Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Arrests Cell Cycle, and Induces Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 Cells through Suppression of the NF-κB Pathway.

, commonly known as tooth docked, is widely used in traditional system of medicines. Although it is well reported for its biological activities and medicinal value, only few studies have been carried out to assess its anticancer potential. This study seeks to evaluate the anticancer activity of leaf extracts of against breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line, a triple negative human breast cancer cell line with invasive properties and to identify the molecular targets underlying its mechanism of action.

Clinacanthus nutans Extracts Modulate Epigenetic Link to Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Expression in SH-SY5Y Cells and Primary Cortical Neurons.

Clinacanthus nutans Lindau (C. nutans), commonly known as Sabah Snake Grass in southeast Asia, is widely used in folk medicine due to its analgesic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Our recent study provided evidence for the regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) mRNA expression by epigenetic factors (Tan et al.

Evaluation of antiviral activities of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. extract, quercetin, quercetrin and cinanserin on murine coronavirus and dengue virus infection.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro activities of the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) Thunb. (Saururaceae) and three of its constituent flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin and rutin) against murine coronavirus and dengue virus (DENV).

The multifaceted role of curcumin in cancer prevention and treatment.

Despite significant advances in treatment modalities over the last decade, neither the incidence of the disease nor the mortality due to cancer has altered in the last thirty years. Available anti-cancer drugs exhibit limited efficacy, associated with severe side effects, and are also expensive. Thus identification of pharmacological agents that do not have these disadvantages is required.

Oleanolic acid and its synthetic derivatives for the prevention and therapy of cancer: preclinical and clinical evidence.

Oleanolic acid (OA, 3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid) is a ubiquitous pentacyclic multifunctional triterpenoid, widely found in several dietary and medicinal plants. Natural and synthetic OA derivatives can modulate multiple signaling pathways including nuclear factor-κB, AKT, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, mammalian target of rapamycin, caspases, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in a variety of tumor cells. Importantly, synthetic derivative of OA, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO), and its C-28 methyl ester (CDDO-Me) and C28 imidazole (CDDO-Im) have demonstrated potent antiangiogenic and antitumor activities in rodent cancer models.

Targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer: role of synthetic and natural inhibitors.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) comprise a family of cytoplasmic transcription factors that mediate intracellular signaling that is usually generated at cell surface receptors and thereby transmit it to the nucleus. Numerous studies have demonstrated constitutive activation of STAT3 in a wide variety of human tumors, including hematological malignancies (leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma) as well as diverse solid tumors (such as head and neck, breast, lung, gastric, hepatocellular, colorectal and prostate cancers). There is strong evidence to suggest that aberrant STAT3 signaling promotes initiation and progression of human cancers by either inhibiting apoptosis or inducing cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.

The anti-cancer activities of Vernonia amygdalina extract in human breast cancer cell lines are mediated through caspase-dependent and p53-independent pathways.

Breast cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. Notably, medicinal plant extracts may be a potential source for treatments of breast cancer. Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is a woody shrub reported to have not only diverse therapeutic effects but also anti-cancer properties.

Targeted abrogation of diverse signal transduction cascades by emodin for the treatment of inflammatory disorders and cancer.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a natural occurring anthraquinone derivative isolated from roots and barks of numerous plants, molds, and lichens. It is found as an active ingredient in different Chinese herbs including Rheum palmatum and Polygonam multiflorum, and has diuretic, vasorelaxant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. The anti-inflammatory effects of emodin have been exhibited in various in vitro as well as in vivo models of inflammation including pancreatitis, arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis and glomerulonephritis.

Ursolic acid in cancer prevention and treatment: molecular targets, pharmacokinetics and clinical studies.

Discovery of bioactive molecules and elucidation of their molecular mechanisms open up an enormous opportunity for the development of improved therapy for different inflammatory diseases, including cancer. Triterpenoids isolated several decades ago from various medicinal plants now seem to have a prominent role in the prevention and therapy of a variety of ailments and some have already entered Phase I clinical trials. One such important and highly investigated pentacyclic triterpenoid, ursolic acid has attracted great attention of late for its potential as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent in various types of cancer.

Anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic effects of chlorogenic acid are mediated by ampk activation.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) has been shown to stimulate glucose uptake in skeletal muscle through the activation of AMPK. However, its effect on other metabolic pathways and likewise its effects after long-term consumption have yet to be understood. We investigated the effects of CGA on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, hepatic gluconeogenesis, lipid metabolism and skeletal muscle glucose uptake in Lepr(db/db) mice.

Potential role of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 signaling pathway in inflammation, survival, proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, and is also the fourth most common cancer worldwide with around 700,000 new cases each year. Currently, first line chemotherapeutic drugs used for HCC include fluorouracil, cisplatin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel and mitomycin, but most of these are non-selective cytotoxic molecules with significant side effects. Sorafenib is the only approved targeted therapy by the U.

The rotational advancement of medial plantar flap for coverage of foot defect: a case report.

This case describes the use of the medial plantar artery flap used to cover a lateral foot wound in a 19-year-old male with a history of spina bifida. The original operative plan was for coverage with a medial plantar flap based distally on retrograde flow through the lateral plantar artery; however, this had to be revised intraoperatively as his vascular anatomy was not adequate to support a flap of this type. Thus, advancement with rotation modification of the conventional medial plantar flap was performed with good results.

Chlorogenic acid stimulates glucose transport in skeletal muscle via AMPK activation: a contributor to the beneficial effects of coffee on diabetes.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) has been shown to delay intestinal glucose absorption and inhibit gluconeogenesis. Our aim was to investigate the role of CGA in the regulation of glucose transport in skeletal muscle isolated from db/db mice and L6 skeletal muscle cells. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed on db/db mice treated with CGA and soleus muscle was isolated for 2-deoxyglucose transport study.

Targeted inhibition of tumor proliferation, survival, and metastasis by pentacyclic triterpenoids: potential role in prevention and therapy of cancer.

Over the last two decades, extensive research on plant-based medicinal compounds has revealed exciting and important pharmacological properties and activities of triterpenoids. Fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, herbs and medicinal plants are all considered to be biological sources of these triterpenoids, which have attracted great attention especially for their potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Published reports in the past have described the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the various biological activities of triterpenoids which range from inhibition of acute and chronic inflammation, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis and metastasis.

Hydrogen sulfide regulates Na+/H+ exchanger activity via stimulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and protein kinase G pathways.

Intracellular pH (pH(i)) is an important endogenous modulator of cardiac function. Inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger-1 (NHE-1) protects the heart by preventing Ca(2+) overload during ischemia/reperfusion. Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has been reported to produce cardioprotection.

H2S donor, S-propargyl-cysteine, increases CSE in SGC-7901 and cancer-induced mice: evidence for a novel anti-cancer effect of endogenous H2S?

Background: S-propargyl-cysteine (SPRC), an H(2)S donor, is a structural analogue of S-allycysteine (SAC). It was investigated for its potential anti-cancer effect on SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells and the possible mechanisms that may be involved.

Methods And Findings: SPRC treatment significantly decreased cell viability, suppressed the proliferation and migration of SPRC-7901 gastric cancer cells, was pro-apoptotic as well as caused cell cycle arrest at the G(1)/S phase.

Derivatization-independent cholesterol analysis in crude lipid extracts by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry: applications to a rabbit model for atherosclerosis.

Direct measurement of various sterols in crude lipid extracts in a single experiment from limited biological samples is challenging. Current mass spectrometry (MS) based approaches usually require chemical derivatization before subjecting to MS analysis. Here, we present a derivatization-independent method for analyzing various sterols, including cholesterol and its congeners, using liquid chromatography and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Baicalin upregulates the genetic expression of antioxidant enzymes in Type-2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Aim: The primary purpose of this study was to characterize and investigate the antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities of the flavonoid baicalin in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Main Methods: Four groups of Goto-Kakizaki rats (n=6) were subjected to the following oral treatments for 30 days: (1) metformin - 500 mg/kg (2) baicalin - 120 mg/kg (3) metformin 500 mg/kg and baicalin - 120 mg/kg (4) vehicle treated diabetic controls receiving distilled water. The plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, lipid peroxide and protein carbonyl contents were measured on a weekly basis.

The pseudomeningocoele that wasn't: case report of an adult who presented with a late infection of an implant.

This case report describes an unusual case of a 55-year-old male, who presented with what appeared to be a pseudomeningocoele. The patient suffered a skull fracture secondary to a direct blow almost 30 years prior, and had been repaired with a calvarial implant at that time. He had been symptom free for most of that time, until he presented to our institution with a bulging cyst in his left frontal region.

Polyphenols-rich Vernonia amygdalina shows anti-diabetic effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Aim Of The Study: This study aims to investigate the hypoglycemic properties of Vernonia amygdalina Del. (VA) and its possible mechanisms of action in a single-dose STZ induced diabetic rat model.

Materials And Methods: A dose-response study was conducted to determine optimum dose for the hypoglycemic effect of VA in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Leonurine protects middle cerebral artery occluded rats through antioxidant effect and regulation of mitochondrial function.

Background And Purpose: Oxidative stress is known to be involved in ischemic stroke. Intense interest is drawn to the therapeutic potential of Chinese herbs on ischemic stroke because many of them contain antioxidant properties. Leonurine, 1 of the active compounds from purified Herba Leonuri, was studied to evaluate its possible therapeutic effects on ischemic stroke.

Baicalin reduces mitochondrial damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

Background: Hyperglycemia-induced superoxide production in the mitochondria is known to be the primary cause of diabetic micro- and macro-vascular complications and mitochondrial membranal damage. This study in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats investigated the anti-hyperglycemic and mitochondrial membrane protection effects of baicalin, a flavonoid known for its radical scavenging activity.

Methods: The following oral treatments were given to diabetic rats for 30 days: (1) metformin 500 mg/kg, (2) baicalin 120 mg/kg, and (3) metformin 500 mg/kg & baicalin 120 mg/kg, with vehicle-treated diabetic and non-diabetic groups serving as controls.

Scutellarin sensitizes drug-evoked colon cancer cell apoptosis through enhanced caspase-6 activation.

Background: We have reported that resveratrol (RSV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) evoked apoptosis through caspase-6 activation in wild-type (p53+/+) and knockout (p53(-/-)) HCT116 human colon cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the sensitization effects of scutellarin (SC), a compound isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus, on RSV and 5-FU-evoked apoptosis of these cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: The drug-induced apoptosis was qualified by TUNEL staining under fluorescence microscopy, before being quantified by propiodium iodide staining through flow cytometric assay.

Cerebral protection of purified Herba Leonuri extract on middle cerebral artery occluded rats.

Aim Of Study: Oxidative stress is involved in stroke. In particular, Chinese Herbal Medicine with antioxidant properties is believed to have potential therapeutic effect. In this study, neuroprotective effects of purified Herba Leonuri (pHL) were evaluated in Wistar rats undergone middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).