Anti-proliferating effect of Ocimum sanctum and Centella asiatica plant extract on growth of human glioblastoma cells: An in vitro study

Glioblastoma is aggressive brain tumour with poor prognosis with conventional chemotherapy, hence there is need to find alternative targets for developing newer treatment. Advent of new treatment methods involving medicinal plants have shown to reduced Cancer mortalities and prevents development of drug resistance for chemotherapy. Present study aimed at investigates the anti-proliferating activity of two promising medicinal plants, Ocimum sanctum and Centella asiatica. We studied the effect of their plant extract on U87MG Glioblastoma cells proliferation, survival effect and apoptosis. Cytotoxic activity was assessed, after the plant extract treatment on U87MG using MTT assay with dose of 1 mg/mL to 25mg/mL and apoptosis assess was done using Annexin V assay with the three dose (1.5 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL and 2.5 mg/mL). Survivin gene expression was studied using QRT-PCR (Rotar gene Q, Qiagene) has a marker of proliferation. Ocimum sanctum and Centella asiatica treatment of U87MG cells with dosage of 1.5 mg/mL, 2.0 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL showed increase in mean apoptotic cells 2.8 %, 4.9%, 10 % and 3.1%, 5.8% and 7.2%, respectively, compared to untreated U87MG cells. Survivin gene analysis of U87MG cells showed down-regulation in gene expression and differences was significant in comparison to untreated control group with both the plant extract, Centella asiatica showed more down-regulation (97% with 2.5 mg/mL) than Ocimum sanctum. Ocimum sanctum and Centella asiatica exhibited promising anti-proliferating activity and induces apoptosis by down regulation of survivin gene expressio

Identification and characterization of antibacterial compound(s) of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

Infectious diseases remain a significant threat to human health, contributing to more than 17 million deaths, annually. With the worsening trends of drug resistance, there is a need for newer and more powerful antimicrobial agents. We hypothesized that animals living in polluted environments are potential source of antimicrobials. Under polluted milieus, organisms such as cockroaches encounter different types of microbes, including superbugs. Such creatures survive the onslaught of superbugs and are able to ward off disease by producing antimicrobial substances. Here, we characterized antibacterial properties in extracts of various body organs of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and showed potent antibacterial activity in crude brain extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and neuropathogenic E. coli K1. The size-exclusion spin columns revealed that the active compound(s) are less than 10 kDa in molecular mass. Using cytotoxicity assays, it was observed that pre-treatment of bacteria with lysates inhibited bacteria-mediated host cell cytotoxicity. Using spectra obtained with LC-MS on Agilent 1290 infinity liquid chromatograph, coupled with an Agilent 6460 triple quadruple mass spectrometer, tissues lysates were analyzed. Among hundreds of compounds, only a few homologous compounds were identified that contained isoquinoline group, chromene derivatives, thiazine groups, imidazoles, pyrrole containing analogs, sulfonamides, furanones, flavanones, and known to possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, and possess anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, and analgesic properties. Further identification, characterization and functional studies using individual compounds can act as a breakthrough in developing novel therapeutics against various pathogens including superbugs