Natural Products for Cancer Prevention and Therapy

ca. 200 words; this text will present the book in all promotional forms (e.g. flyers). Please describe the book in straightforward and consumer-friendly terms. [This Special Issue book, “Natural Products for Cancer Prevention and Therapy”, is based on recent advances in natural products for cancer prevention and therapy. For this purpose, the authors of this book have been organizing a biennial international conference series. The first meeting (First International Conference on Natural Products for Cancer Prevention and Therapy) was held in Istanbul between 31 August and 2 September 2015, with the support and contribution of many valuable researchers in this field. The abstracts of the first conference were published in the Anticancer Drugs journal as a supplement. The second meeting, namely The Second International Conference on Natural Products for Cancer Prevention and Therapy, was held at Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey, between 8 and 11 November 2017. The abstracts of all of the presentations from the second meeting were published in the Special Issue of Proceedings by the MDPI publishing group. Furthermore, the conference report and the selected full-length papers based on the presentations at the meeting, as well as other papers based on natural products for cancer prevention and therapy, were published as a Special Issue of the Nutrients journal from MDPI. This Special Issue has contributions from various participants of the aforementioned conference, as well as other cancer and natural product researchers. These contributions include original research papers, authoritative and up-to-date reviews, and commentaries on the following topics and areas: •Natural products for the prevention and therapy of oncologic diseases •Mechanism of natural agents for anticancer and cancer preventive effects •In vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies related to natural agents and cancer • Combinatorial effects of phytochemicals and cancer chemotherapeutic drugs •Challenges and innovative approaches for anticancer drug development based on natural products •Emerging studies on anticancer phytochemicals

Determining the misconceptions in the Force and Motion unit with the work sheetsKuvvet ve Hareket ünitesindeki kavram yanilgilarinin çalişma yapraklari ile belirlenmesi

The aim of this study is to determine the misconceptions with the work sheets which are prepared for “Force and Motion” unit for 8th grade students. 12 worksheets, which were prepared by researchers in line with the learning outcomes of Force and Motion unit and relevant literature, were used in the research. Developed worksheets were delivered to 25 8th grade students for 3 weeks as the specified period in the curriculum. Content analysis method was employed in data analysis so as to determine misconceptions. As a result, the misconceptions of students about the concepts in Force and Motion unit were determined. “The quantity of liquid affects ascending force,” “the ascending force affecting a floating object is greater than that object’s weight” and similar misconceptions could be given as examples to the misconceptions included in the study findings. It is believed that this study will be a useful guide for teachers and researchers who aim for determining the misconceptions in force and motion subjects. ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı; 8. sınıf öğrencilerinin “Kuvvet ve Hareket” ünitesi için hazırlanan çalışma yaprakları ile kavram yanılgılarını belirlemektir. Araştırmada Kuvvet ve Hareket ünitesinin kazanımları ve ilgili alan yazın doğrultusunda araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan 12 adet çalışma yaprağı kullanılmıştır. Geliştirilen çalışma yaprakları 25, 8. sınıf öğrencisine programda belirtilen süresinde 3 hafta boyunca uygulanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde kavram yanılgılarını belirlemek amacıyla içerik analizi tekniği kullanılmıştır. Sonuç olarak Kuvvet ve Hareket ünitesindeki kavramlarla ilgili öğrencilerdeki kavram yanılgıları belirlenmiştir. “Sıvı miktarı kaldırma kuvvetini etkiler.” “Yüzen cisimlere etki eden kaldırma kuvveti, cismin ağırlığından büyüktür.” gibi kavram yanılgıları, çalışma bulguları arasında yer alan yanılgılara örnek olarak gösterilebilir.  Bu çalışmanın kuvvet ve hareket konularındaki kavram yanılgılarını belirlemeyi hedefleyen öğretmen ve araştırmacılara yol göstereceği düşünülmektedir

Dexmedetomidine protects against lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte deformability alterations in experimental hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury

Background: Hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury is a common clinical problem in hepatic surgery and transplantation. Several cellular and tissue structural and functional alterations are observed in such injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte deformability during ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats. Methods: Twenty-four Wistar Albino rats were randomly separated into three groups as control (C), ischemia–reperfusion injury (I/R) and dexmedetomidine group (I/R-D). Ischemia was induced with portal clampage for 45 min and reperfusion period was 45 min after declampage. Group I/R-D received dexmedetomidine 100 µg/kg i.p. 30 min before portal clampage. Serum malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase activities to document lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte deformability index were investigated. Results: Serum superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde activity levels were significantly higher and erythrocyte deformability index was decreased in hepatic ischemia–reperfusion group. However, these changes were observed to be prevented with dexmedetomidine treatment when given before portal clampage. Conclusion: These findings clearly indicate that erythrocyte deformability index is decreased in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury and has a potential role to prevent these alterations. The protective effect of dexmedetomidine on hepatic I/R injury is also decreased lipid peroxidation. Further experimental and clinical investigations may clarify the molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of these findings

Development of leech extract as a therapeutic agent: a chronological review

Introduction: Leech extract contains many identified bioactive substances which have a variety of biological effects. Leech extract was discovered in the late 19th century and since then many pharmaceutical products have been produced using leech extract for different ailments, but many have been withdrawn. Ongoing studies focus on health authority compliant pharmaceuticals to be used as modern medicine. Methodology: The online databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were searched using different keywords: Leech, Leech extract, leech salivary gland extract and leech saliva extract. The purpose of this review was to discuss the development of leech extract as a therapeutic agent, including the evolution of extraction techniques, and the successful manufacturing of leech extract-based pharmaceuticals. Results: Leech extract was successfully developed as a therapeutic agent. Some of the developed leech extract-based pharmaceutics were withdrawn and some are still in the market. The extraction methods played a vital role in the quality and efficacy of leech extract-based pharmaceutics and ultimately on their sustainability in the market. Also, the full characterization of leech extract components is a key factor in the development of leech extract as a therapeutic agent. Discussion: This review provides a comprehensive historical perspective on the development of leech extract therapy, including its various stages of development and the key scientific and medical advances that have led to its current state and discusses potential future applications. Conclusion: Leech extract is an invaluable source of bioactive substances that can be utilized for the treatment of mild and life-threatening medical disorders. This review will encourage other scientists to continue their research on leech extract, especially in the areas of formulation and marketing

Growth Factors Responsible from the Cancer Progress: Role of Natural Products

Growth factors are one of the main factors responsible from the uncontrolled cell progress in cancer. Up to date many scientists have focused on these factors either as the marker or as the targets in several cancer types. Mainly the drugs are designed to target these factors are monoclonal antibodies. Nerve growth factor (NGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factors (HGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-β) are some of these factors not only increasing the ability of cell proliferation but also playing crucial roles in triggering the invasion and metastasis of the cells. The herbs that are traditionally used for anticancer treatment and target multiple interdependent processes. Given the multiple effects of these agents, their future use for cancer therapy probably lies in synergistic combinations. For instance, Artemisia annua, Viscum album, Curcuma longa, Camellia sinensis, Vitis vinifera, Angelica sinensis, Taxus brevifolia, are some of the herbs that has shown to affect VEGF and those which have additional effects on the molecules related to cancer progress and further can target other growth factors. During active cancer therapy, they should generally be evaluated in combination with chemotherapy and radiation. In this role, they act as modifiers of biologic response, potentially enhancing the efficacy of or reducing the resistance to the conventional therapies

The in vivo antioxidant effectiveness of alpha-tocopherol in oxidative stress induced by sodium nitroprusside in rat red blood cells

Reactive oxygen species avidly reacts with nitric oxide (NO) producing cytotoxic reactive nitrogen species capable of nitrating proteins and damaging other molecules which leads to the reduction of erythrocyte deformability. The aim of this investigation was to assess the importance of alpha-tocopherol (Vit-E) in the total antioxidant status of the erythrocytes in sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, induced oxidative stress and its relation to erythrocyte deformability. Male Swiss Albino rats were used in 4 groups, comprising of 10 animals in each group. The first group was the control, and the other groups were administered SNP (10 mg/kg, i.p.), Vit-E (10 mg/kg, i.p.) + SNP, and SNP + L-NAME (10 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. Relative filtration rate (RFR), relative filtration time (RFT) and relative resistance (Rrel) were determined as the indexes of erythrocyte deformability. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA, as an index of lipid peroxidation) and nitric oxide levels and the antioxidant activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also determined in the red blood cells of all groups revealing the oxidant-antioxidant activity. RFT and the Rrel of the erythrocytes of the SNP-treated rats increased significantly (p<0.05) whereas the RFR of the erythrocytes decreased (p<0.05) in comparison to all groups reflecting the impaired deformability. This reduction in RFR was prevented with both L-NAME or Vit-E incubation. Vit-E has also reduced the Rrel of the erythrocyte which reveals that it has improved the erythrocyte deformability. Lipid peroxidation was suppressed by Vit-E and L-NAME significantly, where the red blood cell deformability was improved. Furthermore, SOD and CAT activities were significantly stimulated with SNP treatment (p<0.05), where as GSH-Px remained unchanged. In the contrary, GSH-Px activity was triggered significantly by Vit-E administration, whereas the SOD and CAT activities were reduced (p<0.05). As a result, these data reveal that Vit-E improves the erythrocyte deformability in SNP-induced oxidative stress by its antioxidant effects on the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities

The Effects of Aldose Reductase Inhibitor Quercetin and Monochloropivaloylquercetin in Amyloid beta Peptide (1-42) Induced Neuroinflammation in Microglial Cells

Microglial over-activation plays a crucial roles during neuroinflammation. Aldose reductase (AR) is one of the enzymes that has been linked to inflammatory processes in several diseases. Therefore, inhibition of AR is considered as an important strategy to reduce inflammation. In the present study, Quercetin (Q) and monochloropivaloylquercetin (MCPQ) showed potent inhibition on AR expression and anti-neuroinflammatory effects in Amyloid beta (A beta) peptide (1-42) induced inflammatory process by inhibiting expression of inflammatory mediators from microglial cells. Furthermore, ablation of AR caused a significant reduction on COX2 expression in A beta-induced neuroinflammation. Q and MCPQ suppressed COX2 mRNA and protein expression, which further resulted in downstream inhibition of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) release in A beta-induced neuroinflammatory process. Additionally, All treatment resulted in activation of Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) and increased translocation of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF kappa B). Q and Sorbinil significantly reduced the activation of MAPK, at the same time Q, MCPQ and sorbinil decreased nuclear translocation of NF kappa B and diminished tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha release in A beta-induced neuroinflammation. The results suggested that AR is a probable target for treatment of neuroinflammation as well as Q and MCPQ could be effective agents for treating or preventing inflammation-related neurodegenerative diseases by AR inhibition