin. In vivo, MEZZR significantly inhibited EAC cell growth, decreased body weight gain, increased life span and restored the altered hematological characteristics of EAC-bearing mice. Moreover, MEZZR induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation, which are notable features of apoptosis as observed by fluorescence microscopy after staining EAC cells of MEZZR-treated mice with Hoechst 33342. Additionally, in vitro, the cell growth inhibition caused by the MEZZR in MTT assay, was remarkably decreased in the presence of caspase-3, -8 and -9 inhibitors. This study thus suggests that MEZZR may possess promising antiproliferative efficacy against EAC cells by inducing cell apoptosis.

Silymarin inhibits the progression of Ehrlich solid tumor via targeting molecular pathways of cell death, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis in female mice

BACKGROUND

Plant-derived phytochemicals have been reported to exert anticancer activity. This study investigated the antitumor role of silymarin (Silybum marianum) (SMN) and its molecular targets in Ehrlich solid tumor xenografts in vivo.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Female Swiss albino mice were divided into three groups (of five animals each) that were engrafted with Ehrlich tumor (ET) cells with or without SMN treatment. The 3rd groups treated with DMSO only vehicle control group. A significant reduction in animal body mass and tumor volume/weight were observed in xenografted mice treated with SMN. SMN modulated oxidative stress in tumors while enhancing the antioxidant levels in mouse serum. SMN activated both mitochondrial and death receptor-related apoptosis pathways and induced cell cycle arrest, marked by a significant downregulation of cyclin D1 in SMN-treated tumors. Significant decreases in RNA content and protein expression levels of Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were observed in ET cells. Additionally, SMN downregulated vascular endothelial growth factor and nuclear factor-kappa B levels indicating anti-angiogenesis activity of this agent. SMN upregulated the expression of E-cadherin in tumor tissue suggesting, that SMN has potential ability to inhibit metastasis. Tumor tissue from SMN-treated animals showed a remarkable degeneration and reduction in the neoplastic cell density.

CONCLUSIONS

The anticancer effect was associated with apparent apoptosis in neoplastic cells with abundance of multifocal necrotic areas. SMN was found to inhibit ET growth via enhancing apoptosis, inhibition of cell division and reduction in angiogenesis in vivo. Hypothetical scheme of SMN antitumor effects (mechanism of signaling) in solid ET in vivo. SMN anticancer effect may be mediated by molecular mediators that affect proliferation, cell cycle activity, apoptotic pathways, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Trichosanthes dioica seed lectin inhibits Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells growth in vivo in mice by inducing G0 /G1 cell cycle arrest

Trichosanthes dioica seed lectin (TDSL), having a molecular mass of 57 ± 2 kDa was purified in an alternative way. For the purification process, the galactose-sepharose-4B affinity column was used. The purified TDSL agglutinated human and mouse erythrocytes at the minimum concentration of 8  μg/ml. d-lactose and d-galactose were the most potent inhibitory sugars as observed. The purified lectin was a glycoprotein having 3.0% of a neutral sugar. The lectin exhibited maximum activity up to 60°C and pH range from 7.0 to 10.0 and stable up to 4.0 M urea as tested. The lectin demonstrated mild toxicity when administered against brine shrimp nauplii, and the LC₅₀ value was calculated to be 84.0 µg/ml. Minimum agglutination of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells caused by the lectin was found at the protein concentration of 1.56 µg/ml. TDSL inhibited 7, 50.2%, and 60.3% of the EAC cells growth in vivo in mice when administered with 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 mg kg^-1  day^-1 (i.p.), respectively, for five consecutive days. After lectin treatment, red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin levels were increased significantly toward the normal compared with EAC cells-bearing control and normal mice. The tumor burden reduced to 29.5% and 67% after treatment with 1.5 and 3.0 mg kg^-1  day^-1 of the lectin. TDSL triggered the cell cycle arrest at the G₀ /G₁ phase, which was observed using flow cytometry. In conclusion, TDSL can be a candidate for the potent anticancer agents that exerts low toxicity toward brine shrimp nauplii. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: A 57 ± 2 kDa lectin (designated TDSL) was purified from Trichosanthes dioica seeds using a galactose-sepharose-4B affinity column. The lectin demonstrated mild toxicity and agglutinated Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. The lectin inhibited 50.2% and 60.3% of the EAC cell growth in vivo in mice when administered with 1.5 and 3.0 mg kg^-1  day^-1 (i.p.), respectively, for five consecutive days. The lectin increased RBC and hemoglobin level toward the normal compared with lectin-treated EAC cells-bearing, EAC cells-bearing control and normal mice. The tumor burden reduced to 29.5% and 67% after treatment with 1.5 and 3.0 mg kg^-1  day^-1 lectin. TDSL triggered the cell cycle arrest at the G₀ /G₁ phase. The lectin can be a candidate for potent anticancer agents.

Therapeutic effects of the euglenoid ichthyotoxin, euglenophycin, in colon cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the 3^rd leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The emergence of drug resistance poses a major challenge in CRC care or treatment. This can be addressed by determining cancer mechanisms, discovery of druggable targets, and development of new drugs. In search for novel agents, aquatic microorganisms offer a vastly untapped pharmacological source that can be developed for cancer therapeutics. In this study, we characterized the anti-colorectal cancer potential of euglenophycin, a microalgal toxin from Euglena sanguinea. The toxin (49.1-114.6 μM) demonstrated cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, anti-clonogenic, and anti-migration effects against HCT116, HT29, and SW620 CRC cells. We identified G1 cell cycle arrest and cell type - dependent modulation of autophagy as mechanisms of growth inhibition. We validated euglenophycin’s anti-tumorigenic activity in vivo using CRL:Nu(NCr)Foxn1^nu athymic nude mouse CRC xenograft models. Intraperitoneal toxin administration (100 mg/kg; 5 days) decreased HCT116 and HT29 xenograft tumor volumes (n=10 each). Tumor inhibition was associated with reduced expression of autophagy negative regulator mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and decreased trend of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines. Together, these results provide compelling evidence that euglenophycin can be a promising anti-colorectal cancer agent targeting multiple cancer-promoting processes. Furthermore, this study supports expanding natural products drug discovery to freshwater niches as prospective sources of anti-cancer compounds.

Eutirucallin: A Lectin with Antitumor and Antimicrobial Properties

Eutirucallin is a lectin isolated from the latex of Euphorbia tirucalli, a plant known for its medical properties. The present study explores various characteristics of Eutirucallin including stability, cytotoxicity against tumor cells, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities. Eutirucallin was stable from 2 to 40 days at 4°C, maintained hemagglutinating activity within a restricted range, and showed optimal activity at pH 7.0–8.0. Eutirucallin presented antiproliferative activity for HeLa, PC3, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 tumor cells but was not cytotoxic for non-tumorigenic cells such as macrophages and fibroblasts. Eutirucallin inhibited the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo and it was also observed that Eutirucallin inhibited 62.5% of Escherichia coli growth. Also, Eutirucallin showed to be effective when tested directly against Toxoplasma gondii infection in vitro. Therefore, this study sheds perspectives for pharmacological applications of Eutirucallin.

Pea lectin inhibits growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells by inducing apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in vivo in mice

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) lectin is known to have interesting pharmacological activities and of great interest on biomedical research. In the current research pea lectin was purified followed by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE column and affinity chromatography on glucose-sepharose column. The lectin shown 11.7-84% inhibitory effect against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells at the concentration range of 8-120 μg/ml in RPMI 1640 medium as determined by MTT assay. Pea lectin was also shown 63% and 44% growth inhibition against EAC cells in vivo in mice when administered 2.8 mg/kg/day and 1.4 mg/kg/day (i.p.) respectively for five consequent days. When Pea lectin injected into the EAC bearing mice for 10 days its significantly increased the hemoglobin and RBC with the decreased of WBC levels toward the normal. Apoptotic cell morphological change of the treated EAC cells of mice was determined by fluorescence and optical microscope. Interestingly, cell growth inhibition of the lectin was significantly reduced in the presence of caspase inhibitors. Treatment with the lectin caused the cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase of EAC cells which was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-related genes, Bcl-2, Bcl-X and Bax was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Intensive increase of Bax gene expression and totally despaired of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X gene expression were observed in the cells treated with Pea lectin for five consecutive days.