Methanolic extract of Teucrium Polium L potentiates the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of anticancer drugs of vincristine, vinblastine and doxorubicin against a panel of cancerous cell lines

A growing body of evidence indicates that specific phytochemicals can increase an efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. Aim: To evaluate promoting effect of the methanolic extract of Teucrium Polium (Me-TP) on cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of anticancer drugs of vinblastine, vincristine and doxorubicin in vitro. Methods: Skmel-3, Saos-2, SW480, MCF-7, KB, EJ and A431 cell lines were used. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay and colony formation assay. The nature of interactions was analyzed by combination index (CI) method. Apoptotic cells were assessed by DAPI staining. Results: The vincristine/Me-TP, vinblastine/Me-TP and doxorubicin/Me-TP combinations showed a strong synergistic effect in the cell growth inhibition (0.13 80%) compared to effect of individual drugs (0–3%). At the additional experiments, Me-TP reduced marginally to significantly the cytotoxic effects of vincristine and vinblastine toward the human fibroblasts (p < 0.05 to 0.001). Conclusions: The present study suggests that Me-TP has the potential to be an effective and safe chemosensitizer agent for cancer therapy.Исследования последних лет показали, что некоторые фитопрепараты могут усиливать эффект химиотерапии. Цель: оценить in vitro влияние метанольного экстракта Teucrium Polium (Me-TP) на цитотоксичность и апоптоз, индуцируемые противоопухолевыми препаратами винбластином, винкристином и доксорубицином. Методы: в работе использованы клеточные линии Skmel-3, Saos-2, SW480, MCF-7, KB, EJ и A431. Цитотоксичность определяли с помощью MTT теста и реакции колониеобразования. Характер воздействия препаратов изучали с помощью метода комбинированного индекса (CI поптотические клетки выявляли окрашиванием DAPI. Результаты: для комбинаций винкристин/Me-TP, винбластин/Me-TP и доксорубицин/Me-TP было выявлено сильное синергичное воздействие на торможение клеточного роста (0,13 < CI < 0,36). Аналогичные результаты получены при определении способности клеток к колониеобразованию. Более того, комбинации винкристин/Me-TP и винбластин/Me-TP вызывали выраженный апоптоз клеток (> 80%) по сравнению с химиопрепаратами без Me-TP (0–3%). Показано также, что Me-TP снижал цитотоксическое воздействие (от минимальной до значительной степени) винкристина и винбластина на фибробласты человека (p < 0,05 до 0,001). Выводы: Me-TP можно рассматривать как возможный эффективный и безопасный химиосенсибилизирующий препарат для химиотерапии

Synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of piperazine complexes of bivalent metal bromides

Complexes of bivalent metal bromides with piperazine were prepared in hot ethanol solution. They have the general formula: [MBr2(pipz)n], where M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) or Zn(II); pipz = piperazine; n = 1 or 1.5. They were characterized by melting point measurements, elemental analysis, TG/DTG-DSC curves, IR and electronic spectroscopy. The enthalpies of solution of the complexes, salts and ligand were measured by thermo-chemical cycles and several thermochemical parameters were determined. The mean standard enthalpies of the metal-nitrogen coordinated bonds and the enthalpies of gaseous complex formation were also determined

Human gingival fibroblasts culture in an autologous scaffold and assessing its effect on augmentation of attached gingiva in a pilot clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM: An important goal of periodontal plastic surgery is the creation of attached gingiva around the teeth. In this study, the aims were to culture gingival fibroblasts in a biodegradable scaffold and measure the width of attached gingiva after the clinical procedure. METHODS: This study was carried out on 4 patients (8 sites), with inadequate attached gingiva next to at least two teeth in contralateral quadrants of the same jaw. A biopsy of attached gingiva (epithelial + connective tissue) was taken using a surgical blade. Following culture of gingival fibroblasts, 250 × 103 cells in 250 μl nutritional medium were mixed with platelet-rich in growth factor (PRGF). Periosteal fenestration technique was done on one side (control) and tissue-engineered mucosal graft (test) was carried out on the contralateral side in each patient. The width of keratinized tissue, probing depth (PD) and width of attached gingiva were recorded at baseline and 3 months after the operation. RESULTS: An increased width of keratinized and attached tissue on all operated sites after 3 months was observed. These results showed the increased mean of the width of keratinized and attached gingiva to be 4.17 mm and 4.14 mm in test and 1.10 mm and 1.10 mm in control sites, respectively. The difference of keratinized and attached gingiva width between test and control sites was significant (P = 0.030, and P = 0.010 respectively). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, PRGF can be used as a scaffold to transfer gingival fibroblasts to recipient sites with significant clinical results. KEYWORDS: Tissue Engineering; Gingiva; Blood Platelet; Scaffol

In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Sixteen New N-Piperazinyl Quinolone Derivatives Against A Panel Of Tumor Cell Lines

Abstract: Introduction: Fluoroquinolones are potent inhibitors of bacterial topoisomerase II. They can also inhibit eukaryotic topoisomerase, and may confer antitumoral properties. Method: In this study the antitumoral activity of a new series of N-substituted piperazinyl- fluoroquinolones against a panel of human tumor cell lines was determined by MTT assays. Results: Among the tested compounds N-[2- (5-bromo-2-thienyl)-2-oxoethyl ] (C1,N1,E1), N-[ 2- (5-bromo-2-thienyl)-2-(hydroxyimino) ethyl]( C2,N2,E2) and N-[2-(5-bromo-2-thienyl)-2-(phenylmethoxyimino) ethyl] (C3,N3,E3) piperazinyl quinolones exhibited the most cytotoxic activities (mean IC50s = 2.5 to 3 μg/ml), comparable to that of the Etoposide (mean IC50= 1.7μg/ml). Replacement of the 5- bromo-2-thienyl with 4- fluorophenyl or 2,6- difluorophenyl rings leads to variable inhibition activity. The quinolone activity was enhanced by the presence of a chlorine and two fluorine atoms at the benzyl and phenyl groups, especially against ACHN renal adenocarcinoma cell line. Conclusion: These data suggest that these series of quinolones provide good models for the further design of potent antitumor compounds. Keywords: Cytotoxicity, Fluoroquinolone, MTT- assay, Etoposid

Evaluation of effects of diclofenac on the proliferation and differentiation of PC12 cells in vitro

Background & Objective: Diclofenac is a non-steroidal, anti-inflamatory drug that is prescribed as an analgesic. However, there is little known about the effects of diclofenac on the neural cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of diclofenac as sodium salt on the proliferation and differentiation of PC12 cells.   Materials & Methods: This expeimental study was done in Kerman neuroscience research center during 2004. The cell proliferation was evaluated by using XTT assay in the both free-serum neurobasal medium supplemented with B27 supplement and DMEM/F12 medium containing 10% FBS. The nerve growth factor(NGF) – induced differentiation was assessed  by measuring the neurite length for each treatment.   Results: The drug toxicity was exhibited at the higher concentrations of 310 mM in the supplemented neurobasal medium. The treatment of cells in the DMEM/F12 medium increased their sensitivity to diclofenac, with 40 and 85% growth inhibition at the 155 and 310 mM concentrations, respectively. The different generics of drug exhibited a equal toxic effects on the PC12 cells. The NGF- induced differentiation was not reduced by toxic and subtoxic concentrations of diclofenac.   Conclusion: This study indicated that diclofenac may be able to exhibit its neurotoxic effects through growth inhibition, but not differentiation inhibition. B27 supplement has several antioxidant compounds. Therefore, the difference of diclofenac cytotoxic effects in two culture media suggest that drug cytotoxicity may be related to the oxidative stress

Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and flavonoid concentrations of different plant parts of Teucrium polium L. subsp. polium

Total phenolic content, concentration of flavonoids and in vitro antioxidant activity of twenty different extracts from the whole plant and plant parts (leaves, flowers and stems) of Teucrium polium were determined. The total phenolic contents ranged between 14.57 to 157.84 mg of GaA/g of extract. The concentrations of flavonoids varied from 6.48 to 139.87 mg of Ru/g of extract. Antioxidant activity was determined in vitro using DPPH reagent and expressed as concentration of each extract required to inhibit radical by 50% (IC50) values that ranged from 26.30 to 2190.75 µg/ml. The methanolic leaves extract contain the greatest concentration of phenolic compounds (157.84 mg of GaA/g) and showed strong antioxidant activity (IC50 = 26.30 µg/ml). Ginkgo and Green tea extracts were analyzed for comparison, and the results indicated that some extracts of T. polium were equal in activity with Ginkgo or Green tea and some appeared to have greater activity. The obtained results suggest strong antioxidant activity and large contribution of separate analysis for the maximum exploitation of active phenolic compounds from T. polium. Based on this information, plant parts of this plant are natural sources of antioxidant substances of high importance

Human gingival fibroblasts culture in an autologous scaffold and assessing its effect on augmentation of attached gingiva in a pilot clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM: An important goal of periodontal plastic surgery is the creation of attached gingiva around the teeth. In this study, the aims were to culture gingival fibroblasts in a biodegradable scaffold and measure the width of attached gingiva after the clinical procedure. METHODS: This study was carried out on 4 patients (8 sites), with inadequate attached gingiva next to at least two teeth in contralateral quadrants of the same jaw. A biopsy of attached gingiva (epithelial + connective tissue) was taken using a surgical blade. Following culture of gingival fibroblasts, 250 × 103 cells in 250 μl nutritional medium were mixed with platelet-rich in growth factor (PRGF). Periosteal fenestration technique was done on one side (control) and tissue-engineered mucosal graft (test) was carried out on the contralateral side in each patient. The width of keratinized tissue, probing depth (PD) and width of attached gingiva were recorded at baseline and 3 months after the operation. RESULTS: An increased width of keratinized and attached tissue on all operated sites after 3 months was observed. These results showed the increased mean of the width of keratinized and attached gingiva to be 4.17 mm and 4.14 mm in test and 1.10 mm and 1.10 mm in control sites, respectively. The difference of keratinized and attached gingiva width between test and control sites was significant (P = 0.030, and P = 0.010 respectively). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, PRGF can be used as a scaffold to transfer gingival fibroblasts to recipient sites with significant clinical results