Quercetin-3-Glucoside Extracted from Apple Pomace Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Increasing Intracellular ROS Levels.

Cervical cancer is a life-threatening disease and the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Apple pomace is a multifunctional phenolic compound possessing effective biological activity against cervical cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of quercetin-3-glucoside (Q3G) extracted from apple pomace in HeLa cell lines and analyze its molecular mechanisms. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that Q3G, coumaric acid, phloridzin, quercetin, and phloretin are the major polyphenolic compounds constituting apple pomace. Among them, Q3G possessed the greatest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and exhibited significant cytotoxic effects in HeLa cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that Q3G induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase in a time-dependent manner by altering cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Moreover, it induced apoptosis via chromosomal DNA degradation and increased reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, Q3G treatment altered the apoptosis-associated protein expression in the cells by activating caspase-9/-3, downregulating anti-apoptosis protein B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 expressions and up regulating the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein. BH3-interacting domain death agonist cleavage occurred prior to the degradation of an anti-apoptotic Mu-2-related death-inducing gene involved in cell death signaling. Consequently, apple pomace Q3G holds promise as an anti-inflammatory and anticancer agent for treating cervical cancer.

The MUDENG Augmentation: A Genesis in Anti-Cancer Therapy?

Despite multitudes of reports on cancer remedies available, we are far from being able to declare that we have arrived at that defining anti-cancer therapy. In recent decades, researchers have been looking into the possibility of enhancing cell death-related signaling pathways in cancer cells using pro-apoptotic proteins. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Mu-2/AP1M2 domain containing, death-inducing (MUDENG, MuD) have been established for their ability to bring about cell death specifically in cancer cells. Targeted cell death is a very attractive term when it comes to cancer, since most therapies also affect normal cells. In this direction TRAIL has made noteworthy progress. This review briefly sums up what has been done using TRAIL in cancer therapeutics. The importance of MuD and what has been achieved thus far through MuD and the need to widen and concentrate on applicational aspects of MuD has been highlighted. This has been suggested as the future perspective of MuD towards prospective progress in cancer research.

Novel insights on the multi-functional properties of flavonol glucosides from red onion (Allium cepa L) solid waste - In vitro and in silico approach.

Flavonol glucosides was extracted from red onion solid waste (ROSW) and multi-functional properties were determined to develop alternative strategy for therapeutic beneficiation and utilisation as functional food. The major flavonol glucosides extracted from ROSW were confirmed as quercetin-3, 4'-O-diglucoside (QDG), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercetin), quercetin-4'-O-glucoside (spiraeoside), isorhamnetin- 4'-glucoside (IMG), quercetin glycoside (QG), and quercetin (Q) using a combination of chromatographic, spectroscopic and scientific literature data. The ROSW solvent fractions and extracted flavonol glucosides showed significant antioxidant effect with DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC radical scavenging assays. The in vitro and in silico study revealed that the QG, QDG, isoquercetin, and spiraeoside from ROSW exhibited potent α-glucosidase, tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitory activity. In addition, QG, QDG, isoquercetin, and spiraeoside showed potent anticancer effect on HeLa cancer lines. Considering these results, the utilization of ROSW and their flavonol glucosides might be helpful for developing potential antioxidant, anticancer and enzyme inhibitory agents.

Piperine synergistically enhances the effect of temozolomide against temozolomide-resistant human glioma cell lines.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating chemotherapy agent used in the clinical treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. Piperine (PIP) is a naturally occurring pungent nitrogenous substance present in the fruits of peppers. We investigated the anti-cancer efficacies of PIP alone and in combination with TMZ in GBM cellsusingparameters such as cell proliferation, cellular apoptosis,caspase-8/-9/-3 activities, cell cycle kinetics, wound-healing ability, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Treatment with PIP and alow concentration of PIP-TMZ, inhibited cell growth, similar to TMZ.PIP-TMZ promoted apoptosis by activation of caspase-8/-9/-3, MMP loss, and inhibition of in vitro wound-healing motility. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed significant inhibition of Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK)4/6-cyclin D and CDK2-cyclin-E expression upon treatment with a low concentration PIP-TMZ, suggesting an S to G1 arrest. Our findings provide insight into the apoptotic potential of the combination of a low concentration of PIP-TMZ, though further in vivo study will be needed for its validation.