The petroleum ether extracts of Chloranthus fortunei(A. Gray) Solms-Laub.with bioactivities: A rising source in HCC drug treatment

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive killer worldwide with high incidence and mortality. The herb Chloranthus fortunei (A. Gray) Solms-Laub is known as "Si Ji Feng" and is classified as a Feng-type medicine in classic Yao medicines. According to Yao's medical beliefs, Chloranthus fortunei has the functions of dispelling Feng, regulating qi, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, etc. Folk uses its decoctions to treat stagnant liver conditions, such as liver abscesses, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver cancer. However, the bioactivity and mechanisms of Chloranthus fortunei extract against HCC have not been reported.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the anti-HCC bioactivity and potential mechanism of the extract of Chloranthus fortunei (CFS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using 70% ethanol for reflux extraction of CFS resulted in the CFS ethanol extract, followed by sequential extractions with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, yielding four fractions. The CCK-8 assay was utilized to examine the cytotoxic effects of 4 fractions on MHCC97-H and HepG2 cells, exploring the most effective component, namely petroleum ether extracts of CFS (PECFS). The major active ingredients of PECFS were identified using LC/MS technology, and the impact on cell proliferation and apoptosis in HCC cells was studied. The key genes and proteins in the pathway were validated using RT-PCR and Western blotting. BALB/c nude mice were chosen for tumor xenotransplantation and PECFS therapy. hinders the proliferation of HCC cells and promotes apoptosis.

RESULTS

Among the four fractions, it was found that PECFS have the highest antiproliferative activity against MHCC97-H and HepG2 cells (IC50 = 13.86, 10.55 μg/mL), with sesquiterpene compounds being the primary active constituents. The antiproliferative activity of PECFS on HCC cells was linked to the inhibition of cell cloning, invasion, and metastasis abilities, as well as the arrest of the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Additionally, exerts pro-apoptotic effects on HCC cells by upregulating the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, downregulating the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and activating the expression of the Caspase family. Moreover, protein and m-RNA expression data showed that PECFS inhibits HCC cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Besides, after PECFS treatment, tumor growth in nude mice was suppressed.

CONCLUSION

PECFS can inhibit the viability of HCC cells by acting on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, demonstrating anti-tumor potential. This study's findings suggest that PECFS may represent a promising source of novel agents for liver cancer treatment, providing scientific evidence for the traditional application of CFS in treating HCC.

Unfolded Protein-Based Sandwich AIE Probe Imparts High Fluorescent Contrast for Pan-Cancer Surgical Navigation

Fluorescence imaging-guided navigation for cancer surgery has a promising clinical application. However, pan-cancer encompasses a wide variety of cancer types with significant heterogeneity, resulting in the lack of universal and highly contrasted fluorescent probes for surgical navigation. Here, we developed an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probe (MI-AIE-TsG, MAT) with dual activation for pan-cancer surgical navigation. MAT weakly activates fluorescence by targeting the SUR1 protein on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the TsG group. Subsequently, the sulfhydryl groups on the unfolded proteins, which are highly enriched in cancer ER, react with the maleimide (MI) of MAT through the thiol-ene click reaction, further enhancing the fluorescence. The formation of a SUR1-MAT-unfolded protein sandwich complex reinforces the restriction of intramolecular motion and eliminates photoinduced electron transfer of MAT, leading to high signal-to-noise (9.2) fluorescence imaging and use for surgical navigation of pan-cancer. The generally high content of unfolded proteins in cancer cells makes MAT imaging generalizable, and it currently has proven feasibility in ovarian, cervical, and breast cancers. Meanwhile, MAT promotes cellular autophagy by hindering protein folding, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. This generalizable, high-contrast AIE fluorescent probe spans the heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer, enabling precise pancreatic cancer surgery navigation and treatment.

Restoration of PM2.5-induced spermatogonia GC-1 cellular damage by parthenolide via suppression of autophagy and inflammation: An in vitro study

Particulate matter (PM) generated by environmental and air pollution is known to have detrimental effects on human health. Among these, PM2.5 particles (diameter < 2.5 µm) can breach the alveolar-capillary barrier and disseminate to other organs, posing significant health risks. Numerous studies have shown that PMs can harm various organs, including the reproductive system. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the harmful effects of PM2.5 on mouse GC-1 spermatogonia cells (GC-1 spg cells) and to verify the ameliorative effects of parthenolide (PTL) treatment on damaged GC-1 spg cells. We observed a significant dose-dependent reduction in cell proliferation after PM2.5 concentration of 2.5 μg/cm2. Additionally, treatment with 20 μg/cm2 PM2.5 concentration significantly increased the expression of autophagy-related proteins ATG7, the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I, and decreased phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT. Furthermore, PM2.5 exposure augmented inflammation mediator gene expressions, the phosphorylation of the inflammation-related transcription factor NF-κB p65 at Ser536, and ubiquitination. Treatment of PM2.5-exposed GC-1 spg cells with PTL significantly reduced NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and the expression of autophagy-related proteins ATG7 and LC3-II, leading to a statistically significant recovery in cell proliferation. Together, our findings elucidated the detrimental effects of PM2.5 exposure on male germ cells, and the restorative properties of PTL against air pollutants.

Trends in parthenolide research over the past two decades: A bibliometric analysis

Parthenolide (PTL) is a new compound extracted from traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, it has been proven to play an undeniable role in tumors, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory diseases. Similarly, an increasing number of experiments have also confirmed the biological mechanism of PTL in these diseases. In order to better understand the development trend and potential hot spots of PTL in cancer and other diseases, we conducted a detailed bibliometric analysis. The purpose of presenting this bibliometric analysis was to highlight and inform researchers of the important research directions, co-occurrence relationships and research status in this field. Publications related to PTL research from 2002 to 2022 were extracted on the web of science core collection (WoSCC) platform. CiteSpace, VOSviewers and R package "bibliometrix" were applied to build relevant network diagrams. The bibliometric analysis was presented in terms of performance analysis (including publication statistics, top publishing countries, top publishing institutions, publishing journals and co-cited journals, authors and co-cited authors, co-cited references statistics, citation bursts statistics, keyword statistics and trend topic statistics) and science mapping (including citations by country, citations by institution, citations by journal, citations by author, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence). The detailed discussion of the results explained the focus and latest trends from the bibliometric analysis. Finally, the current status and shortcomings of the research field on PTLwere clearly pointed out for reference by scholars.

A Study of the Chemical Composition, Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Bulgarian Tanacetum parthenium Essential Oil

BACKGROUND

Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip. (T. parthenium) is an aromatic perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, also known as feverfew. It is widely distributed in various regions of Europe and other parts of the world. The plant has a rich background in the traditional medicine of many nations and has been used as a remedy for fever, pain, inflammation, asthma, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, etc. Methods: GC-MS analysis was conducted to determine the chemical composition of the isolated essential oil (EO). Using the method proposed by Litchfield and Wilcoxon, the average lethal dose (LD₅₀) of the EO on Wistar rats was determined for two routes of administration: oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.). The subacute toxicity of the EO was also tested by oral administration of a daily dose of 1.0 g/kg body weight (BW) for 28 days. The toxicity of the EO was evaluated by observing and evaluating changes in behavior, body weight, basic hematological and serum biochemical parameters, and histopathological changes of the internal organs.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven volatile organic compounds representing 94.58% of the total oil composition were tentatively detected in the obtained T. parthenium EO. The dominant compounds were camphor (45.47%), trans-chrisantenyl acetate (21.65%), camphene (9.48%), and cis-isogeraniol (5.42%). The results showed that the EO was not toxic when administered in acute oral doses. The acute mean lethal dose for intraperitoneal administration was LD₅₀ i.p. = 2.13 g/kg BW. In the subacute study involving administration of an oral dose of EO for 28 days, there were a number of changes in the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of the blood compared with the control group of animals. However, no symptoms of toxicity, changes in the body weight of the rats, death, or pathological changes in the histological indicators of the examined organs-brain, heart, stomach, liver, spleen and kidney-were found. Extrapolating the results obtained from the rat experiments, we can state that the EO is safe for use in doses below 1 g/kgBW for a period not exceeding one month.

Parthenolide induces rapid thiol oxidation that leads to ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is both a devastating and common disease. Every year in the United States, about 24,500 men and 10,000 women are diagnosed with HCC, and more than half of those diagnosed patients die from this disease. Thus far, conventional therapeutics have not been successful for patients with HCC due to various underlying comorbidities. Poor survival rate and high incidence of recurrence after therapy indicate that the differences between the redox environments of normal surrounding liver and HCC are valuable targets to improve treatment efficacy. Parthenolide (PTL) is a naturally found therapeutic with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. PTL can alter HCC's antioxidant environment through thiol modifications leaving tumor cells sensitive to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Investigating the link between altered thiol mechanism and increased sensitivity to iron-mediated lipid peroxidation will allow for improved treatment of HCC. HepG2 (human) and McARH7777 (rat) HCC cells treated with PTL with increasing concentrations decrease cell viability and clonogenic efficiency in vitro. PTL increases glutathione (GSH) oxidation rescued by the addition of a GSH precursor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC). In addition, this elevation in thiol oxidation results in an overall increase in mitochondrial dysfunction. To elucidate if cell death is through lipid peroxidation, using a lipid peroxidation sensor indicated PTL increases lipid oxidation levels after 6 h. Additionally, western blotting reveals glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) protein levels decrease after treatment with PTL suggesting cells are incapable of preventing lipid peroxidation after exposure to PTL. An elevation in lipid peroxidation will lead to a form of cell death known as ferroptosis. To further establish ferroptosis as a critical mechanism of death for HCC in vitro, the addition of ferrostatin-1 combined with PTL demonstrates a partial recovery in a colony survival assay. This study reveals that PTL can induce tumor cell death through elevations in intracellular oxidation, leaving cells sensitive to ferroptosis.

The Emerging Potential of Parthenolide Nanoformulations in Tumor Therapy

Plant-derived sesquiterpene lactones are promising natural sources for the discovery of anti-cancer drugs. As an extensively studied sesquiterpene lactone, the tumor suppression effect of parthenolide (PTL) has been clarified by targeting a number of prominent signaling pathways and key protein regulators in carcinogenesis. Notably, PTL was also the first small molecule reported to eradicate cancer stem cells. Nevertheless, the clinical application of PTL as an antitumor agent remains limited, owing to some disadvantages such as low water solubility and poor bioavailability. Thus, nanomedicine has attracted much interest because of its great potential for transporting poorly soluble drugs to desired body sites. In view of the significant advantages over their free small-molecule counterparts, nanoparticle delivery systems appear to be a potential solution for addressing the delivery of hydrophobic drugs, including PTL. In this review, we summarized the key anticancer mechanisms underlined by PTL as well as engineered PTL nanoparticles synthesized to date. Therefore, PTL nanoformulations could be an alternative strategy to maximize the therapeutic value of PTL.

Parthenolide leads to proteomic differences in thyroid cancer cells and promotes apoptosis

Background

Parthenolide has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities. But its effect on thyroid cancer cells is still largely unknown.

Methods

Label-free quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis were used to investigate the differentially expressed proteins and their functions in thyroid cancer treated with parthenolide and control pair. Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry were used to detected BCPAP cells apoptosis. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and quantitative real-time PCR were used to verify the expression of apoptosis-related differential proteins and their mRNA.

Results

Sixty up-regulated and 96 down-regulated differentially expressed proteins were identified in parthenolide treated thyroid cancer cells BCPAP compared with control thyroid cancer cells. The proteins were mainly relevant to various biological processes that included metabolic processes, response to extracellular stimulus and interaction with host. The molecular functions of most differentially expressed proteins were associated with binding functions and nucleotidyltransferase activity. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, the differentially expressed proteins identified are primarily related to various types of metabolic pathways and DNA replication. In cell experiments in vitro, with the increase of the dose of parthenolide, the number of cells gradually decreased, the apoptosis rate gradually increased. PRM verified that the apoptosis-related proteins HMOX1 and GCLM were up-regulated and IL1B was down-regulated in BCPAP cells treated with parthenolide. The mRNA expressions of HMOX1, GCLM, ITGA6 and CASP8 were up-regulated and HSPA1A was down-regulated by PCR.

Conclusions

Parthenolide may influence the biological behavior of human thyroid cancer cells by affecting the expression of proteins related to cell metabolism and DNA replication. Parthenolide induced significant cellular morphological changes and apoptosis in human thyroid cancer cells, leading to an anti-proliferative effect.

Roles of Therapeutic Bioactive Compounds in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is due to poor prognosis and lack of availability of effective treatment. Novel therapeutic strategies will be the fine tuning of intracellular ROS signaling to effectively deprive cells of ROS-induced tumor-promoting events. This review discusses the generation of ROS, the major signaling their modulation in therapeutics. We explore some of the major pathways involved in HCC, which include the VEGF, MAPK/ERK, mTOR, FGF, and Ser/Thr kinase pathways. In this review, we study cornerstone on natural bioactive compounds with their effect on hepatocarcinomas. Furthermore, we focus on oxidative stress and FDA-approved signaling pathway inhibitors, along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy enhancers which with early evidence of success. While more in vivo testing is required to confirm the findings presented here, our findings will aid future nonclinical, preclinical, and clinical studies with these compounds, as well as inspire medicinal chemistry scientists to conduct appropriate research on this promising natural compound and their derivatives.

Pyroglutamate Aminopeptidase I Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma via IL-6/STAT3 Activation as Revealed by a Specific Biosensor

As a global health challenge, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is strongly associated with chronic inflammation. Targeting inflammation, particularly inflammatory factors, is regarded as an important strategy for HCC diagnosis and treatment. Pyroglutamic aminopeptidase I (PGP-I), a common exopeptidase, was recently identified as a novel inflammatory cytokine in cells. However, whether PGP-I is involved in HCC development and can be regarded as a biomarker remains unclear. To address this issue, endogenous PGP-I was imaged in live cells and in vivo, and the related biochemical and pathological processes were analyzed accordingly with a newly developed fluorogenic PGP-I biosensor. Bioimaging with the specific biosensor demonstrated the aberrant expression of PGP-I in HCC cell lines and tumor-bearing nude mice. Moreover, overexpression of PGP-I in HCC cells promoted tumor progression, whereas knockdown of PGP-I significantly suppressed tumor cell growth and migration. The activity of PGP-I was further identified to be highly related to the phosphorylation of STAT3, which could be impeded by the natural product parthenolide. Collectively, these findings suggest that PGP-I, which can promote hepatocellular tumor progression through the classical inflammation-/tumor-related IL-6/STAT3 pathway, may serve as a potential HCC biomarker and therapeutic target.

Targeting Drug Chemo-Resistance in Cancer Using Natural Products

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. The development of drug resistance is the main contributor to cancer-related mortality. Cancer cells exploit multiple mechanisms to reduce the therapeutic effects of anticancer drugs, thereby causing chemotherapy failure. Natural products are accessible, inexpensive, and less toxic sources of chemotherapeutic agents. Additionally, they have multiple mechanisms of action to inhibit various targets involved in the development of drug resistance. In this review, we have summarized the basic research and clinical applications of natural products as possible inhibitors for drug resistance in cancer. The molecular targets and the mechanisms of action of each natural product are also explained. Diverse drug resistance biomarkers were sensitive to natural products. P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein can be targeted by a large number of natural products. On the other hand, protein kinase C and topoisomerases were less sensitive to most of the studied natural products. The studies discussed in this review will provide a solid ground for scientists to explore the possible use of natural products in combination anticancer therapies to overcome drug resistance by targeting multiple drug resistance mechanisms.

Terpenoids' anti-cancer effects: focus on autophagy

Terpenoids are the largest class of natural products, most of which are derived from plants. Amongst their numerous biological properties, their anti-tumor effects are of interest for they are extremely diverse which include anti-proliferative, apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic activities. Recently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have been dedicated to understanding the 'terpenoid induced autophagy' phenomenon in cancer cells. Light has already been shed on the intricacy of apoptosis and autophagy relationship. This latter crosstalk is driven by the delicate balance between activating or silencing of certain proteins whereby the outcome is expressed via interrelated signaling pathways. In this review, we focus on nine of the most studied terpenoids and on their cell death and autophagic activity. These terpenoids are grouped in three classes: sesquiterpenoid (artemisinin, parthenolide), diterpenoids (oridonin, triptolide), and triterpenoids (alisol, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, platycodin D, and ursolic acid). We have selected these nine terpenoids among others as they belong to the different major classes of terpenoids and our extensive search of the literature indicated that they were the most studied in terms of autophagy in cancer. These terpenoids alone demonstrate the complexity by which these secondary metabolites induce autophagy via complex signaling pathways such as MAPK/ERK/JNK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, AMPK, NF-kB, and reactive oxygen species. Moreover, induction of autophagy can be either destructive or protective in tumor cells. Nevertheless, should this phenomenon be well understood, we ought to be able to exploit it to create novel therapies and design more effective regimens in the management and treatment of cancer.

Parthenolide ameliorates tweak-induced podocytes injury

Parthenolide (PTL) is a natural product from the shoots of Tanacetum parthenium, which has immunomodulatory effects in multiply type of diseases. This study aimed to explore the effect and the underlying mechanism of PTL on the anti-apoptotic and anti- inflammatory ability of tweak-induced podocytes. Conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes were incubated with Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (Tweak, 100 ng/ml), PTL(10 µM) or Tweak + PTL for 12 h, 24 and 48 h, respectively. Podocytes viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Tweak and Cxcl16 expression were evaluated by western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Dil-oxLDL stain was detected by immunofluorescence analysis. Intracellular Total Cholesterol (TC) content was measured through TC detection Kit. These results demonstrated that the podocytes cells viability was gradually decreased after treatment with different concentrations of Tweak (0, 50, 100, 150). Tweak and Cxcl16 protein expression in mouse podocytes treated with tweak were remarkably elevated and were found to have higher intracellular lipid accumulation compared with the control group, whereas co-administration with PTL, tweak and Cxcl16 expression as well as the intracellular lipid accumulation were notablely decreased in tweak-induced podocytes. Therefore, our conclusion was that tweak and Cxcl16 were involved in the regulation of tweak-induced podocytes injury. Meanwhile, the anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effect of PTL may be correlated with the tweak and Cxcl16 expression decreased.

Preparation and characterization of parthenolide nanocrystals for enhancing therapeutic effects of sorafenib against advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

A novel nanocrystals delivery system of parthenolide (PTL) was designed to combined application with sorafenib (Sora) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy, attempting to not only improve the poor aqueous solubility of PTL, but also enhance the synergistic therapeutic effects with Sora. The PTL nanocrystals (PTL-NCs) were prepared by precipitation-high-pressure homogenization method. The formed PTL-NCs with rod morphology possessed size of 126.9 ± 2.31 nm, zeta potential of -11.18 ± 0.59 mV and drug loading of 31.11 ± 1.99%. Meanwhile, PTL in PTL-NCs exhibited excellent storage stability and sustained release behavior. The combination therapy of Sora and PTL-NCs (Sora/PTL-NCs) in vitro for HepG2 cells presented superior therapeutic effects over that of individual PTL and Sora on intracellular uptake, cell proliferation inhibition and migration inhibition. Meanwhile the strongest anti-tumor effect with 81.86% inhibition rate and minimized systemic toxicity of Sora/PTL-NCs in vivo were obtained on tumor-bearing mice compared with that of PTL (48.84%) and Sora (58.83%). Thus, these findings suggested that PTL-NCs as an effective delivery system for the synergistically used with Sora to gain an optimal response against HCC, for referenced in the industrialization of nanocrystals products for intravenous administration.

Advances in chemistry and bioactivity of parthenolide

(−)-Parthenolide is a germacrane sesquiterpene lactone, available in ample amounts from the traditional medical plant feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium).

Parthenolide inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of human uveal melanoma cells

AIM

To explore the effect of parthenolide (PTL) on human uveal melanoma (UM) cells (C918 and SP6.5 cells) and its molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl amino ester (CFSE) assays and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) were performed to detect the cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle and apoptosis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot assays were performed to measure proliferation-related and apoptosis-related factors.

RESULTS

Firstly, PTL decreased the viability of C918 and SP6.5 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the effect of PTL on C918 cells was stronger than on SP6.5; however, it did not affect normal cells. Secondly, PTL increased the proportion of cell number at cell cycle G1 phase in C918 cells, and decreased the proportion of cell number at S phase, but the proportion did not change at G2 phase. In addition, PTL induced the apoptosis of C918 cells, and decreased the expressions of Cyclin D1, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-XL). Also, PTL increased Cyclin inhibition protein 1 (P21), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinas-3 (Caspase-3) and Caspase-9 expression. However, the expression of Caspase-8 was not changed.

CONCLUSION

PTL inhibites proliferation and induces apoptosis in UM cells by arresting G1 phase and regulating mitochondrial pathway, however, it does not affect normal cells.

Long non-coding RNA Malat1 activated autophagy, hence promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis by sponging miR-101 in colorectal cancer

Background

Long non-coding RNA Malat1 has been widely identified as an oncogene which shows a significant relationship with tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Nonetheless, whether Malat1 participates in the autophagy of colorectal cancer remains unclear.

Materials and methods

First, the expression level of Malat1 in 96 pairs of colorectal cancer tissues and four cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, the autophagy activity in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines was detected by western blot. Furthermore, the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry (FCM) were performed to detect the role of autophagy activated by Malat1 in colorectal cancer cell lines.

Results

In this study, significantly increased Malat1 expression and autophagy activity were found in colorectal cancer tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues. Also, the Malat1 level was positively correlated with the expression of LC3-II mRNA in vivo. Moreover, autophagy activation and cell proliferation were significantly facilitated by Malat1 in colorectal cancer cells, while apoptosis decreased. Above all, the inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA not only relieved the Malat1-induced cell proliferation but also promoted the Malat1-induced cell apoptosis. In addition, Malat1 was found to act as an endogenous sponge by directly binding to miR-101 to reduce miR-101. Furthermore, the suppressive effects of miR-101 on the autophagy, proliferation, and apoptosis of CRC were abolished by Malat1.

Conclusion

Long non-coding RNA Malat1 activated autophagy and promoted cell proliferation, yet inhibited apoptosis by sponging miR-101 in colorectal cancer cells.

Parthenolide Inhibits the Proliferation of MDA-T32 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cells in Vitro and in Mouse Tumor Xenografts and Activates Autophagy and Apoptosis by Downregulation of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR)/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Background

This study aimed to examine the effects of the sesquiterpene lactone, parthenolide, on migration, autophagy, and apoptosis of MDA-T32 human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells in vitro and in mouse tumor xenografts.

Material/Methods

Cell proliferation and viability of MDA-T32 human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells were determined by MTT assay, and cell migration was studied using a transwell assay. Fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange (AO) and ethidium bromide (EB) staining evaluated apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the effects of parthenolide on autophagy, and Western blot examined the levels of autophagy-associated proteins, including Bax, Bcl-2, and LC3-ll. Mice (n=10) were injected with 5×10⁶ MDA-T32 cells subcutaneously into the left flank, and xenograft tumors were grown for six weeks. Control untreated mice (n=5) were compared with treated mice (n=5) given parthenolide three times per week.

Results

Parthenolide resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in viability and cell migration of MDA-T32 cells, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 12 μM. AO and EB staining showed that parthenolide induced cell apoptosis and electron microscopy identified autophagosomes in MDA-T32 cells. Parthenolide induced increased expression of the autophagocytic proteins, LC3-II and beclin-1, had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the mTOR/PI3K/AKT cascade in MDA-T32 cells and inhibited the growth of the mouse xenograft tumors in vivo.

Conclusions

Parthenolide inhibited the growth and migration of MDA-T32 human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells in vitro and mouse tumor xenografts and activated autophagy and apoptosis by downregulation of the mTOR/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Application of sesquiterpene lactone: A new promising way for cancer therapy based on anticancer activity

Cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases that are rapidly increasing globally. After heart disease, it is the second leading cause of death, accounting for seven million deaths each year. Chemotherapy is the use of cytotoxic drugs on cancer cells. But the use of common chemotherapy drugs poses a problem due their high side effects and low efficacy. As a result, efforts are on to find new potent compounds with low side effects. The compounds extracted from plants have been studied in this regard due to their prevalence. Sesquiterpene lactones are a group of natural compounds that were first detected in Asteraceae dark plants. These compounds exercise their effects by reacting with functional groups available on proteins and enzymes, especially the thiol group. Owing to the high side effects as an antitumor synthetic drugs, efforts are being made to find drugs with high efficiency and low side effects. Their high structural ranges have attracted the attention of many researchers as a potential source of new anticancer drugs.

Parthenolide inhibits hydrogen peroxide‑induced osteoblast apoptosis

Parthenolide is a natural product from the shoots of Tanacetum parthenium that has been demonstrated to have immunomodulatory effects in a number of diseases. The present study aimed to determine the effect and mechanism of parthenolide on the apoptotic ability of H2O2‑induced osteoblasts. Cell viability was analyzed with a MTT assay and the apoptotic rate was subsequently measured using flow cytometry. The activity of the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and the serum marker enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed to analyze the expression levels of osteogenesis and oxidative stress‑associated genes. The results indicated that parthenolide increased cell viability and inhibited the apoptosis of H2O2‑induced osteoblasts. Parthenolide decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species, MDA, LDH and ALP. SOD and GPX levels were increased by parthenolide in H2O2‑induced osteoblasts. This suggested that parthenolide may break the equilibrium state of oxidative stress and inhibit cellular apoptosis. Parthenolide additionally increased the expression levels of oxidative stress‑associated genes, including nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2, hemeoxygenase‑1 and quinone oxidoreductase 1 in H2O2‑induced osteoblasts. Furthermore, parthenolide increased the expression of osteogenesis‑associated genes, including runt‑related transcription factor 2, osteopontin, osteocalcin and collagen 1 in H2O2‑inducedosteoblasts. Therefore, it was concluded that parthenolide may be used in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Smad4 re-expression increases the sensitivity to parthenolide in colorectal cancer

Parthenolide (PT), a sesquiterpene lactone extracted from the plant feverfew, has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Although PT has been revealed to markedly inhibit colorectal cancer cell proliferation, the inhibitory effects decrease with administration time. These findings revealed that colorectal cancer cells develop resistance to PT. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. In the present study we observed significantly low expression of Smad4 in 3 PT-resistant cell lines (HCT‑116/PT, HT-29/PT and Caco-2/PT), which were obtained using in vitro concentration gradient-increased induction, but not in their parental cells. In the present study we used the lentiviral‑mediated transfection method to upregulate Smad4 in resistant colorectal cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry assay was used to assess cell apoptosis. Cell migration was detected using a QCM™ 24-well Fluorimetric Cell Migration Assay kit. Our study showed that Smad4 overexpression notably decreased the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for PT in the 3 PT-resistant cell lines, and improved the inhibitory effects of PT on cell migration and enhanced apoptosis in vitro as well as suppressed xenografted tumors in a PT-resistant colorectal cancer mouse model. Further study by western blotting into the underlying mechanism demonstrated that Smad4 overexpression suppressed the expression of MDR1 in the resistant cells, and resulted in the accumulation of PT, which in turn promoted the expession of caspase-3 and Bax and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. In short, Smad4 re-expression may be crucial for enhancing the sensitivity and reversing the resistance to PT in PT-resistant colorectal cancer cells.

Natural Compounds As Modulators of Non-apoptotic Cell Death in Cancer Cells

Cell death is an innate capability of cells to be removed from microenvironment, if and when they are damaged by multiple stresses. Cell death is often regulated by multiple molecular pathways and mechanism, including apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. The molecular network underlying these processes is often intertwined and one pathway can dynamically shift to another one acquiring certain protein components, in particular upon treatment with various drugs. The strategy to treat human cancer ultimately relies on the ability of anticancer therapeutics to induce tumor-specific cell death, while leaving normal adjacent cells undamaged. However, tumor cells often develop the resistance to the drug-induced cell death, thus representing a great challenge for the anticancer approaches. Numerous compounds originated from the natural sources and biopharmaceutical industries are applied today in clinics showing advantageous results. However, some exhibit serious toxic side effects. Thus, novel effective therapeutic approaches in treating cancers are continued to be developed. Natural compounds with anticancer activity have gained a great interest among researchers and clinicians alike since they have shown more favorable safety and efficacy then the synthetic marketed drugs. Numerous studies in vitro and in vivo have found that several natural compounds display promising anticancer potentials. This review underlines certain information regarding the role of natural compounds from plants, microorganisms and sea life forms, which are able to induce non-apoptotic cell death in tumor cells, namely autophagy and necroptosis.

EHHM, a novel phenolic natural product from Livistona chinensis, induces autophagy-related apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks the second cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. In the present study, the effects and mechanisms of a new phenolic natural product E-[6′-(5′-hydroxypentyl)tricosyl]-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamate (EHHM) isolated from Livistona chinensis on the growth of HCC cells were investigated. It was observed that EHHM treatment significantly suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation, and induced cell apoptosis via a mitochondria-dependent caspase pathway in HepG2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, EHHM treatment also led to upregulated expression of autophagy protein 5 (Atg5), Beclin 1 and light chain 3 (LC3)-II proteins, and accumulation of green fluorescent protein-LC3 punctate florescent foci in HCC cells, suggesting that EHHM-induced apoptosis is accompanied by autophagy induction. Western blotting revealed that EHHM-induced autophagy is related to the inhibition of the Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase signaling pathway. Furthermore, treatment with Atg5 small interfering RNA or autophagy inhibitors significantly enhanced EHHM-mediated growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death, indicating that autophagy serves as a self-protective mechanism in EHHM-treated HCC cells, and that combined treatment with EHHM and autophagy inhibitors may be an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Parthenolide ameliorates Concanavalin A-induced acute hepatitis in mice and modulates the macrophages to an anti-inflammatory state

Parthenolide, the principal sesquiterpene lactone present in medicinal plants such as feverfew, has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. In the present study, we investigated the protective role of parthenolide against acute hepatitis in mice. Mice acute hepatitis were induced by Concanavalin A and treated by parthenolide in vivo. Results shown that parthenolide remarkably reduced the congestion and necroinflammation of the mice livers with Concanavalin A-induced acute hepatitis. Meanwhile, parthenolide treatment recover the liver function which indicated by decreased the serum alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities and promoted the expression of Ki67 in the livers of these mice. In addition, parthenolide administration suppressed the Concanavalin A-induced immune reaction, as indicated by the number of F4/80, CD49b and CD4 cells present in the liver. Furthermore, parthenolide also significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-1β and IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in vitro. Moreover, parthenolide exposure decreased the phosphorylation of STAT3 and p38, and promoted the phosphorylation of p53 in RAW264.7 cells in vitro. In conclusion, parthenolide represents a drug candidate to protect the liver against Concanavalin A-induced acute hepatitis. The possible molecular mechanism involves the anti-inflammatory effects of parthenolide may by suppressing the STAT3/p38 signals and enhanced the p53 signals.

Chemical Library Screening and Structure-Function Relationship Studies Identify Bisacodyl as a Potent and Selective Cytotoxic Agent Towards Quiescent Human Glioblastoma Tumor Stem-Like Cells

Cancer stem-like cells reside in hypoxic and slightly acidic tumor niches. Such microenvironments favor more aggressive undifferentiated phenotypes and a slow growing "quiescent state" which preserves them from chemotherapeutic agents that essentially target proliferating cells. Our objective was to identify compounds active on glioblastoma stem-like cells, including under conditions that mimick those found in vivo within this most severe and incurable form of brain malignancy. We screened the Prestwick Library to identify cytotoxic compounds towards glioblastoma stem-like cells, either in a proliferating state or in more slow-growing "quiescent" phenotype resulting from non-renewal of the culture medium in vitro. Compound effects were assessed by ATP-level determination using a cell-based assay. Twenty active molecules belonging to different pharmacological classes have thus been identified. Among those, the stimulant laxative drug bisacodyl was the sole to inhibit in a potent and specific manner the survival of quiescent glioblastoma stem-like cells. Subsequent structure-function relationship studies led to identification of 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl-2-pyridyl-methane (DDPM), the deacetylated form of bisacodyl, as the pharmacophore. To our knowledge, bisacodyl is currently the only known compound targeting glioblastoma cancer stem-like cells in their quiescent, more resistant state. Due to its known non-toxicity in humans, bisacodyl appears as a new potential anti-tumor agent that may, in association with classical chemotherapeutic compounds, participate in tumor eradication.

Micheliolide derivative DMAMCL inhibits glioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Background

There is no highly effective chemotherapy for malignant gliomas to date. We found that dimethylaminomicheliolide (DMAMCL), a selective inhibitor of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem/progenitor cells, inhibited the growth of glioma cells.

Methods

The distribution of DMAMCL in brain was analyzed by an ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) system. The anti-tumor evaluations of DMAMCL in vitro were performed by MTT, FACS and RT-PCR. In vivo, the mixture of C6 cells and matrigel was injected into caudatum, and the anti-tumor activity of DMAMCL was evaluated by tumor growth and rat survival. The toxicity of DMAMCL was evaluated by body weight, daily food intake, hematological or serum biochemical analyses, and histological appearance of tissues.

Results

The IC₅₀ values of DMAMCL against the C6 and U-87MG cell lines in vitro were 27.18 ± 1.89 μM and 20.58 ± 1.61 μM, respectively. DAMMCL down-regulated the anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-2 and increased apoptosis in C6 and U-87MG cells in a dose-dependent manner. In a C6 rat tumor model, daily administration of DMAMCL for 21 days reduced the burden of C6 tumors by 60% to 88% compared to controls, and more than doubled the mean lifespan of tumor-bearing rats. Distribution analysis showed that the DMAMCL concentration was higher in the brain than in plasma. Evaluations for toxicity revealed that oral administration of DMAMCL at 200 or 300 mg/kg once a day for 21 days did not result in toxicity.

Conclusions

These results suggest that DMAMCL is highly promising for the treatment of glioma.

Parthenolide induces autophagy via the depletion of 4E-BP1

Parthenolide (PTL) is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from feverfew and exhibits potent antitumor activity against various cancers. Many studies indicate that PTL treatment leads to apoptosis, however, the mechanism has not been defined. Here, we observed that cells underwent autophagy shortly after PTL treatment. Inhibition of autophagy by knocking out autophagy associated gene atg5 blocked PTL-induced apoptosis. Surprisingly, PTL decreased the level of translation initiation factor eIF4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in correlation with autophagy. Ectopic expression or shRNA knockdown of 4E-BP1 further verified the effect of 4E-BP1 on PTL-induced autophagy. Meanwhile, PTL elevated the cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) which located upstream of the depletion of 4E-BP1, and contributed to the consequent autophagy. This study revealed 4E-BP1 as a trigger for PTL-induced autophagy and may lead to therapeutic strategy to enhance the efficacy of anticancer drugs.

Alkaloids from beach spider lily (Hymenocallis littoralis) induce apoptosis of HepG-2 cells by the fas-signaling pathway

Alkaloids are the most extensively featured compounds of natural anti-tumor herbs, which have attracted much attention in pharmaceutical research. In our previous studies, a mixture of major three alkaloid components (5, 6-dihydrobicolorine, 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, littoraline) from Hymenocallis littoralis were extracted, analyzed and designated as AHL. In this paper, AHL extracts were added to human liver hepatocellular cells HepG-2, human gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, human breast adenocarcinoma cell MCF-7 and human umbilical vein endothelial cell EVC-304, to screen one or more AHL-sensitive tumor cell. Among these cells, HepG-2 was the most sensitive to AHL treatment, a very low dose (0.8μg/ml) significantly inhibiting proliferation . The non- tumor cell EVC-304, however, was not apparently affected. Effect of AHL on HepG-2 cells was then explored. We found that the AHL could cause HepG-2 cycle arrest at G2/M checkpoint, induce apoptosis, and interrupt polymerization of microtubules. In addition, expression of two cell cycle-regulated proteins, CyclinB1 and CDK1, was up-regulated upon AHL treatment. Up-regulation of the Fas, Fas ligand, Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 was observed as well, which might imply roles for the Fas/FsaL signaling pathway in the AHL-induced apoptosis of HepG-2 cells.