Gallic acid as a selective anticancer agent that induces apoptosis in SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Geraniin: A dietary ellagitannin as a modulator of signalling pathways in cancer progression

Cancer remains a global health challenge, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic agents. Current treatment options are unable to overwhelm and cure the cancer burden. Hence, identifying new bioactive molecular entities with potent anticancer activity is the need of the hour. Ellagitannin Geraniin (GN) is one such evidence-based novel bioactive molecular entity (BME) available from different natural sources that can effectively combat cancer. This narrative review attempts to investigate the potential of BME-GN from 2005 to 2023 as an efficient molecular anti-cancer therapeutic against diverse cancers. We provide information on GN's pharmacological advantages, metabolite profile, and capacity to modulate multiple molecular targets involved in the hallmarks of cancer. Using the search terms "Geraniin," "Gallic acid," "Ellagitannin," "pharmacological properties," "health," "antioxidant," "apoptosis," "disease management," "anti-proliferative," "in vitro," "anti-inflammatory," "anti-angiogenic," "in vivo," and "clinical trials," We searched the scientific literature using Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. We removed publications that included overlap or equivalent content and used the most recent review on each issue as our primary reference. From an initial pool of 430 articles, 52 studies met the search criteria. These studies collectively provide substantial in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence of GN's potential to combat diverse cancers. Mechanistic insights revealed its involvement in fostering apoptosis, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of key signalling pathways implicated in the hallmarks of cancer. GN's pleiotropic pharmacological and molecular therapeutic properties strongly suggest its potential as a promising anticancer agent.

Genotoxic and antiproliferative properties of Endopleura uchi bark aqueous extract

The bark extract from Endopleura uchi has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat gynecological-related disorders, diabetes, and dyslipidemias albeit without scientific proof. In addition, E. uchi bark extract safety, especially regarding mutagenic activities, is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, antitumor, and toxicological parameters attributed to an E. uchi bark aqueous extract. The phytochemical constitution was assessed by colorimetric and chromatographic analyzes. The antiproliferative effect was determined using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay using 4 cancer cell lines. Cytotoxic and genotoxic activities were assessed utilizing MTT and comet assays, respectively, while mutagenicity was determined through micronucleus and Salmonella/microsome assays. The chromatographic analysis detected predominantly the presence of gallic acid and isoquercitrin. The antiproliferative effect was more pronounced in human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. In the MTT assay, the extract presented an IC50 = 39.1 µg/ml and exhibited genotoxic (comet assay) and mutagenic (micronucleus test) activities at 20 and 40 µg/ml in mouse fibroblast cell line (L929) and mutagenicity in the TA102 and TA97a strains in the absence of S9 mix. Data demonstrated that E. uchi bark possesses bioactive compounds which exert cytotoxic and genotoxic effects that might be associated with its antitumor potential. Therefore, E. uchi bark aqueous extract consumption needs to be approached with caution in therapeutic applications.

TCM targets ferroptosis: potential treatments for cancer

Ferroptosis is caused by the accumulation of cellular reactive oxygen species that exceed the antioxidant load that glutathione (GSH) and phospholipid hydroperoxidases with GSH-based substrates can carry When the antioxidant capacity of cells is reduced, lipid reactive oxygen species accumulate, which can cause oxidative death. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulatory necrosis pathway, has emerged as a new modality of cell death that is strongly associated with cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the main methods of cancer treatment. However, resistance to these mainstream anticancer drugs and strong toxic side effects have forced the development of alternative treatments with high efficiency and low toxicity. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), especially herbs or herbal extracts, can inhibit tumor cell growth and metastasis by inducing ferroptosis, suggesting that they could be promising agents for cancer treatment. This article reviews the current research progress on the antitumor effects of TCMs through the induction of ferroptosis. The aim of these studies was to elucidate the potential mechanisms of targeting ferroptosis in cancer, and the findings could lead to new directions and reference values for developing better cancer treatment strategies.

Gallic acid promotes ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma via inactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has high morbidity and mortality, and effective therapies are lacking. Gallic acid (GA), a natural phenolic compound derived from plants, has been reported to prevent the onset and progression of various cancers. However, there is limited elaboration on the potential mechanisms and anticancer effects of GA on hepatocellular carcinoma. Inducing ferroptosis of tumor cells has become one of the most promising ways to eradicate tumor cells. However, the effect of GA on HCC ferroptosis remains unknown. We evaluated the impact of GA on cell viability, migration, and mitochondrial morphology in HepG2 cells. Our study identified a critical role of GA in inducing ferroptosis in HepG2 cells. Mechanistically, we found that GA could inhibit the expression of a ferroptosis-related protein SLC7A11 and GPX4 in HepG2, by blocking β-catenin transport from nuclear to the cytoplasm, thus inducing the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our study has confirmed that GA is a novel ferroptosis inducer of HC, suggesting GA could be a promising candidate for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Targeting the NF-κB p65/Bcl-2 signaling pathway in hepatic cellular carcinoma using radiation assisted synthesis of zinc nanoparticles coated with naturally isolated gallic acid

PURPOSE

Oral diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a known hepatocarcinogen that damages the liver and causes cancer. DEN damages the liver through reactive oxygen species-mediated inflammation and biological process regulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gallic acid-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Zn-GANPs) were made from zinc oxide (ZnO) synthesized by irradiation dose of 50 kGy utilizing a Co-60 γ-ray source chamber with a dose rate of 0.83 kGy/h and gallic acid from pomegranate peel. UV-visible (UV) spectrophotometry verified Zn-GANP synthesis. TEM, DLS, and FTIR were utilized to investigate ZnO-NPs' characteristics. Rats were orally exposed to DEN for 8 weeks at 20 mg/kg five times per week, followed by intraperitoneal injection of Zn-GANPs at 20 mg/kg for 5 weeks. Using oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, liver function, histologic, apoptotic, and cell cycle parameters for evaluating Zn-GANPs treatment.

RESULTS

DEN exposure elevated inflammatory markers (AFP and NF-κB p65), transaminases (AST, ALT), γ-GT, globulin, and total bilirubin, with reduced protein and albumin levels. It also increased MDA levels, oxidative liver cell damage, and Bcl-2, while decreasing caspase-3 and antioxidants like GSH, and CAT. Zn-GANPs significantly mitigated these effects and lowered lipid peroxidation, AST, ALT, and γ-GT levels, significantly increased CAT and GSH levels (p<0.05). Zn-GANPs caused S and G2/M cell cycle arrest and G0/G1 apoptosis. These results were associated with higher caspase-3 levels and lower Bcl-2 and TGF-β1 levels. Zn-GANPs enhance and restore the histology and ultrastructure of the liver in DEN-induced rats.

CONCLUSION

The data imply that Zn-GANPs may prevent and treat DEN-induced liver damage and carcinogenesis.

Investigation of the General Molecular Mechanisms of Gallic Acid via Analyses of Its Transcriptome Profile

Gallic acid (GA), a phenolic compound naturally found in many plants, exhibits potential preventive and therapeutic roles. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of its diverse biological activities remain unclear. Here, we investigated possible mechanisms of GA function through a transcriptome-based analysis using LINCS L1000, a publicly available data resource. We compared the changes in the gene expression profiles induced by GA with those induced by FDA-approved drugs in three cancer cell lines (A549, PC3, and MCF7). The top 10 drugs exhibiting high similarity with GA in their expression patterns were identified by calculating the connectivity score in the three cell lines. We specified the known target proteins of these drugs, which could be potential targets of GA, and identified 19 potential targets. Next, we retrieved evidence in the literature that GA likely binds directly to DNA polymerase β and ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase. Although our results align with previous studies suggesting a direct and/or indirect connection between GA and the target proteins, further experimental investigations are required to fully understand the exact molecular mechanisms of GA. Our study provides insights into the therapeutic mechanisms of GA, introducing a new approach to characterizing therapeutic natural compounds using transcriptome-based analyses.

Exosomal microRNA profiling revealed enhanced autophagy suppression and anti-tumor effects of a combination of compound Phyllanthus urinaria and lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Compound Phyllanthus urinaria (CP), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, possesses strong anti-cancer effects and is extensively employed in the clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While lenvatinib and other oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been authorized as initial treatments for advanced unresectable HCC, the survival of patients is ultimately restricted due to the gradual development of drug resistance. Fortunately, the co-administration of CP and lenvatinib holds promise for anti-cancer applications.

PURPOSE

Our objective was to understand the molecular-level mechanisms of bioactive phytocompounds in CP, in order to explore the anti-HCC effects of combining CP and lenvatinib treatment and reveal the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we discovered new miRNAs associated with autophagy that are common to both HepG2-derived exosomes and HepG2 cells. These miRNAs play a role in the advancement of HCC and were identified through the utilization of CP and lenvatinib.

METHODS

To assess the anti-HCC effects of CP in combination with lenvatinib, both an in vitro CCK-8 assay and an in vivo xenograft model assay were performed. TEM, NTA, and nano-flow cytometry were employed for the identification of isolated exosomes. To ascertain the miRNA expression patterns in HepG2 cells and HepG2-derived exosomes, miRNA-sequencing analysis was conducted. Further investigation involved the use of real-time PCR, examination of the fusion protein GFP-mRFP-LC3, TEM analysis, and western blotting.

RESULTS

In vitro and in vivo, the combination of CP and lenvatinib showed a stronger and more powerful impact on HCC compared to either CP or lenvatinib alone. The combination of CP and lenvatinib had a significant impact on autophagy-related miRNAs in HepG2-derived exosomes and HepG2 cells, as demonstrated by cellular and exosomal miRNA sequencing. Additional tests indicated that the increased inhibition of autophagy in HepG2 cells subjected to CP treatment, as well as the combination of CP and lenvatinib, was accomplished through the regulation of Beclin-1, LC3-II, and P62 expression.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our results indicate that the combination of CP and lenvatinib can effectively inhibit HCC by promoting the exosome-mediated suppression of autophagy. This novel therapeutic option is highly efficient and durable, making it a promising treatment for HCC. Moreover, the miRNAs that are differentially expressed and associated with exosome-mediated autophagy, which have been discovered in this study, could potentially be targeted for clinical treatment of HCC.

Bioactive compounds from Actinidia arguta fruit as a new strategy to fight glioblastoma

In recent years, there has been a significant demand for natural products as a mean of disease prevention or as an alternative to conventional medications. The driving force for this change is the growing recognition of the abundant presence of valuable bioactive compounds in natural products. On recent years Actinia arguta fruit, also known as kiwiberry, has attracted a lot of attention from scientific community due to its richness in bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, organic acids, vitamins, carotenoids and fiber. These bioactive compounds contribute to the fruit's diverse outstanding biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer properties. Due to these properties, the fruit may have the potential to be used in the treatment/prevention of various types of cancer, including glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, displaying 90 % of recurrence rate within a span of 2 years. Despite the employment of an aggressive approach, the prognosis remains unfavorable, emphasizing the urgent requirement for the development of new effective treatments. The preclinical evidence suggests that kiwiberry has potential impact on glioblastoma by reducing the cancer self-renewal, modulating the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of the cell phenotype and metabolism, and influencing the consolidation of the tumor microenvironment. Even though, challenges such as the imprecise composition and concentration of bioactive compounds, and its low bioavailability after oral administration may be drawbacks to the development of kiwiberry-based treatments, being urgent to ensure the safety and efficacy of kiwiberry for the prevention and treatment of glioblastoma. This review aims to highlight the potential impact of A. arguta bioactive compounds on glioblastoma, providing novel insights into their applicability as complementary or alternative therapies.

How gallic acid regulates molecular signaling: role in cancer drug resistance

Cancer is one of the deadliest and most heterogeneous diseases. Cancers often develop drug resistance, which can lead to treatment failure or recurrence. Accordingly, anticancer compounds are essential for chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells. Phenolic compounds are of interest in the development of cancer drugs due to their medicinal properties and ability to target different molecular pathways. Gallic acid (GA), as one of the main components of phenol, which is abundantly present in plant compounds such as walnut, sumac, grapes, tea leaves, oak bark, and other plant compounds, has antitumor properties. GA can prevent cancer progression, cell invasion, and metastasis by targeting molecular pathways and is an effective complement to chemotherapy drugs and combating multidrug resistance (MDR). In this review, we discuss various mechanisms related to cancer, the therapeutic potential of GA, the antitumor properties of GA in various cancers, and the targeted delivery of GA with nanocarriers.

Natural Gallic Acid and Methyl Gallate Induces Apoptosis in Hela Cells through Regulation of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Protein Expression

Induction of apoptosis is one of the targeted approaches in cancer therapies. As previously reported, natural products can induce apoptosis in in vitro cancer treatments. However, the underlying mechanisms of cancer cell death are poorly understood. The present study aimed to elucidate cell death mechanisms of gallic acid (GA) and methyl gallate (MG) from Quercus infectoria toward human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa). The antiproliferative activity of GA and MG was characterised by an inhibitory concentration using 50% cell populations (IC₅₀) by an MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. Cervical cancer cells, HeLa, were treated with GA and MG for 72 h and calculated for IC₅₀ values. The IC₅₀ concentration of both compounds was used to elucidate the apoptotic mechanism using acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) staining, cell cycle analysis, the Annexin-V FITC dual staining assay, apoptotic proteins expressions (p53, Bax and Bcl-2) and caspase activation analysis. GA and MG inhibited the growth of HeLa cells with an IC₅₀ value of 10.00 ± 0.67 µg/mL and 11.00 ± 0.58 µg/mL, respectively. AO/PI staining revealed incremental apoptotic cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed an accumulation of cells at the sub-G1 phase. The Annexin-V FITC assay showed that cell populations shifted from the viable to apoptotic quadrant. Moreover, p53 and Bax were upregulated, whereas Bcl-2 was markedly downregulated. Activation of caspase 8 and 9 showed an ultimate apoptotic event in HeLa cells treated with GA and MG. In conclusion, GA and MG significantly inhibited HeLa cell growth through apoptosis induction by the activation of the cell death mechanism via extrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

A Concise Profile of Gallic Acid-From Its Natural Sources through Biological Properties and Chemical Methods of Determination

Nature is a valuable source of anti-oxidants that have a health-promoting effect by inhibiting various undesirable changes leading to cell degradation and, consequently, potential disease ailments. One of them is gallic acid which has been used as a healing agent since ancient times. Currently, due to various beneficial properties, this compound is considered to be one of the main phenolic acids of great importance in numerous industries. It is commonly used as a substance protecting against the harmful effects of UV radiation, an astringent in cosmetic preparations, and a preservative in food products. Therefore, gallic acid is now deemed essential for both human health and industry. Increasingly better methods of its isolation and analysis are being developed, and new solutions are being sought to increase its production. This review, presenting a concise characterization of gallic acid, updates the knowledge about its various biological activities and methods used for its isolation and determination, including chromatographic and non-chromatographic methods.

Phytochemical gallic acid alleviates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via AMPK-ACC-PPARa axis through dual regulation of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) usually includes NAFL called simple hepatosteatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) called more steatohepatitis. The latter is a leading pathogenic promotor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Phytochemical gallic acid (GA) has been proved to exert positive efficacy in HCC in our work, but it remains unclear whether its hepatoprotective effect attributes to the controlled transition from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis.

PURPOSE

This work aims to provide mechanistic evidence that the therapeutic application of GA in NAFLD is indispensable for GA-meliorated NASH progression.

METHODS

The high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and palmitic acid (PA) and oleic acid (OA)-treated hepatocytes were used collectively in this study. Bioinformatic analysis, clinical subjects, RNA-Seq, molecular docking, and confirmatory experiments were performed comprehensively to uncover the pathological link between the AMPK-ACC-PPARα axis and the treatment of NAFLD.

RESULTS

By analyzing the clinical subjects and GEO database, we find a close link between the activation of AMPK-ACC-PPARα axis and the progression of NAFLD in human fatty liver. Subsequent assays show that GA exhibits pharmacological activation of AMPK, reprogramming lipid metabolism, and reversing mitochondrial function in cellular and murine fatty liver models. AMPK activation conferred substantial protection against murine NASH and fibrosis in the context of HFD-induced NAFLD. In contrast, silencing AMPK badly aggravates lipid deposition in hepatocytes, boosting NASH and NAFLD-associated HCC progression. The in silico docking, in vitro surface plasmon resonance and in vivo cellular thermal shift assay collectively reveal that GA directly interacts with AMPKα, which inactivates the ACC-PPARα axis signaling. Notably, GA repairs the liver damage, lipotoxicity, and mitochondrial respiratory capacity caused by excessive mtROS, while showing minimal effects in other major organs in mice.

CONCLUSION

Our work identifies GA as an important suppressor of NAFLD-HCC progression, and underscores the AMPK-ACC-PPARα signal axis as a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD treatment.

Mediterranean Food Industry By-Products as a Novel Source of Phytochemicals with a Promising Role in Cancer Prevention

The Mediterranean diet is recognized as a sustainable dietary approach with beneficial health effects. This is highly relevant, although the production of typical Mediterranean food, i.e., olive oil or wine, processed tomatoes and pomegranate products, generates significant amounts of waste. Ideally, this waste should be disposed in an appropriate, eco-friendly way. A number of scientific papers were published recently showing that these by-products can be exploited as a valuable source of biologically active components with health benefits, including anticancer effects. In this review, accordingly, we elaborate on such phytochemicals recovered from the food waste generated during the processing of vegetables and fruits, typical of the Mediterranean diet, with a focus on substances with anticancer activity. The molecular mechanisms of these phytochemicals, which might be included in supporting treatment and prevention of various types of cancer, are presented. The use of bioactive components from food waste may improve the economic feasibility and sustainability of the food processing industry in the Mediterranean region and can provide a new strategy to approach prevention of cancer.

Combination Therapy Using Polyphenols: An Efficient Way to Improve Antitumoral Activity and Reduce Resistance

Polyphenols represent a structural class of mainly natural organic chemicals that contain multiple phenol structural units. The beneficial properties of polyphenols have been extensively studied for their antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects, but nowadays, their medical applications are starting to be extended to many other applications due to their prebiotic role and their impact on the microbiota. This review focused on the use of polyphenols in cancer treatment. Their antineoplastic effects have been demonstrated in various studies when they were tested on numerous cancer lines and some in in vivo models. A431 and SCC13 human skin cancer cell lines treated with EGCG presented a reduced cell viability and enhanced cell death due to the inactivation of β-catenin signaling. Additionally, resveratrol showed a great potential against breast cancer mainly due to its ability to exert both anti-estrogenic and estrogenic effects (based on the concentration) and because it has a high affinity for estrogen receptors ERα and Erβ. Polyphenols can be combined with different classical cytostatic agents to enhance their therapeutic effects on cancer cells and to also protect healthy cells from the aggressiveness of antitumor drugs due to their anti-inflammatory properties. For instance, curcumin has been reported to reduce the gastrointestinal toxicity associated with chemotherapy. In the case of 5-FU-induced, it reduced the gastrointestinal toxicity by increasing the intestinal permeability and inhibiting mucosal damage. Co-administration of EGCG and doxorubicin induced the death of liver cancer cells. EGCG has the ability to inhibit autophagic activity and stop hepatoma Hep3B cell proliferation This symbiotic approach is well-known in medical practice including in multiple chemotherapy.

Preparation and characterisation of gallic acid loaded carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles as drug delivery system for cancer treatment

Gallic acid (GA) is a natural phenolic compound with antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and anticancer effects. However, the potential of GA as an anticancer agent is restricted by its poor absorption, rapid elimination, and low bioavailability. Nanostructure-drug carriers have opened up a new field in cancer therapy by improving the efficacy of drugs. In this work, we developed a nanoformulation of GA in carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). The particle size, surface charge and molecular structure of the CMC NPs loaded and unloaded with GA were measured using TEM, DLS and FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. The dielectric parameters (permittivity ε′ and dielectric loss ε″) were measured in the frequency range (0.1 Hz–5 MHz) at room temperature. Additionally, the in-vitro anti-cancer effects of the GA, CMC NPs, and GA-CMC NPs were tested against human colon carcinoma (HCT-116), human breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and normal skin fibroblast cells (BJ1) using MTT assay. TEM confirmed that the NPs have a spherical morphology within the size range of 15 nm. DLS studies revealed NPs with a mean diameter of 31.06 nm. The zeta potential results indicated the high suspension stability of the prepared nanoformulation. The FTIR results indicated the interaction between GA and CMC NPs. The dielectric study showed a decrease within the ε″ and conductivity values of GA-CMC NPs which confirmed the successful encapsulation of GA within the CMC NPs. Cytotoxicity studies indicated that the GA-CMC NPs showed specific toxicity towards cancer cells and non-toxicity to normal cells. Overall, these results indicate that the GA-CMC NPs will be an efficient nanocarrier for delivering gallic acid to cancer cells.

Induction of Apoptosis by Metabolites of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Da Huang): A Review of the Potential Mechanism in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver cancer is a global disease with a high mortality rate and limited treatment options. Alternations in apoptosis of tumor cells and immune cells have become an important method for detailing the underlying mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bcl-2 family, Caspase family, Fas and other apoptosis-related proteins have also become antagonistic targets of HCC. Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, RR), a traditional Chinese herb, has recently demonstrated antitumor behaviors. Multiple active metabolites of RR, including emodin, rhein, physcion, aloe-emodin, gallic acid, and resveratrol, can successfully induce apoptosis and inhibit HCC. However, the underlying mechanisms of these metabolites inhibiting the occurrence and development of HCC by inducing apoptosis is complicated owing to the multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics of traditional Chinese herbs. Accordingly, this article reviews the pathways of apoptosis, the relationship between HCC and apoptosis, the role and mechanism of apoptosis induced by mitochondrial endoplasmic reticulum pathway and death receptor pathway in HCC and the mechanism of six RR metabolites inhibiting HCC by inducing apoptosis.

Inhibitory effect of polyphenols (phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes) on cancer by regulating signal transduction pathways: a review

Natural products, especially polyphenols (phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes) are suggested to be more potent anticancer drugs because of their no or less adverse effects, excess availability, high accuracy, and secure mode of action. In the present review, potential anticancer mechanisms of action of some polyphenols including phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes are discussed based on clinical, epidemiological, in vivo, and in vitro studies. The emerging evidence revealed that phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes induced apoptosis in the treatment of breast (MCF-7), colon (Caco-2), lung (SKLU-1), prostate (DU-145 and LNCaP), hepatocellular (hepG-2), and cervical (A-431) cancer cells, cell cycle arrest (S/G₂/M/G₁-phases) in gastric (MKN-45 and MKN-74), colorectal (HCT-116), bladder (T-24 and 5637), oral (H-400), leukemic (HL-60 and MOLT-4) and colon (Caco-2) cancer cells, and inhibit cell proliferation against the prostate (PC-3), liver (LI-90), breast (T47D and MDA-MB-231), colon (HT-29 and Caco-2), cervical (HTB-35), and MIC-1 cancer cells through caspase-3, MAPK, AMPK, Akt, NF-κB, Wnt, CD95, and SIRT1 pathways. Based on accumulated data, we suggested that polyphenols could be considered as a viable therapeutic option in the treatment of cancer cells in the near future.

Rationale for Tailoring an Alternative Oncology Trial Using a Novel Gallium-Based Nanocomplex: Mechanistic Insights and Preclinical Challenges

Introduction: In the fight against cancer, cisplatin is most widely used as a clinical mainstay for the chemotherapy of various human cancers. Meanwhile, its cytotoxic profile, as well as drug resistance, limits its widespread application. The goal of precision medicine is to tailor an optimized therapeutic program based on the biology of the disease. Recently, nanotechnology has been demonstrated to be promising in this scenario. Objective: The current work provides a rationale for the design of an alternative oncology trial for the treatment of hepatocarcinogenesis using a novel eco-friendly nanocomplex, namely gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles. Moreover, the study tests whether the antineoplastic efficacy of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could be enhanced or not when it is administrated together with cisplatin. Methods: The work comprised a series of both in vitro and in vivo investigations. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy of such treatments, against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, was strictly evaluated by tracking target genes expressions, iron homeostasis, diverse biomarkers alterations, and lastly, routine paraclinical investigations were also assessed. Results: The in vitro biological evaluation of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles in a HepG-2 cancer cell line established its superior cytotoxicity. Else more, the results of the in vivo experiment highlighted that gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could diminish key hallmarks of cancer by ameliorating most of the investigated parameters. This was well-appreciated with the histopathological findings of the liver architectures of the treated groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that novel biogenic Ga-based nanocomplexes may potentially present new hope for the development of alternative liver cancer therapeutics, which should attract further scientific interest.

Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular Benefits

Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum), belonging to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family, is widely recognized for its uses in culinary and traditional medicine. C. sativum contains various phytochemicals such as polyphenols, vitamins, and many phytosterols, which account for its properties including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and analgesic effects. The cardiovascular benefits of C. sativum have not been summarized before, hence this review aims to further evaluate and discuss its effectiveness in cardiovascular diseases, according to the recent literature. An electronic search for literature was carried out using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, preprint platforms, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Articles were gathered from the inception of the database until August 2021. Moreover, the traditional uses and phytochemistry of coriander were surveyed in the original resources and summarized. As a result, most of the studies that cover cardiovascular benefits and fulfilled the eligibility criteria were in vivo, while only a few were in vitro and clinical studies. In conclusion, C. sativum can be deemed a functional food due to its wide range of cardiovascular benefits such as antihypertensive, anti-atherogenic, antiarrhythmic, hypolipidemic as well as cardioprotective effects.

Effects of Allium sativum Stem Extract on Growth and Migration in Melanoma Cells through Inhibition of VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 Genes Expression

The present study investigated the effects of Allium sativum stem extract (ASE) on B16-F0 cell growth and metastasis. Evaluation of the effects of ASE on B16-F0 cells’ viability and migration showed that 0.5 mg/mL ASE inhibited B16-F0 cells’ growth by 30.2% and migration by 38.5%, which indicates that the ASE has anticancer and antimetastatic effects on B16-F0 cells. To study the anticancer and antimetastatic mechanism, mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2), and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) expressions were evaluated with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and 0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL ASE was found to exert significant inhibition on mRNA expressions of VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in B16-F0 cells. Thus, ASE reduce extracellular matrix degradation through inhibitions of expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and also showed an angiogenesis inhibitory effect through reduction of VEGF expression. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that among various polyphenols, gallic acid (2.1 mg/g) was a major compound of ASE. Overall, our results demonstrated that ASE inhibited the growth and migration of B16-F0 cells through downregulation of the VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 genes expression, which indicates ASE could be applied for the prevention and treatment of melanoma.

Gallic Acid: A Potential Anti-Cancer Agent

Cancer is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide and definitive therapeutics for treating cancer are not yet available despite extensive research efforts. The key challenges include limiting factors connected with traditional chemotherapeutics, primarily drug resistance, low response rates, and adverse side-effects. Therefore, there is a high demand for novel anti-cancer drugs that are both potent and safe for cancer prevention and treatment. Gallic acid (GA), a natural botanic phenolic compound, can mediate various therapeutic properties that are involved in anti-inflammation, anti-obesity, and anti-cancer activities. More recently, GA has been shown to exert anti-cancer activities via several biological pathways that include migration, metastasis, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis, and oncogene expression. This review discusses two aspects, one is the anti-cancer potential of GA against different types of cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms, the other is the bibliometric analysis of GA in cancer and tumor research. The results indicated that lung cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and colon adenocarcinoma may become a hot topic in further research. Overall, this review provides evidence that GA represents a promising novel, potent, and safe anti-cancer drug candidate for treating cancer.

Anticancer properties of dried-pericarp water extracts of Camellia japonica L. fermented with Aspergillus oryzae through regulation of IGFBP-2/mTOR pathway

This study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of dried-pericarp water extract of fermented C. japonicus (CJ). The dried-pericarp water extracts of CJ were fermented using Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 30 °C and 35 °C. The anticancer activities of both water extracts fermented at 30 °C and 35 °C using A. oryzae against FaDu cells were remarkably changed compared with unfermented dried-pericarp water extract of CJ, which has no anticancer activity. Cleaved-PARP, caspase 3, and apoptotic cells stained with annexin V/PI were significantly increased by treatment with A. oryzae extracts fermented at 30 °C. The insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) protein level and mTOR phosphorylation by A. oryzae fermented extracts (AOFE) were dramatically reduced, and the expression levels of IGFBP-2 and phosphorylated mTOR were significantly increased depending on the glucose concentrations in FaDu cells. These results suggested that the cell viabilities in AOFE were restored as the glucose concentrations increased. Furthermore, it was confirmed LC/MS/MS that the content of gallic acid was increased by fermentation of Aspergillus oryzae (5.596 ± 0.1746 μg/mg) compared to the unfermented extract (1.620 ± 0.0432 μg/mg). Based on these results, the anticancer effect of AOFE was achieved through inhibition of the IGFBP-2/mTOR signaling pathway. These results suggest that AOFE may be a potential treatment for head and neck cancer.

Gallic Acid Suppressed Tumorigenesis by an LncRNA MALAT1-Wnt/β-Catenin Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid; GA), a natural phenolic acid, is abundantly found in numerous natural products. Increasing evidence have demonstrated that GA plays anti-cancer roles in multiple cancers. However, its anti-tumor effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanism remain obscure. In the present study, we found that GA suppressed the in vitro cell viability and metastasis and inhibited the in vivo tumor growth of HCC cells. The underlying mechanism was further to investigate and it was showed that GA suppressed the expression of β-catenin and led to the functional inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. As a kind of significant regulators, the long noncoding RNA molecules (lncRNAs) have attracted widespread attentions for their critical roles in diverse biological process and human diseases. To further identify which lncRNA participated this GA-mediated process, several lncRNAs related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling were chosen for examination of their expression profiling in the GA-treated HCC cells. Of which, Metastasis-Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT1) was the most promising candidate. And moreover, MALAT1 was significantly down-regulated by GA. Its overexpression partially reversed the GA-induced the inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and metastasis; and successfully abolished the suppressive effect of GA on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In conclusion, our results indicated that GA suppressed tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo by the MALAT1-Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis, suggesting that GA has great potential to be developed as a chemo-prevention and chemotherapy agent for HCC patients.

Mangifera indica (Mango): A Promising Medicinal Plant for Breast Cancer Therapy and Understanding Its Potential Mechanisms of Action

Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer type and is one of the most significant causes of deaths in women. To date, multiple clinical interventions have been applied, including surgical resection, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy. However, 1) the lack of therapeutic options for metastatic breast cancer, 2) resistance to drug therapy and 3) the lack of more selective therapy for triple-negative breast cancer are some of the major challenges in tackling breast cancer. Given the safe nature of natural products, numerous studies have focused on their anti-cancer potentials. Mangifera indica, commonly known as mango, represents one of the most extensively investigated natural sources. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of M. indica extracts (bark, kernel, leaves, peel and pulp) and phytochemicals (mangiferin, norathyriol, gallotannins, gallic acid, pyrogallol, methyl gallate and quercetin) reported for in vitro and in vivo anti-breast cancer activities and their underlying mechanisms based on relevant literature from several scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar till date. Overall, the in vitro findings suggest that M. indica extracts and/or phytochemicals inhibit breast cancer cell growth, proliferation, migration and invasion as well as trigger apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In vivo results demonstrated that there was a reduction in breast tumor xenograft growth. Several potential mechanisms underlying the anti-breast cancer activities have been reported, which include modulation of oxidative status, receptors, signalling pathways, miRNA expression, enzymes and cell cycle regulators. To further explore this medicinal plant against breast cancer, future research directions are addressed. The outcomes of the review revealed that M. indica extracts and their phytochemicals may have potential benefits in the management of breast cancer in women. However, to validate its utility in the creation of innovative and potent therapeutic agents to treat breast cancer, more dedicated research, especially clinical studies are needed to explore the anti-breast cancer potentials of M. indica extracts and their phytochemicals.

Gene expression profile analysis of gallic acid-induced cell death process

Gallic acid is a natural phenolic compound that displays anti-cancer properties in clinically relevant cell culture and rodent models. To date, the molecular mechanism governing the gallic acid-induced cancer cell death process is largely unclear, thus hindering development of novel therapeutics. Therefore, we performed time-course RNA-sequencing to reveal the gene expression profiles at the early (2nd hour), middle (4th and 6th hour), and late (9th hour) stages of the gallic acid-induced cell death process in HeLa cells. By Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, we found significant changes in transcription of the genes in different types of cell death pathways. This involved the ferroptotic cell death pathway at the early stage, apoptotic pathway at the middle stage, and necroptotic pathway at the late stage. Metabolic pathways were identified at all the stages, indicating that this is an active cell death process. Interestingly, the initiation and execution of gallic acid-induced cell death were mediated by multiple biological processes, including iron and amino acid metabolism, and the biosynthesis of glutathione, as targeting on these pathways suppressed cell death. In summary, our work provides a dataset with differentially expressed genes across different stages of cell death process during the gallic acid induction, which is important for further study on the control of this cell death mechanism.

Secondary metabolic profiles and anticancer actions from fruit extracts of immature pomegranates

Immature fruits from Punica granatum L. thinning are a neglected side product of pomegranate production with cumbersome disposal costs for farmers. To explore value potential of immature fruits from pomegranate ‘Wonderful’ cultivars, the compositional landscapes and antitumorigenic activities of pomegranate extracts from two different stages of maturation were assessed. Cancer cell proliferation and cytotoxicity was quantified in human lung H1299 and colon HCT116 adenocarcinomas by crystal violet staining, MTS assay and caspase-3 activity. High performance liquid chromatography—diode array detector (HPLC/DAD) and high performance liquid chromatography—electrospray ionization—mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) analyses indicate that immature fruits are rich sources of gallotannins and ellagitannins, with the highest amounts contained in immature fruit peels. Biological investigations reveal a robust anticancer activity by those immature P. granatum fruit extracts, which reflected induction of tumor cytotoxicity and cell death mechanisms. Together, present observations suggest P. granatum byproducts from the thinning process may provide unexplored values for virtuous circular economy.

Autophagic Inhibition of Caveolin-1 by Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L. Activates Ubiquitination and Proteasome Degradation of β-catenin to Suppress Metastasis of Hepatitis B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L. (CP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for cancer treatment in the clinic, particularly during progression of hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-associated HCC). Nevertheless, its anti-metastatic action and mechanisms are not well elucidated. In this study, CP was found to exert remarkable inhibitory effects on the proliferation, migration and invasion of HBV-associated HCC cells. The following network and biological analyses predicted that CP mainly targeted Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) to induce anti-metastatic effects, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway was one of the core mechanisms of CP action against HBV-associated HCC. Further experimental validation implied that Cav-1 overexpression promoted metastasis of HBV-associated HCC by stabilizing β-catenin, while CP administration induced autophagic degradation of Cav-1, activated the Akt/GSK3β-mediated proteasome degradation of β-catenin via ubiquitination activation, and subsequently attenuated the metastasis-promoting effect of Cav-1. In addition, the anti-cancer and anti-metastatic action of CP was further confirmed by in vivo and ex vivo experiments. It was found that CP inhibited the tumor growth and metastasis of HBV-associated HCC in both mice liver cancer xenograft and zebrafish xenotransplantation models. Taken together, our study not only highlights the novel function of CP formula in suppressing metastasis of HBV-associated HCC, but it also addresses the critical role of Cav-1 in mediating Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin axis to control the late-phase of cancer progression.

Interpreting the Molecular Mechanisms of Yinchenhao Decoction on Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Absorbed Components Based on Network Pharmacology

To investigate the mechanisms through which Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD) inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we analyzed YCHD ingredients absorbed into the bloodstream by using network pharmacology. We conducted a weighted gene coexpression network analysis on gene expression data collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases to derive an HCC gene set; moreover, we used four online prediction system databases to predict the potential targets of YCHD ingredients absorbed into the bloodstream. We discovered that YCHD directly interfered with 17 HCC-related disease targets. Subsequent gene ontology enrichment analyses of these 17 disease targets revealed that YCHD exhibited effects through 17 biological processes, 7 molecular functions, and 9 cellular components. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated 14 pathways through which YCHD inhibits HCC. We observed similar trends in how the 17 small molecules interfered with the key target set. We surmised that YCHD inhibits HCC by regulating inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Network pharmacological analysis of YCHD ingredients absorbed into the bloodstream may provide new insights and serve as a new method for discovering the molecular mechanisms through which YCHD inhibits HCC.

Fancy-Shaped Gold-Platinum Nanocauliflowers for Improved Proton Irradiation Effect on Colon Cancer Cells

Enhancing the effectiveness of colorectal cancer treatment is highly desirable. Radiation-based anticancer therapy—such as proton therapy (PT)—can be used to shrink tumors before subsequent surgical intervention; therefore, improving the effectiveness of this treatment is crucial. The addition of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), acting as radiosensitizers, increases the PT therapeutic effect. Thus, in this paper, the effect of novel, gold–platinum nanocauliflowers (AuPt NCs) on PT efficiency is determined. For this purpose, crystalline, 66-nm fancy shaped, bimetallic AuPt NCs were synthesized using green chemistry method. Then, physicochemical characterization of the obtained AuPt NCs by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-Vis spectra measurements was carried out. Fully characterized AuPt NCs were placed into a cell culture of colon cancer cell lines (HCT116, SW480, and SW620) and a normal colon cell line (FHC) and subsequently subjected to proton irradiation with a total dose of 15 Gy. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) test, performed after 18-h incubation of the irradiated cell culture with AuPt NCs, showed a significant reduction in cancer cell viability compared to normal cells. Thus, the radio-enhancing features of AuPt NCs indicate their potential application for the improvement in effectiveness of anticancer proton therapy.

A novel ruthenium(ii) gallic acid complex disrupts the actin cytoskeleton and inhibits migration, invasion and adhesion of triple negative breast tumor cells

This work describes the synthesis of three new ruthenium(ii) complexes with gallic acid and derivatives of the general formula [Ru(L)(dppb)(bipy)]PF₆, where L = gallate (GAC), benzoate (BAC), and esterified-gallate (EGA), bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine and dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, NMR, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy, and two of them by X-ray crystallography. Cell viability assays show promising results, indicating higher cytotoxicity of the complexes in MDA-MB-231 cells, a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, compared with the hormone-dependent MCF-7 cell line. Studies in vitro with the MDA-MB-231 cell line showed that only Ru(BAC) and Ru(GAC) interacted with BSA. Besides that, the Ru(GAC) complex, which has a polyphenolic acid, interacted in an apo-Tf structure and function dependent manner and it was able to inhibit the formation of reactive oxygen species. Ru(GAC) was able to cause damage to the cellular cytoskeleton leading to inhibition of some cellular processes of TNBC cells, such as invasion, migration, and adhesion.

Influence of pH-responsive compounds synthesized from chitosan and hyaluronic acid on dual-responsive (pH/temperature) hydrogel drug delivery systems of Cortex Moutan

The polysaccharide-based pH-responsive compounds, namely, N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC), polyethylene glycolated hyaluronic acid (PEG-HA), and polysaccharide-based nano-conjugate of hyaluronic acid, chitosan oligosaccharide and alanine [HA-Ala-Chito(oligo)] were chemically synthesized using biopolymers chitosan and hyaluronic acid, and applied here to observe the changes in morphology, pH-stability, mechanical and drug-release behavior, and cytotoxicity of thermo-responsive polymer: Poloxamer 407 (PF127)-based drug delivery systems for traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Moutan (CM). The thermo-responsive hydrogel of PF127 loaded with CM (Gel^C) was used as control. The dual-responsive (pH/temperature) hydrogels: PF127/TMC/PEG-HA (Gel¹) and PF127/HA-Ala-Chito(oligo) (Gel²) showed improved mechanical behavior as obtained by rheology and mechanical agitation study, and pH-stability under various external pH conditions, and those improvements occurred due to the addition of polysaccharide-based pH-responsive compounds in the systems. Both, Gel¹ and Gel² showed better morphology than Gel^C as obtained by SEM or TEM suggesting that interaction of polysaccharide-based pH-responsive compounds with PF127 in either gel or sol state gave better porous network structure in the hydrogels or more dispersed micellar arrangements in sol-state, respectively. Gel¹ showed the highest cumulative drug release (86.5%) after 5 days under mild acidic condition (pH 6.4) suggesting that release behavior of a hydrogel drug carrier was dependent on morphology, mechanical behavior, and pH-stability. The transdermal release (ex-vivo) results indicated that gallic acid, the active marker of CM passed through porcine ear skin and all the formulations showed more or less similar transdermal release properties. The hydrogels loaded with CM showed no cytotoxicity (cell viability >90.0%) on human HaCaT keratinocytes within concentration range of 0.0-20.0 μg/ml as obtained by MTT assay, and cell viability was more than 100% at a concentration of 20.0 μg/ml for Gel². The formulations without loaded drug namely, Gel¹-CM and Gel²-CM exhibited strong anti-bacterial action against gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.

Herbal and Natural Dietary Products: Upcoming Therapeutic Approach for Prevention and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The most common tumor linked with elevated death rates is considered the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sometimes called the malignant hepatoma. The initiation and progression of HCC are triggered by multiple factors like long term alcohol consumption, metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and C infection, age, and oxidative stress. Sorafenib is the merely US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug used to treat HCC. Several treatment methods are available for HCC therapy such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and adjuvant therapy but they often lead to several side effects. Yet these treatment methods are not entirely adequate due to the increasing resistance to the drug and their toxicity. Many natural products help to prevent and treat HCC. A variety of pathways are associated with the prevention and treatment of HCC with herbal products and their active components. Accumulating research shows that certain natural dietary compounds are possible source of hepatic cancer prevention and treatments, such as black currant, strawberries, plum, grapes, pomegranate, cruciferous crops, tomatoes, French beans, turmeric, garlic, ginger, asparagus, and many more. Such a dietary natural products and their active constituents may prevent the production and advancement of liver cancer in many ways such as guarding against liver carcinogens, improving the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic medications, inhibiting the growth, metastasis of tumor cells, reducing oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. The present review article represents hepatic carcinoma etiology, role of herbal products, their active constituents, and dietary natural products for the prevention and treatment of HCC along with their possible mechanisms of action.

Gallic acid potentiates the apoptotic effect of paclitaxel and carboplatin via overexpression of Bax and P53 on the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line

Despite advances in treatment, breast cancer remains the widest spread disease among females with a high mortality rate. We investigated the potential effects of gallic acid (GA) as supportive therapy in the management of breast cancer. Anti-cancer activity with GA alone or in combination with paclitaxel and/or carboplatin was assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometry using annexin V/propidium iodide. The mechanism underlying the antiproliferative effects was investigated by measuring the expression of the pro-apoptotic marker (Bax), CASP-3, anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2), and, tumor suppressor (p53) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis. Cell cycle analysis was performed for the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. GA, paclitaxel, and carboplatin alone or in combination arrested cell cycle progression at the G2/M phase and induced Pre-G1 apoptosis. RT-PCR showed that the triplet combination significantly raised P53, Bax, and CASP-3 mRNA expression (20.1 ± 1.41, 16.6 ± 0.43, and 20.04 ± 1.61, respectively) in MCF-7 cells when compared to single or combined treatment (p < .0001) while anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 mRNA levels were decreased in all treated groups compared to untreated cells. Western blot data of tested apoptotic factors were consistent with RT-PCR results. For the first time, we show that a minimum non-toxic concentration of GA increased the efficacy of paclitaxel- and carboplatin-induced MCF-7 apoptotic cell death.

Analysis and Anticancer Effects of Active Compounds from Spatholobi Caulis in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in both developing and developed countries. In this study, we simultaneously analyzed nine constituent compounds from Spatholobi Caulis (gallic acid, (−)-gallocatechin, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, procyanidin B1, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, catechin, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, and (−)-epicatechin gallate) and examined their anticancer effects on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The experimental results indicated that the gallic acid showed the strongest cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells among tested compounds whilst most of samples did not express inhibitory effect on viability of MDA-MB-231 cells, except for 70% ethanol extract of S. Caulis. Thus, gallic acid was chosen to extend anticancer mechanism study on MCF-7 cells. Our data showed that the gallic acid induced apoptotic MCF-7 cell death through both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, which increased the expression of cleaved caspase-7, -8, and -9, Bax and p53, but reduced the expression of Bcl-2 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, the network pharmacological analysis pointed out that the p53, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), estrogen, and Wnt signaling pathways have a great correlation with the targets of gallic acid. This study suggested that gallic acid is a bioactive component of S. Caulis with potential to be used in chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Impact of Reverse Micelle Loaded Lipid Nanocapsules on the Delivery of Gallic Acid into Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Hepatic Fibrosis

PURPOSE

Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenolic compound with proven efficacy against hepatic fibrosis in experimental animals. However, it suffers from poor bioavailability and rapid clearance that hinders its clinical investigation. Accordingly, we designed and optimized reverse micelle-loaded lipid nanocapsules (RMLNC) using Box-Behnken design that can deliver GA directly into activated-hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) aiming to suppress hepatic fibrosis progression.

METHODS

GA-RMLNC was prepared using soft energy, solvent free phase inversion temperature method. Effects of formulation variables on particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE%) and GA release were studied. In-vivo biodistribution of GA-RMLNC in rats and in-vitro activities on aHSCs were also explored.

RESULTS

Nano-sized GA-RMLNCs (30.35 ± 2.34 nm) were formulated with high GA-EE% (63.95 ± 2.98% w/w) and physical stability (9 months). The formulated system showed burst GA release in the first 2 h followed by sustained release profile. In-vivo biodistribution imaging revealed that RMLNC-loaded with rhodamine-B accumulated mainly in rats' livers. Relative to GA; GA-RMLNC displayed higher anti-proliferative activities, effective internalization into aHSCs, marked down-regulation in pro-fibrogenic biomarkers' expressions and elevated HSCs' apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings emphasize the promising application of RMLNC as a delivery system in hepatic fibrosis treatment, where successful delivery of GA into aHSCs was ensured via increased cellular uptake and antifibrotic activities.

Reshaped as polyester-based nanoparticles, gallic acid inhibits platelet aggregation, reactive oxygen species production and multi-resistant Gram-positive bacteria with an efficiency never obtained

Natural polyphenols such as Gallic Acid (GA) form an important class of bioactive chemical entities that, having innumerable biological properties, could represent a safer alternative to common drugs against several disorders, including platelet aggregation, radical oxygen species (ROS) hyperproduction, oxidative stress (OS) and bacterial infections. Unfortunately, their clinical uses are limited by pharmacokinetics drawbacks and high sensitivity to environmental factors. In order to overcome these problems and to exploit the GA curative potentials, it has been linked to a biodegradable nanospherical dendrimer matrix, capable of protecting it, thus obtaining a GA-enriched nanosized dendrimer (GAD) endowed with a strong antioxidant capacity. GAD activity as an inhibitor of platelet aggregation and ROS accumulation and its antibacterial efficiency are evaluated here and compared to those of free GA, obtaining outcomes never achieved. Regarding platelet aggregation induced by thrombin and collagen, the GAD proved to be stronger by 7.1 and 7.3 times, respectively. Furthermore, the GAD showed a ROS inhibitory activity higher than that of GA by 8.1 (thrombin) and 6.9 (collagen) times. Concerning the antibacterial activities, evaluated on eleven multi-resistant Gram-positive strains of clinical relevance, the GAD is far more potent than GA, by exerting a growth inhibitory activity at MIC (μM) concentrations lower by factors in the range 12-50.

A Role of Gallic Acid in Oxidative Damage Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid of plant metabolites widely spread throughout the plant kingdom. It has characteristics of the strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, and can protect biological cells, tissues, and organs from damages caused by oxidative stress. This review aims to summarize the protective roles of gallic acid and the underlying pharmacological mechanisms in the pathophysiological process of the oxidative damage diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, degenerative, and metabolic diseases. The studies reviewed herein showed that the main therapeutic effects of gallic acid were attributed to its antioxidant properties. It modulated various signaling pathways through a wide range of inflammatory cytokines, and enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants. However, the available data were limited to few studies assessing the treatment effects of gallic acid in human subjects to confirm its therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, the clinical trials were urgently needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of gallic acid treatment on human beings. The scientific data summarized in this review highlighted the therapeutic potentials of gallic acid for oxidative damage diseases. It could be developed as versatile adjuvant or therapeutically lead compound in future.

Chitosan Nanoparticles as a Carrier for Indigofera intricata Plant Extract: Preparation, Characterization and Anticancer Activity

Background:

Cancer is one of the major causes of the death and affects people of all ages throughout the world. The drugs that are currently available to treat cancer have many side effects. Hence, there is considerable scientific interest in the continuing discovery of new anticancer agents from natural sources. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize nanoparticles combining Indigofera intricata crude alcoholic extract and chitosan and to evaluate the anticancer cell proliferative activity for both extract and nanoparticles.

Methods:

Dried alcoholic extract was prepared and characterized for its phenolic and flavonoid contents. Chitosan extract nanoparticles was prepared by ionic gelation method and characterized by thin layer chromatography (TLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size and zeta-potential analysis. The anticancer cell proliferative activities of both plant extract and nanoparticles at different concentrations were evaluated using breast cancer cell line (MCF 7).

Results:

The alcoholic extract showed high contents from both phenolic and flavonoid constituents (15 % and 22 % respectively). The interaction of polyphenolic compounds of the extract with chitosan was confirmed by the TLC and FTIR results. The particle size and zeta-potential of nanoparticles found to be 400.6nm ± 101.8 nm and +42.1 mV ± 9.27 mV respectively. The plant extract showed the lowest cell viability of 45.21% ± 4.8% at the highest dose (250 mg) tested in this investigation. Almost 500-fold reduction (from 250 mg to 0.5 mg) in the extract concentration required to achieve same anticancer cell proliferative activity when formulated as nanoparticles. Also 2.5 mg extract containing nanoparticles showed similar anticancer cell proliferative activity as 5 mg 5-FU.

Conclusion:

Our results revealed that traditional medicinal plants could be an excellent source of natural anticancer agents and the chitosan-extract nanoparticles is a promising formulation strategy to enhance their clinical effectiveness.

Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L Inhibits HBV-Related HCC through HBx-SHH Pathway Axis Inactivation

Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L (CP) is a traditional formula widely used in clinical practice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially HBV-related HCC. HBx, HBV X gene encoded X protein, has positive correlation with the abnormal SHH pathway in HBV-related HCC. So, we predicted that CP has the capability of anti-HBV-related HCC maybe via inactivating the HBx-Hedgehog pathway axis. HepG2-HBx cells, HBx overexpression, were treated with CP (70μg/ml and 35 μg/ml, respectively) for 48 hours and the mice which received the HepG2-HBx cells were treated with CP (625mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively) for 17 days to evaluate the effect of CP on HBV-related HCC. HBx could accelerate HepG2 cells proliferation, clone formation, and migration in vitro and also could strengthen tumor growth in mice. However, CP could significantly decrease HepG2-HBx cells proliferation, clone formation, and migration in vitro and also could inhibit tumors growth in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanism studies suggested that HBx upregulated the mRNA and proteins expression of Sonic hedgehog (SHH), transmembrane receptor patched (PTCH-1), smoothened (SMO), oncogene homolog transcription factors-1 (GLI-1), and oncogene homolog transcription factors-2 (GLI-2), which are compositions of the SHH pathway. CP could inhibit the mRNA and proteins expression of SHH, PTCH-1, GLI-1, and HBx. It may be one of the underlying mechanisms of CP to delay the HBV-related HCC development through the HBx-SHH pathway axis inactivation.

Improving Anti-Cancer Potentiality and Bioavailability of Gallic Acid by Designing Polymeric Nanocomposite Formulation

Objective:

In this study, we investigated the in vivo antitumor activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics of encapsulated GA-NC (gallic acid nanocomposite) in normal and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-induced rats.

Methods:

Rats were distributed into 4 groups; negative control, HCC, gallic acid (GA), and GA-NC. Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), endoglin (ENG), heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), pro-caspase 3, lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) and β-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were assayed by ELISA. The pharmacokinetic parameters for GA or GA-NC were determined by means of non-compartmental approach based on the serum– concentration profiles of free GA and GA-NC after oral administration. Also, histological procedures were used for examination of liver tissue sections.

Results:

Anaplastic changes in liver tissues were observed in untreated HCC group, as well as a significant increase in the serum AFP level. In addition, significant elevation in the serum ENG level as an angiogenic marker and the serum levels of the apoptotic mediators; HSP-70, Bcl-2 and pro-caspase 3 beside significant amplification in the serum inflammatory modulator, LCN-2 were recorded. Treatment with free GA or GA-NC markedly recovered the anaplastic changes in the rat liver tissues. In addition, they restored serum levels of AFP, ENG, HSP-70, Bcl-2, pro-caspase-3, and LCN-2. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that GA–NC displayed a characteristic sustained release profile with 4-fold increase in bioavailability in normal and HCC-induced rats.

Conclusions:

The results of this study suggest that encapsulation of GA into PLGA-CS-PEG enhances its oral bioavailability and anti-cancer activity. GA-NC may be a new therapeutic candidate for the mitigation of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Evaluation of In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties of the Aqueous Extract from the Stem Bark of Stryphnodendron adstringens

Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (Fabaceae) is a tree species native to the Brazilian Cerrado commonly known as barbatimão. In traditional medicine, decoctions or infusions of the stem bark of this plant are used in the treatment of several diseases. The objective of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of Stryphnodendron adstringens aqueous extracts (SAAE) prepared from the stem bark to assess their antioxidant activity and anticancer effects as well as characterize cell death mechanisms against murine B16F10Nex-2 melanoma cells. From the SAAE, gallic acid, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, dimeric and trimeric proanthocyanidins mainly composed of prodelphinidin units and the isomeric chromones C-hexosyl- and O-pentosyl-5,7-dihydroxychromone were identified. The SAAE showed antioxidant activity through direct free-radical scavenging as well as through oxidative hemolysis and lipid peroxidation inhibition in human erythrocytes. Furthermore, SAAE promoted apoptosis-induced cell death in melanoma cells by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, inducing mitochondrial membrane potential dysfunction and activating caspase-3. Together, these data show the antioxidant and anticancer effects of Stryphnodendron adstringens. These results open new perspectives for studies against other tumor cell lines and in vivo models as well as for the identification and isolation of the chemical constituents responsible for these effects.

Effect of αS1-casein genotype on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in goat milk yogurt fortified with Rhus coriaria leaf powder

The aim of this work was to evaluate the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of goat milk yogurt characterized by different α_S1-casein genotypes and fortified with Rhus coriaria leaf powder. The α_S1-casein genotype was determined by isoelectric focusing, total phenol content was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-UV analysis, and antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and ferric-reducing antioxidant power. The statistical analysis showed a significant effect of the studied factors. Comparing different genotypes it emerged that yogurt from goats with weak alleles at CSN1S1 loci (FF) showed the lowest phenolic compounds and therefore a lower antioxidant activity compared with yogurt from goats with strong alleles at CSN1S1 loci (AA, BB, AB). Rhus coriaria-fortified yogurt showed a significant increase in total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in comparison with plain yogurt. The FF-fortified yogurt presented the lowest total phenol content and antioxidant activity. This could be due to a greater capacity of proteins and peptides in this yogurt to form stable complexes with phenols. The different total phenol content detected in R. coriaria-fortified yogurt indicates that the α_S1-casein genotype influenced the amount of added phenols that are bound to the caseins and, therefore, the part that remains free and that affects the biological capacity of the final product.

Gallnuts: A Potential Treasure in Anticancer Drug Discovery

Introduction. In the discovery of more potent and selective anticancer drugs, the research continually expands and explores new bioactive metabolites coming from different natural sources. Gallnuts are a group of very special natural products formed through parasitic interaction between plants and insects. Though it has been traditionally used as a source of drugs for the treatment of cancerous diseases in traditional and folk medicinal systems through centuries, the anticancer properties of gallnuts are barely systematically reviewed. Objective. To evidence the traditional uses and phytochemicals and pharmacological mechanisms in anticancer aspects of gallnuts, a literature review was performed. Materials and Methods. The systematic review approach consisted of searching web-based scientific databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct. The keywords for searching include gallnut, Galla Chinensis, Rhus chinensis, Rhus potaninii, Rhus punjabensis, nutgall, gall oak, Quercus infectoria, Quercus lusitanica, and galla turcica. Two reviewers extracted papers independently to remove the papers unrelated to the anticancer properties of gallnuts. Patents, abstracts, case reports, and abstracts in symposium and congress were excluded. Results and Conclusion. As a result, 14 articles were eligible to be evaluated. It is primarily evident that gallnuts contain a number of bioactive metabolites, which account for anticancer activities. The phytochemical and pharmacological studies reviewed strongly underpin a fundamental understanding of anticancer properties for gallnuts (Galla Chinensis and Galla Turcica) and support their ongoing clinical uses in China. The further bioactive compounds screening and evaluation, pharmacological investigation, and clinical trials are expected to progress gallnut-based development to finally transform the wild medicinal gallnuts to the valuable authorized anticancer drugs.

Proanthocyanidin Characterization, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Three Plants Commonly Used in Traditional Medicine in Costa Rica: Petiveria alliaceae L., Phyllanthus niruri L. and Senna reticulata Willd

The phenolic composition of aerial parts from Petiveria alliaceae L., Phyllanthus niruri L. and Senna reticulata Willd., species commonly used in Costa Rica as traditional medicines, was studied using UPLC-ESI-TQ-MS on enriched-phenolic extracts. Comparatively, higher values of total phenolic content (TPC), as measured by the Folin-Ciocalteau method, were observed for P. niruri extracts (328.8 gallic acid equivalents/g) than for S. reticulata (79.30 gallic acid equivalents/g) whereas P. alliaceae extract showed the lowest value (13.45 gallic acid equivalents/g). A total of 20 phenolic acids and proanthocyanidins were identified in the extracts, including hydroxybenzoic acids (benzoic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, gallic, prochatechuic, salicylic, syringic and vanillic acids); hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids); and flavan-3-ols monomers [(+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin)]. Regarding proanthocyanidin oligomers, five procyanidin dimers (B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5) and one trimer (T2) are reported for the first time in P. niruri, as well as two propelargonidin dimers in S. reticulata. Additionally, P. niruri showed the highest antioxidant DPPH and ORAC values (IC₅₀ of 6.4 μg/mL and 6.5 mmol TE/g respectively), followed by S. reticulata (IC₅₀ of 72.9 μg/mL and 2.68 mmol TE/g respectively) and P. alliaceae extract (IC₅₀ >1000 μg/mL and 1.32 mmol TE/g respectively). Finally, cytotoxicity and selectivity on gastric AGS and colon SW20 adenocarcinoma cell lines were evaluated and the best values were also found for P. niruri (SI = 2.8), followed by S. reticulata (SI = 2.5). Therefore, these results suggest that extracts containing higher proanthocyanidin content also show higher bioactivities. Significant positive correlation was found between TPC and ORAC (R² = 0.996) as well as between phenolic content as measured by UPLC-DAD and ORAC (R² = 0.990). These findings show evidence for the first time of the diversity of phenolic acids in P. alliaceae and S. reticulata, and the presence of proanthocyanidins as minor components in latter species. Of particular relevance is the occurrence of proanthocyanidin oligomers in phenolic extracts from P. niruri and their potential bioactivity.