Withania somnifera Root Extract Has Potent Cytotoxic Effect against Human Malignant Melanoma Cells.

In Ayurveda, Withania somnifera is commonly known as Ashwagandha, its roots are specifically used in medicinal and clinical applications. It possesses numerous therapeutic actions which include anti-inflammatory, sedative, hypnotic and narcotic. Extracts from this plant have been reported for its anticancer properties.

Bengalin initiates autophagic cell death through ERK-MAPK pathway following suppression of apoptosis in human leukemic U937 cells.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the autophagy inducing ability of the scorpion venom toxin Bengalin in human leukemic U937 cells. The same toxin was previously shown to induce apoptosis in human leukemic cells.

Main Methods: Bengalin was purified from Indian black scorpion (Heterometrus bengalensis) venom by ion exchange chromatography and HPLC.

Black tea polyphenols induce human leukemic cell cycle arrest by inhibiting Akt signaling: possible involvement of Hsp90, Wnt/β-catenin signaling and FOXO1.

Tea polyphenols have potent biological activities against human cancer cells. A major causative factor in malignancies is disregulation of cell-cycle kinetics. In this study, we observed that black tea polyphenols, theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR) induced cell-cycle arrest at the G(0) /G(1) phase in human leukemic U937 and K562 cells.

Cytotoxic and antioxidant property of a purified fraction (NN-32) of Indian Naja naja venom on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in BALB/c mice.

A cytotoxic and antioxidant protein (NN-32) from the Indian spectacled cobra Naja naja venom was identified and its probable mode of action on murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) was established. The venom purified through ion exchange chromatography produced several peaks, among which fraction 32 produced cytotoxic-cardiotoxic properties. This fraction (NN-32) showed a single peak (retention time 38.

Role of oxidation-triggered activation of JNK and p38 MAPK in black tea polyphenols induced apoptotic death of A375 cells.

Theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR) are the major polyphenols of black tea. Our previous study revealed that TF- and TR-induced apoptosis of human malignant melanoma cells (A375) is executed via a mitochondria-mediated pathway. In our present study we observed the role of the three most important MAPK (ERK, JNK, and p38) in TF- and TR-induced apoptosis.

Molecular mechanism of black tea polyphenols induced apoptosis in human skin cancer cells: involvement of Bax translocation and mitochondria mediated death cascade.

Theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR) are the most exclusive polyphenols of black tea. Even though few previous reports showed the anticancer effects of TF through apoptosis, the potential effect of TR has not been appraised. This study investigated the induction of apoptosis in human skin cancer cells after treatment of TF and TR.

Anticlastogenic effects of black tea polyphenols theaflavins and thearubigins in human lymphocytes in vitro.

Black tea accounts for nearly 80% of total World tea production. It contains dimeric flavanols and polymeric polyphenols known as theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR). TR is exclusively present in black tea.

Inhibition of benzo[a]pyrene induced mutagenicity and genotoxicity by black tea polyphenols theaflavins and thearubigins in multiple test systems.

This study investigated the antimutagenic and anticlastogenic effects of black tea polyphenols, theaflavins (TF) and thearubigins (TR) in Salmonella assay in vitro and in vivo in bone marrow cells of mice as measured by chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) against a known carcinogen, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). A significant decrease in mutagenicity in Salmonella assay and both CA and SCE were observed in all the different concentrations of TF and TR plus B[a]P treated series when compared with B[a]P treated group alone. These results indicate that both TF and TR have significant antimutagenic and anticlastogenic effects.