N-acetylcysteine improves the inhibitory effect of Quercetin-rich onion extract on HT-29 and HCT-116 colorectal cancer migration and invasion through iNOS suppression.

As colorectal cancer (CRC) usually presents at an advanced stage, it responds poorly to traditional surgery and chemoradiotherapy. Reactive oxygen species (ROSs) are a critical factor in cancer progression. Quercetin, a bioflavonoid derived from onion peel extract, provides great anti-oxidant and anti-cancer potential. Therefore, quercetin in combination with N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-known anti-oxidant and adjuvant agent in cancer-chemotherapeutic drugs, was considered as a way of increasing treatment efficacy. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the improvement effect of quercetin in combination with NAC in human CRC (HT-29 and HCT-116) cell progression, migration and invasion. Firstly, the effects of quercetin, NAC, and the combination of quercetin and NAC on cellular oxidants and glutathione levels were evaluated. Cell viability, anti-migrative activity and invasive activity were determined by MTT, wound healing, and Matrigel invasion tests, respectively. Then, the proteins involved in cell migration, invasion, and cellular oxidants were investigated. Moreover, the gene expression and overall survival were further validated by the GEPIA2 database. The results reveal that the combination was most effective in decreasing cellular oxidants and increasing glutathione levels, while there was a significant decrease in cancer cell migration and invasion involved in the suppression of iNOS, ICAM-1, and MMP-2 proteins. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis verified that iNOS, ICAM-1, and MMP-2 were highly expressed in CRC tissue and also associated with a poor prognosis. This study demonstrated that Quercetin has higher efficacy when used in combination with NAC, representing a potential combination agent for anti-cancer drug development.

Riceberry Rice Germination and UVB Radiation Enhance Protocatechuic Acid and Vanillic Acid to Reduce Cellular Oxidative Stress and Suppress B16F10 Melanogenesis Relating to F-Actin Rearrangement.

Ultraviolet type B (UVB) radiation plays an important role in hyperpigmentation disorder, which induces cellular oxidative stress and causes abnormal melanin production and secretion. The stress condition plays an essential role in actin polymerization relating to F-actin rearrangement and forms dendrite to send melanin pigment to the uppermost layer of the skin. Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites that mainly synthesize under stress conditions to protect plants from harmful environments and have been reported as effective agents in anti-oxidant and anti-melanogenesis. However, the influence of phenolic compounds on F-actin rearrangement-associated dendrite formation has not been studied so far. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the enhancing phytophenolic targets in riceberry rice (Oryza sativa L.) germination and UVB radiation (RR-GR) to suppress melanogenesis relating to F-rearrangement. As a result, the RR-GR had the potential to enhance phenolic acids such as protocatechuic and vanillic acid, which have been proven to possess anti-oxidant activity and anti-tyrosinase properties. Riceberry rice's modification showed the potential to reduce cellular oxidative stress and suppress B16F10 melanogenesis relating to F-actin rearrangement that is associated with dendrite formation.

Thai Water Lily Extract Induces B16 Melanoma Cell Apoptosis and Inhibits Cellular Invasion Through the Role of Cellular Oxidants

Melanoma is a cancer that is associated with a high capacity of invasion. Oxidative stress is recognized as cancer growth and progression. The phytochemical pigments of natural products show either anti-oxidant or pro-oxidant activity from the redox system. In addition, the phytophenolics also prevent cancer cell proliferation and progression. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of Thai water lily on cell apoptosis and cellular invasion through the role of cellular oxidants in B16 melanoma cells. Methods: The cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis of Thai water lily extract treating B16 cells were performed by using the MTT and Annexin V/PI-flow cytometry methods, respectively. In addition, cellular oxidants and cancer cell invasion were also obtained by using DCFH-DA and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Results: Thai water lily, Nymphaea stellate extract was shown to be markedly toxic to B16 melanoma cells with IC50 = 814 µg/ml. The extract at 800 and 1,000 µg/ml demonstrated pro-oxidant activity relating to the cell apoptosis. The low concentrations of the extract at 200 and 400 µg/ml showed the anti-oxidant function associated with the inhibitory effect of melanoma cell invasion. Conclusion: Thai water lily extract may play an important role in bioactive work as a chemo preventive agent on the modulation of cellular oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and suppressed cancer cell invasion.