Molecular Modes of Action of an Aqueous Nerium oleander Extract in Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo.

Cancer drug resistance remains a major obstacle in clinical oncology. As most anticancer drugs are of natural origin, we investigated the anticancer potential of a standardized cold-water leaf extract from Nerium oleander L., termed Breastin. The phytochemical characterization by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed several monoglycosidic cardenolides as major constituents (adynerin, neritaloside, odoroside A, odoroside H, oleandrin, and vanderoside). Breastin inhibited the growth of 14 cell lines from hematopoietic tumors and 5 of 6 carcinomas. Remarkably, the cellular responsiveness of odoroside H and neritaloside was not correlated with all other classical drug resistance mechanisms, i.e., ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCB1, ABCB5, ABCC1, ABCG2), oncogenes (EGFR, RAS), tumor suppressors (TP53, WT1), and others (GSTP1, HSP90, proliferation rate), in 59 tumor cell lines of the National Cancer Institute (NCI, USA), indicating that Breastin may indeed bypass drug resistance. COMPARE analyses with 153 anticancer agents in 74 tumor cell lines of the Oncotest panel revealed frequent correlations of Breastin with mitosis-inhibiting drugs. Using tubulin-GFP-transfected U2OS cells and confocal microscopy, it was found that the microtubule-disturbing effect of Breastin was comparable to that of the tubulin-depolymerizing drug paclitaxel. This result was verified by a tubulin polymerization assay in vitro and molecular docking in silico. Proteome profiling of 3171 proteins in the NCI panel revealed protein subsets whose expression significantly correlated with cellular responsiveness to odoroside H and neritaloside, indicating that protein expression profiles can be identified to predict the sensitivity or resistance of tumor cells to Breastin constituents. Breastin moderately inhibited breast cancer xenograft tumors in vivo. Remarkably, in contrast to what was observed with paclitaxel monotherapy, the combination of paclitaxel and Breastin prevented tumor relapse, indicating Breastin's potential for drug combination regimens.

Boshramycinones A-C: New anthracyclinones produced by a marine-derived Streptomyces sp.: isolation, structure elucidation and biological activities.

Boshramycinones A-C (1-3), three new anthracyclinones, were isolated from the culture broth of the marine-derived Streptomyces sp. Mei 16-1,2 together with 2-acetyl-1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone (4) and bafilomycins B1, B2, and C1-amide. The isolated compounds were identified by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, the absolute configuration of 3 was determined by comparison of experimental and ab initio-calculated chiroptical data. The antimicrobial activity of the bacterial extract and the isolated compounds were assayed using a set of microorganisms, and cytotoxic activities were determined against 36 human cancer cell lines.

Studies on the constituents of Helleborus purpurascens: analysis and biological activity of the aqueous and organic extracts.

In Southeast Europe, the ethnomedicinal use of Helleborus species has a very long tradition. Cardiac steroids (Hellebrin), cysteine-rich proteins (Hellethionins) and several steroidal saponins have been identified in these plants. Aim of the present work was to investigate the amino acid composition of native extracts from the root and rootstock of Helleborus purpurascens. The amino acids have been identified by the GC-MS technique on the previously derivatised (Phenomenex Faast Kit) extract samples by comparison with the mass spectra and retention-time of the standards. A remarkable finding was a relatively intensive peak attributed to the non-proteinogenic Pipecolic acid (Pic). A cyclisation of the derivatised glutamine was observed during the GC measurement and a mechanistic pathway is described. Samples of the extract and of some isolated fractions have also been tested on; altogether 12 cancer cell lines aimed to identify further potentially cytostatic components which should be less toxic than Hellebrin. The finding of one Hellebrin-free fraction (IC50 = 0.007 mg/L) with higher cytotoxicity than Hellebrin (IC50 = 0.008 mg/L) is remarkable.

Marine Bacteria, XLVII - Psychrotolerant Bacteria from Extreme Antarctic Habitats as Producers of Rare Bis- and Trisindole Alkaloids.

From the gastrointestinal tract of a fish dredged near the South Orkney Islands in Antarctica, we isolated the psychrotolerant bacterial strain T262, which belongs to the species Vibrio splendidus. Investigation of this strain led to the isolation of a series of 15 bis- and trisindole derivatives. Among them, six new indole alkaloids, namely, turbomycin C [4'-n-butoxyphenyl-bis(1H-indol-3-yl)methane, 1a], turbomycin D [4'-n-propoxyphenyl-bis(1H-indol-3-yl)methane, 1b], turbomycin E [4'-ethoxyphenyl-bis(1H-indol-3-yl)methane, 1c], turbomycin F [4'-methoxy-3',5'-dinitrophenyl-bis(1H-indol-3-yl)methane, 2], trisindolal (3a), and 4-(1H-indol-3-yl-sulfanyl)phenol (4). Another new bisindole derivative elucidated as 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-indol-3-ylethanol (7a) was obtained together with six known compounds from the psychrotolerant Arthrobacter psychrochitiniphilus strain T406, isolated from the excrement of penguins. Some of the isolated compounds showed activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at 10 µg/paper disk. Trisindolal (3a) was active against the peronosporomycetes Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora infestans, and some of the indole derivatives indicated promising cytotoxicity towards human tumor cell lines. By exhibiting a mean IC50 of 0.45 µg/mL (1.17 µM), trisindolal (3a) showed pronounced potency and selectivity in a panel of 11 human tumor cell lines derived from 10 different tumor histotypes.

Bacaryolanes A-C, Rare Bacterial Caryolanes from a Mangrove Endophyte.

Caryolanes are known as typical plant-derived sesquiterpenes. Here we describe the isolation and full structure elucidation of three caryolanes, bacaryolane A-C (1-3), that are produced by a bacterial endophyte (Streptomyces sp. JMRC:ST027706) of the mangrove plant Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. By 2D NMR, analysis of the first X-ray crystallographic data of a caryolane (bacaryolane C), CD spectroscopy, and comparison with data for plant-derived caryolanes, we rigorously established the absolute configuration of the bacaryolanes and related compounds from bacteria. Bacterial caryolanes appear as the mirror images of typical plant caryolanes. Apparently plant and bacteria harbor stereodivergent biosynthetic pathways, which may be used as metabolic signatures. The discovery of plant-like volatile terpenes in endophytes not only is an important addition to the bacterial terpenome but may also point to complex molecular interactions in the plant-microbe association.

Kandenols A-E, eudesmenes from an endophytic Streptomyces sp. of the mangrove tree Kandelia candel.

Five novel eudesmene-type sesquiterpenes, kandenols A-E (1-5), have been isolated from Streptomyces sp. HKI0595 derived from the mangrove plant Kandelia candel. Their structures were established through NMR and mass spectrometry, and absolute configurations were established by the Mosher method and comparison of CD spectra with α-rotunol and ß-rotunol. The kandenols are reminiscent of various plant-derived eudesmenes, yet kandenols B and C are unusual because of their hydroperoxide moieties. Kandenol E is the first bacterial agarofuran, which belongs to an important group of antibiotics. Whereas the kandenols display no cytotoxicity against 12 human cell lines, weak to moderate antimicrobial activities were detected against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Mycobacterium vaccae IMET 10670.

Antiarol cinnamate and africanoside, a cinnamoyl triterpene and a hydroperoxy-cardenolide from the stem bark of Antiaris africana.

From the methanol extract of the stem bark of the African tree Antiaris africana Engler, two new bioactive metabolites were isolated, namely, the α-amyrin derivative 1ß,11α-dihydroxy-3ß-cinnamoyl-α-amyrin (antiarol cinnamate, 1) and a cardiac glycoside, 3ß-O-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-14ß-hydroperoxy-5ß-hydroxy-19-oxo-17ß-card-20(22)-enolide (africanoside, 2a), together with the known compounds ß-amyrin and its acetate, ß-sitosterol and its 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, friedelin, ursolic and oleanolic acid, 19-norperiplogenin, strophanthidol, strophanthidinic acid, periplogenin (3a), 3-epiperiplogenin, strophanthidin (3b) and 3,3'-dimethoxy-4'-O-ß-D-xylopyronosyl-ellagic acid. Their structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data and by chemical methods, while 3a was additionally confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The aglycone moiety possessing a hydroperoxy group was found for the first time in cardenolides. Compounds 1 and 2a showed no activity against bacteria, fungi, and microalgae; however, the crude extract exhibited a high toxicity against Artemia salina and a selective antitumor activity against human tumor cell lines. Africanoside (2a) effected a concentration-dependent inhibition of tumor cell growth with a mean IC(50) value of 5.3 nM.

AMT: preclinical pharmacology studies.

Auron-Misheil-Therapy (AMT) consisting of aqueous camomile extract supplemented with calcium, vitamins, the antihistamine chlorpheniramine and human insulin is under development as anti-cancer treatment. AMT was preclinically investigated in tumour cell lines and tumour xenografts to guide clinical phase I/II studies. AMT was tested against 56 human tumour cell lines, in a clonogenic assay in 98 patient-derived xenografts and in in vivo studies. AMT showed in vitro cytotoxic activity with highest susceptibility in cervical cancer, glioblastoma and colon cancers. In the clonogenic assay, anti- cancer activity of AMT was most active in cervical and uterine tumours, in colon cancer, glioblastoma, leukaemia, melanoma and pancreatic cancer. In vivo, AMT showed slight activity in tumour xenograft models of colon and mammary cancer. It also showed immune stimulatory effects by induction of IL-6- and TNF-alpha secretion in human PBMCs. The immune stimulatory potential of AMT, together with slight anti-tumour efficacy observed in the present study, indicates a role of AMT in tumour therapy.

Cytotoxic activity and absence of tumor growth stimulation of standardized mistletoe extracts in human tumor models in vitro.

Mistletoe extracts are widely used in complementary and alternative cancer therapy in Europe. The extracts possess cytotoxic, as well as immunostimulatory effects. However, some investigators have suggested that low doses of mistletoe extracts could also induce tumor growth. The mistletoe extracts Helixor A, Helixor M and Helixor P were investigated for growth inhibitory and stimulatory effects in a panel of 38 human tumor cell lines in vitro. Mistletoe lectin I (ML-1), adriamycin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were used as reference compounds. All three mistletoe preparations showed cytotoxic activity [T/C (Test/Control) < 30%]: Helixor P was the most potent, followed by Helixor M and Helixor A with IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values of 68.4, 114 and 133 microg/ml, respectively. The IC50 values of ML-1 and adriamycin were 0.026 and 0.069 microg/ml. None of the human tumor cell lines in the panel showed growth stimulation (T/C (Test/Control) > 125%) by the mistletoe extracts or ML-1, apart from two exceptions in the colon carcinoma cell line HCC-2998, in which Helixor M and ML-1 showed a marginal stimulation (TIC 128% and 131%, respectively) at one concentration only. Further investigations into the latter effect of Helixor M and ML-1 in the HCC-2998 line using five different proliferation assays, modified cell culture conditions and the identical production charge of mistletoe extract, as well as a new one, did not confirm the previous observation. It was concluded that the marginal stimulation found in the earlier experiments was a statistical coincidence. Helixor mistletoe preparations and ML-1 have cytotoxic activity and do not stimulate tumor cell proliferation in vitro which is in accordance with previous scientifically based observations on aqueous mistletoe extracts.

Absence of tumor growth stimulation in a panel of 26 human tumor cell lines by mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extracts Iscador in vitro.

Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extracts exhibit antitumor activity based on direct inhibition of tumor growth as well as modulation of immune response. Recent reports suggested potential stimulation of tumor growth at low doses of mistletoe extracts, particularly in hematological tumors and tumors responding to immunotherapy. Therefore, the direct effect of the three mistletoe extracts Iscador M Spezial, Iscador Qu Spezial and Iscador P on tumor growth was investigated in a panel of 26 human tumor cell lines in vitro using cellular proliferation assays. Antitumor activity of the three preparations at high concentrations was investigated in a panel of 12 cell lines. The results showed no evidence of stimulation of tumor growth by any of the three extracts, in particular the five tumor cell lines previously reported to be sensitive to direct mistletoe lectin stimulation. On the contrary, the lectin containing preparations Iscador M Spezial and Iscador Qu Spezial expressed a pronounced antitumor activity exhibiting a nearly identical antitumor profile compared to isolated mistletoe lectin 1.

Absence of tumor growth stimulation in a panel of 16 human tumor cell lines by mistletoe extracts in vitro.

Extracts of Viscum album (mistletoe) are widely used as complementary cancer therapies in Europe. The mistletoe lectins have been identified as the main active principle of mistletoe extracts. They have been shown to exhibit cytotoxic effects as well as immunomodulatory activities. The latter is exemplified by induction of cytokine secretion and increased activity of natural killer cells. Recent reports, however, indicated possible tumor growth stimulation by mistletoe extracts. Therefore, the three aqueous mistletoe extracts (Iscador M special, Iscador Qu special and Iscador P) were evaluated for antiproliferative and/or stimulatory effects in a panel of 16 human tumor cell lines in vitro using a cellular proliferation assay. The results show no evidence of stimulation of tumor growth by any of the three Iscador preparations, comprising central nervous system, gastric, non-small cell lung, mammary, prostate, renal and uterine cancer cell lines, as well as cell lines from hematological malignancies and melanomas. On the contrary, Iscador preparations containing a high lectin concentration (Iscador M special and Iscador Qu special) showed antitumor activity in the mammary cancer cell line MAXF 401NL at the 15 microg/ml dose level with a more than 70% growth inhibition compared to untreated control cells. In addition, a slight antitumor activity (growth inhibition 30-70%) was found in three tumor cell lines for Iscador M special and in seven tumor cell lines for Iscador Qu special, respectively. Iscador P, which contains no mistletoe lectin I, showed no antiproliferative activity.

Parimycin: isolation and structure elucidation of a novel cytotoxic 2,3-dihydroquinizarin analogue of gamma-indomycinone from a marine streptomycete isolate.

In our screening of actinomycetes from the marine environment for bioactive components, a new antibiotic with a novel structure designated as parimycin was obtained from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. isolate B8652. The structure of the new antibiotic was determined by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the NMR data with those of the structurally related gamma-indomycinone.