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Shimada A, Ueno H, Yamamoto K, Kawabata K, Inagaki M. Pentacyclic triterpene acids, rotungenic acid and barbinervic acid, from fresh leaves of Diospyros kaki Thunberg and their glutaminase inhibitory activities. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:1611-1615. [PMID: 36434778 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2022.2150765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Glutaminase is an important target that is often over-expressed in neurodegenerative and lifestyle-related diseases but few effective inhibitors of this enzyme have yet reached clinical trials. Three compounds isolated from fresh leaves of Diospyros kaki Thunberg, ursolic acid (1), rotungenic acid (2) and barbinervic acid (3), were identified by analyzing their NMR and MS spectral data and comparison of these with reported data. The IC50 values of 1-3 and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) as control were 775, 13, 14, and 434 μM, respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 showed higher glutaminase inhibitory activities than DON. Compounds 2 and 3 may serve as potential lead compounds for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative and lifestyle-related diseases by targeting glutaminase. This is the first report on glutaminase inhibitory activities of 2 and 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsumi Shimada
- Division of Food and Nutrition, Nakamura Gakuen University Junior College, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ueno
- Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kenta Yamamoto
- Department of Food Management, Faculty of Nutritional Sciences, Nakamura Gakuen University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kohei Kawabata
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women's University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masanori Inagaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women's University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Herman H, Rata DM, Cadinoiu AN, Atanase LI, Hermenean A. Colloidal and Biological Characterization of Dual Drug-Loaded Smart Micellar Systems. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1189. [PMID: 38732658 PMCID: PMC11085147 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Smart polymeric micelles (PMs) are of great interest in drug delivery owing to their low critical micellar concentration and sizes. In the present study, two different pH-sensitive poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P2VP-b-PEO) copolymer samples were used for the encapsulation of paclitaxel (PTX), ursolic acid (UA), and dual loading of PTX and UA. Based on the molecular features of copolymers, spherical PMs with sizes of around 35 nm and 140 nm were obtained by dialysis for P2VP55-b-PEO284 and P2VP274-b-PEO1406 samples, respectively. The micellar sizes increased after loading of both drugs. Moreover, drug encapsulation and loading efficiencies varied from 53 to 94% and from 3.2 to 18.7% as a function of the copolymer/drug ratio, molar mass of copolymer sample, and drug type. By FT-IR spectroscopy, it was possible to demonstrate the drug loading and the presence of some interactions between the polymer matrix and loaded drugs. In vitro viability was studied on 4T1 mammary carcinoma mouse cells as a function of time and concentration of drug-loaded PMs. UA-PMs and free PMs alone were not effective in inhibiting the tumor cell growth whereas a viability of 40% was determined for cells treated with both PTX- and PTX/UA-loaded PMs. A synergic effect was noticed for PTX/UA-loaded PMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hildegard Herman
- “Aurel Ardelean” Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University, Rebreanu Street, No. 86, 310414 Arad, Romania; (H.H.); (A.H.)
| | - Delia M. Rata
- Faculty of Medicine, “Apollonia” University of Iasi, Pacurari Street, No. 11, 700511 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.R.); (A.N.C.)
| | - Anca N. Cadinoiu
- Faculty of Medicine, “Apollonia” University of Iasi, Pacurari Street, No. 11, 700511 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.R.); (A.N.C.)
| | - Leonard I. Atanase
- Faculty of Medicine, “Apollonia” University of Iasi, Pacurari Street, No. 11, 700511 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.R.); (A.N.C.)
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, 050045 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Hermenean
- “Aurel Ardelean” Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University, Rebreanu Street, No. 86, 310414 Arad, Romania; (H.H.); (A.H.)
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Bielecka E, Zubrzycka N, Marzec K, Maksylewicz A, Sochalska M, Kulawik-Pióro A, Lasoń E, Śliwa K, Malinowska M, Sikora E, Nowak K, Miastkowska M, Kantyka T. Ursolic Acid Formulations Effectively Induce Apoptosis and Limit Inflammation in the Psoriasis Models In Vitro. Biomedicines 2024; 12:732. [PMID: 38672088 PMCID: PMC11048670 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Psoriasis, a prevalent inflammatory skin disorder affecting a significant percentage of the global population, poses challenges in its management, necessitating the exploration of novel cost-effective and widely accessible therapeutic options. This study investigates the potential of ursolic acid (UA), a triterpenoid known for its anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic properties, in addressing psoriasis-related inflammation and keratinocyte hyperproliferation. The research involved in vitro models employing skin and immune cells to assess the effects of UA on psoriasis-associated inflammation. The presented research demonstrates the limiting effects of UA on IL-6 and IL-8 production in response to the inflammatory stimuli and limiting effects on the expression of psoriatic biomarkers S100A7, S100A8, and S100A9. Further, the study reveals promising outcomes, demonstrating UA's ability to mitigate inflammatory responses and hyperproliferation of keratinocytes by the induction of non-inflammatory apoptosis, as well as a lack of the negative influence on other cell types, including immune cells. Considering the limitations of UA's poor solubility, hybrid systems were designed to enhance its bioavailability and developed as hybrid nano-emulsion and bi-gel topical systems to enhance bioavailability and effectiveness of UA. One of them in particular-bi-gel-demonstrated high effectiveness in limiting the pathological response of keratinocytes to pro-psoriatic stimulation; this was even more prominent than with ursolic acid alone. Our results indicate that topical formulations of ursolic acid exhibit desirable anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and may be further employed for topical psoriasis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Bielecka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (E.B.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Natalia Zubrzycka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (E.B.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (A.M.)
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland;
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Karolina Marzec
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (E.B.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (A.M.)
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland;
| | - Anna Maksylewicz
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (E.B.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Maja Sochalska
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Kulawik-Pióro
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.M.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Elwira Lasoń
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.M.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Karolina Śliwa
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.M.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Magdalena Malinowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.M.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Elżbieta Sikora
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.M.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Krzysztof Nowak
- Wellnanopharm, Jerzego Samuela Bandtkego 19, 30-129 Cracow, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata Miastkowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.M.); (E.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Tomasz Kantyka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (E.B.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (A.M.)
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Ding J, Tan J, Peng X, Cheng L, Huang W, Luo B. Ursolic acid loaded tri-block copolymer nanoparticles based on triphenylphosphine for mitochondria-targeted cancer therapy. Biomed Mater 2024; 19:035013. [PMID: 38422539 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ad2ecf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
A novel biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymer, polyphosphate, polyethylene glycol, and polylactic acid (PAEEP-PEG-PLLA), was synthesized by twice ring-opening polymerization and triphenylphosphine (TPP) was grafted onto the block copolymer to synthesize a carrier material TPP-PAEEP-PEG-PLLA, which was identified by1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy. The TPP-PAEEP-PEG-PLLA nanoparticles encapsulated with ursolic acid (UA) were prepared by the emulsion-solvent evaporation method and characterized by dynamic light scattering. The mitochondrial targeting ability of fluorescently labeled nanoparticles was evaluated by laser confocal microscopy. The average particle size and surface charge of the UA -loaded nanoparticle solution were 180.07 ± 1.67 nm and +15.57 ± 1.33 mV, respectively. The biocompatibility of nanoparticles was briefly evaluated by erythrocyte hemolysis assay.In vitrocell proliferation assay and scratch migration assay were performed to compare the difference in anti-tumor effect between UA and UA nanoparticles. The results showed that TPP-modified triblock copolymers had good mitochondrial targeting and improved the low bioavailability of UA, and UA nanoparticles exhibited more pronounced anti-tumor capabilities. In summary, the results suggested that our UA nanoparticles were a promising drug-targeted delivery system for the treatment of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieqiong Ding
- Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Tan
- Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohang Peng
- Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyuan Cheng
- Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiling Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Xianning Central Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, People's Republic of China
| | - Binhua Luo
- Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, People's Republic of China
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Zhu L, Tian Y, Wang T, Huang X, Zhou L, Shengming L, Chen G, Che Z. Semisynthesis, anti-oomycete and anti-fungal activities of ursolic acid ester derivatives. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:906-915. [PMID: 37115170 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2207135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Using ursolic acid (UA) as the lead compound, thirteen UA ester derivatives (3 and 7a-l) were synthesized by modifying their C-3 and C-28 positions, respectively, and their structures were well characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS and melting points. Furthermore, we evaluated the anti-oomycete and anti-fungal activities of these compounds against Phytophthora capsici and Fusarium graminearum in vitro. The results showed that compound 7h exhibited prominent anti-oomycete and anti-fungal activities, and the median effective concentration (EC50) values of 7h against P. capsici and F. graminearum were 70.49 and 113.21 mg/L, respectively. This study suggested that the anti-oomycete and anti-fungal activities of esters synthesized by introducing acyloxy group at C-3 position of UA was more conspicuous than that of esters synthesized by introducing benzyloxy group at C-28 position. This result will pave the way for further modification of UA to develop potential new fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Zhu
- Laboratory of Pesticidal Design & Synthesis, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticultrue and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Yuee Tian
- Laboratory of Pesticidal Design & Synthesis, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticultrue and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Tiewei Wang
- ShanDong New Power Biology Science &Technology Co., Ltd, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaobo Huang
- Laboratory of Pesticidal Design & Synthesis, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticultrue and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liu Shengming
- Laboratory of Pesticidal Design & Synthesis, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticultrue and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Genqiang Chen
- Laboratory of Pesticidal Design & Synthesis, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticultrue and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Zhiping Che
- Laboratory of Pesticidal Design & Synthesis, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticultrue and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
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Huang XL, Sun Y, Wen P, Pan JC, He WY. The potential mechanism of ursolic acid in the treatment of bladder cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. J Int Med Res 2024; 52:3000605241234006. [PMID: 38443785 PMCID: PMC10916484 DOI: 10.1177/03000605241234006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored the potential molecular mechanisms of ursolic acid (UA) in bladder cancer treatment using network pharmacology and molecular docking. METHODS The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and UniProt databases were used to screen potential targets of UA. Relevant bladder cancer target genes were extracted using the GeneCards database. All data were pooled and intercrossed to obtain common target genes of UA and bladder cancer. Gene Ontology functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Molecular docking was conducted to verify the possible binding conformation between UA and bladder cancer cells. Then, in vitro experiments were performed to further validate the predicted results. RESULTS UA exerts anti-tumor effects on bladder cancer through multiple targets and pathways. Molecular docking indicated that UA undergoes stable binding with the proteins encoded by the top six core genes (STAT3, VEGFA, CASP3, TP53, IL1B, and CCND1). The in vitro experiments verified that UA can induce bladder cancer cell apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our study illustrated the potential mechanism of UA in bladder cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. The results will provide scientific references for follow-up studies and clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long Huang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Hechuan, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Wen
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Hechuan, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun-Cheng Pan
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Hechuan, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei-Yang He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Hérnandez Vázquez CI, Draczyński Z, Borkowski D, Kaźmierczak D. Enhancing Chitosan Fibers: A Dual Approach with Tripolyphosphate and Ursolic Acid. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:461. [PMID: 38399839 PMCID: PMC10891507 DOI: 10.3390/polym16040461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chitosan, a well-established biomaterial known for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity, has been the focus of extensive research in recent years. This study explores the enhancement of chitosan fibers' properties through wet impregnation with either ursolic acid (UA) or cross-linking with tripolyphosphate (TPP). In the first experiment, chitosan fibers were treated with UA, for varying immersion set points (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h). FTIR, SEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy analyses demonstrated a chemical reaction between chitosan and UA, with stability reached after 2 h of immersion. Antibacterial testing revealed that chitosan fibers impregnated with UA exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, notably Staphylococcus aureus. The second experiment involved modifying chitosan fibers' surfaces with a 1% w/v TPP solution for the same periods of time (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h). Subsequently, the investigation involved FTIR, SEM, and dynamometry analyses, which revealed successful cross-linking between chitosan and TPP ions, resulting in improved tensile strength after 2 h of immersion. This dual-approach study highlights the potential of chitosan fibers for diverse applications, from wound-healing dressings to antibacterial materials against Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- César I. Hérnandez Vázquez
- Institute of Materials Science of Textiles and Polymer Composites, Lodz University of Technology, 116 Żeromskiego, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (Z.D.)
- Łukasiewicz Research Network-Lodz Institute of Technology, 19/27 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Str., 90-570 Lodz, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Draczyński
- Institute of Materials Science of Textiles and Polymer Composites, Lodz University of Technology, 116 Żeromskiego, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (Z.D.)
| | - Dominik Borkowski
- Institute of Materials Science of Textiles and Polymer Composites, Lodz University of Technology, 116 Żeromskiego, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (Z.D.)
- Łukasiewicz Research Network-Lodz Institute of Technology, 19/27 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Str., 90-570 Lodz, Poland
| | - Dorota Kaźmierczak
- Łukasiewicz Research Network-Lodz Institute of Technology, 19/27 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Str., 90-570 Lodz, Poland
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Besasie BD, Saha A, DiGiovanni J, Liss MA. Effects of curcumin and ursolic acid in prostate cancer: A systematic review. Urologia 2024; 91:90-106. [PMID: 37776274 DOI: 10.1177/03915603231202304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The major barriers to phytonutrients in prostate cancer therapy are non-specific mechanisms and bioavailability issues. Studies have pointed to a synergistic combination of curcumin (CURC) and ursolic acid (UA). We investigate this combination using a systematic review process to assess the most likely mechanistic pathway and human testing in prostate cancer. We used the PRISMA statement to screen titles, abstracts, and the full texts of relevant articles and performed a descriptive analysis of the literature reviewed for study inclusion and consensus of the manuscript. The most common molecular and cellular pathway from articles reporting on the pathways and effects of CURC (n = 173) in prostate cancer was NF-κB (n = 25, 14.5%). The most common molecular and cellular pathway from articles reporting on the pathways and effects of UA (n = 24) in prostate cancer was caspase 3/caspase 9 (n = 10, 41.6%). The three most common molecular and cellular pathway from articles reporting on the pathways and effects of both CURC and UA (n = 193) in prostate cancer was NF-κB (n = 28, 14.2%), Akt (n = 22, 11.2%), and androgen (n = 19, 9.6%). Therefore, we have identified the potential synergistic target pathways of curcumin and ursolic acid to involve NF-κB, Akt, androgen receptors, and apoptosis pathways. Our review highlights the limited human studies and specific effects in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Besasie
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Achinto Saha
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
| | - John DiGiovanni
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
| | - Michael A Liss
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
- Department of Urology, South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, USA
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Zhang M, Xiang F, Sun Y, Liu R, Li Q, Gu Q, Kang X, Wu R. Ursolic acid inhibits the metastasis of colon cancer by downregulating ARL4C expression. Oncol Rep 2024; 51:27. [PMID: 38131251 PMCID: PMC10777457 DOI: 10.3892/or.2023.8686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, is known to exhibit various biological activities and anticancer effects. However, the underlying anticancer mechanism is not fully understood to date. The present study aimed to investigate the antimetastatic effect of UA through ADP‑ribosylation factor like GTPase 4C (ARL4C) in colon cancer. A lung metastasis model of colon cancer in nude mice was established through tail vein injection. A Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay was used to investigate the proliferation of colon cancer cells. Transwell assays were used to detect cell migration and invasion. The expression levels of proteins including ARL4C, matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), phosphorylated (p)‑AKT and p‑mTOR were measured using western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the protein expression level in tissues. ARL4C ubiquitination levels were analysed using immunoprecipitation and western blotting. The results indicated that UA inhibits the metastasis of colon cancer in vivo and in vitro. The expression of ARL4C in human colon cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues and its high expression level was associated with lymph node metastases and tumour stage. UA treatment significantly decreased ARL4C and MMP2 protein levels and inhibited the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Overexpression of ARL4C reversed the inhibitory effect of UA on the invasion and migration of HCT‑116 and SW480 cells, as well as the expression and secretion of MMP2 protein. In addition, UA and an AKT signalling pathway inhibitor (LY294002) induced the ubiquitination of the ARL4C protein, which was reversed by a proteasome inhibitor (MG‑132). Collectively, it was revealed in the present study that UA served as a novel solution to relieve colon cancer metastasis by inducing the ubiquitination‑mediated degradation of ARL4C by modulating the AKT signalling pathway. Thus, UA may be a promising treatment option to prolong the survival of patients with colon cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhe Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Fenfen Xiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Yipeng Sun
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Rongrong Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Qing Gu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Xiangdong Kang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Rong Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
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Abdelaziz MAA, Sahu A, Peraman R. Pentacyclic triterpenoids from the stem of Grewia bracteata Roth demonstrate promising inhibition on tumour cells. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:624-628. [PMID: 36799628 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2180504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Grewia bracteata Roth stem was investigated for its anticancer potential for the first time. Initially, polarity-guided extracts from three solvents were screened on HeLa, HCT- 116 and MCF-7 tumours cells. The results revealed that ethyl acetate extract (GSE) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited HeLa, HCT- 116 and MCF-7 cells with respective IC50 values of 30.58, 14.26 and 22.91 µg/mL. GSE inhibited HCT-116 cells with 6- and 21-folds higher than hexane (GSN) and methanol (GSM) extracts, respectively. Hence, column chromatography of GSE was performed and fractionated to 18 fractions. The obtained fractions were further tested on HCT-116 cells. Amongst, the fractions HF6 and DF1 were active with the respective IC50 values of 25.35 and 31.28, µg/mL (p < 0.05). These active fractions were profiled using H1-NMR, C13-NMR and LC-MS/MS analysis, and found the presence of pentacyclic triterpenoids like betulin diacetate and ursolic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abhishek Sahu
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - Ramalingam Peraman
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, Bihar, India
- Raghavendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (RIPER)-Autonomous, Anantapur, India
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11
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Di Lorenzo R, Maisto M, Ricci L, Piccolo V, Marzocchi A, Greco G, Tenore GC, Laneri S. Annurca Apple Oleolite as Functional Ingredient for the Formulation of Cosmetics with Skin-Antiaging Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1677. [PMID: 38338954 PMCID: PMC10855134 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The identification of natural remedies for the management of the skin aging process is an increasingly growing issue. In this context, ursolic acid (UA), a ubiquitous molecule, mainly contained in Annurca apple (AA) fruit, has demonstrated valuable cosmetic potential. To this end, in the current study, the AA oleolite (AAO, extract in sunflower oil containing 784.40 ± 7.579 µg/mL of UA) was evaluated to inhibit porcine elastase enzymatic reactions through a validated spectrophotometric method. AAO has shown a valuable capacity to contrast the elastase enzyme with a calculated IC50 of 212.76 mg/mL, in comparison to UA (IC50 of 135.24 μg/mL) pure molecules and quercetin (IC50 of 72.47 μg/mL) which are used as positive controls. In this context and in view of the valuable antioxidant potential of AAO, its topical formulation with 2.5% (w/w) AAO was tested in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-arm clinical study on 40 volunteers. Our results indicated that after 28 days of treatment, a significant reduction of the nasolabial fold (-7.2 vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001) and forehead wrinkles (-5.3 vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001) were registered in combination with a valuable improvement of the viscoelastic skin parameters, where skin pliability/firmness (R0) and gross elasticity (R2) were significantly ameliorated (-13% vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001 for R0 and +12% vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001 for R2). Finally, considering the positive correlation between skin elasticity and hydration, the skin moisture was evaluated through the estimation of Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin conductance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritamaria Di Lorenzo
- RD Cosmetics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.D.L.); (L.R.); (G.G.); (S.L.)
| | - Maria Maisto
- ChimNutra Labs, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.P.); (A.M.); (G.C.T.)
| | - Lucia Ricci
- RD Cosmetics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.D.L.); (L.R.); (G.G.); (S.L.)
| | - Vincenzo Piccolo
- ChimNutra Labs, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.P.); (A.M.); (G.C.T.)
| | - Adua Marzocchi
- ChimNutra Labs, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.P.); (A.M.); (G.C.T.)
| | - Giovanni Greco
- RD Cosmetics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.D.L.); (L.R.); (G.G.); (S.L.)
| | - Gian Carlo Tenore
- ChimNutra Labs, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.P.); (A.M.); (G.C.T.)
| | - Sonia Laneri
- RD Cosmetics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.D.L.); (L.R.); (G.G.); (S.L.)
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12
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Iannuzzo F, Cicatiello AG, Sagliocchi S, Schiano E, Nappi A, Miro C, Stornaiuolo M, Mollica A, Tenore GC, Dentice M, Novellino E. Therapeutic Effect of an Ursolic Acid-Based Nutraceutical on Neuronal Regeneration after Sciatic Nerve Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:902. [PMID: 38255977 PMCID: PMC10815361 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries lead to severe functional impairments and long recovery times, with limited effectiveness and accessibility of current treatments. This has increased interest in natural bioactive compounds, such as ursolic acid (UA). Our study evaluated the effect of an oleolyte rich in UA from white grape pomace (WGPO) on neuronal regeneration in mice with induced sciatic nerve resection, administered concurrently with the induced damage (the WGPO group) and 10 days prior (the PRE-WGPO group). The experiment was monitored at two-time points (4 and 10 days) after injury. After 10 days, the WGPO group demonstrated a reduction in muscle atrophy, evidenced by an increased number and diameter of muscle fibers and a decreased Atrogin-1 and Murf-1 expression relative to the denervated control. It was also observed that 85.7% of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) were fully innervated, as indicated by the colocalization of α-bungarotoxin and synaptophysin, along with the significant modulation of Oct-6 and S-100. The PRE-WGPO group showed a more beneficial effect on nerve fiber reformation, with a significant increase in myelin protein zero and 95.2% fully innervated NMJs, and a pro-hypertrophic effect in resting non-denervated muscles. Our findings suggest WGPO as a potential treatment for various conditions that require the repair of nerve and muscle injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fortuna Iannuzzo
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.I.); (A.M.)
| | - Annunziata Gaetana Cicatiello
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.G.C.); (S.S.); (A.N.); (C.M.)
| | - Serena Sagliocchi
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.G.C.); (S.S.); (A.N.); (C.M.)
| | - Elisabetta Schiano
- Healthcare Food Research Center, Inventia Biotech s.r.l., S. S. Sannitica, 81020 Caserta, Italy; (E.S.); (E.N.)
| | - Annarita Nappi
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.G.C.); (S.S.); (A.N.); (C.M.)
| | - Caterina Miro
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.G.C.); (S.S.); (A.N.); (C.M.)
| | - Mariano Stornaiuolo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 59, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.S.); (G.C.T.)
| | - Adriano Mollica
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (F.I.); (A.M.)
| | - Gian Carlo Tenore
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 59, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.S.); (G.C.T.)
| | - Monica Dentice
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.G.C.); (S.S.); (A.N.); (C.M.)
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Healthcare Food Research Center, Inventia Biotech s.r.l., S. S. Sannitica, 81020 Caserta, Italy; (E.S.); (E.N.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Roma, Italy
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13
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Ebert SM, Nicolas CS, Schreiber P, Lopez JG, Taylor AT, Judge AR, Judge SM, Rasmussen BB, Talley JJ, Rème CA, Adams CM. Ursolic Acid Induces Beneficial Changes in Skeletal Muscle mRNA Expression and Increases Exercise Participation and Performance in Dogs with Age-Related Muscle Atrophy. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:186. [PMID: 38254356 PMCID: PMC10812546 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Muscle atrophy and weakness are prevalent and debilitating conditions in dogs that cannot be reliably prevented or treated by current approaches. In non-canine species, the natural dietary compound ursolic acid inhibits molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy, leading to improvements in muscle health. To begin to translate ursolic acid to canine health, we developed a novel ursolic acid dietary supplement for dogs and confirmed its safety and tolerability in dogs. We then conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept efficacy study in older beagles with age-related muscle atrophy, also known as sarcopenia. Animals received placebo or ursolic acid dietary supplements once a day for 60 days. To assess the study's primary outcome, we biopsied the quadriceps muscle and quantified atrophy-associated mRNA expression. Additionally, to determine whether the molecular effects of ursolic acid might have functional correlates consistent with improvements in muscle health, we assessed secondary outcomes of exercise participation and T-maze performance. Importantly, in canine skeletal muscle, ursolic acid inhibited numerous mRNA expression changes that are known to promote muscle atrophy and weakness. Furthermore, ursolic acid significantly improved exercise participation and T-maze performance. These findings identify ursolic acid as a natural dietary compound that inhibits molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy and improves functional performance in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M. Ebert
- Emmyon, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.M.E.); (A.R.J.); (S.M.J.); (J.J.T.); (C.M.A.)
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Paul Schreiber
- Research & Development—Biopharmacy Department, Virbac SA, 06511 Carros, France
| | - Jaime G. Lopez
- US Petcare Innovation, Virbac NA, Westlake, TX 76262, USA
| | - Alan T. Taylor
- Innovation, Business Development, Virbac NA, Westlake, TX 76262, USA
| | - Andrew R. Judge
- Emmyon, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.M.E.); (A.R.J.); (S.M.J.); (J.J.T.); (C.M.A.)
- Department of Physical Therapy and Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Sarah M. Judge
- Emmyon, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.M.E.); (A.R.J.); (S.M.J.); (J.J.T.); (C.M.A.)
- Department of Physical Therapy and Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Blake B. Rasmussen
- Emmyon, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.M.E.); (A.R.J.); (S.M.J.); (J.J.T.); (C.M.A.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and Center for Metabolic Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 77021, USA
| | - John J. Talley
- Emmyon, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.M.E.); (A.R.J.); (S.M.J.); (J.J.T.); (C.M.A.)
| | | | - Christopher M. Adams
- Emmyon, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA; (S.M.E.); (A.R.J.); (S.M.J.); (J.J.T.); (C.M.A.)
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Khwaza V, Oselusi SO, Morifi E, Nwamadi M, Hlope KS, Ndinteh DT, Matsebatlela TM, Oyedeji OO, Aderibigbe BA. Synthesis of Ursolic Acid-based Hybrids: In Vitro Antibacterial, Cytotoxicity Studies, In Silico Physicochemical and Pharmacokinetic Properties. Recent Adv Antiinfect Drug Discov 2024; 19:RAAIDD-EPUB-136920. [PMID: 38317466 DOI: 10.2174/0127724344272444231114103144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a critical need for the discovery of novel and effective antibacterial or anticancer molecules. OBJECTIVES Amine-linked ursolic acid-based hybrid compounds were prepared in good yields in the range of 60-68%. METHODS Their molecular structures were successfully confirmed using different spectroscopic methods including 1H/13C NMR, UHPLC-HRMS and FTIR spectroscopy. The in vitro cytotoxicity of some of these hybrid molecules against three human tumour cells, such as MDA-MB23, MCF7, and HeLa was evaluated using the MTT colorimetric method. RESULT Their antibacterial efficacy was evaluated against eleven bacterial pathogens using a serial dilution assay. Majority of the bacterial strains were inhibited significantly by compounds 17 and 24, with the lowest MIC values in the range of 15.3-31.25 μg/mL. Compound 16 exhibited higher cytotoxicity against HeLa cells than ursolic acid, with an IC50 value of 43.64 g/mL. CONCLUSION The in vitro antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of these hybrid compounds demonstrated that ursolic acid-based hybrid molecules are promising compounds. Further research into ursolic acid-based hybrid compounds is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vuyolwethu Khwaza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - S O Oselusi
- School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
| | - Eric Morifi
- School of Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry Division, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - M Nwamadi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kamogelo S Hlope
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, South Africa
| | - D T Ndinteh
- Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Thabe M Matsebatlela
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, South Africa
| | - Opeoluwa O Oyedeji
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Blessing A Aderibigbe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Liu SJ, Guo BD, Gao QH, Deng YJ, Yan B, Zeng Y, Zhao M, Ren K, Wang F, Guo J. Ursolic acid alleviates chronic prostatitis via regulating NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway. Phytother Res 2024; 38:82-97. [PMID: 37807970 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid widely found in fruits and vegetables. It has been reported that UA has anti-inflammatory effects. However, its efficacy and mechanism of action in the treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of UA treatment in CP and further explore the underlying mechanism. CP rat and pyroptosis cell models were established in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The efficacy of UA in inhibiting CP was evaluated via haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and measurement of inflammatory cytokines. RNA sequencing and molecular docking were used to predict the therapeutic targets of UA in CP. The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins was examined using various techniques, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. UA significantly ameliorated pathological damage and reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the CP model rats. RNA sequencing analysis and molecular docking suggested that NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD may be key targets. We also found that UA decreased ROS levels, alleviated oxidative stress, and inhibited p-NF-κB protein expression both in vivo and in vitro. UA improved pyroptosis morphology as indicated by electron microscope and inhibited the expression of the pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, and GSDMD, reversed the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and lactate dehydrogenase in vivo and in vitro. UA can mitigate CP by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. Therefore, UA may be a potential for the treatment of CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Jing Liu
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo-da Guo
- Department of Urology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-He Gao
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying-Jun Deng
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Yan
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yin Zeng
- Department of Andrology, Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Ren
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fu Wang
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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Zhang T, Xiang F, Li X, Chen Z, Wang J, Guo J, Zhu S, Zhou J, Kang X, Wu R. Mechanistic study on ursolic acid inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer cells through the downregulation of TGF-β3 by miR-140-5p. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23581. [PMID: 38044485 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common digestive tract tumor with a high incidence and a poor prognosis. Traditional chemotherapy drugs are usually accompanied by unpleasant side effects, highlighting the importance of exploring new adjunctive drugs. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of ursolic acid (UA) in CRC cells. Specifically, HT-29 cells were treated with UA at different concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40 μM), and the expression of miR-140-5p, tumor growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3), β-catenin, and cyclin D1 was determined by real-time quantitative PCR. The cell cycle and apoptosis were checked by flow cytometry, and cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The HT-29 cell model was established through overexpression (miR-140-5p mimics) and interference (miR-140-5p inhibitor) of miR-140-5p. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of TGF-β3. We found that UA could inhibit the proliferation of HT-29 cells, block cells in the G1 phase, and promote cell apoptosis. After UA treatment, the expression of miR-140-5p increased and TGF-β3 decreased. Notably, miR-140-5p downregulated the expression of TGF-β3, while the overexpression of miR-140-5p exerted a similar function to UA in HT-29 cells. Additionally, the messenger RNA expression of TGF-β3, β-catenin, and cyclin D1 was decreased in HT-29 cells after UA treatment. In conclusion, UA inhibited CRC cell proliferation and cell cycle and promoted apoptosis by regulating the miR-140-5p/TGF-β3 axis, which may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Fenfen Xiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixi Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangdong Kang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Zheng Q, Wang X, Gao T, Zhang B, Zhao N, Du R, Zhao Z. Exploring the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of Salvia chinensis Benth in colorectal cancer: A network pharmacology and molecular docking study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e36602. [PMID: 38115259 PMCID: PMC10727650 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
While Salvia chinensis Benth (commonly known as "Shijianchuan" in Chinese, and abbreviated as SJC) is commonly used in adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) in traditional Chinese medicine, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, Initially, we examined the impact of SJC on CRC cells in an in vitro setting. Next, we initially retrieved the primary active components and targets of SJC from databases such as TCMSP and existing literature. Subsequently, we integrated differential gene expression data from the GEO database and collected CRC-related targets from resources like DisGeNET. The matching of these datasets enabled the identification of SJC-CRC targets. We constructed a protein-protein interaction network and identified core targets through topological analysis. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed using clusterProfiler. We established networks linking traditional Chinese medicine components to targets and core targets to signaling pathways. Additionally, we performed molecular docking to validate interactions between the main compounds and targets, and employed Western blot analysis to explore how the major components of SJC affect crucial signaling pathways. In this study, SJC inhibited the viability of HCT-116 and HT-29 cells. We identified a total of 11 active components in SJC along with 317 target genes. Among these, there were 8612 target genes associated with CRC, and we successfully matched 276 SJC-CRC target genes. Through topological analysis of the protein-protein interaction network, we pinpointed 20 core targets. It was revealed that SJC effects are linked to genes governing processes like cell apoptosis, proliferation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt through GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Additionally, we applied molecular docking techniques and observed that the majority of active compounds displayed robust binding affinity with the selected targets. In vitro experiments suggested that SJC and its key component, Ursolic acid, may exert its anti-CRC effects by modulating the core PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through inhibiting the phosphorylation of the target Akt1. This discovery is consistent with the predictions derived from network pharmacology methods. This study marks the inaugural utilization of bioinformatics methods in conjunction with in vitro experiments to comprehensively investigate the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms responsible for SJC anti-CRC effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Hebei Key Laboratory of CRC Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Hebei Key Laboratory of CRC Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tian Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Hebei Key Laboratory of CRC Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bingzhou Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Hebei Key Laboratory of CRC Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Hebei Key Laboratory of CRC Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Runsen Du
- Department of General Surgery, Hebei Key Laboratory of CRC Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zengren Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Hebei Key Laboratory of CRC Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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18
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Limami Y, Pinon A, Wahnou H, Oudghiri M, Liagre B, Simon A, Duval RE. Ursolic Acid's Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks. Molecules 2023; 28:7897. [PMID: 38067626 PMCID: PMC10707789 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by various hallmarks, including uncontrolled cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion, and metastasis, among others. Traditional cancer therapies often target specific hallmarks, leading to limited efficacy and the development of resistance. Thus, there is a growing need for alternative strategies that can address multiple hallmarks concomitantly. Ursolic acid (UA), a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, has recently emerged as a promising candidate for multitargeted cancer therapy. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the anticancer properties of UA, focusing on its ability to modulate various cancer hallmarks. The literature reveals that UA exhibits potent anticancer effects through diverse mechanisms, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis, inhibition of metastasis, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, UA has demonstrated promising activity against different cancer types (e.g., breast, lung, prostate, colon, and liver) by targeting various cancer hallmarks. This review discusses the molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in the anticancer effects of UA. Notably, UA has been found to modulate key signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin, which play crucial roles in cancer development and progression. Moreover, the ability of UA to destroy cancer cells through various mechanisms (e.g., apoptosis, autophagy, inhibiting cell growth, dysregulating cancer cell metabolism, etc.) contributes to its multitargeted effects on cancer hallmarks. Despite promising anticancer effects, this review acknowledges hurdles related to UA's low bioavailability, emphasizing the need for enhanced therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youness Limami
- Laboratory of Health Sciences and Technologies, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26000, Morocco
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biodiversity, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, B.P. 2693, Maarif, Casablanca 20100, Morocco; (H.W.); (M.O.)
| | - Aline Pinon
- Univ. Limoges, LABCiS, UR 22722, F-87000 Limoges, France; (A.P.); (B.L.)
| | - Hicham Wahnou
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biodiversity, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, B.P. 2693, Maarif, Casablanca 20100, Morocco; (H.W.); (M.O.)
| | - Mounia Oudghiri
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biodiversity, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, B.P. 2693, Maarif, Casablanca 20100, Morocco; (H.W.); (M.O.)
| | - Bertrand Liagre
- Univ. Limoges, LABCiS, UR 22722, F-87000 Limoges, France; (A.P.); (B.L.)
| | - Alain Simon
- Univ. Limoges, LABCiS, UR 22722, F-87000 Limoges, France; (A.P.); (B.L.)
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Mallepogu V, Sankaran KR, Pasala C, Bandi LR, Maram R, Amineni UM, Meriga B. Ursolic acid regulates key EMT transcription factors, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, an in-vitro and in silico studies. J Cell Biochem 2023; 124:1900-1918. [PMID: 37992132 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a vital process in tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer. In our quest to explore effective anticancer alternatives, ursolic acid (UA) was purified from Capparis zeylanica and investigated for its anticancer activity against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The apparent anticancer activity of UA on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells was evident from IC50 values of 14.98 and 15.99 μg/mL, respectively, in MTT assay and also through enhanced generation of ROS. When MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were treated with 20 μg/mL UA, an absolute decrease in cell viability of 47.6% and 48.6%, enhancement of 1.35% and 1.10% in early apoptosis, and 21.90% and 21.35% in late apoptosis, respectively and G0 /G1 phase, S phase, G2 /M phase cell cycle arrest was noticed. The gene expression studies revealed that UA could significantly (p < 0.001) downregulate the expression of EMT markers such as snail, slug, and fibronectin at molecular level. Further, the obtained in vitro results of snail, slug, and fibronectin were subjected to quantum-polarized-ligand (QM/MM) docking, which predicted that the in silico binding affinities of these three markers are in good correlation with strong hydrogen and van der Waal interactions to UA with -53.865, -48.971 and -40.617 MMGBSA (ΔGbind ) scores, respectively. The long-range molecular dynamics (50 ns) simulations have showed more consistency by UA. These findings conclude that UA inhibits breast cancer cells growth and proliferation through regulating the expression of key EMT marker genes, and thus UA is suggested as a potential anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkataswamy Mallepogu
- Department of Biochemistry, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | | | - Chiranjeevi Pasala
- Department of Bioinformatics, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Lokesh Reddy Bandi
- Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Rajasekhar Maram
- Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Uma Maheswari Amineni
- Department of Bioinformatics, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Balaji Meriga
- Department of Biochemistry, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
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Wang M, Gu C, Yang Y, Chen L, Chen K, Du J, Wu H, Li Y. Ursolic acid derivative UAOS-Na treats experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by immunoregulation and protecting myelin. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1269862. [PMID: 38107649 PMCID: PMC10723162 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1269862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Ursolic acid (UA) can be used in the MS treatment with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. However, UA is insoluble in water, which may affect its medication effectiveness. In our previous study, UAOS-Na, a water-soluble derivative of UA was obtained. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacological effects and explored its underlying mechanism of UAOS-Na on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methods Firstly, the pharmacodynamics of UAOS-Na was investigated in EAE and Cuprizone-induced mice. And then the possible mechanisms were investigated by TMT proteomics and verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results UAOS-Na (30 mg/kg/d) delayed the onset time of EAE from 11.78 days post immunization (dpi) to 14.33 dpi, reduced the incidence from 90.0% to 42.9%. UAOS-Na (60 mg/kg/d) reduced the serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6, reduced the mononuclear cell infiltration of spinal cord, and inhibited the overexpression of key transcription factors T-bet and ROR-γt of EAE mouse spinal cord. In addition, UAOS-Na attenuated demyelination and astrogliosis in the CNS of EAE and cuprizone-induced mice. Mechanistically, proteomics showed that 96 differential expression proteins (DEPs) were enriched and 94 were upregulated in EAE mice compared with normal group. After UAOS-Na treatment, 16 DEPs were enriched and 15 were downregulated, and these DEPs were markedly enriched in antigen processing and presentation (APP) signaling pathway. Moreover, UAOS-Na downregulated the protein levels of Tapbp and H2-T23 in MHC-I antigen presentation pathway and reduced the proliferation of splenic CD8 T cells, thereby inhibiting the CNS infiltration of CD8 T cells. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that UAOS-Na has both myelin protective and anti-inflammatory effects. And it could reduce the inflammation of MS by downregulating the expression of Tapbp and H2-T23 in the MHC-I antigen presentation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maolin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Chenming Gu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifu Yang
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Nutrition Science, Amway (Shanghai) Innovation and Science Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Kaixian Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Du
- Nutrition Science, Amway (Shanghai) Innovation and Science Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Huali Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Miastkowska M, Kulawik-Pióro A, Lasoń E, Śliwa K, Malinowska MA, Sikora E, Kantyka T, Bielecka E, Maksylewicz A, Klimaszewska E, Ogorzałek M, Tabaszewska M, Skoczylas Ł, Nowak K. Topical Formulations Based on Ursolic Acid-Loaded Nanoemulgel with Potential Application in Psoriasis Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2559. [PMID: 38004538 PMCID: PMC10675167 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15112559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic disorder that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches. It affects nearly 2-5% of the worldwide population and has a negative effect on patient quality of life. A variety of therapeutic approaches, e.g., glucocorticoid topical therapy, have shown limited efficacy with systemic adverse reactions. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents and physicochemical formulations are in constant need and should be obtained and tested in terms of effectiveness and minimization of side effects. For that reason, the aim of our study was to design and obtain various hybrid systems, nanoemulgel-macroemulsion and nanoemulgel-oleogel (bigel), as vehicles for ursolic acid (UA) and to verify their potential as topical formulations used in psoriasis treatment. Obtained topical formulations were characterized by conducting morphological, rheological, texture, and stability analysis. To determine the safety and effectiveness of the prepared ursolic acid carriers, in vitro studies on human keratinocyte cell-like HaCaT cells were performed with cytotoxicity analysis for individual components and each formulation. Moreover, a kinetic study of ursolic acid release from the obtained systems was conducted. All of the studied UA-loaded systems were well tolerated by keratinocyte cells and had suitable pH values and stability over time. The obtained formulations exhibit an apparent viscosity, ensuring the appropriate time of contact with the skin, ease of spreading, soft consistency, and adherence to the skin, which was confirmed by texture tests. The release of ursolic acid from each of the formulations is followed by a slow, controlled release according to the Korsmeyer-Peppas and Higuchi models. The elaborated systems could be considered suitable vehicles to deliver triterpene to psoriatic skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Miastkowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.A.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Agnieszka Kulawik-Pióro
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.A.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Elwira Lasoń
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.A.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Karolina Śliwa
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.A.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Magdalena Anna Malinowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.A.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Elżbieta Sikora
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland; (A.K.-P.); (E.L.); (K.Ś.); (M.A.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Tomasz Kantyka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (T.K.); (E.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Ewa Bielecka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (T.K.); (E.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Anna Maksylewicz
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (T.K.); (E.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Emilia Klimaszewska
- Department of Cosmetology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences, Casimir Pulaski University of Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, Poland; (E.K.); (M.O.)
| | - Marta Ogorzałek
- Department of Cosmetology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences, Casimir Pulaski University of Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, Poland; (E.K.); (M.O.)
| | - Małgorzata Tabaszewska
- Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Mushroom Processing, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 122, 30-149 Cracow, Poland; (M.T.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Łukasz Skoczylas
- Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Mushroom Processing, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 122, 30-149 Cracow, Poland; (M.T.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Krzysztof Nowak
- Wellnanopharm, Jerzego Samuela Bandtkego 19, 30-129 Cracow, Poland;
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Akinwunmi OA, Oso B, Sibuyi NRS, Green I, Iwuoha E, Meyer M, Hussein A. Apoptotic effects of triterpenoids isolated from Pleiocarpa pycnantha leaves in cancer cells and molecular docking study of the interactions of camptothecin and ursolic acid with human caspase 3, caspase 9 and topoisomerase I. Nat Prod Res 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37904509 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2272281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of triterpenes from Pleiocarpa pycnantha leaves on the induction of apoptotic signalling in human cells. The molecular mechanisms of triterpenes isolated from P. pycnantha leaves were investigated in vitro on HeLa, MCF-7, HT-29, and KMST-6 cells. The compounds activated several markers associated with apoptosis, viz., phosphatidylserine translocation, caspase activation, oxidative stress, and topoisomerase I inhibition. Compounds 1 and 5 were non-selective, whereas compounds 2, 3, and 4 showed potential as cancer-specific agents by selectively inducing apoptosis only on cancer cells. Theoretical studies on the interactions of compound 1 with caspases -3 and -9 and topoisomerase I were carried out through a molecular docking study and illustrated that compound 1 had an equal binding affinity with the caspases and topoisomerase I comparable to that of camptothecin. The cellular pathway activated by these compounds was dependent on the compound and the cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Babatunde Oso
- Department of Biochemistry, McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Nigeria
| | - Nicole Remaliah Samantha Sibuyi
- Department of Science and Technology (DST)/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC), Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Ivan Green
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Emmanuel Iwuoha
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Mervin Meyer
- Department of Science and Technology (DST)/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC), Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Ahmed Hussein
- Department of Chemistry, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa
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Liu G, Qin P, Cheng X, Wu L, Wang R, Gao W. Ursolic acid: biological functions and application in animal husbandry. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1251248. [PMID: 37964910 PMCID: PMC10642196 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1251248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA) is a plant-derived pentacyclic triterpenoid with 30 carbon atoms. UA has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antimicrobial, hepato-protective, anticancer, and other biological activities. Most studies on the biological functions of UA have been performed in mammalian cell (in vitro) and rodent (in vivo) models. UA is used in animal husbandry as an anti-inflammatory and antiviral agent, as well as for enhancing the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Although UA has been shown to have significant in vitro bacteriostatic effects, it is rarely used in animal nutrition. The use of UA as a substitute for oral antibiotics or as a novel feed additive in animal husbandry should be considered. This review summarizes the available data on the biological functions of UA and its applications in animal husbandry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanhui Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Peng Qin
- Chenguang Biotechnology Group Handan Co., Ltd., Handan, China
| | - Xinying Cheng
- Chenguang Biotechnology Group Handan Co., Ltd., Handan, China
| | - Lifei Wu
- Hebei Plant Extraction Innovation Center Co., Ltd., Handan, China
- Hebei Province Plant Source Animal Health Products Technology Innovation Center, Handan, China
| | - Ruoning Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Hebei Plant Extraction Innovation Center Co., Ltd., Handan, China
- Hebei Province Plant Source Animal Health Products Technology Innovation Center, Handan, China
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Kadasah SF, Radwan MO. Overview of Ursolic Acid Potential for the Treatment of Metabolic Disorders, Autoimmune Diseases, and Cancers via Nuclear Receptor Pathways. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2845. [PMID: 37893218 PMCID: PMC10604592 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) form a family of druggable transcription factors that are regulated by ligand binding to orchestrate multifaceted physiological functions, including reproduction, immunity, metabolism, and growth. NRs represent attractive and valid targets for the management and treatment of a vast array of ailments. Pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) are ubiquitously distributed natural products in medicinal and aromatic plants, of which ursolic acid (UA) is an extensively studied member, due to its diverse bio-pertinent activities against different cancers, inflammation, aging, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and liver injury. In fact, PTs share a common lipophilic structure that resembles NRs' endogenous ligands. Herein, we present a review of the literature on UA's effect on NRs, showcasing the resulting health benefits and potential therapeutic outcomes. De facto, UA exhibited numerous pharmacodynamic effects on PPAR, LXR, FXR, and PXR, resulting in remarkable anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and hepatoprotective properties, by lowering lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and mitigating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its subsequent liver fibrosis. Furthermore, UA reversed valproate and rifampicin-induced hepatic lipid accumulation. Additionally, UA showed great promise for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and autoimmune arthritis by antagonizing RORγ. UA exhibited antiproliferative effects against skin, prostate, and breast cancers, partially via PPARα and RORγ pathways. Herein, for the first time, we explore and provide insights into UA bioactivity with respect to NR modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sultan F. Kadasah
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Bisha, P.O. Box 551, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed O. Radwan
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
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Sakuma K, Hamada K, Yamaguchi A, Aoi W. Current Nutritional and Pharmacological Approaches for Attenuating Sarcopenia. Cells 2023; 12:2422. [PMID: 37830636 PMCID: PMC10572610 DOI: 10.3390/cells12192422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcopenia is characterized by a gradual slowing of movement due to loss of muscle mass and quality, decreased power and strength, increased risk of injury from falls, and often weakness. This review will focus on recent research trends in nutritional and pharmacological approaches to controlling sarcopenia. Because nutritional studies in humans are fairly limited, this paper includes many results from nutritional studies in mammals. The combination of resistance training with supplements containing amino acids is the gold standard for preventing sarcopenia. Amino acid (HMB) supplementation alone has no significant effect on muscle strength or muscle mass in sarcopenia, but the combination of HMB and exercise (whole body vibration stimulation) is likely to be effective. Tea catechins, soy isoflavones, and ursolic acid are interesting candidates for reducing sarcopenia, but both more detailed basic research on this treatment and clinical studies in humans are needed. Vitamin D supplementation has been shown not to improve sarcopenia in elderly individuals who are not vitamin D-deficient. Myostatin inhibitory drugs have been tried in many neuromuscular diseases, but increases in muscle mass and strength are less likely to be expected. Validation of myostatin inhibitory antibodies in patients with sarcopenia has been positive, but excessive expectations are not warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunihiro Sakuma
- Institute for Liberal Arts, Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan;
| | - Kento Hamada
- Institute for Liberal Arts, Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan;
| | - Akihiko Yamaguchi
- Department of Physical Therapy, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan;
| | - Wataru Aoi
- Laboratory of Nutrition Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan;
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Shen J, Fu Y, Liu F, Ning B, Jiang X. Ursolic Acid Promotes Autophagy by Inhibiting Akt/mTOR and TNF-α/TNFR1 Signaling Pathways to Alleviate Pyroptosis and Necroptosis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Macrophages. Inflammation 2023; 46:1749-1763. [PMID: 37212951 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-023-01839-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
As a lethal infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Its complex pathophysiological process limits the effectiveness of many clinical treatments. By regulating host cell death, Mtb manipulates macrophages, the first line of defense against invading pathogens, to evade host immunity and promote the spread of bacteria and intracellular inflammatory substances to neighboring cells, resulting in widespread chronic inflammation and persistent lung damage. Autophagy, a metabolic pathway by which cells protect themselves, has been shown to fight intracellular microorganisms, such as Mtb, and they also play a crucial role in regulating cell survival and death. Therefore, host-directed therapy (HDT) based on antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory interventions is a pivotal adjunct to current TB treatment, enhancing anti-TB efficacy. In the present study, we showed that a secondary plant metabolite, ursolic acid (UA), inhibited Mtb-induced pyroptosis and necroptosis of macrophages. In addition, UA induced macrophage autophagy and enhanced intracellular killing of Mtb. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we explored the signaling pathways associated with autophagy as well as cell death. The results showed that UA could synergistically inhibit the Akt/mTOR and TNF-α/TNFR1 signaling pathways and promote autophagy, thus achieving its regulatory effects on pyroptosis and necroptosis of macrophages. Collectively, UA could be a potential adjuvant drug for host-targeted anti-TB therapy, as it could effectively inhibit pyroptosis and necroptosis of macrophages and counteract the excessive inflammatory response caused by Mtb-infected macrophages via modulating the host immune response, potentially improving clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Shen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immunology Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yan Fu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immunology Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Fanglin Liu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immunology Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Bangzuo Ning
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immunology Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immunology Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Qadir A, Ullah SNMN, Gupta DK, Khan N, Warsi MH, Kamal M. Combinatorial drug-loaded quality by design adapted transliposome gel formulation for dermal delivery: In vitro and dermatokinetic study. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023; 22:2839-2851. [PMID: 37309263 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ursolic acid is a powerful drug that possesses many therapeutic properties, such as hepatoprotection, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, antiulcer, and anticancer activity. Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (Umbelliferae) contains a triterpene called asiatic acid, which has been used effectively in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine system for centuries. Anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties are only some of the many pharmacological actions previously attributed to asiatic acid . AIM The present work developed an optimized combinatorial drug-loaded nano-formulation by Quality by design approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS The optimize transliposome for accentuated dermal delivery of dual drug. The optimization of drug-loaded transliposome was done using the "Box-Behnken design." The optimized formulation was characterized for vesicles size, entrapment efficiency (%), and in vitro drug release. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and dermatokinetic study were performed for further evaluation of drug-loaded optimized transliposome formulation. RESULTS The optimized combinatorial drug-loaded transliposome formulation showed a particle size of 86.36 ± 2.54 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) 0.230 ± 0.008, and an entrapment efficiency of 87.43 ± 2.66% which depicted good entrapment efficiency. In vitro drug release of ursolic acid and asiatic acid transliposomes was found to be 85.12 ± 2.54% and 80.23 ± 3.23%, respectively, as compared to optimized ursolic acid and asiatic acid transliposome gel drug release that was 67.18 ± 2.85% and 60.28 ± 4.12%, respectively. The skin permeation study of ursolic and asiatic acid conventional formulation was only 32.48 ± 2.42%, compared with optimized combinatorial drug-loaded transliposome gel (79.83 ± 4.52%) at 12 h. After applying combinatorial drug-loaded transliposome gel, rhodamine was able to more easily cross rat skin, as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, in comparison with when the rhodamine control solution was used. DISCUSSION The UA_AA-TL gel formulation absorbed more ursolic acid and asiatic acid than the UA_AA-CF gel formulation, as per dermatokinetic study. Even after being incorporated into transliposome vesicles, the antioxidant effects of ursolic and asiatic acid were still detectable. In most cases, transliposomes vesicular systems generate depots in the skin's deeper layers and gradually release the medicine over time, allowing for fewer applications. CONCLUSION In overall our studies, it may be concluded that developed dual drug-loaded transliposomal formulation has great potential for effective topical drug delivery for skin cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Qadir
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, New Delhi, India
- Department of Research and Developments, Herbalfarm Lifecare Private Limited, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Dipak Kumar Gupta
- Department of Research and Developments, Herbalfarm Lifecare Private Limited, New Delhi, India
| | - Nausheen Khan
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of pharmaceutical education and research, New Delhi, India
| | - Musarrat Husain Warsi
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mehnaz Kamal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
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Lei P, Li Z, Hua Q, Song P, Gao L, Zhou L, Cai Q. Ursolic Acid Alleviates Neuroinflammation after Intracerebral Hemorrhage by Mediating Microglial Pyroptosis via the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14771. [PMID: 37834220 PMCID: PMC10572659 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuroinflammatory response after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) causes a large amount of neuronal loss, and inhibiting the inflammatory response can improve the prognosis. In previous laboratory studies and clinical trials, ursolic acid (UA) inhibited the inflammatory response, but whether it can be administered to inhibit the neuroinflammatory response after cerebral hemorrhage is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ursolic acid after cerebral hemorrhage. Online databases were used to obtain potential therapeutic targets of ursolic acid for the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage, and possible mechanisms were analyzed by KEGG, GO, and molecular docking. A rat model of cerebral hemorrhage was established using collagenase, and an in vitro cerebral hemorrhage model was constructed by adding hemin to BV2 cell culture medium. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence, TUNEL staining, and calcein/PI staining were used to investigate the degree of microglial M1 polarization, changes in the levels of inflammatory factors, activation of the NF-κB pathway, and changes in the indicators of cellular death after ursolic acid treatment. In addition, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used to activate the NF-κB pathway to verify that ursolic acid exerts its anti-neuroinflammatory effects by regulating the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses revealed that ursolic acid may exert its therapeutic effects on cerebral hemorrhage through multiple pathways. Together, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that ursolic acid inhibited microglial M1 polarization and significantly reduced the levels of p-NF-κB, GSDMD-N, cleaved caspase-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, which were significantly inhibited by the use of PMA. Ursolic acid inhibits microglial pyroptosis via the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway to alleviate neuroinflammatory responses after cerebral hemorrhage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Long Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; (P.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.H.); (P.S.); (L.G.)
| | - Qiang Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; (P.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.H.); (P.S.); (L.G.)
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Zhao M, Wu F, Tang Z, Yang X, Liu Y, Wang F, Chen B. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of ursolic acid: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1256946. [PMID: 37841938 PMCID: PMC10568483 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1256946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: There is currently evidence suggesting that ursolic acid may exert a favorable influence on both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant impact. Nevertheless, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of ursolic acid have not been systematically evaluated. Consequently, this study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the impact of ursolic acid on markers of inflammatory and antioxidant activity in both animal models and in vitro systems. Methods: The search encompassed databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, up until May 2023. All eligible articles in English were included in the analysis. Standard mean difference (SMD) was pooled using a random-effects model, and the included studies underwent a thorough assessment for potential bias. Results: The final review comprised 31 articles. In disease-model related studies, animal experiments have consistently shown that ursolic acid significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory parameters IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in mouse tissues. In vitro studies have similarly showed that ursolic acid significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory parameters IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Our results showed that ursolic acid could significantly elevate SOD and GSH levels, while significantly reducing MDA levels in animal tissues. The results of in vitro studies shown that ursolic acid significantly increased the level of GSH and decreased the level of MDA. Discussion: Findings from both animal and in vitro studies suggest that ursolic acid decreases inflammatory cytokine levels, elevates antioxidant enzyme levels, and reduces oxidative stress levels (graphical abstract). This meta-analysis furnishes compelling evidence for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of ursolic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Fengyang Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Zhaohong Tang
- Hebei Research Institute of Microbiology Co., Ltd., Baoding, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Yanhua Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Fengxia Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Baojiang Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
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Cruz-Torres KC, Estrada-Soto S, Arias-Durán L, Navarrete-Vázquez G, Almanza-Pérez JC, Mora-Ramiro B, Perea-Arango I, Hernández-Núñez E, Villalobos-Molina R, Carmona-Castro G, Medina-Díaz IM, Ávila-Villarreal G. LC-MS Fingerprinting Development for Standardized Precipitate from Agastache mexicana, Which Induces Antihypertensive Effect through NO Production and Calcium Channel Blockade. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2346. [PMID: 37765314 PMCID: PMC10538051 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects of a standardized precipitate of the hydroalcoholic extract from Agastache mexicana (PPAm), comprising ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, acacetin, luteolin and tilianin, among others. In the ex vivo experiments, preincubation with L-NAME (nonspecific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases) reduced the relaxation induced by PPAm; nevertheless, preincubation with indomethacin (nonspecific inhibitor of cyclooxygenases) did not generate any change in the vasorelaxation, and an opposed effect was observed to the contraction generated by CaCl2 addition. Oral administration of 100 mg/kg of PPAm induced a significant acute decrease in diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP) blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats, without changes in heart rate. Additionally, PPAm showed a sustained antihypertensive subacute effect on both DBP and SBP for 10 days compared to the control group. On the other hand, human umbilical vein cells treated with 10 µg/mL of PPAm showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in intracellular adhesion molecule-1, compared to the control, but not on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. In conclusion, PPAm induces a significant antihypertensive effect in acute- and subacute-period treatments, due to its direct vasorelaxant action on rat aortic rings through NO production and Ca2+ channel blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Catalina Cruz-Torres
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico; (K.C.C.-T.); (G.N.-V.)
| | - Samuel Estrada-Soto
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico; (K.C.C.-T.); (G.N.-V.)
| | - Luis Arias-Durán
- Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de Mexico 09340, Mexico; (L.A.-D.); (J.C.A.-P.); (B.M.-R.)
| | - Gabriel Navarrete-Vázquez
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico; (K.C.C.-T.); (G.N.-V.)
| | - Julio César Almanza-Pérez
- Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de Mexico 09340, Mexico; (L.A.-D.); (J.C.A.-P.); (B.M.-R.)
| | - Beatriz Mora-Ramiro
- Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de Mexico 09340, Mexico; (L.A.-D.); (J.C.A.-P.); (B.M.-R.)
| | - Irene Perea-Arango
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico; (I.P.-A.); (G.C.-C.)
| | - Emanuel Hernández-Núñez
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Mérida, Mérida 97310, Yucatán, Mexico;
| | - Rafael Villalobos-Molina
- Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico;
| | - Gabriela Carmona-Castro
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico; (I.P.-A.); (G.C.-C.)
| | - Irma-Martha Medina-Díaz
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental, Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic 63000, Nayarit, Mexico;
| | - Gabriela Ávila-Villarreal
- Centro Nayarita de Innovación y Transferencia de Tecnología “Unidad Especializada en I+D+i en Calidad de Alimentos y Productos Naturales”, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic 63000, Nayarit, Mexico
- Unidad Académica de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic 63000, Nayarit, Mexico
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Qiu L, Wang Y, Wang Y, Liu F, Deng S, Xue W, Wang Y. Ursolic Acid Ameliorated Neuronal Damage by Restoring Microglia-Activated MMP/TIMP Imbalance in vitro. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:2481-2493. [PMID: 37637267 PMCID: PMC10460164 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s411408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The oxygen and glucose deprivation-reoxygenation (OGDR) model is widely used to evaluate ischemic stroke and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in vitro. Excessively activated microglia produce pro-inflammatory mediators such as matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] and their specific inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases [TIMPs], causing neuronal damage. Ursolic acid (UA) acts as a neuroprotective agent in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model keeping the MMP/TIMP balance with underlying mechanisms unclear. Our study used OGDR model to determine whether and how UA reduces neuronal damage by reversing MMP/TIMP imbalance caused by microglia in I/R injury in vitro. Methods SH-SY5Y cells were first cultured with 95% N2 and 5% CO2 and then cultivated regularly for OGDR model. Cell viability was tested for a proper UA dose. We established a co-culture system with SH-SY5Y cells and microglia-conditioned medium (MCM) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ). MMP9 and TIMP1 levels were measured with ELISA assay to confirm the UA effect. We added recombinant MMP9 (rMMP9) and TIMP1 neutralizing antibody (anti-TIMP1) for reconfirmation. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe cell morphology, and flow cytometry and Annexin V-FITC and PI labeling for apoptotic conditions. We further measured the calcium fluorescence intensity in SH-SY5Y cells. Results The MCM significantly reduced cell viability of SH-SY5Y cells after OGDR (p<0.01), which was restored by UA (0.25 µM) (p<0.05), whereas lactate dehydrogenase activity, intraneuronal Ca2+ concentration, and apoptosis-related indexes were showed significant improvement after UA treatment (p<0.01). UA corrected the MMP/TIMP imbalance by decreasing MMP9 expression and increasing TIMP1 expression in the co-culture system (p<0.01) and the effects of UA on SH-SY5Y cells were mitigated by the administration of rMMP9 and anti-TIMP1 (p<0.01). Conclusion We demonstrated that UA inhibited microglia-induced neuronal cell death in an OGDR model of ischemic reperfusion injury by stabilizing the MMP9/TIMP1 imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luying Qiu
- Department of Neurology, Key Laboratory for Neurological Big Data of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaxuan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuye Wang
- Department of Neurology, Key Laboratory for Neurological Big Data of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Key Laboratory for Neurological Big Data of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shumin Deng
- Department of Neurology, Key Laboratory for Neurological Big Data of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weishuang Xue
- Department of Neurology, Key Laboratory for Neurological Big Data of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanzhe Wang
- Department of Neurology, Key Laboratory for Neurological Big Data of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
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Chen Y, Xu H, Xu H, Liu C, Zhan M, Wang Z, Gu M, Chen Q, Xu B. Exploration of diagnostic biomarkers, microenvironment characteristics, and ursolic acid's therapeutic effect for benign prostate hyperplasia. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:4242-4258. [PMID: 37705744 PMCID: PMC10496513 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.85739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and early-stage prostate cancer (PC) have similar symptoms, making it challenging to differentially diagnose these two conditions. The study used Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis, as well as two machine learning strategies to identify BPH-specific biomarkers based on an integrated transcriptome data from 922 samples. Eight prognostic genes (ALCAM, COL6A2, CRISP2, FOXF2, IGF1, PTN, SCN7A, and UAP1) were identified to be BPH-specific biomarkers with high accuracy and specificity. Moreover, we constructed a seven-gene diagnostic classifier to distinguish BPH from PC. The infiltrations of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and neutrophil cells showed distinct differences between BPH and non-BPH groups. Additionally, ursolic acid can reverse transcriptional features associated with the occurrence and progression of BPH. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have confirmed that it induces apoptosis of BPH cells and inhibits cell proliferation by promoting cell cycle S-phase arrest. The diagnostic biomarkers, microenvironment characteristics, and therapeutic effect of ursolic acid explored in this study offer new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for BPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbo Chen
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Emergency, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Huan Xu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Ming Zhan
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
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Cai C, Zhi Y, Xie C, Geng S, Sun F, Ji Z, Zhang P, Wang H, Tang J. Ursolic acid-downregulated long noncoding RNA ASMTL-AS1 inhibits renal cell carcinoma growth via binding to HuR and reducing vascular endothelial growth factor expression. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23389. [PMID: 37300450 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
It has been reported ursolic acid (UA), one of the naturally abundant pentacyclic triterpenes, possesses a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and anticancer properties. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a severe malignancy due to its asymptomatically spreading ability. Our study aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of UA in RCC. RCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Transwell, and tube formation assays. Xenograft tumor models were established to confirm the role of UA and long noncoding RNA ASMTL antisense RNA 1 (ASMTL-AS1) in vivo. Expression levels of ASMTL-AS1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The interaction probabilities of ASMTL-AS1 or VEGF with RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR) were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation experiment. The half-life period of messenger RNA (mRNA) was determined using actinomycin D. UA inhibited RCC cell growth in vivo and tumorigenesis in vitro. ASMTL-AS1 was highly expressed in RCC cell lines. Of note, UA downregulated ASMTL-AS1 expression, and overexpressed ASMTL-AS1 reversed the UA-induced suppression on RCC cell migration, invasion, and tube formation. Additionally, ASMTL-AS1 bound to HuR to maintain the stability of VEGF mRNA. Rescue experiments showed that the suppressed malignancy of RCC cells mediated by ASMTL-AS1 knockdown was counteracted by overexpression of VEGF. Moreover, silenced ASMTL-AS1 inhibited RCC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. The obtained data suggest UA as a promising therapeutic agent to attenuate the development of RCC via regulation of the targeted molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengkuan Cai
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunlai Zhi
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng Xie
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shen Geng
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fanghu Sun
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhengshuai Ji
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Pengcheng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingyuan Tang
- Department of Urology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Aydin T, Saglamtas R, Gumustas M, Genisel M, Kazaz C, Cakir A. Lavandula stoechas L. subsp. stoechas, a New Herbal Source for Ursolic Acid: Quantitative Analysis, Purification and Bioactivity Studies. Chem Biodivers 2023; 20:e202300414. [PMID: 37338138 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202300414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
In this study, methanol, ethanol, methanol-dichloromethane (1 : 1, v/v), acetone, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, and chloroform extracts of lavender (Lavandula stoechas L. subsp. stoechas) were prepared by maceration, and the ursolic acid contents in the extracts were determined quantitatively by HPLC analyses. The present results show that the methanol-dichloromethane (1 : 1, v/v) solvent system is the most efficient solvent system for the extraction of ursolic acid from the plant sample with the highest yield (2.22 g/100 g plant sample). In the present study, a new practical method for the isolation of ursolic acid from polar extracts was also demonstrated for the first time. The inhibition effects of the extracts and ursolic acid were also revealed on α-glycosidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and human carbonic anhydrase I and II enzymes by determining IC50 values for the first time. The extracts and ursolic acid acted as potent antidiabetic agents by strongly inhibiting the α-glycosidase activity, whereas they were found to be very weak neuroprotective agents. In view of the present results, L. stoechas and its major metabolite, ursolic acid, can be recommended as a herbal source to control postprandial blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes by delaying the digestion of starch in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuba Aydin
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Agri, 04100, Türkiye
| | - Ruya Saglamtas
- Vocational School of Health Services, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Agri, 04100, Türkiye
- Central Research and Application Laboratory, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Agri, 04100, Türkiye
| | - Mehmet Gumustas
- Pediatric Cardiology Department, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, 34000, Türkiye
| | - Mucip Genisel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Agri, 04100, Türkiye
| | - Cavit Kazaz
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, Erzurum, 25000, Türkiye
| | - Ahmet Cakir
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kilis 7 Aralık University, Kilis, 79000, Türkiye
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Huang N, Xing Q, Li W, Yan Q, Liu R, Liu X, Liu Z. Explore the mechanism of ursolic acid acting on atherosclerosis through network pharmacological and bioinformatics methods. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34362. [PMID: 37505165 PMCID: PMC10378903 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
To explore the deep mechanisms of ursolic acid (UA) for treating atherosclerosis based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics. UA target genes were derived from traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology, BATMAN-TCM, and SwissTargetPrediction databases. Atherosclerosis-related genes were derived from genecards, NCBI genes, and OMIM databases. The protein interaction network was constructed through the STRING database, and the hub network was extracted by using the Cytoscape software MCODE app. The enrichment analysis of gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes was performed by the R software clusterProfiler package, and the expression and prognostic value of the hub genes were verified on the data set. Screen the genes for expression and prognosis conclusions, conduct methylation analysis, and ceRNA construction. UA had 145 targets in the treatment of atherosclerosis. The top 7 gene ontology (biological process, molecular function, and cellular component) and pathways related to atherosclerosis were screened out. It is principally involved in biological processes, including response to lipopolysaccharide and regulation of inflammatory response. The main signaling pathways incorporated the TNF signaling pathway and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Androgen receptor (AR) and interleukin-1 beta gene (IL1B) were further screened as core target genes. Methylation analysis demonstrated that the AR methylation level was elevated in the atherosclerotic group. On the contrary, the IL1B methylation level was lower in the atherosclerotic group. The results of the ceRNA analysis indicated that there were 43 targeted miRNAs in AR and 3 miRNAs in IL1B. We speculate that the target genes of UA regulating atherosclerosis are AR and IL1B. The mechanism may be that UA regulates the expression of target genes by regulating the methylation of target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Huang
- Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, China
| | - Qichang Xing
- Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, China
| | - Wencan Li
- Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, China
| | - Qingzi Yan
- Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, China
| | - Renzhu Liu
- Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Center Hospital, Xiangtan, China
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Fu Y, Liu T, He S, Zhang Y, Tan Y, Bai Y, Shi J, Deng W, Qiu J, Wang Z, Chen Y, Jin Q, Xie M, Wang J. Ursolic acid reduces oxidative stress injury to ameliorate experimental autoimmune myocarditis by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1189372. [PMID: 37547335 PMCID: PMC10403233 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1189372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Oxidative stress is crucial in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM)-induced inflammatory myocardial injury. Ursolic acid (UA) is an antioxidant-enriched traditional Chinese medicine formula. The present study aimed to investigate whether UA could alleviate inflammatory cardiac injury and determine the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Six-week-old male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: Sham, EAM group, or UA intervention group (UA group) by gavage for 2 weeks. An EAM model was developed by subcutaneous injection of α-myosin heavy chain derived polypeptide (α-MyHC peptide) into lymph nodes on days 0 and 7. Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function on day 21. The inflammation level in the myocardial tissue of each group was compared using hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) of heart sections and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) immunohistochemical staining. Masson staining revealed the degree of cardiac fibrosis. Furthermore, Dihydroethidium staining, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the mechanism of cardioprotective effects of UA on EAM-induced cardiac injury, and the level of IL-6, Nrf2, and HO-1. Results: In EAM mice, UA intervention significantly reduced the degree of inflammatory infiltration and myocardial fibrosis while improving cardiac function. Mechanistically, UA reduced myocardial injury by inhibiting oxidative stress (as demonstrated by a decrease of superoxide and normalization of pro- and antioxidant enzyme levels). Interestingly, UA intervention upregulated the expression of antioxidant factors such as Nrf2 and HO-1. In vitro experiments, specific Nrf2 inhibitors reversed the antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of ursolic acid, which further suggested that the amelioration of EAM by UA was in a Nrf2/HO-1 pathway-dependent manner. Conclusion: These findings indicate that UA is a cardioprotective traditional Chinese medicine formula that reduces EAM-induced cardiac injury by up-regulating Nrf2/HO-1 expression and suppressing oxidative stress, making it a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of EAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Fu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianshu Liu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Shukun He
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Yichan Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuting Tan
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Bai
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiawei Shi
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenhui Deng
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiani Qiu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Yihan Chen
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiaofeng Jin
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingxing Xie
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
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Dwibedi V, Mishra SS, George N, Joshi M, Kaur G, Gupta M, Rath SK. Purification of ursolic acid and β-sitosterol from endophytic Alternaria alternata for their alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-12. [PMID: 37477594 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2236717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Fungal endophytes are a known warehouse of bioactive compounds with multifarious applications. In the present investigation two compounds, β-Sitosterol (1) and ursolic acid (2), were isolated from Alternaria alternata, an endophytic fungus associated with Morus alba Linn for the first time. The structure of the compounds was elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectral analysis (UV, IR, 1 H-, 13 C- and 2D-NMR, as well as HRESI-MS). In the in vitro alpha amylase inhibitory assay both compounds (1) and (2) show potent antidiabetic activity. In support, Docking studies indicate significant binding affinity of the isolated compounds. Hence from the present study, it can be concluded that endophytic fungi in Morus alba Linn can find use in antidiabetic drug development in the medicinal industry.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vagish Dwibedi
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Volcani Resaerch Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon Lezion, Israel
| | - Shashank Shekher Mishra
- School of Pharmaceuticals and Population Health Informatics, Faculty of Pharmacy, DIT University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Nancy George
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Mahavir Joshi
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Gursharan Kaur
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Mukul Gupta
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Rath
- School of Pharmaceuticals and Population Health Informatics, Faculty of Pharmacy, DIT University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
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Tian C, Li J, Bao Y, Gao L, Song L, Li K, Sun M. Ursolic acid ameliorates obesity of mice fed with high-fat diet via alteration of gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1183598. [PMID: 37485499 PMCID: PMC10359042 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1183598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity has been regarded as one of the major health problems worldwide. Studies demonstrated that ursolic acid (UA) can significantly ameliorate the progress of obesity. However, whether the effect of UA on obesity depends on the regulation of gut microbiota and metabolism is uncertain. To investigate the regulatory role of UA in obese mice from the perspective of intestinal microbiome and metabolomics analyses, an obese mice model was established with a high-fat diet, and the effect of UA on obesity was evaluated. The alterations of gut microbiota and metabolism related to obesity were evaluated by bioinformatic analysis. The results of the gut microbiota analysis showed that UA intervention could shift the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio at the phylum level and increase in the genera of Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Akkermansia. Additionally, metabolomics analysis showed that the beneficial influence of UA on obesity partly depended on amino acid metabolism. The current study demonstrated the roles of UA in the anti-obesity process, which depends in part on alterations in the gut microbiota and metabolism. Therefore, our findings highlight the potential therapeutic effect of UA on the improvement of diet-induced obesity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunfeng Tian
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Public Health, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Yan Bao
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Health, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
| | - Long Gao
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China
| | - Lixin Song
- Baotou Disease Prevention Control Center, Baotou, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China
| | - Ming Sun
- School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China
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Yenigün S, Başar Y, İpek Y, Behçet L, Özen T, Demirtaş İ. Determination of antioxidant, DNA protection, enzyme inhibition potential and molecular docking studies of a biomarker ursolic acid in Nepeta species. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-18. [PMID: 37394807 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2229440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA), which has many biological properties such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and regulates some pharmacological processes, has been isolated from the flowers, leaves, berries and fruits of many plant species. In this work, UA was purified from the methanol-chloroform crude extract of Nepeta species (N. aristata, N. baytopii, N. italica, N. trachonitica, N. stenantha) using a silica gel column with chloroform or ethyl acetate solvents via bioactivity-guided isolation. The most active sub-fractions were determined under bioactivities using antioxidant and DNA protection activities and enzyme inhibitions. UA was purified from these fractions and its structure was elucidated by NMR spectroscopy techniques. The highest amount of UA was found in N. stenantha (8.53 mg UA/g), while the lowest amount of UA was found in N. trachonitica (1.92 mg UA/g). The bioactivities of UA were evaluated with antioxidant and DNA protection activities, enzyme inhibitions, kinetics and interactions. The inhibition values (IC50) of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, urease, CA, tyrosinase, lipase, AChE, and BChE were determined between 5.08 and 181.96 µM. In contrast, Ki values of enzyme inhibition kinetics were observed between 0.04 and 0.20 mM. In addition, Ki values of these enzymes for enzyme-UA interactions were calculated as 0.38, 0.86, 0.45, 1.01, 0.23, 0.41, 0.01 and 2.24 µM, respectively. It is supported that UA can be widely used as a good antioxidant against oxidative damage, an effective DNA protector against genetic diseases, and a suitable inhibitor for metabolizing enzymes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semiha Yenigün
- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Yunus Başar
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Iğdır University, Iğdır, Turkey
| | - Yaşar İpek
- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı, Turkey
| | - Lütfi Behçet
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bingöl University, Bingöl, Turkey
| | - Tevfik Özen
- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - İbrahim Demirtaş
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Iğdır University, Iğdır, Turkey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey
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Namdeo P, Gidwani B, Tiwari S, Jain V, Joshi V, Shukla SS, Pandey RK, Vyas A. Therapeutic potential and novel formulations of ursolic acid and its derivatives: an updated review. J Sci Food Agric 2023; 103:4275-4292. [PMID: 36597140 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce biologically active metabolites that have been utilised to cure a variety of severe and persistent illnesses. There is a possibility that understanding how these bioactive molecules work would allow researchers to come up with better treatments for diseases including malignancy, cardiac disease and neurological disorders. A triterpene called ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic prevalent triterpenoid found in fruits, leaves, herbs and blooms. The biological and chemical aspects of UA, as well as their presence, plant sources and biosynthesis, and traditional and newer technologies of extraction, are discussed in this review. Because of its biological function in the creation of new therapeutic techniques, UA is a feasible option for the evolution and medical management of a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer and other life threatening diseases. Despite this, the substance's poor solubility in aquatic environments makes it unsuitable for medicinal purposes. This hurdle was resolved in many different ways. The inclusion of UA into various pharmaceutical delivery approaches was found to be quite effective in this respect. This review also describes the properties of UA and its pharmacokinetics, as well as therapeutic applications of UA for cancer, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, in addition to its anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and anti-microbial properties. Some of the recent findings related to novel nano-sized carriers as a delivery system for UA and the patents related to the applications of UA and its various derivatives are covered in this review. The analytical study of UA, oleanolic acid and other phytoconstituents by UV, HPLC, high-performance thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography is also discussed. In the future, UA could be explored in vivo using various animal models and, in addition, the regulatory status regarding UA needs to be explored. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Namdeo
- University Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
| | | | - Sakshi Tiwari
- University Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
| | - Vishal Jain
- University Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
| | - Veenu Joshi
- Center for Basic Science and Research, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
| | | | | | - Amber Vyas
- University Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India
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Yang Y, Chen K, Wang G, Liu H, Shao L, Zhou X, Liu L, Yang S. Discovery of Novel Pentacyclic Triterpene Acid Amide Derivatives as Excellent Antimicrobial Agents Dependent on Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10566. [PMID: 37445744 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing new agricultural bactericides is a feasible strategy for stopping the increase in the resistance of plant pathogenic bacteria. Some pentacyclic triterpene acid derivatives were elaborately designed and synthesized. In particular, compound A22 exhibited the best antimicrobial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) with EC50 values of 3.34 and 3.30 mg L-1, respectively. The antimicrobial mechanism showed that the compound A22 induced excessive production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Xoo cells, leading to a decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities and an increase in malondialdehyde content. A22 also produced increases in Xoo cell membrane permeability and eventual cell death. In addition, in vivo experiments showed that A22 at 200 mg L-1 exhibited protective activity against rice bacterial blight (50.44%) and citrus canker disease (84.37%). Therefore, this study provides a paradigm for the agricultural application of pentacyclic triterpene acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Kunlun Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Guangdi Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Hongwu Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lihui Shao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Liwei Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Song Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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Liu CH, Tai CJ, Kuo YT, Chang SS, Lin LT. Combination of Oncolytic Measles Virus and Ursolic Acid Synergistically Induces Oncolysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Viruses 2023; 15:1294. [PMID: 37376594 DOI: 10.3390/v15061294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a difficult-to-treat cancer due to late diagnosis and limited curative treatment options. Developing more effective therapeutic strategies is essential for the management of HCC. Oncolytic virotherapy is a novel treatment modality for cancers, and its combination with small molecules merits further exploration. In this study, we combined oncolytic measles virus (MV) with the natural triterpenoid compound ursolic acid (UA) and evaluated their combination effect against HCC cells, including those harboring hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. We found that the combination of MV and UA synergistically induced more cell death in Huh-7 HCC cells through enhanced apoptosis. In addition, increased oxidative stress and loss of mitochondrial potential were observed in the treated cells, indicating dysregulation of the mitochondria-dependent pathway. Similar synergistic cytotoxic effects were also found in HCC cells harboring HBV or HCV genomes. These findings underscore the potential of oncolytic MV and UA combination for further development as a treatment strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Hsuan Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Chen-Jei Tai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Clinical Drug Development of Herbal Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Kuo
- Department of Medical Imaging, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Shong Chang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Taipei City Hospital Yang-Ming Branch, Taipei 111, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Liang-Tzung Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
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Khalikova D, An'kov S, Zhukova N, Tolstikova T, Popov S, Saiko A. Effect of the Composition of Leuzea and Cranberry Meal Extracts on Metabolic Processes in Norm and Pathology. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050768. [PMID: 37242551 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of long-term administration of a new herbal composition of leuzea and cranberry meal extracts at a dose of 70:500 mg/kg in healthy and pathological mice. After 4 weeks of daily composition administration to healthy CD-1 mice and C57BL/6 mice with diet-induced metabolic syndrome, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), serum biochemical examination and histology of internal organs were performed. Additionally, histological examination of white and brown adipose tissue was performed to evaluate the ability of the composition to prevent abdominal obesity in C57BL/6Ay (agouti yellow) mice. The results showed that the composition increased tissue sensitivity to glucose in healthy CD-1 mice; at the same time, it did not worsen the course of pathological processes in pathological mice. In both cases, the application of the developed composition was safe and contributed to the restoration of metabolic parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Khalikova
- Vorozhtzov Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 9 Akademika Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Sergey An'kov
- Vorozhtzov Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 9 Akademika Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nataliya Zhukova
- Vorozhtzov Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 9 Akademika Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Tatyana Tolstikova
- Vorozhtzov Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 9 Akademika Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Sergey Popov
- Vorozhtzov Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 9 Akademika Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Anastasia Saiko
- Vorozhtzov Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 9 Akademika Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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Michalak O, Cybulski M, Szymanowski W, Gornowicz A, Kubiszewski M, Ostrowska K, Krzeczyński P, Bielawski K, Trzaskowski B, Bielawska A. Synthesis, Biological Activity, ADME and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Ursolic Acid Derivatives as Potent Anticancer Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108875. [PMID: 37240221 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of new ursolic acid (UA) derivatives substituted with various amino acids (AAs) or dipeptides (DP) at the C-3 position of the steroid skeleton was designed and synthesized. The compounds were obtained by the esterification of UA with the corresponding AAs. The cytotoxic activity of the synthesized conjugates was determined using the hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA. Three derivatives (l-seryloxy-, l-prolyloxy- and l-alanyl-l-isoleucyloxy-) showed micromolar IC50 values and reduced the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9. Further studies revealed that for two compounds (l-seryloxy- and l-alanyl-l-isoleucyloxy-), a possible mechanism of their antiproliferative action is the activation of caspase-7 and the proapoptotic Bax protein in the apoptotic pathway. The third compound (l-prolyloxy- derivative) showed a different mechanism of action as it induced autophagy as measured by an increase in the concentrations of three autophagy markers: LC3A, LC3B, and beclin-1. This derivative also showed statistically significant inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Finally, for all synthesized compounds, we computationally predicted their ADME properties as well as performed molecular docking to the estrogen receptor to assess their potential for further development as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Michalak
- Chemistry Section, Pharmacy, Cosmetic Chemistry and Biotechnology Research Group, Łukasiewicz Research Network-Industrial Chemistry Institute, 8 Rydygiera Str., 01-793 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Cybulski
- Chemistry Section, Pharmacy, Cosmetic Chemistry and Biotechnology Research Group, Łukasiewicz Research Network-Industrial Chemistry Institute, 8 Rydygiera Str., 01-793 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Szymanowski
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 1 Kilińskiego Str., 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gornowicz
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 1 Kilińskiego Str., 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Marek Kubiszewski
- Analytical Research Section, Pharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory, Łukasiewicz Research Network-Industrial Chemistry Institute, 8 Rydygiera Str., 01-793 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kinga Ostrowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Str., 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Krzeczyński
- Chemistry Section, Pharmacy, Cosmetic Chemistry and Biotechnology Research Group, Łukasiewicz Research Network-Industrial Chemistry Institute, 8 Rydygiera Str., 01-793 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Bielawski
- Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, 1 Kilińskiego Str., 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Bartosz Trzaskowski
- Chemical and Biological Systems Simulation Lab, Center of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 2C Banacha Str., 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 1 Kilińskiego Str., 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
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Liu Z, Huang H, Yu Y, Jia Y, Li L, Shi X, Wang F. Exploring the potential mechanism of action of ursolic acid against gastric cancer and COVID-19 using network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:CPD-EPUB-131688. [PMID: 37218202 DOI: 10.2174/1381612829666230510124716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with gastric cancer (GC) are more likely to be infected with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the prognosis is worse. It is urgent to find effective treatment methods. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the potential targets and mechanism of ursolic acid (UA) on GC and COVID-19 by network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. METHODS The online public database and weighted co-expression gene network analysis (WGCNA) were used to screen the clinical related targets of GC. COVID-19-related targets were retrieved from online public databases. Then, a clinicopathological analysis was performed on GC and COVID-19 intersection genes. Following that, the related targets of UA and the intersection targets of UA and GC/COVID-19 were screened. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome Analysis (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the intersection targets. Core targets were screened using a constructed protein-protein interaction network. Finally, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) of UA and core targets were performed to verify the accuracy of the prediction results. RESULTS A total of 347 GC/COVID-19-related genes were obtained. The clinical features of GC/COVID-19 patients were revealed using clinicopathological analysis. Three potential biomarkers (TRIM25, CD59, MAPK14) associated with the clinical prognosis of GC/COVID-19 were identified. A total of 32 intersection targets of UA and GC/COVID-19 were obtained. The intersection targets were primarily enriched in FoxO, PI3K/Akt, and ErbB signaling pathways. HSP90AA1, CTNNB1, MTOR, SIRT1, MAPK1, MAPK14, PARP1, MAP2K1, HSPA8, EZH2, PTPN11, and CDK2 were identified as core targets. Molecular docking revealed that UA strongly binds to its core targets. The MDS results revealed that UA stabilizes the protein-ligand complexes of PARP1, MAPK14, and ACE2. CONCLUSION This study found that in patients with gastric cancer and COVID-19, UA may bind to ACE2, regulate core targets such as PARP1 and MAPK14, and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and participate in antiinflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-virus, and immune regulation to exert therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyao Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hailiang Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jinan China
| | - Yuqi Jia
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xin Shi
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Fangqi Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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Zou H, Yang Y, Chen HW. Natural compounds ursolic acid and digoxin exhibit inhibitory activities to cancer cells in RORγ-dependent and -independent manner. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1146741. [PMID: 37180705 PMCID: PMC10169565 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1146741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural compounds ursolic acid (UA) and digoxin isolated from fruits and other plants display potent anti-cancer effects in preclinical studies. UA and digoxin have been at clinical trials for treatment of different cancers including prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. However, they displayed limited benefit to patients. Currently, a poor understanding of their direct targets and mechanisms of action (MOA) severely hinders their further development. We previously identified nuclear receptor RORγ as a novel therapeutic target for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and demonstrated that tumor cell RORγ directly activates gene programs such as androgen receptor (AR) signaling and cholesterol metabolism. Previous studies also demonstrated that UA and digoxin are potential RORγt antagonists in modulating the functions of immune cells such as Th17 cells. Here we showed that UA displays a strong activity in inhibition of RORγ-dependent transactivation function in cancer cells, while digoxin exhibits no effect at clinically relevant concentrations. In prostate cancer cells, UA downregulates RORγ-stimulated AR expression and AR signaling, whereas digoxin upregulates AR signaling pathway. In TNBC cells, UA but not digoxin alters RORγ-controlled gene programs of cell proliferation, apoptosis and cholesterol biosynthesis. Together, our study reveals for the first-time that UA, but not digoxin, acts as a natural antagonist of RORγ in the cancer cells. Our finding that RORγ is a direct target of UA in cancer cells will help select patients with tumors that likely respond to UA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongye Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Yatian Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Hong-Wu Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
- UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
- VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA, United States
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Tao W, Ouyang Z, Liao Z, Li L, Zhang Y, Gao J, Ma L, Yu S. Ursolic Acid Alleviates Cancer Cachexia and Prevents Muscle Wasting via Activating SIRT1. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082378. [PMID: 37190306 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle wasting is the most remarkable phenotypic feature of cancer cachexia that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. However, there are currently no effective drugs against cancer cachexia. Ursolic acid (UA) is a lipophilic pentacyclic triterpene that has been reported to alleviate muscle atrophy and reduce muscle decomposition in some disease models. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanisms of UA treatment in cancer cachexia. We found that UA attenuated Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-conditioned medium-induced C2C12 myotube atrophy and muscle wasting of LLC tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, UA dose-dependently activated SIRT1 and downregulated MuRF1 and Atrogin-1. Molecular docking results revealed a good binding effect on UA and SIRT1 protein. UA rescued vital features wasting without impacting tumor growth, suppressed the elevated spleen weight, and downregulated serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in vivo. The above phenomena can be attenuated by Ex-527, an inhibitor of SIRT1. Furthermore, UA remained protective against cancer cachexia in the advanced stage of tumor growth. The results revealed that UA exerts an anti-cachexia effect via activating SIRT1, thereby downregulating the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB and STAT3. UA might be a potential drug against cancer cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Tao
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ze Ouyang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhiqi Liao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yujie Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jiali Gao
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shiying Yu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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Kornel A, Nadile M, Retsidou MI, Sakellakis M, Gioti K, Beloukas A, Sze NSK, Klentrou P, Tsiani E. Ursolic Acid against Prostate and Urogenital Cancers: A Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087414. [PMID: 37108576 PMCID: PMC10138876 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed form of cancer in men worldwide and accounted for roughly 1.3 million cases and 359,000 deaths globally in 2018, despite all the available treatment strategies including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Finding novel approaches to prevent and treat prostate and other urogenital cancers effectively is of major importance. Chemicals derived from plants, such as docetaxel and paclitaxel, have been used in cancer treatment, and in recent years, research interest has focused on finding other plant-derived chemicals that can be used in the fight against cancer. Ursolic acid, found in high concentrations in cranberries, is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In the present review, we summarize the research studies examining the effects of ursolic acid and its derivatives against prostate and other urogenital cancers. Collectively, the existing data indicate that ursolic acid inhibits human prostate, renal, bladder, and testicular cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. A limited number of studies have shown significant reduction in tumor volume in animals xenografted with human prostate cancer cells and treated with ursolic acid. More animal studies and human clinical studies are required to examine the potential of ursolic acid to inhibit prostate and other urogenital cancers in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Kornel
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Matteo Nadile
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Maria Ilektra Retsidou
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Minas Sakellakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Gioti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Apostolos Beloukas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
- National AIDS Reference Centre of Southern Greece, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Newman Siu Kwan Sze
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Panagiota Klentrou
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
- Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Evangelia Tsiani
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
- Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
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Ning C, Dong Y, Yang K, Li X, Wang F, Zhang Y. Co-Encapsulation of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Drugs into Human H Chain Ferritin Nanocarrier Enhances Antitumor Efficacy. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:2572-2583. [PMID: 37071410 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
The biocompatible protein nanocarrier with homogeneous particle size is a promising candidate material for the delivery of targeted drugs to tumors. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly prescribed anthracycline antitumor drug, although it may cause nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. The Chinese herbal remedy ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid with anticancer action, has been used as a potential drug sensitizer to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and pharmacological therapy. Therefore, the dose of DOX can be reduced by compatibility with UA to lower its side effects. Ferritin binds to tumor cells through an interaction with the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), which is overexpressed in human cancer cells. In this study, the hydrophobic drug UA and the hydrophilic drug DOX were successfully encapsulated into the ferritin inner cavity using the thermal treatment method incubated at 60 °C for 4 h. The results demonstrated that loaded ferritin could specifically enter breast cancer cells MCF-7 and non-small-cell lung cancer cells A549 in comparison with free UA and DOX, enhancing their therapeutic effects. The loading ratio of two drugs was optimized in the constructed nanocarriers, and the effectiveness of the constructed nanodrugs in inhibiting tumor proliferation was verified by cell apoptosis and three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroids studies. For the first time, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs were loaded simultaneously within unmodified ferritin without other addition of additives, which would reduce the toxic side effects of DOX and enhance its therapeutic effect. This study also showed that the ferritin-based nanocarrier has potential for drug delivery to tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ning
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and U tilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P. R. China
| | - Yixin Dong
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and U tilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P. R. China
| | - Kun Yang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and U tilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P. R. China
| | - Xun Li
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and U tilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P. R. China
| | - Fei Wang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and U tilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and U tilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P. R. China
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50
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Estrada-Soto S, Ornelas-Mendoza K, Navarrete-Vázquez G, Chávez-Silva F, Almanza-Pérez JC, Villalobos-Molina R, Ortiz-Barragán E, Loza-Rodríguez H, Rivera-Leyva JC, Flores-Flores A, Perea-Arango I, Rodríguez-Carpena JG, Ávila-Villarreal G. Insulin Sensitization by PPARγ and GLUT-4 Overexpression/Translocation Mediates the Antidiabetic Effect of Plantago australis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16040535. [PMID: 37111292 PMCID: PMC10143998 DOI: 10.3390/ph16040535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plantago australis Lam. Subsp. hirtella (Kunth) Rahn is a medicinal plant used as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, throat cancer treatment and for the control of diabetes. P. australis was collected in the state of Morelos, México. The hydroalcoholic extract (HAEPa) of P. australis was obtained by maceration and concentrated in vacuo. Once dry, it was evaluated through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in normoglycemic mice and in a non-insulin-dependent diabetic mice model. The expression of PPARγ and GLUT-4 mRNA was determined by rt-PCR, and GLUT-4 translocation was confirmed by confocal microscopy. The toxicological studies were conducted in accordance with the guidelines suggested by the OECD, sections 423 and 407, with some modifications. HAEPa significantly decreased glycemia in OGTT curves, as well as in the experimental diabetes model compared to the vehicle group. In vitro tests showed that HAEPa induced an α-glucosidase inhibition and increased PPARγ and GLUT-4 expression in cell culture. The LD50 of HAEPa was greater than 2000 mg/kg, and sub-chronic toxicity studies revealed that 100 mg/kg/day for 28 days did not generate toxicity. Finally, LC-MS analysis led to the identification of verbascoside, caffeic acid and geniposidic acid, and phytochemical approaches allowed for the isolation of ursolic acid, which showed significant PPARγ overexpression and augmented GLUT-4 translocation. In conclusion, HAEPa induced significant antidiabetic action by insulin sensitization through PPARγ/GLUT-4 overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Estrada-Soto
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico
| | - Kathia Ornelas-Mendoza
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico
| | | | - Fabiola Chávez-Silva
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Depto. Ciencias de la Salud, D.C.B.S., Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ciudad de Mexico 09340, Mexico
| | - Julio Cesar Almanza-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Depto. Ciencias de la Salud, D.C.B.S., Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ciudad de Mexico 09340, Mexico
| | - Rafael Villalobos-Molina
- Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico
| | - Erandi Ortiz-Barragán
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Depto. Ciencias de la Salud, D.C.B.S., Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ciudad de Mexico 09340, Mexico
| | - Hilda Loza-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Experimental, División de Tecnología Ambiental, Universidad Tecnológica de Nezahualcoyotl, Nezahualcoyotl 57000, Mexico
| | | | - Angélica Flores-Flores
- Departamento de Inmunofarmacología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Ciudad de Mexico 14080, Mexico
| | - Irene Perea-Arango
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico
| | - Javier-German Rodríguez-Carpena
- Centro Nayarita de Innovación y Transferencia de Tecnología "Unidad especializada en I+D+i en Calidad de Alimentos y Productos Naturales", Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic 63000, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Ávila-Villarreal
- Centro Nayarita de Innovación y Transferencia de Tecnología "Unidad especializada en I+D+i en Calidad de Alimentos y Productos Naturales", Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic 63000, Mexico
- Unidad Académica de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic 63000, Mexico
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