Adverse drug reactions of anticancer drugs derived from natural sources

Exploring the potential of thiophene derivatives as dual inhibitors of β-tubulin and Wnt/β-catenin pathways for gastrointestinal cancers in vitro

Background

Gastrointestinal cancer poses a considerable global health risk, encompassing a heterogeneous spectrum of malignancies that afflict the gastrointestinal tract. It is significant to develop efficacious therapeutic agents, as they are indispensable for both the treatment and prevention of this formidable disease.

Methods

In this study, we synthesized a novel thiophene derivative, designated as compound 1312. An assessment was performed to investigate its anti-proliferative activity in several cancer cell lines (GES-1, EC9706, SGC7901, and HT-29). Furthermore, we performed molecular biology techniques to investigate the inhibitory impact of compound 1312 on gastrointestinal cell lines SGC-7901 and HT-29.

Results

Our findings reveal that compound 1312 exhibits significant efficacy in suppressing colony formation of cancer cells. Notably, it triggers cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in gastrointestinal cell lines SGC7901 and HT-29. Compound 1312 was confirmed to exert inhibitory effects on cell migration and invasion in SGC7901. Additionally, the compound elicits apoptotic cell death through the activation of the DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and the caspase signaling cascade. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that compound 1312 effectively suppresses both the β-tubulin cytoskeletal network and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These multifaceted anti-cancer activities highlight the potential of compound 1312 as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.

Conclusion

This study indicates the promising potential of compound 1312 as a prospective candidate agent for gastrointestinal cancer treatment. Further comprehensive investigations are needed to explore its therapeutic efficacy in greater detail.

Natural Products as Regulators against Matrix Metalloproteinases for the Treatment of Cancer

Cancers are currently the major cause of mortality in the world. According to previous studies, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have an impact on tumor cell proliferation, which could lead to the onset and progression of cancers. Therefore, regulating the expression and activity of MMPs, especially MMP-2 and MMP-9, could be a promising strategy to reduce the risk of cancers. Various studies have tried to investigate and understand the pathophysiology of cancers to suggest potent treatments. In this review, we summarize how natural products from marine organisms and plants, as regulators of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and enzymatic activity, can operate as potent anticancer agents.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems in Oral Cancer Therapy: Recent Developments and Prospective

Oral cancer (OC), characterized by malignant tumors in the mouth, is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment for OC; however, it often leads to severe side effects on human bodies. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution for managing OC using nanomaterials and nanoparticles (NPs). Nano-drug delivery systems (nano-DDSs) that employ various NPs as nanocarriers have been extensively developed to enhance current OC therapies by achieving controlled drug release and targeted drug delivery. Through searching and analyzing relevant research literature, it was found that certain nano-DDSs can improve the therapeutic effect of drugs by enhancing drug accumulation in tumor tissues. Furthermore, they can achieve targeted delivery and controlled release of drugs through adjustments in particle size, surface functionalization, and drug encapsulation technology of nano-DDSs. The application of nano-DDSs provides a new tool and strategy for OC therapy, offering personalized treatment options for OC patients by enhancing drug delivery, reducing toxic side effects, and improving therapeutic outcomes. However, the use of nano-DDSs in OC therapy still faces challenges such as toxicity, precise targeting, biodegradability, and satisfying drug-release kinetics. Overall, this review evaluates the potential and limitations of different nano-DDSs in OC therapy, focusing on their components, mechanisms of action, and laboratory therapeutic effects, aiming to provide insights into understanding, designing, and developing more effective and safer nano-DDSs. Future studies should focus on addressing these issues to further advance the application and development of nano-DDSs in OC therapy.

Paeoniflorin Induces ER Stress-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death by Generating Nox4-Derived ROS under Radiation in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types worldwide, and its resistance to cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has made treating it a major challenge. Paeoniflorin (PF) is one potential pharmacological treatment derived from paeony root. However, in cancer, the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of PF are still unclear. In the present study, we found that PF exerts anti-tumor effects in vivo and in vitro and induces apoptotic cell death through ER stress, calcium (Ca2+), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release in gastric cancer cells. However, ROS inhibition by DPI and NAC blocks cell death and the PERK signaling pathway via the reduction of Nox4. Moreover, PF triggers a synergistic inhibitory effect of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process under radiation exposure in radiation-resistant gastric cancer cells. These findings indicate that PF-induced Ca2+ and ROS release overcomes radioresistance via ER stress and induces cell death under radiation in gastric cancer cells. Therefore, PF, in combination with radiation, may be a powerful strategy for gastric cancer therapy.

A detailed insight of the tumor targeting using nanocarrier drug delivery system

Human struggle against the deadly disease conditions is continued since ages. The contribution of science and technology in fighting against these diseases cannot be ignored exclusively due to the invention of novel procedure and products, extending their size ranges from micro to nano. Recently nanotechnology has been gaining more consideration for its ability to diagnose and treat different cancers. Different nanoparticles have been used to evade the issues related with conservative anticancer delivery systems, including their nonspecificity, adverse effects and burst release. These nanocarriers including, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), liposomes, nano lipid carriers (NLCs), nano micelles, nanocomposites, polymeric and magnetic nanocarriers, have brought revolutions in antitumor drug delivery. Nanocarriers improved the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs with better accumulation at the specific site with sustained release, improved bioavailability and apoptosis of the cancer cells while bypassing the normal cells. In this review, the cancer targeting techniques and surface modification on nanoparticles are discussed briefly with possible challenges and opportunities. It can be concluded that understanding the role of nanomedicine in tumor treatment is significant, and therefore, the modern progressions in this arena is essential to be considered for a prosperous today and an affluent future of tumor patients.

Conformational Analysis of 1,5-Diaryl-3-Oxo-1,4-Pentadiene Derivatives: A Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy Investigation

1,5-Diaryl-3-Oxo-1,4-Pentadiene derivatives are intriguing organic compounds with a unique structure featuring a pentadiene core, aryl groups, and a ketone group. This study investigates the influence of fluorine atoms on the conformational features of these derivatives in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) solution. Through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, we discerned variations in interatomic distances and established predominant conformer proportions. The findings suggest that the non-fluorinated entity exhibits a uniform distribution across various conformer groups. The introduction of a fluorine atom induces substantial alterations, resulting in the predominance of a specific conformer group. This structural insight may hold the key to their diverse anticancer activities, previously reported in the literature.

Health-Promoting Effects of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Endophytic Fungi

The study examines the intricate relationship between plants and the endophytic fungi inhabiting their tissues. These fungi harmoniously coexist with plants, forming a distinct symbiotic connection that has caught scientific attention due to its potential implications for plant health and growth. The diverse range of bioactive compounds produced by these fungi holds significant promise for human health. The review covers various aspects of this topic, starting by introducing endophytic microorganisms, explaining their colonization of different plant parts, and illuminating their potential roles in enhancing plant defense against diseases and promoting growth. The review emphasizes the widespread occurrence and diversity of these microorganisms among plant species while highlighting the complexities and significance of isolating and extracting bioactive compounds from them. It focuses on the health benefits of these bioactive compounds, including their capacity to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. The review delves into the mechanisms behind these health-promoting effects, spotlighting how the compounds interact with cellular receptors, signaling pathways, and gene expression. In conclusion, the review provides a comprehensive overview of health-promoting bioactive compounds from plant endophytic fungi. It outlines their multifaceted impact, potential applications, and future research avenues in health and medicine.

Procoxacin bidirectionally inhibits osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity in bone and suppresses bone metastasis of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Bone is the most common site of metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa). PCa invasion leads to a disruption of osteogenic-osteolytic balance and causes abnormal bone formation. The interaction between PCa and bone stromal cells, especially osteoblasts (OB), is considered essential for the disease progression. However, drugs that effectively block the cancer-bone interaction and regulate the osteogenic-osteolytic balance remain undiscovered.

METHODS

A reporter gene system was constructed to screen compounds that could inhibit PCa-induced OB activation from 631 compounds. Then, the pharmacological effects of a candidate drug, Procoxacin (Pro), on OBs, osteoclasts (OCs) and cancer-bone interaction were studied in cellular models. Intratibial inoculation, micro-CT and histological analysis were used to explore the effect of Pro on osteogenic and osteolytic metastatic lesions. Bioinformatic analysis and experiments including qPCR, western blotting and ELISA assay were used to identify the effector molecules of Pro in the cancer-bone microenvironment. Virtual screening, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance assay and RNA knockdown were utilized to identify the drug target of Pro. Experiments including co-IP, western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to reveal the role of Pro binding to its target. Intracardiac inoculation metastasis model and survival analysis were used to investigate the therapeutic effect of Pro on metastatic cancer.

RESULTS

Luciferase reporter gene consisted of Runx2 binding sequence, OSE2, and Alp promotor could sensitively reflect the intensity of PCa-OB interaction. Pro best matched the screening criteria among 631 compounds in drug screening. Further study demonstrated that Pro effectively inhibited the PCa-induced osteoblastic changes without killing OBs or PCa cells and directly killed OCs or suppressed osteoclastic functions at very low concentrations. Mechanism study revealed that Pro broke the feedback loop of TGF-β/C-Raf/MAPK pathway by sandwiching into 14-3-3ζ/C-Raf complex and prevented its disassociation. Pro treatment alleviated both osteogenic and osteolytic lesions in PCa-involved bones and reduced the number of metastases of PCa in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our study provides a drug screening strategy based on the cancer-host microenvironment and demonstrates that Pro effectively inhibits both osteoblastic and osteoclastic lesions in PCa-involved bones, which makes it a promising therapeutic agent for PCa bone metastasis.

Reconciling the Gap between Medications and their Potential Leads: The Role of Marine Metabolites in the Discovery of New Anticancer Drugs: A Comprehensive Review

One-third of people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, making it the second leading cause of death globally each year after cardiovascular disease. The complex anticancer molecular mechanisms have been understood clearly with the advent of improved genomic, proteomic, and bioinformatics. Our understanding of the complex interplay between numerous genes and regulatory genetic components within cells explaining how this might lead to malignant phenotypes has greatly expanded. It was discovered that epigenetic resistance and a lack of multitargeting drugs were highlighted as major barriers to cancer treatment, spurring the search for innovative anticancer treatments. It was discovered that epigenetic resistance and a lack of multitargeting drugs were highlighted as major barriers to cancer treatment, spurring the search for innovative anticancer treatments. Many popular anticancer drugs, including irinotecan, vincristine, etoposide, and paclitaxel, have botanical origins. Actinomycin D and mitomycin C come from bacteria, while bleomycin and curacin come from marine creatures. However, there is a lack of research evaluating the potential of algae-based anticancer treatments, especially in terms of their molecular mechanisms. Despite increasing interest in the former, and the promise of the compounds to treat tumours that have been resistant to existing treatment, pharmaceutical development of these compounds has lagged. Thus, the current review focuses on the key algal sources that have been exploited as anticancer therapeutic leads, including their biological origins, phytochemistry, and the challenges involved in converting such leads into effective anticancer drugs.

Novel Strategies for the Bioavailability Augmentation and Efficacy Improvement of Natural Products in Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is emerging as a major cause of mortality globally. Oral cancer occupies a significant proportion of the head and neck, including the cheeks, tongue, and oral cavity. Conventional methods in the treatment of cancer involve surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, and these have not proven to completely eradicate cancerous cells, may lead to the reoccurrence of oral cancer, and possess numerous adverse side effects. Advancements in novel drug delivery approaches have gained popularity in cancer management with an increase in the number of cases associated with oral cancer. Natural products are potent sources for drug discovery, especially for anticancer drugs. Natural product delivery has major challenges due to its low solubility, poor absorption, inappropriate size, instability, poor permeation, and first-pass metabolism. Therefore, it is of prime importance to investigate novel treatment approaches for the delivery of bioactive natural products. Nanotechnology is an advanced method of delivering cancer therapy with minimal damage to normal cells while targeting cancer cells. Therefore, the present review elaborates on the advancements in novel strategies for natural product delivery that lead to the significant enhancement of bioavailability, in vivo activity, and fewer adverse events for the prevention and treatment of oral cancer. Various approaches to accomplish the desired results involve size reduction, surface property modification, and polymer attachment, which collectively result in the higher stability of the formulation.

Antiproliferative and Microtubule-stabilizing Activities of Two Iboga-vobasine Bisindoles Alkaloids from Tabernaemontana corymbosa in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma HT-29 Cells

Two iboga-vobasine bisindoles, 16'-decarbomethoxyvoacamine (1: ) and its 19,20-dihydro derivative, 16'-decarbomethoxydihydrovoacamine (2: ) from Tabernaemontana corymbosa exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells in our previous studies. Bisindoles 1: and 2: selectively inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells without significant cytotoxicity to normal human colon fibroblasts CCD-18Co. Treatment with bisindoles 1: and 2: suppressed the formation of HT-29 colonies via G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of mitochondrial apoptosis. Owing to its higher antiproliferative activity, bisindole 2: was chosen for the subsequent studies. Bisindole 2: inhibited the formation of HT-29 spheroids (tumor-like cell aggregates) in 3D experiments in a dose-dependent manner, while an in vitro tubulin polymerization assay and molecular docking analysis showed that bisindole 2: is a microtubule-stabilizing agent which is predicted to bind at the β-tubulin subunit at the taxol-binding site. The binding resulted in the generation of ROS, which consequently activated the oxidative stress-related cell cycle arrest and apoptotic pathways, viz., JNK/p38, p21^Cip1/Chk1, and p21^Cip1/Rb/E2F, as shown by microarray profiling.

Indispensable role of microbes in anticancer drugs and discovery trends

Recent years have seen an increased focus on the advancement of naturally derived products for the treatment of cancer. Since the beginning of recorded history, nature has provided a variety of medicinal agents, and an overwhelming number of drugs that we have today are derived from natural sources. Such natural agents are prominently used to treat several diseases such as diabetes, malaria, Alzheimer's, pulmonary disorders, etc. with cancer being the highlight of this review. Due to the rapid development of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, the hunt for effective novel drugs is still a paramount concern in cancer treatment. Moreover, many chemotherapy drugs typically have high toxicity and adverse side effects, which necessitates the need to develop anti-tumor drugs that can be employed to treat deadly tumors with fewer negative effects on health and better efficacy. Isolation of several chemotherapeutic drugs has been conducted from a wide range of natural sources which include plants, microbes, fungi, and marine microorganisms. Considering the trends of previous decades, microbial diversity has grown to play a significant role in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and drugs, especially antibiotics and anti-cancer medications. Microbe-derived antitumor antibiotics such as anthracycline, epothilones, bleomycin, actinomycin, and staurosporine are amongst the widely used cancer chemotherapeutic agents. This review deals majorly with microbe-derived anticancer drugs taking into account their derivatives, mechanism of action, isolation procedures, limitations, and tumors targeted by them. This article also reports the phase of clinical study these drugs are undergoing. Moreover, it intends to portray the indispensable part that these microbes have been playing since time immemorial in the odyssey of chemotherapeutic agents. KEY POINTS: • Microbial diversity contributes heavily towards the formulation of anticancer drugs. • Polypeptides, carbohydrates, and alkaloids are prevalent microbe-based drug classes. • Microbe-derived anticancer agents target various sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas.

Eriodictyol mediated selective targeting of the TNFR1/FADD/TRADD axis in cancer cells induce apoptosis and inhibit tumor progression and metastasis

•

Eriodictyol induces Selective Cytotoxicity to tumor cells.

•

Eriodictyol enhances TNFR1 expression in cancer cells.

•

Eriodictyol targets TNFR1 to selectively mediate apoptosis and cytotoxicity to cancer cells.

•

Eriodictyol reduces tumour burden in experimentally induced lung metastasis in vivo.

While the anti-inflammatory activities of Eriodictyol, a plant-derived flavonoid is well-known, reports on its anti-cancer efficacy and selective cytotoxicity in cancer cells are still emerging. However, little is known regarding its mechanism of selective anti-cancer activities. Here, we show the mechanism of selective cytotoxicity of Eriodictyol towards cancer cells compared to normal cells. Investigation reveals that Eriodictyol significantly upregulates TNFR1 expression in tumor cells (HeLa and SK-RC-45) while sparing the normal cells (HEK, NKE and WI-38), which display negligible TNFR1 expression, irrespective of the absence or presence of Eriodictyol. Further investigation of the molecular events reveal that Eriodictyol induces apoptosis through expression of the pro-apoptotic DISC components leading to activation of the caspase cascade. In addition, CRISPR-Cas9 mediated knockout of TNFR1 completely blocks apoptosis in HeLa cells in response to Eriodictyol, confirming that Eriodictyol induced cancer cell apoptosis is indeed TNFR1-dependent. Finally, in vivo data demonstrates that Eriodictyol not only impedes tumor growth and progression, but also inhibits metastasis in mice implanted with 4T1 breast cancer cells. Thus, our study has identified Eriodictyol as a compound with high selectivity towards cancer cells through TNFR1 and suggests that it can be further explored for its prospect in cancer therapeutics.

Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of a Phenolic-Rich Extract from Lycium barbarum Fruits on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16-Positive Head Cancer Cell Lines

The in vitro antiproliferative activity of a phenolic-rich extract from Lycium barbarum fruits against head and neck HPV16 squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been demonstrated, indicating for the first time that L. barbarum extract inhibits human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 cell lines. Ethanol extract of L. barbarum was used for cell viability evaluation on SCC090, CAL27, and HGnF cell lines. After 24 and 48 h, the cell cycle effect of L. barbarum extract (at 1.0, 10, and 100 µg/mL) was measured via flow cytometry. In addition, the mRNA expression on E6/E7 and p53 via RT-PCR and the expression of p16, p53, Ki-67, and Bcl-2 via immunohistochemistry were also determined. Untreated cells, 20 µM cisplatin, and a Camellia sinensis-derived extract were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. We demonstrated that the studied L. barbarum extract resulted in G0/G1 arrest and S phase accumulation in SCC090 at 1.0 and 10 μg/mL. A reduction in mRNA levels of E6/E7 oncogenes (p < 0.05) with p53 overexpression was also observed through PCR, while immunohistochemical analyses indicated p16 overexpression (p > 0.05) and a decrease in p53 overexpression. The observed effects were associated with anticancer and immunomodulatory phenolics, such as flavonols/flavan-3-ols and tyramine-conjugated hydroxycinnamic acid amides, identified in the studied extract. These findings revealed that the phenolic-rich extract of L. barbarum fruits has promising properties to be considered further for developing new therapies against oral and oropharyngeal HPV lesions.

Targeting transforming growth factor-β signalling for cancer prevention and intervention: Recent advances in developing small molecules of natural origin

Background

Cancer is the world's second leading cause of death, but a significant advancement in cancer treatment has been achieved within the last few decades. However, major adverse effects and drug resistance associated with standard chemotherapy have led towards targeted treatment options.

Objectives

Transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling plays a key role in cell proliferation, differentiation, morphogenesis, regeneration, and tissue homeostasis. The prime objective of this review is to decipher the role of TGF‐β in oncogenesis and to evaluate the potential of various natural and synthetic agents to target this dysregulated pathway to confer cancer preventive and anticancer therapeutic effects.

Methods

Various authentic and scholarly databases were explored to search and obtain primary literature for this study. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) criteria was followed for the review.

Results

Here we provide a comprehensive and critical review of recent advances on our understanding of the effect of various bioactive natural molecules on the TGF‐β signaling pathway to evaluate their full potential for cancer prevention and therapy.

Conclusion

Based on emerging evidence as presented in this work, TGF‐β‐targeting bioactive compounds from natural sources can serve as potential therapeutic agents for prevention and treatment of various human malignancies.

Microalgal drugs: A promising therapeutic reserve for the future

Over the decades, a variety of chemically synthesized drugs are being used to cure existing diseases but often these drugs could not be effectively employed for the treatment of serious and newly emerging diseases. Fortunately, in nature there occurs immense treasure of plants and microorganisms which are living jewels with respect to their richness of medically important metabolites of high value. Hence, amongst the existing microorganism(s), the marine world offers a plethora of biological entities that can contribute to alleviate numerous human ailments. Algae are one such photosynthetic microorganism found in both marine as well as fresh water which are rich source of metabolites known for their nutrient content and health benefits. Various algal species like Haematococcus, Diatoms, Griffithsia, Chlorella, Spirulina, Ulva, etc. have been identified and isolated to produce biologically active and pharmaceutically important high value compounds like astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, sulphur polysaccharides mainly galactose, rhamnose, xylose, fucose etc., which show antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-cancer, and antiviral activities. However, the production of either of these bio compounds is favored under conditions of stress. This review gives detailed information on various nutraceutical metabolites extracted from algae. Additionally focus has been made on the role of these bio compounds extracted from algae especially sulphur polysaccharides to treat several diseases with prospective treatment for SARS-CoV-2. Lastly it covers the knowledge gaps and future perspectives in this area of research.

Natural Products for Cancer Therapy: A Review of Their Mechanism of Actions and Toxicity in the Past Decade

The ethnopharmacological information gathered over many centuries and the presence of diverse metabolites have made the medicinal plants as the prime source of drugs. Despite the positive attributes of natural products, there are many questions pertaining to their mechanism of actions and molecular targets that impede their development as therapeutic agents. One of the major challenges in cancer research is the toxicity exerted by investigational agents towards the host. An understanding of their molecular targets, underlying mechanisms can reveal their anticancer efficacy, help in optimal therapeutic dose selection, to mitigate their side effects and toxicity towards the host. The purpose of this review is to collate details on natural products that are recently been investigated extensively in the past decade for their anticancer potential. Besides, critical analysis of their molecular targets and underlying mechanisms on multiple cancer cell lines, an in-depth probe of their toxicological screening on rodent models is outlined as well to observe the prevalence of their toxicity towards host. This review can provide valuable insights for researchers in developing methods, strategies during preclinical and clinical evaluation of anticancer candidates.

Look into my onco-forest - review of plant natural products with anticancer activity

Cancer is a multistage process that can be treated by numerous modalities including systemic treatment. About half of the molecules that have been approved in the last few decades count for plant derivatives. This review presents the application of tree/shrub-derived biologically active compounds as anticancer agents. Different parts of trees/shrubs - wood, bark, branches, roots, leaves, needles, fruits, flowers etc. - contain a wide variety of primary and secondary metabolites, which demonstrate anticancer properties. Special attention was paid to phenolics (phenolic acids and polyphenols, including flavonoids and non-flavonoids (tannins, lignans, stilbenes)), essential oils and their main constituents such as terpenes/terpenoids, phytosterols, alkaloids and many others. Anticancer properties of these compounds are mainly attributed to their strong antioxidant properties. In vitro experiments on various cancer cell lines revealed a cytotoxic effect of tree-derived extracts. Mechanisms of anticancer action of the extracts are also listed. Examples of drugs that successfully underwent clinical trials with well-established position in the guidelines created by oncological societies are provided. The review also focuses on directions for the future in the development of anticancer agents derived from trees/shrubs. Applying biologically active compounds derived from trees and shrubs as anticancer agents continuously seems a promising strategy in cancer systemic treatment.

Retrospective Observational Study to Evaluate Causality, Preventability and Severity of Adverse Drug Reaction Associated with Anticancer Drugs in A Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy has high efficacy, but it is associated with several adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

OBJECTIVES

A retrospective observational study to explore the prevalence, causality, and preventability of ADRs of anticancer agents was conducted.

METHODS

The study was carried out at Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences Jalandhar, Punjab after obtaining IEC approval. The data was collected from cancer patients undergoing treatment at the hospital. The causality assessment of the collected data was done by using WHO causality assessment criteria. The preventability and severity of the reported ADRs were also assessed.

RESULTS

From 50 medical records, a total of 47 ADRs were recorded among 25 patients out of which 16 were females and the rest were males. The cancer cases observed were breast carcinoma, leukaemia, lung, colon, and ovarian cancer. The highest number of ADRs were observed with alkylating agents, followed by taxanes, antimetabolites, kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies. The most affected organ systems were the gastrointestinal system, blood, and lymphatic system. According to the causality assessment, the majority of the ADRs were of the "possible" category. Preventability analysis showed that 85.11% of ADRs were unavoidable reactions, while 14.89% of ADRs were possibly avoidable. Severity analysis of ADRs showed that 87.23% of ADRs were mild and 12.77% were of moderate severity. The majority of the ADRs were unavoidable and mild to moderate in severity.

CONCLUSION

Since the majority of the ADRs were of the unavoidable category, indicate that the treatment regimens are acceptable as per the current clinical management of cancer patients.

Anticancer Activity of Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori.: A Native Plant in Traditional Herbal Medicine of the United Arab Emirates

Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori. is a native desert tree growing in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The plant is being cultivated in many parts of UAE, owing to its uses in traditional medicinal and food systems. In the present study bioactivities of cultivated M. peregrina species samples are evaluated with cytotoxic studies in the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (Caco-2). Different extracts with hexane, chloroform, acetone and methanol were prepared from tubers, leaves and stem of M. peregrina for estimating their antioxidant contents and anticancer activities. The study was performed at different concentrations and all the extracts showed dose-depended response on both the cell lines. Among the extracts tested, the chloroform extract of stem showed remarkable anti-proliferative/cell death activity (IC50 = 45.53 µg/mL of 48 h incubation and 33.32 µg/mL of 72 h incubation) on MCF-7 cell lines. Whereas the same extract showed comparatively less activity (IC50 = 93.75 µg/mL of 48 h incubation and 87.76 µg/mL of 72 h incubation) on Caco-2 cell lines. The anti-proliferative effect of leaf extract with chloroform showed a drastic change in cell viability from 48 to 72 h incubation, in MCF-7 cells 220 to 87.5 µg/mL and in Caco-2 cells 500.9 to 72.9 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, less than 200 µg/mL of IC50 values reported in hexane extracts of tubers (188.6 µg/mL for 48 h and 164.3 µg/mL for 72 h), acetone extracts of tubers (167.4 µg/mL for 72 h) and acetone extracts of stem (171.5 µg/mL for 48 h and 101.7 µg/mL for 72 h) on MCF-7 cells. PARP (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) cleavage assay and DNA fragmentation assay performed to understand the cause of cell death. Treatment of extract on the normal fibroblast cell line required more concentration for cytotoxicity compared to the treatment on the cancer cells. This ability of the extract proved the anti-cancer property of the M. peregrina extract from the stem, tuber and leaves. The information provided in the present study enables further studies on the isolation and characterization of an anticancer molecule from the tubers of M. peregrina.

Potentials of Endophytic Fungi in the Biosynthesis of Versatile Secondary Metabolites and Enzymes

World population growth and modernization have engendered multiple environmental problems: the propagation of humans and crop diseases and the development of multi-drug-resistant fungi, bacteria and viruses. Thus, a considerable shift towards eco-friendly products has been seen in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture and several other vital sectors. Nowadays, studies on endophytic fungi and their biotechnological potentials are in high demand due to their substantial, cost-effective and eco-friendly contributions in the discovery of an array of secondary metabolites. For this review, we provide a brief overview of plant–endophytic fungi interactions and we also state the history of the discovery of the untapped potentialities of fungal secondary metabolites. Then, we highlight the huge importance of the discovered metabolites and their versatile applications in several vital fields including medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, industry and bioremediation. We then focus on the challenges and on the possible methods and techniques that can be used to help in the discovery of novel secondary metabolites. The latter range from endophytic selection and culture media optimization to more in-depth strategies such as omics, ribosome engineering and epigenetic remodeling.

[Literature review on pharmacovigilance of medicines derived from traditional pharmacopoeias. Part I: risks identification]

Globally, the use of drugs from traditional pharmacopoeias is a major subject. The confidence of the populations in these drugs is linked to their presumption of safety and also to the fact that geographically and financially they are more accessible than synthetic drugs. In view of the high exposure of the world population to traditional medicines, they are subject to pharmacovigilance guaranteeing their safety in use. Thus, this review aims to take stock of the risks identified by the national pharmacovigilance systems. It is based on research referenced in PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect and GoogleScholar. These studies indicate that the use of traditional drugs can involve risks including adverse effects, interactions with synthetic drugs, adulteration and contamination. The spontaneous notification system was the basis for their identification. Strengthening this system and making populations aware of these risks constitute the key levers for traditional medicines pharmacovigilance progress.

Stingless Bee Propolis: New Insights for Anticancer Drugs

Natural products are important sources of biomolecules possessing antitumor activity and can be used as anticancer drug prototypes. The rich biodiversity of tropical and subtropical regions of the world provides considerable bioprospecting potential, including the potential of propolis produced by stingless bee species. Investigations of the potential of these products are extremely important, not only for providing a scientific basis for their use as adjuvants for existing drug therapies but also as a source of new and potent anticancer drugs. In this context, this article organizes the main studies describing the anticancer potential of propolis from different species of stingless bees with an emphasis on the chemical compounds, mechanisms of action, and cell death profiles. These mechanisms include apoptotic events; modulation of BAX, BAD, BCL2-L1 (BCL-2 like 1), and BCL-2; depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane; increased caspase-3 activity; poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage; and cell death induction by necroptosis via receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) activation. Additionally, the correlation between compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential is demonstrated that help in the prevention of cancer development. In summary, we highlight the important antitumor potential of propolis from stingless bees, but further preclinical and clinical trials are needed to explore the selectivity, efficacy, and safety of propolis.

Ayurveda Rasayana as antivirals and immunomodulators: potential applications in COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization with rapid spread across 216 countries. COVID-19 pandemic has left its imprints on various health systems globally and caused immense social and economic disruptions. The scientific community across the globe is in a quest for digging the effective treatment for COVID-19 and exploring potential leads from traditional systems of healthcare across the world too. Ayurveda (Indian traditional system of medicine) has a comprehensive aspect of immunity through Rasayana which is a rejuvenation therapy. Here we attempt to generate the potential leads based on the classical text from Ayurveda in general and Rasayana in particular to develop effective antiviral and/or immunomodulator for potential or adjunct therapy in SARS-CoV-2. The Rasayana acts not only by resisting body to restrain or withstand the strength, severity or progression of a disease but also by promoting power of the body to prevent the manifestation of a disease. These Rasayana herbs are common in practice as immunomodulator, antiviral and protectives. The studies on Rasayana can provide an insight into the future course of research for the plausible development of effective management of COVID-19 by the utilization and development of various traditional systems of healthcare. Keeping in view the current pandemic situation, there is an urgent need of developing potential medicines. This study proposes certain prominent medicinal plants which may be further studied for drug development process and also in clinical setup under repurposing of these herbs.

Recent Advances in Herbal Nanomedicines for Cancer Treatment

Cancer continues to be one of the deadliest diseases that adversely impacts the large population of the world. A stack of scientific documents reflects a huge number of potent plant-based anticancer drugs such as curcumin (CUR), podophyllotoxin, camptothecin (CPT), vincristine, vinblastine, paclitaxel (PTX), etc. that have been integrated into the modern practice of cancer treatment. The demand for natural products raises exponentially as they are generally considered to be safe, and devoid of critical toxic effects at the therapeutic dose when compared to their synthetic counterparts. Despite rising interest towards the potent phytoconstituents, formulation developer faces various challenges in drug development processes such as poor water solubility, low bioavailability, marginal permeability, and nonspecific drug delivery at the target site, etc. Further, adverse drug reaction and multidrug resistance are other critical issues that need to be addressed. Nanomedicines owing to their unique structural and functional attributes help to fix the above challenges for improved translational outcomes. This review summarises the prospects and challenges of a nanotechnology-based drug delivery approach for the delivery of plant-based anticancer drugs.

A review on analytical methods with special reference to electroanalytical methods for the determination of some anticancer drugs in pharmaceutical and biological samples

It is widely accepted that cancer, the second leading cause of death, is a morbidity with big impacts on the global health. In the last few years, chemo-therapeutic treatment continually induces alone most lengthy consequents, which is extremely harmful for the physiological and psychological health of the patients. In the present research, we discuss the recent techniques for employed for extraction, and quantitative determination of such compounds in pharmaceutical, and biological specimens. In the frame of this information, this review aims to provide basic principles of chromatography, spectroscopy, and electroanalytical methods for the analysis of anticancer drugs published in the last three years. The review also describes the recent developments regarding enhancing the limit of detection (LOD), the linear dynamic range, and so forth. The results show that the LOD for the chromatographic techniques with the UV detector was obtained equaled over the range 2.0 ng mL^-1-0.2 μg mL^-1, whereas the LOD values for analysis by chromatographic technique with the mass spectrometry (MS) detector was found between 10.0 pg mL^-1-0.002 μg mL^-1. The biological fluids could be directly injected to capillary electrophoresis (CE) in cases where the medicine concentration is at the contents greater than mg L^-1 or g L^-1. Additionally, electrochemical detection of the anticancer drugs has been mainly conducted by the voltammetry techniques with diverse modified electrodes, and lower LODs were estimated between 3.0 ng mL^-1-0.3 μg mL^-1. It is safe to say that the analyses of anticancer drugs can be achieved by employing a plethora of techniques such as electroanalytical, spectroscopy, and chromatography techniques.

Plant-Derived Anticancer Compounds as New Perspectives in Drug Discovery and Alternative Therapy

Despite the recent advances in the field of chemically synthetized pharmaceutical agents, nature remains the main supplier of bioactive molecules. The research of natural products is a valuable approach for the discovery and development of novel biologically active compounds possessing unique structures and mechanisms of action. Although their use belongs to the traditional treatment regimes, plant-derived compounds still cover a large portion of the current-day pharmaceutical agents. Their medical importance is well recognized in the field of oncology, especially as an alternative to the limitations of conventional chemotherapy (severe side effects and inefficacy due to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance). This review offers a comprehensive perspective of the first blockbuster chemotherapeutic agents of natural origin’s (e.g. taxol, vincristine, doxorubicin) mechanism of action using 3D representation. In addition is portrayed the step-by-step evolution from preclinical to clinical evaluation of the most recently studied natural compounds with potent antitumor activity (e.g. resveratrol, curcumin, betulinic acid, etc.) in terms of anticancer mechanisms of action and the possible indications as chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents and sensitizers. Finally, this review describes several efficient platforms for the encapsulation and targeted delivery of natural compounds in cancer treatment

Anti-Cancer Effect of Melatonin via Downregulation of Delta-like Ligand 4 in Estrogen-Responsive Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

The Notch signaling pathway has a key role in angiogenesis and Delta - Like Ligand 4 (DLL4) is one of the main ligands of Notch involved in cell proliferation in sprouting vessels.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of DLL4 in primary breast tumors and to examine the effect of melatonin on DLL4 expression in vitro.

METHODS

Eighty-five breast tumor and paired adjacent non-tumor tissue samples were collected. Apoptosis assay was performed on breast cancer cells to evaluate melatonin effects. Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR were used to measure DLL4 expression. Then, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the expression of DLL4 in four breast cancer cell lines at RNA and protein levels. We also performed a probabilistic neural network analysis to study genes closely associated with DLL4 expression.

RESULTS

Our results showed a significantly higher expression of DLL4 in tumor tissues compared to non-tumor tissues (P = 0.027). Melatonin treatment substantially attenuated DLL4 expression in BT474 and MCF-7 cells, but not in SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Also, melatonin induced apoptosis in all four cell lines. Network analysis revealed a set of 15 genes that had close association and interaction with DLL4. DLL4 was overexpressed in breast cancer tissues as compared to the non-tumor tissues.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that melatonin treatment attenuated DLL4 expression only in estrogen- responsive breast cancer cells and is able to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Application of Advanced Technologies in Natural Product Research: A Review with Special Emphasis on ADMET Profiling

The successful conversion of natural products (NPs) into lead compounds and novel pharmacophores has emboldened the researchers to harness the drug discovery process with a lot more enthusiasm. However, forfeit of bioactive NPs resulting from an overabundance of metabolites and their wide dynamic range have created the bottleneck in NP researches. Similarly, the existence of multidimensional challenges, including the evaluation of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety parameters, has been a concerning issue. Advancement of technology has brought the evolution of traditional natural product researches into the computer-based assessment exhibiting pretentious remarks about their efficiency in drug discovery. The early attention to the quality of the NPs may reduce the attrition rate of drug candidates by parallel assessment of ADMET profiling. This article reviews the status, challenges, opportunities, and integration of advanced technologies in natural product research. Indeed, emphasis will be laid on the current and futuristic direction towards the application of newer technologies in early-stage ADMET profiling of bioactive moieties from the natural sources. It can be expected that combinatorial approaches in ADMET profiling will fortify the natural product-based drug discovery in the near future.

Untapped Potentials of Endophytic Fungi: A Review of Novel Bioactive Compounds with Biological Applications

Over the last century, endophytic fungi have gained tremendous attention due to their ability to produce novel bioactive compounds exhibiting varied biological properties and are, therefore, utilized for medicinal, pharmaceutical, and agricultural applications. Endophytic fungi reside within the plant tissues without showing any disease symptoms, thus supporting the physiological and ecological attributes of the host plant. Ground breaking lead compounds, such as paclitaxel and penicillin, produced by endophytic fungi have paved the way for exploring novel bioactive compounds for commercial usage. Despite this, limited research has been conducted in this valuable and unique niche area. These bioactive compounds belong to various structural groups, including alkaloids, peptides, steroids, terpenoids, phenols, quinones, phenols, and flavonoids. The current review focuses on the significance of endophytic fungi in producing novel bioactive compounds possessing a variety of biological properties that include antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, immunosuppressant, and anticancer functions. Taking into consideration the portal of this publication, special emphasis is placed on the antimicrobial and antiviral activities of metabolites produced by endophytes against human pathogens. It also highlights the importance of utilization of these compounds as potential treatment agents for serious life-threatening infectious diseases. This is supported by the fact that several findings have indicated that these bioactive compounds may significantly contribute towards the fight against resistant human and plant pathogens, thus motivating the need enhance the search for new, more efficacious and cost-effective antimicrobial drugs.

Identification of a 3-β-homoalanine conjugate of brusatol with reduced toxicity in mice

Brusatol, a quassinoid natural product, is effective against multiple diseases including hematologic malignancies, as we reported recently by targeting the PI3Kγ isoform, but toxicity limits its further development. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of conjugates of brusatol with amino acids and short peptides at its enolic hydroxyl at C-3. A number of conjugates with smaller amino acids and peptides demonstrated activities comparable to brusatol. Through in vitro and in vivo evaluations, we identified UPB-26, a conjugate of brusatol with a L- β-homoalanine, which exhibits good chemical stability at physiological pH's (SGF and SIF), moderate rate of conversion to brusatol in both human and rat plasmas, improved mouse liver microsomal stability, and most encouragingly, enhanced safety compared to brusatol in mice upon IP administration.

Chemometric and Transcriptomic Profiling, Microtubule Disruption and Cell Death Induction by Secalonic Acid in Tumor Cells

Nature is an indispensable source of new drugs, providing unique bioactive lead structures for drug discovery. In the present study, secalonic acid F (SAF), a naturally occurring ergochrome pigment, was studied for its cytotoxicity against various leukemia and multiple myeloma cells by the resazurin assay. SAF exhibited cytotoxic activity on both leukemia and multiple myeloma cells. Generally, multiple myeloma cells were more sensitive to SAF than leukemia cells. NCI-H929 cells were the most affected cells among the tested panel of multiple myeloma cell lines and were taken for further studies to assess the mode of action of SAF on those cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that SAF induced S and G2/M arrest in NCI-H929 cells. SAF-associated apoptosis and necrosis resulted in cytotoxicity. SAF further inclined the disassembly of the tubulin network, which may also account for its cytotoxicity. COMPARE and hierarchical cluster analyses of transcriptome-wide expression profiles of the NCI tumor cell line panel identified genes involved in numerous cellular processes (e.g., cell differentiation, cell migration, and other numerous signaling pathways) notably correlated with log₁₀IC₅₀ values for secalonic acid. In conclusion, the present study supports the therapeutic potential of SAF to treat multiple myeloma.

Applications of Sesquiterpene Lactones: A Review of Some Potential Success Cases

Sesquiterpene lactones, a vast range of terpenoids isolated from Asteraceae species, exhibit a broad spectrum of biological effects and several of them are already commercially available, such as artemisinin. Here the most recent and impactful results of in vivo, preclinical and clinical studies involving a selection of ten sesquiterpene lactones (alantolactone, arglabin, costunolide, cynaropicrin, helenalin, inuviscolide, lactucin, parthenolide, thapsigargin and tomentosin) are presented and discussed, along with some of their derivatives. In the authors’ opinion, these compounds have been neglected compared to others, although they could be of great use in developing important new pharmaceutical products. The selected sesquiterpenes show promising anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects, acting on various targets. Moreover, they exhibit antifungal, anxiolytic, analgesic, and antitrypanosomal activities. Several studies discussed here clearly show the potential that some of them have in combination therapy, as sensitizing agents to facilitate and enhance the action of drugs in clinical use. The derivatives show greater pharmacological value since they have better pharmacokinetics, stability, potency, and/or selectivity. All these natural terpenoids and their derivatives exhibit properties that invite further research by the scientific community.

Selective induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in MCF7 and LNCap cell lines by skin mucus from round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) through P53 expression

The skin mucus in lower vertebrates such as fish with strong innate immune system has many unique and valuable bioactive compounds that can be used for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. This study was looking for the cytotoxic potential of mucus from the two fish species, including round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and inducing apoptosis in MCF7 and LNCaP cancer cell lines via influencing P53 gene expression and cell cycle arrest. Results showed that the both mucus types have cytotoxic effects on the both cancer cell lines whereas they have no severe effect on normal primary fibroblast cells. In addition, round goby mucus and common carp mucus selectively induced apoptosis in the LNCaP and MCF7 cells, respectively, through up-regulating P53 gene and arresting cell cycle at the G1 phase. Taken together, this study suggested that the both mucus types can selectively influence P53 pathway and induce apoptosis in especial cancer cells. The skin mucus derived from round Goby and common Carp can be a promising candidate for investigation about apoptosis and molecular targeting therapy in cancer.

Elaeocarpus reticulatus fruit extracts reduce viability and induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro

Treatment options for pancreatic cancer (PC) are severely limited due to late diagnosis, early metastasis and the inadequacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to combat the aggressive biology of the disease. In recent years, plant-derived bioactive compounds have emerged as a source of novel, anti-cancer agents. Used in traditional medicine worldwide, Elaeocarpus species have reported anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. This study aimed to isolate and identify potential anti-PC compounds in the fruit of Elaeocarpus reticulatus Sm. A 50% acetone crude extract significantly decreased the viability of four pancreatic cell lines (≥ 10 µg/mL for BxPC-3 cells) and induced apoptosis in BxPC-3 and HPDE cells. Analysis by HPLC identified the triterpenoid Cucurbitacin I as a likely component of the extract. Furthermore, treatment with Cucurbitacin I significantly reduced the viability of HPDE and BxPC-3 cells, with results comparable to the same concentration of gemcitabine. Interestingly, attempts to isolate bioactive compounds revealed that the crude extract was more effective at reducing PC-cell viability than the fractionated extracts. This study provides initial insight into the bioactive constituents of E. reticulatus fruits.

Natural products targeting the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway in cancer: A novel therapeutic strategy

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) represent two vital intracellular signaling pathways, which are associated with various aspects of cellular functions. These functions play vital roles in quiescence, survival, and growth in normal physiological circumstances as well as in various pathological disorders, including cancer. These two pathways are so intimately connected to each other that in some instances these are considered as one unique pathway crucial for cell cycle regulation. The purpose of this review is to emphasize the role of PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway in different cancer conditions and the importance of natural products targeting the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway. This review also aims to draw the attention of scientists and researchers to the assorted beneficial effects of the numerous classes of natural products for the development of new and safe drugs for possible cancer therapy. We also summarize and critically analyze various preclinical and clinical studies on bioactive compounds and constituents, which are derived from natural products, to target the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway for cancer prevention and intervention.

β-Caryophyllene in the Essential Oil from Chrysanthemum Boreale Induces G1 Phase Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Lung Cancer Cells

Chrysanthemum boreale is a plant widespread in East Asia, used in folk medicine to treat various disorders, such as pneumonia, colitis, stomatitis, and carbuncle. Whether the essential oil from C. boreale (ECB) and its active constituents have anti-proliferative activities in lung cancer is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of ECB in A549 and NCI-H358 human lung cancer cells. Culture of A549 and NCI-H358 cells with ECB induced apoptotic cell death, as revealed by an increase in annexin V staining. ECB treatment reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), disrupted the balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, and activated caspase-8, -9, and -3, as assessed by western blot analysis. Interestingly, pretreatment with a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) significantly attenuated ECB-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of ECB identified six compounds. Among them, β-caryophyllene exhibited a potent anti-proliferative effect, and thus was identified as the major active compound. β- Caryophyllene induced G₁ cell cycle arrest by downregulating cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) -2, -4, and -6, and RB phosphorylation, and by upregulating p21^CIP1/WAF1 and p27^KIP1. These results indicate that β-caryophyllene exerts cytotoxic activity in lung cancer cells through induction of cell cycle arrest.

Induction of G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Genistein in Human Bladder Cancer T24 Cells through Inhibition of the ROS-Dependent PI3k/Akt Signal Transduction Pathway

We examined the anti-cancer effect of genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone, in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma T24 cells. According to our data, genistein induced G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis. Genistein down-regulated the levels of cyclin A and cyclin B1, but up-regulated the levels of p21WAF1/CIP1, cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor, that was complexed with Cdc2 and Cdk2. Furthermore, genistein induced the activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8 and -9), and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. However, genistein-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited by a pan-caspase inhibitor, indicating that the induction of apoptosis by genestein was caspase-dependent. In addition, genistein increased the cytosolic release of cytochrome c by increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and destroying mitochondria integrity. Moreover, genistein inactivated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway, while LY294002, a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, increased the apoptosis-inducing effect of genistein. Genistein further increased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was significantly suppressed by N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, and in particular, NAC prevented genistein-mediated inactivation of PI3K/Akt signaling, G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Therefore, the present results indicated that genistein promoted apoptosis induction in human bladder cancer T24 cells, which was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest via regulation of ROS-dependent PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Licochalcone A through ROS-Mediated Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Bladder Cancer Cells

Licochalcone A (LCA) is a chalcone that is predominantly found in the root of Glycyrrhiza species, which is widely used as an herbal medicine. Although previous studies have reported that LCA has a wide range of pharmacological effects, evidence for the underlying molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer efficacy is still lacking. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of LCA on human bladder cancer cells, and found that LCA induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and apoptotic cell death. Our data showed that LCA inhibited the expression of cyclin A, cyclin B1, and Wee1, but increased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1, and increased p21 was bound to Cdc2 and Cdk2. LCA activated caspase-8 and -9, which are involved in the initiation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, respectively, and also increased caspase-3 activity, a typical effect caspase, subsequently leading to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Additionally, LCA increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and reduced the integrity of mitochondria, which contributed to the discharge of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. Moreover, LCA enhanced the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, the interruption of ROS generation using ROS scavenger led to escape from LCA-mediated G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Collectively, the present data indicate that LCA can inhibit the proliferation of human bladder cancer cells by inducing ROS-dependent G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis.

Lycorine inhibited the cell growth of non-small cell lung cancer by modulating the miR-186/CDK1 axis

AIMS

Lycorine is a kind of natural alkaloid with anti-cancer potential. It has been demonstrated that lycorine processes high activity and specificity against the progression of cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which lycorine regulates the formation and development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain largely unknown.

MAIN METHODS

The effects of lycorine on the growth of NSCLC cells were determined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation and flow cytometry analysis. RT-qPCR was performed to detect the expression of microRNA with lycorine treatment. The binding of miRNA and target genes was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay.

KEY FINDINGS

Lycorine significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, lycorine up-regulated the expression of microRNA-186 in NSCLC cells. Depletion of miR-186 significantly reversed the suppressive effect of lycorine on the proliferation of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, the cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) was identified as one of the binding candidates of miR-186. Experimental analysis showed that miR-186 bound the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of CDK1 and suppressed the level of CDK1 in NSCLC cells. Consistently, exposure of lycorine significantly decreased the expression of CDK1. Restoration of CDK1 remarkably attenuated the inhibition of lycorine on the proliferation of NSCLC cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results uncovered the novel molecular mechanism of lycorine in suppressing the progression of NSCLC partially via regulating the miR-186/CDK1 axis.