Solamargine

Toxicol In Vitro. 2015 Aug;29(5):893-900.

Solamargine inhibits migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 expression and activity.[Pubmed: 25819016]

Solamargine is a steroidal alkaloid glycoside isolated from Solanum nigrum. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Solamargine on tumor migration and invasion in aggressive human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The MTT assay was used to assess the effects of Solamargine on the viability of HepG2 cells. Migration and invasion ability of HepG2 cells under Solamargine treatment were examined by a wound healing migration assay and Boyden chamber assay, respectively. Western blotting assays were used to detect the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins and MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity were analyzed by gelatin zymography assay. Solamargine reduced HepG2 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. At 7.5μM Solamargine decreased cell viability by less than 20% in HepG2 cells. A wound healing migration assay and Boyden chamber invasion assay showed that Solamargine significantly inhibited in vitro migration and invasion of HepG2 cells. At the highest dose, Solamargine decreased cell migration and invasion by more than 70% and 72% in HepG2 cells, respectively. Western blotting and gelatin zymography results showed that Solamargine reduced expression and function of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins.
CONCLUSIONS:
In conclusion, the results showed that Solamargine significantly inhibits migration and invasion of HepG2 cells by down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and activity.

An Acad Bras Cienc. 2013 Sep;85(3):903-7.

In vitro trypanocidal activity of solamargine and extracts from Solanum palinacanthum and Solanum lycocarpum of Brazilian cerrado.[Pubmed: 24068082]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
The present investigation was to evaluate the potential trypanocidal activity of crude ethanolic extract of the fruits of Solanum palinacanthum, Solanum lycocarpum and the glycoalcaloid, Solamargine. S. palinacanthum and S. lycocarpum fruit powders were submitted to exhaustively extraction with 96% ethanol and Solamargine were isolated from the extract of S. palinacanthum. Both extracts and Solamargine were analysed for trypanocidal activity by using MTT colorimetric assay. Extracts of S. palinacanthum showed to be more active (IC50 = 175.9 μg.ml-1) than S. lycocarpum (IC50 = 194.7 μg.ml-1). Solamargine presented a strong activity (IC50 = 15.3 μg.ml-1), which can explain the better activity of the both extracts. Benznidazol (IC50 = 9.0 μg.ml-1) is the only drug used to treat Chagas' disease.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings demonstrate for the first time that ethanol extracts obtained from both fruits of S. palinacanthum and S. lycocarpum and also Solamargine have a potential anti-trypanosomal activity.

Phytochemistry. 1994 Nov;37(4):1007-11.

Interactions between the glycoalkaloids solasonine and solamargine in relation to inhibition of fungal growth.[Pubmed: 7765652]

Inhibition of mycelium development in Phoma medicaginis and Rhizoctonia solani by Solamargine and solasonine generally increased with increasing pH. P. medicaginis was the more susceptible species and Solamargine the more potent compound. Solasonine was inactive against R. solani over the tested pH range (5-8). Dose-response curves confirmed these differential effects.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Solamargine caused 50% growth inhibition in P. medicaginis at 60 microM (at pH 7) whereas no other treatment achieved this effect at 100 microM. Combinations of 50 microM of each glycoalkaloid produced synergistic effects against both fungi, especially R. solani which was essentially unaffected by either compound, by significantly inhibited by a 1:1 mixture of the two. The magnitude of the synergism was not affected by a pH change between 6 and 7. Spore germination in Alternaria brassicicola was markedly inhibited by 100 microM Solamargine but unaffected by 100 microM solasonine or either compound at 50 microM. In P. medicaginis, neither glycoalkaloid was inhibitory up to 150 microM.
CONCLUSIONS:
In combination, the two compounds caused synergistic effects in both species, but to a much greater extent in A. brassicicola.

Int J Oncol . 2019 May;54(5):1545-1554.

Solamargine inhibits gastric cancer progression by regulating the expression of lncNEAT1_2 via the MAPK signaling pathway[Pubmed: 30864686]

Abstract Solamargine, a derivative from the steroidal solasodine in Solanum species, has exhibited anticancer activities in numerous types of cancer; however, its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. In the present study, it was demonstrated that Solamargine suppressed the viability of five gastric cancer cell lines in a dose‑dependent manner and induced notable alterations in morphology. Treatment with Solamargine promoted cell apoptosis (P<0.01). Solamargine increased the expression of long noncoding RNA (lnc) p53 induced transcript and lnc nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1)_2 (P<0.01) in GC by reducing the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK). To gain insight into the potential mechanism, an Erk1/2 inhibitor (U0126) was applied. The results revealed that lncNEAT1_2 expression levels increased, which was consistent with the effects of Solamargine. Downregulation of lncNEAT1_2 in GC cells revealed no effect on the expression levels of total Erk1/2 and, and counteracted the effect of Solamargine. Solamargine was observed to increase the expression of lncNEAT1_2 via the Erk1/2 MAPK signaling pathway. Of note, the knockdown of lncNEAT1_2 reduced the inhibitory effect of Solamargine (P<0.05). Additionally, experiments in vivo and in primary GC cells from patients demonstrated that Solamargine significantly suppressed tumor growth (P<0.05). In vivo analysis of a xenograft mouse model further supported that Solamargine could induce the apoptosis of cancer cells in tumor tissue as observed by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‑mediated dUTP‑biotin nick end labeling and H&E staining (P<0.05). Experiments in primary GC cells from patients verified the anti‑tumor effect of Solamargine. In summary, the findings of the present study indicated that Solamargine inhibited the progression of GC by regulating lncNeat1_2 via the MAPK pathway.

J Nat Med. 2014 Jan;68(1):236-41.

Antiproliferative activity of Solanum lycocarpum alkaloidic extract and their constituents, solamargine and solasonine, in tumor cell lines.[Pubmed: 23475509]

Natural products are some of the important sources of new anticancer drugs. The Brazilian flora is considered one of the most diverse in the word, although not many large-scale pharmacological and phytochemical studies have been conducted to date.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
With this in mind, in the present study we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of Solanum lycocarpum fruit glycoalkaloid extract (SL) and its major compounds, Solamargine (SM) and solasonine (SS), against different tumor cell lines: murine melanoma (B16F10), human colon carcinoma (HT29), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) and human glioblastoma (MO59J, U343 and U251). The antiproliferative activity was evaluated using XTT assay and results were expressed as IC50. The most pronounced antiproliferative activity was observed for SM, with IC50 values ranging from 4.58 to 18.23 μg/mL. The lowest IC50 values were observed against HepG2, being 9.60 μg/mL for SL, 4.58 μg/mL for SM and 6.01 μg/mL for SS.
CONCLUSIONS:
Thus, SL, SM and SS demonstrated antiproliferative activity against the tumor cell lines tested, and were most effective against the HepG2 cell line.

Life Sci. 2011 Feb 14;88(7-8):314-21.

Solamargine induces apoptosis associated with p53 transcription-dependent and transcription-independent pathways in human osteosarcoma U2OS cells.[Pubmed: 21163271]

Solamargine, a steroidal glycoalkaloid isolated from S. incanum, has been shown to induce apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. In this study, the involvement of p53 in the pro-apoptotic action of Solamargine was investigated in human osteosarcoma U2OS cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The cytotoxicity of Solamargine was evaluated by MTT assay. Solamargine-induced apoptosis was evidenced by chromatin condensation, formation of apoptotic bodies and exposure of phosphatidylserine on the extracellular surface as revealed by DAPI nuclear staining, transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. mRNA expressions of p53 and Bax were investigated using real time-PCR. Western blot was used to examine the changes in the expression levels of p53, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome c. Subcellular localization of p53 was verified by immunofluorescence staining and cell fractionation. Solamargine substantially reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma U2OS cells. In this connection, Solamargine increased the mRNA and protein expressions of p53 and Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein downstream to p53). The expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein) was also reduced. Furthermore, Solamargine induced mitochondrial translocation of p53, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-9 and -3. p53-specific transcriptional inhibitor pifithrin-α or mitochondrial translocation inhibitor pifithrin-μ partially reversed Solamargine-induced apoptosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
Solamargine activates the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway in U2OS cells via both p53 transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms. This compound may merit further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer.

FEBS Lett. 2004 Nov 5;577(1-2):67-74.

Action of solamargine on human lung cancer cells--enhancement of the susceptibility of cancer cells to TNFs.[Pubmed: 15527763 ]

Solamargine (SM), isolated from Solanum incanum herb, displayed a superior cytotoxicity in four human lung cancer cell lines.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50), of the cell viability assay for H441, H520, H661 and H69 cells were 3, 6.7, 7.2 and 5.8 microM, respectively. SM-induced apoptosis of these cells by PS externalization in a dose-dependent manner and increased sub-G1 fraction were observed. Quenching of the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) during the progress of human lung carcinogenesis has been previously reported. SM may induce cell apoptosis via modulating the expression of TNFRs and their subsequent TRADD/FADD signal cascades. Subsequently, SM treatment increased the binding activities of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta to the lung cancers, and the intrinsic TNFs-resistant cancer cells became susceptible to TNF-alpha and -beta. In addition, SM caused release of cytochrome c, downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, increase of caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Thus, SM could modulate the expressions of TNFRs and Bcl-2, and might be a potential anticancer agent for TNFs and Bcl-2 related resistance of human lung cancer cells.