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Angulo-Elizari E, Henriquez-Figuereo A, Morán-Serradilla C, Plano D, Sanmartín C. Unlocking the potential of 1,4-naphthoquinones: A comprehensive review of their anticancer properties. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116249. [PMID: 38458106 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Cancer encompasses a group of pathologies with common characteristics, high incidence, and prevalence in all countries. Although there are treatments available for this disease, they are not always effective or safe, often failing to achieve the desired results. This is why it is necessary to continue the search for new therapies. One of the strategies for obtaining new antitumor drugs is the use of 1,4-naphthoquinone as a scaffold in synthetic or natural products with antitumor activity. This review focuses on compiling studies related to the antitumor activity of 1,4-naphthoquinone and its natural and synthetic derivatives over the last 10 years. The work describes the main natural naphthoquinones with antitumor activity and classifies the synthetic naphthoquinones based on the structural modifications made to the scaffold. Additionally, the formation of metal complexes using naphthoquinones as a ligand is considered. After a thorough review, 197 synthetic compounds with potent biological activity against cancer have been classified according to their chemical structures and their mechanisms of action have been described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Angulo-Elizari
- University of Navarra, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Andreina Henriquez-Figuereo
- University of Navarra, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cristina Morán-Serradilla
- University of Navarra, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Daniel Plano
- University of Navarra, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdisNA), 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- University of Navarra, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain; Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdisNA), 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
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Lü SL, Dang GH, Deng JC, Liu HY, Liu B, Yang J, Ma XL, Miao YT, Jiang CT, Xu QB, Wang X, Feng J. Shikonin attenuates hyperhomocysteinemia-induced CD4 + T cell inflammatory activation and atherosclerosis in ApoE -/- mice by metabolic suppression. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:47-55. [PMID: 31607752 PMCID: PMC7468273 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-019-0308-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell metabolic activation plays a crucial role in inflammation of atherosclerosis. Shikonin (SKN), a natural naphthoquinone with anti-inflammatory activity, has shown to exert cardioprotective effects, but the effect of SKN on atherosclerosis is unclear. In addition, SKN was found to inhibit glycolysis via targeting pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme 2 (PKM2). In the present study, we investigated the effects of SKN on hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-accelerated atherosclerosis and T cell inflammatory activation in ApoE-/- mice and the metabolic mechanisms in this process. Drinking water supplemented with Hcy (1.8 g/L) was administered to ApoE-/- mice for 2 weeks and the mice were injected with SKN (1.2 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle every 3 days. We showed that SKN treatment markedly attenuated HHcy-accelerated atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice and significantly decreased inflammatory activated CD4+ T cells and proinflammatory macrophages in plaques. In splenic CD4+ T cells isolated from HHcy-ApoE-/- mice, SKN treatment significantly inhibited HHcy-stimulated PKM2 activity, interferon-γ secretion and the capacity of these T cells to promote macrophage proinflammatory polarization. SKN treatment significantly inhibited HHcy-stimulated CD4+ T cell glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Metabolic profiling analysis of CD4+ T cells revealed that Hcy administration significantly increased various glucose metabolites as well as lipids and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, which were reversed by SKN treatment. In conclusion, our results suggest that SKN is effective to ameliorate atherosclerosis in HHcy-ApoE-/- mice and this is at least partly associated with the inhibition of SKN on CD4+ T cell inflammatory activation via PKM2-dependent metabolic suppression.
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Li X, Zeng X. Shikonin suppresses progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by modulating miR-106b/SMAD7/TGF-β signaling pathway. Cell Biol Int 2019; 44:467-476. [PMID: 31617643 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Shikonin is a natural naphthoquinone component with antioxidant and anti-tumor function and has been used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. According to the previous study, many herbs can regulate cancer cell progression by targeting specific microRNA (miRNA) (Liu, 2016). However, the underlying pathological mechanism of shikonin in HCC therapy is still unclear. The detection of cell growth and death rate were performed by hemacytometry and trypan blue staining, respectively. The expression of miR-106b and SMAD7 messenger RNA (mRNA) in HCC cells was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration ability were measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, and transwell assay. The expression of proteins E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, SMAD7, TGF-β1, p-SMAD3, SMAD3, and GAPDH was examined by western blot. The interaction between SMAD7 and miR-106b was assessed by luciferase reporter system. Shikonin inhibited Huh7 and HepG2 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner while induced cell death in a time-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of miR-106b was reduced after shikonin treatment. Moreover, miR-106b attenuated the suppressive effects of shikonin on HCC cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). SMAD7 was predicted as a target of miR-106b and the prediction was confirmed by luciferase reporter system. Additionally, we observed that SMAD7 reversed the promotive effects of miR-106b on HCC cell progression and EMT. The subsequent western blot assay revealed that shikonin could modulate SMAD7/TGF-β signaling pathway by targeting miR-106b. In conclusion, Shikonin suppresses cell progression and EMT and accelerates cell death of HCC cells via modulating miR-106b/SMAD7/TGF-β signaling pathway, suggesting shikonin could be an effective agent for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Li
- Department of Minimal Invasive Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Xianpeng Zeng
- Department of Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases, the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430000, China
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Deda O, Virgiliou C, Orfanidis A, Gika HG. Study of Fecal and Urinary Metabolite Perturbations Induced by Chronic Ethanol Treatment in Mice by UHPLC-MS/MS Targeted Profiling. Metabolites 2019; 9:E232. [PMID: 31623107 PMCID: PMC6836053 DOI: 10.3390/metabo9100232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) as a consequence of ethanol chronic consumption could lead to hepatic cirrhosis that is linked to high morbidity and mortality. Disease diagnosis is still very challenging and usually clear findings are obtained in the later stage of ALD. The profound effect of ethanol on metabolism can be depicted using metabolomics; thus, the discovery of novel biomarkers could shed light on the initiation and the progression of the ALD, serving diagnostic purposes. In the present study, Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry HILIC-MS/MS based metabolomics analyisis of urine and fecal samples of C57BL/6 mice of both sexes at two sampling time points was performed, monitoring the effect of eight-week ethanol consumption. The altered hepatic metabolism caused by ethanol consumption induces extensive biochemical perturbations and changes in gut microbiota population on a great scale. Fecal samples were proven to be a suitable specimen for studying ALD since it was more vulnerable to the metabolic changes in comparison to urine samples. The metabolome of male mice was affected on a greater scale than the female metabolome due to ethanol exposure. Precursor small molecules of essential pathways of energy production responded to ethanol exposure. A meaningful correlation between the two studied specimens demonstrated the impact of ethanol in endogenous and symbiome metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Deda
- Department of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (KEDEK), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Christina Virgiliou
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (KEDEK), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Amvrosios Orfanidis
- Department of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (KEDEK), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Helen G Gika
- Department of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (KEDEK), 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Shikonin derivatives for cancer prevention and therapy. Cancer Lett 2019; 459:248-267. [PMID: 31132429 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Phytochemicals gained considerable interest during the past years as source to develop new treatment options for chemoprevention and cancer therapy. Motivated by the fact that a majority of established anticancer drugs are derived in one way or another from natural resources, we focused on shikonin, a naphthoquinone with high potentials to be further developed as preventive or therapeutic drug to fight cancer. Shikonin is the major chemical component of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Purple Cromwell) roots. Traditionally, the root extract has been applied to cure dermatitis, burns, and wounds. Over the past three decades, the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of root extracts, isolated shikonin as well as semi-synthetic and synthetic derivatives and nanoformulations have been described. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to understand the effect of shikonin at cellular and molecular levels. Preliminary clinical trials indicate the potential of shikonin for translation into clinical oncology. Shikonin exerts additive and synergistic interactions in combination with established chemotherapeutics, immunotherapeutic approaches, radiotherapy and other treatment modalities, which further underscores the potential of this phytochemical to be integrated into standard treatment regimens.
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Antti H, Sellstedt M. Metabolic effects of an aspartate aminotransferase-inhibitor on two T-cell lines. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208025. [PMID: 30532126 PMCID: PMC6285999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
An emerging method to help elucidate the mode of action of experimental drugs is to use untargeted metabolomics of cell-systems. The interpretations of such screens are however complex and more examples with inhibitors of known targets are needed. Here two T-cell lines were treated with an inhibitor of aspartate aminotransferase and analyzed with untargeted GC-MS. The interpretation of the data was enhanced by the use of two different cell-lines and supports aspartate aminotransferase as a target. In addition, the data suggest an unexpected off-target effect on glutamate decarboxylase. The results exemplify the potency of metabolomics to provide insight into both mode of action and off-target effects of drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Antti
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Comparative Study of PEGylated and Conventional Liposomes as Carriers for Shikonin. FLUIDS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/fluids3020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Mirzaei SA, Reiisi S, Ghiasi Tabari P, Shekari A, Aliakbari F, Azadfallah E, Elahian F. Broad blocking of MDR efflux pumps by acetylshikonin and acetoxyisovalerylshikonin to generate hypersensitive phenotype of malignant carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3446. [PMID: 29472576 PMCID: PMC5823906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21710-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic activities of acetylshikonin and acetoxyisovalerylshikonin alone and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents against parental and drug resistant cell lines were determined using the MTT assay. Effects of Shikonin derivatives on BCRP, MDR1 and MRP transcript and protein levels were relatively measured. Finally, accumulation and efflux kinetics were conducted. The results revealed cell- and concentration-dependency of the cell cytotoxicity. Acetylshikonin and acetoxyisovalerylshikonin transiently made the mRNA ocean turbulent, but FACS analyses using fluorescent-labeled antibodies showed no significant change in the MDR-protein levels. Functional kinetics revealed significant block of MDR1, BCRP and MRP transporter in the presence of shikonin derivatives. Maximum accumulation fold changes was quantified to be 4.4 and consequently, acetoxyisovalerylshikonin pretreated EPG85.257RDB cells was chemosensitized to daunorubicin tension 3.1-fold. Although, the MDR blockage was reported to follow time- and cell-dependent patterns, MDR1, BCRP and MRP2 responses to the shikonins are concentration-independent. These data suggest uncompetitive transporter blockage behavior of these agents. The results indicated that shikonin derivatives stimulate uptake and reduce efflux of chemotherapeutic agents in the malignant cancer cells, suggesting that chemotherapy in combination with shikonin compounds may be beneficial to cancer cells that overexpress multidrug resistance transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Abbas Mirzaei
- Cancer Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Somayeh Reiisi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | | | - Abolfazl Shekari
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aliakbari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Elaheh Azadfallah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Elahian
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
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Qiu HY, Wang PF, Lin HY, Tang CY, Zhu HL, Yang YH. Naphthoquinones: A continuing source for discovery of therapeutic antineoplastic agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 2017; 91:681-690. [PMID: 29130595 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Naturally occurring naphthoquinones, usually in forms of botanical extracts, have been implicated with human life since ancient time, far earlier than their isolation and identification in modern era. The long use history of naphthoquinones has witnessed their functional shift from the original purposes as dyes and ornaments toward medicinal benefits. Hitherto, numerous studies have been carried out to elucidate the pharmacological profile of both natural and artificial naphthoquinones. A number of entities have been identified with promising therapeutic potential. Apart from the traditional effects of wound healing, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, antifertility, insecticidal and antimicrobial, etc., the anticancer potential of naphthoquinones either in combination with other treatment approaches or on their own is being more and more realized. The molecular mechanisms of naphthoquinones in cells mainly fall into two categories as inducing oxidant stress by ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation and directly interacting with traditional therapeutic targets in a non-oxidant mechanism. Based on this knowledge, optimized agents with naphthoquinones scaffold have been acquired and further tested. Hereby, we summarize the explored biological mechanisms of naphthoquinones in cells and review the application perspective of promising naphthoquinones in cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yue Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng-Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong-Yan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng-Yi Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hai-Liang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong-Hua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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