1
|
Kour S, Biswas I, Sheoran S, Arora S, Singh A, Prabhu D, Pawar SC, Perugu S, Vuree S. Betulin: a novel triterpenoid anti-cancerous agent targeting cervical cancer through epigenetic proteins. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10930-9. [PMID: 39014147 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10930-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Worldwide, cervical cancer (CCa) is a major killer of women. As the conventional drugs used to treat cervical cancer are expensive and expose severe side effects, there is a growing demand to search for novel modifications. Therefore, in the current investigation employing a bioinformatic approach, we explored triterpenoids for their anti-cancer efficacy by targeting cervical cancer epigenetic proteins, namely DNMT3A, HDAC4, and KMT2C. The study utilized molecular docking, ADMET assay, Molecular Dynamic simulation, and DFT calculation to unveil Betulin (BE) as the potential lead compound. Comparative analysis with that standard drug indicated that BE has a better glide score with the target protein KM2TC (- 9.893 kcal/mol), HDAC4 (- 9.720 kcal/mol), and DNMT3A (- 7.811 kcal/mol), which depicts that BE could be a potent inhibitor of these three epigenetic proteins and exhibits favorable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics and toxicity properties. Molecular Dynamics simulation revealed noteworthy structural stability and compactness. DFT analysis revealed higher molecular activity of BE and showed the most increased kinetic stability (δE = 0.254647 eV). Further, we employed In vitro analysis through MTT assay and found that BE has IC50 of 15 µg/ml. In conclusion, BE can potentially treat CCa upon further investigations using in vivo models for better understanding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satbir Kour
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Indrani Biswas
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical Advanced Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed-to-Be University), Puducherry, India
| | - Sumit Sheoran
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Swati Arora
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Anjuvan Singh
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Dhamodharan Prabhu
- Centre for Drug Discovery, Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, 641021, India
| | - Smita C Pawar
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India
| | - Shyam Perugu
- Department of Biotechnology, NIT Warangal, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sugunakar Vuree
- Department of Biotechnology, Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology & Research, Vadlamudi, Guntur, 522213, India.
- Virchow Biotech Pvt Ltd, Manufacturing and R&D Facilities, Survey No.172 Part, Gagillapur, Hyderabad, 500 043, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jia S, Li L, Yu C, Peng F. Natural products' antiangiogenic roles in gynecological cancer. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1353056. [PMID: 38751791 PMCID: PMC11094279 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1353056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Gynecological cancers pose a significant threat to women's health. Although the pathogenesis of gynecological cancer remains incompletely understood, angiogenesis is widely acknowledged as a fundamental pathological mechanism driving tumor cell growth, invasion, and metastasis. Targeting angiogenesis through natural products has emerged as a crucial strategy for treating gynecological cancer. In this review, we conducted comprehensive searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Science Direct, and CNKI databases from the first publication until May 2023 to identify natural products that target angiogenesis in gynecologic tumors. Our findings revealed 63 natural products with anti-angiogenic activity against gynecological cancer. These results underscore the significance of these natural products in augmenting their anticancer effects by modulating other factors within the tumor microenvironment via their impact on angiogenesis. This article focuses on exploring the potential of natural products in targeting blood vessels within gynecological cancer to provide novel research perspectives for targeted vascular therapy while laying a solid theoretical foundation for new drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shangmei Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Chenghao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fu Peng
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Grudzińska M, Stachnik B, Galanty A, Sołtys A, Podolak I. Progress in Antimelanoma Research of Natural Triterpenoids and Their Derivatives: Mechanisms of Action, Bioavailability Enhancement and Structure Modifications. Molecules 2023; 28:7763. [PMID: 38067491 PMCID: PMC10707933 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer, characterized by early metastasis and rapid development. In search for effective treatment options, much attention is given to triterpenoids of plant origin, which are considered promising drug candidates due to their well described anticancer properties and relatively low toxicity. This paper comprehensively summarizes the antimelanoma potential of natural triterpenoids, that are also used as scaffolds for the development of more effective derivatives. These include betulin, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, celastrol and lupeol. Some lesser-known triterpenoids that deserve attention in this context are 22β-hydroxytingenone, cucurbitacins, geoditin A and ganoderic acids. Recently described mechanisms of action are presented, together with the results of preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as the use of drug delivery systems and pharmaceutical technologies to improve the bioavailability of triterpenoids. This paper also reviews the most promising structural modifications, based on structure-activity observations. In conclusion, triterpenoids of plant origin and some of their semi-synthetic derivatives exert significant cytotoxic, antiproliferative and chemopreventive effects that can be beneficial for melanoma treatment. Recent data indicate that their poor solubility in water, and thus low bioavailability, can be overcome by complexing with cyclodextrins, or the use of nanoparticles and ethosomes, thus making these compounds promising antimelanoma drug candidates for further development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Grudzińska
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
- Department of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Medical and Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Łazarza 16, 31-530 Kraków, Poland
| | - Bogna Stachnik
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
| | - Agnieszka Galanty
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
| | - Agnieszka Sołtys
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
| | - Irma Podolak
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rzepka Z, Bębenek E, Chrobak E, Wrześniok D. Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of Indole-Functionalized Derivatives of Betulin. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2372. [PMID: 36365190 PMCID: PMC9694481 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentacyclic triterpenes, including betulin, are widespread natural products with various pharmacological effects. These compounds are the starting material for the synthesis of substances with promising anticancer activity. The chemical modification of the betulin scaffold that was carried out as part of the research consisted of introducing the indole moiety at the C-28 position. The synthesized new 28-indole-betulin derivatives were evaluated for anticancer activity against seven human cancer lines (A549, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, DLD-1, HT-29, A375, and C32). It was observed that MCF-7 breast cancer cells were most sensitive to the action of the 28-indole-betulin derivatives. The study shows that the lup-20(29)-ene-3-ol-28-yl 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)acetate caused the MCF-7 cells to arrest in the G1 phase, preventing the cells from entering the S phase. The performed cytometric analysis of DNA fragmentation indicates that the mechanism of EB355A action on the MCF-7 cell line is related to the induction of apoptosis. An in silico ADMET profile analysis of EB355A and EB365 showed that both compounds are bioactive molecules characterized by good intestinal absorption. In addition, the in silico studies indicate that the 28-indole-betulin derivatives are substances of relatively low toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna Rzepka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 4 Jagiellońska Str., 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Ewa Bębenek
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 4 Jagiellońska Str., 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Elwira Chrobak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 4 Jagiellońska Str., 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Dorota Wrześniok
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 4 Jagiellońska Str., 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gyrdymova YV, Rodygin KS. Vinylation of Betulin with Calcium Carbide. DOKLADY CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0012500822700124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
|
6
|
Hordyjewska A, Prendecka-Wróbel M, Kurach Ł, Horecka A, Olszewska A, Pigoń-Zając D, Małecka-Massalska T, Kurzepa J. Antiproliferative Properties of Triterpenoids by ECIS Method—A New Promising Approach in Anticancer Studies? Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27103150. [PMID: 35630627 PMCID: PMC9146930 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Electric cell–substrate impedance sensing is an advanced in vitro impedance measuring system which uses alternating current to determine behavior of cells in physiological conditions. In this study, we used the abovementioned method for checking the anticancer activities of betulin and betulinic acid, which are some of the most commonly found triterpenes in nature. In our experiment, the threshold concentrations of betulin required to elicit antiproliferative effects, verified by MTT and LDH release methods, were 7.8 µM for breast cancer (T47D), 9.5 µM for lung carcinoma (A549), and 21.3 µM for normal epithelial cells (Vero). The ECIS results revealed the great potential of betulin and betulinic acid’s antitumor properties and their maintenance of cytotoxic substances to the breast cancer T47D line. Moreover, both substances showed a negligible toxic effect on healthy epithelial cells (Vero). Our investigation showed that the ECIS method is a proper alternative to the currently used assay for testing in vitro anticancer activity of compounds, and that it should thus be introduced in cellular routine research. It is also a valuable tool for live-monitoring changes in the morphology and physiology of cells, which translates into the accurate development of anticancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Hordyjewska
- Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (A.H.); (A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Monika Prendecka-Wróbel
- Chair and Department of Human Physiology, Medical University of Lublin, 11 Radziwiłłowska Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.P.-W.); (A.O.); (D.P.-Z.); (T.M.-M.)
| | - Łukasz Kurach
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-814486196
| | - Anna Horecka
- Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (A.H.); (A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Anna Olszewska
- Chair and Department of Human Physiology, Medical University of Lublin, 11 Radziwiłłowska Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.P.-W.); (A.O.); (D.P.-Z.); (T.M.-M.)
| | - Dominika Pigoń-Zając
- Chair and Department of Human Physiology, Medical University of Lublin, 11 Radziwiłłowska Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.P.-W.); (A.O.); (D.P.-Z.); (T.M.-M.)
| | - Teresa Małecka-Massalska
- Chair and Department of Human Physiology, Medical University of Lublin, 11 Radziwiłłowska Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.P.-W.); (A.O.); (D.P.-Z.); (T.M.-M.)
| | - Jacek Kurzepa
- Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (A.H.); (A.H.); (J.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ogasawara M, Yamasaki-Yashiki S, Hamada M, Yamaguchi-Miyamoto T, Kawasuji T, Honda H, Yanagibashi T, Ikutani M, Watanabe Y, Fujimoto R, Matsunaga T, Nakajima N, Nagai Y, Takatsu K. Betulin Attenuates TGF-β1- and PGE 2-Mediated Inhibition of NK Cell Activity to Suppress Tumor Progression and Metastasis in Mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2022; 45:339-353. [PMID: 35228400 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b21-00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are humoral factors critically involved in the induction of immunosuppression in the microenvironment of various types of tumors, including melanoma. In this study, we identified a natural compound that attenuated TGF-β1- and PGE2-induced immunosuppression and examined its effect on B16 melanoma growth in mice. By screening 502 natural compounds for attenuating activity against TGF-β1- or PGE2-induced suppression of cytolysis in poly(I:C)-stimulated murine splenocytes, we found that betulin was the most potent compound. Betulin also reduced TGF-β1- and PGE2-induced downregulation of perforin and granzyme B mRNA expression and cell surface expression of NKG2D and CD69 in natural killer (NK) cells. Cell depletion and coculture experiments showed that NK cells, dendritic cells, B cells, and T cells were necessary for the attenuating effects of betulin. Structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that two hydroxyl groups at positions C3 and C28 of betulin, their cis-configuration, and methyl group at C30 played crucial roles in its attenuating activity. In a subcutaneous implantation model of B16 melanoma in mice, intratumor administration of betulin and LY2157299, a TGF-β1 type I receptor kinase inhibitor, significantly retarded the growth of B16 melanoma. Notably, betulin increased significantly the number of CD69 positive NK cells in tumor sites at early stages of post-tumor cell injection. Our data suggest that betulin inhibits the growth of B16 melanoma by enhancing NK cell activity through attenuating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Ogasawara
- Toyama Prefectural Institute for Pharmaceutical Research.,Department of Immunobiology and Pharmacological Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for Research, University of Toyama
| | | | - Masahiro Hamada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University
| | | | - Toru Kawasuji
- Toyama Prefectural Institute for Pharmaceutical Research
| | - Hiroe Honda
- Toyama Prefectural Institute for Pharmaceutical Research.,Department of Immunobiology and Pharmacological Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for Research, University of Toyama
| | - Tsutomu Yanagibashi
- Toyama Prefectural Institute for Pharmaceutical Research.,Department of Immunobiology and Pharmacological Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for Research, University of Toyama
| | - Masashi Ikutani
- Department of Immunobiology and Pharmacological Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for Research, University of Toyama.,Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University.,Department of Immune Regulation, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
| | - Yasuharu Watanabe
- Toyama Prefectural Institute for Pharmaceutical Research.,Department of Immunobiology and Pharmacological Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for Research, University of Toyama
| | - Ryota Fujimoto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University
| | | | - Noriyuki Nakajima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University
| | - Yoshinori Nagai
- Department of Immunobiology and Pharmacological Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for Research, University of Toyama.,Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University
| | - Kiyoshi Takatsu
- Toyama Prefectural Institute for Pharmaceutical Research.,Department of Immunobiology and Pharmacological Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science for Research, University of Toyama
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tuli HS, Sak K, Gupta DS, Kaur G, Aggarwal D, Chaturvedi Parashar N, Choudhary R, Yerer MB, Kaur J, Kumar M, Garg VK, Sethi G. Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Birch Bark-Derived Betulin: Recent Developments. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10122663. [PMID: 34961132 PMCID: PMC8705846 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Birch tree bark-derived betulin has attracted scientific interest already for several centuries, being one of the first natural products identified from plants. However, the cellular events regulated by betulin and precise molecular mechanisms under these processes have been begun to be understood only recently. Today, we know that betulin can exert important anticancer activities through modulation of diverse cellular pathways. In this review article, betulin-regulated molecular signaling is unraveled and presented with a special focus on its participation in anti-inflammatory processes, especially by modulating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), prostaglandin/COX, and nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated cascades. By regulating these diverse pathways, betulin can not only affect the development and progression of different cancers, but also enhance the antitumor action of traditional therapeutic modalities. It is expected that by overcoming the low bioavailability of betulin by encapsulating it into nanocarriers, this promising natural compound may provide novel possibilities for targeting inflammation-related cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
- Correspondence: (H.S.T.); (G.S.)
| | | | - Dhruv Sanjay Gupta
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai 40056, Maharashtra, India; (D.S.G.); (G.K.)
| | - Ginpreet Kaur
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai 40056, Maharashtra, India; (D.S.G.); (G.K.)
| | - Diwakar Aggarwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Nidarshana Chaturvedi Parashar
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Renuka Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, Haryana, India; (D.A.); (N.C.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Mukerrem Betul Yerer
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, Turkey;
| | - Jagjit Kaur
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia;
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Sadopur 134007, Haryana, India;
| | - Vivek Kumar Garg
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, University Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India;
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore
- Correspondence: (H.S.T.); (G.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Król SK, Bębenek E, Dmoszyńska-Graniczka M, Sławińska-Brych A, Boryczka S, Stepulak A. Acetylenic Synthetic Betulin Derivatives Inhibit Akt and Erk Kinases Activity, Trigger Apoptosis and Suppress Proliferation of Neuroblastoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12299. [PMID: 34830180 PMCID: PMC8624615 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumors, still represent an important clinical challenge since no effective treatment is available for metastatic and recurrent disease. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of new chemotherapeutics to improve the outcome of patients. Betulin (Bet), a triterpenoid from the bark of birches, demonstrated interesting anti-cancer potential. The modification of natural phytochemicals with evidenced anti-tumor activity, including Bet, is one of the methods of receiving new compounds for potential implementation in oncological treatment. Here, we showed that two acetylenic synthetic Bet derivatives (ASBDs), EB5 and EB25/1, reduced the viability and proliferation of SK-N-AS and TE671 cells, as measured by MTT and BrdU tests, respectively. Moreover, ASBDs were also more cytotoxic than temozolomide (TMZ) and cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum [II], CDDP) in vitro, and the combination of EB5 with CDDP enhanced anti-cancer effects. We also showed the slowdown of cell cycle progression at S/G2 phases mediated by EB5 using FACS flow cytometry. The decreased viability and proliferation of pediatric cancers cells after treatment with ASBDs was linked to the reduced activity of kinases Akt, Erk1/2 and p38 and the induction of apoptosis, as investigated using Western blotting and FACS. In addition, in silico analyses of the ADMET profile found EB5 to be a promising anti-cancer drug candidate that would benefit from further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia K. Król
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.D.-G.); (A.S.)
| | - Ewa Bębenek
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; (E.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Magdalena Dmoszyńska-Graniczka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.D.-G.); (A.S.)
| | - Adrianna Sławińska-Brych
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Stanisław Boryczka
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; (E.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Andrzej Stepulak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.D.-G.); (A.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Design and Synthesis of Novel Betulin Derivatives Containing Thio-/Semicarbazone Moieties as Apoptotic Inducers through Mitochindria-Related Pathways. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26216356. [PMID: 34770765 PMCID: PMC8587101 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Two new series of betulin derivatives with semicarbazone (7a-g) or thiosemicarbazone (8a-g) groups at the C-28 position were synthesized. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicities in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7), human lung carcinoma cells (A549), human colorectal cells (HCT-116) and normal human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1). Among these compounds, 8f displayed the most potent cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 5.86 ± 0.61 μM against MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the preliminary mechanism studies in MCF-7 cells showed that compound 8f could trigger the intracellular mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway by losing MMP level, which was related with the upregulation of Bax, P53 and cytochrome c expression; the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression; activation of the expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9; and an increase in the amounts of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These results indicated that compound 8f may be used as a valuable skeleton structure for developing novel antitumor agents.
Collapse
|
11
|
Jamshidi-adegani F, Vakilian S, Rehman NU, Al-Broumi M, Al-kindi J, Alam K, Mozafarinahavandi P, Hasan A, Al-Riyami H, Hussain J, White S, Al-Harrasi A, Al-Hashmi S. Secondary metabolites from acridocarpus orientalis inhibits 4T1 cells and promotes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proliferation. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:5421-5430. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05632-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
12
|
Balhamar SOMS, Panicker NG, Akhlaq S, Qureshi MM, Ahmad W, Rehman NU, Ali L, Al-Harrasi A, Hussain J, Mustafa F. Differential Cytotoxic Potential of Acridocarpus orientalis Leaf and Stem Extracts with the Ability to Induce Multiple Cell Death Pathways. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24213976. [PMID: 31684146 PMCID: PMC6864630 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24213976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study systematically analyzed the anticancer potential of Acridocarpus orientalis (AO), a traditional medicinal plant of the Arabian Peninsula/East Africa known for its anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties. Tests of serial organic fractions from methanolic extracts of its leaves and stems revealed that only some fractions showed anti-proliferative potential with the dichloromethane fraction from leaves (AOD (L)) showing the most cytotoxic effect against both breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. The n-butanol fraction from the stems (AOB (S)), on the other hand, was more effective against cervical cancer cells and did not harm the normal cells. Further characterization of the mode of cell killing revealed that AOD (L) depended more on non-apoptotic pathways for its cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells, while it could activate some apoptosis and necroptosis in HeLa cells. The AOB (S) fraction could primarily activate apoptosis and some necroptosis in HeLa cells. Both fractions perturbed autophagy, but in a dissimilar manner. Thus, different parts of A. orientalis revealed variable potential to induce cell death in cancer cells via apoptotic and non-apoptotic pathways, making A. orientalis a valuable plant for the exploration of anticancer bioactive reagents, some of which may be protective for normal cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Neena Gopinathan Panicker
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 17666, UAE.
| | - Shaima Akhlaq
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 17666, UAE.
| | - Mohammed Mansoor Qureshi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 17666, UAE.
| | - Waqar Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 17666, UAE.
| | - Najeeb Ur Rehman
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman, Nizwa, Oman.
| | - Liaqat Ali
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman, Nizwa, Oman.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sub-Campus Mianwali, Punjab 42200, Pakistan.
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman, Nizwa, Oman.
| | - Javid Hussain
- Department of Biological Sciences & Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 17666, UAE.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tubek B, Mituła P, Niezgoda N, Kempińska K, Wietrzyk J, Wawrzeńczyk C. Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of New Betulin and Betulinic Acid Esters with Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). Nat Prod Commun 2013. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x1300800405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of new ester derivatives of betulin (3a-c) and betulinic acid (4) with conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA; in a mixture of 43.4% 9c, 11t; 49.5% 10 t, 12 c; 7.1% other isomers) is presented. Esterification was carried out with N,N’-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as the coupling agent in the presence of 4-dimethylamino-pyridine (DMAP) in dichloromethane (or pyridine). The in vitro cytotoxic effect of betulin (1), betulinic acid (2), a mixture of CLA isomers and their derivatives (3a-c, 4) was examined using the MTT assay against four cancer cell lines (P388, CEM/C2, CCRF/CEM and HL-60) and the SRB assay on the HT-29 cell line. Ester 4 was the most active among the esters synthesized against the CEM/C2 cell line with an ID50 value 16.9 ± 6.5 μg/mL. Betulin (1), betulinic acid (2) and CLA were the most active agents against the cancer cell lines studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Tubek
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paweł Mituła
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Natalia Niezgoda
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kempińska
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolf Weigl Str.12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Joanna Wietrzyk
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolf Weigl Str.12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Czesław Wawrzeńczyk
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
| |
Collapse
|