Eupatoriopicrin Inhibits Pro-inflammatory Functions of Neutrophils via Suppression of IL-8 and TNF-alpha Production and p38 and ERK 1/2 MAP Kinases

Ferroptosis-targeting drugs in breast cancer

In 2020, breast cancer surpassed lung cancer as the most common cancer in the world for the first time. Due to the resistance of some breast cancer cell lines to apoptosis, the therapeutic effect of anti-breast cancer drugs is limited. According to recent report, the susceptibility of breast cancer cells to ferroptosis affects the progress, prognosis and drug resistance of breast cancer. For instance, roblitinib induces ferroptosis of trastuzumab-resistant human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer cells by diminishing fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) expression, thereby augmenting the susceptibility of these cells to HER2-targeted therapies. In tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, Fascin exacerbates their resistance by repressing solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) expression, which in turn heightens their responsiveness to tamoxifen. In recent years, Chinese herbs extracts and therapeutic drugs have been demonstrated to elicit ferroptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating a spectrum of regulatory factors pertinent to ferroptosis, including SLC7A11, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), and haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Here, we review the roles and mechanisms of Chinese herbal extracts and therapeutic drugs in regulating ferroptosis in breast cancer, providing potential therapeutic options for anti-breast cancer.

Inhibitory Effect of Selected Guaianolide and Germacranolide Sesquiterpene Lactones on Nitric Oxide Production

Trilobolide and its analogues belong to the guaianolide type of sesquiterpene lactones, which are characteristic and widely distributed within the families Asteraceae and Apiaceae. Certain guaianolides are receiving continuously increasing attention for their promising sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA)-inhibitory activity. However, because of their alkylation capabilities, they are generally toxic. Therefore, the search for compounds with significant immunobiological properties but with decreased cytotoxicities suitable for use in immune-based pharmacotherapy is ongoing. Therefore, we extended our previous investigation of the immunobiological effects of trilobolide to a series of structurally related guaianolides and germacranolides. To evaluate the relationship, we tested a series of selected derivatives containing α-methyl lactone or exomethylene lactone ring. For a wider comparison, we also included some of their glycosidic derivatives. We assessed the in vitro immunobiological effects of the tested compounds on nitric oxide (NO) production, cytokine secretion, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release by mouse peritoneal cells, activated primarily by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and evaluated their viability. The inhibitory effects of the apparently most active substance, 8-deoxylactucin, seem to be the most promising.

Gluconolactone Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Arrhythmias via Activating PKCε/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling

Gluconolactone (D-glucono-1,5-lactone or GDL) is a food additive which presents in dietary products such as tofu, yogurt, cheese, bread, wine, etc. GDL has long been considered as a free radical scavenger; however, its role in cardioprotection remains elusive. In this study, using a mouse model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and a model of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM), we explored the role of GDL in I/R injury. We found that GDL (5 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated myocardial I/R injury as evidenced by decreased infarct size, release of cardiac injury markers and apoptosis. Additionally, GDL decreased reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and oxidative stress. These effects were also observed in parallel in vitro studies. Mechanistically, we found that GDL treatment was strongly associated with activation of pro-survival extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling both in vivo and in vitro, and pharmacological inhibition of ERK signaling via U0126 attenuated GDL-induced cardioprotection against H/R injury in NRCM cells. To reveal how GDL regulates ERK signaling, we predicted the putative targets of GDL by Swiss Target Prediction, and protein kinase C (PKC) emerged as the most promising target for GDL. By pharmacological intervention and immunofluorescence, we found that PKCε, an important member of the PKC family, was activated after GDL treatment in heart, thereby leading to ERK activation and cardioprotection against I/R injury. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GDL acts as a potent activator of PKCε and, thus, provides cardioprotection against I/R injury via activation of ERK signaling.

In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Studies of Cumanin Diacetate as a Potential Drug against Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

The sesquiterpene lactones cumanin, helenalin, and hymenin and their semisynthetic derivatives were evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated on murine splenocytes. Cumanin diacetate was one of the most active and selective compounds [IC₅₀ = 3.20 ± 0.52 μg/mL, selectivity index (SI) = 26.0]. This sesquiterpene lactone was selected for its evaluation on trypomastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite. The diacetylated derivative of cumanin showed moderate activity on trypomastigotes (IC₅₀ = 32.4 ± 5.8 μg/mL). However, this compound was able to efficiently inhibit parasite replication with an IC₅₀ value of 2.2 ± 0.05 μg/mL against the amastigote forms. Cumanin diacetate showed selectivity against the intracellular forms of Trypanosoma cruzi with an SI value of 52.7. This cumanin analogue was also active on an in vivo model of Chagas disease, leading to a reduction in the parasitemia levels in comparison with nontreated animals. Histopathological analysis of skeletal muscular tissues from treated mice showed only focal interstitial lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates with slight myocyte necrosis; in contrast, nontreated animals showed severe lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates with necrosis of the myocytes. A molecular docking study of cumanin and its derivatives on trypanothione reductase from T. cruzi (TcTR) was performed. The results of ΔG docking achieved let the identification of diacetylated and O-alkylated derivatives of cumanin as good inhibitors of TcTR. Cumanin diacetate could be considered a potential candidate for further studies for the development of new therapies against Chagas disease.

The Chlamydia psittaci Inclusion Membrane Protein 0556 Inhibits Human Neutrophils Apoptosis Through PI3K/AKT and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Inclusion membrane proteins (Incs) play an important role in the structure and stability of chlamydial inclusion and the interaction between Chlamydia spp. and their hosts. Following Chlamydia infection through the respiratory tract, human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (hPMN) not only act as the primary immune cells reaching the lungs, but also serve as reservoir for Chlamydia. We have previously identified a Chlamydia psittaci hypothetical protein, CPSIT_0556, as a medium expressed inclusion membrane protein. However, the role of inclusion membrane protein, CPSIT_0556 in regulating hPMN functions remains unknown. In the present study, we found that CPSIT_0556 could not only inhibit hPMN apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways by releasing IL-8, but also delays procaspase-3 processing and inhibits caspase-3 activity in hPMN. Up-regulating the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and down-regulating the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax could also inhibit the translocalization of Bax in the cytoplasm into the mitochondria, as well as induce the transfer of p65 NF-κB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Overall, our findings demonstrate that CPSIT_0556 could inhibit hPMN apoptosis through PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways and provide new insights towards understanding a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and immune escape mechanisms of C. psittaci.

Chemical Constituents of Eupatorium japonicum and Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Apoptotic Activities of Eupatoriopicrin on Cancer Stem Cells

Eupatorium japonicum Thunb. of the plant family Asteraceae is a popular traditional herb in Vietnam. However, its chemical constituents as well as bioactive principles have not been investigated yet. We investigated the phytochemistry of E. japonicum in Vietnam and isolated seventeen compounds (1–17) including phytosterols, terpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty alcohols, and fatty acids. They were structurally determined by MS and NMR analysis. Except for compounds 6 and 12, all the other compounds were identified for the first time from E. japonicum. Since many sesquiterpene lactones with α-methylene γ-lactone ring are reported as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents, eupatoriopicrin (10), 1-hydroxy-8-(4,5-dihydroxytigloyloxy)eudesma-4(15),11(13)-dien-6,12-olide (11) were selected among the isolates for biological assays. Compound 10 was identified as the main bioactive sesquiterpene lactone of E. japonicum showing its potent anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity through inhibiting NO production and the growth of HepG2 and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines. For the first time, eupatoriopicrin (10) was demonstrated to strongly inhibit NTERA-2 human cancer stem cell (CSC) line in vitro. It is noticeable that the cytotoxicity of eupatoriopicrin against NTERA-2 cells is mediated by its apoptosis-inducing capability of 10 as demonstrated by the results of Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry apoptosis analysis, and caspase-3 activity assays. The biological activities of the main bioactive constituents 1–7, 10, 12, and 15 supported the reported anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of extracts from E. japonicum.

Stevia Genus: Phytochemistry and Biological Activities Update

The Stevia genus (Asteraceae) comprises around 230 species, distributed from the southern United States to the South American Andean region. Stevia rebaudiana, a Paraguayan herb that produces an intensely sweet diterpene glycoside called stevioside, is the most relevant member of this genus. Apart from S. rebaudiana, many other species belonging to the Stevia genus are considered medicinal and have been popularly used to treat different ailments. The members from this genus produce sesquiterpene lactones, diterpenes, longipinanes, and flavonoids as the main types of phytochemicals. Many pharmacological activities have been described for Stevia extracts and isolated compounds, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities being the most frequently mentioned. This review aims to present an update of the Stevia genus covering ethnobotanical aspects and traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of the extracts and isolated compounds.

Anti-Allergic Rhinitis Effects of Medicinal Plants and Their Bioactive Metabolites via Suppression of the Immune System: A Mechanistic Review

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa and it is an immunoglobulin E-mediated disease. The incidence and prevalence of AR globally have been escalating over recent years. Antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, decongestants, intranasal anticholinergics, intranasal cromolyn, leukotriene receptor antagonists and immunotherapy have been used in the treatment of AR. However, there is a need to search for more effective and safer remedies as many of the current treatments have reported side effects. Medicinal plants have been used traditionally to relief symptoms of AR but their efficacy and safety have not been scientifically proven. In this review, up-to-date reports of studies on the anti-allergic rhinitis of several medicinal plants and their bioactive metabolites through suppression of the immune system are compiled and critically analyzed. The plant samples were reported to suppress the productions of immunoglobulin E, cytokines and eosinophils and inhibit histamine release. The suppression of cytokines production was found to be the main mechanistic effect of the plants to give symptomatic relief. The prospect of these medicinal plants as sources of lead molecules for development of therapeutic agents to treat AR is highlighted. Several bioactive metabolites of the plants including shikonin, okicamelliaside, warifteine, methylwarifteine, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, tussilagone, petasin, and mangiferin have been identified as potential candidates for development into anti-allergic rhinitis agents. The data collection was mainly from English language articles published in journals, or studies from EBSCOHOST, Medline and Ovid, Scopus, Springer, and Google Scholar databases from the year 1985-2020. The terms or keywords used to find relevant studies were allergic rhinitis OR pollinosis OR hay fever, AND medicinal plant OR single plant OR single herb OR phytotherapy. This comprehensive review serves as a useful resource for medicinal plants with anti-allergic rhinitis potential, understanding the underlying mechanisms of action and for future exploration to find natural product candidates in the development of novel anti-allergic rhinitis agents.

Traditional plants from Asteraceae family as potential candidates for functional food industry

Traditional plants have been used in the treatment of disease and pain due to their beneficial properties such as antioxidant, antiinflammation, analgesic, and antibiotic activities. The Asteraceae family is one of the most common groups of plants used in folk medicine. The species Achillea millefolium, Arnica montana, Bellis perennis, Calendula officinalis, Chamaemelum nobile, Eupatorium cannabinum, Helichrysum stoechas, and Taraxacum officinale have been used in different remedies in Northwest Spain. Besides health benefits, some of them like C. nobile and H. stoechas are already employed in cooking and culinary uses, including cocktails, desserts, and savory dishes. This study aimed to review the current information on nutritive and beneficial properties and bioactive compounds of these plants, which are not mainly used as foods but are possible candidates for this purpose. The report highlights their current uses and suitability for the development of new functional food industrial applications. Phenolic compounds, essential oils, and sesquiterpene lactones are some of the most important compounds, being related to different bioactivities. Hence, they could be interesting for the development of new functional foods.

Biomedical Application of a Herbal Product Based on Two Asteraceae Species

Background: Species belonging to the Asteraceae family have been widely studied for their healing properties. The paper introduces STOMAPET (patent pending A2016/00888/23.11.2016) based on Eupatorium cannabinum (hemp-agrimony) and Inula helenium (elecampagne) and its potential application in diseases of the oral system. Methods: STOMAPET was prepared according to the patent application and HPLC analysis was performed for chemical analysis. In vitro studies were performed using human monocytes and the cells’ viability was determined by MTS assay. In vivo studies involved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine endotoxemia and veterinary clinical case reports. Results: HPLC analysis revealed various phenolic compounds and alantolactone. In in vitro studies, monocytes viability remained stable, around and above 100% at all concentrations (7.8 to 250 µg/mL), and a high stimulatory effect on cell proliferation was noted. In LPS-induced murine endotoxemia, STOMAPET prevents mortality, improves the decrease in body mass, and prevents the drop in temperature. Case reports of companion animals with oral diseases ameliorated after STOMAPET treatment are presented. Conclusions: Preclinical studies confirmed the safety of STOMAPET and its pharmacological potential. The results of the veterinary case reports are also encouraging. More studies are needed to find the precise mechanism of action in correlation to chemical composition.

Trypanocidal Activity of Four Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from Asteraceae Species

The sesquiterpene lactones eupatoriopicrin, estafietin, eupahakonenin B and minimolide have been isolated from Argentinean Astearaceae species and have been found to be active against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of these compounds by analyzing their effect against the stages of the parasites that are infective for the human. Even more interesting, we aimed to determine the effect of the most active and selective compound on an in vivo model of T. cruzi infection. Eupatoriopicrin was the most active against amastigotes and tripomastigotes (IC₅₀ = 2.3 µg/mL, and 7.2 µg/mL, respectively) and displayed a high selectivity index. This compound was selected to study on an in vivo model of T. cruzi infection. The administration of 1 mg/kg/day of eupatoriopicrin for five consecutive days to infected mice produced a significant reduction in the parasitaemia levels in comparison with non-treated animals (area under parasitaemia curves 4.48 vs. 30.47, respectively). Skeletal muscular tissues from eupatopicrin-treated mice displayed only focal and interstitial lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates and small areas of necrotic; by contrast, skeletal tissues from T. cruzi infected mice treated with the vehicle showed severe lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates with necrosis of the adjacent myocytes. The results indicate that eupatoriopicrin could be considered a promising candidate for the development of new therapeutic agents for Chagas disease.