Anethole suppressed cell survival and induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells independent of estrogen receptor status

Elaboration of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with star anise extract as a therapeutic system for lung cancer: Physicochemical and biological evaluation

The research study aimed to maximize the important medical role of star anise extract (SAE) through its loading on a widely available natural polymer (chitosan, Cs). Thus, SAE loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) was prepared. The finding illustrated the formation of spherical particles of SAE loaded CsNPs as proved by transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition, the average particle size of CsNPs and SAE loaded CsNPs are 131.8 ± 24.63 and 318.5 ± 73.94 nm, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed the presence of many spherical particles deposited on the surface of CsNPs owing to the deposition of SAE on the surface and encapsulated into pores of CsNPs. It also showed the presence of elements such as sodium, potassium, copper, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and iron, as well as the elements that accompanied with CsNPs: carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The extract was rich in bioactive components, such as anethole, shikimic acid, and different flavonoids, contributing to its medicinal qualities. The bioactive molecules in SAE were assessed by chromatographic analysis. Using the agar well diffusion test, the antibacterial qualities of CsNPs and SAE loaded CsNPs were evaluated against pathogenic bacteria linked to lung illnesses. The most significant inhibition zones showed that the SAE loaded CsNPs had the most antibacterial activity. The anticancer activity using MTT assay was used in the biological assessments to determine the cytotoxicity against the NCl-H460 lung cancer cell line. The results showed that CsNPs loaded with SAE considerably decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with the most significant anticancer impact by SAE loaded CsNPs. Furthermore, in vivo tests on lung cancer therapy revealed that when compared to other treatment groups, the SAE loaded CsNPs group showed the greatest reduction in tumor biomarkers and inflammation, as seen by decreased levels of Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor protein 53 (p53), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha), and fibronectin. Results concluded that these thorough characterizations, biological assessments, and antibacterial tests have confirmed the effective integration of SAE into CsNPs. Further, SAE loaded CsNPs could be a suitable option for various biomedical applications in tackling lung cancer and the inactivation of bacterial infection.

Anethole in cancer therapy: Mechanisms, synergistic pHyungseo Bobbyotential, and clinical challenges

Cancer remains a major global health challenge, prompting the search for effective and less toxic treatments. Anethole, a bioactive compound found in essential oils of anise and fennel, commonly used as a food preservative, has recently garnered attention for its potential anti-cancer properties. This comprehensive review aims to systematically assess the anti-cancer effects of anethole, elucidating its mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and synergistic potential with conventional cancer therapies. A detailed literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Criteria for inclusion were experimental studies in peer-reviewed journals focusing on the anti-cancer properties of anethole. Extracted data included study design, intervention specifics, measured outcomes, and mechanistic insights. Anethole demonstrates multiple anti-cancer mechanisms, such as inducing apoptosis, causing cell cycle arrest, exhibiting anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects, and modulating critical signaling pathways including NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and caspases. It enhances the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents like cisplatin and doxorubicin while reducing their toxicity. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown its effectiveness against various cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers. Anethole shows significant potential as an anti-cancer agent, with its multi-faceted mechanisms of action and ability to synergize with existing chemotherapy. Further clinical research is essential to fully understand its therapeutic potential and application in oncology.

Essential oils and their nanoformulations for breast cancer therapy

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in the world. Current treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy but often are associated with high toxicity to normal tissues, chemoresistance, and relapse. Thus, developing novel therapies which could combat these limitations is essential for effective treatment. In this context, phytochemicals are increasingly getting popular due to their safety profile, ability to efficiently target tumors, and circumvent limitations of existing treatments. Essential Oils (EOs) are mixtures of various phytochemicals which have shown potential anticancer activity in preclinical BC models. However, their clinical translation is limited by factors such as high volatility, low stability, and poor solubility. Nanotechnology has facilitated their encapsulation in a variety of nanostructures and proven to overcome these limitations. In this review, we have efficiently summarized the current knowledge on the anticancer effect of EOs and constituents in both in in vitro and in in vivo BC models. Further, we also provide a descriptive account on the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing the anti-BC activity of EOs and their constituents. The papers discussed in this review were selected using the keywords "antiproliferative Essential Oils in breast cancer," "anticancer activity of Essential Oil in breast cancer," and "cytotoxicity of Essential Oils in breast cancer" performed in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases.

Spice-Derived Phenolic Compounds: Potential for Skin Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Skin cancer is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of skin cells, primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Different types of skin cancer include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the advancements in targeted therapies, there is still a need for a safer, highly efficient approach to preventing and treating cutaneous malignancies. Spices have a rich history dating back thousands of years and are renowned for their ability to enhance the flavor, taste, and color of food. Derived from various plant parts like seeds, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers, spices are important culinary ingredients. However, their value extends beyond the culinary realm. Some spices contain bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are known for their significant biological effects. These compounds have attracted attention in scientific research due to their potential health benefits, including their possible role in disease prevention and treatment, such as cancer. This review focuses on examining the potential of spice-derived phenolic compounds as preventive or therapeutic agents for managing skin cancers. By compiling and analyzing the available knowledge, this review aims to provide insights that can guide future research in identifying new anticancer phytochemicals and uncovering additional mechanisms for combating skin cancer.

Synergistic Effect of Anethole and Platinum Drug Cisplatin against Oral Cancer Cell Growth and Migration by Inhibiting MAPKase, Beta-Catenin, and NF-κB Pathways

Cisplatin is a common drug used to treat patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, cisplatin-induced chemoresistance poses a major challenge to its clinical application. Our recent study has shown that anethole possesses an anti-oral cancer effect. In this study, we examined the combined effect of anethole and cisplatin on oral cancer therapy. Gingival cancer cells Ca9-22 were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of cisplatin with or without anethole. The cell viability/proliferation and cytotoxicity were evaluated, respectively, by MTT, Hoechst staining, and LDH assay, while colony formation was measured by crystal violet. Oral cancer cell migration was evaluated by the scratch method. Apoptosis, caspase activity, oxidative stress, MitoSOX, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) levels were evaluated by flow cytometry, and the inhibition of signaling pathways was investigated by Western blot. Our results show that anethole (3 µM) potentiates cisplatin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and decreases the ΔΨm on Ca9-22 cells. Furthermore, drug combination was found to inhibit cell migration and enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity. The combination of anethole and cisplatin potentiates cisplatin-induced oral cancer cell apoptosis through the activation of caspase, while we also found anethole and cisplatin to enhance the cisplatin-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial stress. In addition, major cancer signaling pathways were inhibited by the combination of anethole and cisplatin such as MAPKase, beta-catenin, and NF-κB pathways. This study reports that the combination of anethole and cisplatin might provide a beneficial effect in enhancing the cisplatin cancer cell-killing effect, thus lowering the associated side effects.

From Natural Sources to Synthetic Derivatives: The Allyl Motif as a Powerful Tool for Fragment-Based Design in Cancer Treatment

Since the beginning of history, natural products have been an abundant source of bioactive molecules for the treatment of different diseases, including cancer. Many allyl derivatives, which have shown anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo in a large number of cancers, are bioactive molecules found in garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, or mustard. In addition, synthetic products containing allyl fragments have been developed showing potent anticancer properties. Of particular note is the allyl derivative 17-AAG, which has been evaluated in Phase I and Phase II/III clinical trials for the treatment of multiple myeloma, metastatic melanoma, renal cancer, and breast cancer. In this Perspective, we compile extensive literature evidence with descriptions and discussions of the most recent advances in different natural and synthetic allyl derivatives that could generate cancer drug candidates in the near future.

Anethole Pretreatment Modulates Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion: The Role of JNK, p38, MMP-2 and MMP-9 Pathways

Anethole (AN) is one of the major constituents of several plant oils, demonstrating plentiful pharmacological actions. Ischemic stroke is the main cause of morbidity and death worldwide, particularly since ischemic stroke therapeutic choices are inadequate and limited; thus, the development of new therapeutic options is indispensable. This study was planned to explore the preventive actions of AN in ameliorating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain damage and BBB permeability leakage, as well as to explore anethole’s potential mechanisms of action. The proposed mechanisms included modulating JNK and p38 as well as MMP-2 and MMP-9 pathways. Sprague–Dawley male rats were randomly assigned into four groups: sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), AN125 + MCAO, and AN250 + MCAO. Animals in the third and fourth groups were pretreated with AN 125 or 250 mg/kg orally, respectively, for two weeks before performing middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced cerebral ischemic/reperfusion surgery. Animals that experienced cerebral ischemia/reperfusion exhibited amplified infarct volume, Evans blue intensity, brain water content, Fluoro-Jade B-positive cells, severe neurological deficits, and numerous histopathological alterations. MCAO animals exhibited elevated MMP-9 and MMP-2 gene expressions, enzyme activities, augmented JNK, and p38 phosphorylation. On the other hand, pretreatment with AN diminished the infarct volume, Evans blue dye intensity, brain water content, and Fluoro-Jade B-positive cells, improved the neurological score and enhanced histopathological examination. AN effectively lowered MMP-9 and MMP-2 gene expression and enzyme activities and diminished phosphorylated JNK, p38. AN decreased MDA content, amplified GSH/GSSG ratio, SOD, and CAT, decreased the serum and brain tissue homogenate inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), NF-κB, and deterred the apoptotic status. This study revealed the neuroprotective ability of AN against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats. AN boosted blood–brain barrier integrity via modulating MMPs and diminished oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis through the JNK/p38 pathway.

GC-MS metabolites profiling of anethole-rich oils by different extraction techniques: antioxidant, cytotoxicity and in-silico enzymes inhibitory insights

GC-MS profiling and metabolomics study of anise and star anise oils obtained by hydrodistillation, n-hexane, and microwave-assisted extraction methods were conducted herein. Trans-anethole was the major phenylpropanoid in both oils. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed a clear separation of different extraction methods. Microwave-assisted star anise oil (MSA) revealed the highest anethole content (93.78%). MSA oil showed antioxidant activity using DPPH and ABTS assays, this was verified via an in-silico docking study of its major compounds on human tyrosinase and NAD(P)H oxidase. Trans-anethole displayed the best fitting scores (-8.9 and -10.1 Kcal/mole, respectively). MSA oil showed promising cytotoxic activity on different cell lines, mainly the cervical (HeLa) cell lines. Cell cycle inhibition at the G0-G1 phase was observed with an early apoptotic effect of the oil on HeLa cells. Trans-anethole achieved the best docking scores (-7.9, -9.3 and -9.9 Kcal/mole) for in-silico study on EGFR, CDK2 and CDK4 enzymes engaged in cancer, respectively.

Anethole ameliorates inflammation induced by monosodium urate in an acute gouty arthritis model via inhibiting TLRs/MyD88 pathway

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of anethole on monosodium urate (MSU)-induced inflammatory response, investigate its role in acute gouty arthritis (AGA), and verify its molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Hematoxylin and eosin staining assay and time-dependent detection of degree of ankle swelling were performed to assess the effects of anethole on joint injury in MSU-induced AGA mice. Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay was performed to demonstrate the production levels of inflammatory factors (interleukin 1β [IL-1β], interleukin 6 [IL-6], interleukin 8 [IL-8], tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], and monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 [MCP-1]) in MSU-induced AGA mice. Western blot assays were used to confirm the effects of anethole on oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activity and the activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs)-myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) pathway in MSU-induced AGA mice.

RESULTS

We observed that a significant joint injury occurred in MSU-induced AGA mice. Anethole could alleviate the pathological injury of the synovium in MSU-induced AGA mice and suppressed ankle swelling. In addition, we observed that anethole could inhibit MSU-induced inflammatory response and inflammasome activation in MSU-induced AGA mice. Moreover, we discovered that anethole enabled to inhibit the activation of TLRs/MyD88 pathway in MSU-induced AGA mice. Our findings further confirmed that anethole contributed to the inhibitory effects on progression in MSU-induced AGA mice.

CONCLUSION

It confirmed that anethole ameliorated the MSU-induced inflammatory response in AGA mice in vivo via inhibiting TLRs-MyD88 pathway.

Trans-Anethole Alleviates Trimethyltin Chloride-Induced Impairments in Long-Term Potentiation

Trans-anethole is an aromatic compound that has been studied for its anti-inflammation, anticonvulsant, antinociceptive, and anticancer effects. A recent report found that trans-anethole exerted neuroprotective effects on the brain via multiple pathways. Since noxious stimuli may both induce neuronal cell injury and affect synaptic functions (e.g., synaptic transmission or plasticity), it is important to understand whether the neuroprotective effect of trans-anethole extends to synaptic plasticity. Here, the effects of trimethyltin (TMT), which is a neurotoxic organotin compound, was investigated using the field recording method on hippocampal slice of mice. The influence of trans-anethole on long-term potentiation (LTP) was also studied for both NMDA receptor-dependent and NMDA receptor–independent cases. The action of trans-anethole on TMT-induced LTP impairment was examined, too. These results revealed that trans-anethole enhances NMDA receptor-dependent and -independent LTP and alleviates TMT-induced LTP impairment. These results suggest that trans-anethole modulates hippocampal LTP induction, prompting us to speculate that it may be helpful for improving cognitive impairment arising from neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Amelioration of oxidative stress by trans-Anethole via modulating phase I and phase II enzymes against hepatic damage induced by CCl4 in male Wistar rats

The current study was designed to assess the in vivo hepatoprotective properties of trans-Anethole, which is a principal aromatic component of star anise. The hepatoprotective effects of trans-Anethole were evaluated at three doses [40, 80, and 160 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.)] against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatic damage in male Wistar rats for 4 weeks. Forty-two male Wistar rats were equally divided into seven groups; the control (group I) received only distilled water. Rats of group II received CCl₄ (1 ml/kg b.wt.) in a 1:1 ratio of CCl₄ and olive oil via intraperitoneal doses, while rats of group III received silymarin (50 mg/kg b.wt.), followed by CCl₄ intraperitoneal doses, 3 days in a week. Rats of group IV received trans-anethole (160 mg/kg b.wt.) for 28 days as a negative control. Trans-anethole at the doses of 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg b.wt. was administered to groups V, VI, and VII, respectively, for 28 days, followed by CCl₄ (i.p). Results showed that CCl₄ treatment (group II) elevated the levels of different serum markers like aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by 4.74 fold, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by 3.47 fold, aspartate alkaline phosphatase (ALP) by 3.55 fold, direct bilirubin by 3.48 fold, and total bilirubin by 2.38 fold in contrast to control. Furthermore, it was found that the decreased levels of liver antioxidant enzymes viz. catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly modulated by the pre-administration of rats with different doses (40, 80, and 160 mg/kg b.wt.) of trans-anethole. Furthermore, pre-treatment of trans-anethole reduced the level of phase I enzymes and elevated the level of phase II detoxifying enzymes. Histopathological investigations showed that the treatment with trans-anethole was effective in ameliorating CCl₄-induced liver injury and restored the normal hepatic architecture. Moreover, trans-anethole restored p53 and cyclin D levels in liver tissue relative to group II. Western blot analysis revealed that the trans-anethole treatment downregulated the expression of Bax and caspase-3 while upregulated the expression of Bcl-xL. Collectively, the findings of the study showed the strong efficacy of trans-anethole in ameliorating the hepatic damage caused by CCl₄ through the modulation of antioxidants and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes.

Anethole inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by downregulating ERK/AKT signaling and prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a chronic population health hazard systemic metabolic disease caused by excessive bone resorption and reduced bone formation. The activity between osteoblast and osteoclast, with their mutual effects, influence the procedure of normal bone remodeling. Over-activated osteoclast differentiation and function play a crucial role in excessive bone resorption. Hence, therapy strategies targeting osteoclast activity may promote the bone mass preservation and delay the osteoporosis process. Natural compound (anethole) is emerging as potential therapeutics for various metabolic diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential effects of anethole on RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and function in vitro and in vivo. Here, in vitro TRAP staining assay was performed to investigate the inhibitory effect of anethole on osteoclast differentiation. Bone pits resorption assay revealed that osteoclast-mediated bone resorption was inhibited by anethole. At mRNA and protein levels, anethole significantly reduced the expression of osteoclast-specific genes expression in a concentration- or time-dependent manner, including NFATc1, MMP-9, DC-STAMP, c-F, TRAP, CTR, Cathepsin K, and V-ATPase d2. Furthermore, intracellular signaling transduction assay indicated that anethole inhibited osteoclast formation via blocking ERK and AKT signaling. GSK3β, the downstream signal of AKT, is simultaneously suppressed with anethole treatment. Based on ovariectomized (OVX) mice model, micro-CT and histological staining results suggested that anethole prevented estrogen deficiency-induced bone mass loss and increased osteoclast activity in vivo. In conclusion, our results show significant indications that anethole exhibits an osteoprotective effect and may be potential for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Anethole induces anti-oral cancer activity by triggering apoptosis, autophagy and oxidative stress and by modulation of multiple signaling pathways

Oral cancer is one of the major public health problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of anethole, 1-methoxy-4-[(E)-1-propenyl]-benzene, on growth and apoptosis of oral tumor cells, and to identify the signaling pathways involved in its interaction with these cancer cells. Cancer gingival cells (Ca9-22) were treated with different concentrations of anethole. Cell proliferation and cytotoxic effects were measured by MTT and LDH assays. Cell death, autophagy and oxidative stress markers were assessed by flow cytometry while cell migration was determined by a healing capacity assay. The effect of anethole on apoptotic and pro-carcinogenic signaling pathways proteins was assessed by immunoblotting. Our results showed that anethole selectively and in a dose-dependent manner decreases the cell proliferation rate, and conversely induces toxicity and apoptosis in oral cancer cells. This killing effect was mediated mainly through NF-κB, MAPKinases, Wnt, caspase 3, 9 and PARP1 pathways. Anethole showed an ability to induce autophagy, decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased intracellular glutathione (GSH) activity. Finally, anethole treatment inhibits the expression of oncogenes (cyclin D1) and up-regulated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p21^WAF1), increases the expression of p53 gene, but inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers. These results indicate that anethole could be a potential molecule for the therapy of oral cancer.

trans-Anethole attenuated renal injury and reduced expressions of angiotensin II receptor (AT1R) and TGF-β in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Fibrosis is a pathological process in diabetic nephropathy that causes renal failure and dysfunction. Given the known anti-diabetic effects of trans-Anethole (TA), we aimed to investigate its renoprotective and anti-fibrotic effect alone and in combination with losartan in diabetic nephropathy. Male Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) for diabetes induction. Diabetic rats were treated orally with saline, TA (80 mg/kg), losartan (Los; 10 mg/kg), or the combination of TA and losartan (TA-Los) daily for five weeks. Renal function was monitored during the study, and renal fibrosis, oxidative stress markers, apoptotic cells, and the expression and localization of AT1R, TGF-β1, and Col-IV were detected in the kidney. Results showed that TA alone and in combination with losartan was able to decrease blood glucose, urea, and creatinine levels and improve kidney function parameters. TA, Los, and TA-Los significantly reduced tubule vascular degeneration, glomerular and tubulointerstitial sclerosis, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cells. Immunohistochemistry analyses showed that TA, losartan, and TA-losartan combination downregulated the AT1R, Col IV, and TGF-β1 expression and distribution in diabetic rat kidneys. Results suggest that TA is able to suppress diabetic nephropathy in rats effectively, probably by decreasing blood glucose levels and downregulating AT1R and TGF-β1 expression.

Exploring the Potential of Aromatherapy as an Adjuvant Therapy in Cancer and its Complications: A Comprehensive Update

BACKGROUND

Aromatherapy is a traditional practice of employing essential oils for the therapeutic purposes, currently headed under the category of complementary and adjuvant medicine.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review article is to summarize the potential health benefits of aromatic essential oil from traditional times till the present. It also proposed some mechanisms which can be utilized as basis for using aromatherapy in cancer and cancer linked complications.

METHODS

To find out the relevant and authentic data, several search engines like Science direct, Pubmed, research gate, etc. were thoroughly checked by inserting key words like aromatherapy, complementary, adjuvant therapy etc. to collect the relevant material in context of article. Also, the chemical components of essential oil were classified based on the presence of functional groups, which are further explored for their cytotoxic potential.

RESULTS

The result depicted the anti-cancer potential of chemical constituents of essential oil against different types of cancer. Moreover, the essential oils show promising anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-mutagenic potential in several studies, which collectively can form the basis for initiation of its anti-cancer utility.

CONCLUSION

Aromatherapy can serve as adjuvant economic therapy in cancer after the standardization of protocol.

trans-Anethole Abrogates Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis through the Mitochondrial-Mediated Pathway in Human Osteosarcoma Cells

trans-Anethole, the major bioactive component of Illicium verum Hook. commonly known as star anise exhibits various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and antitumor. Osteosarcoma is an extremely aggressive malignant bone tumor that affects children and young adults and accounts for around 60% of all sarcomas. The study was planned to evaluate the potential of trans-Anethole against Human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63. The antiproliferative activity of trans-Anethole was assessed by MTT assay. trans-Anethole exhibited apoptotic cell death as monitored by confocal/electron microscopy and flow cytometry studies. Modulation of gene expression was studied by Western blot and RT-PCR analysis. The present study revealed that trans-Anethole inhibited osteosarcoma proliferation in a dose-dependent manner with a GI₅₀ value of 60.25 µM and showed pro-apoptotic activity as analyzed by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that trans-Anethole induced cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase with the generation of reactive oxygen species and reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Immunoblotting results showed the increased expression of caspase-9/-3, p53, and decreased expression of Bcl-xL suggesting the involvement of the p53 and mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. This work provides a rationale that trans-Anethole might be considered as a promising chemotherapeutic/nutraceutical agent for the management of osteosarcoma.Highlightstrans-Anethole inhibited cell growth and caused G₀/G₁ arrest in Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line.trans-Anethole led to the loss of mitochondrial membrane permeability along with ROS generation.trans-Anethole upregulates the expression of p53, Caspase-9/-3, and downregulate Bcl-xL expression.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Low-Dose Anethole and Ibuprofen Combination Is Accompanied by Partial Prevention of Hepatic Metabolic Changes in Arthritic Rats

Anethole (AN) is a natural compound that has attracted great scientific interest because of its numerous biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects. However, these effects were obtained with high doses of AN, which may be one limitation of its therapeutic use. This study evaluated the effects of a low-dose AN and ibuprofen (IB) combination on inflammatory parameters in Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) and arthritis-induced hepatic metabolic changes. Holtzman rats were used and divided into groups: normal, AIA (control), arthritics treated with IB, arthritics treated with AN, and arthritics treated with AN + IB. The volume of the paws, the appearance of secondary lesions, and the number of synovial leukocytes were evaluated. Gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis from alanine were determined in the rat liver in isolated perfusion. The AN + IB (62.5 + 8.75 mg/kg) treatment exerted an inhibitory effect on inflammatory parameters and partially prevented hepatic metabolic changes that was similar to the effect of high-dose IB (35 mg/kg) and AN (250 mg/kg) treatment. This effect of the treatments on hepatic metabolism can be, partly at least, explained by the preservation of both the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and the cytosolic NADH/NAD⁺ redox potential in the liver. Taken together, the data obtained provided evidence that the AN + IB combination at lower doses than AN and IB treatment alone had beneficial inhibitory potential for the treatment of AIA and attenuated metabolic changes in the liver. Graphical Abstract.

Evaluation of the Effect of Foeniculum vulgare on the Expression of E-Cadherin, Dysadherin and Ki-67 in BALB/C Mice with 4T1 Model of Breast Cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer is described as a serious disease and one of the important factors of cancer-related deaths. Considering the drug resistance, special attention has been paid to natural compounds. This study aimed at evaluating the anti-metastatic activity of fennel in a breast cancer mouse model.Methods: A total of 28 adult female BALB/C mice were used in this study. Breast cancer was induced by subcutaneous injection of 4T1 cells in the right lower flank. The mice received fennel extracts daily via intraperitoneal injection for two weeks. Meanwhile, tumor volume was measured every day using calipers. After two weeks, each animal was anesthetized. The expression levels of ki-67 and dysadherin as tumor markers, as well as E-cadherin as a tumor suppressor, were measured in tumor tissue and ovary. Also the expression of her2 was measured in ovary.Results: Tumor size significantly decreased after nine days treatment of the fennel. Fennel treatment caused an increase in the ratio of the expression of E-cadherin to Ki-67 and dysadherin in the tumor tissues. On the other hand, the expression of Ki-67 and HER2 decreased in the ovary.Conclusion: Based on our findings, fennel has anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activities against aggressive cancers.

A Review on the Recent Flavoring Herbal Medicines of Today

Background:

Herbs are the most trending taste enhancers, carrying multiple benefits. Sprinkling them in minute amounts in pasta, salads, sautéed vegetables, curries, fried rice or adding them in dips and sauces can lead to enhanced flavours. The fresh and dried versions serve the same purpose, especially when the fresh ones are not available.

Objective:

The objective of this article is to explore and review trending flavouring herbs of the present era with reference to the knowledge available from previous texts.

Materials and Methods:

A literature review has been performed on various herbs such as dill, cilantro, parsley, chives, mint, oregano, etc, which can be used as healthy and taste enhancing sprinklers and garnishers for foods.

Results:

There are various herbs present in nature in many forms and patterns, some provide anti-inflammatory benefits, are anti-microbial and most of them are digestive in nature.

Conclusion:

These herbs are very rich in phytoconstituents, having multiple properties like anti-oxidant and carminative effects. They are superior as compared to artificial additives as well.

Development of an estrogen-dependent breast cancer co-culture model as a tool for studying endocrine disruptors

We developed an innovative co-culture system composed of Hs578t human mammary stromal-like cells and T47D hormone-dependent breast epithelial tumor cells as a representative in vitro model of the human hormone-dependent mammary tumor microenvironment. Hs578t cells expressed aromatase (CYP19) mainly via the healthy stromal CYP19 promoter I.4, but also to a lesser extent via the breast cancer-relevant promoters PII, I.3 and I.7, and produced estrogens from androgen precursors. These estrogens stimulated T47D cell proliferation and estrogen receptor-dependent expression of trefoil factor-1 (TFF1), which is known to stimulate mammary tumor cell proliferation and migration. Hs578t cells can also undergo a "promoter-switch" where the normally silent CYP19 promoters PII, I.3 and I.7 become activated, which mimics the in vivo situation in human breast cancer patients. This positive feedback loop is the hallmark of the hormone-dependent breast tumor microenvironment. Using the co-culture model we designed, we evaluated the promoter-specific expression of CYP19, expression of estrogen-dependent gene TFF1, and determined the effects exhibited by basil and fennel seed essential oils on steroidogenesis in the tumor microenvironment.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Foeniculum vulgare Mill Essential Oils

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Foeniculum vulgare (F. vulgare) Mill, commonly known as fennel, belongs to the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, biennial or perennial herbs disseminated in Mediterranean region and central Europe. This herbal medicine (HM) is considered as a traditional HM, and its parts have been studied.

METHODS

In this survey, essential oils from seeds collected from three various regions (Kerman, Golestan, and East Azerbaijan Provinces) of Iran were prepared with hydro-distillation and their components were analyzed with gas chromatography (GC) and chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils were examined with disk-diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar and Subaru-dextrose Agar, respectively. Additionally, the MTT assay was assessed on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The expression of apoptosis-related genes, Bax and Bcl2, was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR).

RESULTS

The major fractions of essential oils identified by GC and GC/MS included trans-anethole (78.47%, 49.64%, 78.68%), fenchone (10.5%, 8.4%, and 10.2%), and limonene (5.9%, 6.70%, and 5.6%), respectively. Fennel oil collected from three various places exerted inhibitory effects on the bacterial growth and higher cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cancer cell line. In addition, the essential oil increased the expression of Bax, but decreased Bcl2 gene expression significantly (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

According to our findings, F. vulgare essential oil can be considered as a promising agent opening venues for novel antimicrobial and anticancer therapies. Owing to side effects and expensiveness of chemotherapy approaches, HM is a new remarkable insight for future therapies.

Fabrication of PCL/PVP Electrospun Fibers loaded with Trans-anethole for Bone Regeneration in vitro

Trans-anethole (TA) is a phenolic phytocompound widely used in the food and health sector because of its diverse biological properties. However, its role in the promotion of bone formation is not known. With the enhanced bioavailability of TA, we aimed to determine its effect on osteogenesis; TA at different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 μM) was loaded onto polycaprolactone (PCL)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fibers by the electrospinning technique. The synthesized PCL/PVP + TA fibers were subjected to physiochemical and material characterization. The addition of TA did not have any effect on fiber thickness, swelling, protein adsorption, degradation, or biomineralization. The fibers were compatible with mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs). A sustained release of TA from the fibers promoted osteoblast differentiation at the cellular and molecular levels. Furthermore, the release of TA from fibers up-regulated the expression of Runx2, a bone transcription factor, and its co-activators, which are key molecules for osteoblast differentiation. Thus, these results provide insights into the bioavailability of TA in promoting in vitro osteoblast differentiation and the potential applications of TA in bone regeneration.

mTOR and ROS regulation by anethole on adipogenic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells

Background

Adipocyte differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) is dependent on mitochondrial metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to initiate adipocyte differentiation. Although anethole has been known as an anti-oxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibitor, there is little investigated about its role in adipogenic differentiation.

Methods

The effects on cytotoxicity and proliferation of anethole in hMSCs were measured by the MTT assay. The anti-adipogenic effect of anethole on hMSCs was analyzed by Oil Red O staining and western blot analysis. The anti-oxidant activity of anethole on hMSC was assessed by flowcytometry and fluorescence staining using 2',7' –dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA). The western blotting was used to detect of phospho-Akt, phospho-mTOR, phospho-p70S6K, PPARγ, and phsopho-AMP-activated kinase (AMPK).

Results

Anethole suppressed the adipogenic differentiation of hMSCs through down-regulation of Akt-mTOR-p70S6K-PPARγ and up-regulation of AMPK. Anethole affected oxidative conditions through ROS generation. Anethole also rescued AMPK activity and reduced activation of mTOR-p70S6K-PPARγ under oxidative conditions in presence of exogenous hydrogen peroxide.

Conclusion

ROS and mTOR regulation is a crucial factor in adipogenic differentiation, anethole has an important role in regulating activities of mTOR/PPARγ and ROS control in adipogenic differentiation of hMSCs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12860-018-0163-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Trans-anethole ameliorates obesity via induction of browning in white adipocytes and activation of brown adipocytes

To treat obesity, suppression of white adipose tissue (WAT) expansion and activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) are considered as potential therapeutic targets. Recent advances have been made in the induction of brown fat-like adipocytes (beige) in WAT, which represents an attractive potential strategy for the management and treatment of obesity. Use of natural compounds for browning of white adipocytes can be considered as a safe and novel strategy against obesity. Here, we report that trans-anethole (TA), a flavoring substance present in the essential oils of various plants, alleviated high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice models via elevation of the expression of beige-specific genes such as Ppargc1α, Prdm16, Ucp1, Cd137, Cited1, Tbx1, and Tmem26. TA also regulated lipid metabolism in white adipocytes via reduction of adipogenesis and lipogenesis as well as elevation of lipolysis and fat oxidation. Moreover, TA exhibited thermogenic activity by increasing mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipocytes and activating brown adipocytes. In addition, molecular docking analysis enabled us to successfully predict core proteins for fat browning such as β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) and sirtuin1 (SIRT1) based on their low binding energy interactions with TA for promotion of regulatory mechanisms. Indeed, agonistic and antagonistic studies demonstrated that TA induced browning of 3T3-L1 adipocytes through activation of β3-AR as well as the AMPK-mediated SIRT1 pathway regulating PPARα and PGC-1α. In conclusion, TA possesses potential therapeutic implications for treatment of obesity by playing multiple modulatory roles in the induction of white fat browning, activation of brown adipocytes, and promotion of lipid catabolism.

Chloroform fraction of Foeniculum vulgare induced ROS mediated, mitochondria-caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway in MCF-7, human breast cancer cell line

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Fennel) is one of the most common herbs used in alternative medicines for its varied range of bioactivity. In Ecuador (South America), use of fennel in traditional cancer treatment is on record.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of the present study was to demonstrate the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of chloroform fraction of fennel (CFF) in MCF-7 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Anti-proliferative assay (MTT assay) and colony formation assay were performed to study the growth inhibitory effect of CFF. Various morphological changes of apoptosis were observed using Giemsa, Hoechst and Acridine orange/ ethidium bromide stains in MCF-7 cells. The extent of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest was measured by flow cytometer. Levels of ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by DCFH-DA and JC-1 respectively. Caspases activity was measured by luminescence and DNA fragmentation by comet assay.

RESULTS

CFF appeared as a good inhibitor of growth against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-237 in time- and concentration-dependent manners. All the morphological changes of apoptosis were evident in treatment groups. Annexin V/PI-assay of apoptosis gave around 49% of apoptotic cells upon treatment of 0.5 mg/ml of CFF and PI-stained cells showed the G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Elevated levels of ROS, disrupted mitochondrial membrane, increased levels of caspase-9 & caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation were noted in treated MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed the proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction effect of CFF, which may help in exploring the novel anti-cancer drug for therapeutic implications.

Chronic diseases, inflammation, and spices: how are they linked?

Extensive research within the last several decades has revealed that the major risk factors for most chronic diseases are infections, obesity, alcohol, tobacco, radiation, environmental pollutants, and diet. It is now well established that these factors induce chronic diseases through induction of inflammation. However, inflammation could be either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation persists for a short duration and is the host defense against infections and allergens, whereas the chronic inflammation persists for a long time and leads to many chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, respiratory diseases, etc. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that the aforementioned risk factors induced cancer through chronic inflammation. First, transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 that regulate expression of inflammatory gene products, have been found to be constitutively active in most cancers; second, chronic inflammation such as pancreatitis, prostatitis, hepatitis etc. leads to cancers; third, activation of NF-κB and STAT3 leads to cancer cell proliferation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis; fourth, activation of NF-κB and STAT3 leads to resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, and hypoxia and acidic conditions activate these transcription factors. Therefore, targeting these pathways may provide opportunities for both prevention and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases. We will discuss in this review the potential of various dietary agents such as spices and its components in the suppression of inflammatory pathways and their roles in the prevention and therapy of cancer and other chronic diseases. In fact, epidemiological studies do indicate that cancer incidence in countries such as India where spices are consumed daily is much lower (94/100,000) than those where spices are not consumed such as United States (318/100,000), suggesting the potential role of spices in cancer prevention.

A mechanistic overview of herbal medicine and botanical compounds to target transcriptional factors in Breast cancer

The abnormalities of transcription factors, such as NF-κB, STAT, estrogen receptor, play a critical role in the initiation and progression of breast cancer. Due to the limitation of current treatment, transcription factors could be promising therapeutic targets, which have received close attention. In this review, we introduced herbal medicines, as well as botanical compounds that had been verified with anti-tumor properties via regulating transcription factors. Herbs, compounds, as well as formulae reported with various transcriptional targets, were summarized thoroughly, to provide implication for the future research on basic experiment and clinical application.

Potent Chemopreventive/Antioxidant Activity Detected in Common Spices of the Apiaceae Family

Spices are used worldwide, particularly in the Asian and Middle Eastern countries, and considered protective against degenerative diseases, including cancer. Here, we report the efficacy of aqueous and non-aqueous extracts of 11 Apiaceae spices for free radical-scavenging activity and to inhibit cytochrome P450s in two separate reactions involving: 1) 4-hydroxy-17ß-estradiol (4E2), DNA, and CuCl2 and 2) 17ß-estradiol, rat liver microsomes, cofactors, DNA and CuCl2. Oxidative DNA adducts resulting from redox cycling of 4E2 were analyzed by (32)P-postlabeling. Aqueous (5 mg/ml) and non-aqueous extracts (6 mg/ml) substantially inhibited (83-98%) formation of DNA adducts in the microsomal reaction. However, in nonmicrosomal reaction, only aqueous extracts showed the inhibitory activity (83-96%). Adduct inhibition was also observed at five-fold lower concentrations of aqueous extracts of cumin (60%) and caraway (90%), and 10-fold lower concentrations of carrot seeds (76%) and ajowan (90%). These results suggests the presence of 2 groups of phytochemicals: polar compounds that have free radical-scavenging activity and lipophilic compounds that selectively inhibit P450 activity associated with estrogen metabolism. Because most of these Apiaceae spices are used widely with no known toxicity, the phytochemicals from the Apiaceae spices used in foods may be potentially protective against estrogen-mediated breast cancer.

Antitumor potential of anethole singly and in combination with cyclophosphamide in murine Sarcoma-180 transplantable tumor model

Coupling anethole with cyclophosphamide reduces side effect of the latter and enhances apoptosis–necrosis ratio in murine s-180 tumor model.

Regulation of crosstalk between epithelial to mesenchymal transition molecules and MMP-9 mediates the antimetastatic activity of anethole in DU145 prostate cancer cells

The underlying antimetastatic mechanism of anethole (1) still remains unclear in association with the molecules of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Herein, the role of the EMT molecules was elucidated in terms of the antimetastatic activity of 1 using DU145 cells. Anethole significantly inhibited the adhesion of DU145 cells to vitronectin-coated plates, as well as migration in a wound-healing assay and invasion using a Boyden chamber. Also, anethole suppressed the expression of MMP-9 in DU145 cells by zymography, ELISA, and RT-PCR. Consistently, the silencing of MMP-9 enhanced the activity of 1 to upregulate the expression of E-cadherin and to attenuate the expression of Vimentin in DU145 cells. Compound 1 enhanced E-cadherin, which is an epithelial marker and attenuated the expression of Vimentin, Twist, and Snail as mesenchymal molecules at the mRNA level. Consistently, anethole upregulated E-cadherin and downregulated the expression of Vimentin, Twist and PI3K, and AKT at the protein level in DU145 cells. Conversely, the antimetastatic effects of 1 to inhibit invasion and the expression of MMP-9 and upregulate E-cadherin were reversed by the EMT inducer TGF-β in DU145 cells. Overall, the present findings suggest that anethole exerts antimetastatic activity via regulation of crosstalk between EMT molecules and MMP-9 on the basis of the in vitro data obtained.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of anethole-rich oil from leaves of selected varieties of fennel [Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ssp. vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell]

The chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oils obtained from the leaves of two different cultivars of Florence fennel cropped under three different fertilization treatments (Control not fertilized; Mineral Fertilization; Compost from Municipal Solid Wastes) have been analyzed. All the oils were characterized by high anethole concentration and some showed also a good percentage of limonene. Thus, the leaves of Florence fennel, which are agricultural wastes, could be used for the recovery of anethole to be used for its flavoring and biomedical properties. The antimicrobial activity expressed by assays on the examined oils indicates an appreciable effect, generally higher on Gram-positive bacteria. The various samples of Florence fennel analyzed did not show any results with FRAP test. The DPPH test showed a weak capacity of the samples to catch the free radicals from the solution, attributable to their content in anethole.