Chemistry and anticancer activity of cardiac glycosides: A review

Phytochemical screening, FTIR and GCMS analysis of Cucurbita pepo seeds cultivated in Kiambu county, Kenya

Bioactive compounds and other constituents of plants have been shown to vary by cultivation region, species, environmental conditions and method of extraction among others. Phytochemical analysis of Cucurbita pepos farmed in Kiambu County, Kenya, or their seeds has not been documented. The present research aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by screening phytochemicals and characterizing the seed extracts of Cucurbita pepo cultivated in Kiambu County, Kenya. Cucurbita pepo seeds extracted using organic solvent extraction method employing methanol and preconcentrated in a vacuum rotatory evaporator. The extracts were characterized by GCMS and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. Phytochemical analysis of the seeds revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and steroids. FT-IR analysis showed significant peaks for C-N, N-H, C-O, C-H, and CH3 functional groups. The GCMS studies revealed a significant number of fatty acids and their derivatives with 12-cis-octadecadienoate being the most abundant in the oil (53.93 %). A significant amount of the macrocyclic lactone 7,9-ditert-butyl-1-oxaspiro [4.5] deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione (0.58 %) in the seeds was reported. Macrocyclic lactones are generally a class of anthelminthic drugs. These reported biologically active compounds have a wide range of medicinal and nutritional value. One interesting compound from the GCMS analysis of the seed extracts analyzed was the macrocyclic lactone providing a basis for further research on the anthelminthic actions of the seeds.

Natural compounds targeting glycolysis as promising therapeutics for gastric cancer: A review

Gastric cancer, a common malignant disease, seriously endangers human health and life. The high mortality rate due to gastric cancer can be attributed to a lack of effective therapeutic drugs. Cancer cells utilize the glycolytic pathway to produce energy even under aerobic conditions, commonly referred to as the Warburg effect, which is a characteristic of gastric cancer. The identification of new targets based on the glycolytic pathway for the treatment of gastric cancer is a viable option, and accumulating evidence has shown that phytochemicals have extensive anti-glycolytic properties. We reviewed the effects and mechanisms of action of phytochemicals on aerobic glycolysis in gastric cancer cells. Phytochemicals can effectively inhibit aerobic glycolysis in gastric cancer cells, suppress cell proliferation and migration, and promote apoptosis, via the PI3K/Akt, c-Myc, p53, and other signaling pathways. These pathways affect the expressions of HIF-1α, HK2, LDH, and other glycolysis-related proteins. This review further assesses the potential of using plant-derived compounds for the treatment of gastric cancer and sheds insight into the development of new drugs.