Chamaejasmin B Decreases Malignant Characteristics of Mouse Melanoma B16F0 and B16F10 Cells

Luteolin potentiates low-dose oxaliplatin-induced inhibitory effects on cell proliferation in gastric cancer by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Although the reduction of oxaliplatin doses may alleviate deleterious side effects of gastrointestinal and gynecological cancer treatment, it also limits the anticancer therapeutic effects. As a high-efficient and low-priced herbal medicine ingredient, luteolin is an agent with a broad spectrum of anticancer activities and acts as a potential enhancer of therapeutic effects of chemotherapy agents in cancer treatment. This study focused on the antitumor effects and mechanism of combined treatment with luteolin and oxaliplatin on a mouse forestomach carcinoma (MFC) cell line. The study used CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay, reactive oxygen species testing assay, mitochondrial membrane potential testing assay, and western blot assay. The results showed that luteolin and oxaliplatin exerted synergistic effects on inhibiting MFC cell proliferation by inducing G₂/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Inhibiting the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1/phosphorylated-extracellular-regulated protein kinases1/2/cell division cycle 25 homolog C/cyclin-dependent kinase-1/cyclin B1 pathway was indispensable to the combined treatment with luteolin and oxaliplatin to induce G₂/M cell cycle arrest. In addition, luteolin increased oxidative stress in MFC cells treated with a low dose of oxaliplatin. The combined therapy damaged mitochondrial membrane potential and regulated BCL-2-associated X protein and B-cell lymphoma 2 protein expression, leading to apoptosis. Findings of the present study suggest that luteolin may be a qualified chemotherapy enhancer to potentiate the anticancer effects of low-dose oxaliplatin in MFC cells. This work provides a theoretical foundation for future research on applications of luteolin in clinical chemotherapy.

MMP-9 and IL-1β as Targets for Diatoxanthin and Related Microalgal Pigments: Potential Chemopreventive and Photoprotective Agents

Photochemoprevention can be a valuable approach to counteract the damaging effects of environmental stressors (e.g., UV radiations) on the skin. Pigments are bioactive molecules, greatly attractive for biotechnological purposes, and with promising applications for human health. In this context, marine microalgae are a valuable alternative and eco-sustainable source of pigments that still need to be taken advantage of. In this study, a comparative in vitro photochemopreventive effects of twenty marine pigments on carcinogenic melanoma model cell B16F0 from UV-induced injury was setup. Pigment modulation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration and extracellular release of nitric oxide (NO) was investigated. At the cell signaling level, interleukin 1-β (IL-1β) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 protein (MMP-9) protein expression was examined. These processes are known to be involved in the signaling pathway, from UV stress to cancer induction. Diatoxanthin resulted the best performing pigment in lowering MMP-9 levels and was able to strongly lower IL-1β. This study highlights the pronounced bioactivity of the exclusively aquatic carotenoid diatoxanthin, among the others. It is suggested increasing research efforts on this molecule, emphasizing that a deeper integration of plant ecophysiological studies into a biotechnological context could improve the exploration and exploitation of bioactive natural products.