Apigenin and apigeninidin isolates from the Sorghum bicolor leaf targets inflammation via cyclo-oxygenase-2 and prostaglandin-E2 blockade.

AIM: This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of a species of Sorghum bicolor leaf (SBL) grown in West Africa. METHOD: Cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2:COX-1 selectivity assay was carried out by plating isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture medium with specific SBL fractions: crude extract (J), ethyl-acetate (JE) and aqueous (JA); secondary compounds from JE (JE5, JE6, JE7 and JE8); purified (P9) and semi-purified (P8) compounds from JE5 at 5-200 µg/mL for 1 hour. Test compounds and controls ibuprofen (50 µmol/L) and CAY10404 (1 µmol/L; 10 µmol/L) were added to two sets of plates, one without lipopolyshaccharide (LPS) and the other with LPS (1 µg/mL) for 24 hour. COX-2IC50 :COX-1IC50 ratio represented 50% inhibition of the activity of COX-2 to that of COX-1 using ibuprofen as control. In separate experiments the supernatant of P8 and P9-treated fractions of SBL and controls were plated with RAW 264.7 macrophage cells to measure prostaglandin (PG)-E2 production and cell proliferation activity. RESULTS: JA fraction of SBL had the highest ratio of COX-2IC50 :COX-1IC5041.214 whereas JE had the lowest ratio COX-2IC50 :COX-1IC501.161 . Interestingly, JE5 derived from JE showed a ratio of COX-2IC50 :COX-1IC500.495 while P8 derived from JE5 showed a dose-dependent reduction in COX-2IC50 :COX-1IC50 ratio and in PG-E2 production, which was more effective compared to ibuprofen. A dose-dependent reduction in RAW 264.7 macrophage cell proliferation was also observed in P8-treated cells. The phenolic compounds identified in P8 include apigenin and apigeninidin adducts which may explain the exceptional anti-inflammatory activity and efficacy in COX-2 targeting.

An open-label, randomized, parallel-group comparative study of the efficacy of sorghum bicolor extract in preoperative anemia.

OBJECTIVE: Anemia in patients presenting for elective surgery is associated with increased morbidity, allogeneic blood transfusion, and delay of surgery. Extract of sorghum bicolor has been shown to have hemopoietic, immune-stimulating, and antioxidant effects in rats and in patients with HIV. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the extract in patients with preoperative anemia booked for myomectomy. METHODS: Consenting patients (N = 66) were randomly assigned to two groups. The test group (n = 34) was given folic acid 5 mg/d, 200 mg iron tablet three times daily, and 500 mg/d of the extract. The control group (n = 32) was given the same doses of folic acid and iron for a period of 3 wk. Blood samples were taken at baseline and weekly for full blood cell count and liver and kidney function tests. Participants were screened for tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis, and sickle cell anemia. RESULTS: Increases in red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration in participants in the test group were highly significant (P < 0.0002, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.0001, respectively). Participants in the control group had a significant increase in the hemoglobin concentration (P > 0.04). The changes in liver enzymes, urea, and creatinine for participants in the test group were within the normal ranges. CONCLUSION: The addition of the extract of sorghum bicolor to routine hematinics is superior to the use of routine hematinics alone. Although the difference is not statistically significant, the extract will correct preoperative anemia in an additional 15% of the patients.

Radiation therapy: a major factor in the five-year survival analysis of women with breast cancer in Lagos, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was carried out to examine five-year survival from breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2005 and May 2008 in Nigerian women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-four patients were entered into the study. Five-year survival was evaluated using proportional hazard model proposed by Cox to assess variables such as age of diagnosis, menopausal status, and stage of the disease in the two treatment groups: surgery/chemotherapy or surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the different staging of disease and treatment are independent predictors of disease outcome whereas age of diagnosis and menopausal status although associated with low hazards, are not significant. TNM Stage I (Hazard Ratio=0.153, 95% CI 0.45-0.51, P=0.003), II (Hazard Ratio=0.245, 95% CI 0.12-0.46, P=0.0001), and III (Hazard Ratio=0.449, 95% CI 0.31-0.46, P=0.0001) showed significantly greater survival rates compared to TNM Stage IV for patients receiving surgery/chemotherapy. Similarly, for patients receiving surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy TNM Stage II (Hazard Ratio=0.110, 95% CI 0.02-0.46, P=0.003) and III (Hazard Ratio=0.238, 95% CI 0.07-0.73, P=0.012) also showed significantly greater survival rates compared to TNM Stage IV. Treatment had a significant impact on survival independent of stage, age, and menopausal status. Patients receiving surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy had a significant increase in survival outcome for TNM Stage (II, P=0.045; III, P=0.0001); age groups (40-49, P=0.021; 50-59, P=0.016; 60-69, P=0.017; >70, P=0.025); and menopausal status (premenopausal, P=0.049; postmenopausal, P=0.0001) compared to those receiving surgery/chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The five-year breast cancer survival rate in Lagos, Nigeria 24.1% (54/224) is relatively poor compared to most countries in the world and needs to be improved. Poor survival rates are mainly attributed to late presentation and poor follow-up, hence early detection through breast cancer awareness programs, appropriate logistics and better management of patients through guidelines for the treatment of breast need to be implemented to improve survival.