Bioactive compounds from posidonia oceanica (L.) delile impair malignant cell migration through autophagy modulation

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a marine plant with interesting biological properties potentially ascribed to the synergistic combination of bioactive compounds. Our previously described extract, obtained from the leaves of P. oceanica, showed the ability to impair HT1080 cell migration by targeting both expression and activity of gelatinases. Commonly, the lack of knowledge about the mechanism of action of phytocomplexes may be an obstacle regarding their therapeutic use and development. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the molecular signaling through which such bioactive compounds impact on malignant cell migration and gelatinolytic activity. The increase in autophagic vacuoles detected by confocal microscopy suggested an enhancement of autophagy in a time and dose dependent manner. This autophagy activation was further confirmed by monitoring pivotal markers of autophagy signaling as well as by evidencing an increase in IGF-1R accumulation on cell membranes. Taken together, our results confirm that the P. oceanica phytocomplex is a promising reservoir of potent and cell safe molecules able to defend against malignancies and other diseases in which gelatinases play a major role in progression. In conclusion, the attractive properties of this phytocomplex may be of industrial interest in regard to the development of novel health-promoting and pharmacological products for the treatment or prevention of several diseases

Dihydroauroglaucin Isolated from the Mediterranean Sponge Grantia compressa Endophyte Marine Fungus Eurotium chevalieri Inhibits Migration of Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Cancer cell migration is a hallmark of the aggressiveness and progression of malignancies such as high-risk neuroblastoma. Given the lack of effective therapeutic solutions to counteract cancer progression, basic research aims to identify novel bioactive molecules with inhibitory potential on cancer cell migration. In this context, this work investigated the role of members of the salicylaldehyde secondary metabolite set from the sponge endophyte fungus Eurotium chevalieri MUT 2316 as potential inhibitors of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell migration. Since tetrahydroauroglaucin (TAG) and dihydroauroglaucin (DAG) were isolated in large amounts, both were evaluated for their anticancer properties towards SH-SY5Y cells. Both molecules were found to be non-cytotoxic by MTT assay and cytofluorimetric analysis. Moreover, DAG showed efficacy in inhibiting the highly migratory phenotype of SH-SY5Y cells by wound healing assay; whereas TAG, although structurally similar to DAG, showed no anti-migratory effect. Therefore, this work provides good reasons to conduct further in vitro and in vivo studies focusing on DAG as a potentially useful migrastatic natural marine molecule

Annona cherimola Miller Fruit as a Promising Candidate against Diabetic Complications: An In Vitro Study and Preliminary Clinical Results

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease with a strong social impact worldwide. Under chronic hyperglycemia, protein glycation strongly contributes to diabetes-related complications onset. Anti-glycation agents and inhibitors of α-glucosidase are often therapeutically used to control postprandial glycemia in order to prevent development of long-term diabetic complications. Given drug resistance and adverse effects of conventional antidiabetic therapies, the discovery of new effective and non-toxic naturally occurring compounds is needed to prevent and/or to manage life-threatening diabetic complications. Annona cherimola Miller fruit has been used in Mexican traditional medicine as natural remedy against diabetes. In this work, the in vitro anti-glycation and anti-α-glucosidase roles of Annona cherimola Miller pulp extract (CE) were investigated. Moreover, healthy and diabetic subjects were enrolled in a cross-over design intervention study aimed at investigating the effects of pulp intake on postprandial glycemia. This work shows that CE was able to inhibit albumin glycation in vitro and to inhibit α-glucosidase enzyme. Furthermore, the pulp intake did not contribute to an increase in postprandial glycemia, making it a suitable source of health-promoting phytonutrients and a potential functional food in diabetics and pre-diabetics diet