Chebulagic acid synergizes the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in human hepatocellular carcinoma through COX-2 dependant modulation of MDR-1.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) specific inhibitors are anti-inflammatory agents that have also shown to be useful in anticancer therapy. The effects of chebulagic acid (CA), a benzopyran tannin from Terminalia chebula having COX-2/5-LOX dual inhibitory properties, on the sensitivity of doxorubicin (Dox) in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 were studied in the present investigation. CA increased the accumulation of Dox in a concentration dependant manner and also enhanced the cytotoxicity of Dox in HepG2 cells by 20 folds. Quantitation of interaction by calculating Combination Index (CI) showed a strong synergistic interaction between CA and Dox in terms of cell growth inhibition. Calculation of dose reduction index (DRI) for CA-Dox combinations also showed a significant decrease in the dosage of Dox in the presence of CA. The induction of MDR1 expression by PGE(2), a metabolite of COX-2, and its downregulation by COX-2 knockdown or CA implies that the enhanced sensitivity of HepG2 cells to doxorubicin by CA is mediated by the downregulation of MDR1 expression, via COX-2-dependent mechanism. Further studies reveal the inactivation of signal transduction pathways involving Akt, ERK, JNK and p38 and the transcription factor NF-κB in the CA induced down regulation of MDR1. The present study shows the efficacy of CA to overcome MDR-1 mediated drug resistance in HepG2 cells through COX-2 dependant modulation of MDR-1.

Chebulagic acid, a COX-LOX dual inhibitor isolated from the fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz., induces apoptosis in COLO-205 cell line.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Terminalia chebula has an esteemed origin in Indian mythology; its fruits are used to treat many diseases such as digestive, diabetes, colic pain, chronic cough, sore throat, asthma, etc. AIM OF THE STUDY: The water or ethanolic extracts of the fruits were reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and radio-protector properties. The present study is to isolate and identify the compounds that inhibit COX and 5-LOX, the key enzymes involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic extract of the fruits was fractionated by RP-HPLC and fractions were tested for enzyme inhibition activity against COX and 5-LOX. One of the fractionated compounds showed potent dual inhibition against COX and 5-LOX. It was identified as chebulagic acid by LC-MS, NMR and IR analyses. The chebulagic acid was also tested for anti-proliferative activity. RESULTS: Chebulagic acid showed potent COX-LOX dual inhibition activity with IC(50) values of 15+/-0.288, 0.92+/-0.011 and 2.1+/-0.057 microM for COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX respectively. It also showed anti-proliferative activity against HCT-15, COLO-205, MDA-MB-231, DU-145 and K562 cell lines. Further mechanistic studies on COLO-205 cells revealed induction of apoptosis by chebulagic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Chebulagic acid, a COX-2 and 5-LOX dual inhibitor isolated from the fruits of Terminalia chebula, induces apoptosis in COLO-205 cells.