Allicin-induced modulation of angiogenesis in lung cancer cells (A549)

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of allicin as a candidate for lung cancer therapy.Methods: Allicin solution at different concentrations was tested on A549 lung cancer cell line. Viability and proliferation of A549 cells were determined. The cytotoxic effects of allicin solution on A549 lung cancer cells were quantitatively determined using Alamar blue assay. Cell proliferation and cell cycle were measured by DAPI-flow cytometry analysis in order to investigate the possible cell  signalling pathway targeted by allicin. The level of expression of VEGF-A protein was determined with confocal laser scanning microscopy.Results: Allicin inhibited lung cancer proliferation and down-regulated the protein expression of VEGF, but had no significant cytotoxic effects on A549 cells. Flow cytometric results showed that allicin induced cell cycle arrest of A549 cells at the G1 phase.Conclusion: These results indicate that allicin exerts anti-proliferative effects on A549 lung cancer cells. Thus allicin, an active component of garlic, might be a promising therapy against lung cancer metastasis.Keywords: A549 cells, Allicin, qPCR Taqman assay, VEGF-A protein expression, Garlic, Lung cance

Evaluation of fruit leather made from two cultivars of papaya

Two papaya cultivars were used to manufacture fruit leather. The objective of this study was to formulate papaya leather from locally grown papaya using natural ingredients like pectin, honey and citric acid. The fresh fruits were pureed and mix with natural ingredients, and dried in an oven at 60°C for 12 hours. The physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity were determined.The results showed that fruit leather made from Hongkong cultivar is significantly (P<0.05) higher in sensory parameters as well as physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity. The phenolics content and antioxidant activity increased by process of drying the fruit leather compared to fresh fruits in both papaya cultivars. Therefore, the consumer requirements for healthy and safe food products were respected