OBJECTIVE： Preventive measures against skin melanoma like chemotherapy are useful but suffer from chronic side effects and drug resistance. Ethanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra （PD）, used in homeopathy for the ...OBJECTIVE： Preventive measures against skin melanoma like chemotherapy are useful but suffer from chronic side effects and drug resistance. Ethanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra （PD）, used in homeopathy for the treatment of various ailments like chronic rheumatism, regular conjunctivitis, psoriasis, and in some skin diseases was tested for its possible anticancer potential. METHODS： Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on both normal （peripheral blood mononuclear cells） and A375 cells. Fluorescence microscopic study of 4＇,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride-stained cells was conducted for DNA fragmentation assay, and changes in cellular morphology, if any, were also recorded. Lactate dehydrogenase activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） accumulation, if any, and expression study of apoptotic genes also were evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis. RESULTS： Results showed that PD administration caused a remarkable reduction in proliferation of A375 cells, without showing much cytotoxicity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Generation of ROS and DNA damage, which made the cancer cells prone to apoptosis, were found to be enhanced in PD-treated cells. These results were duly supported by the analytical data on expression of different cellular and nuclear proteins, as for example, by down- regulation of Akt and Bcl-2, up-regulation of p53, Bax and caspase 3, and an increase in number of cell deaths by apoptosis in A375 cells. CONCLUSION： Overall results demonstrate anticancer potentials of PD on A375 cells through activation of caspase-mediated signaling and ROS generation.展开更多
Objective:To identify genotypes of Oesophagostmum venulosum(O.venulosum) prevailing in West Bengal,India by comparing variation of nucleotide sequences among 28S rRNA.Methods: PCR amplification of partial segment of 2...Objective:To identify genotypes of Oesophagostmum venulosum(O.venulosum) prevailing in West Bengal,India by comparing variation of nucleotide sequences among 28S rRNA.Methods: PCR amplification of partial segment of 28 S rRNA sequence and analysis of sequence amplified product by single strand conformation polymorphism(SSCP).Results:Two distinct conformers among male and female parasites were identified by PCR-SSCP analysis.Sequence analysis among conformers revealed the presence of five single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) in codon 64,66,86,125 and 146.Secondary RNA prediction structure showed that out of 5 SNPs,4 occurred at interior loop of RNA which confirmed evolutionary changes among isolates prevailing in this region.Conclusions:SNPs occured in different isolates of 0.venulosum might influence critical changes in rRNA folding pattern which influence evolutionary changes among isolates.展开更多
OBJECTIVE： Chemopreventive approach with natural products, particularly plants and plant-derived ones, is receiving increasing attention for their effective role against cancer without any palpable side effects. In t...OBJECTIVE： Chemopreventive approach with natural products, particularly plants and plant-derived ones, is receiving increasing attention for their effective role against cancer without any palpable side effects. In this study, efficacy of ethanolic extract of Ruta graveolens （RG） on skin melanoma cells （A375） in vitro and on 7,12-dimethylbenz（a）anthracene （DMBA）-induced skin cancer in vivo has been tested in Swiss albino mice. METHODS： Studies on cell viability, apoptosis and autophagy induction were conducted in vitro. To check apoptosis, assays like alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assay and immunoblot were performed. Fluorescence microscopic and immunoblot assays were performed to confirm autophagy induction. The effects of RG were determined by evaluating body weight, tumor incidence, tumor volume and tumor burden in mice. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant status was assessed. The role of some relevant signaling proteins was also analyzed. RESULTS： RG caused death ofA375 cells through induction of caspase 3-mediated apoptosis and Beclin-l-associated autophagy. Moreover, RG administration （75 mg/kg body weight） which showed no acute or chronic toxicity, showed significant reduction in the skin tumor burden of DMBA-painted mice. RG also demonstrated potent anti-lipid peroxidative and antioxidant functions during the course of skin cancer induction by DMBA. CONCLUSION： Chemopreventive potential of RG was demonstrated from overall results of this study indicating its possible use in therapeutic formulation of an effective drug to treat skin cancer.展开更多
基金financially supported by a grant sanctioned to Prof. A.R. Khuda-Bukhsh, Department of Zoology,University of Kalyani, by Boiron Laboratories, Lyon, France
文摘OBJECTIVE： Preventive measures against skin melanoma like chemotherapy are useful but suffer from chronic side effects and drug resistance. Ethanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra （PD）, used in homeopathy for the treatment of various ailments like chronic rheumatism, regular conjunctivitis, psoriasis, and in some skin diseases was tested for its possible anticancer potential. METHODS： Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on both normal （peripheral blood mononuclear cells） and A375 cells. Fluorescence microscopic study of 4＇,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride-stained cells was conducted for DNA fragmentation assay, and changes in cellular morphology, if any, were also recorded. Lactate dehydrogenase activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） accumulation, if any, and expression study of apoptotic genes also were evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis. RESULTS： Results showed that PD administration caused a remarkable reduction in proliferation of A375 cells, without showing much cytotoxicity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Generation of ROS and DNA damage, which made the cancer cells prone to apoptosis, were found to be enhanced in PD-treated cells. These results were duly supported by the analytical data on expression of different cellular and nuclear proteins, as for example, by down- regulation of Akt and Bcl-2, up-regulation of p53, Bax and caspase 3, and an increase in number of cell deaths by apoptosis in A375 cells. CONCLUSION： Overall results demonstrate anticancer potentials of PD on A375 cells through activation of caspase-mediated signaling and ROS generation.
文摘Objective:To identify genotypes of Oesophagostmum venulosum(O.venulosum) prevailing in West Bengal,India by comparing variation of nucleotide sequences among 28S rRNA.Methods: PCR amplification of partial segment of 28 S rRNA sequence and analysis of sequence amplified product by single strand conformation polymorphism(SSCP).Results:Two distinct conformers among male and female parasites were identified by PCR-SSCP analysis.Sequence analysis among conformers revealed the presence of five single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) in codon 64,66,86,125 and 146.Secondary RNA prediction structure showed that out of 5 SNPs,4 occurred at interior loop of RNA which confirmed evolutionary changes among isolates prevailing in this region.Conclusions:SNPs occured in different isolates of 0.venulosum might influence critical changes in rRNA folding pattern which influence evolutionary changes among isolates.
基金Boiron Laboratories, Lyon, France for financially (partial) supporting the work
文摘OBJECTIVE： Chemopreventive approach with natural products, particularly plants and plant-derived ones, is receiving increasing attention for their effective role against cancer without any palpable side effects. In this study, efficacy of ethanolic extract of Ruta graveolens （RG） on skin melanoma cells （A375） in vitro and on 7,12-dimethylbenz（a）anthracene （DMBA）-induced skin cancer in vivo has been tested in Swiss albino mice. METHODS： Studies on cell viability, apoptosis and autophagy induction were conducted in vitro. To check apoptosis, assays like alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assay and immunoblot were performed. Fluorescence microscopic and immunoblot assays were performed to confirm autophagy induction. The effects of RG were determined by evaluating body weight, tumor incidence, tumor volume and tumor burden in mice. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant status was assessed. The role of some relevant signaling proteins was also analyzed. RESULTS： RG caused death ofA375 cells through induction of caspase 3-mediated apoptosis and Beclin-l-associated autophagy. Moreover, RG administration （75 mg/kg body weight） which showed no acute or chronic toxicity, showed significant reduction in the skin tumor burden of DMBA-painted mice. RG also demonstrated potent anti-lipid peroxidative and antioxidant functions during the course of skin cancer induction by DMBA. CONCLUSION： Chemopreventive potential of RG was demonstrated from overall results of this study indicating its possible use in therapeutic formulation of an effective drug to treat skin cancer.
