The anticancer activity of ethanol extract of Chromolaena odorata leaves in 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in (DMBA) induced breast cancer Wistar rats (Rattus novergicus)

Mitigative potential of kaempferide against polyethylene microplastics induced testicular damage by activating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway

Polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are one of the environmental contaminants that instigate oxidative stress (OS) in various organs of the body, including testes. Kaempferide (KFD) is a plant-derived natural flavonol with potential neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the alleviative effects of KFD against PE-MPs-prompted testicular toxicity in rats. Fourty eight adult male albino rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups: control, PE-MPs-administered (1.5 mgkg-1), PE-MPs (1.5 mgkg-1) + KFD (20 mgkg-1) co-treated and KFD (20 mgkg-1) only treated group. PE-MPs intoxication significantly (P < 0.05) lowered the expression of Nrf-2 and anti-oxidant enzymes, while increasing the expression of Keap-1. The activities of anti-oxidants i.e., catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), hemeoxygene-1 (HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were reduced, besides malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents were increased significantly (P < 0.05) following the PE-MPs exposure. Moreover, PE-MPs exposure significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the sperm motility, viability and count, whereas considerably (P < 0.05) increased the dead sperm number and sperm structural anomalies. Furthermore, PE-MPs remarkably (P < 0.05) decreased steroidogenic enzymes and Bcl-2 expression, while increasing the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax. PE-MPs exposure significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone, whereas inflammatory indices were increased. PE-MPs exposure also induced significant histopathological damages in the testes. Nevertheless, KFD supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) abrogated all the damages induced by PE-MPs. The findings of our study demonstrated that KFD could significantly attenuate PE-MPs-instigated OS and testicular toxicity, due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, androgenic and anti-apoptotic potential.

Kaempferide exhibits an anticancer effect against hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

CONTEXT

Phytochemicals have been promising candidates for cancer therapy, affecting various cancer initiation and progression stages. Kaempferide is a mono methoxy flavone that shows potent anticancer effects on multiple cancers both in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the anticancer activity of kaempferide against HCC using an MTT ((3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. HepG2, Huh7, and N1S1 were used for preliminary in vitro studies. This is followed by an apoptosis analysis assessed by caspase-3 and 9. The in vivo effects of the compound were studied in the N1S1 orthotopically injected SD (Sprague Dawley) rat model, where the animal was given kaempferide (25 mg/kg thrice a week) and vehicle (Cremophor:ethanol) iv. The expression of caspase-9 and a critical tumor marker, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β 1), were assessed in both control and treatment tumor samples.

RESULTS

Kaempferide-induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity in three HCC cell lines (HepG2: IC50 = 27.94 ± 2.199 µM; Huh7: IC50 = 25.65 ± 0.956 µM; and N1S1: IC50 = 15.18 ± 3.68 µM). Furthermore, caspase-dependent apoptosis was confirmed in vitro. Kaempferide showed a significant reduction in tumor size and tumor volume in vivo. Histopathological evaluation by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining confirmed that altered cells were significantly demolished in the kaempferide-treated animals, which correlates with tumor reduction compared to the vehicle-treated group. Caspase-9 levels were also found to be increased in the treatment group. TGF-β 1, a crucial marker in invasion and metastasis of liver cancer, was also downregulated in the treatment group (control = 207.8 ± 22.9 pg/mL and kaempferide-treated = 157.3 ± 13.8 pg/mL).

CONCLUSION

We report for the first time the potential of kaempferide as a promising alternative against HCC, which further warrants its clinical validation.