Kinsenoside alleviates oxidative stress-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction via promoting Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in ischemic stroke.

An ischemic stroke usually causes blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and excessive oxidative stress (OS) levels. Kinsenoside (KD), a major effective compound extracted in Chinese herbal medicine Anoectochilus roxburghii (Orchidaceae), has anti-OS effects. The present study focused on exploring KD's protection against OS-mediated cerebral endothelial cell damage and BBB damage within the mouse model. Intracerebroventricular administration of KD upon reperfusion after 1 h ischemia decreased infarct volumes, neurological deficit, brain edema, neuronal loss, and apoptosis 72 h post-ischemic stroke. KD improved BBB structure and function, as evidenced by a lower 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose pass rate of the BBB and upregulation of tight junction (TJ) proteins such as occludin, claudin-5, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). KD protected bEnd.3 endothelial cells from oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury in an in-vitro study. Meanwhile, OGD/R reduced transepithelial electronic resistance, whereas KD significantly increased TJ protein levels. Furthermore, based on in-vivo and in-vitro research, KD alleviated OS in endothelial cells, which is related to nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation as well as Nrf2/haem oxygenase 1 signaling protein stimulation. Our findings demonstrated that KD might serve as a potential compound for treating ischemic stroke involving antioxidant mechanisms.

Kiiacylphnols A-H, eight undescribed polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols with anticancer activities from Hypericum przewalskii Maxim.

Kiiacylphnols A-H, eight previously undescribed polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), along with two known congeners (hyperforcinol F and oxepahyperforin), were obtained from Hypericum przewalskii Maxim. The structures of these metabolites were confirmed by spectroscopic analyses, quantum-chemical 1H and 13C NMR calculations with DP4+ analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) comparisons and calculations. Kiiacylphnols A and B were the first [3.3.1]-type PPAPs with an unusual octahydrooxireno[2,3-i]chromene scaffold bearing a rare 6/6/6/3 ring system. More significantly, kiiacylphnol A and oxepahyperforin displayed cytotoxicity against acute myeloid leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell lines by inducing cell apoptosis.

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols with immunosuppressive activity from Hypericum perforatum and absolute configurations assignment of previously reported analogues.

Hyperformitins A-I (1-9), nine undescribed polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) with double-bond migration, along with four new isomers hyperformitins J-M (10-13), were isolated from Hypericum perforatum. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic analyses including HRESIMS, IR, UV, NMR, and ECD, as well as optical rotation (OR) calculations. The absolute configurations of previously reported analogues, garsubellins D and C as well as garcinielliptones L and M, were assigned for the first time by NMR spectra and specific rotations analyses assisting with OR calculations. Selected compounds were tested for their immunosuppressive activities against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced B lymphocyte proliferation. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 11 showed inhibition activities against the proliferation of B lymphocyte with IC50 values ranging from 4.1 to 9.7 µM. Furthermore, the neuroprotective activities of the isolates against corticosterone (CORT)-induced injury in PC12 cells were also tested, and compounds 1, 12, and 13 exhibited neuroprotective effects with cell viabilities of 68.0%, 71.3%, and 68.4%, respectively under the concentration of 10 µM.

Identification of anti-Parkinson's Disease Lead Compounds from Aspergillus ochraceus Targeting Adenosin Receptors A2A.

Two novel alkaloids compounds together with fifteen know metabolites were identified from Aspergillus ochraceus. The stereochemistry features of the new molecules were determined via HRESIMS, NMR, ECD, and XRD analyses. Amongst these, compounds two compounds exhibited potential efficacy as anti-Parkinson's disease with the EC50 values of 2.30 and 2.45 µM, respectively. ADMET prediction showed that these compounds owned favorable drug-like characteristics and safe toxicity scores towards CNS drugs. Virtual screening analyses manifested that the compounds exhibited not only robust and reliable interactions to adenosine receptors A2A , but also higher binding selectivity to A2A receptors than to A1 and A3 receptors. Molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated the reliability of molecular docking results and the stability of the complexes obtained with the novel compounds and A2A receptors in natural environments. It is the first time that anti-PD lead compounds have been identified from Aspergillus ochraceus and targeting adenosine A2A receptors.

Aspulvinone O, a natural inhibitor of GOT1 suppresses pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells growth by interfering glutamine metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Distinctive from their normal counterparts, cancer cells exhibit unique metabolic dependencies on glutamine to fuel anabolic processes. Specifically, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells rely on an unconventional metabolic pathway catalyzed by aspartate transaminase 1 (GOT1) to rewire glutamine metabolism and support nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) production. Thus, the important role of GOT1 in energy metabolism and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) balance demonstrates that targeting GOT1 may serve as an important therapeutic target in PDAC. METHODS: To assay the binding affinity between Aspulvinone O (AO) and GOT1 proteins, the virtual docking, microscale thermophoresis (MST), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) methods were employed. GOT1 was silenced in several PDAC cell lines. The level of OCR and ECR were assayed by seahorse. To evaluate the in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of AO, the xenograft model was built in CB17/scid mouse. RESULTS: Screening of an in-house natural compound library identified the AO as a novel inhibitor of GOT1 and repressed glutamine metabolism, which sensitizes PDAC cells to oxidative stress and suppresses cell proliferation. Virtual docking analysis suggested that AO could bind to the active site of GOT1 and form obvious hydrophobic interaction with Trp141 together with hydrogen bonds with Thr110 and Ser256. Further in vitro validation, including MST, CETSA and DARTS, further demonstrated the specific combining capacity of AO. We also show that the selective inhibition of GOT1 by AO significantly reduces proliferation of PDAC in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings identify AO as a potent bioactive inhibitor of GOT1 and a novel anti-tumour agent for PDAC therapy.

Secondary metabolites from endophytic fungus Chaetomium sp. induce colon cancer cell apoptotic death.

A rare depsipeptide, chaetomiamide A (1), together with two known diketopiperazines (2, 3) were isolated from the cultures of endophytic fungus Chaetomium sp., which was isolated from the root of Cymbidium goeringii. Compound 1 represents a rare skeleton with a 13-membered ring system. It structure was established on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. The configuration of 1 was determined by NOESY and Marfey's analysis. These isolates were evaluated for anticancer activity and 3 displayed more potent cytotoxicity than the positive control cisplatin associated with G2/M cell cycle arrest. In addition, 3 induced apoptosis via caspase-3 induction and PARP cleavage, concomitantly with the increase of Bax and decrease of Bcl-2.

Tricyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols from St John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum.

The new polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol derivatives 1-15 and the known furohyperforin (16) were isolated from the stems and leaves of Hypericum perforatum. Their structures were determined by analyses of NMR and HRESIMS data. Their absolute configurations were elucidated by a combination of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and Rh2(OCOCF3)4-induced ECD, as well as X-ray diffraction crystallography. The new hyperforatin F (9) contains a unique acetyl functionality at C-1 of the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core. Hyperforatins G (10) and H (11) are similarly the first examples of naturally occurring [3.3.1]-type polycyclic prenylated acylphloroglucinols possessing a carbonyl functionality at C-32. The compounds were tested for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities and cytotoxic activities against a panel of human tumor cell lines. Compounds 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 exerted moderate inhibitory activities (IC50 3.98-9.13 µM) against AChE.

Hyperisampsins H-M, Cytotoxic Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum sampsonii.

Six new polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), named hyperisampsins H-M (1-6), were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum sampsonii, together with five known analogs (7-11). The structures of 1-6 were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including HRESIMS and NMR. In addition, the absolute configurations of these new compounds were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the first examples of PPAPs possessing a unique γ-lactone ring at C-23, while 3-6 differed from normal PPAPs with an unprecedented 1,2-dioxane ring. Compounds 1-7 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines in vitro, of which 3, 4, and 6 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities with IC50 values ranging from 0.56 to 3.00 µM. Moreover, compound 3 induces leukemia cell apoptotic death, evidenced by activation of caspase-3, degradation of PARP, up-regulation of Bax, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl.

Berberine induces double-strand DNA breaks in Rev3 deficient cells.

Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, the majority of which is extracted from Huang Lian and other medicinal herbs. Numerous studies have revealed that berberine exhibits anticancer activity, however the mechanisms underlying this effect remain elusive. To examine these mechanisms, we analyzed the effects of berberine on a panel of DNA repair deficient chicken B lymphocyte (DT40) clones. Our results revealed that DT40 cells deficient in Rev3 (Rev3-/-), a translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) gene, were hypersensitive to berberine. Following berberine treatment, cell cycle analysis identified that G2/M arrest was increased in Rev3-/- cells. Furthermore, compared with wild-type cells (WT), berberine also induced a significant increase in double-strand breaks (DSBs) in Rev3-/- cells, as revealed by chromosomal aberration (CA) analysis. These results suggest that berberine is able to induce DNA damage, and that the Rev3 associated DNA repair pathway participates in the processes that aid its repair.

Deltonin isolated from Dioscorea zingiberensis inhibits cancer cell growth through inducing mitochondrial apoptosis and suppressing Akt and mitogen activated protein kinase signals.

Deltonin is an active component purified from Dioscorea zingiberensis WRIGHT (DZW), and has shown anticancer effects. However, its mechanism of action remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Deltonin on a panel of cancer cell lines and analyzed its mechanism in C26 cells, a murine colon carcinoma cell. Our results showed that Deltonin markedly inhibited the growth of all examined cancer cell lines. Deltonin induced dose- and time-dependent apoptosis in C26 cells. The event of apoptosis was accompanied by the release of cytochrome c, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, and dose- and time-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Deltonin also increased the expression of Bax, decreased the expression of B-cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2 (Bcl-2), and induced the activation of caspase 9, caspase 3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Furthermore, Deltonin decreased Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK(1/2)) activity. These results demonstrate that Deltonin mediates the growth inhibition of cancer cells through multiple targets, which include the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial apoptosis and the inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt signaling pathways, suggesting Deltonin is a potent cancer preventive and therapeutic agent.

Deltonin, a steroidal saponin, inhibits colon cancer cell growth in vitro and tumor growth in vivo via induction of apoptosis and antiangiogenesis.

Deltonin, a steroidal saponin, isolated from Dioscorea zingiberensis Wright (DZW), has shown high-cytotoxic activity in cancer cells. However, its mechanisms and in vivo anti-cancer effects remain unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the effects and explored the anti-tumor mechanisms of deltonin on a panel of colon cancer cell lines and in a mouse model of murine colon cancer C26. Deltonin had more cytotoxic effect on C26 cells than 5-fluorouracil had, promoting dramatic G2-M phase arrest and apoptosis in C26 cells in a concentration-dependent manner; oral administration of deltonin significantly inhibited the tumor growth and prolonged survival of the tumor bearing mice. The deltonin treatment caused a noticeable apoptosis in tumor tissue, which associated with increased levels of Bax, activated caspase-3, caspase-9, and cleaved poly (ADPribose) polymerase, decreased pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-9, Bcl-2 expression levels and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 activity; and dose-dependently inhibit angiogenesis. In conclusion, the findings in this study demonstrated that deltonin is an effective natural agent for cancer therapy, which may be mediated, in part, by induction of apoptosis, as well as involve mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, and inhibition of angiogenesis.