Efficacy of Bee Products (Anzer Honey, Pollen and Propolis) in Detection and Healing of Damage Induced by Antidiabetic Drug Vildagliptin/Metformin Hydrochloride in Healthy Human Pancreatic Cells: Cytotoxic, Genotoxic and Biochemical Studies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although drugs are powerful therapeutic agents, they have a range of side effects. These side effects are sometimes cellular and not clinically noticeable. Vildagliptin/metformin hydrochloride is one of the most widely used oral antidiabetic drugs with two active ingredients. In this study, we investigated its harmful effects on the metabolic activation system in healthy human pancreatic cells "hTERT-HPNE", and we aimed to improve these harmful effects by natural products. To benefit from the healing effect, we used the unique natural products produced by the bees of the Anzer Plateau in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. METHODS: Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the drug were investigated by different tests, such as MTT, flow cytometry-apoptosis and comet assays. Anzer honey, pollen and propolis were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (G/C-MS). A total of 19 compounds were detected, constituting 99.9% of the samples. RESULTS: The decrease in cell viability at all drug concentrations was statistically significant compared to the negative control (P<0.05). A statistically significant decrease was detected in the apoptosis caused by vildagliptin/metformin hydrochloride with the supplementation of Anzer honey, pollen and propolis in hTERT-HPNE cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study can contribute to other studies testing the healing properties of natural products against the side effects of oral antidiabetics in human cells. In particular, Anzer honey, pollen and propolis can be used as additional foods to maintain cell viability and improve heal damage and can be evaluated against side effects in other drug studies.

Inhibition of growth of U87MG human glioblastoma cells by Usnea longissima Ach.

Herbal medicines are efficient to reduce side effects in the fight against glioblastoma, which plays a critical role within brain cancer species. The recent studies designated for testing the effects of lichens that have shown numerous anticancer activities on glioblastoma so far. In the present study, different concentrations of water extract obtained from Usnea longissima Ach. were used in order to determine cytotoxic (via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase tests), antioxidant (via total antioxidant capacity test), pro-oxidant (via total oxidant status test) and genotoxic (via 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine test) effects of them on human U87MG-glioblastoma cancer cell lines. Primary mixed glial-neuronal non-cancerous cells from Sprague-Dawley rats were also utilized to measure the effects of treatments on non-cancerous cells. Based on median inhibitory concentration values, the data belonged to non-cancerous cells (2486.71 mg/L) showed distinct towering compared to U87MG (80.93 mg/L) cells. The viability of non-cancerous and U87MG cells exposed to extract is decreased in a dose dependent manner. It was also showed that low concentrations of extract notably increased total antioxidant capacity on non-cancerous cells. In addition, various phenolic compounds in extract were detected through high-performance liquid chromatography. The recent results encourage that extract will be able to have therapeutic potential against glioblastoma.

Cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of essential oil of Centaurea behen L. in vitro.

Centaurea species of Asteraceae family are widely use in traditional medicine. Despite wide medicinal use of Centaurea sp., there is limited knowledge concerning Centaurea behen toxicity. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to determine cytotoxic and oxidative effects of essential oil of C. behen on human blood cell cultures. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays were performed to determine cytotoxic effects. In addition, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) were examined to determine oxidative potentials. The results indicated that all tested concentrations of essential oil of C. behen were cytotoxic and led to decreases of cell viability in both assays. Besides, C. behen led to significant increases of TOS levels and decreases of TAC levels. As a conclusion, the present study showed for the first time the cytotoxic and oxidant effects of essential oil of C. behen on cultured human whole blood cells.

Antioxidant and anticancer activities of extract of Inula helenium (L.) in human U-87 MG glioblastoma cell line.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to explore the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of aqueous extract from aerial parts of Inula helenium (L.) against human U-87 MG glioma cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 3'-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays were used to study antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities against U-87 MG cell after 48 h exposure. In addition, to assess the oxidative effects, total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status levels were also measured. RESULTS: Finally, the aqueous extracts displayed antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities at high concentrations tested, particularly at 200 µg/ml, without causing to oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: The results strengthen the evidence that I. helenium could be considered a natural resource of potential antitumor agents for brain cancer. In addition, this study is expected to expand the existing information on the anticancer activity of I. helenium and to assist in a more focused design of further research as chemotherapeutic agents.

Piplartine Analogues and Cytotoxic Evaluation against Glioblastoma.

Piplartine (1) is an alkamide extracted from plants of the genus Piper which shows several pharmacological properties, including antitumor activity. To improve this activity, a series of analogues based on 1 have been synthesized by esterification and amidation using the 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid-like starting material. During the study, the moieties 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylate and 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylamide were maintained on esters and amides respectively. Meanwhile, functional changes were exploited, and it was revealed that the presence of two aromatic rings in the side-chain was important to improve the cytotoxic activity against the U87MG cell line, such as the compound (E)-benzhydryl 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylate (10), an ester that exhibited strong cytotoxicity and a similar level of potency to that of paclitaxel, a positive control. Compound 10 had a marked concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the viability of the U87MG cell line with apoptotic and oxidative processes, showing good potential for altering main molecular pathways to prevent tumor development. Moreover, it has strong bioavailability with non-genotoxic and non-cytotoxic properties on human blood cells. In conclusion, the findings of the present study demonstrated that compound 10 is a promising agent that may find applications combatting diseases associated with oxidative stress and as a prototype for the development of novel drugs used in the treatment of glioblastoma.

Hot Water Epilepsy Successfully Treated With Daily Clobazam.

Hot water epilepsy (HWE) is a rare form of reflex epilepsy precipitated by a bath or shower in hot water. Although the condition is benign and a decreased bath temperature will help, antiepileptic drugs may be needed in some cases. Prophylactic clobazam is currently the first choice treatment option. Here we report the case of a 10-year-old boy with HWE successfully treated with daily doses of clobazam. Daily clobazam was preferred over prophylactic clobazam because of the patient's frequent bathing and parental concern. Daily clobazam is a novel treatment option for HWE and seems to be a good choice where antiepileptic drugs are necessary.

The use of extracorporeal magnetic innervation for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in older women: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a major health problem that has substantial and important effects on health-related quality of life. In recent years, extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI) has become a preferred method of treatment in urinary incontinence. This study presents the effects of ExMI treatment on pelvic floor muscle strength, urinary symptoms, incontinence conditions and quality of life of older women with SUI. METHODS: A total of 13 patients between the ages of 61 and 69 (mean 65.23 ± 2.8 years) were treated for SUI with ExMI. The following parameters were investigated: urinary symptoms, pelvic floor electromyographic (EMG) activity, 1-h pad test, incontinence conditions utilizing visual analog scale (VAS) and quality of life using Turkish version of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and the Incontinence Quality of Life Instrument (I-QoL). All assessments were conducted at baseline and at the end of the study. Treatment lasted for 20 min, twice a week and for a total of 6 weeks. RESULTS: The urinary symptoms and incontinence conditions decreased after the ExMI treatment sessions. The pad test results indicated a reduction in urine loss (p = 0.016). EMG values were improved (p = 0.005). Scores of I-QoL, UDI-6 and VAS were reduced after the treatment, respectively (p = 0.002), (p = 0.002) and (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Extracorporeal magnetic innervation can be considered as it is an alternative, non-invasive and painless treatment method with good compliance for treatment of SUI in older patients.