Carnosic acid exhibits antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in tumoral NCI-H460 and nontumoral IMR-90 lung cells

Exploring the Potential of Rosemary Derived Compounds (Rosmarinic and Carnosic Acids) as Cancer Therapeutics: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Cancer is a global health challenge with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, conventional cancer treatment methods often have severe side effects and limited success rates. In the last decade, extensive research has been conducted to develop safe, and efficient alternative treatments that do not have the limitations of existing anticancer medicines. Plant-derived compounds have shown promise in cancer treatment for their anti-carcinogenic and anti-proliferative properties. Rosmarinic acid (RA) and carnosic acid (CA) are potent polyphenolic compounds found in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extract. They have been extensively studied for their biological properties, which include anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. In addition, RA and CA have demonstrated effective anti-proliferative properties against various cancers, making them promising targets for extensive research to develop candidate or leading compounds for cancer treatment. This review discusses and summarizes the anti-tumor effect of RA and CA against various cancers and highlights the involved biochemical and mechanistic pathways.

Ethnomedicinal uses of Indian spices used for cancer treatment: A treatise on structure-activity relationship and signaling pathways

Cancer is among the major cause of demise worldwide. Though the array of anticancer chemical medications is available but unfortunately, they are also associated with negative health effects. The invaluable therapeutic potential of spices makes them an integral part of our daily diet. Therefore, the present work focuses on the traditional uses of 46 spices and the phytochemical analysis of 31 spices. Out of them, only 29 spices are explored for their cytotoxicity against different cancer cell lines. The pre-clinical and clinical anticancer studies of spices along with their toxicity, mechanism of actions like Wnt/β-catenin, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), JAK/STAT, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Notch-mediated pathways and Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies were also focused. Curcumin was found as one of the most explored bioactive in every aspect such as in-vitro, in-vivo, clinical as well as SAR anticancer studies while some other bioactive such as 1,8-Cineole, trans-Anethole, Diosgenin, Trigonelline are either unexplored or least explored for their clinical and SAR studies. In fact, traditional medicinal uses of spices also provide solid shreds of evidence for the new leads towards the invention of novel anticancer agents. Therefore, further research can be designed for the anticancer marketed formulation from spices after having their placebo and related toxicological data.

Modern aspects of the use of natural polyphenols in tumor prevention and therapy

Polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites or organic compounds synthesized by them. In other words, these are molecules that are found in plants. Due to the wide variety of polyphenols and the plants in which they are found, these compounds are divided according to the source of origin, the function of the polyphenols, and their chemical structure; where the main ones are flavonoids. All the beneficial properties of polyphenols have not yet been studied, since this group of substances is very extensive and diverse. However, most polyphenols are known to be powerful antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. Polyphenols help fight cell damage caused by free radicals and immune system components. In particular, polyphenols are credited with a preventive effect that helps protect the body from certain forms of cancer. The onset and progression of tumors may be related directly to oxidative stress, or inflammation. These processes can increase the amount of DNA damage and lead to loss of control over cell division. A number of studies have shown that oxidative stress uncontrolled by antioxidants or an uncontrolled and prolonged inflammatory process increases the risk of developing sarcoma, melanoma, and breast, lung, liver, and prostate cancer. Therefore, a more in-depth study of the effect of polyphenolic compounds on certain signaling pathways that determine the complex cascade of oncogenesis is a promising direction in the search for new methods for the prevention and treatment of tumors.

Advances on Natural Abietane, Labdane and Clerodane Diterpenes as Anti-Cancer Agents: Sources and Mechanisms of Action

Extensive research over the past decades has identified numerous phytochemicals that could represent an important source of anti-cancer compounds. There is an immediate need for less toxic and more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancer. Natural compounds are considered suitable candidates for the development of new anti-cancer drugs due to their pleiotropic actions on target events with multiple manners. This comprehensive review highlighted the most relevant findings achieved in the screening of phytochemicals for anticancer drug development, particularly focused on a promising class of phytochemicals such as diterpenes with abietane, clerodane, and labdane skeleton. The chemical structure of these compounds, their main natural sources, and mechanisms of action were critically discussed.

Investigation of cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of 63 compounds obtained from Salvia species: Promising anticancer agents

Since ancient time, Salvia L. species have been commonly used to treat colds, bronchitis, tuberculosis, heart diseases, and menstrual and digestive disorders in traditional medicine all around the world. They have been also used as tea and spice. Studies indicated that diterpenes and triterpenes isolated from Salvia species possess various pharmacological and biological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and hepatotoxic activities. Flavones were also shown to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potentials. Salvia extracts also exhibit anti-Alzheimer, antiseptic, cardiovascular, antihypertensive, and antituberculous effects. To investigate the effects of 63 secondary metabolites from Salvia species on cell viability and apoptosis, Salvia secondary metabolites including 25 phenolics, 4 fatty acids, 19 abietane diterpenoids, 12 triterpenoids, and three steroids were examined on healthy cell line (PDF), breast cancer (MCF-7), and colon cancer (HT-29) cell lines using MTT method. In addition, the effects of rosmarinic acid, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, acetyl royleanone, ferruginol, carnosic acid, carnosol, cryptotanshinone, β-sitosterol, and ursolic acid on pro-apoptotic Bax and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression levels were investigated by Western Blot method. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Phenolic compounds (apigenin, chrysin, and luteolin) and diterpenes (especially dihydrotanshinone I, carnosic acid, and carnosol), and almost all of the triterpenes exhibited high toxic effects on healthy cell line. Cytotoxic effects of cryptotanshinone, 12-hydroxy abieta-1,3,5(10),8,11,13-hexaene, 12-demethylmulticauline, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, acetyl royleanone, ferruginol, ursolic acid, and 3-acetyl lupeol were relatively higher than their toxic effects. Acetyl royleanone, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, carnosic acid, and cryptotanshinone were found to have anticancer potential based on their modulating effects on the expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins which play important roles in the regulation of apoptosis. The results of the present study showed that acetyl royleanone, cryptotanshinone, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, carnosic acid, and cryptotanshinone have potential to be used in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Effect of Terpenoid Natural Chinese Medicine Molecular Compound on Lung Cancer Treatment

Among all malignant tumors in the whole universe, the incidence and mortality of lung cancer disease rank first. Especially in the past few years, the occurrence of lung cancer in the urban population has continued to increase, which seriously threatens the lives and health of people. Among the many treatments for lung cancer, chemotherapy is the best one, but traditional chemotherapy has low specificity and drug resistance. To address the above issue, this study reviews the five biological pathways that common terpenoid compounds in medicinal plants interfere with the occurrence and development of lung cancer: cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell autophagy, cell invasion, metastasis, and immune mechanism regulation. In addition, the mechanism of the terpenoid natural traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound combined with Western medicine in the multipathway antilung cancer is summarized.

An overview of the chemistry and anticancer properties of rosemary extract and its diterpenes

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae, has promising anticancer activity. This overview has updated the current knowledge on the chemistry and anticancer properties of rosemary extract, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmanol, focusing on colon and prostate cancer cells since they are the most susceptible. The information was procured from Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, J-Stage, and PubChem. Phenolic compounds isolated from the aerial parts of R. officinalis are flavonoids, phenolic acids, diterpenes, triterpenes, terpenoids, and phenylpropanoids. Some of the compounds are new to science, to the genus, and to the species. Almost 30 compounds possess anticancer properties. Rosemary extracts contain abietane diterpenes, with carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmanol being the most common. Their molecular structures are similar to three fused aromatic rings. Carnosic acid has a –COOH group at C20, carnosol has a lactone ring occurs across the B ring, and rosmanol has a –OH group at C7. Against colon and prostate cancer cells, the rosemary extract and diterpenes inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. The inhibition of cell migration and adhesion has also been reported. The rosemary extract and diterpenes also inhibited colon and prostate cancer xenograft in mice. Rosemary extract is more cytotoxic than the diterpenes due to its polyphenols such as flavonoids and triterpenes. In vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activities involve different molecular targets and signalling pathways. Some prospects and areas for future research are suggested.

Exposure to long-term evolution radiofrequency electromagnetic fields decreases neuroblastoma cell proliferation via Akt/mTOR-mediated cellular senescence

The aim of this study was to examine the potential effects of long-term evolution (LTE) radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on cell proliferation using SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. The growth rate and proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells were significantly decreased upon exposure to 1760 MHz RF-EMF at 4 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) for 4 hr/day for 4 days. Cell cycle analysis indicated that the cell cycle was delayed in the G0/G1 phase after RF-EMF exposure. However, DNA damage or apoptosis was not involved in the reduced cellular proliferation following RF-EMF exposure because the expression levels of histone H2A.X at Ser139 (γH2AX) were not markedly altered and the apoptotic pathway was not activated. However, SH-SY5Y cells exposed to RF-EMF exhibited a significant elevation in Akt and mTOR phosphorylation levels. In addition, the total amount of p53 and phosphorylated-p53 was significantly increased. Data suggested that Akt/mTOR-mediated cellular senescence led to p53 activation via stimulation of the mTOR pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. The transcriptional activation of p53 led to a rise in expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21 and p27. Further, subsequent inhibition of CDK2 and CDK4 produced a fall in phosphorylated retinoblastoma (pRb at Ser807/811), which decreased cell proliferation. Taken together, these data suggest that exposure to RF-EMF might induce Akt/mTOR-mediated cellular senescence, which may delay the cell cycle without triggering DNA damage in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

An Aging-Related Gene Signature-Based Model for Risk Stratification and Prognosis Prediction in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Aging is an inevitable time-dependent process associated with a gradual decline in many physiological functions. Importantly, some studies have supported that aging may be involved in the development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, no studies have described an aging-related gene (ARG)-based prognosis signature for LUAD. Accordingly, in this study, we analyzed ARG expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). After LASSO and Cox regression analyses, a six ARG-based signature (APOC3, EPOR, H2AFX, MXD1, PLCG2, and YWHAZ) was constructed using TCGA dataset that significantly stratified cases into high- and low-risk groups in terms of overall survival (OS). Cox regression analysis indicated that the ARG signature was an independent prognostic factor in LUAD. A nomogram based on the ARG signature and clinicopathological factors was developed in TCGA cohort and validated in the GEO dataset. Moreover, to visualize the prediction results, we established a web-based calculator yurong.shinyapps.io/ARGs_LUAD/. Calibration plots showed good consistency between the prediction of the nomogram and actual observations. Receiver operating characteristic curve and decision curve analyses indicated that the ARG nomogram had better OS prediction and clinical net benefit than the staging system. Taken together, these results established a genetic signature for LUAD based on ARGs, which may promote individualized treatment and provide promising novel molecular markers for immunotherapy.

Multiple microarray analyses identify key genes associated with the development of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an independent risk factor of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to analyze the key genes and potential molecular mechanisms that are involved in the development from COPD to NSCLC.

Methods: Expression profiles of COPD and NSCLC in GSE106899, GSE12472, and GSE12428 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, followed by identification of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between COPD and NSCLC. Based on the identified DEGs, functional pathway enrichment and lung carcinogenesis-related networks analyses were performed and further visualized with Cytoscape software. Then, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and support vector machines (SVM) verified the ability of the top modular genes to distinguish COPD from NSCLC. Additionally, the corrections between these key genes and clinical staging of NSCLC were studied using the UALCAN and HPA websites. Finally, a prognostic risk model was constructed based on multivariate Cox regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the top modular genes on the training and verification sets were generated.

Results: A total of 2350, 1914, and 1850 DEGs were obtained from GSE106899, GSE12472, and GSE12428 datasets, respectively. Following analysis of protein-protein interaction networks, the identified modular gene signatures containing H2AFX, MCM2, MCM3, MCM7, POLD1, and RPA1 were identified as markers for discrimination between COPD and NSCLC. The modular gene signatures were mainly enriched in the processes of DNA replication, cell cycle, mismatch repair, and others. Besides, the expression levels of these genes were significantly higher in NSCLC than in COPD, which was further verified by the immunohistochemistry. In addition, the high expression levels of H2AFX, MCM2, MCM7, and POLD1 correlate with poor prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The Cox regression prognostic risk model showed the similar results and the predictive ability of this model is independent of other clinical variables.

Conclusions: This study revealed several key modules that closely relate to NSCLC with underlying disease COPD, which provide a deeper understanding of the potential mechanisms underlying the malignant development from COPD to NSCLC. This study provides valuable prognostic factors in high-risk lung cancer patients with COPD.

Antimicrobial activity of plant extracts against carbapenem-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and in vivo toxicological assessment

The global spread of multidrug-resistant strains has prompted the scientific community to explore novel sources of chemicals with antimicrobial activity. The aim of the study was to examine the antimicrobial activity in vitro of 28 extracts against carbapenem-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, individually and in combination with antibiotics and in vivo toxicological assessment of the most active product. The multi-resistant K. pneumoniae strain was submitted for phenotypic and molecular characterization. The antibacterial activity of 28 plant extracts was evaluated alone and in combination with antibiotics against this strain through the agar disk diffusion. Of these, 16 extracts showed synergism against carbapenem-producing K. pneumoniae, being that B. crassifolia extract exhibited synergism with three antibiotics. Based on this assessment, B. crassifolia-extract-induced toxicity on Swiss male mice was evaluated by administering this extract and subsequently determining apoptosis and splenic phagocytosis using the comet and micronucleus assays. The results of this study showed that B. crassifolia extract had synergistic activity promising and groups treated with B. crassifolia exhibited no genotoxic or mutagenic activity, indicating that B. crassifolia extract exerted beneficial effects and appeared safe to use at the studied concentrations.

In vivo and in vitro toxicological evaluations of aqueous extract from Cecropia pachystachya leaves

leaves are popularly used to treat asthma and diabetes. Despite the widespread consumption of this plant, there are few scientific studies regarding its toxicological potential. In order to conduct a thorough study concerning the potential adverse effects, the aim of this study was to assess acute and subacute toxicity tests of crude aqueous extract from C. pachystachya leaves (CAE-Cp) using in vivomodel, as well as in vitro cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and antioxidant activity. In addition, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and cytotoxicity of isoorientin (ISOO) were also evaluated. The antioxidant activity was verified by DPPH, cytotoxicity using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay and genotoxicity by comet assay on V79 cells. The phytochemical analysis of CAE-Cp detected flavonoids and tannins, CGA and ISOO as the major compounds utilizing HPLC. The total flavonoid content (6.52 mg/g EQ) and antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ = 62.15 µg/ml) of CAE-Cp were determined. In vitro evaluations with CAE-Cp showed genotoxic effects at 0.31 to 2.5 mg/ml and an expressive cytotoxicity on HT-29 (IC₅₀ = 4.43 µg/ml) cells. CGA was genotoxic against V79 cells at 0.07 mg/ml and cytotoxic against to HT-29 (IC₅₀ = 71.70 µg/ml), OVCAR-3 (IC₅₀ = 80.07 µg/ml), MCF-7 (IC₅₀ = 45.58 µg/ml) and, NCI-H460 (IC₅₀ = 71.89 µg/ml) cancer cell lines. Wistar rats treated with a single dose (2,000 mg/kg) CAE-Cp decreased hemoglobin levels after 14 days, although no significant toxicity was observed in animals after 28 days. In view of the in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity detected, further studies are necessary to establish the safe use of CAE-Cp.

Characterization of the invitro cytotoxic effects of brachydins isolated from Fridericia platyphylla in a prostate cancer cell line

Brachydins (Br) A, B, and C are flavonoids extracted from Fridericia platyphylla (Cham.) L.G. Lohmann roots (synonym Arrabidaea brachypoda), whose extract previously exhibited cytotoxic and antitumor activity. In vitro cell culture of human prostate tumor cell line (PC-3) was used to determine cell viability as evidenced by MTT, neutral red, and LDH release using nine concentrations (0.24 to 30.72 µM) of each brachydin. A triple-fluorescent staining assay assessed the mechanism resulting in cell death. Genomic instability and protein expression were evaluated using comet assay and western blot analysis, respectively. The pro-oxidant status was analyzed using the5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (CM-H₂DCFDA) probe. The IC₅₀ values for brachydins BrA, BrB, and BrC were 23.41, 4.28, and 4.44 µM, respectively, and all compounds induced apoptosis and necrosis. BrB and BrC increased p21 levels indicating a possible G1 cell cycle arrest. BrA (6 µM) and BrB (3.84 µM) decreased phospho-AKT (AKT serine/threonine kinase) expression, which also influenced cell cycle and proliferation. BrA, BrB, and BrC elevated cleaved PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), a protein related to DNA repair and induction of apoptotic processes. Therefore, this study determined the IC₅₀ values of brachydins in the PC-3 cell line as well as the influence on cell proliferation and cell death processes, such as apoptosis and necrosis, indicating the proteins involved in these processes.

ABBREVIATIONS

ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; BrA: Brachydin A; BrB: Brachydin B; BrC: Brachydin C; CGEN: Genetic Heritage Management Council; CID: Compound identification number; CM-H₂DCFDA, 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester; CO₂: Carbon dioxide; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid; DTT: Dithiothreitol; DXR: Doxorubicin; ECL: Chemiluminescence; EDTA: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; H₂O₂: Hydrogen peroxide; HRMS: High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry; IC50: Half maximal inhibitory concentration; LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; MTT, 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide; Na3VO4: Sodium Orthovanadate; NaOH: Sodium hydroxide; NCBI: National Center for Biotechnology Information; NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; PBS: Phosphate buffer saline; PCR: Polymerase chain reaction; PSMF: Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride; RPMI: Roswell Park Memorial Institute Medium; SDS-PAGE: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; STR: Short tandem repeat; TBS-T: Tris-buffered saline and Polysorbate 20; UPHLC: Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography.