Preclinical Study of Pharmacological Properties of Doxorubicin-NPh.

Preclinical study of therapeutic properties of an innovative drug Doxorubicin-NPh (doxorubicin in the form of ultrafine suspension of phospholipid liposomes) in comparison with free doxorubicin (Doxorubicin-Teva) and protected doxorubicin (Caelyx) was performed on transplanted murine tumor models. All these drugs were efficient in Ca755 breast carcinoma model (tumor growth inhibition ≈100%, increase in lifespan 90.6-114.3%). In P388 lymphocytic leukemia and LLC lung carcinoma, advantages of the protected doxorubicin by the benefit/risk ratio (width of therapeutic interval) were demonstrated: Caelyx>Doxorubicin-NPh>Doxorubicin-Teva. Doxorubicin-NPh and Caelyx exhibited similar therapeutic activity in the LLC model, especially when administered 3 times with 3-day intervals; for Doxorubicin-Teva, the optimal interval between the injections was 7 days.

Chemical analyses and in vitro and in vivo toxicity of fruit methanol extract of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum.

CONTEXT: Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (Cucurbitaceae) is used in ethnomedicine, but the diversity of the varietal groups of this species has not often been considered. This is important because we previously reported that different variety of species exhibit different activities across different tumor cell lines. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the chemical composition and biological activities of extracts obtained from S. edule var. nigrum spinosum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The leukemia P388 cell line and mononuclear bone marrow cells (MNCBMs) were treated with the extract at a concentration ranging from 40 to 2370 µg/mL for cytotoxicity and viability assays. CD-1 mice were treated with 8-5000 mg/kg extract and monitored every hour for the first 24 h and subsequently for seven days for signs of toxicity (LD50). In addition, the chromatographic profile of the extract was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: The extract inhibits the proliferation of both P388 cells and MNCBMs, with IC50 values of 927 and 1911 µg/mL, respectively, but reduced the viability and induced the apoptosis of only leukemia cells. The LD50 was higher than 5000 mg/kg, and this concentration did not alter the blood chemistry or cell count but doubled the mitotic index in the bone marrow. The HPLC showed the presence of cucurbitacins, phloridzin, naringenin, phloretin, apigenin, and gallic, chlorogenic, vanillic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic, and p-coumaric acids. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum contains bioactive compounds that explain the antiproliferative and nutraceutical activities, and its lack of physiological side effects constitutes an added value to a widely consumed vegetable.

Fruit extract from a Sechium edule hybrid induce apoptosis in leukaemic cell lines but not in normal cells.

The antiproliferative potential of a crude extract from the chayote hybrid H-837-07-GISeM® and its potential for apoptosis induction were assessed in leukaemic cell lines and normal mouse bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs). The extract strongly inhibited the proliferation of the P388, J774, and WEHI-3 cell lines (with an IC50 below 1.3 µg·mL(-1)), reduced cell viability, and induced apoptotic body production, phosphatidylserine translocation, and DNA fragmentation. However, the extract had no effect on BM-MNCs. We postulate that these properties make the extract a good candidate for an anti-tumour agent for clinical use.

Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaf extracts in sensitive and multidrug-resistant tumor cells.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has been used to cure a wide variety of ailments. However, only a few studies have reported its anticancer effects. In this study, extracts were obtained from alfalfa leaves and their cytotoxic effects were assessed on several sensitive and multidrug-resistant tumor cells lines. Using the mouse leukaemia P388 cell line and its doxorubicin-resistant counterpart (P388/DOX), we showed that the inhibition of cell growth induced by alfalfa leaf extracts was mediated through the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation analysis. The execution of programmed cell death was achieved via the activation of caspase-3, leading to PARP cleavage. Fractionation of toluene extract (To-1), the most active extract obtained from crude extract, led to the identification of 3 terpene derivatives and 5 flavonoids. Among them, (-)-medicarpin, (-)-melilotocarpan E, millepurpan, tricin, and chrysoeriol showed cytotoxic effects in P388 as well as P388/DOX cells. These results demonstrate that alfalfa leaf extract may have interesting potential in cancer chemoprevention and therapy.

Geranylated flavonols from Macaranga rhizinoides.

Two geranylated and methylated flavonol derivatives, macarhizinoidins A (1) and B (2), along with a known phenolic compound methyl 4-isoprenyloxycinnamate (3), have been isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves M. rhizinoides. The structures of these compounds were identified based on their spectroscopic data. On cytotoxic evaluation against murine leukemia P-388 cells, compounds 1-2 showed IC50 values of 11.4 and 13.9 microM, respectively, while compound 3 was inactive.

A new erythrodiol triterpene fatty ester from Scorzonera mongolica.

Two erythrodiol triterpene fatty esters, 3beta-dodecanoyl erythrodiol (1) and 3beta-tetradecanoyl erythrodiol (2), were isolated from Scorzonera mongolica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, MS and extensive 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 was identified to be a new compound and 2 was confirmed to be a new natural compound. Their antitumor effects in vitro were evaluated with MTT and SRB assays, but compounds 1 and 2 only showed moderate cytotoxicities on A-549 cell line.

[Screening of bioactive constituents from sea cucumber Holothuria nobilis using conidia of Pyricularia oryzae].

OBJECTIVE: To study the bioactive triterpene glycosides from sea cucumber Holothuria nobilis. METHODS: Guided by Pyricularia oryzae bioassay method, the glycosides compounds were separated by multi-chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral analysis. RESULTS: Twelve triterpene glycosides were obtained and their structures were identified, including seven novel saponins. All saponins showed activities on P. oryzae, and most of them exhibited cytotoxicity on P388 and A549 significantly. CONCLUSION: Our researches provided valuable leads for pursuing new anticancer drugs, and established a homebase for further development of H. nobilis which is widely distributed in South China Sea.

[Study on the anticancer activities of the Clematis manshrica saponins in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anticancer activity of the Clematis manshrica saponins in vivo. METHOD: Anticancer activities were tested in mice with experimental tumor (S180, HepA and P388) in vivo. RESULT: The Clematis manshrica saponins showed a significant anticancer activities on Sarcoma-180, HepA and P388 implanted in mice. In S180 sarcoma, the average tumor inhibition rates were 42.78%, 52.06% and 58.25% (P < 0.05-0.01) respectively; The mean inhibition rates were 37.44%, 52.05% and 59.36% (P < 0.05-0.001) in Hep A tumor separately; while in P388 tumor, the mean inhibition rates were 34.50%, 46.78% and 54.39% (P < 0.05-0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that Clematis manshrica has obvious antitumor effects against various transplanted tumor in mice.

Cytotoxic chalcones and flavonoids from the leaves of Muntingia calabura.

Two new dihydrochalcones, 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxydihydrochalcone, (-)-3'-methoxy-2',4',beta-trihydroxydihydrochalcone, a new flavanone, (2 S)-(-)-5'-hydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavanone, and a new flavonol derivative, muntingone, along with sixteen known compounds, were isolated from the leaves of Muntingia calabura. The structures of these new compounds were determined using spectral analyses including extensive 2D NMR data. Among the isolates, (2 S)-5'-hydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavanone, 4'-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone, 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone, and 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxychalcone exhibited cytotoxicity (IC (50) values < 4 microg/mL) against P-388 and/or HT-29 cell lines in vitro.

Shiquandabutangjiaweibang inhibits tumor metastasis and angiogenesis via regulation of topoisomerase-1.

Shiquandabutangjiaweibang (SDJ) is a traditional medicine prescription used for increasing body resistance against cancer. In the present study, the effect of SDJ extract on tumor metastasis and angiogenesis was evaluated. SDJ showed cytotoxicity against P388 (leukemia cells) and B16-F10 (murine melanoma cells) to 60% of control at 1 mg. SDJ significantly inhibited lung metastasis and also restored the number of platelets in C57BL/6 mice with thrombocytopenia induced by intravenous injection of B16-F10 cells. SDJ significantly disrupted chick embryonic angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Interestingly, SDJ suppressed DNA topoisomerase I in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that SDJ can be a potent inhibitor of metastasis and angiogenesis, at least in part, via regulation of topoisomerase I.

[Pharmacodynamic tests of wulong kangai on transplantable tumors in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the pharmacodynamic and side effects of Wulong Kangai, a new drug of Chinese traditional herbal medicine, on 4 strains of mice transplantable tumors. METHOD: Mice transplantable tumors S180, H22, P388 and Lewis were used in the pharmacodynamic test on the granules of Wulong Kangai. The test on each tumor strain was repeated three times. In each test, 50 mice were used and divided into 5 groups. They were negative control group treated by physiological saline, cyclophosphamide control group and 3 test groups treated respectively with Wulong Kangai at deferent dosages of 10, 25, 40 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) in the treatment of Lewis and P388 and 15, 30, 50 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) in the treatment of S180 and H22. RESULT: The tumor weight were inhibited at the rates of 90.1%, 30.8%, 49.8% and 52. 3% in the mice with tumors of Lewis, P388, S180, and H22 by high dosage of Wulong Kangai as compared with negative control group. The inhibitory rates in cyclophosphamide groups were 90.6%, 77.2%, 79.6% and 60.3% respectively. The mice body weights grew slower in high dose groups treated by Wulong Kangai granule. CONCLUSION: Wulong Kangai was effective in treating mice transplantable tumors of Lewis, P388, S180 and H22 with a dose-dependent manner. The Lewis was the most sensitive strain to the drug among the 4 kinds of tested tumors. Side effects appeared during 9-11 days of uninterrupted treatment with high dose Wulong Kangai.

Photocytotoxicity of a 5-nitrofuran-ethenyl-quinoline antiseptic (Quinifuryl) to P388 mouse leukemia cells.

Quinifuryl (MW 449.52), 2-(5'-nitro-2'-furanyl)ethenyl-4-[N-[4'-(N,N-diethylamino)-1'-methylbutyl]carbamoyl] quinoline, is a water soluble representative of a family of 5-nitrofuran-ethenyl-quinoline drugs which has been shown to be highly toxic to various lines of transformed cells in the dark. In the present study, the toxicity of Quinifuryl to P388 mouse leukemia cells was compared in the dark and under illumination with visible light (390-500 nm). Illumination of water solutions of Quinifuryl (at concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 9.0 microg/ml) in the presence of P388 cells resulted in its photodecomposition and was accompanied by elevated cytotoxicity. A significant capacity to kill P388 cells was detected at a drug concentration as low as 0.09 microg/ml. The toxic effect detected at this drug concentration under illumination exceeded the effect observed in the dark by more than three times. Moreover, the general toxic effect of Quinifuryl, which included cell proliferation arrest, was nearly 100%. Both dose- and time-dependent toxic effects were measured under illumination. The LC50 value of Quinifuryl during incubation with P388 cells was approximately 0.45 microg/ml under illumination for 60 min and >12 microg/ml in the dark. We have demonstrated that the final products of the Quinifuryl photolysis are not toxic, which means that the short-lived intermediates of Quinifuryl photodecomposition are responsible for the phototoxicity of this compound. The data obtained in the present study are the first to indicate photocytotoxicity of a nitroheterocyclic compound and demonstrate the possibility of its application as a photosensitizer drug for photochemotherapy.

Avermectins inhibit multidrug resistance of tumor cells.

The modification of the sensitivity of Hep-2 and P388 tumor cells to taxol and vincristine, substrates of multidrug resistance proteins, by naturally occurring avermectins and the effect of avermectins on the accumulation of calcein in cells and the efflux of rhodamine 123 were studied. While avermectins did not affect the sensitivity of tumor cells to hydrogen peroxide and cisplatin, they significantly enhanced the sensitivity of cells of both wild-type and resistant strains to taxol and vincristine. The coefficients of modification for resistant strains were substantially higher. Avermectins suppressed the efflux of rhodamine 123 from cells and increased the accumulation of calcein in cells. The relative inhibitory activity of avermectins depended on the cell type and on the substrate of multidrug resistance proteins whose transport they suppressed (vincristine, taxol, rhodamine 123, calcein acetoxymethyl ester). The least active was avermectin B1 or ivermectin; the most active avermectins varied depending on the substrate and the cell type. In the case of vincristine transport, the most active avermectin was almost by one order of magnitude more effective than the traditional inhibitor of multidrug resistance cyclosporin A. This property of avermectins can be used in tumor therapy by combining application of avermectins with antitumor preparations, the substrates of multidrug resistance proteins.

Intracellular glutathione depletion and reactive oxygen species generation are important in alpha-hederin-induced apoptosis of P388 cells.

alpha-Hederin, a pentacyclic triterpene saponin isolated from the seeds of Nigella sativa, was recently reported to have potent in vivo antitumor activity against LL/2 (Lewis Lung carcinoma) in BDF1 mice. In this study we observed that alpha-hederin caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptosis of murine leukemia P388 cells. In order to evaluate the possible mechanisms for apoptosis, the effects of alpha-hederin on intracellular thiol concentration, including reduced glutathione (GSH), and protein thiols, and the effects of pretreatment with N-acetlycysteine (NAC), a precursor of intracellular GSH synthesis, or buthionine sulfoxime (BSO), a specific inhibitor of intracellular GSH synthesis, on alpha-hederin-induced apoptosis were investigated. It was found that alpha-hederin rapidly depleted intracellular GSH and protein thiols prior to the occurrence of apoptosis. NAC significantly alleviated alpha-hederin-induced apoptosis, while BSO augmented alpha-hederin-induced apoptosis significantly. The depletion of cellular thiols observed after alpha-hederin treatment caused disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi(m)) and subsequently increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in P388 cells at an early time point. Bongkrekic acid (BA), a ligand of the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator, and cyclosporin (CsA) attenuated the alpha-hederin-induced loss of deltapsi(m), and ROS production. Thus, oxidative stress after alpha-hederin treatment is an important event in alpha-hederin-induced apoptosis. As observed in this study, permeability transition of mitochondrial membrane occurs after depletion of GSH and precedes a state of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Further, we observed that alpha-hederin caused the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to cytosol, leading to caspase-3 activation. Our findings thus demonstrate that changes in intracellular thiols and redox status leading to perturbance of mitochondrial functions are important components in the mechanism of alpha-hederin-induced cell death.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of dihydroartemisinin ethers containing cyanoarylmethyl group.

A new type of ether of dihydroartemisinin containing cyano and aryl groups was prepared and tested for cytotoxicity to A549, P388, L1210 and HT29 cells using the MTT assay. 12k and 12l were the most cytotoxic compounds. 13 lacking the peroxy group showed a 1000-fold less potency than 12l. Similarly, the inactive compound 14 indicated that the position of cyano groups was also important. Flow cytometry data showed that the compounds caused an accumulation of P388 cells in the G(1)-phase of the cell cycle.

Plumieride from Allamanda cathartica as an antidermatophytic agent.

Plumieride has been isolated as an active principle of the leaves of Allamanda cathartica. It showed strong fungitoxicity against some dermatophytes causing dermatomycosis to animals and human beings. It exhibited a noncytotoxic nature against a P(388) mouse leukaemia cell line.

[Screening of antimitotic portions from sea hare using conidia of Pyricularia Oryzae].

OBJECTIVE: To apply conidia of Pyricularia Oryzae to the screening of antimitotic constituents from marine animal sea hare. METHOD: To extract and fractionate active portions from sea hare through detecting deformation of mycelia germinated from conidia of P. Oryzae P-2b, in comparison with the cytotoxic test results in vitro. RESULT: Two active portions, of which IC50 against P388 and HL-60 was 23.4, 18.6 and 19.4, 12.5 micrograms.ml-1, respectively, were screened from this animal. CONCLUSION: This bioassay method was efficiently applied to the primary screening of antimitotic portions from marine animals for the first time. Being convenient, speedy and cheap, the screening model is suitable for the bioassay of active constituents from marine life.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Lycianthes biflora].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Lycianthes biflora. METHODS: Column chromatography was used to separate the chemical constituents. IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and 2D-NMR technique were used to determine the structures of the isolated constituents. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated from this plant. Their structures were identified to be bifloride A (1), N-trans-cinnamoyltyramine (2), liquiritigenin (3), N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine (4), 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2-N-2'-hydroxypalmitoyl-sphinga-4- trans-8-trans-dienine (5). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds, the others were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compound 2 showed inhibitory effects on P-388.

Improvement of idarubicin induced antitumor activity and bone marrow suppression by theanine, a component of tea.

We have examined the effect of theanine, a specific amino acid in green tea, on idarubicin (IDA)-induced antitumor activity and toxicity. In combination with theanine, IDA (0.25 mg/kg per day x4 days, a dose that does not show antitumor activity) had significant antitumor activity in P388-bearing mice. The IDA concentration in the tumors in the theanine plus IDA group increased to twice the level in the IDA alone group. Furthermore, the decrease in tumor weight caused by IDA at 1.0 mg/kg per day x4 days (at this dose IDA exhibits antitumor activity) was significantly amplified by theanine. The numbers of leukocyte and bone marrow cells decreased significantly on IDA injection. Theanine significantly reversed these changes. These results suggest that theanine selectively moderates the IDA-induced toxicities. Until recently, the antitumor activity and related toxicities of this chemotherapeutic agent in leukemia could not be distinguished. Theanine increases the IDA-induced antitumor activity and ameliorates the toxicities.

Hot water extract of bark of Nikko maple (Acer nikoense) induces apoptosis in leukemia cells.

In screening for antitumor constituents in traditional crude drugs, we used three cultured cell lines: mouse leukemia P388 cells, doxorubicin-resistant P388 cells and leczyme (catalytic lectin)-resistant P388 cells. The hot water extract (HWE) of the bark of Nikko maple (Acer nikoense) showed concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on the growth of these three cell lines. DNA fragmentation and morphological changes, accompanied by condensed and fragmented nuclei, were observed in the leukemia cell lines cultured with HWE of the bark of Nikko maple. Treatment with this HWE increased the expression of sialylated glycoconjugates on the apoptotic cells. These results suggest that HWE induces cell death via apoptosis in vitro.