Simvastatin impairs murine melanoma growth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Statins induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, reduction of angiogenic factors, inhibition of the endothelial growth factor, impairing tissue adhesion and attenuation of the resistance mechanisms. The aim of this study was evaluate the anti-tumoral activity of simvastatin in a B16F10 melanoma-mouse model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Melanoma cells were treated with different concentrations of simvastatin and assessed by viability methods. Melanoma cells (5 × 10⁴) were implanted in two month old C57Bl6/J mice. Around 7 days after cells injection, the oral treatments were started with simvastatin (5 mg/kg/day, p.o.). Tumor size, hematological and biochemical analyses were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Simvastatin at a concentration of 0.8 μM, 1.2 μM and 1.6 μM had toxic effect. Concentration of 1.6 μM induced a massive death in the first 24 h of incubation. Simvastatin at 0.8 μM induces early cell cycle arrest in G0/G1, followed by increase of hypodiploidy. Tumor size were evaluated and the difference of treated group and control, after ten days, demonstrates that simvastatin inhibited the tumor expansion in 68%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Simvastatin at 1.6 μM, presented cytototoxicity after 72 h of treatment, with an intense death. <it>In vivo</it>, simvastatin being potentially useful as an antiproliferative drug, with an impairment of growth after ten days.</p

Efeito da cobertura do solo com resíduos de aveia preta nas etapas do ciclo de vida do capim-marmelada Alexandergrass life-cycle is affected by black oat residues on the soil surface

Conduziu-se um experimento na Estação Experimental Agronômica da UFRGS, em Eldorado do Sul, RS, em 1996/97, com o objetivo de caracterizar as etapas do ciclo de vida de papuã (Brachiaria plantaginea), desenvolvendo-se sob solo com níveis de 0 a 10,5 t/ha de resíduos de aveia preta (Avena strigosa). Maior concentração de sementes de papuã foi observada nas camadas superficiais do solo. A cobertura vegetal influenciou a emergência de papuã, constatando-se 4,5 e 0,08% de germinação do banco de sementes para níveis de resíduos 0 e 10,5 t/ha, respectivamente. Verificou-se elevada mortalidade de plântulas em qualquer nível de cobertura sobre o solo. O aumento da cobertura do solo diminuiu o número de plantas adultas, aumentando a matéria seca por indivíduo, mas, mantendo a biomassa por área. Estes resultados indicam que as etapas do ciclo de vida de Brachiaria plantaginea são afetadas pela presença de resíduos vegetais na superfície do solo, sendo a germinação de sementes e emergência de plântulas as fases mais sensível aos tratamentos testados.<br>One experiment was conducted at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, in Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil, during 1996/97, to characterize the life-cycle of alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea) when developed under several levels (0 to 10,5 t/ha) of black oat (Avena strigosa) residues on the soil surface. Weed seeds were more frequent at the upper layers of the soil profile. The crop residues affected alexandergrass seedling emergence, with 4,5 and 0,08% seed germination from the seedbank, for residue levels of 0 and 10,5 t/ha, respectively. High seedling mortality was observed at all crop residue levels. Increasing the levels of residues reduced the density of adult plants and increased plant dry weight, but maintained biomass per area. The results demonstrate that the phases of alexandergrass life-cycle are affected by the level of crop residues on the soil surface, and that the seed germination and seedling emergence are the phases most sensitive to the treatments tested