Cucurbitacins: Bioactivities and synergistic effect with small-molecule drugs

Jing, Siyuan; Zou, Haifeng; Wu, Zhimin; Li, Ren; Zhang, Tiehua; Zhang, Jie; Wei, Zhengyi

doi:10.1016/j.jff.2020.104042

Cited by 27 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…The bioactive medicinal compounds synergize with small-molecule drugs and induce cell death signal transduction pathways. [38] It has already been reported that ginsenoside Rg1 increases timosaponin AIII induced anticancer action synergistically through modulation of ERK and β-catenin signal transduction pathways. [39] In this study, ginsenoside Rg1 pretreatment significantly increased doxorubicin-induced ROS levels in MDA-MB-231 cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ginsenoside RG1 augments doxorubicin‐induced apoptotic cell death in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines

Liu

Huang

Gao

et al. 2021

J Biochem & Molecular Tox

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This study determined the chemosensitizing potential of ginsenoside Rg1 in triplenegative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Ginsenoside Rg1 (10 µM) treated breast cancer cells were exposed to 8 nM of doxorubicin, and the chemosensitizing potential was measured by cell-based assays. Ginsenoside Rg1 (10 µM) treatment lowered the doxorubicin IC 50 value to 0.01 nM. Furthermore, the ginsenoside pretreatment augments doxorubicin-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent alterations of mitochondrial membrane potential in MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The alkaline comet assay results illustrated an increased % tail DNA during ginsenoside Rg1 plus doxorubicin treatment than doxorubicin alone treatment. In addition, the number of apoptotic cells was also increased in ginsenoside Rg1 plus doxorubicin-treated cells. Furthermore, the polymerase chain reaction array results illustrate activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene expression (AKT, ERK, and MAPK) during doxorubicin alone treatment and it has been attenuated by ginsenoside Rg1 pretreatment. Moreover, ginsenoside Rg1 treatment before doxorubicin activates the DNA damage response elements (ATM, H2AX, RAD51, and XRCC1) and subsequent apoptosis-related gene expression (p21, TP53. APAF1, Bax, CASP3, and CASP9) patterns in MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The ginsenoside Rg1 plus doxorubicin combination shows less cytotoxicity and ROS generation in MDA10A normal breast cancer cell lines. Therefore, the present results support the chemosensitizing property of ginsenoside Rg1 in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ginsenoside RG1 augments doxorubicin‐induced apoptotic cell death in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines

Liu

Huang

Gao

et al. 2021

J Biochem & Molecular Tox

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“…To treat chapped hands, burns and hemorrhoids Liniment Mshelia et al (2017) To treat AIDS Bot et al (2007) abundant in Bryonia, Citrullus, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Echinocystis, Lagenaria, Luffa and Momordica genera (Kaushik et al 2015). Several cucurbitacins have been also isolated from other plant families, including Brassicaceae, Begoniaceae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Thymelaeaceae (Kaushik et al 2015;Jing et al 2020). Cucurbitacins are bitter compounds and for this reason, they are likely to be synthetized as oviposition or feeding deterrents for many insects, or as a defense role to protect plants against herbivores (Rı ´os et al 2005).…”

Section: Rootmentioning

confidence: 99%

Momordica balsamina: phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of a gifted species

et al. 2022

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Momordica balsamina L. (Cucurbitaceae), frequently named balsam apple, southern balsam pear or African pumpkin, is a vegetable with high nutritional value, being mostly used as food in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been largely used in traditional medicine to treat several diseases, such as malaria fevers and diabetes. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, the main constituents are cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, with different oxidation patterns, named cucurbitacins. This review aims at summarizing our contribution to the phytochemical study of M. balsamina and the evaluation of the isolated cucurbitacins and derivatives as multidrug resistance reversers in cancer cells and bacteria. In this way, the selective antiproliferative activity against multidrug resistant cancer cells of cucurbitacins obtained from M. balsamina, their ability as P-glycoprotein inhibitors in cancer cells overexpressing this ABC transporter, as well as efflux pump inhibitors in resistant bacteria strains are reviewed. Moreover, the in vitro antimalarial activity of cucurbitacins and acyl derivatives against the blood and liver-stages of Plasmodium strains, and the in vivo activity of selected compounds is also reviewed. Besides our work, edible and medicinal uses, and other studies mainly reporting the biological activities of M. balsamina extracts, such as antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties are also addressed.

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“…(i) Cucurbitacin. Originally isolated from the squash family (Cucurbitaceae), cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenoids with a steroidal skeleton (83). These compounds are also found in several other plants and mushrooms.…”

Section: Isoprenoidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurofibromatosis: Molecular Pathogenesis and Natural Compounds as Potential Treatments

et al. 2021

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The neurofibromatosis syndromes, including NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis, are tumor suppressor syndromes characterized by multiple nervous system tumors, particularly Schwann cell neoplasms. NF-related tumors are mainly treated by surgery, and some of them have been treated by but are refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Recent advances in molecular genetics and genomics alongside the development of multiple animal models have provided a better understanding of NF tumor biology and facilitated target identification and therapeutic evaluation. Many targeted therapies have been evaluated in preclinical models and patients with limited success. One major advance is the FDA approval of the MEK inhibitor selumetinib for the treatment of NF1-associated plexiform neurofibroma. Due to their anti-neoplastic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, selected natural compounds could be useful as a primary therapy or as an adjuvant therapy prior to or following surgery and/or radiation for patients with tumor predisposition syndromes, as patients often take them as dietary supplements and for health enhancement purposes. Here we review the natural compounds that have been evaluated in NF models. Some have demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects and may become viable treatments in the future.

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Cucurbitacins: Bioactivities and synergistic effect with small-molecule drugs

Cited by 27 publications

References 87 publications

Ginsenoside RG1 augments doxorubicin‐induced apoptotic cell death in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines

Ginsenoside RG1 augments doxorubicin‐induced apoptotic cell death in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines

Momordica balsamina: phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of a gifted species

Neurofibromatosis: Molecular Pathogenesis and Natural Compounds as Potential Treatments

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