VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico Study
Natural products play a remarkable role not only in the synthesis, design, and discovery of new drugs but also as the most prominent source of drugs and bioactive substances. Adding to the search for new sources of safe innovative antitumor drugs, here we reported a phytochemical study on <i>P...
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2021-07-01
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| author | Sameh S. Elhady Reda F. A. Abdelhameed Salwa H. Zekry Amany K. Ibrahim Eman S. Habib Khaled M. Darwish Reem M. Hazem Khadijah A. Mohammad Hashim A. Hassanean Safwat A. Ahmed |
| author_facet | Sameh S. Elhady Reda F. A. Abdelhameed Salwa H. Zekry Amany K. Ibrahim Eman S. Habib Khaled M. Darwish Reem M. Hazem Khadijah A. Mohammad Hashim A. Hassanean Safwat A. Ahmed |
| author_sort | Sameh S. Elhady |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural products play a remarkable role not only in the synthesis, design, and discovery of new drugs but also as the most prominent source of drugs and bioactive substances. Adding to the search for new sources of safe innovative antitumor drugs, here we reported a phytochemical study on <i>Pulicaria</i> <i>undulata</i> which revealed promising antiangiogenic agents. Six compounds were isolated and identified as xanthoxyline (<b>1</b>), stigmasterol (<b>2</b>), oleanolic acid (<b>3</b>), salvigenin (<b>4</b>)<b>,</b> rhamnetin (<b>5</b>) and dihydroquercetin-4′-methyl ether (<b>6</b>) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic techniques. Compound <b>3</b> and <b>4</b> are first reported in <i>Pulicaria</i> genus. Both the extract and isolated compounds were evaluated for in vitro antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). In vivo antiproliferative activity against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) were also assessed. The <i>P. undulata</i> extract and isolates showed significant reduction in tumor weight, decreased both serum vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) levels and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) expression significantly compared to the control EAC group, suggesting an antiangiogenic activity through the inhibition of VEGF signaling. Besides, they displayed reduction in CD34 expression, confirming their antiangiogenic effect. Moreover, the potential affinity of isolated compounds to human estrogen nuclear receptor-alpha (<i>h</i>ER-α), the most recognized modulator of VEGFR-2 expression, was virtually estimated through molecular modeling studies. The most promising activity profiles were assigned to the investigated flavonoids, compounds <b>4</b>–<b>6</b>, as well as the alkyl-phenylketone, compound <b>1</b>. Additionally, these four top active compounds showed respective high to intermediate docking scores while possessing preferential binding with <i>h</i>ER-α critical pocket residues. Based on the provided data, these isolated compounds illustrated promising inhibitors of VEGF-stimulated angiogenesis, which could be a possible mechanism for their anticancer activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:40:06Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:40:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-837fe14956d141f5a194450514f7c37c2023-11-22T08:22:29ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-07-0111875910.3390/life11080759VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico StudySameh S. Elhady0Reda F. A. Abdelhameed1Salwa H. Zekry2Amany K. Ibrahim3Eman S. Habib4Khaled M. Darwish5Reem M. Hazem6Khadijah A. Mohammad7Hashim A. Hassanean8Safwat A. Ahmed9Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptNatural products play a remarkable role not only in the synthesis, design, and discovery of new drugs but also as the most prominent source of drugs and bioactive substances. Adding to the search for new sources of safe innovative antitumor drugs, here we reported a phytochemical study on <i>Pulicaria</i> <i>undulata</i> which revealed promising antiangiogenic agents. Six compounds were isolated and identified as xanthoxyline (<b>1</b>), stigmasterol (<b>2</b>), oleanolic acid (<b>3</b>), salvigenin (<b>4</b>)<b>,</b> rhamnetin (<b>5</b>) and dihydroquercetin-4′-methyl ether (<b>6</b>) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic techniques. Compound <b>3</b> and <b>4</b> are first reported in <i>Pulicaria</i> genus. Both the extract and isolated compounds were evaluated for in vitro antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). In vivo antiproliferative activity against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) were also assessed. The <i>P. undulata</i> extract and isolates showed significant reduction in tumor weight, decreased both serum vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) levels and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) expression significantly compared to the control EAC group, suggesting an antiangiogenic activity through the inhibition of VEGF signaling. Besides, they displayed reduction in CD34 expression, confirming their antiangiogenic effect. Moreover, the potential affinity of isolated compounds to human estrogen nuclear receptor-alpha (<i>h</i>ER-α), the most recognized modulator of VEGFR-2 expression, was virtually estimated through molecular modeling studies. The most promising activity profiles were assigned to the investigated flavonoids, compounds <b>4</b>–<b>6</b>, as well as the alkyl-phenylketone, compound <b>1</b>. Additionally, these four top active compounds showed respective high to intermediate docking scores while possessing preferential binding with <i>h</i>ER-α critical pocket residues. Based on the provided data, these isolated compounds illustrated promising inhibitors of VEGF-stimulated angiogenesis, which could be a possible mechanism for their anticancer activity.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/8/759<i>Pulicaria undulata</i>flavonoidscytotoxic activityEhrlich’s ascites carcinomaVEGF modulatorangiogenesis |
| spellingShingle | Sameh S. Elhady Reda F. A. Abdelhameed Salwa H. Zekry Amany K. Ibrahim Eman S. Habib Khaled M. Darwish Reem M. Hazem Khadijah A. Mohammad Hashim A. Hassanean Safwat A. Ahmed VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico Study Life <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> flavonoids cytotoxic activity Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma VEGF modulator angiogenesis |
| title | VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico Study |
| title_full | VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico Study |
| title_fullStr | VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico Study |
| title_short | VEGFR-Mediated Cytotoxic Activity of <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> Isolated Metabolites: A Biological Evaluation and In Silico Study |
| title_sort | vegfr mediated cytotoxic activity of i pulicaria undulata i isolated metabolites a biological evaluation and in silico study |
| topic | <i>Pulicaria undulata</i> flavonoids cytotoxic activity Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma VEGF modulator angiogenesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/8/759 |
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