Cucurbitacin B has been demonstrated to exhibit significant antitumor activity against various types of tumors. Its antiproliferative effects were mediated through the regulation of multiple signaling pathways， including the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） pathway， the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway， and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Diverse forms of cell death were induced by modulating the expression of proteins such as B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein， Notch signaling components， iron uptake regulatory proteins， and gasdermin D. Genetic effects were exerted through upregulation of phosphorylated histone H2AX expression and suppression the expression of oncogenes. Furthermore， the tumor immune microenvironment was modulated， angiogenesis and migration/invasion were inhibited， and tumor drug resistance was ameliorated via targeting of the STAT3 site， inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2， and downregulation of P-glycoprotein. However， the oral bioavailability of cucurbitacin B has been found to be low； therefore， various strategies， including the development of derivatives and prodrugs， construction of nano-drug delivery systems， and fabrication of molecular probes， have been employed to improve its utilization efficiency and safety. In the future， more in-depth mechanistic investigations and clinical trials are still required to provide a theoretical basis for novel drug development and clinical application of this compound.

Objective:To discuss the effect of urolithin C(UC)on the proliferation,apoptosis,and autophagy of the acute myeloid leukemia(AML)HL-60 cells,and to clarify its mechanism.Methods:The HL-60 cells were divided into different concentrations(20,40,60,80,and 100 μmol·L-1)of urolithin A(UA)groups,urolithin B(UB)groups,and UC groups.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation activity of the cells in various groups;the morphology of the cells in different concentrations of UC groups was observed under optical microscope.The HL-60 cells were divided into different concentrations(0,20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1)of UC groups and 3-methyladenine(3-MA)combined with different concentrations(0,20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1)of UC groups.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation activities of the cells in various groups.The HL-60 cells were divided into control group(0 μmol·L-1)and different concentrations(20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1)of UC groups.The live/dead cell staining method was used to detect the dead rates of the cells in various groups;flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic rates of the cells in various groups;the autophagy of the cells was detected by autophagy staining kit(monodansylcadaverine,MDC)method;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the expression levels of Beclin 1,autophagy related gene 9(ATG9),and autophagy related gene 7(ATG7)mRNA in the cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(Caspase-3),cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(Cleaved Caspase-3),microtubule-associated protein 1 light 3(LC-3),extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK),phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK),AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),and phosphorylated AMPK(p-AMPK)in the cells in various groups.Results:The CCK-8 assay results showed that after cultured for 24,48,and 72 h,compared with 0 μmol·L-1 UA,UB,and UC groups,the proliferation activities of the cells in different concentrations of UA,UB,and UC groups were decreased(P＜0.01)with a concentration-and time-dependent manner;at 48 h,compared with UA and UB,the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of UC was the lowest.The cell morphology observation results showed that compared with control group,the intercellular connection and the number of the cells were decreased with the increasing of UC concentration,and the cell fragment was increased.The CCK-8 assay results showed that compared with 40 and 80 μmol·L-1 UC groups,the proliferation activities of the cells in 3-MA combined with 40 and 80 μmol·L-1 UC groups were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The live/dead cell staining results showed that compared with control group,the dead rates of the cells in 40 and 80 μmol·L-1 UC groups were increased(P＜0.01).The flow cytometry results showed that compared with control group,the apoptotic rate of the cells in 80 μmol·L-1 UC group was increased(P＜0.01).The MDC method results showed that with the increasing of UC concentration,the green fluorescence in the cells in different concentrations of UC groups was gradually intensified.The RT-qPCR results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of Beclin 1,ATG9,and ATG7 mRNA in the cells in 80 μmol·L-1 UC group were increased(P＜0.01).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of Cleaved Caspase-3 protein in the cells in 20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 UC groups were increased(P＜0.01),the ratio of membrane LC3/cytoplasmic LC3(LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ)in the cells in 80 μmol·L-1 UC group was increased(P＜0.05),and the ratios of p-AMPK/AMPK and p-ERK/ERK in the cells in 40 and 80 μmol·L-1 UC groups were increased(P＜0.01).Conclusion:UC can inhibit the proliferation of the AML HL-60 cells,induce the apoptosis and autophagy,and increase the phosphorylation levels of ERK and AMPK proteins in the cells.

Mutations in presenilins caused most of the autosomal dominant familial forms of Alzheimers disease by altering ? secretase activity. The ? secretase is a large multiprotein complex including presenilin heterodimers,nicastrin,PEN 2 and additional unidentified components.? secretase cleaves beta amyloid precursor protein,Notch,E cadherin,ErbB 4 receptor tyrosine kinase and other membrane proteins.The development of various ? secretase inhibitors not only provides a tool for investigating the structure, function and mechanism of ? secretase,but also presents a therapeutic strategy to slow progression of Alzheimers disease pathology. Threre are various classes of ? secretase inhibitors: compounds containing a difluoro ketone or a difluoro alcohol group, (hydroxyethy) urea peptidomimetics,compounds possessing a hydroxyethylene dipeptide isostere, short helical peptides, non peptidic inhibitors derived from 4 chloro isocoumarin synthon, compounds containing alanyl moiety.Among these species of ? secretase inhibitors,those which selectively affect Abeta production are especially the most promising drugs to treat Alzheimers disease.