Antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials of methanol extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich in PC-3 and LNCaP cells

Agro-morphological characterization and assessment of metabolic profiling and anticancer activities in various tribulus (Tribulus terrestris L.) populations

Tribulus terrestris L. from the family of Zygophyllaceae, which is rich in saponin compounds, especially diosgenin, has various biological properties, such as anti-inflammation, anti-Alzheimer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-leukemia, and anti-cancer activities, due to these compounds. This research aimed to study the diversity of agro-morphological and phytochemical traits and anti-proliferative activity against human prostate cancer cells (PC3) of T. terrestris collected from 24 geographical regions in Iran and to select the superior populations for future domestication and breeding projects. The highest coefficient of variations was related to the fruit dry weight (104.77%), shoot dry weight (104.62%), and leaf dry weight (99.83%). Maximum plant height (113.96 cm), leaf length (49.39 mm), leaf width (23.48 mm), fruit diameter (11.42 mm), and fruit dry weight (34.11 g/plant) were recorded in SBU population. Gallic acid, 3.4dhb, rutin, salicylic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumarin, ferulic acid, and rosmarinic acid were identified as the main phenolic compounds by HPLC. The highest total saponin content was observed in the RAF population (9.46 µg OCE/g DW) and the lowest in the KER population (4.75 µg OCE/g DW). The minimum (0.65 mg/g DW) and maximum (7.49 mg/g DW) diosgenin content was observed in KHA and PAN populations, respectively. The results of the MTT assay demonstrated the significant anti-proliferative activity of the T. terrestris extracts against the PC3 cancer cell line. IC50 calculated for the T. terrestris extracts in the 24-h treatment was from 15.02 to 27.11 µg/ml, implying that all samples had considerable cytotoxicity activity against the PC3 cells. The diversity observed among the T. terrestris populations in the studied traits shows its high potential for selecting and using the best populations in domestication, breeding, and cultivation projects.

Antitumor activity of essential oils-based nanostructured lipid carriers on prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent malignancy in men worldwide. Essential oils (EOs) are natural products which can act in cancer suppression by several mechanisms. In this work, a nanotechnological approach was used to develop and evaluate the antineoplastic effects of EOs loaded by nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Three different NLC systems composed of cinnamon, sage or thyme EOs were optimized using factorial design (23). The optimal formulations were characterized in terms of biophysical parameters, structure, stability, in vivo safety and efficacy. All optimized NLC formulations exhibited excellent structural properties and stability over a year (25 °C). They proved to be in vitro and in vivo biocompatible on PNT2 normal prostate cells and on chicken embryos (CE), respectively. In PC3 PCa cells, optimized NLCs inhibited cell proliferation and migration and changed its morphology. In CE xenograft tumor, NLCs have inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis. The results from this work suggested that all developed EO-based NLC formulations had their stability improved while the biological activity remains unchanged.

Phytochemicals in Prostate Cancer: From Bioactive Molecules to Upcoming Therapeutic Agents

Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease, the second deadliest malignancy in men and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men. Traditional plants have been applied to handle various diseases and to develop new drugs. Medicinal plants are potential sources of natural bioactive compounds that include alkaloids, phenolic compounds, terpenes, and steroids. Many of these naturally-occurring bioactive constituents possess promising chemopreventive properties. In this sense, the aim of the present review is to provide a detailed overview of the role of plant-derived phytochemicals in prostate cancers, including the contribution of plant extracts and its corresponding isolated compounds.

Fruits as Prospective Reserves of bioactive Compounds: A Review

Bioactive natural products have always played a significant role as novel therapeutical agents irrespective of their source of origin. They have a profound effect on human health by both direct and indirect means and also possess immense medicinal properties. Fruit species are largely appreciated and highly consumed throughout the world. Epidemiologic information supports the association between high intake of fruits and low risk of chronic diseases. There are several biological reasons why the consumption of fruits might reduce or prevent chronic diseases. Fruits are rich sources of nutrients and energy, have vitamins, minerals, fiber and numerous other classes of biologically active compounds. Moreover, parts of the fruit crops like fruit peels, leaves and barks also possess medicinal properties and have been included in this review. The most important activities discussed in this review include antidiabetic, anticancer, antihypertensive, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, stimulation of the immune system, cell detoxification, cholesterol synthesis, anticonvulsant and their ability to lower blood pressure. Several phytochemicals involved in this context are described with special emphasis on their structural properties and their relativity with human diseases.