Olea europaea leaf extract alters microRNA expression in human glioblastoma cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and the most lethal form of primary malignant tumors in the central nervous system. There is an increasing need for the development of more efficient therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these patients. One of the most attractive cancer therapy methods to date is the induction of tumor cell death by certain phytochemicals. Interestingly, bioactive compounds have been shown to alter micro RNA (miRNA) expression involved in several biological processes at the posttranscriptional level. The present study aimed to evaluate whether Olea europaea leaf extract (OLE) has an anticancer effect and modulates miRNA expression in GBM

In Vitro Cytotoxic Effect Evaluation of Dioscorea communis (L.) Caddick & Wilkin Rhizome and Stem Extracts on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Plant kingdom still has an important potential for cancer treatment as natural source of numerous active small molecules with various pharmacological properties. The aim of this study was to firstly investigate in vitro cytotoxic activities rhizome and stem extracts of Dioscorea communis (L.) Caddick & Wilkin (named “Sarmaşık” locally) collected in Turkey. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects at different concentrations (50–500 µg/mL) of each extract was determined using WST-1 proliferation and Comet assay against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2 and SNU-449) cell lines compared with HUVEC cells. The morphological changes of these cells treated with D. communis extracts was screened by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. We found that the petroleum ether rhizome extracts showed higher cytotoxic and genotoxic activity than stem extracts to all cell lines in a dose and time dependent manner (p < 0.05). These extracts induced apoptosis and DNA damage at 500 µg/mL after 72 h exposure. However, these extracts exhibited significant cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic damage against HUVEC cells. As a result, our data suggest that the active chemical constituent(s) in different part of plants and their mechanisms of inducing apoptosis and DNA damage should be determined in further investigations by in vitro studies compared with control cells

Airborne pollen in European and Asian parts of Istanbul.

Pollen concentrations in the atmosphere of Istanbul, a city located between two continents, has been monitored for 1 year as part of a larger research program. The sampling sites were located in two different continents: the Asian part (AS) and the European part (EP). The sampling was performed in AS and EP of the city by using Hirst type volumetric method, and pollen grains of 58 and 62 taxa were identified in the two parts, respectively. The pollen spectrum reflected the floristic diversity of the region. The main pollen producers at the sites were characterized by some allergenic pollen and were identified as Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Urticaceae, Pistacia sp., Quercus sp., Platanus sp., Fraxinus sp., and Xanthium sp. These pollen types contributed to the total pollen sum with a percentage of more than 80% at both monitoring sites. The highest amount of pollen grains was recorded in April. The greatest number of species was recorded in May, when 42 types (AS) and 44 types (EP) were present

Ficus carica Latex Prevents Invasion Through Induction of Let-7d Expression in GBM Cell Lines

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the deadliest human malignancies. A cure for GBM remains elusive, and the overall survival time is less than 1 year. Thus, the development of more efficient therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these patients is required. Induction of tumor cell death by certain phytochemicals derived from medicinal herbs and dietary plants has become a new frontier for cancer therapy research. Although the cancer suppressive effect of Ficus carica (fig) latex (FCL) has been determined in a few cancer types, the effect of this latex on GBM tumors has not been investigated. Therefore, in the current study, the anti-proliferative activity of FCL and the effect of the FCL-temozolomide (TMZ) combination were tested in the T98G, U-138 MG, and U-87 MG GBM cell lines using the WST-1 assay. The mechanism of cell death was analyzed using Annexin-V/FITC and TUNEL assays, and the effect of FCL on invasion was tested using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. To determine the effect of FCL on GBM progression, the expression levels of 40 GBM associated miRNAs were analyzed in T98G cells using RT-qPCR. According to the obtained data, FCL causes cell death in GBM cells with different responses to TMZ, and this effect is synergistically increased in combination with TMZ. In addition, the current study is the first to demonstrate the effect of FCL on modulation of let-7d expression, which may be an important underlying mechanism of the anti-invasive effect of this extract