A High Concentration of Genistein Induces Cell Death in Human Uterine Leiomyoma Cells by Autophagy.

Genistein, an estrogenic, soy-derived isoflavone, may play a protective role against hormone-related cancers. We have reported that a high concentration of genistein inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human uterine smooth muscle cells, but not in leiomyoma (fibroid) cells. To better understand the differential cell death responses of normal and tumor cells to a high concentration of genistein, we treated uterine smooth muscle cells and uterine leiomyoma cells with 50 μg/ml of genistein for 72 h and 168 h, and assessed for mediators of apoptosis, cytotoxicity and autophagy.

A high concentration of genistein down-regulates activin A, Smad3 and other TGF-β pathway genes in human uterine leiomyoma cells.

Previously, we found that high doses of genistein show an inhibitory effect on uterine leiomyoma (UtLM) cell proliferation. In this study, using microarray analysis and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis™, we identified genes (up- or down-regulated, ≥ 1.5 fold, P ≤ 0.

Differential expression of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and IGF-I pathway activation in human uterine leiomyomas.

Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are benign tumors that are prevalent in women of reproductive age. Research suggests that activated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play an important role in the enhanced proliferation observed in fibroids. In this study, a phospho-RTK array technique was used to detect RTK activity in leiomyomas compared with myometrial tissue.

Synthesis and insecticidal activities of novel derivatives of podophyllotoxin.

In order to find the biorational pesticides, eight novel 4beta-substituted phenoxyaniline derivatives of podophyllotoxin (4a-h) have been synthesized with significant stereoselectivity and improved yields by employing the BF(3).Et(2)O/NaI reagent system and evaluated for insecticidal activity against Pieris rapae as well as for their antifeedant effect against fifth instar larvae of P. rapae.

Insecticidal activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin, isolated from Juniperus sabina L, and related lignans against larvae of Pieris rapae L.

In the course of screening for naturally occurring insecticides from plants from the northwestern part of China, a petroleum ether extract of Juniperus sabina L was found to show insecticidal activity against fifth-instar larvae of Pieris rapae L. From the extract, an insecticidal compound was isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation. The compound was identified as deoxypodophyllotoxin (1) by comparison of its spectroscopic characteristics with literature data.