Effect of active fraction of Eriocaulon sieboldianum on human leukemia K562 cells via proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction

Choosing the Right Cell Line for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Research

Immortalized cell lines are widely used in vitro tools in oncology and hematology research. While these cell lines represent artificial systems and may accumulate genetic aberrations with each passage, they are still considered valuable models for pilot, preliminary, and screening studies. Despite their limitations, cell lines are cost-effective and provide repeatable and comparable results. Choosing the appropriate cell line for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) research is crucial for obtaining reliable and relevant results. Several factors should be considered when selecting a cell line for AML research, such as specific markers and genetic abnormalities associated with different subtypes of AML. It is also essential to evaluate the karyotype and mutational profile of the cell line, as these can influence the behavior and response to the treatment of the cells. In this review, we evaluate immortalized AML cell lines and discuss the issues surrounding them concerning the revised World Health Organization and the French-American-British classifications.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Indole-2-Carboxamides with Potent Apoptotic Antiproliferative Activity as EGFR/CDK2 Dual Inhibitors

The apoptotic antiproliferative actions of our previously reported CB1 allosteric modulators 5-chlorobenzofuran-2-carboxamide derivatives VIIa–j prompted us to develop and synthesise a novel series of indole-2-carboxamide derivatives 5a–k, 6a–c, and 7. Different spectroscopic methods of analysis were used to validate the novel compounds. Using the MTT assay method, the novel compounds were examined for antiproliferative activity against four distinct cancer cell lines. Compounds 5a–k, 6a–c, and 7 demonstrated greater antiproliferative activity against the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) than other tested cancer cell lines, and 5a–k (which contain the phenethyl moiety in their backbone structure) demonstrated greater potency than 6a–c and 7, indicating the importance of the phenethyl moiety for antiproliferative action. Compared to reference doxorubicin (GI₅₀ = 1.10 µM), compounds 5d, 5e, 5h, 5i, 5j, and 5k were the most effective of the synthesised derivatives, with GI₅₀ ranging from 0.95 µM to 1.50 µM. Compounds 5d, 5e, 5h, 5i, 5j, and 5k were tested for their inhibitory impact on EGFR and CDK2, and the results indicated that the compounds tested had strong antiproliferative activity and are effective at suppressing both CDK2 and EGFR. Moreover, the studied compounds induced apoptosis with high potency, as evidenced by their effects on apoptotic markers such as Caspases 3, 8, 9, Cytochrome C, Bax, Bcl2, and p53.

Cytotoxic activity of flavonoid from local plant Eriocaulon cinereum R.B against MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Eriocaulon cinereum R. Br is used as traditional medicine by the local community in Bangka Belitung Island, Indonesia. The plant is processed as an infusion for fever, boosts the immune system, and treats tumor cells. However, scientific research on this species is still limited. The aims of this study were to determine the cytotoxic of E. cinereum against MCF-7 cells. The results suggested that one of the compounds has a good cytotoxic activity. Therefore, it is quite promising in the effort of cancer drug discovery. The active compound has a flavonoid, which plays a role in several anticancer mechanisms. This study provided scientific evidence regarding the utilization of E. cinereum by the local community for cancer therapy. The plant can be further developed as an alternative agent to treat cancer or as cancer adjuvant therapy.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

MicroRNA-29b reduces myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via down-regulating PTEN and activating the Akt/eNOS signaling pathway

Reperfusion may cause injuries to the myocardium in ischemia situation, which is called ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The study aimed to explore the roles of microRNA-29b (miR-29b) in myocardial I/R injury. Myocardial I/R injury rat model was established. Differentially expressed miRNAs between the model rats and the sham-operated rats were analyzed. miR-29b expression in myocardial tissues was measured. Gain-of-function of miR-29b was performed, and then the morphological changes, infarct size, myocardial function, oxidative stress, and the cell apoptosis in myocardial tissues were detected. The target relation between miR-29b and PTEN was detected through bio-information prediction and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Activation of Akt/eNOS signaling was detected. H9C2 cells were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment to perform in vitro experiments. I/R rats presented severe inflammatory infiltration, increased infarct size and cell apoptosis, increased oxidative stress and decreased myocardial function. miR-29b was downregulated in I/R rats, and up-regulation of miR-29b reversed the above changes. miR-29b directly bound to PTEN, and overexpression of miR-29b reduced PTEN expression level and increased the protein levels of p-Akt/Akt and p-eNOS/eNOS. In vivo results were confirmed in in vitro experiments. This study provided evidence that miR-29b could alleviate the myocardial I/R injury in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting PTEN expression and activating the Akt/eNOS signaling pathway.

The PI3Kα inhibitor DFX24 suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer via ERK inhibition and EPHB6 reactivation

EPHB6 is a metastasis inhibitory gene that is frequently decreased or deficiency in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which contributed to the subsequent development of distant metastasis. These suggested the possibility that reactivation of EPHB6 might prevent the metastasis of NSCLC. Nevertheless, EPHB6 expression might also promote cancer cell growth and inhibit cell apoptosis by activating Akt and ERK pathway, apart from inhibition of migration and invasion. In the present study, we developed a novel quinazolin-4(3H)-one analog (DFX24) as a potential PI3Kα inhibitor, which inhibited both cell proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cell lines. Investigation to the molecular mechanisms revealed DFX24 inhibited the cell growth and metastasis via inhibition of PI3Kα and ERK activity, as well as the increase in EPHB6 expression. In addition, DFX24 also induced cell cycle arrest and tumor cell apoptosis by inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway and activating mitochondria-dependent pathway, respectively. These findings suggested that DFX24 might be considered as a novel drug candidate and may provide a potential therapy for NSCLC.

Effect of Ocimum sanctum extract on leukemic cell lines: A preliminary in-vitro study

Background:

Surge of cancer incidence, effects of chemotherapeutic agents and their cost and reduced survival and responsiveness to treatment have led to shift of attention of researchers toward herbal remedies to look for newer dimension in cancer therapy. Ocimum sanctum, Holy Basil or Tulsi, holiest herb well used in the Indian household, has drawn much attention toward its various health benefits, especially anti-cancer property. The present study was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of O. sanctum on leukemic cell lines K562.

Materials and Methods:

Dry and aqueous extracts of two types of Tulsi leaves (Rama Tulsi and Krishna Tulsi) were evaluated for a dose-dependent cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative against K562 cell lines, leukoerythroid progenitor leukemic cell lines by 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration was evaluated for each of the extracts.

Results:

Both dry and aqueous extracts of both types of Tulsi leaves demonstrated a significant amount of cytotoxicity against the studied cell lines.

Conclusion:

This being preliminary study, we propose the initial finding of cytotoxic abilities of the herb against the leukemic cell lines and recommend a more detailed evaluation of the herb and its components.

MicroRNA-24 alleviates isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus via attenuation of oxidative stress

Several miRNAs have been recently suggested as potential therapeutic targets for anesthesia-related diseases. This study was carried out to explore the biological roles of miR-24 in isoflurane-treated rat hippocampal neurons. Isoflurane was used to induce neurotoxicity in a rat model. Gain- and loss-of-function of miR-24 was performed, and the size and Ca²⁺ permeability of mitochondria, as well as cell proliferation and apoptosis, and levels of oxidative-stress-related factors were measured both in vivo and in vitro. Dual luciferase reporter gene assays were used to identify the target relationship between miR-24 and p27^kip1. In this study, isoflurane treatment decreased miR-24 expression, after which, levels of neuron apoptosis and oxidative-stress-related factors were elevated and neuron viability was reduced. Over-expression of miR-24 inhibited oxidative damage and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal tissues, and suppressed the size and Ca²⁺ permeability of mitochondria of hippocampal neurons. miR-24 enhanced the viability of rat hippocampal neurons by targeting p27^kip1. To conclude, this study demonstrated that miR-24 attenuates isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus via its antioxidative properties and inhibiting p27^kip1 expression.

Understanding evolution in Poales: Insights from Eriocaulaceae plastome

In this study, we report the plastome of Eriocaulon decemflorum (Eriocaulaceae) and make an effort to understand the genome evolution, structural rearrangements and gene content of the order Poales by comparing it with other available plastomes. The size of complete E. decemflorum plastome is 151,671 bp with an LSC (81,477bp), SSC (17,180bp) and a pair of IRs (26,507 bp). The plastome exhibits GC content of 35.8% and 134 protein-coding genes with 19 genes duplicated in the IR region. The Eriocaulaceae plastome is characterized by the presence of accD, ycf1 and ycf2 genes and presence of introns in clpP and rpoC1 genes which have been lost in the Graminid plastomes. Phylogenomic analysis based on 81 protein-coding genes placed Eriocaulaceae sister to Mayacaceae. The present study enhances our understanding of the evolution of Poales by analyzing the plastome data from the order.

Chelidonine enhances the antitumor effect of lenvatinib on hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background

Lenvatinib is a newly approved molecular targeted drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the high cost associated with this treatment poses a huge financial burden on patients and the entire public health system. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies that enhance the antitumor effect of lenvatinib.

Methods

The antitumor effects of chelidonine or/and lenvatinib on HCC cell lines MHCC97-H and LM-3 were examined using the 3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2- H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. For the in-vivo investigation, the effect on subcutaneous or intrahepatic tumor growth in nude mice was also determined. The mRNA levels of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors were examined through quantitative polymerase chain reaction or Western blot.

Results

In the present study, we found that treatment with chelidonine enhanced the apoptotic effect of lenvatinib on HCC cells and the in-vivo growth of HCC tumors in nude mice. Mechanistically, treatment with chelidonine increased the expression of epithelial indicator E-cadherin, whereas it decreased the expression of mesenchymal indicators N-cadherin and Vimentin. These findings suggest that chelidonine restricted the EMT in HCC cells.

Conclusion

Chelidonine inhibits the process of EMT and enhances the antitumor effect of lenvatinib on HCC cells.

Eco-Friendly Formulated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Induction of Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in the MCF-7 Cancer Cell Line

Green products have strong potential in the discovery and development of unique drugs. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been observed to have powerful cytotoxicity against cells that cause breast cancer. The present study aims to examine the cell cycle profile, status of cell death, and pathways of apoptosis in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) treated with biosynthesized ZnO NPs. The anti-proliferative activity of ZnO NPs was determined using MTT assay. Cell cycle analysis and the mode of cell death were evaluated using a flow cytometry instrument. Quantitative real-time-PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to investigate the expression of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. ZnO NPs were cytotoxic to the MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The 50% growth inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of ZnO NPs at 24 h was 121 µg/mL. Cell cycle analysis revealed that ZnO NPs induced sub-G₁ phase (apoptosis), with values of 1.87% at 0 μg/mL (control), 71.49% at IC₂₅, 98.91% at IC₅₀, and 99.44% at IC₇₅. Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry analysis confirmed that ZnO NPs induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. The pro-apoptotic genes p53, p21, Bax, and JNK were upregulated, whereas anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2, AKT1, and ERK1/2 were downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. The arrest and apoptosis of MCF-7 cells were induced by ZnO NPs through several signalling pathways.

Leaf and Root Extracts from Campomanesia adamantium (Myrtaceae) Promote Apoptotic Death of Leukemic Cells via Activation of Intracellular Calcium and Caspase-3

Phytochemical studies are seeking new alternatives to prevent or treat cancer, including different types of leukemias. Campomanesia adamantium, commonly known as guavira or guabiroba, exhibits pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities. Considering the anticancer potential of this plant species, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antileukemic activity and the chemical composition of aqueous extracts from the leaves (AECL) and roots (AECR) of C. adamantium and their possible mechanisms of action. The extracts were analyzed by LC-DAD-MS, and their constituents were identified based on the UV, MS, and MS/MS data. The AECL and AECR showed different chemical compositions, which were identified as main compounds glycosylated flavonols from AECL and ellagic acid and their derivatives from AECR. The cytotoxicity promoted by these extracts were evaluated using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Jurkat leukemic cell line. The cell death profile was evaluated using annexin-V-FITC and propidium iodide labeling. Changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential, the activity of caspases, and intracellular calcium levels were assessed. The cell cycle profile was evaluated using propidium iodide. Both extracts caused concentration-dependent cytotoxicity only in Jurkat cells via late apoptosis. This activity was associated with loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases-9 and -3, changes in intracellular calcium levels, and cell cycle arrest in S-phase. Therefore, the antileukemic activity of the AECL and AECR is mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction and intracellular messengers, which activate the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Hence, aqueous extracts of the leaves and roots of C. adamantium show therapeutic potential for use in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated the proliferation of tumor cell.

In vitro Antiproliferative and Apoptosis Inducing Effect of Allium atroviolaceum Bulb Extract on Breast, Cervical, and Liver Cancer Cells

Natural products are considered potent sources for novel drug discovery and development. The multiple therapeutic effects of natural compounds in traditional medicine motivate us to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of bulb of Allium atroviolaceum in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231, HeLa and HepG2 cell lines. The bulb methanol extract of A. atroviolaceum was found to be an active cell proliferation inhibitor at the time and dose dependent manner. Determination of DNA content by flow cytometry demonstrated S and G2/M phase arrest of MCF-7 cell, correlated to Cdk1 downregulation, S phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 which is p53 and Cdk1-dependent, sub-G0 cell cycle arrest in HeLa aligned with Cdk1 downregulation, G0/G1, S, G2/M phase arrest in HepG2 which is p53-dependent. Apoptosis as the mechanism of cell death was confirmed by morphology study, caspases activity assay, as well as apoptosis related gene expression, Bcl-2. Caspase-8, -9, and -3 activity with downregulation of Bcl-2 illustrated occurrence of both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in MCF7, while caspase-3 and -8 activity revealed extrinsic pathway of apoptosis, although Bcl-2 downregulated. In HeLa cells, the activity of caspase-9 and -3 and downregulation of Bcl-2 shows intrinsic pathway or mitochondrial pathway, whereas HepG2 shows caspase independent apoptosis. Further, the combination of the extract with tamoxifen against MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 and combination with doxorubicin against HeLa and HeG2 demonstrated synergistic effect in most concentrations, suggests that the bulb of A. atroviolaceum may be useful for the treatment of cancer lonely or in combination with other drugs.