Inhibition of Coix seed extract on fatty acid synthase, a novel target for anticancer activity

Research Progress in Modifications, Bioactivities, and Applications of Medicine and Food Homologous Plant Starch

Starchy foods are an essential part of people's daily diet. Starch is the primary substance used by plants to store carbohydrates, and it is the primary source of energy for humans and animals. In China, a variety of plants, including edible medicinal plants, such as Pueraria root, yam tuber and coix seed, are rich in starch. However, limited by their inherent properties, kudzu starch and other starches are not suitable for the modern food industry. Natural starch is frequently altered by physical, chemical, or biological means to give it superior qualities to natural starch as it frequently cannot satisfy the demands of industrial manufacturing. Therefore, the deep processing market of modified starch and its products has a great potential. This paper reviews the modification methods which can provide excellent functional, rheological, and processing characteristics for these starches that can be used to improve the physical and chemical properties, texture properties, and edible qualities. This will provide a comprehensive reference for the modification and application of starch from medicinal and edible plants.

Coixendide efficacy in combination with temozolomide in glioblastoma and transcriptome analysis of the mechanism

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of coixendide (Coix) combine with temozolomide (TMZ) in the treatment of Glioblastoma (GBM) and explore its possible mechanism. CCK-8 was used to determine the inhibitory rate of Coix group, TMZ group and drug combination group on GBM cells, and the combination index (CI) was calculated to determine whether they had synergistic effect. Then RNA was extracted from each group, transcriptome sequencing was performed, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The possible mechanism was analyzed by GO enrichment analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis. The CI of Coix and TMZ indicating a synergistic effect when TMZ concentration is 0.1 mg/ml and Coix concentration is 2 mg/ml. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that interferon (IFN) related genes were down-regulated by Coix and up-regulated by TMZ and combined drugs, however, the up-regulation induced by combined drugs was less than that of TMZ. Besides IFN related genes, cholesterol metabolism pathway were also been regulated. Coix and TMZ have synergistic effects in the treatment of GBM at certain doses. RNA-Seq results suggested that the abnormal on genetic materials caused by DNA damage induced by TMZ treatment can be sensed by IFN related genes and activates antiviral IFN signaling, causing the activation of repairing mechanism and drug resistance. Coix inhibits IFN related genes, thereby inhibits drug resistance of TMZ. In addition, the activation of ferroptosis and the regulation of DEGs in cholesterol metabolism pathway were also contributed to the synergistic effects of Coix and TMZ.

Effects of Coix Seed Oil on High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Dyslipidemia

Dietary intervention is becoming more popular as a way to improve lipid metabolism and reduce the prevalence of diet-related chronic disorders. We evaluated the effects of several dietary oils on body weight, fat mass, liver weight, and tumor necrosis factor in obese mice given a high-fat diet (HFD) to discover if coix seed oil (CSO) had an anti-obesity impact. As compared to other dietary fats, CSO treatment considerably lowered body weight and liver index, successfully sup-pressed total cholesterol and triglyceride content, and raised liver lipid deposition and lipid metabolism problem induced by high fat intake. Furthermore, gas chromatography research revealed that CSO extracted by supercritical fluid, with 64% being CSO extracted by supercritical fluid, and the greatest amounts of capric acids and lauric acids being 35.28% and 22.21%, respectively. CSO contained a high content of medium-chain fatty acids and was able to modify hepatic fatty acid metabolism and lipid levels in HFD-induced obese mice. According to the results, CSO has the potential to replace dietary lipids as a promising functional lipid in the prevention of met-abolish disorders.

Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis of the Potential Biological Mechanisms of Coix Seed against Colorectal Cancer

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the potential biological mechanisms of coix seed in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) based on network pharmacology analysis.

Methods

The active components of coix seed and their potential action targets were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The disease targets related to CRC were obtained from the DisGeNET database. The intersection targets of the drug targets and disease targets were selected, and a component-target-disease network was built using Cytoscape 3.8.0 tool. A global network of the core target protein interactions was constructed using String database. Biological function analysis and pathway enrichment analysis of core targets were conducted to explore the potential.

Results

A total of nine active components were obtained from the TCMSP database corresponding to 37 targets. Further analysis showed that 18 overlapping targets were associated with CRC. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was conducted based on the 18 targets and 11 significantly enriched signaling pathways implicated in CRC were identified.

Conclusion

The multicomponent and multitarget characteristics of coix seed are preliminarily verified, and the potential biological mechanisms of coix seed in the treatment of CRC are predicted, which provides a theoretical basis for the experimental research.

Development of a Reliable ic-ELISA with a Robust Antimatrix Interference Capability Based on QuEChERS Technology for the Rapid Detection of Zearalenone in Edible and Medical Coix Seeds and Subsequent Risk Assessments

Indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) is an ideal immunoassay method for large-scale screenings to detect mycotoxin contaminants. However, the matrix effect of complicated samples has always been challenging when performing immunoassays, as it leads to false-positive or negative results. In this study, convenient QuEChERS technology combined with optimizing the dilution solvent was ingeniously used to eliminate interference from the sample matrix to greatly improve the detection accuracy, and reliable ic-ELISAs for the two official tolerance levels of 60 and 500 μg/kg were developed to screen zearalenone (ZEN) in edible and medical coix seeds without any further correction. Then, the 122 batches of coix seeds were determined, and the positive rate was up to 97.54%. The contaminated distribution was further analyzed, and risk assessment was subsequently performed for its edible and medical purposes. The findings indicated that consumption of coix seeds with higher ZEN contamination levels may cause adverse health effects for both medical and edible consumption in the adult population; even under the condition of average contamination level, ZEN from coix seeds was the more prominent contributor to the total risk compared to other sources when used as food; thus, effective prevention and control should be an essential topic in the future.

Anti-Cancer Properties of Coix Seed Oil against HT-29 Colon Cells through Regulation of the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

This study aims to observe the effects of coix seed oil (CSO) on HT-29 cells and investigate its possible regulation mechanism of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Fatty acid analysis showed that coix seed oil mainly contains oleic acid (50.54%), linoleic acid (33.76%), palmitic acid (11.74%), and stearic acid (2.45%). Fourier transform infrared results found that the fatty acid functional groups present in the oil matched well with the vegetable oil band. The results from CCK-8 assays showed that CSO dose-dependently and time-dependently inhibited the viability of HT-29 cells in vitro. CSO inhibited cell viability, with IC₅₀ values of 5.30 mg/mL for HT-29 obtained after 24 h treatment. Morphological changes were observed by apoptotic body/cell nucleus DNA (Hoechst 33258) staining using inverted and fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis was used to evaluate the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. It showed that CSO induced cell apoptosis and cycle arrest in the G₂ phase. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting revealed that CSO induced cell apoptosis by downregulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, CSO can cause apoptosis in cancer cells by activating caspase-3, up-regulating Bax, and down-regulating Bcl-2. In conclusion, the results revealed that CSO induced G₂ arrest and apoptosis of HT-29 cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Improved stabilization of coix seed oil in a nanocage-coating framework based on gliadin-carboxymethyl chitosan-Ca2

Coix seed oil (CSO) is easily suffered functional-loss by oxidation and hydrothermal-treatment. The environmental stable nanocage-coating-CSO particles (OGC-Ca) by the frameworks consist of gliadins, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and Ca²⁺ were investigated. Results showed Ca²⁺ was the key controller for fabricating this nanocage-coating-frameworks, bridging macromolecule-chains with electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonds, detected by FTIR, CD, DSC and XRD. SEM displayed new-formed velvet-like twigs after cross-linking CMCS to gliadins. Ca²⁺ assisted the nanocage-coating by significant down-sizing conversion OGC to OGC-Ca with consumption of twigs. OGC-Ca displayed a good stability towards heat (60-80 °C, 0-80 min), pH (3-8), NaCl (0-0.5 mM), storage (4/25 °C, 12 days), and a reduce of the pre-oxidation value of CSO in water and the improved controlled release of CSO in simulated GI tract. It illustrated GC-Ca frameworks would be a suitable delivery carrier for the CSO like pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals for the food or medical use.

Kanglaite enhances the efficacy of cisplatin in suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma via inhibiting CKLF1 mediated NF-κB pathway and regulating transporter mediated drug efflux

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kanglaite (KLT) is an active extract of the Coix lacryma-jobi seed, which can benefit Qi and nourish Yin, and disperse the accumulation of evils. It is used as a biphasic broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug, and shows synergistic effects with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the mechanism of KLT combined with cisplatin (CDDP) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of present study was to investigate the potential synergistic effects of KLT and CDDP on HepG2 cells, discussing the possible mechanisms from the perspective of CKLF1 and NF-κB mediated inflammatory response and chemoresistance, and the involvement of drug efflux transporters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CDDP injured HepG2 cells were used to investigate the effects of KLT on chemotherapeutics treated HCC. Effects of KLT pretreatment on CDDP injured HepG2 cells were determined by MTT, wound healing assay, and transwell assay. Expression of chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) and activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were examined by qPCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, to study the role of CKLF1 in KLT mediated effects on this CDDP injured HCC cell model, HepG2 cells overexpressed with CKLF1 gene were used. Cell viability and NF-κB activation were investigated. Moreover, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were measured by Elisa analysis and western blot to evaluate the inflammatory response. Additionally, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug efflux transporters, MDR1, MRP2, and BCRP were also determined in present study.

RESULTS

KLT pretreatment followed by CDDP treatment was found to show synergistic effects, which showed by decreased cell viability, migration and invasion ability of HepG2 cells. Expression of CKLF1 enhanced significantly in CDDP treated HepG2 cells, and KLT decreased this elevation obviously. Furthermore, CDDP activated NF-κΒ and promoted translocation of NF-κB toward the nucleus. KLT inhibited the activation of NF-κΒ, which sensitized cancer cells. Overexpression of CKLF1 reversed the effects of KLT on CDDP injured HepG2 cells, which exhibited by increased cell viability and enhanced activation of NF-κΒ. CDDP induced NF-κΒ activation could also lead to excessive inflammatory response, and KLT can suppress the aggravating inflammation which may be beneficial for tumor progression. Furthermore, we found that ABC drug efflux transporters MDR1, MRP2, and BCRP in CDDP treated HepG2 cells were decreased when pretreated with KLT.

CONCLUSIONS

KLT pretreatment may increase the effects of CDDP on HepG2 cells, by exhibiting cooperative effects on suppression of HepG2 cells. The mechanisms may partly by inhibiting CKLF1 mediated NF-κB pathway, which may contribute to inflammation of tumor microenvironment and chemoresistance of CDDP. Inhibition of transporter-mediated drug efflux is also involved in KLT mediated sensitization effects of CDDP.

Efficacy and safety of Kanglaite injection for gastric cancer: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Kanglaite injection is a broad-spectrum anti-tumor drug, which is extracted from the seeds of the Chinese medicinal herb Coix lacryma-jobi, and has been widely used for the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to systematically investigate the efficacy and safety of Kanglaite injection for the treatment of GC.

METHODS

We will perform the comprehensive literature search in English and Chinese electronic database from its inception to June 2020. Two trained researchers will independently select the qualified studies for data extraction and assess the quality and risk of bias. Cochrane Risk of Bias tool will be used to assess the risk of bias of included studies. The outcomes included overall response rate, complete response rate, 3-year progression-free survival rate, 3-year overall survival rate, and different types of treatment-related adverse events. Funnel plot analysis and Egger test will be used to assess the publication bias. Finally, the quality of evidence will be assessed by the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluate system . We will calculate the risk ratio as well as their 95% confidence intervals of these outcomes and pool the results using RevMan 5.4 software and STATA 16.0 software.

RESULTS

The results of our research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion of our systematic review will provide evidence to judge whether Kanglaite injection is an effective intervention for patient with GC.

OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER

10.17605/OSF.IO/HF679.

Mechanism Analysis of Coix Seed in Gastric Cancer Treatment Based on Biological Network Modules

Coix seed, the mature seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L., is a traditional herb widely used in various cancer adjuvant treatments; however, its mechanism is unknown. The aim of this study was to reveal the multitarget mechanisms of Coix seed in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC) by biological network and modular analysis methods. Forty-one ingredients and 482 targets of Coix seed and 165 GC-related genes were obtained from databases. Twelve on-target genes ( AICDA, CASP3, EP300, ERBB2, FGFR2, IL12A, IL12B, IL1B, LOX, TJP1, TP53, and TRIB3) of Coix seed overlapped with GC-related genes. Using compound-target and protein–protein interaction network analyses, we discovered the core targets of Coix seed. Markov cluster algorithm-based modular analysis identified 5 potential module targets of Coix seed for GC. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis demonstrated the vast actions of Coix seed, which involve pathways in cancer, the cell cycle, receptor signal transduction, deoxyribonucleic acid damage response, transcriptional regulation, apoptosis, and cell connections. This study elucidated the potential mechanisms of Coix seed on GC, which may lead to the development of an effective drug. Additionally, this study showed the feasibility of network and modular analysis methods to investigate traditional Chinese medicinal herbal mechanisms and may provide a new angle for further research in the field of anticancer mechanisms and multitarget drugs.

Coix seed oil ameliorates cancer cachexia by counteracting muscle loss and fat lipolysis

Background

Cancer cachexia is a cancer-induced multifactorial debilitating syndrome directly accounting for 20% of cancer deaths without effective therapeutic approaches. It is extremely urgent to explore effective anti-cachexia drugs to ameliorate muscle and fat loss in cachexia patients.

Methods

Lewis lung carcinoma bearing C57BL/6 mice were applied as the animal model to examine the therapeutic effect of Coix seed oil (CSO) on cancer cachexia. The food intake and body weight change were monitored every 3 days throughout the experiment. The IL-6 and TNF-α levels in serum were detected by ELISA assay. Several key proteins involved in muscle wasting and fat lipolysis were tested by Western blot to identify the potential mechanism of CSO.

Results

Administration of CSO through gavage significantly prevented body weight loss and ameliorated systemic inflammation without affecting food intake and tumor size. The weight and histological morphology of gastrocnemius muscle and epididymal adipose tissue in CSO-treated mice were also improved. In mechanism, we found that CSO decreased the expression of MuRF1 and the ratio of phospho-p65 (Ser536) to p65 in muscle tissue. Meanwhile, cancer-induced activation of HSL and AMPK was also inhibited by CSO administration.

Conclusion

Coix seed oil exerts an anti-cachexia pharmaceutical effect by counteracting muscle and adipose tissue loss most likely through regulating NF-κB-MuRF1 and AMPK-HSL pathway.

Untargeted Metabolite Profiling of Adipose Tissue in Hyperlipidemia Rats Exposed to Hawthorn Ethanol Extracts

The study aimed to explore the metabolic changes of adipose tissue of hyperlipidemia rats with hawthorn ethanol extracts (HEE) consumption by a high-throughput metabolomics approach. HEE were mainly composed of chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin, vitexin, quercetin, and apigenin by HPLC analysis. HEE administration significantly lowered levels of the total cholesterols, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as compared to the high-fat diet model. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify adipose metabolite profiles. Numerous endogenous molecules were altered by high-fat diet and restored following intervention of HEE. Metabolites elevated in adipose, including l-threonine, aspartic acid, glutamine, mannose, inositol and oleic acid, were detected after HEE consumption. Fifteen metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers of hyperlipidemia. Pathway analysis showed that most of the discriminant metabolites were included in fatty acid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arginine and proline metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism and steroid biosynthesis. These metabolites and metabolic networks we found offer new insights into exploring the molecular mechanisms of lipid-lowering of hawthorn ethanol extracts on adipose tissue of rats. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: There was a very high proportion of hyperlipidemia in China. Hawthorn is attracting increasing attention owing to their health benefits, low toxicity, effectiveness and might be suitable for long-term use.

Chemical Composition, Characteristics Profiles and Bioactivities of Tunisian Phalaris canariensis Seeds: a Potential Source of ω-6 and ω-9 Fatty Acids

Seeds oils of Phalaris canariensis extracted by ultrasonication and cold maceration were evaluated for their physical characteristics, total phenol contents, fatty acid and sterol compositions as well as for their antioxidant, antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase activities. The physicochemical properties of ultrasonication and cold maceration oils respectively were: acid values (4.00 and 3.25) mg KOH/g, peroxide values (5.53 and 4.41) meq O2 Kg^-1, iodine values (88.83 and 95.17) g/100 g of oil, saponification values (119.21 and 98.17) mg KOH/g, phenolic content (36.40 and 53.00) mg GAE/g extract, chlorophylls (0.52 and 0.60) mg/kg oil and carotenoids contents (1.92 and 1.88) mg/kg oil. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that linoleic (52.03 and 52.2%), oleic (31.75 and 31.84%) and palmitic (11.09 and 11.34 %) acids were the major fatty acids in the two oils. Specific extinctions at 232 nm (K₂₃₂) and 270 nm (K₂₇₀) were (0.58 and 0.44) and (0.42 and 0.33), respectively. The DSC melting curve showed that their melting points and melting enthalpies were (-28.05°C and 76.8 J/g) and (-27.47°C and 62.3 J/g), respectively. On the other hand, the evaluation of their DPPH radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity, antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase activities showed interesting results. Thus, Phalaris canariensis seeds oils could deserve further consideration and investigation as a potentially new multi-purpose product for agro-food, medicinal and cosmetic uses.

Kanglaite inhibits the expression of drug resistance genes through suppressing PVT1 in cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer cells

Kanglaite (KLT) was shown to alleviate the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) clinically. The purpose of this study is to examine the mechanism of KLT for chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer cells involving the regulation of MDR-related proteins. The cisplatin-resistant BGC823/DPP and SGC7901/DDP cells were treated with 1, 2.5 and 5 µl/ml of KLT for 24, 36 and 48 h. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry were performed to detect the cell viability and cell apoptosis, respectively. The expression of MDR1 and multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1) were examined by quantitative PCR and western blotting in BGC823/DPP cells and SGC7901/DDP cells treated with KLT. The effect of KLT on the expression of PVT1 was investigated. PVT1-overexpression vector was constructed and transfected into BGC823/DPP cells and SGC7901/DDP cells which were treated with KLT. KLT inhibited the cell viability and promoted the cell apoptosis of BGC823/DPP cells and SGC7901/DDP cells in a concentration-dependent manner. KLT suppressed the expression of MDR1 and MRP1 and the level of PVT1. PVT1 overexpression reversed the increased percentage of apoptotic cells induced by KLT. Finally, we found that PVT1 overexpression also abrogated the effect of KLT on the mRNA level and protein level of MDR1 and MRP1 in BGC823/DPP and SGC7901/DDP cells. KLT inhibited the expression of MDR1 and MRP1 via suppressing the expression of PVT1, which suggested the potential mechanism of KLT involving in MDR in gastric cancer.

Preparation of novel butyryl galactose ester-modified coix component microemulsions and evaluation on hepatoma-targeting in vitro and in vivo

The butyryl galactose ester-modified coix component microemulsions (But-Gal-CMEs) was developed for enhanced liver tumor-specific targeting. The study was aimed to evaluate the hepatoma-targeting potential of But-Gal-CMEs in vitro and in vivo. But-Gal-CMEs with a uniform spherical shape exhibited a small particle size (56.68 ± 0.07 nm), a narrow polydispersity (PDI, 0.144 ± 0.005) and slightly negative surface charge (-0.102 ± 0.008 mV). In the cell uptake studies, But-Gal-CMEs showed a significant enhancement on the intracellular fluorescent intensity on HepG2 cells model, which was 1.93-fold higher relative to coix component microemulsions (CMEs). The IC₅₀ of But-Gal-CMEs against HepG2 cells was 64.250 μg/mL, which was notably stronger than that of CMEs. In the cell apoptosis studies, compared with CMEs, But-Gal-CMEs (50 μg/mL) treatment resulted in a 1.34-fold rise in total apoptosis cells of HepG2. In the biodistribution studies in vivo, the intratumorous fluorescence of Cy5-loaded But-Gal-CMEs was 1.43-fold higher relative to that of Cy5-loaded CMEs, suggesting an obviously enhanced accumulation in the tumor sites. Taken as together, But-Gal could be incorporated into the coix component microemulsions as a novel ligand for realizing hepatoma-targeting drugs delivery.

A comparative study on hulled adlay and unhulled adlay through evaluation of their LPS-induced anti-inflammatory effects, and isolation of pure compounds

Coicis semen (=the hulled seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen (Rom.Caill.) Stapf; Gramineae), commonly known as adlay and Job's tears, is widely used in traditional medicine and as a nutritious food. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the AcOEt fraction of unhulled adlays, using measurement of nitric oxide (NO) production on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, led to the isolation and identification of two new stereoisomers, (+)-(7'S,8'R,7″S,8″R)-guaiacylglycerol β-O-4'-dihydrodisinapyl ether (1) and (+)-(7'S,8'R,7″R,8″R)-guaiacylglycerol β-O-4'-dihydrodisinapyl ether (2), together with six known compounds, 3-8. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited inhibitory activities on LPS-induced NO production with IC50 values of 1.4 and 3.7 μM, respectively, and suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expressions in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Simple high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC/UV) was used to compare the AcOEt fraction of unhulled adlays responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells and the inactive AcOEt fraction of hulled adlays.

Effect of kanglaite on rat cytochrome P450

CONTEXT

Kanglaite (KLT) is an oily substance extracted from Coix lacryma-jobi Linn. (Cramineae) and has been proved to significantly improve the life span and quality of life of patients, when combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to find out whether KLT influences the effect on rat cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4) by using cocktail probe drugs in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cocktail solution at a dose of 5 mL/kg, which contained phenacetin (20 mg/kg), bupropion (20 mg/kg), tolbutamide (5 mg/kg), omeprazole (20 mg/kg), and midazolam (10 mg/kg), was given as oral administration to rats treated with 7 d intraperitoneal injection of KLT. Blood samples were collected at a series of time-points and the concentrations of probe drugs in plasma were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. The corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by the software of DAS 2.0 (SPPS Inc., Chicago, IL).

RESULTS

In the experiment, there was a statistically significant difference in the t1/2, Cmax, AUC(0-∞), and CL for phenacetin, bupropion, tolbutamide, omeprazole, and midazolam. Our study showed that treatment with multiple doses of KLT had induction effect on rat CYP1A2, while CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 enzyme activities had been inhibited after multiple doses of KLT treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

KLT can either induce or inhibit activities of CYP. Therefore, caution is needed when KLT is co-administration with some CYP substrates in clinic, which may result in herb-drug interactions.

Antioxidative dietary compounds modulate gene expression associated with apoptosis, DNA repair, inhibition of cell proliferation and migration

Many dietary compounds are known to have health benefits owing to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. To determine the molecular mechanism of these food-derived compounds, we analyzed their effect on various genes related to cell apoptosis, DNA damage and repair, oxidation and inflammation using in vitro cell culture assays. This review further tests the hypothesis proposed previously that downstream products of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) called electrophilic oxo-derivatives induce antioxidant responsive elements (ARE), which leads to cell proliferation under antioxidative conditions. Our findings support this hypothesis and show that cell proliferation was inhibited when COX-2 was down-regulated by polyphenols and polysaccharides. Flattened macrophage morphology was also observed following the induction of cytokine production by polysaccharides extracted from viili, a traditional Nordic fermented dairy product. Coix lacryma-jobi (coix) polysaccharides were found to reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and induce caspase-3- and 9-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, polyphenols from blueberries were involved in the ultraviolet-activated p53/Gadd45/MDM2 DNA repair system by restoring the cell membrane potential. Inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 by saponin extracts of ginsenoside (Ginsen) and Gynostemma and inhibition of S100A4 by coix polysaccharides inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. These observations suggest that antioxidants and changes in cell membrane potential are the major driving forces that transfer signals through the cell membrane into the cytosol and nucleus, triggering gene expression, changes in cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis or DNA repair.

Targeting FASN in Breast Cancer and the Discovery of Promising Inhibitors from Natural Products Derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine

Molecular targeted therapy has been developed for cancer chemoprevention and treatment. Cancer cells process a fundamental change in its bioenergetic metabolism from normal cells on an altered lipid metabolism, also known as the de novo fatty acid synthesis, for sustaining their high proliferation rates. Fatty acid synthesis is now associated with clinically aggressive tumor behavior and tumor cell growth and has become a novel target pathway for chemotherapy development. Although the underlying mechanisms of the altered de novo fatty acid synthesis still remains unclear, recent progress has shown that by targeting Fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of endogenous long chain fatty acid could be a critical target for drug discovery. However, relatively few FASN inhibitors have been discovered. With the long history of clinical practices and numerous histological case study reports, traditional Chinese medicine enjoys an important role in seeking bioactive anticancer natural compounds. Herein, we will give an overall picture of the current progress of molecular targeted therapy in cancer fatty acid synthesis, describe the advances in the research on natural products-derived FASN inhibitors and their potential for enhancing our understanding of fatty acids in tumor biology, and may provide new therapeutic moieties for breast cancer patient care.

Triterpene-loaded microemulsion using Coix lacryma-jobi seed extract as oil phase for enhanced antitumor efficacy: preparation and in vivo evaluation

Ganoderma lucidum triterpene-loaded microemulsions (TMEs) using Coix lacryma-jobi (adlay) seed oil as oil phase were prepared, characterized, and evaluated for enhanced antitumor activity. Ternary phase diagrams for the TMEs were constructed and the optimal preparation was developed. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering showed that this formulation had a well defined spherical shape, a homogeneous distribution, a small size, and a narrow polydispersity index. The drug-loading rate was determined to be 9.87% by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and acceptable stability under various stimulations in vitro was confirmed. Importantly, the TME formulation showed a significantly greater antiproliferative effect towards human lung carcinoma (A549) cells and murine lung tumor (Lewis) cells in comparison with suspension formulations containing triterpene and adlay seed oil as a positive control. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of the TMEs was about 0.62 mg crude drug per mL, being 2.5-fold improved relative to that of the corresponding suspension formulation, but no significant cytotoxicity was observed for the bare microemulsion in A549 cells and Lewis cells. In vivo, the TME formulation showed markedly enhanced antitumor efficacy in a xenograft model of Lewis lung cancer after intragastric administration. Compared with cyclophosphamide, the TME formulation showed similar antitumor activity but less general toxicity. These results indicate the feasibility of using a microemulsion to increase the solubility of triterpene and adlay. TMEs hold promise as an efficient drug delivery system for the treatment of lung cancer.

A polysaccharide fraction of adlay seed (Coixlachryma-jobi L.) induces apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

Different seed extracts from Coix lachryma-jobi (adlay seed) have been used for the treatment of various cancers in China, and clinical data support the use of these extracts for cancer therapy; however, their underlying molecular mechanisms have not been well defined. A polysaccharide fraction, designated as CP-1, was extracted from the C.lachryma-jobi L. var. using the ethanol subsiding method. CP-1 induced apoptosis in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by MTT assay. Apoptotic bodies were observed in the cells by scanning electronic microscopy. Apoptosis and DNA accumulation during S-phase of the cell cycle were determined by annexin V-FITC and PI staining, respectively, and measured by flow cytometry. CP-1 also extended the comet tail length on single cell gel electrophoresis, and disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential. Further analysis by western blotting showed that the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 proteins was increased. Taken together, our results demonstrate that CP-1 is capable of inhibiting A549 cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis via a mechanism primarily involving the activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. The assay data suggest that in addition to its nutritional properties, CP-1 is a very promising candidate polysaccharide for the development of anti-cancer medicines.

Antitumor activity and immunomodulatory effects of the intraperitoneal administration of Kanglaite in vivo in Lewis lung carcinoma

AIMS OF THE STUDY

Kanglaite (KLT) is a useful antitumor drug with proven effects when combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. We hypothesize that KLT has antitumor activity and immunomodulatory effects in Lewis lung carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C57BL/6 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma were divided into four groups: the control group (C), cisplatin group (1 mg/kg, DDP), low KLT group (6.25 ml/kg body weight [L]), and high KLT group (12.5 ml/kg body weight [H]). T cell proliferation was determined by the MTT assay. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitor kappa B alpha (IκBα), IκB kinase (IKK) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) levels were measured by western blotting. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2).

RESULTS

Intraperitoneal KLT significantly inhibited the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma, and the spleen index was significantly higher in the L and H groups than in the C group. KLT stimulated T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with KLT at either 6.25 or 12.5 ml/kg decreased the level of NF-κB in the nucleus in a dose-dependent manner, and KLT markedly decreased the expression of IκBα, IKK and EGFR in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and overall. IL-2 was significantly increased in the supernatant of splenocytes in the H group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that KLT has pronounced antitumor and immunostimulatory activities in C57BL/6 mice with Lewis lung carcinoma. These may affect the regulation of NF-κB/IκB expression, in addition to cytokines such as IL-2 and EGFR. Further work needs to investigate the relevant signaling pathway effects, but our findings suggest that KLT may be a promising antitumor drug for clinical use.

Effects of adlay seed oil on blood lipids and antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic rats

BACKGROUND

Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. subsp. ma-yuen (Romanet) T. Koyama (family Poaceae)) seed has been used as a dietary supplement for its therapeutic effects for thousands of years. This study was designed to investigate the effects of adlay seed oil, obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction, on blood lipids and antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic rats.

RESULTS

Adlay seed oil could reduce the abdominal fat tissue and low-density lipoprotein concentration, and increase the total antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic rats. Adlay seed oil also significantly decreased the malondialdehyde content in serum, and increased serum total superoxide dismutase activity in hyperlipidemic rats. Therefore, the antioxidant mechanism might be related to the scavenging effects of adlay seed oil on reactive oxidative species, especially on the superoxide anion free radical.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that adlay seed oil had blood lipid-reducing and antioxidant effects, and could be used as a supplement in healthcare food and drugs for the prevention of chronic diseases (especially artherosclerosis and coronary artery disease).

Antiproliferative lactams and spiroenone from adlay bran in human breast cancer cell lines

Two new lactams, coixspirolactam D (1) and coixspirolactam E (2), and a new spiroenone, coixspiroenone (3), together with seven known compounds, coixspirolactam A (4), coixspirolactam B (5), coixspirolactam C (6), coixlactam (7), coixol (8), ethyl dioxindole-3-acetate (9), and isoindol-1-one (10), and two neolignans, zhepiresionol (11) and ficusal (12), were isolated from the bioactive subfraction of adlay bran ethanolic extract (ABE). Compounds 9 and 10 are the first isolates from natural resources. The structures of new compounds were identified by spectroscopic methods, including infrared (IR) spectrum, 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrum (MS). All of the isolated compounds were tested for antiproliferative effects on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and T-47D cells. Results showed that compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 at 50 μM significantly inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation by 30.2, 19.2, 21.0, 13.5, and 32.4%, respectively; compounds 2, 4, and 7 significantly inhibited T-47D cells at 50 μM by 20.7, 24.8, and 28.9%; and compounds 1, 2, and 12 significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cells at 50 μM by 47.4, 25.3, and 69.3%, respectively. In conclusion, ABE has antiproliferative activities, and this effect is partially related to the presence of lactams and spiroenone.