Chemical constituents and anticancer activity of Curcuma zedoaria roscoe essential oil against non-small cell lung carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Elucidating the anti-cancer potential of Cinnamomum tamala essential oil against non-small cell lung cancer: A multifaceted approach involving GC-MS profiling, network pharmacology, and molecular dynamics simulations

Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T.Nees & Eberm., or Indian Bay Leaf, is a well-known traditional ayurvedic medicine used to treat various ailments. However, the molecular mechanism of action of Cinnamomum tamala essential oil (CTEO) against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains elusive. The present study aims to decipher the molecular targets and mechanism of CTEO in treating NSCLC. GC-MS analysis detected 49 constituents; 44 successfully passed the drug-likeness screening and were identified as active compounds. A total of 3961 CTEO targets and 4588 anti-NSCLC-related targets were acquired. JUN, P53, IL6, MAPK3, HIF1A, and CASP3 were determined as hub genes, while cinnamaldehyde, ethyl cinnamate and acetophenone were identified as core compounds. Enrichment analysis revealed that targets were mainly involved in apoptosis, TNF, IL17, pathways in cancer and MAPK signalling pathways. mRNA expression, pathological stage, survival analysis, immune infiltrate correlation and genetic alteration analysis of the core hub genes were carried out. Kaplan-Meier overall survival (OS) curve revealed that HIF1A and CASP3 are linked to worse overall survival in Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cancer patients compared to normal patients. Ethyl cinnamate and cinnamaldehyde showed high binding energy with the MAPK3 and formed stable interactions with MAPK3 during the molecular dynamic simulations for 100 ns. The MM/PBSA analysis revealed that van der Waals (VdW) contributions predominantly account for a significant portion of the compound interactions within the binding pocket of MAPK3. Density functional theory analysis showed cinnamaldehyde as the most reactive and least stable compound. CTEO exhibited selective cytotoxicity by inhibiting the proliferation of A549 cells while sparing normal HEK293 cells. CTEO triggered apoptosis by arresting the cell cycle, increasing ROS accumulation, causing mitochondrial depolarisation, and elevating caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 levels in A549 cells. The above study provides insights into the pharmacological mechanisms of action of Cinnamomum tamala essential oil against non-small cell lung cancer treatment, suggesting its potential as an adjuvant therapy.

Variation in Yield, Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oil of Three Curcuma Species: A Comparative Evaluation of Hydrodistillation and Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction Methods

The essential oils of three medicinally important Curcuma species (Curcuma alismatifolia, Curcuma aromatica and Curcuma xanthorrhiza) were extracted using conventional hydro-distillation (HD) and solvent free microwave extraction (SFME) methods. The volatile compounds from the rhizome essential oils were subsequently analysed by GC-MS. The isolation of essential oils of each species was carried out following the six principles of green extraction and comparison was made between their chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anticancer activities. SFME was found to be more efficient than HD in terms of energy savings, extraction time, oil yield, water consumption and waste production. Though the major compounds of essential oils of both the species were qualitatively similar, there was a significant difference in terms of quantity. The essential oils extracted through HD and SFME methods were dominated by hydrocarbon and oxygenated compounds, respectively. The essential oils of all Curcuma species exhibited strong antioxidant activity, where SFME was significantly better than HD with lower IC₅₀ values. The anti-tyrosinase and anticancer properties of SFME-extracted oils were relatively better than that of HD. Further, among the three Curcuma species, C. alismatifolia essential oil showed the highest rates of inhibition in DPPH and ABTS assay, significantly reduced the tyrosinase activity and exhibited significant selective cytotoxicity against MCF7 and PC3 cells. The current results suggested that the SFME method, being advanced, green and fast, could be a better alternative for production of essential oils with better antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anticancer activities for application in food, health and cosmetic industries.

Therapeutic potential of Curcuma oil and its terpenoids in gynecological cancers

BACKGROUND

Gynecological cancers encompass all uncontrolled and aberrant cell growth in the female reproductive system, therapeutic interventions are constantly evolving, but there is still a high death rate, significant side effects and medication resistance, making the task of treatment challenging and complex. The essential oil extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa is a promising natural drug, which has excellent biological activity on cancer cells and is to be developed as a new type of anti-gynecological tumor therapeutic agent.

PURPOSE

To systematically summarize the available evidence for the efficacy of Curcuma oil and its terpenoids (β-elemene, curcumol, furanodiene, and germacrone) in gynecological cancers, primarily malignancies of the reproductive system, involving ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers, explain the underlying mechanisms of preventing and treating gynecological cancers, and assess the shortcomings of existing work.

RESULTS

Through several signaling channels, Curcuma oil and its terpenoids can not only stop the growth of ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer cells, limit the formation of tumors, but also raise the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and improve the quality of life for patients.

CONCLUSION

It provides a preclinical basis for the efficacy of Curcuma oil as a broad-spectrum anti-tumor agent for the prevention and treatment of gynecological cancers. Even so, further efforts are still needed to improve the bioavailability of Curcuma oil and upgrade related experiments.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Leaf Essential Oils of Curcuma longa, Curcuma aromatica and Curcuma angustifolia

Curcuma species are widely used as a food additive and also in various medicinal purposes. The plant is a rich source of essential oil and is predominantly extracted from the rhizomes. On the other hand, the leaves of the plants are usually considered as an agrowaste. The valorization of these Curcuma leaf wastes into essential oils is becoming accepted globally. In the present study, we aim to extract essential oils from the leaves of Curcuma longa (LEO), C. aromatica (REO), and C. anguistifolia (NEO). The chemical composition of these essential oils was analyzed by GC-MS. Free radical scavenging properties were evaluated against the radical sources, including DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide. The antibacterial activity was assessed by the disc diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration analysis against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica) bacteria. Results identified the compounds α-phellandrene, 2-carene, and eucalyptol as predominant in LEO. The REO was predominated by camphor, 2-bornanone, and curdione. The main components detected in NEO were eucalyptol, curzerenone, α-lemenone, longiverbenone, and α-curcumene. Antioxidant properties were higher in the LEO with IC50 values of 8.62 ± 0.18, 9.21 ± 0.29, and 4.35 ± 0.16 µg/mL, against DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide radicals. The cytotoxic activity was also evident against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells; the LEO was found to be the most active against these two cell lines (IC50 values of 40.74 ± 2.19 and 45.17 ± 2.36 µg/mL). Likewise, the results indicated a higher antibacterial activity for Curcuma longa essential oil with respective IC50 values (20.6 ± 0.3, 22.2 ± 0.3, 20.4 ± 0.2, and 17.6 ± 0.2 mm). Hence, the present study confirms the possible utility of leaf agrowastes of different Curcuma spp. as a possible source of essential oils with pharmacological potential.

Analysis of Volatile Constituents in Curcuma Species, viz. C. aeruginosa, C. zedoaria, and C. longa, from Nepal

The genus Curcuma, composed of 93 species mainly originating from Asia, Australia, and South America, has been used for medicinal purposes, aromatic, and nutritional values as well as cosmetic. It plays a vital role in flavoring and coloring as well as exhibiting therapeutic agents against different diseases. Nepalese farmers are unaware of the essential oil compositions of Curcuma species, viz. C. aeruginosa, C. zedoaria, and C. longa. The investigation of these three essential oils provides insight into their potential as cash crops and earns a reasonable return from their production. The essential oils were obtained from the rhizomes of each plant by hydrodistillation and subjected to Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC−MS) analysis to identify its volatile chemical constituents as well as chiral GC-MS to identify the enantiomeric distribution of chiral terpenoids. The order of extraction yields were C. longa (0.89%) > C. zedoaria (0.74%) > C. aeruginosa (0.37%). In total, the presence of 65, 98, and 84 compounds were identified in C. longa, C. zedoaria, and C. aeruginosa, representing 95.82%, 81.55%, and 92.59% of the total oil, respectively. The most abundant compounds in C. longa essential oils were ar-turmerone (25.5%), α-turmerone (24.4%), β-turmerone (14.0%), terpinolene (7.2%), β-sesquiphellandrene (5.1%), α-zingiberene (4.8%), β-caryophyllene (2.9%), ar-curcumene (1.6%) and 1,8-cineole (1.3%). The most dominant compounds in C. zedoaria were curzerenone (21.5%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), curzerene (6.2%), trans-β-Elemene (5.1%), camphor (2.6%), and germacrone (2.3%). The major components in C. aeruginosa were curzerenone (59.6%), germacrone (5.3%), curzerene (4.7%), camphor (3.6%), trans-β-Elemene (2.6%), and β-eudesmol (1.6%). C. zedoaria, and C. aeruginosa essential oil from Nepal for the very first time. This study reports for the first time chiral terpenoids from C. aeruginosa, C. zedoaria, and C. longa essential oil. A chemical blueprint of these essential oils could also be used as a tool for identification and quality assessment.

Evidence-Based Management of Uterine Fibroids With Botanical Drugs-A Review

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are a common benign gynecological tumor that affect the majority of women over their lifetime. Several pharmacological agents are available to reduce the size of fibroids and ameliorate the symptoms of UF. However, these drugs are expensive and are usually associated with profound side effects. Thus, botanical drugs are gaining attention in this era due to their cost effectiveness with a comparable and more potent therapeutic efficacy while demonstrating lesser adverse effects. The objective of this review is to summarize the available information on the mechanism of various botanical drugs and polyherbal formulations with anti-uterine fibroid activity. A systematic search was performed on botanical drugs with anti-uterine fibroid activity using several search engines, which include PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Based on the literatures identified, a total of five botanical drugs and three polyherbal formulations were included and discussed in this review, which yields useful information regarding the mechanism of different botanical drugs and polyherbal formulations in exerting anti-uterine fibroid activity for its potential use as an alternative treatment choice for uterine fibroids.

Turmeric Extract (Curcuma longa) Mediates Anti-Oxidative Effects by Reduction of Nitric Oxide, iNOS Protein-, and mRNA-Synthesis in BV2 Microglial Cells

Plant-derived products have been used since the beginnings of human history to treat various pathological conditions. Practical experience as well as a growing body of research suggests the benefits of the use of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and some of its active components in the reduction of oxidative stress, a mechanism leading to neurodegeneration. In this current study, we investigated the effects of a preparation of Curcuma longa, and its constituents curcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin, and curcumenol, in one of the molecular pathways leading to oxidative stress, which is the release of NO, a free radical involved in stress conditions, using the BV2 microglial cell line. The concentration-dependent reduction of NO is linked to reduced amounts of iNOS protein- and mRNA-synthesis and is possibly mediated by the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) such as p42/44 or p38 MAPK. Therefore, the use of turmeric extract is a promising therapeutic option for diseases linked to the dysregulation of oxidative stress, with fewer side-effects in comparison to the currently used pharmacotherapeutics.

Essential oils as anticancer agents: Potential role in malignancies, drug delivery mechanisms, and immune system enhancement

Cancer retains a central place in fatality rates among the wide variety of diseases known world over, and the conventional synthetic medicaments, albeit used until now, produce numerous side effects. As a result, newer, better, and safer alternatives such as natural plant products, are gravely required. Essential oils (EOs) offer a plethora of bioactivities including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, therefore, the use of EOs in combination with synthetic drugs or aromatherapy continues to be popular in many settings. In view of the paramount importance of EOs and their potential bioactivities, this review summarizes the current knowledge on the interconnection between EOs and cancer treatment. In particular, the current review presents an updated summary of the chemical composition of EOs, their current applications in cancer treatments based on clinical studies, and the mechanism of action against the cancer cell lines. Similarly, an overview of using EOs in aromatherapy and enhancing immunity during cancer treatment is provided. Further, this review focuses on the recent technological advancements such as the loading of EOs using protein microspheres, ligands, or nanoemulsions/nanoencapsulation, which offer multiple benefits in cancer treatment via site-specific and target-oriented delivery of drugs. The continuing clinical studies of EOs implicate that their pharmacological applications are a rewarding research area.

Bioactivity-guided discovery of quality control markers in rhizomes of Curcuma wenyujin based on spectrum-effect relationship against human lung cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Due to the diversity of the ingredients, the complexity of the mechanism of action, the uncertainty of the effective ingredients, coupled with the multiple species and multiple growing areas, the quality control (QC) of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) is challenging. Discovering and identifying effective compounds from the complex extracts of TCMs and then establishing a scientific QC method is the key to the holistic QC of TCMs.

PURPOSE

To develop an anti-lung-cancer-guided spectrum-effect relationship approach for the discovery of QC markers of the rhizome of Curcuma wenyujin (WEZ) and establish a bioactive compounds-based holistic QC method.

METHODS

The chemical profiling of the volatile oil (WVO) from 42 batches of WEZ collected from different growing areas was performed by GC-MS. The anti-lung cancer activity of different WVO samples was determined by CCK-8 assay against human lung cancer cells (A549). The apoptosis and cell cycle analysis under different concentrations of WVO were detected by flow cytometry. SIMCA-P software was used to perform multivariate statistical analysis on the chemical composition of different WVO samples and to find the different components. Active compounds were screened using a PLSR model of the spectrum-effect relationship. Bioactive compounds-based fingerprint and quantification of the leading bioactive compounds were developed by GC-MS and GC-FID, respectively.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight compounds were detected in WVO and 54 were successfully identified. The multivariate statistical analysis uncovered that WVO components and the anti-A549 activity of WVO at the concentration of 60 nl/ml differ greatly according to the origin of the plant. The WVO at the concentration of 60 nl/ml (IC₅₀) increased A549 cells apoptosis significantly with late and early apoptosis of 15.61% and 7.80%, and the number of cells in the G2/M phase were also increased significantly under this concentration. The spectrum-effect relationship analysis revealed that 44 compounds were positively correlated with their activities, and the result was verified by A549 cell viability assay. Sixteen positively correlated compounds were further selected as QC markers according to their relative amount > 0.5% and anticancer activity. Finally, the 16 QC markers-based GC-MS fingerprint was established to holistically control the quality of WEZ, and a GC-FID method was developed for the quantification of leading bioactive compounds, β-elemene and β-caryophyllene.

CONCLUSION

Based on an anti-lung-cancer-guided spectrum-effect relationship approach, the bioactive compounds-based holistic QC method was successfully developed for WEZ, which could provide a valuable reference for the QC of TCMs.

Extract of Curcuma zedoaria R. prevents atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Curcuma zedoaria R. (Zingiberaceae) has been used to treat headache, fever, and hypertension-related symptoms in Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan. We investigated whether dietary intake of a C. zedoaria extract (CzE) affected atherosclerosis in vivo.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice (n = 32) were fed a normal diet (ND), a high-cholesterol diet (HCD), an HCD containing CzE (100 mg/kg/day), or an HCD containing simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks. The anti-atherosclerotic effects were evaluated by observing changes in fatty streak lesions, immunohistochemical analysis, ex vivo fluorescence imaging, lipid profiles, and western blot analysis.

RESULTS

The CzE-fed group showed a 41.6% reduction of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, CzE significantly reduced the levels of serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, the chemokine (C-X3-C-motif) ligand 1, the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin; down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, high mobility group box-1, and cathepsin levels in the aortic sinuses and aortas of ApoE^−/− mice were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the inclusion of a water extract of C. zedoaria in a HCD is closely correlated with reducing the risk of vascular inflammatory diseases in an ApoE mouse model.

Germacrone Regulates HBXIP-Mediated Cell Cycle, Apoptosis and Promotes the Formation of Autophagosomes to Inhibit the Proliferation of Gastric Cancer Cells

Germacrone, a monocyclic sesquiterpene, exerts marked antitumor effects in a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, and breast cancer. However, the mechanism underlying the effects of germacrone on gastric cancer remains unclear. In this study, we show that germacrone inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and induced G0/G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in these cells. Moreover, germacrone increased the expression of LC3II/LC3I. And LC3II/LC3I was significant increased after germacrone treatment compared with germacrone and bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1) treatment, which suggested germacrone promoted the formation of autophagosomes. Proteomic analysis was then used to identify molecular targets of germacrone in gastric cancer. A total of 596 proteins were screened, and the top hit was identified as late endosomal/lysosomal adaptor and MAPK and MTOR activator 5 (LAMTOR5, also named HBXIP). Overexpression of HBXIP delayed the germacrone-induced cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of autophagy. Combined, our results indicate that germacrone suppresses gastric cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting HBXIP, and this process is related to G0/G1-phase arrest and apoptosis.

The Hepatotoxicity of Alantolactone and Germacrone: Their Influence on Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism in Differentiated HepaRG Cells

The sesquiterpenes alantolactone (ATL) and germacrone (GER) are potential anticancer agents of natural origin. Their toxicity and biological activity have been evaluated using the differentiated HepaRG (dHepaRG) cells, a hepatocyte-like model. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of cell viability after 24-h treatment of dHepaRG cells are approximately 60 µM for ATL and 250 µM for GER. However, both sesquiterpenes induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in non-toxic concentrations and significantly dysregulate the mRNA expression of several functional markers of mature hepatocytes. They similarly decrease the protein level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and their transcription target, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Based on the results of a BATMAN-TCM analysis, the effects of sesquiterpenes on cholesterol and lipid metabolism were studied. Sesquiterpene-mediated dysregulation of both cholesterol and lipid metabolism was observed, during which these compounds influenced the protein expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), as well as the mRNA expression of HMGCR, CYP19A1, PLIN2, FASN, SCD, ACACB, and GPAM genes. In conclusion, the two sesquiterpenes caused ROS induction at non-toxic concentrations and alterations in cholesterol and lipid metabolism at slightly toxic and toxic concentrations, suggesting a risk of liver damage if administered to humans.

Germacrone attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats via antioxidative and antiapoptotic mechanisms

Germacrone (GM) is an anti-inflammatory compound extracted from Rhizoma curcuma. Here, we strived to investigate the neuroprotective effects of GM in rat models of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion injury. Rats immediately after cerebral ischemia were intraperitoneally injected with GM at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. After 1 day of reperfusion, the water content in the brain, infarct volume, and neurological deficits were assessed. Hippocampus neurons were histopathologically examined by hematoxylin and eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. Activities of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in brain tissue were detected. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were utilized to quantify the expression of apoptosis markers, such as caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2. The content of phospho-Akt (p-Akt) was also measured using Western blotting. GM treatment markedly decreased the brain water content, infarct volume and the neurological deficits, which was corroborated by attenuated histopathologic change. MDA levels were reduced and activities of GSH, SOD, and GSH-PX were elevated after GM treatment. Caspase-3 and Bax were decreased, and Bcl-2 was increased at both messenger RNA and protein levels by GM treatment. The p-Akt expression was increased by GM. Our data indicated that the neuroprotective effects of GM may attenuate the injuries from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats through antioxidative and antiapoptotic mechanisms.

Transcriptional profiling of uterine leiomyoma rats treated by a traditional herb pair, Curcumae rhizoma and Sparganii rhizoma

The aim of this study was to elucidate the concise effects of a traditional herb pair, Curcumae rhizoma-Sparganii rhizoma (CRSR), on uterine leiomyoma (UL) by analyzing transcriptional profiling. The UL rat model was made by intramuscular injection of progesterone and gavage administration of diethylstilbestrol. From 11 weeks of the establishment of the model, rats of the UL+CRSR group were gavaged daily with CRSR (6.67 g/kg). The serum concentrations of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2) were determined by radioimmunoassay, the uterine index was measured by caliper measurement, and the pathological status was observed by hematoxylin and eosin stain. Gene expression profiling was checked by NimbleGen Rat Gene Expression Microarrays. The results indicated that the uterine mass of UL+CRSR rats was significantly shrunk and serum P and E2 levels significantly reduced compared to UL animals and nearly to the level of normal rats. Results of microarrays displayed the extensive inhibition of CRSR upon the expression of proliferation and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes, and significantly regulated a wide range of metabolism disorders. Furthermore, CRSR extensively regulated key pathways of the UL process, such as MAPK, PPAR, Notch, and TGF-β/Smad. Regulation of the crucial pathways for the UL process and ECM metabolism may be the underlying mechanisms of CRSR treatment. Further studies will provide clear clues for effectively treating UL with CRSR.

One-Step Synthesis of Furan Rings from α-Isopropylidene Ketones Mediated by Iodine/DMSO: An Approach to Potent Bioactive Terpenes

The system I₂/dimethyl sulfoxide mediates the one-step transformation of α-isopropylidene ketones into furan rings following a biomimetic approach. This methodology has been used for the synthesis of terpene furans such as mintfurane, curzerene, atractylon, and isoatractylon, all of them possessing interesting biological activities. The synthesis of linderazulene directly from 4,5-epoxygermacrone via a cascade reaction shows the potential of this protocol. Additionally, this compound proved to show significant ixodicidal activity.

Chyawanprash: A Traditional Indian Bioactive Health Supplement

Chyawanprash (CP) is an Ayurvedic health supplement which is made up of a super-concentrated blend of nutrient-rich herbs and minerals. It is meant to restore drained reserves of life force (ojas) and to preserve strength, stamina, and vitality, while stalling the course of aging. Chyawanprash is formulated by processing around 50 medicinal herbs and their extracts, including the prime ingredient, Amla (Indian gooseberry), which is the world's richest source of vitamin C. Chyawanprash preparation involves preparing a decoction of herbs, followed by dried extract preparation, subsequent mixture with honey, and addition of aromatic herb powders (namely clove, cardamom, and cinnamon) as standard. The finished product has a fruit jam-like consistency, and a sweet, sour, and spicy flavor. Scientific exploration of CP is warranted to understand its therapeutic efficacy. Scattered information exploring the therapeutic potential of CP is available, and there is a need to assemble it. Thus, an effort was made to compile the scattered information from ancient Ayurvedic texts and treatises, along with ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, and scientifically validated literature, that highlight the role of CP in therapeutics. Citations relevant to the topic were screened.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Curcuma Species

Members of the genus Curcuma L. have been used in traditional medicine for centuries for treating gastrointestinal disorders, pain, inflammatory conditions, wounds, and for cancer prevention and antiaging, among others. Many of the biological activities of Curcuma species can be attributed to nonvolatile curcuminoids, but these plants also produce volatile chemicals. Essential oils, in general, have shown numerous beneficial effects for health maintenance and treatment of diseases. Essential oils from Curcuma spp., particularly C. longa, have demonstrated various health-related biological activities and several essential oil companies have recently marketed Curcuma oils. This review summarizes the volatile components of various Curcuma species, the biological activities of Curcuma essential oils, and potential safety concerns of Curcuma essential oils and their components.

Germacrone derivatives: synthesis, biological activity, molecular docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations

Germacrone is one of the major bioactive components in the Curcuma zedoaria oil product, which is extracted from Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe, known as zedoary. The present study designed some novel germacrone derivatives based on combination principles, synthesized these compounds, and investigated their inhibitions on Bel-7402, HepG2, A549 and HeLa cells. Meanwhile, the study evaluated inhibitions of these derivatives on c-Met kinase, which has been detected in a number of cancers. The results suggested that the majority of the compounds showed stronger inhibitory effect on cancers and c-Met kinase than germacrone. Furthermore, our docking experiments analyzed the results and explained the molecular mechanism. Molecular dynamics simulations were then applied to perform further evaluation of the binding stabilities between compounds and their receptors.

Propellanes-From a Chemical Curiosity to "Explosive" Materials and Natural Products

Propellanes are a unique class of compounds currently consisting of well over 10 000 representatives, all featuring two more or less inverted tetrahedral carbon atoms that are common to three bridging rings. The central single bond between the two bridgeheads is significantly weakened in the smaller entities, which leads to unusual reactivities of these structurally interesting propeller-like molecules. This Review highlights the synthesis of such propellanes and their occurrence in material sciences, natural products, and medicinal chemistry. The conversion of [1.1.1]propellane into bridgehead derivatives of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, including oligomers and polymers with bicyclo[1.1.1]penta-1,3-diyl repeat units, is also featured. A selection of natural products with larger propellane subunits are discussed in detail. Heteropropellanes and inorganic propellanes are also addressed. The historical background is touched in brief to show the pioneering work of David Ginsburg, Günther Snatzke, Kenneth B. Wiberg, Günter Szeimies, and others.

Chemical constituents and biological research on plants in the genus Curcuma

Curcuma, a valuable genus in the family Zingiberaceae, includes approximately 110 species. These plants are native to Southeast Asia and are extensively cultivated in India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Peru, Australia, and the West Indies. The plants have long been used in folk medicine to treat stomach ailments, stimulate digestion, and protect the digestive organs, including the intestines, stomach, and liver. In recent years, substantial progress has been achieved in investigations regarding the chemical and pharmacological properties, as well as in clinical trials of certain Curcuma species. This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on the chemistry and briefly discusses the biological activities of Curcuma species. A total of 720 compounds, including 102 diphenylalkanoids, 19 phenylpropene derivatives, 529 terpenoids, 15 flavonoids, 7 steroids, 3 alkaloids, and 44 compounds of other types isolated or identified from 32 species, have been phytochemically investigated. The biological activities of plant extracts and pure compounds are classified into 15 groups in detail, with emphasis on anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities.

Zedoary Guaiane-Type Sesquiterpenes-Eluting Stents Accelerate Endothelial Healing Without Neointimal Hyperplasia in a Porcine Coronary Artery Model

Objective:

The effects of zedoary guaiane-type sesquiterpenes (ZGS)-based eluting stent (ZES) in accelerating reendothelialization and inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia were examined in a porcine coronary artery model.

Methods:

The ZES was prepared by polymer-free 316L stainless metal stents. Sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and bare metal stents (BMS) with identical platforms were used as controls. Stents with 15 mm in length and 2.0 to 3.5 mm in diameter were implanted in porcine coronary arteries. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histopathology were performed to assess the reendothelialization and neointimal hyperplasia. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazoliumbromide assay and flow cytometry were used to assess the influence of ZGS on human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Results:

At 7 days, SEM showed that percentage of endothelial coverage area was 94.04% ± 5.01% for ZES, 47.59% ± 19.91% for SES ( P < .01 for ZES vs SES), and 59.58% ± 19.61% for BMS ( P < .05 for ZES vs BMS). At 28 days, the percentage of coverage area was 98.51% ± 1.86% for ZES, 86.18% ± 8.16% for SES ( P < .05 for ZES vs SES), and 94.26% ± 5.58% for BMS. Neointimal area and stenosis were significantly lower in ZES (1.07 ± 0.48 mm2, 27.66% ± 12.20%) compared to BMS (1.73 ± 0.69 mm2, 44.08% ± 15.03%, both P < .01, respectively), with no difference in SES (0.94 ± 0.12 mm2, 28.87% ± 6.00%, both P > .05, respectively). The ZGS also promoted HUVECs viability and improved HUVECs proliferation compared to sirolimus.

Conclusion:

The ZES accelerated reendothelialization and suppressed neointimal hyperplasia in a porcine coronary artery model, with beneficial effects on HUVECs.

Novel anti-cancer agents based on germacrone: design, synthesis, biological activity, docking studies and MD simulations

Germacrone is a major activity component found in Curcuma zedoaria oil product, which is extracted from Curcuma zedoaria.

Biological Activities of Essential Oils: From Plant Chemoecology to Traditional Healing Systems

Essential oils are complex mixtures of hydrocarbons and their oxygenated derivatives arising from two different isoprenoid pathways. Essential oils are produced by glandular trichomes and other secretory structures, specialized secretory tissues mainly diffused onto the surface of plant organs, particularly flowers and leaves, thus exerting a pivotal ecological role in plant. In addition, essential oils have been used, since ancient times, in many different traditional healing systems all over the world, because of their biological activities. Many preclinical studies have documented antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of essential oils in a number of cell and animal models, also elucidating their mechanism of action and pharmacological targets, though the paucity of in human studies limits the potential of essential oils as effective and safe phytotherapeutic agents. More well-designed clinical trials are needed in order to ascertain the real efficacy and safety of these plant products.

Molecular characterization of antitumor effects of the rhizome extract from Curcuma zedoaria on human esophageal carcinoma cells

Curcuma zedoaria has been used as a traditional agent against malignant diseases. To elucidate detailed mechanisms producing such an activity, characterization and determination of molecular mechanisms of its antitumor effects was conducted. Inhibiting activities against cell proliferation, invasion and colony formation, and expression levels of corresponding molecules were investigated using human esophageal cancer TE-8 cells treated with the rhizome extract from C. zedoaria. Antitumor effect of the extract administered orally was also examined in tumor-bearing mice. The extract possessed strong anti-proliferation and invasion activities against TE-8 cells. Further, upregulated PTEN and downregulated phosphorylated Akt, mTOR and STAT3 expressions in the cells were induced shortly after treatment with the extract, followed by attenuation of FGFR1 and MMP-2, activation of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP, and suppression of Bcl-2 expressions, which led the cells to apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, tumor formation in mice was significantly suppressed through the oral administration of the extract. Taken together, these results suggest that the C. zedoaria extract could be a promising agent against esophageal cancer.

Curcuma zedoaria (Berg.) Rosc. essential oil and paclitaxel synergistically enhance the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells

Curcuma zedoaria (Berg.) Rosc. essential oil (CZEO) is the major component of Curcuma zedoaria (Berg.) Rosc., a traditional medicine with antitumor activity. Paclitaxel (PTX) is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent used to treat patients with ovarian cancer. These compounds directly target nuclear DNA, in order to suppress or inhibit tumor cell growth. The present study aimed to determine the synergistic antitumor effects of CZEO and PTX on the SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cell line. SKOV3 cells were treated with CZEO, PTX or a combination of the two and cell viability was detected using cell counting kit-8. In addition, flow cytometry was used to determined cell apoptosis as well as for cell cycle analysis. The morpho-logical changes of apoptosis were assessed using Hoechst 33342 staining and the expression levels of apoptotic pathway proteins, including caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), were quantified using western blot analysis. The cell viability assay indicated that either of these compounds alone or in combination suppressed the growth of SKOV3 cells. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis indicated that treatment with a combination of CZEO and PTX resulted in increased inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of SKOV3 cells, as compared with treatment with either of the compounds alone. In addition, the protein expression levels of caspase-3 were increased following treatment with a combination of CZEO and PTX. The results of the present study suggested that CZEO and PTX synergistically enhanced the inhibition of SKOV3 proliferation, and the possible underlying mechanism may be the induction of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. This therefore indicated that PTX supplemented with CZEO may be an effective treatment strategy to decrease the dose and toxicity of PTX.

Essential oil content of the rhizome of Curcuma purpurascens Bl. (Temu Tis) and its antiproliferative effect on selected human carcinoma cell lines

Curcuma purpurascens Bl., belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is known as temu tis in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In this study, the hydrodistilled dried ground rhizome oil was investigated for its chemical content and antiproliferative activity against selected human carcinoma cell lines (MCF7, Ca Ski, A549, HT29, and HCT116) and a normal human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC5). Results from GC-MS and GC-FID analysis of the rhizome oil of temu tis showed turmerone as the major component, followed by germacrone, ar-turmerone, germacrene-B, and curlone. The rhizome oil of temu tis exhibited strong cytotoxicity against HT29 cells (IC₅₀ value of 4.9 ± 0.4 μg/mL), weak cytotoxicity against A549, Ca Ski, and HCT116 cells (with IC₅₀ values of 46.3 ± 0.7, 32.5 ± 1.1, and 35.0 ± 0.3 μg/mL, resp.), and no inhibitory effect against MCF7 cells. It exhibited mild cytotoxicity against a noncancerous human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC5), with an IC₅₀ value of 25.2 ± 2.7 μg/mL. This is the first report on the chemical composition of this rhizome's oil and its selective antiproliferative effect on HT29. The obtained data provided a basis for further investigation of the mode of cell death.