Resveratrol induces apoptosis in SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells

Immunomodulatory and chemopreventive effects of resveratrol on the digestive system cancers

Resveratrol (RSV), the primary polyphenol found in grapes, has been revealed to have anti-inflammatory properties by reducing the capacity of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-1ra and TNFα. Considering the close association between chronic inflammation and cancer development, RSV's immunomodulatory properties are one way by which the polyphenol may inhibit cancer initiation, proliferation, neovascularization, and migration. Resveratrol influences the generation of microtumor environment which is one of the key factors in cancer progress. In addition to immunomodulation, RSV inhibits cancer development by expressing anti-oxidant effects, causing cell cycle arrest, stimulating the function of certain enzymes, and activating cell signaling pathways. The end outcome is one of the various forms of cell death, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and more, as it has been observed in vitro. RSV has been shown to act against cancer in practically every organ, while its effects on colon cancer have been documented more frequently. It is remarkable that longer-term clinical studies that may have established the potential for this natural substance to serve as a therapeutic adjuvant to traditional anti-cancer medications were not prompted by the encouraging outcomes seen with cancer cells treated with non-toxic doses of resveratrol. The current review aims to assess the recent findings about the immunological and anti-cancer characteristics of RSV, with a particular emphasis on cancers of the digestive tract, as a challenge for future clinical research that may contribute to the better prognosis of cancer.

Anticancer properties and metabolomic profiling of Shorea roxburghii extracts toward gastrointestinal cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) ranks as the highest cause of cancer-related deaths globally. GIC patients are often diagnosed at advanced stages, limiting effective treatment options. Chemotherapy, the common GIC recommendation, has significant disadvantages such as toxicity and adverse effects. Natural products contain substances with diverse pharmacological characteristics that promise for use in cancer therapeutics. In this study, the flower of renowned Asian medicinal plant, Shorea roxburghii was collected and extracted to investigate its phytochemical contents, antioxidant, and anticancer properties on GIC cells.

METHODS

The phytochemical contents of Shorea roxburghii extract were assessed using suitable methods. Phenolic content was determined through the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while flavonoids were quantified using the aluminum chloride (AlCl3) method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the FRAP and DPPH assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed in GIC cell lines via the MTT assay. Additionally, intracellular ROS levels and apoptosis were examined through flow cytometry techniques. The correlation between GIC cell viability and phytochemicals, 1H-NMR analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Among the four different solvent extracts, ethyl acetate extract had the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. Water extract exhibited the strongest reducing power and DPPH scavenging activity following by ethyl acetate. Interestingly, ethyl acetate extract demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity against three GIC cell lines (KKU-213B, HepG2, AGS) with IC50 values of 91.60 µg/ml, 39.38 µg/ml, and 35.59 µg/ml, while showing less toxicity to normal fibroblast cells. Ethyl acetate extract induced reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in GIC cell lines by downregulating anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Metabolic profiling-based screening revealed a positive association between reduced GIC cell viability and phytochemicals like cinnamic acid and its derivatives, ferulic acid and coumaric acid.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the potential of natural compounds in Shorea roxburghii in the development of more effective and safer anticancer agents as options for GIC as well as shedding light on new avenues for cancer treatment.

Natural products targeting signaling pathways associated with regulated cell death in gastric cancer: Recent advances and perspectives

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most serious gastrointestinal malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. The complexity of GC process lies in the multi-phenotypic linkage regulation, in which regulatory cell death (RCD) is the core link, which largely dominates the fate of GC cells and becomes a key determinant of GC development and prognosis. In recent years, increasing evidence has been reported that natural products can prevent and inhibit the development of GC by regulating RCDs, showing great therapeutic potential. In order to further clarify its key regulatory characteristics, this review focused on specific expressions of RCDs, combined with a variety of signaling pathways and their crosstalk characteristics, sorted out the key targets and action rules of natural products targeting RCD. It is highlighted that a variety of core biological pathways and core targets are involved in the decision of GC cell fate, including the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, MAPK-related signaling pathways, p53 signaling pathway, ER stress, Caspase-8, gasdermin D (GSDMD), and so on. Moreover, natural products target the crosstalk of different RCDs by modulating above signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings suggest that targeting various RCDs in GC with natural products is a promising strategy, providing a reference for further clarifying the molecular mechanism of natural products treating GC, which warrants further investigations in this area.

Mechanism of Resveratrol-Induced Programmed Cell Death and New Drug Discovery against Cancer: A Review

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a polyphenol found in grapes, red wine, peanuts, and apples, has been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties. In addition, resveratrol has been reported to intervene in multiple stages of carcinogenesis. It has also been known to kill several human cancer cells through programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms such as apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. However, resveratrol has limitations in its use as an anticancer agent because it is susceptible to photoisomerization owing to its unstable double bond, short half-life, and is rapidly metabolized and eliminated. Trans-(E)-resveratrol is nontoxic, and has several biological and pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the pharmacological properties of the photoisomerized cis-(Z)-resveratrol. Therefore, many studies on resveratrol derivatives and analogues that can overcome the shortcomings of resveratrol and increase its anticancer activity are underway. This review comprehensively summarizes the literature related to resveratrol-induced PCD, such as apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and the development status of synthetic resveratrol derivatives and analogues as novel anticancer drugs.

The Role of Resveratrol in Eye Diseases—A Review of the Literature

Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trans-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin belonging to the stilbene family. It is commonly found in grape skins and seeds, as well as other plant-based foods. Oxidative stress and inflammation play a key role in the initiation and progression of age-related eye disorders (glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration) that lead to a progressive loss of vision and blindness. Even though the way resveratrol affects the human body and the course of many diseases is still the subject of ongoing scientific research, it has been shown that the broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of resveratrol has a beneficial effect on eye tissues. In our research, we decided to analyze the current scientific literature on resveratrol, its possible mechanisms of action, and its therapeutic application in order to assess its effectiveness in eye diseases.

Alsahli M, S. M. Aljohani A, Alhumaydhi FA, Babiker AY, Khan AA, Rahmani AH. Potential Therapeutic Targets of Resveratrol, a Plant Polyphenol, and Its Role in the Therapy of Various Types of Cancer

Cancer is among the most prominent causes of mortality worldwide. Different cancer therapy modes employed, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have been reported to be significant in cancer management, but the side effects associated with these treatment strategies are still a health problem. Therefore, alternative anticancer drugs based on medicinal plants or their active compounds have been generating attention because of their less serious side effects. Medicinal plants are an excellent source of phytochemicals that have been recognized to have health-prompting effects through modulating cell signaling pathways. Resveratrol is a well-known polyphenolic molecule with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and health-prompting effects among which its anticancer role has been best defined. Additionally, this polyphenol has confirmed its role in cancer management because it activates tumor suppressor genes, suppresses cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis, and modulates several other cell signaling molecules. The anticancer potential of resveratrol is recognized in numerous in vivo and in vitro studies. Previous experimental data suggested that resveratrol may be valuable in cancer management or improve the efficacy of drugs when given with anticancer drugs. This review emphasizes the potential role of resveratrol as an anticancer drug by modulating numerous cells signaling pathways in different types of cancer.

Role of Plant-Derived Active Constituents in Cancer Treatment and Their Mechanisms of Action

Despite significant technological advancements in conventional therapies, cancer remains one of the main causes of death worldwide. Although substantial progress has been made in the control and treatment of cancer, several limitations still exist, and there is scope for further advancements. Several adverse effects are associated with modern chemotherapy that hinder cancer treatment and lead to other critical disorders. Since ancient times, plant-based medicines have been employed in clinical practice and have yielded good results with few side effects. The modern research system and advanced screening techniques for plants’ bioactive constituents have enabled phytochemical discovery for the prevention and treatment of challenging diseases such as cancer. Phytochemicals such as vincristine, vinblastine, paclitaxel, curcumin, colchicine, and lycopene have shown promising anticancer effects. Discovery of more plant-derived bioactive compounds should be encouraged via the exploitation of advanced and innovative research techniques, to prevent and treat advanced-stage cancers without causing significant adverse effects. This review highlights numerous plant-derived bioactive molecules that have shown potential as anticancer agents and their probable mechanisms of action and provides an overview of in vitro, in vivo and clinical trial studies on anticancer phytochemicals.

Effect of Resveratrol Treatment on Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells through Alterations of Bcl-2 Family Members

Pancreatic cancers are among of the most lethal types of neoplasms, and are mostly detected at an advanced stage. Conventional treatment methods such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy often do not bring the desired therapeutic effects. For this reason, natural compounds are increasingly being used as adjuvants in cancer therapy. Polyphenolic compounds, including resveratrol, are of particular interest. The aim of this study is to analyze the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic mechanisms of resveratrol on human pancreatic cells. The study was carried out on three human pancreatic cancer cell lines: EPP85-181P, EPP85-181RNOV (mitoxantrone-resistant cells) and AsPC-1, as well as the normal pancreatic cell line H6c7. The cytotoxicity of resveratrol in the tested cell lines was assessed by the colorimetric method (MTT) and the flow cytometry method. Three selected concentrations of the compound (25, 50 and 100 µM) were tested in the experiments during a 48-h incubation. TUNEL and Comet assays, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, real-time PCR and Western Blot analyses were used to evaluate the pleiotropic effect of resveratrol. The results indicate that resveratrol is likely to be anticarcinogenic by inhibiting human pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. In addition, it affects the levels of Bcl-2 pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. However, it should be emphasized that the activity of resveratrol was specific for each of the tested cell lines, and the most statistically significant changes were observed in the mitoxantrone-resistant cells.

A Systematic Review of the Potential Chemoprotective Effects of Resveratrol on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Focus on the Antioxidant, Antiapoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

PURPOSE

Although doxorubicin chemotherapeutic drug is commonly used to treat various solid and hematological tumors, its clinical use is restricted because of its adverse effects on the normal cells/tissues, especially cardiotoxicity. The use of resveratrol may mitigate the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxic effects. For this aim, we systematically reviewed the potential chemoprotective effects of resveratrol against the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

METHODS

In the current study, a systematic search was performed based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline for the identification of all relevant studies on "the role of resveratrol on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity" in the electronic databases of Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus up to March 2021 using search terms in their titles and abstracts. Two hundred and eighteen articles were screened in accordance with a predefined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 33 eligible articles were included in this systematic review.

RESULTS

The in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrated a decreased cell survival, increased mortality, decreased heart weight, and increased ascites in the doxorubicin-treated groups compared to the control groups. The combined treatment of resveratrol and doxorubicin showed an opposite pattern than the doxorubicin-treated groups alone. Furthermore, this chemotherapeutic agent induced the biochemical and histopathological changes on the cardiac cells/tissue; however, the results (for most of the cases) revealed that these alterations induced by doxorubicin were reversed near to normal levels (control groups) by resveratrol coadministration.

CONCLUSION

The results of this systematic review stated that coadministration of resveratrol alleviates the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Resveratrol exerts these chemoprotective effects through several main mechanisms of antioxidant, antiapoptosis, and anti-inflammatory.

Layer-by-Layer Nanoparticles of Tamoxifen and Resveratrol for Dual Drug Delivery System and Potential Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Nanoparticle development demonstrates use in various physicochemical, biological, and functional properties for biomedical applications, including anti-cancer applications. In the current study, a cancer therapeutic conjugate was produced consisting of tamoxifen (TAM) and resveratrol (RES) by layer-by-layer (LbL) nanoparticles based on lipid-based drug delivery systems and liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) coated with multiple layers of positively charged chitosan and negatively charged hyaluronic acid for the evaluation of biocompatibility and therapeutic properties against cancer cells. Multiple techniques characterized the synthesis of TAM/RES-LbL-LCNPs, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray crystallography (XRD), Zeta potential analysis, particle size analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The in vitro cytotoxic effects of TAM/RES-LbL-LCNPs were investigated against human breast cancer cell line, Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7), and human triple-negative breast cancer cell line, Centre Antoine Lacassagne-51 (CAL-51), using various parameters. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay confirmed that the treatment of cells with TAM/RES-LbL-LCNPs caused a reduction in cell proliferation, and no such inhibition was observed with human normal liver cell line: American Type Culture Collection Cell Line-48 (WRL-68 [ATCC CL-48]). Fluorescent microscopy examined the ability of Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) to bind to TAM/RES-LbL-LCNPs along with their cellular uptake. Apoptosis determination was performed using hematoxylin-eosin and acridine orange-propidium iodide double staining. The expression of P53 and caspase-8 was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis. An in vivo study determined the toxicity of TAM/RES-LbL-LCNPs in mice and assessed the functional marker changes in the liver and kidneys. No significant statistical differences were found for the tested indicators. TAM/RES-LbL-LCNP treatment showed no apparent damages or histopathological abnormalities in the heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney histological images. The current findings observed for the first time propose that TAM/RES-LbL-LCNPs provide a new and safer method to use phytochemicals in combinatorial therapy and provide a novel treatment approach against breast cancers.

Cytotoxic and Proapoptotic Effects of Resveratrol in In Vitro Studies on Selected Types of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Cancer diseases are currently one of the greatest health challenges in clinical medicine worldwide. Classic methods of treatment often lead to numerous side effects, including the development of multidrug resistance. For this reason, increasing hope is being placed on compounds of natural origin, mainly due to their pleiotropic effect on different types of cells, protective effect on normal cells and toxic effect on cancerous ones. The most studied group are the polyphenolic compounds, which include resveratrol. The effectiveness of polyphenols in the treatment and prevention of many diseases, including cancer of various origins, has become the basis of many scientific studies. The anticancer effect of resveratrol has been demonstrated at all stages of the carcinogenesis process. Additionally, whether administered by itself or in combination with cytostatics, it may play a significant role in the process of reversing multidrug resistance. A review of the effects of resveratrol in in vitro conditions proves that it has a stronger or weaker antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect on the cells of certain neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite the differences in the effect of this compound on different types of cancer, a similar tendency can be observed especially regarding the correlation between the concentration of the compound and the incubation time on the one hand and the antitumour effect on the other hand. The information included in this review may prove helpful in planning in vivo and clinical studies in the future.

A Phenylacetamide Resveratrol Derivative Exerts Inhibitory Effects on Breast Cancer Cell Growth

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural compound that displays several pharmacological properties, including anti-cancer actions. However, its clinical application is limited because of its low solubility and bioavailability. Here, the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activity of a series of phenylacetamide RSV derivatives has been evaluated in several cancer cell lines. These derivatives contain a monosubstituted aromatic ring that could mimic the RSV phenolic nucleus and a longer flexible chain that could confer a better stability and bioavailability than RSV. Using MTT assay, we demonstrated that most derivatives exerted antiproliferative effects in almost all of the cancer cell lines tested. Among them, derivative 2, that showed greater bioavailability than RSV, was the most active, particularly against estrogen receptor positive (ER+) MCF7 and estrogen receptor negative (ER-) MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, we demonstrated that these derivatives, particularly derivative 2, were able to inhibit NO and ROS synthesis and PGE2 secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated U937 human monocytic cells (derived from a histiocytoma). In order to define the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiproliferative effects of derivative 2, we found that it determined cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, modified the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, and ultimately triggered apoptotic cell death in both breast cancer cell lines. Taken together, these results highlight the studied RSV derivatives, particularly derivative 2, as promising tools for the development of new and more bioavailable derivatives useful in the treatment of breast cancer.

Naringenin inhibits migration, invasion, induces apoptosis in human lung cancer cells and arrests tumour progression in vitro

Lung cancer is one of the major cause for high-death rate all over the world, due to increased metastasize and difficulties in diagnosis. Naringenin is naturally occurring flavonoid found in various fruits including tomatoes, citrus fruit and figs. Naringenin is known to have several therapeutic effects including anti-atherogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer and anti-mutagenic. The present study was aimed to analyse the naringenin induced anti-proliferative and apoptosis effects in human lung cancer cells. Cells were treated with various concentrations of naringenin (10, 100 & 200 µmol/L) for 48 hours. Cisplatin (20 µg/mL) was used as positive control. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration and mRNA, and protein expression of caspase-3, matrixmetallo proteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were determined. The cell viability was 93.7 ± 7.5, 51.4 ± 4.4 and 32.1 ± 2.1 at 10, 100 and 200 µmol/L of naringenin respectively. Naringenin significantly increased apoptotic cells. The 100 and 200 µmol/L of naringenin significantly suppressed the larger wounds of cultured human cancer cells compared with the untreated lung cancer cells. Naringenin increased d the expression of caspase-3 and reduced the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Taking all these data together, it is suggested that the naringenin was effective against human lung cancer proliferation, migration and metastasis.

Naringenin inhibits migration, invasion, induces apoptosis in human lung cancer cells and arrests tumour progression in vitro

Lung cancer is one of the major cause for high-death rate all over the world, due to increased metastasize and difficulties in diagnosis. Naringenin is naturally occurring flavonoid found in various fruits including tomatoes, citrus fruit and figs. Naringenin is known to have several therapeutic effects including anti-atherogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer and anti-mutagenic. The present study was aimed to analyse the naringenin induced anti-proliferative and apoptosis effects in human lung cancer cells. Cells were treated with various concentrations of naringenin (10, 100 & 200 µmol/L) for 48 hours. Cisplatin (20 µg/mL) was used as positive control. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration and mRNA, and protein expression of caspase-3, matrixmetallo proteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were determined. The cell viability was 93.7 ± 7.5, 51.4 ± 4.4 and 32.1 ± 2.1 at 10, 100 and 200 µmol/L of naringenin respectively. Naringenin significantly increased apoptotic cells. The 100 and 200 µmol/L of naringenin significantly suppressed the larger wounds of cultured human cancer cells compared with the untreated lung cancer cells. Naringenin increased d the expression of caspase-3 and reduced the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Taking all these data together, it is suggested that the naringenin was effective against human lung cancer proliferation, migration and metastasis.

Anti-tumor activity of resveratrol against gastric cancer: a review of recent advances with an emphasis on molecular pathways

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers with high malignancy. In spite of the great development in diagnostic tools and application of anti-tumor drugs, we have not witnessed a significant increase in the survival time of patients with GC. Multiple studies have revealed that Wnt, Nrf2, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways are involved in GC invasion. Besides, long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs function as upstream mediators in GC malignancy. GC cells have acquired resistance to currently applied anti-tumor drugs. Besides, combination therapy is associated with higher anti-tumor activity. Resveratrol (Res) is a non-flavonoid polyphenol with high anti-tumor activity used in treatment of various cancers. A number of studies have demonstrated the potential of Res in regulation of molecular pathways involved in cancer malignancy. At the present review, we show that Res targets a variety of signaling pathways to induce apoptotic cell death and simultaneously, to inhibit the migration and metastasis of GC cells.

Resveratrol, Rapamycin and Metformin as Modulators of Antiviral Pathways

Balanced nutrition and appropriate dietary interventions are fundamental in the prevention and management of viral infections. Additionally, accurate modulation of the inflammatory response is necessary to achieve an adequate antiviral immune response. Many studies, both in vitro with mammalian cells and in vivo with small animal models, have highlighted the antiviral properties of resveratrol, rapamycin and metformin. The current review outlines the mechanisms of action of these three important compounds on the cellular pathways involved with viral replication and the mechanisms of virus-related diseases, as well as the current status of their clinical use.

Transcriptome Profiling and Cytological Assessments for Identifying Regulatory Pathways Associated With Diorcinol N-Induced Autophagy in A3 Cells

Fungal secondary metabolites serve as a rich resource for exploring lead compounds with medicinal importance. Diorcinol N (DN), a fungal secondary metabolite isolated from an endophytic fungus, Arthrinium arundinis, exhibits robust anticancer activity. However, the anticancer mechanism of DN remains unclear. In this study, we examined the growth-inhibitory effect of DN on different human cancer cell lines. We found that DN decreased the viability of A3 T-cell leukemia cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Transcriptome analysis indicated that DN modulated the transcriptome of A3 cells. In total, 9,340 differentially expressed genes were found, among which 4,378 downregulated genes and 4,962 upregulated genes were mainly involved in autophagy, cell cycle, and DNA replication. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DN induced autophagy, cell cycle arrest in the G1/S phase, and downregulated the expression of autophagy- and cell cycle-related genes in A3 cells. By labeling A3 cells with acridine orange/ethidium bromide, Hoechst 33,258, and monodansylcadaverine and via transmission electron microscopy, we found that DN increased plasma membrane permeability, structural disorganization, vacuolation, and autophagosome formation. Our study provides evidence for the mechanism of anticancer activity of DN in T-cell leukemia (A3) cells and demonstrates the promise of DN as a lead or even candidate molecule for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Mechanisms of resveratrol in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. According to the Global Cancer Statistics, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality, closely followed by gastric cancer (GC). Environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors including cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and genetics are the most important risk factors for GI cancer. Furthermore, infections caused by Helicobacter pylori are a major cause of GC initiation. Despite improvements in conventional therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the length or quality of life of patients with advanced GI cancer is still poor because of delayed diagnosis, recurrence and side effect. Resveratrol (3, 4, 5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene; Res), a natural polyphenolic compound, reportedly has various pharmacologic functions including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and cardioprotective functions. Many studies have demonstrated that Res also exerts a chemopreventive effect on GI cancer. Research investigating the anti-cancer mechanism of Res for the prevention and treatment of GI cancer has implicated multiple pathways including oxidative stress, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the function and molecular mechanisms of Res in the prevention and treatment of GI cancer.

Niosome-encapsulated balanocarpol: compound isolation, characterisation, and cytotoxicity evaluation against human breast and ovarian cancer cell lines

Natural products have been successfully used to treat various ailments since ancient times and currently several anticancer agents based on natural products are used as the main therapy to treat cancer patients, or as a complimentary treatment to chemotherapy or radiation. Balanocarpol, which is a promising natural product that has been isolated from Hopea dryobalanoides, has been studied as a potential anticancer agent but its application is limited due to its high toxicity, low water solubility, and poor bioavailability. Therefore, the aim of this study is to improve the characteristics of balanocarpol and increase its anticancer activity through its encapsulation in a bilayer structure of a lipid-based nanoparticle drug delivery system where the application of nanotechnology can help improve the limitations of balanocarpol. The compound was first extracted and isolated from H. dryobalanoides. Niosome nanoparticles composed of Span 80 (SP80) and cholesterol were formulated through an innovative microfluidic mixing method for the encapsulation and delivery of balanocarpol. The prepared particles were spherical, small, and uniform with an average particles size and polydispersity index ∼175 nm and 0.088, respectively. The encapsulation of balanocarpol into the SP80 niosomes resulted in an encapsulation efficiency of ∼40%. The niosomes formulation loaded with balanocarpol showed a superior anticancer effect over the free compound when tested in vitro on human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) and human breast carcinoma (ZR-75-1). This is the first study to report the use of SP80 niosomes for the successful encapsulation and delivery of balanocarpol into cancer cells.

Resveratrol Inhibits Proliferation in HBL-52 Meningioma Cells

Objective

To investigate the effects of resveratrol on apoptosis and proliferation in meningioma cells and characterize the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods

HBL-52 meningioma cells were treated with resveratrol at doses of 10, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μM for 24, 36, and 48 hrs. Inhibition of proliferation was measured by CCK8 assay, and apoptosis was determined by annexin V staining and flow cytometry. Expression of apoptosis-associated proteins (cleaved-caspase-3, pro-caspase-3) and Bcl-2 were measured by Western blot. Levels of miR-34a-3p and Bcl-2 mRNA were analyzed by reverse transcriptase PCR. A dual luciferase assay was used to determine whether miR-34a-3p binds to the 3ʹUTR of Bcl-2.

Results

Resveratrol reduces proliferation and increases apoptosis in HBL-52 cells. These effects increase with increasing resveratrol concentration and exposure time. Resveratrol increases levels of cleaved-caspase 3 protein as well as decreases levels of pro-caspase 3 protein and Bcl-2 mRNA. The 3ʹUTR of Bcl-2 contains putative binding sites for miR-34a-3p, and these binding sites can regulate the expression of a luciferase reporter. Overexpression of miR-34a-3p reduces Bcl-2 protein levels in HBL-52 cells.

Conclusion

Resveratrol suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in meningioma cells by upregulating miR-34a-3p, which in turn downregulates Bcl-2. Resveratrol may be a useful drug for treating meningiomas.

Progress to Improve Oral Bioavailability and Beneficial Effects of Resveratrol

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene; RSV) is a natural nonflavonoid polyphenol present in many species of plants, particularly in grapes, blueberries, and peanuts. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that in addition to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective actions, it exhibits antitumor properties. In mammalian models, RSV is extensively metabolized and rapidly eliminated and therefore it shows a poor bioavailability, in spite it of its lipophilic nature. During the past decade, in order to improve RSV low aqueous solubility, absorption, membrane transport, and its poor bioavailability, various methodological approaches and different synthetic derivatives have been developed. In this review, we will describe the strategies used to improve pharmacokinetic characteristics and then beneficial effects of RSV. These methodological approaches include RSV nanoencapsulation in lipid nanocarriers or liposomes, nanoemulsions, micelles, insertion into polymeric particles, solid dispersions, and nanocrystals. Moreover, the biological results obtained on several synthetic derivatives containing different substituents, such as methoxylic, hydroxylic groups, or halogens on the RSV aromatic rings, will be described. Results reported in the literature are encouraging but require additional in vivo studies, to support clinical applications.

Therapeutic effect of resveratrol on mice with depression

The effect and mechanism of resveratrol on depression-like behavior in mice with depression were investigated. A mouse model of depression was established by social isolation combined with chronic unpredictable stress. The mice were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the low dose group, the medium dose group and the high dose group. The rats in the low, medium and high dose groups were intraperitoneally injected with resveratrol 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. The control and model groups were intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. After 21 days of continuous treatment, the neurobehavioral changes of each group were analyzed by forced swimming test, tail suspension experiment and sucrose consumption experiment. Dopamine (DA) and serotoni (5-HT) and the level of brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex of each group were analyzed by ELISA. The level of neuropeptide (NPY) expression was analyzed by western blot analysis. Compared with the model group, the immobility time of the tail suspension experiment and forced swimming experiment in the low, medium and high dose groups was significantly prolonged (P<0.05), while the 24 h sucrose consumption was significantly increased (P<0.05), showing a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the model group, the levels of DA and 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex of the low, medium and high dose groups were significantly increased, and showed a dose-dependent effect (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of NPY protein in the low, medium and high dose groups were significantly increased, and gradually increased with the increase of the dose, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Resveratrol can significantly increase the levels of neurotransmitters DA and 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex and increase the expression of NPY in the brain, which can play an antagonistic role in depression.

UBE2E1 Is Preferentially Expressed in the Cytoplasm of Slow-Twitch Fibers and Protects Skeletal Muscles from Exacerbated Atrophy upon Dexamethasone Treatment

Skeletal muscle mass is reduced during many diseases or physiological situations (disuse, aging), which results in decreased strength and increased mortality. Muscle mass is mainly controlled by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), involving hundreds of ubiquitinating enzymes (E2s and E3s) that target their dedicated substrates for subsequent degradation. We recently demonstrated that MuRF1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase known to bind to sarcomeric proteins (telethonin, α-actin, myosins) during catabolic situations, interacts with 5 different E2 enzymes and that these E2-MuRF1 couples are able to target telethonin, a small sarcomeric protein, for degradation. Amongst the E2s interacting with MuRF1, E2E1 was peculiar as the presence of the substrate was necessary for optimal MuRF1-E2E1 interaction. In this work, we focused on the putative role of E2E1 during skeletal muscle atrophy. We found that E2E1 expression was restricted to type I and type IIA muscle fibers and was not detectable in type IIB fibers. This strongly suggests that E2E1 targets are fiber-specific and may be strongly linked to the contractile and metabolic properties of the skeletal muscle. However, E2E1 knockdown was not sufficient for preserving the protein content in C2C12 myotubes subjected to a catabolic state (dexamethasone treatment), suggesting that E2E1 is not involved in the development of muscle atrophy. By contrast, E2E1 knockdown aggravated the atrophying process in both catabolic C2C12 myotubes and the Tibialis anterior muscle of mice, suggesting that E2E1 has a protective effect on muscle mass.