root extract inhibits fatty acid synthesis in prostate cancer cells.

Prior research argues for a role of increased fatty acid synthesis in pathogenesis of prostate adenocarcinoma, which remains a leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in American men. A safe and effective inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis is still a clinically unmet need. Herein, we investigated the effect of ethanol extract of root (WRE) standardized for one of its components (withaferin A) on fatty acid synthesis using LNCaP and 22Rv1 human prostate cancer cells.

In Vitro Global Gene Expression Analyses Support the Ethnopharmacological Use of Achyranthes aspera.

Achyranthes aspera (family Amaranthaceae) is known for its anticancer properties. We have systematically validated the in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties of this plant. However, we do not know its mode of action.

Anti-proliferative and anti-cancer properties of Achyranthes aspera: specific inhibitory activity against pancreatic cancer cells.

Aims Of The Study: Achyranthes aspera (Family: Amaranthacea) is a medicinal plant used as an anti-cancer agent in ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine practiced in subcontinental India. The aim of the study was to systematically investigate the anti-proliferative properties of Achyranthes aspera leaves extracted in methanol (LE) on human cancer cells in vitro.

Materials And Methods: We tested time, dose dependent and specific anti-proliferative activity of LE by clonogenic cell survival assay on human cancer and normal epithelial cell lines in vitro.

Regulated expression of collagenases MMP-1, -8, and -13 and stromelysins MMP-3, -10, and -11 by human corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose: This study investigated the regulated expression of collagenases (MMP-1, -8, and -13) and stromelysins (MMP-3, -10, and -11) by human corneal epithelial cells treated with IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and doxycycline, a medication used to treat ocular surface diseases.

Methods: Primary human corneal epithelial cell cultures were treated with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha, with or without their corresponding inhibitors. Total RNA extracted from cells treated for 4 to 24 hours was subjected to semiquantitative RT-PCR and Northern hybridization.

An orally active Amazonian plant extract (BIRM) inhibits prostate cancer growth and metastasis.

Purpose: Poor efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs against metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (CaP) drives patients to try "alternative medicine". The antitumor activity of one such agent, "BIRM" (biological immune response modulator; "Simple Ecuadorian Oral Solution: an extract of an Amazonian plant"), was characterized in vitro and in vivo using established CaP cell lines and a tumor model.

Methods: The cytotoxicity of BIRM in four human and one rat CaP cell line was evaluated using cell proliferation-inhibition and clonogenic survival assays.

A mouse model of keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of pharmacologic inhibition of aqueous tear production and desiccating environmental stress on aqueous tear production, tear clearance, corneal epithelial permeability, and conjunctival epithelial morphology, proliferation, and conjunctival goblet cell differentiation.

Methods: Aqueous tear production was inhibited by applying transdermal scopolamine (scop) patches to the depilated midtail of female MC, CBA mice. Desiccating environmental stress was created by placing mice in a hood with a continuous airflow blower.

The scale-invariance of spatial patterning in a developing system.

Regulating systems, that is, those which exhibit scale-invariant patterns in the adult, are supposed, to do so on account of interactions between cells during development. The nature of these interactions has to be such that the system of positional information ("map") in the embryo also regulates. To our knowledge, this supposition regarding a regulating map has not been subjected to a direct test in any embryonic system.