Anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory potencies of cinnamon oil on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice

Nanoemulsion of cinnamon oil to combat colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and cancer cells

This study aimed to investigate the potential of cinnamon oil nanoemulsion (CONE) as an antibacterial agent against clinical strains of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and its anticancer activity. The prepared and characterized CONE was found to have a spherical shape with an average size of 70.6 ± 28.3 nm under TEM and a PDI value of 0.076 and zeta potential value of 6.9 mV using DLS analysis. The antibacterial activity of CONE against Klebsiella pneumoniae strains was investigated, and it was found to have higher inhibitory activity (18.3 ± 1.2-30.3 ± 0.8 mm) against the tested bacteria compared to bulk cinnamon oil (14.6 ± 0.88-20.6 ± 1.2) with MIC values ranging from 0.077 to 0.31 % v/v which equivalent to 0.2-0.82 ng/ml of CONE. CONE inhibited the growth of bacteria in a dose and time-dependent manner based on the time-kill assay in which Klebsiella pneumoniae B-9 was used as a model among the bacterial strains under investigation. The study also investigated the expression of the mcr-1 gene in the Klebsiella pneumoniae strains and found that all strains were positive for the gene expression and subsequently its presence. The level of mcr-1 gene expression among the B-2, B-4, B-9, and B-11 control strains and that treated with colistin was similar, but it was different in both B-5 and B-2. However, all strains exhibited a significant downregulation in gene expression (ranging from 3.97 to 8.7-fold) after their treatment with CONE. Additionally, the CONE-treated bacterial cells appeared with a great deformation compared with control cells under TEM. Finally, CONE exhibited selective toxicity against different cancer cell lines depending on comparison with the normal cell lines.

Chitosan and Grifola Frondosa nanoparticles insulate liver dysfunction in EAC-bearing mice

Background

Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) is a rapidly growing and undifferentiated tumor that can prompt oxidative stress and liver toxicity, whereas chitosan and Grifola Frondosa have widely recognized biological qualities. Therefore, our study designed to assess the potential ameliorative ability of chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) and Grifola Frondosa nanoparticles (GF-loaded casein NPs) on EAC-induced hepatic injury in mice.

Methods

A total of 60 female albino mice were segregated into 6 groups (10 mice each), G1, control group; G2, CS NPs group; G3, GF-loaded casein NPs group; G4, EAC group; G5, EAC treated with CS NPs; G6, EAC treated with GF-loaded casein NPs.

Results

According to the findings, EAC considerably increased serum activities of ALT, AST, ALP as well as LDL, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels coincided with marked decrease in albumin and total protein content in liver tissue. At the same time, it drastically lowered GSH levels and catalase activity while significantly elevating MDA levels. In addition, EAC caused DNA damage and apoptosis by decreasing Bcl-2 while increasing p53 expressions. However, either CS NPs or GF-loaded casein NPs therapy improved liver architecture and functioning, increased antioxidant parameters, and prevented hepatocyte death in EAC mice.

Conclusions

Our findings concluded that CS NPs and GF-loaded casein NPs have insulating functions against EAC-induced hepatic damage in mice.

Essential oils and their nanoformulations for breast cancer therapy

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in the world. Current treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy but often are associated with high toxicity to normal tissues, chemoresistance, and relapse. Thus, developing novel therapies which could combat these limitations is essential for effective treatment. In this context, phytochemicals are increasingly getting popular due to their safety profile, ability to efficiently target tumors, and circumvent limitations of existing treatments. Essential Oils (EOs) are mixtures of various phytochemicals which have shown potential anticancer activity in preclinical BC models. However, their clinical translation is limited by factors such as high volatility, low stability, and poor solubility. Nanotechnology has facilitated their encapsulation in a variety of nanostructures and proven to overcome these limitations. In this review, we have efficiently summarized the current knowledge on the anticancer effect of EOs and constituents in both in in vitro and in in vivo BC models. Further, we also provide a descriptive account on the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing the anti-BC activity of EOs and their constituents. The papers discussed in this review were selected using the keywords "antiproliferative Essential Oils in breast cancer," "anticancer activity of Essential Oil in breast cancer," and "cytotoxicity of Essential Oils in breast cancer" performed in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases.

Unveiling the therapeutic potential: Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity of Magnolia champaca Linn's stem bark isolate through molecular docking insights

Magnolia champaca Linn. has traditionally been used for medicinal activity in Asia for treating various chronic diseases as well as a source of food, medicines, and other commodities. Due to the long-used history of this plant, the present study was designed to explore the in vitro, in vivo and in silico anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties of the methanolic extract and fractions and the pure compound isolated from the most active chloroform fraction (CHF) of the stem bark of the plant. The isolated compound from the most active CHF was characterized and identified as a glycoside, trans-syringin, through chromatographic and spectroscopic (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) analyses. In the in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, CHF was most effective in inhibiting inflammation and hemolysis of RBCs by 73.91 ± 1.70% and 75.92 ± 0.14%, respectively, induced by heat and hypotonicity compared to standard acetylsalicylic acid. In the egg albumin denaturation assay, CME and CHF showed the highest inhibition by 56.25 ± 0.82% and 65.82 ± 3.52%, respectively, contrasted with acetylsalicylic acid by 80.14 ± 2.44%. In an in vivo anti-inflammatory assay, statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the parameters of inflammation, such as paw edema, leukocyte migration and vascular permeability, were recorded in a dose-dependent manner in the treated groups. In the antineoplastic assay, 45.26 ± 2.24% and 68.31 ± 3.26% inhibition of tumor cell growth for pure compound were observed compared to 73.26 ± 3.41% for standard vincristine. Apoptotic morphologic alterations, such as membrane and nuclear condensation and fragmentation, were also found in EAC cells after treatment with the isolated bioactive pure compound. Such treatment also reversed the increased WBC count and decreased RBC count to normal values compared to the untreated EAC cell-bearing mice and the standard vincristine-treated mice. Subsequently, in silico molecular docking studies substantiated the current findings, and the isolated pure compound and standard vincristine exhibited -6.4 kcal/mol and -7.3 kcal/mol binding affinities with topoisomerase-II. Additionally, isolated pure compound and standard diclofenac showed -8.2 kcal/mol and -7.6 kcal/mol binding affinities with the COX-2 enzyme, respectively. The analysis of this research suggests that the isolated bioactive pure compound possesses moderate to potent anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity and justifies the traditional uses of the stem bark of M. champaca. However, further investigations are necessary to analyze its bioactivity, proper mechanism of action and clinical trials for the revelation of new drug formulations.

Polyphenol Mediated Suppression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) Cell Proliferation by Clerodendrum infortunatum L. Root

OBJECTIVE

Clerodendrum infortunatum L. has long been used in traditional medicine in Sri Lanka for tumours, cancer, and certain skin diseases. The present study aimed to assess the anticancer properties of the aqueous extract of C. infortunatum L. root (AECIR) through the activation of the apoptotic pathway on hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and thus give it a scientific validation. Further, the contribution of polyphenols in antioxidant activity and cell cytotoxicity was investigated.

METHODS

Powdered plant material was boiled with water (100°C) to obtained AECIR.  The DPPH assay was used to determine the antioxidant potential. The activity of AECIR on HepG2 and normal rat fibroblast (CC1) cell growth was determined using MTT assay. The morphological changes related to apoptotic pathway was examined by Ethidium Bromide/Acridine Orange (EB/AO), Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) and DNA fragmentation assay.

RESULTS

The AECIR demonstrated antioxidant potential with an EC50 of 350.2 ± 1.5 ug/mL for DPPH assay. The HO•, H2O2 and •NO free radical scavenging activity was observed with EC50 of 19.7 ± 2.3, 11.7 ± 0.1 and 273.1 ± 0.9 ug/mL, respectively. The antiproliferative effect of AECIR on HepG2 cells was observed in a time and dose dependent manner with an EC50 of 239.1 ± 1.3 μg/mL while CC1 cells showed a nontoxic effect with an EC50 1062.7 ± 3.4 μg/mL after 24hrs treatment. A significant decrease in antioxidant activity (p<0.001) and 90% HepG2 cell viability was observed with polyphenol removed AECIR compared to the polyphenol present AECIR. The EB/AO uptake, depletion of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and DNA fragmentation assay results revealed that the apoptosis was induced by AECIR.

CONCLUSION

The obtained result of the present study demonstrates that the antioxidant potential and antiproliferative activity of AECIR is attributed to the presence of polyphenols. Furthermore, the findings provide the scientific base for anti-cancer potential of AECIR.

Siparuna guianensis Essential Oil Antitumoral Activity on Ehrlich Model and Its Effect on Oxidative Stress

This work aims to evaluate the chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant capacity, and in vivo antitumoral activity of S. guianensis essential oil against Ehrlich's ascitic carcinoma and the effects on oxidative stress. The animals (Mus musculus) received a daily dose of S. guianensis oil orally (100 mg/kg) for 9 days. The main constituents of essential oil were curzerenone (16.4±1.5 %), drimenol (13.7±0.2 %), and spathulenol (12.4±0.8 %). S. guianensis oil showed antioxidant activity, inhibiting 11.1 % of DPPH radicals (95.7 mgTE/g); and 15.5 % of the β-carotene peroxidation. The group treated with S. guianensis showed a significant reduction in tumor cells (59.76±12.33) compared to the tumor group (96.88±19.15). Essential oil of S. guianensis decreased MDA levels and increased SOD levels in liver tissue. The essential oil of S. guianensis reduced oxidative stress, and showed antitumor and antioxidant activity, being characterized as a new chemical profile in the investigation of pathologies such as cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Macrophage Activation Induced by Bioavailable Cinnamon Polyphenols in Mice

SCOPE

Cinnamon is a commonly used spice and herb that is rich in polyphenols. Due to the limited bioavailability of oral polyphenols, it remains unclear to which extent they can reach cells and exert a biological effect. This study aims to investigate the impact of bioavailable cinnamon polyphenols on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A polyphenol fraction is prepared from cinnamon (Cinnamomi ramulus) (CRPF) by boiling cinnamon in water and adsorbing the extract onto a hydrophobic resin. Mice are orally administered CRPF for 7 days and then subjected to three independent experiments: endotoxemia, serum collection, and macrophage isolation. Upon intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide challenge, CRPF decreases serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, involving suppression of liver and spleen macrophages. When normal macrophages are cultured in serum obtained from CRPF-treated mice, they exhibit an anti-inflammatory phenotype. However, macrophages from CRPF-treated mice show an increased production of inflammatory cytokines when cultured in fetal bovine serum and stimulated with LPS.

CONCLUSION

The study provides evidence for the presence of bioavailable cinnamon polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties and macrophage activation. These findings suggest that cinnamon polyphenols have the potential to modulate macrophage function, which could have implications for reducing inflammation and improving immune function.

Features and applications of Ehrlich tumor model in cancer studies: a literature review

Background and Objective

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, responsible for a large number of deaths, especially among women. Therapeutic options for breast cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy, but further studies of the pathogenesis of this disease and new treatments are still needed. In vitro and in vivo cancer models are important research tools. Murine Ehrlich tumors are one of these models, especially for hormone-positive breast cancer. The present narrative review discusses characteristics of the Ehrlich tumor model, laboratory manipulations of Ehrlich cells (ECs), and applications in pharmacological, pathological, and translational studies.

Methods

This review was based on scientific articles, books, and theses on Ehrlich tumors. We searched the PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, Google, and Clarivate databases.

Key Content and Findings

Hormone-positive ECs produce solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC) and ascitic Ehrlich carcinoma (AEC), with different features and applications. The presence of SEC or AEC induces systemic and immunological alterations that are similar to cancer in humans, what makes this model applicable to different studies in the cancer field.

Conclusions

Ehrlich tumors are a relevant tool for improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of breast cancer and investigating the tumor microenvironment, side effects of therapies, and new treatment options. Despite some limitations, such as the absence of an invasive phenotype to produce metastasis, both SEC and AEC are relevant in preclinical and translational studies of breast cancer.

Kaempferia galanga L. extract and its main component, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, inhibit the proliferation of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by suppressing TFAM expression

Kaempferia galanga L. shows anti-cancer effects; however, the underling mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanism of the anti-cancer effects of Kaempferia galanga L. Kaempferia galanga L. rhizome extracts (KGEs) suppressed Ehrlich ascites tumor cell (EATC) proliferation by inhibiting S-phase progression. The main component of KGE is ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EMC), which exhibits the same anti-proliferative effect as KGE. Furthermore, EMC induced the downregulation of cyclin D1 and upregulation of p21. EMC also decreased the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) but did not significantly change mitochondrial DNA copy number and membrane potential. Phosphorylation at Ser62 of c-Myc, a transcription factor of TFAM, was decreased by EMC treatment, which might be due to the suppression of H-ras expression. These results indicate that EMC is the active compound responsible for the anti-cancer effect of KGE and suppresses EATC proliferation by regulating the protein expression of cyclin D1 and p21; TFAM may also regulate the expression of these genes. In addition, we investigated the anticancer effects of KGE and EMC in vivo using EATC bearing mice. The volume of ascites fluid was significantly increased by intraperitoneal administration of EATC. However, the increase in the volume of ascites fluid was suppressed by oral administration of EMC and KGE. This study provides novel insights into the association between the anti-cancer effects of natural compounds and TFAM, indicating that TFAM might be a potential therapeutic target.

Immunomodulatory, apoptotic and anti-proliferative potentials of sildenafil in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma murine model: In vivo and in silico insights

Sildenafil is a potent phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor that effectively inhibits cGMP and increases the strength of nitric oxide. PDE5 was overexpressed in several carcinomas, including breast cancer, which inhibited tumor growth and cell division. The current research aims to investigate the in vivo sildenafil's immunomodulatory and antineoplastic potentials against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma. This study looked at the effects of sildenafil mono-treatment and co-treatment with cisplatin; tumor cell count, viability and the inhibition rate were determined. Apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, alterations in tumor cells and splenocytes proliferation, changes in splenocytes immunophenotyping using flowcytometry, plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), interferone (IFN)-γ, granzyme B, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, creatinine and hematological alterations were detected. Additionally, docking study was conducted to get further insights on how Sildenafil exerts its activity. Sildenafil mono-treatment and co-treatment with cisplatin markedly reduced tumor cell count, viability, growth rate and proliferative capability accompanied by apoptosis enhancement and G₀/G₁ and sub G₁ cells cycle arrest. Fortunately, sildenafil evoked efficient cellular immune response by increasing plasma levels of granzyme B and IFN-γ, proportion of splenic T cytotoxic (CD3⁺CD8⁺) and T helper (CD3⁺CD4⁺), accompanied by decrease in the proportion of splenic regulatory T cells. . Moreover, in silico data suggest LcK and MAPKs as the potential targets of sildenafil. Furthermore, sildenafil rebalanced the oxidant-antioxidant status by decreasing MDA and increasing GSH plasma levels. Sildenafil successfully retrieved various hematological values besides renal and hepatic functions in EAC-bearing animals. In conclusion, our results suggest that sildenafil could be potential safe anti-tumor agent with immuno-modulatory properties against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

E. coli Phagelysate: A Primer to Enhance Nanoparticles and Drug Deliveries in Tumor

The tumor microenvironment (TME), where cancer cells reside, plays a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis. It maintains an immunosuppressive state in many tumors and regulates the differentiation of precursor monocytes into M1 (anti-tumor)- and M2 (pro-tumor)-polarized macrophages, and greatly reduces anticancer drug and nanoparticle delivery. As a result, the effectiveness of recently developed chemo- and/or nanotechnology-mediated immune and magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (mNPH) therapies is inhibited significantly. One of the ways to overcome this limitation is to use E. coli phagelysate as a primer to modify the tumor microenvironment by switching tumor-associated M2 macrophages to anti-tumor M1 macrophages, and initiate the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Recently, bacteriophages and phage-induced lysed bacteria (bacterial phagelysates-BPLs) have been shown to be capable of modifying the tumor-associated environment. Phage/BPL-coated proteins tend to elicit strong anti-tumor responses from the innate immune system, prompting phagocytosis and cytokine release. It has also been reported that the microenvironments of bacteriophage- and BPL-treated tumors facilitate the conversion of M2-polarized TAMS to a more M1-polarized (tumoricidal) environment post-phage treatment. This paper demonstrates the feasibility and enhanced efficacy of combining E. coli phagelysate (EcPHL) and mNPH, a promising technology for treating cancers, in a rodent model. Specifically, we illustrate the EcPHL vaccination effect on the TME and mNP distribution in Ehrlich adenocarcinoma tumors by providing the tumor growth dynamics and histology (H&E and Prussian blue) distribution of mNP in tumor and normal tissue.

Saudi Arabian Plants: A Powerful Weapon against a Plethora of Diseases

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SA) ranks fifth in Asia in terms of area. It features broad biodiversity, including interesting flora, and was the historical origin of Islam. It is endowed with a large variety of plants, including many herbs, shrubs, and trees. Many of these plants have a long history of use in traditional medicine. The aim of this review is to evaluate the present knowledge on the plants growing in SA regarding their pharmacological and biological activities and the identification of their bioactive compounds to determine which plants could be of interest for further studies. A systematic summary of the plants' history, distribution, various pharmacological activities, bioactive compounds, and clinical trials are presented in this paper to facilitate future exploration of their therapeutic potential. The literature was obtained from several scientific search engines, including Sci-Finder, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, MDPI, Wiley publications, and Springer Link. Plant names and their synonyms were validated by 'The Plant List' on 1 October 2021. SA is home to approximately 2247 plant species, including native and introduced plants that belong to 142 families and 837 genera. It shares the flora of three continents, with many unique features due to its extreme climate and geographical and geological conditions. As plants remain the leading supplier of new therapeutic agents to treat various ailments, Saudi Arabian plants may play a significant role in the fight against cancer, inflammation, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To date, 102 active compounds have been identified in plants from different sites in SA. Plants from the western and southwestern regions have been evaluated for various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation, and cytotoxic activities. The aerial parts of the plants, especially the leaves, have yielded most of the bioactive compounds. Most bioactivity tests involve in vitro assessments for the inhibition of the growth of tumour cell lines, and several compounds with in vitro antitumour activity have been reported. More in-depth studies to evaluate the mode of action of the compounds are necessary to pave the way for clinical trials. Ecological and taxonomical studies are needed to evaluate the flora of SA, and a plan for the conservation of wild plants should be implemented, including the management of the protection of endemic plants.