Protective effects of five allium derived organosulfur compounds against mutation and oxidation

Diallyl Disulfide Induces Chemosensitization to Sorafenib, Autophagy, and Cell Cycle Arrest and Inhibits Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the seventh most common type of cancer in the world, with limited treatment options. A promising strategy to treat cancer is to associate chemotherapeutics and plant bioactive compounds. Here, we examined whether diallyl disulfide (DADS; 50-200 μM) and sorafenib (SORA; 8 μM), either alone or in combination, were toxic to hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) in vitro. We assessed whether DADS and/or SORA induced cell death (LIVE/DEAD assay and autophagy) and cell cycle changes (flow cytometry), altered expression of key genes and proteins (RT-qPCR and Western blot), and modulated tumorigenesis signatures, such as proliferation (clonogenic assay), migration (wound healing), and invasion (inserts). The DADS + SORA combination elicited autophagic cell death by upregulating LC3 and NRF2 expression and downregulating FOS and TNF expression; induced the accumulation of cells in the G1 phase which thereby upregulated the CHEK2 expression; and inhibited invasion by downregulating the MMP2 expression. Predictive analysis indicated the participation of the MAPK pathway in the reported results. The DADS + SORA combination suppressed both cell invasion and clonogenic survival, which indicated that it dampened tumor growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastatic potential. Therefore, the DADS + SORA combination is a promising therapy to develop new clinical protocols.

Thiol-disulfide status of patients with cervical cancer

AIM

The evaluation of dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis among patients with the cancer of the uterine cervix.

METHODS

The study was conducted in 62 cervical cancer patients and 61 healthy women who had been followed up in an obstetrics and gynecology clinic between September 2018 and April 2020. Serum disulfide, native thiol, total thiol, ischemia modified-albumin, total antioxidant and oxidant capacities, and oxidative stress index values were measured in all participants.

RESULTS

The mean plasma disulfide levels of the cervical cancer group was statistically significantly higher than that of the control group (25.79 ± 6.90 μmol/L, 22.31 ± 6.11 μmol/L, respectively) (P = 0.004). Plasma native thiol and total thiol levels were lower in cervical cancer patients (299.27 ± 99.05 μmol/L and 350.86 ± 102.72 μmol/L, respectively) compared to controls, but no statistically significant difference was observed (318.00 ± 93.75 μmol/L and 376.44 ± 98.51 μmol/L, respectively) (P = 0.284, P = 0.161). With respect to the ischemia modified-albumin level, no statistically significant difference was observed between two groups. There were statistically significant positive association between disulfide level and both the stage of cervical cancer (r = 0.278, P = 0.029) and total oxidant capacity level (r = 0.256, P = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

Dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis may participate in the pathophysiological mechanisms of cervical cancer and may be a potential biomarker for early identification of cervical cancer in future.

Allium Jesdianum Extract Improve Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Failure through Inhibition of Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress

Objectives

Allium jesdianum (Aj) is a medicinal plant that has highlighted pharmacological features. In this study, the effects of Aj extract were examined on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatic failure in rats.

Methods

Methanolic fraction of hydro-alcoholic extract of Aj was obtained by silica gel column chromatography method. Animals were randomly divided into four groups each containing six rats and treated by gavage as follows: the first and second groups received normal saline, the third and fourth groups were received with 50 and 100 mg/kg of Aj extract, respectively. After two consecutive weeks, the groups 2–4 were given a single dose of APAP (2 g/kg). After 48 hours, blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical and histological examinations.

Results

The findings of the study demonstrated that APAP caused a significant increase in ALT (P < 0.001), AST (P < 0.001), LDH (P < 0.001), ALP (P < 0.001) serum levels, hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO; P < 0.001) and nitric oxide (NO; P < 0.001). In this regard, APAP led to the depletion of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC; P < 0.001), glutathione and total thiol groups (TTGs; P < 0.001), and structural change in the liver. In the Aj extract groups, a considerable improvement was found in the hepatic function alongside the histopathologic changes.

Conclusion

This investigation indicated that the influential effects of Aj extract in APAP-induced hepatic failure might depend on its effect on improving oxidant/antioxidant balance in hepatic tissue.

Hepatoprotective potential and antioxidant activity of Allium tripedale in acetaminophen-induced oxidative damage

Allium tripedale (A. tripedale) is a species of wild Allium native to northwest Iran that its hepatoprotective effects have not yet been confirmed. This study investigated the effect of A. tripedale plant against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver damage. After preliminary studies, the A. tripedale methanol fraction (ATMF) was selected for in vivo study. Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups of 6 each and treated by gavage as follows: groups 1 and 2 received normal saline; group 3 received 400 mg/kg of ATMF; and groups 4-6 were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of ATMF, respectively. After two consecutive weeks, except groups 1 and 3, rats were administered with an oral single dose of APAP (2 g/kg). After 48 h, blood and liver samples were collected for histological and biochemical examinations. The results showed that APAP caused a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase serum levels, lipid peroxidation (all with P < 0.001) and hepatic nitric oxide (P < 0.01). In addition, APAP led to the depletion of the total antioxidant capacity, total thiol group (both with P < 0.001), and structural alterations in the hepatic tissue. Following administration of ATMF extract, a significant improvement was observed in the functional and oxidative stress markers of hepatic tissue alongside histopathologic changes. In conclusion, the present study showed that the administration of ATMF might prevent hepatic oxidative damage by improving oxidant/antioxidant balance in animals exposed to APAP.

Antigenotoxicity properties of Copaifera multijuga oleoresin and its chemical marker, the diterpene (-)-copalic acid

In view of the biological activities and growing therapeutic interest in oleoresin obtained from Copaifera multijuga, this study aimed to determine the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of this oleoresin (CMO) and its chemical marker, diterpene (-)-copalic acid (CA). The micronucleus (MN) assay in V79 cell cultures and the Ames test were used for in vitro analyses, as well as MN and comet assays in Swiss mice for in vivo analyses. The in vitro genotoxicity/mutagenicity results showed that either CMO (30, 60, or 120 µg/ml-MN assay; 0.39-3.12 mg/plate-Ames test) or CA (2.42; 4.84, or 9.7 µg/ml-MN assay; 0.39-3.12 mg/plate-Ames test) did not induce a significant effect on the frequency of MN and number of revertants, demonstrating an absence of genotoxic and mutagenic activities, respectively, in vitro. In contrast, these natural products significantly reduced the frequency of MN induced by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), and exerted a marked inhibitory effect against indirect-acting mutagens in the Ames test. In the in vivo test system, animals treated with CMO (6.25 mg/kg b.w.) exhibited a significant decrease in rate of MN occurrence compared to those treated only with MMS. An antigenotoxic effect of CA was noted in the MN test (1 and 2 mg/kg b.w.) and the comet assay (0.5 mg/kg b.w.). Data suggest that the chemical marker of the genus Copaifera, CA, may partially be responsible for the observed chemopreventive effect attributed to CMO exposure.

ABBREVIATIONS

2-AA, 2-anthramine; 2-AF, 2-aminofluorene; AFB₁, aflatoxin B₁; B[a]P, benzo[a]pyrene; BOD, biological oxygen demand; BPDE, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide; CA, (-)-copalic acid; CMO, oleoresin of Copaifera multijuga, DMEM, Dulbecco`s Modified Eagles`s Medium; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxide; EMBRAPA, Brazilian agricultural research corporation; GC-MS, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; HAM-F10, nutrient mixture F-10 Ham; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; LC-MS, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; MI, mutagenic index; MMC, mitomycin C; MMS, methyl methanesulfonate; MN, micronucleus; MNPCE, micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte; NCE, normochromatic erythrocyte; NDI, nuclear division index; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; NPD, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; PCE, polychromatic erythrocyte; SA, sodium azide; V79, Chinese hamster lung fibroblast.

In vitro toxicological assessment of an organosulfur compound from Allium extract: Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and genotoxicity studies

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa) are being used in the food industry as flavoring but also for their antimicrobial activities. These activities are mainly derived from the organosulfur compounds (OSCs). Propyl propane thiosulfinate (PTS) is an OSC with potential use in the active packaging, but its safety should be guaranteed before being commercialized. The aim of this work was to investigate for the first time the cytotoxicity of PTS as well as its in vitro mutagenic/genotoxic potential using the following battery of genotoxicity tests:(1)the bacterial reverse-mutation assay in S. typhimurium (Ames test, OECD 471, 1997); (2) the micronucleus test (MN, OECD 487, 2016); (3) the mouse lymphoma thymidine-kinase assay (MLA, OECD 476, 2015), and (4) the comet assay (standard and modified with restriction enzymes). The results revealed that PTS was not mutagenic neither in the Ames test nor in MLA. However, genotoxic effects were recorded in the MN test on mammalian cells (L5178YTk^+/-cells) after PTS exposure at the highest concentration tested (17.25 μM) without S9, and also its metabolites (+S9, from 20 μM). Moreover, in the comet assay, PTS induced DNA breaks damage in Caco-2 cells at the highest concentration tested (280 μM) but it did not induce oxidative DNA damage.