Chemopreventive effect of Lagenaria siceraria in two stages DMBA plus croton oil induced skin papillomagenesis.

Cancer chemoprevention is a dietary or therapeutic strategy to prevent, suppress, or delay carcinogenesis either at initiation or progression level with nontoxic agents. Use of natural dietary compounds has been a major chemopreventive approach to modulate tumorigenic pathways. In the present study, we have evaluated Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd), a common vegetable of Indian household for its chemomodulatory potential. The fruit has been used in traditional medicine for a very long time for health benefits and to cure pain, ulcers, fever, cough, asthma, and other bronchial disorders. However, despite its reported beneficial effect the chemo modulatory potential of this plant has not been reported. Therefore chemopreventive effect of bottle gourd juice (BGJ) was studied against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) plus croton oil induced skin papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice. The effect was studied both at antiinitiation and antiinitiation/promotion level followed by histopathological study. A dose of 2.5% and 5% given in drinking water showed significant decrease in papilloma number, papilloma incidence, papilloma multiplicity, papilloma latency, papilloma volume, and papilloma size in different size range. Histopathological study showed chemopreventive effect by minimizing loss of stratification, a decrease in number of epithelial layers, reducing dermal infiltration and protection for various cytoplasmic changes. Higher dose of BGJ was found to be more effective than lower dose and the chemopreventive effect was maximum for antiinitiation/promotion treatment. Altogether, this study reports the chemopreventive effect of Lagenaria siceraria on skin papillomagenesis for the first time and suggests that its consumption may help in suppression of skin cancer.

Radio-modulatory effects of green tea catechin EGCG on pBR322 plasmid DNA and murine splenocytes against gamma-radiation induced damage.

Green tea is rich in polyphenols, like catechins, which are thought to contribute to the health benefits of tea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the radioprotective effect of EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), a green tea catechin on γ-radiation induced cell damage. Under acellular condition of radiation exposure, pBR322 plasmid DNA was protected by EGCG in a concentration dependent manner. Treatment of murine splenocytes with EGCG 2h prior to radiation (3Gy), protected the cellular DNA against radiation-induced strand breaks. EGCG also inhibited γ-radiation induced cell death in splenocytes. EGCG pretreatment to the cells decreased the radiation induced lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. The levels of phase II enzymes, glutathione and lactate dehydrogenase were restored with EGCG treatment prior to radiation. Our results show that pretreatment with EGCG offers protection to pBR322 DNA under acellular condition and normal splenocytes under cellular condition, against γ-radiation induced damage and is better radioprotector in comparison to quercetin and vitamin C.

Current Insights and Advancements in Head and Neck Cancer: Emerging Biomarkers and Therapeutics with Cues from Single Cell and 3D Model Omics Profiling.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is among the ten leading malignancies worldwide, with India solely contributing one-third of global oral cancer cases. The current focus of all cutting-edge strategies against this global malignancy are directed towards the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment that obstructs most treatment blueprints. Subsequent to the portrayal of established information, the review details the application of single cell technology, organoids and spheroid technology in relevance to head and neck cancer and the tumor microenvironment acknowledging the resistance pattern of the heterogeneous cell population in HNC. Bioinformatic tools are used for study of differentially expressed genes and further omics data analysis. However, these tools have several challenges and limitations when analyzing single-cell gene expression data that are discussed briefly. The review further examines the omics of HNC, through comprehensive analyses of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics profiles. Patterns of alterations vary between patients, thus heterogeneity and molecular alterations between patients have driven the clinical significance of molecular targeted therapies. The analyses of potential molecular targets in HNC are discussed with connotation to the alteration of key pathways in HNC followed by a comprehensive study of protein kinases as novel drug targets including its ATPase and additional binding pockets, non-catalytic domains and single residues. We herein review, the therapeutic agents targeting the potential biomarkers in light of new molecular targeted therapies. In the final analysis, this review suggests that the development of improved target-specific personalized therapies can combat HNC's global plight.

Radio-Modulatory Potential of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester: A Therapeutic Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Use of natural agents is an upcoming area of research in cancer biology. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) has received great attention because of its therapeutic potential in various conditions including cancer. It is an active/abundant component of propolis, a honey bee hive product produced by bees using their enzyme-rich digestive secretions on resinous mix, bee wax and pollen from plants. It is used to protect the beehive against bacteria and other infections. Therefore a literature survey was done to understand the therapeutic potential of this compound. Although a lot of work has been done on chemotherapeutic aspects of CAPE and many reviews were available, yet its role as a radiomodulator was not clear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the review was to collect data on role of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester as radioprotector and /or sensitizer to evaluate its potential as modulator of radiation effects during cancer therapy. METHODS: For literature survey, Pubmed and Google search engines were used. Data were collected up to August 2017. PubMed advanced search builder showed 845 papers on CAPE. This search was further narrowed down to synthesis, bioavailability, CAPE derivatives, radioprotective and radiosensitizing effects of CAPE. RESULTS: This review focused on the differential radiomodulatory effects of CAPE in normal and cancer cells. Besides chemistry and bioavailability, it's potential as a therapeutic agent against radiation induced damage was also evaluated. CONCLUSION: CAPE was found to act both as radioprotector and radiosensitizer. Depending on the tissue type it can modulate the radiation response by following different mechanisms.

Protective effect of the cruciferous vegetable mustard leaf (Brassica campestris) against in vivo chromosomal damage and oxidative stress induced by gamma-radiation and genotoxic chemicals.

We evaluated the possible protective effect of the popular Indian cruciferous vegetable mustard leaf (Brassica campestris) against chromosomal damage and oxidative stress induced by gamma-radiation, cyclophosphamide (CPH) and urethane (URE), in mice. In vivo bone marrow micronucleus test was performed to assess chromosomal damage, and oxidative stress was monitored by estimating the changes in lipid peroxidation and the status of glutathione (GSH) as well as redox cycle antioxidants. Pretreatment with 50-250 mg/kg body wt of mustard leaf extract (MLE) for seven days significantly reduced the frequencies of micronuclei induced by gamma-radiation, CPH and URE. The protective effect against chromosomal damage was associated with modulation of lipid peroxidation as well as an increase in GSH and the GSH-dependent enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST). Mass spectral analysis showed the presence of glucosinolates in MLE used for the pretreatment of mice. These findings indicate that intake of the green leafy cruciferous vegetable mustard leaf can lead to protection against in vivo genotoxicity and oxidative stress.