Ethanol Extracts of Dietary Herb, Alpinia nantoensis, Exhibit Anticancer Potential in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Recent advances in mammography screening, chemotherapy, and adjuvant treatment modalities have improved the survival rate of women with breast cancer. Nevertheless, the breast tumor with metastatic progression is still life-threatening. Indeed, combination therapy with Ras-ERK and PI3K inhibitors is clinically effective in malignant breast cancer treatment. Constituents from genus Alpinia plants have been implicated as potent anticancer agents in terms of their efficacy of inhibiting tumor cell metastasis. In this study, we tested the effects of ethanol extracts of Alpinia nantoensis (rhizome, stem, and leaf extracts) in cultured human breast cancer cells and particularly focused on the Ras-ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways. We found that the rhizome and leaf extracts from A nantoensis inhibited cell migration, invasion, and sphere formation in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The potency was extended with the inhibition of serum-induced PI3K/AKT and Ras-ERK activation and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated EGFR activation in MDA-MB-231 cells. These results indicate that extracts of A nantoensis could inhibit signal transduction at least involved in EGFR as well as the PI3K/AKT and Ras-ERK pathways, which are crucial players of tumor cell migration and invasion. Our study strongly supports that the extracts of A nantoensis could be a novel botanical drug lead for the development of an antimetastatic agent for the treatment of human malignant breast cancer.

The polyphenol/saponin-rich Rhus tripartita extract has an apoptotic effect on THP-1 cells through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

“…Except for saponins and kaempferol at the highest concentration, all the treatments strongly decrease the expression level of AKT1, especially the total plant extract (RTE) and the highest concentrations of rutin and catechins mix. This agrees with other studies showing downregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR in response to treatments with plant phytochemicals extracted from Ricinus communis [61], Alpinia nantoensis [62], Taraxacum o cinale [63]. Moreover, the eIF4E and TSC1 genes, acting as negative regulators of mTOR [64], were upregulated in our study, thus strengthening once more the inhibitory effect that Rhus tripartita extracts have on THP-1 cell proliferation.…”

The polyphenol/saponin-rich Rhus tripartita extract has an apoptotic effect on THP-1 cells through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

“…Except for saponins and kaempferol at the highest concentration, all the treatments strongly decrease the expression level of AKT1 , especially the total plant extract (RTE) and the highest concentrations of rutin and catechins mix. This agrees with other studies showing downregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR in response to treatments with plant phytochemicals extracted from Ricinus communis [ 64 ], Alpinia nantoensis [ 65 ], Taraxacum officinale [ 66 ]. Moreover, the eIF4E and TSC1 genes, acting as negative regulators of mTOR [ 8 ], were upregulated in our study, thus strengthening once more the inhibitory effect that Rhus tripartita extracts have on THP-1 cell proliferation.…”

Multiplicative Effects of Essential Oils and Other Active Components on Skin Tissue and Skin Cancers

“…Moreover, it is necessary to overcome skin cancer and skin diseases, including psoriasis, eczema, and fungal infections, through the discovery of numerous potential EO substances as alternatives to synthetic drugs. Leaf, rhizome, and stem (camphor, camphene, β-pinene, p-cymene, α-pinene, and D-limonene) [191][192][193] Chrysanthemum boreale MAKINO EO Anti-melanogenesis, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, skin regeneration, and wound healing C. boreale Flower [194,196,197] Vitex negundo EO Anti-melanogenesis, anti-nociceptive, anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic V. negundo leaves and roots (sesquiterpene and monoterpene) [199][200][201][202][203][204] Achillea millefolium EO Anti-melanogenesis, alleviation of inflammatory, gastrointestinal disorders, hepatobiliary conditions, overactive cardiovascular, and respiratory infection…”

“…Alpinia is the largest genus in Zingiberaceae, which are found in tropical/sub-tropical regions of China, India, and Polynesia [190]. Extractions from the various parts of Alpinia nantoensis (A. nantoensis), such as the leaf, stem, and rhizome, exhibit anti-metastatic properties in lung cancer [191] and breast cancer cells [192]. Treatment with the leaf of A. nantoensis EO (LAN-EO) or rhizome of A. nantoensis EO (RAN-EO) reduces melanogenesis through ERK1/2-activation-mediated MITF ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, which downregulate tyrosinase and TRP-1 in FSK-stimulated B16F10 cells [193].…”