Antiproliferative Activities of Water Infusions from Leaves of Five Cornus L. Species.

Cornaceae plants are known for their edible berries, and their leaves are used as tea. In the present study aqueous leaf extracts from Cornus mas (CM), C. alba (CA), C.

A comparison of the effects of tributyltin chloride and triphenyltin chloride on cell proliferation, proapoptotic p53, Bax, and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels in human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line.

In recent years it was disclosed, that numerous organotin(IV) derivatives have remarkable cytotoxicity against several types of cancer cells. The property to inhibit cell growth makes these compounds promising for antitumor therapy, as the clinical effectiveness of cisplatin is limited by drug resistance and significant side effects. Tributyltin and triphenyltin are known as endocrine disruptors.

Antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant activity and polyphenols contents in leaves of four Staphylea L. species.

Staphylea has been used for long time in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and by Native Americans in a number of therapeutical indications. The present study describes in vitro antiproliferative, cytotoxic properties (MTT and LDH test) and antioxidant activities (reduction of DPPH radical and peroxynitrite radical) of Staphylea colchica Stev. (SC), S.

Effects of selected endocrine disruptors on meiotic maturation, cumulus expansion, synthesis of hyaluronan and progesterone by porcine oocyte-cumulus complexes.

In most mammals, before ovulation, cumulus cells synthesize a large amount of hyaluronan (HA) that is organized into an extracellular matrix (ECM), which provides an essential microenvironment for in vivo oocyte fertilization. This process is called cumulus expansion. The present study assessed effects of selected endocrine disruptors (bisphenol A, BPA; 4-chloro-3-methyl phenol, CMP; di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, DEHP; and benzyl butyl phthalate, BBP) in a range of 100pM-100microM, on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced meiotic maturation and cumulus expansion of porcine oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCC) cultured in vitro.

In vitro antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities of novel kojic acid derivatives: 5-benzyloxy-2-selenocyanatomethyl- and 5-methoxy-2-selenocyanatomethyl-4-pyranone.

Some kojic acid (KA) derivatives and selenium containing compounds possess antiproliferative properties. The present study tested novel selenocyanatomethyl derivatives of KA for growth inhibitory and LDH cytotoxic activities. Human skin carcinoma (A431) and human breast carcinoma (MCF7) cells were treated with 5-benzyloxy-2-selenocyanatomethyl-4-pyranone (P763) and 5-methoxy-2-selenocyanatomethyl-4-pyranone (P764) in selected concentrations for 24, 48 and 72 h.

The effects of selected phenol and phthalate derivatives on steroid hormone production by cultured porcine granulosa cells.

We have investigated the effects of several phenols (octylphenol [OP], nonylphenol [NP], tert-octylphenol [tOP]) and phthalates (dioctylphthalate [DOP], diisodecylphthalate [DiDP], diisononylphthalate [DiNP]) on steroid hormone production by porcine ovarian granulosa cells after a 72-hour incubation. These chemicals are widely used as plasticisers and are suspected to possess endocrine disrupting properties. No changes were exhibited in basal progesterone production after treatment with NP or tOP, or with the tested phthalates.

Alcohol intake modulates hormonal activity of adipose tissue.

White adipose tissue (WAT) is now recognized as a highly active metabolic tissue and important endocrine organ producing numerous peptides and proteins with broad biological activity. The term adipokines has been coined to refer to a series of adipocyte-derived biologically active molecules, which may influence the function as well as the structural integrity of other tissues. Adipokines are implicated in control of food intake, energy balance and body weight (leptin), glucose homeostasis (e.

Cytotoxicity of water extracts from leaves and branches of Philadelphus coronarius L.

Philadelphus coronarius L. is big, leggy and deciduous old-fashioned shrub known for its fragrant white flowers in the late spring. Some members of genus Philadelphus L.

Alterations in steroid hormone production by porcine ovarian granulosa cells caused by bisphenol A and bisphenol A dimethacrylate.

We have investigated the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and BPA-dimethacrylate (BPA-DMA), endocrine disruptors used as plasticizers, on steroid hormone production by porcine ovarian granulosa cells after 72 h incubation. BPA at 10(-8) M to 10(-5) M increased basal progesterone levels, while the same concentration range of BPA-DMA did not cause any changes. After FSH-stimulation of the cells, BPA-DMA showed a tendency to inhibit progesterone production.

Ovarian intrafollicular processes as a target for cigarette smoke components and selected environmental reproductive disruptors.

Steroidogenesis, expansion of oocyte-cumulus complex, and meiotic maturation of the oocyte represent intrafollicular processes taking important part in the background of successful fertilisation. The reproductive health of female could be affected by a number of endogenous as well as exogenous factors, such as exposure to agents from specific lifestyle habits, environmental pollutants with endocrine disrupting properties, or heavy metals. Published data indicate that exposure to chemicals may cause alterations in reproductive behavior and contribute to sub-fecundity, infertility, or ovarian failure.

Transmembrane peptides as inhibitors of ErbB receptor signaling.

Receptor tyrosine kinases have a single transmembrane (TM) segment that is usually assumed to play a passive role in ligand-induced dimerization and activation of the receptor. However, mutations within some of these receptors, and recent studies with the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and ErbB2 receptors have indicated that interactions between TM domains do contribute to stabilization of ligand-independent and/or ligand-induced receptor dimerization and activation. One consequence of the importance of these interactions is that short hydrophobic peptides corresponding to these domains should act as specific inhibitors.