In vitro anticancer activity of aqueous extracts and ethanol extracts of fifteen traditional Chinese medicines on human digestive tumor cell lines

Interactions between phytotherapeutics and chemotherapeutics: the current evidence

INTRODUCTION

The historical context of phytotherapy affects its potential as therapeutic products, and bioactive metabolites are crucial to the pharmacological effects, safety and effectiveness of alternative medicines.

AREAS COVERED

Phytotherapy is of great interest to cancer patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to gather publications about the interactions between chemotherapy and phytotherapeutics, medicinal plants, and similar formulations. To find publications published between January 2015 and January 2025, a MEDLINE PubMed search was conducted.

EXPERT OPINION

Several scientists and medical specialists have been looking into the potential of natural items to heal microbial cancer and chemotherapy-related adverse effects. The main factor influencing phytochemicals anticancer effectiveness is their ability to target a variety of pathways, including antimutagenic, antioxidant, and antiproliferative qualities. They can also regulate the host immune response to cancer by improving the surveillance of lymphocytes in cancer cells and lowering the inflammatory milieu. Because carcinogenesis is complex and involves a wide range of factors and signaling cascades, phytochemicals that target several targets may be useful anticancer drugs.

Phylotranscriptomic analyses reveal the evolutionary complexity of Paris L. (Melanthiaceae), a morphologically distinctive genus with significant pharmaceutical importance

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous phylogenetic studies on the pharmaceutically significant genus Paris (Melanthiaceae) have consistently revealed substantial cytonuclear discordance, yet the underlying mechanism responsible for this phenomenon remains elusive. This study aims to reconstruct a robust nuclear backbone phylogeny and elucidate the potential evolutionarily complex events contributing to previously observed cytonuclear discordance within Paris.

METHODS

Based on a comprehensive set of nuclear low-copy orthologous genes obtained from transcriptomic data, the intrageneric phylogeny of Paris, along with its phylogenetic relationships to allied genera, were inferred using coalescent and concatenated approaches. The analysis of gene tree discordance and reticulate evolution, in conjunction with an incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) simulation, was conducted to explore potential hybridization and ILS events in the evolutionary history of Paris and assess their contribution to the discordance of gene trees.

KEY RESULTS

The nuclear phylogeny unequivocally confirmed the monophyly of Paris and its sister relationship with Trillium, while widespread incongruences in gene trees were observed at the majority of internal nodes within Paris. The reticulate evolution analysis identified five instances of hybridization events in Paris, indicating that hybridization events might have occurred recurrently throughout the evolutionary history of Paris. In contrast, the ILS simulations revealed that only two internal nodes within section Euthyra experienced ILS events.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the previously observed cytonuclear discordance in the phylogeny of Paris can primarily be attributed to recurrent hybridization events, with secondary contributions from infrequent ILS events. The recurrent hybridization events in the evolutionary history of Paris not only drove lineage diversification and speciation but also facilitated morphological innovation, and enhanced ecological adaptability. Therefore, artificial hybridization has great potential for breeding medicinal Paris species. These findings significantly contribute to our comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary complexity of this pharmaceutically significant plant lineage, thereby facilitating effective exploitation and conservation efforts.

The role of Rhizoma Paridis saponins on anti-cancer: The potential mechanism and molecular targets

Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation, leading to excessive growth and invasion that can spread to other parts of the body. Traditional Chinese medicine has made new advancements in the treatment of cancer, providing new perspectives and directions for cancer treatment. Rhizoma Paridis is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine with documented anti-cancer effects dating back to ancient times. Modern research has shown that Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) have various pharmacological activities. RPS can inhibit cancer in multiple ways, such as suppressing tumor growth, inducing cell cycle arrest, promoting cell apoptosis, enhancing cell autophagy, inducing ferroptosis, reducing inflammation, inhibiting angiogenesis, as well as inhibiting metastasis and invasion, and these findings demonstrate the potent anti-cancer activity of RPS. Polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, polyphyllin VI, and polyphyllin VII have been widely reported as the main active ingredients with anti-cancer properties. Polyphyllin D, polyphyllin E, and polyphyllin G have also been confirmed to possess strong anti-cancer activity in recent years. Therefore, this review dives deep into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of RPS to serve as a valuable reference for future scientific research and their potential applications in cancer treatment.

Molluscicidal activity of Nicotiana tabacum extracts on the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata

Botanical molluscicides for controlling the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata have attracted worldwide attention because of their cost and environmental friendliness. Aqueous extracts from discarded tobacco leaf (Nicotiana tobacum) were evaluated for molluscicidal activity against different-sized P. canaliculata under laboratory conditions. The results showed that over 90% of the snails died in 1 g/L tobacco extract within 4 days, and the survival of P. canaliculata was inversely proportional to the snail size, tobacco extract concentration and length of exposure time. Adult males were more susceptible to tobacco extract than females. The snails had few chances to feed or mate in 0.5 g/L tobacco extract, and reproduction was greatly limited in 0.2 g/L. The growth of juvenile snails was inhibited in 0.2 g/L tobacco extract, but adults were unaffected. The antioxidant capacity of P. canaliculata in response to tobacco extract can be size- and sex-dependent, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and acetylcholinesterase and the contents of glutathione and malondialdehyde were increased in adult males. These results suggest that discarded tobacco leaves can be useful as a molluscicide for controlling the invasive snail P. canaliculata based on its effects on survival, behaviour, food intake, growth performance and antioxidant capacity.

Paris saponins Ⅶ inhibits glycolysis of ovarian cancer via the RORC/ACK1 signaling pathway

Rhizoma Paridis is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used for treatment of malignant tumors. Paris saponins Ⅶ (PSⅦ) is one of the components of Rhizoma Paridis, but the role of PSⅦ in glucose metabolism in ovarian cancer remains elucidated. A series of experiments in the current study demonstrated that PSⅦ inhibites glycolysis and promotes cell apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Expression levels of glycolysis-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins were significantly altered by upon treatment with PSⅦ, as determined from western blot analyses. Mechanistically, PSⅦ exerted its anti-tumor effects by targeting the RORC/ACK1 signaling pathway. These findings indicate that PSⅦ inhibits glycolysis-induced cell proliferation and apoptosis through the RORC/ACK1 pathway, supporting its potential development as a candidate chemotherapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.

Therapeutic effects on cancer of the active ingredients in rhizoma paridis

Cancer is a major threat to human health, with high mortality and a low cure rate, continuously challenging public health worldwide. Extensive clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for patients with poor outcomes of radiotherapy and chemotherapy provides a new direction in anticancer therapy. Anticancer mechanisms of the active ingredients in TCM have also been extensively studied in the medical field. As a type of TCM against cancer, Rhizoma Paridis (Chinese name: Chonglou) has important antitumor effects in clinical application. The main active ingredients of Rhizoma Paridis (e.g., total saponins, polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, polyphyllin VI, and polyphyllin VII) have shown strong antitumor activities in various cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and gastric cancer. Rhizoma Paridis also has low concentrations of certain other active ingredients with antitumor effects, such as saponins polyphyllin E, polyphyllin H, Paris polyphylla-22, gracillin, and formosanin-C. Many researchers have studied the anticancer mechanism of Rhizoma Paridis and its active ingredients. This review article describes research progress regarding the molecular mechanism and antitumor effects of the active ingredients in Rhizoma Paridis, suggesting that various active ingredients in Rhizoma Paridis may be potentially therapeutic against cancer.

Systematic transcriptome analysis reveals molecular mechanisms and indications of bupleuri radix

Pharmacogenomic analysis based on drug transcriptomic signatures is widely used to identify mechanisms of action and pharmacological indications. Despite accumulating reports on the efficacy of medicinal herbs, related transcriptome-level analyses are lacking. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of action of Bupleuri Radix (BR), a widely used herbal medicine, through a systematic transcriptomic analysis. We analyzed the drug-responsive transcriptome profiling of A549 lung cancer cell line after treating them with multiple doses of BR water (W-BR) and ethanol (E-BR) extracts and their phytochemicals. In vitro validation experiments were performed using both A549 and the immortalized human keratinocyte line HaCaT. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed the anti-cancer effects of BR treatment via inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Enhanced cell adhesion and migration were observed with the W-BR but not with the E-BR. Comparison with a disease signature database validated an indication of the W-BR for skin disorders. Moreover, W-BR treatment showed the wound-healing effect in skin and lung cells. The main active ingredients of BR showed only the anti-cancer effect of the E-BR and not the wound healing effect of the W-BR, suggesting the need for research on minor ingredients of BR.

Bioactive secondary metabolites in Paris polyphylla Sm. and their biological activities: A review

Paris polyphylla Sm. is an important medicinal plant used to treat a variety of diseases through traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Tibetan traditional medicines, Chinese traditional medicines, and others around the world. The IUCN red list has designated it as "vulnerable" due to a decline in wild population by over-exploitation, habitat degradation, illegal collection for trade and traditional use. This review paper aims to summarize the bioactive secondary metabolites in Paris polyphylla. Paris saponins or steroidal saponins are the main bioactive chemical constituents from this plant that account for more than 80% of the total compounds. For instance, polyphyllin D, diosgenin, paris saponins I, II, VI, VII, and H are steroidal saponins having anticancer activity comparable to synthetic anticancer medicines. Antioxidant, anticancer, anti-leishmaniasis, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, antityrosinase, and antiviral effects of extracts and pure compounds were also demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, this review summarizes the bioactive components from the P. polyphylla which will be useful to researchers and scientists, and for the development of potential drugs.

NMR-based Metabolomic Techniques Identify the Anticancer Effects of Three Polyphyllins in HepG2 Cells

Background:

Rhizoma Paridis (RP) is a traditional Chinese herb used for the treatment of tumors, detoxification and hemostasia. Studies show the main components of RP are Polyphyllin I (PPI), polyphyllin VI (PPVI), and polyphyllin VII (PPVII). However, the pharmaco-mechanisms of these compounds are not clear.

Objective:

By used 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) based metabolomics approach to identify the Anticancer effects of PPI, PPVI and PPVII in HepG2 cells. Methods 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) based metabolomics approach was applied to investigate the toxicological effect of PPI, PPVI, PPVII on HepG2 cells. Multivariate statistical analysis was employed to examine the metabolic changes and abnormal metabolic pathways, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal PLS-DA (OPLS-DA).

Results:

The results showed that the effects of metabolic phenotypes were affected separately by PPI, PPVI, and PPVII. The metabolic phenotypes were also changed over time. The characteristic metabolites were varied by affecting different polyphylins, which were identified by the reconstructed OPLSDA loading plots. According to the characteristic metabolites, the mainly disturbed metabolic pathways were found, such as alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism.

Conclusion:

The current work could allow us to understand the therapeutic effect of RP in metabolism. It also indicated that RP would be a promising candidate for liver cancer treatment.

Phyto-Phospholipid Complexation as a Novel Drug Delivery System for Management of Cancer with Better Bioavailability: Current Perspectives and Future Prospects

Cancer is the foremost cause of death, and it supports the need for the identification of novel anticancer drugs to improve the efficacy of current-therapy. While the synthetic anticancer drug is associated with numerous side effects. Hence the plant active or phytoconstituents are in high demand for the treatment of cancer due to minimum side effects. But the polar nature of phytoconstituents hindered the absorption of the drug and lowered the therapeutic efficacy. The plant activity incorporated into Phyto-phospholipid Complexation can enhance bioavailability and improved therapeutic efficacy. In this review article, advantages, limitation and application of Phyto-phospholipid complexes have been illustrated. The article highlights the application of Phyto-phospholipid complexes as a promising drug carrier system to treat cancer.

Anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis effects of Polyphyllin VII on Hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Background

Polyphyllin VII (PP7), a steroidal saponin from P. polyphylla has been found to exert strong anticancer activity. Little is known about the anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis properties of PP7. In this study, the anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic effects of PP7 on HCC and the molecular mechanisms were evaluated.

Methods

Effect of PP7 on angiogenesis was assessed by tube formation assay and applied a transgenic Tg(fli1:EGFP) zebrafish model. Effects of PP7 on tumor metastasis and invasion were examined in cell migration and invasion assay, zebrafish tumor xenograft models and lung metastasis mouse models. The protein levels were examined by Western blotting.

Results

PP7 significantly decreased the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the number and length of ISVs and SIVs of transgenic zebrafish, and the metastasis and invasion of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic effects of PP7 in HepG2 cells were attributable, at least partially, to downregulated NF-κB/MMP-9/VEGF signaling pathway.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that PP7 possesses strong anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis activities, suggesting that PP7 could be a potential candidate agent for HCC treatment.

Paris saponin H inhibits the proliferation of glioma cells through the A1 and A3 adenosine receptor‑mediated pathway

Paris saponin H (PSH) is a type of steroid saponin derived from Rhizoma Paridis (RP; the rhizome of Paris). In our previous studies, saponins from RP exerted antiglioma activity in vitro. However, the effects of PSH on glioma have not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PSH on U251 glioblastoma cells and elucidate the possible underlying mechanism. The cells were treated with PSH at various concentrations for 48 h, and the cell viability, invasion, apoptosis and cycle progression were assessed using specific assay kits. The activation of Akt, 44/42‑mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the expression levels of A1 adenosine receptor (ARA1) and ARA3 were assessed by western blotting. The results demonstrated that PSH inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis. Treatment of U251 cells with PSH induced the upregulation of p21 and p27, and the downregulation cyclin D1 and S‑phase kinase associated protein 2 protein expression levels, which induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. The results also demonstrated that PSH inhibited the expression of ARA1, and the agonist of ARA1, 2‑chloro‑N6‑cyclopentyladenosine, reversed the effects of PSH. Hypoxia induced increases in the ARA3, hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α (HIF‑1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression levels, which were associated with the activation of the Akt and P44/42 MAPK pathways. Compared with the hypoxia group, PSH inhibited the expression levels of ARA3, HIF‑1α and VEGF, as well as the phosphorylation levels of Akt and 44/42 MAPK, and repressed HIF‑1α transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that PSH inhibited the expression of HIF‑1α by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and 44/42 MAPK mediated by ARA3. Taken together, these results suggested that PSH reduced U251 cell viability via the inhibition of ARA1 and ARA3 expression, and further inhibited Akt and 44/42 MAPK phosphorylation, induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Systematic analysis of the metabolites of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with metabonomics approaches after oral administration to rats

Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (APR) is a typical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and has been widely used to treat rheumatism and headache diseases in China. This research aimed to illustrate the metabolites of APR in vivo to lay a foundation for the clinics application. A UPLC-Q-TOF-MS method combined with metabonomics approaches is used to address this objective. The separation was achieved on an Agilent SB-C18 column (1.8 μm, 2.1 × 50 mm) with a gradient elution system (ACN and 0.1 % formic acid-water). An electrospray ionization (ESI) was used for mass spectrometer and operated in a full-scan mode at m/z 100 - 800. The data were collected in the positive ion mode and analyzed by the Masslynx 4.1 and SIMCA 13.0 software. Furthermore, an orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) using SIMCA 13.0 software was applied to investigate the differences between the blank and drug groups in bio-samples of rats (plasma, urine, feces). Totally 213 compounds including 41 prototype ingredients, 107 phase I and 65 phase II metabolites were detected, according to the MS and MS/MS data. Among them, 134 metabolites are potential new compounds.

Polyphyllin II inhibits liver cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion through downregulated cofilin activity and the AKT/NF-κB pathway

The morbidity and mortality of primary liver cancer is one of the highest amongst all cancers. Deficiency of effective treatment and characteristics of cancer metastasis are believed to be responsible for this situation, thus a great demand is required for new agent development. Polyphyllin II (PP2), an important steroidal saponin extracted from Rhizoma Paris, has emerged as a potential anti-cancer agent, but the effects of PP2 in liver cancers and its underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. In our study, we found that PP2 could remarkably suppress the proliferation of two liver cancer cell lines, HepG2 and BEL7402, resulting in significant cell death. Besides, low doses of PP2 have displayed properties that inhibit cellular motility and invasion of liver cancer cells. In addition, we have found that PP2-mediated cofilin activity suppression was implicated in the inhibition of liver cancer cell motility. Decreased expression of two major hydrolytic enzymes (MMP2/MMP9), through the AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway may also be also responsible for this process. Rescue experiments done with either non-phosphorylatable mutant cofilin-1 (S3A) transfection or an activator of the AKT pathway significantly reversed the inhibition effects of PP2 on liver cancer cells. Taken together, we report a potential agent for liver cancer treatment and reveal its underlying mechanisms.

Anticancer Plants: A Review of the Active Phytochemicals, Applications in Animal Models, and Regulatory Aspects

The rising burden of cancer worldwide calls for an alternative treatment solution. Herbal medicine provides a very feasible alternative to western medicine against cancer. This article reviews the selected plant species with active phytochemicals, the animal models used for these studies, and their regulatory aspects. This study is based on a meticulous literature review conducted through the search of relevant keywords in databases, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Twenty plants were selected based on defined selection criteria for their potent anticancer compounds. The detailed analysis of the research studies revealed that plants play an indispensable role in fighting different cancers such as breast, stomach, oral, colon, lung, hepatic, cervical, and blood cancer cell lines. The in vitro studies showed cancer cell inhibition through DNA damage and activation of apoptosis-inducing enzymes by the secondary metabolites in the plant extracts. Studies that reported in vivo activities of these plants showed remarkable results in the inhibition of cancer in animal models. Further studies should be performed on exploring more plants, their active compounds, and the mechanism of anticancer actions for use as standard herbal medicine.

Zerumbone suppresses the potential of growth and metastasis in hepatoma HepG2 cells via the MAPK signaling pathway

Zerumbone is an active component of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith and can perform a diverse range of antitumor activities. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of zerumbone action have not yet been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumor effects, and the associated molecular mechanisms, of zerumbone in hepatoma HepG2 cells. Treatment with zerumbone markedly induced apoptosis in hepatoma HepG2 cells and suppressed their invasion and metastasis in a dose-dependent manner. Further investigation revealed that treatment with zerumbone led to the dose-dependent induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G₂/M phase in cancer cells. Zerumbone treatment led to the increased expression of p27, cytochrome c, caspase-3 and-9, and Bcl-2-associated X expression, but the decreased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 1, cyclin B1, B-cell lymphoma-2, focal adhesion kinase, Ras homolog gene family, member A, Rho-associated protein kinase-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and-9 in HepG2 cells. In addition, the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, but not C-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2, was regulated in a dose-dependent manner in response to zerumbone treatment. The results of the current study indicate that zerumbone could be used as potential anticancer agent in for the treatment of hepatoma in the future.

A Study of the Anti-Cancer Effects of the Hexane Fraction of the Methanol Extract of Forsythiae Fructus

Background:

Forsythiae Fructus (FF) is a well-known medicinal herb derived from the dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. (Oleaceae). Recently, bioactive compounds isolated from hydrophobic solvent fractions of FF have been reported to have anti-oxidant, antibacterial, and anti-cancer effects.

Objective:

Almost all herbal medicines are derived from water extracts, which suggests different extraction methods might enhance the practical efficacies of herbal medicines. In this study, the authors further investigated the most potential anti-cancer fraction, that is, the hexane fraction (FFH) of the methanol extract (FFM) of the dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa.

Materials and Methods:

FFH was investigated by measuring its effects on the viability and apoptotic death of PC-3 cells (a prostate cancer cell line), on the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, procaspase-9, procaspase-3 and PARP, and caspase-3 activity.

Results:

FFH significantly accelerated apoptotic cell death and decreased the protein levels of Bcl-2, procaspase-9, and procaspase-3.

Conclusion:

FFH can act as a pro-oxidative agent and induce the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.

SUMMARY

Hexane fraction of the methanol extract of Forsythiae Fructus (FFH) at a concentration more than 50 µg/mL significantly reduced PC-3 cell viability

FFH time and dose dependently elevated intracellular ROS levels and increased the proportion of cells arrested in the G₀/G₁ phase

FFH significantly accelerated apoptotic cell death and diminished the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, procaspase-9, and procaspase-3

The protein expression levels of Bax, cytochrome c, and cleaved PARP were increased by FFH, and so was the caspase-3 activity.

Abbreviations used: FF: Forsythiae Fructus; FFM: Methanol extract of Forsythiae Fructus; FFH: Hexane fraction of the methanol extract; DCFH-DA: 2’,7’-dichlorodihydro-fluorescein diacetate.

In vitro studies of the anticancer action of Tectaria cicutaria in human cancer cell lines: G0/G1 p53-associated cell cycle arrest-Part I

Objective

The rhizome of Tectaria cicutaria has been used in Indian traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders. The objective of present investigation is to screen various extracts of the rhizomes of Tectaria cicutaria for anti-cancer activity and to investigate the mechanism involved.

Materials and methods

The rhizomes of Tectaria cicutaria were extracted with different solvents. In vitro anti-cancer activity of different rhizome extracts were studied in Human cancer Cell Lines using Sulphorodamine B (SRB) colorimetric cytotoxicity assay. The effect of ethanolic extract (TCe) on cell growth inhibition, modulation in gene expression, and induction of apoptosis using the K562 human leukemia cell line were studied. The extract was analyzed by GC-MS to identify their major chemical compounds.

Results

TCe shows antioxidant potential in both DPPH scavenging assay and reducing capacity. Flow cytometric analysis showed that 11 μg/ml of TCe arrested cell cycle progression at the G₀/G₁ phase. In the TCe treated K562 cells, the mRNA and protein expression level of p53 was strongly up-regulated in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, its downstream target p21 level was also increased. The GC-MS study has depicted results with the presence of twelve different compounds which will require significant further efforts for structure and putative identification.

Conclusion

The present work has for the first time, tried to elucidate the anti leukemic potential of Tectaria cicutaria. TCe was more potent in K562 cells, altering the cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis.

Paris polyphylla Suppresses Proliferation and Vasculogenic Mimicry of Human Osteosarcoma Cells and Inhibits Tumor Growth In Vivo

Paris polyphylla, a traditional antipyretic-detoxicate chinese medicinal herb, has been applied extensively in cancer treatments for nearly 2000 years. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potential anti-osteosarcoma effects of Paris polyphylla ethanol extract (PPEE) and to investigate its underlying mechanisms. The antiproliferation activity of PPEE was tested on 143B, MG-63, U-2 OS and hFOB1.19 cells using MTT assay. The pro-apoptotic and cell cycle arrest effects of PPEE were confirmed by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry. The antimigratory, anti-invasive and antivasculogenic mimicry (VM) effects of PPEE were investigated by wound healing, Transwell and 3D culture assays. Mouse xenograft model was used to examine its anti-osteosarcoma efficacy in vivo. Hematologic profiles and hepatorenal functions were evaluated to assess the toxicity of PPEE. PPEE evidently suppressed cell proliferation of 143B, MG-63 and U-2 OS with IC50 values of 10-60[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL, but showed little cytotoxicity against normal osteoblastic cell. PPEE promoted apoptosis in 143B cell via caspase activation, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and PARP cleavage. It also induced G2/M phase arrest associated with elevated phosphorylation of CDK1, Cdc25C, Chk2 and down-regulation of cyclin B1, CDK1, Cdc25C expression. Additionally, PPEE inhibited 143B cell migration, invasion and VM formation at noncytotoxic concentrations through decreasing the expression of FAK, Mig-7, MMP2 and MMP9. Finally, daily oral administration of PPEE for four weeks exhibits potent antitumor and anti-VM activity in 143B xenograft model with low toxicity. Taken together, these findings demonstrated PPEE possesses anti-osteosarcoma and anti-VM activity in vitro and in vivo, and therefore is a potential candidate for osteosarcoma treatment.

Polyphyllin I inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cells in nude mice

Polyphyllin I (PPI) is an active component in Rhizoma Paridis, which displays extensive pharmacological antitumor activities. In a previous study, we found that polyphyllin I exhibited inhibitory effects on cell growth in the human ovarian cancer HO-8910PM cell line, as well as promoting apoptosis and the inhibition of cell migration. Furthermore, gene expression was also profiled by microarray, which showed that numerous genes were altered by PPI; three genes were of particular note that were associated with tumor progression, namely, Caspase-9, C-jun and Wnt5a. In the present study, the effect of PPI on subcutaneous tumor growth (HO-8910PM cells) in nude mice was further evaluated, and immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to examine the expression of Caspase-9, C-jun and Wnt5a in subcutaneous and lung metastatic tumor tissues, in order to investigate the possible mechanisms involved. The results showed that PPI significantly inhibited the tumor growth in vivo without a marked impact on body weight, and through use of immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR, it was found that the expression of Caspase-9 and Wnt5a was decreased, while the expression of C-jun was increased, in subcutaneous and lung metastatic tumor tissue; this was consistent with the in vitro results. In conclusion, the present study showed that PPI exerted antitumor activity on ovarian cancer cells in vivo, and indicated that the modulation of Caspase-9, C-jun and Wnt5a may be involved in the antitumor effect of PPI.

A STUDY OF THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF THE ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF FORSYTHIAE FRUCTUS

BACKGROUND

The dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. (Oleaceae) are better known by their herbal name Forsythiae Fructus, and have a bitter taste, slightly pungent smell, and cold habit. FF has been widely used to treat symptoms associated with the lung, heart, and small intestine. Recently, bioactive compounds isolated from hydrophobic solvent fractions of FF have been reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer effects. Traditionally, almost all herbal medicines are water extracts, and thus, extraction methods should be developed to optimize the practical efficacies of herbal medicines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract of FF (FFE) were assessed by measuring NO and PGE₂ production by and intracellular ROS and protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells.

RESULTS

FFE inhibited COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

CONCLUSION

In summary, FFE effectively reduced intracellular ROS and NO levels and inhibited PGE2 production by down-regulating COX-2 levels. Abbreviations: FF, of Forsythiae Fructus; NO, nitric oxide; iNOS, inducible NO synthase; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; ROS, reactive oxygen species; PGE₂, prostaglandin E₂.

Anticancer Effects of Paris Saponins by Apoptosis and PI3K/AKT Pathway in Gefitinib-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Paris saponins have been studied for their anticancer effects in various cancer types, but the mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effects, especially in EGFR-TKI-resistant cells, are still unclear. We explored the potential mechanism of the antitumor effects of PSI, II, VI, VII in EGFR-TKI-resistant cells and attempted to develop PSI, II, VI, VII as a systemic treatment strategy for EGFR-TKI-resistant lung cancer.

Material/Methods

Growth inhibition was detected by MTT assay. The apoptosis assay was detected using annexin-V/PI and Hoechst staining. The level of PI3K, pAKT, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and caspase-9 protein expression were detected using Western blot analysis.

Results

The results revealed that PSI, II, VI, VII inhibited the proliferation of PC-9-ZD cells. Furthermore, PSI, II, VI, VII induced significant cell apoptosis. The levels of PI3K, pAKT, Bcl-2 protein decreased, while the Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 protein was increased by PSI, II, PSVI, PSVII treatment and resulted in increased sensitivity to gefitinib in PC-9-ZD cells.

Conclusions

The underlying mechanism of Paris saponins may be related to targeting the PI3K/AKT pathways to cause apoptosis. Our results suggest a therapeutic potential of Paris saponins in clinical settings for gefitinib-resistant NSCLC.

In vitro cytotoxic screening of 31 crude extracts of Thai herbs on a chondrosarcoma cell line and primary chondrocytes and apoptotic effects of selected extracts

Thirty-one dichloromethane and methanol crude extracts of 16 herb species used in Thai traditional folk medicine were studied for their cytotoxic activities on the SW 1353 chondrosarcoma cell line and primary chondrocytes. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) cell viability assay and flow cytometric method were used as screening tools for cytotoxicity testing. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was measured and reported for each crude extract. Apoptosis, necrosis, and cell viability were measured by flow cytometry at IC50. Two out of 31 herbal extracts, methanol extracts of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis and Ficus thailandica C.C. Berg & S. Gardner, showed potent anticancer activity. They demonstrated high apoptosis induction activity in SW 1353 cells but had less effect on percentage of viability and necrosis of normal chondrocyte cells. Cytotoxic screening and apoptosis assays suggest the potential anticancer activity of some plants used in Thai traditional medicine and provide information concerning their direct effects.

Fructus mume Ethanol Extract Prevents Inflammation and Normalizes the Septohippocampal Cholinergic System in a Rat Model of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion

Fructus mume (F. mume), the unripe fruit of Prunus mume, has long been used in Asian countries to treat cough and chronic diarrhea. We previously reported that F. mume exerts anti-inflammatory effects in a model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), a key etiological factor of vascular dementia (VaD). The present study was performed to investigate the protective effects of an ethanolic extract of F. mume on the inflammatory response and cholinergic dysfunction in a model of CCH induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo) in Wistar rats. Rats were assigned to three treatment groups: sham plus vehicle, BCCAo plus vehicle, and BCCAo plus F. mume extract (200 mg/kg). F. mume was administered by oral gavage from days 21 to 42 following BCCAo. Glial cell numbers were measured in the white matter and hippocampus. The hippocampal expressions of proinflammatory cytokines, angiotensin-II (Ang-II), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) were also evaluated. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) levels in the hippocampus and basal forebrain were examined. Rats with BCCAo showed an increase in the number of glial cells and levels of proinflammatory cytokines, Ang-II, RAGE, and MAPKs, all of which were significantly attenuated by F. mume treatment. F. mume administration also restored ChAT expression in the basal forebrain and hippocampus following chronic BCCAo. These results suggest that F. mume is a potentially valuable drug or nutraceutical for the treatment of VaD.

Rhizoma Paridis Saponins Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma A549 Cells

BACKGROUND

As a traditional Chinese medicine herb, Chonglou (Paris polyphylla var. chensiins) has been used as anticancer medicine in China in recent decades, as it can induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in numerous cancer cells. The saponins extract from the rhizoma of Chonglou [Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS)] is known as the main active component for anticancer treatment. However, the molecular mechanism of the anticancer effect of RPS is unknown.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study evaluated the effect of RPS in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. Subsequently, the expression of several genes associated with cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting.

RESULTS

RPS was revealed to inhibit cell growth, causing a number of cells to accumulate in the G 1 phase of the cell cycle, leading to apoptosis. In addition, the effect was dose-dependent. Moreover, the results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting showed that p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) were significantly downregulated, and that BCL2, BAX, and p21 were upregulated, by RPS treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We speculated that the RPS could act on a pathway, including p53, p21, BCL2, BAX, and CDK2, and results in G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in NSCLC cells.

Transport of Twelve Coumarins from Angelicae Pubescentis Radix across a MDCK-pHaMDR Cell Monolayer-An in Vitro Model for Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability

Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (APR), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, is reported to have central nervous system activities. The purpose of this study was to characterize the blood-brain barrier permeability of twelve coumarins from APR including umbelliferone (1), osthol (2), scopoletin (3), peucedanol (4), ulopterol (5), angepubebisin (6), psoralen (7), xanthotoxin (8), bergapten (9), isoimperatorin (10), columbianadin (11), and columbianetin acetate (12) with an in vitro model using a MDCK-pHaMDR cell monolayer. The cell monolayer was validated to be suitable for the permeation experiments. The samples’ transports were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and their apparent permeability coefficients (P_app) were calculated. According to the P_app value, most coumarins could be characterized as well-absorbed compounds except for 4, 10 and 11 which were moderately absorbed ones, in concentration-dependent and time-dependent manners. The results of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor (verapamil) experiments showed that the transport of coumarin 4 was affected by the transport protein P-gp. Sigmoid functions between permeability log(P_{app AP-BL}*MW^0.5) and log D (at pH 7.4) were established to analyze the structure-activity relationship of coumarins. The results provide useful information for discovering the substance basis for the central nervous system activities of APR, and predicting the permeability of other coumarins through BBB.

Pennogenyl saponins induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pennogenyl saponins, the characterized components of Rhizoma Paridis, have been reported to have anticancer activity through induction of apoptosis or anti-metastasis in cultured cells or animal models. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticancer properties of four pennogenyl saponins (PS1-PS4) on a panel of human cancer and normal cell lines, and explore the potential mechanisms underlying the selective anticancer effects of the steroidal saponins in cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Differences in the anticancer activity of pennogenyl saponins were examined by MTT assay in human cancer cell lines (HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, UACC-257 melanoma cells, MCF-7 breast and PC-3 prostate cancer cells) and normal human cell lines (L-02 liver cells and HEK293 kidney cells). Flow cytometry analysis, JC-1 staining and western blot analysis were applied to detect the effects of anticancer pennogenyl saponins on apoptosis, cell cycle, and expression and/or activation of main effectors involved in the potential signaling pathways.

RESULTS

Among the tested four saponins, only PS1 and PS2 selectively inhibited cell growth in HepG2, MCF-7 and PC-3 cells. Moreover, PS1 and PS2 could significantly induce apoptosis and cell cycle G2/M arrest in HepG2 cells, which were at least associated with activation of mitochondrial caspase-dependent and -independent apoptotic cascades, inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases.

CONCLUSIONS

PS1 and PS2 had potent and selective anticancer activity to breast, liver and prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, the anticancer effects of PS1 and PS2 were associated with induction of apoptosis and blockage of cell cycle progression through multiple targets in HepG2 cells. These findings suggest that PS1 and PS2 can be considered as potential agents for the treatment of some cancers such as hepatoma.

Cytotoxic saponin poliusaposide from Teucrium polium

Three saponin glycosides have been isolated and characterized from Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae).

Simultaneous quantification of five steroid saponins from Dioscorea zingiberensis C.H. Wright in rat plasma by HPLC-MS/MS and its application to the pharmacokinetic studies

A simple, reliable and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method (HPLC-MS/MS) was established for simultaneous analyses of the following 5 steroid saponins in rat plasma after the single dose administration of total steroid saponins extracted from the rhizome of Dioscorea zingiberensis C.H. Wright for the first time. Protodioscin, huangjiangsu A, zingiberensis new saponin, dioscin, and gracillin were quantified using ginsenoside Rb1 as the internal standard (IS). The plasma samples were pretreated by a single step acetonitrile-mediated protein precipitation. The chromatographic separation was performed on an Inersil ODS-3 C18 column (250mm×4.6mm, 5μm) with the mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid under a gradient elution mode at 0.2mLmin(-1) using a microsplit after the eluent from the HPLC apparatus. The quantification was accomplished on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the positive ionization mode. The above five analytes were stable under sample storage and preparation conditions applied in the present study. The linearity, precision, accuracy, and recoveries of the analysis confirmed the requirements for quality-control purposes. After validation, this proposed method was successfully adopted to investigate the pharmacokinetic parameters of these five analytes.

Inhibition of cell proliferation by mild hyperthermia at 43˚C with Paris Saponin I in the lung adenocarcinoma cell line PC-9

Rhizoma paridis is widely used for cancer therapy due to its potential involvement in the suppression of tumor growth. However, at present there is no clear explanation for the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of Rhizoma paridis combined with hyperthermia on tumor growth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Paris saponin I (PSI) combined with hyperthermia on a variety of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. An MTT assay was used to determine the levels of growth inhibition. The cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry and cell apoptosis was analyzed with Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and the Hoechst assay. The morphology of cells during apoptosis was determined using a transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 proteins were detected using western blotting. The inhibition rates significantly increased with PSI in combination with hyperthermia at 43˚C. PSI with hyperthermia at 43˚C caused G2/M phase arrest and significantly induced apoptosis. The expression level of Bcl-2 decreased, while Bax expression increased following treatment with PSI with hyperthermia at 43˚C. In addition, the protein expression of caspase-3 was significantly enhanced. PSI combined with hyperthermia is a potent antitumor treatment through the inhibition of proliferation of NSCLC cells and may be developed as a new antitumor therapy. PSI combined with hyperthermia significantly induced apoptosis through a multi regulatory process involving G2/M arrest and regulation of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression, resulting in cell death and tumor inhibition.

Paris saponin VII suppressed the growth of human cervical cancer Hela cells

Background

Saponins of several herbs are known to induce apoptosis in many cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the growth inhibitory effect of Paris saponin VII (PS VII), a kind of steroidal saponins from Chonglou (Rhizoma Paridis Chonglou), on the human cervical cancer cell line Hela and the relative molecular mechanisms.

Methods

Hela cells were exposed to different concentrations of PS VII (1 to 100 μM). Inhibition of cell proliferation was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. The amount of apoptotic cells was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. And the protein level of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2 was evaluated by Western blot.

Results

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of PS VII for the growth inhibition of Hela cells was 2.62 ± 0.11 μM. PS VII increased the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax while decreased that of Bcl-2, suggesting that PS VII may induce apoptosis through intrinsic apoptotic ways.

Conclusions

These data indicate that PS VII has the potential for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Growth inhibition by pennogenyl saponins from Rhizoma paridis on hepatoma xenografts in nude mice

Rhizoma paridis is widely used in the traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancers. Steroidal saponins, including diosgenyl saponins and the characterized component pennogenyl saponins, are regarded as the main active components of R. paridis. To date, quite a bit of research has been published which attempt to explore the in vivo anticancer effects and the underlying mechanisms of pennogenyl saponins, compounds which are present at quite low levels in the plant. In the present study, two known pennogenyl saponins (PS1 and PS2) were isolated from R. paridis axialis and identified by spectral techniques. The anti-cancer activity of these two pennogenyl saponins was investigated in nude mice bearing human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 xenografts. PS1 or PS2 (purity >98%, 1 or 3mg/kg) was administered by intraperitoneal injection, respectively. The specimens of HepG2 xenografts were removed for mechanistic study. The current results indicated that both PS1 and PS2 dose-dependently prevented the growth of HepG2 xenografts. Western blotting analysis showed that the anticancer effects of these two monomers were associated with apoptosis induction and proliferation inhibition through activation of both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptotic pathways, regulation of mitogen-related protein kinase pathway and inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway. The present data suggest, for the first time, that PS1 and PS2 effectively inhibit human HCC progression through regulation of the signal pathways associated with apoptosis and proliferation, and have the potential for the treatment of HCC.

Effect of Paris saponin I on radiosensitivity in a gefitinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cell line

Previous studies have observed that Paris saponin I (PSI) exerts a wide range of pharmacological activities, including cytotoxic activity against a number of malignancies, such as non-small cell lung cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the radiosensitization of PSI treatment on a gefitinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cell line, PC-9-ZD, and its possible mechanism. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay was used to determine the growth inhibition effect of PSI. A clonogenic assay was performed to determine the radiosensitizing effect of PSI treatment on the PC-9-ZD cell line. A single-hit multi-target model was used to plot survival curves and calculate sensitizing enhancement ratios. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry and cell apoptosis was analyzed with fluorescein-isothiocyanate-Annexin V/propidium iodide and Hoechst staining. The expression levels of the proteins were detected by western blotting. There was a significant reduction observed in the proliferation of the PC-9-ZD cell lines that were treated with PSI. PSI enhanced the radiosensitivity of the PC-9-ZD cells with a sensitization enhancement ratio of 1.77. Furthermore, PSI induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis of the irradiated PC-9-ZD cells. Notably, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) was downregulated, and caspase-3, Bcl-2-like protein 4 (Bax) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (P21^waf1/cip1) were upregulated by the PSI treatment. The present study showed that PSI treatment exhibited potent radiosensitivity against gefitinib-resistant PC-9-ZD cells in vitro. This radiosensitivity was associated with cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, and apoptosis via an increase in caspase-3, Bax and P21^waf1/cip1 as well as a decrease in Bcl-2 production.

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in study of the pharmacokinetics of six steroidal saponins in rats

A rapid, simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of six main steroidal saponins in Paris polyphylla in rat plasma. Ginsenoside Rg3 was selected as the internal standard (IS). Plasma samples were pretreated with protein precipitation, and the separation was achieved on a reverse phase Agilent poroshell120 EC-C18 column using a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile-water containing 0.1% formic acid. The triple quadruple mass spectrometer was set in negative electrospray ionization mode and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for six steroidal saponins quantification. The precursors to produce ion transitions monitored for polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, polyphyllin VI, polyphyllin VII, dioscin, gracillin and IS were m/z 899.5>853.4, 1059.5>1013.5, 783.4>737.4, 1075.5>1029.5, 913.5>867.4, 929.5>883.4 and 819.5>783.4, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD%) were less than 13% and the average extraction recoveries ranged from 85% to 97.0% for each analyte. Six steroidal saponins were proved to be stable during sample storage, preparation and analytical procedures. The established method was employed for simultaneous quantification and successfully used for the first time for the pharmacokinetics evaluation of the six main compounds after intragastric administration of P. polyphylla extract in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Validated rapid resolution LC-ESI-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of five pulchinenosides from Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel in rat plasma: application to pharmacokinetics and bioavailability studies

A simple, RRLC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of five oleanane pulchinenosides (B3, BD, B7, B10, and B11), in rat plasma following solid-phase extraction (SPE). Detection and quantitation were performed by MS/MS using electrospray ionization (ESI) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The MS/MS transitions of the triterpenoidal saponins: m/z 911.4→603.2, 749.4→471.3, 895.6→733.2, 733.5→455.3, and 579.3→371.1 were monitored for B3, BD, B7 and B10, B11 and internal standard (Forsythin), respectively. The method was validated in plasma samples, showed good linearity over a wide concentration range (r(2)>0.99), and with lower limits of quantification of 1.11 (B3), 0.751 (BD), 0.996 (B7), 0.415 (B10), and 0.332 (B11)ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day assay variability was less than 15% for all analytes. The mean extraction recoveries of analytes and IS from rats plasma were all more than 70.0%. The validation results demonstrate that this method is robust and specific. The validated method was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies of the five pulchinenosides which are potentially active saponins present in P. chinensis saponins (PRS) extracts.

Polyphyllin I inhibits proliferation and metastasis of ovarian cancer cell line HO-8910PM in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To study the anticancer mechanism of polyphyllin I (PPI), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, on the ovarian cancer cell line HO-8910PM in vitro.

METHODS

Transwell chamber invasive assays were used to investigate the inhibitory capacity of PPI on HO-8910PM metastasis. Gene expression profiling chips was used to screen differentially expressed genes between experiment group and control group. Reverse transcription PCR and Western blotting were used to determine mRNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

With increasing PPI concentration, the metastatic capacity of cells decreased, with significance differences between the experimental and control groups (P < 0.01) as well as between two concentration groups. Gene expression profiling identified 123 differentially expressed genes, of which 70 were downregulated and 53 were upregulated. The genes were involved in multiple signal transduction pathways, including apoptosis, proliferation and metastasis. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) showed that differential genes PIK3C2B, Caspase 9 and Wnt5A were downregulated with increasing PPI, showing an evident dose-effect relationship. The c-Jun was an exception. As the PPI dosage increased and the exposure time was extended, c-Jun relative expression showed an upward trend. There were significant differences between the experiment and control (P < 0.05). Western blot analyses showed that PPI treatment decreased levels of Caspase 9, Wnt5A and PIK3C2B and increased activated Caspase 9, c-Jun and p-c-Jun expression levels.

CONCLUSION

PPI has strong antitumor and anti transfer activity. It can activate c-Jun expression and the JNK signaling pathway, elicit cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial-mediated Caspase activation pathway, and finally inhibit tumor growth and migration in vitro. The downregulation of PIK3C2B and Wnt5A jointly inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of HO-8910PM. PPI may be a novel treatment for ovarian cancer.

The anti-lung cancer activities of steroidal saponins of P. polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara through enhanced immunostimulation in experimental Lewis tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice and induction of apoptosis in the A549 cell line

P. polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara (PPSCFH) has been used as medicinal Paris for the prevention and treatment of cancers in China for thousands of years. Its main components, steroidal saponins (PRS), have been confirmed to inhibit tumor growth. In the present study, the immunostimulation of PRS was investigated in Lewis bearing-C57BL/6 mice while the induction of apoptosis in A549 cells was also studied. The treatment with PRS (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg) significantly inhibited tumor, volume, and weight in the C57BL/6 mice. The rates of inhibition of PRS (at 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg) were 26.49 ± 17.30%, 40.32 ± 18.91% and 54.94 ± 16.48%, respectively. The spleen and thymus indexes were increased remarkably, while the levels of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 in serum were decreased according to ELISA assays. For A549 cells, Hoechst 33342 staining and annexin V/PI by flow cytometry showed that PRS (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 mg/mL) induced nuclear changes of A549 cells with DNA condensation and fragmentations of chromatin, as well as inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, PRS could also attenuate the over-generation of intracellular ROS. Western blotting analysis showed a significant decrease on the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines MCP-1, IL-6 and TGF-β1, as well as cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1, by treatment with PRS. Our results demonstrated that the inhibition of PRS on tumor growth might be associated with the amelioration of inflammation responses, induction of apoptosis, as well as the decrease of ROS. These results suggested that PRS implied a potential therapeutic effect in the lung cancer treatment.

Synergistic anticancer effects of polyphyllin I and evodiamine on freshly-removed human gastric tumors

Objective

The present study was designed to examine the anticancer effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine of polyphyllin I (PPI) and evodiamine (EVO) on freshly–removed gastric tumor tissues.

Methods

Sixty freshly–removed gastric tumor tissues were collected. Their sensitivity to PPI, EVO, platinum (Pt), 5-FU, irinotecan (CPT-11) were determined by histoculture drug response assay (HDRA). Those samples were also formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded, which were used to examine the mRNA expression levels of aprataxin(APTX), excision repair cross-complementing 1(ERCC1), thymidylate synthase(TS) and topoisomerase I(TOPO1) by quantitative RT-PCR. The association of the gene expression levels and in vitro sensitivity were analyzed.

Results

PPI, EVO, Pt, 5-FU and CPT-11 had anticancer effects on the freshly-removed gastric tumor tissues with average inhibition rates of 20.64%±14.25% for PPI, 21.14%±13.43% for EVO, 50.57%±22.37% for Pt, 53.54%±22.03% for 5-FU, and 39.33%±24.79% for CPT-11, respectively. Combination of PPI and Pt, EVO and Pt, EVO and 5-FU had higher inhibition rates than any single drug of them (P<0.001, P = 0.028, P = 0.017, respectively). The mRNA expression levels of ERCC1 were correlated with Pt sensitivity (rho = −0.645, P<0.001); the mRNA expression levels of TS were correlated with 5-FU sensitivity (rho = −0.803, P<0.001). There were also weak but significant correlations between APTX mRNA expression levels and CPT-11 sensitivity (rho = −0.376, P = 0.017) or EVO sensitivity (rho = −0.322, P = 0.036). ERCC1 mRNA expression levels was markedly suppressed by the presentation of PPI (P = 0.001) and slightly suppressed by the presentation of EVO (P = 0.04); whereas, TS mRNA expression levels was markedly decreased by the presentation of EVO (P = 0.017) and slightly decreased by the presentation of PPI (P = 0.047).

Conclusion

PPI and EVO both could inhibit the activity of freshly-removed gastric tumor, and they could enhance the anticancer effect of Pt and 5-FU by reducing the mRNA expression levels of ERCC1 and TS.

Rhizoma Paridis ethanol extract selectively inhibits the proliferation of HUVECs comparing to Lovo cells and shows anti-angiogenesis effects in a mouse model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhizoma Paridis, a traditional Chinese Medicine, was identified to be cytotoxic to cancer cells. The present study was designed to investigate the potential anti-angiogenic and antitumor effect of the ethanol extract of Rhizoma Paridis (RPE) in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxic effect of RPE against human colon cancer Lovo cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was examined using MTT assay. We also tested the effect of RPE on tube formation, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle of HUVECs. Moreover, Lovo subcutaneous xenograft was applied to study the antitumor and anti-angiogenesis effect of RPE in vivo.

RESULTS

RPE exerted a higher inhibition effect on the proliferation of HUVECs than Lovo cells. The tube formation and cell migration were also significantly inhibited in the presence of RPE in a concentration-dependent manner though the significant inhibition effects were observed at the cytotoxic dose. RPE induced cell apoptosis and G0-G1 cell cycle arrest of HUVECs. In vivo, significant tumor growth inhibition was observed in human colon cancer xenografts established by Lovo cells, accompanying by a marked decrease in MVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our current study exhibited that RPE has a selective cytotoxity against HUVECs comparing to Lovo cells and also demonstrated significant anti-angiogenic effect in vivo.

Paris chinensis dioscin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells

AIM: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of Paris chinensis dioscin (PCD) and mechanisms regarding cell cycle regulation and apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

METHODS: Cell viability was analyzed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) using Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, and the cell cycle was evaluated using PI staining with flow cytometry. Intracellular calcium ions were detected under fluorescence microscope. The expression of cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins cyclin B1, CDK1, cytochrome C and caspase-3 was measured by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS: PCD had an anti-proliferation effect on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After treatment of SGC-7901 cells with PCD, apoptosis appeared in SGC-7901 cells. Morphological changes typical of apoptosis were also observed with LSCM by Annexin V/PI staining, and the cell number of the G0/G1 phase was decreased, while the number of cells in the G2/M phase was increased. Cell cycle-related proteins, such as cyclin B1 and CDK1, were all down-regulated, but caspase-3 and cytochrome C were up-regulated. Moreover, intracellular calcium accumulation occurred in PCD-treated cells.

CONCLUSION: G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis induced by PCD are associated with the inhibition of CDK-activating kinase activity and the activation of Ca²⁺-related mitochondrion pathway in SGC-7901 cells.

Antiproliferative effects of extracts from Iranian Artemisia species on cancer cell lines

OBJECTIVE

Different species of Artemisia (Asteraceae) have shown to exhibit antitumor activity. The aim of this study was to identify the antiproliferative effect of some Artemisia species from Iran on cultured human cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Methanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and n-hexane extracts from aerial parts of seven species of Artemisia were prepared and their antiproliferative effects on four cancer (AGS, HeLa, HT-29 and MCF-7) and normal cell line (L929) were determined. Different concentrations of extracts were added to cultured cells and incubated for 72 h. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to assess the cell viability.

RESULTS

Different extracts exert various growth inhibitory effects. In case of AGS cells, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of A. ciniformis Krasch. & Popov ex Poljak. (IC(50) values: 35 and 60 µg/ml, respectively) showed the highest growth inhibitory effects. HeLa cells were more sensitive to both A. diffusa Krasch. ex Poljak. dichloromethane (IC(50) value: 71 µg/ml) and A. ciniformis ethylacetate (IC(50) value: 73 µg/ml) extracts. Dichloromethane extracts of A. diffusa, A. santolina Schrenk and A. ciniformis (IC(50) values: 42, 91 and 94 µg/ml, respectively) exhibited more inhibition on HT-29 cells in comparison to other extracts. MCF-7 cells were best inhibited by A. ciniformis dichloromethane (IC(50) value: 29 µg/ml) and A. vulgaris L. ethyl acetate (IC(50) value: 57 µg/ml) extracts.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This study shows the antiproliferative effects of Artemisia extracts on malignant cell lines. Artemisia could be also considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment.

Ethanol Extract of Abnormal Savda Munziq, a Herbal Preparation of Traditional Uighur Medicine, Inhibits Caco-2 Cells Proliferation via Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis

Aims. Study the effect of Abnormal Savda Munziq (ASMq) ethanol extract on the proliferation, apoptosis, and correlative gene, expression in colon cancer cells (Caco-2) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anticancer property of Abnormal Savda Munziq. Materials and Methods. ASMq ethanol extract was prepared by a professional pharmacist. Caco-2 cells were treated with different concentration of ASMq ethanol extract (0.5–7.5 mg/mL) for different time intervals (48 and 72 h). Antiproliferative effect of ASMq ethanol extract was determined by MTT assay; DNA fragmentation was determined by gel electrophoresis assay; cell cycle analysis was detected by flow cytometer; apoptosis-related gene expression was detected by RT-PCR assay. Results. ASMq ethanol extract possesses an inhibition effect on Caco-2 cells proliferation, induction of cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest in sub-G1 phase, and downregulation of bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax gene expression. Conclusion. The anticancer mechanism of ASMq ethanol extract may be involved in antiproliferation, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and regulation of apoptosis-related gene expression such as bcl-2 and Bax activity pathway.

The herb medicine formula "chong lou fu fang" increases the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents and down-regulates the expression of chemotherapeutic agent resistance-related genes in human gastric cancer cells in vitro

The herb medicine formula “Chong Lou Fu Fang” (CLFF) has efficacy in inhibiting the proliferation of human gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. To explore the potentially useful combination of CLFF with chemotherapeutic agents commonly used in gastric cancer therapy, we assess the interaction between CLFF and these chemotherapeutic agents in both SGC-7901 cell lines and BGC-823 cell lines using a median effect analysis and apoptosis analysis, and we also investigate the influence of CLFF on chemotherapeutic agent-associated gene expression. The synergistic analysis indicated that CLFF had a synergistic effect on the cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a relative broad dose inhibition range (20–95% fraction affected in SGC-7901cell lines and 5–65% fraction affected in BGC-823 cell lines), while the synergistic interaction between CLFF and oxaliplatin or docetaxel only existed in a low dose inhibition range (≤50% fraction affected in both cell lines). Combination of CLFF and chemotherapeutic agents could also induce apoptosis in a synergistic manner. After 24 h, CLFF alone or CLFF combination with chemotherapeutic agents could significantly suppress the levels of expression of chemotherapeutic agent resistance related genes in gastric cancer cells. Our findings indicate that there are useful synergistic interactions between CLFF and chemotherapeutic agents in gastric cancer cells, and the possible mechanisms might be partially due to the down-regulation of chemotherapeutic agent resistance related genes and the synergistic apoptotic effect.