Effects Of Zerumbone From Zingiber Zerumbet On Cervicalcancer-Induced Female Balb/C Mice

In the present study, the chemotherapeutic potential of zerumbone towards HeLa cell line and cervical cancer induced in female Balblc mice were investigated. The chemotherapeutic potential of zerumbone was compared with cisplatin, a commercial drug used to treat cervical cancer. The cytotoxicity of both zerumbone and cisplatin towards HeLa cell line were determined using MTT assay. The findings showed that the ICso value (* S.E.M) of zerumbone towards HeLa cell line was 11.3 * 0.2 pM, whilst the ICSO value of cisplatin was 7.5 * 0.3 pM. Both IC50 values for zerumbone and cisplatin fall within the very significant group based on the National Cancer Institute Standard. All the values are significant (P < 0.01). The HeLa cells were treated with ICso concentration of zerumbone and cisplatin respectively for morphological analysis using inverted microscopy. The results showed significant growth retardation in HeLa iii cells exposed to zerumbone and cisplatin at 24,48 and 72 hours, whilst the control cells are well spread and confluent. Pregnant female Balblc mice were exposed to Diethylstilbestrol (DES) at 13'~to 1 8 '~d ay of gestation. The progeny of the DESexposed mothers developed cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia. These progenies were divided into 4 groups and were either given treatment with normal saline, 8 mglkg zerumbone, 16 mg/kg zerumbone and 10 mg/kg cisplatin. The mice were sacrificed following the treatments and their cervical tissues subjected to histological examination, TUNEL Assay and immunohistochemistry. The histological examination revealed that both zerumbone and cisplatin treatments were able to inhibit the progression of cervical dysplasia fiom becoming more severe dysplasia (CIN 3). In the mice treated with normal saline, the dysplasia had progressed to CIN 3 (severe dysplasia). The TUNEL assay micrographs showed that there was no apoptosis in the cervical tissue of the normal saline treated mice compared to the cervical tissue of mice treated with zerumbone and cisplatin, where abundant apoptotic cells were noticed. The levels of serum IL-6 were suppressed in mice treated with zerumbone and cisplatin. In contrast, mice treated with normal saline showed elevated level of serum IL-6. Immunohistochemistry study demonstrated that the production level of membrane bound IL-6 receptor had been suppressed by the treatment of zerumbone and cisplatin compared to mice treated with normal saline which had a higher concentration of membrane bound IL-6 receptors. This showed that both zerumbone and cisplatin act in a similar manner in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, it is suggested that zerumbone, a plant derived compound, could be explored as a new anti cancer agent for treating cervical cancer in the future

Cosmos caudatus extract/fractions reduce smooth muscle cells migration and invasion in vitro: a potential benefit of suppressing atherosclerosis

Background: Cosmos caudatus Kunth is a medicinal herb used traditionally in Latin America and South East Asia to retard aging, rigidify bones and for several cardiovascular uses. Objective: Is to assess C. caudatus extract/fractions’ antioxidant and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) migration and invasion inhibition capacity in vitro. Methods: Cosmos caudatus shoots were extracted by cold maceration in 50% ethanol to produce crude (CEE), and then the extract was fractionated to butanol (Bu.F), and aqueous fractions (Aq.f). Phenolics and saponins were quantified in extract and fractions by colorimetric methods and their antioxidant capacity was assayed in four different tests. Cytotoxic effect and safety level concentrations were determined for the fractions by using MTT assay. Migration and invasion inhibitory potential were measured in vitro at three different concentrations equivalent to (IC10, IC25, and IC50). Finally, invasion inhibitory index was calculated to obtain the best fraction(s) that show(s) the highest ratio of cell invasion inhibition to the total cell migration inhibition. Results: Butanol fraction yield was the lowest; nevertheless, its phytochemical contents, antioxidant activities as well as its potency were the highest. Unlike other fractions, Bu.F was strongly correlated with all antioxidant assays experimented. In addition, it has the highest inhibitory effect at IC25 against VSMCs migration and invasion that accounts for 53.93% and 59.94% respectively. Unexpectedly, Bu.F and CEE at IC10 displayed the highest invasion inhibitory index (approx. 68%). Conclusion: Butanol fraction of C. caudatus offers a potentiality for the discovery of new leads for preventing atherosclerosis

Anticancer activity of natural compound (zerumbone) extracted from Zingiber zerumbet in human HeLa cervical cancer cells

A natural compound, zerumbone was extracted, isolated and purified from the rhizomes of edible plant Zingiber zerumbet using methanol extraction and Column Chromatography (CC) method. The isolated and purified zerumbone crystals were subjected to High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) and 13C NMR and 1H NMR analysis to confirm the purity, molecular weight and molecular structure. The study investigated the purified zerumbone crystals for its anti-cancer properties on human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Cisplatin, was used as a positive control in this study. The cytotoxicity of zerumbone and cisplatin were investigated using the MTT assay and caspases-3 was estimated with colorimetric assay in zerumbone treated HeLa cells. Morphological analysis showed that there were changes observed on HeLa cancer cells after treatment with zerumbone and cisplatin. The MTT assay results demonstrated that the IC50 value ( ± SEM) of zerumbone was determined to be 11.3 μM (2.5 μg mL-1) whilst the IC50 value of cisplatin was at 7.5 μM (1.6 μg mL-1). Prominent growth retardation was identified to the HeLa cancer cells, after treatment with both compounds, while caspase-3 was observed to be significantly increased in zerumbone treated cells as compared to untreated control cells. This study showed promising avenues towards zerumbone to be developed as a new chemo-natural drug for treatment of cervical cancer

The establishment and use of an in vivo animal model for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of female reproductive tracts. In developing countries, cervical carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer fatality in women Despite attempts to lower the fatality rate, very few in vivo models are in place to investigate this cancer. We therefore are able to develop an in vivo animal model that is suitabie to conduct such study. In our attempt to secure an in vivo animal model for cervical cancer, the carcinogenic property of diethylstilboestrol (DES) was exploited to establish a model for Cervical Intruepithelial Neoplasia or carcinoma (CIN). Female-Balb/C mice were injected with several dosages of DES (i.p) during pregnancy at day 13-18. Female offspring were reared and sacrificed at age of 48-54 days and the cervix tissues taken for histological evaluation using H and E. The progression of the cancer and hence, disease state is monitored by measuring serum IL-6 using an ELISA kit. Proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expressions were studied by implying immunohistochemical techniques. All parameters with regards to CIN were compared to a control group of treating the cancer using a used drug, cisplatin, used preferentially to treat cervical cancer in humans. The results of this study revealed that a significant difference in serum IL-6 concentration between DES-treated group and control groups (p<.05). CIN histological related lesions was noticed to be prominently dominant in DES-treated animals whilst these lesions were absent in control groups. In addition to that PCNA index in DES-treated animal was found to be a significant different compared to control group. The above findings indicate that DES could be utilized and further exploited as cervical carcinogenesis initiator in animal models to screen and study new potential anti-cervical cancer compounds in vivo

Reviews on the Job Interview Approaches in Malaysia Context

The job interview has become a popular topic for research among scholars and is a common format employed by any stake holders, recruitment agencies, companies and institutions. It is also called an assessment to select a suitable candidate for hiring. A common instrument used for the job interview is standard interview questions or semi-structured interview questions internally or locally with the set of common objective. There were several studies conducted by scholars on employment interviews. It was found that three common areas of interest are explored in this paper: (1) comprehending what standardised interviews envisage, (2) investigating how interview concepts can be evaluated, and (3) categorise the candidate and interview components that may impact the interview procedure. It was further found that there are also three equally important factors that require moderate research focus to be incorporated: (1) constructing a general standard and value for the interview format or standard interview questions for fresh graduates and behavioural interview questions for senior positions, (2) focus on the best attributes or personal traits, and (3) reliable explanations, classification and quantification of candidate characteristics and employability skills. It is hope that these approaches can be utilized and contributes in the field of job interviews, especially in Malaysia context which prepare the young generations

Use of an anti-cancer compound

The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I), method of preparation, pharmaceutical preparation containing said compound, and the use of said compound in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical preparation for the prevention and treatment of cancer by way of inhibiting the proliferation of carcinoma cells of the cervix and ovaries