In vivo, in vitro and in silico anticancer investigation of fullerene C60 on DMBA induced breast cancer in rats

Caspase-driven cancer therapies: Navigating the bridge between lab discoveries and clinical applications

Apoptosis is the cell's natural intrinsic regulatory mechanism of normal cells for programmed cell death, which plays an important role in cancer as a classical mechanism of tumor cell death causing minimal inflammation without causing damage to other cells in the vicinity. Induction of apoptosis by activation of caspases is one of the primary targets for cancer treatment. Over the years, a diverse range of natural, synthetic, and semisynthetic compounds and their derivatives have been investigated for their caspase-mediated apoptosis-induced anticancer activities. The review aims to compile the preclinical evidence and highlight the critical mechanistic pathways related to caspase-induced cell apoptosis in cancer treatment. The focus is placed on the key components of the mechanisms, including their chemical nature, and specific attention is given to phytochemicals derived from natural sources and synthetic and semisynthetic compounds. 180+ compounds from the past two decades with potential as anticancer agents are discussed in this review article. By summarizing the current knowledge and advancements in this field, this review provides a comprehensive overview of potential therapeutic strategies targeting apoptosis in cancer cells. The findings presented herein contribute to the ongoing efforts to combat cancer and stimulate further research into the development of effective and targeted anticancer therapies.

Fullerene C60 protects against 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) induced-pancreatic damage via NF-κB and Nrf-2/HO-1 axis in rats

The objective of this investigation was to investigate the protective effects of fullerene C60 nanoparticle against pancreatic damage experimentally induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) in female rats. Fullerene C60 nanoparticle was administered to rats 5 times a week by oral gavage (o.g) at 1.7 mg/kg bw 7 days after DMBA administration. 60 Wistar albino female rats divided to four groups; Groups: (1) Control group: Fed with standard diet; (2) Fullerene C60 group: Fullerene C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw); (3) DMBA group: DMBA (45 mg/kg bw); (4) Fullerene C60 + DMBA group: Fullerene C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw) and DMBA (45 mg/kg bw). Lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase activity (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels in pancreatic tissue were determined by spectrophotometer. Protein expression levels of p53, HO-1, p38-α (MAPK), Nrf-2, NF-κB and COX-2 in pancreatic tissue were determined by western blotting technique. In our findings, compared to the group given DMBA, MDA levels and p38-α, NF-κB and COX-2 levels decreased, CAT activity, GSH level, total protein density and p53, HO-1, Nrf-2 levels in the groups given fullerene C60 nanoparticle an increase in expression levels was observed. Our results showed that fullerene C60 nanoparticle may be more beneficial in preventing pancreatic damage.

Cell cycle arrest and apoptotic studies of Terminalia chebula against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line: an in vitro and in silico approach

Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in women, and alternative therapies with fewer side effects are actively being explored. Breast cancer is a significant global health concern, and conventional treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy often have side effects. Medicinal plant extracts offer a promising avenue for the development of effective and safe anticancer therapies. Terminalia chebula, a plant known for its medicinal properties, was selected for investigation in this study. We aimed to assess the antiproliferative effects of TCF extract on breast cancer cells and explore the potential role of saccharopine, a phytochemical found in TCF, as an anticancer agent. MCF7 breast cancer cell lines were exposed to TCF extract, and cell viability and apoptosis assays were performed to evaluate the antiproliferative and apoptogenic effects. Molecular docking studies were conducted to assess the binding affinity of saccharopine with EGFRs. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding energy calculations were employed to analyze the stability of the EGFR-saccharopine complex. The TCF extract exhibited significant antiproliferative effects on MCF7 breast cancer cells and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking analysis revealed that saccharopine demonstrated a higher binding affinity with EGFR compared to the reference compound (17b-estradiol). The subsequent MDS simulations indicated stable binding patterns and conformation of the EGFR-saccharopine complex, suggesting a potential role in inhibiting EGFR-mediated signaling pathways. The investigation of Terminalia chebula fruit extract and its phytochemical saccharopine has revealed promising antiproliferative effects and a strong binding affinity with EGFR. These findings provide a foundation for future research aimed at isolating saccharopine and conducting in vivo studies to evaluate its potential as a targeted therapy for breast cancer. The development of novel anticancer agents from plant sources holds great promise in advancing the field of oncology and improving treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Fullerene C60 reduces acute lung injury by suppressing oxidative stress-mediated DMBA-induced apoptosis and autophagy by regulation of cytochrome-C/caspase-3/beclin-1/IL-1α/HO-1/p53 signaling pathways in rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fullerene C60 nanoparticles against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced lung tissue damage in rats. 60 Wistar albino (8 weeks old) female rats were assigned into four groups: Control Group (C), Fullerene C60, DMBA, and Fullerene C60+DMBA. The rats in the DMBA and Fullerene C60+DMBA groups were administered DMBA (45 mg/kg bw, oral gavage). The rats in Fullerene C60, and Fullerene C60+DMBA groups were administered with Fullerene C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw, oral gavage). Expression levels of cytochrome-C, caspase-3, beclin-1, IL-1α, HO-1 and p53 proteins in lung tissue were determined by western blotting, lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) analyzes, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase activity (CAT) and total protein levels were determined by spectrophotometer. In addition, lung tissues were evaluated by histopathologically. Fullerene C60 reduced the increasing of MDA and IL-1α protein expression levels and attenuated histopathological changes in lung. Moreover, fullerene C60 enhanced the protein expression of cytochrome-C, caspase-3, beclin-1, HO-1, and p53, which were decreased in the DMBA group. Fullerene C60 has strong biological activity that it might be an effective approach for lung damage.

Royal jelly arranges apoptotic and oxidative stress pathways and reduces damage to liver tissues of rats by down-regulation of Bcl-2, GSK3 and NF-κB and up-regulation of caspase and Nrf-2 protein signalling pathways

IntroductionRoyal jelly (RJ) from the honey bee, Apis mellifera, is a traditional product that is widely used as a food supplement to support the medical treatment of various diseases.Material and methodsOur study continued for 8 weeks. 42 Wistar albino (8 weeks old) male rats were used in the study. The study included 6 groups; Group 1: Control group (fed with standard diet), Group 2: RJ (100 mg/kg, bw), Group 3: F-50 (50 mg/kg, bw), group 4: F-100 (100 mg/kg, bw) group 5: F-50 (50 mg/kg, bw) + RJ (100 mg/kg, bw) Group 6: F-100 (100 mg/kg, bw) + RJ (100 mg/kg, bw). Malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) activities in liver tissue were determined by spectrophotometer. Liver tissue samples were examined histopathologically and various protein levels were determined by Western blotting technique.ResultsRJ caused a significant decrease in MDA level, Bcl-2, GSK3 and NF-κB protein expression levels, whereas induced a significant increase in GSH level, CAT activities and Bax, BDNF, caspase-6, caspase-3, Nrf-2 protein expression levels.ConclusionOur findings suggest RJ to be used as a hepatoprotective agent in the clinic to modulate the toxic effects of fluoride and other chemicals in the future.

Royal jelly protects brain tissue against fluoride-induced damage by activating Bcl-2/NF-κB/caspase-3/caspase-6/Bax and Erk signaling pathways in rats

This study is aimed at determining whether royal jelly (RJ) which has a powerful antioxidant property prevents fluoride-induced brain tissue damage and exploring whether Bcl-2/NF-κB/ and caspase-3/caspase-6/Bax/Erk pathways play a critical role in the neuroprotective effect of RJ. Wistar albino rats were chosen for the study, and they were randomly distributed into six groups: (i) control; (ii) royal jelly; (iii) fluoride-50; (iv) fluoride-100; (v) fluoride-50 + royal jelly; (vi) fluoride-100 + royal jelly. We established fluoride-induced brain tissue damage with 8-week-old male Wistar albino rats by administration of fluoride exposure (either 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg bw) through drinking water for 8 weeks. Then, the study duration is for 56 days where the rats were treated with or without RJ (100 mg/kg bw) through oral gavage. The effects of RJ on glutathione (GSH), catalase activity (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined via spectrophotometer. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate the effects of royal jelly on the protein expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-6, Bcl-2, NF-κB, COX-2, and Erk. It was also studied the effects of RJ on histopathological alterations in fluoride-induced damage to the rat brain. As a result, the Bcl-2, NF-κB, and COX-2 protein expression levels were increased in the fluoride-treated (50 and 100 mg/kg) groups but they were decreased significantly by RJ treatment in the brain tissue. Additionally, the protein expression of caspase-3, caspase-6, Bax, and Erk were decreased in fluoride-treated groups and they were significantly increased by RJ treatment compared to the un-treated rats. Our results suggested that RJ prevented fluoride-induced brain tissue damage through anti-antioxidant activities.

Fullerene C60 Attenuates Heart Tissue Inflammation by Modulating COX-2 and TNF-Alpha Signaling Pathways in DMBA Induced Breast Cancer in Rats

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of fullerene C₆₀ nanoparticle against heart tissue damage caused by 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) in female rats. Female Wistar albino rats, 8 weeks old (n = 60) weighing around (150 ± 10 g) were used for the study. These rats were divided into 4 groups and each group included 15 rats. Groups: (i) Control Group: Fed with standard diet; (ii) C₆₀ Group: C₆₀ (1.7 mg/kg bw, oral gavage); (iii) DMBA Group: DMBA (45 mg/kg bw, oral gavage); (iv) C₆₀ and DMBA Group: C₆₀ (1.7 mg/kg bw, oral gavage) and DMBA (45 mg/kg bw, oral gavage) group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis, catalase activity (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in heart tissue were determined by spectrophotometer. In addition, heart tissue DNA damage was investigated. Caspase-3, p53, HO-1, COX-2, and TNF-α protein expression levels in heart tissue were determined by western blotting. As a result, Caspase-3, p53, HO-1 protein expression, GSH levels and CAT activity increased, COX-2, TNF-α protein expression, and MDA levels were significantly decreased in the C₆₀ + DMBA group compared to the DMBA group. Therefore, the fullerene C₆₀ nanoparticle may be a promising and effective therapy for the treatment of heart diseases associated with inflammation.

Protective effect of royal jelly on fluoride-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via the some protein biomarkers signaling pathways: A new approach for kidney damage

Introduction: Protective effect of royal jelly (RJ) on fluoride-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated in this study.Methods: 42 healthy male Wistar rats (n = 42, 8 weeks of age) were divided equally into 6 groups with 7 rats in each; (1) Group-1: Controls fed with standard diet; (2) Group-2: RJ [100 mg/kg] bw (body weight), by oral gavage; (3) Group-3: Fluoride [50 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water; (4) Group-4: Fluoride [100 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water; (5) Group-5: RJ [100 mg/kg] bw, by oral gavage + Fluoride [50 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water; (6) Group-6: RJ [100 mg/kg] bw, by oral gavage + Fluoride [100 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water. After 8 weeks, all rats were decapitated and their kidney tissues were removed for further analysis. The protein expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-6, caspase-9, Bcl-2, Bax, VEGF, GSK-3, BDNF, COX-2 and TNF-α proteins in kidney tissue were analysed by western blotting techniqueResults: RJ increased Bcl-2, COX-2, GSK-3, TNF-α and VEGF protein levels and a decreased caspase-3, caspase -6, caspase-9, Bax and BDNF protein levels in fluoride-treated rats.Conclusion: RJ application may have a promising therapeutical potential in the treatment of many diseases in the future by reducing kidney damage.

N-(benzylidene)-2-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)diazenyl)benzohydrazides (1-2) (NCHDH and NTHDH) attenuate DMBA-induced breast cancer via Nrf2/NF-κB/apoptosis signaling

The present study investigated the effect of the N-(benzylidene)-2-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)diazenyl)benzohydrazides (1-2) (NCHDH and NTHDH) against breast cancer using in vitro and in vivo approaches. The NCHDH and NTHDH significantly inhibited the growth of the MCF-7 cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The NCHDH and NTHDH treatment significantly inhibited the tumor size, tumor weight, and tumor volume, while it enhanced the survival and tumor free survival rate following 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer. The NCHDH and NTHDH markedly attenuated the oxidative stress markers and induced the antioxidant level. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed significant reduction in the inflammatory cytokines production compared with the DMBA control. The NCHDH and NTHDH treatment significantly improved the histological features using hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining, Masson's trichrome, PAS (periodic acid Schiff), and Toluidine blue staining compared with the DMBA-induced group. The NCHDH and NTHDH treatment improved the hematological and serological parameters following DMBA-induced breast tumor compared with DMBA-induced group. Furthermore, the NCHDH and NTHDH treatment significantly enhanced the antioxidants signaling proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). The NCHDH and NTHDH enhanced the inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) level, while it attenuated the NF-κB level. Similarly, the NCHDH and NTHDH showed marked increase in the apoptosis proteins such as Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and Bcl-2 Associated X-protein (Bax), while it inhibited the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression. In conclusion, the NCHDH and NTHDH significantly improved the DMBA-induced breast cancer via attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines.

Ellagic acid inhibits proinflammatory intermediary manufacture by suppressing NF-κB/Akt, VEGF and activating Nrf-2/Caspase-3 signaling pathways in rat testicular damage: a new way for testicular damage cure and in silico approach

Ellagic acid (EA) has protective effect on testicular damage and this natural compound decreases oxidative damage. The present study aims to examine the preventive effect of ellagic acid (EA) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced testicular tissue damage in rats. In testicular tissue, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf-2), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), cysteine aspartic proteases (caspase-3) and protein kinase B (Akt) synthesis levels were analyzed by western blot method, reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Glutathione (GSH) level and catalase (CAT) by spectrophotometer. As a result, in comparison with the CCl₄ group, caspase-3 and Nrf-2 protein synthesis levels increased in EA + CCl₄ group, however, VEGF, Bcl-2, NF-κB, TNF-α and Akt protein synthesis levels decreased, EA application raised GSH levels and CAT activity, reduced MDA levels. In this study, in silico tools were applied to confirm the activity of EA against the cancer with macromolecules such as the above mentioned transcription factors. EA, turned out to show significant activity similarly to some cocrystal ligands, particularly against cancer. These results points out that EA can be used as a testicular damage cure drug in future.