Anti-proliferative effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract on human melanoma A375 cells

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been used since ancient times in traditional medicine, while nowadays various rosemary formulations are increasingly exploited by alternative medicine to cure or prevent a wide range of health disorders. Rosemary's bioproperties have prompted scientific investigation, which allowed us to ascertain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytostatic, and cytotoxic activities of crude extracts or of pure components. Although there is a growing body of experimental work, information about rosemary's anticancer properties, such as chemoprotective or anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells, is very poor, especially concerning the mechanism of action. Melanoma is a skin tumor whose diffusion is rapidly increasing in the world and whose malignancy is reinforced by its high resistance to cytotoxic agents; hence the availability of new cytotoxic drugs would be very helpful to improve melanoma prognosis. Here we report on the effect of a rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on the viability of the human melanoma A375 cell line. Main components of rosemary extract were identified by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) and the effect of the crude extract or of pure components on the proliferation of cancer cells was tested by MTT and Trypan blue assays. The effect on cell cycle was investigated by using flow cytometry, and the alteration of the cellular redox state was evaluated by intracellular ROS levels and protein carbonylation analysis. Furthermore, in order to get information about the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity, a comparative proteomic investigation was performed

Comparison of the pharmacokinetic profiles of two different amphotericin B formulations in healthy dogs

This study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of conventional (Fungizone((R))) and liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome((R))) formulations in order to predict their therapeutic properties, and evaluate their potential differences in veterinary treatment. For this purpose, twelve healthy mixed breed dogs received both drugs at a dose of 0.6mg/kg by intravenous infusion over a 4-min period in a total volume of 40ml. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96hr after dosing, and concentrations of drug in plasma were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacokinetics was described by a two-compartment model. Although both formulations were administered at the same doses (0.6mg/kg), the plasma pharmacokinetics of liposomal amphotericin B differed significantly from those of amphotericin B deoxycholate in healthy dogs (p<.05). Liposomal amphotericin B showed markedly higher peak plasma concentrations (approximately ninefold greater) and higher area under the plasma concentration curve values (approximately 14-fold higher) compared to conventional formulation. It is concluded that AmBisome((R)) reached higher plasma concentration and lower distribution volume and had a longer half-life compared to Fungizone((R)), and therefore, AmBisome((R)) is reported to be an appropriate and effective choice for the treatment of systemic mycotic infections in dogs

In vitro antibacterial activities of tilmicosin and cefquinome alone or in combination against certain poultry pathogens

The antimicrobial activities of cefquinome and tilmicosin were determined in vitro against P. multocida and O. rhinotracheale of poultry origin by serial broth macrodilution. Both antibiotics exhibited good in vitro antibacterial activity against the strains tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for cefquinome was 1.562 mug/ml and for tilmicosin was 0.78 mug/ml for both microorganisms. To investigate the effects of a combination of cefquinome and tilmicosin, the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index was determined by checkerboard assay. The antimicrobial combination was additive against P. multocida (FIC=1) and indifferent against O. rhinotracheale (FIC=2)

Effects of bromocriptin on broodiness in turkeys

The aim of this study was to investigate the presumptive effect of Bromocriptin, which causes antiprolactinemia in mammals, on the broodiness in deeply brooding turkey hens. The effect of Bromocriptin was estimated by considering such broody symptoms as hissing nesting, cessation of laying, distance between the pelvic bones and blood prolactin values. There has been a statistically important decrease in the prolactin levels and increase in the pelvic bone distances (p < 0.05) in the treatment group. However, no difference was observed in the other criteria: Bromocriptin did not create the expected control effect on broodiness

Effects of Bromocriptin on Broodiness in Turkeys.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presumptive effect of Bromocriptin, which causes antiprolactinemia in mammals, on the broodiness in deeply brooding turkey hens. The effect of Bromocriptin was estimated by considering such broody symptoms as hissing nesting, cessation of laying, distance between the pelvic bones and blood prolactin values. There has been a statistically important decrease in the prolactin levels and increase in the pelvic bone distances (p < 0.05) in the treatment group. However, no difference was observed in the other criteria: Bromocriptin did not create the expected control effect on broodiness

Antiinflammatory and antipyretic activity of Polygonum lapathifolium in rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacologic effects of Polygonum lapathifolium L. (Polygonaceae), growing naturally in Turkey. The antiinflammatory activity of the ethanol extract of the root and rhizome of P. lapathifolium was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with extract at doses ranging from 100 to 500 mg/kg significantly inhibited the acute phase of this experimental model of the inflammatory process in a dose-dependent manner. At maximal dose (500 mg/kg), it exhibited a significantly higher action when compared with those of other doses and was found to be 1.08 times as active as indomethacin. The extract also exhibited antipyretic activity in rats with hyperthermia after SC injection of brewer's yeast. The extract, in doses of 100-500 mg/kg, possesses a pronounced effect comparable to those of the classical antipyretic drug, paracetamol. The antipyretic effects of the extract at high dose levels (1000-4000 mg/kg) were associated with obvious signs of toxicity. Doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg did not decrease the body temperature of normothermic animals (without hyperthermic stimulus). These results demonstrated that the extract of P. lapathifolium has antiinflammatory and antipyretic activity

Determination of intracardiac blood pressures and cardiac functions in dogs

Intracardiac blood pressure was determined in twenty-seven healthy adult mongrel dogs weighting 14-32 kg. Cardiac catheterization was used to measure intracardiac blood pressure. A Pingtail catheter was placed in the aorta and the left ventricle via the A. carotis communis, and a Swanz-Ganz catheter was placed in the right ventricle via the V. jugularis. End-systolic blood pressure was found to be 113+/-3.1 mm/Hg in the left ventricle 53+/-2.9 mm/Hg in the right ventricle, 3+/-2.5 mm/Hg in the left atrium, 3+/-1.3 mm/Hg in the right atrium and 127+/-3 mm/Hg in the aorta. In addition, times of contraction, relaxation, filling, preejection and ejection of the heart were calculated using blood pressure traces. While there was a positive correlation between end sistolic blood pressure in the aorta and end sistolic blood pressure in the left ventricle (r=0.071, p<0.001), there was a negative corelation between RV relaxion time and Ao end sistolic blood pressure (r=-0.064, p<0.05)