Anticancer Activities of the Quinone-Methide Triterpenes Maytenin and 22-ß-hydroxymaytenin Obtained from Cultivated Maytenus ilicifolia Roots Associated with Down-Regulation of miRNA-27a and miR-20a/miR-17-5p.
Molecules
; 25(3)2020 Feb 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32050628
ABSTRACT
Natural triterpenes exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Since this group of secondary metabolites is structurally diverse, effects may vary due to distinct biochemical interactions within biological systems. In this work, we investigated the anticancer-related activities of the quinone-methide triterpene maytenin and its derivative compound 22-ß-hydroxymaytenin, obtained from Maytenus ilicifolia roots cultivated in vitro. Their antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities were evaluated in monolayer and three-dimensional cultures of immortalized cell lines. Additionally, we investigated the toxicity of maytenin in SCID mice harboring tumors derived from a squamous cell carcinoma cell line. Both isolated molecules presented pronounced pro-apoptotic activities in four cell lines derived from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, including a metastasis-derived cell line. The molecules also induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and down-regulated microRNA-27a and microRNA-20a/miR-17-5p, corroborating with the literature data for triterpenoids. Intraperitoneal administration of maytenin to tumor-bearing mice did not lead to pronounced histopathological changes in kidney tissue, suggesting low nephrotoxicity. The wide-ranging activity of maytenin and 22-ß-hydroxymaytenin in head and neck cancer cells indicates that these molecules should be further explored in plant biochemistry and biotechnology for therapeutic applications.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Triterpenes
/
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
/
Maytenus
/
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
Type of study:
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Molecules
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil