Anticancer Potential of Furanocoumarins: Mechanistic and Therapeutic Aspects

Cancer is one of the most extreme medical conditions in both developing and developed countries around the world, causing millions of deaths each year. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are key for treatment approaches, but both have numerous adverse health effects. Furthermore, the resistance of cancerous cells to anticancer medication leads to treatment failure. The rising burden of cancer overall requires novel efficacious treatment modalities. Natural medications offer feasible alternative options against malignancy in contrast to western medication. Furanocoumarins' defensive and restorative impacts have been observed in leukemia, glioma, breast, lung, renal, liver, colon, cervical, ovarian, and prostate malignancies. Experimental findings have shown that furanocoumarins activate multiple signaling pathways, leading to apoptosis, autophagy, antioxidant, antimetastatic, and cell cycle arrest in malignant cells. Additionally, furanocoumarins have been shown to have chemo preventive and chemotherapeutic synergistic potential when used in combination with other anticancer drugs. Here, we address different pathways which are activated by furanocoumarins and their therapeutic efficacy in various tumors. Ideally, this review will trigger interest in furanocoumarins and their potential efficacy and safety as a cancer lessening agents

The Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Detecting Bone Marrow Involvement in Childhood Cancers

PubMedID: 31033787Background:The aim of this study was to assess the utility of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing bone marrow involvement (BMI) compared with bone marrow biopsy (BMB) in the initial staging of pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), Ewing sarcoma (ES), and neuroblastoma (NB).Procedure:A total of 94 patients (57 boys, 37 girls, median age 7 y, range 1 to 18 y) with newly diagnosed NHL, HL, ES, and NB between July 2014 and December 2017, who underwent BMB and 18F-FDG PET/CT before chemotherapy were included in this study. There were 36 patients with NHL, 27 HL, 16 ES, and 15 NB. 18F-FDG PET/CT and BMB results were reviewed and compared retrospectively.Findings:Retrospective analysis of data from 94 pediatric patients (57 boys, 37 girls, median age 7 y, range 1 to 18 y) was performed. Of the 94 patients, 29 had BMI on 18F-FDG PET/CT. BMB was positive in 14, negative in 13, and insufficient in 2 of these 29 patients. In 65 patients negative on 18F-FDG PET/CT, BMB was also negative in 54 and insufficient in 7. For the whole group, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting bone marrow metastasis at the time of diagnosis were 90.6%, 100%, 100%, and 95.4% and those of BMB were 53.1%, 87.1%, 94.4%, and 80.6%, respectively.Conclusion:Our study demonstrates that 18F-FDG PET/CT predicts BMI better than BMB. 18F-FDG PET/CT may be used at initial staging of pediatric patients with NHL, HL, ES, and NB. © 2019 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved

Prevalence and related factors of euthyroid sick syndrome in children with untreated cancer according to two different criteria

PubMedID: 29553046Objective: In this study, we evaluated the frequency of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) among patients with childhood cancer and its association with the stage of disease, nutritional parameters and cytokines levels. Methods: Eighty newly diagnosed children were included in the study. ESS was assessed in two different ways. According to criteria 1 ESS was present if free triiodothyronine (fT3) was below the lower limit and free thyroxine was within the normal or low limits, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was in the normal range. According to criteria 2, in addition to the above, it was required that reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) be performed and was higher than normal limits. Results: Three of our pediatric patients had subclinical hypothyroidism and two had subclinical hyperthyroidism. Out of 75 patients, ESS was identified in 14 (17.3%) according to criteria 1 and in eight (10.6%) according to criteria 2. Only fT3 levels were significantly different in the ESS (+) and ESS (-) groups (p<0.05) according to criteria 1. A significantly negative correlation between interleukin (IL)-6 and fT3 was found, according to both sets of criteria. tumor necrosis factor alpha was negatively correlated with fT3 levels only in the criteria 1 group. There were no correlations between IL-1ß and fT3, free thyroxine, rT3 and TSH levels. Conclusion: ESS may occur in childhood cancer and thyroid function testing should be performed routinely when cancer is diagnosed. © 2018 by Turkish Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Society.Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit: 2016-1-TP3-1432Financial Disclosure: This project was supported by Mersin University Department of Scientific Research Projects (project No: 2016-1-TP3-1432)

The scolicidal activity of the essential oil obtained from the needles of Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe on hydatid cyst

Ethnopharmacological relevance: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of the essential oil of Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. In traditional tur folk medicine, the essential oils and resin of P. nigra and P. sylvestris are used externally for wound healing. They are also used in cattle for treating worms and as boiling essence against cold and stomachache. Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Materials and methods: Three concentrations (10, 30, and 50 mg/mL) of the essential oil from P. nigra subsp. pallasiana cones were used for 10–60 min. The essential oil was applied to protoscoleces of hydatid cyst to determine the scolicidal activity of the essential oil. Viability of protoscoleces was observed by 0.1% eosin staining. Results: The rate of dead protoscoleces was found to be 2.27% in the control group, which was not treated with essential oil. The rate of dead protoscoleces increased to 61.69%, 69.39%, 75.98% and 71.76% respectively after, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min when the protoscoleces were exposed to the P. nigra subsp. pallasiana essential oil at 10 mg/mL concentration. When protoscoleces were exposed to the essential oil of P. nigra subsp. pallasiana for 10, 20, 30, and 60 min at 30 mg/mL concentration, the mortality rates of protoscoleces were determined as 3.82%, 91.33%, 94.67% and 96.74%, respectively. The mortality rate of 100% was determined at 50 mg/mL concentration after 60 min of exposure. According to statistical analysis, P. nigra subsp. pallasiana essential oil at all concentrations had significant scolicidal effects compared to the control group at all exposure times. Conclusions: The essential oil of P. nigra subsp. pallasiana needles showed scolicidal activity and it could be a new scolicidal agent for using in hydatid cyst treatment. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

Appraisal on the wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oils obtained from the cones and needles of Pinus species by in vivo and in vitro experimental models

Ethnopharmacological relevance: According to ethnobotanical data, Pinus species have been used against rheumatic pain and for wound healing in tur folk medicine. Essential oils from the cones and needles of five different Pinus species (Pinus brutia Ten., Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus nigra Arn., Pinus pinea L. and Pinus sylvestris L.) were evaluated for their in vivo wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities. Materials and methods: In vivo wound healing activity of the ointments prepared from essential oils was evaluated by linear incision and circular excision experimental wound models subsequently histopathological analysis and hydroxyproline content. Furthermore, the essential oils were screened for anti-hyaluronidase activity. Additionally anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by using the method of Whittle, which is based on the inhibition of acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability. Results: The essential oils obtained from the cones of Pinus pinea and Pinus halepensis demonstrated the highest effects on the wound healing activity models. On the other hand, the rest of the essential oils did not show any significant wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities. Conclusion: The experimental study revealed that essential oils obtained from the cones of Pinus pinea and Pinus halepensis display remarkable wound healing activity. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

The regression of endometriosis with glycosylated flavonoids isolated from Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. in an endometriosis rat model

Objective: Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. is commonly used for treating bronchitis, painful menstruation, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, ulcers of the eyes, earache, and hardening and swelling of uterus. The European Medicines Agency reported the use of M. officinalis orally against stomach ache, gastric ulcer, and disorders of the liver and uterus in folk medicine. The present study aimed to appraise the activity of M. (L.) Pall. aerial parts in endometriosis rat model. Materials and methods: The endometriosis rat model was used to evaluate the potential activity of M. officinalis aerial parts based on its folkloric usage. The aerial parts of M. officinalis were extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH), respectively. The adhesion scores, endometrial foci areas, and cytokine levels were measured in all treated groups. After the biological activity studies, phytochemical studies were performed on the active extract and the fractions obtained from the active extract. Results: The MeOH extract significantly decreased the endometrial foci areas and cytokine levels in rats with endometriosis. Fractionation was performed on the MeOH extract to achieve bioactive molecules. Following the fractionation, the fractions obtained from the MeOH extract were tested. Fraction C showed the highest activity in the rat endometriosis model. Phytochemical investigation of the active fraction (Fraction C) resulted in isolation and elucidation of some quercetin and kaempferol glucoside derivatives. Conclusion: Fraction C obtained from the MeOH extract of M. officinalis showed the highest activity, yielding four glycosylated flavonoids. (C) 2020 Taiwan Association of Obstetrics \& Gynecology. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V

Thuja occidentalis L. and its active compound, α-thujone: Promising effects in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome without inducing osteoporosis

Ethnopharmacological relevance Thuja occidentalis L. (Cupressaceae) has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, amenorrhea, cystitis, and uterine carcinomas, and as an abortifacient and contraceptive. Aim of the study The present study aimed to determine whether T. occidentalis oil and α-thujone could be beneficial in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and methods T. occidentalis oil and α-thujone were administered to rats with letrozole-induced PCOS for 21 days. At the end of 21 days, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were taken by cardiac puncture. The levels of serum gonadotropins, steroids, blood lipid, leptin, and glucose and the values of antioxidant parameters were measured. Results The results demonstrated that estradiol and progesterone levels significantly increased, while luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels decreased in the T. occidentalis- and α-thujone-administered groups. The plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), leptin, and glucose concentrations were also significantly decreased in the T. occidentalis and α-thujone groups when compared to the control group. Histopathological findings demonstrated that the T. occidentalis and α-thujone groups displayed good healing. According to the phytochemical analyses, 25 compounds were identified in the T. occidentalis oil. The main constituents of the oil were the monoterpene ketones α- and β-thujone, fenchone, and sabinene, as well as the diterpenes beyerene and rimuene. Conclusion T. occidentalis essential oil and its active component, α-thujone, can be used for the treatment of PCOS without inducing osteoporosis. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd