Aloesin Suppresses Cell Growth and Metastasis in Ovarian Cancer SKOV3 Cells through the Inhibition of the MAPK Signaling Pathway

Isolation of a new iso-quinoline alkaloid and cytotoxicity studies of pure compounds and crude extracts of Ravenia spectabilis engl

A new 2-quinolone alkaloid, iso-oligophyline (1), and two very unusual C34 terpenoids, proposed names ravespanol (2) and ravespanone (3), along with two known compounds, β-sitosterol (4), and methyl linoleate (5), were isolated from the leaf extract of Ravenia spectabilis engl. Methyl linoleate constitutes the first report of isolation from this species. We have already reported the isolation of atanine (6), oligophyline (7), ravenoline (8), and arborinine (9) from the plant. Based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometric analysis, the structure of the isolated chemicals was determined. The crude fractions and four compounds (6,7,8 and 9) were evaluated for a cytotoxicity study on a panel of six human stomach cancer cell lines (SCL, SCL-6, SCL-37'6, SCL-9, K-3, N21) by MTT assay. Among the plant extracts and isolated compounds, petroleum ether fraction and compound 7 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against SCL and SCL-6 cells, where the IC50 values were 17.9 and 16.56 μM, respectively.

Therapeutic Potential of Solanum Alkaloids with Special Emphasis on Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Cancer has emerged as a formidable global health challenge, with treatment methods like chemotherapy and radiation often exacerbating the situation due to their associated side effects. Opting for natural sources like plants as a safer and environmentally friendly alternative seems promising. Historically, plants have served as valuable sources for treating diverse health conditions, attributable to their rich composition of therapeutic phytochemicals. Within this array of phytochemicals, alkaloids, especially those found in the Solanaceae plant family, are notably prominent. Alkaloids from Solanaceae plant family called Solanum alkaloids demonstrate noteworthy anti-tumour characteristics and exert a potent inhibitory influence on cancer cell proliferation. They trigger programmed cell death in cancerous cells through various molecular pathways, whether administered alone or combined with other medications. Solanum alkaloids act upon cancer cells via multiple mechanisms, including apoptosis induction, suppression of cell growth and migration, as well as inhibition of angiogenesis. This review provides insights into the anti-cancer attributes of Solanum alkaloids found in various Solanum plant species, along with a brief overview of their other medicinal properties.

Effects of Carbon Nanomaterials and Aloe vera on Melanomas—Where Are We? Recent Updates

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer that affects approximately 140,000 people worldwide each year, with a high fatality rate. Available treatment modalities show limited efficacy in more severe cases. Hence, the search for new treatment modalities, including immunotherapies, for curing, mitigating, and/or preventing cancer is important and urgently needed. Carbon nanoparticles associated with some plant materials, such as Aloe vera, have shown appealing antineoplastic activity, derived mainly from the compounds aloin, aloe-emodin, barbaloin acemannan, and octapeptide, thus representing new possibilities as antitumor agents. This systematic review aims to arouse interest and present the possibilities of using Aloe vera combined with carbon-based nanomaterials as an antineoplastic agent in the treatment and prevention of melanoma. Limitations and advances in melanoma treatment using functionalized carbon nanomaterials are discussed here. Moreover, this review provides the basis for further studies designed to fully explore the potential of carbon nanomaterials associated with Aloe vera in the treatment of various cancers, with a focus on melanoma.

Characterization of the metabolism of aloin A/B and aloesin in rats by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Aloin A/B and aloesin are the major bioactive constituents in the Aloe vera, with diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory and intestinal regulation. However, the in vivo metabolism of aloin A/B and aloesin are still unclear. In this study, the metabolic processes of aloin A/B and aloesin in rats were investigated using the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and MetaboLynx^TM software with Mass defect filter (MDF) technique. Based on the proposed method, the prototype component of three compounds were all detected in the rat plasma, urine and feces. Meanwhile, 25 aloin A/B metabolites (6 phase I, 3 phase II, 16 phase I combined with phase II) and 3 aloesin metabolites (2 phase I and 1 phase II) were detected in rats after oral administration of aloin A, aloin B and aloesin, and the main biotransformation reactions were hydroxylation, oxidation, methylation, acetylation, and glucuronidation. In addition, Aloin A and aloin B can be transformed into each other in vivo and the metabolic profiles of aloin A and aloin B were identical. These results provide essential data for further pharmaceutical researches and clinical application of aloin A/B and aloesin.

Diaporine Potentiates the Anticancer Effects of Oxaliplatin and Doxorubicin on Liver Cancer Cells

Recent studies have shown that diaporine, a novel fungal metabolic product, has a strong in vitro and in vivo anticancer effect on human non-small-cell lung and breast cancers. In this study, three human hepatocarcinoma cell lines (HepG2, Hep3B, and Huh7) were used to evaluate the efficacy of diaporine alone and in combination with the standard cytotoxic drugs oxaliplatin and doxorubicin for the treatment of liver cancer. We demonstrated that diaporine, oxaliplatin, and doxorubicin triggered a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in the number of HepG2 cells. Diaporine at a concentration of 2.5 μM showed almost 100% inhibition of cell counts at 72 h. Similar effects were observed only with much higher concentrations (100 μM) of oxaliplatin or doxorubicin. Decreases in cell numbers after 48 h treatment with diaporine, oxaliplatin, and doxorubicin were also demonstrated in two additional hepatoma cell lines, Hep3B and Huh7. The combination of these drugs at low concentration for 48 h in vitro noticeably showed that diaporine improved the inhibitory effect on the number of cancer cells induced by oxaliplatin or doxorubicin. Additionally, this combination effectively inhibited colony growth in vitro. We found that inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK1/2 significantly increased when diaporine was used in combination with other agents. In addition, we also found that when diaporine was used in combination with doxorubicin or oxaliplatin, their proapoptotic effect greatly increased. We further revealed that the induction of apoptosis in hepatoma cells after treatment is due, at least in part, to the inhibition of phosphorylation of AKT, leading to the activation of caspase-3, inactivation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and subsequently to DNA damage, as indicated by the increased level of H2AX. Based on these findings, we suggest that diaporine in combination with the standard cytotoxic drugs oxaliplatin and doxorubicin may play a role in the treatment of liver cancer.

The effect of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and its synergistic augmentation of cisplatin-induced apoptosis in SK-OV-3 cells

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the synergetic augmentation of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (CG) on cisplatin (CDDP) to induce apoptosis of human epithelial ovarian SK-OV-3 cancer cells.

METHODS

The SK-OV-3 cells were divided into four groups: control, CDDP monotherapy, CG monotherapy, and combined CDDP and CG treatment. The cell counting kit-8 method was used to detect cell proliferation at different times and under different treatments. Hoechst 33258 staining and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining methods were used to observe the apoptosis of the SK-OV-3 cells. The caspase-3 enzyme activity detection method, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and western blot were used to detect the apoptosis-related factors and the activities of the enzyme in SK-OV-3 cells.

RESULTS

The inhibition rates of SK-OV-3 cell proliferation when exposed to 10 μM of CDDP, 50 μM of CG, and a combination of 10 μM of CDDP and 50 μM of CG were 23.2% ± 1.1%, 26.7% ± 2.0%, and 46.7% ± 1.3% after 48 h, respectively. Following the use of the drug combination, the apoptosis rate and caspase-3 enzyme activity were significantly higher than in the single-drug treatment group; in addition, the data differences were significant (p < 0.05). At the protein and ribonucleic acid levels, CG significantly enhanced the effect of CDDP on p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2.

CONCLUSION

In vitro, CG significantly increases the CDDP-induced apoptosis of the SK-OV-3 cells through the p53 pathway at the cellular level. In addition, using the drugs in combination reduces the toxicity and side effects caused by using CDDP alone.

Chelidonium majus Induces Apoptosis of Human Ovarian Cancer Cells via ATF3-Mediated Regulation of Foxo3a by Tip60

Forkhead transcription factor 3a (Foxo3a) is believed to be a tumor suppressor as its inactivation leads to cell transformation and tumor development. However, further investigation is required regarding the involvement of the activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3)-mediated Tat-interactive protein 60 (Tip60)/Foxo3a pathway in cancer cell apoptosis. This study demonstrated that Chelidonium majus upregulated the expression of ATF3 and Tip60 and promoted Foxo3a nuclear translocation, ultimately increasing the level of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) protein. ATF3 overexpression stimulated Tip60 expression, while ATF3 inhibition by siRNA repressed Tip60 expression. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated Tip60 inhibition significantly promoted Foxo3a phosphorylation, leading to blockade of Foxo3a translocation into the nucleus. Thus, we were able to deduce that ATF3 mediates the regulation of Foxo3a by Tip60. Moreover, siRNA-mediated Foxo3a inhibition suppressed the expression of Bax and subsequent apoptosis. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Chelidonium majus induces SKOV-3 cell death by increasing ATF3 levels and its downstream proteins Tip60 and Foxo3a. This suggests a potential therapeutic role of Chelidonium majus against ovarian cancer.

In Vitro Phytochemical Screening, Cytotoxicity Studies of Curcuma longa Extracts with Isolation and Characterisation of Their Isolated Compounds

The Curcuma longa plant is endowed with multiple traditional and therapeutic utilities and is here explored for its phytochemical constituents and cytotoxic potential. Turmeric rhizomes were extracted from three different solvents and screened for the presence of different phytochemical constituents, observation of which indicated that the polar solvents favoured extraction of greater versatile phytochemical constituents. These extracts were investigated for their cytotoxic potential by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on three different of cell lines including SCC-29B (oral cancer cell line), DU-145 (prostate cancer cell line) and the Vero cell line (healthy cell line/non-cancerous cell line). This assay was performed by taking three extracts from isolated curcuminoids and a pure bioactive compound bisdemethoxycurcumin (BD). Bisdemethoxycurcumin was isolated from curcuminoids and purified by column and thin-layer chromatography, and its structural characterisation was performed with different spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, NMR (¹H Proton and ¹³C Carbon-NMR) and LC-MS. Amongst the extracts, the ethanolic extracts exhibited stronger cytotoxic potential against the oral cancer cell line (SCC-29B) with an IC₅₀value of 11.27 μg/mL, and that this was too low of a cytotoxicity against the Vero cell line. Although, curcuminoids have also shown a comparable cytotoxic potential against SCC-29B (IC₅₀ value 16.79 μg/mL), it was not as potent against the ethanolic extract, and it was even found to be cytotoxic against healthy cell lines at a very low dose. While considering the isolated compound, bisdemethoxycurcumin, it also possessed a cytotoxic potential against the prostate cancer cell line (DU-145) (IC₅₀ value of 93.28 μg/mL), but was quite safe for the healthy cell line in comparison to doxorubicin.

Aloe and its Effects on Cancer: A Narrative Literature Review

Many years ago, Aloe Vera was cited to have a lot of therapeutic properties including; anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin protection, wound healing, and regulation of blood glucose and cholesterol. However, Aloe could present some side effects. This review focused on the latest discoveries regarding the therapeutic role of Aloe plant or its compounds on the acquired biological capabilities for tumour growth and progression namely; evading growth suppressor, avoiding immune destruction, enabling replicative immortality, tumour promoting inflammation, activating invasion and metastasis, inducing angiogenesis, genome instability and mutation, resisting cell death, deregulating cellular energetics and sustaining proliferating signalling. It clarified the anti-cancer activities it exerts on different types of cancer and also highlighted some pro-oncogenic pathways that can be disrupted by different compounds of Aloe.

Molecular mechanisms and associated cell signalling pathways underlying the anticancer properties of phytochemical compounds from Aloe species (Review)

Naturally occurring components from various species of Aloe have been used as traditional folk medicine since the ancient times. Over the last few decades, the therapeutic effects of extracts and phytochemical compounds obtained from Aloe vera have been proven in preclinical and clinical studies. Recently, compounds from other Aloe species apart from Aloe vera have been investigated for the treatment of different diseases, with a particular focus on cancer. In the present review, the effects of phytochemical compounds obtained from different Aloe species are discussed, with a specific focus on the effects on cell signalling in cancer and normal cells, and their selectivity and efficacy. This information will be useful for the application of Aloe-derived compounds as therapeutic agents, either alone or in combination with other standard drugs for cancer treatment.

Antioxidant and anticancer potentials of edible flowers: where do we stand?

Edible flowers are attracting special therapeutic attention and their administration is on the rise. Edible flowers play pivotal modulatory roles on oxidative stress and related interconnected apoptotic/inflammatory pathways toward the treatment of cancer. In this review, we highlighted the phytochemical content and therapeutic applications of edible flowers, as well as their modulatory potential on the oxidative stress pathways and apoptotic/inflammatory mediators, resulting in anticancer effects. Edible flowers are promising sources of phytochemicals (e.g., phenolic compounds, carotenoids, terpenoids) with several therapeutic effects. They possess anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-depressant, anxiolytic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Edible flowers potentially modulate oxidative stress by targeting erythroid nuclear transcription factor-2/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Nrf2/ERK/MAPK), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant response elements (AREs). As the interconnected pathways to oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), interleukins (ILs) as well as apoptotic pathways such as Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Bcl-2, caspase and cytochrome C are critical targets of edible flowers in combating cancer. In this regard, edible flowers could play promising anticancer effects by targeting oxidative stress and downstream dysregulated pathways.

Nanosponges Encapsulated Phytochemicals for Targeting Cancer: A Review

Cancer is the most ruinous disease globally. Natural products have impressive characteristics, such as exceptional chemical versatility, chemical and biological properties of macromolecular specificity and less toxicity which make them good leads in finding novel drugs. The phytochemicals not only help to prevent but also treat chronic cancerous conditions. The present review attempts to put forth some selected anticancer phytochemicals that had reported omics characteristic and specifically suppressed cancer with in vitro and in vivo activity. Certain issues pertaining to anticancer phytochemicals like delivery to target site in the body and achieving controlled release in order to prevent overdoses have been a major concern for medical researchers worldwide. The most conventional chemotherapy protocols for the treatment of cancer lead to adverse effects that limit biological efficacy and compromise patient outcomes. In order to defeat incompetency of current and upcoming natural anticancer agents and to attain targeted drug delivery with good efficacy and fewer side effects, there is a special focus on novel nanostructured particles and nano approaches consisting of carrier system. Recent studies have led to the discovery of mesoporous and nanoporous drug delivery mechanisms, such as inorganic or organic-based nanosponges. The metal based inorganic systems have exhibited toxicity and non-biodegradable character in vivo. As a result of problems related to inorganic systems, major shift of research from inorganic to organic nanosystems has occurred. About decades ago, researchers developed organic nanosponges to control the limitation of drug delivery and cancer therapies. This review article discusses the development and application of nanosponges encapsulated phytochemicals for cancer therapy.

Pharmacological Update Properties of Aloe Vera and its Major Active Constituents

Aloe vera has been traditionally used to treat skin injuries (burns, cuts, insect bites, and eczemas) and digestive problems because its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. Research on this medicinal plant has been aimed at validating traditional uses and deepening the mechanism of action, identifying the compounds responsible for these activities. The most investigated active compounds are aloe-emodin, aloin, aloesin, emodin, and acemannan. Likewise, new actions have been investigated for Aloe vera and its active compounds. This review provides an overview of current pharmacological studies (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials), written in English during the last six years (2014–2019). In particular, new pharmacological data research has shown that most studies refer to anti-cancer action, skin and digestive protective activity, and antimicrobial properties. Most recent works are in vitro and in vivo. Clinical trials have been conducted just with Aloe vera, but not with isolated compounds; therefore, it would be interesting to study the clinical effect of relevant metabolites in different human conditions and pathologies. The promising results of these studies in basic research encourage a greater number of clinical trials to test the clinical application of Aloe vera and its main compounds, particularly on bone protection, cancer, and diabetes.

MicroRNA-665 promotes the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells by targeting SRCIN1

Recent studies have discovered several microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) as biomarkers for the prediction of ovarian cancer by detecting miRNA profiles in serum samples from healthy volunteers and patients with ovarian cancer. However, whether and how these miRNAs are involved in tumorigenesis is not known. In the present study, the expression of miR-665, a recently discovered biomarker for ovarian cancer, was upregulated in tumor tissues from patients with ovarian cancer compared with normal tissues. Inhibition of miR-665 inhibited cell proliferation ability and inactivated MAPK/ERK signaling of ovarian cancer cells. Using bioinformatics analysis, Src kinase signaling inhibitor 1 (SRCIN1) was predicted as a potential target gene of miR-665. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting showed that SRCIN1 expression was repressed by miR-665 in ovarian cancer cells. In addition, a dual luciferase activity assay showed that SRCIN1 was a target gene of miR-665. Silencing of SRCIN1 could reverse the cell growth arrest, which was induced by the miR-665 inhibitor. Moreover, miR-665 levels were negatively correlated with SRCIN1 mRNA levels in tumor tissues from patients with ovarian cancer. In conclusion, the present data suggested that miR-665 functioned as an oncogene in ovarian cancer by directly repressing the expression of SRCIN1.

Lead bioactive compounds of Aloe vera as potential anticancer agent

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a perennial succulent medicinal plant. It has been used as a traditional or folk medicine for thousands of years and claimed that it possesses wound and burn healing activities, and anti-inflammatory as well as immunomodulatory effects. In recent years, the use of Aloe vera has been growing as a dietary supplement. The pre-clinical studies over the last couple of decades uncover the potential therapeutic activities of Aloe vera and its bioactive compounds, especially against neoplastic disease. Such investigations indicate the possible preventive as well as therapeutic effects of Aloe vera against cancer. Here, we discuss the crucial bioactive compounds of Aloe vera that have been harnessed against cancer and also address several mechanisms of action of these lead bioactive compounds compared to other standard drugs involved in cancer prevention and treatment.