Apoptotic potential of sesquiterpene lactone ergolide through the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway

Sesquiterpene lactones as emerging biomolecules to cease cancer by targeting apoptosis

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death comprising two signaling cascades including the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. This process has been shown to be involved in the therapy response of different cancer types, making it an effective target for treating cancer. Cancer has been considered a challenging issue in global health. Cancer cells possess six biological characteristics during their developmental process known as cancer hallmarks. Hallmarks of cancer include continuous growth signals, unlimited proliferation, resistance to proliferation inhibitors, apoptosis escaping, active angiogenesis, and metastasis. Sesquiterpene lactones are one of the large and diverse groups of planet-derived phytochemicals that can be used as sources for a variety of drugs. Some sesquiterpene lactones possess many biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-malarial, anticancer, anti-diabetic, and analgesic. This review article briefly overviews the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis and the interactions between the modulators of both pathways. Also, the present review summarizes the potential effects of sesquiterpene lactones on different modulators of the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell lines and animal models. The main purpose of the present review is to give a clear picture of the current knowledge about the pro-apoptotic effects of sesquiterpene lactones on various cancers to provide future direction in cancer therapeutics.

The protective effect of Ergolide in osteoarthritis: In vitro and in vivo studies

Osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent degenerative condition, occurs due to the deterioration of joint tissues and cells. Consequently, safeguarding chondrocytes against damage caused by inflammation is an area of future research emphasis. There is growing evidence that Ergolide (ERG) has multiple biological functions. Nevertheless, it is still uncertain whether it can hinder the advancement of OA. In this study, we investigate the ERG's potential to reduce inflammation and protect cartilage. ERG treatment in vitro effectively inhibited the excessive production of pro-inflammatory substances, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), leading to their complete suppression. Furthermore, ERG suppressed the production of matrix-degrading enzymes (ADAMTS-5) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13), consequently impeding the breakdown of extracellular matrix (ECM) and restraining the synthesis of collagenase II and Aggrecan. Through the P38/MAPK pathway, we discovered that ERG hinders the activation of NF-κB in chondrocytes induced by IL-1β. The protective effect of ERG was enhanced by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. In vivo, ERG further demonstrated protective effects on cartilage in animal models of DMM. In conclusion, the study has discovered that ERG exhibits innovative therapeutic potential in the context of OA.

Research progress on antitumor mechanisms and molecular targets of Inula sesquiterpene lactones

The pharmacological effects of natural product therapy have received sigificant attention, among which terpenoids such as sesquiterpene lactones stand out due to their biological activity and pharmacological potential as anti-tumor drugs. Inula sesquiterpene lactones are a kind of sesquiterpene lactones extracted from Inula species. They have many pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammation, anti-asthma, anti-tumor, neuroprotective and anti-allergic. In recent years, more and more studies have proved that they are important candidate drugs for the treatment of a variety of cancers because of its good anti-tumor activity. In this paper, the structure, structure-activity relationship, antitumor activities, mechanisms and targets of Inula sesquiterpene lactones reported in recent years were reviewed in order to provide clues for the development of novel anticancer drugs.

Fermentation of Inula britannica using Lactobacillus plantarum SY12 increases of epigallocatechin gallate and attenuates toxicity

This study aimed to increase epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) levels and attenuate the toxicity in Inulabritannica by fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum SY12. The optimal medium was composed of 10 g of I. britannica, 4 g of xylose, 5 g of soytone, and 5 g of beef extract. The predicted value of EGCG was 237.327 μg/mL. To investigate damage in HepG2 cell lines by I. britannica extracts (IE) or fermented I. britannica extracts (FIE), cell viability, mitochondria membrane potential, the expression of apoptosis and autophagy genes, and chemical composition were measured. FIE increased cell viability, regulation of the gene expression (decreased p53, p62, p-ERK 1/2, and p-p38; increased CDK2 and CDK4) compared with IE. These results were explained by an increase in 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid and a decrease in 1-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone, and ergolide in FIE. In conclusion, these results indicated that fermentation can mitigate the toxicity in I. britannica.

Ergolide mediates anti-cancer effects on metastatic uveal melanoma cells and modulates their cellular and extracellular vesicle proteomes

Background

Uveal melanoma is a poor prognosis cancer. Ergolide, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Inula Brittanica, exerts anti-cancer properties. The objective of this study was to 1) evaluate whether ergolide reduced metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) cell survival/viability in vitro and in vivo; and 2) to understand the molecular mechanism of ergolide action.

Methods

Ergolide bioactivity was screened via long-term proliferation assay in UM/MUM cells and in zebrafish MUM xenograft models. Mass spectrometry profiled proteins modulated by ergolide within whole cell or extracellular vesicle (EVs) lysates of the OMM2.5 MUM cell line. Protein expression was analyzed by immunoblots and correlation analyses to UM patient survival used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data.

Results

Ergolide treatment resulted in significant, dose-dependent reductions (48.5 to 99.9%; p<0.0001) in OMM2.5 cell survival in vitro and of normalized primary zebrafish xenograft fluorescence (56%; p<0.0001) in vivo, compared to vehicle controls. Proteome-profiling of ergolide-treated OMM2.5 cells, identified 5023 proteins, with 52 and 55 proteins significantly altered at 4 and 24 hours, respectively ( p<0.05; fold-change >1.2). Immunoblotting of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) corroborated the proteomic data. Additional proteomics of EVs isolated from OMM2.5 cells treated with ergolide, detected 2931 proteins. There was a large overlap with EV proteins annotated within the Vesiclepedia compendium. Within the differentially expressed proteins, the proteasomal pathway was primarily altered. Interestingly, BRCA2 and CDKN1A Interacting Protein (BCCIP) and Chitinase Domain Containing 1 (CHID1), were the only proteins significantly differentially expressed by ergolide in both the OMM2.5 cellular and EV isolates and they displayed inverse differential expression in the cells versus the EVs.

Conclusions

Ergolide is a novel, promising anti-proliferative agent for UM/MUM. Proteomic profiling of OMM2.5 cellular/EV lysates identified candidate pathways elucidating the action of ergolide and putative biomarkers of UM, that require further examination.

Ergolide mediates anti-cancer effects on metastatic uveal melanoma cells and modulates their cellular and extracellular vesicle proteomes

BACKGROUND

Uveal melanoma is a poor prognosis cancer. Ergolide, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Inula Brittanica, exerts anti-cancer properties. The objective of this study was to 1) evaluate whether ergolide reduced metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) cell survival/viability in vitro and in vivo; and 2) to understand the molecular mechanism of ergolide action.

METHODS

Ergolide bioactivity was screened via long-term proliferation assay in UM/MUM cells and in zebrafish MUM xenograft models. Mass spectrometry profiled proteins modulated by ergolide within whole cell or extracellular vesicle (EVs) lysates of the OMM2.5 MUM cell line. Protein expression was analyzed by immunoblots and correlation analyses to UM patient survival used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data.

RESULTS

Ergolide treatment resulted in significant, dose-dependent reductions (48.5 to 99.9%; p<0.0001) in OMM2.5 cell survival in vitro and of normalized primary zebrafish xenograft fluorescence (56%; p<0.0001) in vivo, compared to vehicle controls. Proteome-profiling of ergolide-treated OMM2.5 cells, identified 5023 proteins, with 52 and 55 proteins significantly altered at 4 and 24 hours, respectively ( p<0.05; fold-change >1.2). Immunoblotting of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) corroborated the proteomic data. Additional proteomics of EVs isolated from OMM2.5 cells treated with ergolide, detected 2931 proteins. There was a large overlap with EV proteins annotated within the Vesiclepedia compendium. Within the differentially expressed proteins, the proteasomal pathway was primarily altered. Interestingly, BRCA2 and CDKN1A Interacting Protein (BCCIP) and Chitinase Domain Containing 1 (CHID1), were the only proteins significantly differentially expressed by ergolide in both the OMM2.5 cellular and EV isolates and they displayed inverse differential expression in the cells versus the EVs.

CONCLUSIONS

Ergolide is a novel, promising anti-proliferative agent for UM/MUM. Proteomic profiling of OMM2.5 cellular/EV lysates identified candidate pathways elucidating the action of ergolide and putative biomarkers of UM, that require further examination.

Ergolide covalently binds NLRP3 and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis

BACKGROUND

NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis plays a key role in various acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Targeted inhibition of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis may be a potential therapeutic strategy for various inflammatory diseases. Ergolide (ERG) is a sesquiterpene lactone natural product derived from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Inula britannica. ERG has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities, but the target is remains unknown.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

This study performed an in-depth investigation of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ERG in NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and NLPR3 inflammasome related sepsis and acute lung injury model.

METHODS

ELISA and Western blot were used to determine the IL-1β and P20 levels. Co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to detect the interaction between proteins. Drug affinity response target stability (DARTS) assays were used to explore the potential target of ERG. C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with E. coli DH5α (2 × 10⁹ CFU/mouse) to establish a sepsis model. Acute lung injury was induced by intratracheal administrationof lipopolysaccharide in wild-type mice and NLRP3 knockout mice with or without ERG treatment.

RESULTS

We showed that ERG is an efficient inhibitor of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in the first and second signals of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ERG irreversibly bound to the NACHT domain of NLRP3 to prevent the assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. ERG remarkably improved the survival rate of wild-type septic mice. In lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury model, ERG alleviated acute lung injury of wild-type mice but not NLRP3 knockout mice.

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed that the anti-pyroptosis effect of ERG are dependent on NLRP3 and NLRP3 NACHT domain is ERG's direct target. Therefore, ERG can serve as a precursor drug for the development of novel NLRP3 inhibitors to treat NLRP3 inflammasome mediated inflammatory diseases.

Anticancer Targets and Signaling Pathways Activated by Britannin and Related Pseudoguaianolide Sesquiterpene Lactones

Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are abundant in plants and display a large spectrum of bioactivities. The compound britannin (BRT), found in different Inula species, is a pseudoguaianolide-type SL equipped with a typical and highly reactive α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety. The bioproperties of BRT and related pseudoguaianolide SLs, including helenalin, gaillardin, bigelovin and others, have been reviewed. Marked anticancer activities of BRT have been evidenced in vitro and in vivo with different tumor models. Three main mechanisms are implicated: (i) interference with the NFκB/ROS pathway, a mechanism common to many other SL monomers and dimers; (ii) blockade of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, with a covalent binding to a cysteine residue of Keap1 via the reactive α-methylene unit of BRT; (iii) a modulation of the c-Myc/HIF-1α signaling axis leading to a downregulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The non-specific reactivity of the α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety with the sulfhydryl groups of proteins is discussed. Options to reduce or abolish this reactivity have been proposed. Emphasis is placed on the capacity of BRT to modulate the tumor microenvironment and the immune-modulatory action of the natural product. The present review recapitulates the anticancer effects of BRT, some central concerns with SLs and discusses the implication of the PD1/PD-L1 checkpoint in its antitumor action.

Ergolide, a potent sesquiterpene lactone induces cell cycle arrest along with ROS-dependent apoptosis and potentiates vincristine cytotoxicity in ALL cell lines

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Inula oculus christi belongs to the family of Asteraceae and it was traditionally wide used in treatment of kidney stones and urethra infection; besides, recently the potent sesquiterpene lactones isolated from inula species has gained increasing attention in cancer treatments. This study investigates the anti-cancer properties and underlying mechanism of ergolide isolated from Inula oculus christi against leukemic cell lines.

METHODS

Viability, metabolic activity and proliferation evaluated using different index of MTT assay such as IC₅₀ and GI₅₀. Human erythrocytes were used to evaluate hemolytic activity. Flow-cytometry was used to detect and measure ROS level, and the induction of apoptosis and autophagy were evaluated using Annexin V/PI, Acridine Orange staining, respectively. Moreover, qRT-PCR was performed to examine the expression of a large cohort of crucial regulatory genes. Tunel assay was also carried out to assess morphologically ergolide effects.

RESULTS

Ergolide did not exert ant cytotoxicity against non-tumorous cells and did not cause noticeable hemolysis. It also caused ROS production during early hours after treatment of cells which was then followed by cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and autophagy induction. Using N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), we found that ergolide could not increase ROS and induce autophagy and moreover repressed cell death, indicating that ergolide induce cell death through ROS-dependent manner by altering the expression of pro apoptotic related genes. Autophagy inhibition also potentiated ergolide-induced cell death. Furthermore, ergolide intensified vincristine cytotoxicity against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines revealed robust synergistic properties of ergolide with VCR.

CONCLUSION

Here we showed that ergolide could be considered as a potent natural compound against leukemic cells by inducing cell cycle arrest followed by dose-dependent cell death. Based on results, Autophagy response in a result of ROS accumulation acted as a survival pathway and blocking this pathway could noticeably increase ergolide cytotoxicity on ALL cell lines.

Inula britannica fermented with probiotic Weissella cibaria D30 exhibited anti-inflammatory effect and increased viability in RAW 264.7 cells

The objective of this study was to increase the bioavailability of Inula britannica (IB) through fermentation with probiotic Weissella cibaria D30, and to evaluate the chemical composition, viability, and anti-inflammatory effect of fermented I. britannica (FIB). IB was fermented with W. cibaria D30 at 37 °C for 24 h. FIB increased total phenolic content and decreased total flavonoid content of IB. 1-O-acetylbritannilactone and ergolide production, which are associated with the viability, increased from 1.38 to 4.13 μg/mg, and decreased from 5.24 to 0.94 μg/mg, in the control and FIB, respectively. In addition, the cell viability of RAW264.7 cells increased when pretreated with 400 μg/mL FIB. FIB inhibited the production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPKs pathways. Therefore, FIB with W. cibaria D30 reduced the toxicity and increased the anti-inflammatory properties. These results indicate that FIB is a potential beneficial bioactive agent for functional foods.

Cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from the aerial parts of Inula aucheriana

Inula aucheriana DC is a member of the family Asteraceae which is known to produce cytotoxic secondary metabolites noted as sesquiterpene lactones. In the present study, sesquiterpene lactones inuchinenolide B, 6-deoxychamissonolide (stevin) and 14-acetoxy-1β,5α,7αH-4β-hydroxy-guai-9(10),11(13)-dien-12,8α-olide were isolated from I. aucheriana. Inuchinenolide B and 14-acetoxy-1β,5α,7αH-4β-hydroxy-guai-9(10),11(13)-dien-12,8α-olide were further evaluated by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay to demonstrate cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of (56.6, 19.0), (39.0, 11.8), and (55.7, 15.3) μg/mL against HepG-2, MCF-7 and A-549 cells, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the two evaluated sesquiterpene lactones partly explains the cytotoxic activity that was previously observed for the extracts of Inula aucheriana. The isolated compounds could be further investigated in cancer research studies.

The genus Inula and their metabolites: from ethnopharmacological to medicinal uses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Inula comprises more than one hundred species widespread in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Uses of this genus as herbal medicines have been first recorded by the Greek and Roman ancient physicians. In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, from the 20 Inula spp. distributed in China, three are used as Traditional Chinese medicines, named Tumuxiang, Xuanfuhua and Jinfeicao. These medicines are used as expectorants, antitussives, diaphoretics, antiemetics, and bactericides. Moreover, Inula helenium L. which is mentioned in Minoan, Mycenaean, Egyptian/Assyrian pharmacotherapy and Chilandar Medical Codex, is good to treat neoplasm, wound, freckles and dandruff. Many other Inula spp. are used in Ayurvedic and Tibetan traditional medicinal systems for the treatment of diseases such as bronchitis, diabetes, fever, hypertension and several types of inflammation. This review is a critical evaluation of the published data on the more relevant ethnopharmacological and medicinal uses of Inula spp. and on their metabolites biological activities. This study allows the identification of the ethnopharmacological knowledge of this genus and will provide insight into the emerging pharmacological applications of Inula spp. facilitating the prioritirization of future investigations. The corroboration of the ethnopharmacological applications described in the literature with proved biological activities of Inula spp. secondary metabolites will also be explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The major scientific databases including ScienceDirect, Medline, Scopus and Web of Science were queried for information on the genus Inula using various keyword combinations, more than 180 papers and patents related to the genus Inula were consulted. The International Plant Name Index was also used to confirm the species names.

RESULTS

Although the benefits of Inula spp. are known for centuries, there are insufficient scientific studies to certify it. Most of the patents are registered by Chinese researchers, proving the traditional use of these plants in their country. Although a total of sixteen Inula species were reported in the literature to have ethnopharmacological applications, the species Inula cappa (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) DC., Inula racemosa Hook.f., Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton [actually the accepted name is Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter], Inula helenium, Inula britannica L. and Inula japonica Thunb. are the most frequently cited ones since their ethnopharmacological applications are vast. They are used to treat a large spectrum of disorders, mainly respiratory, digestive, inflammatory, dermatological, cancer and microbial diseases. Fifteen Inula spp. crude extracts were investigated and showed interesting biological activities. From these, only 7 involved extracts of the reported spp. used in traditional medicine and 6 of these were studied to isolate the bioactive compounds. Furthermore, 90 bioactive compounds were isolated from 16 Inula spp. The characteristic compounds of the genus, sesquiterpene lactones, are involved in a network of biological effects, and in consequence, the majority of the experimental studies are focused on these products, especially on their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. The review shows the chemical composition of the genus Inula and presents the pharmacological effects proved by in vitro and in vivo experiments, namely the cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory (with focus on nitric oxide, arachidonic acid and NF-κB pathways), antimicrobial, antidiabetic and insecticidal activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there are ca. 100 species in the genus Inula, only a few species have been investigated so far. Eight of the sixteen Inula spp. with ethnopharmacological application had been subjected to biological evaluations and/or phytochemical studies. Despite Inula royleana DC. and Inula obtusifolia A. Kerner are being used in traditional medicine, as far as we are aware, these species were not subjected to phytochemical or pharmacological studies. The biological activities exhibited by the compounds isolated from Inula spp., mainly anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic, support some of the described ethnopharmacological applications. Sesquiterpene lactone derivatives were identified as the most studied class, being britannilactone derivatives the most active ones and present high potential as anti-inflammatory drugs, although, their pharmacological effects, dose-response relationship and toxicological investigations to assess potential for acute or chronic adverse effects should be further investigated. The experimental results are promising, but the precise mechanism of action, the compound or extract toxicity, and the dose to be administrated for an optimal effect need to be investigated. Also human trials (some preclinical studies proved to be remarkable) should be further investigated. The genus Inula comprises species useful not only in medicine but also in other domains which makes it a high value-added plant.

Inula sesquiterpenoids: structural diversity, cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity

INTRODUCTION

The plants of the genus Inula (Asteraceae) are widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, and many of these plants have long been used in folk medicine. This genus is a rich source of sesquiterpenoids, which exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Recently, a series of bioactive sesquiterpenoid dimers, with unusual carbon skeletons, have been reported and these have gathered considerable interest.

AREAS COVERED

This article systematically reviews sesquiterpenoids isolated from the genus Inula that have appeared in literature up to August 2013, critically highlighting their anti-tumoral activities and relevant mechanistic insights. The authors also discuss the initial structure-activity relationships for the cytotoxic and anti-tumoral activities of the Inula sesquiterpenoids. Finally, the authors discuss the challenges and potential applications of these sesquiterpenoids in the future.

EXPERT OPINION

Cytotoxic and anti-tumor activities of Inula sesquiterpenoids have been extensively studied since the 1970s. One promising compound, Japonicone A, a dimeric sesquiterpene lactone from traditional herb Inula japonica, has displayed potent in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity against Burkitt's lymphoma. Additionally, acetylbritannilactone is thought to be capable of suppressing the abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, with the induction of apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. In this regard, it may be worthwhile further investigating acetylbritannilactone in patients with vascular restenosis. Furthermore, given the anti-inflammatory property of britanin, clinical studies on chronic bronchitis and asthma, using the ethanol extract of I. japonica, are currently underway in South Korea. However, despite demonstrating good therapeutic effects, additional pharmacological and toxicological studies are still needed.

Antioxidative and chemopreventive properties of Vernonia amygdalina and Garcinia biflavonoid

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on dietary and medicinal phytochemicals that inhibit, reverse or retard diseases caused by oxidative and inflammatory processes. Vernonia amygdalina is a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. Extracts of the plant have been used in various folk medicines as remedies against helminthic, protozoal and bacterial infections with scientific support for these claims. Phytochemicals such as saponins and alkaloids, terpenes, steroids, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, xanthones, anthraquinones, edotides and sesquiterpenes have been extracted and isolated from Vernonia amygdalina. These compounds elicit various biological effects including cancer chemoprevention. Garcinia kola (Guttiferae) seed, known as "bitter kola", plays an important role in African ethnomedicine and traditional hospitality. It is used locally to treat illnesses like colds, bronchitis, bacterial and viral infections and liver diseases. A number of useful phytochemicals have been isolated from the seed and the most prominent of them is the Garcinia bioflavonoids mixture called kolaviron. It has well-defined structure and an array of biological activities including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antigenotoxic and hepatoprotective properties. The chemopreventive properties of Vernonia amygdalina and Garcinia biflavonoids have been attributed to their abilities to scavenge free radicals, induce detoxification, inhibit stress response proteins and interfere with DNA binding activities of some transcription factors.

Sesquiterpene Lactones from Inula oculus-christi

Inula oculus-christi L. (Compositae) extract was chromatographed and three sesquiterpene lactones ergolide, gaillardin and pulchellin C were isolated. The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data, and their crystal structures were defined using X-ray crystallography; the isolation of ergolide and pulchellin C is reported for the first time from this species. These three compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against MDBK, MCF7 and WEHI164 cells; ergolide and gaillardin exhibited lower and significantly different IC50 values compared with pulchellin C ( p<0.001).

Secondary metabolites from Inula britannica L. and their biological activities

Inula britannica L., family Asteraceae, is used in traditional Chinese and Kampo Medicines for various diseases. Flowers or the aerial parts are a rich source of secondary metabolites. These consist mainly of terpenoids (sesquiterpene lactones and dimmers, diterpenes and triterpenoids) and flavonoids. The isolated compounds have shown diverse biological activities: anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and hepatoprotective activities. This review provides information on isolated bioactive phytochemicals and pharmacological potentials of I. britannica.

In vitro ultramorphological assessment of apoptosis induced by zerumbone on (HeLa)

Zerumbone (ZER), a potential anticancer compound, isolated from the fresh rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet. In this investigation, the cytotoxic properties of ZER were evaluated, on cancer cells of human cervix (HeLa), breast and ovary, and normal cells of Chinese Hamster ovary, using MTT assay. Apoptogenic effects of ZER on HeLa were studied using fluorescence microscopy (AO/PI double staining), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and colorimetric assay of the apoptosis promoter enzyme, caspase-3. The results of MTT assay showed that ZER has less effect on normal cells compared to cancer cells. The lowest IC(50) of ZER was observed on HeLa cells. Cytological observations showed nuclear and chromatin condensation, cell shrinkage, multinucleation, abnormalities of mitochondrial cristae, membrane blebbing, holes, cytoplasmic extrusions and formation of apoptotic bodies as confirmed collectively by double staining of AO/PI, SEM and TEM. Statistical analysis (two-tailed t-test) of differential counting of 200 cells under fluorescence microscope revealed significant difference in apoptotic cells populations between treated and untreated HeLa cells. In addition, ZER has increased the cellular level of caspase-3 on the treated HeLa cells. It could be concluded that ZER was able to produce distinctive morphological features of cell death that corresponds to apoptosis.

In vitro ultramorphological assessment of apoptosis induced by zerumbone on (HeLa)

Zerumbone (ZER), a potential anticancer compound, isolated from the fresh rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet. In this investigation, the cytotoxic properties of ZER were evaluated, on cancer cells of human cervix (HeLa), breast and ovary, and normal cells of Chinese Hamster ovary, using MTT assay. Apoptogenic effects of ZER on HeLa were studied using fluorescence microscopy (AO/PI double staining), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and colorimetric assay of the apoptosis promoter enzyme, caspase-3. The results of MTT assay showed that ZER has less effect on normal cells compared to cancer cells. The lowest IC₅₀ of ZER was observed on HeLa cells. Cytological observations showed nuclear and chromatin condensation, cell shrinkage, multinucleation, abnormalities of mitochondrial cristae, membrane blebbing, holes, cytoplasmic extrusions and formation of apoptotic bodies as confirmed collectively by double staining of AO/PI, SEM and TEM. Statistical analysis (two-tailed t-test) of differential counting of 200 cells under fluorescence microscope revealed significant difference in apoptotic cells populations between treated and untreated HeLa cells. In addition, ZER has increased the cellular level of caspase-3 on the treated HeLa cells. It could be concluded that ZER was able to produce distinctive morphological features of cell death that corresponds to apoptosis.

V. Amygdalina: Folk Medicine, Analysis, and Potential Application for Cancer Treatment

Folk medicine (FM) is practiced by people without access to conventional medical services; it usually involves the use of natural remedies such as herbs or vegetable substances. Before the use of pharmaceutical drugs, and surgical procedures, these healing methods were used, and are still in use today. It is estimated that twenty five percent of all therapeutic drugs trace their origins to plants, and almost two-thirds of the people of the world rely on their healing powers. One hundred years ago, health care in the U.S. was provided by a highly competitive medical sect, and quite infrequently, folk medicine practitioners were patronized. However, FM usage in the U.S. has increased drastically during the past decade. National surveys of adults (18 years of age or older) show that one in three adults use unconventional therapies or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the U.S. The rate of CAM usage is more than eighty percent among cancer patients. Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is well known for its medicinal importance. Fractionation of the VA extracts with solvents of varying polarities, by silica gels analyses, UV Spectrophotometer, HPLC, TLC and NMR techniques have yielded some biologically-active fractions.