Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i>
Background: <i>Lappula patula (L. patula</i>) is a plant with known medicinal properties, and its extracts have shown promise as potential anti-cancer agents. This study aimed to evaluate the nematocidal effects of L. patula extracts and investigate their impact on germline development,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/89 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832587713656651776 |
|---|---|
| author | Qinghao Meng Anna Hu Weiyu Xiao Robert P. Borris Hyun-Min Kim |
| author_facet | Qinghao Meng Anna Hu Weiyu Xiao Robert P. Borris Hyun-Min Kim |
| author_sort | Qinghao Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: <i>Lappula patula (L. patula</i>) is a plant with known medicinal properties, and its extracts have shown promise as potential anti-cancer agents. This study aimed to evaluate the nematocidal effects of L. patula extracts and investigate their impact on germline development, DNA damage responses, and apoptosis in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans</i>), a model organism for studying these processes. Methods: <i>C. elegans</i> was exposed to <i>L. patula</i> extracts to assess survival, development, and incidence of male phenotype. Germline abnormalities were examined using microscopy at different developmental stages. The DNA damage response was evaluated through the expression of the <i>atm-1, atl-1</i> and <i>pCHK-1</i>. Apoptosis was quantified by monitoring cell death during the pachytene stage. LC-MS was used to identify bioactive compounds within the extracts. Results: Exposure to <i>L. patula</i> extracts resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in worm survival and larval developmental progress, with no significant impact on the male incidence. Germline defects were observed, including increased nuclear spacing at premeiotic and pachytene stages, altered number of bivalents during diakinesis. These defects correlated with a significant decrease in brood size. Also, <i>L. patula</i> extracts activated the DNA damage response pathway, marked by increased expression of <i>atm-1</i> and <i>atl-1</i>. Moreover, the extracts induced apoptosis in the germline in a pCHK-1-independent manner. LC-MS analysis revealed 31 potential anti-tumor compounds, supporting the extract’s cytotoxic properties. Conclusions: <i>Lappula patula</i> extracts exhibit potent nematocidal and cytotoxic properties, suggesting their potential for cancer therapy. The observed DNA damage and apoptosis in <i>C. elegans</i> emphasize the extract’s promising role in anti-cancer drug development. Further studies are needed to explore the therapeutic potential of these compounds in clinical settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6bbb75e8a048417eb6a70e27d1b2767e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj-art-6bbb75e8a048417eb6a70e27d1b2767e2025-01-24T13:45:21ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-01-011818910.3390/ph18010089Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i>Qinghao Meng0Anna Hu1Weiyu Xiao2Robert P. Borris3Hyun-Min Kim4School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaDivision of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan 215316, ChinaDivision of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan 215316, ChinaSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaDivision of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan 215316, ChinaBackground: <i>Lappula patula (L. patula</i>) is a plant with known medicinal properties, and its extracts have shown promise as potential anti-cancer agents. This study aimed to evaluate the nematocidal effects of L. patula extracts and investigate their impact on germline development, DNA damage responses, and apoptosis in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans</i>), a model organism for studying these processes. Methods: <i>C. elegans</i> was exposed to <i>L. patula</i> extracts to assess survival, development, and incidence of male phenotype. Germline abnormalities were examined using microscopy at different developmental stages. The DNA damage response was evaluated through the expression of the <i>atm-1, atl-1</i> and <i>pCHK-1</i>. Apoptosis was quantified by monitoring cell death during the pachytene stage. LC-MS was used to identify bioactive compounds within the extracts. Results: Exposure to <i>L. patula</i> extracts resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in worm survival and larval developmental progress, with no significant impact on the male incidence. Germline defects were observed, including increased nuclear spacing at premeiotic and pachytene stages, altered number of bivalents during diakinesis. These defects correlated with a significant decrease in brood size. Also, <i>L. patula</i> extracts activated the DNA damage response pathway, marked by increased expression of <i>atm-1</i> and <i>atl-1</i>. Moreover, the extracts induced apoptosis in the germline in a pCHK-1-independent manner. LC-MS analysis revealed 31 potential anti-tumor compounds, supporting the extract’s cytotoxic properties. Conclusions: <i>Lappula patula</i> extracts exhibit potent nematocidal and cytotoxic properties, suggesting their potential for cancer therapy. The observed DNA damage and apoptosis in <i>C. elegans</i> emphasize the extract’s promising role in anti-cancer drug development. Further studies are needed to explore the therapeutic potential of these compounds in clinical settings.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/89<i>Lappula patula</i>DNA repairgermline developmentmedicinal plantsherbsmeiosis |
| spellingShingle | Qinghao Meng Anna Hu Weiyu Xiao Robert P. Borris Hyun-Min Kim Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i> Pharmaceuticals <i>Lappula patula</i> DNA repair germline development medicinal plants herbs meiosis |
| title | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i> |
| title_full | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i> |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i> |
| title_short | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Lappula patula</i> Extracts on Germline Development and DNA Damage Responses in <i>C. elegans</i> |
| title_sort | therapeutic potential of i lappula patula i extracts on germline development and dna damage responses in i c elegans i |
| topic | <i>Lappula patula</i> DNA repair germline development medicinal plants herbs meiosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/89 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qinghaomeng therapeuticpotentialofilappulapatulaiextractsongermlinedevelopmentanddnadamageresponsesinicelegansi AT annahu therapeuticpotentialofilappulapatulaiextractsongermlinedevelopmentanddnadamageresponsesinicelegansi AT weiyuxiao therapeuticpotentialofilappulapatulaiextractsongermlinedevelopmentanddnadamageresponsesinicelegansi AT robertpborris therapeuticpotentialofilappulapatulaiextractsongermlinedevelopmentanddnadamageresponsesinicelegansi AT hyunminkim therapeuticpotentialofilappulapatulaiextractsongermlinedevelopmentanddnadamageresponsesinicelegansi |