Cleistopholine isolated from Enicosanthellum pulchrum exhibits apoptogenic properties in human ovarian cancer cells

The role of nanomaterials in enhancing natural product translational potential and modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer, and particularly its most frequent type, epithelial ovarian carcinoma, constitutes one of the most dangerous malignant tumors among females. Substantial evidence has described the potential of phytochemicals against ovarian cancer. The effect of natural compounds on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is of great relevance in this regard. In ovarian cancer, the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER lumen results in decompensated ER stress. This leads to deregulation in the physiological processes for the posttranslational modification of proteins, jeopardizes cellular homeostasis, and increases apoptotic signaling. Several metabolites and metabolite extracts of phytochemical origin have been studied in the context of ER stress in ovarian cancer. Resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, fucosterol, cleistopholine, fucoidan, and epicatechin gallate, among others, have shown inhibitory potential against ER stress. The chemical structure of each compound plays an important role concerning its pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and overall effectiveness. Studying and cross-comparing the chemical features that render different phytochemicals effective in eliciting particular anti-ER stress actions can help improve drug design or develop multipotent combination regimens. Many studies have also investigated the properties of formulations such as nanoparticles, niosomes, liposomes, and intravenous hydrogel based on curcumin and quercetin along with some other phytomolecules in ovarian cancer. Overall, the potential of phytochemicals in targeting genetic mechanisms of ovarian cancer warrants further translational and clinical investigation.

Microwave-Assisted Three-Component Synthesis of Novel N-Arylated-Dihydrobenzo[g]quinoline-5,10-Diones and Their Potential Cytotoxic Activity

A convenient three-component synthetic approach was developed en route to new and significative N-arylated-dihydrobenzo[g]quinoline-5,10-diones using 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, a variety of aromatic aldehydes, and 4-(arylamino)furan-2(5H)-ones. A sequence of steps including Knoevenagel condensation, Michael addition, [1,3]-hydrogen shift, intramolecular cyclization and dehydration led to the formation of products. All the products were structurally characterized by spectroscopic techniques and assessed in terms of their cytotoxicity profile against four cancer cell lines (KB, HepG2, A549, and MCF7), and human embryonic kidney (Hek-293) cell lines.

Synthesis and activities of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors can be divided into two categories: acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors and butylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitors. Therefore, the development of selective inhibition of AChE and BuChE activities is the central content of ChE pharmacochemistry research. In order to clarify the progress of AChE inhibitor-based design, synthesis, and activity studies, we reviewed the pharmacochemical and pharmacological properties of selective AChE inhibitors over the past decade. We hope that this review will make it easier for readers to understand the development of new drug chemistry methods for AChE inhibitors in order to develop more effective and selective AChE inhibitors.

Anti-Infective and Anti-Cancer Properties of the Annona Species: Their Ethnomedicinal Uses, Alkaloid Diversity, and Pharmacological Activities

Annona species have been a valuable source of anti-infective and anticancer agents. However, only limited evaluations of their alkaloids have been carried out. This review collates and evaluates the biological data from extracts and purified isolates for their anti-infective and anti-cancer activities. An isoquinoline backbone is a major structural alkaloid moiety of the Annona genus, and more than 83 alkaloids have been isolated from this genus alone. Crude extracts of Annona genus are reported with moderate activities against Plasmodium falciparum showing larvicidal activities. However, no pure compounds from the Annona genus were tested against the parasite. The methanol extract of Annona muricata showed apparent antimicrobial activities. The isolated alkaloids from this genus including liriodenine, anonaine, asimilobine showed sensitivity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Other alkaloids such as (+)-Xylopine and isocoreximine indicated significant anti-cancer activity against A549 and K-562 cell lines, respectively. This review revealed that the alkaloids from Annona genus are rich in structural diversity and pharmacological activities. Further exploration of this genus and their alkaloids has potential for developing novel anti-infective and anticancer drugs.

Comparison of Anticancer Activity and HPLC-DAD Determination of Selected Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Thalictrum foetidum, Berberis sp. and Chelidonium majus Extracts

Background: Plants are an important origin of natural substances that the raw material for various pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications due to the presence of phytochemicals, such as alkaloids. Alkaloids, which are found in different plant species, possess numerous biological activities. Some alkaloids have strong cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells. The search for new drugs to treat various cancers is one of the most important challenges of modern scientific research. Objective: This study aimed to investigate of cytotoxic activity of extracts that were obtained from Chelidonium Majus; Berberis sp.; Thalictrum foetidum containing various alkaloids on selected cancer cell lines. The aim was also the quantification of selected alkaloids in the investigated extracts by HPLC. Methods: The analysis of alkaloids contents were performed while using HPLC in reversed phase (RP) mode using Polar RP column and mobile phase containing acetonitrile, water, and ionic liquid. The cytotoxic effect of the tested plant extracts and respective alkaloids' standards were examined while using human pharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells (FaDu), human tongue squamous carcinoma cells (SCC-25), human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7), and human triple-negative breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231). Conclusion: All of the investigated plant extracts possess cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines: FaDu, SCC-25, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231. The highest cytotoxic activity against FaDu and MDA-MB-231 cells was observed for Chelidonium majus root extract, while the highest cytotoxic activity against SCC-25 and MCF-7 cells was estimated for the Thalictrum foetidum root extract. There obtained significant differences in the cytotoxic activity of extracts that were obtained from the roots and herbs of Chelidonium majus and Thalictrum foetidum. Based on these results, investigated plant extracts can be recommended for further investigations of anticancer activity.

TTB2 induces apoptosis in Ewing sarcoma cells

A steroidal saponin named pennogenin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2) [α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D-glucoyranoside(TTB2) has been successfully separated from the n-BuOH extracts of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim and is able to induce cytotoxicity to some types cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate how this novel saponinin duces cytotoxicity in malignant sarcoma cells and to clarify its molecular mechanisms of action. It was determined this steroidal saponin induced the apoptosis in Rh1 cells and activated caspase-3 and caspase-9. Additionally, it disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential and altered the expression of bax and bcl-2. Thus, the results of present study identified that an anticancer saponin isolated from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim may be developed as a potential novel therapeutic strategy to treat certain types of cancer, including lung cancer and lung sarcoma.

The use of natural compounds for the targeting and chemoprevention of ovarian cancer

Among gynaecological cancers, ovarian cancer represents the leading cause of death in women. Current treatment for ovarian cancer entails surgery followed by combined chemotherapy with platinum and taxane, which are associated, particularly cisplatin, with severe side effects. While this treatment approach appears to be initially effective in a high number of patients, nearly 70% of them suffer a relapse within a few months after initial treatment. Therefore, more effective and better-tolerated treatment options are clearly needed. In recent years, several natural compounds (such as curcumin, epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, sulforaphane and Withaferin-A), characterized by long-term safety and negligible and/or inexistent side effects, have been proposed as possible adjuvants of traditional chemotherapy. Indeed, several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that phytocompounds can effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation, stimulate autophagy, induce apoptosis, and specifically target ovarian cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are generally considered to be responsible for tumor recurrence in several types of cancer. Here we review current literature on the role of natural products in ovarian cancer chemoprevention, highlighting their effects particularly on the regulation of inflammation, autophagy, proliferation and apoptosis, chemotherapy resistance, and ovarian CSC growth.