Isolation and evaluation of cardenolides from Lansium domesticum as Notch inhibitors.

Since Notch signaling plays important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, aberrant activation of this signaling contributes to cancer progression. In neural stem cells, Notch signaling inhibits differentiation by activating HES1 expression. Therefore, Notch signaling inhibitors may be candidates for new anticancer drugs or have applications in neural regenerative medicine.

Cadinane sesquiterpenoids isolated from Santalum album using a screening program for Wnt signal inhibitory activity.

Upon screening compounds having Wnt signal inhibitory activity through evaluating TCF/β-catenin transcriptional (TOP) activity, eight cadinane sesquiterpenoids, including three new compounds (1-3), were isolated from wood extracts of Santalum album (Santalaceae). Structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated by spectral data to have a cadinane skeleton with an aromatic ring. Of the eight compounds isolated, compound 4, identified as mansonone I, was found to be active against TOP, having an IC of 1.

The Notch Inhibitors Isolated from Nerium indicum.

Notch signaling plays a crucial role in differentiation and cell maintenance, but once aberrantly activated, it contributes to cancer progression. Notch inhibitors were isolated from plant extracts and tested using an originally constructed cell-based assay system. We isolated eight compounds from Nerium indicum that showed inhibition of the Notch signaling pathway.

The Notch inhibitor cowanin accelerates nicastrin degradation.

Aberrant activation of Notch signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of several different types of cancer, and Notch pathway inhibitors may have significant therapeutic potential. Using a unique cell-based assay system, we isolated twelve compounds, including one new natural product from Garcinia speciosa, that inhibit the Notch signaling pathway. HES1 and HES5 are target genes of the Notch cascade, and compound 2, referred to as cowanin, decreased the protein levels of HES1 and HES5 in assay cells.

Identification of BMI1 Promoter Inhibitors from Beaumontia murtonii and Eugenia operculata.

B-Cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion region 1 (BMI1) is a core component of the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1). Abnormal expression of BMI1 is associated with a number of human malignances and cancer stem cells (CSCs), which cause chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, small molecules that inhibit BMI1 expression are potential candidates for cancer therapy.

Boesenberols, Pimarane Diterpenes with TRAIL-Resistance-Overcoming Activity from Boesenbergia pandurata.

TRAIL is a potent and selective inducer of apoptosis in most cancer cells while sparing normal cells, which makes it an attractive target for the development of new cancer therapies. In a screening program on natural resources with the ability to abrogate TRAIL resistance, the bioassay-guided fractionation of Boesenbergia pandurata rhizomes resulted in the isolation of 17 pimarane diterpenes and a monoterpene. Among these, compounds 1-8, named boesenberols A-H, are new pimarane diterpenes.

Cerasoidine, a Bis-aporphine Alkaloid Isolated from Polyalthia cerasoides during Screening for Wnt Signal Inhibitors.

A new bis-aporphine alkaloid, cerasoidine (1), was isolated from the root extract of Polyalthia cerasoides together with the known bis-aporphine bidebiline E (2) during screening for compounds with Wnt signal inhibitory activities. The structure of cerasoidine (1) was established by X-ray analysis and shown by chiral HPLC analyses and electronic circular dichroism to be a 57:43 mixture of R(-)- and S(+)-atropisomers. Bidebiline E (2) exhibited inhibition of transcriptional activity of TCF/β-catenin with an IC50 value of 20.

Hes1 inhibitor isolated by target protein oriented natural products isolation (TPO-NAPI) of differentiation activators of neural stem cells.

The Hes1 dimer inhibitor, agalloside (), which can accelerate the differentiation of neural stem cells is described. Six natural products, including one new natural product, which bind to Hes1 were rapidly isolated by a developed "target protein oriented natural products isolation" (TPO-NAPI) method using Hes1-immobilized beads. Of the six compounds, inhibited Hes1 dimer formation at both the protein- and cellular level.

Hedgehog inhibitors from Artocarpus communis and Hyptis suaveolens.

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays crucial roles in cell maintenance and proliferation during embryonic development. Naturally occurring Hh inhibitors were isolated from Artocarpus communis and Hyptis suaveolens using our previously constructed cell-based assay system. Bioactivity guided fractionation led to the isolation of 15 compounds, including seven new compounds (4, 5, 6, 7, and 9-11).

9-Hydroxycanthin-6-one, a β-Carboline Alkaloid from Eurycoma longifolia, Is the First Wnt Signal Inhibitor through Activation of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β without Depending on Casein Kinase 1α.

Wnt signaling regulates various processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and embryo development. However, numerous diseases have been attributed to the aberrant transduction of Wnt signaling. We screened a plant extract library targeting TCF/β-catenin transcriptional modulating activity with a cell-based luciferase assay.

Prenylated flavonoids and resveratrol derivatives isolated from Artocarpus communis with the ability to overcome TRAIL resistance.

In a screening program on natural products that can abrogate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) resistance, four new prenylated flavonoid and resveratrol derivatives (1-4) were isolated from Artocarpus communis, together with eight known prenylflavonoids (5-12). The structures of 1-4 were elucidated spectroscopically. Pannokin D [corrected] (1) (2 μM) and artonin E (5) (3 μM) potently exhibited the ability to overcome TRAIL resistance.

Prenylflavonoids isolated from Artocarpus champeden with TRAIL-resistance overcoming activity.

In a screening program for bioactive natural products which can overcome Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-resistance, three prenylflavonoids, named pannokin A-C, were isolated from a MeOH extract of Artocarpus champeden (Moraceae) roots, together with three known prenylflavonoids. The structures of pannokin A-C were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. These of the prenylflavonoids in combination with TRAIL, showed cytotoxic activity in sensitizing TRAIL-resistant human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells.

Naturally occurring Ngn2 promoter activators from Butea superba.

Neurogenin2 (Ngn2), an activator-type bHLH transcriptional factor, promotes differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons by transcription of pro-neural genes. To find neural stem cell accelerators from the extract library of natural resources, we used a two-step screening including a Ngn2 promoter reporter gene screening and differentiation assay screening of neural stem cells. A reporter gene assay that can detect Ngn2 promoter activity by luciferase expression was constructed using C3H10T1/2 cells.

β-Sitosterol and flavonoids isolated from Bauhinia malabarica found during screening for Wnt signaling inhibitory activity.

Screening with a cell-based luciferase assay was conducted to identify bioactive natural products which inhibit Wnt signaling activity-guided separation of an MeOH extract of Bauhinia malabarica (Caesalpiniaceae) leaves yielded five compounds, which were identified as β-sitosterol (1), quercetin (2), 6,8-C-dimethyl kaempferol-3-O-rhamnopyranoside (3), hyperin (4), and 6,8-C-dimethyl kaempferol-3-methyl ether (5). The tested compounds 1, 3, and 5 exhibited Wnt signaling inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 0.77, 0.

Cycloartane triterpenes and ingol diterpenes isolated from Euphorbia neriifolia in a screening program for death-receptor expression-enhancing activity.

In our screening program for natural products that increase death-receptor 5 expression, seven new cycloartane triterpenes, euphonerins A-G (1-7), and 3-O-acetyl-8-O-tigloylingol (8), a new ingol diterpene, were isolated from the MeOH extract of Euphorbia neriifolia leaves, together with 3,12-di-O-acetyl-8-O-tigloylingol (9), (24R)-cycloartane-3β,24,25-triol (10), and three known flavonols (11-13). The structures of 1-8 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Among these compounds, 1-11 showed death-receptor 5 expression enhancing activity.

Inhibition of lysenin-induced hemolysis by all-E-lutein derived from the plant Dalbergia latifolia.

Lysenin is a pore-forming toxin derived from coelomic fluid of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. The model of lysenin-induced hemolysis includes the specific binding of lysenin to sphingomyelin, oligomerization of the pore proteins, and pore formation. Although the mechanism of lysenin-induced hemolysis is unique, its precise mechanism of action and its inhibitors are poorly understood.

Acoschimperoside P, 2'-acetate: a Hedgehog signaling inhibitory constituent from Vallaris glabra.

Complete (1)H and (13)C NMR assignments of acoschimperoside P, 2'-acetate (1) and a new cardiac glycoside (2), isolated from the leaves of Vallaris glabra, are described. Compound 1 was active in the assay for Hedgehog signaling inhibition. In further experiments, this compound showed a strong cytotoxicity against human pancreatic (PANC1) and human prostate (DU145) cancer cells.

Cycloartane triterpenes isolated from Combretum quadrangulare in a screening program for death-receptor expression enhancing activity.

In our screening program for natural products that increase DR5 (death-receptor 5) expression, nine new cycloartane triterpenes, combretanones A-G (1-7), combretic acid A (8), and combretic acid B (9), were isolated from a MeOH extract of Combretum quadrangulare leaves. The known oleanane triterpenes (10, 11) and six known flavonols (12-17) were also isolated. The structures of 1-9 were elucidated by spectroscopic studies.

New hedgehog/GLI-signaling inhibitors from Adenium obesum.

The aberrant hedgehog (Hh)/GLI signaling pathway causes the formation and progression of a variety of tumors. We recently constructed a cell-based screening system to search for Hh/GLI signaling inhibitors from natural resources. Using our screening system, Adenium obesum was found to include Hh/GLI signaling inhibitors from our tropical plant extract libraries.

2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone isolated from Impatiens balsamina in a screening program for activity to inhibit Wnt signaling.

A screening study using a luciferase assay to identify natural products which inhibit Wnt signaling was carried out. The bioassay-guided fractionation of aerial parts of a plant, Impatiens balsamina, led to the isolation of 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) as an active compound. Compound 1 inhibited the TCF/β-catenin (TOP) transcriptional activity (IC(50) 2.

Terpenoids and a flavonoid glycoside from Acacia pennata leaves as hedgehog/GLI-mediated transcriptional inhibitors.

Overexpression of glioma-associated oncogene 1 (GLI1), which has been characterized as a terminal effector and a target gene of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, is associated with the development of cancer. A cellular screen was applied utilizing of a GLI-dependent luciferase reporter in human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) and identified two terpenoids (1 and 2) and a flavonoid glycoside (5) from Acacia pennata as Hh/GLI inhibitors. Compounds 1, 2, and 5 exhibited selective cytotoxicity against human pancreatic (PANC1) and prostate (DU145) cancer cells with no toxic effect on normal cells.

A method for the rapid discovery of naturally occurring products by proteins immobilized on magnetic beads and reverse affinity chromatography.

A highly efficient screening method for naturally occurring products that bind to a specific target protein was demonstrated by using hVDR magnetic beads. The native ligand 1alpha,25(OH)2 VD3 (1) was selectively bound by hVDR magnetic beads when present in a mixture of natural compounds. Furthermore, this method was shown to be applicable to the identification of natural products that interact with a specific protein immobilized on the beads from an extract of a natural resource.

Activity of mangosteen xanthones and teleocidin a-2 in death receptor expression enhancement and tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand assays.

A screening study using a luciferase assay to identify natural products that enhance death receptor 5 (DR5) expression was carried out, and bioassay-guided fractionation of two organisms, the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) and actinomycete CKK609 strain, led to the isolation of eight xanthone derivatives (1-8) and teleocidin A-2 (9). Among them, compounds 1, 2, and 5, isolated from G. mangostana, and 9, from the actinomycete, showed potent DR5 promoter activity.