Prof.  Hyun-Min  Kim
Duke Kunshan University,  China

Title: Investigating Herb Extracts and Their Impact on Developmental Processes and DNA Damage Checkpoints in C. elegans

Abstract:

The challenge posed by cancer as a global health concern drives the search for effective treatment avenues. This study investigates the efficacy of both anticancer drugs and herb extracts, specifically focusing on their influence on developmental processes and DNA damage checkpoints using the C. elegans system. Screening over 300 herbs resulted in diverse phenotypes, including embryonic lethality, larval arrest, abnormal sex chromosome segregation, and DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Notably, approximately 16% of these extracts correlated with diminished survival rates and larval arrest, highlighting the significance of larval arrest in overall worm viability. Specific herb extracts elicited intriguing effects, such as an unusual rise in male nematodes, disruption of meiotic advancement, and reduced DAPI-stained bivalent structures. Of particular interest were extracts from Onobrychis cornuta and Veratrum lobelianum, activating DNA damage checkpoints and impeding germline development. Chemical analysis identified distinct compounds, with linoleic acid replicating phenotypes induced by O. cornuta. Furthermore, the investigation delved into the role of the MAPK pathway, revealing its significance in survivability, meiotic progression, and DNA damage checkpoint-mediated apoptosis. Mutants in this pathway attenuated the reduction in worm survival induced by herb exposure. Additionally, the impact of the well-known anticancer drug, paclitaxel, on meiotic progression was explored. This comprehensive exploration provides valuable insights into the multifaceted effects of herb extracts and anticancer drugs, presenting potential treatment avenues and delineating areas necessitating further research.

Biography: