The investigation of effects of quercetin and its combination with Cisplatin on malignant mesothelioma cells in vitro

Hive Products: Composition, Pharmacological Properties, and Therapeutic Applications

Beekeeping provides products with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical characteristics. These products are characterized by abundance of bioactive compounds. For different reasons, honey, royal jelly, propolis, venom, and pollen are beneficial to humans and animals and could be used as therapeutics. The pharmacological action of these products is related to many of their constituents. The main bioactive components of honey include oligosaccharides, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and phenolics compounds. Royal jelly contains jelleins, royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and derivatives of hydroxy-decenoic acid, particularly 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome-preventing, and anti-aging properties. Propolis has a plethora of activities that are referable to compounds such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester. Peptides found in bee venom include phospholipase A2, apamin, and melittin. In addition to being vitamin-rich, bee pollen also includes unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, and phenolics compounds that express antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the constituents of hive products are particular and different. All of these constituents have been investigated for their properties in numerous research studies. This review aims to provide a thorough screening of the bioactive chemicals found in honeybee products and their beneficial biological effects. The manuscript may provide impetus to the branch of unconventional medicine that goes by the name of apitherapy.

Role of Plant-Derived Flavonoids in Cancer Treatment

Flavonoids are polyphenolic phytochemicals, which occur naturally in plants and possess both anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant properties. Flavonoids are gaining increasing popularity in the pharmaceutical industry as healthy and cost-effective compounds. Flavonoids show beneficial pharmacological activities in the treatment and prevention of various types of diseases. They are natural and less toxic agents for cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy via regulation of multiple cell signaling pathways and pro-oxidant effects. In this review, we have summarized the mechanisms of action of selected flavonoids, and their pharmacological implications and potential therapeutic applications in cancer therapy.

Dual role of quercetin in enhancing the efficacy of cisplatin in chemotherapy and protection against its side effects: a review

Chemotherapy has opened a new window in cancer therapy. However, the resistance of cancer cells has dramatically reduced the efficacy of chemotherapy. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent and its potential in cancer therapy has been restricted by resistance of cancer cells. As a consequence, the scientists have attempted to find new strategies in elevating chemotherapy efficacy. Due to great anti-tumour activity, naturally occurring compounds are of interest in polychemotherapy. Quercetin is a flavonoid with high anti-tumour activity against different cancers that can be used with cisplatin to enhance its efficacy and also are seen to sensitise cancer cells into chemotherapy. Furthermore, cisplatin has side effects such as nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Administration of quercetin is advantageous in reducing the adverse effects of cisplatin without compromising its anti-tumour activity. In this review, we investigate the dual role of quercetin in enhancing anti-tumour activity of cisplatin and simultaneous reduction in its adverse effects.

Study of synergistic effects of Ficus Carica leaves extract mediated chemo-photodynamic therapy on rhabdomyosarcoma cells

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) is effective, but it has critical side effects and unavoidable challenges. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an approach to treating cancer with relatively moderate side effects. Plant products are a rich source of polyphenols, which have potent antioxidant and anticancer activities. Therefore, their research has become an emerging field in recent decades.

PURPOSE

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of hydrophobic extract of Ficus Carica (FC) to determine whether FC in the presence of low dose chemo and Aluminium Phthalocyanine (Photosense®) mediated photodynamic therapy synergistically enhances the treatment efficacy of RD cells.

METHOD

FC with and without combination with individual therapeutic modalities like photosense mediated photodynamic therapy, chemotherapy, and their combinations were studied for cell viability and morphological changes in invitro RD cells. A semiconductor diode laser (630 nm) was used as a light source in PDT. The cytotoxic effect of FC on cell viability and cellular morphological changes were investigated by MTT reagent and a camera attached to an inverted visible light microscope. The effect of FC, followed by di-combination with low dose chemo (doxorubicin-HCl, and dacarbazine), Photosense® mediated PDT and chemo-Photosense® mediated PDT (tri-combination) at 630 nm diode laser and 10 J/cm² fluency were also investigated by MTT reagent. The combination index method is used to identify the synergistic effect of combination therapy by using CompuSyn software based on the Chou-Talalay method.

RESULTS

The dose-dependent effect of FC on cell viability and cellular morphological changes were observed in the RD cell line. It was found that the pre incubation of FC potentiated the anticancer effect as a neoadjuvant agent for doxorubicin-HCl and decarbazine based chemotherapy, Photosense® mediated PDT and chemo-PDT (tri-combination) with synergistic effect (CI<1).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest a possible thread that the low dose combination of the aforementioned therapeutic modalities in the presence of FC remarkably enhances the treatment efficacy of RD in comparison with a single-agent treatment modality. The proposed sequence of FC with chemo and PDT might present better therapeutic outcomes in RD therapies and may provide result for RD metastasis. FC may also be used in the application of phyto-PDT to cancer in the future.

Micropropagation of Rare Scutellaria havanensis Jacq. and Preliminary Studies on Antioxidant Capacity and Anti-Cancer Potential

We report the development of in vitro propagation protocols through an adventitious shoot induction pathway for a rare and medicinal Scutellaria havanensis. In vitro propagation studies using nodal explants showed MS medium supplemented with 10 µM 6-Benzylaminopurine induced the highest number of adventitious shoots in a time-dependent manner. A ten-day incubation was optimum for shoot bud induction as longer exposures resulted in hyperhydricity of the explants and shoots induced. We also report preliminary evidence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105-mediated gene transfer transiently expressing the green fluorescent protein in this species. Transformation studies exhibited amenability of various explant tissues, internode being the most receptive. As the plant has medicinal value, research was carried out to evaluate its potential antioxidant capacity and the efficacy of methanolic leaf extracts in curbing the viability of human colorectal cancer cell line HCT116. Comparative total polyphenol and flavonoid content measurement of fresh and air-dried leaf extract revealed that the fresh leaf extracts contain higher total polyphenol and flavonoid content. The HCT 116 cell viability was assessed by colorimetric assay using a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, showed a steady growth inhibition after 24 h of incubation. Scanning electron microscopy of leaf surface revealed a high density of glandular and non-glandular trichomes. This research provides a basis for the conservation of this rare plant and future phytochemical screening and clinical research.

Phytochemicals in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment-Review on the Current Trends of Therapies

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare but highly aggressive tumor of pleura arising in response to asbestos fibers exposure. MPM is frequently diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease and causes poor prognostic outcomes. From the clinical perspective, MPM is resistant to conventional treatment, thus challenging the therapeutic options. There is still demand for improvement and sensitization of MPM cells to therapy in light of intensive clinical studies on chemotherapeutic drugs, including immuno-modulatory and targeted therapies. One way is looking for natural sources, whole plants, and extracts whose ingredients, especially polyphenols, have potential anticancer properties. This comprehensive review summarizes the current studies on natural compounds and plant extracts in developing new treatment strategies for MPM.

Interactions between Cisplatin and Quercetin at Physiological and Hyperthermic Conditions on Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Quercetin (QU), a hyperthermic sensitizer, when combined with cisplatin (CP) affects tumor growth. To determine the effects of QU and CP and their interactions, multimodal treatment in vitro and in vivo models under physiological and hyperthermic conditions was performed. In vitro, different sensitivity of T24 and UMUC human bladder cancer cells was observed after short-term exposure to QU (2 h) and CP (1 h). Effects of both compounds were investigated at low and high micromolar concentrations (1 and 50 µM, respectively) under both thermal conditions. QU acted in additive or synergistic manner in combination with CP between physiological condition and hyperthermia. As determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, short-term application of QU and CP reduced cell viability. Clonal assay also indicated that combined treatment with QU and CP is lethal to bladder cancer cells in both conditions. In vivo, CP (5 or 10 mg kg⁻¹) and QU (50 mg kg⁻¹) acted synergistically with hyperthermia (43 °C) and inhibited tumor growth, activated immune effectors and increased mice survival. Our results demonstrate that combined treatment with CP and QU may increase death of tumor cells in physiological and hyperthermic conditions which could be clinically relevant in locoregional chemotherapy.

Polyphenols enhance the activity of alkylating agents in leukaemia cell lines

Polyphenols have been shown to sensitize solid tumours to alkylating agents such as cisplatin, and induce apoptosis and/or cell-cycle arrest. Here, we assess the effects of five polyphenols alone and in combination with three alkylating agents: cisplatin, cyclophosphamide and chlorambucil in lymphoid and myeloid leukaemia cells lines, and non-tumour control cells. In lymphoid leukaemia cell lines there was a synergistic reduction in ATP and glutathione levels, an induction of cell cycle arrest, DNA damage and apoptosis when quercetin, apigenin, emodin and rhein were combined with cisplatin and cyclophosphamide; and when apigenin and rhein were combined with chlorambucil. In myeloid leukaemia cells quercetin, apigenin and emodin showed a similar synergistic effect with all alkylating agents; however antagonistic effects were observed with some or all alkylating agents when combined with emodin, rhein and cis-stilbene. All synergistic effects were associated with reduced glutathione levels, DNA damage and apoptosis; whilst during antagonism the reverse effects were observed. The combination of alkylating agents, particularly cisplatin with polyphenols could be promising for the treatment of lymphoid leukaemias, with apigenin showing the greatest effects. Likewise in myeloid cells apigenin also synergised the action of all alkylating agents, suggesting that apigenin may also be beneficial in myeloid leukaemias.

Synergistic Effects of Plant Derivatives and Conventional Chemotherapeutic Agents: An Update on the Cancer Perspective

Synergy is a process in which some substances cooperate to reach a combined effect that is greater than the sum of their separate effects. It can be considered a natural "straight" strategy which has evolved by nature to obtain more efficacy at low cost. In this regard, synergistic effects may be observed in the interaction between herbal products and conventional drugs or biochemical compounds. It is important to identify and exploit these interactions since any improvement brought by such kind of process can be advantageously used to treat human disorders. Even in a complex disease such as cancer, positive synergistic plant-drug interactions should be investigated to achieve the best outcomes, including providing a greater benefit to patients or avoiding adverse side effects. This review analyzes and summarizes the current knowledge on the synergistic effects of plant-drug interactions with a focus on anticancer strategies.

The "Yin and Yang" of Natural Compounds in Anticancer Therapy of Triple-Negative Breast Cancers

Among the different types of breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are highly aggressive, do not respond to conventional hormonal/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted interventions due to the lack of the respective receptor targets, have chances of early recurrence, metastasize, tend to be more invasive in nature, and develop drug resistance. The global burden of TNBCs is increasing regardless of the number of cytotoxic drugs being introduced into the market each year as they have only moderate efficacy and/or unforeseen side effects. Therefore, the demand for more efficient therapeutic interventions, with reduced side effects, for the treatment of TNBCs is rising. While some plant metabolites/derivatives actually induce the risk of cancers, many plant-derived active principles have gained attention as efficient anticancer agents against TNBCs, with fewer adverse side effects. Here we discuss the possible oncogenic molecular pathways in TNBCs and how the purified plant-derived natural compounds specifically target and modulate the genes and/or proteins involved in these aberrant pathways to exhibit their anticancer potential. We have linked the anticancer potential of plant-derived natural compounds (luteolin, chalcones, piperine, deguelin, quercetin, rutin, fisetin, curcumin, resveratrol, and others) to their ability to target multiple dysregulated signaling pathways (such as the Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Hedgehog) leading to suppression of cell growth, proliferation, migration, inflammation, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis, and activation of apoptosis in TNBCs. Plant-derived compounds in combination with classical chemotherapeutic agents were more efficient in the treatment of TNBCs, possibly with lesser side effects.

Honey and Cancer: Current Status and Future Directions

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and poses a challenge to treatment. With overwhelming evidence of the role played by diet and lifestyle in cancer risk and prevention, there is a growing interest into the search for chemopreventative or chemotherapeutic agents derived from natural products. Honey is an important source of bioactive compounds derived from plants and recent years have seen an increased interest in its anticancer properties. This review examines the role of honey in targeting key hallmarks of carcinogenesis, including uncontrolled proliferation, apoptosis evasion, angiogenesis, growth factor signalling, invasion, and inflammation. The evidence for honey as an adjunct to conventional cancer therapy is also presented. The review also highlights gaps in the current understanding and concludes that, before translation of evidence from cell culture and animal studies into the clinical setting, further studies are warranted to examine the effects of honey at a molecular level, as well as on cells in the tumour environment.

Quercetin and Cisplatin combined treatment altered cell cycle and mitogen activated protein kinase expressions in malignant mesotelioma cells

Background

Malignant mesothelioma is a locally aggressive and highly lethal neoplasm of pleural, peritoneal and pericardial mesothelial cells without successful therapy. Previously, we reported that Quercetin in combination with Cisplatin inhibits cell proliferation and activates caspase-9 and -3 enzymes in different malignant mesothelioma cell lines. Moreover, Quercetin + Cisplatin lead to accumulation of both SPC111 and SPC212 cell lines in S phase.

Methods

In present work, 84 genes involved in cell growth and proliferation have analysed by using RT²-PCR array system and protein profile of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family proteins investigated by western blots.

Results

Our results showed that Quercetin and Quercetin + Cisplatin modulated gene expression of cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases and cyclin dependent kinases inhibitors. In addition genes involved in JNK, p38 and MAPK/ERK pathways were up regulated. Moreover, while p38 and JNK phosphorylations were increased, ERK phosphorylations were decreased after using Quercetin + Cisplatin.

Conclusion

This research has clarified our previous results and detailed mechanism of anti-carcinogenic potential of Quercetin alone and incombination with Cisplatin on malignant mesothelioma cells.

Reactive oxygen species a double-edged sword for mesothelioma

It is well known that oxidative stress can lead to chronic inflammation which, in turn, could mediate most chronic diseases including cancer. Oxidants have been implicated in the activity of crocidolite and amosite, the most powerful types of asbestos associated to the occurrence of mesothelioma. Currently rates of mesothelioma are rising and estimates indicate that the incidence of mesothelioma will peak within the next 10-15 years in the western world, while in Japan the peak is predicted not to occur until 40 years from now. Although the use of asbestos has been banned in many countries around the world, production of and the potentially hazardous exposure to asbestos is still present with locally high incidences of mesothelioma. Today a new man-made material, carbon nanotubes, has arisen as a concern; carbon nanotubes may display 'asbestos-like' pathogenicity with mesothelioma induction potential. Carbon nanotubes resulted in the greatest reactive oxygen species generation. How oxidative stress activates inflammatory pathways leading to the transformation of a normal cell to a tumor cell, to tumor cell survival, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and radioresistance, is the aim of this review.

Synergistic growth-suppressive effects of quercetin and cisplatin on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, exhibits anticancer effects. The aim of this study is to determine whether the combination of quercetin with cisplatin, a conventional chemotherapeutic drug, would have synergistic suppressive effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. To this end, HepG2 cells were exposed to quercetin (50 μM) or cisplatin (10 μM) alone or combination of both and cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated. Our data revealed that the combination of quercetin and cisplatin was significantly (P < 0.05) effective in inducing growth suppression and apoptosis in HepG2 cells, when compared with single agent treatment. Quercetin combined with cisplatin modulated the expression of numerous genes involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Treatment with quercetin rather than cisplatin resulted in a marked elevation of p16 expression in HepG2 cells. Targeted reduction of p16 using RNA interference technology partially reversed quercetin-induced cell cycle G1 arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, quercetin has suppressive activity against HCC cells through p16-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and its combination with cisplatin yielded synergistic inhibitory effects in suppressing cell growth and inducing apoptosis.

The pleiotropic flavonoid quercetin: from its metabolism to the inhibition of protein kinases in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Quercetin inhibits the key protein kinases active in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, ameliorating anticancer therapy.

Effect of flavonoids and hyperthermal intraperitoneal chemotherapy on tumour growth and micronucleus induction in mouse tumour model

Hyperthermia enhanced the clastogenicity of alkylating agents. We investigated whether quercetin (QU; 3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxy flavone) or naringenin (NAR) can sensitize Ehrlich ascites tumour (EAT) to cisplatin (CP) hyperthermal intraperitoneal chemotherapy treatment and whether these flavonoids in combination with CP can ameliorate CP-induced micronuclei (MNs) in peripheral blood reticulocytes of mice. QU or NAR were administered to mice 7 and 3 days before implantation of EAT cells, while CP (5 or 10 mg kg-1) was injected intraperitoneally to normothermic or hyperthermic-treated mice 3 days after implantation of EAT cells (2 106). Our study supports the claim that the QU or NAR in combined treatment with CP has the potential to inhibit tumour growth in both normothermic and hyperthermic conditions and attenuate number of MNs in the peripheral blood reticulocytes of mice at normothermic condition but enhanced the clastogenicity of CP agents in hyperthermal condition.

Cell-growth and migration inhibition of human mesothelioma cells induced by 3-O-methylfunicone from Penicillium pinophilum and cisplatin

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fatal malignancy linked to asbestos exposure. The main challenge for mesothelioma treatment is to go beyond the drug resistance, in particular against cisplatin (CDDP), one of the most used chemotherapeutic drug. 3-O-methylfunicone (OMF) is a metabolite produced by the fungus Penicillium pinophilum; its antiproliferative properties have been previously studied in vitro. Particularly, OMF is able to inhibit mesothelioma cell motility. To improve the effects of CDDP by-passing the resistance of mesothelioma cells to this drug, in the present study we investigated the combined treatment of OMF with CDDP respectively in an established mesothelioma cell line (NCI) and primary mesothelioma cells (Mest). As compared to the effect of single treatments, the combination of OMF and CDDP resulted in a stronger inhibition of NCI and Mest cell proliferation. OMF combination with CDDP was also able to affect the migratory ability of NCI and Mest cells by down-regulating αv and β5 expression and reducing metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) production. In addition, this association was effective in modulating VEGF gene expression. This finding highlights the possibility to use OMF and CDDP together to regulate angiogenesis and tumour progression in mesothelioma.