Zoledronic acid induces micronuclei formation, mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and cytostasis in kidney cells.

Aims: Zoledronic acid (ZA), a FDA approved drug has used widely in the treatment of bone metastasis complications, has been linked to renal toxicity with unclear mechanism. The present study is aimed at investigating the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of ZA in renal epithelial cells.

Main Methods: The genotoxic effect of ZA in Vero and MDCK cells determined by cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay.

Dehydrocostus lactone induces prominent apoptosis in kidney distal tubular epithelial cells and interstitial fibroblasts along with cell cycle arrest in ovarian epithelial cells.

Dehydrocostus lactone (DHCL), a sesquiterpene lactone is well-known for its antiulcer, anti-hepatotoxic and anticancer activity. However, the studies concerning the safety/toxicity potential of DHCL toward the cells of normal origin remain unclear. The present study is aimed at investigating the toxicity potential of DHCL in renal distal tubular and interstitial fibroblast cell lines (MDCK and NRK-49F cells, respectively), and also in ovarian epithelial cell line (CHO cells).

Costunolide induces micronuclei formation, chromosomal aberrations, cytostasis, and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Costunolide (CE) is a sesquiterpene lactone well-known for its antihepatotoxic, antiulcer, and anticancer activities. The present study focused on the evaluation of the cytogenetic toxicity and cellular death-inducing potential of CE in CHO cells, an epithelial cell line derived from normal ovary cells of Chinese hamster. The cytotoxic effect denoting MTT assay has shown an IC value of 7.

Antarctic ice core samples: culturable bacterial diversity.

Culturable bacterial abundance at 11 different depths of a 50.26 m ice core from the Tallaksenvarden Nunatak, Antarctica, varied from 0.02 to 5.

Bacterial diversity and bioprospecting for cold-active enzymes from culturable bacteria associated with sediment from a melt water stream of Midtre Lovenbreen glacier, an Arctic glacier.

Culturable bacterial diversity of Midtre Lovenbreen glacier, an Arctic glacier, was studied using 12 sediment samples collected from different points, along a transect, from the snout of Midtre Lovenbreen glacier up to the convergence point of the melt water stream with the sea. Bacterial abundance appeared to be closer to the convergence point of the glacial melt water stream with the sea than at the snout of the glacier. A total of 117 bacterial strains were isolated from the sediment samples.