The interplay of ROS and the PI3K/Akt pathway in autophagy regulation.

Autophagy causes the breakdown of damaged proteins and organelles to their constituent components. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway played an important role in regulating the autophagic response of cells in response to changing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The PI3K α catalytic subunit inhibits autophagy, while its β catalytic subunit promotes autophagy in response to changes in ROS levels.

Dysregulation of Glucose Metabolism by Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors in Cancer Cells.

Cancers are complex diseases having several unique features, commonly described as ‘hallmarks of cancer’. Among them, altered signaling pathways are the common characteristic features that drive cancer progression; this is achieved due to mutations that lead to the activation of growth promoting(s) oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressors. As a result of which, cancer cells increase their glycolytic rate by consuming a large amount of glucose, and convert a majority of glucose to lactate even in the presence of oxygen known as the “Warburg effect”.

Vicenin-2: a potential radiosensitizer of non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major form of cancer and is resistant to chemo- and radio-therapy. Vicenin-2 (VCN-2) is a flavonoid obtained from Ocimum sanctum L. and it has been reported to have radioprotective and anti-cancer properties.

Phytochemicals of Aristolochia tagala and Curcuma caesia exert anticancer effect by tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated decrease in nuclear factor kappaB binding activity.

Rationale: The active compounds or metabolites of herbal plants exert a definite physiological action on the human body and thus are widely used in human therapy for various diseases including cancer. Previous studies by our group have reported the anticarcinogenic properties of the two herbal plants extracts (HPE) of Aristolochia tagala (AT) Cham. and Curcuma caesia (CC) Roxb.

Inhibitory potential of methanolic extracts of Aristolochia tagala and Curcuma caesia on hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrosamine in BALB/c mice.

Context: Aristolochia tagala (AT) and Curcuma caesia (CC) have been used traditionally by local herbal practitioners for cancer treatment and as chief ingredients of many polyherbal formulations for various types of ailments. However, there is void in scientific study to evaluate their anti-cancer property.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-carcinogenic properties of the crude methanolic extracts of roots of AT and rhizomes of CC in BALB/c mice exposed to a hepatocarcinogen, diethylnitrosamine (DEN).

Dimethylnitrosamine-induced reduction in the level of poly-ADP-ribosylation of histone proteins of blood lymphocytes--a sensitive and reliable biomarker for early detection of cancer.

Poly-ADP-ribosylation (PAR) is a post-translational modification of mainly chromosomal proteins. It is known to be strongly involved in several molecular events, including nucleosome-remodelling and carcinogenesis. In this investigation, it was attempted to evaluate PAR level as a reliable biomarker for early detection of cancer in blood lymphocyte histones.

Plant extracts and plant-derived compounds: promising players in a countermeasure strategy against radiological exposure.

Radiation exposure leads to several pathophysiological conditions, including oxidative damage, inflammation and fibrosis, thereby affecting the survival of organisms. This review explores the radiation countermeasure properties of fourteen (14) plant extracts or plant-derived compounds against these cellular manifestations. It was aimed at evaluating the possible role of plants or its constituents in radiation countermeasure strategy.

Synergistic effect of resveratrol and radiotherapy in control of cancers.

Cancers will continue to be a threat to health unless they can be controlled by combinations of treatment modalities. In this review, evaluate the role of resveratrol (RSV) as a radiosensitizing agent was evaluated and underlying mechanisms holistically explored in different cancer models focusing on therapeutic possibilities. The ability of RSV to modify the effect of radiation exposure in normal and cancer cells has indeed been shown quite convincingly, the combination of RSV and IR exhibiting synergistic effects on different cancer cells.

Roles of plant extracts and constituents in cervical cancer therapy.

Cervical cancer is a major health problem worldwide and is the most frequent cause of cancer in women in India. Early detection and affordable drugs with clinical efficacy have to go hand-in-hand in order to comprehensibly address this serious health challenge. Plant-based drugs with potent anticancer effects should add to the efforts to find a cheap drug with limited clinical side effects.

Short-term treatment with a SOD/catalase mimetic, EUK-207, mitigates pneumonitis and fibrosis after single-dose total-body or whole-thoracic irradiation.

In the event of a radiological accident or terrorist attack, whole- or partial-body exposure can injure the lungs. To simulate such an incident, we used a single fraction of total-body irradiation (TBI) or whole-thoracic irradiation to induce pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis, respectively, in a rat model. The superoxide dismutase and catalase mimetic EUK-207 was given by subcutaneous injection (20 mg/kg/day, 5 days per week, once daily) starting at 7 days after irradiation and stopping before pneumonitis developed.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors mitigate collagen synthesis induced by a single dose of radiation to the whole thorax.

Our long-term goal is to use angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to mitigate the increase in lung collagen synthesis that is induced by irradiation to the lung, which could result from accidental exposure or radiological terrorism. Rats (WAG/RijCmcr) were given a single dose of 13 Gy (dose rate of 1.43 Gy/min) of X-irradiation to the thorax.