Yeonjoong Yong

Deoxypodophyllotoxin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HeLa cells

The natural flavolignan deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPPT) inhibits tubulin polymerization and induces cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M, followed by apoptosis. However, the precise mechanism of DPPT action is currently unknown. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which DPPT treatment of HeLa cervical carcinoma cells induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We show that DPPT treatment inhibits cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and that this reduction in cell viability results from cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M phase, accompanied by an increase in apoptotic cell death. The induction of apoptosis by DPPT was confirmed by visualization of morphologic changes and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. In addition, DPPT causes p53 and Bax to accumulate, accompanied by activation of DNA damage-sensing kinases, including ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase and Chk2. Furthermore, DPPT activates caspase-3 and -7, suggesting that caspase-mediated pathways are involved in DPPT-induced apoptosis. Levels of the tumor suppressor PTEN were up-regulated during DPPT treatment, coincident with Akt inhibition. Together, these data suggest that DPPT induces G(2)/M cell-cycle arrest followed by apoptosis through multiple cellular processes, involving the activation of ATM, upregulation of p53 and Bax, activation of caspase-3 and -7, and accumulation of PTEN resulting in the inhibition of the Akt pathway.

Antitumor activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin isolated from Anthriscus sylvestris: Induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis

An active compound having antitumor activity was isolated from the root of Anthriscus sylvestris. Structural studies revealed that it was deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPPT), and its biological activity was evaluated in HeLa human cervix carcinoma cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that DPPT arrests the cell cycle in the G2/M phase prior to apoptosis. The mechanisms of action of DPPT involve inhibition of tubulin polymerization, dysregulation of cyclin A and cyclin B1 expression, and activation of caspases-3 and -7.

Design, synthesis and inhibitory activities of naringenin derivatives on human colon cancer cells

Based on the previous result, several naringenin derivatives modified at position 7 with bulky substituents were designed and synthesized, and their inhibitory effects on HCT116 human colon cancer cells were tested using a clonogenic assay. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of five naringenin derivatives ranged between 1.20 μM and 20.01 μM which are much better than naringenin used as a control. In addition, new structural modification at C-4 of flavanone results in improving both the anti-cancer effect and anti-oxidative effect. In vitro cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) binding assay was carried out based on the previous results. To elucidate the possible interaction between naringenin derivatives and CDK2, in silico docking study was performed. This result demonstrates the rationale for the different inhibitory activities of the naringenin derivatives. These findings could be used for designing cancer therapeutic or preventive flavanone-derived agents.

Relationship between the structures of flavonoids and their NF-κB-dependent transcriptional activities.

It has been previously shown that some flavonoids inhibit NF-κB; however, the structure-activity relationships between chalcone, flavanone, flavone, and isoflavone derivatives and their TNFα induced NF-κB inhibitory effects on HCT116 human colon cancer cells have not yet been reported. Therefore, in this study, the effects of flavonoid structure on inhibition of NF-κB were investigated. Based on the combined results of this study, the structure of the flavonoids was shown to affect NF-κB activation.

Polyphenols bearing cinnamaldehyde scaffold showing cell growth inhibitory effects on the cisplatin-resistant A2780/Cis ovarian cancer cells.

Ovarian carcinoma remains the most lethal among gynecological cancers. Chemoresistance is a clinical problem that severely limits treatment success. To identify potent anticancer agents against the cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cell line A2780/Cis, 26 polyphenols bearing a cinnamaldehyde scaffold were synthesized. Structural differences in their inhibitory effect on clonogenicity of A2780/Cis cells were elucidated using comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis. Structural conditions required for increased inhibitory activity can be derived based on the analysis of their contour maps. The two most active compounds (16 and 19) were selected and further characterized their biological activities. We found that compounds 16 and 19 trigger cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptotic cell death in cisplatin-resistant A2780/Cis human ovarian cancer cells. The molecular mechanism of compound 16 was elucidated using in vitro aurora A kinase assay, and the binding mode between the compound 16 and aurora A kinase was interpreted using in silico docking experiments. The findings obtained here may help us develop novel plant-derived polyphenols used for potent chemotherapeutic agents. In conclusion, compounds 16 and 19 could be used as promising lead compounds for the development of novel anticancer therapies in the treatment of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancers.

1H and 13C NMR spectral assignments of 2′-hydroxychalcones

Chalcones are of interest to medicinal chemists because their structures can be easily modified with various functional groups. The syntheses and biological activities of chalcones from natural sources are well known. In this study, 24 2′‐hydroxychalcones bearing methoxy substituents were synthesized, among which five are new. The NMR data for all synthesized chalcones are described for the first time. The complete assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR data can be used for the identification of newly discovered and widely isolated, synthesized chalcones. Copyright

A compound isolated from Schisandra chinensis induces apoptosis

Schizandra chinensis has been known to have five predominant tastes: salty, sweet, sour, astringent, and bitter. It has also been shown to have various effects on the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, anti-inflammatory, central nervous system, endocrine system, and stress protect. However, its anti-cancer activity on colon carcinoma HCT-116 cells has not been yet been examined. Thus, in this study, we attempted to isolate a compound from Schisandra chinensis that induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells. An active compound was found and identified to be Gomisin A. It displayed apoptotic activity through caspase-7 cleavage in colon carcinoma HCT-116 cells. In addition, we further assessed the effects of this compound using long-term survival clonogenic assay with HCT116 cells.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents

Rapid and efficient synthesis of a phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole library enabled cost-effective biological testing of a range of novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with potential for improved drug efficacy and toxicity profiles. Anti-inflammatory activities of the phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole analogs synthesized in this report were assessed using the xylene-induced ear edema model in mice. At least four analogs, 2a, 2b, 2c, and 4a, showed more potent effects than the reference anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac at the same dose of 25 mg/kg. To explore relationships between the structural properties of phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole analogs and their anti-inflammatory activities in xylene-induced ear edema, comparative molecular field analysis was performed, and pharmacophores showing good anti-inflammatory activities were identified based on an analysis of contour maps obtained from comparative molecular field analysis. The anti-inflammatory effect on the molecular level was tested by the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced COX-2 using Western blots. Because the addition of the analog 2c caused the expression change of TNF-α induced COX-2, the molecular binding mode between 2c and COX-2 was elucidated using in silico docking.

Inhibition of PDGF-induced migration and TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression by maltotetraose from bamboo stem extract (BSE) in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells.

SCOPE Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of bamboo stem extract (BSE) on motility and ICAM-1 expression by using mouse MOVAS-1 cells. Active constituents of BSE exhibiting an inhibitory activity on TNF-α-induced ICAM1 expression were identified using HPLC. METHODS AND RESULTS The effects of BSE on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced migration, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced expression of ICAM-1, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation were investigated. BSE inhibited migration of MOVAS-1 cells and sprout formation by mouse aorta explants. Reverse transcription PCR analysis and promoter reporter assays revealed that BSE suppressed ICAM-1 expression by inhibiting NF-κB activity. In addition, BSE reduced adhesion between VSMCs and monocytes. Several oligosaccharides were identified in BSE. Among the oligosaccharides contained in BSE, maltotetraose and stachyose were potent inhibitors of TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression. We confirmed that maltotetraose reduced PDGF-induced sprout formation by mouse aorta explants and inhibited TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation and ICAM-1 expression in MOVAS-1 cells. CONCLUSION The BSE constituent maltotetraose may be beneficial in the suppression of early atherosclerosis development and could be developed as a dietary supplement for cardiovascular health.

Investigation of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2′,3′-benzochalcone binding to tubulin by using NMR and in silico docking

Hydroxychalcones act as autophagy inducers and methoxy chalcones induce apoptosis. Additionally, benzoflavones inhibit the hepatitis C virus. Based on these findings, a chalcone derivative, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2′,3′-benzochalcone, was prepared. It showed antimitotic activity through its inhibitory effect on tubulin polymerization. Its molecular binding mode with tubulin was elucidated using in silico docking and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition, the three-dimensional structure of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2′,3′-benzochalcone was determined by X-ray crystallography.