Cucurbitacin B Ubat Kanser

Ubat Kanser: cucurbitacin B

Inhibition of Wnt signaling by cucurbitacin B in breast cancer cells: reduction of Wnt-associated proteins and reduced translocation of galectin-3-mediated β-catenin to the nucleus.

Dakeng S, Duangmano S, Jiratchariyakul W, U-Pratya Y, Bögler O, Patmasiriwat P.

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Source  ; Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Abstract

The cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenes found in plants of the family Cucurbitaceae. Cucurbitacins have been shown to have anti-cancer and anti-inflamatory activities. We investigated the anti-cancer activity of cucurbitacin B extracted from Thai medicinal plant Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn. Cell viability was assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Results indicated that cucurbitacin B from T. cucumerina Linn. has a cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cell lines SKBR-3 and MCF-7 with an IC50 of 4.60 and 88.75 µg/ml, respectively. Growth inhibition was attributed to G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Cyclin D1, c-Myc, and β-catenin expression levels were reduced. Western blot analysis showed increased PARP cleavage and decreased Wnt-associated signaling molecules β-catenin, galectin-3, cyclin D1 and c-Myc, and corresponding changes in phosphorylated GSK-3β levels. Cucurbitacin B treatment inhibited translocation to the nucleus of β-catenin and galectin-3. The depletion of β-catenin and galectin-3 in the nucleus was confirmed by cellular protein fractionation. T-cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF)-dependent transcriptional activity was disrupted in cucurbitacin B treated cells as tested by a TCF reporter assay. The relative luciferase activity was reduced when we treated cells with cucurbitacin B compound for 24 h. Our data suggest that cucurbitacin B may in part induce apoptosis and exert growth inhibitory effect via interruption the Wnt signaling.

 

Inhibitory effects of cucurbitacin B on laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Liu T, Zhang M, Zhang H, Sun C, Deng Y.

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Source

Department of Otolaryngology, Clinical Medical School of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Cucurbitacins are compounds isolated from various plant families, which have been used as folk medicines for centuries in countries such as India and China because of their wide spectrum of pharmacological activities such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Accumulated evidences have shown that cucurbitacin B inhibits the growth of numerous human cancer cell lines and tumor xenografts. To determine whether cucurbitacin B can inhibit the growth of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, in the present study we investigated the antitumor effect of cucurbitacin B on Hep-2 cells. Hep-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of cucurbitacin B for different time. Cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and cell apoptosis were evaluated using MTT assay, flow cytometry, and fluorescent microscopy. It was found that cucurbitacin B exhibited significant efficacy in growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, and apoptosis induction in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Measuring the modulation of regulators in the cell cycle, apoptosis and signal transductions by Western blot analysis showed that the effect of cucurbitacin B was due to suppression of the expression of p-STAT3, Bcl-2, and cyclin B1. Moreover, in vivo studies were performed in a mouse xenograft model, where cucurbitacin B inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the antitumor effect of cucurbitacin B on Hep-2 cells was due to the induction of cell cycle arrest as well as apoptosis. The possible mechanisms underlying the action might be attributed to the suppression of STAT3 phosphorylation. This investigation suggests a potential clinical application of cucurbitacin B for the treatment of laryngeal cancer patients.