Induction of apoptosis in HeLa cells by chloroform fraction of seed extracts of Nigella sativa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cancer remains one of the most dreaded diseases causing an astonishingly high death rate, second only to cardiac arrest. The fact that conventional and newly emerging treatment procedures like chemotherapy, catalytic therapy, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy have not succeeded in reverting the outcome of the disease to any drastic extent, has made researchers investigate alternative treatment options. The extensive repertoire of traditional medicinal knowledge systems from various parts of the world are being re-investigated for their healing properties. This study progresses in the direction of identifying component(s) from <it>Nigella sativa </it>with anti cancer acitivity. In the present study we investigated the efficacy of Organic extracts of <it>Nigella sativa </it>seed powder for its clonogenic inhibition and induction of apoptosis in HeLa cancer cell.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Methanolic, n-Hexane and chloroform extracts of <it>Nigella sativa </it>seedz effectively killed HeLa cells. The IC₅₀values of methanolic, n-hexane, and chloroform extracts of <it>Nigella sativa </it>were 2.28 μg/ml, 2.20 μg/ml and 0.41 ng/ml, respectively. All three extracts induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation, western blot and terminal transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin-end labeling (TUNEL) assay.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Western Blot and TUNEL results suggested that <it>Nigella sativa </it>seed extracts regulated the expression of pro- and anti- apoptotic genes, indicating its possible development as a potential therapeutic agent for cervical cancer upon further investigation.</p

A prospective, parallel group, open label, observational study to compare efficacy and feto-maternal outcomes in treatment of pregnancy induced hypertensive patients

Background: Pregnancy induced  hypertension (PIH) is defined as  elevation in blood pressure 140/90 mmHg or greater after 20 weeks of gestation  on two occasions more than 4 hours apart in a newly diagnosed patients. Complications of pregnancy are the major health problems leading to maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Some anti-hypertensive drugs are commonly used to control hypertension.Methods: A prospective, parallel group, open label observation study was carried out at SVS Medical Hospital, Mahabubnagar. Patients were divided into three groups based on severity of hypertension and the drug used for treatment.Results: Of 120 patients diagnosed with PIH majority (50%) of women were in the age group of 21-24 years with 33-37 gestational age. In the present study there was a significant reduction in BP after the treatment with Labetalol when compare to Nifedepine and Methyldopa. Although, all the three groups have shown significant reduction in BP during 24 hrs treatments and the mean time to achieve target BP was shown less in Labetalol group when compare to Methyldopa and Nifedepine and the maximum doses required to achieve target BP was in between 4-6 doses/day. 40% of complication observed was HELLP syndrome.Conclusions: Our study coincides with the previous findings that labetolol is an efficacious and safer drug for use in control of PIH and mean time required to achieve target BP is low when compared to nifedipne and methyldopa.

Thermal, flammability, and antimicrobial properties of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) fiber reinforced arrowroot starch biopolymer composites for food packaging applications

Using the solution casting method, a novel biodegradable thermoplastic arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) starch (TPAS) films containing arrowroot fiber (AF) at different concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt%) were developed and characterized in terms of thermal, antibacterial activity, water vapor permeability (WVP), biodegradability, and light transmittance properties. The TPAS/AF-10 biocomposite film revealed a higher degradation temperature (313.02 °C) than other biocomposite films, indicating better thermal stability. Furthermore, increasing AF concentration led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the linear burning rate and WVP of the biocomposite films from 248.9 to 115.2 mm/min and 8.18 × 10−10 ×g. s−1.m−1. Pa−1 to 5.20 × 10−10 ×g. s−1.m−1. Pa−1, respectively. The addition of fibers in the surface structure had a significant impact on remarkable drop in opacity (91.1 to 74.1%). In addition, the incorporation of AF and control film showed an insignificant effect against three pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Bacillus subtilis (B29). The soil burial findings demonstrated that the weight loss of TPAS/AF biocomposite films was significantly higher than TPAS film. Overall, the reinforcement of arrowroot fiber with TPAS film improved the properties of biocomposites for environmentally friendly food packaging applications

Antidiabetic potential of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract in type 2 diabetic rats, and its mechanism of action

Purpose: To explore the antidiabetic potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in type 2 diabetic rats, and the underlying mechanisms.Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 40 mg/kg was given to high fat diet (HFD)- fed rats to induce type 2 diabetes. M. oleifera leaf extract at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were given to 3 groups of type 2 diabetic rats. The area under curve (AUC) of glucose and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-R) were calculated using appropriate formulas, whereas levels of glucose,insulin, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNFα) were assayed using ELISA kits.Results: The leaf extract of M. oleifera significantly reduced the levels of glucose, insulin and cytokines in treated type 2 diabetic groups (p &lt; 0.05). DC group had significantly increased AUC for glucose, whereas the extract-treated groups showed significant&nbsp; decrease in glucose AUC. There was significant decrease in insulin sensitivity parameters, as indicated by increase in HOMA-R and decrease in PPARγ levels in the DC group (p &lt; 0.05). However, treatment with the M. oleifera extract reversed this trend via marked decrease in HOMA-R level and significant rise in PPARγ level. In contrast, the extract had no effect on DPP-IV concentration in diabetic treated groups (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: These results indicate that M. oleifera leaf extract mitigates hyperglycemia in type 2 DM by modulating hyperinsulinemia, PPARγ and inflammatory cytokines. Thus, the extract is a potential source of drug for the management of type 2 DM. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Diabetes mellitus, Streptozotocin, Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ, Dipeptidyl peptidase I

Effects of autologous stem cell therapy for fertility enhancement among women with premature ovarian insufficiency

Background: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition where the ovary loses its normal reproductive potential earlier than 40 years, compromising fertility. There is no treatment for POI, only ovum or embryo donation. Autologous stem cell ovarian transplant (ASCOT) may be a procedure that creates new eggs in the ovaries of women with POI. The aim of the study was to find out the efficacy of ASCOT in patients suffering from POI. Methods: A total of 50 patients were included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria in this prospective observational study. POI was confirmed with low levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) (&lt;0.5 ng/dl), high level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) &gt;25 ng/ml, and or a low number of antral follicle count (AFC) (&lt;3 in each ovary). Results: Results showed that after stem cell therapy, mean AMH values increased by 0.48±0.306 and mean FSH values increased by 2.73±3.98 but the difference was not statistically significant. AFC values significantly decreased by 1.33±0.625 at 1st post-stem-cell cycle. During the second cycle, AMH and AFC increased by 0.110±0.051 and 4.63±1.49, respectively, and FSH decreased by 7.4±2.78. In third cycle, AMH &amp; FSH was significantly increased by 0.820±0.44 &amp; 4.120±0.470 and FSH has been decreased by 2.150±3.625. The increase in AMH &amp; AFC was statistically significant, and the decrease in FSH was not statistically significant compared to baseline values. Conclusions: The study showed that autologous stem cell therapy can have a significant effect on women’s ovarian function and fertility. It showed that ASCOT can increase AMH and AFC, and decrease FSH in patients with POI, with a total pregnancy rate of 4% after the third cycle follow-up