Effects of essential oil of Origanum onites and its major component carvacrol on the expression of toxicity pathway genes in HepG2 cells.

Background: Origanum species have been used in various commercial constructions as a remedy against burns and wounds, agriculture, alcoholic drinks, fragrance, and flavoring substances of food products. The essential oil of Origanum onites L. (EOOO) and its component carvacrol (CV) possesses a wide range of biological activities including anti-cancer activity.

Cytotoxicity of naturally occurring phenolics and terpenoids from Kenyan flora towards human carcinoma cells.

Background: Cancer constitutes a major hurdle worldwide and its treatment mainly relies on chemotherapy.

Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of eleven naturally occurring compounds including six phenolics amongst them were 4 chalcones and 2 flavanones as well as 5 terpenoids (3 clerodane and 2 trachylobane diterpenoids) against 6 human carcinoma cell lines and normal CRL2120 fibroblasts.

Materials And Methods: The neutral red uptake (NR) assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the compounds, whilst caspase-Glo assay was used to detect caspase activation.

Identification of biomarkers associated with partial epithelial to mesenchymal transition in the secretome of slug over-expressing hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Complete epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has long been considered as a crucial step for metastasis initiation. It has, however, become apparent that many carcinoma cells can metastasize without complete loss of epithelial traits or with incomplete gain of mesenchymal traits, i.

Cytotoxicity of seputhecarpan D, thonningiol and 12 other phytochemicals from African flora towards human carcinoma cells.

Background: Despite the remarkable progress in cancer therapy in recent years, this disease still remains a serious public health concern. The use of natural products has been and continues to be one of the most effective ways to fight malignancies. The cytotoxicity of 14 compounds from African medicinal plants was evaluated in four human carcinoma cell lines and normal fibroblasts.

Investigation of genotoxic effects of paraben in cultured human lymphocytes.

Paraben is a phenolic derivative of benzoic acid extensively used as preservatives in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries due to its antimicrobial characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro genotoxic effects of paraben in human lymphocyte cultures. Cells were analyzed by cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN), chromosome aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and comet tests.

Cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts of Elephantopus mollis, Kalanchoe crenata and 4 other Cameroonian medicinal plants towards human carcinoma cells.

Background: Cancer still constitutes one of the major health concerns globally, causing serious threats on patients, their families, and the healthcare system.

Methods: In this study, the cytotoxicity of the methanol extract of Elephantopus mollis whole plant (EMW), Enantia chlorantha bark (ECB), Kalanchoe crenata leaves (KCL), Lophira alata bark (LAB), Millettia macrophylla leaves (MML) and Phragmanthera capitata leaves (PCL) towards five human solid cancer cell lines and normal CRL2120 fibroblasts, was evaluated. Extracts were subjected to qualitative chemical screening of their secondary metabolite contents using standard methods.

Two new pterocarpans and a new pyrone derivative with cytotoxic activities from (N.E.Br.) Brummitt (Leguminosae): revised NMR assignment of mundulea lactone.

Background: is a genus related to which comprises only three species. Compared to , which has been phytochemically and pharmacologically studied, species have only few or no reports on their chemical constituents. Moreover, no studies on the cytotoxic activities of its secondary metabolites have been previously documented.

Cytotoxicity of Plumbagin, Rapanone and 12 other naturally occurring Quinones from Kenyan Flora towards human carcinoma cells.

Background: Cancer is a major public health concern globally and chemotherapy remains the principal mode of the treatment of various malignant diseases.

Methods: This study was designed to investigate the cytotoxicity of 14 naturally occurring quinones including; 3 anthraquinones, 1 naphthoquinone and 10 benzoquinones against 6 human carcinoma cell lines and normal CRL2120 fibroblasts. The neutral red uptake (NR) assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the compounds, whilst caspase-Glo assay was used to detect caspases activation.

Quercetin and Cisplatin combined treatment altered cell cycle and mitogen activated protein kinase expressions in malignant mesotelioma cells.

Background: Malignant mesothelioma is a locally aggressive and highly lethal neoplasm of pleural, peritoneal and pericardial mesothelial cells without successful therapy. Previously, we reported that Quercetin in combination with Cisplatin inhibits cell proliferation and activates caspase-9 and -3 enzymes in different malignant mesothelioma cell lines. Moreover, Quercetin + Cisplatin lead to accumulation of both SPC111 and SPC212 cell lines in S phase.

Effects of fibronectin and type IV collagen on osteosarcoma cell apoptosis.

The aims of this study are the investigation of the effects of fibronectin and type IV collagen extracellular matrix proteins and the role of caspase-3 and -9 on cis-platin induced U2-OS apoptosis were studied. First the cytotoxic effects of cis-platin on cell system were investigated by colorimetric method and than morphological and ELISA analysis were used for determination of cell apoptosis when induced with cis-platin. In addition, after adhering the cells to fibronection or type IV collagen proteins, the apoptotic rate and the effects of caspase-3 and -9 were also investigated by ELISA in presence of specific inhibitors.

Biological assays on the effects of Acra3 peptide from Turkish scorpion Androctonus crassicauda venom on a mouse brain tumor cell line (BC3H1) and production of specific monoclonal antibodies.

Constitutes of the venom scorpion are a rich source of low molecular mass peptides which are toxic to various organisms, including man. Androctonus crassicauda is one of the scorpions from the Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey with public health importance. This work is focused on the investigation of biological effects of Acra3 peptide from Androctonus crassicauda.

Novel nanoimaging approach: antibodious polymeric nanolabel for intracellular alpha-fetoprotein targeted monitoring.

This study describes preparation and use of novel labeled and antibodious polymeric nanolabels (anti-alpha fetoprotein cross-linked nanolabels) as an immunogenic and semisynthetic nanolabel with potential prognostic and therapeutic roles for hepatoma cancer. Specificity, uptake, and binding efficiencies of the nanolabel have been examined in a human hepatosarcoma cell line HepG2, a human colorectal cell line DLD-1, and a mouse myoblast cell line C2. Labeling of the cells has been performed by treating live and fixed cells with varying concentrations of the nanolabels and then, the cells have been examined under a fluorescence microscope.