Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma
13:18

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma

Published on: March 3, 2023

1.8K

Modulation of cancer cell multidrug resistance by an extract of Ficus citrifolia

P N Simon1, A Chaboud, N Darbour

  • 1Département de Botanique, Pharmacognosie, Homeopathie, Institut des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France.

Anticancer Research
|June 9, 2001
PubMed

Insights

A Ficus citrifolia extract effectively combats cancer multidrug resistance by interacting with P-glycoprotein. This natural compound enhances chemotherapy drug efficacy, showing therapeutic potential against resistant cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Products Chemistry
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) significantly limits cancer chemotherapy effectiveness.
  • Natural compounds, including prenyl flavonoids, have demonstrated potential in modulating P-gp-mediated MDR.
  • Investigating natural sources for MDR modulators is crucial for developing novel cancer treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential of a Ficus citrifolia extract in overcoming P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance.
  • To assess the direct interaction of the Ficus citrifolia fraction with the P-glycoprotein C-terminal cytosolic domain.
  • To determine the effect of the extract on the intracellular accumulation and cytotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs in P-gp-overexpressing cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of a dichloromethane extract fraction from Ficus citrifolia.
  • Assessing the binding affinity of the fraction to the purified P-glycoprotein C-terminal cytosolic domain.
  • Evaluating the intracellular accumulation of daunomycin in K562/R7 cells treated with the fraction.
  • Measuring the enhancement of vinblastine cytotoxicity in MESSA/Dx5 cells exposed to the fraction.

Main Results:

  • The Ficus citrifolia fraction exhibited high-affinity binding to the P-glycoprotein C-terminal cytosolic domain.
  • The extract fraction demonstrated efficiency comparable to cyclosporin A in increasing intracellular daunomycin accumulation.
  • A significant enhancement of vinblastine's cytotoxic effect was observed in P-gp-overexpressing MESSA/Dx5 cells.

Conclusions:

  • Ficus citrifolia extract contains compounds that directly interact with and modulate P-glycoprotein activity.
  • This natural extract shows promise as an adjuvant therapy to improve the efficacy of existing cancer chemotherapeutics.
  • Ficus citrifolia represents a potential therapeutic resource for overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts09:20

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts

Published on: June 26, 2018

8.8K
Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells13:38

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 18, 2017

12.7K

Related Concept Videos

Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.8K
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.8K
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
4.1K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
8.2K
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
6.7K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.2K