Conjugation with Phospholipids as a Modification Increasing Anticancer Activity of Phenolic Acids in Metastatic Melanoma-In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Methoxychalcones as potential anticancer agents for colon cancer: Is membrane perturbing potency relevant?

Chalcones are naturally produced by many plants, and constitute precursors for the synthesis of flavons and flavanons. They were shown to possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-cancer, and anti- inflammatory properties. The goal of the study was to assess the suitability of three synthetic methoxychalcones as potential anticancer agents. In a panel of colon cancer cell lines they were demonstrated to be cytotoxic, proapoptotic, causing cell cycle arrest, and increasing intracellular level of reactive oxygen species. Anticancer activity of the compounds was not diminished in the presence of stool extract containing microbial enzymes that could change the structure of chalcones. Moreover, methoxychalcones interacted strongly with model phosphatidylcholine membranes as detected by differential scanning calorimetry. Metohoxychalcones particularly affected the properties of lipid domains in giant unilamellar liposomes formed from raft-mimicking lipid composition. This may be of importance since many molecular targets for therapy of metastatic colon cancer are raft-associated receptors (e.g., receptor tyrosine kinases). The importance of membrane perturbing potency of methoxychalcones for their biological activity was additionally corroborated by the results obtained by molecular modelling.

Phytochemicals as Immunomodulatory Agents in Melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma is an immunogenic highly heterogenic tumor characterized by poor outcomes when it is diagnosed late. Therefore, immunotherapy in combination with other anti-proliferative approaches is among the most effective weapons to control its growth and metastatic dissemination. Recently, a large amount of published reports indicate the interest of researchers and clinicians about plant secondary metabolites as potentially useful therapeutic tools due to their lower presence of side effects coupled with their high potency and efficacy. Published evidence was reported in most cases through in vitro studies but also, with a growing body of evidence, through in vivo investigations. Our aim was, therefore, to review the published studies focused on the most interesting phytochemicals whose immunomodulatory activities and/or mechanisms of actions were demonstrated and applied to melanoma models.

Progress & Prospect of Enzyme-Mediated Structured Phospholipids Preparation

In recent years, structured phospholipids (SPLs), which are modified phospholipids (PLs), have attracted more attention due to their great potential for application in the field of pharmacy, food, cosmetics, and health. SPLs not only possess enhanced chemical, physical and nutritional properties, but also present superior bioavailability in comparison with other lipid forms, such as triacylglycerols, which make SPLs become more competitive carriers to increase the absorption of the specific fatty acids in the body. Compared with chemical-mediated SPLs, the process of enzyme-mediated SPLs has the advantages of high product variety, high substrate selectivity, and mild operation conditions. Both lipases and phospholipases can be used in the enzymatic production of SPLs, and the main reaction type contains esterification, acidolysis, and transesterification. During the preparation, reaction medium, acyl migration, water content/activity, substrates and enzymes, and some other parameters have significant effects on the production and purity of the desired PLs products. In this paper, the progress in enzymatic modification of PLs over the last 20 years is reviewed. Reaction types and characteristic parameters are summarized in detail and the parameters affecting acyl migration are first discussed to give the inspiration to optimize the enzyme-mediated SPLs preparation. To expand the application of enzyme-mediated SPLs in the future, the prospect of further study on SPLs is also proposed at the end of the paper.

Phenolic Acids - Versatile Natural Moiety With Numerous Biological Applications

BACKGROUND

Medicinal uses of natural phenolic acids and its synthetic derivatives have been augmented in recent years. Phenolic acids are chemically defined secondary plant metabolitesand being moieties or leads are much versatile in nature with a widescope of biological activities which seek the attention of researchers across the worldto synthesize different derivatives of phenolic acids and screen them for their various biological properties.These compounds are of meticulous interest due to the properties they possess and their occurrence.Based on the convincing evidences reported in the literature, it is suggested that phenolic acids andtheir derivatives are promising molecules as a drug.

OBJECTIVE

The present review article aims to bring together the information on the biosynthesis, metabolism, and sources of phenolic acids and emphasize on the therapeutic potential of phenolic acid and its synthetic derivatives to comprehensively portray the current scenery for researchers interested in designing drugs for furthering this study.

CONCLUSION

Phenolic acids being moieties or lead are much versatile in nature as they possess a wide range of biological activities like antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer and many more which offers researchers to explore more about these or many untapped benefits in medicinal field. The information mentioned in this article will be helpful to the forthcoming researchers working in this area. Phenolic acids have massive potential to be investigated for novel medicinal possibilities and for the development of new chemical moieties to treat different diseases of clinical importance.

Exploring the Phytochemicals and Anti-Cancer Potential of the Members of Fabaceae Family: A Comprehensive Review

Cancer is the second-ranked disease and a cause of death for millions of people around the world despite many kinds of available treatments. Phytochemicals are considered a vital source of cancer-inhibiting drugs and utilize specific mechanisms including carcinogen inactivation, the induction of cell cycle arrest, anti-oxidant stress, apoptosis, and regulation of the immune system. Family Fabaceae is the second most diverse family in the plant kingdom, and species of the family are widely distributed across the world. The species of the Fabaceae family are rich in phytochemicals (flavonoids, lectins, saponins, alkaloids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids), which exhibit a variety of health benefits, especially anti-cancer properties; therefore, exploration of the phytochemicals present in various members of this family is crucial. These phytochemicals of the Fabaceae family have not been explored in a better way yet; therefore, this review is an effort to summarize all the possible information related to the phytochemical status of the Fabaceae family and their anti-cancer properties. Moreover, various research gaps have been identified with directions for future research.

Chemical Conjugation in Drug Delivery Systems

Cancer is one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate. Treatments to mitigate cancer are usually so intense and invasive that they weaken the patient to cure as dangerous as the own disease. From some time ago until today, to reduce resistance generated by the constant administration of the drug and improve its pharmacokinetics, scientists have been developing drug delivery system (DDS) technology. DDS platforms aim to maximize the drugs’ effectiveness by directing them to reach the affected area by the disease and, therefore, reduce the potential side effects. Erythrocytes, antibodies, and nanoparticles have been used as carriers. Eleven antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) involving covalent linkage has been commercialized as a promising cancer treatment in the last years. This review describes the general features and applications of DDS focused on the covalent conjugation system that binds the antibody carrier to the cytotoxic drug.

Effect of Protocatechuic Acid Ethyl Ester on Biomembrane Models: Multilamellar Vesicles and Monolayers

The interactions of drugs with cell membranes are of primary importance for several processes involved in drugs activity. However, these interactions are very difficult to study due to the complexity of biological membranes. Lipid model membranes have been developed and used to gain insight into drug-membrane interactions. In this study, the interaction of protocatechuic acid ethyl ester, showing radical-scavenging activity, antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects, with model membranes constituted by multilamellar vesicles and monolayers made of DMPC and DSPC, has been studied. Differential scanning calorimetry and Langmuir-Blodgett techniques have been used. Protocatechuic acid ethyl ester interacted both with MLV and monolayers. However, a stronger interaction of the drug with DMPC-based model membranes has been obtained. The finding of this study could help to understand the protocatechuic acid ethyl ester action mechanism.

Enzymatic Production of Biologically Active 3-Methoxycinnamoylated Lysophosphatidylcholine via Regioselctive Lipase-Catalyzed Acidolysis

Enzymatic acidolysis of egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) with 3-methoxycinnamic acid (3-OMe-CA) was investigated to produce biologically active 3-methoxycinnamoylated phospholipids. Four commercially available lipases were screened for their ability to incorporate 3-OMe-CA into PC. The results showed that Novozym 435 is the most effective biocatalyst for this process, while during the examination of organic solvents, heptane was found propriate reaction medium. The other reaction parameters including the substrate molar ratio, enzyme load and reaction time were designed using an experimental factorial design method. According to three-level-3-factor Box-Behnken model it was shown that all of studied parameters are crucial variables for the maximization of the synthesis of structured PLs. The optimum conditions derived via response surface methodology (RSM) were: 30% of lipase of the total weight of substrates, 1:15 molar ration of PC/3-OMe-CA and reaction time 4 days. The process of acidolysis performed on the increased scale at optimized parameters afforded two products. The major product, 3-methoxycinnamoylated lysophosphatidylcholine (3-OMe-CA-LPC) was isolated in high 48% yield, while 3-methoxycinnamoylated phosphatidylcholine (3-OMe-CA-PC) was produced in trace amount only in 1.2% yield. Obtained results indicate that presented biotechnological method of synthesis of 3-methoxycinnamoylated lysophosphatidylcholine is competitive to the previously reported chemical one.

Evaluation of the Physico-Chemical Properties of Liposomes Assembled from Bioconjugates of Anisic Acid with Phosphatidylcholine

The aim of this work was the evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of a new type of liposomes that are composed of DPPC and bioconjugates of anisic acid with phosphatidylcholine. In particular, the impact of modified anisic acid phospholipids on the thermotropic parameters of liposomes was determined, which is crucial for using them as potential carriers of active substances in cancer therapies. Their properties were determined using three biophysical methods, namely differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), steady-state fluorimetry and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Moreover, temperature studies of liposomes composed of DPPC and bioconjugates of anisic acid with phosphatidylcholine provided information about the phase transition, fluidity regarding chain order, hydration and dynamics. The DSC results show that the main phase transition peak for conjugates of anisic acid with phosphatidylcholine molecules was broadened and shifted to a lower temperature in a concentration- and structure-dependent manner. The ATR-FTIR results and the results of measurements conducted using fluorescent probes located at different regions in the lipid bilayer are in line with DSC. The results show that the new bioconjugates with phosphatidylcholine have a significant impact on the physico-chemical properties of a membrane and cause a decrease in the temperature of the main phase transition. The consequence of this is greater fluidity of the lipid bilayer.

Phospholipid Derivatives of Cinnamic Acid Restore Insulin Sensitivity in Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition in which the physiological amount of insulin is insufficient to evoke a proper response of the cell, that is, glucose utilization. Metformin is the first choice for therapy, thanks to its glycemic efficacy and general tolerability. In addition, various natural compounds from plant extracts, spices, and essential oils have been shown to provide health benefits regarding insulin sensitivity. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of phospholipid derivatives of selected natural aromatic acids on insulin action and their potential use to overcome insulin resistance.

METHODS

The 3T3-L1 fibroblasts were differentiated into mature adipocytes; next, insulin resistance was induced by palmitic acid (16:0). Cells were further cultured with phenophospholipids at appropriate concentrations. To assess insulin sensitivity, we measured the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, using a glucose uptake test.

RESULTS

We showed that cinnamic acid (CA) and 3-methoxycinnamic acid (3-OMe-CA) restored the proper insulin response. However, 1,2-dicinnamoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1,2-diCA-PC) and 1-cinnamoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1-CA-2-PA-PC) improved insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant adipocytes even stronger, exhibiting more beneficial effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The binding of aromatic acids to phosphatidylcholine increases their beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity in adipocytes and expands their potential practical application as nutraceutical health-promoting agents.