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Üremis N, Türköz Y, Üremiş MM, Çiğremiş Y, Şalva E. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Investigating EGFR-VEGF-mediated apoptotic effect of cucurbitacin D and I combination with sorafenib via Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:3247. [PMID: 37917368 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02811-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nuray Üremis
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
| | - Yusuf Türköz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Mehdi Üremiş
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Yılmaz Çiğremiş
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Emine Şalva
- Department of Pharmacy Technology, Pharmacy Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
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Üremiş MM, Türköz Y, Üremiş N. Investigation of apoptotic effects of Cucurbitacin D, I, and E mediated by Bax/Bcl-xL, caspase-3/9, and oxidative stress modulators in HepG2 cell line. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22174. [PMID: 38494997 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Cucurbitacins, natural compounds highly abundant in the Cucurbitaceae plant family, are characterized by their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. These compounds have potential as therapeutic agents in the treatment of liver cancer. This study investigated the association of cucurbitacin D, I, and E (CuD, CuI, and CuE) with the caspase cascade, Bcl-2 family, and oxidative stress modulators in the HepG2 cell line. We evaluated the antiproliferative effects of CuD, CuI, and CuE using the MTT assay. We analyzed Annexin V/PI double staining, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, and wound healing assays at different doses of the three compounds. To examine the modulation of the caspase cascade, we determined the protein and gene expression levels of Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase-3, and caspase-9. We evaluated the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), Total, and Native Thiol levels to measure cellular redox status. CuD, CuI, and CuE suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The cucurbitacins induced apoptosis by increasing caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax activity, inhibiting Bcl-xL activation, causing loss of ΔΨm, and suppressing cell migration. Furthermore, cucurbitacins modulated oxidative stress by increasing TOS levels and decreasing SOD, GSH, TAS, and total and native Thiol levels. Our findings suggest that CuD, CuI, and CuE exert apoptotic effects on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line by regulating Bax/Bcl-xL, caspase-3/9 signaling, and causing intracellular ROS increase in HepG2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed Mehdi Üremiş
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Türköz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Nuray Üremiş
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
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Li XS, Wang QL, Xu ZP, Liu MS, Liang XY, Zheng JC, Deng HY, Liu L, Huang YM, Yang MX, Yang XM. Structurally diverse cucurbitane-type triterpenoids from the tubers of Hemsleya chinensis with cytotoxic activity. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2024; 220:114033. [PMID: 38373572 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114033] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Ten previously undescribed cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, namely hemslyencins A-F (1-6) and hemslyencosides A-D (7-10), together with twenty previously reported compounds (11-30), were isolated from the tubers of Hemsleya chinensis. Their structures were elucidated by unambiguous spectroscopic data (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR data). Hemslyencins A and B (1 and 2) possessing unique 9, 11-seco-ring system with a six-membered lactone moiety, were the first examples among of the cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, and hemslyencins C and D (3 and 4) and hemslyencoside D (10) are the infrequent pentacyclic cucurbitane triterpenes featuring a 6/6/6/5/6 fused system. The cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated against MCF-7, HCT-116, HeLa, and HepG2 cancer cells, and their structure-activity relationships (SARs) was discussed as well. Compounds 17, 25, and 26 showed significant cytotoxic effects with IC50 values ranging from 1.31 to 9.89 μM, among which compound 25 induced both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in a dose dependent manner against MCF-7 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-San Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China; Marine Biomedical Research Institute, The Key Lab of Zhanjiang for R&D Marine Microbial Resources in the Beibu Gulf Rim, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, PR China.
| | - Qi-Lin Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China
| | - Zhi-Peng Xu
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China
| | - Ming-Shang Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China
| | - Xiao-Yan Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China; Marine Biomedical Research Institute, The Key Lab of Zhanjiang for R&D Marine Microbial Resources in the Beibu Gulf Rim, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, PR China
| | - Jia-Chon Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China
| | - Hong-Yao Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China
| | - Li Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China; Dongguan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research of Anti-inflammatory Ingredients in Chinese Medicine, Dongguan, 523808, PR China
| | - Yong-Mei Huang
- Marine Biomedical Research Institute, The Key Lab of Zhanjiang for R&D Marine Microbial Resources in the Beibu Gulf Rim, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524023, PR China
| | - Mao-Xun Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China.
| | - Xue-Mei Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China.
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Üremi Ş N, Üremi Ş MM, Gül M, Özsoy EN, Türköz Y. Protective effects of vitamin E against acrylamide-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity from fetal development to adulthood: Insights into Akt/NF-κB and Bcl-xL/Bax signaling pathways. Toxicology 2024; 502:153729. [PMID: 38242491 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Acrylamide (ACR), a toxin present in fried and baked carbohydrate-rich foods, is known to cause liver and kidney damage. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis that contribute to liver and kidney damage induced by chronic administration of ACR. Additionally, the effectiveness of vitamin E in mitigating these toxic effects was examined. The study initially involved dividing 40 pregnant rats into four groups. After lactation, the research continued with male offspring rats from each group. The offspring rats were divided into Control, Vitamin E, ACR, and ACR + Vitamin E groups. Following ACR administration, liver and kidney function tests were performed on serum samples. Biochemical analyses, evaluation of inflammation markers, histopathological examination, and assessment of protein levels of Akt/IκBα/NF-κB, Bax, Bcl-xL, and Caspase-9 were conducted on liver and kidney tissues. The analysis demonstrated that ACR adversely affected liver and kidney function, resulting in oxidative stress, increased inflammation, and elevated apoptotic markers. Conversely, administration of vitamin E positively impacted these parameters, restoring them to control levels. Based on the results, the mechanism of ACR's action on oxidative stress and inflammation-induced liver and kidney damage may be associated with the activation of apoptotic markers such as Bax and Caspase-9, as well as the Akt/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway. Consequently, the protective properties of vitamin E establish it as an essential vitamin for the prevention or mitigation of various ACR-induced damages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuray Üremi Ş
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | | | - Mehmet Gül
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Eda Nur Özsoy
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Türköz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
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Üremiş MM, Gürel E, Aslan M, Taşlıdere E. Dexpanthenol protects against nicotine-induced kidney injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis through activation of the AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:1105-1114. [PMID: 37606756 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02671-7] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Dexpanthenol (DEX), a subtype of vitamin B5, plays an important role in anabolic reactions, cellular energy and regeneration in the body. Nicotine has been shown to induce kidney damage through the mechanisms of oxidative stress and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential protective effects of DEX against nicotine-induced kidney damage through modulation of the AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Male rats were intraperitoneally administered with 0.5 mg/kg/day nicotine and/or 500 mg/kg/day DEX for 8 weeks. Following administration, renal function tests were conducted on serum samples, and histopathological examinations and analysis of oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes were performed on tissue samples. Protein levels of Akt, Nrf-2, HO-1, Bcl-xL, and Caspase-9 were also evaluated. Nicotine administration resulted in decreased protein levels of p-Akt, Nrf-2, HO-1, and Bcl-xL and increased Caspase-9 protein levels. In addition, nicotine administration caused an increase in MDA, TOS, and OSI levels and a decrease in GSH, GSH-Px, GST, CAT, SOD, and TAS levels. Additionally, BUN and Creatinine levels increased after nicotine administration. DEX administration positively regulated these parameters and brought them closer to control levels. Nicotine-induced kidney injury caused apoptosis and oxidative stress through Caspase-9 activation. DEX effectively prevented nicotine-induced kidney damage by increasing intracellular antioxidant levels and regulating apoptosis through Bcl-xL activation. These findings suggest that DEX has potential as a protective agent against nicotine-induced kidney damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed Mehdi Üremiş
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
| | - Elif Gürel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Meral Aslan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Elif Taşlıdere
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
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Wu Y, Zhang F, Xu P, Li P. Brucine Inhibits Proliferation of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through PI3K/AKT Pathway-induced Mitochondrial Apoptosis. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2024; 24:749-759. [PMID: 38310464 DOI: 10.2174/0115680096274284231116104554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this research was to settle the role of brucine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the mechanisms involved. METHODS The findings of this study suggest that brucine exerts inhibitory effects on cell growth, clonogenicity, and invasive potential of Panc02 and Mia Paca-2 cells. These effects may be linked to an increase in apoptotic-prone cell population. RESULTS Gene sequencing data suggests that these effects are mediated through the induction of apoptosis. Experimental evidence further supports the notion that brucine reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and upregulates Bax expression while downregulating Bcl-2 expression. These effects are believed to be a result of brucine-mediated suppression of PI3K/Akt activity, which serves as a regulatory factor of mTOR, Bax, and Bcl-2. Suppression of PI3K activity enhances the tumor-suppressing effects of brucine. CONCLUSION Overall, these findings suggest that brucine has therapeutic potential as a remedy option for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Wu
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fenglin Zhang
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Panling Xu
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ping Li
- Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Zieniuk B, Pawełkowicz M. Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents. Metabolites 2023; 13:1081. [PMID: 37887406 PMCID: PMC10608718 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the Cucurbitaceae family. These bitter-tasting compounds act primarily as defense mechanisms against external injuries, and thus against herbivores, and furthermore, they have also found use in folk medicine in the treatment of various diseases. Many studies have acknowledged significant biological activities of cucurbitacins, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antimicrobial properties, or antitumor potential. Overall, cucurbitacins have the ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the anticancer activity of varied cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins offer a promising avenue for future cancer treatment strategies, and their diverse mechanisms of action make them attractive candidates for further investigation. The aim of the present study is to shed light on the chemical diversity of this group of compounds by providing the sources of origin of selected compounds and their chemical structure, as well as insight into their anticancer potential. In addition, within this paper molecular targets for cucurbitacins and signalling pathways important for cancer cell proliferation and/or survival that are affected by the described class of compounds have been presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Zieniuk
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Pawełkowicz
- Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
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