Motivated by the clinical success of gold(I) metallotherapeutic Auranofin in the effective treatment of both inflammatory and cancer diseases, we decided to prepare, characterize, and further study the [Au(kin)(PPh₃)] complex (1), where Hkin = kinetin, 6-furfuryladenine, for its in vitro anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. The results revealed that the complex (1) had significant in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines (A2780, A2780R, PC-3, 22Rv1, and THP-1), with IC₅₀ ≈ 1–5 μM, which was even significantly better than that for the conventional platinum-based drug Cisplatin while comparable with Auranofin. Although its ability to inhibit transcription factor NF-κB activity did not exceed the comparative drug Auranofin, it has been found that it is able to positively influence peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), and as a consequence of this to have the impact of moderating/reducing inflammation. The cellular effects of the complex (1) in A2780 cancer cells were also investigated by cell cycle analysis, induction of apoptosis, intracellular ROS production, activation of caspases 3/7 and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and shotgun proteomic analysis. Proteomic analysis of R2780 cells treated with complex (1) and starting compounds revealed possible different places of the effect of the studied compounds. Moreover, the time-dependent cellular accumulation of copper was studied by means of the mass spectrometry study with the aim of exploring the possible mechanisms responsible for its biological effects. Full article

Cancer is one of the deadliest non communicable diseases. Numerous anticancer medications have been developed to target the molecular pathways driving cancer. However, there has been no discernible increase in the overall survival rate in cancer patients. Therefore, innovative chemo-preventive techniques and agents are required to supplement standard cancer treatments and boost their efficacy. Fruits and vegetables should be tapped into as a source of compounds that can serve as cancer therapy. Phytochemicals play an important role as sources of new medication in cancer treatment. Some synthetic and natural chemicals are effective for cancer chemoprevention, i.e., the use of exogenous medicine to inhibit or impede tumor development. They help regulate molecular pathways linked to the development and spread of cancer. They can enhance antioxidant status, inactivating carcinogens, suppressing proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest and death, and regulating the immune system. While focusing on four main categories of plant-based anticancer agents, i.e., epipodophyllotoxin, camptothecin derivatives, taxane diterpenoids, and vinca alkaloids and their mode of action, we review the anticancer effects of phytochemicals, like quercetin, curcumin, piperine, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and gingerol. We examine the different signaling pathways associated with cancer and how inflammation as a key mechanism is linked to cancer growth. Full article

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

Metastasis is one of the main obstacles for the treatment and prognosis of breast cancer. In this study, the effects and possible mechanisms of aloe emodin (AE) and emodin (EMD) for inhibiting breast cancer metastasis were investigated via cell metabolomics. First, a co-culture model of MCF-7 and HUVEC cells was established and compared with a traditional single culture of MCF-7 cells. The results showed that HUVEC cells could promote the development of cancer cells to a malignant phenotype. Moreover, AE and EMD could inhibit adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis and induce anoikis of MCF-7 cells in co-culture model. Then, the potential mechanisms behind AE and EMD inhibition of MCF-7 cell metastasis were explored using a metabolomics method based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS multivariate statistical analysis. Consequently, 27 and 13 biomarkers were identified in AE and EMD groups, respectively, including polyamine metabolism, methionine cycle, TCA cycle, glutathione metabolism, purine metabolism, and aspartate synthesis. The typical metabolites were quantitatively analyzed, and the results showed that the inhibitory effect of AE was significantly better than EMD. All results confirmed that AE and EMD could inhibit metastasis of breast cancer cells through different pathways. Our study provides an overall view of the underlying mechanisms of AE and EMD against breast cancer metastasis. Full article

Since cancer treatment by radio- and chemotherapy has been linked to safety concerns, there is a need for new and alternative anticancer drugs; as such, compounds isolated from plants represent promising candidates. The current study investigates the anticancer features of halimane (11R*,13E)-11-acetoxyhalima-5,13-dien-15-oic acid (HAL) and the labdane diterpenes 1α,6β-diacetoxy-8α,13R*-epoxy-14-labden-11-one (PLEC) and forskolin-like 1:1 mixture of 1,6-di-O-acetylforskolin and 1,6-di-O-acetyl-9-deoxyforskolin (MRC) isolated from Plectranthus ornatus in MCF7 and FaDu cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay, ROS production by Di-chloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay (DCFH) or Red Mitochondrial Superoxide Indicator (MitoSOX) and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP) by fluorescent probe JC-1 (5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide). In addition, the relative amounts of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were determined using quantitative Real-Time-PCR (qRT-PCR) and damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) by semi-long run quantitative Real-Time-PCR (SLR-qRT-PCR). Gene expression was determined using Reverse-Transcription-qPCR. Caspase-3/7 activity by fluorescence was assessed. Assessment of General In Vivo Toxicity has been determined by Brine Shrimp Lethality Bioassay. The studied HAL and PLEC were found to have a cytotoxic effect in MCF7 with IC₅₀ = 13.61 µg/mL and IC₅₀ = 17.49 µg/mL and in FaDu with IC₅₀ = 15.12 µg/mL and IC₅₀ = 32.66 µg/mL cancer cell lines. In the two tested cancer cell lines, the phytochemicals increased ROS production and mitochondrial damage in the ND1 and ND5 gene regions and reduced MMP (ΔΨm) and mitochondrial copy numbers. They also changed the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes (Bax, Bcl-2, TP53, Cas-3, Cas-8, Cas-9, Apaf-1 and MCL-1). Studies demonstrated increase in caspase 3/7 activity in tested cancer cell lines. In addition, we showed no toxic effect in in vivo test for the compounds tested. The potential mechanism of action may have been associated with the induction of apoptosis in MCF7 and FaDu cancer cells via the mitochondrial pathway; however, further in vivo research is needed to understand the mechanisms of action and potential of these compounds. Full article

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), representing the most aggressive form of breast cancer with currently no targeted therapy available, is characterized by an inflammatory and hypoxic tumor microenvironment. To date, a broad spectrum of anti-tumor activities has been reported for phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids (PAs), however, their mode of action in TNBC remains elusive. Thus, we investigated six naturally occurring PAs extracted from the plant Tylophora ovata: O-methyltylophorinidine (1) and its five derivatives tylophorinidine (2), tylophoridicine E (3), 2-demethoxytylophorine (4), tylophoridicine D (5), and anhydrodehydrotylophorinidine (6). In comparison to natural (1) and for more-in depth studies, we also utilized a sample of synthetic O-methyltylophorinidine (1s). Our results indicate a remarkably effective blockade of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) within 2 h for compounds (1) and (1s) (IC₅₀ = 17.1 ± 2.0 nM and 3.3 ± 0.2 nM) that is different from its effect on cell viability within 24 h (IC₅₀ = 13.6 ± 0.4 nM and 4.2 ± 1 nM). Furthermore, NFκB inhibition data for the additional five analogues indicate a structure–activity relationship (SAR). Mechanistically, NFκB is significantly blocked through the stabilization of its inhibitor protein kappa B alpha (IκBα) under normoxic as well as hypoxic conditions. To better mimic the TNBC microenvironment in vitro, we established a 3D co-culture by combining the human TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 with primary murine cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and type I collagen. Compound (1) demonstrates superiority against the therapeutic gold standard paclitaxel by diminishing spheroid growth by 40% at 100 nM. The anti-proliferative effect of (1s) is distinct from paclitaxel in that it arrests the cell cycle at the G0/G1 state, thereby mediating a time-dependent delay in cell cycle progression. Furthermore, (1s) inhibited invasion of TNBC monoculture spheroids into a matrigel^®-based environment at 10 nM. In conclusion, PAs serve as promising agents with presumably multiple target sites to combat inflammatory and hypoxia-driven cancer, such as TNBC, with a different mode of action than the currently applied chemotherapeutic drugs. Full article

Seaweed extracts are considered effective therapeutic alternatives to synthetic anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agents, owing to their availability, low cost, greater efficacy, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic nature. Since the bioactive constituents of seaweed, in particular, phytosterols, possess plenty of medicinal benefits over other conventional pharmaceutical agents, they have been extensively evaluated for many years. Fortunately, recent advances in phytosterol-based research have begun to unravel the evidence concerning these important processes and to endow the field with the understanding and identification of the potential contributions of seaweed-steroidal molecules that can be used as chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite the myriad of research interests in phytosterols, there is an immense need to fill the void with an up-to-date literature survey elucidating their biosynthesis, pharmacological effects, and other biomedical applications. Hence, in the present review, we summarize studies dealing with several types of seaweed to provide a comprehensive overview of the structural determination of several phytosterol molecules, their properties, biosynthetic pathways, and mechanisms of action, along with their health benefits, which could significantly contribute to the development of novel drugs and functional foods. Full article