Reversal of Multidrug Resistance in Mouse Lymphoma Cells by Extracts and Flavonoids from Pistacia integerrima

Targeting lncRNA/Wnt axis by flavonoids: A promising therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer

Despite the dramatic advances in our understanding of the etiology of colorectal cancer (CRC) in recent decades, effective therapeutic strategies are still urgently needed. Oncogenic mutations in the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway are hallmarks of CRC. Moreover, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as molecular managers are involved in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of CRC. Therefore, it is important to further explore the interaction between lncRNAs and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway for targeted therapy of CRC. Natural phytochemicals have not toxicity and can target carcinogenesis-related pathways. Growing evidences suggest that flavonoids are inversely associated with CRC risk. These bioactive compounds could target carcinogenesis pathways of CRC and reduced the side effects of anti-cancer drugs. The review systematically summarized the progress of flavonoids targeting lncRNA/Wnt axis in the investigations of CRC, which will provide a promising therapeutic approach for CRC and develop nutrition-oriented preventive strategies for CRC based on epigenetic mechanisms. In the field, more epidemiological and clinical trials are required in the future to verify feasibility of targeting lncRNA/Wnt axis by flavonoids in the therapy and prevention of CRC.

Drug Transporters in the Kidney: Perspectives on Species Differences, Disease Status, and Molecular Docking

The kidneys are a pair of important organs that excretes endogenous waste and exogenous biological agents from the body. Numerous transporters are involved in the excretion process. The levels of these transporters could affect the pharmacokinetics of many drugs, such as organic anion drugs, organic cationic drugs, and peptide drugs. Eleven drug transporters in the kidney (OAT1, OAT3, OATP4C1, OCT2, MDR1, BCRP, MATE1, MATE2-K, OAT4, MRP2, and MRP4) have become necessary research items in the development of innovative drugs. However, the levels of these transporters vary between different species, sex-genders, ages, and disease statuses, which may lead to different pharmacokinetics of drugs. Here, we review the differences of the important transports in the mentioned conditions, in order to help clinicians to improve clinical prescriptions for patients. To predict drug-drug interactions (DDIs) caused by renal drug transporters, the molecular docking method is used for rapid screening of substrates or inhibitors of the drug transporters. Here, we review a large number of natural products that represent potential substrates and/or inhibitors of transporters by the molecular docking method.

In Vivo and In Silico Studies of Flavonoids Isolated from Pistacia integerrima as Potential Antidiarrheal Agents

Pistacia integerrima leaf galls are used in several traditional medicines to cure many diseases such as diarrhea, asthma, fever, cough, vomiting, and hepatitis. The main goal of the present investigation was to assess the antidiarrheal effect of the Pistacia integerrima extracts/fractions and four isolated flavonoid compounds (1-4) on mice. An in vivo assay involving castor-oil-induced diarrhea was used to evaluate the antidiarrheal potential of extracts/fractions at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg p.o., as well as isolated compounds at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg p.o. Pretreatment of mice with extracts/fractions significantly attenuated castor-oil-induced diarrhea in a dose-dependent manner. Among all crude extracts and fractions, the ethyl acetate extract was the most effective with 100% protection against diarrhea followed by chloroform (75% protection) at 400 mg/kg p.o. Although all the isolated compounds exhibited strong antidiarrheal activity, isolated compounds 1 and 4 demonstrated 100% protection against diarrhea. Moreover, docking models were performed using the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) and AutoDock software and suggested that the extracts and isolated compounds exert antidiarrheal activity by inhibiting mu-opioid and delta-opioid receptors. Therefore, our finding affords a strong pharmacological basis for the traditional use of P. integerrima galls in the treatment of diarrhea.

Antibacterial Activity and Reversal of Multidrug Resistance of Tumor Cells by Essential Oils from Fresh Leaves, Flowers, and Stems of Montanoa quadrangularis Schultz Bipontinus (Asteraceae) Collected in Mérida-Venezuela

Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of Montanoa quadrangularis leaves, flowers, and stems were analyzed by GC and GC/MS techniques revealing myrcene, limonene, β-phellandrene, and sabinene among the main components. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the MDR modulator activity on human MDR1 gene transfected mouse lymphoma cell line and the antimicrobial activity on the essential oils obtained from different parts of the species under investigation. The results revealed that MQL caused a similar increase in the fluorescence activity of the cells at 0.02 μL/mL comparing to the Verapamil^® value. The antimicrobial assay was carried out according to the disc diffusion method. Five different bacterial strains (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli AG 100, and Escherichia coli AG100A) were treated with the essential oils and the zones of inhibition were determined on TSA plates and TSA agar plates supplemented with Tween 20. MQF and MQL showed activity against B. subtilis, S. epidermidis, and E. coli AG 100A while MQS was only active against E. coli AG 100A on TSA agar plates experiment. In case of TSA agar plates supplemented with 0.1 v/v% Tween 20 detergent, MQF showed inhibition on B. subtilis, S. epidermidis, and E. coli AG 100A; MQL was active against B. subtilis, E. coli AG 100, and E. coli AG 100A while MQS was only active against E. coli AG 100A.

Density functional theory, molecular docking and in vivo muscle relaxant, sedative, and analgesic studies of indanone derivatives isolated from Heterophragma adenophyllum

Heterophragma adenophyllum (HA) is an important medicinal plant which is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of muscular tension and pain. Herein, we report the isolation of methyl,1,2-dihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-1-carboxylate (1), from the roots of H. adenophyllum. The isolated compound 1 was evaluated for in vivo muscle relaxant, sedative, and analgesic potential in Swiss albino mice. Results revealed that the isolated compound 1 exhibited a dose- and time-dependent muscle coordination (51%) and a significant (p < 01) sedative effect. It also showed a considerable (p < 0.5) analgesia after 30 min of post treatment and was maintained for up-to 120 min of experimental duration. In acute toxicity studies, no mortality was observed which indicates a preliminary safety of compound 1. Furthermore, the experimental results were compared with the theoretical studies by using density functional theory (DFT). The stability of the compound as well as the flow of electrons was determined by the calculated Frontier orbital analysis. The calculated stretching frequencies, ¹H-NMR/¹³C-NMR chemical shift values and UV-visible spectra were found to be in agreement with experimental values. The results obtained from molecular docking studies were used to explore the mechanism of analgesic and muscle relaxant activity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities and toxicity of Pistacia chinensis subsp. integerrima: A comprehensive review

Pistacia chinensis subsp. integerrima (J. L. Stewart ex Brandis) Rech. F. is a valuable medicinal plant used in south Asian communities for the treatment of asthma, diarrhea, diabetes, liver diseases, fever, pain and inflammation. This review critically evaluates the available information on P. integerrima's ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. Electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer Link, and so forth, books and theses were used to find relevant information about P. integerrima using keywords such as "Pistacia integerrima," "P. integerrima," "Ethnopharmacology," "Phytochemistry," "Traditional uses". A number of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities have been reported; however, the most promising and attractive activity observed was its role in Alzheimer, diabetes, convulsions, cancer, asthma, diabetes, diarrhea and as an immunomodulatory, analgesic and antiinflammatory. In addition, Pistagremic acid exerted anti-Alzheimer's activity based on a hitherto unknown mechanism through interference with the amyloidogenic pathway. Most of the pharmacological activities were linked with traditional uses. A range of compounds have been reported from P. integerrima extracts including triterpenes, volatile oils, flavonoids, fatty acids, phenolic, phytosterols, tannins and oligosaccharides as well as unknown triterpenes and flavonoids. Pistagremic acid, a novel triterpene, was attributed to most of the activities. in vivo toxicological studies in animal suggested a toxic dose of 1,500 mg kg^-1 , for its methanolic extract. All reported pharmacological activities were carried out in vitro and a gap in research, that is, preclinical and clinical investigation exists. Its outstanding activity as an antiglycating agent is the most promising and a so far unique activity and needs further evaluation. In-depth research and clinical trials on human subjects in order to investigate P. integerrima pharmacological activity, clinical efficacy and safety are crucial next steps.

Reversal of Multidrug Resistance in Cancer by Multi-Functional Flavonoids

Multidrug resistance (MDR) resulting from different defensive mechanisms in cancer is one of the major obstacles of clinical treatment. To circumvent MDR many reversal agents have been developed, but most of them fail in clinical trials due to severely adverse effects. Recently, certain natural products have been reported to overcome MDR, including flavonoids which are abundant in plants, foods, and herbs. The structure of flavonoids can be abbreviated as C6-C3-C6 (C for carbon), and further categorized into flavonoids, iso-flavonoids and neo-flavonoids, according to their structural backbones. Flavonoids possess multiple bioactivities, and a growing body of research has indicated that both flavonoids and iso-flavonoids can either kill or re-sensitize conventional chemotherapeutics to resistant cancer cells. Here, we summarize the research and discuss the underlying mechanisms, concluding that these flavonoids do not function as specific regulators of target proteins, but rather as multi-functional agents that negatively regulate the key factors contributing to MDR.

Naringenin palliates cisplatin and doxorubicin gonadal toxicity in male rats

Cisplatin (CP) and doxorubicin (DX) can cause testicular injury by inducing oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, Naringenin (NG) has antioxidant, antinitrative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. This study investigated the potential ability of NG to block gonadotoxicity induced CP and DX in male rats. The rats received one injection of either CP (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or DX (15 mg/kg, i.p.), and treated with NG (50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 10 days beginning 6 days prior to CP and DX administration. NG significantly prevented the decreases of serum testosterone and inhibin B in rats received CP and DX. Additionally, NG significantly decreased the elevated testicular malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α/interleukin-10 ratio, and caspase-3 in CP- and DX-treated rats. NG also significantly raised the decreased testicular Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and total antioxidant status in CP- and DX-challenged rats. In addition, NG significantly increased P-glycoprotein level in testes of rats received CP and DX. Moreover, NG significantly decreased the testicular histopathological injury, and immunohistochemical expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase induced by CP and DX in rat testes. It was concluded that NG impeded gonadotoxicity of CP and DX in male rats by mitigating oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Celecoxib enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs of T-cell lymphoma

Celecoxib is a newly-identified nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which has been used to treat fever in clinical practice. Celecoxib has been demonstrated to suppress the viability of various human tumor cells. However, the effect of celecoxib on response of T-cell lymphoma to chemotherapy agents remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of celecoxib on chemosensitivity of human T-cell lymphoma, and to address the underlying mechanism of action. The cytotoxicity of CDDP, epirubicin and VCR on Jurkat and Hut-78 cells treated with celecoxib was assessed by MTT assay, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value was calculated by Origin 75 software. The effect of celecoxib on apoptosis and intracellular concentration of Rhodamine-123 in Jurkat and Hut-78 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of transcription factor p65 (p65), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) at mRNA and protein levels were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Proliferation suppression rates and apoptosis levels were significantly increased in Jurkat and Hut-78 cells combined with celecoxib compared with those without celecoxib, when treated with CDDP, epirubicin and VCR. The IC₅₀ values of the chemotherapy agents were lower in Jurkat and Hut-78 cells treated with celecoxib compared with those that were not. The apoptosis level, expression of Bax and the intracellular concentration of Rhodamine-123 were increased, whereas the expression of p65, Bcl-2, MDR1 and MRP1 were decreased, in celecoxib-treated Jurkat and Hut-78 cells compared with those without celecoxib treatment. These results indicated that celecoxib may enhance the sensitivity of T-cell lymphoma to chemotherapy drugs by inhibiting the expression of multidrug resistance (MDR)-associated proteins via downregulating the activity of the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that celecoxib may improve the curative effect of chemotherapy drugs in T-cell lymphoma.