Anticancer Properties of Lobetyolin, an Essential Component of Radix Codonopsis (Dangshen)

Lobetyolin (LBT) is a polyacetylene glycoside found in diverse medicinal plants but mainly isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula, known as Radix Codonopsis or Dangshen. Twelve traditional Chinese medicinal preparations containing Radix Codonopsis were identified; they are generally used to tonify spleen and lung Qi and occasionally to treat cancer. Here we have reviewed the anticancer properties of Codonopsis extracts, LBT and structural analogs. Lobetyolin and lobetyolinin are the mono- and bis-glucosylated forms of the polyacetylenic compound lobetyol. Lobetyol and LBT have shown activities against several types of cancer (notably gastric cancer) and we examined the molecular basis of their activity. A down-regulation of glutamine metabolism by LBT has been evidenced, contributing to drug-induced apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition. LBT markedly reduces both mRNA and protein expression of the amino acid transporter Alanine-Serine-Cysteine Transporter 2 (ASCT2). Other potential targets are proposed here, based on the structural analogy with other anticancer compounds. LBT and related polyacetylene glycosides should be further considered as potential anticancer agents, but more work is needed to evaluate their efficacy, toxicity, and risk–benefit ratio.

SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF PASSIFLORA INCARNATA LINN LEAF

Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as passionflower, is a fast-growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. It has large, intricate flowers with prominent styles and stamens. Extrafloral glands in Passifloraceae species have aroused the interest of many researchers because of their wide morphological diversity. Hence this present work analysed the foliar trichomes on Passiflora incarnata. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was carried out. Phytochemical screening was also studied which are of taxonomic significance. Rich source of saponins, glycosides and proteins. The major phytoconstituents of this plant is Passicol, a polyacetylenic compound.

An In-silico Pharmacokinetics Study on Cis-Heptadeca-1,9-Diene-4,6-Diyne-3,8-Diol: A Nutraceutical Compound with Anticancer Properties

The polyacetylenic compound cis-heptadeca-1,9-diene-4,6-diyne-3,8-diol with the trivial name of falcarindiol, has been shown through various studies to exhibit anticancer activities. The beneficial effects of polyacetylenes occur at nontoxic concentrations and thus represent pharmacologically useful properties indicating that polyacetylenes may be important nutraceuticals of vegetables. In the human diet, carrots are the major dietary source of falcarinol-type polyacetylenes, in particular falcarinol and falcarindiol. The prediction of physicochemical parameters relevant for drug likeness was performed by computational methods. The Lipinski, Ghose and Veber rules were applied to assess drug likeness and to predict whether the compound is likely to be a bioactive compound according to other important parameters such as molecular weight, LogP, number of hydrogen bond donors and hydrogen bond acceptors. The SwissADME tool used vector machine algorithm (SVM) with fastidiously cleaned large datasets of known inhibitors/non-inhibitors as well as substrates/non-substrates for its predictions. Results from the in silico pharmacokinetics study on falcarindiol showed that the compound exhibited drug likeness characteristics and as such can serve the purpose of an anticancer agent, being a nutaceutical and bioactive component of falcarindiol.