Cytotoxic and Apoptogenic Effect of Tea (Camellia sinensis Var. assamica) Root Extract (TRE) and Two of Its Steroidal Saponins TS1 and TS2 on Human Leukemic Cell Lines K562 and U937 and on cells of CML and ALL Patients

The anticancer activity of di- and tri-terpenes and other polyphenolic compounds present in tea is already reported. We evaluated the cytotoxic and apoptogenic effect of tea root extract (TRE) and two of its steroidal saponins named as TS1 and TS2, on human cell lines and on cells from leukemic patients. It was found that TRE, TS1 and TS2 significantly decreased cell count and that TRE caused apoptosis, as confirmed morphologically by confocal microscopy and by flow-cytometric analysis using Annexin-V FITC and propidium iodide (PI). Cell count and MTT assay in normal white blood cells (WBC) of healthy volunteers revealed that TRE produced insignificant reduction in cell count and cytotoxicity

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Nociceptive Activities of Methanolic Extract of the Leaves of Fraxinus Floribunda Wallich

Fraxinus floribunda Wallich (Family-Oleaceae) is a wide green tree in the sub-alpine region of Sikkim, India. The methanolic extract of the leaves of Fraxinus floribunda (MEFF) at 100, 200 and 400mg/kg/p.o was screened in rats for anti-inflammatory activity by acute-carrageenan induced paw edema, sub-acute cotton pellet induced granuloma and chronic Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis models. In all the three models of anti- inflammatory studies 200 and 400mg/kg/p.o doses of the extract showed significant effect (P<0.001). Antinociceptive evaluation was performed by writhing and tail-immersion tests in mice. Anti-nociceptive evaluation revealed that MEFF at the dose of 400mg/kg/p.o had significant activity against the control. The relieving effect was through the peripheral and central mechanism of action of the extract. This study rationalized the ethno medicinal use of the plant for relieving pain in inflammatory pathological conditions like fracture and dislocation

Anti-Leukemic Activity of Sulfonoquinovosyldiacylglyceride (SQDG): a Constituent of Azadirachta Indica Leaves

The sulfonoquinovosyldiacylglyceride (SQDG) isolated from the leaves of Azadirachta indica showed significant anti-leukemic activity in human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562 with IC50 of 9 lg/ml. SQDG treated leukemic cells showed chromatin condensation, apoptotic body formation, and increased caspase 3 production indicating apoptosis. Cell cycle study revealed that the treated leukemic cells accumulated in the sub-G1 phase; the cell cycle was halted in this phase and the DNA content decreased in other phases

Production and purification of a bioactive substance inhibiting multiple drug resistant bacteria and human leukemia cells from a salt-tolerant marine Actinobacterium sp. isolated from the Bay of Bengal

Four marine actinobacteria tolerant to 200 g NaCl l)1 were screened for antibacterial activity against eight patient-derived multiple drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The active compound (MW 300.2, predicted molecular formula C20H28O2) from an actinobacterium, was inhibitory to three Gram-positive and three Gramnegative MDR bacteria, seven non-clinical Gram-positive, four Gram-negative bacteria and five fungi (MIC: 3.5–4.0 lg ml)1). Also, 54% of human leukemia (HL-60) cells were killed by the compound at 0.05 lg ml)1. Bioreactor production demonstrated unusual primary metabolite kinetics. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed this typical intertidal inhabitant to be a member of the Streptomyces genus and distinct from other salt-tolerant actinobacteria. As no compound was found to match the properties in several electronic databases, our screening strategy should increase the possibility of discovering bioactive molecules from rare actinobacteria