Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L., Papaveraceae) Enhances Proliferation and Cytokine Production by Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in an In Vitro Model

Determination of Selected Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Chelidonium majus, Mahonia aquifolium and Sanguinaria canadensis Extracts by Liquid Chromatography and Their In Vitro and In Vivo Cytotoxic Activity against Human Cancer Cells

The search for new substances with cytotoxic activity against various cancer cells, especially cells that are very resistant to currently used chemotherapeutic agents, such as melanoma cells, is a very important scientific aspect. We investigated the cytotoxic effect of Chelidonium majus, Mahonia aquifolium and Sanguinaria canadensis extracts obtained from different parts of these plants collected at various vegetation stages on FaDu, SCC-25, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. Almost all the tested extracts showed higher cytotoxicity against these cancer cells than the anticancer drug etoposide. The highest cytotoxicity against the FaDu, SCC-25, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines was obtained for the Sanguinaria candensis extract collected before flowering. The cytotoxicity of extracts obtained from different parts of Chelidonium majus collected at various vegetation stages was also evaluated on melanoma cells (A375, G361 and SK-MEL-3). The highest cytotoxic activity against melanoma A375 cells was observed for the Chelidonium majus root extract, with an IC50 of 12.65 μg/mL. The same extract was the most cytotoxic against SK-MEL-3 cells (IC50 = 1.93 μg/mL), while the highest cytotoxic activity against G361 cells was observed after exposure to the extract obtained from the herb of the plant. The cytotoxic activity of Chelidonium majus extracts against melanoma cells was compared with the cytotoxicity of the following anticancer drugs: etoposide, cisplatin and hydroxyurea. In most cases, the IC50 values obtained for the anticancer drugs were higher than those obtained for the Chelidonium majus extracts. The most cytotoxic extract obtained from the root of Chelidonium majus was selected for in vivo cytotoxic activity investigations using a Danio rerio larvae xenograft model. The model was applied for the first time in the in vivo investigations of the extract’s anticancer potential. The application of Danio rerio larvae xenografts in cancer research is advantageous because of the transparency and ease of compound administration, the small size and the short duration and low cost of the experiments. The results obtained in the xenograft model confirmed the great effect of the investigated extract on the number of cancer cells in a living organism. Our investigations show that the investigated plant extracts exhibit very high cytotoxic activity and can be recommended for further experiments in order to additionally confirm their potential use in the treatment of various human cancers.

Determination of Cytotoxic Activity of Sanguinaria canadensis Extracts against Human Melanoma Cells and Comparison of Their Cytotoxicity with Cytotoxicity of Some Anticancer Drugs

Melanoma is an enormous global health burden, and should be effectively addressed with better therapeutic strategies. Therefore, new therapeutic agents are needed for the management of this disease. The aim of this study was the investigation of cytotoxic activity of some isoquinoline alkaloid standards and extracts obtained from Sanguinaria canadensis—collected before, during, and after flowering—against three different human melanoma cells (A375, G361, SK-MEL-3). The cytotoxicity of these extracts was not previously tested on these melanoma cell lines. Determination of alkaloid contents was performed by HPLC-DAD using Polar RP column and mobile phase containing acetonitrile, water, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. The cytotoxicity of alkaloid standards was investigated by determination of cell viability and calculation of IC₅₀ values. Significant differences were observed in the alkaloids content and cytotoxic activity of the extracts, depending on the season of collection of the plant material. In the Sanguinaria canadensis extracts high contents of sanguinarine (from 4.8543 to 9.5899 mg/g of dry plant material) and chelerythrine (from 42.7224 to 6.8722 mg/g of dry plant material) were found. For both of these alkaloids, very high cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines were observed. The IC₅₀ values were in the range of 0.11–0.54 µg/mL for sanguinarine and 0.14 to 0.46 µg/mL for chelerythrine. IC₅₀ values obtained for Sanguinaria canadensis extracts against all tested cell lines were also very low (from 0.88 to 10.96 µg/mL). Cytotoxic activity of alkaloid standards and Sanguinaria canadensis extracts were compared with the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs—etoposide, cisplatin, and hydroxyurea. In all cases except the one obtained for cisplatin against A375, which was similar to that obtained for Sanguinaria canadensis after flowering against the same cell line, IC₅₀ values obtained for anticancer drugs were higher than the IC₅₀ values obtained for sanguinarine, chelerythrine, and Sanguinaria canadensis extracts. Our results showed that Sanguinaria canadensis extracts and isoquinoline alkaloids, especially sanguinarine and chelerythrine, could be recommended for further in vivo experiments in order to confirm the possibility of their application in the treatment of human melanomas.

Apoptotic Activities of Sanguinaria canadensis: Primary Human Keratinocytes, C-33A, and Human Papillomavirus HeLa Cervical Cancer Lines

BACKGROUND

Sanguinarine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid derived from the root of Sanguinaria canadensis. Multiple published, preclinical studies have demonstrated that sanguinarine causes apoptosis in human cancer cells. An expert panel of naturopathic doctors identified sanguinarine as a component for consideration in cervical atypia management protocols. Clinical studies have identified positive outcomes when Sanguinaria is a constituent of escharotic treatment in cervical atypia management protocols. Therefore, further investigation and development of sanguinarine as a potential cancer treatment is recommended. Thus, the aim of this study is to further elucidate the signaling pathways of sanguinarine-induced cell death.

METHODS

Cell cultures of cervical cancer line C-33A (human papillomavirus [HPV] negative), HeLa (HPV positive), and normal primary human keratinocytes were established. Microscopic plate inspection, cell viability, initiator and effector caspase assays were completed in triplicate on C-33A (HPV negative), HeLa (HPV positive), and normal primary human keratinocytes cells exposed to incremental doses of sanguinarine.

RESULTS

Sanguinarine induced dose-dependent cell death in cervical cancer lines as well as in normal human keratinocytes. Microscopic plate inspection confirmed morphologic changes of cell death in normal keratinocytes, C-33A, and HeLa including cell shrinkage, round up, and detachment from plate surface. Caspase assays demonstrated that sanguinarine treatment of C-33A cells resulted in an induction of caspase-3/7 when compared with vehicle-treated controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Sanguinarine demonstrates potential as an agent with therapeutic impact because of the capacity to eliminate cancerous cells through apoptosis, the process of programed cell death. Further elucidation of signaling pathways of sanguinarine-induced cell death is necessary when considering sanguinarine as a treatment for cervical cancer.

Sanguinaria canadensis: Traditional Medicine, Phytochemical Composition, Biological Activities and Current Uses

Sanguinaria canadensis, also known as bloodroot, is a traditional medicine used by Native Americans to treat a diverse range of clinical conditions. The plants rhizome contains several alkaloids that individually target multiple molecular processes. These bioactive compounds, mechanistically correlate with the plant’s history of ethnobotanical use. Despite their identification over 50 years ago, the alkaloids of S. canadensis have not been developed into successful therapeutic agents. Instead, they have been associated with clinical toxicities ranging from mouthwash induced leukoplakia to cancer salve necrosis and treatment failure. This review explores the historical use of S. canadensis, the molecular actions of the benzophenanthridine and protopin alkaloids it contains, and explores natural alkaloid variation as a possible rationale for the inconsistent efficacy and toxicities encountered by S.canadensis therapies. Current veterinary and medicinal uses of the plant are studied with an assessment of obstacles to the pharmaceutical development of S. canadensis alkaloid based therapeutics.

Sanguinarine Induces Apoptosis of Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma KB Cells via Inactivation of the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Preclinical Research Sanguinarine, an alkaloid isolated from the root of Sanguinaria canadensis and other plants of the Papaveraceae family, selectively induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of human cancer cells, but its mechanism of action requires further elaboration. The present study investigated the pro-apoptotic effects of sanguinarine in human oral squamous cell carcinoma KB cells. Sanguinarine treatment increased DR5/TRAILR2 (death receptor 5/TRAIL receptor 2) expression and enhanced the activation of caspase-8 and cleavage of its substrate, Bid. Sanguinarine also induced the mitochondrial translocation of pro-apoptotic Bax, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytochrome c release to the cytosol, and activation of caspase-9 and -3. However, a pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, reversed the growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by sanguinarine. Sanguinarine also suppressed the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in KB cells, while co-treatment of cells with sanguinarine and a PI3K inhibitor revealed synergistic apoptotic effects. However, pharmacological inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases did not reduce or enhance sanguinarine-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis. Collectively, these findings indicate that the pro-apoptotic effects of sanguinarine in KB cells may be regulated by a caspase-dependent cascade via activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic signaling pathways and inactivation of PI3K/Akt signaling. Drug Dev Res 77 : 227-240, 2016.   © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rise and fall of oral health products with Canadian bloodroot extract

The rhizome of Sanguinaria canadensis (SC, bloodroot) contains an active principle with antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antioxidative and immunomodulatory effects. For this reason SC extract has been added to toothpastes and mouthwashes in various concentrations. When tested separately, neither the toothpastes nor the mouthwashes with SC extract had any demonstrable clinical effectiveness against dental plaque and gingivitis. Although using them together twice a day seemed more effective than using placebo, more recent studies have shown conflicting results. Preclinical safety studies up to 2000, which did not include studies longer than 6 months, were thought not to indicate any appreciable potential for harm - to the oral mucosa in particular. In 2003, the FDA Subcommittee on Oral Health Care Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use concluded from a review that using SC-containing products is safe. However, for reasons unknown, the review failed to consider publications between 1999 and 2001 that suggested a possible link between the use of SC-containing products and the pre-neoplastic lesion, leukoplakia. As it happened, bloodroot had already been removed (in 2001) from the formula of one of the most widely used products in question and the brand has since then disappeared altogether from the worldwide market.