Metabolic control in type 2 diabetes is associated with sulfonylurea receptor-1 (SUR-1) but not with KCNJ11 polymorphisms.

Background And Aims: Sulfonylureas are hypoglycemic agents used for promotion of insulin secretion in type 2 diabetics (T2D). They bind to sulfonylurea receptor-1 (SUR-1), which is a functional subunit of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP)). The other component of the potassium channel is Kir6.

Potential antioxidant activity, cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of Chelidonium majus L. extract on leukemia cells.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess whether a methanol extract isolated from the greater celandine Chelidonium majus L. (CME) had antioxidant effect and was able to inhibit proliferation and to induce apoptosis in leukemia cells in vitro.

Methods: The potential antioxidant activity of CME was proved by the 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay.

Antigenotoxic effect of extract from Cynara cardunculus L.

The extract of artichoke Cynara cardunculus L. (CCE) was investigated for its potential antigenotoxic and antioxidant effects using four experimental model systems. In the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutagenicity/antimutagenicity assay, CCE significantly reduced the frequency of 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide-induced revertants at the ilv1 locus and mitotic gene convertants at the trp5 locus in the diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae tester strain D7.

Growth inhibitory effect of ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of Cynara cardunculus L. in leukemia cells involves cell cycle arrest, cytochrome c release and activation of caspases.

An extract of artichoke Cynara cardunculus L. (CCE) has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties. In this study, the ability of CCE to inhibit the growth of L1210 and HL-60 leukemia cells was studied.

Biological activity of some 4-anilinoquinazolines: cytotoxic, genotoxic and antiprotease effects, induction of necrosis and changes of actin cytoskeleton.

Fourteen substituted 4-anilinoquinazolines have been tested for cytotoxic effect and structure activity relationships. The most active derivatives were substituted by chlorine or bromine group in the aromatic ring, in the pyrimidine ring by morpholine group and in the aniline skeleton by nitro group in position 4 or 2. Derivatives 6-bromo-2-(morpholin-1-yl)-4-(4'-nitroanilino)quinazoline, 6-bromo-2-morpholin-1-yl)-4-anilinoquinazoline, 2-(morpholin-1-yl)-4-(4'-bromoanilino)-quinazoline and 6-chloro-2-(morpholin-1-yl)-4-(4'-nitroanilino)quinazoline inhibited growth of tumor cell lines HeLa, B16 and L1210.

An overview on anticancer activities of the Viscum album extract Isorel.

The activity principle of the mistletoe (Viscum album L.) phytotherapeutics could be considered as combined cytotoxic and "biological response modifying" activities (increasing host defense against cancer) that result from the activities of the plant lectins and the other biologically relevant substances. We found before that the aqueous extract Isorel, produced by Novipharm GmbH (Pörtschach, Austria) from the entire plant (planta tota) of fresh mistletoe under standardized conditions with bioassay validated batch consistency, can be valuable in experimental adjuvant cancer therapy increasing efficiency of cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.