Lapachol acetylglycosylation enhances its cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activities in HL60 cells.

Lapachol is a plant-derived naphthoquinone that kills several types of cancer cells. Derivatives of this molecule may therefore prove to be useful chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we explored whether glycosylation increases the cytotoxic potency of lapachol towards HL-60 human leukemia cells.

Inflammatory activity modulation by hypertonic saline and pentoxifylline in a rat model of strangulated closed loop small bowel obstruction.

Background: Intestinal obstruction is an abdominal disease associated to mortality, especially if complicated with sepsis. Resuscitation increases survival, although controversies remain concerning to therapeutic strategy.

Methods: To assess the effects of hypertonic saline and pentoxifylline on the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, Wistar rats underwent a laparotomy loop intestinal obstruction and ischemia.