Antiprotozoal activity and cytotoxicity of Lycopodium clavatum and Lycopodium complanatum subsp. chamaecyparissus extracts

Objective: the aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity, the total phenol and flavonoid content and the possible protective effects of commercial propolis on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits. Methods: the in vitro antioxidant activity was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assay, the total phenols content was measured by folin–ciocalteau assay, the flavonoids content by the alcl3 colorimetric method and the renoprotective effects of propolis methanol extract was evaluated in a rabbit model of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The protective effects of propolis on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits were evaluated through biochemical parameter (measuring serum urea and creatinine) and histopathological alterations in kidneys Results: methanol extract of propolis showed a strong antioxidant activity, which is attributed to its high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Oral administration of propolis extract to rabbits at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight significantly protected against histopathological and biochemical alterations induced by gentamicin. Conclusion: the present study demonstrated that commercial propolis is strong antioxidant and is effective for the prevention of gentamicin-induced renal damage in rabbit

Association of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphisms (894G/T,-786T/C, G10T) and Clinical Findings in Patients with Migraine

WOS: 000340096700006PubMed: 24845269Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent attacks, unilateral head pain, and related symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate three endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms in 176 patients with migraine and 123 healthy individuals. Clinical and biochemical parameters were investigated. Genetic analysis was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The differences between migraine cases and the control group were significant for two polymorphisms (-786T/C and 894G/T) (p = 0.000). Homocysteine and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in the migraine group than in the control group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.000). The relation between -786T/C genotype and BMI and allodynia was significant. TC heterozygotes and CC homozygotes were significantly higher in the migraine group than in the control group (OR 2.843 and 95 % CI 1.681-4.808 and OR 3.729 and 95 % CI 1.784-7.792, respectively). The 894G/T genotype was correlated with BMI, pain intensity, age at the onset of migraine, nausea, tension, compression, and allodynia. For this polymorphism, GT heterozygotes and TT homozygotes were significantly higher in the migraine group than in the control group (OR 3.027 and 95 % CI 1.830-5.008 and OR 3.221 and 95 % CI 1.223-8.484, respectively). The G10T genotype was correlated with attack duration and age at the onset of migraine (p = 0.008 and p = 0.040). eNOS polymorphisms may be useful markers for assessing migraine risk and clinical diagnosis

In vitro antiprotozoal activity of the lipophilic extracts of different parts of Turkish Pistacia vera L.

Thirteen lipophilic extracts prepared with n-hexane from various parts of Pistacia vera L. tree (Anacardiaceae) growing in Turkey were screened for their in vitro activity against four parasitic protozoa, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium falciparum. Melarsoprol, benznidazole, miltefosine, artemisinin and chloroquine were used as reference drugs. The cytotoxic potentials of the extracts on rat skeletal myoblast (L6) cells were also assessed and compared to that of podophyllotoxin. The screening method employed was medium-throughput, where the extracts were tested at two concentrations, at 0.8 and 4.8 μg/ml (T. brucei rhodesiense, L. donovani and Plasmodium falciparum), or at 1.6 and 9.7 μg/ml (T. cruzi and L6 cells). At 4.8 μg/ml concentration, the branch extract of Pistacia vera (PV-BR) significantly inhibited (77.3%) the growth of L. donovani, whereas the dry leaf extract (PV-DL) was active against Plasmodium falciparum (60.6% inhibition). The IC50 values of these extracts were determined as 2.3 μg/ml (PV-BR, L. donovani) and 3.65 μg/ml (PV-DL, Plasmodium falciparum). None of the extracts possessed cytotoxicity on mammalian cells

Increased EGFR mRNA Expression Levels in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective: In this study, we investigated the frequency of Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations, the level of EGFR mRNA and protein expressions in Turkish population for indicating substantial differences in the frequency of EGFR mutations, EGFR amplification and EGFR protein expression between populations and the effect of these parameters in response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Turkish freshwater and marine macrophyte extracts show in vitro antiprotozoal activity and inhibit FabI, a key enzyme of Plasmodium falciparum fatty acid biosynthesis

The ethanolic extracts of a number of Turkish freshwater macrophytes (Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus tricophyllus and Cladophora glomerata) and marine macroalgae (Dictyota dichotoma, Halopteris scoparia, Posidonia oceanica, Scinaia furcellata, Sargassum natans and Ulva lactuca) were assayed for their in vitro antiprotozoal activity. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium falciparum were used as test organisms. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was also assessed against primary rat skeletal myoblasts (L6 cells). Whereas none of the extracts were active against T. cruzi, all crude extracts displayed appreciable trypanocidal activity against T. brucei rhodesiense, with S. natans being the most active one (IC50 7.4 μg/ml). Except for the marine alga H. scoparia, all extracts also possessed leishmanicidal potential. The best antileishmanial activity was exerted by U. lactuca and P. oceanica (IC50's 5.9 and 8.0 μg/ml, respectively). Five extracts that demonstrated inhibitory activity towards P. falciparum (IC50's 18.1–48.8 μg/ml) were simultaneously assayed against FabI, a crucial enzyme of the fatty acid system of P. falciparum, to find out whether FabI was their target. The extracts of C. glomerata and U. lactuca efficiently inhibited the FabI enzyme with IC50 values of 1.0 and 4.0 μg/ml, respectively. None of the extracts were cytotoxic towards mammalian L6 cells. This work reports for the first time antiprotozoal activity of some Turkish marine and freshwater algae, as well as a target-based antiplasmodial screening for the identification of P. falciparum FabI inhibitors from aquatic and marine macrophytes