Alternol inhibits the proliferation and induces the differentiation of the mouse melanoma B16F0 cell line

Review on the pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics of scutellarein

Scutellarein is a flavonoid from Scutellaria baicalensis  Georgi that has been shown to have a variety of pharmacological activities. This review aims to summarize the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies on scutellarein and provide useful information for relevant scholars. Pharmacological studies indicate that scutellarein possesses a diverse range of pharmacological properties, including but not limited to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, and cardiovascular protective effects. Further investigation reveals that the pharmacological effects of scutellarein are driven by multiple mechanisms. These mechanisms encompass the scavenging of free radicals, inhibition of the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways and expression of inflammatory mediators, inhibition of the activity of crucial viral proteins, suppression of gluconeogenesis, amelioration of insulin resistance, improvement of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, and prevention of myocardial hypertrophy, among others. In summary, these pharmacological studies suggest that scutellarein holds promise for the treatment of various diseases. It is imperative to conduct clinical studies to further elucidate the therapeutic effects of scutellarein. However, it is worth noting that studies on the pharmacokinetics reveal an inhibitory effect of scutellarein on uridine 5'-diphosphate glucuronide transferases and cytochrome P450 enzymes, potentially posing safety risks.

Natural compound Alternol exerts a broad anti-cancer spectrum and a superior therapeutic safety index in vivo

Introduction

Alternol is a natural compound isolated from the fermentation of a mutated fungus. We have demonstrated its potent anti-cancer effect via the accumulation of radical oxygen species (ROS) in prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we tested its anti-cancer spectrum in multiple platforms.

Methods

We first tested its anti-cancer spectrum using the National Cancer Institute-60 (NCI-60) screening, a protein quantitation-based assay. CellTiter-Glo screening was utilized for ovarian cancer cell lines. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed using flow cytometry. Xenograft models in nude mice were used to assess anti-cancer effect. Healthy mice were tested for the acuate systemic toxicity.

Results

Our results showed that Alternol exerted a potent anti-cancer effect on 50 (83%) cancer cell lines with a GI50 less than 5 µM and induced a lethal response in 12 (24%) of those 50 responding cell lines at 10 µM concentration. Consistently, Alternol displayed a similar anti-cancer effect on 14 ovarian cancer cell lines in an ATP quantitation-based assay. Most interestingly, Alternol showed an excellent safety profile with a maximum tolerance dose (MTD) at 665 mg/kg bodyweight in mice. Its therapeutic index was calculated as 13.3 based on the effective tumor-suppressing doses from HeLa and PC-3 cell-derived xenograft models.

Conclusion

Taken together, Alternol has a broad anti-cancer spectrum with a safe therapeutic index in vivo.

The Potential for Natural Products to Overcome Cancer Drug Resistance by Modulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

The acquisition of resistance and ultimately disease relapse after initial response to chemotherapy put obstacles in the way of cancer therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biologic process that epithelial cells alter to mesenchymal cells and acquire fibroblast-like properties. EMT plays a significant role in cancer metastasis, motility, and survival. Recently, emerging evidence suggested that EMT pathways are very important in making drug-resistant involved in cancer. Natural products are gradually emerging as a valuable source of safe and effective anticancer compounds. Natural products could interfere with the different processes implicated in cancer drug resistance by reversing the EMT process. In this review, we illustrate the molecular mechanisms of EMT in the emergence of cancer metastasis. We then present the role of natural compounds in the suppression of EMT pathways in different cancers to overcome cancer cell drug resistance and improve tumor chemotherapy. HighlightsDrug-resistance is one of the obstacles to cancer treatment.EMT signaling pathways have been correlated to tumor invasion, metastasis, and drug-resistance.Various studies on the relationship between EMT and resistance to chemotherapy agents were reviewed.Different anticancer natural products with EMT inhibitory properties and drug resistance reversal effects were compared.

Jolkinolide B induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in mouse melanoma B16F10 cells by altering glycolysis

Most cancer cells preferentially rely on glycolysis to produce the energy (adenosine triphosphate, ATP) for growth and proliferation. Emerging evidence demonstrates that the apoptosis in cancer cells could be closely associated with the inhibition of glycolysis. In this study, we have found that jolkinolide B (JB), a bioactive diterpenoid extracted from the root of Euphorbia fischeriana Steud, induced tumor cells apoptosis and decreased the production of ATP and lactic acid in mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. Furthermore, we found that JB downregulated the mRNA expression of glucose transporter genes (Glut1, Glut3 and Glut4) and glycolysis-related kinase genes (Hk2 and Ldha) in B16F10 cells. Moreover, treatment with JB upregulated the mRNA expression of pro-apoptosis genes (Bax), downregulated the mRNA expression of anti-apoptosis genes (Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9), decreased the potential of mitochondrial membrane and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in B16F10 cells. Finally, intragastric administration of JB suppressed tumor growth and induced tumor apoptosis in mouse xenograft model of murine melanoma B16F10 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that JB could induce apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway and inhibit tumor growth. The inhibition of glycolysis could play a crucial role in the induction of apoptosis in JB-treated B16F10 cells.