A Pilot Study of a Grape Seed Procyanidin Extract for Lung Cancer Chemoprevention

Combinations of grape seed procyanidin extract and milk thistle silymarin extract against lung cancer - The role of MiR-663a and FHIT

AIMS

Grape seed procyanidin extract (GSE), and milk thistle silymarin extract (MTE) contain structurally distinct polyphenols, and each agent has been shown to exert antineoplastic effects against lung cancer. We hypothesize that combinations of GSE and MTE will additively enhance their anticancer effects against lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-proliferative effects of GSE, MTE and combinations were evaluated in lung neoplastic cell lines. A dose range finding (DRF) study to determine safety, bioavailability and bioactivity, followed by human lung cancer xenograft efficacy studies were conducted in female nude mice with once daily gavage of leucoselect phytosome (LP), a standardized GSE, and/or siliphos, a standardized MTE. The roles of tumor suppressors miR-663a and its predicted target FHIT in mediating the additive, anti-proliferative effecs of GSE/MTE were also assessed.

KEY FINDINGS

GSE with MTE additively inhibited lung preneoplastic and cancer cell proliferations. Mice tolerated all dosing regimens in the DRF study without signs of clinical toxicity nor histologic abnormalities in the lungs, livers and kidneys. Eight weeks of LP and siliphos additively inhibited lung tumor xenograft growth. Plasma GSE/metabolites and MTE/metabolites showed that the combinations did not decrease systemic bioavailabilities of each agent. GSE and MTE additively upregulated miR-663a and FHIT in lung cancer cell lines; transfection of antisense-miR-663a significantly abrogated the anti-proliferative effects of GSE/MTE, upregulation of FHIT mRNA and protein. LP and siliphos also additively increased miR-663a and FHIT protein in lung tumor xenografts.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings support clinical translations of combinations of GSE and MTE against lung cancer.

The Utilization of Physiologically Active Molecular Components of Grape Seeds and Grape Marc

Nutritional interventions may highly contribute to the maintenance or restoration of human health. Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the oldest known beneficial nutritional components of the human diet. Their high polyphenol content has been proven to enhance human health beyond doubt in statistics-based public health studies, especially in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The current review concentrates on presenting and classifying polyphenol bioactive molecules (resveratrol, quercetin, catechin/epicatechin, etc.) available in high quantities in Vitis vinifera grapes or their byproducts. The molecular pathways and cellular signaling cascades involved in the effects of these polyphenol molecules are also presented in this review, which summarizes currently available in vitro and in vivo experimental literature data on their biological activities mostly in easily accessible tabular form. New molecules for different therapeutic purposes can also be synthesized based on existing polyphenol compound classes available in high quantities in grape, wine, and grape marc. Therefore an overview of these molecular structures is provided. Novel possibilities as dendrimer nanobioconjugates are reviewed, too. Currently available in vitro and in vivo experimental literature data on polyphenol biological activities are presented in easily accessible tabular form. The scope of the review details the antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antiviral, vasoprotective, and neuroprotective roles of grape-origin flavonoids. The novelty of the study lies in the description of the processing of agricultural by-products (grape seeds and skins) of industrial relevance, and the detailed description of the molecular mechanisms of action. In addition, the review of the clinical therapeutic applications of polyphenols is unique as no summary study has yet been done.

Polyphenols as Lung Cancer Chemopreventive Agents by Targeting microRNAs

Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In recent decades, investigators have found that microRNAs, a group of non-coding RNAs, are abnormally expressed in lung cancer, and play important roles in the initiation and progression of lung cancer. These microRNAs have been used as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets of lung cancer. Polyphenols are natural and bioactive chemicals that are synthesized by plants, and have promising anticancer effects against several kinds of cancer, including lung cancer. Recent studies identified that polyphenols exert their anticancer effects by regulating the expression levels of microRNAs in lung cancer. Targeting microRNAs using polyphenols may provide a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. In this review, we reviewed the effects of polyphenols on oncogenic and tumor-suppressive microRNAs in lung cancer. We also reviewed and discussed the potential clinical application of polyphenol-regulated microRNAs in lung cancer treatment.

Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins on the expression of inflammatory mediators in gingival epithelial cells

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) pretreatment on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation of human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs).

METHODS

HGECs were cultivated with different concentrations of GSPs (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 μg·mL-1) for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. CCK-8 was used to detect the proliferation activity of HGECs. HGECs were treated with different concentrations of GSPs (0, 10, 20, and 40 μg·mL-1) for 24 h and then cultured with 1.0 μg·mL-1 LPS. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β.

RESULTS

When the GSP concentration was 0-40 μg·mL-1, the cell proliferation had no significant difference. When the action time reached 24 h, the cell proliferation was the highest. The results of ELISA and QRT-PCR showed that 10, 20, and 40 μg·mL-1 GSPS decreased the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (P<0.05) and increased the expression levels of IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β compared with 0 μg·mL-1 GSPS (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

GSPS (0-40 μg·mL-1) has no significant effect on the proliferation activity of HGECs. Pretreatment with GSPS can inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and enhance the expression of anti-inflammatory factors. Hence, GSPS has a certain preventive effect on the resistance of HGECs to the stimulation of endotoxin.

Phytosomes as Innovative Delivery Systems for Phytochemicals: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Nowadays, medicinal herbs and their phytochemicals have emerged as a great therapeutic option for many disorders. However, poor bioavailability and selectivity might limit their clinical application. Therefore, bioavailability is considered a notable challenge to improve bio-efficacy in transporting dietary phytochemicals. Different methods have been proposed for generating effective carrier systems to enhance the bioavailability of phytochemicals. Among them, nano-vesicles have been introduced as promising candidates for the delivery of insoluble phytochemicals. Due to the easy preparation of the bilayer vesicles and their adaptability, they have been widely used and approved by the scientific literature. The first part of the review is focused on introducing phytosome technology as well as its applications, with emphasis on principles of formulations and characterization. The second part provides a wide overview of biological activities of commercial and non-commercial phytosomes, divided by systems and related pathologies. These results confirm the greater effectiveness of phytosomes, both in terms of biological activity or reduced dosage, highlighting curcumin and silymarin as the most formulated compounds. Finally, we describe the promising clinical and experimental findings regarding the applications of phytosomes. The conclusion of this study encourages the researchers to transfer their knowledge from laboratories to market, for a further development of these products.

An overview on the role of plant-derived tannins for the treatment of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Despite many advanced approaches to treat cancer, they are often ineffective due to resistance to classical anti-cancer drugs and distant metastases. Currently, alternative medicinal agents derived from plants are the major interest due to high bioavailability and fewer adverse effects. Tannins are polyphenolic compounds existing as specialized products in a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Many tannins have been found to possess protective properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, and so on. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge addressing the anti-cancer effects of dietary tannins and their underlying molecular mechanisms. In vivo and in vitro studies provide evidences that anti-cancer effects of various tannins are predominantly mediated through negative regulation of transcription factors, growth factors, receptor kinases, and many oncogenic molecules. In addition, we also discussed the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties of tannins, clinical trial results as well as our perspective on future research with tannins.

Procyanidins mediates antineoplastic effects against non-small cell lung cancer via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Background

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with one of the highest rates of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) account for 85% of all lung cancers and have a poor prognosis. Proanthocyanidins (PCs) are polyphenolic compounds that are found widely in natural plants. The present study aimed to determine the effects of PC on lung cancer and identify its possible mechanism.

Methods

A cell growth assay was used to detect the cell growth ability of A549 cancer cells, and a clonal formation assay was used to detect the cloning ability of A549 cancer cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of PCs on apoptosis and the cell cycle. The wound healing test, Transwell migration, and invasion test were used to detect the migration and invasion of human NSCLC A549 cells. Western blotting was utilized to detect the expression levels of N-cadherin, E-cadherin, vimentin, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), STAT3, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and the apoptosis-related proteins, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and BCL2-associated X (Bax). Cell immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression levels of the p-STAT3 primary antibody.

Results

PCs reduced the proliferation and cloning ability of A549 cells and significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, PCs induced apoptosis in A549 cells and G2/M cell cycle arrest. PCs increased the pro-apoptotic protein expression, Bax, and down-regulated the anti-apoptotic protein expression, Bcl-2. PCs also inhibited the epithelial-mesothermal transition (EMT) process of A549 cells. We also found that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor, AG490, cooperated with PCs to inhibit A549 cell invasion and migration. Our results demonstrated that PCs could mediate the antitumor effect of NSCLC via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Conclusions

PCs can inhibit NSCLC A549 cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, clone formation, EMT, and induced apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. They work by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. As a novel antitumor drug, PCs have broad application prospects for the treatment of NSCLC.

Leucoselect Phytosome Modulates Serum Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, and Prostaglandin E3 in a Phase I Lung Cancer Chemoprevention Study

Grape seed procyanidin extract (GSE) has been shown to exert antineoplastic properties in preclinical studies. Recently, we reported findings from a modified phase I, open-label, dose escalation clinical study conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability, MTD, and potential chemopreventive effects of leucoselect phytosome, a standardized GSE complexed with soy phospholipids to enhance bioavailability, in heavy active and former smokers. Three months of leucoselect phytosome treatment significantly decreased bronchial Ki-67 labeling index (LI), a marker of cell proliferation on the bronchial epithelium. Because GSE is widely used as a supplement to support cardiovascular health, we evaluate the impact of oral leucoselect phytosome on the fasting serum complex lipid metabolomics profiles in our participants. One month of leucoselect phytosome treatment significantly increased eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) with well-established anticancer properties. Leucoselect phytosome also significantly increased unsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PC), likely from soy phospolipids in the phytosome and functioning as transporters for these PUFAs. Furthermore, 3-month leucoselect phytosome treatment significantly increased serum prostaglandin (PG) E₃ (PGE₃), a metabolite of EPA with anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties. Such increases in PGE₃ correlated with reductions of bronchial Ki-67 LI (r = -0.9; P = 0.0374). Moreover, posttreatment plasma samples from trial participants significantly inhibited proliferation of human lung cancer cell lines A549 (adenocarcinoma), H520 (squamous cell carcinoma), DMS114 (small cell carcinoma), and 1198 (preneoplastic cell line). Our findings further support the potential utility of leucoselect phytosome in reducing cardiovascular and neoplastic risks in heavy former and active smokers. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: In this correlative study of leucoselect phytosome for lung cancer chemoprevention in heavy active and former smokers, we demonstrate for the first time, favorable modulations of n-3PUFA and downstream PGE₃ in fasting serum, further supporting the chemopreventive potential of leucoselect phytosome against lung cancer.

Proanthocyanidins Should Be a Candidate in the Treatment of Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases and Lipid Metabolic Disorder

The conventional view of using medicines as routine treatment of an intractable disease is being challenged in the face of extensive and growing evidence that flavonoids in foods, especially proanthocyanidins (PAs), can participate in tackling fatal diseases like cancer, cardiovascular and lipid metabolic diseases, both as a precautionary measure or as a dietary treatment. Although medical treatment with medicines will remain necessary in some cases, at least in the short term, PAs’ function as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory drugs, signal pathway regulators remain critical in many diseases. This review article demonstrates the physical and biological properties of PAs, summarizes the health benefits of PAs found by researchers previously, and shows the possibility and importance of being a dietary treatment substance.

A Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Anticancer Mechanism and Potential Active Ingredients of Rheum palmatum L. Against Lung Cancer via Induction of Apoptosis

Rheum palmatum L. (RPL) is a known traditional herbal medicine with the functions of “heat-clearing and damp-drying” in traditional Chinese medicine. Its anti-cancer effect against lung cancer has been confirmed previously, but the related mechanisms and active substances for its action has been little studied. This study adopted the network pharmacology, built the network map of drug ingredients and disease targets (DDN), and discussed the effective components of RPL and its possible mechanisms. All constituents of RPL were collected through database search and literature mining, and the potential active constituents were screened. The inverse pharmacophore matching model was used to predict the targets of active ingredients, and the method was supplemented by database retrieval and literature mining. Compounds-target data were inputted into Cytoscape software to build the DDN of RPL, and functional annotation analysis and pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. Finally, 20 active compounds were screened, which acted on 817 targets. A total of 22,418 lung cancer-related targets were collected, and 761 overlapped with drug targets. By bioinformatics annotation of these overlapping genes, a total of 235 gene ontology (GO) functional annotation analyses and 46 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were obtained. It was found that the enrichment of GO and KEGG was associated with apoptosis, suggesting RPL plays an anti-lung cancer role via inducing cell apoptosis. Subsequent cell experiment results showed RPL and its active constituents inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells and reduced clone formation rate of A549 cells via induction of apoptosis. In this study, the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanism of RPL against lung cancer were studied from the perspective of systematic pharmacology, which would be beneficial for further elucidating the anticancer effect of RPL on lung cancer.

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Seed Oil: A Functional Food from the Winemaking Industry

Wine production is an ancient human activity that generates several by-products, which include some constituents known for their potential in health care and for their role in the food or cosmetic industries. Any variety of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) contains nutrients and bioactive compounds available from their juice or solid parts. Grape seed extract has demonstrated many activities in disease prevention, such as antioxidant effects, which make it a potential source of nutraceuticals. Grape seed is a remarkable winery industry by-product due to the bioactivity of its constituents. Methods for recovery of oil from grape seeds have evolved to improve both the quantity and quality of the yield. Both the lipophilic and hydrophilic chemicals present in the oil of V. vinifera L. make this wine by-product a source of natural nutraceuticals. Food and non-food industries are becoming novel targets of oil obtained from grape seeds given its various properties. This review focuses on the advantages of grape seed oil intake in our diet regarding its chemical composition in industries not related to wine production and the economic and environmental impact of oil production.

Dietary Supplements and Current Available Evidence

Dietary supplements are frequently used in surgical patients. Surgeons should be up to date with regard to the efficacies and potential complications related to these supplements. This article provides the most updated practices and evidence of commonly used supplements.

Anti-angiogenic Activity of Major Phenolics in Tamarind Assessed with Molecular Docking Study on VEGF Kinase Proteins

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The waste products of the tamarind canning industry have been discarded; however, it has potential health benefits. Herein, the study was carried out HPLC profiling of phenolic constituents of Tamarindis indica pericarp and seeds. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity against HUH-7 cells was evaluated and assessed with molecular docking study on angiogenesis-related VEGF kinase proteins in addition to evaluating the level of released VEGF in treated HUH-7 cells by ELISA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Folin-ciocalteu and AlCl3 assays were used for quantification of total phenolics (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) contents, respectively. Molecular docking study was done on VEGF kinase proteins.

RESULTS

TPC and TFC of pericarp and seeds were 0.35±0.02 g GAE g-1 DE and 0.12±0.009 g CE g-1 DE, 0.39±0.01 g GAE g-1 DE and 0.03±0.006 g CE g-1 DE, respectively. In pericarp, 8 phenolics were tentatively identified, where (+)-catechin was the major (27,386.04 μg g-1 DE) followed by gallic acid and naringenin (931.47, 500.42 μg g-1 DE) respectively. While in seeds, 11 phenolics were tentatively identified, where naringenin was the major (95,305.47 μg g-1 DE) followed by (+)-catechin and rutin (54,930.29, 15,361.66 μg g-1 DE) respectively. Aqueous and methanol seeds extracts exhibit cytotoxic effect with IC50 27.4±1.81 and 13.4±0.94 μg mL-1, respectively, it was more potent than aqueous and methanol pericarp extracts which had IC50 132±5.82 and 61.6±3.16 μg mL-1. The tested phenolics were fit on the active sites of VEGF kinase targets with varied degree of interactions. The cytotoxic and anti-angiogenic activities were confirmed in light of phenolics docking interactions.

CONCLUSION

Results demonstrate for the first time that phenolics could inhibit angiogenesis via inhibiting kinase proteins, which could therefore be developed as antiangiogenic drugs.