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Wu YR, Xiong W, Dong YJ, Chen X, Zhong YY, He XL, Wang YJ, Lin QF, Tian XF, Zhou Q. Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Frankincense: Implications for Anticancer Therapy. Chin J Integr Med 2024:10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x. [PMID: 38816637 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-024-4105-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of novel antitumor agents derived from natural plants is a principal objective of anticancer drug research. Frankincense, a widely recognized natural antitumor medicine, has undergone a systematic review encompassing its species, chemical constituents, and diverse pharmacological activities and mechanisms. The different species of frankincense include Boswellia serrata, Somali frankincense, Boswellia frereana, and Boswellia arabica. Various frankincense extracts and compounds exhibit antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties and antioxidation, memory enhancement, and immunological regulation capabilities. They also have comprehensive effects on regulating flora. Frankincense and its principal chemical constituents have demonstrated promising chemoprophylactic and therapeutic abilities against tumors. This review provides a systematic summary of the mechanism of action underlying the antitumor effects of frankincense and its major constituents, thus laying the foundations for developing effective tumor-combating targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Rong Wu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 41007, China
| | - Ying-Jing Dong
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Xin Chen
- College of Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhong
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Xin-Ling He
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Yu-Jia Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Qun-Fang Lin
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 41007, China
| | - Xue-Fei Tian
- College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Transformation, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 41007, China.
- Hunan Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Medical Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410021, China.
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Cherkasova V, Ilnytskyy Y, Kovalchuk O, Kovalchuk I. Targeting Colorectal Cancer: Unravelling the Transcriptomic Impact of Cisplatin and High-THC Cannabis Extract. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4439. [PMID: 38674023 PMCID: PMC11050262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin and other platinum-derived chemotherapy drugs have been used for the treatment of cancer for a long time and are often combined with other medications. Unfortunately, tumours often develop resistance to cisplatin, forcing scientists to look for alternatives or synergistic combinations with other drugs. In this work, we attempted to find a potential synergistic effect between cisplatin and cannabinoid delta-9-THC, as well as the high-THC Cannabis sativa extract, for the treatment of HT-29, HCT-116, and LS-174T colorectal cancer cell lines. However, we found that combinations of the high-THC cannabis extract with cisplatin worked antagonistically on the tested colorectal cancer cell lines. To elucidate the mechanisms of drug interactions and the distinct impacts of individual treatments, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of affected pathways within the colorectal cancer cell line HT-29. Our primary objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with each treatment modality and their potential interactions. Our findings revealed an antagonistic interaction between cisplatin and high-THC cannabis extract, which could be linked to alterations in gene transcription associated with cell death (BCL2, BAD, caspase 10), DNA repair pathways (Rad52), and cancer pathways related to drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (V.C.); (Y.I.)
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (V.C.); (Y.I.)
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Abe M, Asada N, Kimura M, Fukui C, Yamada D, Wang Z, Miyake M, Takarada T, Ono M, Aoe M, Kitamura W, Matsuda M, Moriyama T, Matsumura A, Maeda Y. Antitumor activity of α-pinene in T-cell tumors. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:1317-1332. [PMID: 38279512 PMCID: PMC11007008 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute leukemia and lymphoma have a poor prognosis. Although new therapeutic agents have been developed, their therapeutic effects are suboptimal. α-Pinene, a monoterpene compound, has an antitumor effect on solid tumors; however, few comprehensive investigations have been conducted on its impact on hematologic malignancies. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential benefits of using α-pinene as an antitumor agent for the treatment of T-cell tumors. We found that α-pinene inhibited the proliferation of hematologic malignancies, especially in T-cell tumor cell lines EL-4 and Molt-4, induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species accumulation, and inhibited NF-κB p65 translocation into the nucleus, leading to robust apoptosis in EL-4 cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that α-pinene has potential as a therapeutic agent for T-cell malignancies, and further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Abe
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Noboru Asada
- Department of Hematology and OncologyOkayama University HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Maiko Kimura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Chie Fukui
- Division of Hematology, Department of MedicineKobe University HospitalKobeJapan
| | - Daisuke Yamada
- Department of Regenerative ScienceOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiochemistryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Masayuki Miyake
- Division of Medical SupportOkayama University HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Takeshi Takarada
- Department of Regenerative ScienceOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Mitsuaki Ono
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiochemistryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Michinori Aoe
- Division of Medical SupportOkayama University HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Wataru Kitamura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Masayuki Matsuda
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Takashi Moriyama
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Akifumi Matsumura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Yoshinobu Maeda
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
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Han EJ, Choi EY, Jeon SJ, Moon JM, Lee SW, Lee JH, Jung GH, Han SH, Jung SH, Yang MS, Jung JY. Anticancer Effects of α-Pinene in AGS Gastric Cancer Cells. J Med Food 2024; 27:330-338. [PMID: 38387002 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2023.k.0267] [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] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer globally and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Existing treatment strategies for gastric cancer often present numerous side effects. Consequently, recent studies have shifted toward devising new treatments grounded in safer natural substances. α-Pinene, a natural terpene found in the essential oils of various plants, such as Lavender angustifolia and Satureja myrtifolia, displays antioxidant, antibiotic, and anticancer properties. Yet, its impact on gastric cancer remains unexplored. This research assessed the effects of α-pinene in vitro using a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell-line (AGS) human gastric cancer cells and in vivo via a xenograft mouse model. The survival rate of AGS cells treated with α-pinene was notably lower than that of the control group, as revealed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. This decline in cell viability was linked to apoptosis, as verified by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and annexin V/propidium iodide staining. The α-pinene-treated group exhibited elevated cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax) levels and reduced Bcl-2 levels compared with the control levels. Moreover, α-pinene triggered the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 within the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In the xenograft mouse model, α-pinene induced apoptosis through the MAPK pathway, devoid of toxicity. These findings position α-pinene as a promising natural therapeutic for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Ji Han
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Eun-Young Choi
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Su-Ji Jeon
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Jun-Mo Moon
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Sang-Woo Lee
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Jae-Han Lee
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Gi-Hwan Jung
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - So-Hee Han
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Soo-Hyun Jung
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Myeon-Sik Yang
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Ji-Youn Jung
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Products, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
- Research Center of Crop Breeding for Omics and Artificial Intelligence, Yesan, Korea
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Alabrahim OAA, Azzazy HMES. Synergistic anticancer effect of Pistacia lentiscus essential oils and 5-Fluorouracil co-loaded onto biodegradable nanofibers against melanoma and breast cancer. DISCOVER NANO 2024; 19:27. [PMID: 38353827 PMCID: PMC10866856 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-024-03962-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Chemoresistance and severe toxicities represent major drawbacks of chemotherapy. Natural extracts, including the essential oils of Pistacia lentiscus (PLEO), exhibit substantial anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities where different cancers are reported to dramatically recess following targeting with PLEO. PLEO has promising antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the therapeutic properties of PLEO are restricted by limited stability, bioavailability, and targeting ability. PLEO nanoformulation can maximize their physicochemical and therapeutic properties, overcoming their shortcomings. Hence, PLEO was extracted and its chemical composition was determined by GC-MS. PLEO and 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) were electrospun into poly-ε-caprolactone nanofibers (PCL-NFs), of 290.71 nm to 680.95 nm diameter, to investigate their anticancer and potential synergistic activities against triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), human adenocarcinoma breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and human skin melanoma cell line (A375). The prepared nanofibers (NFs) showed enhanced thermal stability and remarkable physical integrity and tensile strength. Biodegradability studies showed prolonged stability over 42 days, supporting the NFs use as a localized therapy of breast tissues (postmastectomy) or melanoma. Release studies revealed sustainable release behaviors over 168 h, with higher released amounts of 5FU and PLEO at pH 5.4, indicating higher targeting abilities towards cancer tissues. NFs loaded with PLEO showed strong antioxidant properties. Finally, NFs loaded with either PLEO or 5FU depicted greater anticancer activities compared to free compounds. The highest anticancer activities were observed with NFs co-loaded with PLEO and 5FU. The developed 5FU-PLEO-PCL-NFs hold potential as a local treatment of breast cancer tissues (post-mastectomy) and melanoma to minimize their possible recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obaydah Abd Alkader Alabrahim
- Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, SSE # 1184, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Hassan Mohamed El-Said Azzazy
- Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, SSE # 1184, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
- Department of Nanobiophotonics, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert Einstein Str. 9, Jena, Germany.
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Moradi M, Dastan D, Fallah M, Nahanji MK, Matini M. Alpha-Pinene and Tannic Acid Inhibit Trichomonas vaginalis Protozoan Cells by Inducing Apoptosis. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2024; 19:18-27. [PMID: 38654943 PMCID: PMC11033537 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v19i1.15189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Background Trichomoniasis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. The growing concern of drug resistance of this infection has cautioned the need for new drug development. We evaluated the potential antiproliferative and apoptotic effect of α-pinene and tannic acid (TA) on Trichomonas vaginalis cells. In addition, the cytotoxicity of agents on Vero cells was investigated. Methods Trichomonas cells were axenically cultured in TYI-S-33 medium. In vitro antiproliferative activity of α-pinene, TA, and metronidazole was investigated against Trichomonas cells. The assays were carried out in triplicate using microtiter plate and trypan blue staining method. Annexin V/PI staining with flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptosis induction. In addition, the cytotoxic effect was measured by MTT assay. Results α-Pinene and TA exhibited significant inhibition of the Trichomonas cells and the lowest IC50 values were 22.9 μg/ml and 140 μg/ml at 48 hours' incubation, respectively. The CC50 was found at 116 μg/ml for α-pinene and 473 μg/ml for TA, after 48 hours of treatment. The flow cytometry study demonstrated that the natural compounds induced apoptosis in Trichomonas cells. After 24 hours of treatment, the induction of apoptosis was 5.2% - 36.6% at concentrations of 3.9 - 62.5 μg/ml for α-pinene and TA induced-apoptosis was 6.1% - 53.8% at concentrations of 125-2000 μg/ml. Conclusion Although the results show the antiproliferative and apoptotic effect of α-pinene and TA on Trichomonas cells, in vivo studies are needed to further clarify the effects of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Moradi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Dara Dastan
- Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Fallah
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Manizhe Kashi Nahanji
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Matini
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Mansour RB, Wasli H, Bourgou S, Khamessi S, Ksouri R, Megdiche-Ksouri W, Cardoso SM. Insights on Juniperus phoenicea Essential Oil as Potential Anti-Proliferative, Anti-Tyrosinase, and Antioxidant Candidate. Molecules 2023; 28:7547. [PMID: 38005268 PMCID: PMC10673065 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, the anti-cancer, anti-tyrosinase, and antioxidant activities of essential oils (EOs) of berries and leaves of Juniperus phoenicea grown wild in North of Tunisia were investigated. The EO yields from leaves and berries were 1.69% and 0.45%, respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed that α-pinene is the predominant component in both EOs (44.17 and 83.56%, respectively). Leaves essential oil presented high levels of β-phellandrene (18%) and camphene (15%). The EOs displayed cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cell, HT-29 colon cancer, and the normal cells H9C2 cardiomyoblasts. Leaves oil strongly inhibited colon cell line proliferation (IC50 of 38 µg/mL), while berries essential oil was more potent against breast cancerous cells MCF-7 (IC50 of 60 µg/mL). Interestingly, berries essential oil exhibited high ability to inhibit melanin synthesis by inhibiting enzyme mono and diphenolase activities. Overall, the results suggested that the two oils are significant sources of healthy natural chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rim Ben Mansour
- Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia; (R.B.M.); (H.W.); (S.B.); (S.K.); (R.K.); (W.M.-K.)
| | - Hanen Wasli
- Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia; (R.B.M.); (H.W.); (S.B.); (S.K.); (R.K.); (W.M.-K.)
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
- Department of Education and Teaching, Higher Institute of Applied Studies in Humanities of Tozeur, Campus University, University of Gafsa, Gafsa 2100, Tunisia
| | - Soumaya Bourgou
- Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia; (R.B.M.); (H.W.); (S.B.); (S.K.); (R.K.); (W.M.-K.)
| | - Saber Khamessi
- Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia; (R.B.M.); (H.W.); (S.B.); (S.K.); (R.K.); (W.M.-K.)
| | - Riadh Ksouri
- Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia; (R.B.M.); (H.W.); (S.B.); (S.K.); (R.K.); (W.M.-K.)
| | - Wided Megdiche-Ksouri
- Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia; (R.B.M.); (H.W.); (S.B.); (S.K.); (R.K.); (W.M.-K.)
| | - Susana M. Cardoso
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Ferreira RC, do Nascimento YM, de Araújo Loureiro PB, Martins RX, de Souza Maia ME, Farias DF, Tavares JF, Gonçalves JCR, da Silva MS, Sobral MV. Chemical Composition, In Vitro Antitumor Effect, and Toxicity in Zebrafish of the Essential Oil from Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist (Asteraceae). Biomolecules 2023; 13:1439. [PMID: 37892120 PMCID: PMC10604947 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101439] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The essential oil from Conyza bonariensis (Asteraceae) aerial parts (CBEO) was extracted by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antitumor potential was evaluated against human tumor cell lines (melanoma, cervical, colorectal, and leukemias), as well as non-tumor keratinocyte lines using the MTT assay. The effect of CBEO on the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) was evaluated by DCFH-DA assay, and a protection assay using the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was also performed. Moreover, the CBEO toxicity in the zebrafish model was assessed. The majority of the CBEO compound was (Z)-2-lachnophyllum ester (57.24%). The CBEO exhibited selectivity towards SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells (half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC50 = 18.65 ± 1.16 µg/mL), and induced a significant increase in ROS production. In addition, the CBEO's cytotoxicity against SK-MEL-28 cells was reduced after pretreatment with NAC. Furthermore, after 96 h of exposure, 1.5 µg/mL CBEO induced death of all zebrafish embryos. Non-lethal effects were observed after exposure to 0.50-1.25 µg/mL CBEO. Additionally, significant alterations in the activity of enzymes associated with oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae were observed. These results provide evidence that CBEO has a significant in vitro antimelanoma effect by increasing ROS production and moderate embryotoxicity in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Carlos Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactive Synthetics, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Yuri Mangueira do Nascimento
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactive Synthetics, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Paulo Bruno de Araújo Loureiro
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactive Synthetics, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Rafael Xavier Martins
- Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Novel Technologies (LabRisk), Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Maria Eduarda de Souza Maia
- Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Novel Technologies (LabRisk), Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Davi Felipe Farias
- Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Novel Technologies (LabRisk), Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Josean Fechine Tavares
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactive Synthetics, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Juan Carlos Ramos Gonçalves
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactive Synthetics, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Sobral da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactive Synthetics, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
| | - Marianna Vieira Sobral
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactive Synthetics, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
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Raus de Baviera D, Ruiz-Canales A, Barrajón-Catalán E. Cistus albidus L.-Review of a Traditional Mediterranean Medicinal Plant with Pharmacological Potential. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2988. [PMID: 37631199 PMCID: PMC10458491 DOI: 10.3390/plants12162988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Cistus albidus L. (Cistaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been used therapeutically since ancient times in the Mediterranean basin for its important pharmacological properties. The ability of C. albidus to produce large quantities of a wide range of natural metabolites makes it an attractive source of raw material. The main constituents with bioactive functions that exert pharmacological effects are terpenes and polyphenols, with more than 200 identified compounds. The purpose of this review is to offer a detailed account of the botanical, ethnological, phytochemical, and pharmacological characteristics of C. albidus with the aim of encouraging additional pharmaceutical investigations into the potential therapeutic benefits of this medicinal plant. This review was carried out using organized searches of the available literature up to July 2023. A detailed analysis of C. albidus confirms its traditional use as a medicinal plant. The outcome of several studies suggests a deeper involvement of certain polyphenols and terpenes in multiple mechanisms such as inflammation and pain, with a potential application focus on neurodegenerative diseases and disorders. Other diseases such as prostate cancer and leukemia have already been researched with promising results for this plant, for which no intoxication has been reported in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Raus de Baviera
- Department of Engineering, Area of Agroforestry, Miguel Hernández University, 03312 Orihuela, Spain; (D.R.d.B.); (A.R.-C.)
| | - Antonio Ruiz-Canales
- Department of Engineering, Area of Agroforestry, Miguel Hernández University, 03312 Orihuela, Spain; (D.R.d.B.); (A.R.-C.)
| | - Enrique Barrajón-Catalán
- Institute for Research, Development and Innovation in Health Biotechnology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, Elche University Hospital-FISABIO, 03203 Elche, Spain
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10
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Krasnova OA, Minaychev VV, Akatov VS, Fadeev RS, Senotov AS, Kobyakova MI, Lomovskaya YV, Lomovskiy AI, Zvyagina AI, Krasnov KS, Shatalin YV, Penkov NV, Zhalimov VK, Molchanov MV, Palikova YA, Murashev AN, Maevsky EI, Fadeeva IS. Improving the Stability and Effectiveness of Immunotropic Squalene Nanoemulsion by Adding Turpentine Oil. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1053. [PMID: 37509089 PMCID: PMC10377128 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Turpentine oil, owing to the presence of 7-50 terpenes, has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antioxidant, and antitumor properties, which are important for medical emulsion preparation. The addition of turpentine oil to squalene emulsions can increase their effectiveness, thereby reducing the concentration of expensive and possibly deficient squalene, and increasing its stability and shelf life. In this study, squalene emulsions were obtained by adding various concentrations of turpentine oil via high-pressure homogenization, and the safety and effectiveness of the obtained emulsions were studied in vitro and in vivo. All emulsions showed high safety profiles, regardless of the concentration of turpentine oil used. However, these emulsions exhibited dose-dependent effects in terms of both efficiency and storage stability, and the squalene emulsion with 1.0% turpentine oil had the most pronounced adjuvant and cytokine-stimulating activity as well as the most pronounced stability indicators when stored at room temperature. Thus, it can be concluded that the squalene emulsion with 1% turpentine oil is a stable, monomodal, and reliably safe ultradispersed emulsion and may have pleiotropic effects with pronounced immunopotentiating properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Krasnova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
- Pushchino State Institute of Natural Science, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Vladislav V Minaychev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Vladimir S Akatov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Roman S Fadeev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
- Pushchino State Institute of Natural Science, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Anatoly S Senotov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Margarita I Kobyakova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Yana V Lomovskaya
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Alexey I Lomovskiy
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Alyona I Zvyagina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Kirill S Krasnov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
- Pushchino State Institute of Natural Science, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Yuriy V Shatalin
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Nikita V Penkov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Vitaly K Zhalimov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Maxim V Molchanov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Yuliya A Palikova
- Branch of Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Arkady N Murashev
- Pushchino State Institute of Natural Science, Pushchino 142290, Russia
- Branch of Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Eugeny I Maevsky
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
| | - Irina S Fadeeva
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
- Pushchino State Institute of Natural Science, Pushchino 142290, Russia
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Khan M, Khan M, Al-hamoud K, Adil SF, Shaik MR, Alkhathlan HZ. Diversity of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad Seeds Extracts: Detailed Chemical Profiling and Evaluation of Their Medicinal Properties. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:567. [PMID: 36771651 PMCID: PMC9919198 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Seeds and fruits of Citrullus colocynthis have been reported to possess huge potential for the development of phytopharmaceuticals with a wide range of biological activities. Thus, in the current study, we are reporting the potential antimicrobial and anticancer properties of C. colocynthis seeds extracted with solvents of different polarities, including methanol (M.E.), hexane (H.E.), and chloroform (C.E.). Antimicrobial properties of C. colocynthis seeds extracts were evaluated on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, whereas, anticancer properties were tested on four different cell lines, including HepG2, DU145, Hela, and A549. All the extracts have demonstrated noteworthy antimicrobial activities with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.9-62.5 µg/mL against Klebsiella planticola and Staphylococcus aureus; meanwhile, they were found to be moderately active (MIC 62.5-250 µg/mL) against Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus strains. Hexane extracts have demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity against K. planticola with an MIC value of 0.9 µg/mL, equivalent to that of the standard drug ciprofloxacin used as positive control in this study. For anticancer activity, all the extracts of C. colocynthis seeds were found to be active against all the tested cell lines (IC50 48.49-197.96 µg/mL) except for the chloroform extracts, which were found to be inactive against the HepG2 cell line. The hexane extract was found to possess the most prominent anticancer activity when compared to other extracts and has demonstrated the highest anticancer activity against the DU145 cell line with an IC50 value of 48.49 µg/mL. Furthermore, a detailed phytoconstituents analysis of all the extracts of C. colocynthis seeds were performed using GC-MS and GC-FID techniques. Altogether, 43 phytoconstituents were identified from the extracts of C. colocynthis seeds, among which 21, 12, and 16 components were identified from the H.E., C.E., and M.E. extracts, respectively. Monoterpenes (40.4%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (41.1%) were the most dominating chemical class of compounds from the hexane and chloroform extracts, respectively; whereas, in the methanolic extract, oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (77.2%) were found to be the most dominating chemical class of compounds. To the best of our knowledge, all the phytoconstituents identified in this study are being reported for the first time from the C. colocynthis.
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12
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Ji C, He Y, Wang Y. Identification of necroptosis subtypes and development of necroptosis-related risk score model for in ovarian cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:1043870. [PMID: 36568363 PMCID: PMC9773578 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1043870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: ith the ongoing development of targeted therapy, non-apoptotic cell death, including necroptosis, has become a popular topic in the field of prevention and treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) on the classification of ovarian cancer (OV) subtypes and to develop a necroptosis-related risk score (NRRS) classification system. Methods: 74 NRGs were obtained from the published studies, and univariate COX regression analysis was carried out between them and OV survival. Consensus clustering analysis was performed on OV samples according to the expression of NRGs related to prognosis. Furthermore, the NRRS model was developed by combining Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso)-penalized Cox regression and multivariate Cox regression analysis. And the decision tree model was constructed based on the principle of random forest screening factors principle. Results: According to the post-related NRGs, OV was divided into two necroptosis subtypes. Compared with Cluster 1 (C1), the overall survival (OS) of Cluster 2 (C2) was significantly shorter, stromal score and immune score, the infiltration level of tumor associated immune cells and the expression of 20 immune checkpoints were significantly higher. WGCNA identified the blue module most related to necroptosis subtype, and 12 genes in the module were used to construct NRRS. NRRS was an independent prognostic variable of OV. The OS of samples with lower NRRS was significantly longer, and tumor mutation burden and homologous recombination defect were more obvious. Conclusion: This study showed that necroptosis plays an important role in the classification, prognosis, immune infiltration and biological characteristics of OV subtypes. The evaluation of tumor necroptosis may provide a new perspective for OV treatment.
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Kharazmkia A, Al-Abodi HR, Yadegari JG, Vahidi A, Mahmoudvand H. Potential effects of alpha-pinene, a monoterpene commonly found in essential oils against Toxoplasma gondii infection; an in vitro and in vivo study. J Parasit Dis 2022; 46:1055-1061. [PMID: 36457783 PMCID: PMC9606148 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01514-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This survey designed to assess the in vitro and in vivo activity of α-pinene, a monoterpene commonly originated in essential oils on Toxoplasma gondii. The in vitro effect of various concentration of α-pinene against tachyzoites of T. gondii Rh strain was assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The activity of α-pinene on the stimulation of apoptosis in tachyzoites of T. gondii was also examined using the caspase 3 colorimetric activity assay. In vivo assay, mice were orally received α-pinene at 2 and 4 mg/kg/day for 14 days, then, pre-treated mice were daily tested and the rate of death was recorded. α-pinene meaningfully declined (p < 0.001) the tachyzoites viability with the IC50 value of 23.3 µg/mL. α-pinene induced the apoptosis through increasing the caspase-3 activity by 35.6%. Oral treatment with α-pinene significantly (p < 0.01) improved the survival rate infected mice with by 9th day. α-pinene + atovauone (50 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.01) improved the survival rate infected mice up to 11 days compared with the control groups. α-pinene especially in combined atovaquone at 50 mg/kg for 2 weeks meaningfully (p < 0.05) declined oxidative stress. We found the promising in vitro anti-Toxoplasma effects of α-pinene on T. gondii RH strain. In addition, we found that α-pinene therapy particularly along with the reference drug declined the mortality rate of infected mice. Although, we just confirmed the stimulation of apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects as the main anti-Toxoplasma mechanisms of α-pinene; however, more surveys concerning the accurate mechanisms, toxicity, and efficacy on other T. gondii strains are required to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Kharazmkia
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Hiba Riyadh Al-Abodi
- Department of Environment, College of Science, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq
| | - Javad Ghasemian Yadegari
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Ashkan Vahidi
- Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Hossein Mahmoudvand
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
- Molecular and Cellular Research Laboratory, School of Allied Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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14
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Cherkasova V, Wang B, Gerasymchuk M, Fiselier A, Kovalchuk O, Kovalchuk I. Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids for Treatment of Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5142. [PMID: 36291926 PMCID: PMC9600568 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14205142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an ancient homeostasis mechanism operating from embryonic stages to adulthood. It controls the growth and development of many cells and cell lineages. Dysregulation of the components of the ECS may result in uncontrolled proliferation, adhesion, invasion, inhibition of apoptosis and increased vascularization, leading to the development of various malignancies. Cancer is the disease of uncontrolled cell division. In this review, we will discuss whether the changes to the ECS are a cause or a consequence of malignization and whether different tissues react differently to changes in the ECS. We will discuss the potential use of cannabinoids for treatment of cancer, focusing on primary outcome/care-tumor shrinkage and eradication, as well as secondary outcome/palliative care-improvement of life quality, including pain, appetite, sleep, and many more factors. Finally, we will complete this review with the chapter on sex- and gender-specific differences in ECS and response to cannabinoids, and equality of the access to treatments with cannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoriia Cherkasova
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Marta Gerasymchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Anna Fiselier
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
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15
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Vukic MD, Obradovic AD, Vukovic NL, Kačániová M, Djurdjevic PM, Djelic GT, Matic MM. Chemical Composition, Antitumor Potential, and Impact on Redox Homeostasis of the Essential Oils of Orlaya grandiflora from Two Climate Localities. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27185908. [PMID: 36144644 PMCID: PMC9504480 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27185908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that abiotic components can affect biosynthetic pathways in the production of certain volatile compounds. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from Orlaya grandiflora (L.) Hoffm. collected from two localities in Serbia (continental climate, OG1) and Montenegro (Mediterranean climate, OG2) and to assess their antitumor potential on the human colon cancer HCT-116 and breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines. EOs obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed using GC-MS and GC-FID methods. The results indicate considerable differences in the chemical compositions of the two samples. Although in both samples the main class of volatiles observed was sesquiterpenes (47.5% for OG1 and 70.1% for OG2), the OG1 sample was characterized by a high amount of monoterpene hydrocarbons (29.3%), and sesquiterpene germacrene D (29.5%) as the most abundant compound. On the other hand, the OG2 sample contained a high quantity of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (20.6%), and β-elemene (22.7%) was the major constituent. The possible antitumor mechanisms of these EOs in the HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were examined by means of cell viability, apoptosis, redox potential, and migratory capacity. The antiviability potential appeared to be dose dependent, since the results showed that both EOs decreased the viability of the tested cells. Stronger antitumor effects were shown in MDA-MB-231 cells after short-term treatment, especially at the highest applied concentration, where the percentage of viability was reduced by over 40%. All tested concentrations of EOs exhibited proapoptotic activity and elevated activity of caspase-3 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The results also showed decreased concentrations of superoxide anion radical in the treated cells, which indicates their significant antioxidative role. Long-term treatments showed mild recovery effects on cell viability in both cell lines, probably caused by the balancing of redox homeostasis. Elevated levels of nitrites indicate high levels of nitric oxide (NO) production and suggest its higher bioavailability due to the antioxidative environment. The tested EOs also induced a drop in migratory capacity, especially after short-time treatments. Taken together, these results suggest considerable antitumor activity of both EOs, which could have potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena D. Vukic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Ana D. Obradovic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Nenad L. Vukovic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Correspondence:
| | - Miroslava Kačániová
- Institute of Horticulture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia
- Department of Bioenergy, Food Technology and Microbiology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Rzeszow, 4 Zelwerowicza St, 35601 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Predrag M. Djurdjevic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic for Hematology Clinical Center Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Gorica T. Djelic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Milos M. Matic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
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Role of Natural Compounds and Target Enzymes in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134175. [PMID: 35807418 PMCID: PMC9268689 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurological condition. The rising prevalence of AD necessitates the rapid development of efficient therapy options. Despite substantial study, only a few medications are capable of delaying the disease. Several substances with pharmacological activity, derived from plants, have been shown to have positive benefits for the treatment of AD by targeting various enzymes, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), β-secretase, γ-secretase, and monoamine oxidases (MAOs), which are discussed as potential targets. Medicinal plants have already contributed a number of lead molecules to medicine development, with many of them currently undergoing clinical trials. A variety of medicinal plants have been shown to diminish the degenerative symptoms associated with AD, either in their raw form or as isolated compounds. The aim of this review was to provide a brief summary of AD and its current therapies, followed by a discussion of the natural compounds examined as therapeutic agents and the processes underlying the positive effects, particularly the management of AD.
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A Narrative Review of the Antitumor Activity of Monoterpenes from Essential Oils: An Update. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:6317201. [PMID: 35655488 PMCID: PMC9155973 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6317201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Monoterpenes are a group of natural products that have been widely studied due to their therapeutic potential against various pathologies. These compounds are abundant in the chemical composition of essential oils. Cancer is a term that covers more than 100 different types of malignant diseases and is among the leading causes of death in the world. Therefore, the search for new pharmacotherapeutic options applicable to cancer is urgent. In this review, studies on the antitumor activity of monoterpenes found in essential oils were selected, and botanical, chemical, and pharmacological aspects were discussed. The most investigated monoterpenes were carvacrol and linalool with highly significant in vitro and in vivo tumor inhibition in several types of cancers. The action mechanisms of these natural products are also presented and are wildly varied being apoptosis the most prevalent followed by cell cycle impairment, ROS production, autophagy, necroptosis, and others. The studies reported here confirm the antitumor properties of monoterpenes and their anticancer potential against various types of tumors, as demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo studies using various types of cancer cells and tumors in animal models. The data described serve as a reference for the advancement in the mechanistic studies of these compounds and in the preparation of synthetic derivatives or analogues with a better antitumor profile.
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Essential Oils, Phytoncides, Aromachology, and Aromatherapy—A Review. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12094495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Chemical compounds from plants have been used as a medicinal source for various diseases. Aromachology is a unique field that studies the olfactory effects after inhaling aromatic compounds. Aromatherapy is a complementary treatment methodology involving the use of essential oils containing phytoncides and other volatile organic compounds for various physical and mental illnesses. Phytoncides possess an inherent medicinal property. Their health benefits range from treating stress, immunosuppression, blood pressure, respiratory diseases, anxiety, and pain to anti-microbial, anti-larvicidal, anti-septic, anti-cancer effects, etc. Recent advancements in aromatherapy include forest bathing or forest therapy. The inhalation of phytoncide-rich forest air has been proven to reduce stress-induced immunosuppression, normalize immune function and neuroendocrine hormone levels, and, thus, restore physiological and psychological health. The intricate mechanisms related to how aroma converts into olfactory signals and how the olfactory signals relieve physical and mental illness still pose enormous questions and are the subject of ongoing research. Aromatherapy using the aroma of essential oils/phytoncides could be more innovative and attractive to patients. Moreover, with fewer side effects, this field might be recognized as a new field of complementary medicine in alleviating some forms of physical and mental distress. Essential oils are important assets in aromatherapy, cosmetics, and food preservatives. The use of essential oils as an aromatherapeutic agent is widespread. Detailed reports on the effects of EOs in aromatherapy and their pharmacological effects are required to uncover its complete biological mechanism. This review is about the evolution of research related to phytoncides containing EOs in treating various ailments and provides comprehensive details from complementary medicine.
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Kim SH, Lee YC. Plant-Derived Nanoscale-Encapsulated Antioxidants for Oral and Topical Uses: A Brief Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073638. [PMID: 35409001 PMCID: PMC8998173 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Several plant-based nanoscale-encapsulated antioxidant compounds (rutin, myricetin, β-carotene, fisetin, lycopene, quercetin, genkwanin, lutein, resveratrol, eucalyptol, kaempferol, glabridin, pinene, and whole-plant bio-active compounds) are briefly introduced in this paper, along with their characteristics. Antioxidants’ bioavailability has become one of the main research topics in bio-nanomedicine. Two low patient compliance drug delivery pathways (namely, the oral and topical delivery routes), are described in detail in this paper, for nanoscale colloidal systems and gel formulations. Both routes and/or formulations seek to improve bioavailability and maximize the drug agents’ efficiency. Some well-known compounds have been robustly studied, but many remain elusive. The objective of this review is to discuss recent studies and advantages of nanoscale formulations of plant-derived antioxidant compounds.
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20
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Li C, Cai Q, Wu X, Tan Z, Huang S, Wei C, Zhang W, Chen Z, Zhang L, Xiang H. Variation in compositions and biological activities of essential oils from four Citrus species: Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Citrus paradisi, and Citrus reticulata. Chem Biodivers 2022; 19:e202100910. [PMID: 35143705 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202100910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Species of the genus Citrus are cultivated in many regions of China and are widely used for medicinal purposes. In the present study, essential oils (EOs) were extracted from four different Citrus species using steam distillation. The chemical components of these four essential oils were separated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 56 compounds were confirmed. D-limonene was found to be the most abundant compound. All four essential oils demonstrated varied but remarkable radical scavenging capacity (IC50; 0.77-13.9%). Citrus paradisi essential oil exhibited excellent antioxidant activity. Compared to ibuprofen, topical application of the four Citrus spp. essential oils significantly inhibited ear edema formation in mice. Furthermore, essential oils from the four Citrus species reduced the expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear transcription factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB) to different degrees. The cytotoxicity of the four essential oils on BV2 microglial cells was determined using the MTT assay (IC50; 321.37-1558.87 μg/mL), wherein Citrus limon essential oil showed the lowest cytotoxicity. The essential oils of Citrus limon, Citrus reticulata, and Citrus paradisi had an inhibitory effect on the lung cancer cell line H1299 by inducing a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Cluster and principal component analyses were used to determine the relationship among the Citrus species. These results suggest that the four Citrus essential oils have potential for use as active ingredients in functional foods or cosmeceutical products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlian Li
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Qiuyang Cai
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Xianyi Wu
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Zekai Tan
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Shiyuan Huang
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Chuqi Wei
- Guangdong University of Technology - University Town Campus: Guangdong University of Technology, School of Materials and Energ, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, PR China, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Weicheng Zhang
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Zhuoyu Chen
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Lanyue Zhang
- Guangdong University of Technology, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, 510006, Guangzhou, CHINA
| | - Hongping Xiang
- Guangdong University of Technology School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, 100 Huanxi Road, University City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, CHINA
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21
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Khajehdehi M, Khalaj-Kondori M, Baradaran B. Molecular evidences on anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and memory-boosting effects of frankincense. Phytother Res 2022; 36:1194-1215. [PMID: 35142408 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chemical diversity of natural products with drug-like features has attracted much attention from medicine to develop more safe and effective drugs. Their anti-inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, and other therapeutic properties are sometimes more successful than chemical drugs in controlling disease due to fewer drug resistance and side effects and being more tolerable in a long time. Frankincense, the oleo gum resin extracted from the Boswellia species, contains some of these chemicals. The anti-inflammatory effect of its main ingredient, boswellic acid, has been traditionally used to treat many diseases, mainly those target memory functions. In this review, we have accumulated research evidence from the beneficial effect of Frankincense consumption in memory improvement and the prevention of inflammation and cancer. Besides, we have discussed the molecular pathways mediating the therapeutic effects of this natural supplement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Khajehdehi
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khalaj-Kondori
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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22
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Azani H, Homayouni Tabrizi M, Neamati A, Khadem F, Khatamian N. The Ferula Assa-foetida Essential Oil Nanoemulsion (FAEO-NE) as the Selective, Apoptotic, and Anti-Angiogenic Anticancer Compound in Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells and Murine Mammary Tumor Models. Nutr Cancer 2021; 74:2196-2206. [PMID: 34607477 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1985533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Ferula assa-foetida (FA) is the healthy common-consumed anticancer beverage in Iranian folk medicine. In the current study, we aimed to produce a nanoemulsion-based drug delivery system containing FA essential oil (FAEO) and evaluate its antioxidant and anticancer activity on both MCF-7 cells and murine mammary cancer tissue. The FAEO-loaded nanoemulsion (FAEO-NE) was produced and characterized by DLS, TEM, FTIR, and Zeta potential analysis. Radical (ABTS and DPPH) scavenging activity, cytotoxic, apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic potentials of the FAEO-NE were studied by applying antioxidant (ABTS-DPPH), MTT, AO/PI cell staining, and Q-PCR analysis. Finally, its anti-tumor impact was evaluated on murine mammary tumor models. The FAEO-NE exhibited a meaningful antioxidant activity. Also, its significant cell-selective cytotoxic, apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic impacts on MCF-7 cancer cells indicated its anticancer potential. Moreover, the progressive destruction of the murine mammary glands cancer tissue confirmed their anticancer activity. Regarding the FAEO-NE cell-selective cytotoxic, apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic activity on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, it has the potential to be studied as a safe efficient anti-breast cancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanieh Azani
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Ali Neamati
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Niloufar Khatamian
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
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23
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Allenspach M, Steuer C. α-Pinene: A never-ending story. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 190:112857. [PMID: 34365295 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
α-Pinene represents a member of the monoterpene class and is highly distributed in higher plants like conifers, Juniper ssp. and Cannabis ssp. α-Pinene has been used to treat respiratory tract infections for centuries. Furthermore, it plays a crucial role in the fragrance and flavor industry. In vitro assays have shown an enantioselective profile of (+)- and (-)-α-pinene for antibacterial and insecticidal activity, respectively. Recent research has used pre-validated biological structures to synthesize new chemical entities with pharmacological and herbicidal activities. In summary, this review focuses on recent literature covering synthetic pathways of flavor compounds and scaffold hopping based on the α-pinene core domaine, as well as the (enantioselective) activities of α-pinene. Recent approaches for authenticity control of essential oils based on their enantiomeric profile are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Allenspach
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Steuer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
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24
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Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Leaves of Two Specimens of Eugenia florida DC. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26195848. [PMID: 34641394 PMCID: PMC8512050 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Eugenia florida DC. belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which is present in almost all of Brazil. This species is popularly known as pitanga-preta or guamirim and is used in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal problems. In this study, two specimens of Eugenia florida (Efl) were collected in different areas of the same region. Specimen A (EflA) was collected in an area of secondary forest (capoeira), while specimen B (EflB) was collected in a floodplain area. The essential oils (EOs) were extracted from both specimens of Eugenia florida by means of hydrodistillation. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify the volatile compounds present, and the antioxidant capacity of the EOs was determined by antioxidant capacity (AC-DPPH) and the Trolox equivalent antioxidant (TEAC) assay. For E. florida, limonene (11.98%), spathulenol (10.94%) and α-pinene (5.21%) were identified as the main compounds of the EO extracted from sample A, while sample B comprised selina-3,11-dien-6α-ol (12.03%), eremoligenol (11.0%) and γ-elemene (10.70%). This difference in chemical composition impacted the antioxidant activity of the EOs between the studied samples, especially in sample B of E. florida. This study is the first to report on the antioxidant activity of Eugenia florida DC. essential oils.
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25
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Kim MH, Lee SM, An KW, Lee MJ, Park DH. Usage of Natural Volatile Organic Compounds as Biological Modulators of Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179421. [PMID: 34502333 PMCID: PMC8430758 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants produce a wide variety of natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs), many of which are unique to each species. These compounds serve many purposes, such as fending off herbivores and adapting to changes in temperature and water supply. Interestingly, although NVOCs are synthesized to deter herbivores, many of these compounds have been found to possess several therapeutic qualities, such as promoting nerve stability, enhancing sleep, and suppressing hyperresponsiveness, in addition to acting as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Therefore, many NVOCs are promising drug candidates for disease treatment and prevention. Given their volatile nature, these compounds can be administered to patients through inhalation, which is often more comfortable and convenient than other administration routes. However, the development of NVOC-based drug candidates requires a careful evaluation of the molecular mechanisms that drive their therapeutic properties to avoid potential adverse effects. Furthermore, even compounds that appear generally safe might have toxic effects depending on their dose, and therefore their toxicological assessment is also critical. In order to enhance the usage of NVOCs this short review focuses not only on the biological activities and therapeutic mode of action of representative NVOCs but also their toxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Hee Kim
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju 58245, Korea;
| | - Seung-Min Lee
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea;
| | - Ki-Wan An
- Department of Forest Resources, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea;
| | - Min-Jae Lee
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea;
- Correspondence: (M.-J.L.); (D.-H.P.)
| | - Dae-Hun Park
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju 58245, Korea;
- Correspondence: (M.-J.L.); (D.-H.P.)
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26
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Huang NC, Huang RL, Huang XF, Chang KF, Lee CJ, Hsiao CY, Lee SC, Tsai NM. Evaluation of anticancer effects of Juniperus communis extract on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:BSR20211143. [PMID: 34151367 PMCID: PMC8276093 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20211143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and accounts for the fourth leading cause of all cancer deaths. Scientific evidence has found that plant extracts seem to be a reliable choice due to their multitarget effects against HCC. Juniperus communis has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and its anticancer properties have been reported. As a result, the purpose of the study was to investigate the anticancer effect and mechanism of J. communis extract (JCo extract) on HCC in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we found that JCo extract inhibited the growth of human HCC cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, extensive apoptosis and suppressing metastatic protein expressions in HCC cells. Moreover, the combinational treatment of JCo and VP-16 was found to enhance the anticancer effect, revealing that JCo extract might have the potential to be utilized as an adjuvant to promote HCC treatment. Furthermore, in vivo study, JCo extract significantly suppressed HCC tumor growth and extended the lifespan with no or low systemic and pathological toxicity. JCo extract significantly up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and tumor suppressor p53, suppressed VEGF/VEGFR autocrine signaling, down-regulated cell cycle regulatory proteins and MMP2/MMP9 proteins. Overall, our results provide a basis for exploiting JCo extract as a potential anticancer agent against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan-Chieh Huang
- Department of Information Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Division of Family Medicine, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81342, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Ru-Lai Huang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi 60002, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Xiao-Fan Huang
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Kai-Fu Chang
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chien-Ju Lee
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chih-Yen Hsiao
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi 60002, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Shan-Chih Lee
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Department of Medical Imaging, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Nu-Man Tsai
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C
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27
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Pocasap P, Nonpunya A, Weerapreeyakul N. Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon induces apoptotic cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell via intrinsic pathway by PARP and Topoisomerase I suppression. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 139:111628. [PMID: 33940508 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (PK), widely found in Southeast Asia, has been traditionally used for the treatment of several illnesses. Our previous studies showed that PK was highly cytotoxicity against liver cancer cells. The detailed mechanism of anticancer action of 50% hydro-ethanolic extract of PK's twig was, therefore, investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Cytotoxicity of PK was determined by using NR assay, followed by determination of the mode of cell death by flow cytometry. The apoptosis-inducing effect was determined based on caspases activity, mitochondria membrane potential change, and expression of proteins related to apoptosis by western blot. The biomolecular alteration in the PK-treated HepG2 cells was investigated by FTIR microspectroscopy. Inhibition of topoisomerase I enzyme was determined by using DNA relaxation assay. Results showed that PK displayed high selective cytotoxicity and induced apoptosis against HepG2. FTIR microspectroscopy indicated that PK altered major biomolecules in HepG2 different from melphalan (a positive control), indicating a different mechanism of anticancer action. PK induced apoptotic cell death through the intrinsic pathway by increasing caspases 9 and 3/7 activity, increasing Bax, and decreasing Bcl-2 expression leading to mitochondrial membrane potential changes. PK also inhibited Top I and PARP activity that triggered an intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The phytochemical test presented terpenoids (i.e., α-pinene confirmed by GC-MS), alkaloids, steroids, xanthone, reducing sugar, and saponin. α-Pinene exhibited low cytotoxicity against HepG2, therefore, several terpene derivatives may work synergistically for inducing apoptosis. Our data demonstrated that PK has the potential for further study with chemotherapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piman Pocasap
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 40002, Thailand; Research Institute for Human High Performance and Health Promotion, Khon Kaen University, 40002, Thailand.
| | - Apiyada Nonpunya
- Merz Healthcare (Thailand) Company Limited, Bangkok 10110 Thailand.
| | - Natthida Weerapreeyakul
- Research Institute for Human High Performance and Health Promotion, Khon Kaen University, 40002, Thailand; Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
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28
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Salas-Oropeza J, Jimenez-Estrada M, Perez-Torres A, Castell-Rodriguez AE, Becerril-Millan R, Rodriguez-Monroy MA, Jarquin-Yañez K, Canales-Martinez MM. Wound Healing Activity of α-Pinene and α-Phellandrene. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092488. [PMID: 33923276 PMCID: PMC8123182 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bursera morelensis is used in Mexican folk medicine to treat wounds on the skin. Recently, it was shown that the essential oil (EO) of B. morelensis has wound healing activity, accelerating cutaneous wound closure and generating scars with good tensile strength. α-pinene (PIN) and α-phellandrene (FEL) are terpenes that have been found in this EO, and it has been shown in different studies that both have anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to determine the wound healing activity of these two terpenes. The results of in vitro tests demonstrate that PIN and FEL are not cytotoxic at low concentrations and that they do not stimulate fibroblast cell proliferation. In vivo tests showed that the terpenes produce stress-resistant scars and accelerate wound contraction, due to collagen deposition from the early stages, in wounds treated with both terpenes. Therefore, we conclude that both α-pinene and α-phellandrene promote the healing process; this confirms the healing activity of the EO of B. morelensis, since having these terpenes as part of its chemical composition explains part of its demonstrated activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Salas-Oropeza
- Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, UBIPRO Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, 54108 Tlalnepantla, Mexico; (J.S.-O.); (R.B.-M.)
| | - Manuel Jimenez-Estrada
- Instituto de Quimica, UNAM, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 02860 D.F., Mexico;
| | - Armando Perez-Torres
- Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 02860 D.F., Mexico; (A.P.-T.); (A.E.C.-R.); (K.J.-Y.)
| | - Andres Eliu Castell-Rodriguez
- Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 02860 D.F., Mexico; (A.P.-T.); (A.E.C.-R.); (K.J.-Y.)
| | - Rodolfo Becerril-Millan
- Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, UBIPRO Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, 54108 Tlalnepantla, Mexico; (J.S.-O.); (R.B.-M.)
| | | | - Katia Jarquin-Yañez
- Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 02860 D.F., Mexico; (A.P.-T.); (A.E.C.-R.); (K.J.-Y.)
| | - Maria Margarita Canales-Martinez
- Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, UBIPRO Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, 54108 Tlalnepantla, Mexico; (J.S.-O.); (R.B.-M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-55-2-769-21-73; Fax: +52-55-5-623-12-25
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29
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Park BB, An JY, Park SU. Recent studies on pinene and its biological and pharmacological activities. EXCLI JOURNAL 2021; 20:812-818. [PMID: 34177404 PMCID: PMC8222632 DOI: 10.17179/excli2021-3714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Byung Bae Park
- Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Ji Young An
- Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Sang Un Park
- Department of Crop Science and Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
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30
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Gîrd CE, Costea T, Mitran V. Evaluation of cytotoxic activity and anticancer potential of indigenous Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) dry extracts on MG-63 bone osteosarcoma human cell line. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY = REVUE ROUMAINE DE MORPHOLOGIE ET EMBRYOLOGIE 2021; 62:525-535. [PMID: 35024741 PMCID: PMC8848263 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.62.2.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to investigate the cytotoxic activity of indigenous Rosemary and Oregano freeze-dried extracts upon MG-63 osteosarcoma human cell line. We have determined the influence of analyzed dry extracts on cell morphology, cell survival and cell proliferation. The evaluation of dry extracts effect upon cell proliferation and viability was assessed by means of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. For cytotoxicity evaluation, Live & Dead and lactate dehydrogenase assays have been used. To further investigate the potential anticancer effect, we have studied the influence of dry extracts upon cells, by means of caspase-3/7 assay and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. Cells were incubated with extracts in the following concentration range (100–700 μg/mL) for 24 hours. According to our results, both dry extracts have shown cytotoxic effects by means of all used methods. Bone osteosarcoma cells viability significantly decreased with increasing concentration of analyzed extracts (beyond 300 μg/mL for Rosemary dry extract and only at 700 μg/mL for Oregano dry extract). According to our results, apoptosis is one of the main mechanisms involved in the cytotoxic properties of analyzed extracts. Moreover, Rosemary extract has also shown decreased expression of PCNA, when compared to control (untreated cells). Both extracts were standardized in phenolic compounds (being a rich source of flavones and phenolcarboxylic acids), so we assume that these are the main constituents involved in the cytotoxic effect. Still, further preclinical studies are needed to confirm the antitumor properties and to go deeply in the molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cerasela Elena Gîrd
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania;
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31
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α-Pinene Enhances the Anticancer Activity of Natural Killer Cells via ERK/AKT Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020656. [PMID: 33440866 PMCID: PMC7826552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that can directly destroy cancer cells. When NK cells are activated, CD56 and CD107a markers are able to recognize cancer cells and release perforin and granzyme B proteins that induce apoptosis in the targeted cells. In this study, we focused on the role of phytoncides in activating NK cells and promoting anticancer effects. We tested the effects of several phytoncide compounds on NK-92mi cells and demonstrated that α-pinene treatment exhibited higher anticancer effects, as observed by the increased levels of perforin, granzyme B, CD56 and CD107a. Furthermore, α-pinene treatment in NK-92mi cells increased NK cell cytotoxicity in two different cell lines, and immunoblot assays revealed that the ERK/AKT pathway is involved in NK cell cytotoxicity in response to phytoncides. Furthermore, CT-26 colon cancer cells were allografted subcutaneously into BALB/c mice, and α-pinene treatment then inhibited allografted tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate that α-pinene activates NK cells and increases NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting it is a potential compound for cancer immunotherapy.
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32
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Almnhawy M, Jebur M, Alhajamee M, Marai K, Tabrizi MH. PLGA-Based Nano-Encapsulation of Trachyspermum Ammi Seed Essential Oil (TSEO-PNP) as a Safe, Natural, Efficient, Anticancer Compound in Human HT-29 Colon Cancer Cell Line. Nutr Cancer 2020; 73:2808-2820. [PMID: 33319599 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1862256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is a lethal and commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. To halt its burden more efficient targeted strategies are needed. Trachyspermum ammi seed essential oil (TSEO) contains several anticancer phytochemicals that maybe more effective via PLGA-based nano-encapsulation. TSEO-PNP nanoparticles were synthesized utilizing evaporation and ultra-sonication-based emulsification methods. Their size, morphology, and stability were defined by DLS, SEM, and surface zeta-potential data, respectively. The TSEO-PNP antioxidant apoptotic, cytotoxic, and antiangiogenic impacts on both cell lines (HT-29 and HUVEC) were studied by FRAP/ABTS, Q-PCR, MTT, and CAM assays, respectively. Moreover, further confirmatory measurements such as AO/EB fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis were performed to verify apoptosis. Stable (-32.42 mV) 206.21-nm TSEO-PNP induced apoptosis in the HT-29 cells. Apoptosis was confirmed by significant overexpression of apoptotic genes (Cas-9 and BAX), down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic (BCL-2) gene, fluorescent AO/EB staining, and flow cytometry data following increased TSEO-PNP treatment doses. TSEO-PNP exhibited a meaningful dose- and time-dependent cancer-specific cytotoxic impact on HT-29 cells. The TSEO-PNP has three main anticancer activities on HT-29 colon cancer cells including oxidant reduction, apoptosis induction, and angiogenesis suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mokhalad Almnhawy
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammed Jebur
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maitham Alhajamee
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Khadeeja Marai
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
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33
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Antioxidant Molecules from Plant Waste: Extraction Techniques and Biological Properties. Processes (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/pr8121566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The fruit, vegetable, legume, and cereal industries generate many wastes, representing an environmental pollution problem. However, these wastes are a rich source of antioxidant molecules such as terpenes, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and bioactive peptides with potential applications mainly in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and they exhibit multiple biological properties including antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, anticancer, and antibacterial properties. The aforementioned has increased studies on the recovery of antioxidant compounds using green technologies to value plant waste, since they represent more efficient and sustainable processes. In this review, the main antioxidant molecules from plants are briefly described and the advantages and disadvantages of the use of conventional and green extraction technologies used for the recovery and optimization of the yield of antioxidant naturals are detailed; finally, recent studies on biological properties of antioxidant molecules extracted from plant waste are presented here.
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34
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Anti-Cancer Potential of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids Present in Cannabis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071985. [PMID: 32708138 PMCID: PMC7409346 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, and even more since its legalization in several jurisdictions, cannabis and the endocannabinoid system have received an increasing amount of interest related to their potential exploitation in clinical settings. Cannabinoids have been suggested and shown to be effective in the treatment of various conditions. In cancer, the endocannabinoid system is altered in numerous types of tumours and can relate to cancer prognosis and disease outcome. Additionally, cannabinoids display anticancer effects in several models by suppressing the proliferation, migration and/or invasion of cancer cells, as well as tumour angiogenesis. However, the therapeutic use of cannabinoids is currently limited to the treatment of symptoms and pain associated with chemotherapy, while their potential use as cytotoxic drugs in chemotherapy still requires validation in patients. Along with cannabinoids, cannabis contains several other compounds that have also been shown to exert anti-tumorigenic actions. The potential anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, present in cannabis, are explored in this literature review.
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Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae) Rhizome Essential Oil Causes Cell Cycle Arrest in the G 2/M Phase and Cell Death in HepG2 Cells and Inhibits the Development of Tumors in a Xenograft Model. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25112687. [PMID: 32527068 PMCID: PMC7321242 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae), popularly known in Brazil as “priprioca” or “piriprioca”, is a tropical and subtropical plant used in popular medical practices to treat many diseases, including cancer. In this study, C. articulatus rhizome essential oil (EO), collected from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, was addressed in relation to its chemical composition, induction of cell death in vitro and inhibition of tumor development in vivo, using human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells as a cell model. EO was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and characterized qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), respectively. The cytotoxic activity of EO was examined against five cancer cell lines (HepG2, HCT116, MCF-7, HL-60 and B16-F10) and one non-cancerous one (MRC-5) using the Alamar blue assay. Cell cycle distribution and cell death were investigated using flow cytometry in HepG2 cells treated with EO after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. The cells were also stained with May–Grunwald–Giemsa to analyze the morphological changes. The anti-liver-cancer activity of EO in vivo was evaluated in C.B-17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with HepG2 cell xenografts. The main representative substances of this EO sample were muskatone (11.6%), cyclocolorenone (10.3%), α-pinene (8.26%), pogostol (6.36%), α-copaene (4.83%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.82%). EO showed IC50 values for cancer cell lines ranging from 28.5 µg/mL for HepG2 to >50 µg/mL for HCT116, and an IC50 value for non-cancerous of 46.0 µg/mL (MRC-5), showing selectivity indices below 2-fold for all cancer cells tested. HepG2 cells treated with EO showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M along with internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The morphological alterations included cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. Treatment with EO also increased the percentage of apoptotic-like cells. The in vivo tumor mass inhibition rates of EO were 46.5–50.0%. The results obtained indicate the anti-liver-cancer potential of C. articulatus rhizome EO.
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Yousefian Rad E, Homayouni Tabrizi M, Ardalan P, Seyedi SMR, Yadamani S, Zamani-Esmati P, Haghani Sereshkeh N. Citrus lemon essential oil nanoemulsion (CLEO-NE), a safe cell-depended apoptosis inducer in human A549 lung cancer cells with anti-angiogenic activity. J Microencapsul 2020; 37:394-402. [PMID: 32400238 DOI: 10.1080/02652048.2020.1767223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Aims: Citrus lemon essential oil (CLEO) has been introduced as a strong antioxidant mixture. However, it is not efficient enough due to its hydrophobic nature. Nanoemulsions improve the drugs' bio-compatibility in aqueous conditions.Methods: The CLEO nanoemulsion (CLEO-NE) was formulated by ultrasound-based-emulsification and they were characterised. The anti-angiogenic and antioxidant activities were studied by the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and antioxidant (ABTS and DPPH) assays, respectively. Finally, the apoptotic property of CLEO-NE on both HFF and A549 was evaluated by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay and real time-PCR (measuring Cas-3 gene expression).Results: The 30.2-nm CLEO-NE droplets significantly increased Cas-3 in A549 cells and decreased angiogenesis in chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (p < 0.01).Conclusion: In conclusion, CLEO-NE has the potential to be used as a safe cell-depended anticancer agent for human lung cancer. However, further genes and cell lines have to be studied to clarify its targeted-anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Yousefian Rad
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Pouran Ardalan
- Department of Chemistry, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Reza Seyedi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Samira Yadamani
- Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
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Terpenoids, Cannabimimetic Ligands, beyond the Cannabis Plant. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25071567. [PMID: 32235333 PMCID: PMC7181184 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25071567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicinal use of Cannabis sativa L. has an extensive history and it was essential in the discovery of phytocannabinoids, including the Cannabis major psychoactive compound—Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)—as well as the G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors (CBR), named cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1R) and cannabinoid receptor type-2 (CB2R), both part of the now known endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabinoids is a vast term that defines several compounds that have been characterized in three categories: (i) endogenous, (ii) synthetic, and (iii) phytocannabinoids, and are able to modulate the CBR and ECS. Particularly, phytocannabinoids are natural terpenoids or phenolic compounds derived from Cannabis sativa. However, these terpenoids and phenolic compounds can also be derived from other plants (non-cannabinoids) and still induce cannabinoid-like properties. Cannabimimetic ligands, beyond the Cannabis plant, can act as CBR agonists or antagonists, or ECS enzyme inhibitors, besides being able of playing a role in immune-mediated inflammatory and infectious diseases, neuroinflammatory, neurological, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in cancer, and autoimmunity by itself. In this review, we summarize and critically highlight past, present, and future progress on the understanding of the role of cannabinoid-like molecules, mainly terpenes, as prospective therapeutics for different pathological conditions.
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