In vitro inhibition of angiogenesis by heat and low pH stable hydroalcoholic extract of Peganum harmala seeds via inhibition of cell proliferation and suppression of VEGF secretion

Alkaloids of Peganum harmala: Anticancer Biomarkers with Promising Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a serious and growing global health issue worldwide. In the cancerous cells, the normal cell cycle has been disrupted via a series of irreversible changes. Recently, the investigations on herbal medicine and clarifying the phytochemicals potential in treat cancer has been increased. The combination of phytochemicals with conventional cancer treatment approaches can improve outcomes via advancing cell death, restraining cell proliferation and invasion, sensitizing cancerous cells, and promoting the immune system. Therefore, phytochemicals can be introduced as relevant complementary medicaments in cancer therapy. Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) as a valuable medicinal herb, possesses various alkaloid ingredient.

OBJECTIVE

Pointing to the importance of new avenues for cancer management and P. harmala convincing effect in this field, this review strived to collect a frame to epitome possible scopes to develop novel medicines in cancer treatment.

METHODS

Keywords "Peganum harmala" and cancer, or chemotherapy, or anti-neoplasm were searched through the "Scopus" database up to 29th of February 2020. Papers linking to agriculture, chemistry, environmental, and genetics sciences were omitted and, papers centered on cancer were selected.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the current study, 42 related papers to cancer treatment and 22 papers on alkaloid bioactive components are collected from 72 papers. The β-carboline alkaloids derived from P. harmala, especially harmine, demonstrate notable anticancer properties by targeting apoptosis, autophagy, abnormal cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and cytotoxicity. Based on the collected information, P. harmala holds significant anticancer activity. Considering the mechanism of the various anticancer drugs and their acting similarity to P. harmala, the alkaloids derived from this herb, particularly harmine, can introduce as a novel anticancer medicine solely or in adjuvant cancer therapy.

A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. with Fluoxetine for the treatment of depression

Background

Depression has rapidly progressed worldwide, and the need for an efficient treatment with low side effect has risen. Melissa officinalis L and Lavandula angustifolia Mill have been traditionally used in Asia for the treatment of depression. Many textbooks of traditional Persian medicine refer to these herbs for the treatment of depression while there are no adequate clinical trials to support this claim.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of M. officinalis and L. angustifolia compared to fluoxetine for the treatment of mild to moderate depression in an 8-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Methods

Forty-five adult outpatients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) for major depression, were randomly assigned to 3 groups to daily receive either M. officinalis (2 g) or L. angustifolia (2 g) or fluoxetine (20 mg) and were assessed in weeks 0, 2, 4 and 8 by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) including 17 items.

Results

Our study showed that M. officinalis and L. angustifolia effect similar to fluoxetine in mild to moderate depression. (F = 0.131, df = 2,42, p = 0.877).

Conclusion

Due to some restrictions in this study including absence of placebo group, large-scale trials are needed to investigate the anti-depressant effect of these two herbs with more details.

Trial registration

IRCT2014061718126N1. Registration date: 2015-06-04-“Retrospectively registered”.

Medicinal Plants Extracts with Antiangiogenic Activity: Where Is the Link?

Angiogenesis is a strictly controlled process defined as the formation of new blood vessels essential for certain physiologic and pathologic conditions where the latter includes tumor growth, development, and metastasis. Thus, inhibiting angiogenesis along with other anticancer strategies such as chemotherapy seems to be invaluable for reaching an optimal outcome in cancer patients. It has been shown that some natural plant-derived compounds are capable of preventing the formation of these new blood vessels in the tumor and also inhibit the proliferation and growth of the cancer cells. In this review, we intend to introduce plants with anti-angiogenic properties and discuss their related features.

Comparative in vitro/theoretical studies on the anti-angiogenic activity of date pollen hydro-alcoholic extract: Highlighting the important roles of its hot polyphenols

Introduction: Date palm pollen (DPP) is the male reproductive soft powder from date flowers widely used as the valuable dietary supplement to fortify the size of testis and ovarian to increase the power of sex. This part of date palm significantly exhibited anti-diabetic, anti-inflammation and protective effects against male and female infertility. Though the anticancer activity of date fruits was previously reported, the DPP anti-angiogenic effects were not reported, and as the first study, its inhibitory effects were examined in the current study.

Methods: The DPP soft powder was collected to prepare its hydro-alcoholic extract to examine its anti-angiogenic activity in an in vitro model. At different concentrations, the cytotoxicity of the prepared extract was examined on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using lactate dehydrogenase method. Cell proliferation was determined using the MTT assay and cytodex-3D model in collagen gel was used to assay its possible anti-angiogenic activity. The expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, molecular docking simulation was used to highlight the possible role of DPP polyphenols to interact with the associated receptors.

Results: The prepared hydro-alcoholic extract exhibited significant anti-angiogenic activity in a dose-dependent manner and decreased the endothelial cell proliferation. The calculated IC₅₀ value for the examined extract in angiogenesis model was 260 µg·mL, respectively. Also, the expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes were significantly decreased. Docking simulation results unveiled that the isolated DPP polyphenols have the affinity to interact with ctDNA, VEGF and its receptors.

Conclusion: The DPP is the new source of non-toxic anti-cancer agents to use as a dietary supplement in the pre-treatment of cancer.

A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of the genus Peganum

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plants of the genus Peganum have a long history as a Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of cough, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, jaundice, colic, lumbago, and many other human ailments. Additionally, the plants can be used as an amulet against evil-eye, dye and so on, which have become increasingly popular in Asia, Iran, Northwest India, and North Africa.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present paper reviewed the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, analytical methods, biological activities, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and drug interaction of the genus Peganum in order to assess the ethnopharmacological use and to explore therapeutic potentials and future opportunities for research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on studies of the genus Peganum was gathered via the Internet (using Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Elsevier, ACS, Pudmed, Web of Science, CNKI and EMBASE) and libraries. Additionally, information was also obtained from some local books, PhD and MS's dissertations.

RESULTS

The genus Peganum has played an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. The main bioactive metabolites of the genus include alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, etc. Scientific studies on extracts and formulations revealed a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activities, antitumor, anti-hypertension, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiparasidal, anti-leishmaniasis, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this review, there is some evidence for extracts' pharmacological effects on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, cancer, diabetes, hypertension. Some indications from ethnomedicine have been confirmed by pharmacological effects, such as the cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase and DNA topoisomerase inhibitory activities, hypoglycemic and vasodilation effects of this genus. The available literature showed that most of the activities of the genus Peganum can be attributed to the active alkaloids. Data regarding many aspects of the genus such as mechanisms of actions, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, potential drug interactions with standard-of-care medications is still limited which call for additional studies particularly in humans. Further assessments and clinical trials should be performed before it can be integrated into medicinal practices.