Induction of apoptosis by esculetin in human leukemia U937 cells through activation of JNK and ERK

Esculetin unveiled: Decoding its anti-tumor potential through molecular mechanisms-A comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

The growing complexity of cancer has made it a significant concern in the medical community. Although cancer research has advanced, it is still challenging to create new effective medications due to the limitations and side effects of existing treatment strategies. These are enforcing the development of some alternative drugs from natural compounds with fewer drawbacks and side effects.

AIM

Therefore, this review aims to provide up-to-date, crucial, and all-encompassing data on esculetin's anticancer activity, including all relevant molecular and cellular processes based on in vivo and in vitro investigations.

RESULTS

According to the literature review, esculetin is available in nature and is effective against 16 different types of cancer. The general mechanism shown by esculetin is modulating signaling cascades and its related pathways, like cell proliferation, cell growth, autophagy, apoptosis, necrosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, metastasis, invasion, and DNA damage. Nanoformulation of esculetin improves this natural product's efficacy by improving water solubility. Esculetin's synergistic effects with both natural substances and conventional treatments have been shown, and this method aids in reversing resistance mechanisms by modulating resistance-related proteins. In addition, it has fewer side effects on humans than other phytochemicals and standard drugs with some good pharmacokinetic features.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, until standard chemotherapeutics are available in pharmaceutical markets, esculetin should be used as a therapeutic drug against various cancer types.

Therapeutic Potential of Phenolic Compounds in Medicinal Plants-Natural Health Products for Human Health

Phenolic compounds and flavonoids are potential substitutes for bioactive agents in pharmaceutical and medicinal sections to promote human health and prevent and cure different diseases. The most common flavonoids found in nature are anthocyanins, flavones, flavanones, flavonols, flavanonols, isoflavones, and other sub-classes. The impacts of plant flavonoids and other phenolics on human health promoting and diseases curing and preventing are antioxidant effects, antibacterial impacts, cardioprotective effects, anticancer impacts, immune system promoting, anti-inflammatory effects, and skin protective effects from UV radiation. This work aims to provide an overview of phenolic compounds and flavonoids as potential and important sources of pharmaceutical and medical application according to recently published studies, as well as some interesting directions for future research. The keyword searches for flavonoids, phenolics, isoflavones, tannins, coumarins, lignans, quinones, xanthones, curcuminoids, stilbenes, cucurmin, phenylethanoids, and secoiridoids medicinal plant were performed by using Web of Science, Scopus, Google scholar, and PubMed. Phenolic acids contain a carboxylic acid group in addition to the basic phenolic structure and are mainly divided into hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids. Hydroxybenzoic acids are based on a C6-C1 skeleton and are often found bound to small organic acids, glycosyl moieties, or cell structural components. Common hydroxybenzoic acids include gallic, syringic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, gentistic, and salicylic acids. Hydroxycinnamic acids are based on a C6-C3 skeleton and are also often bound to other molecules such as quinic acid and glucose. The main hydroxycinnamic acids are caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic acids.

Esculetin has therapeutic potential via the proapoptotic signaling pathway in A253 human submandibular salivary gland tumor cells

Esculetin is a natural lactone that is commonly derived from coumarins. According to previous experiments using human cancer cells, esculetin has potent antitumor activity; it also inhibits proliferation and induces the apoptosis of cancer cells. In the present study, the anti-proliferative effect of esculetin on the submandibular salivary gland tumor cell line, A253, was evaluated via in vitro and in vivo analyses. Furthermore, the anti-cancer effects of esculetin in A253 cells and a xenograft model of salivary gland tumors were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and TUNEL assay, apoptosis protein array, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Esculetin (50-150 µM) was demonstrated to have an anti-proliferative effect in the A253 cell line in vitro; this observed effect was dependent on the dose and duration of treatment. Esculetin also increased the levels of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved-9 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase apoptosis-related proteins, and decreased the expression levels of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic protein. With respect to apoptosis regulation, esculetin significantly decreased the proliferation of tumor cells in a xenograft model (100 mg/kg/day) for 18 days. Overall, esculetin could be a potential oral anticancer drug against salivary gland cancer.

Artemisia scoparia and Metabolic Health: Untapped Potential of an Ancient Remedy for Modern Use

Botanicals have a long history of medicinal use for a multitude of ailments, and many modern pharmaceuticals were originally isolated from plants or derived from phytochemicals. Among these, artemisinin, first isolated from Artemisia annua, is the foundation for standard anti-malarial therapies. Plants of the genus Artemisia are among the most common herbal remedies across Asia and Central Europe. The species Artemisia scoparia (SCOPA) is widely used in traditional folk medicine for various liver diseases and inflammatory conditions, as well as for infections, fever, pain, cancer, and diabetes. Modern in vivo and in vitro studies have now investigated SCOPA's effects on these pathologies and its ability to mitigate hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress, obesity, diabetes, and other disease states. This review focuses on the effects of SCOPA that are particularly relevant to metabolic health. Indeed, in recent years, an ethanolic extract of SCOPA has been shown to enhance differentiation of cultured adipocytes and to share some properties of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of insulin-sensitizing agonists of the adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ. In a mouse model of diet-induced obesity, SCOPA diet supplementation lowered fasting insulin and glucose levels, while inducing metabolically favorable changes in adipose tissue and liver. These observations are consistent with many lines of evidence from various tissues and cell types known to contribute to metabolic homeostasis, including immune cells, hepatocytes, and pancreatic beta-cells. Compounds belonging to several classes of phytochemicals have been implicated in these effects, and we provide an overview of these bioactives. The ongoing global epidemics of obesity and metabolic disease clearly require novel therapeutic approaches. While the mechanisms involved in SCOPA's effects on metabolic, anti-inflammatory, and oxidative stress pathways are not fully characterized, current data support further investigation of this plant and its bioactives as potential therapeutic agents in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and many other conditions.

Esculetin Inhibits Cancer Cell Glycolysis by Binding Tumor PGK2, GPD2, and GPI

Glycolysis can improve the tolerance of tissue cells to hypoxia, and its intermediates provide raw materials for the synthesis and metabolism of the tumor cells. If it can inhibit the activity of glycolysis-related enzymes and control the energy metabolism of tumor, it can be targeted for the treatment of malignant tumor. The target proteins phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK2), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD2), and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) were screened by combining transcriptome, proteomics, and reverse docking. We detected the binding constant of the active compound using microscale thermophoresis (MST). It was found that esculetin bound well with three potential target proteins. Esculetin significantly inhibited the rate of glycolysis, manifested by differences of cellular lactate production and glucose consumption in HepG2 cells with or without esculetin. It was found that GPD2 bound strongly to GPI, revealing the direct interaction between the two glycolysis-related proteins. Animal tests have further demonstrated that esculetin may have anticancer effects by affecting the activity of PGK2, GPD2, and GPI. The results of this study demonstrated that esculetin can affect the glucose metabolism by binding to glycolytic proteins, thus playing an anti-tumor role, and these proteins which have direct interactions are potential novel targets for tumor treatment by esculetin.

Esculetin inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Esculetin, the main active ingredient in the Chinese herbal medicineCortex Fraxini, has been shown to possess antitumor activity. However, the effect of esculetin on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has not been investigated.

METHODS

MTS assays and colony formation assays were used to study the cytotoxicity of esculetin. The effects of esculetin on cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect cell cycle-, apoptosis-, and EMT-related proteins. Wound-healing assays and transwell assays were performed to study the effect of esculetin on cell migration and invasion in the ccRCC cell lines 786-O and SN12-PM6.

RESULTS

Esculetin exerted cytotoxic activities in 786-O and SN12-PM6 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The compound arrested the cell cycle in G0/G1 and G2/M phase with down-regulation of Cyclin D1, CDK4, CDK6, and c-Myc expression. Esculetin also induced apoptosis and the expression of cleaved caspase 3 increased. Additionally, esculetin significantly inhibited 786-O and SN12-PM6 cell migration and invasion, the expression of E-Cadherin increased, and the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin decreased.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these results suggest that esculetin inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC and is a potential novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of ccRCC.

Phytochemicals in Anticancer Drug Development

BACKGROUND

In spite of major technological advances in conventional therapies, cancer continues to remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Phytochemicals are gradually emerging as a rich source of effective but safer agents against many life-threatening diseases.

METHODS

Various phytochemicals with reported anticancer activity have been simply categorized into major phytoconstituents- alkaloids, polyphenols, saponins, tannins and terpenoids.

RESULTS

The adverse effects associated with currently available anticancer medications may be overcome by using plant-derived compounds either alone or in combination. Exploration of plant kingdom may provide new leads for the accelerated development of new anticancer agents.

CONCLUSION

Although numerous potent synthetic drugs have been introduced for cancer chemotherapy, yet their serious toxicity concerns to normal cells apart from drug resistance have emerged as the major obstacles for their clinical utility over a prolonged duration of time. Current status and potential of phytochemicals and their derivatives in cancer therapy have been briefly reviewed in the present manuscript.

Different roles of Nrf2 and NFKB in the antioxidant imbalance produced by esculetin or quercetin on NB4 leukemia cells

Esculetin (6,7-dihydrocoumarin) and the flavonoid quercetin (3,5,7,3',4' pentahydroxyflavone) are compounds that could change the balance of redox homeostasis. NB4 leukemia cells were treated with 25 μM quercetin for 24 h and with esculetin at either 100 or 500 μM for different times. Quercetin increased the levels of pro-inflammatory NFkB p65 in the nucleus correspondingly reducing them in the cytosol. The levels of NFkB p65 decreased in the nucleus at high esculetin concentration treatments for long times (19 h), concomitantly increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory NFkB p50 in the nucleus. This could suggest formation of inhibitory p50 homodimers possibly related with anti-inflammatory response. Lipoxygenase expression was reduced either by esculetin or quercetin. A significant increase of Nrf2 in the nucleus of NB4 cells treated with 100 μM esculetin for 19 h was observed. Quercetin increased the levels of Nrf2 in the cytosol reducing them in the nucleus. Superoxide dismutase expression increased in NB4 cells treated with esculetin in contrast with quercetin. All these data support a relevant differential role for NFkB and Nrf2 in anti-inflammatory and redox response when apoptosis was induced by esculetin or quercetin in human leukemia NB4 cells.

Mitochondria-Targeting Small Molecules Effectively Prevent Cardiotoxicity Induced by Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for the treatment of numerous cancers. However, the clinical use of Dox is limited by its unwanted cardiotoxicity. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. To mitigate Dox-related cardiotoxicity, considerable successful examples of a variety of small molecules that target mitochondria to modulate Dox-induced cardiotoxicity have appeared in recent years. Here, we review the related literatures and discuss the evidence showing that mitochondria-targeting small molecules are promising cardioprotective agents against Dox-induced cardiac events.

Esculetin Inhibits the Survival of Human Prostate Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis and Arresting the Cell Cycle

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most important causes of death in men and thus new therapeutic approaches are needed. In this study, antiproliferative and anti-migration properties of a coumarin derivative esculetin were evaluated.

Methods

Human PCa cell lines PC3, DU145, and LNCaP were treated with various concentrations of esculetin for 24 to 72 hours, and cell viability was determined by the MTT test. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by using cell-based cytometer. Gene expression levels were assessed by reverse transcription and quantitative real-time PCR, cell migration was determined by the wound healing assay. The protein expression was measured by Western blotting.

Results

Esculetin inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell migration was inhibited by esculetin treatment. Administration of esculetin significantly reduced the cells survival, induced apoptosis and caused the G1 phase cell cycle arrest shown by image-based cytometer. The induced expression of cytochrome c, p53, p21 and p27, and down-regulated CDK2 and CDK4 may be the underlying molecular mechanisms of esculetin effect. Esculetin suppressed phosphorylation of Akt and enhanced protein expression of tumor-suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue.

Conclusions

Our findings showed that the coumarin derivative esculetin could be used in the management of PCa. However, further in vivo research is needed.

Esculetin Attenuates the Growth of Lung Cancer by Downregulating Wnt Targeted Genes and Suppressing NF-κB

INTRODUCTION

Esculetin was identified to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis or cell cycle arrest in several cancer cell lines. However, the effect of esculetin on lung cancer remains elusive.

METHODS

The anti-proliferative role of esculetin in murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays. BALB/c mice were subcutaneously injected with LLC cells to investigate the inhibitory effect of esculetin on the growth of lung cancer xenograft. Invasive ability was detected in esculetin treated and untreated LLC cells by transwell assay. The association between esculetin and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as well as nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), was confirmed by testing the expression of c-myc, Cyclin D1 and NF-κB using Western blot.

RESULTS

Esculetin treatment in LLC cells led to significant decrease of cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After injection of LLC cells into mice, reduced size and weight of tumors were observed in esculetin treated mice compared to untreated mice. However, no difference in cell invasion was observed between the treated and untreated LLC cells. Notably decreased expression of c-myc, Cyclin D1 and NF-κB were observed in LLC cells with esculetin treatment compared to untreated cells.

CONCLUSION

Esculetin plays an inhibitory role in the growth of lung cancer by down-regulating c-myc, Cyclin D1 and NF-κB.

Synthesis of umbelliferone derivatives in Escherichia coli and their biological activities

BACKGROUND

Umbelliferone, also known as 7-hydroxycoumarin, is a phenolic metabolite found in many familiar plants. Its derivatives have been shown to have various pharmacological and chemo-preventive effects on human health. A uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase YjiC from Bacillus licheniformis DSM 13, a cytochrome P450BM3 (CYP450 BM3) variant namely mutant 13 (M13) from Bacillus megaterium, and an O-methyltransferase from Streptomyces avermitilis (SaOMT2) were used for modifications of umbelliferone.

RESULTS

Three umbelliferone derivatives (esculetin, skimmin, and herniarin) were generated through enzymatic and whole cell catalysis. To improve the efficiencies of biotransformation, different media, incubation time and concentration of substrate were optimized and the production was scaled up using a 3-L fermentor. The maximum yields of esculetin, skimmin, and herniarin were 337.10 μM (67.62%), 995.43 μM (99.54%), and 37.13 μM (37.13%), respectively. The water solubility of esculetin and skimmin were 1.28-folds and 3.98-folds as high as umbelliferone, respectively, whereas herniarin was 1.89-folds less soluble than umbelliferone. Moreover, the antibacterial and anticancer activities of herniarin showed higher than umbelliferone, esculetin and skimmin.

CONCLUSIONS

This study proves that both native and engineered enzymes could be employed for the production of precious compounds via whole cell biocatalysis. We successfully produced three molecules herniarin, esculetin and skimmin in practical amounts and their antibacterial and anticancer properties were accessed. One of the newly synthesized molecules the present research suggests that the combinatorial biosynthesis of different biosynthetic enzymes could rapidly promote to a novel secondary metabolite.

Esculetin Neutralises Cytotoxicity of t-BHP but Not of H2O2 on Human Leukaemia NB4 Cells

The coumarin esculetin shows antioxidant action on some cell types, both by scavenging ROS and by decreasing ROS production. We have previously demonstrated the induction of apoptosis by esculetin on NB4 human leukaemia cells by an ill-defined mechanism related to ROS levels. In this work, we analyze the effect of the simultaneous treatment with esculetin and two oxidants to observe the early events in the mechanism of esculetin-induced apoptosis. Our results show that, from the early time of 15 min, esculetin acts synergistically with H₂O₂ to decrease cell viability and metabolic activity and to increase apoptosis in NB4 cells. In contrast, the early oxidative effects of t-BHP are neutralised by esculetin, protecting human leukaemia NB4 cells from apoptosis. Esculetin seems to restrict the increase in peroxides caused by H₂O₂ or t-BHP in the time interval analyzed. These results contribute to a better understanding of the cytotoxic effect caused by esculetin on NB4 cells. At the same time, the early neutralisation of exogenous oxidants could be of interest to prevent diseases related to oxidative stress imbalance.

Esculetin induces antiproliferative and apoptotic response in pancreatic cancer cells by directly binding to KEAP1

BACKGROUND

A handful of studies have exploited antitumor potential of esculetin, a dihydroxy coumarine derivative; the targets to which it binds and the possible downstream mechanism for its cytotoxicity in cancer cells remain to be elucidated. Using pancreatic cancer cell lines as a model system, herein the study was initiated to check the efficacy of esculetin in inhibiting growth of these cancer cells, to decipher mechanism of its action and to predict its direct binding target protein.

METHODS

The cytotoxicity of esculetin was determined in PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2 and AsPC-1 cell lines; followed by an inspection of intracellular levels of ROS and its associated transcription factor, p65-NF-κB. The interaction between transcription factor, Nrf2 and its regulator KEAP1 was studied in the presence and absence of esculetin. The effect of Nrf2 on gene expression of antioxidant response element pathway was monitored by real time PCR. Thereafter, potential binding target of esculetin was predicted through molecular docking and then confirmed in vitro.

RESULTS

Esculetin treatment in all three pancreatic cancer cell lines resulted in significant growth inhibition with G1-phase cell cycle arrest and induction of mitochondrial dependent apoptosis through activation of caspases 3, 8 and 9. A notable decrease was observed in intracellular ROS and protein levels of p65-NF-κB in PANC-1 cells on esculetin treatment. Antioxidant response regulator Nrf2 has been reportedly involved in crosstalk with NF-κB. Interaction between Nrf2 and KEAP1 was found to be lost upon esculetin treatment in PANC-1 and MIA Paca-2 cells. Nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and an upregulation of expression of Nrf2 regulated gene NQO1, observed on esculetin treatment in PANC-1 further supported the activation of Nrf2. To account for the loss of Nrf2-KEAP1 interaction on esculetin treatment, direct binding potential between esculetin and KEAP1 was depicted in silico using molecular docking studies. Pull down assay using esculetin conjugated sepharose beads confirmed the binding between esculetin and KEAP1.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose that esculetin binds to KEAP1 and inhibits its interaction with Nrf2 in pancreatic cancer cells. This thereby promotes nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 in PANC-1 cells that induces antiproliferative and apoptotic response possibly by attenuating NF-κB.

Metabolic profile of esculin in rats by ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Esculin, a coumarin derivative found in Fraxinus rhynchophylla, has been reported to possess multiple biological activities. This present study is designed to investigate the metabolic profile of esculin in vivo based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS) for the first time. After oral administration of esculin (100 mg/kg) for rats, plasma, urine, feces and bile samples were collected to screen metabolites. As a result, a total of 19 metabolites (10 phase I metabolites and 9 phase II metabolites) were found and identified. Results showed that metabolic pathways of esculin included hydrolysis, dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, methylation, dehydrogenation, glucuronidation, sulfation, and glycine conjugation. It was also found that after oral administration of esculin, the esculin could be metabolized to esculetin in vivo via deglycosylation, and esculetin was found in all biological samples. This study also laid solid basis for in-depth development of esculin and provided important information for clarifying the biotransformation process of esculin in vivo.

Esculetin induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells through a cyclophilin D-mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore associated with ROS

Esculetin is a coumarin derivative from natural plants that has been commonly used as a folk medicine and has been reported to have beneficial pharmacological and biochemical activities; however, the mechanism by which esculetin prevents human gastric cancer cell growth is still largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of esculetin on human gastric cancer cells and explored the cell death mechanism. Our data indicated that esculetin inhibited the growth of human gastric cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner and apoptosis was the main cause of decreased cell viability in esculetin-treated cells. Additionally, esculetin treatment increased the activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and resulted in the appearance of the PARP cleavage product; and esculetin-induced cell death and apoptosis was decreased by pretreatment with CsA and NAC, but not BA; these results demonstrate that esculetin induced apoptosis via the caspase-dependent mitochondrial pathway in human gastric cancer cells in which cyclophilin D mediated the cytotoxic action by triggering the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore; and the generation of ROS not only was a consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction, but also triggered esculetin-induced apoptosis. These results reveal a novel mechanism of esculetin on gastric cancer cells and suggest that esculetin could be a novel agent in the treatment of gastric cancer.

ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF WYOMING BIG SAGEBRUSH (ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA SSP. WYOMINGENSIS) VARIES SPATIALLY AND IS NOT RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF A SAGEBRUSH DIETARY SPECIALIST

Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) in North America is an abundant native plant species that is ecologically and evolutionarily adapted to have a diverse array of biologically active chemicals. Several of these chemicals, specifically polyphenols, have antioxidant activity that may act as biomarkers of biotic or abiotic stress. This study investigated the spatial variation of antioxidant capacity, as well as the relationship between a mammalian herbivore and antioxidant capacity in Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis). We quantified and compared total polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts from sagebrush plants from different spatial scales and at different levels of browsing by a specialist mammalian herbivore, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). We found that antioxidant capacity of sagebrush extracts was positively correlated with total polyphenol content. Antioxidant capacity varied spatially within and among plants. Antioxidant capacity in sagebrush was not related to either browsing intensity or duration of association with rabbits. We propose that the patterns of antioxidant capacity observed in sagebrush may be a result of spatial variation in abiotic stress experienced by sagebrush. Antioxidants could therefore provide a biomarker of environmental stress for sagebrush that could aid in management and conservation of this plant in the threatened sagebrush steppe.

UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases 1A6 and 1A9 are the Major Isozymes Responsible for the 7-O-Glucuronidation of Esculetin and 4-Methylesculetin in Human Liver Microsomes

Esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin, ET) and 4-methylesculetin (6,7-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, 4-ME) are typical coumarin derivatives that are attracting considerable attention because of their wide spectrum of biologic activities, but their metabolism remains unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the in vitro UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) metabolism characteristics of ET and 4-ME. 7-O-monoglucuronide esculetin (ET-G) and 7-O-monoglucuronide 4-methylesculetin (4-ME-G) were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)HNMR) when ET or 4-ME was incubated with human liver (HLM) in the presence of UDP-glucuronic acid. Screening assays with 12 human expressed UGTs demonstrated that the formations of ET-G and 4-ME-G were almost exclusively catalyzed by UGT1A6 and UGT1A9. Phenylbutazone and carvacrol (UGT1A6 and UGT1A9 chemical inhibitors, respectively) at different concentrations (50, 100, and 200 μM) significantly inhibited the formation of glucuronidates of ET and 4-ME in HLM, UGT1A6, and UGT1A9 when the concentrations of ET and 4-ME ranged from 10 to 300 μM (P < 0.05). Clearance rates of ET in HLM, HIM, UGT1A6, and UGT1A9 were 0.54, 0.16, 0.69, and 0.14 ml/min/mg, respectively. Corresponding clearance rates values of 4-ME were 0.59, 0.03, 0.14, and 0.04 ml/min/mg, respectively. In conclusion, 7-O-monoglucuronidation by UGT1A6 and UGT1A9 was the predominant UGT metabolic pathway for both ET and 4-ME in vitro. The liver is probably the major contributor to the glucuronidation metabolism of ET and 4-ME. ET showed more rapid metabolism than 4-ME in glucuronidation.

Plant derived and dietary phenolic antioxidants: anticancer properties

In this paper, a review of the literature on the phenolic compounds with anticancer activity published between 2008 and 2012 is presented. In this overview only phenolic antioxidant compounds that display significant anticancer activity have been described. In the first part of this review, the oxidative and nitrosative stress relation with cancer are described. In the second part, the plant-derived food extracts, containing identified phenolic antioxidants, the phenolic antioxidants isolated from plants and plant-derived food or commercially available and the synthetic ones, along with the type of cancer and cells where they exert anticancer activity, are described and summarized in tables. The principal mechanisms for their anti-proliferative effects were also described. Finally, a critical analysis of the studies and directions for future research are included in the conclusion.

Esculetin Downregulates the Expression of AML1-ETO and C-Kit in Kasumi-1 Cell Line by Decreasing Half-Life of mRNA

One of the most frequent genetic aberrations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is chromosomal translocation between AML1/RUNX1 on chromosome 21 and ETO gene on chromosome 8 resulting in the expression of chimeric oncogene AML1-ETO. Although patients with t(8;21) translocation have good prognosis, 5-year survival is observed only in 50% of the cases. AML1-ETO translocation is usually accompanied by overexpression of mutant C-Kit, a tyrosine kinase, which contributes to uncontrolled proliferation of premature blood cells leading to relapse and poor prognosis. We illustrate the potential use of esculetin on leukemic cell line, Kasumi-1, bearing t(8;21) translocation and mutated C-Kit gene. Esculetin decreases the expression of AML1-ETO at both protein and transcript level within 24 hours of treatment. Half-life of AML1-ETO mRNA was reduced from 7 hours to 1.5 hours. Similarly half-life of C-Kit mRNA was reduced to 2 hours from 5 hours in esculetin treated cells. Esculetin also perturbed the expression of ectopically expressed AML1-ETO in U937 cells. The decreased expression of AML1-ETO chimeric gene was associated with increased expression of LAT1 and RUNX3 genes, targets of AML1. We envisage that discovery of a drug candidate which could target both these mutated genes would be a considerable breakthrough for future application.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of esculetin derivatives as anti-tumour agents

Introduction of a nitrogen containing group as hydrogen bond acceptor is a useful strategy for the structure modification.

Analysis and distribution of esculetin in plasma and tissues of rats after oral administration

In this study, we developed a method to quantify esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin) in plasma and tissues using HPLC coupled with ultraviolet detection and measured the level of esculetin in rat plasma after oral administration. The calibration curve for esculetin was linear in the range of 4.8 ng/mL to 476.2 ng/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r²) of 0.996, a limit of detection value of 33.2 ng/mL, and a limit of quantification value of 100.6 ng/mL. Recovery rates for the 95.2 ng/mL and 190.5 ng/mL samples were 95.2% and 100.3%, within-runs and 104.8% and 101.0% between-runs, respectively. The relative standard deviation was less than 7% for both runs. In the pharmacokinetic analysis, the peak plasma esculetin level was reached 5 min after administration (C_max=173.3 ng/mL; T_1/2=45 min; AUC_{0 ~180 min}=5,167.5 ng · min/mL). At 180 min post-administration (i.e., after euthanasia), esculetin was only detectable in the liver (30.87±11.33 ng/g) and the kidney (20.29±7.02 ng/g).

Esculetin, a coumarin derivative, exerts in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative activity against hepatocellular carcinoma by initiating a mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway

This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative activity of esculetin against hepatocellular carcinoma, and clarified its potential molecular mechanisms. Cell viability was determined by the MTT (tetrazolium) colorimetric assay. In vivo antitumor activity of esculetin was evaluated in a hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model. Seventy-five C57BL/6J mice were implanted with Hepa1-6 cells and randomized into five groups (n=15 each) given daily intraperitoneal injections of vehicle (physiological saline), esculetin (200, 400, or 700 mg·kg-1·day-1), or 5-Fu (200 mg·kg-1·day-1) for 15 days. Esculetin significantly decreased tumor growth in mice bearing Hepa1-6 cells. Tumor weight was decreased by 20.33, 40.37, and 55.42% with increasing doses of esculetin. Esculetin significantly inhibited proliferation of HCC cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner and with an IC50 value of 2.24 mM. It blocked the cell cycle at S phase and induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells with significant elevation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, but did not affect caspase-8 activity. Moreover, esculetin treatment resulted in the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential in vitro and in vivo accompanied by increased Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. Thus, esculetin exerted in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative activity in hepatocellular carcinoma, and its mechanisms involved initiation of a mitochondrial-mediated, caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway.

Human acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells are sensitive to esculetin through induction of an apoptotic mechanism

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a type of cancer, in which immature cells called promyelocytes proliferate abnormally. Human NB4 cell line appears to be a suitable in vitro model to express the characteristics of APL. In this work, we have investigated the effects of esculetin, a coumarin derivative with antioxidant properties, on the viability, the induction of apoptosis and the expression of apoptotic factors in NB4 cells. Cells treated with esculetin at several concentrations (20-500 μM) and for different times (5-24 h) showed a concentration- and time-dependent viability decrease with increased subdiploid DNA production. Esculetin inhibited cell cycle progression and induced DNA fragmentation. Moreover, annexin-V-FITC cytometry assays suggested that increased toxicity is due to both early and late apoptosis. This apoptosis process is be mediated by activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Treatments with progressively increasing concentrations (from 100 μM to 500 μM) of esculetin produced a reduction of Bcl2/Bax ratio in NB4 cells at 19 h, without affecting p53 levels. Proapoptotic action of esculetin involves the ERK MAP kinase cascade since increased levels of phosphorylated ERK were observed after those treatments. Increments in the levels of phosphorylated-Akt were also observed. Additionally, esculetin induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential with a release of cytochrome c into the cytosol which starts at 6 h of treatment with esculetin and increases up to 24 h. Esculetin induced an increase in superoxide anion at long times of treatment and a reduction of peroxides at short times (1 h) with an observed increase at 2-4 h of treatment. No significant changes in NO production was observed. Esculetin reduced the GSH levels in a time-dependent manner. In summary, the present work shows the cytotoxic action of esculetin as an efficient tool to study apoptosis mechanism induction on NB4 cell line used as a relevant model of APL disease.

Protective effect of esculin on streptozotocin-induced diabetic renal damage in mice

The present study investigated the presence and mechanism of esculin-mediated renoprotection to assess its therapeutic potential. Esculin was orally administered at 20 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, and its effects were compared with those of the vehicle in normal and diabetic mice. After oral administration of esculin to mice, the concentrations of esculin and esculetin in blood were 159.5 ± 29.8 and 9.7 ± 4.9 ng/mL at 30 min, respectively. Food and water intake were significantly increased in the diabetic mice compared to normal mice but attenuated in mice receiving esculin. The elevated blood glucose level and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase expression were significantly reduced in esculin-treated diabetic mice, supporting the antidiabetic effect of esculin. Esculin also increased the uptake of glucose and induced the insulin-evoked phosphorylation of insulin receptor, Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β in C2C12 myotubes, indicating a potential for improvement of insulin sensitivity. In addition, esculin lessened the elevated blood creatinine levels in diabetic mice and ameliorated diabetes-induced renal dysfunction by reducing caspase-3 activation in the kidney. Data support the beneficial effect of esculin against diabetes and oxidative stress-related inflammatory processes in the kidney.

Antiproliferation and anti-migration induced by gypenosides in human colon cancer SW620 and esophageal cancer Eca-109 cells

Gypenosides (Gyp), found in Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino, has attracted more attention owing to its wide bioactivities. However, the effects of Gyp on esophageal cancer cells and colon cancer cells are still unknown. The present study was to investigate the possible anti-proliferative and anti-migration activity of Gyp on human colon cancer cells SW620 and esophageal cancer cells Eca-109. Cell viability was evaluated using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell membrane integrity was evaluated using flow cytometry following propidium iodide staining. Apoptotic cell death was determined by nuclear 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining. Generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ ψm) was analyzed by flow cytometry using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein–diacetate and rhodamine 123 staining, respectively. Wound healing assay was carried out to investigate Gyp-inhibited migration of SW620 and Eca-109 cells. The results indicated that Gyp inhibited cell proliferation and migration in SW620 and Eca-109 cells in dose- and time-dependent manner. Gyp elevated intracellular ROS level, decreased the Δ ψm, and induced apoptotic morphology such as cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation, suggesting oxidative stress and mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis that might be involved in Gyp-induced cell viability loss in SW620 and Eca-109 cells. The findings indicate Gyp may have valuable application in clinical colon cancer and esophageal cancer treatments.

Effect of FK506 in reducing scar formation by inducing fibroblast apoptosis after sciatic nerve injury in rats

We previously demonstrated that FK506, a generally applied immunosuppressant in organ transplantation, could promote peripheral nerve regeneration through reducing scar formation. However, little is known about how FK506 reduces scar formation. Herein we investigated the influence of FK506 on fibroblast proliferation and its correlation with scar formation after sciatic nerve injury in rats, and further explored the effect of FK506 on fibroblast proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. Masson staining and immunohistochemistry revealed that scar area and fibroblast number in the nerve anastomosis of sciatic nerve-injured rats were significantly reduced after FK506 administration. The scar area had a significant positive correlation with the fibroblast number, as detected by linear correlation analysis. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry indicated that FK506 also inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of fibroblasts in vitro. It was primarily phosphorylation of JNK and ERK that were activated during the apoptosis of fibroblast. Pretreatment of cells with JNK inhibitor, SP600125, or ERK inhibitor, PD98059, could inhibit FK506-induced fibroblast apoptosis, respectively. Moreover, simultaneous application of both inhibitors had additive roles in cell protection from apoptosis. These results suggest that FK506-induced fibroblast apoptosis contributes to the suppression of fibroblast proliferation and then results in the reduction of scar formation in sciatic nerve-injured rat, and that JNK and ERK are involved in FK506-induced fibroblast apoptosis.

Anti-tumor and pro-apoptotic activity of ethanolic extract and its various fractions from Polytrichum commune L.ex Hedw in L1210 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polytrichum commune L.ex Hedw is a traditional Chinese herb for treatment of fever, hemostatic, uterine prolapse and especially for lymphocytic leukemia, but the antitumor effect and its potential mechanism remains unclear.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The present study was to investigate the possible anti-proliferative activity of ethanolic extract and the organic fractions from P. commune on murine leukemia L1210 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The content of ethanolic extract and its fractions was performed on HPLC analysis with gradient elution. L1210 cells were treated with different concentrations of ethanolic extract and its fractions at different time intervals. Cell viability was evaluated using MTT assay. Apoptotic cell death was monitored by nuclear condensation and confirmed by exposure of phosphatidylserine to outer leaflet of plasma membrane. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed by flow cytometry using rhodamine 123 staining.

RESULTS

The obtained results showed that the cell viability of L1210 cells was reduced by ethanolic extract of P. commune in a concentration-dependent manner, and the IC(50) value was about 77.22 μg/ml at 24h post treatment. The ethylacetate fraction displayed higher anti-tumor effect than that of chloroform and butanol fractions with 32.29 μg/ml (IC(50) value, 48 h). Microscopy studies revealed that ethanolic extract and ethylacetate fraction treated cells showed morphological characteristics of apoptosis such as chromatin condensation and DNA aggregation. Further, Annexin V-PE/ 7-AAD double staining showing the out leaflet of phosphatidylserine and the decline of mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry confirmed that the extracts do, in fact, induce apoptosis in L1210 cells.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report on anti-tumor and pro-apoptotic effect of P. commune in cultured leukemia cells, which provides scientific basis for its usefulness as traditional medicine. Further studies are needed to confirm the precise mechanism not only the crude extract but as well the monomeric chemical substances of Polytrichum commune L.ex Hedw.

Structure-anti-leukemic activity relationship study of ortho-dihydroxycoumarins in U-937 cells: key role of the δ-lactone ring in determining differentiation-inducing potency and selective pro-apoptotic action

Previous studies indicated the need of at least one phenolic hydroxyl group in the coumarin core for induction of cytotoxicity in different cell lines. Herein, we present an exhaustive structure-activity relationship study including ortho-dihydroxycoumarins (o-DHC) derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives (as open-chain coumarin analogues) and 1,2-pyrones (representative of the δ-lactone ring of the coumarin core), carried out to further identify the structural features of o-DHC required to induce leukemic cell differentiation and apoptosis in U-937 cells. Our results show for the first time that the δ-lactone ring positively influences the aforementioned biological effects, by conferring greater potency to compounds with an intact coumarin nucleus. Most tellingly, we reveal herein the crucial role of this molecular portion in determining the selective toxicity that o-DHC show for leukemic cells over normal blood cells. From a pharmacological perspective, our findings point out that o-DHC may be useful prototypes for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents.

Esculetin promotes type I procollagen expression in human dermal fibroblasts through MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways

Type I collagen is the major constituent of the skin and the reduction of dermal type I collagen content is closely associated with the intrinsic skin aging. We here found that esculetin, 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin, strongly induces type I procollagen expression in human dermal fibroblasts. Esculetin not only increased protein levels of type I procollagen but also increased mRNA levels of COL1A1 but not COL1A2. Esculetin activated the MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38, JNK) and PI3K/Akt pathways, through which it promoted the type I procollagen expression. We also demonstrated that the binding motifs for transcription factor Sp1 occur with the highest frequency in the COL1A1 promoter and that esculetin increases the Sp1 expression through the MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways. These results suggest that esculetin promotes type I procollagen expression through the MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways and that Sp1 might be involved in the esculetin-induced type I procollagen expression via activation of the COL1A1 transcription.

Phytoglycoprotein (38 kDa) induces cell cycle (G₀/G₁) arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells

Styrax japonica Siebold et al Zuccarini (SJSZ) has been used to heal inflammation and bronchitis as folk medicine in Korea. Firstly, glycoprotein isolated from SJSZ (SJSZ glycoprotein) has a molecular weight with 38  kDa and consists of carbohydrate (57.64%) and protein (42.35%). In the composition of SJSZ glycoprotein, carbohydrate mostly consists of glucose (28.17%), galactose (21.85%), and mannose (2.62%) out of 52.64%, respectively. The protein consists of Trp (W, 7.01%), Pro (P, 6.72%), and Ile (I, 5.42%) out of 42.35% as three major amino acids, while total amount of other amino acids is 23.20%. The purpose of this study is to know whether the SJSZ glycoprotein (38  kDa) induces the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assay and amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (iROS) and nitric oxide (NO) was measured using fluorescence microplate reader. Activities of cell cycle-related proteins [p53, p21, p27, Cyclin D1, and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4] and apoptosis-related factors [iNOS, Bid, Bcl-2/bax, cytochrome c, caspase-9, caspase-3, and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)] were assessed by Western blot and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. In the cell cycle-related proteins, SJSZ glycoprotein (50  µg/ml) significantly enhances the expression of p53, p21, and p27, whereas it suppressed the activity of cyclin D1/CDK4. In the apoptosis-related factors, SJSZ glycoprotein (50  µg/ml) stimulates to increase iROS, and NO, to activate iNOS, Bid, Bcl-2/bax, cytochrome c, caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP. SJSZ glycoprotein (50  µg/ml) has potent effect to arrest cell cycle from G(0) /G(1) to S and to induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Hyperforin inhibits Akt1 kinase activity and promotes caspase-mediated apoptosis involving Bad and Noxa activation in human myeloid tumor cells

BACKGROUND

The natural phloroglucinol hyperforin HF displays anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral properties of potential pharmacological interest. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells abnormally proliferate and escape apoptosis. Herein, the effects and mechanisms of purified HF on AML cell dysfunction were investigated in AML cell lines defining distinct AML subfamilies and primary AML cells cultured ex vivo.

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS

HF inhibited in a time- and concentration-dependent manner the growth of AML cell lines (U937, OCI-AML3, NB4, HL-60) by inducing apoptosis as evidenced by accumulation of sub-G1 population, phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation. HF also induced apoptosis in primary AML blasts, whereas normal blood cells were not affected. The apoptotic process in U937 cells was accompanied by downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, upregulation of pro-apoptotic Noxa, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, activation of procaspases and cleavage of the caspase substrate PARP-1. The general caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk and the caspase-9- and -3-specific inhibitors, but not caspase-8 inhibitor, significantly attenuated apoptosis. HF-mediated apoptosis was associated with dephosphorylation of active Akt1 (at Ser(473)) and Akt1 substrate Bad (at Ser(136)) which activates Bad pro-apoptotic function. HF supppressed the kinase activity of Akt1, and combined treatment with the allosteric Akt1 inhibitor Akt-I-VIII significantly enhanced apoptosis of U937 cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our data provide new evidence that HF's pro-apoptotic effect in AML cells involved inhibition of Akt1 signaling, mitochondria and Bcl-2 members dysfunctions, and activation of procaspases -9/-3. Combined interruption of mitochondrial and Akt1 pathways by HF may have implications for AML treatment.

Aminopeptidase-N/CD13 is a potential proapoptotic target in human myeloid tumor cells

The transmembrane metalloprotease aminopeptidase‐N (APN)/CD13 is overexpressed in various solid and hematological malignancies in humans, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is thought to influence tumor progression. Here, we investigated the contribution of APN/CD13 to the regulation of growth and survival processes in AML cells in vitro. Anti‐CD13 monoclonal antibodies MY7 and SJ1D1 (which do not inhibit APN activity) and WM15 (an APN‐blocking antibody) inhibited the growth of the AML cell line U937 and induced apoptosis, as evidenced by cell accumulation in the sub‐G₁ phase, DNA fragmentation, and phosphatidylserine externalization. Isotype‐matched IgG1 and the APN/CD13 enzymatic inhibitors bestatin and 2' ,3‐dinitroflavone‐8‐acetic acid, were ineffective. Internalization of CD13‐MY7 complex into cells was followed by mitochondrial membrane depolarization, Bcl‐2 and Mcl‐1 down‐regulation, Bax up‐regulation, caspase‐9, caspase‐8, and caspase‐3 activation, and cleavage of the caspase substrate PARP‐1. The broad‐spectrum caspase inhibitor Z‐VAD‐fmk and the caspase‐9‐ and caspase‐8‐specific inhibitors significantly attenuated apoptosis. CD13 ligation also induced apoptosis and PARP‐1 cleavage in primary AML blasts, whereas normal blood cells were not affected. Overall, these data provide new evidence that CD13 can serve as a target for inducing caspase‐dependent apoptosis in AML (independently of its APN activity). These findings may have implications for tumor biology and treatment.—Piedfer, M., Dauzonne, D., Tang, R., N'Guyen, J., Billard, C., Bauvois, B. Aminopeptidase‐N/CD13 is a potential proapoptotic target in human myeloid tumor cells. FASEB J. 25, 2831‐2842 (2011). http://www.fasebj.org

p38 MAPK activation is required for esculetin-induced inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation

The phenolic compound esculetin is known to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). However, the signaling pathway by which esculetin mediates its molecular effects in VSMC remains to be identified. The present results suggest an unexpected role of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in esculetin-induced inhibition of VSMC growth. Treatment of VSMC with esculetin resulted in significant growth inhibition and G1-phase cell-cycle arrest, which was followed by down-regulation of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) expression. This G1-phase cell-cycle arrest was due to up-regulation of p21WAF1 expression. In addition, esculetin treatment activated p38 MAPK and ERK1/2. Pretreatment with SB203580, which is a p38 MAPK specific inhibitor, or expression of the dominant negative p38 MAPK (DN p38 MAPK) gene blocked esculetin-induced p38 MAPK activation and p21WAF1 expression. Finally, both the growth inhibition and the down-regulation of CDKs induced by esculetin were suppressed by either SB203580 or the DN p38 MAPK mutant gene. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that activation of p38 MAPK contributes to esculetin-induced p21WAF1 expression in VSMC by decreasing both the cyclin D1/CDK4 and cyclin E/CDK2 complexes. These novel results regarding the molecular mechanism of esculetin action suggest new preventive and therapeutic treatments for atherosclerosis.

Apoptotic activity of ethanol extract from Styrax Japonica Siebold et al Zuccarini in HepG2 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Styrax japonica Siebold et al Zuccarini (SJSZ) has been used to heal inflammation and bronchitis as an herbal plant in Korea.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether the ethanol (EtOH) extract of SJSZ induces the programmed cell death (apoptosis) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It was evaluated cytotoxicity using MTT assay, amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (iROS) and Ca(2+) using fluorescence. Activities of apoptotic relevant factors [Bid, cytochrome c, caspase-9, -3, and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)] were measured by Western blot.

RESULTS

The results in this study indicated that ethanol extract of SJSZ (75 microg/ml) stimulates to increase amount of iROS, Ca(2+), and the apoptotic relevant factors [Bid, cytochrome c, caspase-9, -3, and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in the HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSION

The results in this study indicated that ethanol extract of SJSZ (75 microg/ml) induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the HepG2 cells. Therefore, we speculate that ethanol extract of SJSZ could be used for healing of hepatocarcinoma as one of chemotherapeutic agents.

Aesculetin-induced apoptosis through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction pathway in human cervical cancer cells

Aesculetin (1) is an important coumarin found in various plant materials. It has been shown to have antiproliferative effects on several types of human cancer cells, but its effect on cervical cancer cells in vitro is unknown. In this study, we investigated that the cytotoxic effect of 1 on a non-cancer cell line (293) was smaller than on a tumor cell line (HeLa). This is the first report showing the possible mechanism of antiproliferative effect of 1 for the prevention of cervical cancer in cell culture models. It was found that 1 inhibited cell viability by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Treatment with compound 1 decreased the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 37.8 microM. Aesculetin-induced apoptosis was correlated with mitochondrial dysfunction (DeltaPsi(m)), leading to the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol, as well as the proteolytic activation of caspases in HeLa cells. These results indicate that 1 induces apoptosis in HeLa cells through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction pathway.