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Yuan R, Qian L, Xu H, Yun W. Cucurbitacins mitigate vascular neointimal hyperplasia by suppressing cyclin A2 expression and inhibiting VSMC proliferation. Animal Model Exp Med 2024; 7:397-407. [PMID: 38970173 PMCID: PMC11369011 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12457] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Restenosis frequently occurs after percutaneous angioplasty in patients with vascular occlusion and seriously threatens their health. Substantial evidence has revealed that preventing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation using a drug-eluting stent is an effective approach to improve restenosis. Cucurbitacins have been demonstrated to exert an anti-proliferation effect in various tumors and a hypotensive effect. This study aims to investigate the role of cucurbitacins extracted from Cucumis melo L. (CuECs) and cucurbitacin B (CuB) on restenosis. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were subjected to left carotid artery ligation and subcutaneously injected with CuECs or CuB for 4 weeks. Hematoxylin-Eosin, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry staining were used to evaluate the effect of CuECs and CuB on neointimal hyperplasia. Western blot, real-time PCR, flow cytometry analysis, EdU staining and cellular immunofluorescence assay were employed to measure the effects of CuECs and CuB on cell proliferation and the cell cycle in vitro. The potential interactions of CuECs with cyclin A2 were performed by molecular docking. RESULTS The results demonstrated that both CuECs and CuB exhibited significant inhibitory effects on neointimal hyperplasia and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, CuECs and CuB mediated cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Autodocking analysis demonstrated that CuB, CuD, CuE and CuI had high binding energy for cyclin A2. Our study also showed that CuECs and CuB dramatically inhibited FBS-induced cyclin A2 expression. Moreover, the expression of cyclin A2 in CuEC- and CuB-treated neointima was downregulated. CONCLUSIONS CuECs, especially CuB, exert an anti-proliferation effect in VSMCs and may be potential drugs to prevent restenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqiang Yuan
- Advanced Institute for Medical SciencesDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Lei Qian
- Advanced Institute for Medical SciencesDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Hu Xu
- Health Science CenterEast China Normal UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Weijing Yun
- Advanced Institute for Medical SciencesDalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
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Alseud K, Ostlund T, Durymanov M, Reineke J, Halaweish F. Synthesis and biological activity of 11-Oxygenated and heterocyclic estrone analogs in pancreatic cancer monolayers and 3D spheroids. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 103:117678. [PMID: 38489997 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117678] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), representing over 90 % of pancreatic cancer diagnoses, is an aggressive disease with survivability among the worst of all cancers due to its difficulty in detection and its high metastatic properties. Current therapies for PDAC show limited success at extending life expectancies, primarily due to cancer resistance and lack of patient-specific targeted therapies. This work highlights the design and evaluation of estrone-derived analogs with both heterocyclic side-chain functionality and 11-oxygenated functionality for use in pancreatic cancer. First-round heterocyclic analogs show preliminary promise in AsPC-1 and Panc-1 cell lines, with IC50 values as low as 10.16 ± 0.83 µM. Their success, coupled with design choices from other studies, led to the synthesis of novel 11-hydroxyl and 11-keto estrone analogs that show potent in-vitro toxicity against various pancreatic cancer models. The three most cytotoxic analogs, KA1, KA2, and KA9 demonstrated low micromolar activities in both MTT and CellTiter assays in three pancreatic cancer cell lines: AsPC-1, Panc-1, and BxPC-3, as well as in a co-culture of Panc-1 and pancreatic stellate cells. IC50 values for KA9 (4.17 ± 0.90, 5.28 ± 1.87, and 5.70 ± 0.65 µM respectively) shows consistency in all cell lines tested. KA9 is also able to cause an increase in caspases 3 and 7 activity, key markers for apoptosis, at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Additional work was performed by generating 3D pancreatic cancer spheroids to better modulate the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, and KA9 continued to show the best IC50 values (21.0 and 24.3 µM) in both cell types tested. KA9 was also able to prevent the growth of spheroids whereas the standard chemotherapy, Gemcitabine, could not, suggesting that it may be a potent analog for future development of treatments. Molecular dynamic simulations were also performed to confirm biological findings and uncovered that KA9's preferential binding location is in the active site pocket of key proteins involved in cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Alseud
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Trevor Ostlund
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| | - Mikhail Durymanov
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| | - Joshua Reineke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| | - Fathi Halaweish
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA.
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Grudzińska M, Stachnik B, Galanty A, Sołtys A, Podolak I. Progress in Antimelanoma Research of Natural Triterpenoids and Their Derivatives: Mechanisms of Action, Bioavailability Enhancement and Structure Modifications. Molecules 2023; 28:7763. [PMID: 38067491 PMCID: PMC10707933 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer, characterized by early metastasis and rapid development. In search for effective treatment options, much attention is given to triterpenoids of plant origin, which are considered promising drug candidates due to their well described anticancer properties and relatively low toxicity. This paper comprehensively summarizes the antimelanoma potential of natural triterpenoids, that are also used as scaffolds for the development of more effective derivatives. These include betulin, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, celastrol and lupeol. Some lesser-known triterpenoids that deserve attention in this context are 22β-hydroxytingenone, cucurbitacins, geoditin A and ganoderic acids. Recently described mechanisms of action are presented, together with the results of preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as the use of drug delivery systems and pharmaceutical technologies to improve the bioavailability of triterpenoids. This paper also reviews the most promising structural modifications, based on structure-activity observations. In conclusion, triterpenoids of plant origin and some of their semi-synthetic derivatives exert significant cytotoxic, antiproliferative and chemopreventive effects that can be beneficial for melanoma treatment. Recent data indicate that their poor solubility in water, and thus low bioavailability, can be overcome by complexing with cyclodextrins, or the use of nanoparticles and ethosomes, thus making these compounds promising antimelanoma drug candidates for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Grudzińska
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
- Department of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Medical and Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Łazarza 16, 31-530 Kraków, Poland
| | - Bogna Stachnik
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
| | - Agnieszka Galanty
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
| | - Agnieszka Sołtys
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
| | - Irma Podolak
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; (M.G.); (B.S.); (A.S.); (I.P.)
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Anim MT, Tuffour I, Willis R, Schell M, Ostlund T, Mahnashi MH, Halaweish F, Willand-Charnley R. Deacetylated Sialic Acid Sensitizes Lung and Colon Cancers to Novel Cucurbitacin-Inspired Estrone Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitor Analogs. Molecules 2023; 28:6257. [PMID: 37687086 PMCID: PMC10488366 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancers utilize sugar residues such as sialic acids (Sia) to improve their ability to survive. Sia presents a variety of functional group alterations, including O-acetylation on the C6 hydroxylated tail. Previously, sialylation has been reported to suppress EGFR activation and increase cancer cell sensitivity to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs). In this study, we report on the effect of deacetylated Sia on the activity of three novel EGFR-targeting Cucurbitacin-inspired estrone analogs (CIEAs), MMA 294, MMA 321, and MMA 320, in lung and colon cancer cells. Acetylation was modulated by the removal of Sialate O-Acetyltransferase, also known as CAS1 Domain-containing protein (CASD1) gene via CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. Using a variety of cell-based approaches including MTT cell viability assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence assay and in-cell ELISA we observed that deacetylated Sia-expressing knockout cells (1.24-6.49 μM) were highly sensitive to all CIEAs compared with the control cells (8.82-20.97 μM). Apoptosis and varied stage cell cycle arrest (G0/G1 and G2/M) were elucidated as mechanistic modes of action of the CIEAs. Further studies implicated overexpression of CIEAs' cognate protein target, phosphorylated EGFR, in the chemosensitivity of the deacetylated Sia-expressing knockout cells. This observation correlated with significantly decreased levels of key downstream proteins (phosphorylated ERK and mTOR) of the EGFR pathway in knockout cells compared with controls when treated with CIEAs. Collectively, our findings indicate that Sia deacetylation renders lung and colon cancer cells susceptible to EGFR therapeutics and provide insights for future therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias T. Anim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (M.T.A.); (I.T.); (R.W.); (M.S.); (T.O.); (F.H.)
| | - Isaac Tuffour
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (M.T.A.); (I.T.); (R.W.); (M.S.); (T.O.); (F.H.)
| | - Rylan Willis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (M.T.A.); (I.T.); (R.W.); (M.S.); (T.O.); (F.H.)
| | - Matthew Schell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (M.T.A.); (I.T.); (R.W.); (M.S.); (T.O.); (F.H.)
| | - Trevor Ostlund
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (M.T.A.); (I.T.); (R.W.); (M.S.); (T.O.); (F.H.)
| | - Mater H. Mahnashi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Najran University, Najran P.O. Box 1988, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Fathi Halaweish
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (M.T.A.); (I.T.); (R.W.); (M.S.); (T.O.); (F.H.)
| | - Rachel Willand-Charnley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; (M.T.A.); (I.T.); (R.W.); (M.S.); (T.O.); (F.H.)
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Dai S, Wang C, Zhao X, Ma C, Fu K, Liu Y, Peng C, Li Y. Cucurbitacin B: A review of its pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics. Pharmacol Res 2023; 187:106587. [PMID: 36460279 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Cucurbitacin B (CuB, C32H46O8), the most abundant and active member of cucurbitacins, which are highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids. Cucurbitacins are widely distributed in a variety of plants and mainly isolated from plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. CuB is mostly obtained from the pedicel of Cucumis melo L. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that CuB has a broad range of pharmacological activities, with significant therapeutic effects on a variety of diseases including inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancers. In this study the PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched from 1986 to 2022. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 98 out of 2484 articles were selected for a systematic review to comprehensively summarize the pharmacological activity, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic properties of CuB. The results showed that CuB exhibits potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer activities mainly via regulating various signaling pathways, such as the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (JAK/STAT3), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2/antioxidant responsive element (Nrf2/ARE), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase-2A/protein phosphatase-2A (CIP2A/PP2A), Wnt, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Notch, and Hippo-Yes-associated protein (YAP) pathways. Studies of its toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties showed that CuB has non-specific toxicity and low bioavailability. In addition, derivatives and clinical applications of CuB are discussed in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - XingTao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Cheng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Ke Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yanfang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Yunxia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
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A comprehensive review on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Anagallis arvensis (L).: A wild edible medicinal food plant. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.102328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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7
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Aiswarya SUD, Vikas G, Haritha NH, Liju VB, Shabna A, Swetha M, Rayginia TP, Keerthana CK, Nath LR, Reshma MV, Sundaram S, Anto NP, Lankalapalli RS, Anto RJ, Bava SV. Cucurbitacin B, Purified and Characterized From the Rhizome of Corallocarpus epigaeus Exhibits Anti-Melanoma Potential. Front Oncol 2022; 12:903832. [PMID: 35756619 PMCID: PMC9213886 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.903832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ethnomedicinal plant from the Cucurbitaceae family, Corallocarpus epigaeus, or its bioactive derivatives have been widely utilized in traditional medicine owing to their distinct applications against various human ailments and have lured the interest of ethnobotanists and biochemists. Here, we report for the first time, the anti-cancer potential of a bio-active fraction isolated from the dried rhizome of C. epigaeus, and the bioactive principle identified as cucurbitacin B (Cu-B). The purification processes involving the utilization of multiple organic extracts of C. epigaeus rhizome powder, yielded Cu-B from the Ethyl acetate Cytotoxic Fraction (ECF), obtained by the chromatographic separation of the ethyl acetate extract. Amongst the various cancer lines tested, melanoma cells exhibit maximal sensitivity towards the Cu-B-containing ECF fraction. Cu-B induces an apoptotic mode of cell death initiated intrinsically as well as extrinsically in A375 melanoma cells whilst remaining comparatively less toxic to normal skin fibroblasts. In vivo studies involving a NOD-SCID murine model of human melanoma demonstrate the ability of Cu-B to attenuate tumor growth, while being pharmacologically safe in vivo, as assessed in Swiss albino mice. Furthermore, Cu-B inhibits MEK 1/2 as well as the constitutive and EGF-induced ERK 1/2 activation, indicating a definitive involvement of MAPK signal transducers in regulating Cu-B-mediated anti-melanoma activity. Together, our study demonstrates the anti-melanoma potential of C. epigaeus-derived Cu-B, which indicates the Cucurbitaceae succulent as a prospective source for deriving potent and pharmacologically safe anti-cancer compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreekumar Usha Devi Aiswarya
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Calicut, Malappuram, India.,Division of Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Gowda Vikas
- Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Nair Hariprasad Haritha
- Division of Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Vijayasteltar Belsamma Liju
- Division of Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.,The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology-Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Anwar Shabna
- Division of Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Mundanattu Swetha
- Division of Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | | | | | - Lekshmi Raghu Nath
- Division of Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.,Department of Pharmacognosy, Amritha School of Pharmacy, Amritha Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Health Science Campus, Ponekkara P.O, Kochi, India
| | - Mullan Vellandy Reshma
- Agro-Processing and Technology Division, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Sankar Sundaram
- Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Kottayam, India
| | - Nikhil Ponnoor Anto
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology-Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ravi Shankar Lankalapalli
- Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Ruby John Anto
- Division of Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
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Plant-Derived Terpenoids: A Promising Tool in the Fight against Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030502. [PMID: 35158770 PMCID: PMC8833325 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite the numerous therapies, melanoma remains the deadliest of all skin cancers; however, plant-derived terpenoids are defense molecules that have proven anti-cancer properties. In this review, we present the results of the search for anti-melanoma plant terpenoids. Additionally, we show the effects of combining terpenoids with standard drugs, radiation therapy, or other plant substances on melanoma cell lines and animal models. Finally, we present some examples of drug delivery systems that increase the uptake of terpenoids by melanoma tissue. Abstract Melanoma is responsible for the highest number of skin cancer-caused deaths worldwide. Despite the numerous melanoma-treating options, the fight against it remains challenging, mainly due to its great heterogeneity and plasticity, as well as the high toxicity of standard drugs. Plant-derived terpenoids are a group of plant defense molecules that have been proven effective in killing many different types of cancer cells, both in in vitro experiments and in vivo models. In this review, we focus on recent results in the search for plant terpenoids with anti-melanoma activity. We also report on the synergistic action of combining terpenoids with other plant-derived substances, MAP kinase inhibitors, or radiation. Additionally, we present examples of terpenoid-loaded nanoparticle carriers as anti-melanoma agents that have increased permeation through the cancer tissue.
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Aranha ESP, Portilho AJDS, Bentes de Sousa L, da Silva EL, Mesquita FP, Rocha WC, Araújo da Silva FM, Lima ES, Alves APNN, Koolen HHF, Montenegro RC, Vasconcellos MCD. 22β-hydroxytingenone induces apoptosis and suppresses invasiveness of melanoma cells by inhibiting MMP-9 activity and MAPK signaling. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 267:113605. [PMID: 33232779 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE 22β-hydroxytingenone (22-HTG) is a quinonemethide triterpene isolated from Salacia impressifolia (Miers) A. C. Smith (family Celastraceae), which has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases, including dengue, renal infections, rheumatism and cancer. However, the anticancer effects of 22-HTG and the underlying molecular mechanisms in melanoma cells have not yet been elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study investigated apoptosis induction and antimetastatic potencial of 22-HTG in SK-MEL-28 human melanoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, the in vitro cytotoxic activity of 22-HTG in cultured cancer cells was evaluated. Then, cell viability was determined using the trypan blue assay in melanoma cells (SK-MEL-28), which was followed by cell cycle, annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide assays (Annexin/PI), as well as assays to evaluate mitochondrial membrane potential, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using flow cytometry. Fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/BE) staining was also performed. RT-qPCR was carried out to evaluate the expression of BRAF, NRAS, and KRAS genes. The anti-invasiveness potential of 22-HTG was evaluated in a three-dimensional (3D) model of reconstructed human skin. RESULTS 22-HTG reduced viability of SK-MEL-28 cells and caused morphological changes, as cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Furthermore, 22-HTG caused apoptosis, which was demonstrated by increased staining with AO/BE and Annexin/PI. The apoptosis may have been caused by mitochondrial instability without the involvement of ROS production. The expression of BRAF, NRAS, and KRAS, which are important biomarkers in melanoma development, was reduced by the 22-HTG treatment. In the reconstructed skin model, 22-HTG was able to decrease the invasion capacity of melanoma cells in the dermis. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that 22-HTG has anti-tumorigenic properties against melanoma cells through the induction of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and inhibition of invasiveness potential, as observed in the 3D model. As such, the results provide new insights for future work on the utilization of 22-HTG in malignant melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elenn Suzany Pereira Aranha
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Post Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the Amazon (Bionorte), Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, 69080-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Leilane Bentes de Sousa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, 69080-900, Brazil.
| | - Emerson Lucena da Silva
- Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60430-275, Brazil.
| | - Felipe Pantoja Mesquita
- Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60430-275, Brazil.
| | - Waldireny C Rocha
- Health and Biotechnology Institute, Federal University of Amazonas, Coari, Amazonas, 69460-000, Brazil.
| | | | - Emerson Silva Lima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, 69080-900, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Raquel Carvalho Montenegro
- Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60430-275, Brazil.
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Zhang J, Song Y, Liang Y, Zou H, Zuo P, Yan M, Jing S, Li T, Wang Y, Li D, Zhang T, Wei Z. Cucurbitacin IIa interferes with EGFR-MAPK signaling pathway leads to proliferation inhibition in A549 cells. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 132:110654. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Saeed MEM, Boulos JC, Elhaboub G, Rigano D, Saab A, Loizzo MR, Hassan LEA, Sugimoto Y, Piacente S, Tundis R, Yagi S, Khalid H, Efferth T. Cytotoxicity of cucurbitacin E from Citrullus colocynthis against multidrug-resistant cancer cells. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2019; 62:152945. [PMID: 31132750 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cucurbitacin E (CuE) is an oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoid isolated from the fruits of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. PURPOSE This study outlines CuE's cytotoxic activity against drug-resistant tumor cell lines. Three members of ABC transporters superfamily, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and ABCB5 were investigated, whose overexpression in tumors is tightly linked to multidrug resistance. Further factors of drug resistance studied were the tumor suppressor TP53 and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). METHODS Cytotoxicity assays (resazurin assays) were used to investigate the activity of Citrullus colocynthis and CuE towards multidrug resistant cancer cells. Molecular docking (In silico) has been carried out to explore the CuE's mode of binding to ABC transporters (P-gp, BCRP and ABCB5). The visualization of doxorubicin uptake was done by a Spinning Disc Confocal Microscope. The assessment of proteins expression was done by western blotting analysis. COMPARE and hierarchical cluster analyses were applied to identify, which genes correlate with sensitivity or resistance to cucurbitacins (CuA, CuB, CuE, CuD, CuI, and CuK). RESULTS Multidrug-resistant cells overexpressing P-gp or BCRP were cross-resistant to CuE. By contrast, TP53 knock-out cells were sensitive to CuE. Remarkably, resistant cells transfected with oncogenic ΔEGFR or ABCB5 were hypersensitive (collateral sensitive) to CuE. In silico analyses demonstrated that CuE is a substrate for P-gp and BCRP. Immunoblot analyses highlighted that CuE targeted EGFR and silenced its downstream signaling cascades. The most striking result that emerged from the doxorubicin uptake by ABCB5 overexpressing cells is that CuE is an effective inhibitor for ABCB5 transporter when compared with verapamil. The COMPARE analyses of transcriptome-wide expression profiles of tumor cell lines of the NCI identified common genes involved in cell cycle regulation, cellular adhesion and intracellular communication for different cucurbitacins. CONCLUSION CuE represents a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of certain types of refractory tumors. To best of our knowledge, this is the first time to identify CuE and verapamil as inhibitors for ABCB5 transporter.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B/metabolism
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/chemistry
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/metabolism
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/genetics
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/metabolism
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Citrullus colocynthis/chemistry
- Doxorubicin/pharmacology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- ErbB Receptors/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Gene Knockout Techniques
- Humans
- Leukemia/drug therapy
- Leukemia/metabolism
- Leukemia/pathology
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
- Triterpenes/chemistry
- Triterpenes/metabolism
- Triterpenes/pharmacology
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed E M Saeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Joelle C Boulos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Gihan Elhaboub
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Daniela Rigano
- Department of Pharmacy, University Federico II of Naples, via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Antoine Saab
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science II and Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Monica R Loizzo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (Cosenza), Italy
| | - Loiy E A Hassan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, 11800, Malaysia
| | - Yoshikazu Sugimoto
- Division of Chemotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sonia Piacente
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II n. 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Rosa Tundis
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (Cosenza), Italy
| | - Sakina Yagi
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hassan Khalid
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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12
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Cucurbitacins inspired organic synthesis: Potential dual inhibitors targeting EGFR – MAPK pathway. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 173:294-304. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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13
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Abou-Salim MA, Shaaban MA, Abd El Hameid MK, Elshaier YAMM, Halaweish F. Design, synthesis and biological study of hybrid drug candidates of nitric oxide releasing cucurbitacin-inspired estrone analogs for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Bioorg Chem 2019; 85:515-533. [PMID: 30807895 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.01.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Development of hybrid drug candidates is well known strategy for designing antitumor agents. Herein, a novel class of nitric oxide donating cucurbitacin inspired estrone analogs (NO-CIEAs) were designed and synthesized as multitarget agents. Synthesized analogs were initially evaluated for their anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activities. Among the tested analogs, NO-CIEAs 17 and 20a exhibited more potent activity against HepG2 cells (IC50 = 4.69 and 12.5 µM, respectively) than the reference drug Erlotinib (IC50 = 25 µM). Interestingly, NO-CIEA 17 exerted also a high potent activity against Erlotinib-resistant HepG2 cell line (HepG2-R) (IC50 = 8.21 µM) giving insight about its importance in drug resistance therapy. Intracellular measurements of NO revealed that NO-CIEAs 17 and 20a showed a significant increase in NO production in tumor cells after 1 h of incubation comparable to the reference prodrug JS-K. Flow cytometric analysis showed that both NO-CIEAs 17 and 20a mainly arrested the HepG2 cells in the G0/G1 phase. Also, In-Cell Based ELISA screening showed that NO-CIEA 17 resulted in a potential inhibitory activity towards the EGFR and MAPK (25% and 29% inhibition compared to untreated control cells, respectively). This data suggests the binding ability of NO-CIEA 17 to the EGFR and ERK to be well correlated along with the docking and cellular studies. Also, treatment of HepG2-R cells with NO-CIEA 17 showed a potential reduction of MRP2 expression in a dose dependent manner providing a significant impact on the chemotherapeutic resistance. Overall, the current study provides a potential new approach for the discovery of a novel antitumor agent against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahrous A Abou-Salim
- Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Assiut 71524, Egypt; South Dakota State University, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Mohamed A Shaaban
- Cairo University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | | | - Yaseen A M M Elshaier
- University of Sadat City, Faculty of Pharmacy, Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Menoufia 32958, Egypt
| | - Fathi Halaweish
- South Dakota State University, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
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14
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Ijaz S, Akhtar N, Khan MS, Hameed A, Irfan M, Arshad MA, Ali S, Asrar M. Plant derived anticancer agents: A green approach towards skin cancers. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 103:1643-1651. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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15
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Khandaker M, Akter S, Imam MZ. Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.: A vegetable with diverse pharmacological properties. FOOD SCIENCE AND HUMAN WELLNESS 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fshw.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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16
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Wang X, Tanaka M, Peixoto HS, Wink M. Cucurbitacins: elucidation of their interactions with the cytoskeleton. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3357. [PMID: 28584704 PMCID: PMC5452965 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cucurbitacins, a class of toxic tetracyclic triterpenoids in Cucurbitaceae, modulate many molecular targets. Here we investigated the interactions of cucurbitacin B, E and I with cytoskeletal proteins such as microtubule and actin filaments. The effects of cucurbitacin B, E and I on microtubules and actin filaments were studied in living cells (Hela and U2OS) and in vitro using GFP markers, immunofluorescence staining and in vitro tubulin polymerization assay. Cucurbitacin B, E and I apparently affected microtubule structures in living cells and cucurbitacin E inhibited tubulin polymerization in vitro with IC50 value of 566.91 ± 113.5 µM. Cucurbitacin E did not affect the nucleation but inhibited the growth phase and steady state during microtubule assembly in vitro. In addition, cucurbitacin B, E and I all altered mitotic spindles and induced the cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Moreover, they all showed potent effects on actin cytoskeleton by affecting actin filaments through the depolymerization and aggregation. The interactions of cucubitacin B, E and I with microtubules and actin filaments present new insights into their modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Wang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mine Tanaka
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Herbenya Silva Peixoto
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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17
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Ahmed MS, El-Senduny F, Taylor J, Halaweish FT. Biological screening of cucurbitacin inspired estrone analogs targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Chem Biol Drug Des 2017; 90:478-484. [PMID: 28171685 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud S. Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Faculty of Pharmacy; The British University in Egypt; El-Sherouk Cairo Egypt
| | - Fardous El-Senduny
- Department of Chemistry; Faculty of Science; Mansoura University; Mansoura Egypt
| | - Jessica Taylor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; South Dakota State University; Brookings SD USA
| | - Fathi T. Halaweish
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; South Dakota State University; Brookings SD USA
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18
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19
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Alsayari A, Kopel L, Ahmed MS, Pay A, Carlson T, Halaweish FT. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of steroidal analogs as estrogenic/anti-estrogenic agents. Steroids 2017; 118:32-40. [PMID: 27876568 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 11/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Series of estrone based analogs were synthetically investigated at positions C-9, C-11, C-16, and C-17 positions, to be biologically evaluated via assessment of cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, and estrogenic/anti-estrogenic activity. LA-7 and LA-10 revealed their potential to exhibit inhibitory estrogenic profile. This was further validated by Estrogen Receptor-α (ER-α) and Estrogen Receptor-β (ER-β) competitive binding assays to reveal the high selective affinity of LA-7 towards ER-α at 5.49μM, while LA-10 did not show any binding affinity towards neither ER-α nor ER-β; suggesting another mechanism for inhibition. This was validated by in silico molecular docking simulations of LA-7 to reveal the optimum binding affinity of LA-7 towards ER-α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrhman Alsayari
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lucas Kopel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Mahmoud Salama Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, Al-Sherouk City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Adam Pay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Taylor Carlson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Fathi T Halaweish
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
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20
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Kumarasingha R, Karpe AV, Preston S, Yeo TC, Lim DSL, Tu CL, Luu J, Simpson KJ, Shaw JM, Gasser RB, Beale DJ, Morrison PD, Palombo EA, Boag PR. Metabolic profiling and in vitro assessment of anthelmintic fractions of Picria fel-terrae Lour. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2016; 6:171-178. [PMID: 27639945 PMCID: PMC5030326 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Anthelmintic resistance is widespread in gastrointestinal nematode populations, such that there is a consistent need to search for new anthelmintics. However, the cost of screening for new compounds is high and has a very low success rate. Using the knowledge of traditional healers from Borneo Rainforests (Sarawak, Malaysia), we have previously shown that some traditional medicinal plants are a rich source of potential new anthelmintic drug candidates. In this study, Picria fel-terrae Lour. plant extract, which has previously shown promising anthelmintic activities, was fractionated via the use of a solid phase extraction cartridge and each isolated fraction was then tested on free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus. We found that a single fraction was enriched for nematocidal activity, killing ≥90% of C. elegans adults and inhibiting the motility of exsheathed L3 of H. contortus, while having minimal cytotoxic activity in mammalian cell culture. Metabolic profiling and chemometric analysis of the effective fraction indicated medium chained fatty acids and phenolic acids were highly represented. Chemical fractionation of Picria fel-terrae Lour. plant extract. Anthelmintic activity against Caenorhabditis elegans and Haemonchus contortus. Metabolic profiling and chemometric analysis of active fraction. Active fraction has minimal mammalian cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasika Kumarasingha
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Avinash V Karpe
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, 3122, Victoria, Australia; Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, 4102, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Preston
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tiong-Chia Yeo
- Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), KM 20 Jalan Borneo Heights, Semengoh, Locked Bag No. 3032, 93990, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Diana S L Lim
- Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), KM 20 Jalan Borneo Heights, Semengoh, Locked Bag No. 3032, 93990, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Chu-Lee Tu
- Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), KM 20 Jalan Borneo Heights, Semengoh, Locked Bag No. 3032, 93990, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Jennii Luu
- Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, 3002, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kaylene J Simpson
- Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, 3002, Victoria, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jillian M Shaw
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, 3122, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Beale
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, 4102, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul D Morrison
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3001, Victoria, Australia
| | - Enzo A Palombo
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, 3122, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter R Boag
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Victoria, Australia.
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21
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Cai Y, Fang X, He C, Li P, Xiao F, Wang Y, Chen M. Cucurbitacins: A Systematic Review of the Phytochemistry and Anticancer Activity. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2015; 43:1331-50. [PMID: 26503558 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x15500755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Cucurbitacins are highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids that are widely present in traditional Chinese medicines (Cucurbitaceae family), possess strong anticancer activity, and are divided into 12 classes from A to T with over 200 derivatives. The eight most active cucurbitacin components against cancer are cucurbitacin B, D, E, I, IIa, L glucoside, Q, and R. Their mechanisms of action include antiproliferation, inhibition of migration and invasion, proapoptosis, and cell cycle arrest promotion. Cucurbitacins are also found to be the inhibitors of JAK-STAT3, Wnt, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways, which play important roles in the apoptosis and survival of cancer cells. Recently, new studies have discovered synergistic anticancer effects by using cucurbitacins together with clinically approved chemotherapeutic drugs, such as docetaxel and methotrexate. This paper provides a summary of recent research progress on the anticancer property of cucurbitacins and the various intracellular signaling pathways involved in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation, death, invasion, and migration. Therefore, cucurbitacins are a class of promising anticancer drugs to be used alone or be intergraded in current chemotherapies and radiotherapies to treat many types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuee Cai
- * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, P.R. China
| | - Xiefan Fang
- † Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Chengwei He
- * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, P.R. China
| | - Peng Li
- * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, P.R. China
| | - Fei Xiao
- * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, P.R. China.,‡ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P.R. China
| | - Yitao Wang
- * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, P.R. China
| | - Meiwan Chen
- * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, P.R. China
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22
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Cheng L, Xu PH, Shen BD, Shen G, Li JJ, Qiu L, Liu CY, Yuan HL, Han J. Improve bile duct-targeted drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy for cholangiocarcinoma by cucurbitacin B loaded phospholipid complex modified with berberine hydrochloride. Int J Pharm 2015; 489:148-57. [PMID: 25882012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In present study, a novel phospholipid complex loaded cucurbitacin B modified with berberine hydrochloride (CUB-PLC-BER) was prepared by a simple solvent evaporation method with the aim of improving bile duct-targeted drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy for cholangiocarcinoma (CC). The complex's physicochemical properties were systemically investigated in terms of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared absorption spectroscopy (IR). In vivo and in vitro antitumor studies, CUB-PLC-BER and the unmodified cucurbitacin B-phospholipid complex (CUB-PLC) presented stronger antitumor efficacy against human cholangiocarcinoma cells (QBC939 cells) than free cucurbitacin B (CUB), while phospholipids (PL) itself had no significant toxicity. Besides that, CUB-PLC showed the advantage over the free CUB and CUB-PLC-BER with regard to the inhibition of tumor growth in vivo antitumor study. Failure to establish the orthotopic CC model, the study attempted to measure the level of CUB in plasma and in bile to explore bile duct-targeted effect indirectly. In the pharmacokinetics study in rats, the average values of Cmax and AUC0-8h of CUB-PLC-BER group in rat bile were higher than those of CUB-PLC, while an opposite result was found in plasma. Meanwhile, the Cmax, AUC0-8h and AUC0-24h of CUB were the least both in plasma and in bile. The results indicated that the CUB-PLC-BER tended to provide a high and prolonged drug concentration to bile duct, and PL played a central role in internalizing CUB into cells to improve the water insoluble drug's permeability, which was of great benefit to enhance the bioavailability of CUB and improve therapeutic efficacy of CC. These results elucidated the potential of CUB-PLC-BER as drug delivery system for improving bile duct-targeted and therapeutic efficacy for CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Cheng
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China; Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ping-hua Xu
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Bao-de Shen
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Gang Shen
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China; Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan-juan Li
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China; Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Qiu
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China; Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao-yong Liu
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China; Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Hai-long Yuan
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China.
| | - Jin Han
- 302 Hospital of PLA&PLA Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100039, China.
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Ahmed MS, Kopel LC, Halaweish FT. Structural optimization and biological screening of a steroidal scaffold possessing cucurbitacin-like functionalities as B-Raf inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2014; 9:1361-7. [PMID: 24682977 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by targeting the commonly occurring mutated B-Raf in melanoma has become a practical method for the development of drugs and drug candidates. In order to expand upon the currently reported structural scaffolds used to target the MAPK pathway, molecular docking studies led to the installation an α,β-unsaturated ketone side chain, related to the cucurbitacin class of natural products, on to an estrone core via an aldol condensation reaction, along with installation of the Δ(9,11) olefin to assemble what has been defined as a pseudo-cis configuration at the B/C ring juncture. Combination of these cucurbitacin-like features resulted in a compound with an enhanced biological profile against the A-375 mutant B-Raf cell line, in regards to their cytotoxicity and inhibitory activity toward phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud S Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Box 2202, Brookings, SD 57007 (USA)
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Gabrielsen M, Schuldt M, Munro J, Borucka D, Cameron J, Baugh M, Mleczak A, Lilla S, Morrice N, Olson MF. Cucurbitacin covalent bonding to cysteine thiols: the filamentous-actin severing protein Cofilin1 as an exemplary target. Cell Commun Signal 2013; 11:58. [PMID: 23945128 PMCID: PMC3751690 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811x-11-58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cucurbitacins are a class of triterpenoid natural compounds with potent bioactivities that led to their use as traditional remedies, and which continue to attract considerable attention as chemical biology tools and potential therapeutics. One obvious target is the actin-cytoskeleton; treatment with cucurbitacins results in cytoskeletal rearrangements that impact upon motility and cell morphology. Findings Cucurbitacin reacted with protein cysteine thiols as well as dithiothreitol, and we propose that the cucurbitacin mechanism of action is through broad protein thiol modifications that could result in inhibition of numerous protein targets. An example of such a target protein is Cofilin1, whose filamentous actin severing activity is inhibited by cucurbitacin conjugation. Conclusions The implications of these results are that cucurbitacins are unlikely to be improved for selectivity by medicinal chemistry and that their use as chemical biology probes to analyse the role of specific signalling pathways should be undertaken with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Gabrielsen
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
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