4-Nerolidylcatechol induces autophagy in human glioblastoma cells

ABSTRACT Gliomas account for the majority of primary malignant brain tumors and present invasive behavior into adjacent healthy tissue. While 4-NC had previously shown to induce apoptotic cell death in a melanoma model, for the glioma model described in this paper 4-NC is cytotoxic for the cells with the induction of the autophagic pathway. Trypan blue exclusion assay showed that 4-NC was cytotoxic in a dose-dependent manner for A172 and T98G cell lines. IC10 and IC50 values were at 32 µM and 41 µM for A172 and T98G respectively. Inhibition of cell proliferation was observed by total cell counts and by cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, with cell cycle arrest of A172 and T98G cell lines respectively in the G1/G0 and S phases of the cell cycle. 4-NC induced up-regulation of autophagic pathways, as shown by immunoblotting for LC3-I/II, Real-Time PCR for ATG-7 and Beclin-1 genes, and by fluorescence microscopy observation of autophagic vacuoles in cells transfected with GFP-LC3 and electron microscopy. Glioma cells concomitantly treated with 4-NC and 3-MA, an inhibitor of the autophagic process, are more sensible to cell death, suggesting that autophagy protects the cells from the action of 4-NC.

Participação de frações do extrato hidroalcoólico de raiz de Pothomorphe umbellata isentas de 4-nerolidilcatecol na atividade antioxidante e inibitória de metaloproteinases 2 e 9 na pele / Participation of hidroalcoholic Pothomorphe umbellata root extract fractions without 4-nerolidylcatechol in the antioxidant and inhibitory metalloproteinases 2 and 9 activities in the skin

A exposição à radiação ultravioleta promove o desenvolvimento de efeitos indesejáveis, incluindo o fotoenvelhecimento e fotocarcinogênese. Uma forma de prevenção é a utilização de antioxidantes de origem natural. O extrato de raiz de Pothomorphe umbellata (PU) apresenta conhecida atividade antioxidante e fotoprotetora, atividade esta atribuída, em parte, ao princípio ativo 4-nerolidilcatecol (4-NC). Artigos publicados sobre a atividade do extrato de raiz de PU, conhecida popularmente como "pariparoba" e do princípio ativo, 4-NC, mostraram que o extrato bruto de raiz é mais ativo do que o 4-NC isolado como inibidor de metaloproteinases (MMPs) e como antioxidante, sugerindo a presença de outros compostos com estas atividades, além de um possível efeito sinérgico. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de obter frações do extrato de PU isentas de 4-NC e avaliar a atividade antioxidante, fotoprotetora e inibitória de metaloproteinases 2 e 9 na pele. O extrato hidroalcoólico de raiz de PU foi submetido ao fracionamento líquido/líquido sucessivamente com hexano e n-butanol, restando um resíduo aquoso. As frações n-butanólica (NBUT) e aquosa (AQ) mostraram-se isentas de 4-NC. A avaliação da atividade antioxidante por DPPH e ORAC das 3 frações obtidas mostrou maior capacidade antioxidante para a fração hexânica (HEX), seguido das frações NBUT e AQ. O mesmo perfil foi observado quanto à presença de compostos fenólicos. Entretanto não foi detectada a presença de flavonóides nas frações. O tratamento tópico com formulação gel-creme contendo o extrato de PU, a fração NBUT e a fração NBUT+4-NC, 2h antes da exposição aguda à radiação UVB (2 MED - 204.36 mJ/cm2), mostrou-se insuficiente para repor os níveis basais do sistema antioxidante da pele depletados em aproximadamente 20% pela radiação após 12h quando comparado ao controle. O mesmo tratamento não foi capaz de reduzir a formação de dímeros de pirimidina (CPD) após 2h. A avaliação após 12h mostrou redução da marcação...

Ultraviolet radiation exposure induces the development of undesirable effects, including photoageing and photocarcinogenesis. One way of preventing these effects is the use of natural antioxidants. The Pothomorphe umbellata (PU) root extract shows antioxidant and photoprotective activities, which have been attributed, in part, to 4-nerolidylcatechol (4-NC), the main compound from this plant species. In previous studies, the plant extract was more efficient than 4-NC as an antioxidant and in metalloproteinases (MMPs) inhibitory activities, suggesting the presence of others compounds that could be related with these properties, as well as a possible synergic effect. The purpose of this study was to obtain fractions from PU without 4-NC, and to evaluate the antioxidant, photoprotection and skin MMPs 2 and 9 inhibitory activity of this fractionation. The P.umbellata hidroalcoholic root extract was submitted to liquid/liquid extraction with hexane followed by n-buthanol, from which derived a final residue of aqueous extract. The n-buthanolic (NBUT) and aqueous (AQ) fractions did not show the presence of 4-NC. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity by DPPH and ORAC for the 3 fractions showed higher antioxidant activity for the hexanic (HEX) fraction, followed by the NBUT and AQ fractions. The same profile was observed for phenolic compound concentration. However the presence of flavonols in the fractions and PU root extract was not detected. The gel-cream topic treatment containing PU root extract, NBUT fraction and NBUT+4NC, 2h before acute UVB exposure (2 MED - 204,36 mJ/cm2), was insufficient to promote the normal conditions of basal level antioxidant system depleted approximately 20% after 12h of the exposure compared with the control. The same treatment evaluated by immunohistochemistry, was not able to reduce the CPD (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) 2h after the exposure. In 12h reduction of SBC (sunburn cells) and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen...