Decatropis bicolor (Zucc.)Radlk is a plant that has been traditionally used for the treatment of breast cancer in some communities of Mexico. So, the aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of the essential oil of Decatropis bicolor against breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. The essential oil obtained from hydrodestillation of leaves of Decatropis bicolor was studied for its biological activity against breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 by MTT assay, Hematoxylin-eosin stain, Annexin V-FITC, TUNEL and western blot assays and for its chemical composition by GC-MS. The results showed a relevant cytotoxic effect of the essential oil towards MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner, with an IC50 of 53.81 ± 1.691 μg/ml but not in the epithelial mammary cell line MCF10A (207.51 ± 3.26 μg/ml). Morphological examination displayed apoptotic characteristics in the treated cells like cell size reduction, membrane blebbing and apoptotic bodies. In addition, the apoptotic rate significantly increased as well as DNA fragmentation and western blot analysis revealed that the essential oil induced apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 cells via intrinsic pathways due to the activation of Bax, caspases 9 and 3. Phytochemical analysis of the Decatropis bicolor essential oil showed the presence of twenty-three compounds. Major components of the oil were 1,5-cyclooctadiene,3-(methyl-2)propenyl (18.38 %), β-terpineol (8.16 %) and 1-(3-methyl-cyclopent-2-enyl)-cyclohexene (6.12 %). This study suggests that essential oil of Decatropis bicolor has a potential cytotoxic and antitumoral effect against breast cancer cells, with the presence of potential bioactive compounds. Our results contribute to the validation of the anticancer activity of the plant in Mexican traditional medicine.

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of a formulation derived from the bioactive fraction of nanostructured Bacopa procumbens (BFNB) on the promotion of hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. The characterization of the follicular phases and histomorphological analysis showed that the topical application of the formulation for 15 days significantly increased pigmentation and hair growth on the dorsum and head of the mice. Additionally, an acceleration of the follicular cycle phases was observed, along with an increase in the number of follicles, hair length, and diameter, compared to mice treated with minoxidil. In silico analysis and molecular characterization demonstrated that BFNB enhances the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), activating the PI3K-AKT-β-catenin signaling pathway, as well as the expression of PCNA, KI-67, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin E, regulating the cell cycle and cell proliferation, crucial events for hair regeneration. Our results strongly suggest the utility of BFNB as a therapeutic alternative to stimulate hair growth and promote hair health.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used in a wide range of applications, conferring to bio-molecules diverse properties such as delivery, stabilization, and reduction of the adverse effects of drugs or plant extracts. Polyphenolic compounds from Bacopa procumbens (B. procumbens) (BP) can modulate proliferation, adhesion, migration, and cell differentiation, reducing the artificial scratch area in fibroblast cultures and promoting wound healing in an in vivo model. Here, chemically synthesized AuNPs conjugated with BP (AuNP-BP) were characterized using UV-Vis, ATR-FTIR, DLS, zeta-potential, and TEM analysis. The results showed an overlap of the FTIR spectra of the polyphenolic compounds from B. procumbens adhered to the surface of the AuNPs. UV-vis analysis indicated that the average size of the AuNP-BP was 28 nm, while DLS analysis showed a size of 44.58 nm and, by TEM, a size of 16.5 nm with an icosahedral morphology was observed. These measurements suggest an increase in the size of the nanoparticles after conjugation with BP, compared to the sizes of 9 nm, 44.51 nm, and 14.17 nm for the unconjugated AuNPs, respectively. Furthermore, the zeta potential of the AuNPs, which was originally −36.3 ± 12.3 mV shifted to −18.2 ± 7.02 mV after conjugation with BP, indicating improved stability of the nanoparticles. Enhancement of the wound healing effect was evaluated by morphometric, histochemical, and FTIR changes in a rat wound excision model. Results showed that the nanoconjugation process reduced the BP concentrations by 100-fold to have the same wound healing effect as BP alone. Besides, histological and FTIR spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that AuNP-BP treatment exhibited better macroscopical performance, showing a reduction in inflammatory cells and an increased synthesis and improved organization of collagen fibers.

Wounds represent a medical problem that contributes importantly to patient morbidity and to healthcare costs in several pathologies. In Hidalgo, Mexico, the Bacopa procumbens plant has been traditionally used for wound-healing care for several generations; in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of bioactive compounds obtained from a B. procumbens aqueous fraction and to determine the key pathways involved in wound regeneration. Bioactive compounds were characterized by HPLC/QTOF-MS, and proliferation, migration, adhesion, and differentiation studies were conducted on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Polyphenolic compounds from Bacopa procumbens (PB) regulated proliferation and cell adhesion; enhanced migration, reducing the artificial scratch area; and modulated cell differentiation. PB compounds were included in a hydrogel for topical administration in a rat excision wound model. Histological, histochemical, and mechanical analyses showed that PB treatment accelerates wound closure in at least 48 h and reduces inflammation, increasing cell proliferation and deposition and organization of collagen at earlier times. These changes resulted in the formation of a scar with better tensile properties. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR molecular analyses demonstrated that treatment induces (i) overexpression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and (ii) the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and ERK1/2, suggesting the central role of some PB compounds to enhance wound healing, modulating TGF-β activation.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women around the world. Intratumor and intertumoral heterogeneity persist in mammary tumors. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers is essential for the treatment of this malignancy. This study analyzed 28,143 genes expressed in 49 breast cancer cell lines using a Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis to determine specific target proteins for Basal A, Basal B, Luminal A, Luminal B, and HER2 ampl breast cancer subtypes. Sixty-five modules were identified, of which five were characterized as having a high correlation with breast cancer subtypes. Genes overexpressed in the tumor were found to participate in the following mechanisms: regulation of the apoptotic process, transcriptional regulation, angiogenesis, signaling, and cellular survival. In particular, we identified the following genes, considered as hubs: IFIT3, an inhibitor of viral and cellular processes; ETS1, a transcription factor involved in cell death and tumorigenesis; ENSG00000259723 lncRNA, expressed in cancers; AL033519.3, a hypothetical gene; and TMEM86A, important for regulating keratinocyte membrane properties, considered as a key in Basal A, Basal B, Luminal A, Luminal B, and HER2 ampl breast cancer subtypes, respectively. The modules and genes identified in this work can be used to identify possible biomarkers or therapeutic targets in different breast cancer subtypes.

Breast cancer (BrC) is a major health problem in women all around the world. A growing knowledge about these alterations and their associated molecular signaling pathways offers opportunities for therapeutic strategies; chemotherapy is one of the most utilized treatments; however, because of the adverse side effects and multidrug resistance that patients may present, there has been great advancement in search of new alternatives as the use of plant-derived natural compounds. This review describes information on the progress and development of cytotoxic compounds against BrC belonging to the families of flavonoids, terpenes, and alkaloids that through in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated to induce cellular death mainly through apoptosis, activating the intrinsic pathway. The in vitro IC50 and the in vivo EC50 dose-response relationship can vary depending on various factors, including the choice of cell line and/or the model used. Also, the association of some of these compounds with nanoparticles or paclitaxel with antibodies has clearly shown a potential improvement in its effect. The clinical studies that are being conducted with some of them show promising results; however, it is necessary to continue with the effort to develop new and more effective drugs against different types of BrC.