Anti-proliferative and anti-migratory properties of coffee diterpenes kahweol acetate and cafestol in human renal cancer cells

Exploring the therapeutic potential of diterpenes in gastric cancer: Mechanisms, efficacy, and clinical prospects

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health challenge, particularly prevalent in East Asia. Despite advancements in various treatment modalities, the prognosis for patients, especially those in advanced stages, remains poor, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This review explores the promising potential of diterpenes, naturally occurring compounds with robust anticancer properties, derived from diverse sources such as plants, marine organisms, and fungi. Diterpenes have shown the ability to influence reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, ferroptosis, and autophagy, positioning them as attractive candidates for novel cancer therapies. This review explores the mechanisms of action of diterpenes and their clinical implications for the treatment of GC. Additionally, it addresses the challenges in translating these compounds from preclinical studies to clinical applications, emphasizing the need for further research to enhance their therapeutic profiles and minimize potential side effects. The discussion underscores the importance of diterpenes in future anticancer strategies, particularly in the fight against gastric cancer.

Photocatalytic furan-to-pyrrole conversion

The identity of a heteroatom within an aromatic ring influences the chemical properties of that heterocyclic compound. Systematically evaluating the effect of a single atom, however, poses synthetic challenges, primarily as a result of thermodynamic mismatches in atomic exchange processes. We present a photocatalytic strategy that swaps an oxygen atom of furan with a nitrogen group, directly converting the furan into a pyrrole analog in a single intermolecular reaction. High compatibility was observed with various furan derivatives and nitrogen nucleophiles commonly used in drug discovery, and the late-stage functionalization furnished otherwise difficult-to-access pyrroles from naturally occurring furans of high molecular complexity. Mechanistic analysis suggested that polarity inversion through single electron transfer initiates the redox-neutral atom exchange processes at room temperature.

Potential Application of Plant-Derived Compounds in Multiple Sclerosis Management

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration, resulting in significant disability and reduced quality of life. Current therapeutic strategies primarily target immune dysregulation, but limitations in efficacy and tolerability highlight the need for alternative treatments. Plant-derived compounds, including alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, and terpenoids, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in both preclinical and clinical studies. By modulating immune responses and promoting neuroregeneration, these compounds offer potential as novel adjunctive therapies for MS. This review provides insights into the molecular and cellular basis of MS pathogenesis, emphasizing the role of inflammation in disease progression. It critically evaluates emerging evidence supporting the use of plant-derived compounds to attenuate inflammation and MS symptomology. In addition, we provide a comprehensive source of information detailing the known mechanisms of action and assessing the clinical potential of plant-derived compounds in the context of MS pathogenesis, with a focus on their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.

Coffee Bean and Its Chemical Constituent Caffeine and Chlorogenic Acid as Promising Chemoprevention Agents: Updated Biological Studies against Cancer Cells

Cancer is a complicated and ever-evolving disease that remains a significant global cause of disease and mortality. Its complexity, which is evident at the genetic and phenotypic levels, contributes to its diversity and resistance to treatment. Numerous scientific investigations on human and animal models demonstrate the potential of phytochemicals in cancer prevention. Coffee has been shown to possess potent anti-carcinogenic properties, and studies have documented the consumption of coffee as a beverage reduces the risk of cancer occurrence. The major secondary metabolites of coffee, named caffeine and chlorogenic acid, have been linked to anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic effects through various signaling. In light of this, this review article provides a comprehensive analysis based on studies in anticancer effects of coffee, chlorogenic acid, and caffeine published between 2010 and 2023, sourced from Scopus, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases. We summarize recent advances and scientific evidence on the association of phytochemicals found in coffee with a special emphasis on their biological activities against cancer and their molecular mechanism deemed potential to be used as a novel therapeutic target for cancer prevention and therapy.

Cafestol inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth in xenograft mice by activating LKB1/AMPK/ULK1-dependent autophagy

Chemotherapy failure in colorectal cancer patients is the major cause of recurrence and poor prognosis. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop drugs that have a good chemotherapy effect while also being extremely safe. In this study, we found cafestol inhibited colon cancer growth and HCT116 proliferation in vivo and in vitro, and improved the composition of intestinal flora. Further metabolomic data showed that autophagy and AMPK pathways were involved in the process of cafestol's anti-colon cancer effects. The functional validation studies revealed that cafestol increased autophagy vesicles and LC3B-II levels. The autophagic flux induced by cafestol was prevented by using BafA1. The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA blocked the cafestol-induced increase in LC3B-II and cell proliferation inhibition. Then we found that cafestol induced the increased expressions of LKB1, AMPK, ULK1, p-LKB1, p-AMPK, and p-ULK1 proteins in vivo and in vitro. Using the siRNA targeted to the Lkb1 gene, the levels of AMPK, ULK1, and LC3B-II were suppressed under cafestol treatment. These results indicated that the effect of cafestol is through regulating LKB1/AMPK/ULK1 pathway-mediated autophagic death. Finally, a correlation matrix of the microbiome and autophagy-related proteins was conducted. We found that cafestol-induced autophagic protein expression was positively correlated with the beneficial intestinal bacteria (Muribaculaceae, Bacteroides, Prevotellacece, and Alloprevotella) and negatively correlated with the hazardous bacteria. Conclusions: This study found that cafestol inhibited colon cancer in vitro and in vivo by the mechanism that may be related to LKB1/AMPK/ULK1 pathway-mediated autophagic cell death and improved intestinal microenvironment.

Anticancer diterpenes of African natural products: Mechanistic pathways and preclinical developments

BACKGROUND

The African continent is home to five biodiversity hotspots, boasting an immense wealth of medicinal flora, fungi and marine life. Diterpenes extracted from such natural products have compelling cytotoxic activities that warrant further exploration for the drug market, particularly in cancer therapy, where mortality rates remain elevated worldwide.

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the potential of African natural products on the global stage for cancer therapy development and provide an in-depth analysis of the current literature on the activity of cancer cytotoxic diterpenes from African natural sources (to our knowledge, the first of its kind); not only to reveal the most promising candidates for clinical development, but to demonstrate the importance of preserving the threatened ecosystems of Africa.

METHODS

A comprehensive search by means of the PRISMA strategy was conducted using electronic databases, namely Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. The search terms employed were 'diterpene & mechanism & cancer' and 'diterpene & clinical & cancer'. The selection process involved assessing titles in English, Portuguese and Spanish, adhering to predefined eligibility criteria. The timeframe for inclusion spanned from 2010 to 2023, resulting in 218 relevant papers. Chemical structures were visualized using ChemDraw 21.0, PubChem was utilized to search for CID numbers.

RESULTS

Despite being one of the richest biodiverse zones in the world, African natural products are proportionally underreported compared to Asian countries or otherwise. The diterpenes andrographolide (Andrographis paniculata), forskolin (Coleus forskohlii), ent-kauranes from Isodon spp., euphosorophane A (Euphorbia sororia), cafestol & kahweol (Coffea spp.), macrocylic jolkinol D derivatives (Euphorbia piscatoria) and cyathane erinacine A (Hericium erinaceus) illustrated the most encouraging data for further cancer therapy exploration and development.

CONCLUSIONS

Diterpenes from African natural products have the potential to be economically significant active pharmaceutical and medicinal ingredients, specifically focussed on anticancer therapeutics.

Natural products and derivatives in renal, urothelial and testicular cancers: Targeting signaling pathways and therapeutic potential

BACKGROUND

Natural products have demonstrated significant potential in cancer drug discovery, particularly in renal cancer (RCa), urothelial carcinoma (UC), and testicular cancer (TC).

PURPOSE

This review aims to examine the effects of natural products on RCa, UC and TC.

STUDY DESIGN

systematic review METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science databases were retrieved to search studies about the effects of natural products and derivatives on these cancers. Relevant publications in the reference list of enrolled studies were also checked.

RESULTS

This review highlighted their diverse impacts on key aspects such as cell growth, apoptosis, metastasis, therapy response, and the immune microenvironment. Natural products not only hold promise for novel drug development but also enhance the efficacy of existing chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Importantly, we exert their effects through modulation of critical pathways and target genes, including the PI3K/AKT pathway, NF-κB pathway, STAT pathway and MAPK pathway, among others in RCa, UC, and TC.

CONCLUSION

These mechanistic insights provide valuable guidance for researchers, facilitating the selection of promising natural products for cancer management and offering potential avenues for further gene regulation studies in the context of cancer treatment.

Unraveling Connective Tissue Growth Factor as a Therapeutic Target and Assessing Kahweol as a Potential Drug Candidate in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by aggressive behavior and limited treatment options, necessitating the identification of novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we investigated the clinical significance of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a prognostic marker and explored the potential therapeutic effects of kahweol, a coffee diterpene molecule, in TNBC treatment. Initially, through a survival analysis on breast cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found that CTGF exhibited significant prognostic effects exclusively in TNBC patients. To gain mechanistic insights, we performed the functional annotation and gene set enrichment analyses, revealing the involvement of CTGF in migratory pathways relevant to TNBC treatment. Subsequently, in vitro experiments using MDA-MB 231 cells, a representative TNBC cell line, demonstrated that recombinant CTGF (rCTGF) administration enhanced cell motility, whereas CTGF knockdown using CTGF siRNA resulted in reduced motility. Notably, rCTGF restored kahweol-reduced cell motility, providing compelling evidence for the role of CTGF in mediating kahweol's effects. At the molecular level, kahweol downregulated the protein expression of CTGF as well as critical signaling molecules, such as p-ERK, p-P38, p-PI3K/AKT, and p-FAK, associated with cell motility. In summary, our findings propose CTGF as a potential prognostic marker for guiding TNBC treatment and suggest kahweol as a promising antitumor compound capable of regulating CTGF expression to suppress cell motility in TNBC. These insights hold promise for the development of targeted therapies and improved clinical outcomes for TNBC patients.

Novel insights into STAT3 in renal diseases

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a cell-signal transcription factor that has attracted considerable attention in recent years. The stimulation of cytokines and growth factors can result in the transcription of a wide range of genes that are crucial for several cellular biological processes involved in pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. STAT3 has attracted considerable interest as a result of a recent upsurge in study because of their role in directing the innate immune response and sustaining inflammatory pathways, which is a key feature in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including renal disorders. Several pathological conditions which may involve STAT3 include diabetic nephropathy, acute kidney injury, lupus nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and renal cell carcinoma. STAT3 is expressed in various renal tissues under these pathological conditions. To better understand the role of STAT3 in the kidney and provide a theoretical foundation for STAT3-targeted therapy for renal disorders, this review covers the current work on the activities of STAT3 and its mechanisms in the pathophysiological processes of various types of renal diseases.

Quality Assessment of Ground Coffee Samples from Greek Market Using Various Instrumental Analytical Methods, In Silico Studies and Chemometrics

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide due to its sensory and potential health-related properties. In the present comparative study, a preparation known as Greek or Turkish coffee, made with different types/varieties of coffee, has been investigated for its physicochemical attributes (i.e., color), antioxidant/antiradical properties, phytochemical profile, and potential biological activities by combining high-throughput analytical techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and in silico methodologies. The results of the current study revealed that roasting degree emerged as the most critical factor affecting these parameters. In particular, the L* color parameter and total phenolic content were higher in light-roasted coffees, while decaffeinated coffees contained more phenolics. The ATR-FTIR pinpointed caffeine, chlorogenic acid, diterpenes, and quinic esters as characteristic compounds in the studied coffees, while the LC-MS/MS analysis elucidated various tentative phytochemicals (i.e., phenolic acids, diterpenes, hydroxycinnamate, and fatty acids derivatives). Among them, chlorogenic and coumaric acids showed promising activity against human acetylcholinesterase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes based on molecular docking studies. Therefore, the outcomes of the current study provide a comprehensive overview of this kind of coffee preparation in terms of color parameters, antioxidant, antiradical and phytochemical profiling, as well as its putative bioactivity.

Extraction of Diterpene-Phytochemicals in Raw and Roasted Coffee Beans and Beverage Preparations and Their Relationship

Cafestol and kahweol are expressive furane-diterpenoids from the lipid fraction of coffee beans with relevant pharmacological properties for human health. Due to their thermolability, they suffer degradation during roasting, whose products are poorly studied regarding their identity and content in the roasted coffee beans and beverages. This article describes the extraction of these diterpenes, from the raw bean to coffee beverages, identifying them and understanding the kinetics of formation and degradation in roasting (light, medium and dark roasts) as the extraction rate for different beverages of coffee (filtered, Moka, French press, Turkish and boiled). Sixteen compounds were identified as degradation products, ten derived from kahweol and six from cafestol, produced by oxidation and inter and intramolecular elimination reactions, with the roasting degree (relationship between time and temperature) being the main factor for thermodegradation and the way of preparing the beverage responsible for the content of these substances in them.

Health Benefits of Coffee Consumption for Cancer and Other Diseases and Mechanisms of Action

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, and epidemiology studies associate higher coffee consumption with decreased rates of mortality and decreased rates of neurological and metabolic diseases, including Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes. In addition, there is also evidence that higher coffee consumption is associated with lower rates of colon and rectal cancer, as well as breast, endometrial, and other cancers, although for some of these cancers, the results are conflicting. These studies reflect the chemopreventive effects of coffee; there is also evidence that coffee consumption may be therapeutic for some forms of breast and colon cancer, and this needs to be further investigated. The mechanisms associated with the chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic effects of over 1000 individual compounds in roasted coffee are complex and may vary with different diseases. Some of these mechanisms may be related to nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2)-regulated pathways that target oxidative stress or pathways that induce reactive oxygen species to kill diseased cells (primarily therapeutic). There is evidence for the involvement of receptors which include the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1), as well as contributions from epigenetic pathways and the gut microbiome. Further elucidation of the mechanisms will facilitate the potential future clinical applications of coffee extracts for treating cancer and other inflammatory diseases.

Recent Updates on the Functional Impact of Kahweol and Cafestol on Cancer

Kahweol and cafestol are two diterpenes extracted from Coffea arabica beans that have distinct biological activities. Recent research describes their potential activities, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer properties, among others. The two diterpenes have been shown to have anticancer effects in various in vitro and in vivo cancer models. This review aims to shed light on the recent developments regarding the potential effects of kahweol and cafestol on various cancers. A systematic literature search through Google Scholar and PubMed was performed between February and May 2022 to collect updates about the potential effects of cafestol and kahweol on different cancers in in vitro and in vivo models. The search terms “Kahweol and Cancer” and “Cafestol and Cancer” were used in this literature review as keywords; the findings demonstrated that kahweol and cafestol exhibit diverse effects on different cancers in in vitro and in vivo models, showing pro-apoptotic, cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory properties. In conclusion, the diterpenes kahweol and cafestol display significant anticancer effects, while remarkably unaffecting normal cells. Our results show that both kahweol and cafestol exert their actions on various cancers via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell growth. Additionally, kahweol acts by inhibiting cell migration.

Epidemiology and Prevention of Renal Cell Carcinoma

With 400,000 diagnosed and 180,000 deaths in 2020, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2.4% of all cancer diagnoses worldwide. The highest disease burden developed countries, primarily in Europe and North America. Incidence is projected to increase in the future as more countries shift to Western lifestyles. Risk factors for RCC include fixed factors such as gender, age, and hereditary diseases, as well as intervening factors such as smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, diet and alcohol, and occupational exposure. Intervening factors in primary prevention, understanding of congenital risk factors and the establishment of early diagnostic tools are important for RCC. This review will discuss RCC epidemiology, risk factors, and biomarkers involved in reducing incidence and improving survival.

Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Review

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common cancer of the urinary system. The potential therapeutic effects of certain natural products against renal cell carcinoma have been reported both in vivo and in vitro, but no reviews have been published classifying and summarizing the mechanisms of action of various natural products. In this study, we used PubMed and Google Scholar to collect and screen the recent literature on natural products with anti-renal-cancer effects. The main mechanisms of action of these products include the induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, inhibition of metastasis and reduction of drug resistance. In total, we examined more than 30 natural products, which include kahweol acetate, honokiol, englerin A and epigallocatechin-3-gallate, among others, have demonstrated a variety of anti-renal-cancer effects. In conclusion, natural products may have a wider application in kidney cancer than previously believed and are potential candidates for treatment in RCC.

Kahweol Induces Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Inhibiting the Src/mTOR/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Kahweol, a coffee-specific diterpene, induces apoptosis in human cancer cells, and some targets of kahweol-mediated apoptosis have been identified. However, the specific apoptotic effects and mechanism of action of kahweol in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are unknown. This study was performed to investigate the molecular mechanism by which kahweol induces apoptosis in HCC cells. The Src pathway is associated with apoptosis in cancer. In this study, we found that kahweol induces apoptosis by inhibiting phosphorylation of Src, and also inhibiting p-mTOR and p-STAT3. Therefore, we suggest that kahweol is a potent inhibitor of HCC cell growth.

A Decade of Research on Coffee as an Anticarcinogenic Beverage

Coffee consumption has been investigated as a protective factor against cancer. Coffee is a complex beverage that contains more than 1000 described phytochemicals, which are responsible for its pleasant taste, aroma, and health-promoting properties. Many of these compounds have a potential therapeutic effect due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and anticancer properties. The roasting process affects the phytochemical content, and undesirable compounds may be formed. In recent years, there have been contradictory publications regarding the effect of coffee drinking and cancer. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating the association of coffee consumption with the development of cancer. In PubMed, until July 2021, the terms “Coffee and cancer” resulted in about 2150 publications, and almost 50% of them have been published in the last 10 years. In general, studies published in recent years have shown negative associations between coffee consumption and the risk or development of different types of cancer, including breast, prostate, oral, oral and pharyngeal, melanoma, skin and skin nonmelanoma, kidney, gastric, colorectal, endometrial, liver, leukemic and hepatocellular carcinoma, brain, and thyroid cancer, among others. In contrast, only a few publications demonstrated a double association between coffee consumption and bladder, pancreatic, and lung cancer. In this review, we summarize the in vitro and in vivo studies that accumulate epidemiological evidence showing a consistent inverse association between coffee consumption and cancer.