Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of aromatic turmerone from Curcuma longa Linn. induces apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-triggered intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

Molecular Mechanism of Natural Food Antioxidants to Regulate ROS in Treating Cancer: A Review

Cancer is the second-highest mortality rate disease worldwide, and it has been estimated that cancer will increase by up to 20 million cases yearly by 2030. There are various options of treatment for cancer, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. All of these options have damaging adverse effects that can reduce the patient's quality of life. Cancer itself arises from a series of mutations in normal cells that generate the ability to divide uncontrollably. This cell mutation can happen as a result of DNA damage induced by the high concentration of ROS in normal cells. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative stress, which can initiate cancer cell proliferation. On the other hand, the cytotoxic effect from elevated ROS levels can be utilized as anticancer therapy. Some bioactive compounds from natural foods such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, honey, and many more have been identified as a promising source of natural antioxidants that can prevent oxidative stress by regulating the level of ROS in the body. In this review, we have highlighted and discussed the benefits of various natural antioxidant compounds from natural foods that can regulate reactive oxygen species through various pathways.

Ar-turmerone suppresses Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin accumulation: Finding a new antifungal agent based on stored maize

Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) is a common saprophytic pathogenic fungus that produces toxic and carcinogenic aflatoxins prone to contaminate food. Here, we optimized the synthesis method of Ar-turmerone, the main active ingredient in turmeric essential oil, improved its yield and reduced the operation requirements. Moreover, 50.0 μg/mL Ar-turmerone 100.0 % inhibited the colonies growth, spore germination, mycelium biomass and aflatoxin accumulation in 7 days. 2,018 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) such as catA, ppoC, erg7, erg6 and aflO related to the A. flavus growth and aflatoxin product were significantly downregulated including 45 DEGs were 100.0 % suppressed. Besides, Ar-turmerone greatly reduced A. flavus in maize, the optimal storage conditions for maize to avoid A. flavus contamination were determined as 0.940 aw, 400.0 μg/mL Ar-turmerone, and 16.0 °C. Satisfactory odor, luster, taste, and mildew in maize observed after three weeks of storage under the optimal conditions. Thus, Ar-turmerone can be used as a potential food antifungal agent against A. flavus growth and aflatoxin accumulation during food storage.

Folic Acid-Grafted Chitosan-Alginate Nanocapsules as Effective Targeted Nanocarriers for Delivery of Turmeric Oil for Breast Cancer Therapy

Folate receptors (FRs) highly expressed in breast cancers can be used as a recognized marker for preventing off-target delivery of chemotherapeutics. In this study, folic acid (FA)-grafted chitosan-alginate nanocapsules (CS-Alg-NCs) loaded with turmeric oil (TO) were developed for breast cancer targeting. CS was successfully conjugated with FA via an amide bond with a degree of substitution at 12.86%. The TO-loaded FA-grafted CS-Alg-NCs (TO-FA-CS-Alg-NCs) optimized by Box-Behnken design using response surface methodology had satisfactory characteristics with homogenous particle size (189 nm) and sufficient encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity (35.9% and 1.82%, respectively). In vitro release study of the optimized TO-FA-CS-Alg-NCs showed a sustained TO release following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with a Fickian diffusion mechanism at pH 5.5 and 7.4. The TO-FA-CS-Alg-NCs showed lower IC₅₀ than ungrafted TO-CS-Alg-NCs and unencapsulated TO against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, suggesting that FA-CS-Alg-NCs can improve anticancer activity of TO through its active targeting to the high FRs expressing breast cancers.

Inhaled turmerones can be incorporated in the organs via pathways different from oral administration and can affect weight-gain of mice

Turmerones (α-turmerone, β-turmerone, and ar-turmerone) are the major volatile compounds in turmeric (Curcuma longa), a perennial herb of the ginger family. We previously reported that inhaled volatile turmerones could be transferred in the blood and organs. However, the difference between the two pathways, oral administration and inhalation, and the effect of inhaled turmerones on biological activities remain unknown. In this study, we compared the distribution patterns of turmerones after oral administration and inhalation. The relative levels (concentrations of turmerones in each organ/serum) in the lung, olfactory bulb, brain, heart, kidney, and epididymal fat in the inhalation group tended to be, or are significantly, higher than in the oral administration group. The relative levels of brown adipose tissue in the inhalation group were lower than in the oral administration group. Long-term (50 days) inhalation to volatile turmerones suppressed weight gain and hypertrophy of adipocytes in the epididymal fat of mice fed a high-fat diet. These results suggest that inhaled turmerones can be incorporated into the organs of mice via different pathway from as to those from oral administration and can affect the biological function of the organs under certain conditions.

Nanotechnology-based approaches applied to nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals and food industries are opening to a tremendously upcoming technology in the field of "Nano science". A new prospect has been defined by nanotechnology by conferring modified properties of nanomaterials and its application in the development of nanoformulations, nutritional supplements and food industry. Nanomaterials reveal exclusive properties because of their small size and high surface/volume ratio; thus, they have a complete application in nutraceuticals and food sector. In the existent review article, we obligate to present a comprehensive outline of the application of nanomaterials in development of advanced nano-based nutraceuticals with enhanced bioavailability, solubility, improved encapsulation efficiency, increased stability, sustained and targeted drug delivery, protection against degradation and microbial contamination and with improved pharmacological activity. It also highlights the importance of nanomaterials as nanosensors/nano-bio sensors for encapsulating peptides, antibodies, enzymes, etc. and in the food packaging industry and its future application. Thus, the review aims to focus on the benefits and new dimensions provided by nanomaterials and nanotechnology in health sectors by improving treatment strategies and quality of life.

Bioactive chemical constituents, in vitro anti-proliferative activity and in vivo toxicity of the extract of Curcuma singularis Gagnep rhizomes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Curcuma singularis Gagnep is a Vietnamese medicinal plant which has been commonly used as a medicinal remedy in traditional and folk medicines for improving health as well as for treating some diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure. However, pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer activity and the safety of this plant has not been fully investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-growth activity of an extract derived from Curcuma singularis rhizome extract (CSE) against cell lines as well as determine its phytochemical composition. The other goal of our study was to assess the safety of CSE in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main constituents in the extract were identified and quantitatively analyzed. The in vitro cytotoxicity of CSE was evaluated in several cancer and normal cell lines. The apoptotic activity of CSE and the expression of the apoptosis-related genes were investigated in AGS cells to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms. The in vivo toxicity of CSE was assessed via acute and subacute oral studies on Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively according to the guidelines 425 and 407 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The drug-related toxicity signs, mortality, body and organ weights were recoreded during the experimental period. In addition, the selected hematological and biochemical parameters, and histological alterations were determined at the end of the subacute toxicity test.

RESULTS

Germacrone, ar-turmerone, and curcumol were three sesquiterpene components found in the extract. CSE showed cytotoxic effects in different cancer cells, but had minimal effects on normal cells. Apoptosis in AGS cells was caused by CSE in a concentration-dependent pattern through increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and release of cytochrome c, which leads to activation of caspase-3/-7, caspase-9, as well as cleavage of PARP. In the acute toxicity test, no signs of toxicity and no mortality were recorded in rats at both doses of 1000 and 5000 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity study, CSE showed no drug-related adverse effects on water and food consumption, body and organ weights. CSE at a dose of 1000 mg/kg slightly increased WBC and platelet values in female rats, while it increased WBC values in male rats in all tested doses. The decrease of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were found in female rats treated CSE at doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg. In addition, the increase of serum ALT and AST levels in rats treated at the dose of 1000 mg/kg were noted. No significant changes in histopathological structures of kidneys, spleen, heart and lungs, except liver tissue with minor modifications was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that CSE exhibited in vitro anti-proliferative effects on AGS cells by mainly activating the caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. CSE also showed in vivo toxicity signals at the dose of 1000 mg/kg with proven minor hepatic injuries, which should be avoided the high dose for prolonged use. Curcuma singularis rhizomes may be used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of gastric cancer with in vitro anti-cancer investigation and in vivo biological safety evaluation.

Spatial variation of volatile organic compounds and antioxidant activity of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) essential oils harvested from four provinces of China

The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial variation of volatile organic compounds and antioxidant activity of turmeric essential oils (TEOs) harvested from four provinces of China. The major chemical components of these TEOs were analyzed using headspace solid-phase micro-extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. More than forty volatile organic compounds in TEOs were identified, which accounted for 82.09–93.64% of the oil components. The relative abundances of the main volatile organic compounds in TEOs at the genus level were visualized by a heat map. The antioxidant activity of the TEOs of five different origins was characterized by the DPPH free radical scavenging activity, in which the antioxidant activity of the TEOs from Guangxi was superior to those of other sources. Furthermore, the IC₅₀ values of the antioxidants TEOs collected from Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Changting, and Liancheng were 33.30, 42.5, 35.22, 63.27, and 39.96 mg/mL, respectively, which indicated the excellent free radical scavenging activity of those TEOs. Therefore, the TEOs might be considered as a natural antioxidant with potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries.

•

Turmeric essential oils stemmed from four provinces of China were investigated.

•

Multivariate analysis of volatile organic compounds in TEOs was performed.

•

The major components of volatile organic compounds exhibited a spatial variation.

•

Antioxidant activity of turmeric essential oils demonstrated a spatial variation.

•

TEOs of Guangxi had a superior antioxidant activity to those of other origins.

Investigation of bioactive chemical constituents and anti-cancer activity of ethanol extract of Curcuma singularis Gagnep rhizomes

Curcuma singularis Gagnep is a Vietnamese medicinal plant which has been commonly used in traditional and folk medicines for the treatment of different diseases. The goals of the present study are to investigate chemical composition and anti-proliferative activity of Curcuma singularis rhizome extract (CSE). The in vitro cytotoxicity of CSE was evaluated using WST-1 and LDH assays. The apoptosis induction was determined using nuclei DAPI staining and FACS assays. The main compounds of extract were identified and quantitatively analyzed using the validated HPLC method. The extract showed cytotoxic effects in various liver and breast cancer cells but had minimal effects on normal cells. It induced apoptosis on both Hep3B and SKBR3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, three sesquiterpene compounds, such as germacrone (3.25 ± 0.32 mg/g), ar-turmerone (1.12 ± 0.24 mg/g), and curcumol (0.31 ± 0.12 mg/g) were found as the main components of CSE. This is the first report on the in vitro cytotoxic effect of Curcuma singularis rhizomes against cancer cells.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a standardized haridra (Curcuma longa Linn) formulation in cervical cancer

Background

The anti-cancer activity of phytomolecules present in turmeric or haridra (Curcuma longa Linn) extracts against cancer has been described in various ‘in vitro and in vivo’ studies.

Objective

In the present study, in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer and chemo-preventive activity of a new standardized Supercritical Turmeric Oil Extract (SCTOE) NBFR-03 was evaluated in cervical cancer models.

Methods and materials

In vitro cytotoxicity of this formulation was assessed at 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/ml concentrations, in three cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, ME180) using Sulforhodamine B assay. The in vivo anti-cancer activity was evaluated in two groups of female nude mice; the first one was with tumor xenograft implants and at the same time treatment was started with 96 μl/kg/day p.o. and 192 μl/kg/day p.o. NBFR-03 for three months. The second group was kept as chemoprevention group where mice were pre-treated with the formulation (96 μl/kg/day p.o.) for two weeks and injected with cancer cell suspension with continued treatment for three months.

Results

No cytotoxicity was seen in any cell line with the extract when compared to positive control (Adriamycin 10 μg/ml). In mice the first treatment group with tumor xenograft implants did not show any significant anti-tumor activity but showed a trend where higher dose group had smaller tumor volumes as compared to lower dose group and controls (p = 0.37 and p = 0.34 respectively). The chemopreventive group with pre-treated mice also showed smaller tumor size as compared to controls (p = 0.163).

Conclusion

NBFR-03 turmeric oil extract showed a promising trend in mice pre-treated with NBFR-03. There is a scope for further studying the potential of this extract as complementary therapy and as a chemopreventive.

An Overview of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Emphasis on Dietary Products and Herbal Remedies

The most common principal malignant tumor that accounts for ∼80% of cases of liver cancer across the world is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is a multifacetedillness that is caused by several risk factors and often progresses in the context of underlying cirrhosis. It is tremendously difficult and essential for the screening of novel therapeutic medications to establish HCC preclinical models that are equivalent to clinical diseases settings, i.e., representing the tumor microenvironment of HCC. In the progress of HCC, numerous molecular cascades have been supposed to play a part. Sorafenib is the only drug permitted by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HCC. Yet because of the increasing resistance to the drug and its toxicity, clinical treatment methods are not completely adequate. Newer treatment therapy options are essential for the management of HCC in patients. Natural compounds can be afforded by the patients with improved results with less toxicity and fewer side effects, among different methods of liver cancer treatment. The treatment and management of HCC with natural drugs and their phytoconstituents are connected to several paths that can prevent the occurrence and progress of HCC in several ways. The present review summarizes the etiology of HCC, molecular pathways, newer therapeutic approaches, natural dietary products, herbal plants and phytoconstituents for HCC treatment.

Essential oil from the raw and vinegar-processed Rhizoma Curcumae ameliorate CCl4-induced liver fibrosis: integrating network pharmacology and molecular mechanism evaluation

Liver fibrosis, caused by multiple chronic liver injuries, is a known contributor to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. As a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Rhizoma curcumae has been extensively used in the treatment of liver fibrosis with satisfying therapeutic effects; however, its mechanism is unclear. The essential oil is the main bioactive component. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical profile and the pharmacological mechanisms of the essential oil of Rhizoma curcumae (EORC) against liver fibrosis by combining network pharmacology and transcriptomic technologies. A total of 37 active compounds were identified using the GC/MS system and literature mining, and the corresponding putative targets were predicted. Then, network pharmacology method was applied to identify the 168 candidate targets of EORC-alleviated liver fibrosis. String database and Cytoscape software were used to build the herb-compound-target network and protein-protein interactions (PPIs) network. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis indicated that EORC significantly influenced TGF-β1/Smads and PI3K/AKT pathways. Experimentally, we verified that EORC attenuated the severity and pathological changes during liver fibrosis progression based on the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis rat model. Transcriptomic technologies demonstrated that EORC ameliorated liver fibrosis partially by regulating the TGF-β1/Smads and PI3K/AKT pathways. In addition, the effect of vinegar-processed EORC was more significant than that of the raw one. Therefore, EORC can alleviate the severity of liver fibrosis through mechanisms predicted by network pharmacology and provide a basis for the further understanding of the application of EORC in the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Ar-Turmerone Exerts Anti-proliferative and Anti-inflammatory Activities in HaCaT Keratinocytes by Inactivating Hedgehog Pathway

Psoriasis, a common skin inflammatory disorder, is characterized by the aberrant growth and differentiation of keratinocytes. Ar-Turmerone, a main bioactive ingredient of Curcuma longa, has been found to alleviate skin inflammation in psoriasis-like mice. However, the effects and underlying mechanism of ar-turmerone on keratinocytes remain unknown. The effects of ar-turmerone alone or combined with recombinant human sonic hedgehog (rhShh) on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokine secretion were explored by MTT, flow cytometry analysis, and ELISA, respectively. The mRNA and protein levels of Shh, glioblastoma-1 (Gli1), and smoothened (SMO) were determined by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Results disclosed that ar-turmerone dose-dependently suppressed proliferation, facilitated apoptosis, and reduced TNF-α-mediated production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in HaCaT cells. Ar-turmerone blocked Hedgehog pathway in HaCaT cells, as evidenced by the reduced expression of Shh, Gli1, and SMO. Moreover, activation of the Hedgehog pathway by rhShh abolished the effects of ar-turmerone on the proliferation, apoptosis, and TNF-α-mediated inflammatory cytokine expression in HaCaT cells. In conclusion, ar-turmerone suppressed cell proliferative ability and attenuated inflammatory cytokine expression by inactivating Hedgehog pathway in HaCaT cells, contributing to better understanding the potential anti-psoriasis effects of ar-turmerone on psoriasis.

Variation in the Chemical Composition of Five Varieties of Curcuma longa Rhizome Essential Oils Cultivated in North Alabama

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is an important spice, particularly is Asian cuisine, and is also used in traditional herbal medicine. Curcuminoids are the main bioactive agents in turmeric, but turmeric essential oils also contain health benefits. Turmeric is a tropical crop and is cultivated in warm humid environments worldwide. The southeastern United States also possesses a warm humid climate with a growing demand for locally sourced herbs and spices. In this study, five different varieties of C. longa were cultivated in north Alabama, the rhizome essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation, and the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. The major components in the essential oils were α-phellandrene (3.7-11.8%), 1,8-cineole (2.6-11.7%), α-zingiberene (0.8-12.5%), β-sesquiphellandrene (0.7-8.0%), ar-turmerone (6.8-32.5%), α-turmerone (13.6-31.5%), and β-turmerone (4.8-18.4%). The essential oil yields and chemical profiles of several of the varieties are comparable with those from tropical regions, suggesting that these should be considered for cultivation and commercialization in the southeastern United States.

Curcuma longa L. Rhizome Essential Oil from Extraction to Its Agri-Food Applications. A Review

Curcuma longa L. rhizome essential oil is a valuable product in pharmaceutical industry due to its wide beneficial health effects. Novel applications in the agri-food industry where more sustainable extraction processes are required currently and safer substances are claimed for the consumer are being investigated. This review provides information regarding the conventional and recent extraction methods of C. longa rhizome oil, their characteristics and suitability to be applied at the industrial scale. In addition, variations in the chemical composition of C. longa rhizome and leaf essential oils regarding intrinsic and extrinsic factors and extraction methods are also analysed in order to select the most proper to obtain the most efficient activity. Finally, the potential applications of C. longa rhizome oil in the agri-food industry, such as antimicrobial, weedicide and a food preservative agent, are included. Regarding the data, C. longa rhizome essential oil may play a special role in the agri-food industry; however, further research to determine the application threshold so as not to damage crops or affect the organoleptic properties of food products, as well as efficient encapsulation techniques, are necessary for its implementation in global agriculture.

Herbal and Natural Dietary Products: Upcoming Therapeutic Approach for Prevention and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The most common tumor linked with elevated death rates is considered the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sometimes called the malignant hepatoma. The initiation and progression of HCC are triggered by multiple factors like long term alcohol consumption, metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and C infection, age, and oxidative stress. Sorafenib is the merely US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug used to treat HCC. Several treatment methods are available for HCC therapy such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and adjuvant therapy but they often lead to several side effects. Yet these treatment methods are not entirely adequate due to the increasing resistance to the drug and their toxicity. Many natural products help to prevent and treat HCC. A variety of pathways are associated with the prevention and treatment of HCC with herbal products and their active components. Accumulating research shows that certain natural dietary compounds are possible source of hepatic cancer prevention and treatments, such as black currant, strawberries, plum, grapes, pomegranate, cruciferous crops, tomatoes, French beans, turmeric, garlic, ginger, asparagus, and many more. Such a dietary natural products and their active constituents may prevent the production and advancement of liver cancer in many ways such as guarding against liver carcinogens, improving the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic medications, inhibiting the growth, metastasis of tumor cells, reducing oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. The present review article represents hepatic carcinoma etiology, role of herbal products, their active constituents, and dietary natural products for the prevention and treatment of HCC along with their possible mechanisms of action.

Preclinical Evidence of Curcuma longa and Its Noncurcuminoid Constituents against Hepatobiliary Diseases: A Review

Hepatobiliary disease currently serves as an important public health issue due to the fact that it is one of the major causes of death among economically active individuals and can easily progress to chronic diseases. Despite the development of vaccines and numerous drugs, a definite treatment remains lacking owing to different stages of the disease itself, its intricate pathogenesis, an effect uncertainty for long-term use, resistance, and side effects. Curcuma longa (C. longa), which belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and the genus Curcuma, has long been used not only as spice for curry or dye but also as a constituent of herbal formula for the treatment of different diseases due to its bioactive activities. Recently, many studies on the experimental results of C. longa have been published relative to hepatobiliary diseases such as fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and tumors. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to summarize the pharmacological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of C. longa and its four compounds, β-elemene, germacrone, ar-turmerone, and bisacurone, against hepatobiliary diseases. C. longa exhibited antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antisteatotic, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antitumor, and cholagogic effects by regulating apoptosis, CYP2E1, Nrf, lipid metabolism-related factors, TGF-β, NF-κB, CYP7A1, and so on. In particular, β-elemene could be an attractive compound owing to its remarkable hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antitumor activities. Altogether, the present review provides a preclinical basis for the efficacy of C. longa as an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of hepatobiliary diseases, despite the need for further studies to establish the extraction conditions and separation of active constituents with high bioavailability, and warrants further evaluation in clinical trials.

Non-Curcuminoids from Turmeric and Their Potential in Cancer Therapy and Anticancer Drug Delivery Formulations

Over the past decades curcuminoids have been extensively studied for their biological activities such as antiulcer, antifibrotic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antimutagenic, antifertility, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, antivenom, antioxidant, antihypotensive, antihypocholesteremic, and anticancer activities. With the perception of limited toxicity and cost, these compounds forms an integral part of cancer research and is well established as a potential anticancer agent. However, only few studies have focused on the other bioactive molecules of turmeric, known as non-curcuminoids, which are also equally potent as curcuminoids. This review aims to explore the comprehensive potency including the identification, physicochemical properties, and anticancer mechanism inclusive of molecular docking studies of non-curcuminoids such as turmerones, elemene, furanodiene (FN), bisacurone, germacrone, calebin A (CA), curdione, and cyclocurcumin. An insight into the clinical studies of these curcumin-free compounds are also discussed which provides ample evidence that favors the therapeutic potential of these compounds. Like curcuminoids, limited solubility and bioavailability are the most fragile domain, which circumscribe further applications of these compounds. Thus, this review credits the encapsulation of non-curcuminoid components in diverse drug delivery systems such as co-crystals, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, microspheres, polar-non-polar sandwich (PNS) technology, which help abolish their shortcomings and flaunt their ostentatious benefits as anticancer activities.

Escin induces apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells: An in vitro and in vivo study

Escin (β-escin) is used as traditional folk medicine. The anti-tumour effects of escin have been demonstrated in vitro in certain cell lines, but its effect on bladder cancer has not been well investigated. In this study, the apoptotic activity of escin dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in bladder cancer cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and SV-HUC1 cells (controls) was determined. Cell cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay. Cell cycle, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, annexin V-FITC staining (for detecting early apoptosis), and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated using flow cytometry. Expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Fas (CD95) death receptor/FADD (Fas-associated protein with death domain) and BCL2 family of proteins was assessed using immunoblotting. Escin dose-dependently inhibited the growth of human bladder cancer cells, and showed IC₅₀ of ~40 μM. The cell population in the sub-G1 phase, annexin-V staining, Fas expression, ratio of BAX/BCL2, cleavage of activated caspase-3/-8/-9, increase in poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) levels, and suppression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were observed after 24 h of escin treatment. Escin decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased cytochrome C release via generation of reactive oxygen species, which led to apoptosis of bladder cancer cells. Furthermore, escin effectively inhibited bladder tumour growth in a xenograft mouse model. Together, these results demonstrate that escin induces apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells through the Fas death receptor and mitochondrial pathways and inhibits bladder tumour growth. Escin is a potential chemotherapeutic agent for bladder cancer.

Miconazole induces apoptosis via the death receptor 5-dependent and mitochondrial-mediated pathways in human bladder cancer cells

Miconazole (MIC), an antifungal agent, diplays anti‑tumorigenic activity in various types of human cancers, including bladder cancer, yet its mechanism of antitumor action is not well understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that, in a cell viability assay, MIC had a cytotoxic effect on human T24, J82 and TSGH-8301 bladder cancer cells in a dose- and time‑dependent manner, but did not exhibit significant toxicity toward human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that MIC at concentrations of 25 and 50 µM significantly caused G0/G1 arrest in the TSGH-8301 and T24 cells, respectively. DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential and western blot analyses showed that MIC inhibited the growth of these cells by both mitochondrial‑mediated and death receptor (DR5)‑mediated apoptosis pathways. Specifically, MIC increased the protein levels of p21 and p27, but decreased the expression of cyclin E1, CDK2 and CDK4. MIC augmented the expression of DR5, cleaved forms of caspase-3 -8 and -9, poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase and Bax, decreased the expression of Bcl-2 but increased cytosol levels of cytochrome c. Our results suggest that MIC inhibits the growth of bladder cancer cells through induction of G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis via activation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. MIC is a potential chemotherapeutic agent for treating bladder cancer in humans.

Chemical constituents and biological research on plants in the genus Curcuma

Curcuma, a valuable genus in the family Zingiberaceae, includes approximately 110 species. These plants are native to Southeast Asia and are extensively cultivated in India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Peru, Australia, and the West Indies. The plants have long been used in folk medicine to treat stomach ailments, stimulate digestion, and protect the digestive organs, including the intestines, stomach, and liver. In recent years, substantial progress has been achieved in investigations regarding the chemical and pharmacological properties, as well as in clinical trials of certain Curcuma species. This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on the chemistry and briefly discusses the biological activities of Curcuma species. A total of 720 compounds, including 102 diphenylalkanoids, 19 phenylpropene derivatives, 529 terpenoids, 15 flavonoids, 7 steroids, 3 alkaloids, and 44 compounds of other types isolated or identified from 32 species, have been phytochemically investigated. The biological activities of plant extracts and pure compounds are classified into 15 groups in detail, with emphasis on anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities.

CHST11/13 Regulate the Metastasis and Chemosensitivity of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway

BACKGROUND

Carbohydrate sulfotransferases 11-13 (CHST11-13), that catalyze the transfer of sulfate to position 4 of the GalNAc residue of chondroitin, have been implicated in various diseases.

AIM

This study aimed to clarify the association of CHST11-13 expression with metastasis and drug sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

METHODS

We measured the levels of CHST11 and CHST13 in a series of HCC cells using real-time PCR and Western blotting. After RNAi and forced expression treatment of CHST11 and CHST13 in MHCC97L and MHCC97H cells, metastatic potential and drug sensitivity of the two cells were investigated with ECM invasion assay, drug sensitivity assay, and in vivo antitumor activity assay. By real-time PCR and Western blotting, we explored the possible impacts of these two genes on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway. MAPK pathway was blocked by PD98059 or SP600125 to elucidate the effects of MAPK pathway on metastasis and chemosensitivity.

RESULTS

Significantly reduced levels of CHST11 and CHST13 were observed in highly invasive MHCC97H cells compared with those of MHCC97L cell line with low metastatic potential. Decreased or forced expression of CHST11 and CHST13 altered metastatic potential and drug sensitivity of MHCC97L and MHCC97H cells. Remarkable alteration of MAPK activity was shown in two HCC cells with genetic manipulation. Conversely, pharmacologic inhibition of the MAPK pathway suppressed invasive potential and rescued drug sensitivity of MHCC97H cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results have demonstrated that CHST11 and CHST13 negatively modulate metastasis and drug resistance of HCC cells probably via oncogenic MAPK signal pathway.

Dietary Natural Products for Prevention and Treatment of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is the most common malignancy of the digestive system with high death rate. Accumulating evidences suggests that many dietary natural products are potential sources for prevention and treatment of liver cancer, such as grapes, black currant, plum, pomegranate, cruciferous vegetables, French beans, tomatoes, asparagus, garlic, turmeric, ginger, soy, rice bran, and some edible macro-fungi. These dietary natural products and their active components could affect the development and progression of liver cancer in various ways, such as inhibiting tumor cell growth and metastasis, protecting against liver carcinogens, immunomodulating and enhancing effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. This review summarizes the potential prevention and treatment activities of dietary natural products and their major bioactive constituents on liver cancer, and discusses possible mechanisms of action.

Chemotaxonomic Characterization and in-Vitro Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of the Leaf Essential Oil of Curcuma longa Grown in Southern Nigeria

Curcuma longa (turmeric) has been used in Chinese traditional medicine and Ayurvedic medicine for many years.

METHODS

The leaf essential oil of C. longa from southern Nigeria was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil was screened for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. The major components in C. longa leaf oil were ar-turmerone (63.4%), α-turmerone (13.7%), and β-turmerone (12.6%). A cluster analysis has revealed this to be a new essential oil chemotype of C. longa. The leaf oil showed notable antibacterial activity to Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, antifungal activity to Aspergillus niger, and cytotoxic activity to Hs 578T (breast tumor) and PC-3 (prostate tumor) cells. The ar-turmerone-rich leaf essential oil of C. longa from Nigeria has shown potent biological activity and therapeutic promise.

The Topoisomerase 1 Inhibitor Austrobailignan-1 Isolated from Koelreuteria henryi Induces a G2/M-Phase Arrest and Cell Death Independently of p53 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Koelreuteria henryi Dummer, an endemic plant of Taiwan, has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of hepatitis, enteritis, cough, pharyngitis, allergy, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cancer. Austrobailignan-1, a natural lignan derivative isolated from Koelreuteria henryi Dummer, has anti-oxidative and anti-cancer properties. However, the effects of austrobailignan-1 on human cancer cells have not been studied yet. Here, we showed that austrobailignan-1 inhibited cell growth of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 and H1299 cell lines in both dose- and time-dependent manners, the IC₅₀ value (48 h) of austrobailignan-1 were 41 and 22 nM, respectively. Data from flow cytometric analysis indicated that treatment with austrobailignan-1 for 24 h retarded the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. The molecular event of austrobailignan-1-mediated G2/M phase arrest was associated with the increase of p21^Waf1/Cip1 and p27^Kip1 expression, and decrease of Cdc25C expression. Moreover, treatment with 100 nM austrobailignan-1 for 48 h resulted in a pronounced release of cytochrome c followed by the activation of caspase-2, -3, and -9, and consequently induced apoptosis. These events were accompanied by the increase of PUMA and Bax, and the decrease of Mcl-1 and Bcl-2. Furthermore, our study also showed that austrobailignan-1 was a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor, as evidenced by a relaxation assay and induction of a DNA damage response signaling pathway, including ATM, and Chk1, Chk2, γH2AX phosphorylated activation. Overall, our results suggest that austrobailignan-1 is a novel DNA damaging agent and displays a topoisomerase I inhibitory activity, causes DNA strand breaks, and consequently induces DNA damage response signaling for cell cycle G2/M arrest and apoptosis in a p53 independent manner.

Evaluation of phenolic profile, antioxidant and anticancer potential of two main representants of Zingiberaceae family against B164A5 murine melanoma cells

BACKGROUND

Curcuma longa Linnaeus and Zingiber officinale Roscoe are two main representatives of Zingiberaceae family studied for a wide range of therapeutic properties, including: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, antibacterial, analgesic, immunomodulatory, proapoptotic, anti-human immunodeficiency virus properties and anticancer effects. This study was aimed to analyse the ethanolic extracts of Curcuma rhizome (Curcuma longa Linnaeus) and Zingiber rhizome (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in terms of polyphenols, antioxidant activity and anti-melanoma potential employing the B164A5 murine melanoma cell line.

RESULTS

In order to evaluate the total content of polyphenols we used Folin-Ciocâlteu method. The antioxidant activity of the two ethanolic extracts was determined by DPPH assay, and for the control of antiproliferative effect it was used MTT proliferation assay, DAPI staining and Annexin-FITC-7AAD double staining test. Results showed increased polyphenols amount and antioxidant activity for Curcuma rhizome ethanolic extract. Moreover, 100 μg/ml of ethanolic plant extract from both vegetal products presented in a different manner an antiproliferative, respectively a proapoptotic effect on the selected cell line.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concludes that Curcuma rhizome may be a promising natural source for active compounds against malignant melanoma.

Essential oil content of the rhizome of Curcuma purpurascens Bl. (Temu Tis) and its antiproliferative effect on selected human carcinoma cell lines

Curcuma purpurascens Bl., belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is known as temu tis in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In this study, the hydrodistilled dried ground rhizome oil was investigated for its chemical content and antiproliferative activity against selected human carcinoma cell lines (MCF7, Ca Ski, A549, HT29, and HCT116) and a normal human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC5). Results from GC-MS and GC-FID analysis of the rhizome oil of temu tis showed turmerone as the major component, followed by germacrone, ar-turmerone, germacrene-B, and curlone. The rhizome oil of temu tis exhibited strong cytotoxicity against HT29 cells (IC₅₀ value of 4.9 ± 0.4 μg/mL), weak cytotoxicity against A549, Ca Ski, and HCT116 cells (with IC₅₀ values of 46.3 ± 0.7, 32.5 ± 1.1, and 35.0 ± 0.3 μg/mL, resp.), and no inhibitory effect against MCF7 cells. It exhibited mild cytotoxicity against a noncancerous human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC5), with an IC₅₀ value of 25.2 ± 2.7 μg/mL. This is the first report on the chemical composition of this rhizome's oil and its selective antiproliferative effect on HT29. The obtained data provided a basis for further investigation of the mode of cell death.

Distinctive pharmacological differences between liver cancer cell lines HepG2 and Hep3B

As cellular models for in vitro liver cancer and toxicity studies, HepG2 and Hep3B are the two most frequently used liver cancer cell lines. Because of their similarities they are often treated as the same in experimental studies. However, there are many differences that have been largely over-sighted or ignored between them. In this review, we summarize the differences between HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines that can be found in the literature based on PubMed search. We particularly focus on the differential gene expression, differential drug responses (chemosensitivity, cell cycle and growth inhibition, and gene induction), signaling pathways associated with these differences, as well as the factors in governing these differences between HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines. Based on our analyses of the available data, we suggest that neither HBx nor p53 may be the crucial factor to determine the differences between HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines although HBx regulates the expression of the majority of genes that are differentially expressed between HepG2 and Hep3B. Instead, the different maturation stages in cancer development of the original specimen between HepG2 and Hep3B may be responsible for the differences between them. This review provides insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the differences between HepG2 and Hep3B and help investigators especially the beginners in the areas of liver cancer research and drug metabolism to fully understand, and thus better use and interpret the data from these two cell lines in their studies.

Curcumin-free turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities: Identification of novel components of turmeric

Turmeric, a dried powder derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been used for centuries in certain parts of the world and has been linked to numerous biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antigrowth, anti-arthritic, anti-atherosclerotic, antidepressant, anti-aging, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, wound healing, and memory-enhancing activities. One component of turmeric is curcumin, which has been extensively studied, as indicated by more than 5600 citations, most of which have appeared within the past decade. Recent research has identified numerous chemical entities from turmeric other than curcumin. It is unclear whether all of the activities ascribed to turmeric are due to curcumin or whether other compounds in turmeric can manifest these activities uniquely, additively, or synergistically with curcumin. However, studies have indicated that turmeric oil, present in turmeric, can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin. Studies over the past decade have indicated that curcumin-free turmeric (CFT) components possess numerous biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities. Elemene derived from turmeric is approved in China for the treatment of cancer. The current review focuses on the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities exhibited by CFT and by some individual components of turmeric, including turmerin, turmerone, elemene, furanodiene, curdione, bisacurone, cyclocurcumin, calebin A, and germacrone.

Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from plant resources: the role of analysis in the ethnopharmacological approach

The phytochemical research based on ethnopharmacology is considered an effective approach in the discovery of novel chemicals entities with potential as drug leads. Plants/plant extracts/decoctions, used by folklore traditions for treating several diseases, represent a source of chemical entities but no information are available on their nature. Starting from this viewpoint, the aim of this review is to address natural-products chemists to the choice of the best methodologies, which include the combination of extraction/sample preparation tools and analytical techniques, for isolating and characterizing bioactive secondary metabolites from plants, as potential lead compounds in the drug discovery process. The work is distributed according to the different steps involved in the ethnopharmacological approach (extraction, sample preparation, biological screening, etc.), discussing the analytical techniques employed for the isolation and identification of compound/s responsible for the biological activity claimed in the traditional use (separation, spectroscopic, hyphenated techniques, etc.). Particular emphasis will be on herbal medicines applications and developments achieved from 2010 up to date.