Therapeutic effects of transdermal systems containing zinc-related materials on thermal burn rats.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of slow zinc (Zn) release from β-tricalcium phosphate powder (ZnTCP) containing 10 mol% Zn on rats with thermal burns.

Methods: The first-aid tapes were contained zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) solution, ZnTCP suspensions or zinc oxide ointment. After thermal burn treatments were performed on Zn-deficient rats, the groups D1, D2 and D3 were treated with tapes containing ZnTCP, ZnSO4 and zinc oxide ointment.

Enhancement of doxorubicin concentration in the M5076 ovarian sarcoma cells by cucurbitacin E co-treatment.

Cucurbitacin E increases the doxorubicin (DOX) level in M5076 ovarian sarcoma via suppressed DOX efflux in vitro. An increase in DOX induced antitumor activity by cucurbitacin E in vivo has been reported previously. This paper attempts to clarify the mechanism of cucurbitacin E induced increments in the antitumor activity of DOX.

Screening of biochemical modulator by tumor cell permeability of doxorubicin.

We screened various food components for their ability to inhibit doxorubicin (DOX) permeability in tumor cells in vitro with the aim of finding novel modulators. Capsaicin did not change DOX permeability in the tumor cells, although the capsaicin derivatives gingerol and ferulic acid tended to promote DOX efflux. Combinations of these components with DOX were also not effective.