Purpose: Pentagamavunon-1 (PGV-1) is a curcumin analogue that shows cytotoxic activity in various cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of PGV-1 on a highly metastatic breast cancer cell line, the 4T1 cells, as an anti-metastatic and anti-proliferative agent. Methods: Cell viability was evaluated using MTT assay; while cell cycle profile, apoptosis incidence, and ROS intracellular level were determined by flow cytometry. Cell senescence was observed under senescence-associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining assay. The expression of matrixmetalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was determined using immunoreaction based-ELISA, while other proteins expression were detected using immunoblotting. Results: Curcumin and PGV-1 showed cytotoxic effects on 4T1 cells with IC50 value of 50 and 4 µM, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of PGV-1 was correlated to the induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and cell senescence. Furthermore, PGV-1 increased the accumulation of intracellular ROS level. We also revealed that PGV-1 bound to several ROS-metabolizing enzymes, including glyoxalase I (GLO1), peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1), N-ribosyldihydronicotinamide: quinone reductase 2 (NQO2), aldo-keto reductase family 1 member c1 (AKR1C1). As an antimetastatic agent, PGV-1 showed less inhibitory effect on cell migration compared to curcumin. However, PGV-1 significantly decreased MMP-9 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner suggesting it still potent to inhibit metastatic cells. Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggest that PGV-1 is potential to be developed as an antiproliferative and anti-metastatic agent.

Development of chemotherapeutic agent and boron carrying pharmaceutical based on HER2 specific targeted is important due to its role in enhancing cancer progression. The purpose of this study is to synthesize curcumin analogue, namely Pentagamaboron-0 (PGB-0) or 2,5-bis(4-boronic acid)benzylidine cyclopentanone, and to explore the cytotoxic activity on HER2 overexpressed-cancer cells. MCF-7/HER2 was used as a model of HER2 overexpressed-cancer cells and NIH3T3 as normal cells. PGB-0 bound to ATP binding site of HER2 and EGFR based on molecular docking study. PGB-0 was synthesized resulting in 33% yield and was confirmed by IR, 1 HNMR, 13 CNMR and Mass spectroscopy. Based on MTT assay PGB-0 decreased cells viability on MCF-7/HER2 cells with IC 50 value of 270µM but performed no effect on NIH3T3 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that PGB-0 increased sub-G1 accumulation. PGB-0 decreased HER2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that the new compound PGB-0 inhibits cell growth through cell death induction and decreased HER2 expression. Thus, PGB-0 is potential to be developed as a chemotherapeutic agent and boron carrying pharmaceutical targeted on the HER2 receptor.

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The COVID-19 becomes worse with the existence of comorbid diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, inflammation, degenerative diseases, as well as cancer. Therefore, a comprehension approach is needed to combat such comorbid conditions, not only focusing on the virus infection and replication but also directed to prevent the raising comorbid symptoms. This study analyzed the potential natural compounds, especially diosmin and hesperidin, as an anti-SARS-CoV-2 and chemopreventive agent against several COVID-19 comorbid diseases by using an in-silico method. Diosmin and hesperidin together with other natural compounds and existing viral drugs (lopinavir, nafamostat, and comastat) were docked into several proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication namely SARS-CoV-2 protease (PDB:6LU7), spike glycoprotein-RBD (PDB:6LXT), TMPRSS2, and PD-ACE2 (PDB:6VW1) using MOE software. The interaction properties were determined under docking score values. The result exhibited that diosmin and hesperidin performed superior interaction with all the four proteins compared to the other compounds, including the existing drugs. Moreover, under literature study, diosmin and hesperidin also elicit good chemopreventive properties against cardiovascular disorder, lung and kidney degeneration, as well as cancer development. In conclusion, diosmin and hesperidin possess high opportunity to be used for the COVID-19 and its the comorbid diseases as chemopreventive agents.Keywords: chemoprevention, COVID-19, diosmin, hesperidin, SARS-CoV-2 infection