Molecular mechanisms of hormones implicated in migraine and the translational implication for transgender patients

Migraine is a primary headache disorder recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the most poorly understood and debilitating neurological conditions impacting global disability. Chronic pain disorders are more frequently diagnosed among cisgender women than men, suggesting that female sex hormones could be responsible for mediating chronic pain, including migraine and/or that androgens can be protective. This review discusses the major gonadal hormones, estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone in the context of molecular mechanisms by which they play a role in migraine pathophysiology. In addition, the literature to date describing roles of minor sex hormones including prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicular stimulating hormone, and gonadotropin releasing hormone in migraine are presented. Because transgender and gender non-conforming (trans*) individuals are an underserved patient population in which gender-affirming sex hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often medically necessary to align biological sex with gender identity, results from cisgender patient populations are discussed in the context of these major and minor sex hormones on migraine incidence and management in trans* patients

Phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of Spiraea chamaedryfolia: a contribution to the chemotaxonomy of Spiraea genus

Additional file 1. Spiraea diterpene alkaloids. Diterpene alkaloids reported from Spiraea genus

Antiproliferative and Antimicrobial Activities of Selected Bryophytes

One-hundred and sixty-eight aqueous and organic extracts of 42 selected bryophyte species were screened in vitro for antiproliferative activity on a panel of human gynecological cancer cell lines containing HeLa (cervix epithelial adenocarcinoma), A2780 (ovarian carcinoma), and T47D (invasive ductal breast carcinoma) cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and for antibacterial activity on 11 strains using the disc-diffusion method. A total of 99 extracts derived from 41 species exerted ≥25% inhibition of proliferation of at least one of the cancer cell lines at 10 μg/mL. In the cases of Brachythecium rutabulum, Encalypta streptocarpa, Climacium dendroides, Neckera besseri, Pleurozium schreberi, and Pseudoleskeella nervosa, more than one extract was active in the antiproliferative assay, whereas the highest activity was observed in the case of Paraleucobryum longifolium. From the tested families, Brachytheciaceae and Amblystegiaceae provided the highest number of antiproliferative extracts. Only 19 samples of 15 taxa showed moderate antibacterial activity, including the most active Plagiomnium cuspidatum, being active on 8 tested strains. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus were the most susceptible to the assayed species. This is the first report on the bioactivities of these 14 species

Study of in vitro antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of selected Saharan plants

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of selected Saharan species, which are applied in the traditional medicine but not studied thoroughly from chemical and pharmacological point of view. The studied plants, namely Anthyllis henoniana, Centropodia forskalii, Cornulaca monacantha, Ephedra alata var. alenda, Euphorbia guyoniana, Helianthemum confertum, Henophyton deserti, Moltkiopsis ciliata and Spartidium saharae were collected from remote areas of North Africa, especially from the Tunisian region of Sahara. After drying and applying the appropriate extraction methods, the plant extracts were tested in antimicrobial screening assay, performed on 19 Gram-positive and -negative strains of microbes. The inhibition zones produced by plant extracts were determined by disc-diffusion method. Remarkable antibacterial activities were exhibited by extracts of Ephedra alata var. alenda and Helianthemum confertum against B. subtilis, M. catarrhalis and methicillin-resistant and non-resistant S. aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of these two species were also determined. Antiproliferative effects of the extracts were evaluated against 4 human adherent cell lines (HeLa, A431, A2780 and MCF7). Notable cell growth inhibition was found for extract of Helianthemum confertum and Euphorbia guyoniana. Our results provided data for selection of some plant species for further detailed pharmacological and phytochemical examinations

Antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of some North African desert plants

The landscape of southern Tunisia areas is dominated by shrubs and woody plant species. Their morphological and physiological features being suitable for arid and Saharan bioclimate. It can be estimated that their phytochemical characteristics and metabolic activities are in accordance with the environment, and the plants have special spectrum of secondary metabolites, and offer a great medical and pharmaceutical potential. The present study aims the investigation of the biological activities on some plant species from the Tunisian region of Sahara. The studied species were: Anthyllis henoniana (Coss.), Centropodia forskalii (Vahl.), Cornulaca monacantha (Delile), Ephedra alata var. alenda (Stapf.) Trabut, Euphorbia guyoniana (Boiss. & Reut.), Helianthemum confertum (Dunal), Henophyton deserti (Coss. & Durieu), Moltkiopsis ciliata (Forssk.) and Spartidium saharae (Coss. & Durieu). The antibacterial activity was evaluated on 19 strains of microbes by disc-difussion method with determination of the values of inhibition zones (7 – 14,5 mm) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC = 0,1 – 5 mg/mL). Amoxicilin+clavulanic acid and vancomycin were applied as positive controls in the experiments. In vitro antiproliferative effect of the extracts was evaluated against 4 human adherent cell lines (HeLa, A431, A2780 and MCF7) using the MTT assay and cisplatin as reference compound. The aqueous-ethanolic (1:1) extracts of six desert plants showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Extracts of E. guyoniana and H. confertum showed antiproliferative activity on breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), and ovarian carcinoma (A2780) cell lines. Our screening study proved that Saharan plant species are promising sources of potential antibacterial and antitumor agents. Our findings serve as starting points for selection of plant species for further investigation