Background A. oxyphylla extract is known to possess a wide range of pharmacological activites. However, the molecular mechanism of A. oxyphylla and its bioactive compound nootkatone in colorectal cancer is unknown. Methods Our study aims to examine the role of A. oxyphylla and its bioactive compound nootkatone, in tumor suppression using several in vitro assays. Results Both A. oxyphylla extract and nootkatone exhibited antiproliferative activity in colorectal cancer cells. A. oxyphylla displayed antioxidant activity in colorectal cancer cells, likely mediated via induction of HO-1. Furthermore, expression of pro-apoptotic protein NAG-1 and cell proliferative protein cyclin D1 were increased and decreased respectively in the presence of A. oxyphylla. When examined for anticancer activity, nootkatone treatment resulted in the reduction of colony and spheroid formation. Correspondingly, nootkatone also led to increased NAG-1 expression and decreased cyclin D1 expression. The mechanism by which nootkatone suppresses cyclin D1 involves protein level regulation, whereas nootkatone increases NAG-1 expression at the transcriptional level. In addition to having PPARγ binding activity, nootkatone also increases EGR-1 expression which ultimately results in enhanced NAG-1 promoter activity. Conclusion In summary, our findings suggest that nootkatone is an anti-tumorigenic compound harboring antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity.

Pueraria lobata (Wild.) Ohwi. (P. lobata) flowers known as ‘Kudzu flower’ contain isoflavonoids and essential oil components. They have a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities, including protective effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hyperglycemia, and hypolipidemia, anti-mutagenic effects, and benefits for weight loss. However, the molecular mechanism of these effects remains unclear. Our study aimed to systematically examine the effects of flos puerariae crude extract (FPE) as an anti-diabetic agent using in vitro assays. The cytotoxicity of FPE was evaluated using MTS assay in L6 rat myocyte and 3T3-L1 murine fibroblast cell lines. PPARγ binding activity and adipogenesis were examined using dual-luciferase and differentiation assays, respectively. For investigating the anti-diabetic activity, glucose utilization, including GLUT4 protein expression, glucose uptake assay, and GLUT4 translocation using immunofluorescence microscopy were conducted in L6 cells. Furthermore, we assessed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of FPE. Our results demonstrated the ability to augment glucose uptake in L6 cells and enhance glucose utilization activity by increasing the expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4). In summary, our findings suggest that FPE may be a potential anti-diabetic substance for the treatment of diabetic patients and can prevent inflammatory or oxidation-related diseases.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1) plays a role in various diseases. Here, the anti-diabetic effects of NAG-1 were evaluated using a high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model. NAG-1-overexpressing transgenic (NAG-1 Tg) mice exhibited lower body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, and serum insulin levels than wild-type (WT) mice. The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance scores of NAG-1 Tg mice were lower than those of WT mice. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed a smaller lipid droplet size in the adipose tissues, lower lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes, and larger beta cell area in the pancreas of NAG-1 Tg mice than in those of WT mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed downregulated expression of cleaved caspase-3, an apoptosis marker, in the beta cells of NAG-1 Tg mice. Adiponectin and leptin mRNA levels were upregulated and downregulated in NAG-1 Tg mice, respectively. Additionally, the expression of IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway components, especially Foxo1, which regulates gluconeogenesis in the muscle and white adipose tissue, was downregulated in NAG-1 Tg mice. Furthermore, NAG-1 overexpression promoted the expression of As160 in both muscles and adipocytes, and the mRNA levels of the NLRP3 pathway members were downregulated in NAG-1 Tg mice. Our findings suggest that NAG-1 expression alleviates diabetes in mice.

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Hair loss or alopecia is an unpleasant symptom that exacerbates an individual's self-esteem and requires appropriate treatment. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a central pathway that promotes dermal papilla induction and keratinocyte proliferation during hair follicle renewal. GSK-3β inactivated by its upstream Akt and ubiquitin-specific protease 47 (USP47) has been shown to inhibit β-catenin degradation. The cold atmospheric microwave plasma (CAMP) is microwave energy enriched with mixtures of radicals. CAMP has been reported to have antibacterial and antifungal activities with wound healing activity against skin infection; however, the effect of CAMP on hair loss treatment has not been reported. We aimed to investigate the effect of CAMP on promoting hair renewal in vitro and to elucidate the molecular mechanism, targeting β-catenin signaling and YAP/TAZ, the co-activators in the Hippo pathway, in human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs). We also evaluated plasma effects on the interaction between hDPCs and HaCaT keratinocytes. The hDPCs were treated with plasma-activating media (PAM) or gas-activating media (GAM). The biological outcomes were determined by MTT assay, qRT-PCR, western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence. We found that β-catenin signaling and YAP/TAZ were significantly increased in PAM-treated hDPCs. PAM treatment also induced β-catenin translocation and inhibited β-catenin ubiquitination by activating Akt/GSK-3β signaling and upregulating USP47 expression. In addition, hDPCs were more aggregated with keratinocytes in PAM-treated cells compared with control. HaCaT cells cultured in a conditioned medium derived from PAM-treated hDPCs exhibited an enhancing effect on activating YAP/TAZ and β-catenin signaling. These findings suggested that CAMP may be a new therapeutic alternative for alopecic treatment.