Cucurbitacin I

Cucurbitacin-I is a natural cell-permeable triterpenoid compound isolated from Cucurbitaceae and Cruciferae.The pharmacol. activity of cucurbitacin-I in human ovarian cancer has been rarely reported.The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer effect of cucurbitacin-I in SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells.SKOV3 cells were treated with different concentrations of cucurbitacin-I.Cell viability was then measured by CCK-8 assay.Apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species changed by cucurbitacin-I treatment in SKOV3 cells were measured using a Muse Cell Analyzer.Expression levels of various proteins were detected by Western blot anal.A decrease in cell viability was observed in SKOV3 cells with cucurbitacin-I treatment.In addition, in SKOV3 cells treated with cucurbitacin-I, a significant increase in apoptosis, increased activity of various caspases, destruction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and generation of reactive oxygen species were observed compared to the control group.At the protein level, an increase in cleaved caspases and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was induced by cucurbitacin-I treatment in SKOV3 cells.Finally, the levels of phosphorylated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) and forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) proteins were significantly reduced in cucurbitacin-I treated SKOV3 cells.Our data demonstrate that cucurbitacin-I induces SKOV-3 cell death by inducing apoptosis via inhibition of HER2 phosphorylation and its downstream signaling mols. including PI3K, AKT and FOXO3a.This suggests a potential therapeutic role of cucurbitacin-I against ovarian cancer.

Spinal cord swelling commonly occurs following SCI. Previous studies suggest that PBM may reduce inflammation and scar formation after SCI. However, whether PBM can alleviate post-spinal cord injury edema and its underlying mechanisms have not yet been reported. This study aims to investigate the effects of PBM on spinal cord swelling in rats following SCI and explore the underlying mechanisms.

A rat model of SCI was established, and the rats received continuous PBM therapy for two weeks. Tissue hydration, motor function, AQP4 expression, and pathological changes in the spinal cord were evaluated at different time points. In vitro, astrocytes were subjected to PBM and treated with either cucurbitacin I or TGN020 following OGD.

The results indicate that PBM reduces tissue swelling in rats with SCI, improves motor function recovery, and inhibits the upregulation of AQP4 and GFAP associated with SCI. In vitro, PBM reduces abnormal activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in astrocytes, leading to decreased AQP4 synthesis and astrocyte activation.

These findings suggest that PBM reduces spinal cord swelling in rats after injury. This effect is associated with the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway activation in astrocytes and the reduction in AQP4 expression.