Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of Cyrtosperma johnstonii extracts on drug sensitive and resistant leukemia and small cell lung carcinoma cells

Hydrolyzed Flavonoids from Cyrtosperma johnstonii with Superior Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential for Cancer Prevention

Cyrtosperma johnstonii is one of the most interesting traditional medicines for cancer treatment. This study aimed to compare and combine the biological activities related to cancer prevention of the flavonoid glycosides rutin (RT) and isorhamnetin-3-o-rutinoside (IRR) and their hydrolysis products quercetin (QT) and isorhamnetin (IR) from C.johnstonii extract. ABTS and MTT assays were used to determine antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity against various cancer cells, as well as normal cells. Anti-inflammatory activities were measured by ELISA. The results showed that the antioxidant activities of the compounds decreased in the order of QT > IR > RT > IRR, while most leukemia cell lines were sensitive to QT and IR with low toxicity towards PBMCs. The reduction of IL-6 and IL-10 secretion by QT and IR was higher than that induced by RT and IRR. The combination of hydrolysis products (QT and IR) possessed a strong synergism in antioxidant, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects, whereas the combination of flavonoid glycosides and their hydrolysis products revealed antagonism. These results suggest that the potential of the combination of hydrolyzed flavonoids from C. johnstonii can be considered as natural compounds for the prevention of cancer.

Molecular mechanisms of anticancer effect of rutin

Because of the extensive biological functions of natural substances such as bioflavonoids, and their high safety and low costs, they could have high priority application in the health care system. The antioxidant properties of rutin, a polyphenolic bioflavonoid, have been well documented and demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological applications in cancer research. Since chemotherapeutic drugs have a wide range of side effects and rutin is a safe anticancer agent with minor side effects so recent investigations are performed for study of mechanisms of its anticancer effect. Both in-vivo and in-vitro examinations on anticancer mechanisms of this natural agent have been widely carried out. Regulation of different cellular signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, p53-independent pathway, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, MAPK, p53, apoptosis as well as NF-ĸB signaling pathways helps to mediate the anticancer impacts of this agent. This study tried to review the molecular mechanisms of rutin anticancer effect on various types of cancer. Deep exploration of these anticancer mechanisms can facilitate the development of this beneficial compound for its application in the treatment of different cancers.

Enhancement of aqueous solubility and antibiofilm activity of 4-allylpyrocatechol by polymeric micelles

4-Allylpyrocatechol (APC), a major active compound of Piper betle, possesses strong antimicrobial activity. However, the water-insoluble property of APC limits its clinical and pharmaceutical use. To solve this problem, APC loaded polymeric micelles (PMAC) was fabricated using the thin-film hydration method. Nanoparticles of PMAC were characterized using a photon correlation spectrophotometer and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Antibiofilm activity of PMAC was investigated using crystal violet assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Cytotoxic effects of PMAC on normal cells were investigated using MTT assay. The results demonstrate that a ratio of APC to the polymer plays an important role in the physicochemical characteristics of PMAC. The most suitable PMAC formulation having a small particle size (38.8 ± 1.4 nm), narrow size distribution (0.28 ± 0.10), a high negative zeta potential (- 16.43 ± 0.55 mV), and high entrapment efficiency (86.33 ± 14.27%) can be obtained from the ratio 1:4. The water solubility of this PMAC is significantly improved, approximately 1,000-fold higher than the unentrapped APC. TEM images demonstrate that PMAC is spherical in shape. The inhibitory effects of PMAC (1.5 mg APC/mL) against Streptococcus intermedius and Streptococcus mutans biofilms are significantly stronger than chlorhexidine (0.06 mg/mL). Images from CLSM demonstrate the destruction and thickness reduction of the pathogenic biofilms after contacting with PMAC. The MTT assay confirms that PMAC at this concentration is non-toxic to normal cells. These results obviously indicate that PMAC is a promising natural and harmless antimicrobial agent suitable for use in the oral cavity for inhibition of pathogenic bacterial biofilms.

A detailed image of rutin underlying intracellular signaling pathways in human SW480 colorectal cancer cells based on miRNAs-lncRNAs-mRNAs-TFs interactions

Natural dietary ingredients like flavonoids are important for body improvement against diseases. The flavonol rutin is widely found in fruits and vegetables and shows significant anticancer properties. However, the underlined signaling pathways have not been elucidated yet. In this study, the impacts of various doses of rutin (400-700 mM/ml) have been examined on human colon cancer SW480 cells metabolism, cell cycle, and apoptosis. The transcriptome was analyzed by bioinformatics tools and the interactions between rutin modulated microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and transcription factors (TFs) were built, filtered and enriched. A dose of 600 mM of rutin significantly decreased cells metabolic activity, halved the population and arrested the cell cycle at the sub-G1 phase. The enrichment analysis of miRNAs-lncRNAs-mRNAs-TFs network showed that these effects were mediated through alteration of glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism, modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress responses, negative regulation of cell cycle process, and inducing the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. Additionally, the key parent nodes of each annotation were illustrated. These findings create a detailed image of rutin underlying intracellular signaling pathways in CRC and also help us to better understand the role of dietary natural compounds in cancer treatment.

Characterization and Biological Properties of Zederone and Zedoarondiol from Rhizomes of En-Lueang (Curcuma cf. amada)

Curcuma cf. amada Roxb., also known as En-Lueang in Thailand, belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and grows from rhizomes. These rhizomes have been used in the Thai and Ayurveda systems of medicine. However, to our knowledge, no biologically active compounds isolated from En-Lueang have been reported. In this study, natural compounds were isolated from En-Lueang and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. The two isolated compounds were identified as zederone (1) and zedoarondiol (2) and their cytotoxicities against KG1a cells were investigated. The EtOH extract and EtOAc fraction showed stronger cytotoxic activity than n-hexane fraction against KG1a cells. In contrast, compound 1 showed strong cytotoxicity against KG1a cells, but low cytotoxicity toward normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Moreover, all the extracts and 1 had no effect on red blood cell hemolysis. The antioxidant properties of 1 were almost 2-fold higher than that of 2, in accordance with its total phenolic content of 8.8 mg/g, which is 2-fold higher than that of 2 (4.1 mg/g). In summary, two sesquiterpene compounds with leukemic cytotoxicity activity against the KG1a cell line were identified in En-Lueang extracts.

In vitro antibacterial activity and in vivo therapeutic effect of Sesbania grandiflora in bacterial infected silkworms

CONTEXT

Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem worldwide. Searching for new potential agents is, therefore, essential. The bark of Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. (Fabaceae) has been used in folk medicine against various diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the antibacterial activity of S. grandiflora bark and explore the therapeutic effect of the highest potent fraction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bacteria and healthy silkworms were exposed to three fractionated extracts (3.1-400 mg/mL) of S. grandiflora bark from hexane (HXF), chloroform (CFF), and ethyl acetate (EAF). The sets of bacteria were incubated at 37 °C while silkworms were kept at 27 °C for 24 h. To evaluate the therapeutic effect, silkworms infected with bacteria were exposed to the extracts (0.5-60 mg/mL) and incubated at 27 °C for 52 h. Qualitative analysis of the most potent extract was done using HPLC.

RESULTS

EAF showed the highest activity with MIC against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) of 1.6 and 0.4 mg/mL, respectively, and against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa of 6.2 and 3.1 mg/mL, respectively. It is nontoxic to silkworms with LC₅₀ >400 mg/mL and has high therapeutic effect on infected silkworms with EC₅₀ of 1.9 mg/mL. EAF consists of at least five major compounds, one of them is gallic acid. The activity of EAF is higher than the sum of individual activities of separated compounds.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

These results suggest that EAF is a promising antibacterial extract, suitable for further investigation in rodents infected with drug resistant bacteria.

Rhamnosidase activity of selected probiotics and their ability to hydrolyse flavonoid rhamnoglucosides

Bioavailability of flavonoids is low, especially when occurring as rhamnoglucosides. Thus, the hydrolysis of rutin, hesperidin, naringin and a mixture of narcissin and rutin (from Cyrtosperma johnstonii) by 14 selected probiotics was tested. All strains showed rhamnosidase activity as shown using 4-nitrophenyl α-l-rhamnopyranoside as a substrate. Hesperidin was hydrolysed by 8–27% after 4 and up to 80% after 10 days and narcissin to 14–56% after 4 and 25–97% after 10 days. Rutin was hardly hydrolysed with a conversion rate ranging from 0 to 5% after 10 days. In the presence of narcissin, the hydrolysis of rutin was increased indicating that narcissin acts as an inducer. The rhamnosidase activity as well as the ability to hydrolyse flavonoid rhamnoglucosides was highly strain specific. Naringin was not hydrolysed by rhamnosidase from probiotics, not even by the purified recombinant enzyme, only by fungal rhamnosidase. In conclusion, rhamnosidases from the tested probiotics are substrate specific cleaving hesperidin, narcissin and to a small extent rutin, but not naringin.

Stable curcumin-loaded polymeric micellar formulation for enhancing cellular uptake and cytotoxicity to FLT3 overexpressing EoL-1 leukemic cells

The present study aims to develop a stable polymeric micellar formulation of curcumin (CM) with improved solubility and stability, and that is suitable for clinical applications in leukemia patients. CM-loaded polymeric micelles (CM-micelles) were prepared using poloxamers. The chemical structure of the polymers influenced micellar properties. The best formulation of CM-micelles, namely CM-P407, was obtained from poloxamer 407 at drug to polymer ratio of 1:30 and rehydrated with phosphate buffer solution pH 7.4. CM-P407 exhibited the smallest size of 30.3±1.3nm and highest entrapment efficiency of 88.4±4.1%. When stored at -80°C for 60days, CM-P407 retained high protection of CM and had no significant size change. In comparison with CM solution in dimethyl sulfoxide (CM-DMSO), CM kinetic degradation in both formulations followed a pseudo-first-order reaction, but the half-life of CM in CM-P407 was approx. 200 times longer than in CM-DMSO. Regarding the activity against FLT3 overexpressing EoL-1 leukemic cells, CM-P407 showed higher cytotoxicity than CM-DMSO. Moreover, intracellular uptake to leukemic cells of CM-P407 was 2-3 times greater than that of CM-DMSO. These promising results for CM-P407 will be further investigated in rodents and in clinical studies for leukemia treatment.

Modulatory effects of rutin on the expression of cytochrome P450s and antioxidant enzymes in human hepatoma cells

Expression of a drug and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450s (CYPs), and antioxidant enzymes can be modulated by various factors. The flavonoid rutin was investigated for its anti-carcinogen and protective effects as well as modulatory action on CYPs and phase II enzymes in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Rutin inhibited proliferation of HEPG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner with the IC50 value of 52.7 μmol L-1 and invasion of HEPG2 cells (21.6 %, p = 0.0018) and colony formation of those invaded cells (57.4 %, p < 0.0001). Rutin treatment also significantly increased early/late-stage apoptosis in HEPG2 cells (28.9 %, p < 0.001). Treatment by rutin significantly inhibited protein expressions of cytochrome P450-dependent CYP3A4 (75.3 %, p < 0.0001), elevated CYP1A1 enzymes (1.7-fold, p = 0.0084) and increased protein expressions of antioxidant and phase II reaction catalyzing enzymes, NQO1 (2.42-fold, p < 0.0001) and GSTP1 (2.03-fold, p < 0.0001). Besides, rutin treatment significantly inhibited mRNA expression of CYP3A4 (73.2 %, p=0.0014). Also, CYP1A1, NQO1 and GSTP1 mRNA expressions were significantly increased 2.77-fold (p = 0.029), 4.85- fold (p = 0.0051) and 9.84-fold (p < 0.0001), respectively.

Rutin mediated targeting of signaling machinery in cancer cells

Progress in our understanding of molecular oncology has started to shed light on dysregulation of spatio-temporally controlled signaling pathways, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, tumour and normal stem cell quiescence, overexpression of oncogenes, extracellular and stromal microenvironments, epigenetics and autophagy. Sequentially and characteristically it has been shown that cancer cells acquire the ability to escape from apoptotic cell death, proliferate uncontrollably, sustain angiogenesis and tactfully reconstitute intracellular pathways to avoid immune surveillance. We have attempted to provide a recent snapshot of most recent progress with emphasis on how rutin modulates wide ranging intracellular signaling cascades as evidenced by in-vitro and in-vivo research. It is worth describing that 'single-cell proteomics' analysis has further improved our understanding regarding intracellular signaling pathways frequently activated in cancer cells resistant to therapeutics and can provide biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Data obtained from preclinical studies will prove to be helpful for scientists to bridge basic and translational studies.