Nabil Hamies B, Elzayat Emad, Abo-Elghiet Fatma, Hassan Nourhan
Medical Science Department, Faculty of Dentistry, The British University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
3 Biotech. 2025 Aug;15(8):257. doi: 10.1007/s13205-025-04423-1. Epub 2025 Jul 15.
Given the high mortality rate associated with tumors and the severe side effects of current treatments, scientists are exploring alternative therapies with fewer adverse effects. They are increasingly turning to natural remedies, much like our ancestors who used plant extracts to treat various ailments long before understanding the underlying mechanisms. Even though they did not know exactly why these plants treated those diseases then, we have the privilege of testing these plants and discovering the active ingredients responsible for these effects. This study aims to investigate the anticancer mechanisms of hexane fraction (Hex F) against human colorectal cancer cells and elucidate its molecular pathways of action. The methanol extract of and its fractions were evaluated for cytotoxic activity using MTT assay against HepG2, HCT116, and Hep-2 cancer cell lines, with oral epithelial normal cells (OEC) as controls. The most potent fraction (Hex F) was further analyzed using flow cytometry for cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, qRT-PCR for gene expression profiling, ELISA for protein quantification, and biochemical assays for oxidative stress and glycolytic enzyme activities. Hex F demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against HCT116 cells with an IC of 39.4 μg/mL and a selectivity index of 1.76 indicating preferential toxicity toward cancer cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed G/M phase cell cycle arrest and significant induction of apoptosis. Gene expression analysis showed significant upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes p53, caspase-8, and caspase-9, while anti-apoptotic Bcl2 was downregulated). Protein analysis confirmed increased caspase-3 and caspase-7 activities, accompanied by enhanced anti-inflammatory response with increased IL-10 and decreased IL-4 levels. Oxidative stress markers indicated cellular damage with decreased GSH and SOD levels, while MDA increased significantly. Glycolytic enzyme activities were substantially reduced, with PK, Aldolase, and LDH activities decreased, suggesting metabolic disruption. GC-MS analysis identified β-sitosterol (17.89%), phytol (15.65%), stigmasterol (13.13%), and lupeol (12.89%) as major bioactive compounds. These findings demonstrate that Hex F exerts anticancer effects through multiple mechanisms including cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, oxidative stress generation, and metabolic disruption, supporting its potential as a natural anticancer therapeutic agent.
鉴于肿瘤相关的高死亡率以及当前治疗方法的严重副作用,科学家们正在探索副作用较少的替代疗法。他们越来越多地转向天然药物,这很像我们的祖先,早在了解其潜在机制之前就使用植物提取物来治疗各种疾病。尽管他们当时并不确切知道为什么这些植物能治疗那些疾病,但我们有幸能够对这些植物进行测试,并发现产生这些效果的活性成分。本研究旨在探讨正己烷馏分(Hex F)对人结肠癌细胞的抗癌机制,并阐明其分子作用途径。使用MTT法,以口腔上皮正常细胞(OEC)作为对照,对[植物名称]的甲醇提取物及其馏分针对HepG2、HCT116和Hep-2癌细胞系的细胞毒性活性进行了评估。使用流式细胞术对细胞周期和凋亡进行分析、qRT-PCR对基因表达谱进行分析、ELISA对蛋白质进行定量分析、生化分析对氧化应激和糖酵解酶活性进行分析,对最有效的馏分(Hex F)进行了进一步分析。Hex F对HCT116细胞表现出显著的细胞毒性,IC50为39.4 μg/mL,选择性指数为1.76,表明对癌细胞具有优先毒性。流式细胞术分析显示细胞周期停滞于G/M期并显著诱导凋亡。基因表达分析显示促凋亡基因p53、半胱天冬酶-8和半胱天冬酶-9显著上调,而抗凋亡基因Bcl2下调。蛋白质分析证实半胱天冬酶-3和半胱天冬酶-7活性增加,同时伴随着抗炎反应增强,IL-10水平升高,IL-4水平降低。氧化应激标志物表明细胞受损,谷胱甘肽(GSH)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)水平降低,而丙二醛(MDA)显著增加。糖酵解酶活性大幅降低,丙酮酸激酶(PK)、醛缩酶和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性下降,表明代谢紊乱。气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)分析确定β-谷甾醇(占17.89%)、叶绿醇(占15.65%)、豆甾醇(占13.13%)和羽扇豆醇(占12.89%)为主要生物活性化合物。这些发现表明,Hex F通过细胞周期停滞、凋亡诱导、氧化应激产生和代谢紊乱等多种机制发挥抗癌作用,支持其作为天然抗癌治疗剂的潜力。
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