Acanthamoeba in Southeast Asia - Overview and Challenges.

Acanthamoeba, one of free-living amoebae (FLA), remains a high risk of direct contact with this protozoan parasite which is ubiquitous in nature and man-made environment. This pathogenic FLA can cause sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) though these cases may not commonly be reported in our clinical settings. Acanthamoeba has been detected from different environmental sources namely; soil, water, hot-spring, swimming pool, air-conditioner, or contact lens storage cases.

Synergistic effects of melphalan and Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Simaosong) extracts on apoptosis induction in human cancer cells.

Background: This study aims to determine the synergistic effects of the chemotherapeutic drug melphalan and the phytoconstituents extracted from Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Simaosong) in human cancer cells.

Methods: P. kesiya twigs extracted from 50 % ethanol-water were evaluated alone (6-500 µg/mL) and in combination with melphalan (0.

Sesamol induces mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in HCT116 human colon cancer cells via pro-oxidant effect.

Aims: Sesamol lignan is a phenolic compound found in sesame seeds. We investigated the effect of different concentrations of sesamol on oxidative stress in colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT116).

Main Methods: Antioxidation in vitro was determined from elimination of the DPPH radical, ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP), O2(-), and peroxyl radical scavenging activity.

Induction of apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by extracts of Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. and Diospyros castanea (Craib) Fletcher.

Background: Herbal plants are a preferred source of anticancer agents. This study aims to screen the anticancer activity of a crude extract of twigs of (a) Bombax anceps Pierre var. anceps (BA); (b) Catunaregam tomentosa (Blume ex DC.

Apoptosis-inducing effects of jujube (Zǎo) seed extracts on human Jurkat leukemia T cells.

Background: Jujube (Zǎo) seeds exhibited anticancer effects and used in Chinese medicine for many years. This study aims to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effects of seed extracts from eight different cultivated species ('Apple', 'Bombay', 'Jumbo', 'Kaew', 'Nomsod', 'Rianthong', 'Samros', and 'Taiwan') on human Jurkat leukemia T cells.

Methods: We evaluated the effects of seed extracts from eight jujube cultivated species on human Jurkat leukemia T cells.