Optimization and in vitro antiproliferation of Curcuma wenyujin's active extracts by ultrasonication and response surface methodology

Investigation of bioactive chemical constituents and anti-cancer activity of ethanol extract of Curcuma singularis Gagnep rhizomes

Curcuma singularis Gagnep is a Vietnamese medicinal plant which has been commonly used in traditional and folk medicines for the treatment of different diseases. The goals of the present study are to investigate chemical composition and anti-proliferative activity of Curcuma singularis rhizome extract (CSE). The in vitro cytotoxicity of CSE was evaluated using WST-1 and LDH assays. The apoptosis induction was determined using nuclei DAPI staining and FACS assays. The main compounds of extract were identified and quantitatively analyzed using the validated HPLC method. The extract showed cytotoxic effects in various liver and breast cancer cells but had minimal effects on normal cells. It induced apoptosis on both Hep3B and SKBR3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, three sesquiterpene compounds, such as germacrone (3.25 ± 0.32 mg/g), ar-turmerone (1.12 ± 0.24 mg/g), and curcumol (0.31 ± 0.12 mg/g) were found as the main components of CSE. This is the first report on the in vitro cytotoxic effect of Curcuma singularis rhizomes against cancer cells.

Tenacissoside G synergistically potentiates inhibitory effects of 5-fluorouracil to human colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant tumors worldwide with poor prognosis and low survival rate. Since the clinical efficacy of the commonly used 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based chemotherapy in CRC patients is limited because of its intolerable adverse effects, there is an urgent need to explore agents that can enhance the anti-cancer activity of 5-FU, reduce adverse effects and prevent resistance.

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate Tenacissoside G (TG)'s synergistic potentiation with 5-FU in inhibitory activity to colorectal cancer cells.

METHODS

The anti-proliferation effect of TG on 5 colorectal cancer cell lines was assessed by CCK-8 assay. The isobologram analysis and combination index methods were used to detect the synergistic effect of TG and 5-FU by the CompuSyn software using the T.C. Chou Method. The effects of TG/5-FU combination on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction were detected by flow cytometry. DNA damage degrees of cells treated with TG, 5-FU and their combination were evaluated by the alkaline comet assay. Protein expression regulated by the TG/5-FU combination was investigated by western blotting. Furthermore, a xenograft mouse model was established to investigate the synergistic anti-tumor effect in vivo.

RESULTS

In this work, we observed a dose-dependent growth inhibitory activity and cell cycle arrest induction of TG, a monomeric substance originated from Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn, in colorectal cancer cells. It was found that TG potentiated the anticancer effects of 5-FU with a synergism for the first time. And the co-treatment effects were also validated by in vivo experiments. The underlying mechanisms involved in the synergistic effects were probably included: (1) increased activation of caspase cascade; (2) enhancement of DNA damage degree and (3) induction of p53 phosphorylation at Serine 46.

CONCLUSION

TG potentiated 5-FU's inhibitory activity to human colorectal cancer through arresting cell cycle progression and inducing p53-mediated apoptosis, which may present a novel strategy in CRC therapies and contribute to the optimizing clinical application of 5-FU.

Terpenoids from Curcumae Rhizoma: Their anticancer effects and clinical uses on combination and versus drug therapies

Cancer is a fatal disease with high mortality and low survival rate worldwide. At present, there is still no known cure for most cancers. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a noteworthy reservoir for anticancer agents in drug discovery and development. Curcumae Rhizoma (called Ezhu in Chinese) is widely prescribed in TCM for anticancer therapy owing to its broad-spectrum antineoplastic activities. Especially, the terpenoids isolated from the essential oil of Curcumae Rhizoma form an integral part of cancer research and are well established as a potential anticancer agent. For example, β-elemene has been developed into a new drug for the treatment of solid tumors in China, and is currently undergoing clinical trials in the United States. The review aims to systematically summarize the recent advances on the anticancer effects and related molecular mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma, and its terpenoids (β-elemene, Furanodiene, Furanodienone, Germacrone, Curcumol, Curdione). In addition, we evaluated and compared the anticancer efficacy and clinical use of the terpenoids with combination therapies and traditional therapies. Therefore, this review provides sufficient evidence for the anticancer therapeutic potential of Curcumae Rhizoma and its terpenoids, and will contribute to the development of potential anticancer drugs.

Cucurbituril and zwitterionic surfactant-based matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction to simultaneously determine terpenoids from Radix Curcumae

A rapid, efficient, and environmentally friendly matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction was established to determine and quantify terpenoids in Radix Curcumae using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector. Various parameters affecting the extraction were investigated in detail, such as the grinding time, amount of adsorbent, type and concentration of elution solvent, and pH. The optimization of single-factor and response surface methodology was performed to confirm the best conditions in this procedure. The final optimized conditions were obtained by applying 70 mg of cucurbituril as adsorbent, 149 s as the optimum grinding time, and 228 mM of 3-(N,N-dimethylpalmitylammonio)propanesulfonate aqueous solution (pH 6.5) as the optimal elution solvent. The validated method showed a satisfactory linear range of 0.10-10 µg/mL for curdione and furanodiene, 0.01-10 µg/mL for isocurcumenol and germacrone, and 0.05-10 µg/mL for furanodienone, while the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.9945 to 0.9970. The recoveries of the investigated analytes at two spiked concentration levels (0.1 and 1.0 µg/mL) ranged from 96.53 to 104.60%. In addition, this method displayed acceptable reproducibility (relative standard deviation ≤ 3.66%). The results showed that the newly proposed matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction method was successfully applied to analyze curdione, isocurcumenol, furanodienone, germacrone and furanodiene in Radix Curcumae samples.

Germacrone: A Potent Secondary Metabolite with Therapeutic Potential in Metabolic Diseases, Cancer and Viral Infections

Natural products, an infinite reserve of bioactive molecules, will continue to serve humans as an important source of therapeutic agents. Germacrone is a bioactive natural compound found in the traditional medicinal plants of family Zingiberaceae. This multifaceted chemical entity has become a point of focus during recent years due to its numerous pharmacological applications, e.g., anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-adipogenic, anti-androgenic, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and neuroprotective. Germacrone is an effective inducer of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in various cancers (breast, brain, liver, skin, prostate, gastric, and esophageal) via modulation of different cell signaling molecules and pathways involved in cancer proliferation. This is the first report highlighting the wide spectrum of pharmacological activities exhibited by germacrone. The reported data collected from various shreds of evidences recommend that this multifaceted compound could serve as a potential drug candidate in the near future.

Optimization Extraction of Shikonin Using Ultrasound-Assisted Response Surface Methodology and Antibacterial Studies

The objectives of this study were to develop and optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for shikonin from Arnebia euchroma using response surface methodology (RSM) and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of shikonin. The maximum yield of shikonin was 1.26% under the optimal extraction conditions (ultrasound power, 93 W; time, 87 min; temperature, 39°C; and liquid-solid ratio, 11 : 1). Shikonin showed inhibitory activity against standard strains and clinical isolates to varying extents (MICs ranging from 128 to 1024 μg/mL, MBCs ranging from 256 to 2048 μg/mL), and it was more effective for Gram-positive bacteria as indicated by lower MIC and MBC values. Time-kill curves revealed that antibacterial activity of shikonin exhibited a dose-response relationship. In summary, via this study, we identified ultrasound-assisted RSM as the optimal extraction method for shikonin, which is a potential material for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Microwave-assisted ionic liquid-based micelle extraction combined with trace-fluorinated carbon nanotubes in dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction to determine three sesquiterpenes in roots of Curcuma wenyujin

INTRODUCTION

Germacrone, furanodiene and β-elemene are the representative bioactive compounds in Curcuma species. The conventional extraction methods of these three sesquiterpenes are usually time-consuming and require a large volume of hazardous organic solvents. Thus, a fast and reliable method for extracting these sesquiterpenes from Curcuma plant is required urgently.

OBJECTIVE

To establish a novel and simple extraction method for quantitative analysis of small amounts of sesquiterpenes in C. wenyujin plant.

METHODOLOGY

A method using microwave-assisted ionic liquid-micelle extraction combined with dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction (DMSPE) has been proposed for the extraction of three sesquiterpenoids in Curcuma plant. Fluorinated carbon nanotubes (FCNTs) were used as an adsorbent in DMSPE for the first time. Parameters concerning the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) conditions and the DMSPE were investigated and evaluated to achieve optimum extraction efficiency of target analytes.

RESULTS

The final conditions of ionic liquid-micelle based MAE were selected to be 0.25 M of 1-decyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide as the extraction solvent, microwave irradiation for 10 min at 60°C. And the optimal DMSPE conditions were found to be 2 μg/mL of FCNTs as the adsorbent, extraction time of 2 min and 100 μL of acetonitrile as the elution solvent. The developed method exhibited good linearities (R > 0.9990), high repeatability and recoveries. The proposed method has been successfully applied in determination of sesquiterpenes in C. wenyujin samples.

CONCLUSION

The work shows a potential in analysing small amounts of sesquiterpenes in complex samples and represents the first attempt of using FCNTs as an adsorbent for the microextraction mode.

Modeling tool using neural networks for L(+)-lactic acid production by pellet-form Rhizopus oryzae NRRL 395 on biodiesel crude glycerol

Most chemical reactions produce unwanted by-products. In an effort to reduce environmental problems these by-products could be used to produce valuable organic chemicals. In biodiesel industry a huge amount of glycerol is generated, approximately 10% of the final product. The research group from University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca developed opportunities to produce l(+) lactic acid from the glycerol. The team is using the Rhizopus oryzae NRRL 395 bacteria for the fermentation of the glycerol. The purpose of the research is to improve the production of l(+) lactic acid in order to optimize the process. A predictive model obtained by neural networks is useful in this case. The main objective of the present work is to present the developed user-friendly application useful in modeling this fermentation process, in order to be used by people who are inexperienced with neural networks or specific software. Besides the interface for training of a new neural network in order to develop the model in some characteristic condition, the software also provides an interface for visualization of the results, useful in interpretation and as a tool for prediction.

Herbal formula YGJDSJ inhibits anchorage-independent growth and induces anoikis in hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells

Background

Based on clinical medications and related studies, we established a Yang-Gan Jie-Du Sang-Jie (YGJDSJ) herbal formula for hepatocarcinoma treatment. In present study, we evaluated the anti-cancer potential of YGJDSJ on suspension-grown human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells.

Methods

Bel-7402 cells were cultured in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly-HEMA) coated plates and treated with YGJDSJ. Anchorage-independent cell growth was detected by cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and soft agar colony formation assay. Anoikis was detected by ethdium homodimer-1 (EthD-1) staining and flow cytometry analysis. Caspases activities were detected by the cleavage of chromogenic substrate. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining. Protein expression and phosphorylation was identified by western blot. Protein expression was knocked-down by siRNA.

Results

YGJDSJ inhibited the proliferation of Bel-7402 cells in poly-HEMA coated plates and anchorage-independent growth of Bel-7402 cells in soft agar. YGJDSJ also induced anoikis in Bel-7402 cells as indicated by EthD-1 staining and flow cytometry analysis. YGJDSJ activated caspase-3, − 8, and − 9 in suspension-grown Bel-7402 cells. The pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK significantly abrogated the effects of YGJDSJ on anoikis in suspension-grown Bel-7402 cells. In addition, YGJDSJ increased ROS in suspension-grown Bel-7402 cells. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) partially attenuated YGJDSJ-induced activation of caspase-3, − 8 and − 9 and anoikis in suspension-grown Bel-7402 cells. Furthermore, YGJDSJ inhibited expression and phosphorylation of protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) in suspension-grown Bel-7402 cells. Over-expression of PTK2 significantly abrogated YGJDSJ induced anoikis.

Conclusions

YGJDSJ inhibits anchorage-independent growth and induce caspase-mediated anoikis in Bel-7402 cells, and may relate to ROS generation and PTK2 downregulation.

Furanodienone induces G0/G1 arrest and causes apoptosis via the ROS/MAPKs-mediated caspase-dependent pathway in human colorectal cancer cells: a study in vitro and in vivo

Furanodienone, a major bioactive constituents of sesquiterpene derived from Rhizoma Curcumae, has been proven to possess the potent anticancer efficacy on human breast cancer cells. Here, we investigated the cytotoxicity of furanodienone on human colorectal carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo, as well as its underlying molecular mechanisms in the induction of apoptosis. In this study, we found that furanodienone significantly inhibited proliferation of RKO and HT-29 cells, induced mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by collapse of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and reduction of ATP level, and promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that functions upstream of caspase-dependent apoptosis. The antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, a ROS scavenger, abolished this apoptosis induced by furanodienone. In addition, furanodienone elevated the expression of p-p38, p-JNK, but decreased p-ERK, as a result of the produced ROS. The specific inhibitors U0126, SP600125 and SB202190 attenuated the expression of MAPKs, and regulated the expression of cleaved caspase-8, -9 and -3. Furthermore, the potential inhibitory effect of furanodienone on CRC cells was also corroborated in mouse xenograft model. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that furanodienone-triggered ROS plays a pivotal role in apoptosis as an upstream molecule-modulating activity of caspases in mitochondrial pathway via stimulating MAPKs signaling pathway. Our finding may provide a novel candidate for development of antitumor drugs targeting on colorectal cancer.