Anti-ovarian cancer potential, in silico studies, and anti-Alzheimer's disease effects of some natural compounds as cholinesterase inhibitors.

Ovarian cancer ranks seventh in the most common malignant tumors in females and seriously threatens women's reproductive health. Natural sources may lead to basic research on potential bioactive components as lead compounds in drug discovery and, ultimately, therapeutic treatments for ovarian cancer and other diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and ovarian cancer are complex diseases of aging that impose an enormous public health burden worldwide. Additionally, people with AD have low levels of acetylcholine in their brains. Enzymes called cholinesterases break down acetylcholine in the brain. If their action is inhibited, more acetylcholine is available for communication among brain cells. In this study, pregnanolone, diethylstilbestrol (DES), flavokawain C, and methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate molecules obtained excellent-to-good inhibitory against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) enzymes with IC50 values ranging between 77.18 ± 8.62 to 461.35 ± 28.54 µM for AChE and 23.86 ± 4.07 to 306.62 ± 32.46 µM for BuChE. The calculations revealed the probable interactions and their characteristics at an atomic level. Indeed, the docking scores of DES, flavokawain C, pregnanolone, and methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate for AChE are -6.685, -6.247, -6.672, and -5.183 (kcal/mol), respectively. This value for the compounds against BuChE is -6.042, -8.851, -5.655, and -5.898 (kcal/mol), respectively. Additionally, these compounds significantly decreased ovarian cancer cell viability. Additionally, 100 µM dose of all molecules caused good reductions in ovarian cancer cell viability.

Histology and histochemistry of the major salivary glands in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor).

This study aimed to investigate the major salivary glands in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) histologically and histochemically. Five adult males were included in this study. The results showed that anatomically the shape of the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands of the Erinaceus concolor was respectively almost pear, elliptical to pyramidal and oval. Histologically, the parotid gland had serous acini and secretory cells showed negative reaction to alcian blue (AB) (pH = 2.5) and negative response to aldehyde fuchsin (AF), methylene blue (MB) and PAS stains. The submandibular gland was a mixed gland of mucous and serous acini. The mucous acini were strongly positive for PAS, AB, MB and AF. However, serous acini were week for PAS and negative against AB, MB and AF stains. The sublingual gland was purely composed of mucous acini. The mucous acini of the sublingual gland were strongly positives for PAS, AB and MB methods. While their reaction to the AF staining was negative. In conclusion, the histological and histochemical observations of the major salivary glands of the southern white-breasted hedgehog (E. concolor) indicated that these glands shown similarities and some special different histochemical features as compared to other mammalian species.