The Effects and Mechanisms of Sennoside A on Inducing Cytotoxicity, Apoptosis, and Inhibiting Metastasis in Human Chondrosarcoma Cells

A comprehensive review of natural product-derived compounds acting on P2X7R: The promising therapeutic drugs in disorders

BACKGROUND

The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is known to play a significant role in regulating various pathological processes associated with immune regulation, neuroprotection, and inflammatory responses. It has emerged as a potential target for the treatment of diseases. In addition to chemically synthesized small molecule compounds, natural products have gained attention as an important source for discovering compounds that act on the P2X7R.

PURPOSE

To explore the research progress made in the field of natural product-derived compounds that act on the P2X7R.

METHODS

The methods employed in this review involved conducting a thorough search of databases, include PubMed, Web of Science and WIKTROP, to identify studies on natural product-derived compounds that interact with P2X7R. The selected studies were then analyzed to categorize the compounds based on their action on the receptor and to evaluate their therapeutic applications, chemical properties, and pharmacological actions.

RESULTS

The natural product-derived compounds acting on P2X7R can be classified into three categories: P2X7R antagonists, compounds inhibiting P2X7R expression, and compounds regulating the signaling pathway associated with P2X7R. Moreover, highlight the therapeutic applications, chemical properties and pharmacological actions of these compounds, and indicate areas that require further in-depth study. Finally, discuss the challenges of the natural products-derived compounds exploration, although utilizing compounds from natural products for new drug research offers unique advantages, problems related to solubility, content, and extraction processes still exist.

CONCLUSION

The detailed information in this review will facilitate further development of P2X7R antagonists and potential therapeutic strategies for P2X7R-associated disorders.

Structural Characterization and Anticancer Activity of a New Anthraquinone from Senna velutina (Fabaceae)

In this study, a novel compound was isolated, identified, and its chemical structure was determined from the extract of the roots of Senna velutina. In addition, we sought to evaluate the anticancer potential of this molecule against melanoma and leukemic cell lines and identify the pathways of cell death involved. To this end, a novel anthraquinone was isolated from the barks of the roots of S. velutina, analyzed by HPLC-DAD, and its molecular structure was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Subsequently, their cytotoxic activity was evaluated by the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method against non-cancerous, melanoma, and leukemic cells. The migration of melanoma cells was evaluated by the scratch assay. The apoptosis process, caspase-3 activation, analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential, and measurement of ROS were evaluated by flow cytometry technique. In addition, the pharmacological cell death inhibitors NEC-1, RIP-1, BAPTA, Z-VAD, and Z-DEVD were used to confirm the related cell death mechanisms. With the results, it was possible to elucidate the novel compound characterized as 2'-OH-Torosaol I. In normal cells, the compound showed no cytotoxicity in PBMC but reduced the cell viability of all melanoma and leukemic cell lines evaluated. 2'-OH-Torosaol I inhibited chemotaxis of B16F10-Nex2, SK-Mel-19, SK-Mel-28 and SK-Mel-103. The cytotoxicity of the compound was induced by apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway with reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased levels of reactive oxygen species, and activation of caspase-3. In addition, the inhibitors demonstrated the involvement of necroptosis and Ca²⁺ in the death process and confirmed caspase-dependent apoptosis death as one of the main programmed cell death pathways induced by 2'-OH-Torosaol I. Taken together, the data characterize the novel anthraquinone 2'-OH-Torosaol I, demonstrating its anticancer activity and potential application in cancer therapy.

Sennoside A restrains TRAF6 level to modulate ferroptosis, inflammation and cognitive impairment in aging mice with Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease and a momentous cause of dementia in the elderly. Sennoside A (SA) is an anthraquinone compound and possesses decisive protective functions in various human diseases. The purpose of this research was to elucidate the protective effect of SA against AD and investigate its mechanism.

METHODS

Male APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) transgenic mice with a C57BL/6J background were chosen as AD model. Age-matched nontransgenic littermates (C57BL/6 mice) were negative controls. SA's functions in AD in vivo were estimated by cognitive function analysis, Western blot, hematoxylin-eosin staining, TUNEL staining, Nissl staining, detection of Fe²⁺ levels, glutathione and malondialdehyde contents, and quantitative real-time PCR. Also, SA's functions in AD in LPS-induced BV2 cells were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and analysis of reactive oxygen species levels. Meanwhile, SA's mechanisms in AD were assessed by several molecular experiments.

RESULTS

Functionally, SA mitigated cognitive function, hippocampal neuronal apoptosis, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in AD mice. Furthermore, SA reduced BV2 cell apoptosis, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation induced by LPS. Rescue assay revealed that SA abolished the high expressions of TRAF6 and p-P65 (NF-κB pathway-related proteins) induced by AD, and this impact was reversed after TRAF6 overexpression. Conversely, this impact was further enhanced after TRAF6 knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

SA relieved ferroptosis, inflammation and cognitive impairment in aging mice with AD through decreasing TRAF6.