An Investigation of the Growth Inhibitory Capacity of Several Medicinal Plants From Iran on Tumor Cell Lines.

BACKGROUND: Traditional herbal medicine is a valuable resource that provides new drugs for cancer treatment. OBJECTIVES: In this study we aim to screen and investigate the in vitro anti-tumor activities of ten species of plants commonly grown in Southern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the MTT colorimetric assay to evaluate the cytotoxic activities of the methanol extracts of these plants on various tumor cell lines. The IC50 was calculated as a scale for this evaluation. RESULTS: Satureja bachtiarica, Satureja hortensis, Thymus vulgaris, Thymus daenensis and Mentha lonigfolia showed the inhibitoriest effects on Jurkat cells with > 80% inhibition at 200 µg/mL. Satureja hortensis (IC50: 66.7 µg/mL) was the most effective. These plants also strongly inhibited K562 cell growth; Satureja bachtiarica (IC50: 28.3 µg/mL), Satureja hortensis (IC50: 52 µg/mL) and Thymus vulgaris (IC50: 87 µg/mL) were the most effective extracts. Cichorium intybus, Rheum ribes, Alhagi pseudalhagi and Glycyrrihza glabra also showed notable effects on the leukemia cell lines. The Raji cell line was mostly inhibited by Satureja bachtiarica and Thymus vulgaris with approximately 40% inhibition at 200µg/ml. The influence of these extracts on solid tumor cell lines was not strong. Fen cells were mostly affected by Glycyrrihza glabra (IC50: 182 µg/mL) and HeLa cells by Satureja hortensis (31.6% growth inhibitory effect at 200 µg/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Leukemic cell lines were more sensitive to the extracts than the solid tumor cell lines; Satureja hortensis, Satureja bachtiarica, Thymus vulgaris, Thymus daenensis and Mentha lonigfolia showed remarkable inhibitory potential.

Association of FCRL3 genotypes with susceptibility of Iranian patients to rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex disease, the hallmark of which is synovial joint inflammation. The substantial contribution from genetic factors in susceptibility to RA has been well-defined. The Fc receptor-like3 (FCRL3) gene is one of the genes that have recently shown a significant association with RA. To determine the possible role of FCRL3-169 C/T and FCRL3-110 A/G gene polymorphisms in the development of RA in Iranian patients, 320 RA patients and 302 healthy subjects were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. No significant difference was found in genotype and allele frequencies of FCRL3-169 C/T between patients and controls. In contrast, at position -110 A/G, the frequency of the AA genotype and A allele was significantly decreased in RA patients compared to controls (p = 0.005). After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, no significant correlations between FCRL3-169 C/T and -110 A/G polymorphism and laboratory and clinical features of the patients was observed. In conclusion, the results of this study showed a significant association between FCRL3-110 A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to RA.

The influence of Bcl-2 and myeloid antigen expression on response to therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The possible prognostic significance of the expression of a variety of markers has been investigated in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: In the present study we investigated the prognostic significance of CD13 and CD33 myeloid antigens (MY) aberrantly expressed on the blasts of ALL patients and Bcl-2 anti- apoptotic molecule expression in childhood ALL. RESULTS: Aberrant expression of MY occurred in 8.8% of cases. Variant levels of Bcl-2 were expressed in patients (44.2±25.5%), with more than 20% positivity for Bcl-2 in 64.7% of patients. Bcl-2+ patients survived 959±242 days compared to 1059+230 days for Bcl-2- patients (P=0.2). Corresponding data for complete remission duration was 682±170 and 716±173 days (P=0.3), respectively, indicating no significant association between survival and complete remission duration of patients with expression of the Bcl-2 molecule. Analysis of clinical response according to MY expression, however, showed significant association with survival and complete remission duration.  MY+ patients had shorter complete remission duration (383±58 days) and survival (473±68 days) than MY- patients (complete remission duration, 724±144 days; survival, 1045±186 days; P<0.001). Expression of Bcl-2 along with MY was not associated with a significant decrease in survival or complete remission duration. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicated that expression of MY was a poor prognostic factor in childhood ALL. Bcl-2 expression in MY+ patients could not influence the response to therapy.  

The effect of the methanol extract of Galium mite on the cellular immunity and antibody synthesis.

In the present study, the immunomodulatory effects of Galium mite, a native herb used for the treatment of inflammation in Iranian traditional medicine, was investigated. The methanolic extract of the plant was prepared and examined for in vivo cell-mediated and humoral immunity against antigen in mice. Galium mite stimulated delayed type hypersensitivity at lower concentrations and inhibited the reaction at higher ones (p < 0.05). A dose-related decrease in primary and secondary antibody titer was observed in mice treated with the extract (p < 0.006). The extract at higher concentrations significantly reduced the proliferation of human-activated lymphocytes (p < 0.001). Cell cycle analysis on human lymphocytes treated with the extract showed an increase in the number of cells in sub-G1 region, indicating the ability of the extract to induce apoptosis in these cells. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by DNA laddering on gel electrophoresis. In conclusion, G. mite has the ability to modulate cellular and humoral immune responses to the antigenic challenge and affect the rate of cell proliferation due to induction of apoptosis in the lymphocytes.