Synergistic growth inhibitory effects of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia bellerica extracts with conventional cytotoxic agents:Doxorubicin and cisplatin against human hepatocellular carcinoma and lung cancer cells

AIM: To examine the growth inhibitory effects of Phyllanthus emblica (P. emblica) and Terminalia bellerica (T. bellerica) extracts on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and lung carcinoma (A549) cells and their synergistic effect with doxorubicin or cisplatin. METHODS: HepG2 and A549 cells were treated with P. emblica and T. bellerica extracts either alone or in combination with doxorubicin or cisplatin and effects on cell growth were determined using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The isobologram and combination index (CI) method of Chou-Talalay were used to evaluate interactions between plant extracts and drugs. RESULTS: P. emblica and T. bellerica extracts demonstrated growth inhibitory activity, with a certain degree of selectivity against the two cancer cell lines tested. Synergistic effects (CI < 1) for P. emblica /doxorubicin or cisplatin at different dose levels were demonstrated in A549 and HepG2 cells. The T. bellerica/ cisplatin or doxorubicin also showed synergistic effects in A549 and HepG2 cells. In some instances, the combinations resulted in antagonistic effects. The dose reduction level was different and specific to each combination and cell line. CONCLUSION: The growth inhibitory activity of doxorubicin or cisplatin, as a single agent, may be modified by combinations of P. emblica or T. bellerica extracts and be synergistically enhanced in some cases. Depending on the combination ratio, the doses for each drug for a given degree of effect in the combination may be reduced. The mechanisms involved in this interaction between chemotherapeutic drugs and plant extracts remain unclear and should be further evaluated.

Apoptotic activity of caged xanthones from Garcinia hanburyi in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines

AIM:To investigate the growth inhibitory mechanism of four caged xanthones from Garcinia hanburyi in cholangiocarcinoma(CCA) KKU-100 and KKU-M156 cells.METHODS:Four caged xanthones,selected on the basis of their anticancer potency and chemical structure diversities(i.e.isomorellin,isomorellinol,forbesione and gambogic acid) were used in this study.Growth inhibition of these caged xanthones was determined using the sulforhodamine B assay.Induction of apoptosis was assessed by observing cell morphology,ethidium bromide and acridine orange staining and DNA fragmentation assay.Levels of apoptotic-related gene and protein expressions were determined by a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis,respectively.RESULTS:The compounds were found to inhibit growth of both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner and also showed selective cytotoxicity against the cancer cells when compared with normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Growth suppression by these compounds was due to apoptosis,as evidenced by the cell morphological changes,chromatin condensation,nuclear fragmentation,and DNA ladder formation.At the molecular level,these compounds induced down-regulation of Bcl-2 and survivin proteins with up-regulation of Bax and apoptosisinducing factor proteins,leading to the activation of caspase-9 and-3 and DNA fragmentation.The functional group variations did not appear to affect the anticancer activity with regard to the two CCA cell lines;however,at a mechanistic level,isomorellinol exhibited the highest potency in increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression ratio(120 and 41.4 for KKU-100 and KKU-M156,respectively) and in decreasing survivin protein expression(0.01 fold as compared to control cells in both cell lines).Other activities at the molecular level indicate that functional groups on the prenyl side chain may be important.CONCLUSION:Our findings for the first time demonstrate that four caged xanthones induce apoptosis in CCA cells which is mediated through a mitochondriadependent signaling pathway.

Orotate phosphoribosyl transferase mRNA expression and the response of cholangiocarcinoma to 5-fluorouracil

AIM:To determine whether expression of certain enzymes related to 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)metabolism predicts 5-FU chemosensitivity in cholangiocarcinoma(CCA).METHODS:The histoculture drug response assay(HDRA)was performed using surgically resected CCA tissues.Tumor cell viability was determined morphologically with hematoxylin and eosin-and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-stained tissues.The mRNA expression of thymidine phosphorylase(TP),orotate phosphoribosyl transferase(OPRT),thymidylate synthase(TS),and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase(DPD)was determined with realtime reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.The levels of gene expression and the sensitivity to 5-FU were evaluated.RESULTS:Twenty-three CCA tissues were obtained from patients who had been diagnosed with intrahepatic CCA and who underwent surgical resection at Srinagarind Hospital,Khon Kaen University from 2007 to 2009.HDRA was used to determine the response of these CCA tissues to 5-FU.Based on the dose-response curve,200μg/mL 5-FU was selected as the test concentration.The percentage of inhibition index at the median point was selected as the cut-off point to differentiate the responding and non-responding tumors to 5-FU.When the relationship between TP,OPRT,TS and DPD mRNA expression levels and the sensitivity of CCA tissues to 5-FU was examined,only OPRT mRNA expression was significantly correlated with the response to 5-FU.The mean expression level of OPRT was significantly higher in the responder group compared to the non-responder group(0.41±0.25 vs 0.22±0.12,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:OPRT mRNA expression may be a useful predictor of 5-FU chemosensitivity of CCA.Whether OPRT mRNA could be used to predict the success of 5-FU chemotherapy in CCA patients requires confirmation in patients.