Water stress proteins from Nostoc commune Vauch. exhibit anti-colon cancer activities in vitro and in vivo

Bavachinin mitigates DMH induced colon cancer in rats by altering p53/Bcl2/BAX signaling associated with apoptosis

Bavachinin is a flavanone obtained from the Chinese herb, Fructus Psoraleae. Flavonoids and flavanones are recognized as cancer preventive agents. We investigated the anticancer properties of bavachinin using a model of dimethylhydrazine (DMH and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced rat colon cancer. We investigated aberrant crypt foci (ACF), hyperplastic lesions, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GST) levels in Wistar rats. Expression of cancer biomarkers including IL-6, p53, Bcl2 and BAX was investigated. We found that bavachinin administered to rats re-established the colonic crypts that were damaged by DMH and prevented progression of the cancer.

Identification of polyphenol from Ziziphi spinosae semen against human colon cancer cells and colitis-associated colorectal cancer in mice

Homology of medicine and food-zizyphi spinosi semen (ZSS) exhibits abundant pharmacological activities, such as sedation, hypnosis and anti-depression. In the present study, the water soluble polyphenols extracted from ZSS via the acid digestion method were named ZSSP, and exhibited significant anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) activity, characterized by restraining cell proliferation, promoting cell apoptosis and increasing chemo-sensitivity of CRC cells. The potential of ZSSP in vivo was further evaluated in an AOM/DSS-induced colitis-associated carcinogenesis (CAC) mouse model. Intriguingly, ZSSP diminished the number and volume of CAC polyps in mice in a dose-dependent manner, and effectively limited the damage of mice organs induced by AOM/DSS. The immunohistochemistry result showed that the elevated CRC early markers in CAC mice, such as COX-II, EMR1, and Ki67, were potently prevented by the ZSSP treatment. Further, the component in ZSSP with the anti-CRC activity was identified as spinosin by the macroporous resin of SP207 and RP-HPLC-MS/MS. Interestingly, during the extraction process, sodium ions were introduced forming spinosin·Na+, which had better water solubility and more remarkable anti-CRC activity than the spinosin. This study provides a new pharmacological property of spinosin derived from ZSS, inhibiting the growth of human CRC cells and colitis-associated CRC in mice, which indicates its potential use as a natural agent against CRC.

Alkaloids from nux vomica suppresses colon cancer cell growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Brucine and Strychnine are alkaloids isolated from the seeds of Strychnos nux vomica L., which have long been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of tumor. However, the effect of Brucine and Strychnine on colorectal cancer (CRC) and the underlying molecular mechanism remain unclear. In the present study, Brucine and Strychnine displayed profound inhibitory effects on the growth of human colon cancer cells. The results of flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the two alkaloids induced cellular apoptosis. Moreover, the growth of DLD1 xenografted tumors in nude mice was significantly suppressed in the Brucine or Strychnine treated group. Mechanistically, the Wnt/β-catenin is involved in this phenomenon, which is characterized by significantly increased expression of DKK1 and APC, whereas decreased expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and p-LRP6 in CRC cells as well as tumor tissues. Collectively, Brucine and Strychnine have targeted inhibition for colon cancer proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, and it is valuable for future exploitation and utilization as an antitumor agent of CRC.

Migration inhibition of water stress proteins from Nostoc commune Vauch. via activation of autophagy in DLD-1 cells

Water stress proteins (WSP1) from Nostoc commune Vauch. had been proven to selectively induce colon cancer cells apoptosis. In this study, the effect of WSP1 on migration of human colon cancer cells was investigated. It showed that WSP1 inhibited DLD-1 cell migration, but with an insignificant effect on normal human colon epithelial cells. The data further indicated that WSP1 activated autophagy through down regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Meanwhile, β‑catenin was degraded by autophagy, which then restrained epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of DLD-1 cell and its migration was subsequently suppressed significantly. The same changes occurred in xenografted nude mice according to the obtained immunohistochemical results. Consistently, the application of autophagy inhibitor largely reversed the inhibited migration by WSP1 treatment. Taken together, WSP1 could suppress migration of DLD-1 cells by autophagy inhibited EMT. The results suggested that WSP1 possessed the potential as a selective therapeutic agent against metastatic colon cancer.

Healthy efficacy of Nostoc commune Vaucher

Nostoc commune Vaucher, a macroscopic cyanobacterium, has long been appreciated as a healthy food and traditional medicine worldwide. Accumulated evidence has demonstrated that it possesses a wide range of remarkably protective physiological and pharmacological activities, largely based on animal and in vitro studies. In this review, we summarise and update evidence regarding the chemical composition and nutritional characteristics of Nostoc commune Vaucher, and comprehensively discuss the recent studies on the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and immune regulation properties of Nostoc commune Vaucher and Nostoc commune Vaucher-derived extracts. The available results demonstrate the potential of it to act as a functional food for the amelioration of human associated diseases. More details from human clinical trials should be a matter of further investigation.

Migration Suppression of Small Cell Lung Cancer by Polysaccharides from Nostoc commune Vaucher

Nostoc commune Vauch., classified into cyanobacteria, has been always well appreciated as a healthy food and medicine worldwide owing to its rich nutrition and potent bioactivities. Nevertheless, the inhibitory effect of polysaccharides from N. commune Vauch. (NVPS) against cancer cell progression and metastasis is still being unraveled. The results in this study showed that NVPS remarkably suppressed cell migration through blocking the epithelial-mesenchymal transition program in NCI-H446 and NCI-H1688 human small cell lung cancer cells. The inhibitory effects were attributed to the suppression of integrin β1/FAK signaling through regulating cell-matrix adhesion. Furthermore, NVPS treatment could increase E-cadherin expression, but down-regulate N-cadherin, Vimentin, and MMP-9 expression, which resulted in the blockage of STAT3 nuclear translocation and JAK1 signaling. These findings suggest that NVPS may be a good candidate for development as a possible antitumor agent against small cell lung cancer.

Quercetin Suppresses the Migration and Invasion in Human Colon Cancer Caco-2 Cells Through Regulating Toll-like Receptor 4/Nuclear Factor-kappa B Pathway

Objective:

The migration and invasion features, which were associated with inflammatory response, acted as vital roles in the development of colon cancer. Quercetin, a bioflavonoid compound, was widely spread in vegetables and fruits. Although quercetin exerts antioxidant and anticancer activities, the molecular signaling pathways in human colon cancer cells remain unclear. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the suppression of quercetin on migratory and invasive activity of colon cancer and the underlying mechanism.

Materials and Methods:

The effect of quercetin on cell viability, migration, and invasion of Caco-2 cells was analyzed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, wound-healing assay, and transwell chambers assay, respectively. The protein expressions of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, mitochondrial membrane potential-2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9 were detected by Western blot assay. The inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in cell supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

The concentration of quercetin <20 μM was chosen for further experiments. Quercetin (5 μM) could remarkably suppress the migratory and invasive capacity of Caco-2 cells. The expressions of metastasis-related proteins of MMP-2, MMP-9 were decreased, whereas the expression of E-cadherin protein was increased by quercetin in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, the anti-TLR4 (2 μg) antibody or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC; 1 μM) could affect the inhibition of quercetin on cell migration and invasion, as well as the protein expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin, TLR4, and NF-κB p65. In addition, quercetin could reduce the inflammation factors production of TNF-α, Cox-2, and IL-6.

Conclusion:

The findings suggested for the 1^st time that quercetin might exert its anticolon cancer activity via the TLR4- and/or NF-κB-mediated signaling pathway.

SUMMARY

Quercetin could remarkably suppress the migratory and invasive capacity of Caco-2 cells

The expressions of metastasis-related proteins of mitochondrial membrane potential-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 were decreased, whereas the expression of E-cadherin protein was increased by quercetin in a dose-dependent manner

The anti-toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antibody or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate affected the inhibition of quercetin on cell migration and invasion, as well as the protein expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin, TLR4, and nuclear factor-kappa B p65

Quercetin could reduce the inflammation factors production of tumor necrosis factors-α, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-6.

Abbreviations used: MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphen yltetrazolium bromide, TLR4: Toll-like receptor 4, NF-κB: Nuclear factor-kappa B, MMP-2: Mitochondrial membrane potential-2, MMP-9: Mitochondrial membrane potential-9, TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α, Cox-2: Cyclooxygenase-2, IL-6: Interleukin-6, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, PDTC: Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, ROS: Reactive oxygen species, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, FBS: Fetal bovine serum, DMEM: Dulbecco modified Eagle medium, OD: Optical density, IPP: Image Pro-plus, PBS: Phosphate buffered saline, SD: Standard deviation, ANOVA: One-way analysis of variance, SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, ECM: Extracellular matrix, TLRs: Toll-like receptors, LPS: Lipopolysaccharide.

Isolation and antitumor efficacy evaluation of a polysaccharide from Nostoc commune Vauch

A polysaccharide from Nostoc commune Vauch. (NVPS) was characterized and its antitumor efficacy was elucidated.