A Review on Anti-Tumor Mechanisms of Coumarins

Development of certain benzylidene coumarin derivatives as anti-prostate cancer agents targeting EGFR and PI3Kβ kinases

Novel coumarin derivatives were synthesised and tested for their cytotoxicity against human cancer cells (PC-3 and MDA-MB-231). Compounds 5, 4b, and 4a possessed potent cytotoxic activity against PC-3 cells with IC50 3.56, 8.99, and 10.22 µM, respectively. Compound 4c displayed cytotoxicity more than erlotinib in the MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 8.5 µM. Moreover, compound 5 exhibited potent inhibitory activity on EFGR with IC50 0.1812 µM, as well as PI3Kβ inhibitory activity that was twofold higher than LY294002, suggesting that this compound has a dual EGFR and PI3Kβ inhibiting activity. Docking aligns with the in vitro results and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying dual targeting. Furthermore, compound 5 decreased AKT and m-TOR expression in PC-3 cells, showing that it specifically targets these cells via the EGFR/PI3K/Akt/m-TOR signalling pathway. Simultaneously, compound 5 caused cell cycle arrest at S phase and induced activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways.

A molecular and computational study of galbanic acid as a regulator of Sirtuin1 pathway in inhibiting lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells

INTRODUCTION

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We investigated the mechanistic role of galbanic acid (Gal) as a regulator of SIRT1 in silico and in vitro.

METHODS

HepG2 cells were treated with Gal in the presence or absence of EX-527, a SIRT1-specific inhibitor, for 24 h. Sirtuin1 gene and protein expression were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. It has been docked to the allosteric reign of SIRT1 (PDB ID: 4ZZJ) to study the effect of Gal on SIRT1, and then the protein and complex molecular dynamic (MD) simulations had been studied in 100 ns.

RESULTS

The semi-quantitative results of Oil red (p < .03) and TG level (p < .009) showed a significant reduction in lipid accumulation by treatment with Gal. Also, a significant increase was observed in the gene and protein expression of SIRT1 (p < .05). MD studies have shown that the average root mean square deviation (RMSD) was about 0.51 Å for protein structure and 0.66 Å for the complex. The average of radius of gyration (Rg) is 2.33 and 2.32 Å for protein and complex, respectively, and the pattern of root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) was almost similar.

CONCLUSION

Computational studies show that Gal can be a great candidate to use as a SIRT1 ligand because it does not interfere with the structure of the protein, and other experimental studies showed that Gal treatment with SIRT1 inhibitor increases fat accumulation in HepG2 cells.

Synthesis of novel coumarin-triazole hybrids and first evaluation of the 4-phenyl substituted hybrid loaded PLGA nanoparticles delivery system to the anticancer activity

Despite the discovery of many chemotherapeutic drugs that prevent uncontrolled cell division processes in the last century, many studies are still being carried out to develop drugs with higher anticancer efficacy and lower level of side effects. Herein, we designed, synthesized, and characterized six novel coumarin-triazole hybrids, and evaluated for anticancer activity of the one with the highest potential against the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 and human cervical cancer cell line, human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa). Compound21which was the coumarin derivative including phenyl substituent with the lowest IC50 value displayed the highest cytotoxicity against the studied cancer cell line. Furthermore, the potential use of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) prepared by the emulsifying solvent evaporation method as a platform for a drug delivery system was studied on a selected coumarin derivative21. This coumarin derivative-loaded PLGA NPs were produced with an average size of 225.90 ± 2.96 nm, -16.90 ± 0.85 mV zeta potential, and 4.12 ± 0.90% drug loading capacity. The obtained21-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were analyzed spectroscopically and microscopically with FT-IR, UV-vis, and scanning electron microscopy as well as thermogravimetric analysis, Raman, and x-ray diffraction. Thein vitrorelease of21from the nanoparticles exhibited a controlled release profile just over one month following a burst release in the initial six hours and in addition to this a total release ratio of %50 and %85 were obtained at pH 7.4 and 5.5, respectively.21-loaded PLGA nanoparticles displayed remarkably effective anticancer activity than21. The IC50 values were determined as IC50(21-loaded PLGA nanoparticles): 0.42 ± 0.01 mg ml-1and IC50(free21molecule): 5.74 ± 3.82 mg ml-1against MCF-7 cells, and as IC50(21-loaded PLGA nanoparticles): 0.77 ± 0.12 mg ml-1and IC50(free21molecule): 1.32 ± 0.31 mg ml-1against HeLa cells after the incubation period of 24 h. Our findings indicated that triazole-substituted coumarins may be used as an anticancer agent by integrating them into a polymeric drug delivery system providing improved drug loading and effective controlled drug release.

Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of novel 3,5,8-trisubstituted coumarins against breast cancer

Aim: This study focused on designing and synthesizing novel derivatives of 3,5,8-trisubstituted coumarin. Results: The synthesized compounds, particularly compound 5, exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cells, surpassing staurosporine, and reduced toxicity toward MCF-10A cells, highlighting potential pharmacological advantages. Further, compound 5 altered the cell cycle and significantly increased apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, involving both early (41.7-fold) and late stages (33-fold), while moderately affecting necrotic signaling. The antitumor activity was linked to a notable reduction (4.78-fold) in topoisomerase IIβ expression. Molecular modeling indicated compound 5's strong affinity for EGFR, human EGF2 and topoisomerase II proteins. Conclusion: These findings highlight compound 5 as a multifaceted antitumor agent for breast cancer.

Iodine-Catalyzed Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of 3,4-Heterocycle-Fused Coumarins from 4-Aminocoumarins and Aurones in Different Solvent

An unprecedented protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins from 4-aminocoumarins and aurones through iodine-catalyzed cascade reactions. Dihydropyridine-fused coumarin, pyridine-fused coumarin, and pyrrole-fused coumarin derivatives were achieved in good yields with high selectivity when CH3CN, AcOH, and DMSO were used as the solvent, respectively. This protocol provides several advantages, such as easily available starting materials, high atom economy, friendly environment, and simple procedure.

Polyphenols of the Inuleae-Inulinae and Their Biological Activities: A Review

Polyphenols are ubiquitous plant metabolites that demonstrate biological activities essential to plant-environment interactions. They are of interest to plant food consumers, as well as to the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The class of the plant metabolites comprises both widespread (chlorogenic acids, luteolin, quercetin) and unique compounds of diverse chemical structures but of the common biosynthetic origin. Polyphenols next to sesquiterpenoids are regarded as the major class of the Inuleae-Inulinae metabolites responsible for the pharmacological activity of medicinal plants from the subtribe (Blumea spp., Dittrichia spp., Inula spp., Pulicaria spp. and others). Recent decades have brought a rapid development of molecular and analytical techniques which resulted in better understanding of the taxonomic relationships within the Inuleae tribe and in a plethora of data concerning the chemical constituents of the Inuleae-Inulinae. The current taxonomical classification has introduced changes in the well-established botanical names and rearranged the genera based on molecular plant genetic studies. The newly created chemical data together with the earlier phytochemical studies may provide some complementary information on biochemical relationships within the subtribe. Moreover, they may at least partly explain pharmacological activities of the plant preparations traditionally used in therapy. The current review aimed to systematize the knowledge on the polyphenols of the Inulae-Inulinae.

Synthesis, biofilm formation inhibitory, and inflammation inhibitory activities of new coumarin derivatives

Coumarins are heterocycles of great interest in the development of valuable active structures in chemistry and biological domains. The ability of coumarins to inhibit biofilm formation of Gram positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) as well as the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has been previously described. In the present work, new hybrid coumarin-heterocycles have been synthesized via the reaction of coumarin-6-sulfonyl chloride and 6-aminocoumarin with different small heterocycle moieties. The biological efficacy of the new compounds was evaluated towards their ability to inhibit biofilm formation and their anti-inflammatory properties. The antimicrobial activities of the newly synthesized compounds were tested against Gram positive bacterium (S. aureus ATCC 6538), Gram negative bacterium (E. coli ATCC 25922), yeast (Candida albicans ATCC 10231) and the fungus (Aspergillus niger NRRL-A326). Compounds 4d, 4e, 4f, 6a and 9 showed significant MIC and MBC values against S. aureus, E. coli, C. albicans, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with especial incidence on compound 9 which surpasses all the other compounds giving MIC and MBC values of (4.88 and 9.76 µg/mL for S. aureus), (78.13 and 312.5 µg/mL for E. coli), (9.77 and 78.13 µg/mL for C. albicans), and (39.06 and 76.7 µg/mL for MRSA), respectively. With reference to the antibiofilm activity, compound 9 exhibited potent antibiofilm activity with IC50 of 60, 133.32, and 19.67 µg/mL against S. aureus, E. coli, and MRSA, (respectively) considering the reference drug (neomycin). Out of all studied compounds, the anti-inflammatory results indicated that compound 4d effectively inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-(LPS-) stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells, giving NO% inhibition of 70% compared to Sulindac (55.2%).

Advances in the regulation of radiation-induced apoptosis by polysaccharides: A review

Polysaccharides are biomolecules composed of monosaccharides that are widely found in animals, plants and microorganisms and are of interest for their various health benefits. Cumulative studies have shown that the modulation of radiation-induced apoptosis by polysaccharides can be effective in preventing and treating a wide range of radiation injuries with safety and few side effects. Therefore, this paper summarizes the monosaccharide compositions, molecular weights, and structure-activity relationships of natural polysaccharides that regulate radiation-induced apoptosis, and also reviews the molecular mechanisms by which these polysaccharides modulate radiation-induced apoptosis, primarily focusing on promoting cancer cell apoptosis to enhance radiotherapy efficacy, reducing radiation damage to normal tissues, and inhibiting apoptosis in normal cells. Additionally, the role of gut microbiota in mediating the interaction between polysaccharides and radiation is discussed, providing innovative ideas for various radiation injuries, including hematopoiesis, immunity, and organ damage. This review will contribute to a better understanding of the value of natural polysaccharides in the field of radiation and provide guidance for the development of natural radioprotective agents and radiosensitizers.

The angiogenesis-modulating effects of coumarin-derivatives

Coumarin is a natural compound that is rich in plants. Coumarin and its derivates were reported to have many biological activities, such as anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, and anti-coagulation. In this study, we examined the angiogenic modulating activities of six previously synthesized coumarin derivatives (Compound #1-#6) in zebrafish embryos and further confirmed them in a chick model. According to the survival rate in a zebrafish model, Compound #1 (100 %), #2 (82.5-100 %), and #4 (100 %) showed much less toxicity than Compound #3 (19.2-100 %), #5 (0-100 %), and #6 (0-100 %). Using a green blood vessel fluorescent transgenic fish Tg(fli1:egfp) to record the angiogenesis-modulating effects of Compound #1, #2, and #4, we found that Compound #2 had the highest effects in interfering intersegmental vessel growth, subintestinal vein growth, and caudal vein plexus remodeling. Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay also showed that Compound #2 exposure led to a reduction of blood vessel growth. Real-time PCR experiments revealed that Compound #2 significantly changed the expression of vascular growth-related genes flt1, cdh5, and nrp1a in zebrafish. Based on our data from zebrafish and chick models, a new coumarin-derivative (Compound #2) possesses anti-angiogenic activity with low toxicity, but further investigation in mammal models is asked to confirm our findings.

A ratiometric fluorescent probe with a large Stokes shift for the detection of Hg2+ and its applications in environmental sample and living system analysis

Toxic mercury ions (Hg2+) can cause serious environmental pollution and accumulate in living organisms via the food chain. Therefore, monitoring Hg2+ is crucial in ensuring the safety of ecosystems and organisms. In this work, a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe CMT (5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-1-(7-hydroxy-coumarin-3-yl)-4-pentene-1,3-dione) based on coumarin was developed for detecting Hg2+, which displayed obvious fluorescence changes, a low detection limit (2.24 × 10-7 M), good selectivity, and a large Stokes shift (255 nm). The CMT probe could detect Hg2+ in real environmental soil and water samples. Furthermore, the CMT probe enabled the naked-eye detection of Hg2+ using test paper experiments. CMT was also applied for fluorescence imaging in living zebrafish and plants. This work provides a highly efficient tool for monitoring Hg2+ in environmental samples and biological systems.

In-silico identification and exploration of small molecule coumarin-1,2,3-triazole hybrids as potential EGFR inhibitors for targeting lung cancer

Globally, lung cancer is a significant public health concern due to its role as the leading cause of cancer-related mortalities. The promising target of EGFR for lung cancer treatment has been identified, providing a potential avenue for more effective therapies. The purpose of the study was to design a library of 1843 coumarin-1,2,3-triazole hybrids and screen them based on a designed pharmacophore to identify potential inhibitors targeting EGFR in lung cancer with minimum or no side effects. Pharmacophore-based screening was carried out and 60 hits were obtained. To gain a better understanding of the binding interactions between the compounds and the targeted receptor, molecular docking was conducted on the 60 screened compounds. In-silico ADME and toxicity studies were also conducted to assess the drug-likeness and safety of the identified compounds. The results indicated that coumarin-1,2,3-triazole hybrids COUM-0849, COUM-0935, COUM-0414, COUM-1335, COUM-0276, and COUM-0484 exhibit dock score of - 10.2, - 10.2, - 10.1, - 10.1, - 10, - 10 while reference molecule - 7.9 kcal/mol for EGFR (PDB ID: 4HJO) respectively. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the identified compounds formed stable interactions with the active site of EGFR, indicating their potential as inhibitors. The in-silico ADME and toxicity studies showed that the compounds had favorable drug-likeness properties and low toxicity, further supporting their potential as therapeutic agents. Finally, we performed DFT studies on the best-selected ligands to gain further insights into their electronic properties. The findings of this study provide important insights into the potential of coumarin-1,2,3-triazole hybrids as promising EGFR inhibitors for the management of lung cancer.

Syntheses, reactivity, and biological applications of coumarins

This comprehensive review, covering 2021-2023, explores the multifaceted chemical and pharmacological potential of coumarins, emphasizing their significance as versatile natural derivatives in medicinal chemistry. The synthesis and functionalization of coumarins have advanced with innovative strategies. This enabled the incorporation of diverse functional fragments or the construction of supplementary cyclic architectures, thereby the biological and physico-chemical properties of the compounds obtained were enhanced. The unique chemical structure of coumarine facilitates binding to various targets through hydrophobic interactions pi-stacking, hydrogen bonding, and dipole-dipole interactions. Therefore, this important scaffold exhibits promising applications in uncountable fields of medicinal chemistry (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, inflammation).

Phytochemical profiling, in vitro biological activities, and in silico (molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) studies of Polygonum cognatum Meissn

Polygonum cognatum Meissn, a perennial herbaceous belonging to the Polygonaceae family, is an aromatic plant. High-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector method was developed and validated for the phytochemical analysis of the plant. Also, various methods were used to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of the methanolic extracts. Antioxidant activities were researched by 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity methods. Among the tested standard microbial strains, Candida albicans was found to be more sensitive with a 24.60 ± 0.55 mm inhibition zone according to the diffusion tests. In the microdilution tests, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration values were 4.75 and ≥ 4.75 mg/mL, respectively, for all tested pathogens. Human colon carcinoma cells were used to investigate cytotoxicity by using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide analysis (IC50  = 2891 μg/mL for Plant A, IC50  = 3291 μg/mL for Plant B). Molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity analysis were used to explain inhibition mechanisms of major phenolic compounds of plants against Tankyrase 1, Tankyrase 2 enzymes, and deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase subunit B and found compatible with experimental results.

Synthesis and in-vitro anti-proliferative with antimicrobial activity of new coumarin containing heterocycles hybrids

A series of new coumarin-N-heterocyclic hybrids, coumarin-quinolines 7a-e, coumarin-acridines 10b,c and coumarin-neocryptolepines 13b,c were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer and antimicrobial activities. The structures of all synthesized hybrids were confirmed by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MS spectrometry. The anti-proliferative activity of hybrids 7a-e, 10c and 13c were bio-evaluated using MTT-assay against colon (CaCo-2), lung (A549), breast (MDA-MB-231), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2) human cancer cell lines using doxorubicin as a reference drug. The results demonstrated that, all hybrids displayed moderate to good anti-proliferative activity against the cell lines. The most active hybrids were 7a-d and 10c against CaCo-2 cancer cell line with IC50: 57.1, 52.78, 57.29, 51.95 and 56.74 µM, and selectivity index 1.38, 1.76, 2.6, 1.96 and 0.77; respectively. While, 7a,d were potent against A549 cancer cell line with IC50: 51.72, 54.8 µM and selectivity index 1.5, 0.67; respectively. Moreover, 7c showed the most potency against MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line with IC50: 50.96 µM and selectivity index 2.20. Interestingly, docking results revealed that binding energy of the current compounds showed marked affinity values ranging from -6.54 to -5.56 kcal with interactions with the reported key amino acid SER 79. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized hybrids 7a-e, 10b,c, 13b and 13c were evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial and fungal strains. The hybrids 10b, 13b, 10c, and 13c exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against E.coli, S. mutans, and S. aureus with MIC from 3.2 to 66 µM, this hybrids also displayed antifungal activity against C. albicans with MIC values ranging from 0.0011 to 29.5 µM. In-silico investigation of the pharmacokinetic properties indicated that tested hybrids had high GI absorption, low Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability in addition to cell membrane penetrability.

Transcriptome analysis provides insights into coumarin biosynthesis in the medicinal plant Angelica dahurica cv. Yubaizhi

Angelica dahurica roots have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine due to their high coumarin content. To address the increasing demand for these roots, a synthetic biology approach has been proposed. Nevertheless, our comprehension of coumarin biosynthesis and its regulation remains limited. In this study, we utilized Hiseq2500 sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of A. dahurica at different growth stages while concurrently quantifying coumarin content. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was employed to identify key genes involved in coumarin and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify gene modules strongly associated with coumarin content, elucidating the regulatory relationships between transcription factors (TFs) and pathway genes. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment analysis was used to explore essential pathways governing coumarin biosynthesis, with the identification of hub genes. Our results indicated that total coumarin content was highest in the roots, followed by leaves and stems, across all three developmental stages. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 92,478 genes, among which 215 and 30 genes were implicated in coumarin and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, respectively. Within the 73 identified gene modules by WGCNA, three modules-namely aquamarine1 (comprising two OMTs, one CSE, one AACT, one HDS, two PSs, one 2OGO, four UGTs, and seven CYP450s), darkmagenta (containing one UGT and one HDR), and navajowhite2 (consisting of one HCT, three UGTs, one CYP71A25, one OMT, one CSE, one HDS, and one PT)-were strongly associated with imperatorin, oxypeucedanin, and isoimperatorin content, respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted significant enrichment of cytochrome P450, transporter, and ubiquitin system pathways. Moreover, TF-gene regulatory analysis unveiled the complexity of coumarin biosynthesis, with 17 TF families regulating 17 genes in the aquamarine1 module, 8 TF families regulating 2 genes in the darkmagenta module, and 8 TF families regulating 7 genes in the navajowhite2 module. These comprehensive findings provide valuable insights into coumarin biosynthesis in A. dahurica, facilitating future research and potential applications in traditional Chinese medicine and synthetic biology strategies.

Identification of allosteric inhibitor against AKT1 through structure-based virtual screening

AKT (serine/threonine protein kinase) is a potential therapeutic target for many types of cancer as it plays a vital role in cancer progression. Many AKT inhibitors are already in practice under single and combinatorial therapy. However, most of these inhibitors are orthosteric / pan-AKT that are non-selective and non-specific to AKT kinase and their isoforms. Hence, researchers are searching for novel allosteric inhibitors that bind in the interface between pH and kinase domain. In this study, we performed structure-based virtual screening from the afroDB (a diverse natural compounds library) to find the potential inhibitor targeting the AKT1. These compounds were filtered through Lipinski, ADMET properties, combined with a molecular docking approach to obtain the 8 best compounds. Then we performed molecular dynamics simulation for apoprotein, AKT1 with 8 complexes, and AKT1 with the positive control (Miransertib). Molecular docking and simulation analysis revealed that Bianthracene III (hit 1), 10-acetonyl Knipholonecyclooxanthrone (hit 2), Abyssinoflavanone VII (hit 5) and 8-c-p-hydroxybenzyldiosmetin (hit 6) had a better binding affinity, stability, and compactness than the reference compound. Notably, hit 1, hit 2 and hit 5 had molecular features required for allosteric inhibition.

Stemness signature and targeted therapeutic drugs identification for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and carries the worst prognosis, characterized by the lack of progesterone, estrogen, and HER2 gene expression. This study aimed to analyze cancer stemness-related gene signature to determine patients' risk stratification and prognosis feature with TNBC. Here one-class logistic regression (OCLR) algorithm was applied to compute the stemness index of TNBC patients. Cox and LASSO regression analysis was performed on stemness-index related genes to establish 16 genes-based prognostic signature, and their predictive performance was verified in TCGA and METABERIC merged data cohort. We diagnosed the expression level of prognostic genes signature in the tumor immune microenvironment, analyzed the TNBC scRNA-seq GSE176078 dataset, and further validated the expression level of prognostic genes using the HPA database. Finally, the small molecular compounds targeted at the anti-tumor effect of predictive genes were screened by molecular docking; this novel stemness-based prognostic genes signature study could facilitate the prognosis of patients with TNBC and thus provide a feasible therapeutic target for TNBC.

Pharmacological activities of esculin and esculetin: A review

Esculin and esculetin are 2 widely studied coumarin components of Cortex Fraxini, which is a well-known herbal medicine with a 2000-year history. In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that both have a variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and so on. Their underlying mechanisms of action and biological activities include scavenging free radicals, modulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway, regulating the cell cycle, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and migration, promoting mitochondrial pathway apoptosis, inhibiting the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, regulating CD4+ T cells differentiation and associated cytokine release, inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cells, etc. This review aims to provide comprehensive information on pharmacological studies of esculin and esculetin, which is of noteworthy importance in exploring the therapeutic potential of both coumarin compounds.

Unveiling the antitumor potential of novel N-(substituted-phenyl)-8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides as dual inhibitors of VEGFR2 kinase and cytochrome P450 for targeted treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Being the sixth most diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, liver cancer is considered as a serious disease with a high prevalence and poor prognosis. Current anticancer drugs for liver cancer have drawbacks, such as limited efficacy in later stages of the disease, toxicity to healthy cells, and the potential for drug resistance. There is ample evidence that coumarin-based compounds are potent anticancer agents, with numerous analogues currently being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. The current study aimed to explore the antitumor potency of a new class of 8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides against liver cancer. Toward this aim, we have designed, synthesized, and characterized a new set of N-(substituted-phenyl)-8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamide analogues. The assessment of antitumor activity revealed that the synthesized class of compounds possesses substantial cytotoxicity toward Hep-G2 cells when compared to staurosporine, without significant impact on normal cells. Out of the synthesized compounds, compound 7 demonstrated the most potent cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 cells with an IC50 of 0.75 µM, which was more potent than the drug staurosporine (IC50 = 8.37 µM). The investigation into the mechanism behind the antiproliferative activity of compound 7 revealed that it interferes with DNA replication and induces DNA damage, leading to cell cycle arrest as demonstrated by a significant decrease in the percentage of cells in the G1 and G2/M phases, along with an increase in the percentage of cells in the S phase. Flow cytometric analysis further revealed that compound 7 has the ability to trigger programmed cell death by inducing necrosis and apoptosis in HepG-2 cells. Further explorations into the mechanism of action demonstrated that compound 7 displays a potent dual-inhibitory activity toward cytochrome P450 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) proteins, as compared to sorafenib drug. Further, detailed computational studies revealed that compound 7 displays a considerable binding affinity toward the binding cavity of VEGFR2 and CYP450 proteins. Taken together, our findings indicate that the newly synthesized class of compounds, particularly compound 7, could serve as a promising scaffold for the development of highly effective anticancer agents against liver cancer.

A Coumarin-Imidazothiadiazole Derivative, SP11 Abrogates Tumor Growth by Targeting HSP90 and Its Client Proteins

Despite several treatment options for blood cancer, mortality remains high due to relapse and the disease's aggressive nature. Elevated levels of HSP90, a molecular chaperone essential for protein folding, are associated with poor prognosis in leukemia and lymphoma. HSP90 as a target for chemotherapy has been met with limited success due to toxicity and induction of heat shock. This study tested the activity of an HSP90 inhibitor, SP11, against leukemic cells, mouse lymphoma allograft, and xenograft models. SP11 induced cytotoxicity in vitro in leukemic cell lines and induced cell death via apoptosis, with minimal effect on normal cells. SP11 induced cell death by altering the status of HSP90 client proteins both in vitro and in vivo. SP11 reduced the tumor burden in allograft and xenograft mouse models without apparent toxicity. The half-life of SP11 in the plasma was approximately 2 h. SP11 binding was observed at both the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of HSP90. C-terminal binding was more potent than N-terminal binding of HSP90 in silico and in vitro using isothermal calorimetry. SP11 bioavailability and minimal toxicity in vivo make it a potential candidate to be developed as a novel anticancer agent.

Design, Synthesis and Fungicidal Activity of Ester Derivatives of 4-(3,4-Dichloroisothiazole) 7-Hydroxy Coumarin

The development of new fungicides is vital for safeguarding crops and ensuring sustainable agriculture. Building on our previous finding that 4-(3,4-dichloroisothiazole)-7-hydroxy coumarins can be used as fungicidal leads, 44 novel coumarin ester derivatives were designed and synthesized to evaluate whether esterification could enhance their fungicidal activity. In vitro fungicidal bioassays indicated that compound 2ai displayed good activity against Alternaria solani, Botrytis cinereal, Cercospora arachidicola, Physalospora piricola and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, with an EC₅₀ value ranging from 2.90 to 5.56 μg/mL, comparable to the lead compound 1a, with its EC₅₀ value ranging from 1.92 to 9.37 μg/mL. In vivo bioassays demonstrated that compounds 1a, 2ar and 2bg showed comparable, excellent efficacy against Pseudoperonospora cubensis at a dose of 25 µg/mL. Our research shows that the esterification of 4-(3,4-dichloroisothiazole) 7-hydroxycoumarins results in a fungicidal activity equivalent to that of its lead compounds. Furthermore, our density functional theory (DFT) calculations and 3D-QSAR modeling provide a rational explanation of the structure-activity relationship and offer valuable insights to guide further molecular design.

Design, Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of New Coumarin-1,2,3-triazole Derivatives: Evaluation of Anticancer Activity and Molecular Docking Studies

A library of new coumarin-1,2,3-triazole hybrids 7a-l were synthesized from 4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde precursor through a series of reactions including Vilsmeier-Haack reaction and condensation reaction to achieve key intermediate oxime and further performed click reaction by using different aromatic azides. We screened all molecules in silico against crystal structure of Serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 (MST3), based on these results all molecules were screened for their cytotoxicity against human breast cancer MCF-7 and lung cancer A-549 cell lines. Compound 7 b (p-bromo) showed best activity against both cell lines MCF-7 and A-549 with IC50 value of 29.32 and 21.03 μM, respectively, in comparison to Doxorubicin corresponding IC50 value of 28.76 and 20.82 μM. Another compound 7 f (o-methoxy) also indicated good activity against both cell lines with IC50 value of 29.26 and 22.41 μM. The toxicity of all compounds tested against normal HEK-293 cell lines have not shown any adverse effects.

Antiproliferative activity and toxicity evaluation of 1,2,3-triazole and 4-methyl coumarin hybrids in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line

Four coumarin-triazole hybrids were selected from our in house library and screened for cytotoxic activity on A549 (lung cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer), J774A1 (mouse sarcoma macrophage), MCF7 (breast cancer), OVACAR (ovarian cancer), RAW (murine leukaemia macrophage), and SiHa (uterus carcinoma) and their in vitro toxicity was assessed on 3T3 (healthy fibroblasts) cell lines. SwissADME pharmacokinetic prediction was performed. Effects on ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis/necrosis and DNA damage were evaluated. All of the hybrids have good pharmacokinetic predictions. Each of them showed cytotoxic activity against the MCF7 breast cancer cell line, with IC50 between 2.66 and 10.08 μM, lower than cisplatin (45.33 μM) for the same test. One can observe an order of reactivity from the most potent: LaSOM 186 > LaSOM 190 > LaSOM 185 > LaSOM 180, with a better selectivity index than the reference drug cisplatin and the precursor hymecromone, and caused cell death by apoptosis induction. Two compounds showed antioxidant activity in vitro and three disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential. None of the hybrids caused genotoxic damage to healthy 3T3 cells. All hybrids showed potential for further optimization, mechanism elucidation, in vivo activity and toxicity tests.

7-Geranyloxcycoumarin enhances radio sensitivity in human prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent and the fifth deadliest cancer among men worldwide. To improve radiotherapy outcome, we investigated the effects of 7-geranyloxycoumarin, also known as auraptene (AUR), on radiation response of prostate cancer cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PC3 cells were pretreated with 20 and 40 µM AUR for 24, 48 and 72 h, followed by X-ray exposure (2, 4 and 6 Gy). After 72 h recovery, cell viability was determined by alamar Blue assay. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to assess apoptosis induction, clonogenic assay was carried out to investigate clonogenic survival, and the expression of P53, BAX, BCL2, CCND1 and GATA6 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Cell viability assay indicated that toxic effects of radiation was enhanced by AUR, which was also confirmed by increased numbers of apoptotic cells and reduced amount of survival fraction. The qPCR results demonstrated significant induction of P53 and BAX, while the expression of BCL2, GATA6, and CCND1 was significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study indicated, for the first time, that AUR improved radio sensitivity in prostate cancer cells, and thus, has the potential to be used in future clinical trials.

Clinical Associations of Bitter Taste Perception and Bitter Taste Receptor Variants and the Potential for Personalized Healthcare

Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) consist of 25 functional receptors that can be found in various types of cells throughout the human body with responses ranging from detecting bitter taste to suppressing pathogen-induced inflammation upon activation. Numerous studies have observed clinical associations with genetic or phenotypic variants in bitter taste receptors, most notably that of the receptor isoform T2R38. With genetic variants playing a role in the response of the body to bacterial quorum-sensing molecules, bacterial metabolites, medicinal agonists and nutrients, we examine how T2R polymorphisms, expression levels and bitter taste perception can lead to varying clinical associations. From these genetic and phenotypic differences, healthcare management can potentially be individualized through appropriately administering drugs with bitter masking to increase compliance; optimizing nutritional strategies and diets; avoiding the use of T2R agonists if this pathway is already activated from bacterial infections; adjusting drug regimens based on differing prognoses; or adjusting drug regimens based on T2R expression levels in the target cell type and bodily region.

Design, synthesis and anticancer activity studies of 3-(coumarin-3-yl)-acrolein derivatives: Evidenced by integrating network pharmacology and vitro assay

Coumarin derivatives have diverse structures and show various significant biological activities. Aiming to develop more potent coumarin derivatives for cancer treatment, a series of coumarin acrolein hybrids were designed and synthesized by using molecular hybridization approach, and investigated for their antiproliferative activity against A549, KB, Hela and MCF-7 cancer cells as well as HUVEC and LO2 human normal cells. The results indicated that most of the synthesized compounds displayed remarkable inhibitory activity towards cancer cells but low cytotoxicity on normal cells. Among all the compounds, 5d and 6e were the most promising compounds against different cancer cell lines, especially for A549 and KB cells. The preliminary action mechanism studies suggested that compound 6e, the representative compound, was capable of dose-dependently suppressing migration, invasion and inducing significant apoptosis. Furthermore, the combined results of network pharmacology and validation experiments revealed that compound 6e induced mitochondria dependent apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT-mediated Bcl-2 signaling pathway. In summary, our study indicated compound 6e could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promote cell apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells. These findings demonstrated the potential of 3-(coumarin-3-yl)-acrolein derivatives as novel anticancer chemotherapeutic candidates, providing ideas for further development of drugs for clinical use.

Synthesis and Antiproliferative Effect of Halogenated Coumarin Derivatives

A series of 6- and 6,8-halocoumarin derivatives have been investigated as potential antiproliferative compounds against a panel of tumor and normal cell lines. Cytotoxic effects were determined by the MTT method. To investigate the potential molecular mechanism involved in the cytotoxic effect, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reduced glutathione analysis were performed. Among the screened compounds, coumarins 6,8-dibromo-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 2h and 6,8-diiodo-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 2k exhibited the most antiproliferative effect in thyroid cancer-derived cells TPC-1. The apoptosis assay showed that both 2h and 2k induced apoptosis in TPC-1 thyroid cancer cells. According to these experiments, both coumarins induced a slight increase in TPC-1 cells in the G2/M phase and a decrease in the S phase. A significant increase in ROS levels was observed in TPC-1 treated with diiodocoumarin 2k, while the dibromocoumarin 2h induced a decrease in ROS in a dose and time-dependent manner.

Development and Application of a Supramolecular Brønsted Acid Catalyst Based on the Noria Macrocycle

The synthesis of derivatives of the Noria macrocycle and the structurally similar macrocycle, R3, each containing 12 sulfonic acid groups, is reported. Herein, we demonstrate their utility as reusable Brønsted acid catalysts for the Biginelli synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones and the Pechmann synthesis of coumarins. We also demonstrate that the supramolecular structure directs the reagents to interact with the sulfonic acid catalytic sites, thus increasing the catalyst's efficiency compared to other monomeric, macrocyclic, and polymeric sulfonic acid catalysts.

Chemical Composition, Antitumor Properties, and Mechanism of the Essential Oil from Plagiomnium acutum T. Kop

Plagiomnium acutum T. Kop. (P. acutum) has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat cancer but lacks evidence. The objective of this work was to reveal the chemical composition of P. acutum essential oil (PEO) and explore its potential antitumor activity and molecular mechanism. PEO was prepared by the simultaneous distillation-extraction method and characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. CCK8 assay, flow cytometry, western blot, and immunofluorescence techniques were used to analyze the effects and mechanism of PEO against cancer cells. A total of 74 constituents of PEO were identified, with diterpenes (26.5%), sesquiterpenes (23.89%), and alcohols (21.81%) being the major constituents. Two terpenoids, selina-6-en-4-ol and dolabella-3,7-dien-18-ol, were detected in PEO for the first time. PEO showed significant cell growth inhibitory activity on HepG2 and A549 cells by blocking the G1 phase and inducing apoptosis, which may be attributed to its upregulation of p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 proteins and interference with mitochondrial membrane potential effect. Dolabella-3,7-dien-18-ol accounts for 25.5% of PEO and is one of the main active components of PEO, with IC₅₀ values in HepG2 and A549 cells of (25.820 ± 0.216) µg/mL and (23.597 ± 1.207) μg/mL, respectively. These results confirmed the antitumor medicinal value of P. acutum and showed great application potential in the pharmaceutical industry.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Novel Spiro-Phosphacoumarins and Evaluation of Their Anti-Cancer Activity

Herein we present the regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of novel pyrrolidine-fused spiro-dihydrophosphacoumarins via intermolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. The presented approach is complementary to existing ones and provides an easy entry to the otherwise inaccessible derivatives. Additionally, the unprecedented pathway of the reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin with azomethine ylides is described. The anti-cancer activity of the obtained compounds was tested in vitro, the most potent compound being 2.6-fold more active against the HuTu 80 cell line than the reference 5-fluorouracil, with a selectivity index > 32.

[CMMIM][BF4 -] Ionic Liquid-Catalyzed Facile, One-Pot Synthesis of Chromeno[4,3-d]pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6-ones: Evaluation of Their Photophysical Properties and Theoretical Calculations

Herein, we have developed a novel synthetic route for the synthesis of chromeno[4,3-d]pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6-one derivatives 8a-q using an acid ionic liquid [CMMIM][BF₄ ^-] 4 via one-pot, three-component synthesis in aqueous ethanol at room temperature. A series of 17 derivatives have been successfully prepared with up to 93% yield. All the synthesized derivatives were well characterized using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and FT-IR spectral techniques. Additionally, the photophysical properties of 12 selected derivatives including molar extinction coefficient (ε), Stokes shift (Δυ̅), and quantum yield (Φ) varying from 0.52095 × 10⁴ to 0.93248 × 10⁴, 4216 to 4668 cm^-1, and 0.0088 to 0.0459, respectively, have been determined. Furthermore, the experimental data are supported by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations. Theoretical investigations showed a trend similar to experimental results.

A twenty-year journey exploring coumarin-based derivatives as bioactive molecules

The coumarin core (i.e., 1-benzopyran-2 (2H)-one) is a structural motif highly recurrent in both natural products and bioactive molecules. Indeed, depending on the substituents and branching positions around the byciclic core, coumarin-containing compounds have shown diverse pharmacological activities, ranging from anticoagulant activities to anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-HIV and antitumor effects. In this survey, we have reported the main scientific results of the 20-years investigation on the coumarin core, exploited by the research group headed by Prof. Angelo Carotti (Bari, Italy) either as a scaffold or a pharmacophore moiety in designing novel biologically active small molecules.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of coumarin-quinone hybrids as multifunctional bioactive agents

We report the synthesis, structural characterization and pharmaceutical activity of four coumarin-quinone hybrids. The compounds were significantly active against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeoginosa and Candida albicans. Promising antioxidant activity was observed when compared to ascorbic acid. Two compounds, DTBSB and DTBSN, also showed commendable in vitro antiproliferative activities against the cells of human cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, COLO-205, HT-29 and A549 along with appreciable tumor selectivity with distinct selectivity index. Molecular docking studies using cyclooxygenase-2 (PDB ID: 6COX) revealed strong binding affinities for the COX-2 active site. Moreover, ADMET properties of the synthesized compounds were determined using the pKCSM and SwissADME online tools and all the compounds had accurate pharmacokinetic profiles. Hence, the new coumarin-quinone hybrids DTBSB and DTBSN can be considered for optimization and lead development.

Arthrobotrys musiformis (Orbiliales) Kills Haemonchus contortus Infective Larvae (Trichostronylidae) through Its Predatory Activity and Its Fungal Culture Filtrates

Haemonchus contortus (Hc) is a parasite affecting small ruminants worldwide. Arthrobotrys musiformis (Am) is a nematode-trapping fungi that captures, destroys and feeds on nematodes. This study assessed the predatory activity (PA) and nematocidal activity (NA) of liquid culture filtrates (LCF) of Am against Hc infective larvae (L3), and additionally, the mycochemical profile (MP) was performed. Fungal identification was achieved by traditional and molecular procedures. The PA of Am against HcL3 was performed in water agar plates. Means of non-predated larvae were recorded and compared with a control group without fungi. LCF/HcL3 interaction was performed using micro-tittering plates. Two media, Czapek−Dox broth (CDB) and sweet potato dextrose broth (SPDB) and three concentrations, were assessed. Lectures were performed after 48 h interaction. The means of alive and dead larvae were recorded and compared with proper negative controls. The PA assessment revealed 71.54% larval reduction (p < 0.01). The highest NA of LCF was found in CDB: 93.42, 73.02 and 51.61%, at 100, 50 and 25 mg/mL, respectively (p < 0.05). Alkaloids and saponins were identified in both media; meanwhile, coumarins were only identified in CDB. The NA was only found in CDB, but not in SPDB. Coumarins could be responsible for the NA.

Chemosensing Properties of Coumarin Derivatives: Promising Agents with Diverse Pharmacological Properties, Docking and DFT Investigation

In this work, a three-component reaction of 3-acetyl-4-hydroxycoumarine, malononitrile, or cyanoacetate in the presence of ammonium acetate was used to form coumarin derivatives. The chemical structures of new compounds were identified by ¹H, ¹³C NMR and an elemental analysis. These compounds were examined in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of bacterial strains. In addition, these compounds were investigated for antioxidant activities by superoxideradical, DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, in which most of them displayed significant antioxidant activities. Furthermore, these compounds were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by indirect hemolytic and lipoxygenase inhibition assays and revealed good activity. In addition, screening of the selected compounds 2–4 against colon carcinoma cell lines (HCT-116) and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG-2) showed that that 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)nicotinonitrile 4 exhibited good cytotoxic activity against standard Vinblastine, while the other compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity. Docking simulation showed that2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)nicotinonitrile 4 is an effective inhibitor of the tumor protein HCT-116. A large fluorescence enhancement in a highly acidic medium was observed, and large fluorescence quenching by the addition of traces of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ was also remarked.

Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential of Bioactive Compounds from Rhinacanthus nasutus Cell Suspension Culture

The potential benefits of natural plant extracts have received attention in recent years, encouraging the development of natural products that effectively treat various diseases. This is the first report on establishing callus and cell suspension cultures of Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz. A yellow friable callus was successfully induced from in vitro leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 1 mg/L 1-naphthalene acetic acid. A selected friable callus line was used to establish the cell suspension culture with the same medium. The antioxidant assays showed that the leaf- and ethanolic-suspension-cultured cell (SCC) extracts exhibited high antioxidant potential. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity revealed by the MTT assay demonstrated potent antiproliferative effects against the oral cancer cell lines ORL-48 and ORL-136 in a dose-dependent manner. Several groups of compounds, including terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, quinones, and stilbenes, were identified by UHPLC–QToF–MS, with the same compounds detected in leaf and SCC extracts, including austroinulin, lucidenic acid, esculetin, embelin, and quercetin 3-(2″-p-hydroxybenzoyl-4″-p-coumarylrhamnoside). The present study suggests the value of further investigations for phytochemical production using R. nasutus cell suspension culture.

Therapeutics for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Approaches with Natural Compounds from Traditional Eastern Medicine

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) often develops in patients with cancer treated with commonly used anti-cancer drugs. The symptoms of CIPN can occur acutely during chemotherapy or emerge after cessation, and often accompany long-lasting intractable pain. This adverse side effect not only affects the quality of life but also limits the use of chemotherapy, leading to a reduction in the survival rate of patients with cancer. Currently, effective treatments for CIPN are limited, and various interventions are being applied by clinicians and patients because of the unmet clinical need. Potential approaches to ameliorate CIPN include traditional Eastern medicine-based methods. Medicinal substances from traditional Eastern medicine have well-established analgesic effects and are generally safe. Furthermore, many substances can also improve other comorbid symptoms in patients. This article aims to provide information regarding traditional Eastern medicine-based plant extracts and natural compounds for CIPN. In this regard, we briefly summarized the development, mechanisms, and changes in the nervous system related to CIPN, and reviewed the substances of traditional Eastern medicine that have been exploited to treat CIPN in preclinical and clinical settings.

Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms

Simple Summary

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most frequently diagnosed kidney cancer. Once RCC metastasizes, successful treatment is difficult to achieve. There is an apparent need for novel approaches to prevent and treat RCC. Phytochemicals are naturally derived compounds gaining increasing scientific interest due to their cancer preventive and chemotherapeutic properties. These phytochemicals have been shown to exhibit a multitude of anticancer effects against RCC. In this systematic review, we critically evaluate the potential these natural compounds possess for the prevention and treatment of RCC and discuss the future implications this may have in the fight against kidney cancer.

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with about 90% of renal malignancies, and its incidence is increasing globally. Plant-derived compounds have gained significant attention in the scientific community for their preventative and therapeutic effects on cancer. To evaluate the anticancer potential of phytocompounds for RCC, we compiled a comprehensive and systematic review of the available literature. Our work was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. The literature search was performed using scholarly databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect and keywords such as renal cell carcinoma, phytochemicals, cancer, tumor, proliferation, apoptosis, prevention, treatment, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Based on in vitro results, various phytochemicals, such as phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sulfur-containing compounds, suppressed cell viability, proliferation and growth, showed cytotoxic activity, inhibited invasion and migration, and enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in RCC. In various animal tumor models, phytochemicals suppressed renal tumor growth, reduced tumor size, and hindered angiogenesis and metastasis. The relevant antineoplastic mechanisms involved upregulation of caspases, reduction in cyclin activity, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via modulation of a plethora of cell signaling pathways. Clinical studies demonstrated a reduced risk for the development of kidney cancer and enhancement of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Both preclinical and clinical studies displayed significant promise of utilizing phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of RCC. Further research, confirming the mechanisms and regulatory pathways, along with randomized controlled trials, are needed to establish the use of phytochemicals in clinical practice.

Co-Targeting Tumor Angiogenesis and Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment: A Perspective in Ethnopharmacology

Tumor angiogenesis is one of the most important processes of cancer deterioration via nurturing an immunosuppressive tumor environment (TME). Targeting tumor angiogenesis has been widely accepted as a cancer intervention approach, which is also synergistically associated with immune therapy. However, drug resistance is the biggest challenge of anti-angiogenesis therapy, which affects the outcomes of anti-angiogeneic agents, and even combined with immunotherapy. Here, emerging targets and representative candidate molecules from ethnopharmacology (including traditional Chinese medicine, TCM) have been focused, and they have been proved to regulate tumor angiogenesis. Further investigations on derivatives and delivery systems of these molecules will provide a comprehensive landscape in preclinical studies. More importantly, the molecule library of ethnopharmacology meets the viability for targeting angiogenesis and TME simultaneously, which is attributed to the pleiotropy of pro-angiogenic factors (such as VEGF) toward cancer cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. We primarily shed light on the potentiality of ethnopharmacology against tumor angiogenesis, particularly TCM. More research studies concerning the crosstalk between angiogenesis and TME remodeling from the perspective of botanical medicine are awaited.

In Vitro Assessment of Antiproliferative Activity and Cytotoxicity Modulation of Capsicum chinense By-Product Extracts

Capsicum chinense J., also known locally as habanero pepper, is a medicinal herb known for its pharmacological properties. Its properties are attributed to the capsaicinoids and polyphenols found in its fruit and polyphenols in its by-products. The anticancer potential of C. chinense by-products remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative activity and modulation of the cytotoxicity of extracts obtained from C. chinense by-products of plants grown on black and red soils of Yucatan, Mexico. Dry by-product extracts were obtained using maceration, a Soxhlet, and supercritical fluid extraction. In vitro antiproliferative activity and cytotoxicity modulation were evaluated by the sulforhodamine B method. The extract of leaves of plants grown on black soil obtained by maceration displayed selective high cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer cells, IC50 HCT–15 = 16.23 ± 2.89 µg mL−1. The leaf and stem extracts of plants grown on red soil obtained by maceration potentiated the vinblastine’s effect against parental breast cancer cells, MCF–7/Sens, with a reversion factor of 362.50-fold. Additionally, the extract of stems from plants grown on black soil obtained by supercritical fluid extraction and all the by-product extracts from plants grown on black soil obtained through maceration increased the effect of vinblastine against MCF–7/Vin+ with a reversion factor from 5.06- to 7.78-fold. These results highlight the anticancer potential of C. chinense by-products.

Synthesis of Coumarin Derivatives: A New Class of Coumarin-Based G Protein-Coupled Receptor Activators and Inhibitors

To expand the range of daphnetin-based inhibitors/activators used for targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in disease treatment, twenty-five coumarin derivatives 1–25, including 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin and 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives with various substitution patterns/groups at C3-/4- positions, were synthesized via mild Pechmann condensation and hydroxyl modification. The structures were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and ESI-MS. Their inhibition or activation activities relative to GPCRs were evaluated by double-antibody sandwich ELISA (DAS–ELISA) in vitro. The results showed that most of the coumarin derivatives possessed a moderate GPCR activation or inhibitory potency. Among them, derivatives 14, 17, 18, and 21 showed a remarkable GPCR activation potency, with EC₅₀ values of 0.03, 0.03, 0.03, and 0.02 nM, respectively. Meanwhile, derivatives 4, 7, and 23 had significant GPCR inhibitory potencies against GPCRs with IC₅₀ values of 0.15, 0.02, and 0.76 nM, respectively. Notably, the acylation of hydroxyl groups at the C-7 and C-8 positions of 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin skeleton or the etherification of the hydroxyl group at the C-7 position of the 7-hydroxycoumarin skeleton could successfully change GPCRs activators into inhibitors. This work demonstrated a simple and efficient approach to developing coumarin derivatives as remarkable GPCRs activators and inhibitors via molecular diversity-based synthesis.

Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer after Failure of Second-Line Treatment May Benefit from Low-Dose Apatinib and S-1 Combined with Jianpi Bushen Jiedu Decoction

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect and safety of low-dose of apatinib and S-1 combined with Jianpi Bushen Jiedu Decoction (JBJD) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have failed second or above lines treatment, in order to provide more treatment option for mCRC patients by integrated medicine.

METHODS

Thirteen patients were selected from a single-arm, open-label clinical study from April 2019 to September 2020. The patients were treated with low-dose apatinib (250 mg, once a day) and S-1 (20 mg, twice a day) combined with JBJD for at least one cycle and were followed up to August 2021. The primary endpoint was disease progression-free survival (PFS). Disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), and overall survival (OS) of patients were observed as the secondary endpoints. Adverse events were recorded as well.

RESULTS

The average age of the 13 patients was 56.5 ±13.0 years and 76.9% were male. The median PFS and median OS were 4.6 and 8.3 months, respectively. The ORR was 7.7% (1/13) while the DCR was 61.5% (8/13). The common adverse events were hypertension, proteinuria, elevated transaminase, and thrombocytopenia. One patient experienced thrombocytopenia of grade 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with mCRC after failure of the second or above lines of treatment may potentially benefit from the treatment of low-dose apatinib and S-1 combined with JBJD because of its similar effect as the standard dose of target therapy and relatively better safety. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022673).