The plant polyphenol butein inhibits testosterone-induced proliferation in breast cancer cells expressing aromatase

Chalcones: The flavonoid derivatives synthesis, characterization, their antioxidant and in vitro/in vivo antidiabetic potentials

Chalcones (designated JA1, JA2 and JA3) were prepared from aromatic aldehyde and acetophenone which were then characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The antioxidant potential of synthesized compounds was evaluated against DPPH free radical whereas the antidiabetic potential was determined against alpha glucosidase. Further the antidiabetic potential of the synthesized compounds was evaluated in rat model which were given orally experimental animals in doses 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight. The blood biochemical parameters like total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine phosphatase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum creatinine, HDL, and LDL levels were determined using commercially available kits. The antioxidant potential was found high for JA3 followed by JA2 with IC50 value of 64.02 ± 1.47 μg/ml whereas against alpha glucosidase again the same compound with IC50 of 63.04 μg/ml exhibited highest inhibitory potential. The blood glucose level was brought to almost normal level (126.88 and 119.13 mg/dl at 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) in diabetic rats (induced by STZ) by compound JA3 at the tested doses in comparison to acarbose at day 28th. The blood biochemical parameters were normalized in diabetic rats by compound JA3 compared with diabetic control group. Based on the results JA3 should be considered as effective antioxidant and antidiabetic drug candidate.

Anticancer Potential of Natural Chalcones: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence

There is no doubt that significant progress has been made in tumor therapy in the past decades. However, the discovery of new molecules with potential antitumor properties still remains one of the most significant challenges in the field of anticancer therapy. Nature, especially plants, is a rich source of phytochemicals with pleiotropic biological activities. Among a plethora of phytochemicals, chalcones, the bioprecursors of flavonoid and isoflavonoids synthesis in higher plants, have attracted attention due to the broad spectrum of biological activities with potential clinical applications. Regarding the antiproliferative and anticancer effects of chalcones, multiple mechanisms of action including cell cycle arrest, induction of different forms of cell death and modulation of various signaling pathways have been documented. This review summarizes current knowledge related to mechanisms of antiproliferative and anticancer effects of natural chalcones in different types of malignancies including breast cancers, cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, lung cancers, renal and bladder cancers, and melanoma.

Chalcone Derivatives with a High Potential as Multifunctional Antioxidant Neuroprotectors

A systematic, rational search for chalcone derivatives with multifunctional behavior has been carried out, with the support of a computer-assisted protocol (CADMA-Chem). A total of 568 derivatives were constructed by incorporating functional groups into the chalcone structure. Selection scores were calculated from ADME properties, toxicity, and manufacturability descriptors. They were used to select a subset of molecules (23) with the best drug-like behavior. Reactivity indices were calculated for this subset. They were chosen to account for electron and hydrogen atom donating capabilities, which are key processes for antioxidant activity. The indexes showed that four chalcone derivatives (dCHA-279, dCHA-568, dCHA-553, and dCHA-283) are better electron and H donors than the parent molecule and some reference antioxidants (Trolox, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol). In addition, based on molecular docking, they are predicted to act as catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors. Therefore, these four molecules are proposed as promising candidates to act as multifunctional antioxidants with neuroprotective effects.

Insights on the Modulation of SIRT5 Activity: A Challenging Balance

SIRT5 is a member of the Sirtuin family, a class of deacetylating enzymes consisting of seven isoforms, involved in the regulation of several processes, including gene expression, metabolism, stress response, and aging. Considering that the anomalous activity of SIRT5 is linked to many pathological conditions, we present herein an overview of the most interesting modulators, with the aim of contributing to further development in this field.

MY11 exerts antitumor effects through activation of the NF-κB/PUMA signaling pathway in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, and the discovery of new effective breast cancer therapies with lower toxicity is still needed. We screened a series of chalcone derivatives and found that MY11 ((E)-1-(2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(4-piperazinylphenyl) prop-2-en-1-one) had the strongest anti-breast cancer activity. MY11 inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells by arresting the cell cycle and promoting apoptosis, through regulation of the cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins. PDTC (Pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate ammonium), a specific inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway, abolished the inhibitory effect of MY11 treatment. NF-κB has been shown to regulate PUMA-dependent apoptosis. Our in vitro studies demonstrated that MY11 promoted breast cancer cell apoptosis by activating the NF-κB/PUMA/mitochondrial apoptosis pathway (including Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-9). MY11 also inhibited tumor growth in an orthotopic breast cancer mouse model by inducing apoptosis through the NF-κB signaling pathway, importantly, with minimal toxicity. In addition, MY11 was found by docking analysis to bind to p65, which might enhance the stability of the p65 protein. Taken together, our findings indicate that MY11 exerts a significant anticancer effect in breast cancer and that it may be a potential candidate for the treatment of breast cancer.

The Role of Aromatase Enzyme in Hormone Related Diseases and Plant-Based Aromatase Inhibitors as Therapeutic Regimens

Medicinal plants have a long history of use as food and remedy in traditional and modern societies, as well as have been used as herbal drugs and sources of novel bioactive compounds. They provide a wide array of chemical compounds, many of which can not be synthesized via current synthesis methods. Natural products may provide aromatase inhibitory activity through various pathways and may act clinically effective for treating pathologies associated with excessive aromatase secretion including breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers, endometriosis, uterine fibroid, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, infertility, and gynecomastia. Recent studies have shown that natural products with aromatase inhibitory activity, could also be good options against secondary recurrence of breast cancer by exhibiting chemopreventive effects. Therefore, screening for new plant-based aromatase inhibitors may provide novel leads for drug discovery and development, particularly with increased clinical efficacy and decreased side effects.

Novel Butein Derivatives Repress DDX3 Expression by Inhibiting PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Cell Lines

Background

Breast cancer is one of the major causes of mortalities noticed in women globally. DDX3 has emerged as a potent target for several cancers, including breast cancer to which currently there are no reported or approved drugs.

Methods

To find effective cancer therapeutics, three compounds were computationally designed tweaking the structure of natural compound butein. These compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer property in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines targeting DDX3. The in silico molecular docking studies have shown that the compounds have occupied the binding site of the human DDX3 target. Furthermore, to investigate the cell viability effect of 3a, 3b, and 3c on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, the cell lines were treated with different concentrations of compounds for 24 and 48 h and measured using MTT assay.

Results

The cell viability results showed that the have induced dose dependent suppression of DDX3 expression. Additionally, 3b and 3c have reduced the expression of DDX3 in MCF-7 and MDA-MD-231 cell lines. 3b or 3c treated cell lines increased apoptotic protein expression. Both the compounds have induced the apoptotic cell death by elevated levels of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase 3 and repression of the anti-apoptosis protein BCL-xL. Additionally, they have demonstrated the G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in both the cell lines. Additionally, 3c decreased PI3K and AKT levels.

Conclusions

Our results shed light on the anticancer ability of the designed compounds. These compounds can be employed as chemical spaces to design new prospective drug candidates. Additionally, our computational method can be adapted to design new chemical scaffolds as plausible inhibitors.

Exploring the Biological Activity and Mechanism of Xenoestrogens and Phytoestrogens in Cancers: Emerging Methods and Concepts

Xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens are referred to as "foreign estrogens" that are produced outside of the human body and have been shown to exert estrogen-like activity. Xenoestrogens are synthetic industrial chemicals, whereas phytoestrogens are chemicals present in the plant. Considering that these environmental estrogen mimics potentially promote hormone-related cancers, an understanding of how they interact with estrogenic pathways in human cells is crucial to resolve their possible impacts in cancer. Here, we conducted an extensive literature evaluation on the origins of these chemicals, emerging research techniques, updated molecular mechanisms, and ongoing clinical studies of estrogen mimics in human cancers. In this review, we describe new applications of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques in shaping the current knowledge. At the molecular and cellular levels, we provide comprehensive and up-to-date insights into the mechanism of xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens in modulating the hallmarks of cancer. At the systemic level, we bring the emerging concept of window of susceptibility (WOS) into focus. WOS is the critical timing during the female lifespan that includes the prenatal, pubertal, pregnancy, and menopausal transition periods, during which the mammary glands are more sensitive to environmental exposures. Lastly, we reviewed 18 clinical trials on the application of phytoestrogens in the prevention or treatment of different cancers, conducted from 2002 to the present, and provide evidence-based perspectives on the clinical applications of phytoestrogens in cancers. Further research with carefully thought-through concepts and advanced methods on environmental estrogens will help to improve understanding for the identification of environmental influences, as well as provide novel mechanisms to guide the development of prevention and therapeutic approaches for human cancers.

Effects of butein on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury: An experimental study

OBJECTIVES

Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common cause of acute kidney injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of butein on renal I/R injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven rats were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 9): a sham group, a renal I/Runtreated (control) group, and a renal I/R-butein group. The sham group underwent only opening and closing of the peritoneum. In the control group, an experimental I/R model was created and 1 cc isotonic saline was applied to the peritoneum. In the butein group, the experimental I/R model was created and 1 mg/kg butein was administered intraperitoneally 15 minutes before the beginning of ischemia. The left kidneys of the rats were histopathologically examined for tissue damage caused by I/R.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination of the tissue damage revealed that all kidneys in the sham group were normal. By contrast, 2 in the control group (22.2%) had small focal damaged areas, 1 (11.1%) had < 10% cortical damage, 5 (55.6%) had 10-25% cortical damage, and 1 (11.1%) had 25-75% cortical damage. The butein group had 1 (11.1%) normal kidney, 2 (22.2%) with small focal damaged areas, 4 (44.4%) with < 10% cortical damage, and 2 (22.2%) with 10-25% cortical damage. Tissue damage was significantly lower in the sham group than in the control and butein groups (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed in the histopathology of the control and butein groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraperitoneal administration of butein had no significant effect on renal tissue injury.

Thalassosterol, a New Cytotoxic Aromatase Inhibitor Ergosterol Derivative from the Red Sea Seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum

Thalassodendron ciliatum (Forssk.) Den Hartog is a seagrass belonging to the plant family Cymodoceaceae with ubiquitous phytoconstituents and important pharmacological potential, including antioxidant, antiviral, and cytotoxic activities. In this work, a new ergosterol derivative named thalassosterol (1) was isolated from the methanolic extract of T. ciliatum growing in the Red Sea, along with two known first-reported sterols, namely ergosterol (2) and stigmasterol (3), using different chromatographic techniques. The structure of the new compound was established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) and by comparison with the literature data. The new ergosterol derivative showed significant in vitro antiproliferative potential against the human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 8.12 and 14.24 µM, respectively. In addition, docking studies on the new sterol 1 explained the possible binding interactions with an aromatase enzyme; this inhibition is beneficial in both cervical and breast cancer therapy. A metabolic analysis of the crude extract of T. ciliatum using liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-HR-MS) revealed the presence of an array of phenolic compounds, sterols and ceramides, as well as di- and triglycerides.

Pharmacological Modulation of Steroid Activity in Hormone-Dependent Breast and Prostate Cancers: Effect of Some Plant Extract Derivatives

The great majority of breast and prostate tumors are hormone-dependent cancers; hence, estrogens and androgens can, respectively, drive their developments, making it possible to use pharmacological therapies in their hormone-dependent phases by targeting the levels of steroid or modulating their physiological activity through their respective nuclear receptors when the tumors relapse. Unfortunately, at some stage, both breast and prostate cancers become resistant to pharmacological treatments that aim to block their receptors, estrogen (ER) or androgen (AR) receptors, respectively. So far, antiestrogens and antiandrogens used in clinics have been designed based on their structural analogies with natural hormones, 17-β estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. Plants are a potential source of drug discovery and the development of new pharmacological compounds. The aim of this review article is to highlight the recent advances in the pharmacological modulation of androgen or estrogen levels, and their activity through their cognate nuclear receptors in prostate or breast cancer and the effects of some plants extracts.

Biocatalytic green alternative to existing hazardous reaction media: synthesis of chalcone and flavone derivatives via the Claisen–Schmidt reaction at room temperature

Herein, two novel agro-food waste products from banana peels were used to synthesize chalcone and flavone derivatives at room temperature under solvent free conditions.

The inhibitory effects of butein on cell proliferation and TNF-α-induced CCL2 release in racially different triple negative breast cancer cells

Drug resistance is the leading cause of breast cancer-related mortality in women, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype, affecting African American women more aggressively compared to Caucasians women. Of all cancer-related deaths, 15 to 20% are associated with inflammation, where proinflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the tumorigenesis process. The current study investigated the effects of the polyphenolic compound butein (2',3,4,4'-tetrahydroxychalcone) on cell proliferation and survival, as well as its modulatory effect on the release of proinflammatory cytokines in MDA-MB-231 (Caucasian) and MDA-MB-468 (African American) TNBC cell. The results obtained showed that butein decreased cell viability in a time and dose-dependent manner, and after 72-h of treatment, the cell proliferation rate was reduced in both cell lines. In addition, butein was found to have higher potency in MDA-MB-468, exhibiting anti-proliferative effects in lower concentrations. Apoptosis assays demonstrated that butein (50 μM) increased apoptotic cells in MDA MB-468, showing 60% of the analyzed cells in the apoptotic phase, compared to 20% in MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, butein downregulated both protein and mRNA expression of the proinflammatory cytokine, CCL2, and IKBKE in TNFα-activated Caucasian cells, but not in African Americans. This study demonstrates butein potential in cancer cell suppression showing a higher cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic effects in African Americans, compared to Caucasians TNBC cells. It also reveals the butein inhibitory effect on CCL2 expression with a possible association with IKBKE downregulation in MDA-MB-231 cells only, indicating that Caucasians and African Americans TNBC cells respond differently to butein treatment. The obtained findings may provide an explanation regarding the poor therapeutic response in African American patients with advanced TNBC.

Human cytochrome P450 enzymes 5-51 as targets of drugs and natural and environmental compounds: mechanisms, induction, and inhibition - toxic effects and benefits

Cytochrome P450 (P450, CYP) enzymes have long been of interest due to their roles in the metabolism of drugs, pesticides, pro-carcinogens, and other xenobiotic chemicals. They have also been of interest due to their very critical roles in the biosynthesis and metabolism of steroids, vitamins, and certain eicosanoids. This review covers the 22 (of the total of 57) human P450s in Families 5-51 and their substrate selectivity. Furthermore, included is information and references regarding inducibility, inhibition, and (in some cases) stimulation by chemicals. We update and discuss important aspects of each of these 22 P450s and questions that remain open.

Romina: A powerful strawberry with in vitro efficacy against uterine leiomyoma cells

Uterine leiom yomas are benign tumors highly prevalent in reproductive women. In thecurrent study, initially, we aimed to screen five different strawberry cultivars (Alba, Clery, Portola, Tecla, and Romina) to identify efficient cultivars in terms of phytochemical characterization and biological properties by measuring phenolic and anthocyanin content as well as antioxidant capacity, and by measuring apoptotic rate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in uterine leiomyoma cells. Next, we focused on the most efficient ones, cultivar Alba (A) and Romina (R) as well as Romina anthocyanin (RA) fraction for their ability to regulate oxidative phosphorylation (oxygen consumption rate [OCR]) glycolysis (extracellular acidification rate [ECAR]), and also fibrosis. Leiomyoma and myometrial cells were treated with a methanolic extract of A and R (250 μg/ml) or with RA (50 μg/ml) for 48 hr to measure OCR and ECAR, as well as gene expression associated with fibrosis. In the leiomyoma cells, RA was more effective in inducing apoptosis and increasing intracellular ROS levels, followed by R and A. In myometrial cells, all strawberry treatments increased the cellular viability and decreased ROS concentrations. Leiomyoma cells showed also a significant decrease in ECAR, especially after RA treatment, while OCR was slightly increased in both myometrial and leiomyoma cells. R and RA treatment significantly decreased collagen 1A1, fibronectin, versican, and activin A messenger RNA expression in leiomyoma cells. In conclusion, this study suggests that Romina, or its anthocyanin fraction, can be developed as a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for uterine leiomyomas, confirming the healthy effects exerted by these fruits and their bioactive compounds.

Molecular chemotherapeutic potential of butein: A concise review

Butein is a biologically active flavonoid isolated from the bark of Rhus verniciflua Stokes, which is known to have therapeutic potential against various cancers. Notably, butein inhibits cancer cell growth by inducing G₂/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Butein-induced G₂/M phase arrest is associated with increased phosphorylation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and Chk1/2, and consequently, with reduced cdc25C levels. In addition, butein-induced apoptosis is mediated through the activation of caspase-3, which is associated with changes in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. Intriguingly, butein sensitizes cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis via ERK-mediated Sp1 activation, which promotes the transcription of specific death receptor 5. Butein also inhibits the migration and invasion of human cancer cells by suppressing nuclear factor-κB- and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2-mediated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Additionally, butein downregulates the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase and causes a concomitant decrease in telomerase activity. These findings provide the basis for the pharmaceutical development of butein. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the mechanisms underlying the anticancer activity of butein, with a special focus on its effects on different cellular signaling cascades.

Methylation dictates PI.f-specific CYP19 transcription in human glial cells

CYP19 is the single copy gene encoding for the estrogen synthetic enzyme aromatase. Alternate splicing of the promoter is the regulatory mechanism of this gene. In the brain, estrogen is synthesized in neuronal and glial cells and the gene is mainly regulated by the alternate promoter PI.f. The hormone produced in this vicinity has been associated with maintaining normal brain functions. Previously, epigenetic regulation has been shown in the promoters PII and I.3 of CYP19 in adipocytes. In the present study, the methylation of PI.f in CYP19 was examined in glial cells. Treatment of the hypomethylating agent 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine increased CYP19 mRNA species in U87 MG cells while little changes were observed in the other glia cell lines. As PI.f is also chiefly used in T98G cells with high expression of CYP19, the methylation statuses of the promoter in these two cell models were compared. Our results showed that treating U87 MG cells with 10 μM 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine significantly induced a ∼10-fold increase in CYP19 transcription and ∼80% increase in aromatase activity. In contrast, the same treatment did not change either endpoint in T98G cells. Further investigation illustrated the CpGs in PI.f were differentially methylated in the two cell lines; 63% and 37% of the 14 CpG sites were methylated in U87 MG and T98G cells respectively. In conclusion, this study illustrated that the brain-specific PI.f derived CYP19 expression can be regulated by DNA methylation.

Identification of a novel chalcone derivative that inhibits Notch signaling in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Notch signaling is considered a rational target in the therapy of several cancers, particularly those harbouring Notch gain of function mutations, including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Although currently available Notch-blocking agents are showing anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies, they are not effective in all the patients and often cause severe side-effects, limiting their widespread therapeutic use. Here, by functional and biological analysis of the most representative molecules of an in house library of natural products, we have designed and synthetized the chalcone-derivative 8 possessing Notch inhibitory activity at low micro molar concentration in T-ALL cell lines. Structure-activity relationships were afforded for the chalcone scaffold. Short term treatments with compound 8 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of Notch signaling activity, halted cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis, thus affecting leukemia cell growth. Taken together, our data indicate that 8 is a novel Notch inhibitor, candidate for further investigation and development as an additional therapeutic option against Notch-dependent cancers.

Butein inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest in acute lymphoblastic leukemia via FOXO3a/p27kip1 pathway

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common hematological malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of leukemia cells in children. Discovering and developing effective chemotherapeutic drugs are needed for ALL. In this study, we investigated the anti-leukemic activity of butein and its action mechanisms in ALL. Butein was found to significantly suppress the cellular proliferation of ALL cell lines and primary ALL blasts in a dose-dependent manner. It also induced cell cycle arrest by decreasing the expression of cyclin E and CDK2. We also found that butein promoted nuclear Forkhead Class box O3a (FOXO3a) localization, enhanced the binding of FOXO3a on the p27kip1 gene promoter and then increased the expression of p27kip1. Moreover, we showed that FOXO3a knockdown significantly decreased the proliferation inhibition by butein, whereas overexpression of FOXO3a enhanced the butein-mediated proliferation inhibition. However, overexpression of FOXO3a mutation (C-terminally truncated FOXO3a DNA-binding domain) decreased the proliferation inhibition by butein through decreasing the expression of p27kip1. Our results therefore demonstrate the therapeutic potential of butein for ALL via FOXO3a/p27kip1 pathway.

Butein in health and disease: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

The risk of suffering from many chronic diseases seems to have made no improvement despite the advancement in medications available in the modern world. Moreover, the use of synthetic chemicals as medications has proved to worsen the scenario due to the various adverse side effects associated with them.

PURPOSE

Extensive research on natural medicines provides ample evidence on the safety and efficacy of phytochemicals and nutraceuticals against diverse chronic ailments. Therefore, it is advisable to use natural products in the management of such diseases. This article aims to present a comprehensive and critical review of known pharmacological and biological effects of butein, an important chalcone polyphenol first isolated from Rhus verniciflua Stokes, implicated in the prevention and treatment of various chronic disease conditions.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Web of Science^TM core collections using key words followed by evaluation of the bibliographies of relevant articles.

RESULTS

Butein has been preclinically proven to be effective against several chronic diseases because it possesses a wide range of biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, hypotensive and neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, it has been shown to affect multiple molecular targets, including the master transcription factor nuclear factor-κB and its downstream molecules. Moreover, since it acts on multiple pathways, the chances of non-responsiveness and resistance development is reduced, supporting the use of butein as a preferred treatment option.

CONCLUSION

Based on numerous preclinical studies, butein shows significant therapeutic potential against various diseases. Nevertheless, well-designed clinical studies are urgently needed to validate the preclinical findings.

Treatment with Rhus tripartita extract curtails isoproterenol-elicited cardiotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats

BACKGROUND

Consumption of plant-derived nutraceuticals and crude drugs in traditional medicine is widely believed to confer beneficial effects in thwarting the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Rhus tripartita (family Anacardiaceae) has been traditionally used to treat a wide range of ailments.

METHODS

In the present study we investigated the protective effects of an alcoholic extract of the stem part of Rhus tripartita male genotype (RTSM) on experimentally induced myocardial injury in rats. To this end, cardiac injury was induced by administration of isoproterenol (ISO) and serum enzyme markers, lipid profiles and cardiac tissue redox status were determined following RTSM treatment (250 and 500 mg/kg).

RESULTS

As a result, RTSM treatment significantly mitigated ISO-triggered upregulation of cardiac-specific markers of injury creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. RTSM treatment significantly attenuated ISO-induced increase in serum cholesterol and triglycerides as well alterations in serum lipoproteins. Determination of oxidative balance showed that RTSM treatment significantly blunted ISO-induced increase in malondialdehyde and decrease in nonprotein sulfhydryl in cardiac tissue. Six compounds were isolated and identified as gallocatechin 1, taxifolin 2, myricetin-3-O-β-glucoside 3, catechin 4, epicatechin 5, and 3',8-binaringenin 6. Compound 6 was isolated for the first time from the stem part of Rhus tripartita. Furthermore, RTSM treatment enhanced the survival fraction of cardiac cells exposed to oxidative stress in vitro.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the antioxidant properties of RTSM treatment underpin its cardioprotective pharmacological effects, thus, providing biological evidence for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases using Rhus tripartita in indigenous medicine.

Chemistry and pharmacology of Bidens pilosa: an overview

Bidens pilosa L. is an edible herb and has been traditionally used for a wide range of ailments in many countries. The aim of this review is to present comprehensive information of the chemical constituents, nutraceutical and ethnomedical uses as well as the biological and pharmacological effects and toxicity of this plant based on 218 literary sources reported over 40 years. Major chemical constituents (including 301 compounds) belonging to polyacetylenes, polyacetylene glycosides, flavonoids, flavone glycosides, aurones, chalcones, okanin glycosides, phenolic acids, terpenes, pheophytins, fatty acids and phytosterols have been identified or isolated from the different parts of this plant. Many of them have been considered as the bioactive compounds which are potentially responsible for the pharmacological actions. Various types of preparations, extracts and individual compounds derived from this plant have been found to possess biological and pharmacological activities such as anti-malarial, anti-allergy, anti-hypertensive and smooth muscle relaxant, anti-cancerogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant. The results of data analysis on the chemicals, pharmacological and toxicological characteristics of B. pilosa validate the view of its folk worldwide-medicinal uses. This herb has a great beneficial therapeutic property and is possibly used for complement or alternative to pharmaceutical drugs in some specific cases. However, this herb is known as hyperaccumulator and as-excluder; therefore, harvesting the herb for medicinal uses should be judiciously cautioned.

Fluorescence study on the interaction of human serum albumin with Butein in liposomes

The interaction of Butein with human serum albumin in L-egg lecithin phosphatidycholine (PC) liposome has been investigated by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. The results of the fluorescence measurement indicated that Butein effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA via static quenching. The Stern–Volmer plots in all the liposome solutions showed a positive deviation from the linearity. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the hydrophobic interactions appeared be the major interaction forces between Butein and HSA. The effect of Butein on the conformation of HSA was also investigated by the synchronous fluorescence under the same experimental conditions. In addition, the partition coefficient of the Butein in the PC liposomes was also determined by using the fluorescence quenching process. The obtained results can be of biological significance in pharmacology and clinical medicine.

Butein and Its Role in Chronic Diseases

Natural compounds isolated from various plant sources have been used for therapeutic purpose for centuries. These compounds have been routinely used for the management of various chronic ailments and have gained considerable attention because of their significant efficacy and comparatively low side effects. Butein, a chacolnoid compound that has been isolated from various medicinal plants has exhibited a wide range of beneficial pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-angiogenic in diverse disease models. This article briefly summarizes the past published literature related to the therapeutic and protective effects of butein, as demonstrated in various models of human chronic diseases. Further analysis of its important cellular targets, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic profile may further significantly expand its therapeutic application.

Potential of butein, a tetrahydroxychalcone to obliterate cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite the major advances made in the field of cancer biology, it still remains one of the most fatal diseases in the world. It is now well established that natural products are safe and efficacious and have high potential in the prevention and treatment of different diseases including cancer. Butein is one such compound which is now found to have anti-cancer properties against various malignancies.

PURPOSE

To thoroughly review the literature available on the anti-cancer properties of butein against different cancers and its molecular targets.

METHODS

A thorough literature search has been done in PubMed for butein, its biological activities especially cancer and its molecular targets.

RESULTS

Our search retrieved several reports on the various biological activities of butein in which around 43 articles reported that butein shows potential anti-proliferative effect against a wide range of neoplasms and the molecular target varies with cancer types. Most often it targets NF-κB and its downstream pathways. In addition, butein induces the expression of genes which mediate the cell death and apoptosis in cancer cells. It also inhibits tumor angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis in prostate, liver and bladder cancers through the inhibition of MMPs, VEGF etc. Moreover, it inhibits the overexpression of several proteins and enzymes such as STAT3, ERK, CXCR4, COX-2, Akt, EGFR, Ras etc. involved in tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, all these findings suggest the enormous potential and efficacy of butein as a multitargeted chemotherapeutic, chemopreventive and chemosensitizing agent against a wide range of cancers with minimal or no adverse side effects.

Butein sensitizes HeLa cells to cisplatin through the AKT and ERK/p38 MAPK pathways by targeting FoxO3a

Drug resistance remains a major challenge in cancer therapy. Butein, a polyphenolic compound, has been shown to exhibit anticancer activity through the inhibition of the activation of the protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, which are two pathways known to be involved in resistance to cisplatin. Hence, we hypotheiszed that butein may be a chemosensitizer to cisplatin. In the present study, we demonstrated that butein synergistically enhanced the growth inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of cisplatin on HeLa cells. Moreover, the combination of butein and cisplatin led to G1 phase arrest. We then aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms. We found that butein inhibited the activation of AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs) and p38 kinases in the presence of cisplatin. The use of the AKT inhibitor, LY294002, in combination with cisplatin, induced an increase in apoptosis compared to treatment with cisplatin alone, although this effect was not as prominent as that exerted by butein in combination with cisplatin. Of note, the inhibition of ERK or p38 MAPK by U0126 or SB203580, respectively, decreased the apoptosis induced by cisplatin; however, enhanced apoptotic effects were observed with the use of ERK/p38 MAPK inhibitor in combination with butein. These data suggest that the AKT and ERK/p38 MAPK pathways are involved in the synergistic effects of butein and cisplatin. Furthermore, co-treatment with butein and cisplatin promoted the nuclear translocation and expression of forkhead box O3a (FoxO3 or FoxO3a). FoxO3a may be the key molecule on which these pathways converge and is thus implicated in the synergistic effects of butein and cisplatin. This was further confirmed by the RNAi-mediated suppression of FoxO3a. FoxO3a target genes involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis were also investigated, and combined treatment with butein and cisplatin resulted in the downregulation of cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 and the upregulation of p27 and Bax. In addition, the combination of both agents markedly inhibited tumor growth and increased the expression of FoxO3a in mouse tumor xenograft models of cervical cancer. Taken together, to the best of our knowledge, our results reveal for the first time that butein sensitizes cervical cancer cells to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo, and these effects of butien may be related to the inhibition of the activation of the AKT and ERK/p38 MAPK pathways by targeting FoxO3a.

Diverse Molecular Targets for Chalcones with Varied Bioactivities

Natural or synthetic chalcones with different substituents have revealed a variety of biological activities that may benefit human health. The underlying mechanisms of action, particularly with respect to the direct cellular targets and the modes of interaction with the targets, have not been rigorously characterized, which imposes challenges to structure-guided rational development of therapeutic agents or chemical probes with acceptable target-selectivity profile. This review summarizes literature evidence on chalcones’ direct molecular targets in the context of their biological activities.

Molecular targeted approaches to cancer therapy and prevention using chalcones

There is an emerging paradigm shift in oncology that seeks to emphasize molecularly targeted approaches for cancer prevention and therapy. Chalcones (1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ones), naturally-occurring compounds with widespread distribution in spices, tea, beer, fruits and vegetables, consist of open-chain flavonoids in which the two aromatic rings are joined by a three-carbon α, β-unsaturated carbonyl system. Due to their structural diversity, relative ease of chemical manipulation and reaction of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety with cysteine residues in proteins, some lead chalcones from both natural products and synthesis have been identified in a variety of screening assays for modulating important pathways or molecular targets in cancers. These pathways and targets that are affected by chalcones include MDM2/p53, tubulin, proteasome, NF-kappa B, TRIAL/death receptors and mitochondria mediated apoptotic pathways, cell cycle, STAT3, AP-1, NRF2, AR, ER, PPAR-γ and β-catenin/Wnt. Compared to current cancer targeted therapeutic drugs, chalcones have the advantages of being inexpensive, easily available and less toxic; the ease of synthesis of chalcones from substituted benzaldehydes and acetophenones also makes them an attractive drug scaffold. Therefore, this review is focused on molecular targets of chalcones and their potential implications in cancer prevention and therapy.

Butein suppresses cervical cancer growth through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Cervical cancer is the second most common women carcinoma worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in women. Butein, a bioactive flavonoid isolated from numerous native plants, has been shown to induce apoptosis and inhibits migration and invasion in numerous human cancer cells. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of butein on human cervical cancer cells has not been reported. The present study aimed to determine the effect of butein on cell growth, apoptosis, migration and invasion and identify the associated molecular mechanism involved using HeLa human cervical cancer cells in vitro, and on tumor growth in a nude mouse model. It was found that butein notably inhibited cell viability, colony formation, migration and invasion, induced cell cycle at the G2/M stage and cell apoptosis, as well as enhanced caspase-3, -8 and -9 activity in HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner. When administered intraperitoneally, butein inhibited the tumor growth of human cervical cancer xenograft tumors in the nude mouse model. Additionally, treatment with butein significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and reduced the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT and mTOR expression, which contributes to the inhibition of the tumor growth of cervical cancer and reduction of oxidative stress. These findings suggested that butein serves as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel C3-functionalized oxindoles as potential Pim-1 kinase inhibitors

A novel series of C3-functionalized oxindoles, 3-(2-oxo-4-phenylbut-3-en-1-ylidene) indolin-2-ones as potential Pim-1 kinase inhibitors, were designed, synthesized and investigated for inhibition of human cancer-cell proliferation.

The depletion of securin enhances butein-induced apoptosis and tumor inhibition in human colorectal cancer

Butein (3,4,2',4'-tetrahydroxychalcone) is a promising natural polyphenolic compound that shows the growth inhibitory activity in human cancer cells; however, the precise mechanism is still unclear. Securin plays pivotal role in cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Here, we report the presence of securin that could modulate apoptosis and tumor growth ability in the butein-treated human colorectal cancer. Butein induced caspase-3 activation and PARP protein cleavage for apoptosis induction in human colorectal cancer cells. Interestingly, butein reduced the securin protein levels but conversely increased the phospho-histone H3 proteins, mitotic arrest and abnormal chromosomes segregation in cancer cells. The securin-null colorectal cancer cells were more sensitive on the reduction of cell viability than the securin-wild type cancer cells following butein treatment. The loss of securin in human colorectal cancer cells decreased tumor growth ability in nude mice. Moreover, butein reduced the tumor size of xenografted human colorectal tumors of nude mice. Taken together, this study demonstrates for the first time that the depletion of securin mediates the butein-induced apoptosis and colorectal tumor inhibition.

Butein suppresses breast cancer growth by reducing a production of intracellular reactive oxygen species

Background

Butein has various functions in human diseases including cancer. While anti-cancer effects of butein have been revealed, it is urgent to understand a unique role of butein against cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that butein inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production results in suppression of breast cancer growth.

Methods

Different breast cancer cell lines were treated with butein and then subjected to cell viability and apoptosis assays. Butein-sensitive or -resistant breast cancer cells were injected into mammary fat pads of immunocompromised mice and then butein was injected. Breast cancer cells were categorized on the basis of butein sensitivity.

Results

Butein reduced viabilities of different breast cancer cells, while not affecting those of HER2-positive (HER2⁺) HCC-1419, SKBR-3 and HCC-2218 breast cancer cells. Butein reduction of ROS levels was correlated with apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, butein reduction of ROS level led to inhibitions of AKT phosphorylation. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a free radical scavenger, also reduced ROS production and AKT phosphorylation, resulting in apoptotic cell death. In contrast, inhibitory effects of both butein and NAC on ROS production and AKT phosphorylation were not detected in butein-resistant HER2⁺ HCC-1419, SKBR-3 and HCC-2218 cells. In the in vivo tumor growth assays, butein inhibited tumor growth of butein-sensitive HER2⁺ BT-474 cells, while not affecting that of butein-resistant HER2⁺ HCC-1419 cells. Moreover, butein inhibition of ROS production and AKT phosphorylation was confirmed by in vivo tumor growth assays.

Conclusions

Our study first reveals that butein causes breast cancer cell death by the reduction of ROS production. Therefore, our finding provides better knowledge for butein effect on breast cancer and also suggests its treatment option.

Characterization of mango (Mangifera indica L.) transcriptome and chloroplast genome

We characterized mango leaf transcriptome and chloroplast genome using next generation DNA sequencing. The RNA-seq output of mango transcriptome generated >12 million reads (total nucleotides sequenced >1 Gb). De novo transcriptome assembly generated 30,509 unigenes with lengths in the range of 300 to ≥3,000 nt and 67× depth of coverage. Blast searching against nonredundant nucleotide databases and several Viridiplantae genomic datasets annotated 24,593 mango unigenes (80% of total) and identified Citrus sinensis as closest neighbor of mango with 9,141 (37%) matched sequences. The annotation with gene ontology and Clusters of Orthologous Group terms categorized unigene sequences into 57 and 25 classes, respectively. More than 13,500 unigenes were assigned to 293 KEGG pathways. Besides major plant biology related pathways, KEGG based gene annotation pointed out active presence of an array of biochemical pathways involved in (a) biosynthesis of bioactive flavonoids, flavones and flavonols, (b) biosynthesis of terpenoids and lignins and (c) plant hormone signal transduction. The mango transcriptome sequences revealed 235 proteases belonging to five catalytic classes of proteolytic enzymes. The draft genome of mango chloroplast (cp) was obtained by a combination of Sanger and next generation sequencing. The draft mango cp genome size is 151,173 bp with a pair of inverted repeats of 27,093 bp separated by small and large single copy regions, respectively. Out of 139 genes in mango cp genome, 91 found to be protein coding. Sequence analysis revealed cp genome of C. sinensis as closest neighbor of mango. We found 51 short repeats in mango cp genome supposed to be associated with extensive rearrangements. This is the first report of transcriptome and chloroplast genome analysis of any Anacardiaceae family member.

Dietary antiaging phytochemicals and mechanisms associated with prolonged survival

Aging is well-known an inevitable process that is influenced by genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the aging process are not well understood. Increasing evidence shows that aging is highly associated with chronic increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), accumulation of a low-grade proinflammatory phenotype and reduction in age-related autophagy, suggesting that these factors may play important roles in promoting aging. Indeed, reduction of ROS and low-grade inflammation and promotion of autophagy by calorie restriction or other dietary manipulation can extend lifespan in a wide spectrum of model organisms. Interestingly, recent studies show that some food-derived small molecules, also called phytochemicals, can extend lifespan in various animal species. In this paper, we review several recently identified potential antiaging phytochemicals that have been studied in cells, animals and humans and further highlight the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the antiaging actions by these molecules.

Targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer: role of synthetic and natural inhibitors

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) comprise a family of cytoplasmic transcription factors that mediate intracellular signaling that is usually generated at cell surface receptors and thereby transmit it to the nucleus. Numerous studies have demonstrated constitutive activation of STAT3 in a wide variety of human tumors, including hematological malignancies (leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma) as well as diverse solid tumors (such as head and neck, breast, lung, gastric, hepatocellular, colorectal and prostate cancers). There is strong evidence to suggest that aberrant STAT3 signaling promotes initiation and progression of human cancers by either inhibiting apoptosis or inducing cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Suppression of STAT3 activation results in the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells, and accordingly its pharmacological modulation by tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides, decoy nucleotides, dominant negative proteins, RNA interference and chemopreventive agents have been employed to suppress the proliferation of various human cancer cells in culture and tumorigenicity in vivo. However, the identification and development of novel drugs that can target deregulated STAT3 activation effectively remains an important scientific and clinical challenge. This review presents the evidence for critical roles of STAT3 in oncogenesis and discusses the potential for development of novel cancer therapies based on mechanistic understanding of STAT3 signaling cascade.

CYP19 expression is induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-para-dioxin in human glioma cells

Dioxins are the most concerned environmental pollutants. Recent studies have shown that these compounds could disrupt the proper functioning of our endocrine system. Estrogen is synthesized in glial cells of the brain. The hormone has been linked to the maintenance of normal brain operation, ranging from neurotransmission to synapse formation. Aromatase or CYP19 is the enzyme responsible for estrogen synthesis. In the present study, we demonstrated that 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD) stimulated the enzyme activity in human brain cells as low as 1pM. Increased brain-specific CYP19 mRNA species was also observed in these cells. Since the brain-specific promoter I.f of CYP19 contains two binding motifs for CCAAT/enhancer binding protein, electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed to validate the activation. We further traced the triggering signal and found that the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK-1/2 were activated. In summary, TCDD could induce CYP19 transcription in brain cells. Exposure to the pollutant might perturb the hormonal balance in the brain.

Butein Inhibits Angiogenesis of Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells via the Translation Dependent Signaling Pathway

Compelling evidence indicates that bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can contribute to postnatal neovascularization and tumor angiogenesis. EPCs have been shown to play a "catalytic" role in metastatic progression by mediating the angiogenic switch. Understanding the pharmacological functions and molecular targets of natural products is critical for drug development. Butein, a natural chalcone derivative, has been reported to exert potent anticancer activity. However, the antiangiogenic activity of butein has not been addressed. In this study, we found that butein inhibited serum- and vascular endothelial growth factor- (VEGF-) induced cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human EPCs in a concentration dependent manner without cytotoxic effect. Furthermore, butein markedly abrogated VEGF-induced vessels sprouting from aortic rings and suppressed microvessel formation in the Matrigel implant assay in vivo. In addition, butein concentration-dependently repressed the phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, and the major downstream effectors, p70S6K, 4E-BP1, and eIF4E in EPCs. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that butein exhibits the antiangiogenic effect both in vitro and in vivo by targeting the translational machinery. Butein is a promising angiogenesis inhibitor with the potential for treatment of cancer and other angiogenesis-related diseases.

An update on antitumor activity of naturally occurring chalcones

Chalcones, which have characteristic 1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-one skeleton, are mainly produced in roots, rhizomes, heartwood, leaves, and seeds of genera Angelica, Sophora, Glycyrrhiza, Humulus, Scutellaria, Parartocarpus, Ficus, Dorstenia, Morus, Artocarpus, and so forth. They have become of interest in the research and development of natural antitumor agents over the past decades due to their broad range of mechanisms including anti-initiation, induction of apoptosis, antiproliferation, antimetastasis, antiangiogenesis, and so forth. This review summarizes the studies on the antitumor activity of naturally occurring chalcones and their underlying mechanisms in detail during the past decades.

Effect of salt treatment on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of two Mesembryanthemum edule provenances

Mesembryanthemum edule L. is an edible and medicinal halophyte widespread in Tunisia seashore. In this study, parameters of oxidative stress, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities were comparatively investigated in two M. edule provenances (Jerba and Bizerte, respectively sampled from arid and humid bioclimatic stages). Plants were subjected to 0, 300 and 600mM NaCl treatment under glasshouse conditions. Results showed that M. edule response to salinity depends on provenance (P), salt treatment (T) and their interaction (P×T). (T) affected more significantly the oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant activities than (P) and (P×T). Conversely, (P) was much affluent for tannin polymerization degree and interaction between the two factors (P×T) was more determinants for analyzed antioxidant parameters. The higher salt tolerance of Jerba plants was associated with low levels of malondialdehyde and of electrolyte leakage mainly at 600mM NaCl. Besides, antioxidant activities of Jerba provenance, were more efficient than Bizerte. In addition, avicularin was the major phenolic in both provenances. This compound concentration increased with salinity in Jerba shoots, while it was reduced in Bizerte especially at 600mM NaCl. Overall, the higher salt tolerance of plants from Jerba provenance, and to a lower extent of those from Bizerte, may be partly related to their better capacity to limit oxidative damage when salt-challenged, and this is likely the result of redistribution in phenolic composition. Besides, abiotic factors such as salinity could be determinant in antioxidant potentiality of this medicinal plant.