Mitochondrial apoptosis induced by Chamaemelum nobile extract in breast cancer cells

Chamaemelum nobile (Asteraceae) commonly known as ‹Roman chamomile› is a medicinal plant used for numerous diseases in traditional medicine, although its anticancer activity is unknown. The present study was carried out to investigate the anticancer as well as apoptotic activity of ethyl acetate fraction of C. nobile on different cancerous cell lines. The cells were treated with varying concentrations (0.001-0.25 mg/mL) of this fraction for 24, 48 and 72 h. Apoptosis induced in MCF-7 cells following treatment with ethyl acetate fraction was measured using Annexin V/PI, flowcytometry and western blotting analysis. The results showed that C. nobile ethyl acetate fraction revealed relatively high antiproliferative activity on MCF-7 cells; however, it caused minimal growth inhibitory response in normal cells. The involvement of apoptosis as a major cause of the fraction-induced cell death was confirmed by annexin-V/PI assay. In addition, ethyl acetate fraction triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by decreasing the Bcl-2 as well as increasing of Bax protein expressions and subsequently increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Furthermore, decreased proliferation of MCF-7 cells in the presence of the fraction was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. These findings confirm that ethyl acetate fraction of C.nobile may contain a diversity of phytochemicals which suppress the proliferation of MCF-7 cells by inducing apoptosis. © 2016 by School of Pharmacy Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

Rat xenograft chondrosarcoma development by human tissue fragment

Aim: We conducted this study to develop a chondrosarcoma on rat by graft of human chondrosarcoma tumor tissue. Methods: Fourteen male Sprague-Dawley rats equally divided in xenograft-implanted and control groups. On the lateral side of the right femur distal 1/3, 5 mm incision was done on the skin after animal anesthesia. Then, was drilled 3 mm on the bone and implanted the xenograft in the bone. Radiography was taken from the operated femur weekly until the fourth week and monthly for 3 months. Four animals of each group were sacrificed after 4 weeks of operation; femur was harvested for histopathological study

Effect of a supplement rich in alkaline minerals on acid-base balance in humans

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Stump appendicitis; a case report

When a patient has had an appendectomy, he/she may return with similar symptoms again. In this case, part of the appendix may be remain and become inflamed again, so the patient may present with symptoms similar to appendicitis, which is rare. in this report, we describe a 13 years old boy with similar symptoms to appendicitis with a history of appendectomy about 6 months ago. the patient had abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting with fever, anorexia and diarrhea from two days ago. The patient had a gradual onset of pain with maximum severity in the RLQ region. According to clinical signs and paraclinical results, laparotomy was performed, inflammation of the remained appendix (stump appendicitis) was observed. In this group of patients, pain in the RLQ area causes differential diagnoses but due to the history of previous appendectomy, re-inflammation of the appendix called �stump appendicitis� is less noticeable and may increase mortality and morbidity. © 2020 The Author

The effect of surface modification of single-wall carbon nanotubes on cytotoxicity reduction in the liver cell model (HEPG2)

Background: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that their surface hydrophilicity has been modified are important vehicles in drug delivery and diagnostic application. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of original and functional CNTs on human cells. Materials and Methods: In an interventional study, lateral surfaces of single wall-carbon nanotubes were coated by polyethylene glycol, as an amphiphilic polymer, via charged functional groups (the amine or carboxylic group). Original and functional carbon nanotubes were exposed to human hepatoma (HEPG2) cells, as a cellular model of liver. Exposure times were 24, 48 and 72 hours and CNT suspension applied in concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 600µg/ml. Morphologic changes of cells were analyzed using an inverted microscope. Viability percentage of HEPG2 cells was also evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: The naked CNTs after 72 hours exposure showed toxicity on HEPG2 in concentrations more than 100 µg/ml, while surface modification of CNTs with amine or carboxylic polyethylene glycol (PEG) led to a better biocompatibility of CNTs to 200 and 400 µg/ml, respectively. In 400µg/ml concentrations of CNTs and more, PEG-CNTs via carboxilic functional groups showed severe morphological changes in the HEPG2 cells, while amine mediated PEG-CNTs, in the same experimental time were more biocompatible. The results of the MTT test showed that carboxylic PEG-CNTs in concentrations more than 200 µg/ml, and amine PEG-CNTs in more than 400 µg/ml decreased viability of HEPG2 cells significantly (

Synthesis, and Characterization, and Evaluation of Cellular Effects of the FOL-PEG-g-PEI-GAL Nanoparticles as a Potential Non-Viral Vector for Gene Delivery

In this manuscript, we synthesized the potential non viral vector for gene delivery with proper transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a well-known cationic polymer which has high positive surface charge for condensing plasmid DNA. However; it is highly cytotoxic in many cell lines because of the high surface charge, non-biodegradability and non-biocompatibility. To enhance PEI biodegradability, the graft copolymer “PEG-g-PEI” was synthesized. To target cancer liver cells, two targeting ligands folic acid and galactose (lactobionic acid) which are over expressed on human hepatocyte carcinoma were attached to graft copolymer and “FOL-PEG-g-PEI-GAL” copolymer was synthesized. Composition of this grafted copolymer was characterized using 1H-NMR and FTIR spectra. The molecular weight and zeta potential of this copolymer was compared to PEI. The particle size and zeta potential of FOL-PEG-g-PEI-GAL/DNA complexes at various N/P ratio were measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS). Cytotoxicity of the copolymer was also studied in cultured HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cell line. The FOL-PEG-g-PEI-GAL/DNA complexes at various N/P ratios exhibited no cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell line compared to PEI 25K as a control. The novel copolymer showed enhanced biodegradability in physiological conditions in compared with PEI and targeted cultured HepG2 cells. More importantly, significant transfection efficiency was exhibited in cancer liver cells. Together, our results showed that “FOL-PEG-g-PEI-GAL” nanoparticals could be considered as a useful non-viral vector for targeted gene delivery

Anti-inflammatory effect, total polysaccharide, total phenolics content and antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract of three basidiomycetes

Inflammation is a part of the non-specific immune response which occurs in reaction to any type of injury. Medicinal mushrooms have had application in various disorders including cancer, liver injuries, inflammation and diabetes. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extracts of medicinal mushrooms (Fomes fomentarius, Ganoderma applanatum and Trametes hirsuta) were evaluated using carrageenan method. In addition, total polysaccharide, total phenolics contents and the radical scavenging activity of the extracts have also been examined. Mushrooms were extracted with distilled water in 100 °C for 4 hours and then the extracts were freeze dried. Indomethacin was considered as the positive control in the anti-inflammatory evaluation. Polysaccharide contents of F. fomentarius, G. applanatum, and T. hirsuta extracts were assessed as 53.3±0.2, 31.7±0.03, and 19.1±0.6 glucose equivalent µg/100 µgEXT and total phenolic contents of them were successfully revealed as 9.9±0.2, 8.2±0.1, and 8.8±0.2 µgGAE/100 µgEXT, respectively. Furthermore, the IC50 values for F. fomentarius, G. applanatum, and T. hirsuta extracts in DPPH assay, were calculated as 90.9, 108.6, and 908.3 µg/mL, respectively. The results of the experiment showed that the extracts possessed potent anti-inflammatory effect which was comparable to indomethacin

Post-LASIK Ectasia Versus Keratoconus: An In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Study

PURPOSE: To examine and compare corneal cellular and subbasal nerve (SBN) characteristics in post-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis ectasia (PLE) corneas, normal post-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis corneas (PLC), keratoconus (KC) corneas, and normal virgin corneas (NC). METHODS: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 18 PLE eyes of 11 patients, 18 PLC of 15 cases, 32 KC eyes of 32 patients, and 29 NC of 29 subjects were assessed using in vivo confocal microscopy. The density of the basal epithelial cell (BEC), anterior keratocyte, posterior keratocyte, and endothelial cell layers, as well as the characteristics of SBN fibers, was compared between the 4 groups. RESULTS: The density of the BEC and anterior and posterior keratocyte layers was significantly lower in KC compared with NC (-650 ± 190, P = 0.013; -181 ± 39, P < 0.001; and -36 ± 11, P = 0.021, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between PLE and PLC regarding these parameters (all Ps � 0.6). Mean SBN parameters, including central corneal nerve branch density, nerve fiber length, total branch density, and nerve fiber area, were significantly lower in KC compared with NC and in PLE compared with PLC (all Ps � 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The pathophysiology of PLE seems to differ from KC. Apparent changes in the BEC and anterior and posterior keratocytes associated with KC were not observed in PLE. However, SBNs seem to be involved in both conditions

Two new xanthone diglycosides from Swertia longifolia Boiss.

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