Study on the activity and mechanism of skimmianine against human non-small cell lung cancer

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Furopyridone Derivatives as Potent Cytotoxic Agents against Esophageal Cancer

Cancer continues to be a major global health issue, ranking among the top causes of death worldwide. To develop novel antitumor agents, this study focused on the synthesis of a series of 21 novel furanopyridinone derivatives through structural modifications and functional enhancements. The in vitro anti-tumor activities of these compounds were investigated through the cytotoxicity against KYSE70 and KYSE150 and led to the identification of compound 4c as the most potent compound. At a concentration of 20 µg/mL, compound 4c demonstrated a remarkable 99% inhibition of KYSE70 and KYSE150 cell growth after 48 h. IC50 was 0.655 µg/mL after 24 h. Additionally, potential anti-tumor cellular mechanisms were explored through molecular docking, which was used to predict the binding mode of 4c with METAP2 and EGFR, suggesting that the C=O part of the pyridone moiety likely played a crucial role in binding. This study provided valuable insights and guidance for the development of novel anticancer drugs with novel structural scaffolds.

A Review of the Ethnobotanical Use, Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Constituents Derived from the Plant Genus Geijera (Rutaceae)

Geijera Schott is a plant genus of the Rutaceae Juss. (rue and citrus) family, comprising six species which are all native to Oceania. Of the plants belonging to this genus, the most significant species that has a customary use is Geijera parviflora, which was used by Indigenous Australians, primarily as a pain reliever. Herein, a comprehensive review of the literature published on the genus Geijera from 1930 to 2023 was conducted. This is the first review for this plant genus, and it highlights the chemical constituents reported to date, together with the range of pharmacological properties described from the various species and different parts of the plant. These properties include anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, insect repellent, analgesic, neuroactive, and anti-cancer activities. Finally, a reflection on some of the important areas for future focused studies of this plant genus is provided.

Furoquinoline Alkaloids: Insights into Chemistry, Occurrence, and Biological Properties

Furoquinoline alkaloids exhibit a diverse range of effects, making them potential candidates for medicinal applications. Several compounds within this group have demonstrated antimicrobial and antiprotozoal properties. Of great interest is their potential as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and anti-inflammatory agents in neurodegenerative diseases. The promising biological properties of furoquinoline alkaloids have motivated extensive research in this field. As a result, new compounds have been isolated from this group of secondary metabolites, and numerous pharmacological studies have been conducted to investigate their activity. It is crucial to understand the mechanisms of action of furoquinoline alkaloids due to their potential toxicity. Further research is required to elucidate their mechanisms of action and metabolism. Additionally, the exploration of derivative compounds holds significant potential in enhancing their pharmacological benefits. In vitro plant cultures offer an alternative approach to obtaining alkaloids from plant material, presenting a promising avenue for future investigations.

Ruta angustifolia Pers. (Narrow-Leaved Fringed Rue): Pharmacological Properties and Phytochemical Profile

The genus Ruta in the family Rutaceae includes about 40 species, such as the well-known plants R. graveolens L. (common rue) or R. chalepensis L. (fringed rue), but also much lesser-known species such as R. angustifolia Pers. (narrow-leaved fringed rue). This rue specie, originating from the Mediterranean region, is well-distributed in Southeast Asia, notably in the Indo-Chinese peninsula and other territories. In some countries, such as Malaysia, the plant is used to treat liver diseases and cancer. Extracts of R. angustifolia display antifungal, antiviral and antiparasitic effects. Diverse bioactive natural products have been isolated from the aerial parts of the plant, notably quinoline alkaloids and furocoumarins, which present noticeable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and/or antiproliferative properties. The present review discusses the main pharmacological properties of the plant and its phytoconstituents, with a focus on the anticancer activities evidenced with diverse alkaloids and terpenoids isolated from the aerial parts of the plant. Quinoline alkaloids such as graveoline, kokusaginine, and arborinine have been characterized and their mode of action defined. Arborinine stands as a remarkable inhibitor of histone demethylase LSD1, endowed with promising anticancer activities. Other anticancer compounds, such as the furocoumarins chalepin and rutamarin, have revealed antitumor effects. Their mechanism of action is discussed together with that of other bioactive natural products, including angustifolin and moskachans. Altogether, R. angustifolia Pers. presents a rich phytochemical profile, fully consistent with the traditional use of the plant to treat cancer. This rue species, somewhat neglected, warrant further investigations as a medicinal plant and a source of inspiration for drug discovery and design.

Exploring natural compounds for the management of non-small cell lung cancer

A growing incidence of drug resistance and tumour proliferation in non-small cell lung cancer escalates the urge for potential lead molecules. The plant-derived natural compounds have played a pivotal role in potential therapeutic agents owing to its versatility and low toxicity over the past decades. In this study, we have executed an in-silico based screening of 1574 natural compounds against the β-catenin via an integrated pharmacophore approach. Further investigation revealed that Mucronulatol and 7,4'-dihydroxyhomoisoflavanone possess a higher Glide score (-4.748 and -3.943 kcal/mol), binding affinity (-44.763 and -41.883 kcal/mol) alongside drug-likeness property than the iCRT5. Moreover, these compounds are reported to have cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell lines with an IC₅₀ value of 6.74 µM and 8.99 µM respectively. Furthermore, dynamic studies were employed to determine the structural stability and we hope that the lead molecules proposed in this study could effectively inhibit the β-catenin pathway associated with NSCLC.

Rapid identification and pharmacokinetic studies of multiple active alkaloids in rat plasma through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and UPLC-MS/MS after the oral administration of Zanthoxylum nitidum extract

Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. (ZN) belongs to the genus Zanthoxylum of Rutaceae and has various chemical ingredients and pharmacologic effects. Alkaloids are its main active constituents responsible for diverse pharmacologic effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. The chemical and pharmacological effects of ZN are well reported, but the in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles of its main active alkaloids are poorly investigated. This study aims to elucidate the absorbed constituents and pharmacokinetic behavior of main active ingredients in rat plasma after the oral administration of ZN extract. The absorbed constituents in rat plasma were qualitatively analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination and pharmacokinetic studies of dihydrochelerythrine (DHCHE), nitidine chloride (NIT), chelerythrine (CHE), sanguinarine (SAN), liriodenine (LIR), skimmianine (SKI), γ-fagarine (FAG), and dictamnine (DIC) in rat plasma. Eighteen prototypes and metabolites were identified according to exact mass, characteristic diagnostic fragment ions, and reference standards. The established UPLC-MS/MS quantitative method met the requirements of FDA for biological analysis methods. Method validation showed that this method has good linearity (r ≥ 0.9910), precision (RSD ≤ 18.63 %), accuracy (88.11 %-117.50 %), and stability. The limit of detection (LOD) could reach 1 ng/mL, and the limit of quantitation could reach 2 ng/mL. The plasma drug concentration of benzophenanthridine alkaloids, such as NIT, CHE, and DHCHE, were still low even after dose differences were deducted. For the furan quinoline alkaloids (such as SKI, FAG, and DIC), only SKI showed high plasma drug concentration, although SKI content comprised only approximately 1/6 of benzophenanthridine alkaloids. This study is the first to simultaneously determine the above-mentioned active alkaloids in rat plasma and would contribute to the comprehensive understanding of in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior on active alkaloids in ZN extract.

Synthesis of New Fused Heterocyclic 2-Quinolones and 3-Alkanonyl-4-Hydroxy-2-Quinolones

Herein, we report the synthesis of 5,12-dihydropyrazino[2,3-c:5,6-c′]difuro[2,3-c:4,5-c′]-diquinoline-6,14(5H,12H)diones, 2-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-3-yl)-1,4-diphenyl- butane-1,4-diones and 4-(benzo-[d]oxazol-2-yl)-3-hydroxy-1H-[4,5]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridine-1-one. The new candidates were synthesized and identified by different spectroscopic techniques, and X-ray crystallography.

Raspberry seeds extract selectively inhibits the growth of human lung cancer cells in vitro

This study was focused on in vitro cytotoxicity screening of the raspberry seeds methanol extract towards a number of cancer cell lines of human origin. The tested extract at the preferred concentrations (IC₅₀ <30 µg/mL) inhibited only the growth of the lung cancer A-549 cells (IC₅₀ = 14.07 ± 0.96 µg/mL). At the same time, it was practically inactive (IC₅₀ >300 µg/mL) and non-mutagenic towards normal MRC-5 lung cells. Finally, the extract potently scavenged both OH· (IC₅₀ = 20.11 ± 1.77 µg/mL) and O^2-· (IC₅₀ = 47.23 ± 3.82 µg/mL), the free radicals of proved relevance for cancer pathophysiology. Though seeds were enriched with phenolic compounds (TPC = 5.21 ± 0.07 mg GAE/g), anthocyanins were present in traces only (TAC = 0.07 ± 0.003 mg cyn-3-glu/g), while flavonoids were not detected at all. This is the first report on anti-lung cancer potential of the seeds of any soft fruit.