Phytochemical from Gerbera Piloselloides Shows Promise for Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 07, 2024 4 days, 20 hours, 4 minutes ago
Medical News: A groundbreaking study by scientists from Jianghan University, Wuhan, China, has identified a compound with significant potential to fight colorectal cancer. The researchers focused on Gerbera piloselloides, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, to explore its therapeutic properties. The team successfully isolated seven compounds, including a powerful phytcochemical named cyclobrachycoumarin, which showed remarkable anti-cancer effects in both laboratory and animal models. This
Medical News report delves into the study’s key findings and implications for cancer therapy.
Phytochemical from Gerbera Piloselloides Shows Promise for Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Colorectal Cancer and the Search for New Treatments
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health concern. Despite advancements in medical technology, current treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery are not always effective, often leading to drug resistance and severe side effects. This pressing need for safer and more effective options has driven researchers to investigate alternative therapies.
Traditional Chinese medicine, known for its rich pharmacological heritage, provides a promising avenue for new drug discoveries. Gerbera piloselloides, commonly used in China for its medicinal properties, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, the spotlight was on cyclobrachycoumarin, one of the plant’s key bioactive phytochemical compounds.
Cyclobrachycoumarin: A New Anti-Cancer Candidate
Using advanced techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), researchers identified seven phytochemical compounds from Gerbera piloselloides. Among these, cyclobrachycoumarin stood out for its potent anti-cancer activity.
When tested on various cancer cell lines, including colorectal, liver, breast, and lung cancer cells, cyclobrachycoumarin showed the most significant inhibitory effect on colorectal cancer cells, particularly the HT-29 and HCT116 cell lines. At specific concentrations, it was even more effective than oxaliplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug. The compound worked by stopping cancer cell proliferation, inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis), and disrupting the cell cycle.
Unveiling the Mechanism of Action
Cyclobrachycoumarin’s anti-cancer properties were linked to several biological processes:
-Induction of Apoptosis: The compound activated apoptosis by increasing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cleaved PARP, a protein involved in cell death. At the same time, it decreased the expression of survivin, a protein that helps cancer cells evade death.
-Cell Cycle Arrest: By reducing levels of cyclin D1 and CDK1 - proteins critical for cell cycle progression - cyclobrachycoumarin effectively halted cancer cell division.
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-ROS Generation: The compound significantly increased intracellular ROS levels, disrupting cancer cell metabolism and signaling pathways.
These effects were validated through sophisticated assays and Western blot analyses, revealing the compound’s ability to target cancer cells while sparing normal ones.
Animal Studies Confirm the Compound’s Efficacy
The research team tested cyclobrachycoumarin’s anti-cancer effects in animal models using HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. Mice treated with the compound at varying doses showed a notable reduction in tumor growth compared to untreated groups. At the highest dose, tumor volume decreased by 34.7%, and tumor weight was reduced by over 50%. These results were comparable to those achieved with oxaliplatin, but without the severe side effects associated with the chemotherapy drug.
Moreover, cyclobrachycoumarin displayed an excellent safety profile. Unlike oxaliplatin, which caused weight loss and liver damage in mice, the compound did not affect the animals' body weight or organ health.
Implications for Future Cancer Therapies
The findings of this study suggest that cyclobrachycoumarin has immense potential as a safe and effective treatment for colorectal cancer. By targeting key pathways involved in cancer progression, the compound could serve as a standalone therapy or complement existing treatments like chemotherapy. However, additional research is needed to validate its efficacy in clinical settings.
Conclusion
Cyclobrachycoumarin, derived from the medicinal plant Gerbera piloselloides, has emerged as a promising candidate for colorectal cancer treatment. Its ability to induce apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, and suppress tumor growth with minimal side effects makes it a strong contender for future drug development. This study highlights the potential of natural products in addressing the unmet needs of cancer therapy, paving the way for more sustainable and effective solutions.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Molecules.
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5678
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