Hemostatic effect and distribution of new rhThrombin formulations in rats.

Recombinant human thrombin (rhThrombin) is a potential hemostatic alternative to bovine and human plasma-derived thrombin. Hemostatic, liver regeneration effect and plasma concentrations of rhThrombin (SCILL) tested in the form of solution and hydrogels (thermo-sensitive poloxamer gel and carbomer gel; hameln rds) were evaluated. In the bleeding model, rhThrombin was applied locally on the bleeding site.

Surface decorated poly(ester-ether-urethane)s nanoparticles: a versatile approach towards clinical translation.

Poly(ester-ether-urethane)s copolymers are a resourceful class of biopolymers for the preparation of nanocarriers for drug delivery applications. However, a simple clinical translation for this synthetic material with biological and quality features is still needed. In this view, poly(ε-caprolactone)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers were synthesized as semi-bulk pilot (Kg) scale under mild conditions in absence of catalyst, bearing functional termini such as fluorescein tag and anticancer targeting moieties.

Isolation, structure elucidation and biological activity of angucycline antibiotics from an epiphytic yew streptomycete.

In the course of study of epiphytic microorganisms occurring on the surface of roots of Taxus baccata L. a new strain Streptomyces sp. AC113 was isolated.

Antiprotease and antimetastatic activity of ursolic acid isolated from Salvia officinalis.

Proteases play a regulatory role in a variety of pathologies including cancer, pancreatitis, thromboembolic disorders, viral infections and many others. One of the possible strategies how to combat with these pathologies seems to be the use of low molecular inhibitors. Natural products were evaluated in the in vitro antiprotease assay on serine proteases (trypsin, thrombin and urokinase) and on the cysteine protease cathepsin B.

Antiproliferative activity of berberine in vitro and in vivo.

Berberine, an isoquinoline plant alkaloid acted cytotoxically in vitro on tumour cell lines B16. Its anticancer activity in vivo was studied with the transplanted B16 line in the range of doses from 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. The significant reduction of tumor volume was observed on day 16 at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg.

Berberine-antiproliferative activity in vitro and induction of apoptosis/necrosis of the U937 and B16 cells.

Berberine, an isoquinoline plant alkaloid, is widely distributed in plants used in the traditional Chinese medicine. It displays a wide range of biological activities and the mechanism of action. Our previous studies of the anticancer activity of berberine against the cancer cell lines HeLa and L1210 were extended to the human tumour U937 cell line and the murine melanoma B16 cell line growing in vitro.