Amygdalin Induced Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis of Lung Cancer Cells via Regulating NF[Formula: see text]B-1/NF[Formula: see text]B Signaling Cascade in Vitro and in Vivo.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Amygdalin, a natural compound commonly distributed in plants of the Rosaceae species, owns anticancer activity, less side effects, wide source, and relatively low price. Although the apoptosis is a central process activated by amygdalin in cancer cells, the underlying molecular mechanisms through which amygdalin induces the apoptosis of lung cancer cells remain poorly understood. In this research work, amygdalin could suppress the proliferation of lung cancer A549 and PC9 cells by CCK8 assay. Amygdalin significantly promoted the apoptosis of lung cancer A549 and PC9 cells stained with Annexin V-FITC/PI by flow cytometry assay. Furthermore, amygdalin dose-dependently decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) with JC-1 dye by flow cytometry. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms through which amygdalin induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of cancer cells, the differentially-expressed genes with a fold change >2.0 and p < 0.05 were acquired from the cDNA microarray analysis. The results of qRT-PCR further confirmed that the differentially-expressed level of the NF[Formula: see text]B-1 gene was most obviously enhanced in lung cancer cells treated with amygdalin. The results of immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting and siRNA knockdown indicated that amygdalin induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of lung cancer cells via enhancing the expression of NF[Formula: see text]B-1 and inactivating NF[Formula: see text]B signaling cascade and further changing the expressions of proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome C, caspase 9, caspase 3 and PARP) related to apoptosis, which were further checked by in vivo study of the lung cancer cell xenograft mice model accompanying with immunohistochemical staining and TUNEL staining. Our results indicated that amygdalin might be a potential activator of NF[Formula: see text]B-1, which sheds more light on the molecular mechanism of anticancer effects of amygdalin. These results highlighted amygdalin as a potential therapeutic anticancer agent, which warrants its development as a therapy for lung cancer.

Berberine induces apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer cells by upregulating miR-19a targeting tissue factor.

BACKGROUND: Berberine (BBR) from the widely used Chinese herbal medicine Huanglian has an array of pharmacological and biochemical properties, including anti-neoplastic activity. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these properties are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the anti-tumor mechanisms of BBR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The effects of BBR on NSCLC tumor development and programmed cell death were investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Luciferase reporter assays were used to determine whether tissue factor (TF) was a target of miR-19a. RESULTS: BBR suppressed NSCLC growth and promoted apoptosis in NSCLC cells by modulating miR-19a and TF expression. Luciferase assays showed that TF was a direct inhibitory target of miR-19a in NSCLC cells. BBR induced apoptosis through the miR-19a/TF/MAPK axis. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that BBR induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells via the miR-19a/TF/MAPK signaling pathway.

Recent updates and future perspectives about amygdalin as a potential anticancer agent: A review.

The overall incidence of cancer is increasing in recent years. Despite advances in various comprehensive treatments, the mortality of advanced malignant tumors remains at a high level. Numerous pharmacological studies have confirmed that many Chinese herbal medicines possess remarkable antitumor activities. Amygdalin, mainly existing in bitter almond, is reported to have antitumor properties in addition to the antioxidative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities. This article summarizes the structural characteristics of amygdalin, its antitumor mechanisms, and recent progress and achievement in the research of amygdalin, hoping that it could provide theoretical clues for exploring the clinical value of amygdalin against tumors. Amygdalin is known to have an antitumor effect in solid tumors such as lung cancer, bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma by affecting cell cycle, inducing apoptosis and cytotoxicity, and regulating immune function. Further research is needed to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of amygdalin in terms of the optimal dosage, the feasibility of combined use of amygdalin with other antitumor drugs, and even artificial synthesis of the active components in amygdalin, for the sake of enhancing its antitumor activities and reducing its adverse effects for clinical use.

[Preventive effect of plant cercaricide Fangyouling for schistosome infection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preventive effect of Fangyouling (a plant cercaricide) for schistosome infection in the field. METHODS: Villagers contacting schistosome infested water in 3 administrative villages in Hubei Province were randomly selected, and the villagers rubbing Fangyouling before they contacted with the infested water were divided into Group I (159 cases) and those not rubbing Fangyouling before they contacted with the infested water were divided into Group II (172 persons). All the villagers were investigated by questionnaire, and their infections of schistosome were tested by sera and fecal examinations. RESULTS: There were no differences of constituent ratios of gender, age, occupation, time and type of infested water contact between the two groups (all P values > 0.05). The positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 3.14% and 1.87%, respectively in Group I , and the positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 9.30% and 6.40%, respectively in Group II, and there were significant differences between both the results of sera and fecal examinations of Group I and Group II (both P values < 0.05). In Group I , there were 110 people who completely embrocated Fangyouling, and their positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 0.91% and 0, respectively. There are 42 people who incompletely embrocated Fangyouling, and their positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 8.16% and 6.12%, respectively, and there were significant differences (both P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The preventive effect of schistosome infection of Fangyouling is significant. Incomplete embrocating may be one of the possible reasons for people still being infected with schistosome after rubbing the protective agent.