Euphol from Tapinanthus sp. Induces Apoptosis and Affects Signaling Proteins in Glioblastoma and Prostate Cancer Cells

Gade, Isaac Silvère; Chadéneau, Corinne; Tagne Simo, Richard; Talla, Emmanuel; Atchade, Alex De Theodore; Seité, Paule; Vannier, Brigitte; Laurent, Sophie; Henoumont, Céline; Nwabo Kamdje, Armel H.; Muller, Jean-Marc

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2022.23.12.4205

Euphol from Tapinanthus sp. Induces Apoptosis and Affects Signaling Proteins in Glioblastoma and Prostate Cancer Cells

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.

² UFR Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Team Receptors, Regulations, Tumor Cells (2RCT)-EA 3842 CAPTuR, Health-Building Biology Pole. B36/B37, University of Poitiers, 1 rue Georges Bonnet-TSA 51106, 86073 POITIERS Cedex 9, France.

³ Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

⁴ School of Chemical Engineering and Mineral Industries, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

⁵ Department of Chemistry, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

⁶ Laboratory of NMR and Molecular Imaging, Department of General, Organic Chemistry and Biomedical, University of MONS, Mons, Belgium.

10.31557/APJCP.2022.23.12.4205

Abstract

Background: Plants play an important role in cancer therapy. They are source of natural molecules which can induce apoptosis in cancer cells by affecting molecular mechanisms implicated in cancer progression. The MAP Kinase/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways are two classical signaling pathways implicated in cancer progression and constitute therapeutic targets against cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of euphol on MAP Kinase/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in glioblastoma and prostate cancer cells. Euphol is a tetracyclique triterpene alcohol isolated from Tapinanthus sp. which is a hemi parasitic plant belonging to Loranthaceae family. Methods: Plant powder was extracted by maceration and euphol was isolated and described using respectively column chromatography separation on silica gel and spectroscopic data. Cytotoxic effect of euphol was evaluated using XTT assay and its effect on MAP Kinase/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT protein expression was investigated by Western immunoblot analysis. Apotosis was analyzed by evaluating caspase-3/7 activity. Results: Our investigations demonstrated that this compound has an important cytotoxic effect on C6 and U87 MG glioblastoma (GBM) cells and PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, euphol-induced apoptosis revealed by elevated caspase 3/7 activity, was correlated with a significant inhibition of MAP kinase/Erk 1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in glioblastoma U87 MG cells. The reverse effect was observed in C6 glioblastoma cells, where apoptosis was correlated with a long-lasting activation of Erk 1/2. In PC-3 cells, euphol had no or limited effect on Erk 1/2 and Akt activity. Conclusion: These results indicate that euphol induces cell death in glioblastoma and prostate cancer cells and regulates significantly Erk1/2 and Akt activity in glioblastoma cells.

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