A new 22,26-seco physalin steroid from Physalis angulata

Genus Physalis L.: A review of resources and cultivation, chemical composition, pharmacological effects and applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Physalis L. (Solanaceae) is commonly used in the treatment of dermatitis, leprosy, bronchitis, pneumonia, hepatitis and rheumatism in China and other Asian countries.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This article reviews the resources, cultivation, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and applications of Physalis L., and proposes further research strategies to enhance its therapeutic potential in treating various human diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases, including CNKI, SciFinder and PubMed, using the term "Physalis L." to collect information on the resources, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and applications of Physalis L. in China during the past ten years (2013.1-2023.1).

RESULTS

So far, a variety of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from Physalis L. mainly including steroids, flavonoids, and so on. Various pharmacological activities were evaluated by studying different extracts of Physalis L., these activities include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, antineoplastic, and other aspects.

CONCLUSION

Physalis L. occupies an important position in the traditional medical system. It is cost-effective and is a significant plant with therapeutic applications in modern medicine. However, further in-depth studies are needed to determine the medical use of this plant resources and cultivation, chemical composition, pharmacological effects and applications.

Target Separation and Potential Anticancer Activity of Withanolide-Based Glucose Transporter Protein 1 Inhibitors from Physalis angulata var. villosa

The glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) protein is involved in the basal-level absorption of glucose in tumor cells. Inhibiting GLUT1 decreases tumor cell proliferation and induces tumor cell damage. Natural GLUT1 inhibitors have been studied only to a small extent, and the structures of known natural GLUT1 inhibitors are limited to a few classes of natural products. Therefore, discovering and researching other natural GLUT1 inhibitors with novel scaffolds are essential. Physalis angulata L. var. villosa is a plant known as Mao-Ku-Zhi (MKZ). Withanolides are the main phytochemical components of MKZ. MKZ extracts and the components of MKZ exhibited antitumor activity in recent pharmacological studies. However, the antitumor-active components of MKZ and their molecular mechanisms remain unknown. A cell membrane-biomimetic nanoplatform (CM@Fe3O4/MIL-101) was used for target separation of potential GLUT1 inhibitors from MKZ. A new withanolide, physagulide Y (2), together with six known withanolides (1, 3-7), was identified as a potential GLUT1 inhibitor. Physagulide Y was the most potent GLUT1 inhibitor, and its antitumor activity and possible mechanism of action were explored in MCF-7 human cancer cells. These findings advance the development of technologies for the targeted separation of natural products and identify a new molecular framework for the investigation of natural GLUT1 inhibitors.

Acetogenins from the stems of Uvaria micrantha showing antiproliferative effects on HepG2 liver cancer cells

Five mono-tetrahydrofuran acetogenins: uvamicranins A-E and three known mono-tetrahydrofuran acetogenins; reticulatacin, calamistrin A, and uvarigrin, were isolated from the stems of Uvaria micrantha (Annonaceae). Their structures were elucidated by 2D NMR and high-resolution mass spectral analysis. The absolute configurations of uvamicranins A and B were determined by modified Mosher's method. Evaluation of antiproliferative activity of the isolated compounds showed that they were more potent towards the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, compared to the five other tested cell lines. Among the tested compounds, uvamicranin B (UvB) and uvarigrin (Uv) possessed strong antiproliferative activity with IC50 values of 2.89 ± 0.71 μM and 0.37 ± 0.06 μM, respectively. The antiproliferative mechanism of UvB and Uv, was investigated in HepG2 cell line showing that both compounds marginally induced apoptotic cell death, but exhibited cytostatic effect through induction of cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase.

Diterpenoids and p-methoxycinnamic acid diol esters from Kaempferia saraburiensis Picheans. (Zingiberaceae): Structural assignment of saraburol and their biological activities

Five undescribed compounds, including three diterpenoids namely, saraburol, saraburanes A and B, and two p-methoxycinnamic acid monoterpene diol esters, named E/Z-saraburinic esters, together with ten known oxygenated isopimarane diterpenoids, were isolated from the whole plant of Kaempferia saraburiensis Picheans. Among these compounds, saraburol possesses an unusual 6/9/6 tricyclic ring system bearing a 1,3-dioxonane-4-one scaffold, which is rarely found in natural products. The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS, FTIR, 1D and 2D-NMR, and by comparison with published data, and their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of experimental with calculated ECD spectra and hydrolysis reaction. Using gauge-independent atomic orbital (GIAO) NMR shift calculations coupled with DP4+ probability analyses, biogenetic considerations, and optical rotation allowed for the complete characterization of saraburol. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for saraburol and saraburane A was proposed. The cytotoxicity result indicated that E-saraburinic ester exhibited the most potent activity with an IC₅₀ value of 12.0 μM against MOLT-3 cells with a selectivity index of 12.5. Saraburane B exhibited the most potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria strain Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC (MBC) value of 25 (50) μg/mL.

Therapeutic Applications of Physalins: Powerful Natural Weapons

Physalins, or 16,24-cyclo-13,14-seco steroids, are compounds belonging to the class of withanolides that can be found in plants of Solanaceae family, mainly in species belonging to the genus Physalis spp., which are annual herbaceous plants widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Physalins are versatile molecules that act in several cell signaling pathways and activate different mechanisms of cell death or immunomodulation. A number of studies have shown a variety of actions of these compounds, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, and antiviral activities. Here we reviewed the main findings related to the anticancer, immunomodulatory, and antiparasitic activities of physalins and its mechanisms of action, highlighting the \challenges and future directions in the pharmacological application of physalins.

Hidden in Plants—A Review of the Anticancer Potential of the Solanaceae Family in In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Simple Summary

The Solanaceae family is one of the most important arable and economic families in the world. In addition, it includes a wide range of valuable active secondary metabolites of species with biological and medical properties. This literature review focuses on the assessment of the anticancer properties of the extracts and pure compounds, and the synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic agents and nanoparticles from various species of the Solanaceae family, as well as their potential molecular mechanisms of action in in vitro and in vivo studies in various types of tumours.

Abstract

Many of the anticancer agents that are currently in use demonstrate severe side effects and encounter increasing resistance from the target cancer cells. Thus, despite significant advances in cancer therapy in recent decades, there is still a need to discover and develop new, alternative anticancer agents. The plant kingdom contains a range of phytochemicals that play important roles in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. The Solanaceae family is widely used in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, due to its bioactive ingredient content. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the antitumour activity of Solanaceae extracts—single isolated compounds and nanoparticles with extracts—and their synergistic effect with chemotherapeutic agents in various in vitro and in vivo cancer models. In addition, the biological properties of many plants of the Solanaceae family have not yet been investigated, which represents a challenge and an opportunity for future anticancer therapy.

Synthesis of DFGH-Ring Derivatives of Physalins via One-Pot Construction of GH-Ring and Evaluation of Their NF-κB-Inhibitory Activity

We designed and synthesized a series of derivatives containing the right-side DFGH-ring structure of physalin-type natural products, decorated with a hydrophobic substituent. The synthetic scheme utilizes a highly efficient, one-pot protocol for simultaneous construction of the GH-ring system, promoted by HF/pyridine. Among the compounds synthesized, 5d inhibited TNF-α-stimulated NF-κB activation with similar potency to physalin B.

Uvarmicranones A and B, two new benzoquinones and cytotoxic constituents from the stems of Uvaria micrantha (A. DC.) Hook. f. & Thomson

Two novel benzoquinones, uvarmicranones A (1) and B (2), along with 15 known compounds (3 - 17) were isolated from the stems of Uvaria micrantha (Annonaceae). Their structures were elucidated by analyses of NMR and high-resolution mass data. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of uvarmicranone A (1) via Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction was also proposed. Some isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities. Compounds 1, 14, and 15 showed moderate cytotoxic effects against T-cell acute lymphoblastic cells (MOLT-3), with IC₅₀ values of 7.83 ± 0.83, 6.53 ± 1.01, and 4.20 ± 0.29 μM, respectively. Additionally, compound 15 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) with an IC₅₀ value of 7.00 ± 3.15 μM.

Pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of Physalis angulata leaf extract on retinoblastoma cells

AIM

To investigate the effect of Physalis angulata leaf extract on apoptotic and proliferation of retinoblastoma cells. Despite several previous studies evidencing the anti-cancer potential of Physalis angulata; however, certain study that proves its benefits in retinoblastoma cancer cells has been limited.

METHODS

This study utilizes an in-vitro experimental study by applying Y79 human retinoblastoma cell line culture obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; 10801 University Boulevard Manassas, VA 20110, USA). The cell was divided into 4 groups. Group I was the control group without the administration of Physalis angulata leaf extract. Whereas, group II, II and IV are engaged with 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL of Physalis angulata leaf extract respectively. After a 24h incubation, an examination with microtetrazolium (MTT) cell proliferation assay and Annexin V apoptosis detection was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed with the Tukey test.

RESULTS

Physalis angulata leaf extract improved apoptosis and significantly reduced the number of living cells in retinoblastoma cells, along with the increase in the given dose. Based on the Tukey test, a significant difference was found in the treatment group at 50 µg/mL (P=0.025) and 100 µg/mL (P=0.001) in the measurement of apoptosis. Proliferation measurements also indicated a significant decrease in the number of living cells in the 50µg/mL treatment group (P=0.004), and in the 100 µg/mL treatment group (P=0.000). Meanwhile, a dose of 25 µg/mL indicated insignificant difference in the two measurements. Improved apoptosis and decreased number of living cells occured at a dose of 100 µg/mL. Decreased number of living cells (in the measurement of proliferation) was due to the inhibited proliferation or improved apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Physalis angulata leaf extract improve apoptosis in retinoblastoma cell culture, requiring further research to inhibit proliferation.

Two new physalin derivatives from Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Mast.) Makino

Two new physalin derivatives named 7β-ethoxyl-isophysalin C (1) and 3β-ethoxyl-2,3-dihydro-4,7-didehydrophysalin B (2) were isolated from Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Mast.) Makino. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR-spectroscopic analysis and HRESIMS data. Compounds 1 and 2 were tested for their cytotoxicity against PC-3 cancer cell lines. Compound 1 showed apparent moderate with IC₅₀ values of 8.26 μM, whereas compound 2 exhibited no cytotoxicity against PC-3 cancer cell lines.