Echinochrome A Protects Mitochondrial Function in Cardiomyocytes against Cardiotoxic Drugs

Abstract

Echinochrome A (Ech A) is a naphthoquinoid pigment from sea urchins that possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and chelating abilities. Although Ech A is the active substance in the ophthalmic and cardiac drug Histochrome®, its underlying cardioprotective mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the protective role of Ech A against toxic agents that induce death of rat cardiac myoblast H9c2 cells and isolated rat cardiomyocytes. We found that the cardiotoxic agents tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP, organic reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer), sodium nitroprusside (SNP; anti-hypertension drug), and doxorubicin (anti-cancer drug) caused mitochondrial dysfunction such as increased ROS level and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Co-treatment with Ech A, however, prevented this decrease in membrane potential and increase in ROS level. Co-treatment of Ech A also reduced the effects of these cardiotoxic agents on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and adenosine triphosphate level. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of Ech A for reducing cardiotoxic agent-induced damage.

Diversity of Polyhydroxynaphthoquinone Pigments in North Pacific Sea Urchins

“…[8] Echinochrome A protected mitochondrial functions from cardiotoxic agents such as doxorubicin, sodium nitroprusside and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. [9] Echinochrome A treatment enhanced the oxygen consumption rate and the mitochondrial ATP level in rat cardiomyoblast cells and up-regulated the biogenesis of transcription genes. [10] Egyptian scientists demonstrated the potential of echinochrome A in the treatment of rats with experimental type 1 and type 2 diabetes.…”

“…The most well‐known sea urchin pigment, echinochrome A, also showed antiallergic activity . Echinochrome A protected mitochondrial functions from cardiotoxic agents such as doxorubicin, sodium nitroprusside and tert ‐butyl hydroperoxide . Echinochrome A treatment enhanced the oxygen consumption rate and the mitochondrial ATP level in rat cardiomyoblast cells and up‐regulated the biogenesis of transcription genes .…”

Marine shells: Potential opportunities for extraction of functional and health-promoting materials

“…One form of Histochrome is used in the treatment of ocular diseases [179] and another form of Histochrome is used for preventing reperfusion damage during myocardial infarction [177]. In order to understand the cardioprotective mechanisms of echinochrome A, Jeong et al [180] found that cardiotoxic agents caused mitochondrial dysfunction as a result of increased ROS level and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential were inhibited with PHNQ.…”

“…Echinochrome and spinochromes from sea urchins have been shown to possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic activities (Table 13) [174][175][176][177][178][179]. Echinochrome A is the active substance in the drug Histochrome [178].…”

Polysaccharide Constituents of Three Types of Sea Urchin Shells and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities

“…Polyhydroxylated naphthoquinone pigments from the shells of purple sea urchin ( Anthocidaris crassispina ) possessed a strong antiradical activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide radical anion, and hydrogen peroxide [6]. For example, polyhydroxylated 1,4-naphthoquinone exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activities on DPPH radicals [7,8] and inhibited the model of ocular allergic inflammation surpassing the reference drug olopatadine [9]; 6-ethyl-2,3,5,7,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Echinochrome A) existing in sea urchin shells and spines could be used as the auxiliary agent for reducing cardio toxic agent-induced damage [10]. …”