In vitro: |
Anticancer research, 2010, 30(2):445-9. | Anthraquinones danthron and quinizarin exert antiproliferative and antimetastatic activity on murine B16-F10 melanoma cells.[Reference: WebLink] | The anticancer potential of anthraquinones danthron and Quinizarin on highly metastatic B16-F10 melanoma murine cells was investigated.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Several parameters related to cell proliferation and differentiation, i.e. cell number, intracellular content of polyamines, transglutaminase (EC 2.3.2.13) activity and melanin synthesis were evaluated. Tumor cell growth was strongly reduced after treatment with danthron and Quinizarin, as well as polyamine intracellular levels. Moreover, the induction of differentiation in treated cells was demonstrated by the increase of transglutaminase activity. In vitro analysis of adhesion, wound healing migration and invasion showed a remarkable antimetastatic activity of the anthraquinones.
CONCLUSIONS:
The overall results suggest that danthron and Quinizarin possess significant antineoplastic properties, probably exerted through the induction of intracellular transglutaminase activity. | Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology, 2003, 13(4):529-536. | Inhibitory effects of quinizarin isolated from Cassia tora seeds against human intestinal bacteria and Aflatoxin B-1 biotransformation[Reference: WebLink] | The growth-inhibitory activity of Cassia tora seed-derived materials against seven intestinal bacteria was examined in vitro, and compared with that of anthraquinone, anthraflavine, anthrarufin, and 1-hydroxyanthraquinone.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The active constituent of C. tora seeds was characterized as Quinizarin, using various spectroscopic analyses. The growth responses varied depending on the compound, dose, and bacterial strain tested. At 1 mg/disk, Quinizarin exhibited a strong inhibition of Clostridium perfringens and moderate inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus without any adverse effects on the growth of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B. bifidum, B. longum, and Lactobacillus casei. Furthermore, the isolate at 0.1 mg/disk showed moderate and no activity against C. perfringens and S. aureus. The structure-activity relationship revealed that anthrarufin, anthraflavine, and Quinizarin moderately inhibited the growth of S. aureus. However, anthraquinone and 1-hydroxyanthraquinone did not inhibit the human intestinal bacteria tested. As for the morphological effect of 1 mg/disk Quinizarin, most strains of C. perfringens were damaged and disappeared, indicating that the strong activity of Quinizarin was morphologically exhibited against C. perfringens. The inhibitory effect on aflatoxin B1 biotransformation by anthraquinones revealed that anthrarufin (IC50, 11.49 μM), anthraflavine (IC50, 26.94 μM), and Quinizarin (IC50, 4.12 μM) were potent inhibitors of aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide formation. However, anthraquinone and 1-hydroxyanthraquinone did not inhibit the mouse liver microsomal sample to convert aflatoxin B1 to aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicate that the two hydroxyl groups on A ring of anthraquinones may be essential for inhibiting the formation of aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide. Accordingly, as naturally occurring inhibitory agents, the C. tora seed-derived materials described could be useful as a preventive agent against diseases caused by harmful intestinal bacteria, such as clostridia, and as an inhibitory agent for the mouse liver microsomal conversion of aflatoxin B1 to aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide. |
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