Zerumbone suppresses IKKα, Akt, and FOXO1 activation, resulting in apoptosis of GBM 8401 cells

Advances in nano-delivery of phytochemicals for glioblastoma treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor characterized by cellular and molecular diversity. This diversity presents significant challenges for treatment and leads to poor prognosis. Surgery remains the primary treatment of choice for GBMs, but it often results in tumor recurrence due to complex interactions between GBM cells and the peritumoral brain zone. Phytochemicals have shown promising anticancer activity in in-vitro studies and are being investigated as potential treatments for various cancers, including GBM. However, some phytochemicals have failed to translate their efficacy to pre-clinical studies due to limited penetration into the tumor microenvironment, leading to high toxicity. Thus, combining phytochemicals with nanotechnology has emerged as a promising alternative for treating GBM. This review explores the potential of utilizing specific nanoparticles to deliver known anticancer phytochemicals directly to tumor cells. This method has demonstrated potential in overcoming the challenges of the complex GBM microenvironment, including the tight blood-brain barrier while minimizing damage to healthy brain tissue. Therefore, employing this interdisciplinary approach holds significant promise for developing effective phyto-nanomedicines for GBM and improving patient outcomes.

Anti-cancer potential of zerumbone in cancer and glioma: current trends and future perspectives

Plant-derived immunomodulators and antitumor factors have appealed lots of attention from natural product scientists for their efficiency and safety and their important contribution to well-designed targeted drug action and delivery mechanisms. Zerumbone (ZER), the chief component of Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes, has been examined for its wide-spectrum in the treatment of multi-targeted diseases. The rhizomes have been used as food flavoring agents in numerous cuisines and in flora medication. Numerous in vivo and in vitro experiments have prepared confirmation of ZER as a potent immunomodulator as well as a potential anti-tumor agent. This review is an interesting compilation of all the important results of the research carried out to date to investigate the immunomodulatory and anticancer properties of ZER. The ultimate goal of this comprehensive review is to supply updated information and a crucial evaluation on ZER, including its chemistry and immunomodulating and antitumour properties, which may be of principal importance to supply a novel pathway for subsequent investigation to discover new agents to treat cancers and immune-related sickness. In addition, updated information on the toxicology of ZER has been summarized to support its safety profile.

Forkhead box transcription factors (FOXOs and FOXM1) in glioma: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutics

Glioma is the most aggressive and malignant type of primary brain tumor, comprises the majority of central nervous system deaths, and is categorized into different subgroups according to its histological characteristics, including astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and mixed tumors. The forkhead box (FOX) transcription factors comprise a collection of proteins that play various roles in numerous complex molecular cascades and have been discovered to be differentially expressed in distinct glioma subtypes. FOXM1 and FOXOs have been recognized as crucial transcription factors in tumor cells, including glioma cells. Accumulating data indicates that FOXM1 acts as an oncogene in various types of cancers, and a significant part of studies has investigated its function in glioma. Although recent studies considered FOXO subgroups as tumor suppressors, there are pieces of evidence that they may have an oncogenic role. This review will discuss the subtle functions of FOXOs and FOXM1 in gliomas, dissecting their regulatory network with other proteins, microRNAs and their role in glioma progression, including stem cell differentiation and therapy resistance/sensitivity, alongside highlighting recent pharmacological progress for modulating their expression.

Protein phosphorylation: A potential target in glioma development

Glioma is one of the most common primary brain tumors, and mortality due to this disease is second only to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In traditional surgery, it is difficult to eradicate glioma; often recurrence increases its malignant degree, leading to a large number of patients killed by this disease. It is one of the most important subjects to study its pathogenesis and explore effective treatment methods. Research on glioma mechanisms mainly focuses on the effect of DNA methylation in epigenetics. Although there are many studies on protein phosphorylation, there is no overall regulatory mechanism. Protein phosphorylation regulates a variety of cell functions, such as cell growth, division and differentiation, and apoptosis. As a consequence, protein phosphorylation plays a leading part in various activities of glioma, and can also be used as a target to regulate the development of glioma. This review is aimed at studying the effect of protein phosphorylation on glioma, understanding the pathological mechanism, and an in-depth analysis of it. The following is a discussion on glioma growth, migration and invasion, resistance and death in phosphorylation, and the possibility of treating glioma by phosphorylation.

Medicinal Plants for Glioblastoma Treatment

Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, demonstrates the least life expectancy among all brain cancers. Because of the regulation of diverse signaling pathways in cancers, the chemotherapeutic approaches used to suppress their multiplication and spreading are restricted. Sensitivity towards chemotherapeutic agents has developed because of the pathological and drug-evading abilities of these diverse mechanisms. As a result, the identification and exploration of strategies or treatments, which can overcome such refractory obstacles to improve glioblastoma response to treatment as well as recovery, is essential. Medicinal herbs contain a wide variety of bioactive compounds, which could trigger aggressive brain cancers, regulate their anti-cancer mechanisms and immune responses to assist in cancer elimination, and cause cell death. Numerous tumor-causing proteins, which facilitate invasion as well as metastasis of cancer, tolerance of chemotherapies, and angiogenesis, are also inhibited by these phytochemicals. Such herbs remain valuable for glioblastoma prevention and its incidence by effectively being used as anti-glioma therapies. This review thus presents the latest findings on medicinal plants using which the extracts or bioactive components are being used against glioblastoma, their mechanism of functioning, pharmacological description as well as recent clinical studies conducted on them.

Bioactive Compounds from Zingiber montanum and Their Pharmacological Activities with Focus on Zerumbone

The genus Zingiber consists of about 85 species and many of these species are used as food, spices, and medicines. One of the species, Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex A. Dietr. is native to Southeast Asia and has been extensively used as traditional medicines and food. The aim of this review was to collect and critically analyze the scientific information about the bioactive compounds and pharmacological activities of Z. montanum with focus on one of the main components, zerumbone (ZER). Various studies have reported the analysis of volatile constituents of the essential oils from Z. montanum. Similarly, many phenylbutanoids, flavonoids and terpenes were also isolated from rhizomes. These essential oils, extracts and compounds showed potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities among others. Zerumbone has been studied widely for its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological activities. Future studies should focus on the exploration of various pharmacological activities of other compounds including phenylbutanoids and flavonoids. Bioassay guided isolation may result in the separation of other active components from the extracts. Z. montanum could be a promising source for the development of pharmaceutical products and functional foods.

Potential Role of Natural Products to Combat Radiotherapy and Their Future Perspectives

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) are the common cancer treatments. In addition to these limitations, the development of adverse effects from chemotherapy and RT reduces the quality of life for cancer patients. Cellular radiosensitivity, or the ability to resist and overcome cell damage caused by ionizing radiation (IR), is directly related to cancer cells' response to RT. Therefore, radiobiological research is emphasizing chemical compounds 'radiosensitization of cancer cells so that they are more reactive in the IR spectrum. Recent years researchers have seen an increase in interest in natural products that have antitumor effects with minimal side effects. Natural products, on the other hand, are easy to recover and therefore less expensive. There have been several scientific studies done based on these compounds that have tested their ability in vitro and in vivo to induce tumor radiosensitization. The role of natural products in RT, as well as their usefulness and potential applications, is the goal of this current review.

Combination immunotherapy strategies for glioblastoma

INTRODUCTION

Despite recent advances in treatment for a number of cancers with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), immunotherapy has had limited efficacy in glioblastoma (GBM). The recent multi-centered CheckMate 143 trial in first time recurrent GBM and the Checkmate 498 trial in newly diagnosed unmethylated GBM showed that antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) failed to improve overall survival in patients with GBM. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have explored combining ICB with several other therapies including additional ICB against alternative checkpoint molecules, activation of costimulatory checkpoint molecules such as 4-1BB, radiation-induced tumor cell lysis and immunogenic recruitment, local chemotherapy, neoadjuvant ICB therapy, and myeloid cell reactivation.

METHODS

We have reviewed the literature on ICB seminal to the progression of several preclinical studies and clinical trials in order to provide a compendium of the current state of combination immunotherapy for GBM. For ongoing clinical trials without associated publications, we searched clinicaltrials.gov for ongoing studies using the keywords, "GBM" and "glioblastoma", as well as names of checkpoint molecules.

RESULTS

Recent trends from clinical trials demonstrate that despite a variety of different combination strategies involving ICB, GBM remains largely elusive to current immunotherapies. There is a discordance of survival outcomes between GBM pre-clinical models and clinical trials, likely due to the heterogeneity of GBM in patients as well as other adaptive immune mechanisms not otherwise represented in murine models. However, in clinical studies, neoadjuvant ICB in GBM was found to diversify the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and increase chemokine mRNA transcripts when comparing pre- and post- surgical time points. Moreover, an increase in peripheral and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) clonotypes were also observed when comparing adjuvant and neoadjuvant cohorts.

DISCUSSION

Despite the lack of clinical survival benefit, immune modulation was observed in multiple different combination strategies for GBM in both preclinical and clinical studies, indicating that ICB combination therapy results in a significant immunological impact on the tumor microenvironment.

Sesquiterpenes and their derivatives-natural anticancer compounds: An update

Sesquiterpenes belong to the largest group of plant secondary metabolites, which consist of three isoprene building units. These compounds are widely distributed in various angiosperms, a few gymnosperms and bryophytes. Sesquiterpenes and their allied derivatives are bio-synthesized in various plant parts including leaves, fruits and roots. These plant-based metabolites are predominantly identified in the Asteraceae family, wherein up to 5000 complexes have been documented to date. Sesquiterpenes and their derivatives are characteristically associated with plant defence mechanisms owing to their antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral activities. Over the last two decades, these compounds have been reportedly demonstrated health promoting perspectives against a wide range of metabolic syndromes i.e. hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular complications, neural disorders, diabetes, and cancer. The high potential of sesquiterpenes and their derivatives against various cancers like breast, colon, bladder, pancreatic, prostate, cervical, brain, liver, blood, ovarium, bone, endometrial, oral, lung, eye, stomach and kidney are the object of this review. Predominantly, it recapitulates the literature elucidating sesquiterpenes and their derivatives while highlighting the mechanistic approaches associated with their potent anticancer activities such as modulating nuclear factor kappa (NF-kB) activity, inhibitory action against lipid peroxidation and retarding the production of reactive oxygen & nitrogen species (ROS&RNS).

Zerumbone Promotes Cytotoxicity in Human Malignant Glioblastoma Cells through Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Generation

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most hostile tumor in the central nervous system. Unfortunately, the prognosis of GBM patients is poor following surgical interventions, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Consequently, more efficient and effective treatment options for the treatment of GBM need to be explored. Zerumbone, as a sesquiterpene derived from Zingiber zerumbet Smith, has substantial cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities in some types of cancer. Here, we show that exposure of GBM cells (U-87 MG) to Zerumbone demonstrated significant growth inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner. Zerumbone also induced apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest of human GBM U-87 MG cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. In detail, the apoptotic process triggered by Zerumbone involved the upregulation of proapoptotic Bax and the suppression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 genes expression as determined by qRT-PCR. Moreover, Zerumbone enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), as an antioxidant, reversed the ROS-induced cytotoxicity of U-87 MG cells. The Western blot analysis suggested that Zerumbone activated the NF-κB p65, which was partly inhibited by NAC treatment. Collectively, our results confirmed that Zerumbone induces cytotoxicity by ROS generation. Thus, the study raises the possibility of Zerumbone as a potential natural agent for treating GBM due to its ability to induce cytotoxicity.

Gingers and Their Purified Components as Cancer Chemopreventative Agents

Chemoprevention by ingested substituents is the process through which nutraceuticals and/or their bioactive components antagonize carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis is the course of action whereby a normal cell is transformed into a neoplastic cell. This latter action involves several steps, starting with initiation and followed by promotion and progression. Driving these stages is continued oxidative stress and inflammation, which in turn, causes a myriad of aberrant gene expressions and mutations within the transforming cell population and abnormal gene expressions by the cells within the surrounding lesion. Chemoprevention of cancer with bioreactive foods or their extracted/purified components occurs primarily via normalizing these inappropriate gene activities. Various foods/agents have been shown to affect different gene expressions. In this review, we discuss how the chemoprevention activities of gingers antagonize cancer development.

Potential of Zerumbone as an Anti-Cancer Agent

Cancer is still a major risk factor to public health globally, causing approximately 9.8 million deaths worldwide in 2018. Despite advances in conventional treatment modalities for cancer treatment, there are still few effective therapies available due to the lack of selectivity, adverse side effects, non-specific toxicities, and tumour recurrence. Therefore, there is an immediate need for essential alternative therapeutics, which can prove to be beneficial and safe against cancer. Various phytochemicals from natural sources have been found to exhibit beneficial medicinal properties against various human diseases. Zerumbone is one such compound isolated from Zingiber zerumbet Smith that possesses diverse pharmacological properties including those of antioxidant, antibacterial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, as well as anti-neoplastic. Zerumbone has shown its anti-cancer effects by causing significant suppression of proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis through the molecular modulation of different pathways such as NF-κB, Akt, and IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 (interleukin-6/janus kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) and their downstream target proteins. The current review briefly summarizes the modes of action and therapeutic potential of zerumbone against various cancers.

Zerumbone inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells properties by inhibiting the β-catenin pathway through miR-200c

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal and rampant human malignancies in the world. Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene isolated from subtropical ginger, has been found to exhibit an antitumor effect in various cancer types. However, the effect of Zerumbone on the biological properties of CRC, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the inhibitory action of Zerumbone on the EMT process, CSC markers, and the β-catenin signaling pathway in the presence or absence of miR-200c. The effect of Zerumbone on HCT-116 and SW-48 cells viability was examined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The effects of Zerumbone on EMT-related genes, CSCs markers, cell migration, invasion, sphere-forming, and β-catenin signaling pathway were explored. To evaluate the role of miR-200c in anticancer effects by Zerumbone, miR-200c was downregulated by LNA-anti-miR-200c. Zerumbone significantly inhibited cell viability, migration, invasion, and sphere-forming potential in HCT-116 and SW-48 cell lines. Zerumbone significantly suppressed the EMT and CSC properties as well as downregulated the β-catenin. Silencing of miR200c reduced the inhibitory effects of Zerumbone on EMT and CSCs in CRC cells. These data indicated that Zerumbone may be a promising candidate for reducing the risk of CRC progression by suppressing the β-catenin pathway via miR-200c.

Overexpression of retinoblastoma‑binding protein 4 contributes to the radiosensitivity of AGS gastric cancer cells via phosphoinositide3‑kinase/protein kinase B pathway suppression

In the present study, the effects and underlying mechanism of RbAp48 on the radiosensitivity of AGS gastric cancer cells was investigated. Cell proliferation was determined with an MTT assay. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the cell cycle and apoptosis. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were performed to detect mRNA and protein expression, respectively, including RbAp48, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt). The results revealed that radiation enhanced the expression level of RbAp48 in AGS cells, and that RbAp48 combined with radiation reduced AGS cell proliferation. In addition, RbAp48 combined with radiation resulted in G₂ phase arrest and induced apoptosis via regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that overexpression of RbAp48 enhanced the radiosensitivity of AGS gastric cancer cells via suppression of PI3K/Akt pathway activity, suggesting that RbAp48 may hold potential as a gene therapeutic strategy in the future, aiding in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Zerumbone suppresses the activation of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated U937 macrophages through MyD88-dependent NF-κB/MAPK/PI3K-Akt signaling pathways

Zerumbone (ZER), isolated mainly from the Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) rhizomes was found to be effective against numerous inflammatory and immune disorders, however, the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties have not been well studied. This study was carried out to examine the profound effects of ZER on inflammatory mediated MyD88-dependent NF-κB/MAPK/PI3K-Akt signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated U937 human macrophages. ZER significantly suppressed the up-regulation pro-inflammatory mediators, TNF-α, IL-1β, PGE₂, and COX-2 protein in LPS-induced human macrophages. Moreover, ZER significantly downregulated the phosphorylation of NF-κB (p65), IκBα, and IKKα/β as well as restored the degradation of IκBα. ZER correspondingly showed remarkable attenuation of the expression of Akt, JNK, ERK, and p38 MAPKs phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner. ZER also diminished the expression of upstream signaling molecules TLR4 and MyD88, which are prerequisite for the NF-κB, MAPK and PI3K-Akt activation. Additionally, quantification of relative gene expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and COX-2 indicated that, at a higher dose (50μM), ZER significantly downregulated the elevated mRNA transcription levels of the stated pro-inflammatory markers in LPS-stimulated U937 macrophages. The strong suppressive effects of ZER on the activation of inflammatory markers in the macrophages via MyD88-dependent NF-κB/MAPK/PI3K-Akt signaling pathways suggest that ZER can be a preventive and potent therapeutic candidate for the management of various inflammatory-mediated immune disorders.

Ochratoxin A-Induced Apoptosis of IPEC-J2 Cells through ROS-Mediated Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Opening Pathway

With the purpose to explore the mechanisms associated with the intestinal toxicity of Ochratoxin A (OTA), an intestinal porcine epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) was applied in this study as in vitro models for intestinal epithelium. The results confirmed that OTA induced IPEC-J2 cell toxicity by MTT assay and apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometer analysis. We also observed that OTA induced the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening by confocal microscopy. Western blot showed that OTA induced cytochrome c (cyt-c) release and caspase-3 activation, which could be suppressed by inhibition of mPTP opening with cyclosporin A. Treatment with Mito-TEMPO, the mitochondria-targeted ROS scavenger, blocked OTA-induced mitochondrial ROS generation and mPTP opening and prevented cyt-c release, caspase-3 activation, and apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity of propofol and its related mechanism in glioblastoma cells and astrocytes

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol), one of the extensively and commonly used anesthetic agents, has been shown to affect the biological behavior of various models. Previous researches have shown that propofol-induced cytotoxicity might cause anticancer effect in different cells. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of propofol on cytotoxicity is still elusive in human glioblastoma cells. The aims of this study were to evaluate effects of propofol on cytotoxicity, cell cycle distribution and ROS production, and establish the relationship between oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in GBM 8401 human glioblastoma cells and DI TNC1 rat astrocytes. Propofol (20-30 μM) concentration-dependently induced cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and increased ROS production in GBM 8401 cells but not in DI TNC1 cells. In GBM 8401 cells, propofol induced G2/M phase cell arrest, which affected the CDK1, cyclin B1, p53, and p21 protein expression levels. Furthermore, propofol induced oxygen stresses by increasing O2- and H₂ O₂ levels but treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) partially reversed propofol-regulated antioxidative enzyme levels (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase). Most significantly, propofol induced apoptotic effects by decreasing Bcl-2 but increasing Bax, cleaved caspase-9/caspase-3 levels, which were partially reversed by NAC. Moreover, the pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK also partially prevented propofol-induced apoptosis. Together, in GBM 8401 cells but not in DI TNC1 cells, propofol activated ROS-associated apoptosis that involved cell cycle arrest and caspase activation. These findings indicate that propofol not only can be an anesthetic agent which reduces pain but also has the potential to be used for the treatment of human glioblastoma.

A Review of the Biomedical Applications of Zerumbone and the Techniques for Its Extraction from Ginger Rhizomes

Zerumbone (ZER) is a phytochemical isolated from the subtropical Zingiberaceae family and as a natural compound it has different biomedical properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory anti-proliferative activity. ZER also has effects on angiogenesis and acts as an antitumor drug in the treatment of cancer, showing selective toxicity toward various cancer cell lines. Several techniques also have been established for extraction of ZER from the rhizomes of ginger. This review paper is an overview of recent research about different extraction methods and their efficiencies, in vivo and vitro investigations of ZER and also its prominent chemopreventive properties and treatment mechanisms. Most of the studies mentioned in this review paper may be useful use as a knowledge summary to explain ZER extraction and anticancer activities, which will show a way for the development of strategies in the treatment of malignancies using ZER.

Therapeutic effects of zerumbone in an alkali-burned corneal wound healing model

Cornea is an avascular transparent tissue. Ocular trauma caused by a corneal alkali burn induces corneal neovascularization (CNV), inflammation, and fibrosis, leading to vision loss. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Zerumbone (ZER) on corneal wound healing caused by alkali burns in mice. CNV was induced by alkali-burn injury in BALB/C female mice. Topical ZER (three times per day, 3μl each time, at concentrations of 5, 15, and 30μM) was applied to treat alkali-burned mouse corneas for 14 consecutive days. Histopathologically, ZER treatment suppressed alkali burn-induced CNV and decreased corneal epithelial defects induced by alkali burns. Corneal tissue treated with ZER showed reduced mRNA levels of pro-angiogenic genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9, and pro-fibrotic factors such as alpha smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-1 and 2. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the infiltration of F4/80 and/or CCR2 positive cells was significantly decreased in ZER-treated corneas. ZER markedly inhibited the mRNA and protein levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human corneal fibroblasts and murine peritoneal macrophages. Immunoblot analysis revealed that ZER decreased the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), with consequent reduction of MCP-1 production by these cells. In conclusion, topical administration of ZER accelerated corneal wound healing by inhibition of STAT3 and MCP-1 production.

Exploring the immunomodulatory and anticancer properties of zerumbone

Plant-derived immunomodulators and anti-cancer agents have attracted a lot of interest from natural product scientists for their efficacy and safety, and their significant contribution towards understanding targeted drug action and drug delivery mechanisms.

Possible Anticancer Mechanisms of Some Costus speciosus Active Ingredients Concerning Drug Discovery

Costus speciosus is native to South East Asia, especially found in India, Srilanka, Indonesia and Malaysia. C. speciosus have numerous therapeutic potentials against a wide variety of complains. The therapeutic properties of C. speciosus are attributed to the presence of various ingredients such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, sterols and sesquiterpenes. This review presented the past, present, and the future status of C. speciosus active ingredients to propose a future use as a potential anticancer agent. All possible up-regulation of cellular apoptotic molecules as p53, p21, p27, caspases, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and others attribute to the anticancer activity of C. speciosus along the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic agents such as Akt, Bcl2, NFKB, STAT3, JAK, MMPs, actin, surviving and vimentin. Eventually, we recommend further investigation of different C. speciosus extracts, using some active ingredients and evaluate the anticancer effect of these chemicals against different cancers.

A novel component from citrus, ginger, and mushroom family exhibits antitumor activity on human meningioma cells through suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Recurrent meningiomas constitute an uncommon but significant problem after standard (surgery and radiation) therapy failure. Current chemotherapies (hydroxyurea, RU-486, and interferon-α) are only of marginal benefit. There is an urgent need for more effective treatments for meningioma patients who have failed surgery and radiation therapy. Limonin, Tangeritin, Zerumbone, 6-Gingerol, Ganoderic Acid A, and Ganoderic Acid DM are some of the plant derivatives that have anti-tumorgenic properties and cause cell death in meningioma cells in vitro. Due to its ease of administration, long-term tolerability, and low incidence of long-term side effects, we explored its potential as a therapeutic agent against meningiomas by examining their efficacy in vitro against meningioma cells. Treatment effects were assessed using MTT assay, Western blot analysis, caspases assay, and DNA fragmentation assay. Results indicated that treatments of IOMM-Lee and CH157MN meningioma cells with Limonin, Tangeritin, Zerumbone, 6-Gingerol, Ganoderic Acid A, and Ganoderic Acid DM induced apoptosis with enhanced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3β) via inhibition of the Wnt5/β-catenin pathway. These drugs did not induce apoptosis in normal human neurons. Other events in apoptosis included downregulation of tetraspanin protein (TSPAN12), survival proteins (Bcl-XL and Mcl-1), and overexpression apoptotic factors (Bax and caspase-3). These results provide preliminary strong evidence that medicinal plants containing Limonin, Tangeritin, 6-Gingerol, Zerumbone, Ganoderic Acid A, and Ganoderic Acid DM can be applied to high-grade meningiomas as a therapeutic agent, and suggests that further in vivo studies are necessary to explore its potential as a therapeutic agent against malignant meningiomas.

Binding mode analysis of zerumbone to key signal proteins in the tumor necrosis factor pathway

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Several signaling pathways have been implicated as causative and progression agents. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α protein plays a dual role in promoting and inhibiting cancer depending largely on the pathway initiated by the binding of the protein to its receptor. Zerumbone, an active constituent of Zingiber zerumbet, Smith, is known to act on the tumor necrosis factor pathway upregulating tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) death receptors and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Zerumbone is a sesquiterpene that is able to penetrate into the hydrophobic pockets of proteins to exert its inhibiting activity with several proteins. We found a good binding with the tumor necrosis factor, kinase κB (IKKβ) and the Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) component proteins along the TNF pathway. Our results suggest that zerumbone can exert its apoptotic activities by inhibiting the cytoplasmic proteins. It inhibits the IKKβ kinase that activates the NF-κB and also binds to the NF-κB complex in the TNF pathway. Blocking both proteins can lead to inhibition of cell proliferating proteins to be downregulated and possibly ultimate induction of apoptosis.

Nanostructured lipid carrier improved in vivo anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effect of Zerumbone in 4T1 challenged mice

Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) encapsulation enhanced thein vivoantitumor, antitumor immunity and anti-inflammatory effects of Zerumbone on 4T1 challenged mice.

Effects of crude extracts from medicinal herbs Rhazya stricta and Zingiber officinale on growth and proliferation of human brain cancer cell line in vitro

Hitherto, limited clinical impact has been achieved in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBMs). Although phytochemicals found in medicinal herbs can provide mankind with new therapeutic remedies, single agent intervention has failed to bring the expected outcome in clinical trials. Therefore, combinations of several agents at once are gaining increasing attractiveness. In the present study, we investigated the effects of crude alkaloid (CAERS) and flavonoid (CFEZO) extracts prepared from medicinal herbs, Rhazya stricta and Zingiber officinale, respectively, on the growth of human GBM cell line, U251. R. stricta and Z. officinale are traditionally used in folkloric medicine and have antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and free radical scavenging properties. Combination of CAERS and CFEZO treatments synergistically suppressed proliferation and colony formation and effectively induced morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis in U251 cells. Apoptosis induction was mediated by release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, increased Bax : Bcl-2 ratio, enhanced activities of caspase-3 and -9, and PARP-1 cleavage. CAERS and CFEZO treatments decreased expression levels of nuclear NF-κBp65, survivin, XIAP, and cyclin D1 and increased expression level of p53, p21, and Noxa. These results suggest that combination of CAERS and CFEZO provides a useful foundation for studying and developing novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of GBM.

Assessment of cell cycle phase-specific effects of zerumbone on mitotically synchronous surface cultures of Physarum polycephalum

Zerumbone, a natural cyclic sesquiterpene, has been the focus of recent research as it has been found to exhibit selective toxicity towards cancer cells compared to normal cells. Studies on the cell cycle phase-specific effects of this interesting compound, however, remain sparse. Hence, concentration and time-dependent effects of zerumbone were evaluated employing a suitable model system, the naturally synchronous surface cultures of Physarum polycephalum. Zerumbone treatment in S, early, and late G2 phases resulted in G2 arrest. Early G2 phase exhibited the highest sensitivity (P < 0.001) to the compound. Protein profiles showed a complete inhibition of cyclin B1 expression following zerumbone treatment. Furthermore, FACS and comet analysis revealed that zerumbone inhibited DNA synthesis (P < 0.001) without being genotoxic at the concentrations tested. Differential display of mRNA showed distinct zerumbone-induced variations in transcript profiles, an analysis of which suggested a likely link between cellular networks involving stress-related gene expression and G2 arrest in P. polycephalum.

Biomedical properties of a natural dietary plant metabolite, zerumbone, in cancer therapy and chemoprevention trials

Zerumbone (ZER) is a naturally occurring dietary compound, present in many natural foods consumed today. The compound derived from several plant species of the Zingiberaceae family that has been found to possess multiple biomedical properties, such as antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. However, evidence of efficacy is sparse, pointing to the need for a more systematic review for assessing scientific evidence to support therapeutic claims made for ZER and to identify future research needs. This review provides an updated overview of in vitro and in vivo investigations of ZER, its cancer chemopreventive properties, and mechanisms of action. Therapeutic effects of ZER were found to be scientifically plausible and could be explained partially by in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activities. Much of the research outlined in this paper will serve as a foundation to explain ZER anticancer bioactivity, which will open the door for the development of strategies in the treatment of malignancies using ZER.

Inducement of mitosis delay by cucurbitacin E, a novel tetracyclic triterpene from climbing stem of Cucumis melo L., through GADD45γ in human brain malignant glioma (GBM) 8401 cells

Cucurbitacin E (CuE) is a natural compound previously shown to have anti-feedant, antioxidant and antitumor activities as well as a potent chemo-preventive action against cancer. The present study investigates its anti-proliferative property using MTT assay; CuE demonstrated cytotoxic activity against malignant glioma GBM 8401 cells and induced cell cycle G₂/M arrest in these cells. CuE-treated cells accumulated in metaphase (CuE 2.5–10 μM) as determined using MPM-2 by flow cytometry. We attempted to characterize the molecular pathways responsible for cytotoxic effects of CuE in GBM 8401 cells. We studied the genome-wide gene expression profile on microarrays and molecular networks by using pathway analysis tools of bioinformatics. The CuE reduced the expression of 558 genes and elevated the levels of 1354 genes, suggesting an existence of the common pathways involved in induction of G₂/M arrest. We identified the RB (GADD45β and GADD45γ) and the p53 (GADD45α) signaling pathways as the common pathways, serving as key molecules that regulate cell cycle. Results indicate that CuE produced G₂/M arrest as well as the upregulation of GADD45 γ and binding with CDC2. Both effects increased proportionally with the dose of CuE, suggesting that the CuE-induced mitosis delay is regulated by GADD45γ overexpression. Our findings suggest that, in addition to the known effects on cancer prevention, CuE may have antitumor activity in glioma therapy.