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Zieniuk B, Pawełkowicz M. Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents. Metabolites 2023; 13:1081. [PMID: 37887406 PMCID: PMC10608718 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the Cucurbitaceae family. These bitter-tasting compounds act primarily as defense mechanisms against external injuries, and thus against herbivores, and furthermore, they have also found use in folk medicine in the treatment of various diseases. Many studies have acknowledged significant biological activities of cucurbitacins, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antimicrobial properties, or antitumor potential. Overall, cucurbitacins have the ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the anticancer activity of varied cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins offer a promising avenue for future cancer treatment strategies, and their diverse mechanisms of action make them attractive candidates for further investigation. The aim of the present study is to shed light on the chemical diversity of this group of compounds by providing the sources of origin of selected compounds and their chemical structure, as well as insight into their anticancer potential. In addition, within this paper molecular targets for cucurbitacins and signalling pathways important for cancer cell proliferation and/or survival that are affected by the described class of compounds have been presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Zieniuk
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Pawełkowicz
- Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
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2
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Development and Validation of a New Analytical HPLC-PDA Method for Simultaneous Determination of Cucurbitacins B and D from the Roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii. J CHEM-NY 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/2109502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichosanthes kirilowii, one of the herbal formulas named SH003, has been used for treatment in traditional medicine. This paper aimed to analyze the marker compounds from the roots of T. kirilowii and evaluate a validation method for cucurbitacins B and D using high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA). Two marker compounds were identified as cucurbitacin B (1) and cucurbitacin D (2) from the roots of T. kirilowii by spectroscopic analyses. Cucurbitacins B and D peaks were well separated and were detected at 15.4 min and 12.4 min, respectively, by a UV detector at 230 nm with the linearity (R2 > 0.999) range between 5 and 250 μg/mL, limit of detections (LODs) were 1.87 μg/mL and 1.30 μg/mL, respectively, while limit of quantifications (LOQs) were 5.66 μg/mL and 3.93 μg/mL, respectively. The established method offered good precision with overall intra- and inter-day variations of 0.34–1.26 and 0.26–1.35%, respectively, for % relative standard deviation (RSD, acceptance limit %RSD <3%). The cucurbitacins B and D recoveries ranged from 99.2 to 101.7% and 98.6 to 102.0%, respectively. These results suggest that cucurbitacins B and D could be a valuable candidate for marker compounds of the extract from T. kirilowii, and the proposed method was shown applicability for quality control of SH003.
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Park HJ, Park SH. The Ethanolic Extract of Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Exerts anti-Cancer Effects in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Resistant to EGFR TKI. Nutr Cancer 2022; 75:376-387. [PMID: 36004720 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2022.2114509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ethanol extract of the Trichosanthes kirilowii root (ETK), traditionally used to treat lung diseases, exhibits anticancer activity in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. ETK treatment suppressed the growth of EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC cells, including H1299, H1975, PC9/ER (erlotinib-resistant PC9) and PC9/GR (gefitinib-resistant PC9) cells, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Dose-dependent decline in anchorage-dependent and -independent colony formation was also detected following ETK treatment. We demonstrate that the growth-inhibitory effect of ETK was related to apoptosis induction, based on flow cytometry results showing ETK-induced increase in the percentage of cells with sub-G1 DNA and the population of annexin V-positive cells. Consistently, ETK induced chromatin condensation and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). As a molecular mechanism, the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Src was decreased by ETK. ETK-induced apoptosis was partially reversed by transfection of constitutively activated STAT3, indicating that STAT3 inactivation mediated ETK-induced apoptosis in EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC cells. Our results provide basic evidence supporting the role of ETK as a novel therapeutic in EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ji Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Shin-Hyung Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University, Busan, Republic of Korea
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4
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Chen T, Ma B, Lu S, Zeng L, Wang H, Shi W, Zhou L, Xia Y, Zhang X, Zhang J, Chen J. Cucumber-Derived Nanovesicles Containing Cucurbitacin B for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:3583-3599. [PMID: 35974872 PMCID: PMC9376005 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s362244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose In recent years, a variety of nanoparticles with excellent anticancer and delivery properties have emerged for cancer therapy. However, potential toxicity, high production cost and complex preparation procedures have been obstacles to their use in biomedicine. Here, we obtained cucumber-derived nanovesicles (CDNVs) at high yield and low cost by simple juicing and ultracentrifugation. The anticancer effects of CDNVs were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Methods Transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis and laser particle size analysis were used to characterize the morphology, diameter and zeta potential of CDNVs, respectively. The anticancer effects of CDNVs in vitro were evaluated by MTT and apoptosis assays. The mechanism was further explored by measuring the protein levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway, reactive oxygen species, cell cycle distribution and caspase activity. In-vivo anticancer efficacy was evaluated by measuring tumor volume and weight of mice in three different treatment groups (CDNVs, cucurbitacin B and PBS). Results CDNVs inhibited proliferation of human non-small cell lung cancer cells by suppressing signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation, generating reactive oxygen species, promoting cell cycle arrest, and activating the caspase pathway. These CDNVs exhibited strong anticancer effects both in vitro and in vivo, and reduced the rate of tumor growth without obvious toxicity to mouse visceral organs. Compared with an equivalent dose of cucurbitacin B, CDNVs exerted stronger anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion These results demonstrate that CDNVs suppress tumor growth. This study addresses the development of cancer therapeutic drugs using plant-derived nanovesicles that are cost-efficient, simple to produce in high yields, and provide an alternative approach to drug isolation that may help advance sustainability of medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingxiang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Lupeng Zeng
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaying Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanhua Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Linying Zhou
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Public Technology Service Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaokun Xia
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinghua Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, People's Republic of China
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Ullah MF, Ahmad A, Bhat SH, Abuduhier FM, Mustafa SK, Usmani S. Diet-derived small molecules (nutraceuticals) inhibit cellular proliferation by interfering with key oncogenic pathways: an overview of experimental evidence in cancer chemoprevention. Biol Futur 2022; 73:55-69. [PMID: 35040098 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-022-00110-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Discouraging statistics of cancer disease has projected an increase in the global cancer burden from 19.3 to 28.4 million incidences annually within the next two decades. Currently, there has been a revival of interest in nutraceuticals with evidence of pharmacological properties against human diseases including cancer. Diet is an integral part of lifestyle, and it has been proposed that an estimated one-third of human cancers can be prevented through appropriate lifestyle modification including dietary habits; hence, it is considered significant to explore the pharmacological benefits of these agents, which are easily accessible and have higher safety index. Accordingly, an impressive embodiment of evidence supports the concept that the dietary factors are critical modulators to prevent, retard, block, or reverse carcinogenesis. Such an action reflects the ability of these molecules to interfere with multitude of pathways to subdue and neutralize several oncogenic factors and thereby keep a restraint on neoplastic transformations. This review provides a series of experimental evidence based on the current literature to highlight the translational potential of nutraceuticals for the prevention of the disease through consumption of enriched diets and its efficacious management by means of novel interventions. Specifically, this review provides the current understanding of the chemopreventive pharmacology of nutraceuticals such as cucurbitacins, morin, fisetin, curcumin, luteolin and garcinol toward their potential as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Fahad Ullah
- Prince Fahd Research Chair, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Aamir Ahmad
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Interim Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Showket H Bhat
- Prince Fahd Research Chair, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Vocational Studies, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Faisel M Abuduhier
- Prince Fahd Research Chair, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Khalid Mustafa
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shazia Usmani
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, India
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Network pharmacology-based and clinically relevant prediction of active ingredients and potential targets of Chinese herbs on stage IV lung adenocarcinoma patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:2079-2092. [PMID: 33797608 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03488-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study is designed to ascertain the relative molecular targets of effective Chinese herbs in treating stage IV lung adenocarcinoma based on clinical data and network pharmacology. In addition, we showed that Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) treatment was associated with survival benefit for patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma and identified 18 herbs beneficial to survival through correlation analysis. BACKGROUND Increasing evidence has shown that CHM has efficient therapeutic effects for advanced lung adenocarcinoma, while active ingredients and potential targets remain unclear. METHODS Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the survival benefit of CHM treatment, and correlation analysis was applied to identify the most effective components in the formulas. A network pharmacological approach was used to decipher the potential therapeutic mechanisms of CHM. RESULTS CHM treatment was an independent protective factor. The hazard ratio (HR) was 0.487 (95% CI 0.293-0.807; P = 0.005). Patients in the CHM group had a longer median survival time (31 months) compared with the non-CHM group (19 months; P < 0.001). 18 out of the total 241 herbs were significantly correlated with favorable survival outcomes (P < 0.05), likely representing the most effective components in these formulas. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the 18 herbs realize anti-lung-adenocarcinoma activity mainly through (1) inhibiting the activity of some growth factors' receptors, such as HGFR, EGFR, and IGFR. (2) Suppressing angiogenesis not only through VEGFR and PDGFR, but also through the function of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. (3) Inhibiting the Ras signaling pathway directly through Ras as well as through ALK and FNTA/FNTB. CONCLUSIONS We performed a network pharmacological method to decipher the underlying mechanisms, which provides a good foundation for herbal research based on clinical data.
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Lin X, Farooqi AA. Cucurbitacin mediated regulation of deregulated oncogenic signaling cascades and non-coding RNAs in different cancers: Spotlight on JAK/STAT, Wnt/β-catenin, mTOR, TRAIL-mediated pathways. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 73:302-309. [PMID: 33152487 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Research over decades has enabled us in developing a better understanding of the multifaceted and heterogeneous nature of cancer. High-throughput technologies have helped the researchers in unraveling of the underlying mechanisms which centrally regulate cancer onset, metastasis and drug resistance. Our rapidly expanding knowledge about signal transduction cascade has added another layer of complexity to already complicated nature of cancer. Deregulation of cell signaling pathways played a linchpin role in carcinogenesis and metastasis. Cucurbitacins have gained tremendous attention because of their remarkable pharmacological properties and considerable ability to mechanistically modulate myriad of cell signaling pathways in different cancers. In this review, we have attempted to provide a mechanistic and comprehensive analysis of regulation of oncogenic pathways by cucurbitacins in different cancers. We have partitioned this review into separate sections for exclusive analysis of each signaling pathway and critical assessment of the knowledge gaps. In this review, we will summarize most recent and landmark developments related to regulation of Wnt/β-catenin, JAK/STAT, mTOR, VEGFR, EGFR and Hippo pathway by cucurbitacins. Moreover, we will also address how cucurbitacins regulate DNA damage repair pathway and TRAIL-driven signaling in various cancers. However, there are still outstanding questions related to regulation of SHH/GLI, TGF/SMAD and Notch-driven pathway by cucurbitacins in different cancers. Future studies must converge on the analysis of full-fledge potential of cucurbitacins by in-depth analysis of these pathways and how these pathways can be therapeutically targeted by cucurbitacins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiukun Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Ammad Ahmad Farooqi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Islamabad, Pakistan.
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8
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Jing S, Zou H, Wu Z, Ren L, Zhang T, Zhang J, Wei Z. Cucurbitacins: Bioactivities and synergistic effect with small-molecule drugs. J Funct Foods 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2020.104042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Kurman Y, Kiliccioglu I, Dikmen AU, Esendagli G, Bilen CY, Sozen S, Konac E. Cucurbitacin B and cisplatin induce the cell death pathways in MB49 mouse bladder cancer model. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2020; 245:805-814. [PMID: 32252554 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220917367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT Alternative agents that will increase the effectiveness of cisplatin, which are widely used in the advanced stage and metastatic bladder cancer, are being investigated. In previous studies, Cucurbitacin B (CuB), which is a natural compound from the Cucurbitaceae family has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and create synergistic effects with cisplatin. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of CuB with cisplatin for the first time in bladder cancer in vitro and in vivo models. Our findings showed that CuB treatment with cisplatin reduced cell proliferation, and reduced tumor development through activating apoptosis and autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Our results showed that CuB may be a new agent that can support conventional treatment in bladder cancer. Our study is important in terms of enlightening new pathways and developing new treatment methods in the treatment of bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yener Kurman
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey
| | - Ilker Kiliccioglu
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Duzce University, Duzce 81620, Turkey
| | - Asiye U Dikmen
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey
| | - Guldal Esendagli
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey
| | - Cenk Y Bilen
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Sinan Sozen
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey
| | - Ece Konac
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey
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10
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Wu D, Wang Z, Lin M, Shang Y, Wang F, Zhou J, Wang F, Zhang X, Luo X, Huang W. In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activity of Cucurbitacin C, a Novel Natural Product From Cucumber. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1287. [PMID: 31780930 PMCID: PMC6857091 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cucurbitacin C (CuC), a novel analogue of triterpenoids cucurbitacins, confers a bitter taste in cucumber. Genes and signaling pathways responsive for biosynthesis of CuC have been identified in the recent years. In the present study, we explored the anti-cancer effects of CuC against human cancers in vitro and in vivo. CuC inhibited proliferation and clonogenic potential of multiple cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Low-dose CuC treatment induced cell cycle arrest at G1 or G2/M stage in different cancer lines, whereas high-dose treatment of CuC caused apoptosis in cancer cells. PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was found to be one of the major pathways involved in CuC-induced cell growth arrest and apoptosis by RNA-Seq and Western blotting. Mechanistic dissection further confirmed that CuC effectively inhibited the Akt signaling by inhibition of Akt phosphorylation at Ser473. In vivo CuC treatment (0.1 mg/kg body weight) effectively inhibited growth of cancer cell-derived xenograft tumors in athymic nude mice and caused significant apoptosis. Our findings for the first time demonstrated the potential therapeutic significance of CuC against human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinglan Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, The Clinical Innovation & Research Centre, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhu Wang
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Longhua Shenzhen, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Muqi Lin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Shang
- Agricultural Genome Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Urology, The Hospital of Hainan Province, Haikou, China
| | - JiaYi Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, The Clinical Innovation & Research Centre, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, The Clinical Innovation & Research Centre, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiantong Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, The Clinical Innovation & Research Centre, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaomin Luo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, The Clinical Innovation & Research Centre, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiren Huang
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China
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Yang L, Lin S, Xu L, Lin J, Zhao C, Huang X. Novel activators and small-molecule inhibitors of STAT3 in cancer. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2019; 49:10-22. [PMID: 31677966 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Excessive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling is observed in a subset of many cancers, making activated STAT3 a highly promising potential therapeutic target supported by multiple preclinical and clinical studies. However, early-phase clinical trials have produced mixed results with STAT3-targeted cancer therapies, revealing substantial complexity to targeting aberrant STAT3 signaling. This review discusses the diverse mechanisms of oncogenic activation of STAT3, and the small molecule inhibitors of STAT3 in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lehe Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Shichong Lin
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Lingyuan Xu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China; Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Jiayuh Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Chengguang Zhao
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
| | - Xiaoying Huang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
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12
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Zhang HQ, Liu P, Duan JA, Dong L, Shang EX, Qian DW, Xiao P, Zhao M, Li WW. Hierarchical extraction and simultaneous determination of flavones and triterpenes in different parts of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 167:114-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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13
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Chai Y, Xiang K, Wu Y, Zhang T, Liu Y, Liu X, Zhen W, Si Y. Cucurbitacin B Inhibits the Hippo-YAP Signaling Pathway and Exerts Anticancer Activity in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Med Sci Monit 2018; 24:9251-9258. [PMID: 30566960 PMCID: PMC6320653 DOI: 10.12659/msm.911594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies. Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a natural compound isolated from herbs and shows anticancer activity in several cancers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Here, we analyzed the effects of different CuB concentrations on the proliferative and invasive behaviors of CRC cells using MTT, clonogenic assay, Transwell invasion, and wound healing assays. Flow cytometry was performed to measure the apoptotic effects of CuB on CRC cells. Western blot and real-time PCR were used to investigate the expression of apoptosis and Hippo-YAP signaling pathway proteins. RESULTS CuB inhibited the proliferation and invasion of CRC cells while promoting apoptosis. In addition, the Western blot and real-time PCR results indicated that CuB suppressed YAP expression and its downstream target genes Cyr 61 and c-Myc in CRC cells. To assess the underlying mechanism, we investigated the upstream regulating factor LATS1, and the results revealed that CuB upregulated LATS1 expression in CRC cells. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our findings uncovered a novel therapeutic mechanism of CuB and suggest that there is therapeutic potential and feasibility in developing novel YAP inhibitors for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Chai
- Child Health Center, Shiyan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Ke Xiang
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
- Department of Science and Education, Gucheng People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Yezi Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Te Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Ying Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Xuewen Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Weiguo Zhen
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Si
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy of Cancer, Biomedical Research Institute, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, P.R. China
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Yu X, Tang L, Wu H, Zhang X, Luo H, Guo R, Xu M, Yang H, Fan J, Wang Z, Su R. Trichosanthis Fructus: botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 224:177-194. [PMID: 29842965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Trichosanthis Fructus (ripe fruits of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms) is an essential traditional Chinese medicine to treat thoracic obstruction, angina, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary heart disease, some cerebral ischaemic diseases, etc. The present report reviews the advancements in research on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Trichosanthis Fructus. Finally, perspectives on future research and its possible directions are discussed. AIM OF THE STUDY This review provides up-to-date information about the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and quality control of Trichosanthis Fructus and discusses the perspectives on future research and possible directions of this traditional Chinese Medicine and its origin plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS The information on Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms was collected from published scientific materials, including books; monographs on medicinal plants; pharmacopoeia and electronic databases such as SCI finder, PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor, CNKI and Google Scholar. RESULTS Approximately 162 compounds, including terpenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, nitrogenous compounds and lignans, have been isolated and identified from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms. Numerous studies have shown that the extracts and compounds isolated from these two plants exhibit pharmacological activities, including protection against myocardial ischaemia, calcium antagonist, endothelial cell protection, anti-hypoxic, anti-platelet aggregation, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant. CONCLUSIONS Trichosanthis Fructus is an essential traditional Chinese medicine with pharmacological activities that mainly affect the cardiovascular system. This review summarises its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Future research is needed to clarify the different uses of the seeds, pericarps and fruits. Quality control of investigations of the fruits should be improved, and the potential uses of the flesh, leaves and twigs should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiankuo Yu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Liying Tang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Hongwei Wu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Hanyan Luo
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Rixin Guo
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Mengying Xu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Hongjun Yang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jianwei Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shandong 276006, China
| | - Zhuju Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Ruiqiang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shandong 276006, China.
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Trichosanthes kirilowii lectin alleviates diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the LOX1/NF-κB/caspase-9 signaling pathway. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20180071. [PMID: 30038056 PMCID: PMC6127671 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20180071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichosanthes kirilowii lectin (TKL) has been reported to exert hypoglycemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. However, there is no evidence showing that it helps to prevent diabetic nephropathy (DN). We used a high glucose (HG)-induced HK-2 cell model and a streptozocin (STZ)-induced Wistar rat model to investigate the effects of TKL on DN, as well as the mechanisms for those effects. Our results showed that TKL significantly increased the viability of HG-treated HK-2 cells and inhibited cell apoptosis. In vivo experiments demonstrated that TKL attenuated STZ-induced histopathological damage and the inflammatory response in rat kidney tissues. Pre-treatment of HK-2 cells or STZ-treated rats with polyinosinic acid (Poly IC), an inhibitor of lectin-like oxLDL receptor 1 (LOX1), blocked the protective effect of TKL against HG- or STZ-induced damage to kidney tissue, indicating that TKL might exert its effect via LOX1-mediated endocytosis. Additional results suggested that TKL inhibits the phosphorylation of IκB kinase β (IKKβ) and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor protein (IκBα), and thereby reduces the nuclear translocation of NF-κB (p65). ChIP assay data indicated that TKL markedly inhibits the binding of p65 to the CASP9 gene in HG-treated HK-2 cells, subsequently suppressing transcription of the CASP9 gene. In the dual-luciferase reporter assay, TKL significantly inhibited luciferase activity in cells co-transfected with p65 and a wild-type capase-9 construct instead of mutated caspase-9 constructs. Taken together, our results show that TKL helps to protect against DN by inhibiting the LOX1/NF-κB/caspase-9 signaling pathway, suggesting TKL as a promising agent for treating DN.
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Rajagopal C, Lankadasari MB, Aranjani JM, Harikumar KB. Targeting oncogenic transcription factors by polyphenols: A novel approach for cancer therapy. Pharmacol Res 2018; 130:273-291. [PMID: 29305909 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation is one of the major causative factor of cancer and chronic inflammation is involved in all the major steps of cancer initiation, progression metastasis and drug resistance. The molecular mechanism of inflammation driven cancer is the complex interplay between oncogenic and tumor suppressive transcription factors which include FOXM1, NF-kB, STAT3, Wnt/β- Catenin, HIF-1α, NRF2, androgen and estrogen receptors. Several products derived from natural sources modulate the expression and activity of multiple transcription factors in various tumor models as evident from studies conducted in cell lines, pre-clinical models and clinical samples. Further combination of these natural products along with currently approved cancer therapies added an additional advantage and they considered as promising targets for prevention and treatment of inflammation and cancer. In this review we discuss the application of multi-targeting natural products by analyzing the literature and future directions for their plausible applications in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra Rajagopal
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India
| | - Manendra Babu Lankadasari
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India
| | - Jesil Mathew Aranjani
- Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - K B Harikumar
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India.
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Inhibition of STAT3/VEGF/CDK2 axis signaling is critically involved in the antiangiogenic and apoptotic effects of arsenic herbal mixture PROS in non-small lung cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:101771-101783. [PMID: 29254203 PMCID: PMC5731913 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the antitumor effects of asrsenic trioxide (As2O3), tetraarsenic hexoxide (As4O6 or PR) and tetraarsenic tetrasulfide (As4S4) in several cancers, their adverse poisoning, toxicity and resistance are still hot issues for effective cancer therapy. Here, antitumor mechanism of arsenic herbal mixture PROS including PR and OS (Oldenlandia diffusa and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract) was elucidated in non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLCs), since PR alone showed resistant cytotoxicity in NSCLCs compared to other cancers. PROS exerted significant cytotoxicity, induced sub-G1 phase and S phase arrest, increased apoptotic bodies, and attenuated the expression of pro-PARP, Bcl-2, Cyclin E, Cyclin A, CDK2, E2F1, p-Src, p-STAT3, p-ERK, p-AKT, COX-2 and SOCS-1 in A549 and H460 cells along with disrupted binding of STAT3 with CDK2 or VEGF. Notably, PROS inhibited VEGF induced proliferation, migration and tube formation in HUVECs and suppressed angiogenesis in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay via reduced phosphorylation of VEGFR2, Src and STAT3. Consistently, PROS reduced the growth of H460 cells implanted in BALB/c athymic nude mice via inhibition of STAT3, and VEGF and activation of caspase 3. Overall, these findings suggest that PROS exerts antiangiogenic and apoptotic effects via inhibition of STAT3/ VEGF/ CDK2 axis signaling as a potent anticancer agent for lung cancer treatment.
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