The inhibitory potential of Broussochalcone A for the human cytochrome P450 2J2 isoform and its anti-cancer effects via FOXO3 activation

Abstract

BackgroundBroussonetia papyrifera (L.) Ventenat, a traditional medicinal herb, has been applied as a folk medicine to treat various diseases. Broussochalcone A (BCA), a chalcone compound isolated from the cortex of Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Ventenat, exhibits several biological activities including potent anti-oxidant, antiplatelet, and cytotoxic effects. PurposeThe purpose of this study is to elucidate the inhibitory effect of BCA against CYP2J2 enzyme which is predominantly expressed in human tumor tissues and carcinoma cell lines. Study designThe inhibitory effect of BCA on the activities of CYP2J2-mediated metabolism were investigated using human liver microsomes (HLMs), and its anti-cancer effect against human hepatoma HepG2 cells was also evaluated. MethodsTwo representative CYP2J2-specific probe substrates, astemizole and ebastine, were incubated in HLMs with BCA. After incubation, the samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. To investigate the binding model between BCA and CYP2J2, we carried out structure-based docking simulations by using software and scripts written in-house. ResultsBCA inhibited CYP2J2-mediated astemizole O-demethylation and ebastine hydroxylase activities in a concentration dependent manner with Ki values of 2.3 and 3.7 µM, respectively. It also showed cytotoxic effects against human hepatoma HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner with activation of apoptosis related proteins. ConclusionOverall, this was the first report of the inhibitory effects of BCA on CYP2J2 in HLMs. The present data suggest that BCA is a potential candidate for further evaluation for its CYP2J2 targeting anti-cancer activities.