Analysis of bioactive compounds using LC-ESI-MS/MS, cytotoxic, antimicrobial effects, and enzyme activities from Cyclotrichium origanifolium.

Cyclotrichium origanifolium is a medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. In this study, phenolic content analysis, antimicrobial effects, and cytotoxic effects of extracts of C. origanifolium were investigated. In the extracts, phenolic compound analysis by the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method, antimicrobial effect by the minimum inhibition concentration method, and cytotoxic effect on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), glioblastoma cell (U87), ovarian adenocarcinoma cell (Skov-3), and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell (CaCo-2) cancer cell lines were investigated. Cytotoxicity analyses were performed by the MTT method. In addition, the GST and AChE enzyme activities of the extracts were also measured. Around 18 compounds were detected in both the methanol and ethanol extract. It was found that the best antimicrobial effect on Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa was on methanol extract, while the ethanol extract was on Candida albicans fungus (respectively, 2.50 mg/ml, 5.0 µg/ml). A 500 µg/ml of methanol extract has been shown to have cytotoxic activity high effect on HDF cells. GST and AChE activity were found to decrease in a concentration-dependent manner.

Idarubicin-bromelain combination sensitizes cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: The primary cytotoxic effects of anticancer drugs like idarubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent, are not limited to neoplastic cells; they also produce similar effects in normal cells. In this study, we hypothesized that the combination of idarubicin-bromelain could make cancer cells more susceptible to cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To test our hypothesis, the optimal concentrations of idarubicin and bromelain were combined and incubated in the HL-60 cancer cell line and normal human mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) for 24, 48, and 72 hr. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated by measurement of ATP cell viability test, DNA damage, Caspase-3, Acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), and DAPI fluorescent dyes in both cell types. RESULTS: The combination of idarubicin-bromelain significantly reduced cell proliferation in the more potent HL-60 compared to PBMC in all incubation times (P<0.05). DNA damage and Caspase-3 levels (except for 24 hr) were also higher in the HL-60 cell line in comparison with PBMC and were statistically significant (P<0.05). The percentages of apoptotic images obtained by DAPI and AO / EB morphological examination were increased in both cells, depending on the combination dose. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it can be concluded that idarubicin combined with bromelain produces more cytotoxic effects in low concentrations in comparison with when it was used per se in the HL-60 cells. Conversely, it was found that this combination in PBMC caused less cytotoxicity and less genotoxicity. Taken together, it can be said that this new combination makes cancer cells more sensitive to conventional therapy.

Protective effects of Nigella sativa on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, it has been demonstrated that Nigella Sativa (NS) has protective effects against ischemia reperfusion injury on various organs. However, its protective effects on intestinal tissue against ischemia reperfusion injury are unclear. We aimed to determine whether NS prevents intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into three groups as sham (group 1), control (group 2), and NS-treatment group (group 3). All rats underwent intestinal ischemia for 60 min followed by a 60-min period of reperfusion. Rats were intraperitoneally infused only 0.9% saline solutions in group 2. Rats in the group 3 received NS (0,2 mL/kg) intraperitoneally, before ischemia and before reperfusion. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in ileum tissue were measured. Also, ileum tissue histopathology was evaluated by a light microscope. RESULTS: The levels of liver enzymes in group 3 were significantly lower than those in group 2 (p <.01). TAC and CAT activity levels in ileum tissue were significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2. TOS, OSI, and MPO in ileum tissue were significantly lower in group 3 than group 2 (p <.05 for TOS and MPO; p < .01 for OSI). Histological tissue damage was milder in the NS treatment group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that NS treatment protected the rat's intestinal tissue against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.