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Li Y, Li Y, Yao Y, Li H, Gao C, Sun C, Zhuang J. Potential of cucurbitacin as an anticancer drug. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115707. [PMID: 37862969 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In Chinese medicine, the Cucurbitaceae family contains many compounds known as cucurbitacins, which have been categorized into 12 classes ranging from A to T and more than 200 derivatives. Cucurbitacins are a class of highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids with potent anticancer properties. The eight components of cucurbitacins with the strongest anticancer activity are cucurbitacins B, D, E, I, IIa, L-glucoside, Q, and R. Cucurbitacins have also been reported to suppress JAK-STAT 3, mTOR, VEGFR, Wnt/β-catenin, and MAPK signaling pathways, all of which are crucial for the survival and demise of cancer cells. In this paper, we review the progress in research on cucurbitacin-induced apoptosis, autophagy, cytoskeleton disruption, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of cell proliferation, inhibition of invasion and migration, inhibition of angiogenesis, epigenetic alterations, and synergistic anticancer effects in tumor cells. Recent studies have identified cucurbitacins as promising molecules for therapeutic innovation with broad versatility in immune response. Thus, cucurbitacin is a promising class of anticancer agents that can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the treatment of many types of cancer.Therefore, based on the research reports in the past five years at home and abroad, we further summarize and review the structural characteristics, chemical and biological activities, and studies of cucurbitacins based on the previous studies to provide a reference for further development and utilization of cucurbitacins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- College of Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Yingrui Li
- College of Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Yan Yao
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Huayao Li
- College of Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Chundi Gao
- College of Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China; Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
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Zieniuk B, Pawełkowicz M. Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents. Metabolites 2023; 13:1081. [PMID: 37887406 PMCID: PMC10608718 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the Cucurbitaceae family. These bitter-tasting compounds act primarily as defense mechanisms against external injuries, and thus against herbivores, and furthermore, they have also found use in folk medicine in the treatment of various diseases. Many studies have acknowledged significant biological activities of cucurbitacins, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antimicrobial properties, or antitumor potential. Overall, cucurbitacins have the ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the anticancer activity of varied cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins offer a promising avenue for future cancer treatment strategies, and their diverse mechanisms of action make them attractive candidates for further investigation. The aim of the present study is to shed light on the chemical diversity of this group of compounds by providing the sources of origin of selected compounds and their chemical structure, as well as insight into their anticancer potential. In addition, within this paper molecular targets for cucurbitacins and signalling pathways important for cancer cell proliferation and/or survival that are affected by the described class of compounds have been presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Zieniuk
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Pawełkowicz
- Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
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Gras A, Parada M, Pellicer J, Vallès J, Garnatje T. Cancer and Traditional Plant Knowledge, an Interesting Field to Explore: Data from the Catalan Linguistic Area. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134070. [PMID: 35807319 PMCID: PMC9268183 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second cause of death in the world and is foreseen to be responsible for about 16 million deaths in 2040. Approximately, 60% of the drugs used to treat cancer are of natural origin. Besides the extensive use of some of these drugs in therapies, such as those derived from the genus Taxus, a significant number of plants have revealed themselves as useful against cancer in recent years. The field of ethnobotany focuses on documenting traditional knowledge associated with plants, constituting a starting point to uncover the potential of new plant-based drugs to treat or prevent, in this case, tumour diseases and side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. From a series of extensive ethnobotanical prospections across the Catalan linguistic area (CLA), we have recorded uses for 41 taxa with antitumour effects. The two most quoted botanical families are Asteraceae and Ranunculaceae, and the most frequently reported species is Ranunculus parnassifolius, a high-mountain species, which is widely collected for this purpose. The reported species have been used to treat an important number of cancer types, focusing on preventive, palliative, and curative uses, as well as to deal with the side effects of conventional treatments. Comparing our results in CLA with previous data available in the most comprehensive databases of pharmacology and a review of cytotoxicity assays revealed that for the several species reported here, there was no previous evidence of traditional uses against cancer. Despite the need for further analyses to experimentally validate the information presented here, combining traditional uses and phylogenetically-informed strategies to phytochemical and pharmacological research would represent new avenues to establish more integrative approaches, hence improving the ability to select new candidate taxa in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airy Gras
- Laboratori de Botànica—Unitat Associada CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació—Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; (M.P.); (J.V.)
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30033-5305, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Montse Parada
- Laboratori de Botànica—Unitat Associada CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació—Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; (M.P.); (J.V.)
| | - Jaume Pellicer
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB), CSIC-Ajuntament de Barcelona, 08038 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; (J.P.); (T.G.)
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Joan Vallès
- Laboratori de Botànica—Unitat Associada CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació—Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; (M.P.); (J.V.)
- Secció de Ciències Biològiques, Institut d’Estudis Catalans, 08001 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Teresa Garnatje
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB), CSIC-Ajuntament de Barcelona, 08038 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; (J.P.); (T.G.)
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Nakashima S, Oda Y, Morita M, Ohta A, Morikawa T, Matsuda H, Nakamura S. Analysis of Active Compounds Using Target Protein Cofilin―Cucurbitacins in Cytotoxic Plant Bryonia cretica. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14030212. [PMID: 35324709 PMCID: PMC8955846 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14030212] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined a two-step target protein binding strategy that uses cofilin as the target protein to analyze the active constituents in Bryonia cretica. In the first step, we prepared the target protein, and used it to analyze the compounds binding to it in the second step. We used the methanolic extract of B. cretica as a library of possible active compounds. We conducted LC–MS analysis using information from our previous study. The peaks in the HPLC profile were identified as cucurbitacin D, isocucurbitacin D, and cucurbitacin I. As far as we know, there is no known study of the activity of isocucurbitacin D in this research field. Therefore, we examined the effects of isocucurbitacin D on cell proliferation and cofilin protein in human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080 to confirm the effectiveness of this strategy. The cytotoxicity assay, the fibrous/globular actin ratio assay, and the immunoblotting analysis revealed that isocucurbitacin D showed a cytotoxic effect with disruption of target protein cofilin. The target protein binding strategy is a direct and straightforward method for finding new drug seeds from crude sources, such as natural plant extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souichi Nakashima
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan; (Y.O.); (M.M.); (A.O.); (H.M.); (S.N.)
- NPR Medical Resource Laboratory, Kyoto 604-0924, Japan
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, Osaka 577-8502, Japan;
- Correspondence:
| | - Yoshimi Oda
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan; (Y.O.); (M.M.); (A.O.); (H.M.); (S.N.)
| | - Moeko Morita
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan; (Y.O.); (M.M.); (A.O.); (H.M.); (S.N.)
| | - Ayako Ohta
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan; (Y.O.); (M.M.); (A.O.); (H.M.); (S.N.)
| | - Toshio Morikawa
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, Osaka 577-8502, Japan;
| | - Hisashi Matsuda
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan; (Y.O.); (M.M.); (A.O.); (H.M.); (S.N.)
- NPR Medical Resource Laboratory, Kyoto 604-0924, Japan
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, Osaka 577-8502, Japan;
| | - Seikou Nakamura
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan; (Y.O.); (M.M.); (A.O.); (H.M.); (S.N.)
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Li R, Chen C, Liu B, Shi W, Shimizu K, Zhang C. Bryodulcosigenin a natural cucurbitane-type triterpenoid attenuates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 94:153814. [PMID: 34798522 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bryodulcosigenin (BDG) a cucurbitane-type triterpenoid has been isolated from the roots of Bryonia dioca and possesses marked anti-inflammatory effects, although its beneficial effect against intestinal disorders remains unclear. PURPOSE To explore the underlying mechanism of BDG on the dysbiosis of chronic ulcerative colitis (UC) and its associated side-effects on lung tissues. METHODS A chronic UC model was established using 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice treated for 64 days and diagnostic assessments, western blot analysis and quantitative real time-PCR were employed to determine the protective mechanism of BDG. RESULTS Oral administration of BDG (10 mg/kg/day) significantly improved colon length, disease activity index, and alleviated colonic histopathological damage in the DSS-induced colitis mice. BDG not only reversed the TNF-α-induced degradation of tight junction proteins (occludin and ZO-1) but also suppressed the elevated apoptosis seen in intestinal epithelial cells (NCM460). In addition, BDG significantly attenuated damage in alveolar epithelial cells (MLE-12) co-cultured with NCM460 cells under inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, BDG in vivo significantly prevented the symptoms of respiratory disorders and repressed alveolar inflammation by regulating DSS-induced chronic colitis in mice. CONCLUSION BDG effectively inhibited the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells and suppressed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome which resulted in the restoration of the intestinal barrier. Therefore, the enhanced integrity of intestinal epithelial cells produced by BDG intervention contributed to its anti-colitis effects, indicating its great potential as an inhibitor of UC and lung injury. Therefore, restoring intestinal integrity may represent a promising strategy in the prevention of pulmonary disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renshi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; Sino-Jan Joint Lab of Natural Health Products Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ce Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; Sino-Jan Joint Lab of Natural Health Products Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kuniyoshi Shimizu
- Sino-Jan Joint Lab of Natural Health Products Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Chaofeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; Sino-Jan Joint Lab of Natural Health Products Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
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Luo F, Sugita H, Muraki K, Saeki S, Chaipech S, Pongpiriyadacha Y, Muraoka O, Morikawa T. Anti-proliferative activities of coumarins from the Thai medicinal plant Mammea siamensis (Miq.) T. Anders. against human digestive tract carcinoma cell lines. Fitoterapia 2020; 148:104780. [PMID: 33246033 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2020.104780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Geranylated coumarins named mammeasins G-J (1-4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the flowers of Mammea siamensis (Miq.) T. Anders. (Calophyllaceae) originating in Thailand. Their structures were established based on detailed spectroscopic analyses. The isolates, including previously reported coumarin constituents (5-28), exhibited anti-proliferative activities against human carcinoma cell lines HSC-2, HSC-4, MKN-45, and MCF-7. Mammeasin A (7, IC50 = 13.6 μM) and surangin B (15, 15.2 μM), both consisting of the geranyl group, were found to show relatively strong activities against HSC-4 cells and their mechanisms of action were found to involve apoptotic cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenglin Luo
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Hidemi Sugita
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Kenichi Muraki
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Saeki
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Saowanee Chaipech
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan; Faculty of Agro-Industry, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Thungyai, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80240, Thailand
| | - Yutana Pongpiriyadacha
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Thungyai, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80240, Thailand
| | - Osamu Muraoka
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Toshio Morikawa
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan.
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Ramezani M, Hasani M, Ramezani F, Karimi Abdolmaleki M. Cucurbitacins: A Focus on Cucurbitacin E As A Natural Product and Their Biological Activities. PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.34172/ps.2020.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
For the last years, different types of cucurbitacins have been extracted from various species of Cucurbitaceae family. For this review, all related papers were accumulated by searching electronic databases in the English language, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The keywords of cucurbitacin, cucumber anticancer therapy, cytotoxic effects, chemotherapy, and inhibitor effect were searched until February 2020. According to the result of this review, cucurbitacin E as a tetracyclic triterpenes compound, has been exhibited cell cycle arrest, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. It showed tumor proliferation prevention, induction of apoptosis or synergistically acts with other established antitumor compounds and cytokines throughout many molecular mechanisms. In a function-structure association manner, cucurbitacin E can inhibit Janus kinas2 (JAK2) phosphorylation, the signal transducer activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and subsequently block these pathways, which seems to be the main mechanism of its activity. Future studies could target its detection in uninvestigated sources, subsequently its derivatives to improve their anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fatemeh Ramezani
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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Mahmoud Hamdy AEA, Mohamed Salah K. Antiviral and Antinematodal potentials of chitosan: Review. JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE AND PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2020; 4:055-059. [DOI: 10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
For many years, chemical pesticides have been performed to control different pests and diseases and this may be due to their broad spectrum of action, easy of application and the relatively low cost. But these chemicals have environmental risks, thus alternative control agents are needed. Chitosan is one of the novel suggested solutions to reduce the economic losses associated with chemical pesticides. Chitosan is naturally-occurring compound, as well as safe and biodegradable which obtained from certain natural sources. Chitosan have unique properties which help to control viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects, plant nematodes and other pests locally and systemically.
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Morikawa T, Inoue N, Nakanishi Y, Manse Y, Matsuura H, Okino K, Hamasaki S, Yoshikawa M, Muraoka O, Ninomiya K. Collagen synthesis-promoting and collagenase inhibitory activities of constituents isolated from the rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. Fitoterapia 2020; 143:104584. [PMID: 32247053 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2020.104584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Three new acylated phenylethanoid glycosides, kurroaosides A (14), B (15), and C (16), and a new acylated cucurbitane-type triterpene glycoside, kurroaoside D (17), were isolated from a methanol extract of the rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Plantaginaceae) along with 29 known isolates including 10 acylated phenylethanoid glycosides (18-27), three cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides (32-34), and a nortriterpene glycoside (35). The structures of these new compounds (14-17), including their stereochemistry, were determined based on chemical and physicochemical evidence derived from NMR and MS analysis. Among the isolates, acylated iridoid glycosides, picrosides I (8), II (9), III (10), and IV (11) and 6-feruloylcatalpol (12), phenylethanoid glycosides (14-16), triterpene glycosides, cucurbitacin B 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (32) and 25-acetoxy-2-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3,16,20-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5-en-22-one (35), and an acetophenone glycoside, picein (36), significantly promoted collagen synthesis at 10-30 μM, with no cytotoxicity being observed at the effective concentrations. Furthermore, acylated phenylethanoid glycosides, calceolarioside A (19, IC50 = 69.2 μM), plantamajoside (20, 51.8 μM), isoplantamajoside (21, 76.8 μM), and scroside E (23, 65.5 μM), exhibited collagenase inhibitory activity equivalent to that of positive agents caffeic acid (75.6 μM) and epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (75.4 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Morikawa
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan; Antiaging Center, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan.
| | - Naoki Inoue
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Yusuke Nakanishi
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Manse
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Matsuura
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Kenji Okino
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Shinya Hamasaki
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yoshikawa
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Osamu Muraoka
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan; Antiaging Center, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Ninomiya
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan; Antiaging Center, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
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Hussain H, Green IR, Saleem M, Khattak KF, Irshad M, Ali M. Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents: A Patent Review. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2020; 14:133-143. [PMID: 30451116 DOI: 10.2174/1574892813666181119123035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cucurbitacins belong to a group of tetracyclic triterpenoids that display a wide range of biological effects. In the past, numerous cucurbitacins have been isolated from natural sources and many active compounds have been synthesized using the privileged scaffold in order to enhance its cytotoxic effects. OBJECTIVE This review covers patents on the therapeutic effects of natural cucurbitacins and their synthetic analogs published during the past decade. By far, the majority of patents published are related to cancer and Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR) of these compounds are included to lend gravitas to this important class of natural products. METHODS The date about the published patents was downloaded via online open access patent databases. RESULTS Cucurbitacins display significant cytotoxic properties, in particular cucurbitacins B and D which possess very potent effects towards a number of cancer cells. Numerous cucurbitacins isolated from natural sources have been derivatized through chemical modification at the C(2)-OH and C(25)- OH groups. Most importantly, an acyl ester of the C(25)-OH and, iso-propyl, n-propyl and ethyl ether groups of the C(2)-OH demonstrated the most increased cytotoxic activity. CONCLUSION The significant cytotoxic effects of natural and semi-synthetic cucurbitacins make them attractive as new drug candidates. Moreover, cucurbitacins have the capability to form conjugates with other anticancer drugs which will synergistically enhance their anticancer effects. The authors believe that in order to get lead compounds, there should be a greater focus on the synthesis of homodimers, heterodimers, and halo derivatives of cucurbitacins. In the opinion of the authors the analysis of the published patents on the cucurbitacins indicates that these compounds can be developed into a regimen to treat a wide spectrum of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidayat Hussain
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Weinberg 3, D-06120 Halle (Salle), Germany
| | - Ivan R Green
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Muhammad Saleem
- Department of Chemistry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100 Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Irshad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kotli, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
| | - Maroof Ali
- College of Life Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
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Bryonia�dioica aqueous extract induces apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in MDA‑MB 231 breast cancer cells. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:73-80. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Paniagua C, Bilkova A, Jackson P, Dabravolski S, Riber W, Didi V, Houser J, Gigli-Bisceglia N, Wimmerova M, Budínská E, Hamann T, Hejatko J. Dirigent proteins in plants: modulating cell wall metabolism during abiotic and biotic stress exposure. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:3287-3301. [PMID: 28472349 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Dirigent (DIR) proteins were found to mediate regio- and stereoselectivity of bimolecular phenoxy radical coupling during lignan biosynthesis. Here we summarize the current knowledge of the importance of DIR proteins in lignan and lignin biosynthesis and highlight their possible importance in plant development. We focus on the still rather enigmatic Arabidopsis DIR gene family, discussing the few members with known functional importance. We comment on recent discoveries describing the detailed structure of two DIR proteins with implications in the mechanism of DIR-mediated catalysis. Further, we summarize the ample evidence for stress-induced dirigent gene expression, suggesting the role of DIRs in adaptive responses. In the second part of our work, we present a preliminary bioinformatics-based characterization of the AtDIR family. The phylogenetic analysis of AtDIRs complemented by comparison with DIR proteins of mostly known function from other species allowed us to suggest possible roles for several members of this family and identify interesting AtDIR targets for further study. Finally, based on the available metadata and our in silico analysis of AtDIR promoters, we hypothesize about the existence of specific transcriptional controls for individual AtDIR genes and implicate them in various stress responses, hormonal regulations, and developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candelas Paniagua
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology and Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Plants, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Bilkova
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology and Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Plants, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Phil Jackson
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology and Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Plants, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Siarhei Dabravolski
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology and Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Plants, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Willi Riber
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology and Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Plants, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Didi
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology and Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Plants, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Houser
- Glycobiochemistry, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nora Gigli-Bisceglia
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology 5, Hogskoleringen, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Michaela Wimmerova
- Glycobiochemistry, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Budínská
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Thorsten Hamann
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology 5, Hogskoleringen, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jan Hejatko
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology and Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Plants, CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology and National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Chekroun E, Benariba N, Adida H, Bechiri A, Azzi R, Djaziri R. Antioxidant activity and phytochemical screening of two Cucurbitaceae: Citrullus colocynthis fruits and Bryonia dioica roots. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(15)60903-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Ahmed MS, Kopel LC, Halaweish FT. Structural optimization and biological screening of a steroidal scaffold possessing cucurbitacin-like functionalities as B-Raf inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2014; 9:1361-7. [PMID: 24682977 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by targeting the commonly occurring mutated B-Raf in melanoma has become a practical method for the development of drugs and drug candidates. In order to expand upon the currently reported structural scaffolds used to target the MAPK pathway, molecular docking studies led to the installation an α,β-unsaturated ketone side chain, related to the cucurbitacin class of natural products, on to an estrone core via an aldol condensation reaction, along with installation of the Δ(9,11) olefin to assemble what has been defined as a pseudo-cis configuration at the B/C ring juncture. Combination of these cucurbitacin-like features resulted in a compound with an enhanced biological profile against the A-375 mutant B-Raf cell line, in regards to their cytotoxicity and inhibitory activity toward phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud S Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007 (USA)
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15
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Biological activities and potential molecular targets of cucurbitacins: a focus on cancer. Anticancer Drugs 2012; 23:777-87. [PMID: 22561419 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0b013e3283541384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cucurbitacin and its derivatives (cucurbitacins) are a class of highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids. They are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, where they act as heterologous chemical pheromones that protect plants from external biological insults. Their bioactivities first attracted attention in the 1960s. Documented data demonstrate that cucurbitacins possess strong pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects, etc. Several molecular targets for cucurbitacins have been discovered, such as fibrous-actin, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, cyclooxygenase-2, etc. The present study summarizes the achievements of the 50 years of research on cucurbitacins. The aim was to systematically analyze their bioactivities with an emphasis on their anticancer effects. Research and development has shed new insight into the beneficial properties of these compounds.
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Nakamura S. [Search for biofunctional constituents from medicinal foods-elucidation of constituents with anti-proliferation effects and the target molecule from Citrullus colocynthis]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2012; 132:1063-7. [PMID: 23023425 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.132.1063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Many foods are known to have not only nutritive and taste values but also medicinal effects. In Egypt, many medicinal foods have been used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases since ancient. However, in most cases, their effective constituents as well as the mechanism of action remained uncharacterized. In the course of our characterization studies on Egyptian medicinal foods and plants, cucurbitane-type triterpene and related compounds such as cucurbitacin E from the fruit of Citrullus colocynthis and the roots of Bryonia cretica were found to show anti-proliferation effects. We therefore synthesized a biotin-linked cucurbitacin E to isolate target proteins based on affinity for the molecule. As a result, cofilin, which regulates the depolymerization of actin, was isolated and suggested to be a target.
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Abstract
This review covers the isolation and structure determination of triterpenoids, including squalene derivatives, protostanes, lanostanes, holostanes, cycloartanes, dammaranes, euphanes, tirucallanes, tetranortriterpenoids, quassinoids, lupanes, oleananes, friedelanes, ursanes, hopanes, serratanes and saponins; 305 references are cited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Hill
- School of Chemistry, Glasgow University, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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18
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Benarba B, Meddah B, Aoues A. Bryonia dioica aqueous extract induces apoptosis through mitochondrial intrinsic pathway in BL41 Burkitt's lymphoma cells. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2012; 141:510-516. [PMID: 22465729 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.02.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2011] [Revised: 01/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bryonia dioica Jacq. is a climbing perennial herb with tuberous roots which is widely used in traditional medicine in Algeria for the treatment of cancers; it belongs to the genus Bryonia (Cucurbitaceae). AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the cytotoxic and apoptogenic activities, the phytochemical composition and acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Bryonia dioica roots growing in Algeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dried roots of Bryonia dioica were extracted with water (decoction). The cytotoxic effects of the aqueous extract in the Burkitt's lymphoma BL41 cell lines were evaluated by flow cytometry. Apoptosis induction was assessed by two corroborative assays; propidium iodide (PI) staining of cell DNA and flow cytometric light scatter analysis. The mitochondria membrane potential was investigated using a fluorescent dye DIOC6. The expression of caspases-3, -8, -9 and PARP was assessed by Western blot. The phytochemical screening of the roots of Bryonia dioica was performed using qualitative phytochemical standard procedures. RESULTS The Bryonia dioica aqueous extract induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of Bryonia dioica aqueous extract was estimated to be approximately 15, 63μg/ml. This was accompanied by induction of apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 and -9, cleavage of PARP and loss of mitochondria membrane potential. Furthermore, the phytochemical screening of roots of Bryonia dioica showed the presence of various bioactive such as polyphenols, sterols and triterpenes, alkaloids, c-heterosides, carbohydrates and saponins. CONCLUSION The aqueous extract of Bryonia dioica induces apoptosis in the Burkitt's lymphoma BL41 cell lines via the mitochondrial pathway. The flavonoids, sterols and triterpens detected could be responsible for the cytotoxic and apoptogenic activities of the aqueous extract of Bryonia dioica. These findings suggest that Bryonia dioica could be considered as a promising source for developing novel therapeutics against Burkitt's lymphoma.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/toxicity
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Blotting, Western
- Bryonia/chemistry
- Burkitt Lymphoma/metabolism
- Burkitt Lymphoma/pathology
- Caspase 3/metabolism
- Caspase 9/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Flow Cytometry
- Humans
- Inhibitory Concentration 50
- Light
- Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects
- Mitochondria/drug effects
- Mitochondria/metabolism
- Mitochondria/pathology
- Phytotherapy
- Plant Extracts/chemistry
- Plant Extracts/isolation & purification
- Plant Extracts/pharmacology
- Plant Extracts/toxicity
- Plant Roots
- Plants, Medicinal
- Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism
- Scattering, Radiation
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Solvents/chemistry
- Water/chemistry
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Affiliation(s)
- Bachir Benarba
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life, University of Mascara, Algeria.
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Lang KL, Silva IT, Zimmermann LA, Machado VR, Teixeira MR, Lapuh MI, Galetti MA, Palermo JA, Cabrera GM, Bernardes LSC, Simões CMO, Schenkel EP, Caro MSB, Durán FJ. Synthesis and cytotoxic activity evaluation of dihydrocucurbitacin B and cucurbitacin B derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem 2012; 20:3016-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2012.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2011] [Revised: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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20
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Ayyad SEN, Abdel-Lateff A, Basaif SA, Shier T. Cucurbitacins-type triterpene with potent activity on mouse embryonic fibroblast from Cucumis prophetarum, cucurbitaceae. Pharmacognosy Res 2011; 3:189-93. [PMID: 22022168 PMCID: PMC3193620 DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.85006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Revised: 06/25/2011] [Accepted: 09/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Higher plants are considered as a well-known source of the potent anticancer metabolites with diversity of chemical structures. For instance, taxol is an amazing diterpene alkaloid had been lunched since 1990. Objective: To isolate the major compounds from the fruit extract of Cucumis prophetarum, Cucurbitaceae, which are mainly responsible for the bioactivities as anticancer. Materials and Methods: Plant material was shady air dried, extracted with equal volume of chloroform/methanol, and fractionated with different adsorbents. The structures of obtained pure compounds were elucidated with different spectroscopic techniques employing 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (COSY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry) and ESI-MS (Eelectrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry) spectroscopy. The pure isolates were tested towards human cancer cell lines, mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH3T3) and virally transformed form (KA3IT). Results: Two cucurbitacins derivatives, dihydocucurbitacin B (1) and cucurbitacin B (2), had been obtained. Compounds 1 and 2 showed (showed potent inhibitory activities toward NIH3T3 and KA31T with IC50 0.2, 0.15, 2.5 and 2.0 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The naturally cucurbitacin derivatives (dihydocucurbitacin B and cucurbitacin B) showed potent activities towards NIH3T3 and KA31T, could be considered as a lead of discovering a new anticancer natural drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seif-Eldin N Ayyad
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saud Arabia
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Morikawa T, Xu F, Matsuda H, Yoshikawa M. Structures of novel norstilbene dimer, longusone A, and three new stilbene dimers, longusols A, B, and C, with antiallergic and radical scavenging activities from Egyptian natural medicine Cyperus longus. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2011; 58:1379-85. [PMID: 20930408 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.58.1379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The methanolic extract of the whole plant of Cyperus longus originating in Egypt was found to show antiallergic effect on ear passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reactions in mice. By bioassay-guided separation, 11 stilbenes and stilbene dimers including a novel norstilbene dimer, longusone A, and three new stilbene dimers, longusols A, B, and C, were isolated. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Among the isolates, longusol B (IC(50)=96 µM), luteolin (3.0 µM), resveratrol (17 µM), piceatannol (24 µM), and cassigarols E (84 µM) and G (84 µM) were found to inhibit the release of β-hexosaminidase, as a marker of antigen-induced degranulations, in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. In addition, the methanolic extract and the constituents showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (SC(50)=22 µg/ml and 2.8-29 µM, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Morikawa
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607–8412, Japan
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Morikawa T, Oominami H, Matsuda H, Yoshikawa M. Four New Ursane-Type Triterpenes, Olibanumols K, L, M, and N, from Traditional Egyptian Medicine Olibanum, the Gum-Resin of Boswellia carterii. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2010; 58:1541-4. [DOI: 10.1248/cpb.58.1541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Morikawa
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute, Kinki University
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