Anti-tumor Properties of Picrasma quassioides Extracts in H-RasG12V Liver Cancer Are Mediated Through ROS-dependent Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Picrasma quassioides (PQ) is a traditional Asian herbal medicine with anti-tumor properties that can inhibit the viability of HepG2 liver cancer cells. H-Ras is often mutated in liver cancer, however, the effect of PQ treatment on H-Ras mutated liver cancer is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of PQ on ROS accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction in H-ras mutated HepG2 (HepG2G12V) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PQ ethanol extract-induced HepG2G12V apoptosis was analyzed by the MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and western blotting. RESULTS: PQ treatment affected cell migration and colony formation in HepG2G12V cells. Cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9 and BCL2 associated agonist of cell death (BAD) expression levels were increased, while the levels of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) were decreased with PQ treatment. PQ treatment led to a reduction of H-Ras expression levels in liver cancer cells, thus reducing their abnormal proliferation. Furthermore, it led to increased expression levels of Peroxiredoxin VI, which regulates the redox signal in cells. CONCLUSION: Taken together these results provide a new functional significance for the role of PQ in treating HepG2G12V liver cancer.

Picrasma quassioides Extract Elevates the Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis Through ROS-Mitochondrial Axis Activated p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Picrasma quassioides (P. quassioides) is used in traditional Asian medicine widely for the treatment of anemopyretic cold, eczema, nausea, loss of appetite, diabetes mellitus, hypertension etc. In this study we aimed to understand the effect of P. quassioides ethanol extract on SiHa cervical cancer cell apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The P. quassioides extract-induced apoptosis was analyzed using the MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and western blotting. RESULTS: P. quassioides extract induced cellular apoptosis by increasing the accumulation of cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and inhibiting ATP synthesis. Pretreatment with N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a classic antioxidant, decreased the intracellular ROS production and inhibited apoptosis. In addition, the P38 MAPK signaling pathway is a key in the apoptosis of SiHa cells induced by the P. quassioides extract. CONCLUSION: The P. quassioides extract exerts its anti-cancer properties on SiHa cells through ROS-mitochondria axis and P38 MAPK signaling. Our data provide a new insight for P. quassioides as a therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer treatment.

Purification of a protein from coelomic fluid of the earthworm Eisenia foetida and evaluation of its hemolytic, antibacterial, and antitumor activities.

CONTEXT: Earthworm Eisenia foetida (Lumbricus rubellus), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used for treating many diseases, and its coelomic fluid has extensive biological functions. OBJECTIVE: The hemolytic, antibacterial and antitumor activities of an earthworm protein purified from coelomic fluid were investigated in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used ultrafiltration, gel chromatography, and ion exchange chromatography in sequence to isolate and purify an earthworm protein from coelomic fluid (ECFP), and ECFP was characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Hemolytic assay and antibacterial tests were applied to determine the cytolytic activity of ECFP. The MTT method was carried out to evaluate the antitumor effect of ECFP on HeLa cells and LTEP-A2 cells. RESULTS: ECFP, with molecular weight determined to be approximately 38.6 kilodaltons (KDa), was shown to possess significant hemolytic activity to chicken red blood cells (CRBC) (minimal hemolytic concentration 0.39 µg/mL). Antibacterial effect of ECFP obviously tested against Escherichia coli (minimal bactericidal concentration, MBC 180 µg/ mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (MBC 90 µg/mL) were observed. Moreover, ECFP notably inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells (IC50 77 µg/mL) and LTEP-A2 cells (IC50 126 µg/mL) both in a time- and dose-dependent manner. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: ECFP could serve as a component of the innate defense system of earthworms against foreign organisms, and thus it has potential pharmaceutical application in the future.