ß-Bourbonene attenuates proliferation and induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.

Sesquiterpenes have antitumor, anti-inflammation, and anti-fungal effects. ß-bourbonene is a kind of sesquiterpene, but its pharmacological effect has not been studied. The present study was conducted in order to investigate the potential anticancer effects of ß-bourbonene on human prostate cancer PC-3M cells. PC-3M cells were incubated with 0, 25, 50, 100 µg/ml of ß-bourbonene. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) detection showed that compared with the control group, ß-bourbonene inhibited the growth of PC-3M cells in a dose-dependent manner. G0/G1 phase arrest was observed by ß-bourbonene by using flow cytometry. TUNEL staining and Annexin V/PI dual-staining method revealed that apoptosis was found in cells with ß-bourbonene treatment, and the quantity of apoptotic cells was increased with the elevation in concentration. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Fas and FasL in the drug-treatment group were significantly elevated. Furthermore, the western blot assay also indicated that with an increase in the concentration of ß-bourbonene, the protein expression of Bax in the drug-treatment group was significantly elevated, while a decrease was identified in the protein expression of Bcl-2. Taken together, ß-bourbonene can inhibit the proliferation and simultaneously, induce apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest of prostate cancer PC-3M cells, which may be realized by upregulation of mRNA expression of Fas and FasL, increase of Bax protein expression and decrease of Bcl-2 protein expression.

A study on the oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residue resource utilization by the exploration and development of shale gas.

Based on the requirement of national energy conservation and environmental protection, attention has been given to building an environment-friendly and resource-saving society. Shale gas oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residues (ODPRs) have been used as the main research object to developing new technology which can convert the residues into a harmless and recyclable material. Using the test data of ODPR, we analyze the development prospect in the building material industry and provide a scheme to utilize this particular solid-waste efficiently. Theoretically speaking, the ODPR resource utilization such as admixture of cement, making sintered brick, and non-fired brick, by the exploration and development of Fuling shale gas is feasible.

Afzelin exhibits anti-cancer activity against androgen-sensitive LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells through the inhibition of LIM domain kinase 1.

Prostate cancer presents high occurrence worldwide. Medicinal plants are a major source of novel and potentially therapeutic molecules; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible anti-prostate cancer activity of afzelin, a flavonol glycoside that was previously isolated from Nymphaea odorata. The effect of afzelin on the proliferation of androgen-sensitive LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3 cells was evaluated by performing a water soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay. In addition, the effect of afzelin on the cell cycle of the LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines was evaluated. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of afzelin on the kinases responsible for the regulation of actin organization. Afzelin was identified to inhibit the proliferation of LNCaP and PC3 cells, and block the cell cycle in the G0 phase. The anticancer activity of afzelin in these cells was determined to be due to inhibition of LIM domain kinase 1 expression. Thus, the in vitro efficacy of afzelin against prostate cancer is promising; however, additional studies on different animal models are required to substantiate its anticancer potential.