Pro-aromatic Natural Terpenes as Unusual "Slingshot" Antioxidants with Promising Ferroptosis Inhibition Activity.

Ferroptosis is a cell death mechanism based on extensive cellular membrane peroxidation, implicated in neurodegenerative and other diseases. The essential oil component γ-terpinene, a natural monoterpene with a unique highly oxidizable pro-aromatic 1,4-cyclohexadiene skeleton, inhibits peroxidation of polyunsaturated lipid in model heterogeneous systems (micelles and liposomes). Upon H-atom abstraction, an unstable γ-terpinene-derived peroxyl radical is formed, that aromatizes to p-cymene generating HOO⋅ radicals.

Identification of a new bisindolinone arresting IGROV1 cells proliferation.

In an initial screening, a series of novel Knoevenagel adducts were submitted to the National Cancer Institute for evaluation of antitumor activity in human cell lines. In particular, compound 5f showed remarkable selectivity against IGROV1, an ovarian cancer cell line, without affecting healthy human fibroblast cells. Analyses of cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, cell migration, epigenetic changes, gene expression, and DNA damage were performed to obtain detailed information about its antitumor properties.

Myrcene: A Natural Compound Showing Anticancer Activity in HeLa Cells.

γ-terpinene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, and myrcene are monoterpenes found in many essential oils extracted from a variety of plants and spices. Myrcene also occurs naturally in plants such as hops, cannabis, lemongrass, and verbena and is used as a flavoring agent in food and beverage manufacturing. In this research, the biological efficacy of γ-terpinene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, and myrcene was studied in human cell lines (HeLa, SH-SY5Y, and HDFa).

Synthesis and Antiproliferative Insights of Lipophilic Ru(II)-Hydroxy Stearic Acid Hybrid Species.

Metallodrugs represent a combination of multifunctionalities that are present concomitantly and can act differently on diverse biotargets. Their efficacy is often related to the lipophilic features exhibited both by long carbo-chains and the phosphine ligands. Three Ru(II) complexes containing hydroxy stearic acids (HSAs) were successfully synthesized in order to evaluate possible synergistic effects between the known antitumor activity of HSA bio-ligands and the metal center.