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Triple negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive breast cancer type with abilities of early metastasis and chemoresistance. The tropical plant Citrus hystrix DC. has been reported to promote many biological activities including anticancer. However, the effect of C. hystrix against triple negative breast cancer has not yet been identified. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer properties of C. hystrix leaf extract and its bioactive constituents citronellol and citronellal against the triple negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line. C. hystrix leaves were powdered and sequentially macerated. The in vitro anticancer effects of C. hystrix leaf extracts, and its bioactive constituents (citronellol and citronellal) were evaluated against MDA-MB-231 cell line using cytotoxic MTT assay, cell proliferation, wound scratch migration, colony formation, cell cycle, apoptosis assay, Hoechst staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analysis. Results showed that crude hexane extract, citronellol, and citronellal significantly reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration by inducing cell cycle arrest, while also inducing apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells through inhibition of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, leading to activation of the caspase-3-dependent pathway. This study is the first report to demonstrate the effect of C. hystrix, citronellol, and citronellal against triple negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight sulfated triterpene glycosides, peronioside A (1) and psolusosides A (2), B (3), G (4), I (5), L (6), N (7) and P (8), were isolated from the sea cucumber Psolus peronii. Peronioside A (1) is a new glycoside, while compounds 2–8 were found previously in Psolus fabricii, indicating the phylogenetic and systematic closeness of these species of sea cucumbers. The activity of 1–8 against human erythrocytes and their cytotoxicity against the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, T-47D and triple-negative MDA-MB-231 were tested. The most active against cancer cell compounds, psolusosides A (2) and L (6), which were not cytotoxic to the non-transformed cells of the mammary gland, were chosen to study the inhibition of the migration, formation and growth of colonies of the cancer cell lines. Glycoside 2 effectively inhibited the growth of colonies and the migration of the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Compound 6 blocked the growth of colonies of T-47D cells and showed a pronounced antimigration effect on MDA-MB-231 cells. The quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) indicated the strong impact on the activity of the form and size of the molecules, which is connected to the length and architecture of the carbohydrate chain, the distribution of charge on the molecules' surface and various aspects of hydrogen bond formation, depending on the quantity and positions of the sulfate groups. The QSAR calculations were in good accordance with the observed SAR tendencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotic cells tether the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton via a conserved molecular bridge, called the LINC complex. The core of the LINC complex comprises SUN-domain and KASH-domain proteins that directly associate within the nuclear envelope lumen. Intra- and inter-chain disulphide bonds, along with KASH-domain protein interactions, both contribute to the tertiary and quaternary structure of vertebrate SUN-domain proteins. The significance of these bonds and the role of PDIs (protein disulphide isomerases) in LINC complex biology remains unclear. Reducing and non-reducing SDS-PAGE analyses revealed a prevalence of SUN2 homodimers in non-tumorigenic breast epithelia MCF10A cells, but not in the invasive triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line. Furthermore, super-resolution microscopy revealed SUN2 staining alterations in MCF10A, but not in MDA-MB-231 nuclei, upon reducing agent exposure. While PDIA1 levels were similar in both cell lines, pharmacological inhibition of PDI activity in MDA-MB-231 cells led to SUN-domain protein down-regulation, as well as Nesprin-2 displacement from the nucleus. This inhibition also caused changes in perinuclear cytoskeletal architecture and lamin downregulation, and increased the invasiveness of PDI-inhibited MDA-MB-231 cells in space-restrictive in vitro environments, compared to untreated cells. These results emphasise the key roles of PDIs in regulating LINC complex biology, cellular architecture, biomechanics, and invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[e][1,3] oxazine analogues synthesized through a two-step synthetic protocol. The structure of the compounds were established by interpretation 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectral data recorded after purification. All the title compounds 4a–k were screened for their in vitro anti-cancer activity against two breast cancer cell lines MCF 7 and MDA-MB-231 by using Doxorubicin as standard reference. Compound 4e displayed superior activity against both the cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 with IC50 values of 8.60 ± 0.75 and 6.30 ± 0.54 µM respectively, compared to the Doxorubicin IC50 value of 9.11 ± 0.54 and 8.47 ± 0.47 µM. Compound 4i also indicated good activity with IC50 value of 9.85 ± 0.69 μM on par with Doxorubicin against MCF-7 cells. Compound 4g demonstrated best activity on par with standard reference to IC50 value of 8.52 ± 0.62 μM against MDA-MB-231 cell line. And all other compounds demonstrated good to moderate activity compared to Doxorubicin. Docking studies against EGFR showed that all the compounds have very good binding affinities towards the target. The predicted drug-likeness properties of all compounds enable them to be used as therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used the roto-evaporation technique to engineer a 6 mm three-layer polyurethane vascular graft (TVG) that mimics the architecture of human coronary artery native vessels. Two segmented polyurethanes were synthesized using lysine (SPUUK) and ascorbic acid (SPUAA), and the resulting materials were used to create the intima and adventitia layers, respectively. In contrast, the media layer of the TVG was composed of a commercially available polyurethane, Pearlbond 703 EXP. For comparison purposes, single-layer vascular grafts (SVGs) from individual polyurethanes and a polyurethane blend (MVG) were made and tested similarly and evaluated according to the ISO 7198 standard. The TVG exhibited the highest circumferential tensile strength and longitudinal forces compared to single-layer vascular grafts of lower thicknesses made from the same polyurethanes. The TVG also showed higher suture and burst strength values than native vessels. The TVG withstood up to 2087 ± 139 mmHg and exhibited a compliance of 0.15 ± 0.1%/100 mmHg, while SPUUK SVGs showed a compliance of 5.21 ± 1.29%/100 mmHg, akin to coronary arteries but superior to the saphenous vein. An indirect cytocompatibility test using the MDA-MB-231 cell line showed 90 to 100% viability for all polyurethanes, surpassing the minimum 70% threshold needed for biomaterials deemed cytocompatibility. Despite the non-cytotoxic nature of the polyurethane extracts when grown directly on the surface, they displayed poor fibroblast adhesion, except for SPUUK. All vascular grafts showed hemolysis values under the permissible limit of 5% and longer coagulation times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been growing exploration of organometallic transition metal complexes as promising options for developing anticancer agents that offer the potential of reduced toxicity compared with the commonly utilized cisplatin analogs. In this respect, iridium complexes containing 2-phenylimidazo- [4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline derivatives with different substituents were investigated in different cell lines as potential anticancer agents. All the compounds exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against Caco-2, HeLa, A549, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. EC50 values of compound 1 were found to be 6.44 μM for Caco-2, 24.78 μM for HeLa, 9.14 μM for A549, and 4.45 μM for the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Similarly, EC50 of 3 was found at 15.07, 14.15, 10.33, and 4.48 μM respectively. The EC50 value of 2 was found to be 12.71 μM for Caco-2, 24.31 μM for HeLa, and 7.44 μM for MDA-MB-231 cells. EC50 values of compound 4 were found to be 28.20 μM for Caco-2, 12.79 μM for HeLa, 8.33 μM for A549, and 3.76 μM for the MDA-MB-231 cell line. The results of gene expression and flow-cytometry analysis showed that the compounds caused the induction of apoptosis in all cancer cell lines by changing caspase 3, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins. The obtained results demonstrate that compounds could be introduced as potent agents to prevent the progression of certain types of cancer. However, preclinical and clinical trials will be needed to evaluate these complexes to obtain safe, effective, and optimal therapeutic drugs for cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims of study are identification, isolation, identification and determination of some type bioactive constituents presents in Sanseveria trifasciata (S.trifasciata) with assessment of the effectiveness of ethyl acetate fraction roots and leaves as antiproliferative agents against breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. The roots and leaves of S. trifasciata were macerated in n-hexane for defatting, then the defatted components were extracted using a hot extraction technique with 85% aqueous ethanol, and the extracted parts were fractionated first with chloroform, ethyl acetate, and then n-butanol. A fraction of ethyl acetate is analyzed by analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine its component. Assessment of its cytotoxic activity was performed using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. for 24 hours, multiple concentrations of extracts are used to treat the breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell line. After 72 hours of treatment, media were removed and cell viability was calculated. The qualitative HPLC analysis showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of roots contains apigenin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, catechin, and caffeic acid but did not contain kaempferol. On the other hand, the ethyl acetate fraction of leaves contained apigenin, kaempferol, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, and catechin but does not contain quercetin. A cytotoxic study (MTT assay) showed that the IC50% for roots was 89.83 μg/ml and the IC50% for leaves was 77.6 μg/ml. Ethyl acetate extracts of S. trifasciata from both roots and leaves showed anti-breast cancer cell lines through inhibition of proliferation. However, leaves showed a more inhibitory effect at the lower concentration than roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles are widely used in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, and food processing industries. In this study, we have synthesized green lead nanoparticles (gPbNPs) by using an extract of Ziziphus spina-christi leaves and determined their cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line. gPbNPs were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The toxicity of gPbNPs was determined on the MDA-MB-231 cell line using MTT and NRU assays and as a result cell viability was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. MDA-MB-231 cells were more sensitive at the highest concentration of gPbNPs exposure. In this experiment, we observed the production of intracellular ROS in cells, and induction of caspase 3/7 was higher in cells at 42 µg/ml of gPbNPs. Moreover, the Bax gene was upregulated and the Bcl-2 gene was downregulated and increased caspase 3/7 activity confirmed the apoptotic effect of gPbNPs in cells. Our observation showed that gPbNPs induced cell toxicity, increased generation of intracellular ROS, and gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that gPbNPs executed toxic effects on the MDA-MB-231 cell line through activating caspase 3/7 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate metabolic changes following the acquisition of resistance to doxorubicin in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA-MB-231. Two drug-resistant cell lines, DOX-RES-50 and DOX-RES-100, were generated by treating MDA-MB-231 cells with doxorubicin for 24 h and allowing them to recover for six weeks. Both drug-resistant cell lines demonstrated an increase in doxorubicin IC50 values, indicating acquired drug resistance. Metabolomics analysis showed clear separation between the parental MDA-MB-231 cell line and the drug-resistant cell lines. Pathway analysis revealed that arginine and proline metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and beta-alanine metabolism were significantly perturbed in the drug-resistant cell lines compared to the parental cell line. After matching signals to an in-house library of reference standards, significant decreases in short- and medium-chain acylcarnitines and significant increases in long-chain acylcarnitines, 5-oxoproline, and 7-ketodeoxycholic acid were observed in the resistant cell lines as compared to the parental MDA-MB-231 cell line. In addition to baseline metabolic differences, we also investigated differences in metabolic responses in resistant cell lines upon a second exposure at multiple concentrations. Results indicate that whereas the parental MDA-MB-231 cell line had many metabolites that responded to doxorubicin in a dose-dependent manner, the two resistant cell lines lost a dose-dependent response for the majority of these metabolites. The study's findings provide insight into how metabolism is altered during the acquisition of resistance in TNBC cells and how the metabolic response to doxorubicin changes upon repeated treatment. This information can potentially identify novel targets to prevent or reverse multi-drug resistance in TNBC, and also demonstrate the usefulness of metabolomics technology in identifying new mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer and potential drug targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel hybrid cationic polymer based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS). This is the first report of using a cationic POSS-based material for gene delivery. Due to its amphiphilic properties, hydrophobic drugs such as paclitaxel can be encapsulated within the hydrophobic core of this polymer. In this paper, it is shown that paclitaxel-encapsulated hybrid POSS-based polyplexes show superior gene transfection efficiency in human breast cancer cells than the non drug-loaded polyplexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosphingolipid expression differs between human breast cancer stem cells (CSC) and cancer non-stem cells (non-CSC). We performed studies of viability, type of cell death, cancer stem cell percent and glycosphingolipid expression on CSC and non-CSC after treatment of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 triple-negative breast cancer cells with a newly developed thienopyridine anticancer compound (3-amino-N-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-b]quinoline-2-carboxamide, 1). Compound 1 was cytotoxic for both breast cancer cell lines and the majority of cells died by treatment-induced apoptosis. The percent of cancer stem cells and number of formed mammospheres was significantly lower. Glycosphingolipids IV6Neu5Ac-nLc4Cer and GalNAc-GM1b (IV3Neu5Ac-Gg5Cer) not reported previously, were identified in both CSCs and non-CSCs. IV6Neu5Ac-nLc4Cer had increased expression in both CSCs and non-CSCs of both cell lines after the treatment with 1, while GM3 (II3Neu5Ac-LacCer) had increased expression only on both cell subpopulations in MDA-MB-231 cell line. GalNAc-GM1b, Gb4Cer (GalNAcβ1-3Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer) and GM2 (II3Neu5Ac-GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer) were increased only in CSCs of both cell lines while GD3 was decreased in CSC of MDA-MB-231 cell line. Due to its effect in reducing the percentage of cancer stem cells and number of mammospheres, and its influence upon several glycosphingolipid expressions, it can be concluded that compound 1 deserves attention as a potential new drug for triple-negative breast cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anticancer and antibacterial potential of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles have been investigated using different biological assays. Also, an induction heating study was performed to check the magnetic hyperthermia application of synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. An antimicrobial study was performed against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. Among them, the Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strain showed maximum antimicrobial activity with a 15 mm zone of inhibition for 500 µg/mL of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The antioxidant activity was ascertained through a DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2, picryl-hydrazyl) assay. Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed 30.57% free radical scavenging activity due to its antioxidative nature. The anticancer potential of Fe3O4 nanoparticles was evaluated against the breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines and fibroblast (L929) cell line using 3-(4, 5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay. Fe3O4 nanoparticles proved to be toxic to the MDA-MB-231 cell line even at a concentration of 3.125 µg mL−1, and an increase in cytotoxicity to 89% from 20% was observed with the rise in Fe3O4 nanoparticles concentration to 100 µg mL−1. The observed cytotoxicity for the L929 cell line is low revealing the biocompatible nature of synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Also, the biocompatibility for invitro application was examined using angiogenesis activity which does not show any antiangiogenics activity of synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Additionally, the inductive heating characteristic of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in an alternating current (AC) magnetic field was examined at a frequency of 278 kHz, and for the different magnetic fields of 13.3, 20.0, and 26.7 kA m−1 for 600 s with different suspension concentrations of Fe3O4 nanoparticles as 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mg mL−1. The highest rise in temperature of 60.63 °C was observed for 5 mg mL−1 at a magnetic field of 26.7 kA m−1 with a specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 85 Wg−1 which makes them suitable for hyperthermia application. The study shows promising antimicrobial, antioxidative, anticancer, and induction heating properties. Herein, the present study reveals the potential of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for improved therapeutic applications and effective bactericidal propensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non‐laborious process for the fabrication of silver and magnesium dual doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ag/Mg−ZnO NP) is described. The wurtzite ZnO nano‐structures and the dual doped NP were analyzed by PXRD. SEM data showed the hexagonal morphology of our product, while the gathered anti‐bacterial outcomes towards Streptococcus mutans bacteria through micro‐dilution technic affirmed the enhanced performance of doped NP compared to the native ones. Furthermore, we gauged the toxic impacts of synthesized pure and Ag/Mg−ZnO NP against a breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐231) cell line through an MTT trial, which highlighted the superiority of the doped when compared to the native nanoparticles. In light of these comparisons, the applicability of Ag/Mg−ZnO NP in dental and medical science is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in females. While drug combinations have shown potential in breast cancer treatments, identifying new effective drug pairs is challenging due to the vast number of possible combinations among available compounds. Efforts have been made to accelerate the process with in silico predictions. Here, we developed a Boolean model of signaling pathways in breast cancer. The model was tailored to represent five breast cancer cell lines by integrating information about cell-line specific mutations, gene expression, and drug treatments. The models reproduced cell-line specific protein activities and drug-response behaviors in agreement with experimental data. Next, we proposed a calculation of protein synergy scores (PSSs), determining the effect of drug combinations on individual proteins' activities. The PSSs of selected proteins were used to investigate the synergistic effects of 150 drug combinations across five cancer cell lines. The comparison of the highest single agent (HSA) synergy scores between experiments and model predictions from the MDA-MB-231 cell line achieved the highest Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.58 with a great balance among the classification metrics (AUC = 0.74, sensitivity = 0.63, and specificity = 0.64). Finally, we clustered drug pairs into groups based on the selected PSSs to gain further insights into the mechanisms underlying the observed synergistic effects of drug pairs. Clustering analysis allowed us to identify distinct patterns in the protein activities that correspond to five different modes of synergy: 1) synergistic activation of FADD and BID (extrinsic apoptosis pathway), 2) synergistic inhibition of BCL2 (intrinsic apoptosis pathway), 3) synergistic inhibition of MTORC1, 4) synergistic inhibition of ESR1, and 5) synergistic inhibition of CYCLIN D. Our approach offers a mechanistic understanding of the efficacy of drug combinations and provides direction for selecting potential drug pairs worthy of further laboratory investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstacles to the successful treatment of breast cancer patients with chemotherapeutic agents can be overcome with effective new strategies. It is still unclear how folic acid affects the onset and spread of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine how folic acid affected the apoptotic and autophagic pathways of the breast cancer cell lines MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231. In the present study, folic acid was applied to MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines at different concentrations and for different durations. MTT analysis was used to investigate cytotoxic activity. All groups underwent the Tunel staining procedure to identify apoptosis and the immunofluorescence staining approach to identify the autophagic pathway. 24‐hour folic acid values were accepted as the most appropriate cytotoxic dose. In MCF‐7, cell cycle arrest was observed in the S phase and MDA‐MB‐231 G1/G0 phases. When apoptotic TUNEL staining was evaluated in both cell lines, folic acid significantly increased apoptosis. While a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of Beclin 1 immunoreactivity in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line, there was no significant difference in the MCF‐7 cell line. In addition, statistical significance was not observed LC3 immunoreactivity in both cell lines. In the study, it was observed that folic acid induced autophagy at the initial stage in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line but had no inductive effect in the MCF‐7 cell line. In conclusion, our findings showed that folic acid has a potential cytotoxic and therapeutic effect on MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisetin (FIS) is a multifunctional bioactive flavanol that has been recently exploited as anticancer drug against various cancers including breast cancer. However, its poor aqueous solubility has constrained its clinical application. In the current work, fisetin is complexed for the first time with soy phosphatidylcholine in the presence of cholesterol to form a novel biocompatible phytosomal system entitled "cholephytosomes." To improve fisetin antitumor activity against breast cancer, stearylamine bearing cationic cholephytosomes (mPHY) were prepared and furtherly modified with hyaluronic acid (HPHY) to allow their orientation to cancer cells through their surface exposed phosphatidylserine and CD-44 receptors, respectively. In vitro characterization studies revealed promising physicochemical properties of both modified vesicles (mPHY and HPHY) including excellent FIS complexation efficiency (˷100%), improved octanol/water solubility along with a sustained drug release over 24 h. In vitro cell line studies against MDA-MB-231 cell line showed about 10- and 3.5-fold inhibition in IC50 of modified vesicles compared with free drug and conventional drug-phospholipid complex, respectively. Preclinical studies revealed that both modified cholephytosomes (mPHY and HPHY) had comparable cytotoxicity that is significantly surpassing free drug cytotoxicity. TGF-β1and its non-canonical related signaling pathway; ERK1/2, NF-κB, and MMP-9 were involved in halting tumorigenesis. Thus, tailoring novel phytosomal nanosystems for FIS could open opportunity for its clinical utility against cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During cancer cell invasion, integrin undergoes constant endo/exocytic trafficking. It has been found that the recycling ability of integrin β1 through Rab11-controlled long loop pathways is directly associated with cancer invasion. Previous studies showed that gain-of-function mutant p53 regulates the Rab-coupling protein [RCP]-mediated integrin β1 recycling by inactivating tumor suppressor TAp63. So, we were interested to investigate the involvement of miR-205 in this process. In the current study first, we evaluated that the lower expression of miR-205 in MDA-MB-231 cell line is associated with high motility and invasiveness. Further investigation corroborated that miR-205 directly targets RCP resulting in attenuated RCP-mediated integrin β1 recycling. Overexpression of TAp63 validates our in vitro findings. To appraise the anti-metastatic role of miR-205, we developed two in vivo experimental models- xenograft-chick embryo and xenograft-immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. Our in vivo results support the negative effect of miR-205 on metastasis. Therefore, these findings advocate the tumor suppressor activity of miR-205 in breast cancer cells and suggest that in the future development of miR-205-targeting RNAi therapeutics could be a smart alternative approach to prevent the metastatic fate of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The redox imbalance, caused by depletion or generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key mechanism by which metal complexes exert anticancer effects. Carbidopa has shown the ability to inhibit the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line, a highly aggressive triple‐negative human breast adenocarcinoma, by inducing reductive stress. The metal complex of carbidopa with zinc (ZnCarbi) was designed to modify carbidopa's structure and exhibited increased cytotoxicity against MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Interestingly, ZnCarbi selectively targets certain cancer cells, showing no impact on the viability of normal HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) cells or other cancer cell lines like A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma), LM3 (murine breast adenocarcinoma), or HCT116 (human colon cancer). Treatment with carbidopa and ZnCarbi induces reductive stress, decreases ROS levels, increases the GSH/GSSG ratio, and protects cells from H2O2‐induced death. Both compounds also cause mitochondrial damage, leading to cell death, and exhibit antimetastatic effects by inhibiting cell migration and invasion of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Interaction studies with bovine serum albumin showed moderate binding through hydrophobic association. Overall, ZnCarbi demonstrates enhanced anticancer properties compared to carbidopa alone, highlighting its potential as an anticancer and antimetastatic compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palladium(II) complexes have stimulated research interest mainly due to their in vitro cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines and their low cytotoxicity in healthy cells. Thus, in this work, we combined Pd(II)/phosphine systems with the natural product curcumin as a ligand, obtaining a series of complexes, [Pd(cur)(PPh3)2]PF6 (A1), [Pd(cur)(dppe)]PF6 (A2), [Pd(cur)(dppp)]PF6 (A3), [Pd(cur)(dppb)]PF6 (A4) and [Pd(cur)(dppf)]PF6 (A5), where dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, and dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (P-P), which were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity analysis, and mass, NMR (1H, 13C, 31P{1H}), UV-vis, and IR spectroscopies, and four of them (A1, A2, A4, and A5) by X-ray crystallography. The in vitro cell viability of the complexes A1–A5, cisplatin, and the free ligand curcumin against MDA-MB-231 (human triple-negative breast tumor cells), SK-BR-3 (human breast tumor cells), A549 (human lung tumor cells), MRC-5 (non-tumor human lung cells), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma cells), and A2780cis (cisplatin-resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells), was evaluated by the MTT colorimetric assay. For the tumor cell lines tested, the complexes showed good anticancer activities. The results showed that in general the complexes had lower IC50 values than free curcumin and the precursors [PdCl2(P-P)]. IC50 results obtained for the A1–A5 complexes, in the MCF-7 cell line, are similar to those that had already been observed for some Pd/bipy/curcumin complexes. In the MDA-MB-231 cell line, complexes A1 and A5 stood out, with their lowest IC50 values, around 5 μmol L−1, and the complexes appeared to be more active (lower IC50 values) against the ovarian cell lines. Complex A1 was 23 and 22-fold more cytotoxic than cisplatin, against the A2780 and A2780cis cells, respectively. The complex A1 was studied on A2780cis cells and it was found that this complex inhibits colony formation and induces cell cycle arrest in the sub-G1 phase in a concentration-dependent manner and leads to cell death by apoptosis. The DCFDA assay revealed a potent ROS induction for complex A1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The cytotoxic effects of Ferula assafoetida extract intensely depend on highquality extraction. The type of solvent used is a critical parameter for efficient extraction in the maceration method. In the present study, the phytochemical and cytotoxic effects of different Ferula assafoetida extracts were compared. Methods: The Ferula assafoetida gum was extracted using different polar solvents: hydroethanol (70% v/v), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and water. The phytochemical properties of the extracts were evaluated, focusing on their herbal content of phenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was also compared by assessing their radical scavenging capacity (by DPPH assay) and reducing activity (using the FRAP assay). Finally, the cytotox effects of the extracts were evaluated using the MTT assay on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines for the first time. Results: The phytochemical properties of hydroethanolic extract of Ferula assafoetida (HEFA) were significantly (P< 0.0001) higher than those of the DMSO (DEFA) and water extracts (WEFA). The reducing power, radical scavenging activity, and cytotoxic effects of HEFA were also significantly (P< 0.05) higher than those of DEFA and WEFA. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was dose- and incubation time-dependent. HEFA exhibited the highest cell cytotoxicity at 72 hours, with IC50 values of 69.97± 9.45 µg/mL on the MCF-7 cell line and 60.22± 2.37 µg/mL on the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Conclusion: Hydroethanol was the best solvent for extracting phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The cytotoxic effects of HEFA were also the highest, probably due to the high ability of hydroethanol in the extraction of hydrophilic and lipophilic phenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the development of new probes RR1 ((1E)-1-(1-(6-bromo-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)ethylidene)ethyl thiosemicarbazone) and RR2 ((1E)-1-(1-(6-bromo-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)ethylidene)phenyl thiosemicarbazone), which selectively showed fluorescence turn 'OFF' response towards Cu2+ and Al3+. Further, complexes of RR1-Cu2+ and RR2-Al3+ acted as chemosensors for the detection of L -amino acids. RR1-Cu2+ selectively detected L -arginine (fluorescence turn 'ON'), and RR2-Al3+ selectively detected L -glutamic acid (fluorescence turn 'ON'). The existence of the fluorophore–quencher complexes RR1-Cu2+ and RR2-Al3+ was confirmed by theoretical studies. Further, the chemosensors RR1-Cu2+ and RR2-Al3+ have three possible structural isomers (RR1-Cu2+- L -arginine – A, B and C) and (R2-Al3+- L -glutamic acid – D, E and F), as confirmed by theoretical studies. In vitro bio-imaging of the probes (RR1 and RR2), complexes (RR1-Cu2+ and RR2-Al3+) and complexes associated with L -arginine (RR1-Cu2+- L -arginine) and L -glutamic acid (R2-Al3+- L -glutamic acid) was performed in the MDA-MB-231 cell line using their IC50 concentrations. In addition, in vivo live cell imaging studies were conducted using C. elegans as the model organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is a medicinal plant distributed across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. MO has been used in the traditional treatment of various diseases including cancer. This study aimed to perform bioassay-guided fractionation and identification of bioactive compounds from MO leaf against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. MO leaf was sequentially extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and ethanol. The most effective extract was subjected to fractionation. MO extract and its derived fractions were continuously screened for anti-cancer activities. The strongest fraction was selected for re-fractionation and identification of bioactive compounds using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis. The best anticancer activities were related to the fraction no. 7-derived crude EtOAc extract. This fraction significantly reduced cell viability and clonogenic growth and increased cells apoptosis. Moreover, sub-fraction no. 7.7-derived fraction no. 7 was selected for the identification of bioactive compounds. There were 10 candidate compounds tentatively identified by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Three of identified compounds (7-octenoic acid, oleamide, and 1-phenyl-2-pentanol) showed anticancer activities by inducing cell cycle arrest and triggering apoptosis through suppressed Bcl-2 expression which subsequently promotes activation of caspase 3, indicators for the apoptosis pathway. This study identified 10 candidate compounds that may have potential in the field of anticancer substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tissue factor (TF) activity is stringently regulated through processes termed encryption. Post-translational modification of TF and its interactions with various protein and lipid moieties allows for a multi-step de-encryption of TF and procoagulant activation. Membrane-associated guanylate kinase-with inverted configuration (MAGI) proteins are known to regulate the localisation and activity of a number of proteins including cell-surface receptors. Methods: The interaction of TF with MAGI1 protein was examined as a means of regulating TF activity. MDA-MB-231 cell line was used which express TF and MAGI1, and respond well to protease activated receptor (PAR)2 activation. Proximity ligation assay (PLA), co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down experiments were used to examine the interaction of TF with MAGI1-3 proteins and to investigate the influence of PAR2 activation. Furthermore, by cloning and expressing the PDZ domains from MAGI1, the TF-binding domain was identified. The ability of the recombinant PDZ domains to act as competitors for MAGI1, allowing the induction of TF procoagulant and signalling activity was then examined. Results: PLA and fluorescence microscopic analysis indicated that TF predominantly associates with MAGI1 and less with MAGI2 and MAGI3 proteins. The interaction of TF with MAGI1 was also demonstrated by both co-immunoprecipitation of TF with MAGI1, and co-immunoprecipitation of MAGI1 with TF. Moreover, activation of PAR2 resulted in reduction in the association of these two proteins. Pull-down assays using TF-cytoplasmic domain peptides indicated that the phosphorylation of Ser253 within TF prevents its association with MAGI1. Additionally, the five HA-tagged PDZ domains of MAGI1 were overexpressed separately, and the putative TF-binding domain was identified as PDZ1 domain. Expression of this PDZ domain in cells significantly augmented the TF activity measured both as thrombin-generation and also TF-mediated proliferative signalling. Conclusions: Our data indicate a stabilising interaction between TF and the PDZ-1 domain of MAGI1 and demonstrate that the activation of PAR2 disrupts this interaction. The release of TF from MAGI1 appears to be an initial step in TF de-encryption, associated with increased TF-mediated procoagulant and signalling activities. This mechanism is also likely to lead to further interactions and modifications leading to further enhancement of procoagulant activity, or the release of TF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of derivatives of pyrazole hybrid structures containing carbonitrile and substituted thiazole moiety were designed to search for selective COX‐2 inhibition. The designed target structures were synthesized with easy, practical, and efficient procedures. COX‐1/2 inhibition and cytotoxic effects of the synthesized compounds were evaluated in NIH/3T3 and MDA‐MD‐231 cell lines for inhibition concentration and selectivity index. The results showed that the compounds have an inhibitory effect with higher selectivity towards COX‐2 overall in both cell lines and moderate antiproliferative activity by targeting the breast cancer cell line MDA‐MB‐231. Among the 19 compounds synthesized (19 a–t), especially compound 19 m was found to be highly effective with COX‐2 inhibition of 5.63 μM in the NIH/3T3 cell line and 4.12 μM in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line. Moreover, molecular docking studies showed that the compounds indeed exhibited higher affinity for the COX‐2 active site. The theoretical ADMET properties of the presented compounds were calculated, and the results showed that the compounds may have a more favorable pharmacokinetic effect profile than the selective COX‐2 inhibitor Celecoxib, thus promising COX‐2 inhibitor drug candidates for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, five known meroterpenoids sargaol (1), flabellinone (2), stypodiol (3), atomarianone A (4), atomarianone B (5), and a known steroid fucosterol (6) were isolated from brown alga Stypopodium schimperi. Their structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic analyses. Isolated compounds were tested against human healthy fibroblast cells (CCD-1079Sk), and two different types of human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). They were also investigated by molecular docking studies on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 and 2 (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2), cyclin-dependent kinases 2, 4 and 6 (CDK2/4/6) proteins. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to determine their ligand-protein stability and binding affinity. The four isolates (1 - 3 , 6) showed strong cytotoxic activity in vitro against both cancer cell lines, particularly the aggressive MDA-MB-231 cell line, which was verified by in silico screening. Fucosterol was found to be the most selective compound against cancer cell lines, particularly the aggressive MDA-MB-231 cell line with a selectivity index (SI>16). The ADME prediction was also carried out and all the isolate compounds showed drug likeness. As a result, stypodiol and fucosterol were found to be the most potent compounds against both cancer cell lines by in vitro and in silico studies. [Display omitted] • Five meroterpenoids and one steroid were isolated from Stypopodium schimperi for the first time. • Their structures were elucidated by NMR and HRMS. • Isolated compounds were tested against two different cancer cells and an healthy cell lines as in vitro. Stypodiol and Fucosterol were found as potent inhibitors of ERα and HER2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of sphingomyelin metabolism and vitamin C in cancer has been widely described with conflicting results ranging from a total absence of effect to possible preventive and/or protective effects. The aim of this study was to establish the possible involvement of sphingomyelin metabolism in the changes induced by vitamin C in breast cancer cells. The MCF7 cell line reproducing luminal A breast cancer and the MDA-MB-231 cell line reproducing triple-negative breast cancer were used. Cell phenotype was tested by estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression, and proliferation index percentage. Sphingomyelin was localized by an EGFP-NT-Lys fluorescent probe. Sphingomyelin metabolism was analyzed by RT-PCR, Western blotting and UFLC-MS/MS. The results showed that a high dose of vitamin C produced reduced cell viability, modulated cell cycle related genes, and changed the cell phenotype with estrogen receptor downregulation in MCF7 cell. In these cells, the catabolism of sphingomyelin was promoted with a large increase in ceramide content. No changes in viability and molecular expression were observed in MB231 cells. In conclusion, a high dose of vitamin C induces changes in the luminal A cell line involving sphingomyelin metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new mono- and trisulfated triterpene penta- and tetraosides, djakonoviosides C1 (1), D1 (2), E1 (3), and F1 (4) were isolated from the Far Eastern sea cucumber Cucumaria djakonovi (Cucumariidae, Dendrochirotida), along with six known glycosides found earlier in other Cucumaria species. The structures of unreported compounds were established on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as by HR-ESI-MS data. The set of compounds contains six different types of carbohydrate chains including two new ones. Thus, djakonovioside C1 (1) is characterized by xylose as the second residue, that was a branchpoint in the pentasaccharide chain. Meanwhile, only quinovose and rarely glucose have been found earlier in pentasaccharide chains branched at C-2 of the second sugar unit. Djakonovioside E1 (3) is characterized by a tetrasaccharide trisulfated chain, with glucose as the second residue. So, in the series of isolated glycosides, three types of sugars in the second position were presented: the most common, quinovose—in six compounds; glucose—in three substances; and the rare xylose—in one glycoside. The set of aglycones was composed of holostane- and non-holostane-type polycyclic systems; the latter comprised normal and reduced side chains. Noticeably, isokoreoside A (9), isolated from C. djakonovi, was a single glycoside having a 9(11)-double bond, indicating two oxidosqualenecyclases are operating in the process of the biosynthesis of aglycones. Some of the glycosides from C. djakonovi, which were characterized by pentasaccharide branched chains containing one to three sulfate groups, are chemotaxonomic features of the representatives of the genus Cucumaria. The assortment of sugar parts of Cucumaria's glycosides was broadened with previously undescribed penta- and tetrasaccharide moieties. The metabolic network of sugar parts and aglycones is constructed based on biogenetic relationships. The cytotoxic action of compounds 1–10, isolated from C. djakonovi, against human breast cancer cell lines was investigated along with the hemolytic activity. Erythrocytes were, as usual, more sensitive to the membranolytic action of the glycosides than cancer cells. The triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line was more vulnerable to the action of glycosides in comparison with the other tested cancer cells, while the MCF-7 cell line was less susceptible to cytotoxic action. Djakonovioside E1 (3) demonstrated selective action against ER-positive MCF-7 and triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cell lines, while the toxic effect in relation to normal mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) was absent. Cucumarioside A2-5 (6) inhibited the formation and growth of colonies of cancer cells to 44% and tumor cell migration to 85% of the control. Quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) were calculated on the basis of the correlational analysis of the physicochemical properties and structural features of the glycosidic molecules and their membranolytic activity. QSAR revealed the extremely complex nature of such relationships, but these calculations correlated well with the observed SAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmaline and harmine, are the major ß-carbolines present in the seeds of the Peganum harmala L. These compounds are known as herbal active principals with potential use in pharmaceutical and medicine. To assess the growth inhibitory effect of phyto-alkaloids, harmaline and harmine, on cancer cell lines. The P. harmala L.'s alkaloids were extracted by acidic/basic extraction method and identified by two methods, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). breast cancer cell lines, MDA_MB_231, were subjected to different concentration (1-100 µg/mL) of the P. harmala extract at different time courses (24h, 48h). Methylthiazol Tetrazolium (MTT) test, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the morphological changes through optical microscopy were evaluated cell lines, the P. harmala extract decreased cell viability in longer time exposure in a dose dependent manner. The more concentrated extract led to higher motility of MDA-MB-231 at 24h. It was observed that 30 µg/mL is the minimum lethal dose that kills approximately 50% of cells at 24 hours in MDA-MB-231 cell line (IC50). The morphological observation ensured the apoptosis nature of P. harmala on cells as their membrane kept intact and no membrane permeabilization was observed. The results revealed that the P. harmala extracts decreased significantly growth rate and cell survival of cancer cell lines. higher growth inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cell line by the P. harmala extract was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan-encapsulated ternary titanium dioxide-nickel oxide-copper oxide (CTNC) hybrid nanomaterials (HNM) were synthesised via a facile one-pot precipitation method. The synthesised chitosan-titanium dioxide-nickel oxide-copper oxide was characterised by XRD, UV, FTIR, DLS, FESEM, EDAX, and PL tested against G− (gram-negative) bacterial strains such as K. pneumonia, S. dysenteriae, E. coli, P. vulgaris, P. aeruginosa, and V. cholerae, employed by the well method. The CTNC hybrid nanomaterials exhibit a more substantial antibacterial effect against gram-negative bacteria. The MDA-MB-231 cell-line with an IC50 concentration value of 9.8 g/mL was chosen to test CTNC hybrid nanomaterials' anticancer properties against human breast cancer cell lines. The toxicity studies of fibroblast L929 cells showed that the CTNC hybrid nanomaterials were less harmful to healthy cells. As a result, the CTNC hybrid nanomaterials can be used for biomedical and industrial applications to improve human health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compounds were synthesized by the reaction of 5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazide with various aldehydes bearing aromatic and heterocyclic moieties and acetophenones, and their cytotoxicity was tested via MTT assay against human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231, human melanoma IGR39, human pancreatic carcinoma Panc-1, and prostate cancer cell line PPC-1. Furthermore, the selectivity of compounds towards cancer cells compared to fibroblasts was also investigated. Four compounds were identified as the most promising anticancer agents out of a series of pyrrolidinone-hydrazone derivatives bearing a diphenylamine moiety. These compounds were most selective against the prostate cancer cell line PPC-1 and the melanoma cell lines IGR39, with EC50 values in the range of 2.5–20.2 µM against these cell lines. In general, the compounds were less active against triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line, and none of them showed an inhibitory effect on the migration of these cells. In the 'wound healing' assay, N′-((5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)methylene)-5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazide was identified as the most promising derivative that could be further developed as an antimetastatic agent. N′-(5-chloro- and N′-(3,4-dichlorobenzylidene)-5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazides most efficiently reduced the cell viability in IGR39 cell spheroids, while there was no effect of the investigated pyrrolidinone-hydrazone derivatives on PPC-1 3D cell cultures. Antioxidant activity determined via FRAP assay of N′-(1-(4-aminophenyl)ethylidene)-5-oxo-1-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carbohydrazide was 1.2 times higher than that of protocatechuic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a lethal mammary carcinoma subtype that affects females and is associated with a worse prognosis. Chemotherapy is the only conventional therapy available for patients with TNBC due to the lack of therapeutic targets. Yttrium oxide (Y2O3) is a rare earth metal oxide, whose nanoparticle (NPs) formulations are used in various applications, including biological imaging, the material sciences, and the chemical synthesis of inorganic chemicals. However, the biological activity of Y2O3-NPs against TNBC cells has not been fully explored. The current study was conducted to assess Y2O3-NPs' anticancer activity against the human TNBC MDA-MB-231 cell line. Methods: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, Zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize the Y2O3-NPs. SRB cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay), qPCR, flow cytometry, and Western blot were employed to assess the anticancer activity of the Y2O3-NPs. Results: Our results indicate favorable physiochemical properties of Y2O3-NPs (with approximately average size 14 nm, Zeta Potential about − 53.2 mV, and polydispersity index = 0.630). Y2O3-NPs showed a potent cytotoxic effect against MDA-MB-231 cells, with IC50 values of 74.4 µg/mL, without cytotoxic effect on the normal retina REP1 and human dermal fibroblast HDF cell lines. Further, treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 Y2O3-NPs resulted in increased oxidative stress, accumulation of intracellular ROS levels, and induced DNA damage assessed by Comet assay. Upon Y2O3-NPs treatment, a significant increase in the early and late phases of apoptosis was revealed in MDA-MB-231 cells. qPCR results showed that Y2O3-NPs significantly upregulated the pro-apoptotic genes CASP3 and CASP8 as well as ferroptosis-related gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), whereas the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 was significantly downregulated. Conclusion: This study suggests that Y2O3-NPs are safe on normal REP1 and HDF cells and exhibited a potent selective cytotoxic effect against the TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells through increasing levels of ROS generation with subsequent DNA damage, and induction of apoptosis and ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]