In Vitro Cytotoxic Potential and Integrated Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Approaches to Decipher the Mechanism of Gymnostachyum febrifugum Benth., in the Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Gymnostachyum febrifugum, a less-known ethnomedicinal plant from the Western Ghats of India, is used to treat various diseases and serves as an antioxidant and antibacterial herb. The present study aims to profile the cytotoxic phytochemicals in G. febrifugum roots using GC-MS/MS, in vitro confirmation of cytotoxic potential against breast cancer and an in silico study to understand the mechanism of action.

UHPLC-ESI-ms/ms-based characterisation of phenolics and flavonoids in hydroalcoholic extract of seeds and their cytotoxic potential against breast and pancreatic cancer.

Fourteen known phenolics () and ten known flavonoids () were identified in the hydroalcoholic extract of seeds. Phenolics such as gentisic acid (3), protocatechuic acid (), -coumaric acid () and -coumaric acid () and among flavonoids, myricetin () were detected as the major compounds. The compounds were determined simultaneously in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the Acquity UPLC-H class coupled with TQD-MS/MS with an ESI source.

Liposome encapsulated anticancer drugs on autophagy in cancer cells - Current and future perspective.

Autophagy act as a double-edged sword in cancer with both tumor promoting and inhibiting roles. Under normal conditions of autophagy, the damaged cell organelles and other debris degrade inside the lysosome to provide energy and macromolecular precursors. However, enhanced autophagy can lead to apoptosis and programmed cell death highlighting its significance in cancer therapy.

Autophagy and cancer: Can tetrandrine be a potent anticancer drug in the near future?

Autophagy is an essential catabolic process in mammalian cells to maintain cellular integrity and viability by degrading the old and damaged cell organelles and other contents with the help of lysosomes. Deregulation in autophagy can be one of the major contributors leading to the continuous cell proliferation and development of tumors. Tetrandrine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid known to have potent bioactivities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, immunosuppressive, cardiovascular, and calcium channel blocking effects.

Tetrandrine isolated from Cyclea peltata induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis through ROS and caspase pathways in breast and pancreatic cancer cells.

Tetrandrine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid known to exhibit anticancer activity against different cancers. In the present study, the cytotoxic effect of tetrandrine isolated from Cyclea peltata on pancreatic (PANC-1) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells was evaluated in vitro with an attempt to understand the role of tetrandrine on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase activation. Results demonstrate the dose- and time-dependant cytotoxic effect of tetradrine on both MDA-MB-231 and PANC-1 cells with IC values ranging between 51 and 54 μM and 22 and 27 μM for 24 h and 48 h of incubation respectively.

Tetrandrine--A molecule of wide bioactivity.

Stephania tetrandra and other related species of Menispermaceae form the major source of the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid - tetrandrine. The plant is extensively referenced in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for its use in the Chinese medicinal system as an analgesic and diuretic agent and also in the treatment of hypertension and various other ailments, including asthma, tuberculosis, dysentery, hyperglycemia, malaria, cancer and fever. Tetrandrine, well-known to act as a calcium channel blocker, has been tested in clinical trials and found effective against silicosis, hypertension, inflammation and lung cancer without any toxicity.

Gamma sensitivity of forest plants of Western Ghats.

Seeds of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam., Garcinia xanthochymus Hook., Saraca asoca Roxb.

Larvicidal activities of Knema attenuata (Hook. f. & Thomson) Warb. (Myristicaceae) extracts against Aedes albopictus Skuse and Anopheles stephensi Liston.

In recent years, uses of environment friendly and biodegradable natural insecticides of plant origin have received renewed attention as agents for vector control. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aril and kernel extracts of Knema attenuata (Hook. f.

Medical ethnobotany of the Siddis of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India.

A total of 98 medicinal preparations, involving 69 species of plants, used by the Siddis of Uttara Kannada in the state of Karnataka is described in this paper based on an ethnomedical field study. The finding includes 40 hitherto unknown medicinal uses of known medicinal plants. Among these, the use of the stem sap of Calamus thwaitesii as an antifertility drug, and the use of the flowers of Ichnocarpus frutescens and the rhizome of Hedychium coronarium in the treatment of diabetes are noteworthy.

Production of extracellular cellulase by Lunulospora curvula and Flagellospora penicillioides.

Studies on the production of extracellular cellulase in two aquatic hyphomycetes Lunulospora curvula and Flagellospora penicillioides have shown that several factors such as carbon source, nitrogen source, pH and temperature affect the production of the enzyme. Experiments have shown that carboxymethyl cellulose is the best source of carbon, and ammonium sulfate is the best source of nitrogen for the production of the enzyme. An optimum pH of 5.

Effect of pesticides on the growth of aquatic hyphomycetes.

The effect of two herbicides (paraquat and 2,4-dichlorophenoxybutyric acid) and two fungicides (mancozeb and captafol) was studied on the growth of Flagellospora penicillioides, Lunulospora curvula and Phalangispora constricta using the poisoned-food technique. The pesticides did not produce any inhibition of growth at concentrations up to 5 mg/l. The required concentration to bring about total inhibition of growth varied among the chemicals and the cultures.