Induction of breast cancer cell apoptosis by novel thiouracil-fused heterocyclic compounds through boosting of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and DFT study

Breast cancer is a common public health disease causing mortality worldwide. Thus, providing novel chemotherapies that tackle breast cancer is of great interest. In this investigation, novel pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives 3,4,(6a-c),(8a,b),9-20 were synthesized and characterized using a variety of spectrum analyses. The geometric and thermal parameters of the novel thiouracil derivatives 3,4,6a,(8a,b),11,12,17,18, 19 were measured using density functional theory (DFT) via DFT/B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p) basis set. All synthesized compounds were evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) method using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancerous cells, compound 17 had the maximum anticancer activity against both breast cancerous cells, recording the lowest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values (56.712 μg/mL for MCF-7 cells and 48.743 μg/mL for MDA-MB-231 cells). The results were confirmed in terms of the intrinsic mechanism of apoptosis, where compound 17 had the highest percentage in the case of both cancer cells and recorded Bax (Bcl-2 associated X)/Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) ratio 17.5 and 96.667 for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, while compound 19 came after 17 in the ability for induction of apoptosis, where the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was 15.789 and 44.273 for both cancerous cells, respectively. Also, compound 11 recorded a high Bax/Bcl-2 ratio for both cells. The safety of the synthesized compounds was applied on normal WI-38 cells, showing minimum cytotoxic effect with undetectable IC50. Compounds 17, 11, and 19 recorded a significant increase of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) expression levels in the cancerous cells. The DFT method was also used to establish a connection between the experimentally determined values of the present investigated compounds and their predicted quantum chemical parameters. It was concluded that Compounds 17, 11, and 19 had anti-breast cancer potential through the induction of apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 and PUMA expression levels.

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, HeLa. Compound 21 which 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 derivative 21. 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 obtained 21-loaded nanoparticles were analyzed spectroscopically and microscopically with FT-IR, UV-Vis, and SEM as well as TGA, Raman, and XRD. The in vitro release of 21 from 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 nanoparticles displayed remarkably effective anticancer activity than 21. The IC50 values were determined as IC50 (21-loaded NPs): 0.42 ± 0.01 mg/mL and IC50 (free 21 molecule): 5.74 ± 3.82 mg/mL against MCF-7 cells, and as IC50 (21-loaded NPs): 0.77 ± 0.12 mg/mL and IC50(free21 molecule): 1.32 ± 0.31 mg/mL against HeLa cells after the incubation period of 24h. 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.

NHAc-PBA dendrimer-alkaloid complexes for targeting chemotherapy in breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Herein, we isolated five natural alkaloids, iso-corydine (iso-CORY), corydine (CORY), sanguinarine (SAN), chelerythrine (CHE) and magnoflorine (MAG), from traditional medicinal herb Dicranostigma leptopodum (Maxim.) Fedde (whole herb) and elucidated their structures. Then we synthesised G5. NHAc-PBA as targeting dendrimer platform to encapsulate the alkaloids into G5. NHAc-PBA-alkaloid complexes, which demonstrated alkaloid-dependent positive zeta potential and hydrodynamic particle size. G5. NHAc-PBA-alkaloid complexes demonstrated obvious breast cancer MCF-7 cell targeting effect. Among the G5. NHAc-PBA-alkaloid complexes, G5.NHAc-PBA-CHE (IC50=13.66 μM) demonstrated the highest MCF-7 cell inhibition capability and G5.NHAc-PBA-MAG (IC50=24.63 μM) had equivalent inhibitory effects on cell proliferation that comparable to the level of free MAG (IC50=23.74 μM), which made them the potential breast cancer targeting formulation for chemotherapeutic application. This work successfully demonstrated a pharmaceutical research model of 'natural bioactive product isolation-drug formulation preparation-breast cancer cell targeting inhibition'.

Novel furan chalcone modulates PHD-2 induction to impart antineoplastic effect in mammary gland carcinoma

Normoxic inactivation of prolyl hydroxylase-2 (PHD-2) in tumour microenvironment paves the way for cancer cells to thrive under the influence of HIF-1α and NF-κB. Henceforth, the present study is aimed to identify small molecule activators of PHD-2. A virtual screening was conducted on a library consisting of 265,242 chemical compounds, with the objective of identifying molecules that exhibit structural similarities to the furan chalcone scaffold. Further, PHD-2 activation potential of screened compound was determined using in vitro 2-oxoglutarate assay. The cytotoxic activity and apoptotic potential of screened compound was determined using various staining techniques, including 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), 1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimi-dazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1), and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), against MCF-7 cells. 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model of mammary gland cancer was used to study the in vivo antineoplastic efficacy of screened compound. [(E)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(furan-2-yl) prop-2-en-1-one] (BBAP-7) was screened and validated as a PHD-2 activator by an in vitro 2-oxo-glutarate assay. The IC50 of BBAP-7 on MCF-7 cells is 18.84 µM. AO/EB and DAPI staining showed nuclear fragmentation, blebbing and condensation in MCF-7 cells following BBAP-7 treatment. The red-to-green intensity ratio of JC-1 stained MCF-7 cells decreased after BBAP-7 treatment, indicating mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. DMBA caused mammary gland dysplasia, duct hyperplasia and ductal carcinoma in situ. Carmine staining, histopathology, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that BBAP-7, alone or with tirapazamine, restored mammary gland surface morphology and structural integrity. Additionally, BBAP-7 therapy significantly reduced oxidative stress and glycolysis. The findings reveal that BBAP-7 activates PHD-2, making it a promising anticancer drug.

Biosynthesis of ZnO, Bi2O3 and ZnO-Bi2O3 bimetallic nanoparticles and their cytotoxic and antibacterial effects

This work introduces an easy method for producing Bi2O3, ZnO, ZnO-Bi2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) by Biebersteinia Multifida extract. Our products have been characterized through the outcomes which recorded with using powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), Raman, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques. The finding of SEM presented porous structure and spherical morphology for Bi2O3 and ZnO NPs, respectively. While FE-SEM image of bimetallic nanoparticles showed both porous and spherical morphologies for them; so that spherical particles of ZnO have sat on the porous structure of Bi2O3 NPs. According to the PXRD results, the crystallite sizes of Bi2O3, ZnO and ZnO-Bi2O3 NPs have been obtained 57.69, 21.93, and 43.42 nm, respectively. Antibacterial performance of NPs has been studied on Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, to distinguish the minimum microbial inhibitory concentration (MIC). Antimicrobial outcomes have showed a better effect for ZnO-Bi2O3 NPs. Besides, wondering about the cytotoxic action against cancer cell lines, the MTT results have verified the intense cytotoxic function versus breast cancer cells (MCF-7). According to these observations, obtained products can prosper medical and biological applications.

Effects of matcha tea extract on cell viability and estrogen receptor-β expression on MCF-7 breast cancer cells

PURPOSE

In the following work, we investigated the effect of matcha green tea extract (MTE) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell viability and estrogen receptor-beta expression (ERβ).

METHODS

MCF-7 cells were stimulated with MTE at concentrations of 5 and 10 µg/ml. Cell viability was assessed using a water-soluble tetrazolium assay (WST-1 assay) after an incubation time of 72 h. ERβ was quantified at gene level by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A western blot (WB) was carried out for the qualitative assessment of the expression behavior of on a protein level.

RESULTS

The WST-1 test showed a significant inhibition of viability in MFC-7 cells after 72 h at 10 µg/ml. The WB demonstrated a significant quantitative decrease of ERβ at protein level with MTE concentrations of 10 µg/ml. In contrast, the PCR did not result in significant downregulation of ERβ.

CONCLUSION

MTE decreases the cell viability of MCF-7 cells and furthermore leads to a decrease of ERβ at protein level.

Cytotoxicity of bismuth(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives by promoting a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway and suppressing MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell invasion

We previously reported that the bismuth(III) dithiocarbamate derivative, bismuth diethyldithiocarbamate (1) exhibited greater cytotoxicity while inducing apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway in MCF-7 cells. We further evaluated the other bismuth(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives, Bi[S2CNR]3, with R = (CH2CH2OH)(iPr), (CH2)4, and (CH2CH2OH)(CH3), denoted as 2, 3, and 4, respectively, in the same MCF-7 cell line. 2-4 were found to exhibit IC50 values of 10.33 ± 0.06 µM, 1.07 ± 0.01 µM and 25.37 ± 0.12 µM, respectively, compared to that of cisplatin at 30.53 ± 0.23 µM. Apoptotic promotion via the mitochondrial-dependent pathway was due to the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), promotion of caspases, release of cytochrome c, fragmentation of DNA, and results of staining assay observed in all compound-treated cells. 2-4 are also capable of suppressing MCF-7 cell invasion and modulate Lys-48 also Lys-63 linked polyubiquitination, leading to proteasomal degradation. Analysis of gene expression via qRT-PCR revealed their modulation, which supported all activities conducted upon treatment with 2-4. Altogether, bismuth dithiocarbamate derivatives, with bismuth(III) as the metal center bound to ligands, isopropyl ethanol, pyrrolidine, and methyl ethanol dithiocarbamate, are potential anti-breast cancer agents that induce apoptosis and suppress metastasis. Further studies using other breast cancer cell lines and in vivo studies are recommended to clarify the anticancer effects of these compounds.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of titanium dioxide/thiopolyurethane composite: anticancer and antibacterial effects

Nanocomposites incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO2) have a significant potential for various industrial and medical applications. These nanocomposites exhibit selectivity as antimicrobial and anticancer agents. Antimicrobial activity is crucial for medical uses, including applications in food processing, packaging, and surgical instruments. Additionally, these nanocomposites exhibit selectivity as anticancer agents. A stable nanocomposite as a new anticancer and antibacterial chemical was prepared by coupling titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a polyurethane foam matrix through the thiourea group. The titanium dioxide/thiopolyurethane nanocomposite (TPU/TiO2) was synthesized from low-cost Ilmenite ore and commercial polyurethane foam. EDX analysis was used to determine the elemental composition of the titanium dioxide (TiO2) matrix. TiO2NPs were synthesized and were characterized using TEM, XRD, IR, and UV-Vis spectra. TiO2NPs and TPU foam formed a novel composite. The MTT assay assessed Cisplatin and HepG-2 and MCF-7 cytotoxicity in vitro. Its IC50 values for HepG-2 and MCF-7 were 122.99 ± 4.07 and 201.86 ± 6.82 µg/mL, respectively. The TPU/TiO2 exhibits concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HepG-2 cells in vitro. The selective index was measured against both cell lines; it showed its safety against healthy cells. Agar well-diffusion exhibited good inhibition zones against Escherichia coli (12 mm), Bacillus cereus (10 mm), and Aspergillus niger (19 mm). TEM of TPU/TiO2-treated bacteria showed ultrastructure changes, including plasma membrane detachment from the cell wall, which caused lysis and bacterial death. TPU/TiO2 can treat cancer and inhibit microbes in dentures and other items. Also, TPU/TiO2 inhibits E. coli, B. cereus, and A. niger microbial strains.

Exploring copper (II) porphyrin complexes and their derivatives for electrochemical analysis and biological assessment in the study of breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines

In this study, several derivatives of tetraphenylporphyrin were synthesized, each with unique meso-substituent groups including phenyl, methoxyphenyl, butyloxyphenyl, octyloxyphenyl, and dectyloxyphenyl. Additionally, their corresponding copper complexes were prepared and thoroughly characterized. The structural confirmation of all compounds was established through CHN elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and FT-IR spectroscopy. As the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl long-chain increased, a slight red shift in the electronic absorption band was observed, which was attributed to the electronic influence of the alkyl group. DFT analysis indicated that electron density predominantly localized on the porphyrin ring of both the metal free porphyrins and copper (II) porphyrin complexes, with relatively low electron density in the p orbital of the meso-aryl long-chain substituent group. EPR spectroscopy of the Copper (II) ion complexes revealed signals, indicating their paramagnetic properties. Additionally, the Copper (II) tetraphenylporphyrin (CuTPP) complexes displayed two reversible oxidation peaks at +0.97 V and +1.35 V, whereas other derivatives exhibited lower oxidation potentials. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against MCF-7 cell lines was assessed using MTT assay, revealing cytotoxic effects in all cases. Among them, Copper (II) tetrakis (4-methyloxyphenyl)porphyrin (CuTOMPP) demonstrated the highest potential, with an IC50 value of 32.07 μg/mL.

In Vitro Modulation of Genotoxicity and Oxidative Stress by Polyphenol-Rich Fraction of Chinese Ladder Brake (Pteris vittata L.)

Pteris vittata L. is a terrestrial genus growing in moist, shady forests and on hillsides. The plant has considerable ethnomedicinal importance. Investigations have been carried out on chemical profiling and antioxidant compounds from some genera of pteridophytes but studies on the biological properties of P. vittata are lacking. Therefore, the present study investigates antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antiproliferative potential of the aqueous fraction of P. vittata (PWE). A battery of assays were carried out to assess the antioxidant potential of the PWE. SOS chromotest and DNA nicking assay were used to evaluate the antigenotoxicity of the fraction. The cytotoxic effect of PWE was analyzed using MTT and Neutral Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis comet assay. EC50 of 90.188 µg/ml, 80.13 µg/ml, 142.836 µg/ml, and 12.274 µg/ml was obtained in DPPH, superoxide anion scavenging, reducing power and lipid peroxidation assays, respectively. PWE was potent in inhibiting Fenton's reagent-induced nicking of pBR322 plasmid. The fraction significantly inhibited hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO) induced mutagenicity and a reduction in induction factor was found with increased PWE concentration. GI50 of 147.16 µg/ml was obtained in MTT assay in human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. PWE induced apoptosis as confirmed from confocal microscopy studies. The protective effects can be attributed to the presence of the phytochemicals in PWE. These results will be helpful in the development of functional food characteristics, as well as unravel the benefits of pteridophytes as promoters of health.

Elevated extracellular inorganic phosphate inhibits ecto-phosphatase activity in breast cancer cells: Regulation by hydrogen peroxide

For cells to obtain inorganic phosphate, ectoenzymes in the plasma membrane, which contain a catalytic site facing the extracellular environment, hydrolyze phosphorylated molecules. In this study, we show that increased Pi levels in the extracellular environment promote a decrease in ecto-phosphatase activity, which is associated with Pi-induced oxidative stress. High levels of Pi inhibit ecto-phosphatase because Pi generates H2 O2 . Ecto-phosphatase activity is inhibited by H2 O2 , and this inhibition is selective for phospho-tyrosine hydrolysis. Additionally, it is shown that the mechanism of inhibition of ecto-phosphatase activity involves lipid peroxidation. In addition, the inhibition of ecto-phosphatase activity by H2 O2 is irreversible. These findings have new implications for understanding ecto-phosphatase regulation in the tumor microenvironment. H2 O2 stimulated by high Pi inhibits ecto-phosphatase activity to prevent excessive accumulation of extracellular Pi, functioning as a regulatory mechanism of Pi variations in the tumor microenvironment.

Restoring microRNA-34a overcomes acquired drug resistance and disease progression in human breast cancer cell lines via suppressing the ABCC1 gene

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is one of the leading types of cancer diagnosed in women. Despite the improvements in chemotherapeutic cure strategies, drug resistance is still an obstacle leading to disease aggressiveness. The small non-coding RNA molecules, miRNAs, have been implicated recently to be involved as regulators of gene expression through the silencing of mRNA targets that contributed to several cellular processes related to cancer metastasis. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the beneficial role and mechanism of miRNA-34a-based gene therapy as a novel approach for conquering drug resistance mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in breast cancer cells, besides exploring the associated invasive behaviors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Bioinformatics tools were used to predict miRNA ABC transporter targets by tracking the ABC transporter pathway. After the establishment of drug-resistant breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 sublines, cells were transfected with the mimic or inhibitor of miRNA-34a-5p. The quantitative expression of genes involved in drug resistance was performed by QRT-PCR, and the exact ABC transporter target specification interaction was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis was utilized to determine the ability of miRNA-34a-treated cells against doxorubicin uptake and accumulation in cell cycle phases. The spreading capability was examined by colony formation, migration, and wound healing assays. The apoptotic activity was estimated as well.

RESULTS

Our findings firstly discovered the mechanism of miRNA-34a-5p restoration as an anti-drug-resistant molecule that highly significantly attenuates the expression of ABCC1 via the direct targeting of its 3'- untranslated regions in resistant breast cancer cell lines, with a significant increase of doxorubicin influx by MDA-MB-231/Dox-resistant cells. Additionally, the current data validated a significant reduction of metastatic potentials upon miRNA-34a-5p upregulation in both types of breast cancer-resistant cells.

CONCLUSION

The ectopic expression of miRNA-34a ameliorates the acquired drug resistance and the migration properties that may eventually lead to improved clinical strategies and outcomes for breast cancer patients. Additionally, miRNA-34a could be monitored as a diagnostic/prognostic biomarker for resistant conditions.

In vitro anticancer effects of recombinant anisoplin through activation of SAPK/JNK and downregulation of NFκB

Emerging chemotherapeutic resistance is considered as one of the major obstacles in breast cancer therapy. Fungal ribotoxins possess promising therapeutic potential against cancer owing to their ribosome-targeted protein synthesis inhibitory action. Though the entomopathogenic ribotoxin anisoplin was characterized in the earlier study, its therapeutic efficacy against cancer cells remained unexplored. In the current study, recombinant anisoplin has been successfully produced in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) expression system and further purified and validated by in silico, biophysical and functional characterizations. Recombinant anisoplin significantly reduced the viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. It exhibited an IC50 value of 4 μM with concurrent 3.5 fold elevation in the intracellular reactive oxygen species. Anisoplin also resulted in depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and subsequently induced apoptosis, as evident from flow cytometric analyses. In addition, MCF-7 cells significantly lost their self-renewal capability for clonal expansion and regeneration upon treatment. Immunoblotting experiments further confirmed activation of downstream JNK-dependent MAP kinase signaling pathway due to ribotoxic stress response generated by anisoplin through upregulation of phospho-SAPK/JNK expression. This upregulation was further correlated with the NFκB expression profile, leading to cell death, highlighting therapeutic potential of the recombinant anisoplin.

Porcupine quills keratin peptides induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via p53/p21 pathway and caspase cascade reaction in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Porcupine quills, a by-product of porcupine pork, are rich in keratin, which is an excellent source of bioactive peptides. The objective of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of anti-proliferation effect of porcupine quills keratin peptides (PQKPs) on MCF-7 cells.

RESULTS

Results showed that PQKPs induced MCF-7 cells apoptosis by significantly decreasing the secretion level of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 and increasing the secretion levels of pro-apoptosis proteins Bax, cytochrome c, caspase 9, caspase 3 and PARP. PQKPs also arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase via remarkably reducing the protein levels of CDK4 and enhancing the protein levels of p53 and p21. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis identified nine peptides with molecular weights less than 1000 Da in PQKPs. Molecular docking results showed that TPGPPT and KGPAC identified from PQKPs could bind with p53 mutant and Bcl-2 protein by conventional hydrogen bonds, carbon hydrogen bonds and van der Waals force. Furthermore, the anti-proliferation impact of synthesized peptides (TPGPPT and KGPAC) was shown in MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that PQKPs suppressed the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by triggering apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the outcome of this study will bring fresh insights into the production and application of animal byproducts. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pentacyclic triterpenoids from the stem of Grewia bracteata Roth demonstrate promising inhibition on tumour cells

Grewia bracteata Roth stem was investigated for its anticancer potential for the first time. Initially, polarity-guided extracts from three solvents were screened on HeLa, HCT- 116 and MCF-7 tumours cells. The results revealed that ethyl acetate extract (GSE) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited HeLa, HCT- 116 and MCF-7 cells with respective IC50 values of 30.58, 14.26 and 22.91 µg/mL. GSE inhibited HCT-116 cells with 6- and 21-folds higher than hexane (GSN) and methanol (GSM) extracts, respectively. Hence, column chromatography of GSE was performed and fractionated to 18 fractions. The obtained fractions were further tested on HCT-116 cells. Amongst, the fractions HF6 and DF1 were active with the respective IC50 values of 25.35 and 31.28, µg/mL (p < 0.05). These active fractions were profiled using H1-NMR, C13-NMR and LC-MS/MS analysis, and found the presence of pentacyclic triterpenoids like betulin diacetate and ursolic acid.

Investigation of the effect of belinostat on MCF-7 breast cancer stem cells via the Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog signaling pathway

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate belinostat's (PXD101) activity on MCF-7 breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) via Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog.

METHODS

This research study was carried out at the Department of Medical Biology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey, from June 2017 to July 2019. The effect of PXD101 on MCF-7 cell viability was determined by cell proliferation kit (XTT). Following belinostat treatment, CD44+/CD24- MCF-7 CSCs were isolated by FACS. Ribonucleic acid isolation and copy-deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis were carried out using HEK-293 cells, MCF-7 cells, and MCF-7 CSCs. Expression changes of metastasis-related genes, Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, and stem cell markers were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The IC50 in MCF-7 cancer cells was 5 μM for 48 hours. The FACS analysis indicated that 2% of the MCF-7 cancer cells were CSCs. Following belinostat treatment, the MCF-7 cell count decreased by 44%, and the MCF-7 CD44+/CD24- CSC count decreased by 66%.

RESULTS

Belinostat treatment reduced the expression of metastasis, Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, and stem cell marker genes.

CONCLUSION

Belinostat has a potential effect on the differentiation and self-renewal of breast CSCs.

Phytochemicals from Pterocarpus angolensis DC and Their Cytotoxic Activities against Breast Cancer Cells

Pterocarpus anglonesis DC is an indigenous medicinal plant belonging to the Pterocarpus genus of the Fabaceae family. It is used to treat stomach problems, headaches, mouth ulcers, malaria, blackwater fever, gonorrhea, ringworm, diarrhea, heavy menstruation, and breast milk stimulation. Column chromatography of the stem bark extracts resulted in the isolation of eight compounds, which included friedelan-3-one (1), 3α-hydroxyfriedel-2-one (2), 3-hydroxyfriedel-3-en-2-one (3), lup-20(29)-en-3-ol (4), Stigmasta-5-22-dien-3-ol (5), 4-O-methylangolensis (6), (3β)-3-acetoxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (7), and tetradecyl (E)-ferulate (8). The structures were established based on NMR, IR, and MS spectroscopic analyses. Triple-negative breast cancer (HCC70), hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (MCF-7), and non-cancerous mammary epithelial cell lines (MCF-12A) were used to test the compounds' cytotoxicity. Overall, the compounds showed either no toxicity or very low toxicity to all three cell lines tested, except for the moderate toxicity displayed by lupeol (4) towards the non-cancerous MCF-12A cells, with an IC50 value of 36.60 μM. Compound (3β)-3-acetoxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (7) was more toxic towards hormone-responsive (MCF-7) breast cancer cells than either triple-negative breast cancer (HCC70) or non-cancerous breast epithelial (MCF-12A) cells (IC50 values of 83.06 vs. 146.80 and 143.00 μM, respectively).

seed: selective anticancer action against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) through down-regulation of Cyclin D1 and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expressions

BACKGROUND

Breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) are characterized by the overexpression of apoptotic marker genes and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which promote cancer cell proliferation. Thymol, derived from Nigella sativa (NS), has been investigated for its potential anti-proliferative and anticancer properties, especially its ability to suppress Cyclin D1 and PCNA expression, which are crucial in the proliferation of cancer cells.

METHODS

The cytotoxicity of thymol on MCF-7 cells was assessed using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release methods. Thymol was tested at increasing concentrations (0-1000 µM) to evaluate its impact on MCF-7 cell growth. Additionally, Cyclin D1 and PCNA gene expression in thymol-treated and vehicle control groups of MCF-7 were quantified using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Protein-ligand interactions were also investigated using the CB-Dock2 server.

RESULTS

Thymol significantly inhibited MCF-7 cell growth, with a 50% inhibition observed at 200 µM. The gene expression of Cyclin D1 and PCNA was down-regulated in the thymol-treated group relative to the vehicle control. The experimental results were verified through protein-ligand interaction investigations.

CONCLUSIONS

Thymol, extracted from NS, demonstrated specific cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cells by suppressing the expression of Cyclin D1 and PCNA, suggesting its potential as an effective drug for MCF-7. However, additional in vivo research is required to ascertain its efficacy and safety in medical applications.

Preliminary anticancer evaluation of new Pd(II) complexes bearing NNO donor ligands

In this study we presented a novel series of NNO tridentate ligands generating imino, amido and oxo donor pocket for Pd(II) coordination. All the compounds were meticulously characterized by elemental analysis and advanced spectroscopic techniques, including FTIR, proton and carbon NMR. The synthesized compounds underwent rigorous evaluation for their potential as anti-cancer agents, utilizing the aggressive breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB (ATCC) and MCF-7 as a crucial model for assessing growth inhibition in cancer cells. Remarkably, the MTT assay unveiled the robust anti-cancer activity for all palladium complexes against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Particularly, complex [Pd(L1)(CH3CN)] exhibited exceptional potency with an IC50 value of 25.50 ± 0.30 µM (MDA-MB-231) and 20.76 ± 0.30 µM (MCF-7), compared to respective 27.00 ± 0.80 µM and 24.10 ± 0.80 µM for cisplatin, underscoring its promising therapeutic potential. Furthermore, to elucidate the mechanistic basis for the anti-cancer effects, molecular docking studies on tyrosine kinases, an integral target in cancer research, were carried out. The outcome of these investigations further substantiated the remarkable anticancer properties inherent to these innovative compounds. This research offers a compelling perspective on the development of potent anti-cancer agents rooted in the synergy between ligands and Pd(II) complexes and presenting a promising avenue for future cancer therapy endeavors.

Tumour-specific hybrid nanoparticles in therapy of breast cancer

In this study, salicylic acid (SA) dopped into poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and prepared nanoparticles (NPs) to increase encapsulation efficiency, anti-cancer activity of caffeic acid (Caff), and folic acid (FA) for breast cancer treatment. NPs were prepared by solvent evaporation method and characterised by FTIR, DSC, SEM, and entrapment-loading efficiencies. The mean diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential (ZP) were evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS). In vitro release and stability studies were done via eppendorf method. The cytotoxicity, cell dead and internalisation of NPs were shown by MTT, fluorescein and confocal microscopy. The diameter and ZP of NPs were 172 ± 7 nm and -29 ± 0.38 mV. The entrapment efficiencies of 5 and 10 Caff NPs were 79 ± 0.23% and 70 ± 0.42%. NPs showed good stability within 30 d and sustained release over 25 d. FA-5Caff NPs showed 37 ± 0.3% viability on MCF-7. FA-Caff NPs were identified as promising carrier system for breast cancer therapy.

Synthesis, photophysical properties, anticancer evaluation, and molecular docking studies of new pyrimidine linked 4-arylidene-thiazolidin-4-ones as potent anticancer agents

The reaction of 4-(chloroacetamido)pyrimidine (1) with ammonium thiocyanate gave 2-(pyrimidin-4-ylimino)thiazolidin-4-one (2), which, when condensed with four substituted benzaldehyde analogues, gave the consequent 5-arylidine-2-(pyrimidin-4-ylimino)thiazolidin-4-ones 3a-d. In addition, the absorbance and fluorescence behaviours of pyrimidinylimino-thiazolidin-4-one hybrids 3a-d in various organic solvents were investigated. The emphasis was on studying UV absorption capacities and the effect of various structural components on photophysical qualities such as the 5-arylidene-2-(pyrimidin-4-ylimino)thiazolidin-4-ones and N,N-dimethylamino tail. The cytotoxic effect of four pyrimidinylimino-thiazolidin-4-one hybrids 3a-d on tumour cell lines (HepG2, HCT-116, PC3, MCF-7) and a normal cell line (WI38) is investigated in this work. The cytotoxicity was measured by comparing the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) to the reference medication, 5-fluorouracil. The findings indicate that these hybrid compounds had varying cytotoxic effects on the cell lines examined; hybrids 3b and 3c demonstrated significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 with IC50 values of 7.53 ± 0.43 and 9.17 ± 0.31 μM, respectively. The inhibitory efficacy of various synthesized hybrids on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase was investigated. EGFR is a crucial target in cancer treatment because inhibiting it may reduce tumour development and proliferation. The IC50 value was used to calculate the inhibitory activity, which is the concentration of inhibitor necessary to induce half-maximal inhibition of EGFR kinase activity. In addition, the predicted ADME results show that pyrimidinylimino-thiazolidin-4-one hybrids have good pharmacokinetic properties; hybrid 3d is more lipophilic than the other compounds. It has a medium molecular weight, a small number of hydrogen bond acceptors and donors, and a large number of aromatic heavy atoms. Moreover, molecular docking simulations revealed precise information on the interactions of pyrimidinylimino-thiazolidin-4-one hybrids 3a-d and 5-Fu with their respective protein targets. These interactions point to possible pathways for their biological activities and call for more testing to establish their effectiveness as bioactive molecules or therapeutic candidates.

Computational approaches in the estimation of radiobiological damage for human-malignant cells irradiated with clinical proton and carbon beams

PURPOSE

The use of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations capable of reproducing radiobiological effects of ionising radiation on human cell lines is of great importance, especially for cases involving protons and heavier ion beams. In the latter, huge uncertainties can arise mainly related to the effects of the secondary particles produced in the beam-tissue interaction. This paper reports on a detailed MC study performed using Geant4-based approach on three cancer cell lines, the HTB-177, CRL-5876 and MCF-7, that were previously irradiated with therapeutic proton and carbon ion beams.

METHODS

A Geant4-based approach used jointly with analytical calculations has been developed to provide a more realistic estimation of the radiobiological damage produced by proton and carbon beams in tissues, reproducing available data obtained from in vitro cell irradiations. The MC "Hadrontherapy" Geant4 application and the Local Effect Model: LEM I, LEM II and LEM III coupled with the different numerical approaches: RapidRusso (RR) and RapidScholz (RS) were used in the study.

RESULTS

Experimental survival curves are compared with those evaluated using the highlighted Geant4 MC-based approach via chi-square statistical analysis, for the combinations of radiobiological models and numerical approaches, as outlined above.

CONCLUSION

This study has presented a comparison of the survival data from MC simulations to experimental survival data for three cancer cell lines. An overall best level of agreement was obtained for the HTB-177 cells.

New cycloartane triterpenoids from Dysoxylum malabaricum and their cytotoxic evaluation

The cytotoxic dichloromethane-methanol bark extract of Dysoxylum malabaricum was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation, followed by systematic dereplication to focus on the identification of new compounds. From the bark of Dysoxylum malabaricum, two new cycloartane-type triterpenoids were isolated in addition to two previously known triterpenoids. The structures and absolute configurations of the isolated compounds were elucidated unambiguously via NMR, HRESIMS data, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic potential against the panel of breast, lung, and hypopharynx cancer cell lines and displayed notable cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines. Compound 3 exhibited the most potent cytotoxic effect with an IC50 14 µM against MCF-7 cell lines and induced cell cycle arrest. Through western blot and cell cycle analysis, it was revealed that compound 3 halts the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle by inhibiting CDC20 and CDC25 enzymes.

Synthesis, molecular modeling Insights, and anticancer assessment of novel polyfunctionalized Pyridine congeners

The present study describes synthesizing a novel series of polyfunctionalized pyridine congeners 1-18 and assessed for cytotoxic efficacies versus HCT-116, MCF-7, and HepG-2 among one non-cancerous BJ-1 human normal cell. Most compounds were precisely potent anticancer candidate drugs. The molecular impact of the most active compounds 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, and 17 was evaluated after MCF-7 treatment. The gene expression of pro- and ant-apoptosis markers P53, Bax, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 as well as VEGFR-2 and HER2 were determined. Compounds 13 and 15 induced upregulation of pro-apoptosis of P53, Bax, Caspase-3 and downregulation of anti-apoptosis Bcl-2 gene. However, compound 15 showed higher effect compared to 13 and respective control. Moreover, a slight reduction in HER2 gene expression was detected due to compound 15 treatment, while VEGFR-2 gene was upregulated. In agreement, the immunoblotting analysis showed higher accumulation of P53, Bax, Caspase-3 proteins and of decrease the Bcl-2 protein levels. Furthermore, docking studies united with molecular dynamic simulation exposed compounds 13 and 15 fitting in the middle of the active site at the interface linking the ATP binding site and the allosteric hydrophobic binding pocket. Finally, we performed Petra/Osiris/ Molinspiration (POM) analysis for the newly synthesized compounds. The evaluation of primary in silico parameters revealed significant differences among individual polyfunctionalized pyridine compounds, highlighting the most promising candidates. These preliminary results may help in coordinating and initiating other research projects focused on polyfunctionalized pyridine compounds, especially those with predicted bioactivity, low toxicity, optimal ADME parameters, and promising perspectives.

Octyl Gallate and Gallic Acid Isolated from Terminalia bellirica Circumvent Breast Cancer Progression by Enhancing the Intrinsic Apoptotic Signaling Pathway and Elevating the Levels of Anti-oxidant Enzymes

Exploration of new strategies and identification of less expensive novel chemoprevention agents against breast cancer progression have become the need of the hour. Thus, the present study aimed at evaluating the anti-cancer efficacies of octyl gallate (OG) and gallic acid (GA) isolated from Terminalia bellirica (T. bellirica) in breast cancer cell lines and DMBA-induced Sprague-Dawley animal model. The results of western blot analysis show significant (p < 0.05) downregulation of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) expression and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein (Bak and Bax) expression in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Our findings also show that DMBA-induced Sprague-Dawley rats (50-55 days old) orally administered with OG (20 mg/kg body wt.) and GA (20 mg/kg body wt.) for a treatment period of 14 weeks were observed for normalized body weight changes and hematological indices and significant reduction of tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3), and oxidative stress (TBARS) in serum, while the activity of anti-oxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, and GPx) levels estimated in the mammary tissue was found restored back to normal. Computational molecular interaction study was also performed to substantiate the in vitro obtained results. The tissue histology reveals the therapeutic role of OG and GA. The study conducted brings to limelight of the molecular mechanisms of intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway through which OG and GA exert their chemopreventive action. Both OG and GA can be explored further as chemotherapeutic natural drugs for their ability to prevent breast cancer progression.

Alkaloids from the roots of Sophora flavescens and their anti-tumor activity

Sophora flavescens belongs to Sophora genus of Leguminosae. Its roots are used as a traditional Chinese medicine. In our study on Sophora flavescens roots, 3 new and 19 known alkaloids have been found, including 8 aloperine-type and 14 matrine-type alkaloids. The planar configurations of these compounds were determined by the spectral data, and the absolute configurations of new compounds 1, 2 and 4 were determined by pyridine solvent effect, ECD and snatzke methods, respectively. All compounds were tested for their inhibitory activity on MCF-7 cell growth, and compound 12 exhibited certain inhibitory effects on the growth of MCF-7 cells after 24 h of treatment at a concentration of 20 μM, with inhibition rates of 31.28%. Through target screening and molecular docking, human Rho GTPase activating protein 5 variant and human arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase (12S-type) might be important targets for compound 12 to exert anti-tumor activity.

In vitro cytotoxic investigation of some synthesized 1,6-disubstituted-1-azacoumarin derivatives as anticancer agents

Aims: In this study, novel synthesized 1,6-disubstituted-1-azacoumarin-3-carboxylic acid derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential anticancer agents. Materials & methods: The cytotoxicity of novel 1-azacoumarin-3-carboxylic acid derivatives was tested using an MTT assay. High potency was shown by DNA flow cytometry on MCF-7 cells for compound 3b. In addition, topoisomerase IIβ, caspase 3/7, Bax and Bcl-2 enzymes were used to study apoptotic activity. In the same studies, molecular docking analysis assessed activity. Results & conclusion: Cytotoxicity screening identified multiple bioactive compounds, especially compound 3b. Analysis of DNA flow cytometry revealed that compound 3b exhibited cell cycle arrest. Compound 3b had an increase in the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase 3/7, and a decrease in topoisomerase IIβ enzyme inhibition.

Oncolytic Activity of Canine Distemper Virus in Human Ductal Breast Carcinoma Cells

INTRODUCTION

Oncolytic virotherapy is a novel strategy for cancer treatment in humans and companion animals. Canine distemper virus (CDV) is known to induce apoptosis in tumor cells, thus serving as a potential candidate for oncolytic therapy. However, the mechanism of viral oncolytic activity is less studied and varies depending on the type of cancer and cell lines.

METHODS

In the present study, the susceptibility of the MCF-7 cell line to CDV infection was assessed using the CDV strain, which was confirmed previously through sequence analysis in the Vero cell line. The impact of CDV infection on cell proliferation and apoptosis was studied by evaluating the expression of four target genes including the myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1), phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1), transcription factor (SP1), and DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A).

RESULTS

CDV replication in the cells induced cytopathic effect and decreased in the cell proliferation rates compared to the uninfected control. MCL-1, SP1, and PIK3R1 gene expression was down-regulated, while the expression of DNMT3A was up-regulated 3 days post-infection. The expression levels of the target genes suggest that CDV may be inducing the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in the cancer cell line.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results strongly propose CDV strain as a potential candidate for cancer therapy after detailed studies.

Synthesis of Pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-ones via Ugi-Zhu Reaction and In Vitro-In Silico Studies against Breast Carcinoma

An Ugi-Zhu three-component reaction (UZ-3CR) coupled in a one-pot manner to a cascade process (N-acylation/aza Diels-Alder cycloaddition/decarboxylation/dehydration) was performed to synthesize a series of pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-ones in 20% to 92% overall yields using ytterbium triflate as a catalyst, toluene as a solvent, and microwaves as a heat source. The synthesized molecules were evaluated in vitro against breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, finding that compound 1f, at a concentration of 6.25 μM, exhibited a potential cytotoxic effect. Then, to understand the interactions between synthesized compounds and the main proteins related to the cancer cell lines, docking studies were performed on the serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) and Orexetine type 2 receptor (Ox2R), finding moderate to strong binding energies, which matched accurately with the in vitro results. Additionally, molecular dynamics were performed between proteins related to the studied cell lines and the three best ligands.

Anti-proliferative activity of RIHMS-Qi-23 against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line is through inhibition of cell proliferation and senescence but not inhibition of targeted kinases

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy globally, and is considered a major cause of cancer-related death. Tremendous effort is exerted to identify an optimal anticancer drug with limited side effects. The quinoline derivative RIMHS-Qi-23 had a wide-spectrum antiproliferative activity against various types of cancer cells.

METHODS

In the current study, the effect of RIMHS-Qi-23 was tested on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line to evaluate its anticancer efficacy in comparison to the reference compound doxorubicin.

RESULTS

Our data suggest an anti-proliferative effect of RIMHS-Qi-23 on the MCF-7 cell line with superior potency and selectivity compared to doxorubicin. Our mechanistic study suggested that the anti-proliferative effect of RIMHS-Qi-23 against MCF-7 cell line is not through targeted kinase inhibition but through other molecular machinery targeting cell proliferation and senescence such as cyclophlin A, p62, and LC3.

CONCLUSION

RIMHS-Qi-23 is exerting an anti-proliferative effect that is more potent and selective than doxorubicin.

Production of biosurfactant by salt-resistant Bacillus in lead-supplemented media: application and toxicity

A group of biosurfactants are lipopeptides that are produced by some microorganisms, especially Bacillus strains. They are new bioactive agents with anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities. Also, they are used in sanitation industries. In this study, a lead-resistant strain of Bacillus halotolerans was isolated for lipopeptide production. This isolate exhibited metal resistance (lead, calcium, chromium, nickel, copper, manganese, and mercury), salt tolerance (12%), and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The production of lipopeptide was optimized, concentrated, and then extracted from the polyacrylamide gel in a simple way for the first time. The nature of the purified lipopeptide was determined by FTIR, GC/MS, and HPLC analyses. The purified lipopeptide indicated significant antioxidant properties (90.38% at a concentration of 0.8 mg ml-1). Also, it had anticancer activity by apoptosis (flow cytometry analysis) in MCF-7 cells, while it had no cytotoxicity on HEK-293 normal cells. Therefore, Bacillus halotolerans lipopeptide has the potential to be used as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, or anticancer agent in the medical and food industries.

Synthesis of novel pyrimido[4,5-b]quinolines as potential anticancer agents and HER2 inhibitors

A series of N-arylpyrimido[4,5-b]quinolines 3a-e and 2-aryl-2,3-dihydropyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline-4(1H)-ones 5a-e was designed and synthesized as potential anticancer agents against breast cancer. Compounds 3e, 5a, 5b, 5d, and 5e showed promising activity against the MCF-7 cell line. Among them, compound 5b was the most active with IC50 of 1.67 μM. Compound 5b promoted apoptosis and induced cell cycle arrest at S phase. 5b increased the level of pro-apoptotic proteins p53, Bax, and caspase-7 and inhibited the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Furthermore, all the synthesized compounds were docked into the crystal structure of HER2 (PBD: 3 pp0). Compounds 3e, 5a, 5b, 5d, and 5e showed good energy scores and binding modes. Finally, Compound 5b was evaluated on the HER2 assay and revealed good inhibition with IC50 of 0.073 μM.

Cytotoxic n-Hexane Fraction of the Egyptian Pteris vittata Functions as Anti-breast Cancer Through Coordinated Actions on Apoptotic and Autophagic Pathways

We investigated the possible anticancer mechanisms of Pteris vittata [PV] n-hexane extract on MCF-7 [breast cancer cell line]. Cultured cell lines were treated with various concentrations of this extract ± Baf-A1 [autophagic inhibitor]. Cells' viability, apoptotic markers [caspase-7, Bax, and Bcl-2], autophagic markers [light chain 3 [LC-3] and P62/SQSTM1]], and the tumor suppressor P53 and its mRNA were checked by their corresponding methods. Treated cell lines showed significant concentration and time-dependent reductions in cell viability in response to PV-n-hexane extract and also exhibited a concomitant induction of apoptosis [increased chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and pro-apoptotic Bax, and cleaved caspase-7 levels while decreased Bcl-2 levels] and autophagy [increased autophagosomes vacuoles, and LC3B II levels while decreased P62/SQSTM1 levels]. Moreover, PV-n-hexane extract-treated cells showed significant increases in the P53 and its mRNA levels. The addition of Baf-A1 reversed the PV-n-hexane extract autophagic effects and increased apoptotic cell percentage with a much increase in the cleaved caspase-7 and P53 protein and its mRNA levels. We concluded that the PV-n-hexane extract exhibits cytotoxic effects on the MCF-7 cell line with significant reductions in cell viability and concomitant autophagy and apoptosis induction. Inhibition of autophagy in the PV-treated MCF-7 cells enhances apoptosis via a p35-dependent pathway.

Antiproliferative activity and apoptosis‑inducing effects of Trametes polyzona polysaccharides against human breast cancer cells

Fungal polysaccharides have garnered interest due to their biological activities in terms of anticancer properties and antioxidant activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer properties and antioxidant activity of a newly isolated white-rot fungus, Trametes polyzona CU07 from Thailand. Crude T. polyzona polysaccharides (CTPPs) were extracted from mycelia using hot water. The chemical properties, including total carbohydrates, molecular weight and protein content, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, were then investigated. The antioxidant activity was determined against the radicals 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). The anticancer properties were evaluated in MCF-7 breast cancer (BC) cells, whereas the 293 cell line was used as a control. The inhibitory effects of CTPPs on viability were determined by MTT assay, followed by BrdU incorporation assay to assess cell proliferation. The induction of apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. CTPPs were considered polysaccharide-protein conjugates, which had molecular weights in the range of 0.3-22,528 kDa. They contained ~50 and 37% carbohydrate and protein, respectively, with glucose as the main monosaccharide component. Notably, CTPPs had high antioxidant activity against ABTS, and had a significant inhibitory effect on the MCF-7 cell line with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 0.58 mg/ml. However, they exhibited little effect on the 293 cell line. The BrdU incorporation assay demonstrated that CTPPs inhibited proliferation by ~20% compared with that in untreated cells. CTPPs also induced early- and late-stage apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. These results indicated that the CTPPs may exhibit potential antiproliferative and antioxidant activity, and apoptosis-inducing effects against human BC cells.

Searching for Natural Aurora a Kinase Inhibitors from Peppers Using Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics

Natural products are the precursors of many medicinal substances. Peppers (Piper, Capsicum, Pimienta) are a rich source of compounds with potential multidirectional biological activity. One of the studied directions is antitumor activity. Little research has been carried out so far on the ability of the compounds contained in peppers to inhibit the activity of Aurora A kinase, the overexpression of which is characteristic of cancer development. In this study, molecular docking methods, as well as molecular dynamics, were used, looking for compounds that could inhibit the activity of Aurora A kinase and trying to determine whether there is a relationship between the stimulation of the TRPV1 receptor and the inhibition of Aurora A kinase. We compared our results with anticancer activity studied earlier on MCF-7 cell lines (breast cancer cells). Our research indicates that the compounds contained in peppers can inhibit Aurora A. Further in vitro research is planned to confirm the obtained results.

Novel Schiff Base Derived from Amino Pyrene: Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structure Determination, and Anticancer Applications of the Ligand and Its Metal Complexes

In this study, we report the cytotoxicity of a newly synthesized Schiff base HL ((E)-2-ethoxy-6((pyren-1-ylimino)methyl)phenol) and its derived metal complexes (Zn(II), Cu(II), Co(II), Cr(III), and Fe(III)) along with their structural characterizations by means of elemental analysis, magnetic moment, molar conductance, IR, UV-Vis, ESR, and mass spectrometry. The single X-ray diffraction of the HL shows that it exists in the phenol-imine form in its solid state. The NMR and IR data indicate that the bidentate binding of the Schiff base ligand with the metal center occurs during complexation through the azomethine nitrogen atom and the hydroxyl group oxygen atom of the 3-ethoxy salicylaldehyde. The electronic spectra and magnetic measurements indicate that the Co(II) complex has a tetrahedral geometry and that the Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes have a distorted octahedral geometry. The ESR and electronic spectra suggest that the Cu(II) complex has a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The cytotoxic effects of the HL and all of the metal complexes were studied using human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes exhibited the highest activity against the tested cell line, with IC50 values of 5.66 and 12.74 μg/mL, respectively, and their activity was higher than that of the fluorouracil cancer drug against the MCF-7 cells (18.05 μg/mL).

Novel Nanotherapeutic Systems Based on PEGylated Squalene Micelles for Enhanced In Vitro Activity of Methotrexate and Cytarabine

Nanomedicine has garnered significant attention due to the advantages it offers in the treatment of cancer-related disorders, some of the deadliest diseases affecting human lives. Conventional medication formulations often encounter issues of instability or insolubility in biological environments, resulting in low bioavailability. Nanocarriers play a crucial role in transporting and safeguarding drugs at specific sites of action, enabling gradual release under particular conditions. This study focuses on methotrexate (MTx) and cytarabine (Cyt), essential antitumoral drugs, loaded into PEGylated squalene micellar structures to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and minimize drawbacks. The micelles were prepared using ultrasound-assisted methods in both water and phosphate buffer saline solutions. Evaluation of drug-loaded micelles encompassed parameters such as particle size, colloidal stability, surface charge, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading capacity, and in vitro release profiles under simulated physiological and tumoral conditions. In vitro cell inhibition studies conducted on MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines demonstrated higher antitumoral activity for the drug-encapsulated micelles compared to free drugs. The encapsulation effectively addressed the burst effect, providing sustained release for at least 48 h while enhancing the drug's protection under physiological conditions.

Effects of Origanum majorana on Breast Cancer Cells: An Alternative to Chemotherapy?

Recent studies have reported several beneficial effects of natural compounds on cancerous cells, highlighting their use for future treatments. These preliminary findings have encouraged experiments with natural substances, such as plant extracts, to examine both cytotoxic and mitogenic effects and find alternative treatments for diseases such as breast cancer. This study examines the effects of microwave-assisted and ethanol maceration of marjoram (Origanum majorana) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and normal breast tissue cell lines used as controls. Marjoram extracts displayed a cytotoxic effect on the MCF-7 cell lines and a mitogenic effect on the control cell lines at the MTS test. The metabolic profiles of MCF-7 and control cell lines were also assessed using the Biolog Phenotype Mammalian Metabolic (PM-M) platform and revealed statistically significant differences in the utilization of energy sources, metabolic activity in the presence of certain ionic species, and responses to metabolic effectors, such as stimulant/catabolic compounds and steroid hormones. Exposure to marjoram extracts exerted positive effects on the MCF-7 cells on the abnormal utilization of energy sources and the responses to metabolic effectors, while no major effects were detected on control cells. These effects were compared to the metabolic impact of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin, which showed profound cytotoxic effects on both cancerous and normal breast cells. In conclusion, our in vitro evidence indicates that marjoram extracts are a promising alternative to chemotherapy in breast cancer since they can successfully eliminate cancerous cells by affecting their metabolic capacity to proliferate without inducing noticeable adverse effects on normal breast tissue.

Evaluation of anticancer effect of colchicum autumnale L. Corm on breast cancer cell

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, and medicinal plants can prevent and play an inhibitory role for cancer. This study aims to evaluate the anticancer effect of colchicum autumnale L. Corm on breast cancer cell models.

METHODS

In this study, the alkaloid-rich extract was prepared using the percolation method and with methanol/water solvent (70:30). HFF2 normal cell line and MCF-7 breast cancer cell line were cultured in microplates (96 wells). Then cells were treated with concentrations of 62.5 to 2000 ng/ml of extract and concentrations of 62 to 1000 ng/ml of doxorubicin at regular intervals of 48 and 72 h, and the percentage of cell growth inhibition was calculated. Cytotoxicity of drugs was measured by the MTT assay method. IC50 values were calculated by Calcusyn software. Also, the P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Alkaloid-rich extract of Colchicum autumnale plant inhibited breast cancer cell growth (MCF-7). The IC50 parameter showed more cytotoxic effects of Colchicum autumnale plant extract on the MCF-7 cancer cell line than HFF2 normal cell line for 48 and 72 h. In addition, with higher concentrations of the extract, cytotoxicity, and growth inhibitory effect increased significantly and in comparison to the doxorubicin was almost the same as cytotoxic.

CONCLUSION

This research provides a novel view into the development of new drugs for the treatment of cancer diseases. Colchicum autumnale plant extract had a significant cytotoxic effect like Doxorubicin drug on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), which can alternatively treat and prevent breast cancer.

Oleuropein Induces Cytotoxicity and Peroxiredoxin Over-expression in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND/AIM

As a fundamental staple of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil has long been recognized for its health benefits, including its ability to reduce cardiovascular and neurological disease. Oleuropein is the primary phenolic chemical found in all parts of the olive tree, especially in the leaves and fruit. Oleuropein exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and has been associated with cancer inhibition in various animal and cell models. We investigated the effects of oleuropein on the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line, and compared it to the non-cancerous MCF-10A breast epithelial line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both cell lines were treated with two different concentrations of oleuropein for 48 and 72 hours. Cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and peroxiredoxin expression were measured.

RESULTS

Forty-eight hours of oleuropein treatment induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells, whereas it had no effect on MCF-10A cells. Furthermore, oleuropein-induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells involved a measurable increase in apoptosis. Oleuropein treatment of MCF-7 cells significantly and dramatically increased expression of all six peroxiredoxin mRNAs (Prdx1-Prdx6), whereas oleuropein treatment of MCF-10A cells resulted in only a small increase in Prdx1 and Prdx6 expression, with no change in the expression of the other peroxiredoxins. Together, these data demonstrate differential susceptibility to oleuropein-induced cell death between the two lines, and differential regulation of peroxiredoxins.

CONCLUSION

Oleuropein-induced over-expression of peroxiredoxins in MCF-7 cells may either facilitate its cancer-specific cytotoxicity or, alternatively, is a consequence of an altered response of cancer cells.

A comparative study of novel ruthenium(III) and iron(III) complexes containing uracil; docking and biological studies

Structural and biological studies were conducted on the novel complexes [Fe(U)2(H2O)2]Cl3 (FeU) and [Ru(U)2(H2O)2]Cl3 (RuU) (U = 5,6-Diamino-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione) to develop an anticancer drug candidate. The two complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Based on our findings, these complexes have octahedral geometry. The DNA-binding study proved that both complexes coordinated with CT-DNA. The docking study confirmed the potency of both complexes in downregulating the topoisomerase I protein through their high binding affinity. Biological studies have established that both complexes can act as potent anticancer agents against three cancer cell lines. RuU or FeU complexes induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells by increasing caspase9 protein and inhibiting proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) activity. In addition, both complexes down-regulate topoisomerase I expression in breast cancer cells. Therefore, the RuU and FeU complexes' anticancer activities were mediated via both apoptosis induction and topoisomerase I down-regulation. In conclusion, both complexes have dual anticancer activity pathways that may be responsible for the selective cytotoxicity of the complexes. This makes them more suitable for the development of novel cancer treatment strategies.

Untargeted LC-MS/MS Metabolomics Study of HO-AAVPA and VPA on Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the biggest health problems worldwide, characterized by intricate metabolic and biochemical complexities stemming from pronounced variations across dysregulated molecular pathways. If BC is not diagnosed early, complications may lead to death. Thus, the pursuit of novel therapeutic avenues persists, notably focusing on epigenetic pathways such as histone deacetylases (HDACs). The compound N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propylpentanamide (HO-AAVPA), a derivative of valproic acid (VPA), has emerged as a promising candidate warranting pre-clinical investigation. HO-AAVPA is an HDAC inhibitor with antiproliferative effects on BC, but its molecular mechanism has yet to be deciphered. Furthermore, in the present study, we determined the metabolomic effects of HO-AAVPA and VPA on cells of luminal breast cancer (MCF-7) and triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) subtypes. The LC-MS untargeted metabolomic study allowed for the simultaneous measurement of multiple metabolites and pathways, identifying that both compounds affect glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism in the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, suggesting that other biological targets were different from HDACs. In addition, there are different dysregulate metabolites, possibly due to the physicochemical differences between HO-AAVPA and VPA.

Cytotoxic Potential of Novel Quinoline Derivative: 11-(1,4-Bisaminopropylpiperazinyl)5-methyl-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline against Different Cancer Cell Lines via Activation and Deactivation of the Expression of Some Proteins

The current study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of 11-(1,4-bisaminopropylpiperazinyl)5-methyl-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline (BAPPN), a novel derivative of 5-methyl-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline, against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), colon carcinoma (HCT-116), breast (MCF-7), and lung (A549) cancer cell lines and the possible molecular mechanism through which it exerts its cytotoxic activity. BAPPN was synthesized and characterized with FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. The binding affinity scores of BAPPN for caspase-3 PDB: 7JL7 was -7.836, with an RMSD of 1.483° A. In silico screening of ADME properties indicated that BAPPN showed promising oral bioavailability records in addition to their high gastrointestinal absorption and blood-brain barrier penetrability. BAPPN induced cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 3.3, 23, 3.1, and 9.96 μg/mL against cancer cells HepG2, HCT-116, MCF-7, and A549, respectively. In addition, it induced cell injury and morphological changes in ultracellular structure, including cellular delayed activity, vanishing of membrane blebbing, microvilli, cytoplasmic condensation, and shrunken nucleus with more condensed chromatin autophagosomes. Furthermore, BAPPN significantly increased the protein expression of caspase-3 and tumor suppressor protein (P53). However, it significantly reduced the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein into the medium and decreased the protein expression of proliferation cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67 in HepG2, HCT-116, MCF-7, and A549 cells. This study indicates that BAPPN has cytotoxic action against liver, colon, breast, and lung cancer cell lines via the up-regulation of apoptotic proteins, caspase-3 and P53, and the downregulation of proliferative proteins, VEGF, PCNA, and Ki67.

In vitro cytotoxic effect of stigmasterol derivatives against breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Stigmasterol is an unsaturated phytosterol that belong to the class of tetracyclic steroids abundant in Rhoicissus tridentata. Stigmasterol is an important constituent since it has shown impressive pharmacological effects such as anti-osteoarthritis, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, immunomodulatory, antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, and neuroprotective activities. Furthermore, due to the presence of π system and hydroxyl group, stigmasterol is readily derivatized through substitution and addition reactions, allowing for the synthesis of a wide variety of stigmasterol derivatives.

METHODS

Stigmasterol (1) isolated from Rhoicissus tridentata was used as starting material to yield eight bio-active derivatives (2-9) through acetylation, epoxidation, epoxide ring opening, oxidation, and dihydroxylation reactions. The structures of all the compounds were established using spectroscopic techniques, NMR, IR, MS, and melting points. The synthesized stigmasterol derivatives were screened for cytotoxicity against the hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (MCF-7), triple-negative breast cancer (HCC70), and non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial (MCF-12 A) cell lines using the resazurin assay.

RESULTS

Eight stigmasterol derivatives were successfully synthesized namely; Stigmasterol acetate (2), Stigmasta-5,22-dien-3,7-dione (3), 5,6-Epoxystigmast-22-en-3β-ol (4), 5,6-Epoxystigmasta-3β,22,23-triol (5), Stigmastane-3β,5,6,22,23-pentol (6), Stigmasta-5-en-3,7-dion-22,23-diol (7), Stigmasta-3,7-dion-5,6,22,23-ol (8) and Stigmast-5-ene-3β,22,23-triol (9). This is the first report of Stigmasta-5-en-3,7-dion-22,23-diol (7) and Stigmasta-3,7-dion-5,6,22,23-ol (8). The synthesized stigmasterol analogues showed improved cytotoxic activity overall compared to the stigmasterol (1), which was not toxic to the three cell lines tested (EC50 ˃ 250 µM). In particular, 5,6-Epoxystigmast-22-en-3β-ol (4) and stigmast-5-ene-3β,22,23-triol (9) displayed improved cytotoxicity and selectivity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells (EC50 values of 21.92 and 22.94 µM, respectively), while stigmastane-3β,5,6,22,23-pentol (6) showed improved cytotoxic activity against the HCC70 cell line (EC50: 16.82 µM).

CONCLUSION

Natural products from Rhoicissus tridentata and their derivatives exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anticancer activity. The results obtained from this study indicate that molecular modification of stigmasterol functional groups can generate structural analogues with improved anticancer activity. Stigmasterol derivatives have potential as candidates for novel anticancer drugs.

The apoptotic effect of the Lycopodium clavatum extracts on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is a significant health problem worldwide, and the search for effective treatments is critical. Side effects of cancer treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy reduce the patient's standard of living. Recently, natural compounds from plants have gained attention as potential anticancer agents due to their safety, low toxicity, and potential efficacy. Lycopodium Clavatum (LC) is an herb abundant in tropical regions and Europe and is known for its various medicinal properties. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of LC Water Extract (LC-WE) and LC Ethanol Extract (LC-EE) plant extracts on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Our results showed that LC treatment led to a dose and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells, indicating its potential as an anticancer agent against human breast cancer. Additionally, we observed that LC treatment activated apoptosis-related proteins, including BAX, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9. These results suggest that LC may induce apoptosis as a mechanism underlying its cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Previous studies have shown the anti-cancer potential of LC against different types of cancer. However, the anti-cancer effect of LC on human breast cancer cells has not been investigated to date. Therefore, our study provides novel insights into the potential of LC as an anti-cancer agent against breast cancer. Overall, our results highlight the potential of LC as a promising natural compound for breast cancer treatment.

The effect of hesperetin on estrogen receptor gene expression and its relationship with the downstream pathways of estrogen receptor alpha

BACKGROUND

Estrogen receptor (ER) is a transcription factor that affects the expression of some genes involved in the progression and development of breast cancer (BC). Hesperetin (Hst) is a flavonoid that inhibits the proliferation of BC cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of Hst on the cell viability of MCF-7 cells and the gene expression of the ERα, ERβ, IL-6, Ps2, and Cyclin D1.

METHODS

In this study, cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The cells were seeded in RPMI-1640 medium and then exposed to different concentrations of Hst (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µM) for 24 h, and IC50 was calculated. Real-time PCR was used to assess the expression of ERα, ERβ, pS2, Cyclin D1, and IL-6 mRNA. MCF-7 cells were seeded in RPMI-1640 medium and then exposed to different concentrations of Hst (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µM) for 24 h. Real-time PCR was carried out using a Step One Real-Time PCR System (ABI, USA) and Amplicon SYBR Green reagents.

RESULTS

The MTT assay revealed increased cytotoxicity with higher concentrations of Hst, and the IC50 was calculated at 200 µM. Real-time PCR analysis following treatment with Hst showed a significant increase in ERα gene expression at 25 µM of Hst and a decrease in expression at 50, 100, and 200 µM of Hst (p < 0.0001). ERβ gene expression significantly decreased across all concentrations of Hst (p < 0.0001), while IL-6 gene expression decreased significantly in all concentrations (p < 0.0001). pS2 gene expression increased significantly with all concentrations of Hst (p < 0.0001), while Cyclin D1 gene expression did not significantly decrease upon Hst exposure (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study demonstrate that Hst has the ability to induce cell death in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, it was observed that Hst reduces the expression of the ER gene and enhances its activity, which can affect the downstream pathways of the ER.

Fluorescence labeling of anchor-modified Mart-1 peptide for increasing its affinity for HLA-A*0201: Hit two targets with one arrow

One of the most successful strategies in designing peptide-based cancer vaccines is modifying natural epitope peptides to increase their binding strength to human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). Anchor-modified Mart-1 peptide (ELAGIGILTV) is among the artificial epitope peptides with the highest binding affinity for HLA-A*0201. In this study, by fluorescence labeling of its either C- or N-terminus with Nε -(5-carboxyfluorescein)-l-lysine, we not only made it traceable but also drastically increased its binding strength to HLA-A*0201. HLA streptamer, for the first time, is introduced for measuring the binding constants (Ka ) of the labeled peptides. The affinity of the labeled peptides for the HLA-A*201 of the MCF-7 cells was extraordinarily high and co-incubating them with the highest possible amount of the unlabeled peptide, as a competitor, did not significantly prohibit them from binding to the HLA. The reproducibility of the obtained results was confirmed by using the T2 cell line. The HLA-deficient K562 cell line was used as the negative control. With in silico simulations, we found two hydrophobic pockets on both sides of HLA-A*0201 for anchoring the C- or N-terminal 5-carboxyfluorescein probe, which can explain the extraordinary affinity of the labeled peptides for the HLA-A*0201.

Androgens Modulate Bcl-2 Agonist of Cell Death (BAD) Expression and Function in Breast Cancer Cells

Androgen receptor (AR) expression in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC) correlates with lower tumor grade and a better clinical outcome. Additionally, in normal mammary epithelium or ER+ BC preclinical models, androgens counteract basal/ER-dependent proliferation. Here, we report an additional mechanism, underlining the protective role exerted by AR. Specifically, the activation of intracellular AR upregulates the Bcl-2-family protein BAD, and TCGA database analyses show that in ER+ BC, BAD expression is associated with better disease-free survival. Ligand-activated AR influences its own and BAD cellular compartmentalization by enhancing levels in the nucleus, as well as in mitochondrial fractions. In both compartments, BAD exerts unconventional functions. In the nucleus, BAD and AR physically interact and, upon androgen stimulation, are recruited at the AP-1 and ARE sites within the cyclin D1 promoter region, contributing to explaining the anti-proliferative effect of androgens in BC cells. Androgens cause an enrichment in BAD and AR content in the mitochondria, correlated with a decrease in mitochondrial function. Thus, we have defined a novel mechanism by which androgens modulate BAD expression, its mitochondria localization, and nuclear content to force its ability to act as a cell cycle inhibitor, strengthening the protective role of androgen signaling in estrogen-responsive BCs.

A New Diterpenoid of Indonesian Scoparia dulcis Linn: Isolation and Cytotoxic Activity against MCF-7 and T47D Cell Lines

Scoparia dulcis Linn plays an important role in treatment because it contains active compounds that are proven to have a variety of activities, including cytotoxicity on various cancer cells. The objective of this study is to isolate and identify the cytotoxic compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction of Scoparia dulcis, observe cell cycle inhibition and induction of apoptosis in vitro, and carry out molecular studies using in silico studies. A new diterpene compound was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Scoparia dulcis L. of Indonesian origin. Chromatographic methods were used to isolate the compound, spectroscopic methods were used to elucidate its structure, and these data were compared with those reported in the literature. The compound was tested for its cytotoxic activity against two breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and T47D). The results of the isolated compound showed a cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells at IC50 70.56 ± 1.54 and <3.125 ± 0.43 µg/mL, respectively. The compound inhibited the growth of MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells and the accumulation of cells in the G1 phases, and it induced apoptosis. Based on a spectroscopic analysis, the isolated compound was identified as 2α-hydroxyscopadiol, which is a new diterpenoid. A docking study revealed that the isolate's hydroxyl groups are essential for interacting with crucial residues on the active sites of the ER and PR and caspase-9. The isolate inhibits ER and PR activity with binding energies of -8.2 kcal/mol and -7.3 kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the isolate was also able to induce apoptosis through the activation of the caspase-9 pathway with an affinity of -9.0 kcal/mol. In conclusion, the isolated compound from S. dulcis demonstrated anticancer activity based on in vitro and in silico studies.

Novel beta-lactam substituted benzenesulfonamides: in vitro enzyme inhibition, cytotoxic activity and in silico interactions

In this study, a library of twelve beta-lactam-substituted benzenesulfonamides (5a-l) was synthesized using the tail-approach method. The compounds were characterized using IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis techniques. These newly synthesized compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the activity of two carbonic anhydrases (hCA) isoforms, I and II, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in vitro. The results showed that the synthesized compounds were potent inhibitors of hCA I, with KIs in the low nanomolar range (66.60-278.40 nM) than the reference drug acetazolamide (AAZ), which had a KI of 439.17 nM. The hCA II was potently inhibited by compounds 5a, 5d-g and 5l, with KIs of 69.56, 39.64, 79.63, 74.76, 78.93 and 74.94 nM, respectively (AAZ, KI of 98.28 nM). Notably, compound 5a selectively inhibited hCA II with a selectivity of > 4-fold over hCA I. In terms of inhibition of AChE, the synthesized compounds had KIs ranging from 30.95 to 154.50 nM, compared to the reference drug tacrine, which had a KI of 159.61 nM. Compounds 5f, 5h and 5l were also evaluated for their ability to inhibit the MCF-7 cancer cell line proliferation and were found to have promising anticancer activity, more potent than 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. Molecular docking studies suggested that the sulfonamide moiety of these compounds fits snugly into the active sites of hCAs and interacts with the Zn2+ ion. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were performed for 200 ns to assess the stability and dynamics of each enzyme-ligand complex. The acceptability of the compounds based on Lipinski's and Jorgensen's rules was also estimated from the ADME/T results. These results indicate that the synthesized molecules have the potential to be developed into effective and safe inhibitors of hCAs and AChE and could be lead agents.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.