Flavonoids from Achyrocline satureioides: promising biomolecules for anticancer therapy

Abstract

Cancer is the major public health problem worldwide; consequently, the search for new chemotherapeutic drugs is constant. Most of these agents are derived from natural sources, which are the major consistent basis for the search for modern anticancer medicines. In this context, numerous studies indicate flavonoids as a potential new class of secondary metabolites for anticancer therapy. In this review, special attention was addressed to flavonoids present in Achyrocline satureioides, a widely used medicinal plant with several and a well established range of biological properties. Two of these flavonoids are extensively studied for anticancer therapy, quercetin and luteolin, followed by 3-Omethylquercetin. Achyrobichalcone, recently isolated from A. satureioides by our group, can also represent a promising chemotherapeutic biomolecule due to its similarity with other cytotoxic bichalcones to cancer cell lines. The anticancer properties of these flavonoids, specially quercetin and luteolin, type of cell death, mechanisms and molecular targets involved were described. In general, these effects were observed due to the inhibition of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, prevention of migration/metastasis and overcoming multidrug resistance, alone or in combination with commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs. All these successful findings in preclinical studies suggest that these flavonoids are promising biomolecules for the development of new anticancer drugs in the future.

In Silico Molecular Docking Analysis of Natural Pyridoacridines as Anticancer Agents

“…Some important examples of naturally derived anticancer compounds are Vincristine and Vinblastine from Catharanthus roseus, Paclitaxel from Taxus brevifolia, and Topotecan and Irinotecan from Camptotheca acuminata [2,3]. Various pigments like varamine, violacein, amphimedine, fascaplysin, monascin, chinikomycin, and so forth were discovered with anticancer activity.…”

Semi‐preparative isolation and purification of phenolic compounds from Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D.C. by high‐performance counter‐current chromatography

“…The ethanol extract of A. satureioides inflorescences contains three major flavonoid‐aglycones, structurally known as quercetin (QCT), luteolin (LUT), and 3‐ O ‐methylquercetin (3 O MQ), besides a bichalcone named achyrobichalcone (ACB) . 3 O MQ differs structurally from QCT only by the presence of an O‐methylation.…”

“…4,[6][7][8] Several types of compounds have been detected in the species, including flavonoids, chalcones as well as caffeic, chlorogenic, and isochlorogenic acids, terpenoids in the essential oil, and acetylenic compounds. 9,10 The ethanol extract of A. satureioides inflorescences contains three major flavonoid-aglycones, structurally known as quercetin (QCT), luteolin (LUT), and 3-O-methylquercetin (3OMQ), [11][12][13][14] besides a bichalcone named achyrobichalcone (ACB). 12 3OMQ differs structurally from QCT only by the presence of an O-methylation.…”

Prenylated flavonoids from the fruits of Sinopodophyllum emodi and their cytotoxic activities

“…1 Although a large number of cancer chemotherapeutic agents have been introduced into clinical use, their typical adverse effects are inevitably ubiquitous such as anaemia, hair loss and severe gastrointestinal disturbances. 1 Although a large number of cancer chemotherapeutic agents have been introduced into clinical use, their typical adverse effects are inevitably ubiquitous such as anaemia, hair loss and severe gastrointestinal disturbances.…”

“…2 Chinese medicinal herbs have become a promising source of potential new drugs. [9][10][11] In a further examination of the fruits of this plant, thirteen new prenylated avonoids, sino-avonoids C-O (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13), were obtained together with eleven known analogues (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). Ying (Berberidaceae) called "Xiaoyelian" in Chinese, is a wellknown traditional Tibetan medicine for the treatment of amenorrhea, dead fetus, and placental retention.…”