Both Phenolic and Non-phenolic Green Tea Fractions Inhibit Migration of Cancer Cells.

Green tea consumption is associated with chemoprevention of many cancer types. Fresh tea leaves are rich in polyphenolic catechins, which can constitute up to 30% of the dry leaf weight. While the polyphenols of green tea have been well investigated, it is still largely unknown, whether or not non-phenolic constituents also reveal chemopreventive and anti-metastatic effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of a fraction of green tea rich in phenolic compounds (PF), a non-phenolic fraction (NPF), which contains glyceroglycolipids (GGL), and a pure glyceroglycolipid compound isolated from the non-phenolic fraction in human cancer. Dried green tea leaves were extracted and applied t…

Miltirone Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in CCRF-CEM Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells

Miltirone (1) is a diterpene quinone extracted from a well-known Chinese traditional herb (Salvia miltiorrhiza). We investigated the cytotoxic effects of miltirone toward sensitive and multidrug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. Miltirone inhibited multidrug-resistant P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-overexpressing CEM/ADR5000 cells better than drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM wild-type cells, a phenomenon termed collateral sensitivity. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that miltirone induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, miltirone stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disruption, which in turn induced DNA damage and activation…

Anticancer Activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Its Secondary Metabolites

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (danshen) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb. The root part of the plant contains most of the bioactive ingredients, which mainly belong to two groups of compounds: hydrophilic phenolic acids and hydrophobic tanshinones. These bioactive compounds refer to as secondary metabolites and exert multiple therapeutic activities, such as anti-oxidative stress, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hypertensive effects without showing serious side effects. Besides these pharmacological activities, anticancer effects have also attracted scientific attention. This review will provide an updated summary of the anticancer effects and the proposed m…

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors and Downstream Signalling Pathways as Cancer Treatment Targets for Medicinal Plants

Cytotoxicity ofSalvia miltiorrhizaAgainst Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Cells

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) is a well-known Chinese herb that possesses numerous therapeutic activities, including anticancer effects. In this study, the cytotoxicity and the biological mechanisms of S. miltiorrhiza (SM) root extract on diverse resistant and sensitive cancer cell lines were investigated. CEM/ADR5000 cells were 1.68-fold resistant to CCRF-CEM cells, while HCT116 (p53[Formula: see text] and U87.MG[Formula: see text]EGFR cells were hypersensitive (collateral sensitive) compared to their parental cells. SM root extract stimulated ROS generation, cell cycle S phase arrest and apoptosis. The induction of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway was validated by increased cleavag…

Identification of NF-κB as Determinant of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Inhibition by the Chinese Herbal Remedy Free and Easy Wanderer

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder developing after exposure to traumatic events. Although psychotherapy reveals some therapeutic effectiveness, clinically sustainable cure is still uncertain. Some Chinese herbal formulae are reported to work well clinically against mental diseases in Asian countries, but the safety and their mode of action are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of Chinese remedy free and easy wanderer (FAEW) on PTSD. We used a reverse pharmacology approach combining clinical data to search for mechanisms of PTSD with subsequent in vitro verification and bioinformatics techniques as follows: (1) by analyzing microarray-based …

Molecular mechanisms of rosmarinic acid from Salvia miltiorrhiza in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Rosmarinic acid (RA), a major hydrosoluble bioactive compound found in the Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various diseases, including cancer. However, the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Aim of the study Guided by microarray hybridization and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, we identified modes of action of rosmarinic acid (RA) isolated from S. miltiorrhiza on acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Materials and methods Microarray data were verified by independent methods: Real-time RT-PCR (mRNA expression), resazurin assay (cytotoxicity of RA towards parental CCRF-CEM…

Cryptotanshinone deregulates unfolded protein response and eukaryotic initiation factor signaling in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Abstract Background: Unfolded protein responses (UPR) determine cell fate and are recognized as anticancer targets. In a previous research, we reported that cryptotanshinone (CPT) exerted cytotoxic effects toward acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells through mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Purpose: In the present study, we further investigated the role of UPR in CPT-induced cytotoxicity on acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by applying tools of pharmacogenomics and bioinformatics. Methods: Gene expression profiling was performed by mRNA microarray hybridization. Potential transcription factor binding motifs were identified in the promoter regions of the deregulated genes by Cistrome software.…

Induction of cholesterol biosynthesis by archazolid B in T24 bladder cancer cells.

Abstract Background Resistance of cancer cells towards chemotherapeutics represents a major cause of therapy failure. The objective of our study was to evaluate cellular defense strategies in response to the novel vacuolar H+-ATPase inhibitor, archazolid B. Experimental approach: The effects of archazolid B on T24 bladder carcinoma cells were investigated by combining “omics” technologies (transcriptomics (mRNA and miRNA) and proteomics). Free cholesterol distribution was determined by filipin staining using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Flow cytometry was performed for LDLR surface expression studies. Uptake of LDL cholesterol was visualized by confocal microscopy. SREBP acti…

Production of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B from callus culture of Salvia miltiorrhiza with cytotoxicity towards acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) Bunge is one of the widely-used Chinese medicinal herbs. In this study, the chemical constituents and anticancer potential of SM stems and leaves were examined with those of respective callus cultures. The callus culture for stem and leaf explants was initiated in modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Active constituents of respective extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with DAD and MS (HPLC-DAD-MS). Rosmarinic acid (RA) and salvianolic acid B (Sal B) were determined to be the main phenolic compounds. Quantitative analyses revealed that callus stem extracts produced higher amount of RA and Sal B (stem RA: 1.27±0.38%; stem Sal…