Jatrophane diterpenoids with multidrug-resistance modulating activity from the latex of Euphorbia nicaeensis.

Seven previously undescribed jatrophane diterpenoids, nicaeenin A-G, with eight known jatrophane diterpenoids, namely euphodendrophanes A-C, F, N, O, Q, S, were isolated from latex of Euphorbia nicaeensis collected in Serbia. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS experiments. All but one of the previously undescribed jatrophanes, showed significant potential to inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity in two MDR cancer cells (NCI-H460/R and DLD1-TxR).

Two structurally distinct chalcone dimers from Helichrysum zivojinii and their activities in cancer cell lines.

Dimers tomoroside A (1) and tomoroside B (2) of the co-occuring known chalcone monomer (3), along with the seven known flavonoid glucosides (4-10), were isolated from the aerial parts of Helichrysum zivojinii Černjavski & Soška. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. Compound 1 inhibited topo IIα and hif-1α expression and stimulated doxorubicin anticancer effect, while 2 increased the expression of hif-1α, probably acting as antioxidant and redox status modulator.

Cancer-suppressive potential of extracts of endemic plant Helichrysum zivojinii: effects on cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis.

Helichrysum zivojinii Cernjavski & Soska is an endemic plant species that grows in the National Park Galicica in Macedonia. Five extracts were isolated as fractions from the aerial parts of the plant: a n-hexane extract (1), a dichloromethane extract (2), an ethyl-acetate extract (3), a n-butanol extract (4) and a methanol extract (5). A dose-dependent cytotoxic activity of the extracts on MDA-MB-231 and EA.

Molecular and cytogenetic changes in multi-drug resistant cancer cells and their influence on new compounds testing.

Purpose: Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle to successful cancer treatment. Therefore, in vitro models are necessary for the investigation of the phenotypic changes provoked by cytotoxic agents and more importantly for preclinical testing of new anticancer drugs.

Methods: We analyzed chromosomal, numerical, and structural changes after development of MDR, alterations in p53 and PTEN, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the mdr1 gene and corresponding protein expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in three human MDR cancer cell lines: non-small cell lung carcinoma NCI-H460/R, colorectal carcinoma DLD1-TxR, and glioma U87-TxR.

In vitro antitumor actions of extracts from endemic plant Helichrysum zivojinii.

Background: The aim of this research was to determine the intensity and mechanisms of the cytotoxic actions of five extracts isolated from the endemic plant species Helichrysum zivojinii Černjavski & Soška (family Asteraceae) against specific cancer cell lines. In order to evaluate the sensitivity of normal immunocompetent cells implicated in the antitumor immune response, the cytotoxicity of extracts was also tested against healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Methods: The aerial parts of the plants were air-dried, powdered, and successively extracted with solvents of increasing polarity to obtain hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl-acetate, n-butanol and methanol extracts.