Antitumor activity of 4-O-(2″-O-acetyl-6″-O-p-coumaroyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-p-coumaric acid against lung cancers via mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis

Magnetic natural lipid nanoparticles for oral treatment of colorectal cancer through potentiated antitumor immunity and microbiota metabolite regulation

The therapeutic efficacy of oral nanotherapeutics against colorectal cancer (CRC) is restricted by inadequate drug accumulation, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and intestinal microbiota imbalance. To overcome these challenges, we elaborately constructed 6-gingerol (Gin)-loaded magnetic mesoporous silicon nanoparticles and functionalized their surface with mulberry leaf-extracted lipids (MLLs) and Pluronic F127 (P127). In vitro experiments revealed that P127 functionalization and alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) promoted internalization of the obtained P127-MLL@Gins by colorectal tumor cells and induced their apoptosis/ferroptosis through Gin/ferrous ion-induced oxidative stress and magneto-thermal effect. After oral administration, P127-MLL@Gins safely passed to the colorectal lumen, infiltrated the mucus barrier, and penetrated into the deep tumors under the influence of AMFs. Subsequently, the P127-MLL@Gin (+ AMF) treatment activated antitumor immunity and suppressed tumor growth. We also found that this therapeutic modality significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bacillus and unclassified-c-Bacilli), reduced the proportions of harmful bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides and Alloprevotella), and increased lipid oxidation metabolites. Strikingly, checkpoint blockers synergistically improved the therapeutic outcomes of P127-MLL@Gins (+ AMF) against orthotopic and distant colorectal tumors and significantly prolonged mouse life spans. Overall, this oral therapeutic platform is a promising modality for synergistic treatment of CRC.

Targeting Cell Signaling Pathways in Lung Cancer by Bioactive Phytocompounds

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous group of malignancies with high incidence worldwide. It is the most frequently occurring cancer in men and the second most common in women. Due to its frequent diagnosis and variable response to treatment, lung cancer was reported as the top cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020. Many aberrant signaling cascades are implicated in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, including those involved in apoptosis (B cell lymphoma protein, Bcl-2-associated X protein, first apoptosis signal ligand), growth inhibition (tumor suppressor protein or gene and serine/threonine kinase 11), and growth promotion (epidermal growth factor receptor/proto-oncogenes/phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase). Accordingly, these pathways and their signaling molecules have become promising targets for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. Recent research provides compelling evidence for the use of plant-based compounds, known collectively as phytochemicals, as anticancer agents. This review discusses major contributing signaling pathways involved in the pathophysiology of lung cancer, as well as currently available treatments and prospective drug candidates. The anticancer potential of naturally occurring bioactive compounds in the context of lung cancer is also discussed, with critical analysis of their mechanistic actions presented by preclinical and clinical studies.

Hesperidin, a Bioflavonoid in Cancer Therapy: A Review for a Mechanism of Action through the Modulation of Cell Signaling Pathways

Cancer represents one of the most frequent causes of death in the world. The current therapeutic options, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy, have various adverse effects on patients' health. In this vista, the bioactive ingredient of natural products plays a vital role in disease management via the inhibition and activation of biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell signaling molecules. Although natural products are not a substitute for medicine, they can be effective adjuvants or a type of supporting therapy. Hesperidin, a flavonoid commonly found in citrus fruits, with its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties, and cardio-preventive factor for disease prevention, is well-known. Furthermore, its anticancer potential has been suggested to be a promising alternative in cancer treatment or management through the modulation of signal transduction pathways, which includes apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, ERK/MAPK, signal transducer, and the activator of transcription and other cell signaling molecules. Moreover, its role in the synergistic effects with anticancer drugs and other natural compounds has been described properly. The present article describes how hesperidin affects various cancers by modulating the various cell signaling pathways.

Dengzhan Xixin injection derived from a traditional Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus ameliorates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats via modulation of mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dengzhan Xixin injection (DX), a preparation of extracts from traditional Chinese medicine Erigeron breviscapus (Vaniot) Hand.-Mazz., has been widely used in clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia sequelae in China for a long history. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of DX on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in a rat model. Meanwhile, its underlying molecular mechanisms on mitochondrial protection were further interpreted.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The major components of DX were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The model of cerebral I/R injury was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in SD rats. We firstly performed neurobehavioral score, the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) assay, and TTC, HE and Nissl staining for evaluating the effects of DX on I/R injury. And then, the cortical levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were determined by commercial kits. Whereafter, real time-PCR and transmission electron microscopy were employed to investigate the relative copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and neuronal ultrastructure changes, respectively. Further, the potential interactions of major components in DX with mitophagy/apoptosis-related proteins were predicted by Schrodinger molecular docking. The expression of mitophagy-related proteins LC3, p62, TOM20, PINK1 and Parkin was estimated by western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. Furthermore, TUNEL staining and western blot were used to detect the apoptotic phenomenon and the protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Cytochrome c (Cyto-c) and cleaved Caspase-3.

RESULTS

DX mainly contains scutellarin, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid. Compared with the model group, DX could remarkably relieve ischemia-provoked neurological deficit, rCBF deficiency and cerebral infarction. Pathological changes and neuronal loss in a MCAO model of rats were memorably ameliorated by DX administration. Meanwhile, DX reduced the surged ROS and MDA, while increased the level of SOD. Notably, DX treatment conversed the collapse of ATP and MMP, along with decreased in the relative copy number of mtDNA, contributing to the maintaining of mitochondrial ultrastructure via the increased number of autophagy lysosomes. The representative ingredients in DX had a potential bind with the active sites of mitophagy/apoptosis-related proteins. DX stimulated the protein expression of LC3, PINK1 and Parkin, while reduced the levels of p62 and TOM20. In addition, DX confined TUNEL-positive cell rate with the decreased expressions of Bax, Cyto-c and cleaved Caspase-3 as well as the increased Bcl-2 level.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that the protection of DX against brain ischemia could attribute to alleviating mitochondrial damage by upregulating mitophagy and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Apoptosis Triggering, an Important Way for Natural Products From Herbal Medicines to Treat Pancreatic Cancers

Pancreatic cancer, a poor prognosis and high morbidity and mortality cancer, is a malignant tumor occurring in pancreatic exocrine glands. Currently, surgery and gemcitabine (Gem) are commonly used to treat pancreatic cancers. However, the high recurrence rate and resistance makes the therapeutic effects still unsatisfied. Apoptosis is comprehensively recognized as one of the major ways of the programmed cell death, refers to the autonomous and orderly death process of cells in order to maintain the stability of the body's environment after receiving a certain signal or stimulation. Currently, it has also been proven to be a promising way for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Nowadays, some active ingredients from herbal medicine have been reported to be effective for the treatment of pancreatic cancer via inducing cells apoptosis. Therefore, this article reviews the current references regarding anti pancreatic cancer effects of natural products derived from herbal medicines via triggering apoptosis, and summarizes the related potential signal pathways, including death receptors mediated apoptotic pathway, mitochondrial dependent apoptotic pathway, NF-κB mediated apoptotic pathways, MAPK mediated apoptotic pathway, ERS mediated apoptotic pathway, PI3K-Akt mediated apoptotic pathway, and other pathways such as JAK-STAT signal pathway, which can lay a certain foundation for the research and development of new natural products against pancreatic cancer.

The Cyr61 Is a Potential Target for Rotundifuran, a Natural Labdane-Type Diterpene from Vitex trifolia L., to Trigger Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer Cells

Cervical cancer is a common female malignant tumor that seriously threatens human health. This study explored the anticervical cancer effects and potential mechanisms of Rotundifuran (RTF), a natural product isolated from Vitex trifolia L. In this study, we found that RTF can suppress the proliferation of cervical cancer cell lines, including HeLa and SiHa cells (with the IC₅₀ less than 10 μM), via induction of apoptosis in vitro, and the antitumor effect of RTF is further confirmed on the HeLa cell-inoculated xenograft model. In addition, our results proved that the antitumor effects of RTF might be related with the reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through MAPK and PI3K/Akt signal pathways. Using proteomics analysis and the drug affinity responsive target stability- (DARTS-) combined mass spectrometry (DARTS-MS), Cyr61 was indicated as a potential target for RTF in cervical cancer cells. Our present study would be beneficial for the development of RTF as a candidate for treatment of cervical cancer in the future.

A Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Anticancer Mechanism and Potential Active Ingredients of Rheum palmatum L. Against Lung Cancer via Induction of Apoptosis

Rheum palmatum L. (RPL) is a known traditional herbal medicine with the functions of “heat-clearing and damp-drying” in traditional Chinese medicine. Its anti-cancer effect against lung cancer has been confirmed previously, but the related mechanisms and active substances for its action has been little studied. This study adopted the network pharmacology, built the network map of drug ingredients and disease targets (DDN), and discussed the effective components of RPL and its possible mechanisms. All constituents of RPL were collected through database search and literature mining, and the potential active constituents were screened. The inverse pharmacophore matching model was used to predict the targets of active ingredients, and the method was supplemented by database retrieval and literature mining. Compounds-target data were inputted into Cytoscape software to build the DDN of RPL, and functional annotation analysis and pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. Finally, 20 active compounds were screened, which acted on 817 targets. A total of 22,418 lung cancer-related targets were collected, and 761 overlapped with drug targets. By bioinformatics annotation of these overlapping genes, a total of 235 gene ontology (GO) functional annotation analyses and 46 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were obtained. It was found that the enrichment of GO and KEGG was associated with apoptosis, suggesting RPL plays an anti-lung cancer role via inducing cell apoptosis. Subsequent cell experiment results showed RPL and its active constituents inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells and reduced clone formation rate of A549 cells via induction of apoptosis. In this study, the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanism of RPL against lung cancer were studied from the perspective of systematic pharmacology, which would be beneficial for further elucidating the anticancer effect of RPL on lung cancer.

Dietary Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids as Potential Anti-Cancer Agents: Current State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Background:

Cancer is a rapidly growing disease and the second most leading cause of death worldwide. Breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer are the most diagnosed types of cancer among the majority of the population. The prevalence of these cancers is increasing rapidly due to the lack of effective drugs. The search for anti-cancer bioactive components from natural plant sources is gaining immense significance. The aim of the paper is to introduce the readers about the in vitro and in vivo biochemical mechanisms of phenolic acids and flavonoids in these four types of cancers.

Methods:

A literature search was carried out in databases, including Scopus, SciFinder, Springer, Science direct and Google. The main keywords used were fruits & vegetables, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anticancer, bioavailability, etc. The data obtained were integrated and analyzed.

Results:

The study revealed the potential molecular mechanisms of phenolic acids and flavonoids, which include the induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, cell-cycle arrest, induction of Poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage, downregulation of Matrix metalloproteinases-2 and Matrix metalloproteinases-9 activities, decreased levels of B-cell lymphoma-2, etc. Promising effects of phenolic acids and flavonoids have been observed against breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers.

Conclusion:

The in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer mechanisms of phenolic acids and flavonoids have been revealed in this study. With the knowledge of specific molecular targets and the structural-functional relationship of bioactive compounds, the current review will open a new gateway for the scientific community and provide them a viable option to exploit more of these compounds for the development of novel and efficacious anticancer compounds.

3, 3-Dimethylquercetin Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Colon Cancer RKO Cells through Inducing G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis

Background:

Our previous study successfully identified that 3,3-Dimethylquercetin (DMQ) acted as a potent anticancer agent against human colon cancer cell lines RKO. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the underlying mechanism by which DMQ displayed inhibitory activity in RKO cells.

Methods:

Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effect of DMQ on the cell cycle arrest, as well as the mitochondrial membrane potential in RKO cells. DAPI staining and DNA fragmentation ladder assays were performed to assess the apoptosis inducing activity of DMQ. Furthermore, western blot analysis was conducted to examine the expression of related proteins responsible for the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Results:

Treatment with DMQ caused a significant increase in the fraction of G2/M cells, and induced remarkable apoptosis. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed that DMQ arrested cells at G2/M checkpoint by down-regulation of cyclin B1, cdc2 and cdc25c and up-regulation of p21, and induced cell apoptosis via affecting the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, causing loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and enhancing the expression of cleaved caspase-9 (C-caspase-9) and cleaved caspase-3 (C-caspase-3).

Conclusion:

These data showed that DMQ could suppress RKO cell growth by arresting RKO cells at G2/M checkpoint and inducing mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis. Our findings shed light on the potential use of DMQ as a chemotherapeutic agent for CRC.

Delivery of natural phenolic compounds for the potential treatment of lung cancer

The application of natural products to treat various diseases, such as cancer, has been an important area of research for many years. Several phytochemicals have demonstrated anticarcinogenic activity to prevent or reduce the progression of cancer by modulating various cellular mechanisms. However, poor bioavailability has hindered clinical success and the incorporation of these drugs into efficient drug delivery systems would be beneficial. For lung cancer, local delivery via the pulmonary route would also be more effective. In this article, recent in vitro scientific literature on phenolic compounds with anticancer activity towards lung cancer cell lines is reviewed and nanoparticulate delivery is mentioned as a possible solution to the problem of bioavailability. The first part of the review will explore the different classes of natural phenolic compounds and discuss recent reports on their activity on lung cancer cells. Then, the problem of the poor bioavailability of phenolic compounds will be explored, followed by a summary of recent advances in improving the efficacy of these phenolic compounds using nanoparticulate drug delivery systems. Graphical abstract The rationale for direct delivery of phenolic compounds loaded in microparticles to the lungs.

LncRNA POU3F3 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of cancer cells in triple-negative breast cancer by inactivating caspase 9

It has been reported that lncRNA POU3F3 was upregulated in esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas, indicating its role as an oncogene in this disease. However, the mechanism of its function and its involvement in other malignancies is unknown. In the present study we found that expression levels of lncRNA POU3F3 were higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent healthy tissues of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and were significantly and inversely correlated with levels of cleaved caspase 9 only in tumor tissues. In addition, plasma levels of lncRNA POU3F3 were higher in TNBC patients than in healthy controls and were significantly and inversely correlated with levels of cleaved caspase 9 only in TNBC patients. In addition, treatment of exogenous Cleaved Caspase-9 significantly attenuated the effects of lncRNA POU3F3 overexpression on cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. lncRNA POU3F3 may promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of cancer cells in triple-negative breast cancer.

Proteomics Analysis of Tangeretin-Induced Apoptosis through Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Bladder Cancer Cells

Tangeretin is one of the most abundant compounds in citrus peel, and studies have shown that it possesses anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. However, no study has been conducted on bladder cancer cells. Bladder cancer has the second highest mortality rate among urological cancers and is the fifth most common malignancy in the world. Currently, combination chemotherapy is the most common approach by which to treat patients with bladder cancer, and thus identifying more effective chemotherapeutic agents that can be safely administered to patients is a very important research issue. Therefore, this study investigated whether tangeretin can induce apoptosis and identified the signaling pathways of tangeretin-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE). The results of the study demonstrated that 60 μM tangeretin reduced the cell survival of a BFTC-905 bladder carcinoma cell line by 42%, and induced early and late apoptosis in the cells. In this study 2DGE proteomics technology identified 41 proteins that were differentially-expressed in tangeretin-treated cells, and subsequently LC–MS/MS analysis was performed to identify the proteins. Based on the functions of the differentially-expressed proteins, the results suggested that tangeretin caused mitochondrial dysfunction and further induced apoptosis in bladder cancer cells. Moreover, western blotting analysis demonstrated that tangeretin treatment disturbed calcium homeostasis in the mitochondria, triggered cytochrome C release, and activated caspase-3 and caspase-9, which led to apoptosis. In conclusion, our results showed that tangeretin-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells is mediated by mitochondrial inactivation, suggesting that tangeretin has the potential to be developed as a new drug for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Puerarin 6″-O-xyloside possesses significant antitumor activities on colon cancer through inducing apoptosis

Puerarin 6″-O-xyloside (PRX) is a major compound found in the root of the Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor activity of PRX against colon cancer and examine its possible mechanism. In the present study, the anti-proliferative effects of PRX against colon cell lines (SW480, LoVo and HCT-116) were evaluated using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration values of the SW480, LoVo and HCT-11 cells were 37.114, 49.213 and 43.022 µg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the apoptosis of SW480 cells was detected using flow cytometry with Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining. Subsequently, western blot analysis was performed to examine the expression of proteins associated with apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of tumors. The results showed that PRX possessed antitumor activity against colon cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In addition, PRX significantly upregulated the expression levels of cleaved (c)-caspase-3, c-caspase-9, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein and phosphorylated c-Jun terminal kinase, and downregulated the expression levels of Bcl-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (P<0.01). Therefore, the present study demonstrated the PRX exerted antitumor activity against colon cancer cell lines and that the anticancer mechanisms of PRX may be associated with the induction of mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis, and inhibition of tumor invasion and metastasis. The present study provides a scientific basis for the clinical use of PRX for the treatment of colon cancer.

Seleno-short-chain chitosan induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells through mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in vitro

Seleno-short-chain chitosan (SSCC) was a synthesized chitosan derivative with the molecular weight of 4826.986 Da. The study is aimed to investigate cytotoxicity of SSCC on human breast cancer MCF-7 and BT-20 cells and explore apoptosis-related mechanism in vitro. The MTT (3- [4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenylterazolium bromide) assay showed that SSCC exhibited significantly cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 and BT-20 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and the effective inhibitory concentration was 100 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml, respectively. Apoptosis assay of these two kinds of cells was determined by Hoechst 33,342/PI and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The cell cycle assay showed that SSCC triggered S and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells and S phase cell cycle arrest in BT-20 cells in a time-dependent manner. Further studies demonstrated that SSCC led to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in these two kinds of cells. N- acetyl-L cysteine (NAC), as a radical scavenger, significantly inhibited the generation of ROS and decreased the apoptosis of MCF-7 and BT-20 cells. Moreover, the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins was detected by western blot assay. SSCC up-regulated the expression of Bax, down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, subsequently increased the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm, and activated the cleavage of caspase-9 and -3, which finally induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and BT-20 cells in vitro. Consequently, these data indicated that SSCC could induce apoptosis of MCF-7and BT-20 cells in vitro by mitochondrial pathway.

Formononetin, an isoflavone from Astragalus membranaceus inhibits proliferation and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Astragalus membranaceus which was originally described in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, the earliest complete Pharmacopoeia of China written from the Warring States Period to Han Dynasty, has been widely used in Chinese medicine for > 2000 years, especially in the prescription of curing cancer. A. membranaceus has various bioactivities, such as anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammation, anti-atherosclerosis, immunomodulation, hepatoprotection, hematopoiesis, neuroprotection and so on. As an important component of A. membranaceus, whether formononetin has a close relationship with its tumor-inhibiting effect on ovarian cancer cell has been investigated.

AIM OF STUDY

The present study aimed to demonstrate the anti-proliferation, anti- migration and invasion effects of formononetin on ovarian cancer cells and further explore the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with apoptosis, migration and invasion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MTT assay was performed to detect the viability of ovarian cancer cells. DAPI staining, Annexin-V assay and assay for mitochondrial membrane potential detected the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells treated by formononetin. The migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells which exposed to formononetin were detected by scratch assay and transwell assay. Meanwhile, the protein-level changes of in ovarian cancer cells treated by formononetin were assessed by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

MTT assays indicated that cell viability significantly decreased in ovarian cancer cells treated with formononetin. DAPI staining, Annexin-V assay and assay for mitochondrial membrane potential suggested that formononetin suppressed cells proliferation by inducing apoptosis. We detected the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in ovarian cancer cells after treatment with formononetin and found the expression of caspase 3/9 proteins and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, wound healing and transwell chamber assays showed that formononetin suppressed the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. And formononetin decreased expression of MMP-2/9 proteins and phosphorylation level of ERK.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results demonstrated that formononetin have potential effects on induction of apoptosis and suppression of migration and invasion.

In vivo and in vitro anti-sepsis effects of physcion 8-O-β-glucopyranoside extracted from Rumex japonicus

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-sepsis effects of physcion 8-O-β-glucopyranoside (POG) isolated from Rumex japonicas and explore its possible pharmacological mechanisms. POG was extracted from R. japonicas by bioactivity-guided isolation with the anti-sepsis agents. Survival analysis in septic mouse induced by LPS and heat-killed Escherichia coli were used to evaluate the protective effect of POG (40 mg·kg^-1, i.p.) on sepsis. Cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS (100 ng·mL^-1) were determined by ELISA. In addition, the proteins expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 were determined by Western blotting assay. Our results demonstrated that POG (40 mg·kg^-1, i.p.) possessed significant protective activity on the endotoxemic mice. The POG treatment (20, 40, and 80 μg·mL^-1) significantly decreased the TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 induced by LPS (P < 0.01) in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the TLR4 and TLR2 proteins were also down-regulated by POG at 20 (P < 0.01), 40 (P < 0.01), and 80 μg·mL^-1 (P < 0.01). The present study demonstrated that the POG extracted from R. japonicas possessed significant anti-sepsis effect on endotoxemic mice, and can be developed as a novel drug for treating sepsis in the future.

Novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives exert potent anti-cervical cancer effects by modulating Bax, Bcl2 and Caspases expression

This study aimed to develop novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives as potent anti-cervical cancer agents. The compounds were synthesized in short steps with an excellent yield and characterized via various spectroscopic and analytical methods. A structure-activity relationship study suggested that electron-withdrawing substituents showed greater anticancer activity than electron-donating groups. Compound 7p (p-fluoro) showed the highest activity against cervical cancer cells. In a nude mouse xenograft model inoculated with HeLa cells, 7p showed dose-dependent inhibition of cervical tumour growth. Histopathological examination of excised tumour-bearing tissues showed that 7p improved the microstructure in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 7p also increased the proportions of HeLa cells in G0/G1 and S-phase and significantly decreased that of G2/M-phase. The effects of 7p on C-caspase-3, C-caspase-9, Bcl-2 and Bax expression in HeLa cells were also determined.

Mechanisms involved in the cytotoxic action of Brazilian propolis and caffeic acid against HEp-2 cells and modulation of P-glycoprotein activity

Objectives

The effects of propolis and phenolic compounds (caffeic acid – Caf; dihydrocinnamic acid – Cin; p-coumaric acid – Cou) in the same quantity found in our propolis sample were investigated on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma (HEp-2) cells.

Methods

Cell viability, apoptosis/necrosis and cell cycle arrest, P53 and CASPASE-3 gene expression, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of propolis to induce doxorubicin (DOX) efflux using a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor (verapamil) were assayed.

Key findings

Propolis exerted a cytotoxic effect on HEp-2 cells, whereas isolated compounds had no effect on cell viability. Higher concentrations were tested and Caf induced late apoptosis or necrosis in HEp-2 cells, while propolis induced apoptosis, both probably due to ROS generation. P53 expression was downregulated by propolis but not by Caf. CASPASE-3 expression was correlated with induction of both early and late apoptosis, with both propolis and Caf alone upregulating its expression. Propolis induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and Caf at S phase. Propolis but not Caf may act as a P-gp inhibitor by modulating P-gp activity and inhibiting DOX efflux.

Conclusions

Propolis exerted cytotoxic effects on HEp-2 cells, and the mechanisms are discussed, showing its potential as an antitumour drug.

Lactobacilli inhibit cervical cancer cell migration in vitro and reduce tumor burden in vivo through upregulation of E-cadherin

The present study was designed to investigate the antitumor effects of Lactobacillus and the potential mechanisms. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were carried out to determine suitable doses for investigating the inhibitory effect of lactobacilli on cell migration ability of HeLa and U14 cells in vitro. In addition, western blot assays were performed to investigate the possible mechanisms corresponding to its antitumor effects. Furthermore, a xenograft mouse model was established for investigating the E-cadherin expression in tumor tissues after treatment with lactobacilli. Our results showed that live lactobacilli [multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1,000:1] significantly possessed inhibitory effects on cell migration ability of cervical cancer cells. Lactobacilli (MOI: 1,000:1) significantly upregulated E-cadherin expressions in HeLa and U14 cells (p<0.05). On the contrary, our results showed that inactivated lactobacilli could not affect the E-cadherin expression levels in HeLa and U14 cells. Similar to the western blot assay, immunohistochemistry results also indicated that lactobacilli treatment significantly upregulated E-cadherin in tumor tissues (p<0.05). In conclusion, our results above suggest that lactobacilli have the potential for inhibiting the migratory ability of cervical cancer cell lines, and the possible pharmacological mechanism may be closely related to the upregulation of E-cadherin.

Caffeoyl and coumaroyl derivatives from Acacia cochliacantha exhibit ovicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Acacia cochliacantha is a small tree whose foliage is traditionally used in Mexico for treatment of kidney pain, gastrointestinal illnesses and to kill intestinal parasites. In recent decades, the study of vegetal extracts has offered other possible alternatives for the control of Haemonchus contortus. Considering that this nematode affects dramatically the health and productivity of small ruminants, the aim of this study was to identify the anthelmintic compounds from A. cochliacantha hydro-alcoholic extract (HA-E) through an ovicidal test.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In vitro egg hatch assay was conducted to determinate the anthelmintic effects of a HA-E (60g). Liquid-liquid ethyl acetate/water extraction gave two fractions (EtOAc-F, 1.92g; Aq-F; 58.1g). The less polar compounds from ethyl acetate fraction were extracted by addition of dichloromethane offering a precipitate phase (Mt-F, 1.25g) and a soluble mixture (DCMt-F 1.15g). All fractions were evaluated for ovicidal activity obtaining the egg hatching inhibition (EHI, 0.07-25mg/mL). Ivermectin (0.5mg/mL) was used as a reference drug (positive control), and distilled water, 2.5% DMSO and 2% methanol were used as negative controls. The isolated compounds from the most active fractions were subjected to spectroscopic (¹H NMR) Spectrometric (MS) and UV HPLC analysis in order to identify the bioactive compounds.

RESULTS

The less polar treatments (AcOEt-F, DCMt-F, DCMt-P) showed the highest ovicidal activities (98-100% EHI; at 0.62-1.56mg/mL) and the major compounds found in these fractions were identified as caffeoyl and coumaroyl derivatives, including caffeic acid (1), p-coumaric acid (2), ferulic acid (3), methyl caffeate (4), methyl-p-coumarate (5), methyl ferulate (6) and quercetin. In case of the less active fractions (Aq-F, Mt-F) were constituted principally by glycosylated flavonoids.

CONCLUSION

These results show that caffeoyl and coumaroyl derivatives from Acacia cochliacantha leaves had promising anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus. This leguminous may offer an alternative source for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants.

Reversed Phase HPLC-DAD Profiling of Carotenoids, Chlorophylls and Phenolic Compounds in Adiantum capillus-veneris Leaves

Adiantum capillus-veneris is important endangered fern species with several medicinal properties. In this study, the leaves samples were extracted and separated using reversed phase HPLC with DAD for carotenoids, chlorophylls and phenolic compounds. Separation of carotenoids and chlorophylls were carried out using a tertiary gradient system of water, MTBE and methanol-water, while a binary gradient system of methanol-water-acetic acid was used for phenolic profiling. Results revealed eight carotenoids, four pheophytins, and two chlorophylls. Lutein (806.0 μg/g), chlorophyll b′ (410.0 μg/g), chlorophyll a (162.4 μg/g), 9′-Z-neoxanthin (142.8 μg/g) and all-E-violaxanthin (82.2 μg/g) were present in higher amounts. The relatively high amounts of lutein may be one of the key indicator of beneficial antioxidant properties. The phenolic profile revealed a total of 13 compounds, namely 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, caftaric acid, kaempferol glycosides, p-coumaric acid, rosmarinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, and quercetin glycosides. Kaempferol-3-sophorotrioside (58.7 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (28.5 mg/g), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (18.7 mg/g), coumaric acid (11.2 mg/g), and its derivative (33.1 mg/g) were present in high amounts. These results suggest that the reversed phase HPLC profiling of Adiantum leaves provides a better understanding in to the actual composition of bioactive compounds, which may be responsible for the potential medicinal properties. Adiantum leaves rich in important bioactive phytochemicals can be used as a possible source of nutraceuticals or as a functional food ingredient.

Antitumor activity of paederosidic acid in human non-small cell lung cancer cells via inducing mitochondria-mediated apoptosis

This study was aimed to investigate antitumor activity of paederosidic acid (PA) in human non-small cell lung cancer cells and explore the related mechanisms. The anti-proliferative effects of PA on A549 cells were evaluated by MTT method and the IC₅₀ values were calculated. Furthermore, the PA-induced apoptosis in A549 cells was determined by fluorescence microscope via staining with DAPI and by flow cytometer via staining with FITC conjugated Annexin V/PI. The expression of apoptosis-related or signaling proteins was investigated by Western blotting. Our results demonstrated that PA showed significant anti-tumor activity on lung cancer in vitro; the mechanisms were involved in inducing mitochondria-mediated apoptosis via up-regulation of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, Bid, Bax, down-regulation of Bcl-2 and stimulating the release of Cyto-C from mitochondria. In addition, JNK phosphorylation levels significantly increased concomitantly with decrease in Akt phosphorylation after treatment with PA in A549 cells. However, JNK siRNA-transfected cells diminished PA-induced caspase-3, 8 and 9, Bid and Bax activaton while enhanced the Bcl-2 activation. Collectively, these results indicated that PA-induced JNK activation played an important functional role in apoptosis.

Using the "target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay" strategy to investigate the optimum arecoline content in charred areca nut

Charred areca nut (CAN) is used to treat dyspepsia and abdominal distension in children. However, reports revealed that arecoline, the most important active constituent of CAN, possesses potential toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the optimum arecoline content in CAN, using the "target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay" strategy. Based on PTLC method, we prepared CAN lacking all arecoline (WAC-100R) and a series of different ratios of arecoline-removed CAN samples (WAC-Rx). MTT and acute toxicity assays indicated that decreasing content by 50% decreased CAN toxicity significantly. Animal results revealed arecoline contents over 50% could guarantee the beneficial effects of CAN on gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, decreasing arecoline content in CAN by 50% decreased its pro-apoptotic effects significantly. Furthermore, decreasing 50% arecoline content in CAN down-regulated the expressions of Cleaved-Caspase-3, c-jun, c-fos, COX-2, PGE2, and IL-1α. Thus, our results revealed that CAN with 50% arecoline content (WAC-50R) has similar beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract to CAN, whereas its toxicity was decreased significantly. Collectively, our study suggested that the strategy of "target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay" is a promising method to identify the optimum arecoline content in CAN, which is approximately 0.12%.

Anticancer activity of sesquiterpenoids extracted from Solanum lyratum via the induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis

Sesquiterpenoids are a major type of compound found in Solanum lyratum (S. lyratum). The present study aimed to investigate whether sesquiterpenoids from S. lyratum demonstrated cytotoxicity against the MCF-7, HCT-8, A-549, SGC-7901 and BEL-7402 cell lines, and the mechanism of solajiangxin H and lyratol D, which exhibited high cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 cells (half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC₅₀=4.8 and 5.9 µg/ml), was associated with mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. The results of the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay indicated that 15 sesquiterpenoids had cytotoxicity against the aforementioned cultured cells. The results of DAPI staining and western blot analysis, used to study the anticancer mechanisms of solajiangxin H and lyratol D in SGC-7901 cells, suggested that solajiangxin H and lyratol D induced the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells significantly (P<0.01), downregulated the expression of the antiapoptotic proteins B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 and survivin, and upregulated the expression of the proapoptotic proteins Bcl-2-like protein 4, second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase, cleaved (c)-caspase-3 and c-caspase-9. The present study therefore demonstrated that 15 sesquiterpenoids from S. lyratum exhibited anticancer activity in MCF-7, HCT-8, A-549, SGC-7901 and BEL-7402 cells, and that the anticancer mechanisms of solajiangxin H and lyratol D may be associated with mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, the present study provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that S. lyratum may be a promising candidate for the development of novel cancer therapies.

p-Coumaric acid and its conjugates: dietary sources, pharmacokinetic properties and biological activities

p-Coumaric acid (4-hydroxycinnamic acid) is a phenolic acid that has low toxicity in mice (LD50 = 2850 mg kg(-1) body weight), serves as a precursor of other phenolic compounds, and exists either in free or conjugated form in plants. Conjugates of p-coumaric acid have been extensively studied in recent years due to their bioactivities. In this review, the occurrence, bioavailability and bioaccessibility of p-coumaric acid and its conjugates with mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides, alkyl alcohols, organic acids, amine and lignin are discussed. Their biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antivirus, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet aggregation, anxiolytic, antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-arthritis activities, and their mitigatory effects against diabetes, obesity, hyperlipaemia and gout are compared. Cumulative evidence from multiple studies indicates that conjugation of p-coumaric acid greatly strengthens its biological activities; however, the high biological activity but low absorption of its conjugates remains a puzzle. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antitumor activity of tatariside F isolated from roots of Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn against H22 hepatocellular carcinoma via up-regulation of p53

BACKGROUND

Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn is a famous drinking food and herbal medicine in China, and have been commonly used for treating various diseases.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to investigate the antitumor effect of tatariside F (TF) isolated from the roots of F. tataricum against H22 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and in vivo and explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODS

In our present study, the anti-proliferative effect of TF against H22 cells was evaluated by MTT method. Furthermore, a mice xenograft model was established to investigate the antitumor effect of TF on HCC in vivo, and the possible mechanisms were determined by western blot and fluorescence polarization binding assay. In addition, the protective effect of TF on liver was also investigated by examining the histopathological changes and determining the liver biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that TF possessed notable antitumor effect against HCC both in vivo and in vitro, and the possible mechanism might be related to up-regulation of the protein expressions of Bax and p53, and down-regulation of Bcl-2. What's more, TF also exhibited protective effects against CTX (cyclophosphamide)-induced liver damages when co-administrated with CTX.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggested that TF possess notable antitumor effects against HCC and might play a favorable role in drug combination therapy against tumors with protective effect on liver.