1
|
Shahcheraghi SH, Alimardani M, Lotfi M, Lotfi M, Uversky VN, Guetchueng ST, Palakurthi SS, Charbe NB, Hromić-Jahjefendić A, Aljabali AAA, Gadewar MM, Malik S, Goyal R, El-Tanani M, Mishra V, Mishra Y, Tambuwala MM. Advances in glioblastoma multiforme: Integrating therapy and pathology perspectives. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 257:155285. [PMID: 38653089 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma, a highly lethal form of brain cancer, is characterized by its aggressive growth and resistance to conventional treatments, often resulting in limited survival. The response to therapy is notably influenced by various patient-specific genetic factors, underscoring the disease's complexity. Despite the utilization of diverse treatment modalities such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, many patients experience local relapse, emphasizing the critical need for improved therapeutic strategies to effectively target these formidable tumors. Recent years have witnessed a surge in interest in natural products derived from plants, particularly alkaloids, for their potential anticancer effects. Alkaloids have shown promise in cancer chemotherapy by selectively targeting crucial signaling pathways implicated in tumor progression and survival. Specifically, they modulate the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, resulting in reduced tumor growth and altered gene expression across various cancer types. Additionally, alkaloids exhibit the capacity to induce cell cycle arrest, further impeding tumor proliferation in several malignancies. This review aims to delineate recent advances in understanding the pathology of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and to explore the potential therapeutic implications of alkaloids in managing this deadly disease. By segregating discussions on GBM pathology from those on alkaloid-based therapies, we provide a structured overview of the current challenges in GBM treatment and the promising opportunities presented by alkaloid-based interventions. Furthermore, we briefly discuss potential future directions in GBM research and therapy beyond alkaloids, including emerging treatment modalities or areas of investigation that hold promise for improving patient outcomes. In conclusion, our efforts offer hope for enhanced outcomes and improved quality of life for GBM patients through alkaloid-based therapies. By integrating insights from pathology and therapeutic perspectives, we underscore the significance of a comprehensive approach in addressing this devastating disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Hossein Shahcheraghi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Maliheh Alimardani
- Medical Genetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Malihe Lotfi
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Marzieh Lotfi
- Abortion Research Center, Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Stephanie Tamdem Guetchueng
- Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, PO Box 6163, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Sushesh Shrivastsa Palakurthi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel School Of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
| | - Nitin B Charbe
- Center for Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo, Hrasnicka cesta 15, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Manoj M Gadewar
- Department of Pharmacology, School of medical and allied sciences, K.R. Mangalam University, Gurgaon, Haryana 122103, India
| | - Sumira Malik
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, India
| | - Rohit Goyal
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology & Management Sciences, Solan, India
| | - Mohamed El-Tanani
- Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vijay Mishra
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Yachana Mishra
- Department of Zoology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates; Lincoln Medical School, Brayford Pool Campus, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Filho CSMB, de Menezes RRPPB, Magalhães EP, Castillo YP, Martins AMC, de Sousa DP. Piplartine-Inspired 3,4,5-Trimethoxycinnamates: Trypanocidal, Mechanism of Action, and In Silico Evaluation. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28114512. [PMID: 37298988 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is one of the main neglected tropical diseases that promote relevant socioeconomic impacts in several countries. The therapeutic options for the treatment of CD are limited, and parasite resistance has been reported. Piplartine is a phenylpropanoid imide that has diverse biological activities, including trypanocidal action. Thus, the objective of the present work was to prepare a collection of thirteen esters analogous to piplartine (1-13) and evaluate their trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi. Of the tested analogues, compound 11 ((E)-furan-2-ylmethyl 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylate) showed good activity with IC50 values = 28.21 ± 5.34 μM and 47.02 ± 8.70 μM, against the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms, respectively. In addition, it showed a high rate of selectivity to the parasite. The trypanocidal mechanism of action occurs through the induction of oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. In addition, scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of pores and leakage of cytoplasmic content. Molecular docking indicated that 11 probably produces a trypanocidal effect through a multi-target mechanism, including affinity with proteins CRK1, MPK13, GSK3B, AKR, UCE-1, and UCE-2, which are important for the survival of the parasite. Therefore, the results suggest chemical characteristics that can serve for the development of new trypanocidal prototypes for researching drugs against Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos S M B Filho
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Ramon R P P B de Menezes
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Emanuel P Magalhães
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Yunierkis P Castillo
- Escuela de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170125, Ecuador
| | - Alice M C Martins
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Damião P de Sousa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Silva RHN, Machado TQ, da Fonseca ACC, Tejera E, Perez-Castillo Y, Robbs BK, de Sousa DP. Molecular Modeling and In Vitro Evaluation of Piplartine Analogs against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28041675. [PMID: 36838660 PMCID: PMC9964404 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041675] [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: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a principal cause of death in the world, and providing a better quality of life and reducing mortality through effective pharmacological treatment remains a challenge. Among malignant tumor types, squamous cell carcinoma-esophageal cancer (EC) is usually located in the mouth, with approximately 90% located mainly on the tongue and floor of the mouth. Piplartine is an alkamide found in certain species of the genus Piper and presents many pharmacological properties including antitumor activity. In the present study, the cytotoxic potential of a collection of piplartine analogs against human oral SCC9 carcinoma cells was evaluated. The analogs were prepared via Fischer esterification reactions, alkyl and aryl halide esterification, and a coupling reaction with PyBOP using the natural compound 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid as a starting material. The products were structurally characterized using 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry for the unpublished compounds. The compound 4-methoxy-benzyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (9) presented an IC50 of 46.21 µM, high selectively (SI > 16), and caused apoptosis in SCC9 cancer cells. The molecular modeling study suggested a multi-target mechanism of action for the antitumor activity of compound 9 with CRM1 as the main target receptor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rayanne H. N. Silva
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
| | - Thaíssa Q. Machado
- Postgraduate Program in Applied Science for Health Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi 24241-000, Brazil
| | - Anna Carolina C. da Fonseca
- Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, Health Institute of Nova Friburgo, Fluminense Federal University, Nova Friburgo 28625-650, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Tejera
- Bio-Cheminformatics Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170516, Ecuador
| | - Yunierkis Perez-Castillo
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Área de Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170516, Ecuador
| | - Bruno K. Robbs
- Departamento de Ciência Básica, Instituto de Saúde de Nova Friburgo, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Nova Friburgo 28625-650, Brazil
- Correspondence: (B.K.R.); (D.P.d.S.)
| | - Damião P. de Sousa
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (B.K.R.); (D.P.d.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
In Vitro and In Vivo Neuroprotective Effects of Sarcosine. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:5467498. [PMID: 36281465 PMCID: PMC9587910 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5467498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by behavioral and psychological symptoms in addition to cognitive impairment and loss of memory. The exact pathogenesis and genetic background of AD are unclear and there remains no effective treatment option. Sarcosine, an n-methyl derivative of glycine, showed a promising therapeutic strategy for some cognitive disorders. To our knowledge, the impacts of sarcosine supplementation against AD have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to determine the neuroprotective potential of sarcosine in in vitro and in vivo AD model. In vitro studies have demonstrated that sarcosine increased the percentage of viable cells against aluminum induced neurotoxicity. In AlCl3-induced rat model of AD, the level of antioxidant capacity was significantly decreased and expression levels of APP, BACE1, TNF-α, APH1A, and PSENEN genes were elevated compared to the control group. Additionally, histopathological examinations of the hippocampus of AlCl3-induced rat brains showed the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). However, the administration of sarcosine produced marked improvement and protection of AD-associated pathologies induced by AlCl3 in experimental rats. Therefore, this investigation may contribute to design novel therapeutic strategies using sarcosine for the management of AD pathologies.
Collapse
|
5
|
3,5-Dinitrobenzoate and 3,5-Dinitrobenzamide Derivatives: Mechanistic, Antifungal, and In Silico Studies. J CHEM-NY 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/2336175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections, including those caused by Candida spp., are recognized in immunocompromised individuals for their high rates of morbidity and mortality. Microorganism resistance to conventional drugs compromises treatment effectiveness and yet also reveals the need to develop new drugs. In many compounds, nitro groups contribute to antimicrobial activity; thus, the inhibitory activity of a collection of twenty esters and amides (derived from 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid) against Candida spp. was elucidated using microdilution methods to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicide Concentration (MFC), as well as probable mechanisms of action. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, 1H-NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Of the tested derivatives, ten presented fungicidal activity against at least one of the tested strains. Ethyl 3,5-dinitrobenzoate (2) exhibited the most potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MIC = 125 µg/mL; 0.52 mM), Candida krusei (MIC = 100 µg/mL; 4.16 mM), and Candida tropicalis (MIC = 500 µg/ml; 2.08 mM). The structure of the second most potent derivative (propyl 3,5-dinitrobenzoate (3) reveals that esters with short alkyl side chains exhibit better biological activity profiles. Compounds 2 and 3 presented a mechanism of action involving the fungal cell membrane. Though compound 2 modeling against C. albicans revealed a multitarget antifungal mechanism of action, involving various cellular processes, interference in the synthesis of ergosterol was observed. Our results demonstrate that certain ester derivatives containing aromatic ring nitro groups may be useful in the search for new antifungal drugs.
Collapse
|
6
|
Tozlu ÖÖ, Türkez H, Okkay U, Ceylan O, Bayram C, Hacımüftüoğlu A, Mardinoğlu A. Assessment of the neuroprotective potential of d-cycloserine and l-serine in aluminum chloride-induced experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease: In vivo and in vitro studies. Front Nutr 2022; 9:981889. [PMID: 36159454 PMCID: PMC9493202 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.981889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain accompanied by synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. No effective treatment has been found to slow the progression of the disease. Therapeutic studies using experimental animal models have therefore become very important. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the possible neuroprotective effect of D-cycloserine and L-serine against aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced AD in rats. Administration of AlCl3 for 28 days caused oxidative stress and neurodegeneration compared to the control group. In addition, we found that aluminum decreases α-secretase activity while increasing β-secretase and γ-secretase activities by molecular genetic analysis. D-cycloserine and L-serine application resulted in an improvement in neurodegeneration and oxidative damage caused by aluminum toxicity. It is believed that the results of this study will contribute to the synthesis of new compounds with improved potential against AlCl3-induced neurodegeneration, cognitive impairment, and drug development research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Özdemir Tozlu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Hasan Türkez
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Ufuk Okkay
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Onur Ceylan
- Department of Medical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Cemil Bayram
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Adil Mardinoğlu
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Adil Mardinoğlu,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
In Vitro and Computational Studies of Perezone and Perezone Angelate as Potential Anti-Glioblastoma Multiforme Agents. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27051565. [PMID: 35268667 PMCID: PMC8911992 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most malignant type of astrocytoma, with a life expectancy of two years. It has been shown that Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) protein is over-expressed in GBM cells, while its expression in healthy tissue is low. In addition, perezone, a phyto-compound, is a PARP-1 inhibitor with anti-neoplastic activity. As a consequence, in the present study, both in vitro and computational evaluations of perezone and its chemically related compound, perezone angelate, as anti-GBM agents were performed. Hence, the anti-proliferative assay showed that perezone angelate induces higher cytotoxicity in the GBM cell line (U373 IC50 = 6.44 μM) than perezone (U373 IC50 = 51.20 μM) by induction of apoptosis. In addition, perezone angelate showed low cytotoxic activity in rat glial cells (IC50 = 173.66 μM). PARP-1 inhibitory activity (IC50 = 5.25 μM) and oxidative stress induction by perezone angelate were corroborated employing in vitro studies. In the other hand, the performed docking studies allowed explaining the PARP-1 inhibitory activity of perezone angelate, and ADMET studies showed its probability to permeate cell membranes and the blood–brain barrier, which is an essential characteristic of drugs to treat neurological diseases. Finally, it is essential to highlight that the results confirm perezone angelate as a potential anti-GBM agent.
Collapse
|
8
|
Antifungal Activity of N-(4-Halobenzyl)amides against Candida spp. and Molecular Modeling Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010419. [PMID: 35008845 PMCID: PMC8745543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections remain a high-incidence worldwide health problem that is aggravated by limited therapeutic options and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Cinnamic and benzoic acid amides have previously shown bioactivity against different species belonging to the Candida genus. Here, 20 cinnamic and benzoic acid amides were synthesized and tested for inhibition of C. krusei ATCC 14243 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019. Five compounds inhibited the Candida strains tested, with compound 16 (MIC = 7.8 µg/mL) producing stronger antifungal activity than fluconazole (MIC = 16 µg/mL) against C. krusei ATCC 14243. It was also tested against eight Candida strains, including five clinical strains resistant to fluconazole, and showed an inhibitory effect against all strains tested (MIC = 85.3–341.3 µg/mL). The MIC value against C. krusei ATCC 6258 was 85.3 mcg/mL, while against C. krusei ATCC 14243, it was 10.9 times smaller. This strain had greater sensitivity to the antifungal action of compound 16. The inhibition of C. krusei ATCC 14243 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 was also achieved by compounds 2, 9, 12, 14 and 15. Computational experiments combining target fishing, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the potential mechanism of action of compound 16 against C. krusei. From these, a multi-target mechanism of action is proposed for this compound that involves proteins related to critical cellular processes such as the redox balance, kinases-mediated signaling, protein folding and cell wall synthesis. The modeling results might guide future experiments focusing on the wet-lab investigation of the mechanism of action of this series of compounds, as well as on the optimization of their inhibitory potency.
Collapse
|
9
|
Cytotoxic and Antifungal Amides Derived from Ferulic Acid: Molecular Docking and Mechanism of Action. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:3598000. [PMID: 34761004 PMCID: PMC8575619 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3598000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Amides derived from ferulic acid have a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antitumor and antifungal activity. In the present study, a series of ten amides were obtained by coupling reactions using the reagents (benzotriazol-1-yloxy) tripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBOP) and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). All the compounds were identified on the basis of their IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR, HRMS data, and with yields ranging from 43.17% to 91.37%. The compounds were subjected to cytotoxic tests by the alamar blue technique and antifungal screening by the broth microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The amides 10 and 11 displayed the best result in both biological evaluations, and compound 10 was the most potent and selective in HL-60 cancer cells, with no cytotoxicity on healthy cells. This amide had antifungal activity in all strains and had the lowest MIC against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. The possible mechanism of antifungal action occurs via the fungal cell wall. Molecular modeling suggested that compounds 10 and 11 interact with the enzymes GWT1 and GSC1, which are essential for the development of C. albicans. The findings of the present study demonstrated that compounds 10 and 11 may be used as a platform in drug development in the future.
Collapse
|
10
|
Turkez H, Tozlu OO, Arslan ME, Mardinoglu A. Safety and Efficacy Assessments to Take Antioxidants in Glioblastoma Therapy: From In Vitro Experiences to Animal and Clinical Studies. Neurochem Int 2021; 150:105168. [PMID: 34450218 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is considered one of the most common malignant brain tumors, occurring as over 15% of all primary central nervous system and brain neoplasms. The unique and standard treatment option towards GBM involves the combination of surgical resection followed by radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT). However, due to the aggressive nature and heterogeneity of GBMs, they remained difficult to treat. Recent findings from preclinical studies have revealed that disruption of the redox balance via using either oxidative or anti-oxidative agents in GBM presented an effective and promising therapeutic approach. A limited number of clinical trials substantially encouraged their concomitant use with RT or CT. Thus, treatment of GBMs may benefit from natural or synthetic antioxidative compounds as novel therapeutics. Despite the presence of variegated in vitro and in vivo studies focusing on safety and efficacy issues of these promising therapeutics, nowadays their translation to clinics is far from applicability due to several challenges. In this review, we briefly introduce the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems as well as potential signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of GBM with a special interest in antioxidant mechanisms. In addition, we describe the advantages and limitations of antioxidant supplementation in GBM cases or disease models as well as growing challenges for GBM therapies with antioxidants in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Turkez
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Ozdemir Tozlu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, 25250; Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Enes Arslan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, 25250; Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK; Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-17121, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Parama D, Rana V, Girisa S, Verma E, Daimary UD, Thakur KK, Kumar A, Kunnumakkara AB. The promising potential of piperlongumine as an emerging therapeutics for cancer. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2021; 2:323-354. [PMID: 36046754 PMCID: PMC9400693 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2021.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In spite of the immense advancement in the diagnostic and treatment modalities, cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of mortality across the globe, responsible for the death of around 10 million patients every year. The foremost challenges faced in the treatment of this disease are chemoresistance, adverse effects of the drugs, and the high cost of treatment. Though scientific studies over the past few decades have foreseen and are focusing on the cancer-preventive and therapeutic potential of natural products and their underlying mechanism of action, many more of these agents are not still explored. Piperlongumine (PL), or piplartine, is one such alkaloid isolated from Piper longum Linn. which is shown to be safe and has significant potential in the prevention and therapy of cancer. Numerous shreds of evidence have established the ability of this alkaloid and its analogs and nanoformulations in modulating various complex molecular pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B /mammalian target of rapamycin, nuclear factor kappa-B, Janus kinases/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, etc. and inhibit different hallmarks of cancer such as cell survival, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal-transition, metastases, etc. In addition, PL was also shown to inhibit radioresistance and chemoresistance and sensitize the cancer cells to the standard chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, this compound has high potential as a drug candidate for the prevention and treatment of different cancers. The current review briefly reiterates the anti-cancer properties of PL against different types of cancer, which permits further investigation by conducting clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dey Parama
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Varsha Rana
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Sosmitha Girisa
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Elika Verma
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Uzini Devi Daimary
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Krishan Kumar Thakur
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Aviral Kumar
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkara
- Cancer Biology Laboratory and DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Turkez H, Arslan ME, Tatar A, Mardinoglu A. Promising potential of boron compounds against Glioblastoma: In Vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer studies. Neurochem Int 2021; 149:105137. [PMID: 34293392 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and aggressive primary malignant astrocytoma correlated with poor patient survival. There are no curative treatments for GB, and it becomes resistant to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Resistance in GB cells is closely related to their states of redox imbalance, and the role of reactive oxygen species and its impact on cancer cell survival is still far from elucidation. Boron-containing compounds, especially boric acid (BA) and borax (BX) exhibited interesting biological effects involving antibacterial, antiviral, anti-cancerogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory as well as anti-oxidative features. Recent studies indicated that certain boron compounds could be cytotoxic on human GB. Nevertheless, there is gap of knowledge in the literature on exploring the underlying mechanisms of anti-GB action by boron compounds. Here, we identified and compared the potential anti-GB effect of both BA and BX, and revealed their underlying anti-GB mechanism. We performed cell viability, oxidative alterations, oxidative DNA damage potential assays, and explored the inflammatory responses and gene expression changes by real-time PCR using U-87MG cells. We found that BA and BX led to a remarkable reduction in U-87MG cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. We also found that boron compounds increased the total oxidative status and MDA levels along with the SOD and CAT enzyme activities and decreased total antioxidant capacity and GSH levels in U-87MG cells without inducing DNA damage. The cytokine levels of cancer cells were also altered. We verified the selectivity of the compounds using a normal cell line, HaCaT and found an exact opposite condition after treating HaCaT cells with BA and BX. BA applications were more effective than BX on U-87MG cell line in terms of increasing MDA levels, SOD and CAT enzyme activities, and decreasing Interleukin-1α, Interleukin-6 and Tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α) levels. We finally observed that anticancer effect of BA and BX were associated with the BRAF/MAPK, PTEN and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in respect of downregulatory manner. Especially, BA application was found more favorable because of its inhibitory effect on PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN and RAF1 genes. In conclusion, our analysis indicated that boron compounds may be safe and promising for effective treatment of GB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Turkez
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Enes Arslan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, 25250; Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Abdulgani Tatar
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, 25240; Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK; Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-17121, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bioactive Terpenes and Their Derivatives as Potential SARS-CoV-2 Proteases Inhibitors from Molecular Modeling Studies. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11010074. [PMID: 33430299 PMCID: PMC7825698 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus; the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Millions of cases and deaths to date have resulted in a global challenge for healthcare systems. COVID-19 has a high mortality rate, especially in elderly individuals with pre-existing chronic comorbidities. There are currently no effective therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Therefore, the identification of effective therapeutics is a necessity. Terpenes are the largest class of natural products that could serve as a source of new drugs or as prototypes for the development of effective pharmacotherapeutic agents. In the present study, we discuss the antiviral activity of these natural products and we perform simulations against the Mpro and PLpro enzymes of SARS-CoV-2. Our results strongly suggest the potential of these compounds against human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
|
14
|
Larvicidal Activity of Cinnamic Acid Derivatives: Investigating Alternative Products for Aedes aegypti L. Control. Molecules 2020; 26:molecules26010061. [PMID: 33374484 PMCID: PMC7796249 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito Aedes aegypti transmits the virus that causes dengue, yellow fever, Zika and Chikungunya viruses, and in several regions of the planet represents a vector of great clinical importance. In terms of mortality and morbidity, infections caused by Ae. aegypti are among the most serious arthropod transmitted viral diseases. The present study investigated the larvicidal potential of seventeen cinnamic acid derivatives against fourth stage Ae. aegypti larvae. The larvicide assays were performed using larval mortality rates to determine lethal concentration (LC50). Compounds containing the medium alkyl chains butyl cinnamate (7) and pentyl cinnamate (8) presented excellent larvicidal activity with LC50 values of around 0.21-0.17 mM, respectively. While among the derivatives with aryl substituents, the best LC50 result was 0.55 mM for benzyl cinnamate (13). The tested derivatives were natural compounds and in pharmacology and antiparasitic studies, many have been evaluated using biological models for environmental and toxicological safety. Molecular modeling analyses suggest that the larvicidal activity of these compounds might be due to a multi-target mechanism of action involving inhibition of a carbonic anhydrase (CA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC2), and two sodium-dependent cation-chloride co-transporters (CCC2 e CCC3).
Collapse
|
15
|
Tejera E, Munteanu CR, López-Cortés A, Cabrera-Andrade A, Pérez-Castillo Y. Drugs Repurposing Using QSAR, Docking and Molecular Dynamics for Possible Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 M pro Protease. Molecules 2020; 25:E5172. [PMID: 33172092 PMCID: PMC7664330 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wuhan, China was the epicenter of the first zoonotic transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus clade 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019 and it is the causative agent of the novel human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Almost from the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak several attempts were made to predict possible drugs capable of inhibiting the virus replication. In the present work a drug repurposing study is performed to identify potential SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors. We created a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) model based on a machine learning strategy using hundreds of inhibitor molecules of the main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV coronavirus. The QSAR model was used for virtual screening of a large list of drugs from the DrugBank database. The best 20 candidates were then evaluated in-silico against the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 by using docking and molecular dynamics analyses. Docking was done by using the Gold software, and the free energies of binding were predicted with the MM-PBSA method as implemented in AMBER. Our results indicate that levothyroxine, amobarbital and ABP-700 are the best potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 virus through their binding to the Mpro enzyme. Five other compounds showed also a negative but small free energy of binding: nikethamide, nifurtimox, rebimastat, apomine and rebastinib.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Tejera
- Grupo de Bio-Quimioinformática, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador; (A.C.-A.); (Y.P.-C.)
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador
| | - Cristian R. Munteanu
- Faculty of Computer Science, Centre for Information and Communications Technology Research (CITIC), University of A Coruna, 15007 A Coruña, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex of A Coruna (CHUAC), 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Andrés López-Cortés
- Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito 170129, Ecuador;
- Latin American Network for Implementation and Validation of Clinical Pharmacogenomics Guidelines (RELIVAF-CYTED), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Cabrera-Andrade
- Grupo de Bio-Quimioinformática, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador; (A.C.-A.); (Y.P.-C.)
- Carrera de Enfermería, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador
| | - Yunierkis Pérez-Castillo
- Grupo de Bio-Quimioinformática, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador; (A.C.-A.); (Y.P.-C.)
- Escuela de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lopes SP, Yepes LM, Pérez-Castillo Y, Robledo SM, de Sousa DP. Alkyl and Aryl Derivatives Based on p-Coumaric Acid Modification and Inhibitory Action against Leishmania braziliensis and Plasmodium falciparum. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25143178. [PMID: 32664596 PMCID: PMC7397144 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25143178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In low-income populations, neglected diseases are the principal cause of mortality. Of these, leishmaniasis and malaria, being parasitic, protozoan infections, affect millions of people worldwide and are creating a public health problem. The present work evaluates the leishmanicidal and antiplasmodial action of a series of twelve p-coumaric acid derivatives. Of the tested derivatives, eight presented antiparasitic activities 1–3, 8–12. The hexyl p-coumarate derivative (9) (4.14 ± 0.55 μg/mL; selectivity index (SI) = 2.72) showed the highest leishmanicidal potency against the Leishmania braziliensis amastigote form. The results of the molecular docking study suggest that this compound inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), mitogen-activated kinase protein (MPK4), and DNA topoisomerase 2 (TOP2), all of which are key enzymes in the development of Leishmania braziliensis. The data indicate that these enzymes interact via Van der Waals bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonds with phenolic and aliphatic parts of this same compound. Of the other compounds analyzed, methyl p-coumarate (64.59 ± 2.89 μg/mL; IS = 0.1) demonstrated bioactivity against Plasmodium falciparum. The study reveals that esters presenting a p-coumarate substructure are promising for use in synthesis of derivatives with good antiparasitic profiles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susiany P. Lopes
- PostGraduation Program in Technological Development and Innovation in Medicines, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa CEP 58051-970, Brazil;
| | - Lina M. Yepes
- PECET-Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín Calle 70 # 52-21, Colombia; (L.M.Y.); (S.M.R.)
| | | | - Sara M. Robledo
- PECET-Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín Calle 70 # 52-21, Colombia; (L.M.Y.); (S.M.R.)
| | - Damião P. de Sousa
- PostGraduation Program in Technological Development and Innovation in Medicines, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa CEP 58051-970, Brazil;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa CEP 58051-970, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Tripathi SK, Biswal BK. Piperlongumine, a potent anticancer phytotherapeutic: Perspectives on contemporary status and future possibilities as an anticancer agent. Pharmacol Res 2020; 156:104772. [PMID: 32283222 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Piperlongumine, a white to beige biologically active alkaloid/amide phytochemical, has high pharmacological relevance as an anticancer agent. Piperlongumine has several biological activities, including selective cytotoxicity against multiple cancer cells of different origins at a preclinical level. Several preclinical studies have documented the anticancer potential of piperlongumine through its targeting of multiple molecular mechanisms, such as cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenesis, anti- invasive and anti-metastasis pathways, autophagy pathways, and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, piperlongumine inhibits cancer growth by resulting in the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, decreasing glutathione and chromosomal damage, or modulating key regulatory proteins, including PI3K, AKT, mTOR, NF-kβ, STATs, and cyclin D1. Furthermore, combined treatment with piperlongumine potentiates the anticancer activity of conventional chemotherapeutics and overcomes resistance to chemo- and radio- therapy. Nanoformulation of piperlongumine has been associated with increased aqueous solubility and bioavailability and lower toxicity, thus enhancing therapeutic efficacy in both preclinical and clinical settings. The current review highlights anticancer studies on the occurrence, chemical properties, chemopreventive mechanisms, toxicity, bioavailability, and pharmaceutical relevance of piperlongumine in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Surya Kant Tripathi
- Cancer Drug Resistance Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India
| | - Bijesh Kumar Biswal
- Cancer Drug Resistance Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Bioactivity and Molecular Docking Studies of Derivatives from Cinnamic and Benzoic Acids. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:6345429. [PMID: 32596343 PMCID: PMC7273447 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6345429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence and gravity of systemic fungal diseases. This study aimed therefore at evaluating the antifungal potential of ester derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids from three Candida species. The compounds were prepared via Fischer esterification, and the antifungal assay was performed by the microdilution method in 96-well microplates for determining the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The findings of the antifungal tests revealed that the analogue compound methyl ferulate, methyl o-coumarate, and methyl biphenyl-3-carboxylate displayed an interesting antifungal activity against all Candida strains tested, with MIC values of 31.25-62.5, 62.5-125, and 62.5 μg/ml, respectively. A preliminary Structure-Activity Relationship study of benzoic and cinnamic acid derivatives has led to the recognition of some important structural requirements for antifungal activity. The results of molecular docking indicate that the presence of the enoate moiety along with hydroxyl and one methoxy substitution in the phenyl ring has a positive effect on the bioactivity of compound 7 against Candida albicans. These observations further support the hypothesis that the antifungal activity of compound 7 could be due to its binding to multiple targets, specifically to QR, TS, and ST-PK. Additional experiments are required in the future to test this hypothesis and to propose novel compounds with improved antifungal activity.
Collapse
|