Histological and ultrastructural characteristics of the testis of the invasive suckermouth sailfin catfish Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (Siluriformes: loricariidae) from Marikina River, Philippines.

The histological and ultrastructural features of the testis of the invasive suckermouth sailfin catfish Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus rapidly proliferating in Marikina River, Philippines were characterized during the fish's 2010-2011 reproductive season. The germinal compartment of the testes was composed of anastomosing tubules with cysts undergoing synchronous development. Spermatogenic cells were along the length of the testes indicate it to be of the unrestricted spermatogonial type.

In vitro antitumor properties of an isolate from leaves of Cassia alata L.

Leaf extracts of Cassia alata L (akapulko), traditionally used for treatment of a variety of diseases, were evaluated for their potential antitumor properties in vitro. MTT assays were used to examine the cytotoxic effects of crude extracts on five human cancer cell lines, namely MCF-7, derived from a breast carcinoma, SK-BR-3, another breast carcinoma, T24 a bladder carcinoma, Col 2, a colorectal carcinoma, and A549, a non- small cell lung adenocarcinoma. Hexane extracts showed remarkable cytotoxicity against MCF-7, T24, and Col 2 in a dose-dependent manner.

Angio-suppressive triterpenoids from Ardisia cf. elliptica (subgenus Tinus) on duck (Anas platyrynchos L.) chorioallantoic membrane.

The dichloromethane extract of the air-dried leaves of Ardisia cf. elliptica (subgenus Tinus) afforded a mixture of bauerenol (1a), α-amyrin (1b) and β-amyrin (1c). Their structures were identified by NMR spectroscopy.

Effects of the oral administration of nonpolar extract from Ardisia squamulosa Presl (Myrsinaceae) leaves on spermatogenesis in rats.

Background: Several Ardisia species have been found to possess numerous bioactivities but their reproductive toxicity has been poorly explored. In the present study, the effects of the leaf hexane extract of Philippine indigenous Ardisia squamulosa on epididymal sperm count, %viability and %aberration of sperms and weights of seminal vesicle, cauda epididymis, and testes in addition to the weights of liver, kidney, and body were evaluated.

Methods: The extracts at daily dose levels of 1, 10, and 100 mg/Kg BW in 10% polysorbate-80 in corn oil were administered by gavage for 8 successive days to 8-10 weeks old male SD rats and sacrificed after 9 days.