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Gong X, Zhou Y, Wu P, He L, Ou C, Xiao X, Hou X, Shen Y, Li M, Tan Z, Xia X, Wang S. The petroleum ether extracts of Chloranthus fortunei(A. Gray) Solms-Laub.with bioactivities: A rising source in HCC drug treatment. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 333:118414. [PMID: 38830451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive killer worldwide with high incidence and mortality. The herb Chloranthus fortunei (A. Gray) Solms-Laub is known as "Si Ji Feng" and is classified as a Feng-type medicine in classic Yao medicines. According to Yao's medical beliefs, Chloranthus fortunei has the functions of dispelling Feng, regulating qi, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, etc. Folk uses its decoctions to treat stagnant liver conditions, such as liver abscesses, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver cancer. However, the bioactivity and mechanisms of Chloranthus fortunei extract against HCC have not been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the anti-HCC bioactivity and potential mechanism of the extract of Chloranthus fortunei (CFS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Using 70% ethanol for reflux extraction of CFS resulted in the CFS ethanol extract, followed by sequential extractions with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, yielding four fractions. The CCK-8 assay was utilized to examine the cytotoxic effects of 4 fractions on MHCC97-H and HepG2 cells, exploring the most effective component, namely petroleum ether extracts of CFS (PECFS). The major active ingredients of PECFS were identified using LC/MS technology, and the impact on cell proliferation and apoptosis in HCC cells was studied. The key genes and proteins in the pathway were validated using RT-PCR and Western blotting. BALB/c nude mice were chosen for tumor xenotransplantation and PECFS therapy. hinders the proliferation of HCC cells and promotes apoptosis. RESULTS Among the four fractions, it was found that PECFS have the highest antiproliferative activity against MHCC97-H and HepG2 cells (IC50 = 13.86, 10.55 μg/mL), with sesquiterpene compounds being the primary active constituents. The antiproliferative activity of PECFS on HCC cells was linked to the inhibition of cell cloning, invasion, and metastasis abilities, as well as the arrest of the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Additionally, exerts pro-apoptotic effects on HCC cells by upregulating the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, downregulating the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and activating the expression of the Caspase family. Moreover, protein and m-RNA expression data showed that PECFS inhibits HCC cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Besides, after PECFS treatment, tumor growth in nude mice was suppressed. CONCLUSION PECFS can inhibit the viability of HCC cells by acting on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, demonstrating anti-tumor potential. This study's findings suggest that PECFS may represent a promising source of novel agents for liver cancer treatment, providing scientific evidence for the traditional application of CFS in treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Gong
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources Protection and Genetic Improvement, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China; National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Yun Zhou
- The School of Optometry & Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, PR. China.
| | - Peiying Wu
- National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Lili He
- National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Chunli Ou
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources Protection and Genetic Improvement, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Xingyu Xiao
- Pharmaceutical College Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, PR.China.
| | - Xiaoli Hou
- National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Yuanyuan Shen
- China-ASEAN Traditional Medicine Exchange and Cooperation Centre, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Meng Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Zhien Tan
- National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Xianghua Xia
- National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
| | - Shuo Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, PR. China.
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Schiano E, Novellino E, Gámez Fernández MM, Tiekou Lorinczova H, Tenore GC, Iannuzzo F, Patel VB, Somavarapu S, Zariwala MG. Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Properties of a Thinned-Nectarine-Based Nanoformulation in a Pancreatic β-Cell Line. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 13:63. [PMID: 38247487 PMCID: PMC10812739 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic β-cells play a crucial role in maintaining glucose homeostasis, although they are susceptible to oxidative damage, which can ultimately impair their functionality. Thinned nectarines (TNs) have gained increasing interest due to their high polyphenol and abscisic acid (ABA) content, both of which possess antidiabetic properties. Nevertheless, the efficacy of these bioactive compounds may be compromised by limited stability and bioavailability in vivo. This study aimed to develop nanoformulations (NFs) containing pure ABA or a TN extract (TNE) at an equivalent ABA concentration. Subsequently, the insulinotropic and antioxidant potential of the NFs and their unformulated (free) forms were compared in MIN-6 pancreatic cells exposed to varying glucose (5.5 mM and 20 mM) and iron (100 µM) concentrations. NF-TNE treatment exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity compared to free TNE, while ABA-based groups showed no significant antioxidant activity. Moreover, MIN6 cells incubated with both high glucose and iron levels demonstrated significantly higher insulin AUC levels after treatment with all samples, with NF-TNE displaying the most pronounced effect. In conclusion, these results highlight the additional beneficial potential of TNE due to the synergistic combination of bioactive compounds and demonstrate the significant advantage of using a nanoformulation approach to further increase the benefits of this and similar phytobioactive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Schiano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via Domenico Montesano 59, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.S.); (G.C.T.); (F.I.)
- Healthcare Food Research Center, Inventia Biotech s.r.l., Strada Statale Sannitica KM 20.700, 81020 Caserta, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marta María Gámez Fernández
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK; (M.M.G.F.); (H.T.L.); (V.B.P.)
| | - Helena Tiekou Lorinczova
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK; (M.M.G.F.); (H.T.L.); (V.B.P.)
| | - Gian Carlo Tenore
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via Domenico Montesano 59, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.S.); (G.C.T.); (F.I.)
| | - Fortuna Iannuzzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via Domenico Montesano 59, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.S.); (G.C.T.); (F.I.)
| | - Vinood B. Patel
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK; (M.M.G.F.); (H.T.L.); (V.B.P.)
| | - Satyanarayana Somavarapu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK;
| | - Mohammed Gulrez Zariwala
- Centre for Nutraceuticals, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK; (M.M.G.F.); (H.T.L.); (V.B.P.)
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