Antineoplastic effects of deoxypodophyllotoxin, a potent cytotoxic agent of plant origin, on glioblastoma U-87 MG and SF126 cells

Paraben preservatives exhibit inhibition on human and rat steroid 5α-reductase 1: A comprehensive 3D-QSAR and computational analysis

Parabens are preservatives used in personal care products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Steroid 5α-reductase 1 (SRD5A1) catalyzes the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and is present in the brain, contributing to neurosteroid production. This study aimed to assess the effects of nine paraben preservatives on SRD5A1 in human SF126 glioblastoma cell and rat brain microsomes, particularly focusing on dihydrotestosterone production in SF126 cells. The results showed that methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, heptyl, nonyl, phenyl, and benzyl paraben inhibited human SRD5A1, with nonylparaben having the strongest effect (7.59 μM). Additionally, kinetic analysis indicated that parabens acted as mixed/noncompetitive inhibitors, leading to a significant decrease in dihydrotestosterone production in SF126 cells. While rat SRD5A1 exhibited lower sensitivity to parabens, docking analysis revealed that parabens bind to the NADPH-binding site of both human and rat SRD5A1. In conclusion, these results highlight the inhibitory effects of paraben preservatives on SRD5A1 and elucidate their binding mechanisms, underscoring their role in hormone production.

The Emerging Role of Natural Products in Cancer Treatment

The exploration of natural products as potential agents for cancer treatment has garnered significant attention in recent years. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the diverse array of natural compounds, including alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, lignans, polyketides, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids, highlighting their emerging roles in cancer therapy. These compounds, derived from various botanical sources, exhibit a wide range of mechanisms of action, targeting critical pathways involved in cancer progression such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Through a meticulous examination of preclinical and clinical studies, we provide insights into the therapeutic potential of these natural products across different cancer types. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages and challenges associated with their use in cancer treatment, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize their efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and delivery methods. Overall, this review underscores the importance of natural products in advancing cancer therapeutics and paves the way for future investigations into their clinical applications.

Anthriscus sylvestris-Noxious Weed or Sustainable Source of Bioactive Lignans?

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. (Apiaceae), commonly known as wild chervil, has gained scientific interest owing to its diverse phytochemical profile and potential therapeutic applications. The plant, despite being categorized as a noxious weed, is traditionally used in treating various conditions like headaches, dressing wounds, and as a tonic, antitussive, antipyretic, analgesic, and diuretic. Its pharmacological importance stems from containing diverse bioactive lignans, especially aryltetralins and dibenzylbutyrolactones. One of the main compounds of A. sylvestris, deoxypodophyllotoxin, among its wide-ranging effects, including antitumor, antiproliferative, antiplatelet aggregation, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and insecticidal properties, serves as a pivotal precursor to epipodophyllotoxin, crucial in the semisynthesis of cytostatic agents like etoposide and teniposide. The main starting compound for these anticancer medicines was podophyllotoxin, intensively isolated from Sinopodophyllum hexandrum, now listed as an endangered species due to overexploitation. Since new species are being investigated as potential sources, A. sylvestris emerges as a highly promising candidate owing to its abundant lignan content. This review summarizes the current knowledge on A. sylvestris, investigating its biological and morphological characteristics, and pharmacological properties. Emphasizing the biological activities and structure-activity relationship, this review underscores its therapeutic potential, thus encouraging further exploration and utilization of this valuable plant resource.

Mining Therapeutic Efficacy from Treasure Chest of Biodiversity and Chemodiversity: Pharmacophylogeny of Ranunculales Medicinal Plants

Ranunculales, comprising of 7 families that are rich in medicinal species frequently utilized by traditional medicine and ethnomedicine, represents a treasure chest of biodiversity and chemodiversity. The phylogenetically related species often have similar chemical profile, which makes them often possess similar therapeutic spectrum. This has been validated by both ethnomedicinal experiences and pharmacological investigations. This paper summarizes molecular phylogeny, chemical constituents, and therapeutic applications of Ranunculales, i.e., a pharmacophylogeny study of this representative medicinal order. The phytochemistry/metabolome, ethnomedicine and bioactivity/pharmacology data are incorporated within the phylogenetic framework of Ranunculales. The most studied compounds of this order include benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, flavonoid, terpenoid, saponin and lignan, etc. Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids are especially abundant in Berberidaceae and Menispermaceae. The most frequent ethnomedicinal uses are arthritis, heat-clearing and detoxification, carbuncle-abscess and sore-toxin. The most studied bioactivities are anticancer/cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, etc. The pharmacophylogeny analysis, integrated with both traditional and modern medicinal uses, agrees with the molecular phylogeny based on chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences, in which Ranunculales is divided into Ranunculaceae, Berberidaceae, Menispermaceae, Lardizabalaceae, Circaeasteraceae, Papaveraceae, and Eupteleaceae families. Chemical constituents and therapeutic efficacy of each taxonomic group are reviewed and the underlying connection between phylogeny, chemodiversity and clinical uses is revealed, which facilitate the conservation and sustainable utilization of Ranunculales pharmaceutical resources, as well as developing novel plant-based pharmacotherapy.

Natural Products as Anticancer Agents: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Natural products have been an invaluable and useful source of anticancer agents over the years. Several compounds have been synthesized from natural products by modifying their structures or by using naturally occurring compounds as building blocks in the synthesis of these compounds for various purposes in different fields, such as biology, medicine, and engineering. Multiple modern and costly treatments have been applied to combat cancer and limit its lethality, but the results are not significantly refreshing. Natural products, which are a significant source of new therapeutic drugs, are currently being investigated as potential cytotoxic agents and have shown a positive trend in preclinical research and have prompted numerous innovative strategies in order to combat cancer and expedite the clinical research. Natural products are becoming increasingly important for drug discovery due to their high molecular diversity and novel biofunctionality. Furthermore, natural products can provide superior efficacy and safety due to their unique molecular properties. The objective of the current review is to provide an overview of the emergence of natural products for the treatment and prevention of cancer, such as chemosensitizers, immunotherapeutics, combinatorial therapies with other anticancer drugs, novel formulations of natural products, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their anticancer properties.

Juniperus sabina L. as a Source of Podophyllotoxins: Extraction Optimization and Anticholinesterase Activities

Juniperus sabina L. (J. sabina) has been an important plant in traditional medicine since ancient times. Its needles are rich in podophyllotoxin, a precursor compound to anti-tumor drugs. However, no systematic research has been done on J. sabina as a source of podophyllotoxins or their biological action. Hence, extracts of podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin were the main optimization targets using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). The total phenol content and antioxidant activity of J. sabina needle extract were also optimized. Under the optimal process conditions (ratio of material to liquid (RLM) 1:40, 90% methanol, and ultrasonic time 7 min), the podophyllotoxin extraction rate was 7.51 mg/g DW, the highest level reported for Juniperus spp. distributed in China. To evaluate its biological potential, the neuroprotective acetyl- and butyrylcholinease (AChE and BChE) inhibitory abilities were tested. The needle extract exhibited significant anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity (520.15 mg GALE/g extract), which correlated well with the high levels of podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin. This study shows the potential medicinal value of J. sabina needles.

A comprehensive insight into the antineoplastic activities and molecular mechanisms of deoxypodophyllotoxin: Recent trends, challenges, and future outlook

Lignans constitute an important group of polyphenols, which have been demonstrated to potently suppress cancer cell proliferation. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that deoxypodophyllotoxin as a natural lignan possesses potent anticancer activities against various types of human cancer. The purpose of current review is to provide the reader with the latest findings in understanding the anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of deoxypodophyllotoxin. This review comprehensively describes the influence of deoxypodophyllotoxin on signaling cascades and molecular targets implicated in cancer cell proliferation and invasion. A number of various signaling molecules and pathways, including apoptosis, necroptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, vascular disruption, ROS, MMPs, glycolysis, and microtubules as well as NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and MAPK cascades have been reported to be responsible for the anticancer activities of deoxypodophyllotoxin. The results of present review suggest that the cyclolignan deoxypodophyllotoxin can be developed as a novel and potent anticancer agent, especially as an alternative option for treatment of resistant tumors to chemotherapy.

Medicinal Plants for Glioblastoma Treatment

Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, demonstrates the least life expectancy among all brain cancers. Because of the regulation of diverse signaling pathways in cancers, the chemotherapeutic approaches used to suppress their multiplication and spreading are restricted. Sensitivity towards chemotherapeutic agents has developed because of the pathological and drug-evading abilities of these diverse mechanisms. As a result, the identification and exploration of strategies or treatments, which can overcome such refractory obstacles to improve glioblastoma response to treatment as well as recovery, is essential. Medicinal herbs contain a wide variety of bioactive compounds, which could trigger aggressive brain cancers, regulate their anti-cancer mechanisms and immune responses to assist in cancer elimination, and cause cell death. Numerous tumor-causing proteins, which facilitate invasion as well as metastasis of cancer, tolerance of chemotherapies, and angiogenesis, are also inhibited by these phytochemicals. Such herbs remain valuable for glioblastoma prevention and its incidence by effectively being used as anti-glioma therapies. This review thus presents the latest findings on medicinal plants using which the extracts or bioactive components are being used against glioblastoma, their mechanism of functioning, pharmacological description as well as recent clinical studies conducted on them.

Molecular Docking Approach of Natural Compound from Herbal Medicine in Java against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Receptor

Indonesia's diversity of natural resources presents an intriguing opportunity for the exploration of potential herbal medicines. Numerous compounds, both purified and crude, have been reported to exhibit antiviral activity. The ACE-2 receptor may be a therapeutic target for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used a search engine to search for herbal medicines with ACE-2 inhibitory activity to predict the potential inhibition of natural compounds (i.e., theaflavin, deoxypodophyllotoxin, gallocatechin, allicin, quercetin, annonamine, Curcumin, 6-gingerol, and cucurbitacin B) to SARS-CoV2 – ACE-2 complex. We performed molecular docking analysis using the ACE-2 protein target from Protein Data Bank. Protein stabilization was carried out to adjust to the body's physiology, carried out using Pymol by removing water atoms and adding hydrogen atoms. Ligands of active compounds from natural resources were selected and downloaded from the PubChem database, then optimized by Pymol software. The complexes of the tested ligand compounds and ACE-2 receptors, which have a bond strength smaller than the control were selected for analysis.  Theaflavin, Deoxypodophyllotoxin, Gallocatechin, Curcumin, and Cucurbitacin B had a strong bond affinity than the control ligands. Based on our data, deoxypodophylotoxin and Curcumin had the same interaction amino acid residus compare to the control ligand. This study concludes that deoxypodophyllotoxin and Curcumin have the greatest potential to inhibit the formation of the SARS-Cov2-ACE-2 complex; additionally, these compounds exhibit favorable pharmacological and pharmacodynamic properties. It is suggested that additional research be conducted to determine the biological effects of deoxypodopyllotoxin and Curcumin on ACE-2 receptors.

Dysosma versipellis Extract Inhibits Esophageal Cancer Progression through the Wnt Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of Dysosma versipellis extract on biological behavior of esophageal cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

A total of 30 BALB/C nude mice (class SPF) were equally and randomly divided into the control group, model group, and Dysosma versipellis group. CP-C cell of esophageal cancer was subcutaneously injected into the model group as well as the Dysosma versipellis group, and the same amount of normal saline into the control group, in order to compare the tumorigenesis of nude mice of three groups. Wnt, β-catenin, and p-GSK3β/GSK3β expression in tumor tissues was detected using Western blot. CP-C cells in logarithmic growth were selected and divided into 4 groups, including the control group, podophyllotoxin group, Wnt activator group, and combined group (mixture of podophyllotoxin and Wnt activator). The cell viability, apoptosis, and invasion ability, Wnt, β-catenin, and p-GSK3β/GSK3β expression level of CP-C cells in each group were detected via MTT assay, flow cytometry, transwell, and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

The tumorigenesis rates of the control group, model group, and Dysosma versipellis group were 0%, 90% (1 tumor-free mouse), and 80% (2 tumor-free mice), respectively. The tumor mass in the Dysosma versipellis group was significant less than that in the model group. Based on the results of Western blot, Wnt, ß-catenin, and p-GSK3β/GSK3β expression of the Dysosma versipellis group was lower than that of the control group. The in vitro viability test indicated that there was a significant difference in cell viability exhibited among four groups. Cell viability level in the 3 groups, including the combined group, blank group, and Wnt activator group, was higher than the podophyllotoxin group at each time point. In vitro apoptosis assay revealed that significant differences in cell apoptosis exhibited among four groups. Cell apoptosis rate was higher in the podophyllotoxin group compared to the remaining three groups. The Wnt activator group showed the lowest cell apoptosis rate. The in vitro invasion assay demonstrated that numbers of transmembrane cell in the 3 groups, involving the combined group, blank group, and Wnt activator group, showed a higher level than the podophyllotoxin group. The results of Western blot manifested that the podophyllotoxin group showed lower level of Wnt, ß-catenin, and p-GSK3β/GSK3β expression compared to the other 3 groups.

CONCLUSION

Podophyllotoxin in Dysosma versipellis has an excellent antiesophageal cancer effect and is able to inhibit cell viability as well as invasion ability and promote apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway, which could be potentially used in future clinical treatment of esophageal cancer.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin Inhibits Cell Growth and Induces Apoptosis by Blocking EGFR and MET in Gefitinib-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

As one of the major types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Treatments for NSCLC includes surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Among the targeted therapies, resistance to inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is common and remains a problem to be solved. MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) amplification is one of the major causes of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. Therefore, there exists a need to find new and more efficacious therapies. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) extracted from Anthriscus sylvestris roots exhibits various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects. In this study we sought to determine the anti-cancer effects of DPT on HCC827GR cells, which are resistant to gefitinib (EGFR-TKI) due to regulation of EGFR and MET and their related signaling pathways. To identify the direct binding of DPT to EGFR and MET, we performed pull-down, ATP-binding, and kinase assays. DPT exhibited competitive binding with ATP against the network kinases EGFR and MET and reduced their activities. Also, DPT suppressed the expression of p-EGFR and p-MET as well as their downstreat proteins p-ErbB3, p-AKT, and p-ERK. The treatment of HCC827GR cells with DPT induced high ROS generation that led to endoplasmic-reticulum stress. Accordingly, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis by multi-caspase activation were observed. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the apoptotic effects of DPT on HCC827GR cells and signify the potential of DPT to serve as an adjuvant anti-cancer drug by simultaneously inhibiting EGFR and MET.

Derivatives of Deoxypodophyllotoxin Induce Apoptosis through Bcl-2/Bax Proteins Expression

BACKGROUND

Deoxypodophyllotoxin, isolated from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Anthriscus sylvestris, is well-known because of its significant anti-tumor activity with strong toxicity in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, a series of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized and their anti-tumor effectiveness was evaluated.

METHODS

The anti-tumor activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives was investigated by the MTT assay method. Apoptosis percentage was measured by flow cytometer analysis using Annexin-V-FITC.

RESULTS

The derivatives revealed obvious cytotoxicity in the MTT assay by decreasing the number of late cancer cells. The decrease of Bcl-2/Bax could be observed in MCF-7, HepG2, HT-29, and MG-63 using Annexin V-FITC. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in the administration group was decreased, which was determined by the ELISA kit.

CONCLUSION

The derivatives of deoxypodophyllotoxin could induce apoptosis in tumor cell lines by influencing Bcl-2/Bax.

Highly loaded deoxypodophyllotoxin nano-formulation delivered by methoxy polyethylene glycol-block-poly (D,L-lactide) micelles for efficient cancer therapy

Cancer is a kind of malignant diseases that threatens human health and the research application of anti-tumor drug therapeutics is growingly always been focused on. Many new compounds with great anticancer activity were synthesized but cannot be hard to be developed into clinical use due to its poor water solubility. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is just an example. We develop lyophilized Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) loaded polymeric micelles using methoxy polyethylene glycol-block-Poly (D, L-lactide) (mPEG-PLA). DPT-PM freeze-dried powder was successfully prepared using optimized formulation. mPEG-PLA was added to hydration media before hydrating as cryoprotectants. The freeze-dried powder exhibited white pie-solid without collapsing, and the particle size of DPT-PM reconstituted with water was about 20-35 nm. The entrapment efficiency of the reconstituted solution was 98%, which shows no differences with the micelles before lyophilization. In-vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies showed that DPT-PM has a higher degree of cytotoxicity comparing with DPT and mPEG-PLA micelles and uptake of mPEG-PLA was concentration and time-dependent. In vivo characterization of DPT-PM was done for pharmacokinetics behaviors, antitumor activity and safety. The obtained results showed significant improvement in plasma clearance bioavailability (p <0.05) and prolonged blood circulation time comparing with DPT-HP-β-CD. Moreover, mPEG-PLA micelles had a better degree of anti-tumor efficacy, this was due to better accumulation of mPEG-PLA in tumor cell via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Therefore, DPT-PM has great clinical value, and can be expected to be a novel antitumor preparation.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin Exerts Anti-Cancer Effects on Colorectal Cancer Cells Through Induction of Apoptosis and Suppression of Tumorigenesis

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is a cyclolignan compound that exerts anti-cancer effects against various types of cancers. DPT induces apoptosis and inhibits the growth of breast, brain, prostate, gastric, lung, and cervical tumors. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of DPT on cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, and tumorigenesis of three colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines: HT29, DLD1, and Caco2. DPT inhibited the proliferation of these cells. Specifically, the compound-induced mitotic arrest in CRC cells by destabilizing microtubules and activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway via regulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins (increasing Bcl-2 associated X (BAX) and decreasing B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xL)) ultimately led to caspase-mediated apoptosis. In addition, DPT inhibited tumorigenesis in vitro, and in vivo skin xenograft experiments revealed that DPT significantly decreased tumor size and tumor weight. Taken together, our results suggest DPT to be a potent compound that is suitable for further exploration as a novel chemotherapeutic for human CRC.

Optimization and characterization of deoxypodophyllotoxin loaded mPEG-PDLLA micelles by central composite design with response surface methodology

The therapeutic application of deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is limited due to its poor water solubility and stability. In the present study, the micelles assembled by the amphiphilic block copolymers (mPEG-PDLLA) were constructed to improve the solubility and safety of DPT for their in vitro and in vivo application. The central composite design was utilized to develop the optimal formulation composed of 1221.41 mg mPEG-PDLLA, the weight ratio of 1 : 4 (mPEG-PDLLA : DPT), 30 mL hydration volume and the hydration temperature at 40 °C. The results showed that the micelles exhibited uniformly spherical shape with the diameter of 20 nm. The drug-loading and entrapment efficiency of deoxypodophyllotoxin-polymeric micelles (DPT-PM) were about (20 ± 2.84)% and (98 ± 0.79)%, respectively, indicating that the mathematical models predicted well for the results. Compared to the free DPT, the cytotoxicity showed that blank micelles possessed great safety for Hela cells. In addition, the DPT loaded micelle formulation achieved stronger cytotoxicity at the concentration of 1 × 10^-7 mol·L^-1, which showed significant difference from free DPT (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the micelles were highly promising nano-carriers for the anti-tumor therapy with DPT.

An Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review on Lignans from Mexican Bursera spp

The genus Bursera belongs to the family Burseraceae and has been used in traditional Mexican medicine for treating various pathophysiological disorders. The most representative phytochemicals isolated from this genus are terpenoids and lignans. Lignans are phenolic metabolites known for their antioxidant, apoptotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-protozoal properties. Though the genus includes more than 100 species, we have attempted to summarize the biological activities of the 34 lignans isolated from selected Mexican Bursera plants.

The Current Status of the Pharmaceutical Potential of Juniperus L. Metabolites

Background: Plants and their derived natural compounds possess various biological and therapeutic properties, which turns them into an increasing topic of interest and research. Juniperus genus is diverse in species, with several traditional medicines reported, and rich in natural compounds with potential for development of new drugs. Methods: The research for this review were based in the Scopus and Web of Science databases using terms combining Juniperus, secondary metabolites names, and biological activities. This is not an exhaustive review of Juniperus compounds with biological activities, but rather a critical selection taking into account the following criteria: (i) studies involving the most recent methodologies for quantitative evaluation of biological activities; and (ii) the compounds with the highest number of studies published in the last four years. Results: From Juniperus species, several diterpenes, flavonoids, and one lignan were emphasized taking into account their level of activity against several targets. Antitumor activity is by far the most studied, being followed by antibacterial and antiviral activities. Deoxypodophyllotoxin and one dehydroabietic acid derivative appears to be the most promising lead compounds. Conclusions: This review demonstrates the Juniperus species value as a source of secondary metabolites with relevant pharmaceutical potential.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), a naturally occurring flavolignan, has a broad range of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anticancer properties. The present study investigated the anti-proliferative effect of DPT on human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 and RBE cell lines and its underlying mechanisms of inducing cytotoxicity. MTT assays demonstrated that DPT inhibited the viability of the QBC939 and RBE cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. In addition, DPT treatment resulted in G2/M phase cell cycle arrest associated with the downregulation of Cyclin B and cyclin dependent kinase 1 and caused an increase in apoptosis that was confirmed by characteristic morphological changes. Apoptosis was accompanied by increasing B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 associated X protein ratios and activated expression of caspase-3, -8 and -9. These findings suggested that DPT may be a novel anticancer agent against human cholangiocarcinoma.

Natural products: a hope for glioblastoma patients

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumors with an overall dismal survival averaging one year despite multimodality therapeutic interventions including surgery, radiotherapy and concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy. Few drugs are FDA approved for GBM, and the addition of temozolomide (TMZ) to standard therapy increases the median survival by only 2.5 months. Targeted therapy appeared promising in in vitro monolayer cultures, but disappointed in preclinical and clinical trials, partly due to the poor penetration of drugs through the blood brain barrier (BBB). Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have intrinsic resistance to initial chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and acquire further resistance via deregulation of many signaling pathways. Due to the failure of classical chemotherapies and targeted drugs, research efforts focusing on the use of less toxic agents have increased. Interestingly, multiple natural compounds have shown antitumor and apoptotic effects in TMZ resistant and p53 mutant GBM cell lines and also displayed synergistic effects with TMZ. In this review, we have summarized the current literature on natural products or product analogs used to modulate the BBB permeability, induce cell death, eradicate CSCs and sensitize GBM to CRT.

Review of Natural Product-Derived Compounds as Potent Antiglioblastoma Drugs

Common care for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide- (TMZ-) based chemotherapy. Unfortunately, these therapies remain inadequate involving severe mortality and recurrence. Recently, new approaches discovering combinations of multiple inhibitors have been proposed along with the identification of key driver mutations that are specific to each patient. To date, this approach is still limited by the lack of effective therapy. Hopefully, novel compounds derived from natural products are suggested as potential solutions. Inhibitory effects of natural products on angiogenesis and metastasis and cancer suppressive effect of altering miRNA expression are provident discoveries. Angelica sinensis accelerates apoptosis by their key substances influencing factors of apoptosis pathways. Brazilin displays antitumor features by making influence on reactive oxygen species (ROS) intensity. Sargassum serratifolium, flavonoids, and so on have antimetastasis effect. Ficus carica controls miRNA that inhibits translation of certain secretory pathway proteins during the UPR. Serratia marcescens and patupilone (EPO 906) are physically assessed materials through clinical trials related to GBM progression. Consequently, our review puts emphasis on the potential of natural products in GBM treatment by regulating multiple malignant cancer-related pathway solving pending problem such as reducing toxicity and side effect.

Distinct Brain and Behavioral Benefits from Cognitive vs. Physical Training: A Randomized Trial in Aging Adults

Insidious declines in normal aging are well-established. Emerging evidence suggests that non-pharmacological interventions, specifically cognitive and physical training, may counter diminishing age-related cognitive and brain functions. This randomized trial compared effects of two training protocols: cognitive training (CT) vs. physical training (PT) on cognition and brain function in adults 56-75 years. Sedentary participants (N = 36) were randomized to either CT or PT group for 3 h/week over 12 weeks. They were assessed at baseline-, mid-, and post-training using neurocognitive, MRI, and physiological measures. The CT group improved on executive function whereas PT group's memory was enhanced. Uniquely deploying cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral vascular reactivity (CVR) MRI, the CT cohort showed increased CBF within the prefrontal and middle/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) without change to CVR compared to PT group. Improvements in complex abstraction were positively associated with increased resting CBF in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Exercisers with higher CBF in hippocampi bilaterally showed better immediate memory. The preliminary evidence indicates that increased cognitive and physical activity improves brain health in distinct ways. Reasoning training enhanced frontal networks shown to be integral to top-down cognitive control and brain resilience. Evidence of increased resting CBF without changes to CVR implicates increased neural health rather than improved vascular response. Exercise did not improve cerebrovascular response, although CBF increased in hippocampi of those with memory gains. Distinct benefits incentivize testing effectiveness of combined protocols to strengthen brain health.

Interspecies differences in metabolism of deoxypodophyllotoxin in hepatic microsomes from human, monkey, rat, mouse and dog

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is a natural lignan product which has drawn much attention due to its pharmacological properties including antitumor effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate interspecies differences in metabolism of DPT in hepatic microsomes from human (HLM), cynomolgus monkey (CyLM), rat (RLM), mouse (MLM) and dog (DLM). Incubation of DPT with hepatic microsomes from five species in the presence of NADPH resulted in formation of seven metabolites, five of which were compared with the synthetic standards. M2 was the most abundant metabolite in microsomes from all species. Rank order of intrinsic clearance for M2 formation was RLM > CyLM > MLM > HLM > DLM. In HLM, sulfaphenazole showed the strongest inhibition effect on M2 formation, but neither ticlopidine nor ketoconazole inhibited M2 formation in HLM. Results from cDNA-expressed human CYP450s experiments showed that clearance of M2 formation was much higher in CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 than that in CYP3A4. Contributions of the three CYP450 isoforms to M2 formation in HLM were estimated using relative activity factor (RAF) method or correction by amount of CYP450 isoforms in HLM. M2 formation in HLM was mainly attributed to CYP2C9, followed by CYP2C19. Involvement of CYP3A4 was minor.

Identification of anti-cancer chemical compounds using Xenopus embryos

Cancer tissues have biological characteristics similar to those observed in embryos during development. Many types of cancer cells acquire pro-invasive ability through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Similar processes (gastrulation and migration of cranial neural crest cells [CNCC]) are observed in the early stages of embryonic development in Xenopus during which cells that originate from epithelial sheets through EMT migrate to their final destinations. The present study examined Xenopus embryonic tissues to identify anti-cancer compounds that prevent cancer invasion. From the initial test of known anti-cancer drugs, AMD3100 (an inhibitor of CXCR4) and paclitaxel (a cytoskeletal drug targeting microtubules) effectively prevented migration during gastrulation or CNCC development. Blind-screening of 100 synthesized chemical compounds was performed, and nine candidates that inhibited migration of these embryonic tissues without embryonic lethality were selected. Of these, C-157 (an analog of podophyllotoxin) and D-572 (which is an indole alkaroid) prevented cancer cell invasion through disruption of interphase microtubules. In addition, these compounds affected progression of mitotic phase and induced apoptosis of SAS oral cancer cells. SAS tumors were reduced in size after intratumoral injection of C-157, and peritoneal dissemination of melanoma cells and intracranial invasion of glioma cells were inhibited by C-157 and D-572. When the other analogues of these chemicals were compared, those with subtle effect on embryos were not tumor suppressive. These results suggest that a novel chemical-screening approach based on Xenopus embryos is an effective method for isolating anti-cancer drugs and, in particular, targeting cancer cell invasion and proliferation.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin triggers parthanatos in glioma cells via induction of excessive ROS

Parthanatos is a new form of programmed cell death that is regulated by hyper-activated PARP-1, and is emerging as a new strategy to kill cancer cells. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is a natural chemical that is found to induce cancer cell death, in which the role of parthanatos is unknown. Thus, we investigated this issue in this study by using glioma cell lines and mice model of xenograft glioma. We found that DPT induced glioma cell death in vitro and inhibited the growth of xenograft glioma in vivo, which was accompanied with parthanatos-related biochemical events including expressional upregulation of PARP-1, cytoplasmic accumulation of PAR polymer, and nuclear translocation of AIF. In vitro study revealed that genetic knockdown of PARP-1 with small interfering RNA attenuated DPT-induced elevation in the cytoplasmic PAR-polymer and the nuclear AIF, as well as protected glioma cells against the toxicity of DPT. Further, antioxidant NAC, as well as PARP-1 inhibitor 3AB, not only alleviated the overproduction of ROS caused by DPT, but also reversed the above-mentioned biochemical events, maintained mitochondrial membrane potential and rescued glioma cells death. Therefore, we demonstrated that deoxypodophyllotoxin triggered parthanatos in glioma cells via induction of excessive ROS.