Preparation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles from Solanum Tuberosum peel extract and its applications

The present study describes a method for the preparation of green titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles from the peel of Solanum tuberosum, commonly known as potato, and the potato peel being a kitchen waste. The green synthesized TiO2 (G- TiO2) nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, TEM, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the G- TiO2 nanoparticles was also shown using the dye bromophenol blue. To explore the biocompatibility of the G- TiO2, the cell viability in normal as well as cancer cells was assessed. Further, the in vivo toxicity of the G- TiO2 nanoparticles was assessed using zebrafish embryos. The novelty of the present invention is to utilize kitchen waste for a useful purpose for the synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles which is known to have UV light scavenging properties. Moreover, the potato peel is a natural antioxidant and possesses a skin-lightening effect. A combination of the potato peel extract and titanium dioxide prepared using the extract will have a combinatorial effect for protecting UV light exposure to the skin and lightening the skin colour.

A Recent Update on Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Interventions of Alzheimer's Disease

AIM

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been identified as a progressive brain disorder associated with memory dysfunction and the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of τ protein. Mitochondria is crucial in maintaining cell survival, cell death, calcium regulation, and ATP synthesis. Mitochondrial dysfunction and linked calcium overload have been involved in the pathogenesis of AD. CRM2 (Collapsin response mediator protein-2) is involved in endosomal lysosomal trafficking as well as autophagy, and their reduced level is also a primary culprit in the progression of AD. In addition, Cholinergic neurotransmission and neuroinflammation are two other mechanisms implicated in AD onset and might be protective targets to attenuate disease progression. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is another crucial target for AD treatment. Crosstalk between gut microbiota and brain mutually benefitted each other, dysbiosis in gut microbiota affects the brain functions and leads to AD progression with increased AD-causing biomarkers. Despite the complexity of AD, treatment is only limited to symptomatic management. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for novel therapeutics that target associated pathways responsible for AD pathology. This review explores the role of different mechanisms involved in AD and possible therapeutic targets to protect against disease progression.

BACKGROUND

Amidst various age-related diseases, AD is the most deleterious neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 24 million people globally. Every year, approximately 7.7 million new cases of dementia have been reported. However, to date, no novel disease-modifying therapies are available to treat AD.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of writing this review is to highlight the role of key biomarker proteins and possible therapeutic interventions that could play a crucial role in mitigating the ongoing prognosis of Alzheimer's disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The available information about the disease was collected through multiple search engines, including PubMed, Science Direct, Clinical Trials, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Accumulated pieces of evidence reveal that extracellular aggregation of β-amyloid plaques and intracellular tangles of τ protein are peculiar features of perpetuated Alzheimer's disease (AD). Further, the significant role of mitochondria, calcium, and cholinergic pathways in the pathogenesis of AD makes the respiratory cell organelle a crucial therapeutic target in this neurodegenerative disease. All currently available drugs either delay the clinical damage to cells or temporarily attenuate some symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

CONCLUSION

The pathological features of AD are extracellular deposition of β-amyloid, acetylcholinesterase deregulation, and intracellular tangles of τ protein. The multifactorial heterogeneity of disease demands more research work in this field to find new therapeutic biological targets.

Cellular and Molecular Machinery of Neuropathic Pain: an Emerging Insight

Purpose of Review

Neuropathic pain (NP) has been ubiquitously characterized by lesion and its linked somatosensory system either the central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS) This PNS episode is the most prevalent site of NP origin and is found to be associated with afferent nerve fibers carrying pain signals from injured/trauma site to the CNS including the brain. Several kinds of pharmacotherapeutic drugs shuch as analgesics, anti-convulsants, and anti-depressants are being employed for the its possible interventions. The NP has been a great interest to follow different pathophysiological mechanisms which are often considered to correlate with the metabolic pathways and its mediated disease. There is paucity of knowledge to make such mechanism via NP.

Recent Finding

Most notably, recent pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 has also been reported in chronic pain mediated diabetes, inflammatory disorders, and cancers. There is an increasing incidence of NP and its complex mechanism has now led to identify the possible investigations of responsible genes and proteins via bioinformatics tools. The analysis might be more instrumental as collecting the genes from pain genetic database, analyzing the variants through differential gene expression (DEG) and constructing the protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks and thereby determining their upregulating and downregulating pathways.

Summary

This review sheds a bright light towards several mechanisms at both cellular and molecular level, correlation of NP-mediated disease mechanism and possible cell surface biomarkers (receptors), and identified genes could be more promising for their pharmacological targets.

Fabrication of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Incorporated Coaxial Nanofiber for Evaluating the In Vitro Osteogenic Potential

The most important role of tissue engineering is to develop a biomaterial with a property that mimics the extracellular matrix (ECM) by enhancing the lineage-specific proliferation and differentiation with favorable regeneration property to aid in new tissue formation. Thus, to develop an ideal scaffold for bone repair, we have fabricated a composite nanofiber by the coaxial electrospinning technique. The coaxial electrospun nanofiber contains the core layer, consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blended with oregano extract and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (PVA-OE-MSNPs), and the shell layer, consisting of poly-ε-caprolactone blended with collagen and hydroxyapatite (PCL-collagen-HAP). We evaluated the physicochemical properties of the nanofibers using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In vitro biocompatibility, cell adhesion, cell viability, and osteogenic potential were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenlytetrazolium bromide (MTT), calcein AM, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin Red staining in NIH 3T3/MG-63 cells. The results showed that the nanoparticle-incorporated coaxial nanofiber was observed with bead-free, continuous, and uniform fiber morphology with a mean diameter in the range of 310 ± 125 nm. From the biochemical studies, it is observed that the incorporation of nanofiber with HAP and MSNPs shows good swelling property with ideal porosity, biodegradation, and enhanced biomineralization property. In vitro results showed that the scaffolds with nanoparticles have higher cell adhesion, cell viability, ALP activity, and mineralization potential. Thus, the fabricated nanofiber could be an appropriate implantable biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.

Green Synthesis and Characterisation of Silver Nanoparticles Using Cassia tora Seed Extract and Investigation of Antibacterial Potential

Nanoparticle research is fascinating and getting hold of consequences due to the wide variety of applications in the biomedical field. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. It can be synthesised using fungi, algae, plant, yeast, bacteria, microbial enzymes etc. Our current research study focuses on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using seed extract of Cassia tora. The colour change from yellow to red colour confirms the formation of silver nanoparticles. The synthesised silver nanoparticles were characterised by Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and antibacterial efficacy against three different strains were analysed. The surface plasmon resonance of synthesised AgNPs using Cassia tora seed extract shows maximum absorption peak at 423 nm in UV-visible spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction displays the crystalline nature of synthesised AgNPs and they exhibited four distinct peaks at 36.69°, 42.92°, 63.27° and 76.46°. The particle size of synthesised AgNPs observed through SEM was found to be 55.80 nm, 58.97 nm, 61.06 nm, 63.26 nm and 64.80 nm. S.aureus exhibited maximum zone of inhibition of 12 mm and 13 mm when treated with 25 and 50 μl of the synthesised nanoparticles. Thus, the green synthesised silver nanoparticle using Cassia tora seed extract proved to possess strong anti-bacterial activity.

Vernodalin induces apoptosis through the activation of ROS/JNK pathway in human colon cancer cells

Colorectal cancer is one of the most leading death-causing cancers in the world. Vernodalin, a cytotoxic sesquiterpene, has been reported to possess anticancer properties against human breast cancer cells. We aimed to examine the anticancer mechanism of vernodalin on human colon cancer cells. Vernodalin was used on human colon cancer cells, HT-29 and HCT116. The cytotoxicity of vernodalin on human colon cancer cells was determined through in vitro 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Small interfering RNA was used to analyze the cascade activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in HT-29, and HCT116 cells against vernodalin treatment. The protein expressions of caspase 3, Bcl-2, and Bax were examined through Western blot analysis. Immunoblot analysis on the JNK, ERK, and p38 MAPK pathways showed increased activation due to vernodalin treatment. It was proven from the JNK and p38 inhibition test that both pathways are significantly activated by vernodalin to induce apoptosis. Our results, collectively, showed the apoptosis-induced anticancer mechanism of vernodalin on human colon cancer cells that was mediated through the activation of JNK pathway and apoptotic regulator proteins. These results suggest that vernodalin could be developed as a potent chemotherapeutic agent for human colorectal cancer treatment.

Increased Expression of TGF-β and IFN-γ in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) Cultured in Conditioned Medium (CM) of K562 Cell Culture

In the present study, we investigated the effects of conditioned media (CM) collected from the cancer cell lines (K562, MCF-7, and HeLa) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from the healthy human blood. The soluble factors in the CM are probably responsible for the differential mRNA expressions of Foxp3, Helios, Neuropilin- 1 (NRP-1), and glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP), along with IFN-γ and TGF-β in PBMCs cultured with cancer cells CM. The PBMCs cultured with CM of K562 showed increased expression of Foxp3, Helios, NRP-1, GARP, IFN-γ, and TGF-β compared to PBMCs cultured with CM of MCF-7 and HeLa cells. In addition, the intracellular staining on PBMCs cultured with CM from cell lines were also evaluated for CD4, CD25, Foxp3, Helios, and NRP-1 by multicolor flow cytometry. The expression of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+Helios+Foxp3+ and CD+NRP-1+Foxp3+ showed retarded cell population compared to control PBMCs. Our data suggest that soluble factors in CM of cancer cells may trigger the immune response in PBMCs resulting in a systematic response. Further research could lead to the identification of specific soluble factors that are involved in trafficking of cells into the immune cascades, which could be a safe and promising strategy for targeting human cancers.

Inositol-6 phosphate inhibits the mTOR pathway and induces autophagy-mediated death in HT-29 colon cancer cells

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common, with a worldwide incidence estimated at more than 1 million cases annually. Therefore, the search for agents for CRC treatment is highly warranted. Inositol-6 phosphate (IP₆) is enriched in rice bran and possesses many beneficial effects. In the present study the effect of IP6 on autophagy-mediated death by modulating the mTOR pathway in HT-29 colon cancer cells was studied.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Autophagy was assessed by acridine orange (AO) staining, transmission electron microscopy, and western blotting to detect LC3-II and Beclin 1. Akt/mTOR signaling protein expression was also analyzed by western blotting. Apoptosis was analyzed by annexin V staining.

RESULTS

Incubation of cells with IP₆ resulted in downregulation of the p-Akt at 3h. Along with that confocal microscopic analysis of p-AKT, IP₆ administration resulted that a diminished expression of p-Akt. mTOR pathway regulates autophagy and incubation with IP6 to HT-29 cells showed decreased expression of p-70S6Kinase, 4-EBP-1 in a time-dependent manner. Inositol-6 phosphate (10 μg/ml, 24 and 48 h) induced autophagic vesicles, as confirmed by AO staining and transmission electron microscopy. We also found increased expression of LC3-II and Beclin 1 in a time-dependent manner after incubation with IP₆. Furthermore, IP₆ induced apoptosis, as revealed by annexin V staining.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results clearly indicate that IP6 induces autophagy by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR pathway.

Isolation and Characterization of Lectin from the Artist's Conk Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma applanatum (Agaricomycetes), and Evaluation of Its Antiproliferative Activity in HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells

The growth and lectin production of Ganoderma applanatum, a white rot fungus, was optimized in broth cultures. The fungus was found to have a higher growth rate and higher lectin activity when grown in a medium adjusted to pH 6.5 at 26°C under stationary conditions. Expression of lectin activity started in 5-day-old mycelial culture; maximum activity was expressed after the 15th day of incubation. Among the various carbon and nitrogen sources tested, the carbon source sucrose and the nitrogen source yeast extract support maximum growth and lectin production. Lectin from G. applanatum was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. The purified fraction revealed a single band with a molecular weight of 35.0 kDa. Moreover, carbohydrates such as mannitol, glucose, sucrose, maltose, mannose, galactose, sorbose, and fructose were found to inhibit the hemagglutinating activity of the lectin. The purified lectins from G. applanatum contain cytotoxic and proapoptotic activities against HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells.

Phytometabolites Targeting the Warburg Effect in Cancer Cells: A Mechanistic Review

Phytometabolites are functional elements derived from plants and most of them exhibit therapeutic characteristics such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Phytometabolites exert their anti-cancer effect by targeting multiple signaling pathways. One of the remarkable phenomena targeted by phytometabolites is the Warburg effect. The Warburg effect describes the observation that cancer cells exhibit an increased rate of glycolysis and aberrant redox activity compared to normal cells. This phenomenon promotes further cancer development and progression. Recent observations revealed that some phytometabolites could target metabolic-related enzymes (e.g. Hexokinase, Pyruvate kinase M2, HIF-1) in cancer cells, with little or no harm to normal cells. Since hyper-proliferation of cancer cells is fueled by higher cellular metabolism, phytometabolites targeting these metabolic pathways can create synergistic crosstalk with induced apoptotic pathways and sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. In this review, we discuss phytometabolites that target the Warburg effect and the underlying molecular mechanism that leads to tumor growth suppression.

Mechanisms of the anti-tumor activity of Methyl 2-(-5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1 H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Microtubule Targeting Agents (MTAs) induce cell death through mitotic arrest, preferentially affecting rapidly dividing cancer cells over slowly proliferating normal cells. Previously, we showed that Methyl 2-(-5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (MBIC) acts as a potential MTA. In this study, we demonstrated that MBIC exhibits greater toxicity towards non-aggressive breast cancer cell-line, MCF-7 (IC50 = 0.73 ± 0.0 μM) compared to normal fibroblast cell-line, L-cells (IC50 = 59.6 ± 2.5 μM). The IC50 of MBIC against the aggressive breast cancer cell-line, MDA-MB-231 was 20.4 ± 0.2 μM. We hypothesized that the relatively high resistance of MDA-MB-231 cells to MBIC is associated with p53 mutation. We investigated p53 and three of its downstream proteins: survivin, cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk1) and cyclin B1. Following treatment with MBIC, survivin co-immunoprecipitated with caspases with higher affinity in MDA-MB-231 compared to MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, silencing survivin caused a 4.5-fold increase in sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 cells to MBIC (IC50 = 4.4 ± 0.3). In addition, 4 weeks of MBIC administration in MDA-MB-231 cells inoculated BALB/c nude mice resulted in 79.7% reduction of tumor volume compared to the untreated group with no severe sign of toxicity. Our results demonstrated MBIC has multiple anti-tumor actions and could be a potential drug in breast cancer therapy.

Modulation of oncogenic transcription factors by bioactive natural products in breast cancer

Carcinogenesis, a multi-step phenomenon, characterized by alterations at genetic level and affecting the main intracellular pathways controlling cell growth and development. There are growing number of evidences linking oncogenes to the induction of malignancies, especially breast cancer. Modulations of oncogenes lead to gain-of-function signals in the cells and contribute to the tumorigenic phenotype. These signals yield a large number of proteins that cause cell growth and inhibit apoptosis. Transcription factors such as STAT, p53, NF-κB, c-JUN and FOXM1, are proteins that are conserved among species, accumulate in the nucleus, bind to DNA and regulate the specific genes targets. Oncogenic transcription factors resulting from the mutation or overexpression following aberrant gene expression relay the signals in the nucleus and disrupt the transcription pattern. Activation of oncogenic transcription factors is associated with control of cell cycle, apoptosis, migration and cell differentiation. Among different cancer types, breast cancer is one of top ten cancers worldwide. There are different subtypes of breast cancer cell-lines such as non-aggressive MCF-7 and aggressive and metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells, which are identified with distinct molecular profile and different levels of oncogenic transcription factor. For instance, MDA-MB-231 carries mutated and overexpressed p53 with its abnormal, uncontrolled downstream signalling pathway that account for resistance to several anticancer drugs compared to MCF-7 cells with wild-type p53. Appropriate enough, inhibition of oncogenic transcription factors has become a potential target in discovery and development of anti-tumour drugs against breast cancer. Plants produce diverse amount of organic metabolites. Universally, these metabolites with biological activities are known as "natural products". The chemical structure and function of natural products have been studied since 1850s. Investigating these properties leaded to recognition of their molecular effects as anticancer drugs. Numerous natural products extracted from plants, fruits, mushrooms and mycelia, show potential inhibitory effects against several oncogenic transcription factors in breast cancer. Natural compounds that target oncogenic transcription factors have increased the number of candidate therapeutic agents. This review summarizes the current findings of natural products in targeting specific oncogenic transcription factors in breast cancer.

Sustained release of anticancer agent phytic acid from its chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles for drug-delivery system

Chitosan (CS) iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were coated with phytic acid (PTA) to form phytic acid-chitosan-iron oxide nanocomposite (PTA-CS-MNP). The obtained nanocomposite and nanocarrier were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analyses. Fourier transform infrared spectra and thermal analysis of MNPs and PTA-CS-MNP nanocomposite confirmed the binding of CS on the surface of MNPs and the loading of PTA in the PTA-CS-MNP nanocomposite. The coating process enhanced the thermal stability of the anticancer nanocomposite obtained. X-ray diffraction results showed that the MNPs and PTA-CS-MNP nanocomposite are pure magnetite. Drug loading was estimated using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and showing a 12.9% in the designed nanocomposite. Magnetization curves demonstrated that the synthesized MNPs and nanocomposite were superparamagnetic with saturation magnetizations of 53.25 emu/g and 42.15 emu/g, respectively. The release study showed that around 86% and 93% of PTA from PTA-CS-MNP nanocomposite could be released within 127 and 56 hours by a phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 and 4.8, respectively, in a sustained manner and governed by pseudo-second order kinetic model. The cytotoxicity of the compounds on HT-29 colon cancer cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The HT-29 cell line was more sensitive against PTA-CS-MNP nanocomposite than PTA alone. No cytotoxic effect was observed on normal cells (3T3 fibroblast cells). This result indicates that PTA-CS-MNP nanocomposite can inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells without causing any harm to normal cell.

S-Allyl cysteine alleviates inflammation by modulating the expression of NF-κB during chromium (VI)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is a common environmental pollutant. Cr (VI) exposure can lead to severe damage to the liver, but the preventive measures to diminish Cr (VI)-induced hepatotoxicity need further study. S-allyl cysteine (SAC) is a constituent of garlic ( Allium sativum) and has many beneficial effects to humans and rodents. In this study, we intended to analyze the mechanistic role of SAC during Cr (VI)-induced hepatotoxicity. Male Wistar albino rats were induced with 17 mg/kg body weight to damage the liver. The Cr (VI)-induced rats were treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of SAC as an optimum dosage to treat hepatotoxicity. We observed that the levels of oxidants, lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical (OH^•) were increased, and enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were found to be decreased in Cr (VI)-induced rats. While treated with SAC, the levels of oxidants were decreased and enzymatic antioxidants were significantly ( p < 0.05) increased. Lysosomal enzyme activities were increased in Cr (VI)-induced rats and on treatment with SAC, the activities were significantly decreased. The expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B (p65-NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased during induction with Cr (VI). Subsequent administration of SAC to animals showed a decrease in the expressions of NF-κB, TNF-α, and iNOS. Results obtained from this study clearly demonstrated that SAC protects the liver cells from the Cr (VI)-induced free radical damage.

Boldine suppresses dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse experimental colitis: NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 as potential targets

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a nonspecific inflammatory disorder characterized by oxidative and nitrosative stress, leucocyte infiltration, and upregulation of inflammatory mediators. Boldine is an alkaloid compound found in Boldo tree, with multiple pharmacological actions, mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. Hence, the effect of boldine for its anti-inflammatory properties against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in BALB/c mice was studied. Administration of boldine to DSS-induced mice protects colon damage by reduced disease activity index, spleen weight, and increased colon length. Also administration of boldine showed a reduction in the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and CD 68+ expression. Boldine reduced the colon damage, with significant reductions in both the extent and the severity of the inflammation as well as in crypt damage and leukocyte infiltration in the mucosa. Analysis in vivo showed clear decrease in the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and signal transducer and activator of transcription-(p-STAT3)(Y705) with nuclear factor (p65-NF-κB) production being reduced significantly. Moreover, p65-NF-κB activation was reduced in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. The data demonstrated that boldine may be beneficial in colitis through selective immunomodulatory effects, which may be mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of p65-NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways. © 2016 BioFactors, 42(3):247-258, 2016.

Targeting of tubulin polymerization and induction of mitotic blockage by Methyl 2-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (MBIC) in human cervical cancer HeLa cell

Background

Microtubule Targeting Agents (MTAs) including paclitaxel, colchicine and vinca alkaloids are widely used in the treatment of various cancers. As with most chemotherapeutic agents, adverse effects and drug resistance are commonly associated with the clinical use of these agents. Methyl 2-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (MBIC), a benzimidazole derivative displays greater toxicity against various cancer compared to normal human cell lines. The present study, focused on the cytotoxic effects of MBIC against HeLa cervical cancer cells and possible actions on the microtubule assembly.

Methods

Apoptosis detection and cell-cycle assays were performed to determine the type of cell death and the phase of cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells. Tubulin polymerization assay and live-cell imaging were performed to visualize effects on the microtubule assembly in the presence of MBIC. Mitotic kinases and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. In addition, the synergistic effect of MBIC with low doses of selected chemotherapeutic actions were examined against the cancer cells.

Results

Results from the present study showed that following treatment with MBIC, the HeLa cells went into mitotic arrest comprising of multi-nucleation and unsegregated chromosomes with a prolonged G₂-M phase. In addition, the HeLa cells showed signs of mitochondrial-dependant apoptotic features such as the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspases. MBIC markedly interferes with tubulin polymerization. Western blotting results indicated that MBIC affects mitotic regulatory machinery by up-regulating BubR1, Cyclin B1, CDK1 and down-regulation of Aurora B. In addition, MBIC displayed synergistic effect when given in combination with colchicine, nocodazole, paclitaxel and doxorubicin.

Conclusion

Taken together, our study demonstrated the distinctive microtubule destabilizing effects of MBIC against cervical cancer cells in vitro. Besides that, MBIC exhibited synergistic effects with low doses of selected anticancer drugs and thus, may potentially reduce the toxicity and drug resistance to these agents.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-016-0332-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Generation and characterization of human cardiac resident and non-resident mesenchymal stem cell

Despite the surgical and other insertional interventions, the complete recuperation of myocardial disorders is still elusive due to the insufficiency of functioning myocardiocytes. Thus, the use of stem cells to regenerate the affected region of heart becomes a prime important. In line with this human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) have gained considerable interest due to their potential use for mesodermal cell based replacement therapy and tissue engineering. Since MSCs are harvested from various organs and anatomical locations of same organism, thus the cardiac regenerative potential of human cardiac-derived MSCs (hC-MSCs) and human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly derived MSC (hUC-MSCs) were tested concurrently. At in vitro culture, both hUC-MSCs and hC-MSCs assumed spindle shape morphology with expression of typical MSC markers namely CD105, CD73, CD90 and CD44. Although, hUC-MSCs and hC-MSCs are identical in term of morphology and immunophenotype, yet hUC-MSCs harbored a higher cell growth as compared to the hC-MSCs. The inherent cardiac regenerative potential of both cells were further investigated with mRNA expression of ion channels. The RT-PCR results demonstrated that both MSCs were expressing a notable level of delayed rectifier-like K(+) current (I KDR ) ion channel, yet the relative expression level was considerably varied between hUC-MSCs and hC-MSCs that Kv1.1(39 ± 0.6 vs 31 ± 0.8), Kv2.1 (6 ± 0.2 vs 21 ± 0.12), Kv1.5 (7.4 ± 0.1 vs 6.8 ± 0.06) and Kv7.3 (27 ± 0.8 vs 13.8 ± 0.6). Similarly, the Ca2(+)-activated K(+) current (I KCa ) channel encoding gene, transient outward K(+) current (I to ) and TTX-sensitive transient inward sodium current (I Na.TTX ) encoding gene (Kv4.2, Kv4.3 and hNE-Na) expressions were detected in both groups as well. Despite the morphological and phenotypical similarity, the present study also confirms the existence of multiple functional ion channel currents IKDR, IKCa, Ito, and INa.TTX in undifferentiated hUC-MSCs as of hC-MSCs. Thus, the hUC-MSCs can be exploited as a potential candidate for future cardiac regeneration.

Brewers' rice attenuated aberrant crypt foci developing in colon of azoxymethane-treated rats

Brewers' rice is one of abundant agricultural waste products in the rice industry. The present study is designed to investigate the potential of brewers' rice to inhibit the development of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in colon of azoxymethane (AOM)-treated rats. The effects on the attenuation of hepatic toxicity and kidney function enzymes were also evaluated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: (G1) normal; (G2) AOM alone; and (G3), (G4), and (G5), which were AOM fed with 10%, 20%, and 40% (w/w) of brewers' rice, respectively. The rats in group 2-5 were injected intraperitoneally with AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) once weekly for two weeks. After 8 weeks of treatment,the total number of ACF/colon and the number of ACF in the distal and middle colon were significantly reduced in all treatment groups compared to G2 (p<0.05). Brewers' rice decreased the number of ACF with dysplastic morphology in a dose-dependent manner. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level in G5 was significantly lower compared to the G2 (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study found the potential value of brewers' rice in reducing the risk of cancer susceptibility in colon.

Forkhead Box Transcription Factor (FOXO3a) mediates the cytotoxic effect of vernodalin in vitro and inhibits the breast tumor growth in vivo

Background

Natural compounds have been demonstrated to lower breast cancer risk and sensitize tumor cells to anticancer therapies. Recently, we demonstrated that vernodalin (the active constituent of the medicinal herb Centratherum anthelminticum seeds) induces apoptosis in breast cancer cell-lines. The aim of this work was to gain an insight into the underlying anticancer mechanism of vernodalin using in vitro and in vivo model.

Methods

Vernodalin was isolated through the bioassay guided fractionation from the seeds. The protein expression of p-Akt, PI3K, FOXO3a, Bim, p27kip1, cyclinD1, and cyclinE was examined by the Western blot analysis. Immunoprecipitation assays were performed to analyse Akt kinase activity. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to study the role of FOXO3a upregulation and their targets during vernodalin treatment. Immunofluorescence, subcellular localisation of FOXO3a by Western blot was performed to analyse FOXO3a localisation in nucleus of breast cancer cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of PCNA, Ki67, p27kip1, FOXO3a and p-FOXO3a in the LA7-induced mammary gland tumor model was performed.

Results

Our results showed that vernodalin regulates cancer cell apoptosis through activation of FOXO transcription factors and its downstream targets (Bim, p27Kip1, p21Waf1/cip1, cyclin D1, cyclin E) as examined by Western blots. Furthermore, we showed that FOXO3a/PI3K-Akt played a significant role in vernodalin induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Immunoprecipitation assays showed Akt kinase activity was downregulated. Immunofluorescence, subcellular fractionation and Western blot showed FOXO3a accumulation in the nucleus of breast cancer cells after vernodalin treatment. Silencing of FOXO3a protected breast cancer cells against vernodalin induced apoptosis. The anti-tumor action of vernodalin was further confirmed by examining cell proliferative markers, PCNA and Ki67 in the LA7-induced mammary gland tumor model. We also corroborated our findings in vivo by showing upregulation of p27Kip1, FOXO3a and decrease in the p-FOXO3a level in vernodalin-treated breast tumor tissue.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that PI3K-Akt/FOXOa pathway is a critical mediator of vernodalin-induced cytotoxicity and this compound could be further developed as a potential chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer therapy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-015-0266-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gallic acid suppresses inflammation in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice: Possible mechanisms

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) encompass at least two forms of intestinal inflammation: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both conditions are chronic and inflammatory disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, with an increasing prevalence being associated with the industrialization of nations and in developing countries. Patients with these disorders are 10 to 20 times more likely to develop cancer of the colon. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of a naturally occurring polyphenol, gallic acid (GA), in an experimental murine model of UC. A significant blunting of weight loss and clinical symptoms was observed in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-exposed, GA-treated mice compared with control mice. This effect was associated with a remarkable amelioration of the disruption of the colonic architecture, a significant reduction in colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and a decrease in the expression of inflammatory mediators, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, GA reduced the activation and nuclear accumulation of p-STAT3(Y705), preventing the degradation of the inhibitory protein IκB and inhibiting of the nuclear translocation of p65-NF-κB in colonic mucosa. These findings suggest that GA exerts potentially clinically useful anti-inflammatory effects mediated through the suppression of p65-NF-κB and IL-6/p-STAT3(Y705) activation.

Dietary cocoa inhibits colitis associated cancer: a crucial involvement of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for developing ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CRC). The interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 signaling regulates survival and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells and play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBD and CRC. Cocoa is enriched with polyphenols that known to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. Here, we explored the antitumor effects and mechanisms of cocoa diet on colitis-associated cancer (CAC) using the azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium model, with a particular focus on whether cocoa exerts its anticancer effect through the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. We found that cocoa significantly decreased the tumor incidence and size in CAC-induced mice. In addition to inhibiting proliferation of tumor epithelial cells, cocoa suppressed colonic IL-6 expression and subsequently activation of STAT3. Thus, our findings demonstrated that cocoa diet suppresses CAC tumorigenesis, and its antitumor effect is partly mediated by limiting IL-6/STAT3 activation. In addition, cocoa induces apoptosis by increased the expressions of Bax and caspase 3 and decreased Bcl-xl. Thus, we conclude that cocoa may be a potential agent in the prevention and treatment of CAC.

Gallic acid attenuates dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in BALB/c mice

Gallic acid (GA) is a polyhydroxy phenolic compound that has been detected in various natural products, such as green tea, strawberries, grapes, bananas, and many other fruits. In inflammatory bowel disease, inflammation is promoted by oxidative stress. GA is a strong antioxidant; thus, we evaluated the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory role of GA in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model. Experimental acute colitis was induced in male BALB/c mice by administering 2.5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days. The disease activity index; colon weight/length ratio; histopathological analysis; mRNA expressions of IL-21 and IL-23; and protein expression of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were compared between the control and experimental mice. The colonic content of malondialdehyde and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activity were examined as parameters of the redox state. We determined that GA significantly attenuated the disease activity index and colon shortening, and reduced the histopathological evidence of injury. GA also significantly (P<0.05) reduced the expressions of IL-21 and IL-23. Furthermore, GA activates/upregulates the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream targets, including UDP-GT and NQO1, in DSS-induced mice. The findings of this study demonstrate the protective effect of GA on experimental colitis, which is probably due to an antioxidant nature of GA.

Luteolin, a bioflavonoid inhibits colorectal cancer through modulation of multiple signaling pathways: a review

Luteolin, 3', 4', 5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, belongs to a group of naturally occurring compounds called flavonoids that are found widely in the plant kingdom. It possesses many beneficial properties including antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic and anti-proliferative actions. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Many signaling pathways are deregulated during the progression of colon cancer. In this review we aimed to analyze the protection offered by luteolin on colon cancer. During colon cancer genesis, luteolin known to reduce oxidative stress thereby protects the cell to undergo damage in vivo. Wnt/β-catenin signaling, deregulated during neoplastic development, is modified by luteolin. Hence, luteolin can be considered as a potential drug to treat CRC.

Dietary non-nutritive factors in targeting of regulatory molecules in colorectal cancer: an update

Colorectal cancer (CRC), a complex multi-step process involving progressive disruption of homeostatic mechanisms controlling intestinal epithelial proliferation/inflammation, differentiation, and programmed cell death, is the third most common malignant neoplasm worldwide. A number of promising targets such as inducible nitric acid (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Wnt/β-catenin, Notch and apoptotic signaling have been identified by researchers as useful targets to prevent or therapeutically inhibit colon cancer development. In this review article, we aimed to explore the current targets available to eliminate colon cancer with an update of dietary and non-nutritional compounds that could be of potential use for interaction with regulatory molecules to prevent CRC.

Luteolin, a bioflavonoid, attenuates azoxymethane-induced effects on mitochondrial enzymes in BALB/c mice

Colon cancer (CRC) is a serious health problem throughout the world. Development of novel drugs without side effects for this cancer is crucial. Luteolin (LUT), a bioflavonoid, has many beneficial effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative potential. was a potent chemical carcinogen used for the induction of colon cancer. Colon carcinogenesis was initiated by intraperitoneal injection of azoxymethane (AOM) to mice at the dose of 15 mg/body kg weight in Balb/C mice for 3 weeks. Mice were treated with LUT at the dose of 1.2 mg /body kg weight orally. Mitochondrial enzymes such as isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), α-keto dehydrogenase (α-KDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and the activities of respiratory chain enzymes NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase were found to be elevated in AOM-treated animals. Treatment with LUT decreased the activities of all the parameters significantly. Hence, LUT might be a potent anticancer agent against colorectal cancer.

Dietary cocoa protects against colitis-associated cancer by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in males and the second most common cancer worldwide. Chronic colonic inflammation is a known risk factor for CRC. Cocoa contains many polyphenolic compounds that have beneficial effects in humans. The objective of this study is to explore the antioxidant properties of cocoa in the mouse model of azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis-associated cancer, focusing on the activation of Nrf2 signaling. Mice were treated with AOM/DSS and randomized to receive either a control diet or a 5 and 10% cocoa diet during the study period. On day 62 of the experiment, the entire colon was processed for biochemical and histopathological examination and further evaluations. Increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed in AOM/DSS-induced mice; however, subsequent administration of cocoa decreased the MDA. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, were decreased in the AOM/DSS mice. Cocoa treatment increases the activities/levels of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Inflammatory mediators, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, were elevated during AOM/DSS-induction, and treatment with 5 and 10% cocoa effectively decreases the expression of iNOS and COX-2. The NF-E2-related factor 2 and its downstream targets, such as NQO1 and UDP-GT, were increased by cocoa treatment. The results of our study suggest that cocoa may merit further clinical investigation as a chemopreventive agent that helps prevent CAC.

Luteolin, a bioflavonoid inhibits azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis: Involvement of iNOS and COX-2

Colon cancer (CRC) is a serious health problem through worldwide. Development of novel drug without side effect for this cancer was crucial. Luteolin (LUT), a bioflavonoid has many beneficial effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative properties. Azoxymethane (AOM), a derivative of 1, 2-Dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) was used for the induction of CRC in Balb/C mice. CRC was induced by intraperitoneal injection of AOM to mice at the dose of 15 mg/body kg weight for 3 weeks. Mouse was treated with LUT at the dose of 1.2 mg/body kg weight orally until end of the experiment. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygense (COX)-2 were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The expressions of iNOS and COX-2 were increased in the case of AOM induction. Administration of LUT effectively reduced the expressions of iNOS and COX-2. The present study revealed that, LUT suppresses both iNOS and COX-2 expressions and act as an anti-inflammatory role against CRC.

Luteolin inhibits matrix metalloproteinase 9 and 2 in azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis

The present investigation deals with the antimetastatic role of luteolin (LUT) by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and -2 in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in Balb/C mice. Animals received AOM at a dosage of 15 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally once a week for 3 weeks. AOM-induced mice was treated with LUT (1.2 mg of LUT/kg body weight/day orally). After the experimental period, the tumor markers such as γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), 5' nucleotidase (5'ND), cathepsin-D (Cat-D), and carcinoembroyonic antigen (CEA) were elevated upon induction with AOM. Subsequent treatment with LUT results in the reduction of the tumor markers was recorded. The expressions of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence methods. The expressions of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were increased during AOM induction and upon treatment with LUT reduced the expressions. RT-PCR analysis of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 was limited during AOM-induced colorectal cancer (CRC). Supplementation of LUT increased the expression of TIMP-2. To conclude, LUT acts as an antimetastatic agent by suppressing MMP-9 and MMP-2 productions and upregulating TIMP-2 expression, thereby suggesting that LUT can be a chemotherapeutic agent against CRC.

Luteolin induces growth arrest in colon cancer cells through involvement of Wnt/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling

Cancer is a multistep process that typically occurrs over an extended period of time, beginning with initiation followed by promotion and progression. Colon cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For a variety of reasons, patients prefer naturally occurring dietary substances over synthetic agents to prevent cancer. Luteolin, a bioflavonoid, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects. We analyzed the in vitro anticancer and apoptosis-inducing property of luteolin using HCT-15 colon adenocarcinoma cells. Cell viability was assessed using trypan blue assay at different concentrations. Luteolin at a concentration of 100 µM (IC50) decreased the expressions of non-P-β-catenin, phosphorylated (inactive) glycogen synthase kinase-3β, and cyclin D1 expressions in HCT-15 cells, which were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Luteolin also promoted substantial cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in HCT-15 cells, and it induces apoptosis in HCT-15 cells, as revealed by flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that luteolin treatment enhanced the expression of Bax and caspase-3, whereas the expression of Bcl-2 was suppressed. Together, the results of this study revealed that luteolin can act as a potent inhibitor of HCT-15 proliferation and can be used as an agent against colon cancer.

Potential targets for prevention of colorectal cancer: a focus on PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Wnt pathways

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in many parts of the world. Its development is a multi-step process involving three distinct stages, initiation that alters the molecular message of a normal cell, followed by promotion and progression that ultimately generates a phenotypically altered transformed malignant cell. Reports have suggested an association of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway with colon tumorigenesis. Activation of Akt signaling and impaired expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) (a negative regulator of Akt) has been reported in 60-70% of human colon cancers and inhibitors of PI3K/Akt signaling have been suggested as potential therapeutic agents. Around 80% of human colon tumors possess mutations in the APC gene and half of the remainder feature β-catenin gene mutations which affect downstream signaling of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In recent years, there has been a great focus in targeting these signaling pathways, with natural and synthetic drugs reducing the tumor burden in different experiment models. In this review we survey the role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Wnt signaling in CRC.

Luteolin, a bioflavonoid inhibits Azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer through activation of Nrf2 signaling

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now perceived as a multistep process characterized by the accumulation of genetic alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Plant-derived compounds are receiving considerable attention for their potential role in reducing cancer risk. Luteolin, a bioflavonoid present in many fruits and vegetables, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. This study was designed to investigate the possible role of luteolin administration on Phase 1 and 2 enzymes and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/keap1 pathway. Male Balb/C mice were divided into four groups: normal control, Azoxymethane (AOM)-induced, AOM-induced and luteolin treated, normal control treated with luteolin. CRC was induced by administration of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally (i.p.) once a week for three weeks. Luteolin administration (1.2 mg/kg body weight/day) significantly alleviated Phase1 enzymes in colon and liver, it increased the levels of phase 2 enzymes. Luteolin modulates the expressions of GST-α, µ and also the expression of Nrf2. Collectively, results of our hypothesis show that luteolin is a novel candidate for treating CRC.

Effect of luteolin on the levels of glycoproteins during azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in mice

Luteolin (LUT), a bioflavonoid has been used as a chemopreventive agent world-wide against chemically induced cancer. Hence we designed an experiment to assess chemopreventive action of LUT on lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glycoconjugates in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis. Colon cancer was induced by 15 mg/body kg. body weight of AOM and administration of LUT (at the dose of 1.2 mg/kg. body weight) was till end of the study. Analysis of lipid peroxidative end products such as protein carbonyl (PC), malonadehyde (MDA) and conjucated dienes (CD) demonstrated significant increase in in AOM-induced animals with reduction by LUT (p<0.05) . Increased levels of glycoconjugates such as hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid, fucose and mucoprotein were analyzed in serum and colon tissues examined histopathologically by periodic acid Schiff's (PAS) staining were also reversed by LUT l(p<0.05) . The secondary marker of colon cancer mucin depleted foci (MDF) was assessed in control and experimental group of animals. A characteristic increase of MDF was observed in AOM- induced colon cancer animals. Treatment with LUT decreased the incidence of MDF. These results suggest that LUT alters the expression of glycoconjugates and suppress colon cancer. Hence, we speculate that LUT can be used as a chemopreventive agent to treat colon cancer.

Green tea polyphenol protection against 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced bone marrow lipid peroxidation and genotoxicity in Wistar rats

4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) a potent oral carcinogen, widely used for induction of oral carcinogenesis, has been found to induce lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro. Green tea contains a high content of polyphenols, which are potent antioxidants. Thus green tea polyphenols (GTP) might be expected play a protective role against 4-NQO induced lipid peroxidation and bone marrow toxicity. In the present study, a dose of 200 mg of GTP/kg b.wt/day was given orally for a week, simultaneously animals received 0.2 ml of 0.5% 4-NQO in propylene glycol (5 mg/ml) injected intramuscularly for three times/week. Oxidants and antioxidants such as malendialdehyde (MDA) and thiols, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased in 4-NQO induced animals except MDA, and these parameters were brought back to near normalcy on treatment with GTP. The results suggest that GTP treatment offers significant protection against 4-NQO induced lipid peroxidation and bone marrow toxicity and might be a promising potential candidate for prevention of mutations leading to cancer.