Cytotoxicity of chlorhexidine and neem extract on cultured human gingival fibroblasts through fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis : An study.

Objective: To assess the influence of chlorhexidine (CHX), neem vehicle control (NVC), and neem extract (NE) on cultured human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis.

Materials And Methods: Fibroblasts were derived from healthy gingival biopsy specimens harvested aseptically. The effects of CHX, NVC, and NE were evaluated on cultured hGFs through FACS and MTT assay.

Neem Seed Oil Induces Apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cells.

Background: In traditional Indian medicine, azadirachta indica (neem) is known for its wide range of medicinal properties. Various parts of neem tree including its fruit, seed, bark, leaves, and root have been shown to possess antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal and anticancer activity. Materials and Methods: MCF-7 and MDA MB-231 cells were exposed to various concentrations of 2% ethanolic solution of NSO (1-30 μl/ml) and further processed for cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis.

Polyphenols sensitization potentiates susceptibility of MCF-7 and MDA MB-231 cells to Centchroman.

Polyphenols as "sensitizers" together with cytotoxic drugs as "inducers" cooperate to trigger apoptosis in various cancer cells. Hence, their combination having similar mode of mechanism may be a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of inducers. Additionally, this will also enable to achieve the physiological concentrations facilitating significant increase in the activity at concentrations which the compound can individually provide.

Centchroman mediated apoptosis involves cross-talk between extrinsic/intrinsic pathways and oxidative regulation.

Aims: Centchroman (CC) has been established as a potent antineoplastic agent in MCF-7 (ER+ve) and MDA MB-231 (ER-ve) Human Breast Cancer Cells (HBCCs) previously by us. To elucidate its antineoplastic action, we investigated the factors involved in cell-cycle progression and apoptosis.

Main Methods: Tamoxifen (TAM), a widely used antiestrogen was employed as a positive control.

Caspase mediated enhanced apoptotic action of cyclophosphamide- and resveratrol-treated MCF-7 cells.

Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug for neoplasias. It is a DNA and protein alkylating agent having a broad spectrum of activity against a variety of neoplasms including breast cancer. The therapeutic effectiveness of CPA is limited by the high-dose hematopoietic, renal, and cardiac toxicity that accompanies the systemic distribution of liver-derived activated drug metabolites.

Diagnostic and prognostic values of S-phase fraction and aneuploidy in patients with bone marrow aplasia.

Aim: It is often difficult and challenging task to differentiate aplastic anemia (AA) from hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome (HMDS) among the patients with bone marrow aplasia. This is possibly because of the considerable clinical, cytological and histological similarities between these two disorders. As prognostic and therapeutic approach to AA and HMDS are different, it is imperative to differentiate them at the time of initial diagnosis.

DNA aneuploidy study for early detection of chromosomal abnormality in patients with aplastic anemia: prognostic and therapeutic implications.

Background: Undetected aneuploidy exists in a large percentage of patients with aplastic anemia at the time of diagnosis, which may not be identified by conventional cytogenetics. The presence of aneuploidy at any time in the clinical course implies poor prognosis in such patients. This warrants a need for the early detection of chromosomal abnormalities for prognosis and delineation of therapeutic modalities.

Stimulatory effect of Ceriops tagal on hexose uptake in L6 muscle cells in culture.

The ethanolic extracts of a mangrove plant Ceriops tagal (Family Rhizophoraceae) and its sequential fractions thereof were studied for their effect on 3H-2-deoxyglucose uptake by L6 rat muscle cells cultured to the myotube stage. Among these, the n-hexane soluble fraction of ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. tagal enhanced 3H-2-deoxyglucose uptake even at 2 microg mL(-1) concentration with half maximum activity at 10 microg mL(-1), comparable with insulin (1 microM) and metformin (400 microM).

Rapid synthesis of 4-benzylidene and 4-[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)-methylene-2-substituted phenyl-benzopyrans as potential selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) using McMurry coupling reaction.

7-Methoxy-4-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-2-substituted phenyl-benzopyrans I and 4-[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)-methylene-2-substituted phenyl-benzopyrans II carrying different alkylamino residues, designed as estrogen receptor (ER) binding ligands, were successfully synthesized through the McMurry coupling reaction of substituted benzaldehyde/substituted benzophenones and 2-hydroxyphenyl-7-methoxy-chroman-4-one in presence of lithium aluminum hydride and titanium (IV) chloride (LAH-TiCl(4)). Self-coupling of carbonyl reactants led to the formation of several side products. The prototypes were evaluated for their relative binding affinity (RBA), as well as their estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities.

Mechanism of 4-HPR-induced apoptosis in glioma cells: evidences suggesting role of mitochondrial-mediated pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), a synthetic retinoid is under clinical evaluation as a therapeutic agent in a variety of cancers. Its mechanism(s) of action involves multiple overlapping pathways that still remain unclear. In glioma cells its mechanism of action is not well elucidated.

Substituted phenanthrenes with basic amino side chains: a new series of anti-breast cancer agents.

In the course of our search for new anti-breast cancer agents, substituted phenanthrenes with basic amino side chains were synthesized and some of them showed remarkable antiproliferative activity against ER +ve MCF-7 cell line with IC(50) in the range of 3.53-22.25 microM.