Gallic acid against hepatocellular carcinoma: An integrated scheme of the potential mechanisms of action from in vivo study

Characterization and Cytotoxic Assessment of Bis(2-hydroxy-3-carboxyphenyl)methane and Its Nickel(II) Complex

A condensation reaction of salicylic acid with formaldehyde in the presence of sulfuric acid led to the synthesization of the bis(2-hydroxy-3-carboxyphenyl)methane (BHCM) ligand, which was subsequently allowed to bind with nickel (II) ions. In light of the information obtained from the elemental analyses (C, H, and M), spectral (IR, MS, 1H-NMR, and UV-Vis) and thermal and magnetic measurements, the most likely structures of the ligand and complex have been identified. It has been suggested that the BHCM coordinates in a tetradentate manner with two Ni(II) ions to produce an octahedral binuclear complex. The SEM and TEM morphology of the compounds showed spherical shapes. An X-ray diffraction analysis indicated a considerable difference in the diffraction patterns between BHCM (crystalline) and Ni-BHCM (amorphous), and the Scherrer equation was used to calculate the crystallite size. Some optical characteristics were estimated from UV-Vis spectra. The ligand and its nickel(II) complex underlie the range of semiconductors. It was verified that for human lung (A-549) cancer, the BHCM compound displayed a significant barrier to the proliferation test in noncancerous cells (human lung fibroblasts, WI-38), which was also undertaken. To demonstrate the binding affinities of the chosen compounds (BHCM and Ni-BHCM) in the receptor protein's active site [PDB ID: 5CAO], a molecular docking (MD) study was carried out.

Gallic acid promotes ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma via inactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has high morbidity and mortality, and effective therapies are lacking. Gallic acid (GA), a natural phenolic compound derived from plants, has been reported to prevent the onset and progression of various cancers. However, there is limited elaboration on the potential mechanisms and anticancer effects of GA on hepatocellular carcinoma. Inducing ferroptosis of tumor cells has become one of the most promising ways to eradicate tumor cells. However, the effect of GA on HCC ferroptosis remains unknown. We evaluated the impact of GA on cell viability, migration, and mitochondrial morphology in HepG2 cells. Our study identified a critical role of GA in inducing ferroptosis in HepG2 cells. Mechanistically, we found that GA could inhibit the expression of a ferroptosis-related protein SLC7A11 and GPX4 in HepG2, by blocking β-catenin transport from nuclear to the cytoplasm, thus inducing the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our study has confirmed that GA is a novel ferroptosis inducer of HC, suggesting GA could be a promising candidate for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Bioactive compounds from Actinidia arguta fruit as a new strategy to fight glioblastoma

In recent years, there has been a significant demand for natural products as a mean of disease prevention or as an alternative to conventional medications. The driving force for this change is the growing recognition of the abundant presence of valuable bioactive compounds in natural products. On recent years Actinia arguta fruit, also known as kiwiberry, has attracted a lot of attention from scientific community due to its richness in bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, organic acids, vitamins, carotenoids and fiber. These bioactive compounds contribute to the fruit's diverse outstanding biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer properties. Due to these properties, the fruit may have the potential to be used in the treatment/prevention of various types of cancer, including glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, displaying 90 % of recurrence rate within a span of 2 years. Despite the employment of an aggressive approach, the prognosis remains unfavorable, emphasizing the urgent requirement for the development of new effective treatments. The preclinical evidence suggests that kiwiberry has potential impact on glioblastoma by reducing the cancer self-renewal, modulating the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of the cell phenotype and metabolism, and influencing the consolidation of the tumor microenvironment. Even though, challenges such as the imprecise composition and concentration of bioactive compounds, and its low bioavailability after oral administration may be drawbacks to the development of kiwiberry-based treatments, being urgent to ensure the safety and efficacy of kiwiberry for the prevention and treatment of glioblastoma. This review aims to highlight the potential impact of A. arguta bioactive compounds on glioblastoma, providing novel insights into their applicability as complementary or alternative therapies.

Impact of gallic acid on tumor suppression: Modulation of redox homeostasis and purinergic response in in vitro and a preclinical glioblastoma model

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest primary brain tumor in adults due to the high rate of relapse with current treatment. Therefore, the search for therapeutic alternatives is urgent. Gallic acid (GA), a potent natural antioxidant, has antitumor and modulatory actions on purinergic signaling. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of GA on the rat GBM (C6) cell line and on astrocyte culture and analyzed its role in regulating oxidative stress and purinergic enzymes involved in GBM proliferation. Cells were exposed to GA from 50 to 400 µM for 24 and/or 48 h. Next, the effect of GA was evaluated in the preclinical model of GBM. Wistar rats were treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg of GA for 15 days, and cerebral and systemic redox status and degradation of adenine nucleotides and nucleosides in circulating platelets, lymphocytes, and serum were evaluated. Our results demonstrated that GA has selective anti-glioma activity in vitro, without inducing cytotoxicity in astrocyte. Furthermore, GA prevented oxidative stress and changes in the hydrolysis of nucleotides in GBM cells. The anti-glioma effect was also observed in vivo, as GA reduced tumor volume by 90%. Interestingly, GA decreased the oxidative damage induced by a tumor in the brain, serum, and platelets, and, also prevented changes in the degradation of nucleotides and nucleosides in lymphocytes, platelets, and serum. These results indicate, for the first time, the therapeutic potential of GA in a preclinical model of GBM, whose effects may be related to its role in redox and purinergic modulation.

System analysis based on the cuproptosis-related genes identifies LIPT1 as a novel therapy target for liver hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) ranks sixth among the most common types of cancer with a high mortality rate. Cuproptosis is a newly discovered type of cell death in tumor, which is characterized by accumulation of intracellular copper leading to the aggregation of mitochondrial lipoproteins and destabilization of proteins. Thus, understanding the exact effects of cuproptosis-related genes in LIHC and determining their prognosticvalue is critical. However, the prognostic model of LIHC based on cuproptosis-related genes has not been reported.

METHODS

Firstly, we downloaded transcriptome data and clinical information of LIHC patients from TCGA and GEO (GSE76427), respectively. We then extracted the expression of cuproptosis-related genes and established a prognostic model by lasso cox regression analysis. Afterwards, the prediction performance of the model was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Then, the prognostic model and the expression levels of the three genes were validated using the dataset from GEO. Subsequently, we divided LIHC patients into two subtypes by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) classification and performed survival analysis. We constructed a Sankey plot linking different subtypes and prognostic models. Next, we calculate the drug sensitivity of each sample from patients in the high-risk group and low-risk group by the R package pRRophetic. Finally, we verified the function of LIPT1 in LIHC.

RESULTS

Using lasso cox regression analysis, we developed a prognostic risk model based on three cuproptosis-related genes (GCSH, LIPT1 and CDKN2A). Both in the training and in the test sets, the overall survival (OS) of LIHC patients in the low-risk group was significantly longer than that in the high-risk group. By performing NMF cluster, we identified two molecular subtypes of LIHC (C1 and C2), with C1 subtype having significantly longer OS and PFS than C2 subtype. The ROC analysis indicated that our model had a precisely predictive capacity for patients with LIHC. The multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the risk score is an independent predictor. Subsequently, we identified 71 compounds with IC50 values that differed between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Finally, we determined that knockdown of LIPT1 gene expression inhibited proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we developed a novel prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on cuproptosis-related genes that can effectively predict the prognosis of LIHC patients. The model may be helpful for clinicians to make clinical decisions for patients with LIHC and provide valuable insights for individualized treatment. Two distinct subtypes of LIHC were identified based on cuproptosis-related genes, with different prognosis and immune characteristics. In addition, we verified that LIPT1 may promote proliferation, invasion and migration of LIHC cells. LIPT1 might be a new potential target for therapy of LIHC.

Polyphenols as Potent Epigenetics Agents for Cancer

Human diseases such as cancer can be caused by aberrant epigenetic regulation. Polyphenols play a major role in mammalian epigenome regulation through mechanisms and proteins that remodel chromatin. In fruits, seeds, and vegetables, as well as food supplements, polyphenols are found. Compounds such as these ones are powerful anticancer agents and antioxidants. Gallic acid, kaempferol, curcumin, quercetin, and resveratrol, among others, have potent anti-tumor effects by helping reverse epigenetic changes associated with oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene inactivation. The role dietary polyphenols plays in restoring epigenetic alterations in cancer cells with a particular focus on DNA methylation and histone modifications was summarized. We also discussed how these natural compounds modulate gene expression at the epigenetic level and described their molecular targets in cancer. It highlights the potential of polyphenols as an alternative therapeutic approach in cancer since they modulate epigenetic activity.

The chemoprevention of spirulina platensis and garlic against diethylnitrosamine induced liver cancer in rats via amelioration of inflammatory cytokines expression and oxidative stress

Natural antioxidant products play a vital role in the treatment and prevention of cancer disease because they have no side effects. This study aimed to compare the chemoprotective effect of Spirulina platensis (SP) and garlic against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. This study was being done by using 60 male Wistar rats and divided into four groups. Group (I): normal group. Group (II): HCC group induced by injection of a single dose of DEN (200 mg/kg/I.P) and after 14 days injected CCl4 (1 mg/kg/I.P) 3 times/week/six weeks. Group (III): HCC group received SP orally at a dose (500 mg/kg). Group (IV): HCC group received garlic (250 mg/kg) orally. The results revealed that the Spirulina and garlic treatment have a significant decrease in Glutamate pyruvate transaminase, Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, GGT, LDH, and the Malondialdehyde (MDA) activity, and furthermore, a significant increase in the total protein level, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Catalase (CAT) activity nearly to normal activity. Furthermore, the hepatic expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1), Heat Shock Protein glycoprotein 96 (HSPgp96), and Glypican 3 (GP3) were down regulated by the Spirulina and garlic treatment in comparison with those in HCC group. All findings reported that the chemoprotective of both Spirulina and garlic that have nearly the same effect may be due to antioxidant activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation, amelioration of pro-inflammatory cytokine, HSPgp96, and GP3.

Safranal Prevents Liver Cancer Through Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Alleviating Inflammation

Despite all efforts, an effective and safe treatment for liver cancer remains elusive. Natural products and their derived biomolecules are potential resources to mine for novel anti-cancer drugs. Chemopreventive effects of safranal, a major bioactive ingredient of the golden spice "saffron", were evaluated in this study against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer in rats. Safranal's mechanisms of action were also investigated in the human liver cancer line "HepG2". When administered to DEN-treated rats, safranal significantly inhibited proliferation (Ki-67) and also induced apoptosis (TUNEL and M30 CytoDeath). It also exhibited anti-inflammatory properties where inflammatory markers such as NF-kB, COX2, iNOS, TNF-alpha, and its receptor were significantly inhibited. Safranal's in vivo effects were further supported in HepG2 cells where apoptosis was induced and inflammation was downregulated. In summary, safranal is reported here as a potent chemopreventive agent against hepatocellular carcinoma that may soon be an important ingredient of a broad-spectrum cancer therapy.

Rationale for Tailoring an Alternative Oncology Trial Using a Novel Gallium-Based Nanocomplex: Mechanistic Insights and Preclinical Challenges

Introduction: In the fight against cancer, cisplatin is most widely used as a clinical mainstay for the chemotherapy of various human cancers. Meanwhile, its cytotoxic profile, as well as drug resistance, limits its widespread application. The goal of precision medicine is to tailor an optimized therapeutic program based on the biology of the disease. Recently, nanotechnology has been demonstrated to be promising in this scenario. Objective: The current work provides a rationale for the design of an alternative oncology trial for the treatment of hepatocarcinogenesis using a novel eco-friendly nanocomplex, namely gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles. Moreover, the study tests whether the antineoplastic efficacy of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could be enhanced or not when it is administrated together with cisplatin. Methods: The work comprised a series of both in vitro and in vivo investigations. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy of such treatments, against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, was strictly evaluated by tracking target genes expressions, iron homeostasis, diverse biomarkers alterations, and lastly, routine paraclinical investigations were also assessed. Results: The in vitro biological evaluation of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles in a HepG-2 cancer cell line established its superior cytotoxicity. Else more, the results of the in vivo experiment highlighted that gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could diminish key hallmarks of cancer by ameliorating most of the investigated parameters. This was well-appreciated with the histopathological findings of the liver architectures of the treated groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that novel biogenic Ga-based nanocomplexes may potentially present new hope for the development of alternative liver cancer therapeutics, which should attract further scientific interest.

The modulatory effect of bee honey against diethyl nitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride instigated hepatocellular carcinoma in Wistar rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious threat to human health that has attracted substantial interest. The purpose of this study was to investigate the modulatory effect of bee honey against induced HCC by diethylnitrosamine/carbon tetrachloride (DEN/CCl4) in rats. HCC was induced by a single intraperitoneal dose of DEN (200 mg/kg B.W). Two weeks later, CCl4 (1 ml/kg) was intraperitoneally injected (three times a week). Bee honey was administered orally at 2 g/rat before and after the induction of HCC. The results showed that bee honey administration significantly increased body weight, decreased liver weight, and relative liver weight compared to those in the HCC-induced group. Moreover, a significant decrease in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as well as AST, ALT, GGT, ALP activities were observed in bee honey administration rats compared with those in HCC-induced group. Also, the hepatic MDA was significantly decreased; in addition, SOD, CAT, and GPx activities were significantly increased in groups treated with bee honey compared with those in the HCC group. The hepatic histopathology alterations caused by DEN/CCl4 injection were ameliorated by bee honey treatment. Likewise, the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), glypican (GP-3), thioredoxin (TRX), and glutaredoxin (GRX) were downregulated, and caspase-3 was upregulated by bee honey treatment compared with untreated HCC-induced group. In conclusion, bee honey has remarkable beneficial effects against HCC induced in rats through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antimetastatic effects.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The current study confirmed that honey has the potential to act as an antimetastatic factor. Bee honey supplementation either before or after combined injection of DEN/CCl4 exhibited inhibitory and ameliorative effects against DEN/CCl4-induced HCC through its antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-metastatic, antifibrotic, and apoptosis properties. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the molecular mechanisms underlying honey's effects against DEN/CCl4-induced HCC in rats.

Gallic acid: a dietary polyphenol that exhibits anti-neoplastic activities by modulating multiple oncogenic targets

Phytochemicals are being used for thousands of years to prevent dreadful malignancy. Side effects of existing allopathic treatment have also initiated intense research in the field of bioactive phytochemicals. Gallic acid, a natural polyphenolic compound, exists freely as well as in polymeric forms. The anti-cancer properties of gallic acid are indomitable by a variety of cellular pathways such as induction of programmed cell death, cell cycle apprehension, reticence of vasculature and tumor migration, and inflammation. Furthermore, gallic acid is found to show synergism with other existing chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, the antineoplastic role of gallic acid suggests its promising therapeutic candidature in the near future. The present review describes all these aspects of gallic acid at a single platform. In addition nanotechnology-mediated approaches are also discussed to enhance bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.

Antitumor and Antioxidant Activity of S-Methyl Methionine Sulfonium Chloride against Liver Cancer Induced in Wistar Albino Rats by Diethyl Nitrosamine and Carbon Tertrachloride

Liver disease, especially liver cancer, has become a threat facing the world. Now, antioxidant products are garnering great attention for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. S-Methyl methionine sulfonium chloride (MMSC) is a methionine derivative and is present in many vegetables and has anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidants. This is the first study aiming to investigate the antitumor activity of the MMSC. This study was carried out on 60 male Wistar albino rats (4–6 weeks old age) and divided into four groups, with the first group as normal control, second group as hepatocarcinoma induced by diethyl nitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride (DEN/CCL4) group, third group as normal rats treated with MMSC, and fourth group as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced rats treated with MMSC. Our findings revealed that MMSC administration after HCC induction significantly improved (p < 0.05) the liver function biomarkers, including AST, GGT, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio (A/G), in comparison with those in the HCC group. Moreover, the histopathological changes of the liver tissue in the HCC group were improved by MMSC treatment. Likewise, the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), transforming growth factor (TGF-1β), and glypican 3 (GP3) were downregulated by MMSC treatment after HCC induction in comparison with those in the HCC-induced group. In conclusion, MMSC showed antitumor activity against HCC induction by DEN/CCl4 through decreasing lipid peroxide formation, the expression level of an inflammatory cytokines such as (TNF-α), immunoregulatory cytokines such as (TGF-1β), induced nitric oxide synthase, and glypican 3.

Spectroscopic and computational studies on the binding interaction between gallic acid and Pin1

Gallic acid (GA) is a natural ingredient in functional foods, which has various health-promoting and antitumour effects. Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 plays an important role in preventing the development of some malignant tumours. However, whether there was an interaction between Pin1 and GA remains unknown. In this work, the binding information of GA and Pin1 was investigated systematically using multiple spectral and computational methods. GA bound to Pin1 directly with moderate binding affinity in the order of 10⁴  mol/L, therefore decreasing the activity of Pin1. Also, the binding process of GA to Pin1 was driven through weak van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic forces. In addition, the important residues Lys63, Arg68, and Arg69 played a significant role in maintaining the binding stability between Pin1 and GA. Interestingly, GA reduced the activity of Pin1 by affecting its conformational characteristics. Our present work showed that GA binds to Pin1 and inhibits its activity, affecting its structural and functional properties, which may contribute to the therapy of Pin1-related diseases.

Gene expression profile analysis of gallic acid-induced cell death process

Gallic acid is a natural phenolic compound that displays anti-cancer properties in clinically relevant cell culture and rodent models. To date, the molecular mechanism governing the gallic acid-induced cancer cell death process is largely unclear, thus hindering development of novel therapeutics. Therefore, we performed time-course RNA-sequencing to reveal the gene expression profiles at the early (2nd hour), middle (4th and 6th hour), and late (9th hour) stages of the gallic acid-induced cell death process in HeLa cells. By Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, we found significant changes in transcription of the genes in different types of cell death pathways. This involved the ferroptotic cell death pathway at the early stage, apoptotic pathway at the middle stage, and necroptotic pathway at the late stage. Metabolic pathways were identified at all the stages, indicating that this is an active cell death process. Interestingly, the initiation and execution of gallic acid-induced cell death were mediated by multiple biological processes, including iron and amino acid metabolism, and the biosynthesis of glutathione, as targeting on these pathways suppressed cell death. In summary, our work provides a dataset with differentially expressed genes across different stages of cell death process during the gallic acid induction, which is important for further study on the control of this cell death mechanism.

Formulation, Characterisation and In vitro Cytotoxic Effect of Lens culinaris Medikus Seeds Extract Loaded Chitosan Microspheres

OBJECTIVE

The aim of present study was to formulate chitosan microspheres loaded with ethanolic extract of Lens culinaris Medikus (L.culinaris) seeds (ME) and to explore its anticancer potential against lung cancer (A549) cell line.

METHODS

Central composite design was applied to prepare and optimise the chitosan microspheres. The prepared microspheres were evaluated for its physicochemical characterisation, in vitro drug release and anti-cancer potential in vitro.

RESULTS

L.culinaris loaded chitosan microspheres were prepared successfully with suitable particle size, entrapment efficiency and drug release. The developed ME were spherical shaped with the particle size of 2.08 μm. The drug entrapment efficiency and cumulative drug release was found 1.58±0.02% and 81.95±0.35%, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed no interaction between drugs and polymers used. The cytotoxic effect of the optimised formulation revealed a significant response as compared to the ethanolic extract of L.culinaris seeds (IC₅₀: 22.56 μg/ml vs. 63.58 μg/ml), which was comparable to that of reference drug, doxorubicin (22 μg/ml). These observations demonstrate that the optimised microspheres are effective against lung cancer (A549) cells.

CONCLUSION

The significant cytotoxic response of the developed microspheres may be attributed due to its low particle size, high entrapment efficiency and prolonged drug release profile.

Autophagic Inhibition of Caveolin-1 by Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L. Activates Ubiquitination and Proteasome Degradation of β-catenin to Suppress Metastasis of Hepatitis B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L. (CP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for cancer treatment in the clinic, particularly during progression of hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-associated HCC). Nevertheless, its anti-metastatic action and mechanisms are not well elucidated. In this study, CP was found to exert remarkable inhibitory effects on the proliferation, migration and invasion of HBV-associated HCC cells. The following network and biological analyses predicted that CP mainly targeted Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) to induce anti-metastatic effects, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway was one of the core mechanisms of CP action against HBV-associated HCC. Further experimental validation implied that Cav-1 overexpression promoted metastasis of HBV-associated HCC by stabilizing β-catenin, while CP administration induced autophagic degradation of Cav-1, activated the Akt/GSK3β-mediated proteasome degradation of β-catenin via ubiquitination activation, and subsequently attenuated the metastasis-promoting effect of Cav-1. In addition, the anti-cancer and anti-metastatic action of CP was further confirmed by in vivo and ex vivo experiments. It was found that CP inhibited the tumor growth and metastasis of HBV-associated HCC in both mice liver cancer xenograft and zebrafish xenotransplantation models. Taken together, our study not only highlights the novel function of CP formula in suppressing metastasis of HBV-associated HCC, but it also addresses the critical role of Cav-1 in mediating Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin axis to control the late-phase of cancer progression.

Targeting the HIF-1α/Cav-1 Pathway with a Chicory Extract/Daidzein Combination Plays a Potential Role in Retarding Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most rapidly growing solid cancers, that is characterized by hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that regulates tumor proliferation and metastasis. It induces caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression, a glycoprotein found on the membrane surface, then Cav-1 triggers angiogenesis and metastasis in HCC.

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesize that targeting HIF-1α and consequently, Cav-1 using the antioxidant natural compound such as chicoric acid and a Cav-1 inhibitor daidzein (DAZ) could be a useful approach in the management of HCC. This study was conducted to investigate the possible therapeutic efficacy of standardized chicory leaf extract (SCLE) and DAZ via modulation of HIF-1α and Cav-1 in HCC rats.

METHODS

Diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) was used for HCC induction. After the induction period, four groups (10 rats for each) were treated with SCLE, DAZ, a combination of both, as well as sorafenib, all compared to the non-treated control. We assessed hepatic HIF-1α protein expression, Cav-1 gene expression, serum level of AFP, hepatic tissue content of VEGF, MMP-9, oxidative stress markers MDA and SOD.

RESULTS

DAZ, SCLE, and their combination, significantly down-regulated the expression of HIF-1α, Cav-1, and consequently dampened MMP-9, VEGF, hepatic content. It has been observed that the combination treatment showed a synergistic effect compared to either treatment alone. Importantly, the combination treatment exhibited a significantly more potent effect than sorafenib.

CONCLUSION

This study showed the potential role of the HIF-1α/Cav-1 pathway in HCC progression, moreover, SCLE and DAZ showed a potent efficacy in retarding HCC via modulation of this pathway.

Herbal and Natural Dietary Products: Upcoming Therapeutic Approach for Prevention and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The most common tumor linked with elevated death rates is considered the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sometimes called the malignant hepatoma. The initiation and progression of HCC are triggered by multiple factors like long term alcohol consumption, metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and C infection, age, and oxidative stress. Sorafenib is the merely US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug used to treat HCC. Several treatment methods are available for HCC therapy such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and adjuvant therapy but they often lead to several side effects. Yet these treatment methods are not entirely adequate due to the increasing resistance to the drug and their toxicity. Many natural products help to prevent and treat HCC. A variety of pathways are associated with the prevention and treatment of HCC with herbal products and their active components. Accumulating research shows that certain natural dietary compounds are possible source of hepatic cancer prevention and treatments, such as black currant, strawberries, plum, grapes, pomegranate, cruciferous crops, tomatoes, French beans, turmeric, garlic, ginger, asparagus, and many more. Such a dietary natural products and their active constituents may prevent the production and advancement of liver cancer in many ways such as guarding against liver carcinogens, improving the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic medications, inhibiting the growth, metastasis of tumor cells, reducing oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. The present review article represents hepatic carcinoma etiology, role of herbal products, their active constituents, and dietary natural products for the prevention and treatment of HCC along with their possible mechanisms of action.

Serum ERK1/2 proteins fluctuating with HBV infection report frequency of viral-specific CD8+ T cells and predict IFNα therapeutic effect in chronic hepatitis B patients

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a life-threatening disease caused by HBV infection. Our previous work proved that activation of ERK1/2 and STAT3 signaling was involved in HBV tolerance. We herein investigated clinical significances of serum ERK1/2 and STAT3 proteins in CHB. Results showed that ERK1/2 and STAT3 were fluctuated with natural history of CHB. In addition, STAT3 was found to be positively correlated to the elevation of ALT, AST and GGT, while ERK1 was negatively correlated to decreases of TP and ALB. Also, there was a positive correlation between the anti-HBc antibody and ERK1, ERK2 or STAT3 in HBeAg-negative patients. Strikingly, serum ERK1 and ERK2 could reflect level of HBsAg-specific CD8⁺ T cells. A model composed with baseline ERK1 and ERK2 levels had a high accuracy to predict the effect of IFNα treatment. In conclusion, serum ERK1, ERK2 and STAT3 could serve as novel biomarkers in chronic HBV infections.

The potential chemotherapeutic effect of β-ionone and/or sorafenib against hepatocellular carcinoma via its antioxidant effect, PPAR-γ, FOXO-1, Ki-67, Bax, and Bcl-2 signaling pathways

Proliferation and apoptosis are two primary driving forces behind the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is associated with Ki-67 and Bcl-2 overexpression, reduced Bax expression inducing disturbance of equilibrium between cellular proliferation and apoptosis, and exacerbated by reduced expression of PPAR-γ and FOXO-1. Our objective was to examine the mechanism by which the cyclic isoprenoid, β-ionone (βI), attenuated hepatocarcinogenesis and compare its possible anticancer activity with sorafenib (SF) as standard HCC treatment. HCC induction was achieved by supplying Wistar rats with 0.01% diethylnitrosamine (DENA) for 8 consecutive weeks by free access of drinking water. The effects of βI (160 mg/kg/day) administered orally were evaluated by biochemical, oxidative stress, macroscopical, and histopathological analysis. In addition, immunohistochemical assay for localization and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 and RT-PCR for expression levels of PPAR-γ, FOXO-1, and Ki-67 mRNA were performed. βI treatment significantly reduced the incidence, total number, and multiplicity of visible hepatocyte nodules, attenuated LPO, near-normal restoration of all cancer biomarkers, and antioxidant activities, indicating the chemotherapeutic impact of βI. Histopathological analysis of the liver confirmed that further. βI also induced pro-apoptotic protein Bax expression and reduced anti-apoptotic expression of Bcl-2 protein. Moreover, βI induced mRNA expression of tumor suppressor genes (PPAR-γ and FOXO-1) and decreased proliferative marker Ki-67 mRNA expression. For the first time, the present study provides evidence that βI exerts a major anticancer effect on DENA-induced HCC, at least in part, through inhibition of cell proliferation, oxidative stress, and apoptogenic signal induction mediated by downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax, PPAR-γ, and FOXO-1 expressions.

A Role of Gallic Acid in Oxidative Damage Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid of plant metabolites widely spread throughout the plant kingdom. It has characteristics of the strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, and can protect biological cells, tissues, and organs from damages caused by oxidative stress. This review aims to summarize the protective roles of gallic acid and the underlying pharmacological mechanisms in the pathophysiological process of the oxidative damage diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, degenerative, and metabolic diseases. The studies reviewed herein showed that the main therapeutic effects of gallic acid were attributed to its antioxidant properties. It modulated various signaling pathways through a wide range of inflammatory cytokines, and enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants. However, the available data were limited to few studies assessing the treatment effects of gallic acid in human subjects to confirm its therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, the clinical trials were urgently needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of gallic acid treatment on human beings. The scientific data summarized in this review highlighted the therapeutic potentials of gallic acid for oxidative damage diseases. It could be developed as versatile adjuvant or therapeutically lead compound in future.

Gallic Acid Triggers Iron-Dependent Cell Death with Apoptotic, Ferroptotic, and Necroptotic Features

Gallic acid (GA) is a natural anti-cancer compound that can be found in many food sources, including edible mushrooms, fruits, and vegetables. Studies generally attribute the anti-cancer activity of GA to the induction of apoptosis. Here, we reported that GA activated iron-dependent cell death mechanisms with apoptotic, ferroptotic, and necroptotic features. Our time-lapse live-cell microscopy study demonstrated that GA could induce coexistence of multiple types of cell death pathways, including apoptosis characterized by mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation, ferroptosis characterized by lipid peroxidation, and necroptosis characterized by the loss of plasma membrane integrity. This GA-induced cell death could be completely suppressed by exposure to an iron chelator deferoxamine, indicating that it is an iron-dependent cell death process. Importantly, MLKL (mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein) inhibitor necrosulfonamide exerted a synergistic effect by increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells to GA. Taken together, our results provide new mechanistic insights, and also suggest new strategies to enhance the efficacy of this natural anti-cancer compound by identifying the agents that can promote or suppress the GA-induced cell death process.

Inhibitory Effect of Nelumbo nucifera Leaf Extract on 2-Acetylaminofluorene-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis Through Enhancing Antioxidative Potential and Alleviating Inflammation in Rats

Leaf extract of Nelumbo nucifera (NLE) has been demonstrated to possess anti-atherosclerosis, improve alcohol-induced steatohepatitis, prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity, and inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of human breast cancer cells. This study determines the chemopreventive role of NLE against 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. AAF was used to induce hepatocarcinogenesis in rats through genetic and nongenetic effects. After administration for 12 weeks, NLE (0.5–2%) supplementation orally inhibited AAF (0.03%)-induced hepatic fibrosis which appears during the development of premalignant lesions in rats. After the 6-month experiment, NLE supplementation resulted in decreasing AAF-induced serum parameters of hepatic injury, including the level of triglycerides, total cholesterol, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and inflammatory mediator interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT). NLE supplementation also reduced AAF-induced lipid peroxidation and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) formation in the rat liver. Hepatic histopathological investigation revealed that NLE supplementation attenuated the AAF-induced HCC and glutathione S-transferase-Pi (GST-Pi) expression. Furthermore, NLE supplementation increased the expression of transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream targets, including catalase, glutathion peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) in the rat liver. Our findings indicate that NLE supplementation inhibited AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by enhancing antioxidative potential and alleviating inflammation in rats.

Improving Anti-Cancer Potentiality and Bioavailability of Gallic Acid by Designing Polymeric Nanocomposite Formulation

Objective:

In this study, we investigated the in vivo antitumor activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics of encapsulated GA-NC (gallic acid nanocomposite) in normal and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-induced rats.

Methods:

Rats were distributed into 4 groups; negative control, HCC, gallic acid (GA), and GA-NC. Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), endoglin (ENG), heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), pro-caspase 3, lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) and β-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were assayed by ELISA. The pharmacokinetic parameters for GA or GA-NC were determined by means of non-compartmental approach based on the serum– concentration profiles of free GA and GA-NC after oral administration. Also, histological procedures were used for examination of liver tissue sections.

Results:

Anaplastic changes in liver tissues were observed in untreated HCC group, as well as a significant increase in the serum AFP level. In addition, significant elevation in the serum ENG level as an angiogenic marker and the serum levels of the apoptotic mediators; HSP-70, Bcl-2 and pro-caspase 3 beside significant amplification in the serum inflammatory modulator, LCN-2 were recorded. Treatment with free GA or GA-NC markedly recovered the anaplastic changes in the rat liver tissues. In addition, they restored serum levels of AFP, ENG, HSP-70, Bcl-2, pro-caspase-3, and LCN-2. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that GA–NC displayed a characteristic sustained release profile with 4-fold increase in bioavailability in normal and HCC-induced rats.

Conclusions:

The results of this study suggest that encapsulation of GA into PLGA-CS-PEG enhances its oral bioavailability and anti-cancer activity. GA-NC may be a new therapeutic candidate for the mitigation of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Gallic acid improves cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in pressure overload-induced heart failure

Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid found in tea leaves and some plants. Here, we report the effect of gallic acid on cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in a mouse model of pressure overload-induced heart failure and in primary rat cardiac fibroblasts, and compare the effects of gallic acid with those of drugs used in clinics. Gallic acid reduces cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction, and fibrosis induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) stimuli in vivo and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in vitro. It decreases left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameter, and recovers the reduced fractional shortening in TAC. In addition, it suppresses the expression of atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, skeletal α-actin, and β-myosin heavy chain. Administration of gallic acid decreases perivascular fibrosis, as determined by Trichrome II Blue staining, and reduces the expression of collagen type I and connective tissue growth factor. However, administration of losartan, carvedilol, and furosemide does not reduce cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in TAC. Moreover, treatment with gallic acid inhibits fibrosis-related genes and deposition of collagen type I in TGF-β1-treated cardiac fibroblasts. These results suggest that gallic acid is a therapeutic agent for cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in chronic heart failure.

Transcriptome analysis reveals GA induced apoptosis in HCT116 human colon cancer cells through calcium and p53 signal pathways

Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenol widely found in numerous fruits and vegetables that has been reported to exert anticancer effects, including apoptosis, against cancer cell lines. However, little is known about the induction of apoptotic effects and the underlying mechanism. We used RNA-seq to examine differentially expressed genes in human colon cancer HCT116 cells after 12 h and 24 h exposure to GA. A total of 792 and 911 genes with known functions showed significantly different expression levels in 12 h and 24 h GA-treated HCT116 cells, respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the identified genes were involved in pathways such as cholinergic synapse, circadian entrainment, calcium signal processing and transport, arachidonic acid metabolism and the p53 signal pathway. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to validate the reliability of the results obtained by RNA-seq. The results of this study indicate that GA triggers apoptosis in HCT116 cells through obstructing the growth of cells in the early phase treatment by down-regulation of calcium channels and then up-regulation of the intrinsic p53 signal pathway through activation of apoptosis caspases, finally leading to the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenol widely found in plants that induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells through calcium and p53 signal pathways.

Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Natural Antioxidants from the Exotic Gordonia axillaris Fruit: Optimization and Identification of Phenolic Compounds

Our previous study reported that the fruit of Gordonia axillaris , an edible wild fruit, possessed strong antioxidant activity. In this study, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method was established to extract antioxidants from the fruit of Gordonia axillaris . The influence of five parameters, including ethanol concentration, solvent/material ratio, extraction time, extraction temperature and microwave power, was investigated by single-factor experiments. Three factors, namely ethanol concentration, solvent/material ratio, extraction time, were found to exert a major influence on extraction efficacy, and were further studied by response surface methodology to investigate their interactions. Ethanol concentration of 36.89%, solvent/material ratio of 29.56 mL/g, extraction time of 71.04 min, temperature of 40 °C, and microwave power of 400 W were found to be the optimal condition. The TEAC value was 198.16 ± 5.47 µmol Trolox/g DW under the optimal conditions, which was in conformity to the predicted value (200.28 µmol Trolox/g DW). In addition, the MAE method was compared with two conventional methods (Soxhlet extraction and maceration extraction). Results showed that the antioxidant capacity of the extract obtained by MAE method was stronger than that obtained by maceration (168.67 ± 3.88 µmol Trolox/g DW) or Soxhlet extraction (114.09 ± 2.01 µmol Trolox/g DW). Finally, several phenolic compounds in the extract were identified and quantified by UPLC-MS/MS, which were rutin, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, 2-hydrocinnamic acid, p -coumaric acid, quercetin, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid.