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Yang K, Shan X, Songru Y, Fu M, Zhao P, Guo W, Xu M, Chen H, Lu R, Zhang C. Network pharmacology integrated with experimental validation to elucidate the mechanisms of action of the Guizhi-Gancao Decoction in the treatment of phenylephrine-induced cardiac hypertrophy. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2024; 62:456-471. [PMID: 38773737 PMCID: PMC11123502 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2024.2354335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT The mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Guizhi-Gancao Decoction (GGD) remain unknown. OBJECTIVE This study explores the mechanisms of GGD against cardiac hypertrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Network pharmacology analysis was carried out to identify the potential targets of GGD. In vivo experiments, C57BL/6J mice were divided into Con, phenylephrine (PE, 10 mg/kg/d), 2-chloroadenosine (CADO, the stable analogue of adenosine, 2 mg/kg/d), GGD (5.4 g/kg/d) and GGD (5.4 g/kg/d) + CGS15943 (a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, 4 mg/kg/d). In vitro experiments, primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM) were divided into Con, PE (100 µM), CADO (5 µM), GGD (10-5 g/mL) and GGD (10-5 g/mL) + CGS15943 (5 µM). Ultrasound, H&E and Masson staining, hypertrophic genes expression and cell surface area were conducted to verify the GGD efficacy. Adenosine receptors (ADORs) expression were tested via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS Network pharmacology identified ADORs among those of the core targets of GGD. In vitro experiments demonstrated that GGD attenuated PE-induced increased surface area (with an EC50 of 5.484 × 10-6 g/mL). In vivo data shown that GGD attenuated PE-induced ventricular wall thickening. In vitro and in vivo data indicated that GGD alleviated PE-induced hypertrophic gene expression (e.g., ANP, BNP and MYH7/MYH6), A1AR over-expression and A2aAR down-expression. Moreover, CADO exerts effects similar to GGD, whereas CGS15943 eliminated most effects of GGD. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest the mechanism by which GGD inhibits cardiac hypertrophy, highlighting regulation of ADORs as a potential therapeutic strategy for HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaijing Yang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoli Shan
- Public Laboratory Platform, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Songru
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengwei Fu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei Zhao
- Public Laboratory Platform, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Pathology, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Physiology, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huihua Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Lu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Cao L, Han K, Fan L, Zhao C, Yin S, Hu H. Glycyrol Alleviates Acute Kidney Injury by Inhibiting Ferroptsis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2458. [PMID: 38473706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical problem with high morbidity and mortality. The discovery of ferroptosis has provided novel insights into the mechanisms underlying AKI and paves the way for developing ferroptosis-based approaches to treat AKI. Glycyrol (GC) is a representative coumarin compound isolated from licorice that demonstrates various pharmacological activities. However, its potential for a protective effect against kidney injury remains unknown. We hypothesized that GC might be able to protect against AKI via suppression of ferroptosis. This hypothesis was tested in a cell-culture model of RSL3-induced nephrocyte ferroptosis and a mouse model of folic acid-induced AKI. The results showed that GC exerted a significant protective effect against nephrocyte ferroptosis in vitro and was effective against folic acid-induced AKI in vivo, where it was mechanistically associated with suppressing HO-1-mediated heme degradation. Collectively, the findings of the present study support the hypothesis that GC holds considerable potential to be developed as a novel agent for treating ferroptosis-related AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixing Cao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Kai Han
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lihong Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shutao Yin
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hongbo Hu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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Lu S, Xu J, Xu Y, Liu Y, Shi D, Wang J, Qiu F. Glycyrol attenuates colon injury via promotion of SQSTM1/p62 ubiquitination and autophagy by inhibiting the ubiquitin-specific protease USP8. J Funct Foods 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2023.105492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
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Zhao S, Cui J, Cao L, Han K, Ma X, Chen H, Yin S, Zhao C, Ma C, Hu H. Xanthohumol inhibits non-small cell lung cancer via directly targeting T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase. Phytother Res 2023. [PMID: 36882184 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Xanthohumol is a principal prenylated chalcone isolated from hops. Previous studies have shown that xanthohumol was effective against various types of cancer, but the mechanisms, especially the direct targets for xanthohumol to exert an anticancer effect, remain elusive. Overexpression of T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) promotes tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis, implying the likely potential for targeting TOPK in cancer prevention and treatment. In the present study, we found that xanthohumol significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in vivo, which is well correlated with inactivating TOPK, evidenced by reduced phosphorylation of TOPK and its downstream signaling histone H3 and Akt, and decreased its kinase activity. Moreover, molecular docking and biomolecular interaction analysis showed that xanthohumol was able to directly bind to the TOPK protein, suggesting that TOPK inactivation by xanthohumol is attributed to its ability to directly interact with TOPK. The findings of the present study identified TOPK as a direct target for xanthohumol to exert its anticancer activity, revealing novel insight into the mechanisms underlying the anticancer activity of xanthohumol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinling Cui
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lixing Cao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Han
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Ma
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Chen
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shutao Yin
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Changwei Ma
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbo Hu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Cheng L, Deng Y, An L, Zhang Y, Liu H, Wu X, Wang T, Yang X, Ye L. Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for detection of glycyrol in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study. Biomed Chromatogr 2023; 37:e5532. [PMID: 36269043 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is one of the most popular edible and medicinal plants and is widely used in Asia. Glycyrol (GC) is a major coumarin present in licorice that exhibits various biological activities. We aimed to develop a highly sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry method for the quantitative determination analysis of GC in rat plasma. GC showed linear calibration ranges of 1-100 and 50-2,000 ng/ml with correlation coefficients >0.99. The average extraction recovery ranged from 113.26 to 114.84%, and the relative standard deviation of internal standard normalized matrix factors ranged from 6.36 to 9.46%. The intra-day and inter-day precisions of GC were <15%, and the accuracy ranged from 95.31 to 112.72%. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that GC was distributed in the body with a volume of distribution of 9.06 L/kg, and the initial plasma concentration was 3275.11 ng/ml. The area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve was 479.25 ng h/ml. It was rapidly eliminated with a terminal elimination half-life of 1.47 h and a clearance rate of 4.24 L/h/kg. The pharmacokinetic results can help us to better understand the pharmacological effects of GC in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, the First People's Hospital of Bijie, Bijie, China
| | - Yan Deng
- Department of Pharmacy, the First People's Hospital of Bijie, Bijie, China
| | - Liqun An
- Anshun Technical College, Anshun, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Zunyi Medicinal University, Zunyi, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, the First People's Hospital of Bijie, Bijie, China
| | - Xinyu Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, the First People's Hospital of Bijie, Bijie, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, the First People's Hospital of Bijie, Bijie, China
| | - Xixiao Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Linhu Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, the First People's Hospital of Bijie, Bijie, China.,Zunyi Medicinal University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
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Tang Y, Ou S, Ye L, Wang S. Pharmacological Activities and Pharmacokinetics of Glycycoumarin. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA : ORGAO OFICIAL DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA 2022; 33:471-483. [PMID: 36567915 PMCID: PMC9757630 DOI: 10.1007/s43450-022-00342-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Glycycoumarin is a representative coumarin compound with significant pharmacological activities isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Fabaceae. Studies have shown that glycycoumarin has many biological activities, such as anti-tumor, liver protection, antispasmodic, antibacterial, and antivirus. However, the poor solubility of glycycoumarin in water and the accompanying reactions of the phase I (hydroxylation) and II (glucuronidation) metabolism limit its druggability, which manifests as low absorption in the body after oral administration and low free drug concentration, ultimately leading to low bioavailability. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics of glycycoumarin is presented to provide a reference for further research and application as a therapeutic agent. Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43450-022-00342-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Tang
- grid.417409.f0000 0001 0240 6969College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou China
| | - Shuiping Ou
- grid.413390.c0000 0004 1757 6938Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou China
| | - Linhu Ye
- grid.417409.f0000 0001 0240 6969College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou China
| | - Sen Wang
- grid.417409.f0000 0001 0240 6969College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou China
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Qiao L, Ba J, Xie J, Zhu R, Wan Y, Zhang M, Jin Z, Guo Z, Yu J, Chen S, Yao Y. Overexpression of PBK/TOPK relates to poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer: a retrospective analysis. World J Surg Oncol 2022; 20:316. [PMID: 36171591 PMCID: PMC9520922 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-022-02769-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background PDZ-binding kinase/T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-derived protein kinase (PBK/TOPK) is a potential prognostic indicator for patients with breast cancer. The objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between PBK/TOPK expression and clinicopathological indicators as well as the survival of patients with breast cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of PBK/TOPK in 202 cases of breast cancer tissues. The relationship between PBK/TOPK and clinicopathological parameters was evaluated using Spearman’s rank-order correlation. The difference in PBK/TOPK expression among different molecular types was analyzed with the chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to create a survival curve and the log rank test was used to analyze the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Prognostic correlation was assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results Among 202 breast cancer samples, PBK/TOPK was expressed (“+” and “++”) in 182 samples (90.1%). In addition, the histological grade, TNM stages, lymph node metastasis, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and Ki-67 were positively associated with PBK/TOPK expression. With regard to the molecular type, the expression of PBK/TOPK is different. The expression level of PBK/TOPK was negatively correlated with both the OS and DFS of breast cancer patients. The difference in the above results is meaningful (P < 0.05). Conclusions PBK/TOPK is overexpressed in breast cancer, and the expression is closely related to the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. Breast cancer patients with high expression of PBK/TOPK have a poor prognosis. Therefore, healthcare providers can optimize breast cancer management using this indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Qiao
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Jinling Ba
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Jiping Xie
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Ruiping Zhu
- The Pathology Department, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Yi Wan
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Min Zhang
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Zeyu Jin
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Zicheng Guo
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Jiaxuan Yu
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Sijing Chen
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China
| | - Yongqiang Yao
- The Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, No. 6, Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, 116001, China.
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Cao JF, Gong Y, Wu M, Yang X, Xiong L, Chen S, Xiao Z, Li Y, Zhang L, Zan W, Zhang X. Exploring the mechanism of action of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19 through bioinformatics analysis and molecular dynamics simulation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1003310. [PMID: 36120307 PMCID: PMC9481297 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1003310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The rapid worldwide spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become not only a global challenge, but also a lack of effective clinical treatments. Studies have shown that licorice can significantly improve clinical symptoms such as fever, dry cough and shortness of breath in COVID-19 patients with no significant adverse effects. However, there is still a lack of in-depth analysis of the specific active ingredients of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19 and its mechanism of action. Therefore, we used molecular docking and molecular dynamics to explore the mechanism of action of licorice in the treatment of COVID-19.Methods: We used bioinformatics to screen active pharmaceutical ingredients and potential targets, the disease-core gene target-drug network was established and molecular docking was used for verification. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to verify that active ingredients were stably combined with protein targets. The supercomputer platform was used to measure and analyze stability of protein targets at the residue level, solvent accessible surface area, number of hydrogen bonds, radius of gyration and binding free energy.Results: Licorice had 255 gene targets, COVID-19 had 4,628 gene targets, the intersection gene targets were 101. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that licorice played an important role mainly through the signaling pathways of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress. Molecular docking showed that Glycyrol, Phaseol and Glyasperin F in licorice may playe a role in treating COVID-19 by acting on STAT3, IL2RA, MMP1, and CXCL8. Molecular dynamics were used to demonstrate and analyze the binding stability of active ingredients to protein targets.Conclusion: This study found that Phaseol in licorice may reduce inflammatory cell activation and inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of CXCL8 and IL2RA; Glycyrol may regulate cell proliferation and survival by acting on STAT3. Glyasperin F may regulate cell growth by inhibiting the activation of MMP1, thus reducing tissue damage and cell death caused by excessive inflammatory response and promoting the growth of new tissues. Therefore, licorice is proposed as an effective candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 through STAT3, IL2RA, MMP1, and CXCL8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Feng Cao
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu Medical College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunli Gong
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Wu
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xingyu Yang
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Xiong
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyan Chen
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Zixuan Xiao
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry Sciences, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
| | - Wang Zan
- Chengdu Medical College of Pharmacy, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Chengdu Medical College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lixin Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-135-2919-4157; Wang Zan, , orcid.org/0086-186-2812-0209; Xiao Zhang, , orcid.org/0086-130-8661-6376
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Wu J, Li XY, Liang J, Fang DL, Yang ZJ, Wei J, Chen ZJ. Network pharmacological analysis of active components of Xiaoliu decoction in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. Front Genet 2022; 13:940462. [PMID: 36046228 PMCID: PMC9420933 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.940462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary nervous system brain tumor. There is still a lack of effective methods to control its progression and recurrence in clinical treatment. It is clinically found that Xiaoliu Decoction (XLD) has the effect of treating brain tumors and preventing tumor recurrence. However, its mechanism is still unclear. Methods: Search the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database (TCSMP) for efficient substances for the treatment of XLD in the treatment of GBM, and target the targeted genes of the effective ingredients to construct a network. At the same time, download GBM-related gene expression data from the TCGA and GTEX databases, screen differential expression bases, and establish a drug target disease network. Through bioinformatics analysis, the target genes and shared genes of the selected Chinese medicines are analyzed. Finally, molecular docking was performed to further clarify the possibility of XLD in multiple GBMs. Results: We screened 894 differentially expressed genes in GBM, 230 XLD active ingredients and 169 predicted targets of its active compounds, of which 19 target genes are related to the differential expression of GBM. Bioinformatics analysis shows that these targets are closely related to cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, and DNA synthesis. Finally, through molecular docking, it was further confirmed that Tanshinone IIA, the active ingredient of XLD, was tightly bound to key proteins. Conclusion: To sum up, the results of this study suggest that the mechanism of XLD in the treatment of GBM involves multiple targets and signal pathways related to tumorigenesis and development. This study not only provides a new theoretical basis for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme with traditional Chinese medicine, but also provides a new idea for the research and development of targeted drugs for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Xue-Yu Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Jing Liang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumchi, China
| | - Da-Lang Fang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
- *Correspondence: Da-Lang Fang, ; Zhao-Jian Yang, ; Jie Wei, ; Zhi-Jun Chen,
| | - Zhao-Jian Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Red Cross Hospital of Yulin City, Yulin, China
- *Correspondence: Da-Lang Fang, ; Zhao-Jian Yang, ; Jie Wei, ; Zhi-Jun Chen,
| | - Jie Wei
- Department of Hematology, People’s Hospital of Baise, Baise, China
- *Correspondence: Da-Lang Fang, ; Zhao-Jian Yang, ; Jie Wei, ; Zhi-Jun Chen,
| | - Zhi-Jun Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Red Cross Hospital of Yulin City, Yulin, China
- *Correspondence: Da-Lang Fang, ; Zhao-Jian Yang, ; Jie Wei, ; Zhi-Jun Chen,
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Liu X, Yin S, Zhao C, Fan L, Hu H. Glycyrol alleviates the combined toxicity of fumonisin B1 and cadmium in vitro and in vivo. Toxicon 2021; 200:165-172. [PMID: 34343521 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a major food-borne mycotoxin commonly found in maize and maize-based products, while cadmium is one of the most common toxic heavy metals found in food, particularly in wheat and rice. Given the possibility of co-exposure to FB1 and cadmium for consumers, we elevated combined toxicity of FB1 and cadmium using both in vitro and in vivo models. Acute toxicity setting was employed in the present study. Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) and human L02 liver cells were used to determine the in vitro cytotoxicity, while C57BL/6 N mice were used to assess the in vivo toxicity. Results showed that treatment with combination of FB1 (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 μM) and cadmium (3, 4, 5, 6, 7 μM) for 24 h led to synergistic cytotoxicity in vitro, and acute treatment with the combination of FB1/cadmium (1.5 mg/kg/60 mg/kg) for 5 days increased liver damage in vivo. Mechanistically, the combined toxicity was associated with elevated activation of IRE1α-JNK pathway. Glycyrol, a representative coumarin compound isolated from licorice, was able to reduce the combination-induced toxicity both in vitro and in vivo through suppression of IRE1α-JNK axis. The combined toxicity of FB1/cadmium should be taken into consideration for performing human health risk assessment of FB1/cadmium exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Liu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, No.17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shutao Yin
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, No.17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, No.17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Lihong Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University No2 Yunamingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Hongbo Hu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, No.17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China.
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Albuquerque C, Manguinhas R, Costa JG, Gil N, Codony-Servat J, Castro M, Miranda JP, Fernandes AS, Rosell R, Oliveira NG. A narrative review of the migration and invasion features of non-small cell lung cancer cells upon xenobiotic exposure: insights from in vitro studies. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2021; 10:2698-2714. [PMID: 34295671 PMCID: PMC8264350 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-21-121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, being non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) sub-types the most prevalent. Since most LC cases are only detected during the last stage of the disease the high mortality rate is strongly associated with metastases. For this reason, the migratory and invasive capacity of these cancer cells as well as the mechanisms involved have long been studied to uncover novel strategies to prevent metastases and improve the patients’ prognosis. This narrative review provides an overview of the main in vitro migration and invasion assays employed in NSCLC research. While several methods have been developed, experiments using conventional cell culture models prevailed, specifically the wound-healing and the transwell migration and invasion assays. Moreover, it is provided herewith a summary of the available information concerning chemical contaminants that may promote the migratory/invasive properties of NSCLC cells in vitro, shedding some light on possible LC risk factors. Most of the reported agents with pro-migration/invasion effects derive from cigarette smoking [e.g., Benzo(a)pyrene and cadmium] and air pollution. This review further presents several studies in which different dietary/plant-derived compounds demonstrated to impair migration/invasion processes in NSCLC cells in vitro. These chemicals that have been proposed as anti-migratory consisted mainly of natural bioactive substances, including polyphenols non-flavonoids, flavonoids, bibenzyls, terpenes, alkaloids, and steroids. Some of these compounds may eventually represent novel therapeutic strategies to be considered in the future to prevent metastasis formation in LC, which highlights the need for additional in vitro methodologies that more closely resemble the in vivo tumor microenvironment and cancer cell interactions. These studies along with adequate in vivo models should be further explored as proof of concept for the most promising compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Albuquerque
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Manguinhas
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João G Costa
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona's Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno Gil
- Lung Cancer Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jordi Codony-Servat
- Laboratory of Oncology/Pangaea Oncology S.L., Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matilde Castro
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana P Miranda
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S Fernandes
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona's Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rafael Rosell
- Laboratory of Oncology/Pangaea Oncology S.L., Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.,Internal Medicine Department, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Campus de la UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuno G Oliveira
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Huang H, Lee MH, Liu K, Dong Z, Ryoo Z, Kim MO. PBK/TOPK: An Effective Drug Target with Diverse Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092232. [PMID: 34066486 PMCID: PMC8124186 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide, and addressing its morbidity, mortality, and prevalence is the first step towards appropriate control measures. Over the past several decades, many pharmacologists have worked to identify anti-cancer targets and drug development strategies. Within this timeframe, many natural compounds have been developed to inhibit cancer growth by targeting kinases, such as AKT, AURKA, and TOPK. Kinase assays and computer modeling are considered to be effective and powerful tools for target screening, as they can predict physical interactions between small molecules and their bio-molecular targets. In the present review, we summarize the inhibitors and compounds that target TOPK and describe its role in cancer progression. The extensive body of research that has investigated the contribution of TOPK to cancer suggests that it may be a promising target for cancer therapy. Abstract T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK, also known as PDZ-binding kinase or PBK) plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation and mitotic progression. Abnormal overexpression or activation of TOPK has been observed in many cancers, including colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and melanoma, and it is associated with increased development, dissemination, and poor clinical outcomes and prognosis in cancer. Moreover, TOPK phosphorylates p38, JNK, ERK, and AKT, which are involved in many cellular functions, and participates in the activation of multiple signaling pathways related to MAPK, PI3K/PTEN/AKT, and NOTCH1; thus, the direct or indirect interactions of TOPK make it a highly attractive yet elusive target for cancer therapy. Small molecule inhibitors targeting TOPK have shown great therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer both in vitro and in vivo, even in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Therefore, targeting TOPK could be an important approach for cancer prevention and therapy. Thus, the purpose of the present review was to consider and analyze the role of TOPK as a drug target in cancer therapy and describe the recent findings related to its role in tumor development. Moreover, this review provides an overview of the current progress in the discovery and development of TOPK inhibitors, considering future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Huang
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, ITRD, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea;
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou 450008, China; (K.L.); (Z.D.)
| | - Mee-Hyun Lee
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju, Jeollanamdo 58245, Korea;
| | - Kangdong Liu
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou 450008, China; (K.L.); (Z.D.)
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Academy of Medical Science, College of Medical, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Zigang Dong
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou 450008, China; (K.L.); (Z.D.)
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Academy of Medical Science, College of Medical, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Zeayoung Ryoo
- School of Life Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
- Correspondence: (Z.R.); (M.O.K.); Tel.: +82-54-530-1234 (M.O.K.)
| | - Myoung Ok Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, ITRD, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea;
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou 450008, China; (K.L.); (Z.D.)
- Correspondence: (Z.R.); (M.O.K.); Tel.: +82-54-530-1234 (M.O.K.)
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13
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Tu Y, Yang Y, Li Y, He C. Naturally occurring coumestans from plants, their biological activities and therapeutic effects on human diseases. Pharmacol Res 2021; 169:105615. [PMID: 33872808 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring coumestans are known as a collection of plant-derived polycyclic aromatic secondary metabolites which are characterized by the presence of an oxygen heterocyclic four-ring system comprising a coumarin moiety and a benzofuran moiety sharing a C˭C bond. Recently, there is an increasing attention in excavating the medicinal potential of coumestans, particularly coumestrol, wedelolactone, psoralidin and glycyrol, in a variety of diseases. This review is a comprehensive inventory of the chemical structures of coumestans isolated from various plant sources during the period of 1956-2020, together with their reported biological activities. 120 molecules were collected and further classified as coumestans containing core skeleton, dimethylpyranocoumestans, furanocoumestans, O-glycosylated coumestans and others, which showed a wide range of pharmacological activities including estrogenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, organ protective, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, antioxidant and skin-protective activities. Furthermore, this review focuses on the counteraction of coumestans against bone diseases and organ damages, and the involved molecular mechanisms, which could provide important information to better understand the medicinal values of these compounds. This review is intended to be instructive for the rational design and development of less toxic and more effective drugs with a coumestan scaffold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbei Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Yanfang Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Chengwei He
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China.
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Mu X, Wang L, Zhang Z, Ge R, Zhang J, Liu W, Mou K, Lv S. Scutellarin Suppresses RPMI7951 Melanoma Cell Proliferation by Targeting TOPK. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 21:640-648. [PMID: 32781970 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200811112156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-LAK cell-Originated Protein Kinase (TOPK) belongs to the serine/threonine protein kinase family. It is highly expressed in RPMI7951 melanoma cells. Scutellarin (SCU) is an active ingredient extracted from Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand.-Mazz. Its main physiological functions are related to its anti-inflammatory and antitumour activities. METHODS The relationship between SCU and TOPK was assessed by molecular docking, an in vitro binding assay and an in vitro kinase assay. The effect of SCU on RPMI7951 cells was detected by MTS and soft agar assays. TOPK knockdown was induced by lentiviral infection. The TOPK downstream signalling pathway was detected by western blot and immunohistochemical analyses in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS SCU was found to directly bind with TOPK and inhibit TOPK activity in vitro. SCU inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of RPMI7951 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Silencing TOPK decreased the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to SCU. SCU inhibited the phosphorylation levels of Extracellular Regulated protein Kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and histone H3 in a time- and dose-dependent manner in RPMI7951 cells. In addition, SCU inhibited the growth of xenograft tumours of RPMI7951 cells and decreased the phosphorylation levels of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 and histone H3 in vivo. CONCLUSION The results showed that SCU exerts promising antitumour effects on human RPMI7951 cells by inhibiting the activity of TOPK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Mu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Zixi Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Rui Ge
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Wenli Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Kuanhou Mou
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Shemin Lv
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
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15
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PBK/TOPK: A Therapeutic Target Worthy of Attention. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020371. [PMID: 33670114 PMCID: PMC7916869 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence supports the role of PDZ-binding kinase (PBK)/T-lymphokine-activated killer-cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) in mitosis and cell-cycle progression of mitotically active cells, especially proliferative malignant cells. PBK/TOPK was confirmed to be associated with the development, progression, and metastasis of malignancies. Therefore, it is a potential therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Many studies have been conducted to explore the clinical applicability of potent PBK/TOPK inhibitors. However, PBK/TOPK has also been shown to be overexpressed in normal proliferative cells, including sperm and neural precursor cells in the subventricular zone of the adult brain, as well as under pathological conditions, such as ischemic tissues, including the heart, brain, and kidney, and plays important roles in their physiological functions, including proliferation and self-renewal. Thus, more research is warranted to further our understanding of PBK/TOPK inhibitors before we can consider their applicability in clinical practice. In this study, we first review the findings, general features, and signaling mechanisms involved in the regulation of mitosis and cell cycle. We then review the functions of PBK/TOPK in pathological conditions, including tumors and ischemic conditions in the heart, brain, and kidney. Finally, we summarize the advances in potent and selective inhibitors and describe the potential use of PBK/TOPK inhibitors in clinical settings.
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Inhibition of Butyrylcholinesterase and Human Monoamine Oxidase-B by the Coumarin Glycyrol and Liquiritigenin Isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25173896. [PMID: 32859055 PMCID: PMC7504216 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Eight compounds were isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and tested for cholinesterase (ChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activities. The coumarin glycyrol (GC) effectively inhibited butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC50 values of 7.22 and 14.77 µM, respectively, and also moderately inhibited MAO-B (29.48 µM). Six of the other seven compounds only weakly inhibited AChE and BChE, whereas liquiritin apioside moderately inhibited AChE (IC50 = 36.68 µM). Liquiritigenin (LG) potently inhibited MAO-B (IC50 = 0.098 µM) and MAO-A (IC50 = 0.27 µM), and liquiritin, a glycoside of LG, weakly inhibited MAO-B (>40 µM). GC was a reversible, noncompetitive inhibitor of BChE with a Ki value of 4.47 µM, and LG was a reversible competitive inhibitor of MAO-B with a Ki value of 0.024 µM. Docking simulations showed that the binding affinity of GC for BChE (−7.8 kcal/mol) was greater than its affinity for AChE (−7.1 kcal/mol), and suggested that GC interacted with BChE at Thr284 and Val288 by hydrogen bonds (distances: 2.42 and 1.92 Å, respectively) beyond the ligand binding site of BChE, but that GC did not form hydrogen bond with AChE. The binding affinity of LG for MAO-B (−8.8 kcal/mol) was greater than its affinity for MAO-A (−7.9 kcal/mol). These findings suggest GC and LG should be considered promising compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with multi-targeting activities.
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Synergistic anti-colon cancer effect of glycyrol and butyrate is associated with the enhanced activation of caspase-3 and structural features of glycyrol. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 136:110952. [PMID: 31712101 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Coumarin-based anti-cancer agents have attracted considerable attention recently. Butyrate, a major short-chain fatty acid produced in colon by gut microbiota, has been shown to exert anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effect of combining glycyrol (GC), a representative of coumarin compounds in licorice, or its analogues Glycycoumarin/Demethylsuberosin/Coumestrol (GCM/De/Coum) with butyrate in HT29 and HCT116 cells, and explored the relationship between the combined anti-cancer effect and structural features of coumarin compounds. Results showed the strongest inhibitory effect on cancer cells was induced by GC/butyrate combination via enhanced activation of caspase-3. Our data indicated the benzofuranyl, isopentenyl and methoxy groups presented in GC played critical role in its anti-cancer activity, while the furan group led to the further enhancement. The findings of the present study will be beneficial for developing coumarin-based compounds and coumarin compound-based regimen to fight against colon cancer.
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