Galangin induces cell death by modulating the expression of glyoxalase-1 and Nrf-2 in HeLa cells

Insights into the anticancer effects of galangal and galangin: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUNDS

Cancer continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, significantly impacting both health and the economy. Natural products have emerged as promising sources for the development of new anticancer drugs, with galangal and their active ingredient, galangin, garnering substantial interest.

PURPOSE

This study summarizes recent findings on the anticancer properties of galangal and galangin, highlighting their potential to target various cancer types.

METHODS

We systematically searched the literature across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as "Alpinia officinarum," "Alpinia galanga", "galangal," and "galangin." This thorough approach allowed us to gather and compile a comprehensive collection of existing research on the topic.

RESULTS

This article provided a thorough analysis of the distribution of galangal, the methods used to extract the active compounds of galangal, and the anticancer properties of both galangin and galangal. It is important to note that galangal and galangin primarily function by regulating the signaling pathways of PI3K/Akt, MAPK, AMPK, p53, NF-κB, and Ras/RAF/MEK/ERK, which in turn triggers apoptosis, autophagy, and ROS while preventing the migration and invasion of cancer cells. We also discussed their toxicity, bioavailability, and clinical uses.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, galangal extract and galangin have a lot of promise for treating cancer. It is anticipated that this review will further advance the use of galangal extract and galangin as potential cancer treatment medications. Moreover, the discovery and development of drugs based on galangal has enormous potential for the therapy of cancer.

THF induces apoptosis by downregulating initiation, promotion, and progression phase biomarkers in skin and lung carcinoma

3,5,7-Trihydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one (THF) possesses a diverse range of pharmacological activities. Evidence suggests that THF exerts anticancer activity by distinct mechanisms of action. This study explores the anticancer potential of THF in human lung (A549) and skin (A431) cancer cells by employing different antiproliferative assays. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, neutral red uptake, sulphorhodamine B, and cell motility assays were used to confirm the anticancer potential of THF. Cell target-based and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays were used to explore the effect of THF on the initiation, promotion and progression phase biomarkers of carcinogenesis. THF suppresses the activity of lipoxygenase-5 up to ~40% in both A549 and A431 cells and up to ~50% hyaluronidase activity in A549 cells. qRT-PCR assay reveals that THF inhibits the activity of phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin in both cell lines, which is responsible for the initiation of cancer. It also arrests the G2/M phase of the cell cycle in A431 cells and increases the sub-diploid population in both A549 and A431 cell lines which leads to cell death. Annexin V-FITC assay confirmed that THF induces apoptosis and necrosis in A431 and A549 cell lines. Further investigation revealed that THF not only enhances reactive oxygen species production but also modulates mitochondrial membrane potential in both cell lines. It significantly inhibits S-180 tumour formation at 5 and 10 mg/kg bw, i.p. dose. An acute skin toxicity study on mice showed that erythema and edema scores are within the acceptable range, besides acceptable drug-likeness properties and non-toxic effects on human erythrocytes. Conclusively, THF showed potent anticancer activity on skin and lung carcinoma cell lines, suppressed the level of the biomarkers and inhibited tumour growth in mice.

Near-infrared-responsive GE11-CuS@Gal nanoparticles as an intelligent drug release system for targeting therapy against oral squamous cell carcinoma

Galangin (Gal) is a natural plant flavonoid. More and more evidence shows that Gal can achieve anti-tumor effects by regulating various mechanisms. However, its poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and insufficient lesion targeting limit its clinical application. To overcome these shortcomings, we designed and developed a mesoporous nanosystem (GE11-CuS) that actively located the target area and photo-controlled drug release, which promoted the rapid accumulation of drugs in tumor tissues under NIR irradiation, thus achieving positive effects against cancer. In this study, we explored the application of the Gal-loaded nanometer system (GE11-CuS@Gal) in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) both in vitro and in vivo. The results exhibited that GE11-CuS@Gal had excellent targeting ability and could accumulate efficiently in tumor cells (HSC-3). Meanwhile, the temperature of GE11-CuS@Gal increasing rapidly under NIR illumination damaged the integrity of the carrier and allowed Gal molecules to escape from the pores of the nanoparticles. When the accumulation of Gal in the nidus reached a certain level, the intracellular ROS level could be significantly increased and the antioxidative stress pathway mediated by Nrf2/OH-1 was effectively blocked, to inhibit the growth and migration of tumors. In conclusion, the GE11-CuS improved the antitumor activity of Gal in the body, which laid a foundation for the treatment of OSCC with traditional Chinese medicine ingredients.

Role of methylglyoxal and redox homeostasis in microbe-mediated stress mitigation in plants

One of the general consequences of stress in plants is the accumulation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and carbonyl species (like methylglyoxal) to levels that are detrimental for plant growth. These reactive species are inherently produced in all organisms and serve different physiological functions but their excessive accumulation results in cellular toxicity. It is, therefore, essential to restore equilibrium between their synthesis and breakdown to ensure normal cellular functioning. Detoxification mechanisms that scavenge these reactive species are considered important for stress mitigation as they maintain redox balance by restricting the levels of ROS, methylglyoxal and other reactive species in the cellular milieu. Stress tolerance imparted to plants by root-associated microbes involves a multitude of mechanisms, including maintenance of redox homeostasis. By improving the overall antioxidant response in plants, microbes can strengthen defense pathways and hence, the adaptive abilities of plants to sustain growth under stress. Hence, through this review we wish to highlight the contribution of root microbiota in modulating the levels of reactive species and thereby, maintaining redox homeostasis in plants as one of the important mechanisms of stress alleviation. Further, we also examine the microbial mechanisms of resistance to oxidative stress and their role in combating plant stress.

Galangin: A food-derived flavonoid with therapeutic potential against a wide spectrum of diseases

Galangin is an important flavonoid with natural activity, that is abundant in galangal and propolis. Currently, various biological activities of galangin have been disclosed, including anti-inflammation, antibacterial effect, anti-oxidative stress and aging, anti-fibrosis, and antihypertensive effect. Based on the above bioactivities, more and more attention has been paid to the role of galangin in neurodegenerative diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, skin diseases, and cancer. In this paper, the natural sources, pharmacokinetics, bioactivities, and therapeutic potential of galangin against various diseases were systematically reviewed by collecting and summarizing relevant literature. In addition, the molecular mechanism and new preparation of galangin in the treatment of related diseases are also discussed, to broaden the application prospect and provide reference for its clinical application. Furthermore, it should be noted that current toxicity and clinical studies of galangin are insufficient, and more evidence is needed to support its possibility as a functional food.

3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone restricts proliferation of androgen-independent human prostate adenocarcinoma cells by inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis and reduces tumour growth

Flavonoids are among the largest groups of secondary metabolites. Studies suggest that dietary intake of flavonoids reduces the risk of cancer. 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone (THF) belongs to the flavone class of flavonoids and potentially inhibits the growth of many cancers; however, it is unexplored in prostate cancer. This study reports the antiproliferative potential of THF in prostate cancer cell line via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cascades and examines the tumour reduction potential in swiss albino mice. The potency of THF was evaluated by employing cytotoxicity assays and wound healing assays. Cell cycle, ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and Annexin-V-FITC assay were performed using a flow cytometer. In vivo, anticancer potential was achieved using the mice Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) model. THF inhibits cell growth with IC50 of 64.30 µM (MTT), 81.22 µM (NRU) and 25.81 µM (SRB), substantiated by cell migration assay. Cell-cycle analysis revealed that THF increases the subdiploid population. Furthermore, the Annexin-V-FITC assay evoked a significant induction of late apoptosis at a higher concentration of THF. THF also disrupts MMP, caused by an increased generation of ROS. In the EAC model, THF significantly inhibits tumour growth and increases the percent survival of mice and ROS levels in EAC cells. Hence, it may be concluded that THF might execute its antiproliferative effect via inducing ROS generation and could be a promising lead for preclinical and clinical validations.

Galangin as an inflammatory response modulator: An updated overview and therapeutic potential

Numerous chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal disorders, all have an inflammation-based etiology. In cellular and animal models of inflammation, flavonols were used to show potent anti-inflammatory activity. The flavonols enhanced the synthesis of the anti-inflammatory cytokines transforming growth factor and interleukin-10 (IL-10) and reduced the synthesis of the prostaglandins IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), IL-1. Galangin (GAL), a natural flavonol, has a strong ability to control apoptosis and inflammation. GAL was discovered to suppress extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)p65 phosphorylation, which results in anti-inflammatory actions. Arthritis, inflammatory bronchitis, stroke, and cognitive dysfunction have all been treated with GAL. The current review aimed to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory properties of GAL and their protective effects in treating various chronic illnesses, including those of the heart, brain, skin, lungs, liver, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Targeting the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway in cervical and endometrial cancers

Cervical and endometrial cancers are among the most dangerous gynaecological malignancies, with high fatality and recurrence rates due to frequent diagnosis at an advanced stage and chemoresistance onset. The NRF2/KEAP1 signalling pathway plays an important role in protecting cells against oxidative damage due to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. NRF2, activated by ROS, induces the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase which neutralize ROS, protecting cells against oxidative stress damage. However, activation of NRF2/KEAP1 signalling in cancer cells results in chemoresistance, inactivating drug-mediated oxidative stress and protecting cancer cells from drug-induced cell death. We review the literature on the role of the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway in cervical and endometrial cancers, with a focus on the expression of its components and downstream genes. We also examine the role of the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway in chemotherapy resistance and how this pathway can be modulated by natural and synthetic modulators.

Crosstalk between xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibiting and cancer chemotherapeutic properties of comestible flavonoids- a comprehensive update

Gout is an inflammatory disease caused by metabolic disorder or genetic inheritance. People throughout the world are strongly dependent on ethnomedicine for the treatment of gout and some receive satisfactory curative treatment. The natural remedies as well as established drugs derived from natural sources or synthetically made exert their action by mechanisms that are closely associated with anticancer treatment mechanisms regarding inhibition of xanthine oxidase, feedback inhibition of de novo purine synthesis, depolymerization and disappearance of microtubule, inhibition of NF-ĸB activation, induction of TRAIL, promotion of apoptosis, and caspase activation and proteasome inhibition. Some anti-gout and anticancer novel compounds interact with same receptors for their action, e.g., colchicine and colchicine analogues. Dietary flavonoids, i.e., chrysin, kaempferol, quercetin, fisetin, pelargonidin, apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, isorhamnetin, phloretinetc etc. have comparable IC₅₀ values with established anti-gout drug and effective against both cancer and gout. Moreover, a noticeable number of newer anticancer compounds have already been isolated from plants that have been using by local traditional healers and herbal practitioners to treat gout. Therefore, the anti-gout plants might have greater potentiality to become selective candidates for screening of newer anticancer leads.

Analysis of Galangin and Its In Vitro/In Vivo Metabolites via Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Galangin, a naturally available flavonoid, induces a variety of pharmacological activities and biological effects via several mechanisms. However, in vivo metabolism of galangin has not been fully explored, which means knowledge of its pharmacodynamics and application potential is limited. The objective of this study was to establish an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method for the rapid profiling and identification of galangin metabolites in vitro and in vivo using unique online information-dependent acquisition with multiple mass defect filtering combined with dynamic background subtraction in positive ion mode. A total of 27 metabolites were detected and characterized, among which eight metabolites in liver microsomes and four metabolites in intestinal microflora were characterized, and 27 metabolites from rat plasma, bile, urine, feces, and a number of different tissue samples were characterized. Thirteen major metabolic pathways including hydrogenation, hydroxylation, glycosylation, methylation, acetylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation were observed to be attributable to the biotransformation of the metabolites. This study provides evidence for the presence of in vitro and in vivo metabolites and the pharmacokinetic mechanism of galangin. Moreover, the study promotes the further development and utilization of galangin and the plant from which it is derived, Alpinia officinarum Hance.

Role of the Glyoxalase System in Breast Cancer and Gynecological Cancer-Implications for Therapeutic Intervention: a Review

Methyglyoxal (MGO), an essential endogenous dicarbonyl metabolite, can lead to multiple physiological problems including hyperglycemia, kidney diseases, malignant tumors, beyond its normal concentration range. The glyoxalase system, making MGO maintained at a low level, links glycation to carcinogenesis, growth, metastasis, and cancer chemotherapy. The glyoxalase system comprises glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) and glyoxalase 2 (Glo2), which is often overexpressed in various tumor tissues. However, very little is known about the glyoxalase system in breast cancer and gynecological cancer. In this review, we introduce the role of the glyoxalase system in breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer, and highlight the potential of the glyoxalase system to be both as a marker for diagnosis and a novel target for antitumor therapy. However, the intrinsic molecular biology and mechanisms of the glyoxalase system in breast cancer and gynecological cancer need further exploration.

Natural Bioactives: Back to the Future in the Fight against Human Papillomavirus? A Narrative Review

Human papillomavirus (HPV) still represents an important threat to health worldwide. Better therapy in terms of further improvement of outcomes and attenuation of related side-effects is desirable. The pharmaceutical industry has always targeted natural substances-phytochemicals in particular-to identify lead compounds to be clinically validated and industrially produced as antiviral and anticancer drugs. In the field of HPV, numerous naturally occurring bioactives and dietary phytochemicals have been investigated as potentially valuable in vitro and in vivo. Interference with several pathways and improvement of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents have been demonstrated. Notably, some clinical trials have been conducted. Despite being endowed with general safety, these natural substances are in urgent need of further assessment to foresee their clinical exploitation. This review summarizes the basic research efforts conducted so far in the study of anti-HPV properties of bio-actives with insights into their mechanisms of action and highlights the variety of their natural origin in order to provide comprehensive mapping throughout the different sources. The clinical studies available are reported, as well, to highlight the need of uniformity and consistency of studies in the future to select those natural compounds that may be suited to clinical application.

Promising Natural Products in New Drug Design, Development, and Therapy for Skin Disorders: An Overview of Scientific Evidence and Understanding Their Mechanism of Action

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, composed of the epidermis and the dermis. It provides protection and acts as a barrier against external menaces like allergens, chemicals, systemic toxicity, and infectious organisms. Skin disorders like cancer, dermatitis, psoriasis, wounds, skin aging, acne, and skin infection occur frequently and can impact human life. According to a growing body of evidence, several studies have reported that natural products have the potential for treating skin disorders. Building on this information, this review provides brief information about the action of the most important in vitro and in vivo research on the use of ten selected natural products in inflammatory, neoplastic, and infectious skin disorders and their mechanisms that have been reported to date. The related studies and articles were searched from several databases, including PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Ten natural products that have been reported widely on skin disorders were reviewed in this study, with most showing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer effects as the main therapeutic actions. Overall, most of the natural products reported in this review can reduce and suppress inflammatory markers, like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), induce cancer cell death through apoptosis, and prevent bacteria, fungal, and virus infections indicating their potentials. This review also highlighted the challenges and opportunities of natural products in transdermal/topical delivery systems and their safety considerations for skin disorders. Our findings indicated that natural products might be a low-cost, well-tolerated, and safe treatment for skin diseases. However, a larger number of clinical trials are required to validate these findings. Natural products in combination with modern drugs, as well as the development of novel delivery mechanisms, represent a very promising area for future drug discovery of these natural leads against skin disorders.

Galangin: A metabolite that suppresses anti-neoplastic activities through modulation of oncogenic targets

With the dramatic increase in cancer incidence all over the world in the last decades, studies on identifying novel efficient anti-cancer agents have been intensified. Historically, natural products have represented one of the most important sources of new lead compounds with a wide range of biological activities. In this article, the multifaceted anti-cancer action of propolis-derived flavonoid, galangin, is presented, discussing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic effects in various cancer cells. In addition, co-effects with standard chemotherapeutic drugs as well as other natural compounds are also under discussion, besides highlighting modern nanotechnological advancements for overcoming the low bioavailability issue characteristic of galangin. Although further studies are needed for confirming the anti-cancer potential of galangin in vivo malignant systems, exploring this natural compound might open new perspectives in molecular oncology.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in human papillomavirus-related cancers

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is a necessary cause for the development of cervical cancer. Moreover, HR-HPV is also associated with cancers in the anus, vagina, vulva, penis and oropharynx. HR-HPVs target and modify the function of different cell biomolecules, such as glucose, amino acids, lipids and transcription factors (TF), such as p53, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), among others. The latter is a master TF that maintains redox homeostasis. Nrf2 also induces the transcription of genes associated with cell detoxification. Since both processes are critical for cell physiology, Nrf2 deregulation is associated with cancer development. Nrf2 is a crucial molecule in HPV-related cancer development but underexplored. Moreover, Nrf2 activation is also associated with resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in these cancers. This review focusses on the importance of Nrf2 during HPV-related cancer development, resistance to therapy and potential therapies associated with Nrf2 as a molecular target.

The Involvement of Natural Polyphenols in the Chemoprevention of Cervical Cancer

From all types of cancer, cervical cancer manages to be in top four most frequent types, with a 6.5% rate of occurrence. The infectious vector that induces the disease, the high-risk Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted virus, is capable of transforming the host cell by modulating some of the principal signaling pathways responsible for cell cycle arrest, proliferation, and survival. Fortunately, like other cancer types, cervical cancer can be treated by chirurgical interventions or chemoradiotherapy, but these methods are not exactly the lucky clover of modern medicine because of the adverse effects they have. That is the reason why in the last years the emphasis has been on alternative medicine, more specifically on phytochemicals, as a substantial number of studies showed that diet contributes to cancer prevention and treatment. All these studies are trying to find new chemopreventive agents with less toxicity but high effectiveness both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this review is to evaluate the literature in order to underline the advantages and disadvantages of polyphenols, a class of dietary compounds, as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. This review also aims to present polyphenols from different perspectives, starting with mechanisms of action and ending with their toxicity. The bigger picture illustrates that polyphenols have great potential in cervical cancer prevention, with strong effects on gene modulation.

Galangin ameliorates Imiquimod-Induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in BALB/c mice via down regulating NF-κB and activation of Nrf2 signaling pathways

Psoriasis is a most common chronic autoimmune-arbitrated cutaneous inflammatory skin disorder by unclear pathogenesis. In this current study we demonstrated the effect of galangin (GAL) on imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation and decipher its possible protective mechanism which has not been investigated. The in vivo results revealed that GAL at 1% w/w and 2% w/w for six consecutive days markedly reduced IMQ-induced PASI scoring, skin, ear thickness, hematological markers, levels of nitrites, TBARS, MPO, histopathological, as well modulated the protein levels of pro-inflammatory mediators of COX-2, iNOS, NF-κB pathway and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IL-23, IL-1β in the skin and also IL-6, TNF-α in both skin and serum. Besides, GAL restored the levels of antioxidants markers such as SOD, CAT, GST, GSH, GR and Vit-C, anti-inflammatory cytokine of IL-10, and the protein levels of Nrf2/HO-1 in the skin compared to the IMQ group. Finally, our study demonstrates that GAL exerted its protective effect by up-regulating the anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant markers against psoriasis pre-clinical models indicating its potency for treating psoriasis in humans.

A comprehensive review on chemotherapeutic potential of galangin

Galangin, a non-toxic phytochemical is known to possess several therapeutic applications. Mounting evidences have demonstrated that galangin a naturally available flavonoid exerts anticancer effects via several mechanisms. The phytocompound induces apoptosis and renders antiangiogenic property. Additionally, galangin has demonstrated significate results in combating various cancer types when administered in combination with other phytocompounds or with gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The present article is a critical review of galangin for its treatment on different types of cancer and its usability as an alternative cancer therapeutics.

In vitro and in silico anticancer potential analysis of Streptomyces sp. extract against human lung cancer cell line, A549

During our previous investigation, bioactive compounds present in the extract of Streptomyces sp. strain 196 were characterized using LC-MS/MS and 1H NMR studies. These compounds were K-252-C aglycone indolocarbazole alkaloid, decoyinine, and cycloheximide; the study of these natural drugs against lung carcinoma is still limited. Focus of the current investigation was to study the anticancer effect of strain 196 extract on lung cancer cells (A549). During in vitro studies, anti-proliferative effect of extract was studied using MTT assay in A549 cells. Effect of extract on cell survival was further evaluated using colony assay. Cell death was qualitatively assessed using apoptosis assay. The aftereffect of extract treatment on metastatic potential of cancerous cells was studied using wound closure assay. Effect of extract on the morphology and cytoskeletal arrangement of A549 cells was studied using phalloidin staining. The extract demonstrated concentration and time-dependent cytotoxicity with IC50 value at 0.5 mg/ml (6 h) and 0.15 mg/ml (24 h). The proliferation and metastatic potential of cells, as characterized by MTT and migration assay, decreased over time in a concentration-dependent manner. Discrete changes in cellular morphology were noted as a result of the induced cytotoxicity. Apoptosis assay demonstrated 98.7% cell death at highest concentration of extract (1 mg/ml). During in silico studies, molecular docking revealed that strain 196 compounds are efficiently binding to mutant EGFR form (T790M/L858R) with release of binding energy (∆G) between - 5 and - 6.9 kcal/Mol. In conclusion, strain 196 extract could be a source of therapeutic drugs to treat lung carcinoma.

Therapeutic and preventive properties of honey and its bioactive compounds in cancer: an evidence-based review

Despite the much improved therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment that have been developed over the past 50 years, cancer remains a major cause of mortality globally. Considerable epidemiological and experimental evidence has demonstrated an association between ingestion of food and nutrients with either an increased risk for cancer or its prevention. There is rising interest in exploring agents derived from natural products for chemoprevention or for therapeutic purposes. Honey is rich in nutritional and non-nutritional bioactive compounds, as well as in natural antioxidants, and its potential beneficial function in human health is becoming more evident. A large number of studies have addressed the anti-cancer effects of different types of honey and their phenolic compounds using in vitro and in vivo cancer models. The reported findings affirm that honey is an agent able to modulate oxidative stress and has anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory and anti-metastatic properties. However, despite its reported anti-cancer activities, very few clinical studies have been undertaken. In the present review, we summarise the findings from different experimental approaches, including in vitro cell cultures, preclinical animal models and clinical studies, and provide an overview of the bioactive profile and bioavailability of the most commonly studied honey types, with special emphasis on the chemopreventive and therapeutic properties of honey and its major phenolic compounds in cancer. The implications of these findings as well as the future prospects of utilising honey to fight cancer will be discussed.

Piperazine clubbed with 2-azetidinone derivatives suppresses proliferation, migration and induces apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cells through oxidative stress mediated intrinsic mitochondrial pathway

Piperazine scaffolds or 2-azetidinone pharmacophores have been reported to show anti-cancer activities and apoptosis induction in different types of cancer cells. However, the mechanistic studies involve in induction of apoptosis addressing these two moieties for human cervical cancer cells remain uncertain. The present study emphasizes on the anti-proliferating properties and mechanism involved in induction of apoptosis for these structurally related azoles derivatives in HeLa cancer cells. 1-Phenylpiperazine clubbed with 2-azetidione derivatives (5a-5h) were synthesized, characterized using various spectroscopic techniques and evaluated for their in-vitro anti-proliferative activities and induction of apoptosis. Further, we also evaluated oxidative stress generated by these synthetic derivatives (5a-5h). Cell viability studies revealed that among all, the compound N-(3-chloro-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-4-oxoazetidin-1-yl)-2-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl) acetamide 5e remarkably inhibited the growth of HeLa cells in a concentration dependent manner having IC₅₀ value of 29.44 ± 1.46 µg/ml. Morphological changes, colonies suppression and inhibition of migration clearly showed the antineoplasicity in HeLa cells treated with 5e. Simultaneously, phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation and cell-cycle arrest showed ongoing apoptosis in the HeLa cancer cells induced by compound 5e in concentration dependent manner. Additionally, generation of intracellular ROS along with the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential supported that compound 5e caused oxidative stress resulting in apoptosis through mitochondria mediated pathway. Elevation in the level of cytochrome c and upregulation in expression of caspase-3 clearly indicated the involvement of the intrinsic pathway of programmed cell death. In brief; compound 5e could serve as a promising lead for the development of an effective antitumor agent.

Naringenin Suppresses Chemically Induced Skin Cancer in Two-Stage Skin Carcinogenesis Mouse Model

Background: Naringenin, a flavonoid present in citrus fruits has many health promoting activities. It has been reported to protect skin from UV radiation, thermal damage and atopic allergies. Despite many skin protective effects, in vivo effect of naringenin on skin cancer has not been reported so far.Objective: The present work was designed to study the chemo preventive effect of naringenin on chemically induced skin cancer in mice.Methods: Two stage model of skin papillomagenesis, using DMBA plus croton oil, was used to study the effect of naringenin in Swiss albino mice. The chemo preventive effect was evaluated using morphological, histopathological and biochemical features.Results: Oral administration of naringenin reduced the skin papilloma in both pre-treatment as well as post-treatment groups of mice. The number as well as size of papilloma was significantly reduced in the treated groups. Histopathological studies showed that naringenin treatment suppressed papillomagenesis. Biochemical studies further revealed decrease in the activity of glyoxalase-1 enzyme and an increase in carbonyl content. The effect was more pronounced in ant-initiation group.Conclusion: Naringenin exhibited anti-tumor effect in two stage carcinogenesis mouse skin tumor model. This study revealed that consumption of citrus fruits and the naringenin therein may be helpful in suppression of skin cancer.

Protective effect of galangin against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in Balb/c mice

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is known to cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract by the immune malfunction. Herein, we demonstrate the protective effect of galangin (GAL), a phytochemical, on LPS-induced inflammation in cultured mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) and the treatment of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in Balb/c mice. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of GAL in DSS-exposed experimental colitis has not been investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We determined the levels of proinflammatory cytokines by ELISA, biochemical analysis using standard protocols and protein expression level of NF-κB signaling pathway and activation of Nrf2 gene pathway were analyzed by western blot analysis in colitis-induced mice.

RESULTS

Our in vitro studies showed that LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with GAL reduced the levels of nitrites, IL-6, and TNF-α in a concentration-dependent manner. The results demonstrated that oral administration of GAL at 20 mg/kg (lower dose) and 40 mg/kg (higher dose) significantly reduced the severity of colitis and mitigated the clinical signs of both macroscopic and microscopic of the disease. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in colonic tissue and serum were reduced significantly and in GAL + DSS-treated group relative to DSS alone treated group.  Increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was detected in colon tissues in GAL + DSS-treated groups relative to DSS alone treated group. We also observed decreased levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitrites and TBARS with increased SOD in colonic tissue of GAL + DSS group. Besides, GAL + DSS-treated animals significantly suppressed protein expressions of p-NF-κB and p-Ikk-βα, COX-2, iNOS, Nrf2 and increased HO-1 levels in colon tissues by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights the protective effect of galangin as an anti-inflammatory agent against the severe form of colitis in pre-clinical models suggesting its potency for the treatment of IBD in humans.

New N-benzhydrylpiperazine/1,3,4-oxadiazoles conjugates inhibit the proliferation, migration, and induce apoptosis in HeLa cancer cells via oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial pathway

N-benzhydrylpiperazine and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles are pharmacologically active scaffolds which exhibits significant inhibitory growth effects against various cancer cells, however, antiproliferation effects and the underlying mechanism for inducing apoptosis for aforementioned scaffolds addressing HeLa cancer cells remains uncertain. In this study, N-benzhydrylpiperazine clubbed with 1,3,4-oxadiazoles (4a-4h) were synthesized, subsequently characterized using high resolution spectroscopic techniques and eventually evaluated for their antiproliferation potential by inducing apoptosis in HeLa cancer cells. The MTT assay screening results revealed that among all, compound 4d ( N-benzhydryl-4-((5-(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)methyl)piperazine) in particular, exhibited IC ₅₀ value of 28.13 ± 0.21 μg/mL and significantly inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cancer cells in concentration-dependent manner. The in vitro anticancer assays for treated HeLa cells resulted in alterations in the cell morphology, reduction in colony formation, and inhibition of cell migration in concentration-dependent treatment. Furthermore, G2/M phase arrest, variations in the nuclear morphology, degradation of chromosomal DNA confirmed the ongoing apoptosis in treated HeLa cells. Increase in the expression of cytochrome C and caspase-3 confirmed the involvement of intrinsic mitochondrial pathway regulating the cell death. Also, elevation in reactive oxygen species level and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential signified that compound 4d induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by generating the oxidative stress. Therefore, compound 4d may act as a potent chemotherapeutic agent against human cervical cancer.

Profiling of Methylglyoxal Blood Metabolism and Advanced Glycation End-Product Proteome Using a Chemical Probe

Methylglyoxal (MG) is quantitatively the most important precursor to advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), and evidence is accumulating that it is also a causally linked to diabetes and aging related diseases. Living systems primarily reside on the glyoxalase system to detoxify MG into benign d-lactate. The flux to either glycation or detoxification, accordingly, is a key parameter for how well a system handles the ubiquitous glyoxal burden. Furthermore, insight into proteins and in particular their individual modification sites are central to understanding the involvement of MG and AGE in diabetes and aging related diseases. Here, we present a simple method to simultaneously monitor the flux of MG both to d-lactate and to protein AGE formation in a biological sample by employing an alkyne-labeled methylglyoxal probe. We apply the method to blood and plasma to demonstrate the impact of blood cell glyoxalase activity on plasma protein AGE formation. We move on to isolate proteins modified by the MG probe and accordingly can present the first general inventory of more than 100 proteins and 300 binding sites of the methylglyoxal probe on plasma as well as erythrocytic proteins. Some of the data could be validated against a number of in vivo and in vitro targets for advanced glycation previously known from the literature; the majority of proteins and specific sites however were previously unknown and may guide future research into MG and AGE to elucidate how these are functionally linked to diabetic disease and aging.

Microwave-assisted facile synthesis of poly(luminol-co-phenylenediamine) copolymers and their potential application in biomedical imaging

Conjugated copolymers have attracted much attention because of their outstanding photo-physical properties. The present work reports for the first time, microwave-assisted copolymerization of o-phenylenediamine with luminol using different weight ratios of the two monomers. The composition of the copolymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) while monomer reactivity ratios were determined using the Fineman–Ross method. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy revealed the variation in polaronic states upon copolymerization while X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses showed the morphology of the copolymers to be intermediate between that of the homopolymers. Confocal analysis and fluorescence studies revealed that the copolymers showed composition based blue as well as red emission which could be utilized for in vivo imaging of cancer cells.

Development of bioimaging agents based on poly(o-phenylendiamine and luminol).