Into the toxicity potential of an array of parabens by biomimetic liquid chromatography, cell viability assessments and in silico predictions

Five parabens (PBs) i.e., Methylparaben (MP), Ethylparaben (EP), Isopropylparaben (iPrP), Isobutylparaben (iBuP), Benzylparaben (BzP), and their parent compound i.e., para-hydroxy Benzoic Acid (pHBA), were studied both in vitro and in silico. Specifically, we determined their retention on several both protein- (Human Serum Albumin and α1-acidic glycoprotein) and (phospho) lipid- (immobilized artificial membrane (IAM)) based biomimetic stationary phases to evaluate their penetration potential through the biomembranes and their possible distribution in the body. The IAM phases were based either on phosphatidylcholine (PC) analogues i.e., PC.MG and PC.DD2 or on sphingomyelin (SPH). We also assessed their viability effect on breast cancer cells (MCF-7) via MTT assay subjecting the cells to five different PB concentrations i.e., 100 μM, 10 μM, 1 μM, 0.1 μM and 0.01 μM. Finally, their pharmacokinetics and toxicity were assessed by the ADMET Predictor™ software. Isopropylparaben was found to be more active than 17β estradiol (E2) employed as positive control, on the screened cell line inducing cell proliferation up to 150 % more of untreated cells. Other analogues showed only a slight/moderate cell proliferation activity, with parabens having longer/branched side chain showing, on average, a higher proliferation rate. Significant linear direct relationships (for PC.DD2 r2 = 0.89, q2 = 0.86, for SPH r2 = 0.89, q2 = 0.85, for both P value < 0.05) were observed between the difference in proliferative effect between the readout and the control at 0.01 μM concentration and the retention on the IAM phases measured at pH 5.0 for all compounds but pHBA, which is the only analyte of the dataset supporting a carboxylic acid moiety. IAM affinity data measured at pH 7.0 were found to be related to the effective human jejunal permeability as predicted by the software ADMET® Predictor, which is relevant when PBs are added to pharmaceutical and food commodities.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Assessment of N'-(2-Oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-6-methylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-5-carbohydrazides as Potential Anti-Proliferative Agents toward MCF-7 Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a serious threat to the health and lives of women. Two novel series of N'-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-6-methylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-5-carbohydrazides and 1-(aryl)-3-(6-methylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)ureas were designed, synthesized and investigated for their anticancer efficacy against the MCF-7 breast cell line. Three compounds of the first series showed potent activity toward MCF-7 with IC50 in the range 8.38-11.67 µM, respectively, as compared to Sorafenib (IC50 = 7.55 µM). N'-(1-butyl-2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-6-methylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-5-carbohydrazide inhibited VEGFR-2 with IC50 = 0.33 µM when compared with Sorafenib (IC50 = 0.09 µM). Furthermore, this compound was introduced to PCR assessment, where it increased Bax, caspase 8, caspase 9 and cytochrome C levels by 4.337-, 2.727-, 4.947- and 2.420-fold, respectively, while it decreased levels of Bcl-2, as the anti-apoptotic gene, by 0.359-fold when compared to the untreated control MCF-7. This compound was also arrested in the G2/M phase by 27.07%, compared with 11.31% for the control MCF-7. Furthermore, it induced early and late apoptosis in MCF-7. In addition, a molecular docking study in the VEGFR-2 active site was performed to assess the binding profile for the most active compounds. Moreover, ADME parameters of the targeted compounds were also evaluated.

A virtual insight into mushroom secondary metabolites: 3D-QSAR, docking, pharmacophore-based analysis and molecular modeling to analyze their anti-breast cancer potential

Breast cancer is a major issue of investigation in drug discovery due to its rising frequency and global dominance. Plants are significant natural sources for the development of novel medications and therapies. Medicinal mushrooms have many biological response modifiers and are used for the treatment of many physical illnesses. In this research, a database of 89 macro-molecules with anti-breast cancer activity, which were previously isolated from the mushrooms in literature, has been selected for the three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR) studies. The 3D-QSAR model was necessarily used in Pharmacopoeia virtual evaluation of the database to develop novel MCF-7 inhibitors. With the known potential targets of breast cancer, the docking studies were achieved. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the targets' stability with the best-chosen natural product molecule was found. Furthermore, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity of three compounds, resulting after the docking study, were predicted. The compound C1 (Pseudonocardian A) showed the features of effective compounds because it has bioavailability from different coral species and is toxicity-free for the prevention of many dermatological illnesses. C1 is chemically active and possesses charge transfer inside the monomer, as seen by the band gaps of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) electrons. The reactivity descriptors ionization potential, electron affinity, chemical potential (μ), hardness (η), softness (S), electronegativity (χ), and electrophilicity index (ω) have been estimated using the energies of frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO). Additionally, molecular electrostatic potential maps were created to show that the C1 is reactive.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Vesicle-Encapsulated Rolipram (PDE4 Inhibitor) and Its Anticancer Activity

Vesicular carriers of drugs are popular for specific targeting and delivery. The most popular vesicles among these are liposomes. However, they suffer from some inherent limitations. In this work, alternative vesicles with enhanced stability, i.e., niosomes and bilosomes have been prepared, characterized, and their delivery efficiency studied. Bilosomes have the additional advantage of being able to withstand the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The taurine-derived bile salt (NaTC) was incorporated into the bilosome bilayer. The inspiration behind NaTC insertion is the recent reports on antiaging action and immune function of taurine. Fluorescence probing was used to study the vesicle environment. The entrapment and subsequent release of the important cAMP-specific PDE4 inhibitor/drug Rolipram, which has antibreast cancer properties, was assessed on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Rolipram has important therapeutic applications, one of the most significant in recent times being the treatment of Covid-19-triggered pneumonia and cytokine storms. As for cancer chemotherapy, the localization of drug, targeted delivery, and sustained release are extremely important issues, and it seemed worthwhile to explore the potential of the bilosomes and niosomes to entrap and release Rolipram. The important finding is that niosomes perform much better than bilosomes in the hormone-responsive breast cancer mileau MCF-7. Moreover, there was a 4-fold decrease in the IC50 of Rolipram encapsulated in niosomes compared to Rolipram alone. On the other hand, bilosome-encapsulated Rolipram shows higher IC50 value. The results can be further understood by molecular docking studies.

Novel Anti-tumor Strategy for Breast Cancer: Synergistic Role of Oleuropein with Paclitaxel Therapeutic in MCF-7 Cells

BACKGROUND

The side effects of conventional therapeutics pose a problem for cancer treatment. Recently, combination treatments with natural compounds have attracted attention regarding limiting the side effects of treatment. Oleuropein is a natural polyphenol in olives that has antioxidant and anticancer effects.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the oxidative stress effect of a combination of Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, and Oleuropein in the MCF-7 cell line.

METHODS

The xCELLigence RTCA method was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of Oleuropein and Paclitaxel in the MCF-7 cell line. The Total Oxidant and Total Antioxidant Status were analyzed using a kit. The Oxidative Stress Index was calculated by measuring Total Oxidant and Total Antioxidant states. The levels of superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde, which are oxidative stress markers, were also measured by ELISA assay kit.

RESULTS

As a result of the measurement, IC50 doses of Oleuropein and Paclitaxel were determined as 230 μM and 7.5 μM, respectively. Different percentages of combination ratios were generated from the obtained IC50 values. The effect of oxidative stress was investigated at the combination rates of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% which were determined to be synergistic. In terms of the combined use of Oleuropein and Paclitaxel on oxidative stress, antioxidant defense increased, and Oxidative Stress Index levels decreased.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that the doses administered to the Oleuropein+Paclitaxel combination group were lower than those administered to groups using one agent alone (e.g. Paclitaxel), the results of which reduce the possibility of administering toxic doses.

Liposomes Containing Zinc-Based Chemotherapeutic Drug Block Proliferation and Trigger Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells

Platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs are effective in killing malignant cells but often trigger drug resistance or off-target side effects. Unlike platinum, zinc is used as an endogenous cofactor for several cellular enzymes and may, thus, display increased biocompatibility. In this present study, we have rationally designed and synthesized two substituted phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole-based ligands L1 and L2 with pyridine and quinoline substitution at the 2 position and their corresponding Zn(II) complexes; (L1)2Zn and (L2)2Zn, which are characterized by standard analytical and spectroscopic methods. (L2)2Zn, but not (L1)2Zn has intrinsic fluorescence, indicating its potential utility in imaging applications. To facilitate cellular uptake, we generated liposomal formations with a phospholipid DMPC (1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) through molecular self-assembly. These liposomal formulations Lip-(L1)2Zn and Lip-(L2)2Zn were able to enter breast cancer cells, induce DNA fragmentation, arrest the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, decrease proliferation, and promote apoptosis by activating the DNA damage response. Importantly, both Lip-(L1)2Zn and Lip-(L2)2Zn decreased the size of breast cancer cell-based spheroids, indicating they may be capable of suppressing tumor growth. Our work represents an important proof-of-concept exercise demonstrating that successful liposomal formation of phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole-based Zn(II) complexes with inherent optical properties have great promise for the development of imaging probes and efficient anticancer drugs.

Chicken embryo model for in vivo acute toxicological and antitumor efficacy evaluation of lipid nanocarrier containing doxorubicin

Nanoencapsulation of chemotherapeutics, including doxorubicin, can endow the formulations with unique properties, such as a decrease in adverse effects and toxicity. The chicken embryo model is an alternative and well-accepted strategy for evaluating the toxicity and efficacy of drugs and nanoformulations. Therefore, this study proposes the development of a new lipid nanocarrier for doxorubicin delivery (NanoLip-Dox) and posterior evaluation of toxicological profile and antitumoral efficacy against a breast tumor in chicken embryos. NanoLip-Dox showed a unimodal particle size (< 150 nm), negative zeta potential (-19.5 mV), absence of drug crystals, drug content of 0.099 mg·mL-1, and high entrapment efficiency (95%). NanoLip-Dox did not cause toxicity in the chicken embryos; in contrast, doxorubicin hydrochloride induced moderate irritation in the chorioallantoic membrane (at 862.1 μmol·L-1), a survival rate of 50% (at 1.7 μmol·L-1), and an increase in aspartate aminotransferase (at 862.1, 344.8, and 172.4 μmol·L-1). In addition, NanoLip-Dox (at 1.7 μmol·L-1) showed potent antitumor efficacy with a high tumor remission percentage (40.9 ± 9.7%) compared to the control group (8.6 ± 14.8%). These findings together with the absence of toxicity concerning morphological characteristics, weights of embryos and organs, hematologic parameters, and enzymatic activity (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine) suggest the safety and efficacy of NanoLip-Dox.

Proteomics Investigation of the Impact of the Enterococcus faecalis Secretome on MCF-7 Tumor Cells

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer among women. The microenvironment of a cancer tumor is surrounded by various cells, including the microbiota. An imbalance between microbes and their host may contribute to the development and spread of breast cancer. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the influence of Enterococcus faecalis on a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) to mimic the luminal A subtype of breast cancer, using an untargeted proteomics approach to analyze the proteomic profiles of breast cancer cells after their treatment with E. faecalis in order to understand the microbiome and its role in the development of cancer. The breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was cultured and then treated with a 10% bacterial supernatant at two time points (24 h and 48 h) at 37 °C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO2. Proteins were then extracted and separated using two-dimensional difference (2D-DIGE) gel electrophoresis, and the statistically significant proteins (p-value < 0.05, fold change > 1.5) were identified via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The protein fingerprints showed a differential protein expression pattern in the cells treated with E. faecalis for 24 and 48 h compared with the control. We found 58 statistically significant proteins changes in the MCF-7 breast cancer cells affected by E. faecalis. Kilin and transgelin were upregulated after 24 h of treatment and could be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers for breast cancer. In addition, another protein involved in the inhibition of cell proliferation was coiled-coil domain-containing protein 154. The protein markers identified in this study may serve as possible biomarkers for breast cancer progression. This promotes their future uses as important therapeutic goals in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer and increases our understanding of the breast microbiome and its role in the development of cancer.

Preliminary Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of Rudbeckia hirta Flowers

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.), a flowering plant with various traditional medicinal uses, has recently garnered interest for its therapeutic properties. However, little is known about the potential therapeutic activities of the plant species. The current study focused on conducting a comprehensive investigation into the chemical composition and bioactivity of black-eyed Susan cultivated in Romania. Untargeted metabolite profiling and UHPLC-HR-MS phytochemical analysis of the studied extract revealed the presence of more than 250 compounds pertaining to different classes, including sesquiterpene lactones, polyphenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids. The tested extract exhibited inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria and showed promising antifungal activity. It also demonstrated potent antioxidant properties through iron chelation and 15-LOX inhibition capacities, as well as inhibition of cell growth, particularly on the MCF-7 cell line, suggesting potential anticancer effects. Therefore, current research provides valuable information on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor potential of Rudbeckia hirta flowers. Implicitly, the discovery of such a wide range of biosubstances, together with the biological activity observed for the studied extract in these preliminary in vitro studies, paves the way for future investigation of the potential application of the plant in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors.

The Cytotoxic Activity of Dammarane-Type Triterpenoids Isolated from the Stem Bark of Aglaia cucullata (Meliaceae)

The Aglaia genus, a member of the Meliaceae family, is generally recognized to include a number of secondary metabolite compounds with diverse structures and biological activities, including triterpenoids. Among the members of this genus, Aglaia cucullata has been reported to have unique properties and thrives exclusively in mangrove ecosystems. This plant is also known to contain various metabolites, such as flavaglines, bisamides, and diterpenoids, but there are limited reports on the isolation of triterpenoid compounds from its stem bark. Therefore, this research attempted to isolate and elucidate seven triterpenoids belonging to dammarane-type (1-7) from the stem bark of Aglaia cucullata. The isolated compounds included 20S,24S-epoxy-3α,25-dihydroxy-dammarane (1), dammaradienone (2), 20S-hydroxy-dammar-24-en-3-on (3), eichlerianic acid (4), (20S,24RS)-23,24-epoxy-24-methoxy-25,26,27-tris-nor dammar-3-one (5), 3α-acetyl-cabraleahydroxy lactone (6), and 3α-acetyl-20S,24S-epoxy-3α,25-dihydroxydammarane (7). Employing spectroscopic techniques, the chemical structures of the triterpenoids were identified using FTIR, NMR, and HRESITOF-MS. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 1-7 was tested with the PrestoBlue cell viability reagent against MCF-7 breast cancer, B16-F10 melanoma, and CV-1 normal kidney fibroblast cell lines. The results displayed that compound 5 had the highest level of bioactivity compared to the others. Furthermore, the IC₅₀ values obtained were more than 100 μM, indicating the low potential of natural dammarane-type triterpenoids as anticancer agents. These findings provided opportunities for further studies aiming to increase their cytotoxic activities through semi-synthetic methods.

Lyophilized mixed micelles of exemestane: A novel paradigm to improve its absorption and anticancer activity

The objective of the present investigation was to prepare and optimize lyophilized mixed micelles (Lyp-EXE-MMs) of exemestane (EXE) with improved solubility, bioavailability, in vivo anticancer activity, and physical stability, by using various cryoprotectants. The prepared lyophilized mixed micelles were characterized by various techniques, including dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, powdered X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance (¹ H NMR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and so on. Thereafter, the lyophilized micelles were evaluated for ex vivo permeation, in vitro drug release and gene/protein expression (RT-PCR and Western blot analysis) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The developed formulation was also investigated for its in vivo anticancer study in BALB/c mice with induced breast cancer. The use of trehalose (10% w/w) was proven to be a suitable cryoprotectant for these micelles. Lyp-EXE-MMs were spherical, with a particle size of 42.9 ± 3.8 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.307 ± 0.122. Furthermore, % drug loading and % entrapment efficiency were found to be 5.8 ± 1.4 and 89.1 ± 1.1, respectively. Lyp-EXE-MMs showed sustained release behavior as compared to EXE-suspensions in SGF/SIF (pH 1.2 and 6.8) and phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4). The micelles induced apoptosis through the regulation of BAX, BCL2, Caspase-3, p53, and CYP19A1 in MCF-7 cells, which was correlated to enhanced ex vivo drug permeation. Animals receiving EXE micelle formulations showed reduced tumor volume and improved survivability and pharmacokinetic parameters as compared to pure EXE. Lyp-EXE-MMs were found to withstand simulated harsh conditions of SGF/SIF during stability studies. The fabricated EXE micellar preparations hold a promising approach for breast cancer treatment.

Anti-cancer potential of substituted "amino-alkyl-rhodamine" derivatives against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line

Breast cancer is the most prevalent diagnosed cancer among women and the main cause of morbidity and mortality. As for breast cancer, MCF-7 cells are an important candidate since they are widely utilized in research for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell assays, and various sub-clones have been identified to reflect different classes of ER-positive tumors with varied levels of nuclear receptor expression. Rhodamines and its derivatives have shown a great interest over the past two decades due to their excellent structural and spectroscopic properties. Rhodamine derivatives have been widely investigated for their mitochondrial targeting and chemotherapeutic properties. Rhodamine derivatives, in particular, have been widely investigated for their therapeutic properties. In this regard, several studies have shown that rhodamine dye derivatives have promising in vitro and in vivo therapeutic efficacy. The present study deals with potential anticancer activity of few synthesized rhodamine derivatives against MCF-7 cell lines.

Carotenoid pigment of Halophilic archaeon Haloarcula sp. A15 induces apoptosis of breast cancer cells

The halophilic microorganisms living in extreme environments contain high concentrations of carotenoids with notable medical abilities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of carotenoids extracted from native Iranian halophilic microorganisms with the ability to inhibit breast cancer cell line. To begin the study, 40 halophilic strains were cultured, and 8 strains capable of producing pigmented colonies were chosen from those cultured strains. In the next step, from among 8 strains using MTT assay, 1 capable of reducing cell viability of the breast cancer MCF-7 cell line was chosen as a selective strain. The principal carotenoid was characterized using UV-visible, FT-IR spectroscopic, and LC-MASS analyses. Using real time PCR technique, the expression of genes specific for apoptosis, in the presence or absence of carotenoid, was examined. Among all strains, carotenoid extracted from strain A15 had the most potent cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cell line (IC₅₀  = 0.0645 mg/mL). 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that strain A15 had similarity with Haloarcula hispanica for about 99.5%. According to the analysis results, it could be estimated that the principal carotenoid extracted form Haloarcula sp. A15 was similar to bacterioruberin. Both early and late apoptosis were increased significantly about 10% and 39%, respectively, due to upregulation of CASP3, CASP8, BAX genes expression in MCF-7 cell line. In contrast, the expression of genes MKI67, SOX2 were significantly downregulated in treated MCF-7 cell line. The results of this study showed that Halophilic archaeon strain could be a good candidate for the production of high added-value bacterioruberin due to its possible anticancer properties.

Screening of Anti-carcinogenic Properties of Phytocompounds from Allium ascalonicum for Treating Breast Cancer Through In Silico and In Vitro Approaches

Plants, rich in phytocompounds, have been in usage since time immemorial for treating various diseases, namely, cancer. One such plant species, Allium ascalonicum (Shallot) belonging to Amaryllidaceae family is being studied here for its anti-carcinogenic properties against breast cancer. GC-MS characterization of A. ascalonicum exhibited 48 phytocompounds containing five peak phytocompounds and 13 phytocompounds with anti-carcinogenic properties. These 13 anti-carcinogenic phytocompounds were docked with three hormonal receptors involved in breast cancer malignancy, namely, ERα, PR, and human EGFR with tamoxifen as standard for in silico analysis. The results exhibited three phytocompounds that had better binding scores compared to that of the standard drug, tamoxifen. Lyophilized powder of aqueous A. ascalonicum extract, also referred as ASE, was used for in vitro approaches. Antioxidant study using DPPH assay revealed that the highest percentage of FRSA in ASE, nearly 51%, was observed at 50 µg/ml concentration. Cytotoxicity study on MCF-7 cell line using MTT assay demonstrated IC₅₀ value at 1400 µg/ml and anti-proliferative study using Trypan blue assay for the determination of percentage viability of MCF-7 cells at IC₅₀ concentration was observed to be 49%. Anti-mitotic activity using Vigna radiata seed germination assay revealed clear morphological differences in a dose-dependent manner between the seeds grown at various concentrations of ASE with nearly 56.5% growth inhibition observed at 1500 µg/ml concentration. Hence, this research work proves that Allium ascalonicum has very good anti-carcinogenic properties and this can be confirmed further through in vivo animal model studies and it can also be formulated as a promising drug to treat breast cancer. GC-MS characterization of Allium ascalonicum demonstrated the presence of five peak compounds and thirteen anti-carcinogenic compounds. The thirteen anti-carcinogenic compounds were docked with three target proteins (in silico analysis) involved in breast cancer malignancy and identified the presence of three potential phytocompounds that can be used for treating breast cancer. In vitro approaches also confirmed the presence of anti-carcinogenic properties such as antioxidative potential, cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and anti-mitotic effects. Hence, Allium ascalonicum can be taken further to in vivo studies so that it can be formulated to treat breast cancer.

Design of Novel Imidazopyrazine Derivative against Breast Cancer via Targeted NPY1R Antagonist

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women with more than one in ten new cancer diagnoses each year. Synthetic products are a key source for the identification of new anticancer medicines and drug leads.

OBJECTIVES

Imidazopyrazine is a highly favored skeleton for the design of new anticancer drugs. In silico designed derivatives were screened using computer aided drug design techniques and validated using MTT assay.

METHODS

A template-based methodology was used in the current work to create novel Imidazopyrazine derivatives, targeting the NPY1R protein. Molecular docking, Diffusion docking, MD simulation, MM-GBSA and meta-dynamics techniques were followed. MTT assay was performed to validate the activity of principal compound.

RESULTS

A docking score of -6.660 and MMGBSA value of -108.008 (+/-) 9.14 kcal/mol was obtained from the investigations conducted. In addition, molecular dynamics simulation was carried out for 500 ns, yielding a stable RMSD and value of 5.6 Å, thus providing insights on the stability of the protein conformation on interaction with the principal compound. Furthermore, the in vivo validation studies conducted via MTT assay showed an IC50 value of 73.45 (+/-) 0.45 μg /mL.

CONCLUSION

The research has produced encouraging findings and can be applied as a model for precise enumerations in the future. It also encourages the study of novel synthetic compounds with potential anti-cancer properties.

Limonoids from the fruits of Chisocheton lasiocarpus (Meliaceae)

Two new azadirone-type limonoids, namely lasiocarpine A (1) and lasiocarpine B (2) were isolated from the fruit of Chisocheton lasiocarpus along with three known limonoids (3-5). UV, IR, one- and two- dimensional NMR, and mass spectrometry were used to determine the chemical structure of the isolated compounds. Furthermore, their cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was evaluated using PrestoBlue reagent. From these compounds, lasiocarpine A (1) showed the strongest activity with an IC₅₀ value of 43.38 μM.

Effects of the Ethanol and Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Terminalia chebula Retz. on Proliferation, Migration, and HIF-1α and CXCR-4 Expression in MCF-7 Cells: an In Vitro Study

Over recent years, much attention has been devoted to the field of screening natural products and/or their novel structures because of reversing cancer progression. The current research work was intended to explore the cytotoxic activity of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of dried fruit of Terminalia chebula Retz. (T. chebula) in MCF-7 cell line. High-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method and Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric techniques were performed. Anti-proliferative activities of T. chebula fruit extracts on the MCF-7 cell line were evaluated using MTT assay. Effects of both extracts on the migration of MCF-7 cells and the size of MCF-7-derived spheroids were also evaluated. Moreover, antioxidant properties were measured by DPPH and FRAP methods. Western blotting was used to measure the HIF-1α and CXCR-4 protein levels. Chebulagic acid, gallic acid, chebulinic acid, and ellagic acid were found as major compounds in both extracts. The total phenolic contents based on gallic acid equivalent (GAE) in the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of T. chebula were found to be 453.68 ± 0.31 and 495.12 ± 0.43 mg GAE/g dry weight of the extract, respectively. Both extracts exerted a significant dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7 cells. They also had a marked negative effect on the average size of MCF-7-derived spheroids and their migration rate. None of the extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than vitamin C. Furthermore, both extracts at a concentration of 125 µg/ml could meaningfully decrease the expression levels of HIF-1α and CXCR-4 in MCF-7 cells. These data represent that T. chebula may be a valuable medicinal resource in the regulation of breast cancer proliferation, growth, and metastasis.

The Binomial "Inflammation-Epigenetics" in Breast Cancer Progression and Bone Metastasis: IL-1β Actions Are Influenced by TET Inhibitor in MCF-7 Cell Line

The existence of a tight relationship between inflammation and epigenetics that in primary breast tumor cells can lead to tumor progression and the formation of bone metastases was investigated. It was highlighted how the induction of tumor progression and bone metastasis by Interleukin-1 beta, in a non-metastatic breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, was dependent on the de-methylating actions of ten-eleven translocation proteins (TETs). In fact, the inhibition of their activity by the Bobcat339 molecule, an inhibitor of TET enzymes, determined on the one hand, the modulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, and on the other hand, the reduction in the expression of markers of bone metastasis, indicating that the epigenetic action of TETs is a prerequisite for IL-1β-dependent tumor progression and bone metastasis formation.

Silver(I) Complexes Based on Oxadiazole-Functionalized α-Aminophosphonate: Synthesis, Structural Study, and Biological Activities

Two silver(I) complexes, bis{diethyl[(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-κN3:κN4-amino) (4-trifluoromethylphenyl)methyl]phosphonate-(tetrafluoroborato-κF)}-di-silver(I) and tetrakis-{diethyl[(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-κN3-amino)(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)methyl]phosphonate} silver(I) tetrafluoroborate, were prepared starting from the diethyl[(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-amino)(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)methyl]phosphonate (1) ligand and AgBF4 salt in Ag/ligand ratios of 1/1 and 1/4, respectively. The structure, stoichiometry, and geometry of the silver complexes were fully characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, multinuclear NMR, and mass spectroscopies. The binuclear complex ([Ag2(1)2(BF4)2]; 2) crystallizes in the monoclinic asymmetric space group P21/c and contains two silver atoms adopting a {AgN2F} planar trigonal geometry, which are simultaneously bridged by two oxadiazole rings of two ligands, while the mononuclear complex ([Ag(1)4]BF4; 3) crystallizes in the non-usual cubic space group Fd-3c in which the silver atom binds to four distinct electronically enriched nitrogen atoms of the oxadiazole ring, in a slightly distorted {AgN4} tetrahedral geometry. The α-aminophosphonate and the monomeric silver complex were evaluated in vitro against MCF-7 and PANC-1 cell lines. The silver complex is promising as a drug candidate for breast cancer and the pancreatic duct with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 8.3 ± 1.0 and 14.4 ± 0.6 μM, respectively. Additionally, the interactions of the ligand and the mononuclear complex with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 and DNA were evaluated by molecular docking methods.

Dammarane-Type Triterpenoid from the Stem Bark of Aglaia elliptica (Meliaceae) and Its Cytotoxic Activities

Two new dammarane-type triterpenoid fatty acid ester derivatives, 3β-oleate-20S-hydroxydammar-24-en (1) and 3β-oleate-20S,24S-epoxy-25-hydroxydammarane (2) with a known dammarane-type triterpenoid compound, such as 20S-hydroxydammar-24-en-3-on (3), were isolated from the stem bark of Aglaiaelliptica (C.DC.) Blume. The chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including FTIR, NMR (one and two-dimensional), and HRESITOF-MS analysis, as well as chemical derivatization and comparison with previous literature. Furthermore, the synthetic analog resulting from transesterification of 1 and 2 also obtained 3β,20S-dihydroxy-dammar-24-en (4) and 20S,24S-epoxy-3β,25-dihydroxydammarane (5), respectively. The cytotoxic effect of all isolated and synthetic analog compounds was evaluated using PrestoBlue reagent against MCF-7 breast cancer cell and B16-F10 melanoma cell lines. The 20S-hydroxydammar-24-en-3-on (3) showed the strongest activity against MCF-7 breast cancer and B16-F10 melanoma cell, indicating that the ketone group at C-3 in 3 plays an essential role in the cytotoxicity of dammarane-type triterpenoid. On the other hand, compounds 1 and 2 had very weak cytotoxic activity against the two cell lines, indicating the presence of fatty acid, significantly decreasing cytotoxic activity. This showed the significance of the discovery to investigate the essential structural feature in dammarane-type triterpenoid, specifically for the future development of anticancer drugs.

Biogenesis and characterization of proficient silver nanoparticles employing marine procured fungi Hamigera pallida and assessment of their antioxidative, antimicrobial and anticancer potency

OBJECTIVE

To assess the anticancer potential of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using marine derived fungi Hamigera pallida with their antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

RESULTS

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was assessed by the change in color from bright yellow to dark brown. UV-Visible spectroscopy revealed its stability at 429 nm; ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed the functional group responsible for its production; X-Ray Diffraction revealed its crystalline FCC structure resembling the peaks in the XRD pattern, corresponding to (110), (111), (200), and (311) planes; TEM imaging revealed its spherical morphology with an average particle size of 5.85 ± 0.84 nm ranging from 3.69 to 16.11 nm and Tauc's plot analysis revealed a band gap energy of 2.22 eV, revealing aptitude of AgNPs as a semiconductors. The subsequent characterization results revealed the effective synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The biosynthesized AgNPs were found to have significant antimicrobial effect against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria. They also demonstrated higher antioxidative potential by demonstrating strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). AgNPs showed highest anticancer activity (62.69 ± 1.73%) against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line at 100 µg/mL with the IC₅₀ value of 66.07 ± 2.17 µg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the prospect for further utilization of AgNPs by Cell free filtrate of Hamigera pallida as an antibacterial, antioxidative and anticancer agents.

Antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity of free, conjugates and bound phenolic compounds from tomato and industrial tomato by-product

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity of different fractions of phenolic compounds from tomato and tomato by-product. Soluble free phenolics and bound phenolics (BP) fractions from saladette tomato and industrial tomato by-product as well as, conjugated acid-hydrolysable phenolics (AHP) and alkaline-hydrolysable phenolics (AKHP) from saladette tomato, grape tomato and industrial tomato by-product, were tested. The scavenging effects of phenolic fractions on superoxide anion were determined using the PMS-NADH-NBT system. The myoglobin protection ratios of samples against hydroxyl radical were evaluated and the anti-proliferative effects in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line were determined. AHP fraction from tomato by-product and AKHP fraction from grape and saladette tomato showed the highest inhibitory capacity of the superoxide anion (p ≤ 0.05). All samples had a myoglobin protection ratio from 30 to 50%. Regarding to cytotoxicity assays, all phenolic fractions from tomato by-product, as well as, BP, AHP, AKHP from saladette tomato and AHP from grape tomato showed important anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line (IC₅₀ < 20 μg/mL). From the results, we can conclude that tomato and tomato by-product are a good source of natural compound with important antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity.

Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Studies of Leaf Extract of Simarouba glauca DC In Vitro

The current study aimed to screen the preliminary phytochemicals in the leaf extract of the medicinal plant Simarouba glauca and to analyze its potential antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. The phytochemical profile of the methanol extract was analyzed, and bioactive compounds were identified using chromatography, FTIR and GCMS. Antimicrobial activity and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were determined against 14 bacterial and 6 fungal strains. Moreover, the synergistic effect of a plant extract with commercially available antibiotics was also evaluated using the checkerboard method. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed exclusive activity against S. aureus and profound activity against E. coli and S. marcescens. Upon comparing breakpoints, methanolic extract demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity with a MIC value of 3.2 mg/mL against the test pathogens. Furthermore, the extracts demonstrated potential antioxidant activity; methanol extract had higher antioxidant potential compared to the ethanol extract. The major proactive bioactive compound with maximum antioxidant capacity was observed to be terpenoids. The methanol extract of S. glauca showed significant cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 16.12 µg/mL. The overall results of our work provide significant evidence for the usage of methanolic extract of S. glauca as an efficient ethnomedicinal agent and a potential candidate for relieving many human ailments.

Apoptotic Activity and Cytotoxic Effect of Convolvulus spicatus on Human Breast Cancer Cell Line (MCF-7)

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Despite advancements in modern therapeutic strategies, breast cancer still the most common cause of the high death rate among women worldwide. Wild plants and their extracts have been used in traditional medicine because of their efficient anti-cancer properties. This study aims to investigate &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; the anti-cancer, anti-proliferative and potential therapeutic effects of &lt;i&gt;Convolvulus spicatus &lt;/i&gt;(&lt;i&gt;C. spicatus&lt;/i&gt;) methanolic extract against human breast cancer cell line Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7), besides putting shed on the mechanism of action of this extract. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; MTT (dimethylthiazol-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) cytotoxicity assay was done to evaluate &lt;i&gt;C. spicatus&lt;/i&gt; methanolic extract's cytotoxic effects and its therapeutic potentiality against MCF-7 cells. Flow cytometry was used to clarify the potential impact of the different concentrations of the extract against the cell cycle's evolution. Nuclear densification and apoptotic changes were also analyzed and the Annexin V/propidium iodide staining method was used to ensure the anti-proliferative effect of &lt;i&gt;C. spicatus &lt;/i&gt;extracts. The expression level of the apoptotic regulatory gene (Bax gene) was evaluated. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The results proved that cytotoxicity was significantly elevated in a dose-dependent manner under various concentrations. preG1 apoptosis and cell growth arrest at the G&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/M phase was noticed. Bax gene was upregulated at its mRNA level by a 5.6-fold increase, compared to the untreated MCF-7 cells. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; This study gives deep insight into evaluating natural extracts and/or bioactive ingredients derived from the &lt;i&gt;C. spicatus&lt;/i&gt; plant and eventually exhibited a promising apoptosis-inducing anti-cancer agent.

Sulindac and vitamin D3 synergically inhibit proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cell through AMPK/Akt/β-catenin axis in vitro

Breast cancer is associated with a high rate of recurrence, resistance therapy and mortality worldwide. We aimed at investigating the inhibitory effects of Sulindac and vitamin D3 (VD) on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells were cultured with different concentrations of Sulindac and VD over a period of 24, 48 and 72 hours for cell viability and IC50 experiments. Hochst staining was used to evaluate apoptosis, whereas quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to measure mRNA levels of BCL-2 and BAX genes. Immunofluorescence staining was used to monitor intracellular β-catenin expression. The protein levels of AKT, AMPK and P65 were measured by western blotting. The result showed that cell viability decreased in treated cells dose/time dependently (P < .05). Hochst staining showed an increase in fragmented nuclei in treated cells. The expression of BCL-2 and BAX genes decreased and increased in treated cells, respectively (P < .05). Immunofluorescence staining indicated that the expression of β-catenin significantly reduced in treated cells. The AKT-1/p-Akt-1 and AMPK/p-AMPK ratio increased in treated cells (P < .05), but the P65/p-P65 ratio did not change significantly (P > .05). Our results indicated that the combination of Sulindac and VD has a growth-inhibiting effect on MCF-7 cells through AMPK/Akt/β-catenin axis.

Molecular insights into a mechanism of resveratrol action using hybrid computational docking/CoMFA and machine learning approach

A phytoalexin, Resveratrol remains a legendary anticancer drug candidate in the archives of scientific literature. Although earlier wet-lab experiments rendering its multiple biological targets, for example, epidermal growth factors, Pro-apoptotic protein p53, sirtuins, and first apoptosis signal (Fas) receptor, Mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) ubiquitin-protein ligase, Estrogen receptor, Quinone reductase, etc. However, notwithstanding some notable successes, identification of an appropriate Resveratrol target(s) has remained a major challenge using physical methods, and hereby limiting its translation into an effective therapeutic(s). Thus, computational insights are much needed to establish proof-of-concept towards potential Resveratrol target(s) with minimum error rate, narrow down the search space, and to assess a more accurate Resveratrol signaling pathway/mechanism at the starting point. Herein, a brute-force technique combining computational receptor-, ligand-based virtual screening, and classification-based machine learning, reveals the precise mechanism of Resveratrol action. Overall, MDM2 ubiquitin-protein ligase (4OGN.pdb) and co-crystallized quinone reductases 2 (4QOH.pdb) were found two suitable drug targets in the case of Resveratrol derivatives. Indeed, carotenoid cleaving oxygenase together with later twos gave gigantic momentum in guiding the rational drug design of Resveratrol derivatives. These molecular modeling insights would be useful for Resveratrol lead optimization into a more precise science.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on cell cycle control gene expressions in breast cancer cells

We aimed to find the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the expression profiles of cell cycle control genes in breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The cytotoxic effect of CAPE on MCF-7 cell line was found with an XTT analysis. Total RNA was isolated from the cells exposed to IC₅₀ dose and untreated control cells. Expressions of genes related to cell cycle control (CCND2, RB1, ATM, CDC34, CDK5RAP1) were evaluated by qRT-PCR by the LightCycler 480 System (Roche). GAPDH and ACTB housekeeping genes were used for the normalization of gene expressions. IC₅₀ value of CAPE in MCF-7 cells was calculated as 75µM. It was shown that IC₅₀ dose of CAPE induced significant upregulation in expressions of cell cycle control genes, compared to control cells. CAPE increases the expression of genes that are important in cell cycle control, suggesting that this component can be used as an effective chemopreventive agent in breast cancer cells.

ANKLE1 as New Hotspot Mutation for Breast Cancer in Indian Population and Has a Role in DNA Damage and Repair in Mammalian Cells

Breast cancer has replaced cervical cancer as being the most common and having the highest mortality among women in India. ANKLE gene is conserved among organisms during evolutionary succession and is a member of LEM family proteins in lower metazoans and is involved in critical functions in the nuclear architecture, gene expression and cell signaling. ANKLE1 is the human orthologous of LEM-3 and is involved in DNA damage response and DNA repair. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) of paired breast cancer samples was performed and ANKLE1 was found to be a new possible hotspot for predisposition of breast cancer. The mass array genotyping for breast cancer variant rs2363956 further confirmed the ANKLE1 association with the studied population of breast cancer. To elucidate the role of ANKLE1 in DNA damage, it was knocked down in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and the expression of γH2AX was assessed. ANKLE1 knockdown cells displayed elevated levels of γ-H2AX foci in response to the cisplatin induced replication stress. The localization pattern of ANKLE1 further emphasized the role of ANKLE1 in DNA repair process. We observed that ANKLE1 is required for maintaining genomic stability and plays a role in DNA damage and repair process. These findings provided a molecular basis for the suspected role of ANKLE1 in human breast cancer and suggested an important role of this gene in controlling breast cancer development among women in India.

QbD Enabled Azacitidine Loaded Liposomal Nanoformulation and Its In Vitro Evaluation

Azacitidine (AZA), an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase, is a commonly recognized drug used in clinical treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome and breast cancer. Due to higher aqueous solubility and negative log P of AZA causes poor cancer cell permeation and controlled release. The objective of the present study was to formulate and optimize AZA-loaded liposome (AZA-LIPO) for breast cancer chemotherapy by using Box Behnken design (BBD) and in vitro evaluation using MCF-7 cells. AZA-LIPO were prepared using a thin film hydration technique and characterization study was performed by using FTIR and DSC. The prepared formulations were optimized using BBD and the optimized formulation was further subjected for particle size, surface charges, polydispersity index (PDI), drug loading, entrapment efficiency, TEM, XRD, in-vitro drug release and hemolytic toxicity. The mean particle size of optimized AZA-LIPO was 127 nm. Entrapment efficiency and drug loading of AZA-LIPO was found to be 85.2% ± 0.5 and 6.82 ± 1.6%, respectively. Further, in vitro drug release study showed preliminary burst release in 2 h followed by a sustained release for 36 h in phosphate buffer at different pH (4.0, 5.5, and 7.4) as compared to free drug. Drug release was found to be pH dependent, as the pH was increased, the drug release rate was found to be low. Time-dependent cell viability assay exhibited significant higher cell viability and higher internalization than free AZA in MCF-7 cells. AZA-LIPO were more effective than the free AZA in reducing Bcl2 expression, while increasing pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3 activity. The result showed that the formulated biocompatible AZA-LIPO nano-formulations may be used as an efficient anti-cancer drug delivery system for the treatment of breast cancer after establishing preclinical and clinical studies.

Synergistic effect of TEMPO-coated TiO2 nanorods for PDT applications in MCF-7 cell line model

This study focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and assessment of the synergistic effect of 2,2,6,6, tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO)-coated titanium dioxide nanorods (TiO2 NRs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Firstly, TiO2 NRs were synthesized by the sol-gel technique. Then, TEMPO was grafted on TiO2 NRs with the aid of oxoammonium salts. Next, the final product was characterized by applying manifold characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction was used to perform crystallographic analysis; transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to conduct morphological analysis; Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectra were recorded to perform molecular fingerprint analysis. Furthermore, experimental and empirical modeling was performed to confirm the suitability of as-prepared samples for PDT applications using (MCF-7 cell line) Human Breast Cancer cell line. Our results revealed that bare TiO2 NRs did not exhibit a significant response for therapeutic applications compared to TEMPO-conjugated TiO2 NRs in the dark; however, they exhibited a prominent response for the PDT application under UV-A light. Therefore, it is concluded that TEMPO-coated TiO2 NRs shows the synergistic response for therapeutic approach under UV-A light irradiation. In addition, TEMPO capped TiO2 nanorods not only overcome the multidrug resistance (MDR) hindrance but also exhibit excellent response for cancer cell (MCF-7 cells) treatment only under UV light irradiation via PDT. It is expected that the proposed TiO2 NRs + TEMPO nanocomposite, which is suitable for PDT treatment, may be essential for photodynamic therapy.

Potential anticancer activity of Mn (II) complexes containing arginine dithiocarbamate ligand on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines

Introduction

Cancer refer to genetic changes in the DNA structure accompanied by abnormal growth of normal cells, and resulting in the death of these structures, and is a disease currently recognized as a major cause of mortality globally. Chemotherapy plays important role in breast cancer management. Non-toxic metals have been developed to replace the highly toxic cisplatin, an example being Manganese. Furthermore, Ligands have displayed great capabilities in the determination of anticancer properties, and an essential agent exploited in drug development is arginine dithiocarbamate. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the anticancer potentials of Mn (II) arginine dithiocarbamate.

Methods

The synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of the Mn (II) Arginine dithiocarbamate complex was successfully carried out. Then, the complexes were characterized through the employment of the UV-Vis, FT-IR, as well as the melting point tests, and subsequently analyzed for anticancer activities through in vitro means. The compound was produced from UV-Vis spectrum at 246 and 385 nm wavelengths and IR spectrum at wave numbers 354-499 cm⁻¹.

Results

The results revealed the cytotoxicity of Mn (II) Arginine dithiocarbamate against the MCF-7 cell line, observed from a significant change in the morphology of the cancer cells with IC50 value of 211.53 μg/mL.

Conclusion

The compound, Mn (II) Arginine dithiocarbamate has effective anticancer potentials against MCF-7 cancer cells.

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Chemotherapy plays important role in breast cancer management.

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Non-toxic metals have been developed to replace the highly toxic cisplatin, an example being Manganese (Mn).

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The compound, Mn (II) Arginine dithiocarbamate has effective anticancer potentials against MCF-7 cancer cells.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of nucleobases/tetrazole hybrid compounds: A new class of phosphodiesterase type 3 (PDE3) inhibitors

Spired by the chemical structure of Cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) inhibitor, several novel hybrid compounds of nucleobases (uracil, 6-azauracil, 2-thiuracil, adenine, guanine, theophylline and theobromine) and tetrazole were designed and successfully synthesized and their inhibitory effects on PDE3A as well as their cytotoxicity on HeLa and MCF-7 cancerous cell lines were studied. Obtained results show the linear correlation between the inhibitory effect of synthesized compounds and their cytotoxicity. In some cases, the PDE3A inhibitory effects of synthesized compounds are higher than the Cilostazol. Besides, compared to a standard anticancer drug methotrexate, some of the synthesized compounds showed the higher cytotoxicity against the HeLa and MCF-7 cancerous cell lines.

Alternatively Constructed Estrogen Receptor Alpha-Driven Super-Enhancers Result in Similar Gene Expression in Breast and Endometrial Cell Lines

Super-enhancers (SEs) are clusters of highly active enhancers, regulating cell type-specific and disease-related genes, including oncogenes. The individual regulatory regions within SEs might be simultaneously bound by different transcription factors (TFs) and co-regulators, which together establish a chromatin environment conducting to effective transcription. While cells with distinct TF profiles can have different functions, how different cells control overlapping genetic programs remains a question. In this paper, we show that the construction of estrogen receptor alpha-driven SEs is tissue-specific, both collaborating TFs and the active SE components greatly differ between human breast cancer-derived MCF-7 and endometrial cancer-derived Ishikawa cells; nonetheless, SEs common to both cell lines have similar transcriptional outputs. These results delineate that despite the existence of a combinatorial code allowing alternative SE construction, a single master regulator might be able to determine the overall activity of SEs.

System-level responses to cisplatin in pro-apoptotic stages of breast cancer MCF-7 cell line

Cisplatin ceases cell division and induces apoptosis in cancer cell lines. It is well established that cisplatin alters the expression of many genes involved in several cellular processes and pathways including transcription, p53 signaling pathway, and apoptosis. However, system-wide responses to cisplatin in breast cancer cell lines have not been studied. Therefore, we have used a network analysis approach to unveil such responses at early stages of drug treatment. To do this, we have first identified those genes that are responding to cisplatin treatment in MCF-7 cell line. Network and gene ontology analyses were then employed to uncover the molecular pathways affected by cisplatin treatment. Then the results obtained from cisplatin-treated MCF7 cell line were compared to those obtained from other cancer cell lines at comparable time points. In conclusion, we found that ADCY9, GSK3B, MAPK14, NCK1, NCOA2, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, PTK2, RHOB act as hub genes in the cisplatin-responsive regulatory network at the pro-apoptotic stages. The results could be useful in finding new drugs to target these genes in order to obtain similar responses.

Carbidopa Alters Tryptophan Metabolism in Breast Cancer and Melanoma Cells Leading to the Formation of Indole-3-Acetonitrile, a Pro-Proliferative Metabolite

Carbidopa is used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as an inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase, and PD patients taking carbidopa have a lower incidence of various tumors, except for breast cancer and melanoma. Recently, it was shown that carbidopa inhibits tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and kynureninase enzymes. In the present study, the effect of carbidopa on the viability and metabolic profile of breast cancer MCF-7 and melanoma A375 cells was investigated. Carbidopa was not effective in inhibiting MCF-7 and A375 proliferation. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed a new compound, identified as indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), which promoted a concentration-dependent increase in the viability of both cell lines. The results suggest that treatment with carbidopa may alter tryptophan (Trp) metabolism in breast cancer and melanoma leading to the formation of a pro-proliferative Trp metabolite, which may contribute to its failure in reducing breast cancers and melanoma incidence in PD patients taking carbidopa.

Classification of different types of estrogen receptor alpha binding sites in MCF-7 cells

Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and it has a prominent role in both physiological and pathological processes of the reproductive system. ERα has been investigated extensively in breast cancer and the MCF-7 breast-cancer-derived cell line is a widely used model for the study of its behavior. In this paper we provide a systematic catalog of the possible scenarios of binding to more than 80,000 ERα transcription factor binding sites based on the mechanism of ERα binding to DNA (upon both vehicle and estradiol (E2) treatment). A key feature of the estrogen-driven genetic programs is the presence or absence of the specific response element referred to as the estrogen response element (ERE). While ERα-driven super-enhancers are key components of estrogen-dependent genetic programs, three additional classes of enhancers could be identified: one with the presence of ERE where the ERα bound to the DNA prior of E2-treatment, one where the E2 was required for ERα binding even in the presence of ERE, and one where the ERα binding is established through the response elements of the collaborating factors. Our results suggest that different scenarios of ERα binding result in different genetic programs.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects of Scrophularia Umbrosa Dumort Extract on MCF-7 Breast Cancer and 3T3 Cells

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide, especially in developing countries. Scrophularia umbrosa Dumort, a medicinal plant, has been used to treat various diseases in traditional medicine. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer and cytotoxic effects of S. umbrosa Dumort extracts on a human breast cancer cell line.

METHODS

The methanol and other S. umbrosa Dumort factions, including those from dichloromethane, water, n-butanol, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether, were examined. The cytotoxic effects of the fractions on MCF-7 human breast cancer adenocarcinoma and 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells were evaluated by MTT assays. In addition, apoptotic induction was determined by propidium iodide flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The water, n-butanol. petroleum ether, and ethyl acetate fractions had no cytotoxic effects. The methanol and dichloromethane fractions showed significant cytotoxic affects in a dose-dependent manner on the malignant cells while causing no damage to non-malignant cells. In addition, the cell death assay indicated that the S. umbrosa dichloromethane fraction triggered apoptosis in the MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSION

S. umbrosa induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. The S. umbrosa dichloromethane fraction exhibited the greatest cytotoxic effect on these cells. This work presents a first evaluation of the cytotoxic effects of S. umbrosa and further studies are needed to determine the cytotoxic mechanism.

Oestrogenic activity of mimosine on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line through the ERα-mediated pathway

Hormone replacement therapy has been a conventional treatment for postmenopausal symptoms in women. However, it has potential risks of breast and endometrial cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oestrogenicity of a plant-based compound, mimosine, in MCF-7 cells by in silico model. Cell viability and proliferation, ERα-SRC1 coactivator activity and expression of specific ERα-dependent marker TFF1 and PGR genes were evaluated. Binding modes of 17β-oestradiol and mimosine at the ERα ligand binding domain were compared using docking and molecular dynamics simulation experiments followed by binding interaction free energy calculation with molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area. Mimosine showed increased cellular viability (64,450 cells/ml) at 0.1 μM with significant cell proliferation (120.5%) compared to 17β-oestradiol (135.2%). ER antagonist tamoxifen significantly reduced proliferative activity mediated by mimosine (49.9%). Mimosine at 1 μM showed the highest ERα binding activity through increased SRC1 recruitment at 186.9%. It expressed TFF1 (11.1-fold at 0.1 μM) and PGR (13.9-fold at 0.01 μM) genes. ERα-mimosine binding energy was -49.9 kJ/mol, and it interacted with Thr347, Gly521 and His524 of ERα-LBD. The results suggested that mimosine has oestrogenic activity.

Nucleocytoplasmic distribution of S6K1 depends on the density and motility of MCF-7 cells in vitro

Background: The ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) is one of the main components of the mTOR/S6K signal transduction pathway, which controls cellular metabolism, autophagy, growth, and proliferation. Overexpression of S6K1 was detected in tumors of different origin including breast cancer, and correlated with the worse disease outcome. In addition, significant accumulation of S6K1 was found in the nuclei of breast carcinoma cells suggesting the implication of kinase nuclear substrates in tumor progression. However, this aspect of S6K1 functioning is still poorly understood. The main aim of the present work was to study the subcellular localization of S6K1 in breast cancer cells with the focus on cell migration. Methods: Multicellular spheroids of MCF-7 cells were generated using agarose-coated Petri dishes. Cell migration was induced by spheroids seeding onto adhesive growth surface and subsequent cultivation for 24 to 72 hours. The subcellular localization of S6K1 was studied in human normal breast and cancer tissue samples, 2D and 3D MCF-7 cell cultures using immunofluorescence analysis and confocal microscopy. Results: Analysis of histological sections of human breast tissue samples revealed predominantly nuclear localization of S6K1 in breast malignant cells and its mainly cytoplasmic localization in conditionally normal cells. In vitro studies of MCF-7 cells demonstrated that the subcellular localization of S6K1 depends on the cell density in the monolayer culture. S6K1 relocalization from the cytoplasm into the nucleus was detected in MCF-7 cells migrating from multicellular spheroids onto growth surface. Immunofluorescence analysis of S6K1 and immunocoprecipitation assay revealed the colocalization and interaction between S6K1 and transcription factor TBR2 (T-box brain protein 2) in MCF-7 cells. Conclusions: Subcellular localization of S6K1 depends on the density and locomotor activity of the MCF-7 cells.

Nucleocytoplasmic distribution of S6K1 depends on the density and motility of MCF-7 cells in vitro

Background: The ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) is one of the main components of the mTOR/S6K signal transduction pathway, which controls cellular metabolism, autophagy, growth, and proliferation. Overexpression of S6K1 was detected in tumors of different origin including breast cancer, which was associated with a worse disease outcome. In addition, significant accumulation of S6K1 was found in the nuclei of breast carcinoma cells suggesting the implication of kinase nuclear substrates in tumor progression. However, this aspect of S6K1 functioning is poorly understood. The main aim of the present work was to study the subcellular localization of S6K1 in breast cancer cells with focus on cell migration. Methods: Multicellular spheroids of MCF-7 cells were generated using agarose-coated Petri dishes. Cell migration was initiated by spheroids seeding onto growth surface and subsequent cultivation for 24 and 72 hours. S6K1 subcellular localization was studied in human breast cancer and normal tissue, 2D and 3D MCF-7 cell culture using immunofluorescence analysis and confocal microscopy. Results: Analysis of histological sections of human breast cancer and normal tissue revealed predominantly nuclear localization of S6K1 in breast malignant cells and mainly cytoplasmic one in conditionally normal cells. In vitro studies of MCF-7 cells showed that the subcellular localization of S6K1 depends on the cell density in the monolayer culture. S6K1 relocalization from the cytoplasm into the nucleus was detected in MCF-7 cells migrating from multicellular spheroids onto growth surface. Immunofluorescence analysis of S6K1 and immunocoprecipitation assay revealed the colocalization and interaction between S6K1 and transcription factor TBR2 (T-box brain protein 2) in MCF-7 cells. Bioinformatical analysis revealed existence of several phosphorylation sites in TBR2 for S6K1 suggesting that TBR2 can be a target for phosphorylation and regulation by S6K1. Conclusions: Subcellular localization of S6K1 depends on the density and locomotor activity of the MCF-7 cells.

Polymeric nanocapsules as drug carriers for sustained anticancer activity of calcitriol in breast cancer cells

Clinical use of calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃) as an anticancer agent is currently limited by the requirement of supraphysiological doses and associated hypercalcemia. Nanoencapsulation of calcitriol is a strategy to overcome these drawbacks, allowing reduced administrated doses and/or frequency, while retaining the therapeutic activity towards cancer cells. For this purpose, we investigated the impact of calcitriol encapsulation on its antiproliferative activity and optimized formulation parameters with that respect. Calcitriol-loaded polymeric nanoparticles with different polymer:oil ratios were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method. Nanoparticles had similar mean size (200 nm) and EE (85%) whereas their release profile strongly depended on formulation parameters. Antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities of formulated calcitriol were evaluated in vitro using human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and showed that calcitriol-induced cell growth inhibition was closely related to its release kinetics. For the most suitable formulation, a sustained cell growth inhibition was observed over 10 days compared to free form. Advantages of calcitriol encapsulation and the role of formulation parameters on its biological activity in vitro were demonstrated. Selected nanoparticle formulation is a promising calcitriol delivery system ensuring a prolonged anticancer activity that could improve its therapeutic efficiency.

Fluorometric determination of microRNA-155 in cancer cells based on carbon dots and MnO2 nanosheets as a donor-acceptor pair

A fluorometric method is presented for sensitive deternination of microRNA. It is making use of carbon dots (C-dots) loaded with a DNA probe as fluorophore and MnO₂ nanosheets as the quenching agent. The blue-green fluorescence of the DNA-loaded C-dots is quenched by the MnO₂ nanosheets, but restored on binding target microRNA-155. The maximum excitation wavelength and the maximum emission wavelength of C-dots are at 360 nm and 455 nm, respectively. Fluorescence correlates linearly with the log of the microRNA-155 concentration in two ranges, viz. from 0.15 to 1.65 aM and from 1.65 to 20 aM. The detection limit is as low as 0.1 aM. The assay can discriminate between fully complementary and single-base mismatch microRNA. The assay displayed high specificity when used to detect MCF-7 breast cancer cells which can be detected in concentrations from 1000 to 45,000 cells·mL^-1, with a 600 cells·mL^-1 detection limit. The method was applied to the analysis of serum samples spiked with microRNA, and satisfactory results were acquired. Graphical abstract Schematic of a fluorometric sensing platform for miRNA-155. The method relies on a FRET process between C-dots and MnO₂ nanosheets. This strategy has a practical application for detection of miRNA in cell lines and biological fluids.

FMSP-Nanoparticles Induced Cell Death on Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (MCF-7 Cells): Morphometric Analysis

Currently, breast cancer treatment mostly revolves around radiation therapy and surgical interventions, but often these treatments do not provide satisfactory relief to the patients and cause unmanageable side-effects. Nanomaterials show promising results in treating cancer cells and have many advantages such as high biocompatibility, bioavailability and effective therapeutic capabilities. Interestingly, fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles have been used in many biological and diagnostic applications, but there is no report of use of fluorescent magnetic submicronic polymer nanoparticles (FMSP-nanoparticles) in the treatment of human breast cancer cells. In the present study, we tested the effect of FMSP-nanoparticles on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). We tested different concentrations (1.25, 12.5 and 50 µg/mL) of FMSP-nanoparticles in MCF-7 cells and evaluated the nanoparticles response morphometrically. Our results revealed that FMSP-nanoparticles produced a concentration dependent effect on the cancer cells, a dose of 1.25 µg/mL produced no significant effect on the cancer cell morphology and cell death, whereas dosages of 12.5 and 50 µg/mL resulted in significant nuclear augmentation, disintegration, chromatic condensation followed by dose dependent cell death. Our results demonstrate that FMSP-nanoparticles induce cell death in MCF-7 cells and may be a potential anti-cancer agent for breast cancer treatment.

The cytotoxicity effects of a novel Cu complex on MCF-7 human breast cancerous cells

A variety of biological activities, such as anti-microbial and anti-tumor properties was reported for 1,10-phenanthroline and its copper complexes. In this study, the anti-proliferative activity of a novel  [Cu(L)(phen)] complex was investigated on MCF-7 breast cancer cells using MTT assay. Since chemotherapy is lake of ability to distinguish between normal cells from cancerous cells, therefore we also investigated the effect of  [Cu(L)(phen)] complex on normal L929 cells. The results showed that following 24 and 48 h exposure of cells with  [Cu(L)(phen)] complex, the IC50 values for MCF-7 were significantly lower than that recorded for L929 and normal cells were less sensitive than cancerous cells to the complex. Additionally, the  [Cu(L)(phen)] complex displayed a time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxic response, with MCF-7 and L929 cells. Also flow cytometry findings suggest that  [Cu(L)(phen)] complex is capable of decreasing cancer cell viability through apoptosis and did not efficiently activate the necrosis process.

HPLC Analysis of Phenolic Acids, Antioxidant Activity and in vitro Effectiveness of Green and Roasted Caffea arabica Bean Extracts: A Comparative Study

BACKGROUND

Coffee is a popular drink; it is one of the most commercialized food products and a rich source of biologically active compounds that are important for human health.

AIMS

This study aimed to prove the anticancer activity of Green Coffee (GC) and Roasted Coffee (RC) bean aqueous extracts (Coffea arabica) on breast cancer adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and the safety of both extracts on normal Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes culture (HPBL).

METHODS

Total phenolic content for GC and RC extracts was measured and result of both extracts were (0.308±0.016 & 0.233±0.013mg/g) respectively. The phenolic acids were screened by HPLC at the wavelength of 254& 278 and 300 nm and 5-caffeoylquinic acids (Chlorogenic acid), the predominant form of phenolic acids, was identified in GC and RC samples. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) as well as the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) proved the antioxidant properties of both extracts. The DPPH IC50 mean values of GC and RC extracts were (2.4±0.08, 2.3±0.16 µg/ml) respectively. Cytotoxicity of both extracts on MCF-7 cells were evaluated by neutral red uptake assay which showed the IC50 mean values (377±5.7,500±8.1 µg/ml) for GC and RC extracts respectively. The safety of both extracts (0, 125, 250, 500 µg/ml) on HPBL was evaluated in vitro using trypan blue exclusion method and DNA single strand breaks (alkaline comet assay).

RESULTS

Result revealed non-significant cytotoxic difference (P<0.001) between cultures especially at lower doses of GC and RC extracts except the highest dose of GC and RC extract which showed slightly significant damage (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study proved that GC and RC aqueous extracts were found to be selectively cytotoxic in vitro to cancerous cells (MCF-7 cell line) causing cell death with no cytotoxicity on normal human lymphocytes especially at lower doses.

In-Vitro Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Properties of Sutureja Khuzestanica on Human Breast Cancer Cell Line (MCF-7) and Its Synergic Effects with Anticancer Drug Vincristine

Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad (Marzeh Khuzestani in Persian) is an endemic plant that is widely distributed in the southern part of Iran. Despite the number of papers published on this plant, no one has focused on its anticancer effects. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the selective cytotoxic and anti-proliferative properties of satureja khuzestanica total extract (SKE). MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were used in this study. Cytotoxicity of the extract was determined using MTT and neutral red assaysafter 24 h treatment period. Biochemical markers of apoptosis (caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2) and cell proliferation (cyclin D1) were evaluated by immunoblotting. Vincristine was used to evaluate the synergic effect of extract with an anticancer drug. The data showed that treatment of cells with SKE (150 and 200 µg/mL for 24 h) significantly reduced cell viability, activated caspase 3 and increased Bax/Bcl2 ratio. In addition, cyclin D1 expression was significantly decreased in the SKE-treated cells. In addition, concomitant treatment of the MCF-7 cells with SKE and vincristine produced a potent anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect compared to extract or drug alone. In conclusion, satureja extract has a potential anti-cancer property against human breast cancer cells and its combination with chemotherapeutic agent vincristine may induce cell death effectively and be a potent modality to treat this type of cancer.

Anti-proliferation and Apoptosis Induction of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Carica papaya L. on Human Breast Cancer Cells MCF-7

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Chemotherapy is the main method of breast cancer treatment but there are side effects. Carica papaya leaves is vegetable foods consumed by most people of Indonesia have potential as anticancer. The aim of this study was to investigate anti-proliferative and apoptotic induced effect of aqueous papaya leaves extracts on human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Inhibitory on cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay while apoptosis induction was measured using Annexin V.

RESULTS

The results showed that papaya leaf can inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cells MCF-7 with IC50 in 1319.25 μg mL-1. The IC50 values of papaya leaf extract was higher than the IC50 value quercetin and doxorubicin. Papaya leaf extract can also induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells MCF-7 about 22.54% for concentration 659.63 μg mL-1 and about 20.73% for concentration 329.81 μg mL-1. The percentage of cell apoptosis of papaya leaf extract lower than doxorubicin but higher than quercetin.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that papaya leaf extract have potential as anticancer through mechanism anti-proliferation and apoptosis induction.

Imminent Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitor from Microbial Source for Cancer Therapy

Background

Drugs targeting Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) have been used broadly in cancer chemotherapy. The recent past coupled with our results demonstrates the effective use of ACE inhibitors (ACEi) as anticancer agents, and they are potentially relevant in deriving new inhibitors.

Methods

Bacterial strains were isolated from cow milk collected in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India and plated on nutrient agar medium. The identity of the strain was ascertained by 16s rRNA gene sequencing method and was submitted to the NCBI GenBank nucleotide database. Various substrates were screened for ACEi production by the fermentation with the isolated strain. ACEi was purified by sequential steps of ethanol precipitation, ion exchange column chromatography and gel filtration column chromatography. The apparent molecular mass was determined by SDS-PAGE. The anticancer property was analyzed by studying the cytotoxicity effects of ACEi using Breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines.

Results

The isolate coded as BUCTL09 was selected and identified as Micrococcus luteus. Among the seven substrates, only beef extract fermented broth showed an inhibition of 79% and was reported as the best substrate. The peptide was purified and molecular mass was determined. The IC50 value of peptide was found to be 59.5 μg/ml. The purified peptide has demonstrated to induce apoptosis of cancer cell.

Conclusions

The results of this study revealed that Peptide has been determined as an active compound that inhibited the activity of ACE. These properties indicate the possibilities of the use of purified protein as a potent anticancer agent.

Farnesiferol C induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis mediated by oxidative stress in MCF-7 cell line

Farnesiferol C is one of the major compounds, isolated from Ferula asafoetida (a type of coumarins) and used for cancer treatment as a folk remedy. Treatment of many cancers depends on oxidative stress situation. In this study, we sought the hypothesis that oxidative stress induced by Farnesiferol C contribute to anticancer property and induce apoptosis in MCF-7, human breast cancer cell line. We investigated the effect of Farnesiferol C on oxidative stress by measurement of some enzymes activity including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as some parameters such as total thiol and ROS levels. Also we evaluated Farnesiferol C effects on the cell cycle and apoptosis induction by using flow cytometry analysis. Our findings demonstrated that Farnesiferol C significantly induced apoptosis mediated by increasing in the cellular ROS levels. This compound increased cellular SOD and CAT activities in 24 and 48 h and reduced activity of these enzymes after 72 h exposure. Furthermore, MDA and total thiol levels were increased and decreased, respectively in the cells treated with Farnesiferol C after 24-72 h. G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest followed by induction of apoptosis was also observed in MCF-7 cells after treatment with Farnesiferol C. According to these data, Farnesiferol C has a therapeutic effect on MCF-7 cells and can be suitable candidate for breast cancer treatment; however it is necessary for further experiments.

Chitosan-palmitic acid based polymeric micelles as promising carrier for circumventing pharmacokinetic and drug delivery concerns of tamoxifen

Being a BCS class II drug and a good substrate for microsomal enzymes, tamoxifen (TAM) offers a scope for research owing to poor aqueous solubility and compromised bioavailability. The present study designs a novel copolymer derived from palmitic acid and chitosan, and evaluate the derived TAM-loaded micelles for various delivery attributes. The nanometric micellar carriers not only substantially loaded the drug, but also controlled the rate of release of TAM. The designed nanocarrier significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of TAM on MCF-7 cancer cells. The developed system was designed for intravenous route and was observed to be substantially haemo-compatible with an enhancement of approx. 5 times in AUC vis-a-vis plain drug. The findings employing new polymer-based carrier are promising in nature for the better delivery of similar drugs.