Leaf Extracts of Calocedrus formosana (Florin) Induce G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Bladder Cancer Cells

Multiplicative Effects of Essential Oils and Other Active Components on Skin Tissue and Skin Cancers

Naturally derived essential oils and their active components are known to possess various properties, ranging from anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer activities. Numerous types of essential oils and active components have been discovered, and their permissive roles have been addressed in various fields. In this comprehensive review, we focused on the roles of essential oils and active components in skin diseases and cancers as discovered over the past three decades. In particular, we opted to highlight the effectiveness of essential oils and their active components in developing strategies against various skin diseases and skin cancers and to describe the effects of the identified essential-oil-derived major components from physiological and pathological perspectives. Overall, this review provides a basis for the development of novel therapies for skin diseases and cancers, especially melanoma.

The role of adhesion molecules in osteocalcin-induced effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in adipocytes

Recent findings suggest that uncarboxylated osteocalcin (GluOC) promotes glucose and lipid metabolism via its putative receptor GPRC6A; however, its direct effect on adipocytes remains elusive. In this study, we elucidated the effects of GluOC on adipocytes, with an emphasis on the role of cell adhesion molecules. We determined that GluOC promoted the expression of adipocyte adhesion molecule (ACAM) and its transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 and enhanced the cortical actin filament assembly, which ameliorated lipid droplet hypertrophy. Additionally, GluOC upregulated the expression of integrin αVβ3 and activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and prevented insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) degradation by inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome system via the FAK-PLC-PKC axis, which activated IRS1-Akt-mediated glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) transport. Furthermore, we showed that GluOC elevated the expression of the insulin-independent glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT8, which facilitated insulin stimulation-independent glucose transport. The GluOC-induced activation of integrin αVβ3 signaling promoted microtubule assembly, which improved glucose and lipid metabolism via its involvement in intracellular vesicular transport. GluOC treatment also suppressed collagen type 1 formation, which might prevent adipose tissue fibrosis in obese individuals. Overall, our results imply that GluOC promotes glucose and lipid metabolism via ACAM, integrin αVβ3, and GLUT1 and 8 expression, directly affecting adipocytes.

Anticancer potential of corilagin on T24 and TSGH 8301 bladder cancer cells via the activation of apoptosis by the suppression of NF-κB-induced P13K/Akt signaling pathway

Bladder cancer (BC) is a primary source of malignancy-associated death, and the mortality rate is high due to its prevalence of metastasis. Corilagin (CLG), a bioactive constituent of numerous medicinal plants, exerts assorted pharmacological actions comprising anti-cancer, apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective. CLG possesses a substantial anti-tumor prospective and less noxiousness in normal cells in vitro. However, the molecular mechanisms of CLG on BC cells are not studied well. The current research explored the molecular process intricate in the anticancer and anti-proliferative actions of CLG on the relocation of BC cells T24 and TSGH 8301. The cytotoxicity, apoptosis, adhesion, and migration of CLG on BC cells T24 and TSGH 8301 were evaluated by MTT assay, DAPI, Rh-123, cell adhesion, and cell migration assay. The results point out that CLG inhibits the viability, adhesion, movement, incursion, and inflammation, whereas persuades BC cells apoptosis in a concentration-dependent mode. Besides, CLG treated with T24 and TSGH-8301 cells subdue inflammatory and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. CLG is accomplished of impeding BC cell migration, invasion, and metastasis through the repression of the NF-κB mediated P13K/Akt signaling. Our findings offer a unique vision into the demonstration of the anti-cancer potential of CLG on BC cells.

Anti-Melanogenic Activity of Calocedrus formosana Wood Essential Oil and Its Chemical Composition Analysis

Calocedrus formosana (Cupressaceae) is one of the five precious woods of Taiwan. In this study, we investigated the anti-melanogenic activity of C. formosana wood essential oil (CFEO) and its bioactive components in vitro. Initially, CFEO exhibited strong mushroom tyrosinase activity in the cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay system with an IC₅₀ value of 2.72 µg/mL. Next, treatment with CFEO significantly as well as dose-dependently reduced a combination of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and forskolin (α-MSH-FSK)-induced melanin synthesis in B16-F10 cells. Indeed, 80 μg/mL CFEO completely inhibited melanin production, which is similar to that of control cells. Further studies revealed that treatment with CFEO significantly inhibited melanogenesis regulatory proteins, including TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF, whereas tyrosinase was unaffected by either α-MSH-FSK or CFEO. In addition, the composition of the CFEO was characterized. The major components of CFEO were α-terpineol (23.47%), shonanic acid (10.45%), terpinen-4-ol (12.23%), thymol (5.3%), piperitone (3.44%), berbenone (2.81%), thujic acid (1.65%), and chaminic acid (0.13%). Among them, shonanic acid (1), thujic acid (2), and chaminic acid (3) were uncommon constitutes in essential oils, which could be the index compounds of CFEO, and the structure of these compounds were confirmed by spectral analysis. Furthermore, we found that thymol is an active ingredient responsible for CFEO's anti-melanogenic activity. Based on these results, we suggest that CFEO or thymol could be a potential candidate for the development of skin whitening products for cosmetic purposes.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Yatein-Induced Cell-Cycle Arrest and Microtubule Destabilization in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Yatein is an antitumor agent isolated from Calocedrus formosana Florin leaves extract. In our previous study, we found that yatein inhibited the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and CL1-5 cells by inducing intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. To further uncover the effects and mechanisms of yatein-induced inhibition on A549 and CL1-5 cell growth, we evaluated yatein-mediated antitumor activity in vivo and the regulatory effects of yatein on cell-cycle progression and microtubule dynamics. Flow cytometry and western blotting revealed that yatein induces G₂/M arrest in A549 and CL1-5 cells. Yatein also destabilized microtubules and interfered with microtubule dynamics in the two cell lines. Furthermore, we evaluated the antitumor activity of yatein in vivo using a xenograft mouse model and found that yatein treatment altered cyclin B/Cdc2 complex expression and significantly inhibited tumor growth. Taken together, our results suggested that yatein effectively inhibited the growth of A549 and CL1-5 cells possibly by disrupting cell-cycle progression and microtubule dynamics.

Antiproliferative Effects of Pancratium Maritimum Extracts on Normal and Cancerous Cells

BACKGROUND

Plants are an important natural source of compounds used in cancer therapy. Pancratium maritimum contains potential anti-cancer agents such as alkaloids. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of P. maritimum extracts on MDA-MB-231 human epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line and on normal lymphocytes in vitro.

METHODS

Leaves, flowers, roots, and bulbs of P. maritimum were collected and their contents were extracted and diluted to different concentrations that were applied on MDA-MB-231 cells and normal human lymphocytes cell in vitro for different intervals. Cells viability, proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and growth were evaluated by flow cytometry and microscopy. Parametric unpaired t-test was used to compare effects of plant extracts on treated cell cultures with untreated control cell cultures. IC₅₀ was also calculated.

RESULTS

P. maritimum extract had profound effects on MDA-MB-321 cells. It inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ values were 0.039, 0.035, and 0.026 mg/ml after 48, 72, and 96 hours of treatment with 0.1 mg/ml concentration of bulb extract, respectively. Those values were 0.051 and 0.03 mg/ml after 72 and 96 hours for root extract, respectively, and 0.048 mg/ml after 96 hours for flower extract. There were no significant effects of P. maritimum bulb extracts on normal lymphocytes proliferation.

CONCLUSION

P. maritimum extract has anti-proliferative effects on MDA-MB-231 cell line in vitro. The effects imply the involvement of mechanisms that inhibits cell growth and arresting cells at S and G₂/M phases. Cyclin B1, Bcl-2, and Ki67 expression was also affected.

Corilagin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by inducing G2/M phase arrest

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most common types of malignant tumours. Therefore, it is very important to identify powerful drugs and their antitumour mechanisms. Corilagin has a significant antitumour potential and lower toxicity in normal cells in vitro. The IC50 values of corilagin for normal Chang-liver cells and the HCC cell lines Bel7402 and SMMC7721 were 131.4, 24.5 and 23.4 µM, respectively, in the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. MHCC97-H xenografts in Balb/c mice intraperitoneally injected with 30 mg/kg corilagin for 5 weeks showed a 47.3% inhibition of tumour growth in vivo. Furthermore, data from flow cytometry and Western blot analyses of cell cycle and cell cycle-related proteins suggest that corilagin arrests SMMC7721 cells at the G2/M phase by downregulating p-Akt and cyclin B1/cdc2 and upregulating p-p53 and p21(Cip1) . In conclusion, corilagin is a potential antitumour drug that is effective in retarding the growth of HCC, which is correlated with the activation of p-p53-p21(Cip1) -cdc2/cyclin B1.