The graviola impact on human astroglioma cells: functional significance of MUDENG

In vitro studies of Annona muricata L. extract-loaded electrospun scaffolds for localized treatment of breast cancer

This paper presents in vitro studies of the sustained release of Annona muricata leaf extracts (AME) from hybrid electrospun fibers for breast cancer treatment. Electrospun hybrid scaffolds were fabricated from crude AME extracts, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/gelatin (PLGA/Ge) and pluronic F127. The physicochemical properties of the AME extract and scaffolds were studied. The antiproliferative effects of the scaffolds were also assessed on breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and non-tumorigenic breast (MCF10A) cell lines. Scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed a random network of micro- and submicron fibers. In vitro drug release profiles, governed by quasi-Fickian diffusion at pH 7.4 and non-Fickian super case II at pH 6.7, showed initial burst AME release from the PLGA/Ge-AME and PLGA/Ge-F127/AME fibers at pH 7.4, and burst release from PLGA/Ge-F127/AME (not observed from PLGA/Ge-AME) at pH 6.7. Then, a slower, sustained release of the remaining AME from the fibers, attributed to the onset of degradation of the PLGA/Ge backbone, was observed for the next 72 hr. The cumulative release of AME was 89.33 ± 0.73% (PLGA/Ge-AME) and 51.17 ± 7.96% (PLGA/Ge-F127/AME) at pH 7.4, and 9.27 ± 2.3% and 73.5 ± 4.5%, respectively, at pH 6.7. Pluronic F127 addition increased the drug loading capacity and prolonged the sustained AME release from the fibers. The released AME significantly inhibited the in vitro growth of the breast cancer cells more than the non-tumorigenic cells, due to the induction of apoptosis, providing evidence for using pluronic F127-containing electrospun fibers for sustained and localized AME delivery to breast cancer cells.

The MUDENG Augmentation: A Genesis in Anti-Cancer Therapy?

Despite multitudes of reports on cancer remedies available, we are far from being able to declare that we have arrived at that defining anti-cancer therapy. In recent decades, researchers have been looking into the possibility of enhancing cell death-related signaling pathways in cancer cells using pro-apoptotic proteins. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Mu-2/AP1M2 domain containing, death-inducing (MUDENG, MuD) have been established for their ability to bring about cell death specifically in cancer cells. Targeted cell death is a very attractive term when it comes to cancer, since most therapies also affect normal cells. In this direction TRAIL has made noteworthy progress. This review briefly sums up what has been done using TRAIL in cancer therapeutics. The importance of MuD and what has been achieved thus far through MuD and the need to widen and concentrate on applicational aspects of MuD has been highlighted. This has been suggested as the future perspective of MuD towards prospective progress in cancer research.

Cytotoxic and apoptotic potential of Phyllodium elegans extracts on human cancer cell lines

The extract of Phyllodium (P.) elegans was investigated for its anti-cancer properties on brain astroglioma cells (U251-MG), colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT116), and malignant melanoma cells (A375). P. elegans methanolic extract (PeME) showed cytotoxicity on all three cancer cell lines tested. The cell viability assay revealed that PeME significantly reduced the viability of these cells. Clear apoptotic features such as cellular morphology, cell shrinkage, and augmentation of dead cells were observed. Flow cytometry and fluorescence staining techniques confirmed the apoptotic property of PeME. In vitro scratch invasion assay showed that cell migration rate was significantly reduced. Fluorescence microscopic studies using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining showed early and late signs of apoptosis after PeME treatment. Upon PeME stimulation, activation of caspase-3/-9 and Mu-2-related death-inducing gene (MUDENG, MuD) was observed by western blot analysis. JC-1 staining analysis by flow cytometry showed that PeME depolarized the mitochondria membrane potential (MMP). Collectively, these findings, for the first time, point to the fact that PeME has anti-cancer properties against brain, colon, and skin cancer cell lines by depolarizing the MMP and activating apoptotic signaling through the activation of caspase-3/-9 as well as MuD. This is the first report reporting the anticancer activity of this specific plant extract.[Figure: see text].

A neglected natural source for targeting glioblastoma

The cytotoxicity of the methanol extract of the freshwater sponge Ochridaspongia rotunda (Arndt, 1937) (Malawispongiidae) was evaluated by MTT assay at in vitro conditions against three brain tumour cell lines (Neuro-2A, U-251 MG and U-87 MG). The extract was actually found to be most effective against the malignant glioma U-251 MG cells reaching a promising IC₅₀ value of 1.87 ± 0.09 μg/mL at 96 h. However, it exhibited only a bit of cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ 321.14 ± 11.29 μg/mL, 96 h) towards the normal cells. Also, this sponge extract was 5-fold more selective for U-251 MG versus U-87 MG cells. Finally, monitoring genotoxicity at chromosomal level using the micronucleus test practically revealed lack of any significant toxicity of O. rotunda extract, compared to doxorubicin.