Annona muricata leaves induce G₁ cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through mitochondria-mediated pathway in human HCT-116 and HT-29 colon cancer cells

HPLC-ESI/MS-MS metabolic profiling of white pitaya fruit and cytotoxic potential against cervical cancer: Comparative studies, synergistic effects, and molecular mechanistic approaches

Natural approach became a high demand for the prevention and treatment of such diseases for their proven safety and efficacy. This study is aimed to perform comparative phytochemical analysis of white pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) peel, pulp and seed extracts via determination of total flavonoid content, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity, coupled with HPLC-ESI/MS-MS analysis. Further, we evaluated the synergistic cytotoxic potential with Cisplatin against cervical cancer cells with investigation of underlying mechanism. The highest content of phenolics and antioxidants were found in both seed and peel extracts. The HPLC-ESI/MS-MS revealed identification of flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanin glycosides, lignans, stilbenes, and coumarins. The cytotoxicity effects were evaluated by MTT assay against prostate, breast and cervical (HeLa) and Vero cell lines. The seed and peel extracts showed remarkable cytotoxic effect against all tested cell lines. Moreover, the selectivity index confirmed high selectivity of pitaya extracts to cancer cells and safety on normal cells. The combined therapy with Cisplatin effectively enhanced its efficacy and optimized the treatment outcomes, through the apoptotic ability of pitaya extracts in HeLa cells, as evaluated by flow cytometry. Besides, RT-PCR and western blotting analysis showed downregulation of Bcl-2 and overexpression of P53, BAX among HeLa cells treated with pitaya extracts, which eventually activated apoptosis process. Thus, pitaya extract could be used as adjuvant therapy with cisplatin for treatment of cervical cancer. Furthermore, in-vivo extensive studies on the seed and peel extracts, and their compounds are recommended to gain more clarification about the required dose, and side effects.

Amazonian Fruits for Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The Amazon region has a high biodiversity of flora, with an elevated variety of fruits, such as Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dúbia), Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum and Astrocaryum vulgare), Fruta-do-conde (Annona squamosa L.), Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), Graviola (Annona muricata L.), Guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth var. sorbilis), and Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora), among many others, that are rich in phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins with prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies evaluating the chemical composition of these fruits have observed a high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Such components are associated with significant biological effects in treating various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related complications. Regular intake of these fruits from Amazonas emerges as a potential therapeutic approach to preventing and treating NCDs as a nutritional strategy to reduce the incidence or mitigate common complications in these patients, which are the leading global causes of death. As studies remain largely unexplored, this narrative review discusses the possible health-beneficial effects for patients with NCDs.

Predicting rectal cancer prognosis from histopathological images and clinical information using multi-modal deep learning

Objective

The objective of this study was to provide a multi-modal deep learning framework for forecasting the survival of rectal cancer patients by utilizing both digital pathological images data and non-imaging clinical data.

Materials and methods

The research included patients diagnosed with rectal cancer by pathological confirmation from January 2015 to December 2016. Patients were allocated to training and testing sets in a randomized manner, with a ratio of 4:1. The tissue microarrays (TMAs) and clinical indicators were obtained. Subsequently, we selected distinct deep learning models to individually forecast patient survival. We conducted a scanning procedure on the TMAs in order to transform them into digital pathology pictures. Additionally, we performed pre-processing on the clinical data of the patients. Subsequently, we selected distinct deep learning algorithms to conduct survival prediction analysis using patients' pathological images and clinical data, respectively.

Results

A total of 292 patients with rectal cancer were randomly allocated into two groups: a training set consisting of 234 cases, and a testing set consisting of 58 instances. Initially, we make direct predictions about the survival status by using pre-processed Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) pathological images of rectal cancer. We utilized the ResNest model to extract data from histopathological images of patients, resulting in a survival status prediction with an AUC (Area Under the Curve) of 0.797. Furthermore, we employ a multi-head attention fusion (MHAF) model to combine image features and clinical features in order to accurately forecast the survival rate of rectal cancer patients. The findings of our experiment show that the multi-modal structure works better than directly predicting from histopathological images. It achieves an AUC of 0.837 in predicting overall survival (OS).

Conclusions

Our study highlights the potential of multi-modal deep learning models in predicting survival status from histopathological images and clinical information, thus offering valuable insights for clinical applications.

Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities of potassium koetjapate: a solubility improved formulation of koetjapic acid against human colon cancer

Background and purpose

The previous work on koetjapic acid (KA) isolated from Sandoricum koetjape showed its efficacy towards colorectal cancer however KA has poor water solubility which poses the biggest hindrance to its efficacy. In the present paper, an attempt was made to study the anti-colon cancer efficacy of KA's potassium salt i.e. potassium koetjapate (KKA) applying in vitro and in vivo methods.

Experimental approach

KKA was produced by a semi-synthetic method. A human apoptosis proteome profiler array was applied to determine the protein targets responsible for the stimulation of apoptosis. Three doses of KKA were studied in athymic nude mice models to examine the in vivo anti-tumorigenic ability of KKA.

Findings/Results

The results of this study demonstrated that KKA regulates the activities of various proteins. It downregulates the expression of several antiapoptotic proteins and negative regulators of apoptosis including HSP60, HSP90, Bcl-2, and IGF-1 in HCT 116 cells with consequent upregulation of TRAILR-1 and TRAILR-2, p27, CD40, caspase 3, and caspase 8 proteins. Additionally, KKA showed an in vitro antimetastatic effect against HCT 116 cells. These results are feasibly related to the down-regulation of Notch, Wnt, hypoxia, and MAPK/JNK and MAPK/ERK signalling pathways in HCT 116 cells besides the up-regulation of a transcription factor for cell cycle (pRb-E2F) pathways. In addition, KKA revealed potent inhibition of tumor growth.

Conclusion and implications

In sum, the findings indicate that KKA can be a promising candidate as a chemotherapeutic agent against colorectal cancer.

Overcoming multi drug resistance mediated by ABC transporters by a novel acetogenin- annonacin from Annona muricata L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR), mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the barriers to successful chemotherapy in colon cancer patients. Annona muricata L. (A.muricata), commonly known as soursop/Graviola, is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in treating diverse diseases including cancer. Phytochemicals of A.muricata (Annonaceous Acetogenins-AGEs) have been well-reported for their anti-cancer effects on various cancers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to examine the effect of AGEs in reversing MDR in colorectal cancer cells.

METHODS

Based on molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, the stability of annonacin upon P-gp was investigated. Further in vitro studies were carried in oxaliplatin-resistant human colon cancer cells (SW480R) to study the biological effect of annonacin, in reversing drug resistance in these cells.

RESULTS

Molecular docking and simulation studies have indicated that annonacin stably interacted at the drug binding site of P-gp. In vitro analysis showed that annonacin was able to significantly reduce the expression of P-gp by 2.56 folds. It also induced apoptosis in the drug-resistant colon cancer cells. Moreover, the intracellular accumulation of P-gp substrate (calcein-AM) was observed to increase in resistant cells upon treatment with annonacin.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that annonacin could inhibit the efflux of chemotherapeutic drugs mediated by P-gp and thereby help in reversing MDR in colon cancer cells. Further in vivo studies are required to decipher the underlying mechanism of annonacin in treating MDR cancers.

Duguetia confinis Engl. & Diels (Annonaceae) inhibitory and cytotoxic effects on breast adenocarcinoma growth both in vitro and in vivo

Background

Breast cancer is ranked as the most common malignant tumor in women globally with ∼ 2.3 million new cases (11.7 %) diagnosed in 2020. The multiple drawbacks associated with treatments, prompt researchers and patients to search for alternative therapy. Plants continue to offer encouraging leads, in particular those of the Annonaceae family, to which belongs Duguetia confinis, used by Cameroonian traditional healers to fight cancers. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of Duguetia confinis against human breast cancer cells. This was carried out by investigating the cytotoxicity, underlying mechanism of action and chemopreventive potential of D. confinis on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer.

Methods

To achieve this goal, the ethanolic extract of the bark of D. confinis was prepared and assayed for its ability to inhibit cell growth, cell proliferation and clone formation. Furthermore, cell death mechanisms, cell cycle progression and anti-metastatic potential were investigated. The in vivo study consisted in a once-off administration of 50 mg/kg BW DMBA (in olive oil, s.c) from the 10th day after pretreatment with D. confinis extract (50 and 100 mg/kg BW) or standards [tamoxifen (3.3 mg/kg) and letrozole (1 mg/kg)] or leaf extract of Annona muricata L. (200 mg/kg as pharmacological control). Normal and negative controls received vehicle (3 % ethanol). The treatment of animals was done for 20 weeks, followed by the assessment of the incidence, burden and volume of tumors, breast cancer biomarker (CA 15-3), antioxidant status, inflammatory status and histopathology profile. The LD50 of D. confinis extract was estimated according to OECD guideline 423.

Results

D. confinis displayed cytotoxicity at 80 μg/mL on all the tested breast cancer cell lines. It induced apoptosis and caused a blockade at G0/G1; S-phase of MDA-MB 231 cells, thus, suggesting anticancer potential. A significant concentration-dependent antimetastatic potential was observed with D. confinis extract at 50 (p < 0.05) and 100 (p < 0.01) μg/mL, evidenced by a reduction in cell migration, chemotaxis and increased adhesion to extracellular matrix. With respect to the chemopreventive study, D. confinis was able to prevent the onset of breast adenocarcinoma in Wistar rats by preventing the growth of tumor mass and volume, as well as the histopathological severity of the disease. This was achieved through the modulation of antioxidant parameters (SOD, CAT, MDA) and inflammatory parameters (IL-12, IL-6, INF- gamma, TNF). Also, the LD50 of D. confinis extract was greater than 2000 mg/kg, indicating low acute toxicity and thus, favorable for therapeutic use.

Conclusion

In summary, this study outlines for the first time the beneficial effect of D. confinis as a plant candidate in the fight against breast cancer just like other species of the Annonaceae family. However, further research studies are still warranted regarding its bioactive components, and in depth investigation of its anticancer mechanism of action are also needed.

Natural products and mitochondrial allies in colorectal cancer therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a globally prevalent malignancy with a high potential for metastasis. Existing cancer treatments have limitations, including drug resistance and adverse effects. Researchers are striving to develop effective therapies to address these challenges. Impressively, contemporary research has discovered that many natural products derived from foods, plants, insects, and marine invertebrates can suppress the progression, metastasis, and invasion of CRC. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search of the CNKI, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to April 2023 to evaluate the efficacy of natural products targeting mitochondria to fight against CRC. Mitochondria are intracellular energy factories involved in cell differentiation, signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. The identified natural products have been classified and summarized based on their mechanisms of action. These findings indicate that natural products can induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting the mitochondrial respiratory chain, ROS elevation, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of pro-apoptotic factors, modulation of the Bcl-2 protein family to facilitate cytochrome c release, induction of apoptotic vesicle activity by activating the caspase protein family, and selective targeting of mitochondrial division. Furthermore, diverse apoptotic signaling pathways targeting mitochondria, such as the MAPK, p53, STAT3, JNK and AKT pathway, have been triggered by natural products. Natural products such as diosgenin, allopurinol, and clausenidin have demonstrated low toxicity, high efficacy, and multi-targeted properties. Mitochondria-targeting natural products have great potential for overcoming the challenges of CRC therapy.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some New 3-Aryl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and 3-Aryl-2-(benzylthio)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones as Antioxidants; COX-2, LDHA, α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibitors; and Anti-Colon Carcinoma and Apoptosis-Inducing Agents

Oxidative stress, COX-2, LDHA and hyperglycemia are interlinked contributing pathways in the etiology, progression and metastasis of colon cancer. Additionally, dysregulated apoptosis in cells with genetic alternations leads to their progression in malignant transformation. Therefore, quinazolinones 3a-3h and 5a-5h were synthesized and evaluated as antioxidants, enzymes inhibitors and cytotoxic agents against LoVo and HCT-116 cells. Moreover, the most active cytotoxic derivatives were evaluated as apoptosis inducers. The results indicated that 3a, 3g and 5a were efficiently scavenged DPPH radicals with lowered IC50 values (mM) ranging from 0.165 ± 0.0057 to 0.191 ± 0.0099, as compared to 0.245 ± 0.0257 by BHT. Derivatives 3h, 5a and 5h were recognized as more potent dual inhibitors than quercetin against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, in addition to 3a, 3c, 3f and 5b-5f against α-amylase. Although none of the compounds demonstrated a higher efficiency than the reference inhibitors against COX-2 and LDHA, 3a and 3g were identified as the most active derivatives. Molecular docking studies were used to elucidate the binding affinities and binding interactions between the inhibitors and their target proteins. Compounds 3a and 3f showed cytotoxic activities, with IC50 values (µM) of 294.32 ± 8.41 and 383.5 ± 8.99 (LoVo), as well as 298.05 ± 13.26 and 323.59 ± 3.00 (HCT-116). The cytotoxicity mechanism of 3a and 3f could be attributed to the modulation of apoptosis regulators (Bax and Bcl-2), the activation of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways via the upregulation of initiator caspases-8 and -9 as well as executioner caspase-3, and the arrest of LoVo and HCT-116 cell cycles in the G2/M and G1 phases, respectively. Lastly, the physicochemical, medicinal chemistry and ADMET properties of all compounds were predicted.

A Proteomic Study of the Bioactivity of Annona muricata Leaf Extracts in HT-1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells

Graviola (Annona muricata) is a tropical plant with many traditional ethnobotanic uses and pharmacologic applications. A metabolomic study of both aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves recently allowed us to identify dozens of bioactive compounds. In the present study, we use a proteomic approach to detect altered patterns in proteins on both conditioned media and extracts of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells under treatment conditions, revealing new potential bioactivities of Annona muricata extracts. Our results reveal the complete sets of deregulated proteins after treatment with aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves. Functional enrichment analysis of proteomic data suggests deregulation of cell cycle and iron metabolism, which are experimentally validated in vitro. Additional experimental data reveal that DMSO extracts protect HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and HMEC-1 endothelial cells from ferroptosis. Data from our proteomic study are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042354.

Antiproliferative Activities of Acetone Extract From Canarium Odontophyllum (Dabai) Stem Bark Against Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer is the most common malignant cancer in developing countries. Canarium odontophyllum, also known as "Dabai" or "Borneo Olive" is among the natural plants that can potentially be used as an anticancer agent. This study aims to determine the antiproliferative activities and cytotoxicity effects of acetone extract from C. odontophyllum stem bark against human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT 116 and HT 29. Acetone extract of C. odontophyllum stem bark exerted a significant cytotoxic effect on HCT 116 and HT 29 cells determined by MTT assay at the concentration of 12.5 μg/mL to 200 μg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 hours treatment. It was found that acetone extract of C. odontophyllum stem bark inhibited proliferation of HCT 116 with an IC₅₀ value of 184.93 ± .0 μg/mL, 61.24 ± .1 μg/mL, 79.98 ± .029 for 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. The findings also showed that acetone extract of C. odontophyllum stem bark revealed a lower inhibitory effect against HT-29 with an IC₅₀ value of more than 200 μg/mL for 24, 48 and 72 hours. However, acetone extract of C. odontophyllum stem bark at similar concentrations and time points did not show any cytotoxic effect to normal colorectal fibroblast cell CCD18-Co. In conclusion, the acetone extract of C. odontophyllum stem bark exhibited more sensitivity against HCT 116 than HT 29. Its antiproliferative ability towards HCT 116 and HT 29 cells provides insight that this extract may serve as an anticancer agent against colorectal cancer.

Antioxidants in Traditional Mexican Medicine and Their Applications as Antitumor Treatments

Traditional medicine in Latin America and mainly in Mexico represents an essential alternative for treating different diseases. The use of plants as medicine is the product of a rich cultural tradition of the indigenous peoples, in which a great variety of species are used for the treatment of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and mental diseases and some other sicknesses; the therapeutic efficacy that they possess is due to the properties that derive from the active ingredients of plants principally antioxidants, such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenes, and tannins. An antioxidant is a substance that, at low concentrations, delays or prevents substrate oxidation through the exchange of electrons. Different methods are used to determine the antioxidant activity and the most commonly used are described in the review. Cancer is a disease in which some cells multiply uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis. These cells can lead to the formation of tumors, which are lumps of tissue that can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Generally, the treatment of this disease consists of surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, which have side effects that decrease the quality of life of patients, so new treatments, focusing on natural resources such as plants, can be developed. This review aims to gather scientific evidence on the antioxidant compounds present in plants used in traditional Mexican medicine, specifically as antitumor treatment in the most common cancer types worldwide (e.g., breast, liver, and colorectal cancer).

Anticancer acumens of three Annona species: a proportional review

INTRODUCTION

Cumulative pattern of cancer could be seen in day-to-day life with each passing year and, it is becoming a great matter of concern especially to the scientific community worldwide. Alternative treatment methods for various types of cancer are in place and, being continuously worked out. Plant-derived natural substances have shown great results in combating cancer in comparison to chemo and radiotherapies which are toxic besides having serious side effects. In continuation, Annona species, native to America, Africa, Asia and Australia have been used in folk medicines and, are reported to have many anti-carcinogenic substances.

METHODS

For a prudent understanding of Annona species against various cancers, comparative investigation and analysis of three species viz., A. cherimola, A. muricata, and A. squamosa was undertaken through a detailed review of the in-attendance subject. The major scientific biomedical literature databases were consulted and the information available from 2011 until January 2021 was taken into account.

RESULTS

Studies on anti-cancer activities along with the thorough analysis of the findings and the pieces of evidence supporting their anti-proliferative, apoptosis, G₁ cell cycle arrest and cytotoxic effects are described. A. muricata displayed maximum number of anti-cancer activities being revealed by most of its parts with the lowest IC₅₀ values against various cancer cell lines compared to A. cherimola and A. squamosa. On account of the findings, it is advocated that, further detailed studies on anti-cancer explorations of Annona species could be proved fruitful in paving new and innovative methodologies for novel anti-cancer drug discovery and development.

A Review on Annona muricata and Its Anticancer Activity

Simple Summary

Cancer is becoming more prevalent, raising concerns regarding how well current treatments work. Cancer patients frequently seek alternative treatments to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The use of medicinal plants in both preventative and curative healthcare is widely acknowledged. The compounds of graviola have shown promise as possible cancer-fighting agents and could be used to treat cancer. This review discusses bioactive metabolites present in graviola and their role in affecting the growth and death of different cancer cell types and the molecular mechanism of how it works to downregulate anti-apoptotic genes and the genes involved in pro-cancer metabolic pathways. Also, it reviews how simultaneously increasing the expression of genes promotes apoptosis and causes cancer cells to die so that the active phytochemicals found in graviola could be used as a promising anti-cancer agent.

Abstract

The ongoing rise in the number of cancer cases raises concerns regarding the efficacy of the various treatment methods that are currently available. Consequently, patients are looking for alternatives to traditional cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy as a replacement. Medicinal plants are universally acknowledged as the cornerstone of preventative medicine and therapeutic practices. Annona muricata is a member of the family Annonaceae and is familiar for its medicinal properties. A. muricata has been identified to have promising compounds that could potentially be utilized for the treatment of cancer. The most prevalent phytochemical components identified and isolated from this plant are alkaloids, phenols, and acetogenins. This review focuses on the role of A. muricata extract against various types of cancer, modulation of cellular proliferation and necrosis, and bioactive metabolites responsible for various pharmacological activities along with their ethnomedicinal uses. Additionally, this review highlights the molecular mechanism of the role of A. muricata extract in downregulating anti-apoptotic and several genes involved in the pro-cancer metabolic pathways and decreasing the expression of proteins involved in cell invasion and metastasis while upregulating proapoptotic genes and genes involved in the destruction of cancer cells. Therefore, the active phytochemicals identified in A. muricata have the potential to be employed as a promising anti-cancer agent.

A focusing study on radioprotective and antioxidant effects of Annona muricata leaf extract in the circulation and liver tissue: Clinical and experimental studies

Objectives

This study investigates the effect of Annona muricata (AM) leaf extract against irradiation-induced damage by the evaluation of hepatic tissue and the levels of oxidative and inflammatory stress in the circulation.

Methods

An experimental study with 37 female Wistar albino rats randomized into four groups (controls and three intervention groups) was performed. The first interventional group (group 2) received 300 mg/kg of AM leaf extract by oral gavage once a day for 9 days, group 3 received a single dose of whole-body radiation (8.3 Gy) after a 9-day oral gavage treatment with saline, and the last group received the same irradiation of 8.3 Gy after being treated with 300 mg/kg of AM leaf extract by oral gavage once a day for 9 days.

Results

Radiation was found to elevate reactive oxygen species parameters, and AM administration before irradiation was found to decrease total oxidant status (TOS), increase caspase 9, and improve hepatic damage when compared with the group that received only irradiation.

Conclusion

The damage caused by irradiation may be ameliorated by the use of the AM extract, which appears to be effective in preventing oxidative stress and inflammatory activity.

I, Deniega FM, Delica K, Fernandez K, Lebrilla CB, Manalo MN, Heralde III FM, Completo GCJ, Nacario RC. Biological Assay-Guided Fractionation and Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolite Profiling of Annona muricata L. Cytotoxic Compounds against Lung Cancer A549 Cell Line

Annona muricata L. (Guyabano) leaves are reported to exhibit anticancer activity against cancer cells. In this study, the ethyl acetate extract from guyabano leaves was purified through column chromatography, and the cytotoxic effects of the semi-purified fractions were evaluated against A549 lung cancer cells using in vitro MTS cytotoxicity and scratch/wound healing assays. Fractions F15-16C and F15-16D exhibited the highest anticancer activity in the MTS assay, with % cytotoxicity values of 99.6% and 99.4%, respectively. The bioactivity of the fractions was also consistent with the results of the scratch/wound healing assay. Moreover, untargeted metabolomics was employed on the semi-purified fractions to determine the putative compounds responsible for the bioactivity. The active fractions were processed using LC-MS/MS analysis with the integration of the following metabolomic tools: MS-DIAL (for data processing), MetaboAnalyst (for data analysis), GNPS (for metabolite annotation), and Cytoscape (for network visualization). Results revealed that the putative compounds with a significant difference between active and inactive fractions in PCA and OPLS-DA models were pheophorbide A and diphenylcyclopropenone.

Histopathological Evaluation of Annona muricata in TAA-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

This research in vivo assessed the impact of the ethanolic extract of Annona muricata (A. muricata) on the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and biochemistry of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in Sprague Dawley rats. The rats, gavaged precisely with two doses of A. muricata (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) with TAA, presented a substantial reduction in the liver index and hepatocyte propagation, with much lower cell injury. These groups showed meaningfully down-regulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the liver and spleen, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in liver parenchymal tissue. The liver homogenate displayed enhanced antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, along with a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The serum levels of bilirubin, total protein, albumin, and liver enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were returned to normal and were similar to that of the normal control and silymarin with TAA-treated groups. Oral acute toxicity revealed no evidence of any toxic symbols or mortality in rats, indicating the safety of A. muricata. Therefore, the normal microanatomy of hepatocytes, the clampdown of PCNA, α-SMA, TGF-β, improved antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), and condensed MDA with repairs of liver biomarkers validate the hepatoprotective effect of A. muricata.

Plant-derived bioactive compounds in colon cancer treatment: An updated review

Colon cancer is the third most predominant cancer caused by genetic, environmental and nutritional factors. Plant-based compounds are very well known to regress colon cancer in many ways, like delaying tumor growth, managing chemotherapy and radiation therapy side-effects, and working at the molecular levels. Medicinal plants contain many bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, polyphenol compounds, caffeic acid, catechins, saponins, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol and luteolin glycosides, carnosic acid, oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid, emodin, and eugenol and anthricin. These bioactive compounds can reduce tumor cell proliferation via several mechanisms, such as blocking cell cycle checkpoints and promoting apoptosis through activating initiator and executioner caspase. Traditional medicines have been used globally to treat cancers because of their anti-cancer effects, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-mutagenic effects, and anti-angiogenic effects. In addition, these medicines effectively suppress early and intermediate stages of carcinogenesis when administered in their active and pure form. However, traditional medicine is not very popular due to some critical challenges. These include poor solubility and absorption of these compounds, intellectual property-related issues, involvement of drug synergism, absence of drug-likeness, and unsure protocols for their extraction from the plant source. Using bioactive compounds in colon cancer has equal advantages and limitations. This review highlights the benefits and challenges of using bioactive compounds derived from plants for colon cancer. We have also discussed using these compounds to target cancer stem cell self-renewal, its effects on cancer cell metabolism, safety parameters, easy modulation, and their bioavailability.

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Annonacae

In 1789, the Annonaceae family was catalogued by de Jussieu. It encompasses tropical and subtropical plants which are widespread in distribution across various continents such as Asia, South and Central America, Australia and Africa. The genus of Annona is one of 120 genera of the Annonaceae family and contains more than 119 species of trees and shrubs. Most species are found in tropical America, where over 105 species have been identified. Due to its edible fruits and medicinal properties, Annona is the most studied genus of Annonaceae family. To date, only a limited number of these species have economic value, including A. squamosa L. (sugar apple), A. cherimola Mill. (Cherimoya), A. muricata L. (guanabana or soursop), A. atemoya Mabb. (atemoya), a hybrid between A. cherimola and A. squamosa, A. reticulata L. (custard apple), A. glabra L. (pond-apple) and A. macroprophyllata Donn. Sm. (ilama). Phytochemically, several classes of secondary metabolites, including acetogenins, essential oils, alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids. The pharmacological activities of Annona species leaves and seeds include antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Encapsulation of tannins and tannin-rich plant extracts by complex coacervation to improve their physicochemical properties and biological activities: A review

As a major class of dietary polyphenols, tannins are demonstrated to have various health-promoting properties. Although tannins have been widely utilized in food, pharmaceutical and many other industries, the applications of tannins are quite limited due to their poor stability, sensory attributes and bioavailability. Encapsulation helps improve all of these properties. Complex coacervation, one of the most effective encapsulation techniques, is known for its simplicity, low cost, scalability and reproducibility in encapsulation of functional components. In recent years, complex coacervation has been successfully used for encapsulation of tannins and tannin-rich plant extracts. In this article, the research progress in encapsulating tannins and tannin-rich plant extracts by complex coacervation to improve their physicochemical properties and biological activities is critically reviewed for the first time. Encapsulation of tannins and tannin-rich plant extracts can effectively improve their sensory characteristics, stabilities, bioavailability, anti-hypercholesterolemia, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities. In particular, the enhancement of biological activities of tannins and tannin-rich plant extracts is usually correlated to their improved physicochemical properties imparted by the encapsulation technique. Moreover, we introduce the issues that need to be further resolved in future studies on encapsulation of tannins and tannin-rich plant extracts by complex coacervation.

Delivery of acetogenin-enriched Annona muricata Linn leaf extract by folic acid-conjugated and triphenylphosphonium-conjugated poly(glycerol adipate) nanoparticles to enhance toxicity against ovarian cancer cells

The study demonstrated the fabrication of new poly(glycerol adipate) (PGA) nanoparticles decorated with folic acid (FOL-PGA) and triphenylphosphonium (TPP-PGA) and the potential on the delivery of acetogenin-enriched Annona muricata Linn leaf extract to ovarian cancer cells. FOL-PGA and TPP-PGA were successfully synthesized and used to fabricate FOL-decorated nanoparticles (FOL-NPs) and FOL-/TPP- decorated nanoparticles (FOL/TPP-NPs) by blending two polymers at a mass ratio of 1:1. All nanoparticles had small size of around 100 nm, narrow size distribution and high negative surface charge about -30 mV. The stable FOL/TPP-NPs showed highest drug loading of 14.9 ± 1.9% at 1:5 ratio of extract to polymer and reached to 35.8 ± 2.1% at higher ratio. Both nanoparticles released the extract in a biphasic sustained release manner over 5 days. The toxicity of the extract to SKOV3 cells was potentiated by FOL-NPs and FOL/TPP-NPs by 2.0 - 2.6 fold through induction of cell apoptosis. FOL/TPP-NPs showed lower IC₅₀ and higher cellular uptake as compared to FOL-NPs. FOL-NPs exhibited folate receptor-mediated endocytosis. FOL/TPP-NPs provided more advantages than FOL-NPs in terms of stability in physiological fluid, uptake efficiency and targeting ability to mitochondria and showed a promising potential PGA platform for targeted delivery of herbal cytotoxic extracts.

Molecular Targets of Natural Compounds with Anti-Cancer Properties

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in humans. Despite rapid developments in diagnostic methods and therapies, metastasis and resistance to administrated drugs are the main obstacles to successful treatment. Therefore, the main challenge should be the diagnosis and design of optimal therapeutic strategies for patients to increase their chances of responding positively to treatment and increase their life expectancy. In many types of cancer, a deregulation of multiple pathways has been found. This includes disturbances in cellular metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, or epigenetic modifications. Additionally, signals received from the microenvironment may significantly contribute to cancer development. Chemical agents obtained from natural sources seem to be very attractive alternatives to synthetic compounds. They can exhibit similar anti-cancer potential, usually with reduced side effects. It was reported that natural compounds obtained from fruits and vegetables, e.g., polyphenols, flavonoids, stilbenes, carotenoids and acetogenins, might be effective against cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Several published results indicate the activity of natural compounds on protein expression by its influence on transcription factors. They could also be involved in alterations in cellular response, cell signaling and epigenetic modifications. Such natural components could be used in our diet for anti-cancer protection. In this review, the activities of natural compounds, including anti-cancer properties, are described. The influence of natural agents on cancer cell metabolism, proliferation, signal transduction and epigenetic modifications is highlighted.

The potential of A. Muricata Bioactive Compounds to Inhibit HIF1α Expression Via Disruption of Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Activity: an In Silico Study

Background:

Cancer is a debilitating disease that is on the increase in both developed and developing countries. The plant extract of A. muricata have been known to have a variety of anticancer effects, including anti-angiogenic potential. An in silico study is needed as a preliminary study to understand the mechanism underline this process.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the bioactive compounds of A. muricata in regulating angiogenesis process, primarily by the regulation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression by in silico study.

Methods:

This study was performed by in silico analysis including the bioactive compounds preparation, biological activity prediction, protein target and pathway analysis, 3D protein modelling, protein-ligand and protein-protein docking, and the visualization of docking results.

Results:

There are 3 bioactive compounds of A. muricata with the ability to inhibit HIF-1α expression, including kaempferol, genistein, and glycitein. The inhibition of HIF-1α expression was associated with phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway, which involved tyrosine kinase receptor activity on the cell membrane. Based on the silico analysis in this study, we shown that kaempferol, genistein, and glycitein inhibit HIF-1α expression through the disruption of interleukin (IL)-6R and toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and their respective ligands interaction.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study show that A. muricata bioactive compounds could inhibit HIF-1α expression through disruption of the tyrosine kinase receptor binding with its ligand.

Non-targeted metabolomics characterization of Annona muricata leaf extracts with anti-angiogenic activity

The tropical plant Annona muricata has been widely used for traditional ethnobotanic and pharmacologic applications. Extracts from different parts of this plant have been shown to have a wide range of biological activities. In the present study, we carry out a metabolomic study of both aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves that has allowed us to identify 33 bioactive compounds. Furthermore, we have shown that aqueous extracts are able to inhibit endothelial cell migration and both aqueous and DMSO extracts inhibit the formation of tubule-like structures by endothelial cells cultured on Matrigel. We conclude that extracts of Annona muricata leaves have great potential as anti-angiogenic natural combinations of bioactive compounds.

Acetogenin Extracted from Annona muricata Prevented the Actions of EGF in PA-1 Ovarian Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

In individuals with ovarian cancer, an increase in the circulating level of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) is readily apparent. Ovarian cancer cells exhibit signaling pathway of the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and respond to the EGF. Annona muricata (AM) has been shown to decrease ovarian cell proliferation however, role of AM in regulating EGF actions is not yet to be reported.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we proposed that the fractionated compound acetogenin can inhibit the activation of EGFR-regulated signaling cascades such as MAPK7 / PI3K-Akt / mTOR / STAT upon EGF stimulation.

METHODS

Ethanolic extract was prepared for the whole AM plant and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was performed to characterize the secondary metabolites and each fraction was assessed using kedde reagent for the presence of acetogenin. The effects of acetogenins were then tested on the survival of PA-1 ovarian cancer cells under basal and EGF stimulated conditions. To delineate the role of acetogenin in EGFR signaling cascades, the in silico docking studies were conducted.

RESULTS

The fraction of acetogenin decreased the viability of EGF induced PA-1 ovarian cancer cells that indicating the EGF inhibitory effects of acetogenin. The docking studies specifically illustrated that when the acetogenin binding with tyrosine kinase (TK) and regulatory unit (RU) which subsequently resulted in a reduction in EGF induced the survival of PA-1 ovarian cancer cells.

DISCUSSION

The vital regulatory role of acetogenin reported in this study indicate significant anticancer activities of acetogenin from AM. The in silico study of the acetogenin function predicted that it binds specifically to Asp837 (phosphor-acceptor site) of EGFR, essential for phosphorylation of substrates in the TK domain and RU which promote downstream signaling.

CONCLUSION

Acetogenin isolated from AM effectively inhibited the survival of PA-1 ovarian cancer cells through impaired EGF signaling.

Annona muricata leaf extract attenuates hepatic lipogenesis and adipogenesis

Annona muricata (graviola) is a medicinal plant that can be used to alleviate chronic human diseases by providing antioxidants and inducing immunomodulation. In this study, we found that treatment of AML12 hepatocytes with steam (SGE) and ethanol (EGE) extracts of graviola leaf downregulated the expression of fatty acid (FA) oxidation genes, including ACOX1, CPT1, and PPARα, with no change in the expression of FA synthesis genes. However, whereas EGE inhibited the differentiation and lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and downregulated FA synthesis genes, no similar changes were observed in response to treatment with SGE. In an in vivo experiment using mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), body weight was reduced in response to treatment with EGE, which also dose-dependently alleviated liver hepatocyte ballooning induced by the consumption of a HFD. However, genes involved in FA oxidation and the secretion of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were downregulated. We also found that the size of adipocytes was reduced in response to EGE treatment, and that there was a downregulated expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and FA synthesis. Furthermore, we detected increases in the levels of cholesterol in the plasma, whereas ALT activity was reduced. Collectively, these results indicates that EGE inhibits lipid influx into the liver and adipogenesis in adipose tissues. These bioactive properties of EGE indicate its potential as a natural ingredient that can be used to prevent obesity.

Silver Nanoparticles from Annona muricata Peel and Leaf Extracts as a Potential Potent, Biocompatible and Low Cost Antitumor Tool

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world and requires new therapies for its treatment. In this context, the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been developed to treat different types of tumors. The Annona muricata plant is known for having anticancer activity. Its main compounds present in the leaves, stems and skin, allowing for its use as reducing agents. In this manuscript, AgNPs with leaf extract (AgNPs-LE) and fruit peel extract (AgNPs-PE) of A. muricata were biosynthesized obtaining an average nanoparticle diameter sizes smaller than 50 nm, being 19.63 ± 3.7 nm and 16.56 ± 4.1 nm, and with a surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) at 447 and 448 nm, respectively. The lactone functional group present in the LE and PE extracts was identified by the FTIR technique. The behavior and antiproliferation activity of AgNPs-LE and AgNPs-PE were evaluated in breast, colon and melanoma cancer cell lines. Our results showed that Annona muricata fruit peel, which is a waste product, has an antitumor effect more potent than leaf extract. This difference is maintained with AgNPs where the destruction of cancer cells was, for the first time, achieved using concentrations that do not exceed 3 μg/mL with a better therapeutic index in the different tumor strains. In conclusion, we present a low-cost one-step experimental setup to generate AgNPs-PE whose in-vitro biocompatibility and powerful therapeutic effect make it a very attractive tool worth exploiting.

Normalisation of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels in a patient with partial molar pregnancy with a uterine mass without chemotherapy: impact of using herbal remedies

OBJECTIVES

Level of βhCG and the presence of any uterine mass of hydatidiform mole need a careful review or monitoring in order to prevent metastasis, provide an early treatment and avoid unnecessary chemotherapy.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 36-year old fifth gravida patient who had a missed abortion was diagnosed as having a molar pregnancy with beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) level of 509,921 IU/L. Her lung field was clear and she underwent suction and curettage (S & C) procedure. However, after six weeks, AA presented to the emergency department with a massive bleeding, although her βhCG level had decreased to 65,770 IU/L. A trans-abdominal ultrasound indicated the presence of an intra-uterine mass (3.0 × 4.4 cm). Nevertheless, her βhCG continued to show a declining trend (8,426 IU/L). AA was advised to undergo a chemotherapy but she refused, citing preference for alternative medicine like herbs instead. She opted for an "at own risk" (AOR) discharge with scheduled follow up. Subsequently, her condition improved with her βhCG showing a downward trend. Surprisingly, at six months post S & C, her βhCG ameliorated to 0 IU/L with no mass detected by ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS

Brucea javanica fruits, Pereskia bleo and Annona muricata leaves can potentially be useful alternatives to chemotherapy and need further studies.

The future potential of Annona muricata L. extract and its bioactive compounds as radiation sensitizing agent: proposed mechanisms based on a systematic review

Despite technological advances in cancer treatment, especially in radiotherapy, many efforts are being made in improving cancer cell radio-sensitivity to increase therapeutic ratio and overcome cancer cell radio-resistance. In the present review, we evaluated the anticancer mechanism of Annona muricata L. (AM) leaves extract and its bioactive compounds such as annonaceous acetogenins, annomuricin, annonacin, or curcumin; and further correlated them with the potential of the mechanism to increase or to reduce cancer cells radio-sensitivity based on literature investigation. We see that AM has a promising future potential as a radio-sensitizer agent.

Synergistic Cotreatment Potential of Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Leaves Extract with Doxorubicin on 4T1 Cells with Antisenescence and Anti-reactive-oxygen-species Properties

Annona muricata L. extract (AME) exhibits cytotoxic activities on various types of cancer cells. This study aims to unveil the anticancer activity of AME as a cotreatment agent with doxorubicin (dox) on 4T1 cells and AME's relation to senescence. AME was obtained by maceration using 96% ethanol. AME was then subjected to qualitative analysis using TLC compared to quercetin (hRf = 75). Spectrophotometry analysis of AME resulted in a total flavonoid content of 2.3% ± 0.05%. Cytotoxic evaluation using the MTT assay revealed that AME showed an IC50 value of 63 µg/mL, while its combination (25 µg/mL) with dox (10 nM) decreased the viability of 4T1 cells to 58 % (CI = 0.15). Flowcytometry using propidium iodide staining confirmed that AME (13 and 25 µg/mL) caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase as a single treatment and G2/M arrest in combination with dox. However, by using the dichloro dihydrofluorescein diacetate staining assay, it turned out that AME at concentrations of 13 and 25 µg/mL decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels both as a single treatment and in combination with dox. Senescence-associated β - galactosidase assay showed that AME decreased dox-induced senescence. AME alone and in combination with dox (cotreatment) showed cytotoxic effect synergistically on 4T1 cells, but this was not caused by an increase in intracellular ROS levels as well as senescence induction. Therefore, AME showed its potential to be a cotreatment agent with antioxidant property on triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Selective cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activity in DU-145 prostate cancer cells induced by Annona muricata L. bark extract and phytochemical, annonacin

BACKGROUND

Annona muricata L. was identified as a popular medicinal plant in treatment regimens among cancer patients in Jamaica by a previously conducted structured questionnaire. Ethnomedically used plant parts, were examined in this study against human prostate cancer cells for the first time and mechanisms of action elucidated for the most potent of them, along with the active phytochemical, annonacin.

METHODS

Nine extracts of varying polarity from the leaves and bark of A. muricata were assessed initially for cytotoxicity using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on PC-3 prostate cancer cells and the ethyl acetate bark (EAB) extract was identified as the most potent. EAB extract was then standardized for annonacin content using High-performance Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and shown to be effective against a second prostate cancer cell line (DU-145) also. The mode of cell death in DU-145 cells were assessed via several apoptotic assays including induction of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases and annexin V externalization combined with morphological observations using confocal microscopy. In addition, the potential to prevent metastasis was examined via inhibition of cell migration, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis using the chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM).

RESULTS

Annonacin and EAB extract displayed selective and potent cytotoxicity against the DU-145 prostate carcinoma cells with IC50 values of 0.1 ± 0.07 μM and 55.501 ± 0.55 μg/mL respectively, without impacting RWPE-1 normal prostate cells, in stark contrast to chemotherapeutic docetaxel which lacked such selectivity. Docetaxel's impact on the cancerous DU-145 was improved by 50% when used in combination with EAB extract. Insignificant levels of intracellular ROS content, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, Caspase 3/7 activation, annexin V content, along with stained morphological evaluations, pointed to a non-apoptotic mode of cell death. The extract at 50 μg/mL deterred cell migration in the wound-healing assay, while inhibition of angiogenesis was displayed in the CAM and VEGF inhibition assays for both EAB (100 μg /mL) and annonacin (0.5 μM).

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the standardized EAB extract and annonacin appear to induce selective and potent cell death via a necrotic pathway in DU-145 cells, while also preventing cell migration and angiogenesis, which warrant further examinations for mechanistic insights and validity in-vivo.

Effects of Annona muricata Extract on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Mediated Through EGFR Signaling

Purpose

To evaluate the antiproliferative activity and the mechanisms of action of Annona muricata ethyl acetate (AMEA) extract and one of its active fractions on BT-20 TNBC cells.

Methods

The triple-negative human breast cancer BT-20 cells were used. After the preparation and extraction of Annona muricata ethyl acetate (AMEA), the ethyl acetate extract was exposed to a preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate. From this preparative TLC plate, eight individual bands were collected. Each band was scraped and removed from the plate and soaked in ethyl acetate. After filtration, all eight fractions were then tested on the BT-20 TNBC cells using the MTS cell viability assay. The expressions of EGFR, p-EGFR, AKT, p-AKT, MAPK, p-MAPK, cyclin D1, and NF-κB p65 were measured using Western blot analysis.

Results

The AMEA showed a significant decrease in NF-κB p65 protein expression and BT-20 cell viability, as determined via the MTS assay. Furthermore, the AMEA was subjected to preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC), and eight fractions were obtained. From the eight fractions, only fraction 4 (F4) showed a significant reduction in cell viability in the MTS assay. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that AMEA and F4 formed an antiproliferative effect. These effects were complemented by a downregulation of cyclin D1 assembly, causing cell-cycle arrest at the G1/S phase. Furthermore, NF-κB was measured because of its involvement in the progression of cancers.

Conclusion

The antiproliferative influence is produced through EGFR-mediated signaling pathways, which include AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, and cyclin D1 inhibition. Further studies will be required to demonstrate the possible applications of this natural product in breast cancer therapy.

The selective anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of A. cherimola on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line

Background

Herbal medicines have been a major target for numerous studies through the past years as an alternative treatment for cancer, mainly due to their minimal effects on normal healthy cells. Annona cherimola, popularly known as Cherimoya, is an edible natural fruit rich in phytochemical components and known to possess various biological activities. Previous studies have reported the anti-cancerous effect of A. cherimola ethanolic leaf extract (AELE) on leukemia. This study aims at studying the potential anti-cancer activity of this extract in vitro in two different breast cancer cell lines, namely MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, in addition to investigating its toxicity on normal mesenchymal stem cells.

Methods

The anti-proliferative effect of AELE was evaluated via cell viability assay. Propidium iodide staining, Cell Death Detection ELISA and flow cytometry analysis of Annexin V binding were used to assess cell cycle progression, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis induction, respectively. Protein expression was determined via Western Blot analysis to decipher the underlying apoptotic molecular mechanism induced upon AELE treatment.

Results

The anti-proliferative effect of the extract was found to be selective on the triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ of 390.2 μg/mL at 48 h, with no cytotoxic effects on normal murine mesenchymal stem cells. The pro-apoptotic effect was confirmed by the increase in cellular and DNA fragmentation, flipping of the phosphatidylserine moiety to the outer leaflet, and the increase in Annexin V binding. The underlying molecular mechanism revealed the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway, as shown by alterations in mitochondrial permeability and the upregulation of cytochrome c expression.

Conclusion

All the data presented in our study suggest that AELE exhibits a selective anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect on the chemo-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, providing evidence for the anti-tumor effects of A. cherimola.

In vitro evaluation of Annona muricata L. (Soursop) leaf methanol extracts on inhibition of tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer cells

PURPOSE

The present study evaluates the in-vitro anti-tumorigenic potential of leaf methanol extracts of Annona muricata (LMAM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxic activity was assessed in MCF-7 cells by MTT assay at various concentrations ranging from 25-250µg/mL. MCF-7 cells were treated with 50 and 100 µg/mL LMAM for 24 h. To detect LMAM-induced apoptosis; Hoescht 33342 staining along with Cell cycle analysis, Annexin-PI probe as well as oxidative stress damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements were determined using flow cytometric analysis. While caspase-3 expression levels were studied employing the qRT-PCR method.

RESULTS

LMAM exhibited significant inhibition of MCF-7 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 85.55 µg/mL. Hoescht staining showed marked morphological features characteristic of apoptosis in LMAM treated cells. Cell cycle analysis confirmed the proven capability of LMAM showing a 30% rise in G₁ phase upon treatment with 100 µg/mL LMAM, thus inducing cell cycle arrest at G₁ phase and a rise in sub G₀-G₁ population paralleled with a decrease in S phase. Flow cytometric analysis with Annexin V-FITC-PI staining indicated an increase in the early and late apoptotic population with a 3.38% and 19.47% rise respectively when treated with 100 µg/mL LMAM. Treatment with 100 µg/mL LMAM caused an increase in intracellular ROS with MFI value 3334.08. Upregulation of caspase-3 was observed with a 2.18 and 32.47 fold increase compared to control in MCF-7 cells cultured at 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL LMAM respectively suggesting caspase-dependent apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

LMAM proved as a potent ethno-chemopreventive agent and a potential lead in cancer treatment attributable to the synergistic interactive properties of phytoconstituents.

GC-MS profiling and assessment of antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties of extracts of Annona squamosa L. leaves

Background

The research and application of plants in food supplements and drugs have attracted great interest. This study aimed to examine the efficiency of several solvents for the extraction of the main compounds from Annona squamosa leaves and to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities of these extracts.

Methods

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to screen the bioactive compounds of A. squamosa methanolic extract. The free radical, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide scavenging activities of the extracts were investigated. Furthermore, MTT, nuclear staining, LDH, and monolayer wound repair assays were performed to evaluate the potential anticancer activity of the extracts in colon cancer cells while the antibacterial activity was tested by using a well diffusion assay.

Results

A. squamosa leaves extracts were found to contain several bioactive compounds, of which the majority were sesquiterpenes (C₁₅H₂₄). These extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity and antibacterial potency against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Different A. squamosa leaves extracts displayed remarkable antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antimigration, and apoptotic activities in colon cancer cells.

Conclusions

A. squamosa leaves contain major bioactive compounds that inhibit the growth of several types of bacteria and colon cancer cell lines, which demonstrated their efficacy as an alternative source of antibiotics and for the development of novel drugs for colon cancer therapy.

The MUDENG Augmentation: A Genesis in Anti-Cancer Therapy?

Despite multitudes of reports on cancer remedies available, we are far from being able to declare that we have arrived at that defining anti-cancer therapy. In recent decades, researchers have been looking into the possibility of enhancing cell death-related signaling pathways in cancer cells using pro-apoptotic proteins. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Mu-2/AP1M2 domain containing, death-inducing (MUDENG, MuD) have been established for their ability to bring about cell death specifically in cancer cells. Targeted cell death is a very attractive term when it comes to cancer, since most therapies also affect normal cells. In this direction TRAIL has made noteworthy progress. This review briefly sums up what has been done using TRAIL in cancer therapeutics. The importance of MuD and what has been achieved thus far through MuD and the need to widen and concentrate on applicational aspects of MuD has been highlighted. This has been suggested as the future perspective of MuD towards prospective progress in cancer research.

Practical Application of "About Herbs" Website: Herbs and Dietary Supplement Use in Oncology Settings

The Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center developed and maintains About Herbs (www.aboutherbs.com), which provides summaries of research data including purported uses, adverse effects, and herb-drug interactions for about 284 dietary supplements. Using Google Analytics, we found the website registered more than 26,317,000 hits since November 2002. The 10 most searched-for herbs/supplements of 2018 are chaga mushroom, turmeric, ashwagandha, reishi mushroom, graviola, Active Hexose-Correlated Compound, boswellia, dandelion, green tea, and Coriolus versicolor. Here we discuss their safety, herb-drug interactions, and appropriate uses in the oncology setting, based on literature searches in PubMed. Over the past 16 years, the evidence for use of these supplements is based mostly on preclinical findings, with few well-designed studies and limited trials conducted in cancer patients. It is important to familiarize health care professionals about popular supplements, so patients can be informed to make decisions that maximize benefits and minimize risks.

Anticancer and Apoptogenic Effect of Graviola and Low-Dose Radiation in Tumor Xenograft in Mice

Background: Annona muricata (graviola) has been claimed for its potential against various diseases including cancer. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effect of graviola extract on Ehrlich solid tumor (EST) mice along with or without a low dose of γ radiation (LDR). Methods: Mice were treated with graviola 50 mg/kg body weight orally for 30 days after EST induction and exposed to γ-ray (2 Gy/week for 3 weeks). Cell cycle, CD44, TGF-β, Bcl-2, and annexin V were determined in tumor tissue. Results: The result obtained showed a significant decrease (P < .05) of tumor size in 28 graviola-treated EST-bearing mice group (EG) or graviola-treated and irradiated EST-30-bearing mice (EGR) groups versus the EST group. The large number of cells in the sub-G0/G1 population and low cell number at S and M phases signify tumor cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell division in EG or EGR groups. Additionally, significant increases in the expression of CD44 and TGF-β were recorded in EST mice as compared with EG or EGR mice. Furthermore, EST mice exhibited a decrease in the apoptotic marker annexin v and increase in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 compared with EG and EGR mice. Conclusion: It could be suggested that graviola exerts its antitumor effect throughout the regulation of the tumor cell cycle as well as inducing apoptotic signals. The combined treatment of graviola and LDR augments their effect on tumor proliferation.

Anticancer Activities of Meroterpenoids Isolated from the Brown Alga Cystoseira usneoides against the Human Colon Cancer Cells HT-29

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancers and a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The current treatment for CRC mainly involves surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, due to the side effects and the emergence of drug resistance, the search for new anticancer agents, pharmacologically safe and effective, is needed. In the present study, we have investigated the anticancer effects of eight algal meroterpenoids (AMTs, 1-8) isolated from the brown seaweed Cystoseira usneoides and their underlying mechanisms of action using HT-29, a highly metastatic human colon cancer cell line. All the tested meroterpenoids inhibited the growth of HT-29 malignant cells and were less toxic towards non-cancer colon cells, with the AMTs 1 and 5 exhibiting selectivity indexes of 5.26 and 5.23, respectively. Treatment of HT-29 cells with the AMTs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and, in some instances, apoptosis (compounds 2, 3, and 5). Compounds 1-8 also exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the migration and/or invasion of colon cancer cells. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that the AMTs 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 reduced phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the AMTs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 decreased phosphorylation of c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, the AMTs 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 inhibited phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B (AKT) in colon carcinoma cells. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms and functions of the meroterpenoids of C. usneoides, which exhibit an anticancer effect on HT-29 colon cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via the downregulation of ERK/JNK/AKT signaling pathways.

Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Studies on Fruit-Skin Ethanol Extract of Annona muricata

Uncontrolled cell proliferation hallmarks cancer and most cancer cells have developed multiple resistance to the drugs employed for their treatment. The study examined the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of the fruit-skin ethanol extract of Annona muricata Linn. (ESA) and its effect on rat liver mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MMPT). Qualitative phytochemical study and antioxidant assays were carried out following established protocols while the opening of the MMPT pore in the presence of varying concentrations of the extract was assayed spectrophotometrically under succinate-energized conditions. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and spermine were used to trigger and inhibit pore opening respectively. Cytochrome c release was assayed for using ELISA kit. Terpenoids, steroids, phenols among other phytochemicals were found present in ESA and the extract showed very low antioxidant properties at the tested concentrations based on the diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay. Lipid peroxidation was induced in a concentration-dependent manner on both the cytosolic and mitochondrial hepatocyte fractions in vitro. In the absence of CaCl₂ 0.84 mg/mL concentration of ESA induced MMPT pore opening by 129% while the extracts showed no inhibitory activity in its presence. The induction fold corresponded with the concentrations of cytochrome c released. The fruit-skin ethanol extract of Annona muricata at certain concentrations may possibly contain bioactive compounds that induce apoptosis.

Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Colon Cancer

The standard treatment for cancer is generally based on using cytotoxic drugs, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. However, the use of traditional treatments has received attention in recent years. The aim of the present work was to provide an overview of medicinal plants effective on colon cancer with special emphasis on bioactive components and underlying mechanisms of action. Various literature databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, were used and English language articles were considered. Based on literature search, 172 experimental studies and 71 clinical cases on 190 plants were included. The results indicate that grape, soybean, green tea, garlic, olive, and pomegranate are the most effective plants against colon cancer. In these studies, fruits, seeds, leaves, and plant roots were used for in vitro and in vivo models. Various anticolon cancer mechanisms of these medicinal plants include induction of superoxide dismutase, reduction of DNA oxidation, induction of apoptosis by inducing a cell cycle arrest in S phase, reducing the expression of PI3K, P-Akt protein, and MMP as well; reduction of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin B1 and cyclin E. Plant compounds also increase both the expression of the cell cycle inhibitors p53, p21, and p27, and the BAD, Bax, caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 8, and caspase 9 proteins levels. In fact, purification of herbal compounds and demonstration of their efficacy in appropriate in vivo models, as well as clinical studies, may lead to alternative and effective ways of controlling and treating colon cancer.

The potency of chitosan-based Pinus merkusii bark extract nanoparticles as anti-cancer on HeLa cell lines

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Cervical cancer accounts for the fourth as a cause of death from cancer in women worldwide, with more than 85% of events and deaths occurring in developing countries. The main problems of chemotherapy are the lack of selectivity and drug resistance. This study aimed to investigate the signal transduction of chitosan-based Pinus merkusii bark extract nanoparticles (Nano-PMBE) as an anticancer on HeLa cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nano-PMBE was prepared based on the ionic gelation method. Its anticancer activities in HeLa cells were investigated through cytotoxicity test, cell cycle, and apoptosis analysis. The expression of p53 and caspase-9 was also observed.

RESULTS

The results showed that Nano-PMBE has a size of 394.3 nm. Meanwhile, the Nano-PMBE was cytotoxic to HeLa cells (IC50 of 384.10 µg/ml), caused G0/G1 phase arrest and cell apoptosis in HeLa cells. Besides, the expression of p53 and caspase-9 has increased.

CONCLUSION

The results showed a notable anticancer effect of Nano-PMBE by arresting the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis in HeLa cells, suggesting that it might have therapeutic potential for cervical cancer. Further research is needed to find out more about the anticancer mechanism of Nano-PMBE in HeLa cells to in vivo and clinical studies.

Increased Intestinal Absorption of Vitamin U in Steamed Graviola Leaf Extract Activates Nicotine Detoxification

Graviola leaves contain much vitamin U (vit U), but their sensory quality is not good enough for them to be developed as food ingredients. Addition of excipient natural ingredients formulated alongside vit U as active ingredients could enhance not only its sensory quality but also its bioavailability. The objectives of this study were to measure the bioaccessibility and intestinal cellular uptake of bioactive components, including rutin, kaempferol-rutinoside, and vit U, from steamed extract of graviola leaves (SGV) and SGV enriched with kale extract (SGK), and to examine how much they can detoxify nicotine in HepG2 cells. The bioaccessibility of vit U from SGV and SGK was 82.40% and 68.03%, respectively. The cellular uptake of vit U in SGK by Caco-2 cells was higher than that in SGV. Cotinine content converted from nicotine in HepG2 cells for 120 min was 0.22 and 0.25 μg/mg protein in 50 μg/mL of SGV and SGK, respectively, which were 2.86 and 3.57 times higher than the no-treatment control. SGK treatment of HepG2 cells upregulated CYP2A6 three times as much as did that of SGV. Our results suggest that graviola leaf extract enriched with excipient ingredients such as kale could improve vit U absorption and provide a natural therapy for detoxifying nicotine.

Antiproliferative activity of ionic liquid-graviola fruit extract against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines using flow cytometry techniques

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Medicinal plants have been used for ages by indigenous communities around the world to help humankind sustain its health. Graviola (Annona muricata), also called soursop, is a member of the Annonaceae family and is an evergreen plant that is generally distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Graviola tree has a long history of traditional use due to its therapeutic potential including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, insecticide and cytotoxic to tumor cells.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antiproliferative effects and apoptotic events of the ionic liquid extract of Graviola fruit (IL-GFE) on MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their cytokinetics behaviour to observe their potential as a therapeutic alternative in cancer treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cell viability assay of the extract was measured using tetrazolium bromide (MTT assay) to observe the effects of Graviola fruit extract. Then the cytokinetics behaviour of MCF-7 cells treated with IL-GFE is observed by plotting the growth curve of the cells. Additionally, the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis mechanism of IL-GFE action on MCF-7 cancer cells were observed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

IL-GFE exhibited anti-proliferative activity on MCF-7 with the IC50 value of 4.75 μg/mL, compared to Taxol with an IC50 value of 0.99 μg/mL. IL- GFE also reduced the number of cell generations from 3.71 to 1.67 generations compared to 2.18 generations when treated with Taxol. Furthermore, the anti-proliferative activities were verified when the growth rate was decreased dynamically from 0.0077 h to 1 to 0.0035 h-1. Observation of the IL-GFE-treated MCF-7 under microscope demonstrated detachment of cells and loss of density. The growth inhibition of the cells by extracts was associated with cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, and phosphatidylserine externalisation confirms the anti-proliferation through apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

ionic liquid Graviola fruit extract affect the cytokinetics behaviour of MCF-7 cells by reducing cell viability, induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase.

Graviola attenuates DMBA-induced breast cancer possibly through augmenting apoptosis and antioxidant pathway and downregulating estrogen receptors

Breast cancer is a global public health problem where it is the second most prevalent cancer. Historical cancer treatment with graviola has been reported. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of graviola on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat breast cancer. Fifty female Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: control group (gastro-gavaged by sesame oil), DMBA-treated group (gastro-gavaged a single dose of DMBA [50 mg/kg body mass, diluted in 1 ml sesame oil]) at the age 57 days, DMBA+G37-treated group (gastro-gavaged a single dose of DMBA [50 mg/kg body mass, diluted in 1 ml sesame oil]) at the age of 57 days plus graviola (200 mg/kg body mass) two times weekly (p.o.) at the age of 37 days till the end of the experiment, and DMBA+G57-treated group (received a single dose of DMBA [50 mg/kg body mass, diluted in 1 ml sesame oil]) plus graviola (200 mg/kg body mass) two times weekly at the age of 57 days until the end of the experiment. After the 30-week experimental period, blood samples were collected. Then, animals were sacrificed to determine the apoptotic indices, antioxidant status, and mammary gland tumor marker (CA 15-3). The DMBA upregulated the expression of one of the main anti-apoptotic genes: B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (BCL2) and estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) gene. Moreover, it significantly increased breast lipid peroxidation and serum CA 15-3 but decreased breast antioxidant enzymatic activities (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase). Nevertheless, administration of DMBA and graviola especially DMBA+G37 induced apoptosis through at least 1.5-fold in gene expression levels of pro-apoptotic genes: BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), tumor suppressor gene (P53), and cysteinyl-aspartic acid-protease-3 (caspase-3). A critical role of P53 in the regulation of the BCL2 and BAX has been reported. These proteins can determine if the cell undergoes apoptosis or cancels the process. Once the BAX gene activates caspase-3, there is no irreversible way toward cell death. Also, graviola ameliorated the DMBA effects on antioxidant enzymatic activities and tumor marker CA 15-3. This study concludes that graviola ameliorated DMBA-induced breast cancer potentially through upregulating apoptotic genes, downregulating the ER-α gene, increasing antioxidants, and decreasing lipid peroxidation levels.

Are polyphenol antioxidants at the root of medicinal plant anti-cancer success?

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Given the severe side effects associated with most of the conventional cancer medications, as well as the expanding body of evidence indicating secondary toxicity of these drugs, individuals with cancer are increasingly turning to natural alternatives. Similarly, the pharmaceutical industry is in search of natural products to treat cancer. An understanding of the specific active components in plant products with which anti-cancer efficacy is achieved is required for this research to move forward.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To integrate data from cancer-relatestudies on plant-derived products or extracts, to elucidate whether these products may have similar active ingredients and/or mechanisms of action, that can explain their efficacy. This review also includes a discussion of the methodological complexities and important considerations involved in accurate isolation and characterisation of active substances from plant material.

CONCLUSIONS

From the literature reviewed, most plant products with consistently reported anti-cancer efficacy contains high levels of polyphenols or other potent antioxidants and their mechanisms of action correlate to that reported for isolated antioxidants in the context of cancer. This suggests that natural products may indeed become the panacea against this chronic disease - either as therapeutic medicine strategy or to serve as templates for the design of novel synthetic drugs. The recommendation is made that antioxidant activity of plant actives and especially polyphenols, should be the focus of anti-cancer drug discovery initiatives. Lastly, researchers are advised to exploit current techniques of chemical compound characterisation when investigating polyphenol-rich plants to enable the easy consolidation of research findings from different laboratories.