Regulated expressions of MMP-2, -9 by diterpenoids from Euphorbia formosana Hayata

Traditonal Uses, Pharmacological, and Phytochemical Studies of Euphorbia: a Review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants of the genus Euphorbia have long been used as traditional medicine in China, Europe, America, Turkey, India, Africa, Iran, and Pakistan for their great medicinal value and health benefits. Their stems, leaves, roots, latex are widely used to treat respiratory infections, body and skin irritations, digestive disorders, inflammatory infections, body pain, snake or scorpion bites, pregnancy, sensory disturbances, microbial and anti-cancer diseases.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to provide updated information on the genus Euphorbia, including traditional medicinal uses, valuation and exploitation of medicinal plants, phytochemistry, botanical characterization, pharmacological and toxicological research focused on the medicinal properties of several Euphorbias in particular their antibacterial, anti-tumor, and cell manifestations, in addition to the effect of each isolated bioactive molecule from these species and their pharmacological use including preclinical evaluation of new drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This work was conducted using scientific databases such as: PubMed, Google scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, etc. In addition, ChemDraw software has been used for the drawing of chemical molecules. The correct names of the plants were confirmed from plantlist.org. The results of this review research were interpreted, analyzed and documented based on the bibliographical information obtained.

RESULTS

Among all the species of the Euphorbiaceae family, 15 species have been demonstrated to exhibit anticancer activity, 21 species have antibacterial activity and 10 species have cytotoxic activity. The majority of the chemical constituents of this plant include triterpenoid glycosides, diterpenoids, flavonoids, and the 4α-methyl steroids. Among them, the main bioactive constituents are present in the diterpenoid fraction. The study of more than 33 steroid plants identified more than 104 compounds. Pharmacological research proved that the crude extracts and some pure compounds obtained from Euphorbia had activities for the treatment of different diseases. The objective of the present study was focused on cytotoxic, antibacterial and antitumor diseases. The study of the phytochemistry of the Euphorbia families led to the conclusion that all the plants studied had active compounds, of which 27 plants characterized by their cytotoxic effects, 7 had antibacterial effects and 10 plants had anti-tumor activities. Therefore, the safety of Euphorbia herbal medicine should be considered a top priority in the early stages of development and clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Many previous studies have validated many traditional uses of Euphorbia species. The latex of some Euphorbia species seems to be toxic however studies dealing with safety and quality of these species are still incomplete. Extensive studies are needed on the Euphorbia plants before it can be fully used in clinics as a potent drug candidate, as researchers are focusing mainly on diterpenoids and triterpenoids, while there are many other types of compounds that may possess new biological activities.

Euphormins A and B, New Pyranocoumarin Derivatives from Euphorbia formosana Hayata, and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Euphormin-A (1) and euphormin-B (2), two new pyranocoumarin derivatives, and forty known compounds (3–42) were isolated from Euphorbia formosana Hayata (Euphorbiaceae). The chemical structures of all compounds were established based on spectroscopic analyses. Several isolates were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1, 2, 10, 18, 25, and 33 significantly inhibited against superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils in response to formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Furthermore, compounds 25 and 33 displayed the most potent effects with IC₅₀ values of 0.68 ± 0.18 and 1.39 ± 0.12 µM, respectively, against superoxide anion generation when compared with the positive control (2.01 ± 0.06 µM).

Euphorbia Diterpenes: An Update of Isolation, Structure, Pharmacological Activities and Structure-Activity Relationship

Euphorbia species have a rich history of ethnomedicinal use and ethnopharmacological applications in drug discovery. This is due to the presence of a wide range of diterpenes exhibiting great structural diversity and pharmacological activities. As a result, Euphorbia diterpenes have remained the focus of drug discovery investigations from natural products. The current review documents over 350 diterpenes, isolated from Euphorbia species, their structures, classification, biosynthetic pathways, and their structure-activity relationships for the period covering 2013-2020. Among the isolated diterpenes, over 20 skeletal structures were identified. Lathyrane, jatrophane, ingenane, ingenol, and ingol were identified as the major diterpenes in most Euphorbia species. Most of the isolated diterpenes were evaluated for their cytotoxicity activities, multidrug resistance abilities, and inhibitory activities in vitro, and reported good activities with significant half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 10-50 µM. The lathyranes, isopimaranes, and jatrophanes diterpenes were further found to show potent inhibition of P-glycoprotein, which is known to confer drug resistance abilities in cells leading to decreased cytotoxic effects. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies revealed the significance of a free hydroxyl group at position C-3 in enhancing the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities and the negative effect it has in position C-2. Esterification of this functionality, in selected diterpenes, was found to enhance these activities. Thus, Euphorbia diterpenes offer a valuable source of lead compounds that could be investigated further as potential candidates for drug discovery.

Euphorbia characias: Phytochemistry and Biological Activities

The aim of this review is to summarize all the compounds identified and characterized from Euphorbia characias, along with the biological activities reported for this plant. Euphorbia is one of the greatest genera in the spurge family of Euphorbiaceae and includes different kinds of plants characterized by the presence of milky latex. Among them, the species Euphorbia characias L. is an evergreen perennial shrub widely distributed in Mediterranean countries. E. characias latex and extracts from different parts of the plant have been extensively studied, leading to the identification of several chemical components such as terpenoids, sterol hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, cerebrosides and phenolic and carboxylic acids. The biological properties range between antioxidant activities, antimicrobial, antiviral and pesticidal activities, wound-healing properties, anti-aging and hypoglycemic properties and inhibitory activities toward target enzymes related to different diseases, such as cholinesterases and xanthine oxidase. The information available in this review allows us to consider the plant E. characias as a potential source of compounds for biomedical research.

NOTCH1 signaling in oral squamous cell carcinoma via a TEL2/SERPINE1 axis

Inactivating mutations in the EGF-like ligand binding domain of NOTCH1 are a prominent feature of the mutational landscape of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this study, we investigated NOTCH1 mutations in keratinocyte lines derived from OSCC biopsies that had been subjected to whole exome sequencing. One line, SJG6, was found to have truncating mutations in both NOTCH1 alleles, resulting in loss of NOTCH1 expression. Overexpression of the NOTCH1 intracellular domain (NICD) in SJG6 cells promoted cell adhesion and differentiation, while suppressing proliferation, migration and clonal growth, consistent with the previously reported tumour suppressive function of NOTCH1 in OSCC. Comparative gene expression profiling identified SERPINE1 as being downregulated on NICD overexpression and predicted an interaction between SERPINE1 and genes involved in cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, overexpression of NICD resulted in upregulation of ETV7/TEL2, which negatively regulates SERPINE1 expression. Knockdown of SERPINE1 phenocopied the effects of NICD overexpression in culture. Consistent with previous studies and our in vitro findings, there were inverse correlations between ETV7 and SERPINE1 expression and survival in OSCC primary tumours. Our results suggest that the tumour suppressive role of NOTCH1 in OSCC is mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of SERPINE1 via ETV7.

Euphosantianane E-G: Three New Premyrsinane Type Diterpenoids from Euphorbia sanctae-catharinae with Contribution to Chemotaxonomy

Euphorbia species were widely used in traditional medicines for the treatment of several diseases. From the aerial parts of Egyptian endemic plant, Euphorbia sanctae-catharinae, three new premyrsinane diterpenoids, namely, euphosantianane E-G (1-3), alongside four known triterpenes, 9,19-cyclolanostane-3β,24S-diol (4), 25-methoxycycloartane-3β,24S-diol (5), 25-methylenecycloartan-3β,24R-diol (6), and 25-methylenecycloartan-3β,24S-diol (7), were isolated and identified. The chemical structures were proven depending upon spectroscopic analysis, including FTIR, HRFABMS, and 1D/2D-NMR. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds, especially diterpenes from E. sanctae-catharinae compared to those documented from different Euphorbia species was also studied via agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). The Egyptian endemic Euphorbia sanctae-catharina was grouped with E. bupleuroides, E. fidjiana, E. fischeriana, E. pithyusa subsp. cupanii, E. prolifera, and E. seguieriana, where myrsinol diterpenoids were the characteristic compounds.

Crude extract of Euphorbia formosana induces apoptosis of DU145 human prostate cancer cells acts through the caspase-dependent and independent signaling pathway

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in men and the second highest contributor of male cancer mortality. The crude extract of Euphorbia formosana (CEEF) has been used for treatment of different diseases but the cytotoxic effects of CEEF on human cancer cells have not been reported. The purpose of the present experiments was to determine effects of CEEF on cell cycle distribution and induction of apoptosis in DU145 human prostate cancer cells in vitro. Contrast-phase microscope was used for examining cell morphological changes. Flow cytometric assays were used for cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, and Ca²⁺ production and mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨ_m ). Western blotting was used for examining protein expression of cell cycle and apoptosis associated proteins. Real-time PCR was used for examining mRNA levels of caspase-3, -8, and -9, AIF, and Endo G. Confocal laser microscope was used to examine the translocation of AIF, Endo G, and cytochrome in DU145 cells after CEEF exposure. CEEF-induced cell morphological changes, decreased the percentage of viable cells, and induced S phase arrest and apoptosis in DU145 cells. Furthermore, CEEF promoted RAS and Ca²⁺ production and reduced ΔΨ_m levels. Real-time QPCR confirmed that CEEF promoted the mRNA expression of caspase-3 and -9, AIF and Endo G and we found that AIF and Endo G and cytochrome c were released from mitochondria. Taken together, CEEF-induced cytotoxic effects via ROS production, induced S phase arrest and induction of apoptosis through caspase-dependent and independent and mitochondria-dependent pathways in DU245 cancer cells. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1600-1611, 2016.

Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) Identifies Laurifolioside as a New Clathrin Heavy Chain Modulator

Five new diterpenes (1-5) and a megastigmane derivative (6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia laurifolia, along with several known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by NMR, MS, and ECD and by chemical methods. A chemical proteomics drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) approach to investigate the lathyrane diterpene 1, laurifolioside, on its putative cellular target(s) was performed. Clathrin heavy chain 1, a protein mainly involved in selective uptake of proteins, viruses, and other macromolecules at the plasma membrane of cells, was identified as the major interaction partner of compound 1. The modulation of clathrin activity by 1 was studied through microscopy, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics studies, suggesting a new activity of lathyrane diterpenes in the modulation of trafficking pathways.

Crude extract of Euphorbia formosana inhibits the migration and invasion of DU145 human prostate cancer cells: The role of matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 inhibition via the MAPK signaling pathway

Prostate cancer is a common worldwide health problem in males with a poor prognosis due in part to tumor invasion and migration. The crude extract of Euphorbia formosana (CEEF) has been used for the treatment of numerous diseases, however, its effects on the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells have yet to be examined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of CEEF on the migration and invasion of DU145 human prostate cancer cells in vitro. The wound healing assay and the Matrigel-uncoated migration assay were used to examine the migration of cancer cells. Western blotting was used to examine the levels of proteins associated with migration and invasion, and gelatin zymography was used to examine the secretion levels of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMP‑2/9) from DU145 cells following exposure to CEEF. The results indicated that CEEF suppressed the migration and invasion of DU145 prostate cancer cells and that these effects are exerted in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. CEEF inhibited the ERK1/2, p38, JNK, SOS1, PKC, PI3K and MMP-2/9 protein expression in DU145 cells. The results demonstrated that CEEF suppressed the migration and invasion of DU145 cells through inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway resulting in the inhibition of MMP-2/9 in DU145 human prostate cancer cells.

Euphorbia formosana root extract induces apoptosis by caspase-dependent cell death via Fas and mitochondrial pathway in THP-1 human leukemic cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a very rare type of cancer, generally affects patients over 50 years old. While clinical drugs to treat advanced stages of AML exist, the disease becomes increasingly resistant to therapies. Euphorbiaformosana Hayata (EF) is a native Taiwanese medicinal plant used to treat rheumatism, liver cirrhosis, herpes zoster, scabies, and photoaging, along with tumor suppression. However, the mechanisms by which it suppresses tumors have not been explored. Here, we provide molecular evidence that a hot-water extract of Euphorbiaformosana (EFW) selectively inhibited the growth of human leukemic cancer cells more than other solid human cancer cell lines. Most importantly, the plant extract had limited toxicity toward healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). After THP-1 leukemic cells were treated with 50–100 µg/mL EFW for one day, the S phase DNA content of the cells increased, while treatment with 200–400 µg/mL caused the cells to accumulate in the G0/G1 phase. Notably, EFW did not affect A-549 lung cancer cells. The effectiveness of EFW against THP-1 cells may be through caspase-dependent apoptosis in leukemic cells, which is mediated through the Fas and mitochondrial pathways. The potent antileukemic activity of EFW in vitro warrants further investigation of this plant to treat leukemias and other malignancies.