An Update on the Therapeutic Anticancer Potential of Ocimum sanctum L.: "Elixir of Life".

In most cases, cancer develops due to abnormal cell growth and subsequent tumour formation. Due to significant constraints with current treatments, natural compounds are being explored as potential alternatives. There are now around 30 natural compounds under clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Tulsi, or Holy Basil, of the genus Ocimum, is one of the most widely available and cost-effective medicinal plants. In India, the tulsi plant has deep religious and medicinal significance. Tulsi essential oil contains a valuable source of bioactive compounds, such as camphor, eucalyptol, eugenol, alpha-bisabolene, beta-bisabolene, and beta-caryophyllene. These compounds are proposed to be responsible for the antimicrobial properties of the leaf extracts. The anticancer effects of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.) have earned it the title of "queen of herbs" and "Elixir of Life" in Ayurvedic treatment. Tulsi leaves, which have high concentrations of eugenol, have been shown to have anticancer properties. In a various cancers, eugenol exerts its antitumour effects through a number of different mechanisms. In light of this, the current review focuses on the anticancer benefits of tulsi and its primary phytoconstituent, eugenol, as apotential therapeutic agent against a wide range of cancer types. In recent years, tulsi has gained popularity due to its anticancer properties. In ongoing clinical trials, a number of tulsi plant compounds are being evaluated for their potential anticancer effects. This article discusses anticancer, chemopreventive, and antioxidant effects of tulsi.

Patterns of Immunohistochemical Expression of P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2/neu Tumor Markers in Specific Breast Cancer Lesions.

Objective: This study aimed to associate the expression of P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2/neu tumor markers in specific breast cancer lesions. Methods: This study analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2/neu tumor markers for 306 patients who presented with lesions. Tissue blocks and patients' identification data were retrieved from the department of pathology, AL Madinah Almonwarah hospital, Al Madinah, UAE. Results: Of the 306 patients, 104 had benign lesions and 202 had malignancy (including 194 females and 6 males). Most females were presented with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), followed by infiltrating ductal carcinoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), representing 70%, 23.2%, and 3.7%, respectively. Positive P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2 were identified in 20.8%, 11.9%, 91%, and 18.3%, respectively. Conclusion: : The expression of P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2/neu tumor markers among Saudi patients with breast cancer is relatively similar in many parts of the world.

The ameliorating effects of crocetin on frozen-thawed quality, and fertility via attenuating oxidative status of bubaline spermatozoa.

Current study was conducted to appraise the cryoprotective influence of crocetin on quality, oxidative status, and fertility potential of bubaline spermatozoa. Collected semen from four bulls was diluted in five aliquots with (10 µM, 5 µM, 2 µM, 1 µM, and control [0 µM] supplementation of crocetin). After gentle dilution (37 °C), cooling (4 °C, in 2 h), equilibration (4 °C, for 4 h) and packaging of samples was done in straws (polyvinyl French, 0.5 ml), and then frozen (programmable cell freezer). This study established that crocetin supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) improves CASA (Computer Assisted Sperm motion Analyzer) total motility (%), rapid velocity (%), average-path, and curved-line velocities (µm/sec, 10 µM vs. control), and progressive motility (%), straight-line velocity (µm/sec), total antioxidant capacity (TAC, µMol/l), ATP concentrations (nmol/million), and fertility potential (%) (10 µM vs. control, and 1 µM), and mitochondrial potential (%) of buffalo spermatozoa (5, and 10 µM vs. control). Crocetin supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) alleviates DNA fragmentation, seminal plasma ROS (104 RLU/20/25 million, RLU = Relative light unit) levels, and lipid peroxidation (LPO, µMol/ml) in buffalo spermatozoa (10 µM vs. control). In a nutshell, crocetin supplementation improves post-thaw quality by means of motility parameters, motion kinematics, TAC, and ATP concentrations, and fertility potential, and abolished DNA fragmentation parameters, seminal plasma ROS, and LPO concentrations of buffalo spermatozoa. The exact mechanism by which crocetin acts are not fully elucidated; however, it is probable to speculate that the reduction in ROS, and LPO recorded in this study may be related to scavenging ability of this antioxidant during cryopreservation.

Improving the quality and in vitro fertilization rate of frozen-thawed semen of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls with the inclusion of vitamin B12 in the cryopreservation medium.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitamin B12 in cryopreservation medium on frozen-thawed semen of buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) bulls. Semen from five bulls (fertility-proven) were diluted in five aliquots not supplemented (control), or supplemented with 1, 2, 4, or 5 mg/mL of vitamin B12 and evaluated using the Computer Assisted Sperm motion Analysis, antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation (LPO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP concentrations, and in vitro fertilization rate (%). Sperm progressive motility, rapid velocity (%), mitochondrial potential, and acrosome integrity were greater (P < 0.05) with supplementation of 4, and 5 mg/mL vitamin B12 than the control sample. Similarly, compared with the control, samples with 5 mg/mL vitamin B12 supplementation had markedly greater average-path, straight-line, and curved-line velocities (µm/sec). Semen samples supplemented with 2, 4 and 5 mg/mL vitamin B12 had greater concentrations of GPx (U/mL) and SOD (U/mL), whereas LPO (µM/mL) was less (P < 0.05) compared with the control sample. Seminal plasma ROS concentrations (104/25 × 106) were less in the 5 mg/mL vitamin B12 supplemented than control sample. Semen samples supplemented with 5 mg/mL of vitamin B12 had greater concentrations of ATP than control and the 1 mg/mL vitamin B12 supplemented sample. Semen samples supplemented with 5 mg/mL of vitamin B12 had greater plasmalemma and DNA integrities (%) than the control sample. In summary, vitamin B12 supplementation augments semen quality, as evidenced by values for CASA variables, antioxidant enzymes, and ATP concentrations, which may occur as a consequence of inhibition in LPO and ROS production by buffalo spermatozoa.

Supplementation of l-tryptophan (an aromatic amino acid) in tris citric acid extender enhances post-thaw progressive motility, plasmalemma, mitochondrial membrane potential, acrosome, and DNA integrities, and in vivo fertility rate of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa.

The aromatic amino acid l-tryptophan is an essential and versatile molecule, acts by transferring an electron to free radicals and protects the plasma membrane from injuries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of l-tryptophan in extender on semen quality parameters, in vitro longevity and in vivo fertility rate of buffalo spermatozoa during cryopreservation. Two ejaculates were collected from each bull (n = 2 ejaculates and n = 4 bulls) with artificial vagina at 42 °C followed by initial evaluation for volume, motility, concentrations and were diluted in five extenders (C = lacking l-tryptophan, D1 = 25 µ M l-tryptophan, D2 = 50 µ M l-tryptophan, D3 = 75 µ M l-tryptophan, and D4 = 100 µ M l-tryptophan) respectively, and cryopreserved. The experiment was repeated four times (n = 4 replicates). At post-dilution, sperm plasma membrane integrity (PMI, %), supravital plasma membrane integrity (SVPMI, %), hypo-resistivity (HR, %) and acrosome integrity (ACR-I, %) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in extender supplemented with D4 than control. At post-thawing, progressive motility (PM, %), PMI, SVPMI, HR, ACR-I, and DNA-I of buffalo bull spermatozoa were significantly higher in D4 than control. Sperm in vitro longevity (%) assessed in terms of PM, SVPMI, and ACR-1 were significantly higher in D4 than control. Sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (%) was higher in treated groups than the control. The in vivo fertility rate was significantly higher in D4 than control (60.17% vs. 44.17%, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the supplementation of l-tryptophan in tris citric acid extender improves semen quality parameters, in vitro longevity and in vivo fertility rate of buffalo spermatozoa during freezing and thawing process.

Supplementation of green tea extract (GTE) in extender improves structural and functional characteristics, total antioxidant capacity and in vivo fertility of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the beneficial effects of green tea extract (GTE) in tris citric acid extender on post thaw structural and functional characteristics, DNA fragmentation (%), total antioxidant capacity (TAC, µM/L), lipid peroxidation (LPO, µM/mL) levels and in vivo fertility of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa. GTE is a acknowledged natural antioxidant, act as a free radical scavenger and protects spermatozoa against oxidative stress. Three mature and donor buffalo bulls were used in this experiment. Two ejaculates were collected per bull on each collection day, followed by initial evaluation for consistency (colour), volume (mL), progressive motility and concentration (x109) and were diluted in five extenders @ 50 x 106/ mL (C = control, no GTE; T1 = treatment 1, GTE 0.1%; T2 = treatment 2, GTE 0.5%; T3 = treatment 3, GTE 0.75% and T4 = treatment 4, GTE1.0%). The experiment was repeated thrice. Data analysis showed that sperm progressive motility (%), plasma membrane integrity (%), supravital plasma membrane integrity (%), viable sperm with intact acrosome (%) and TAC were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in extender supplemented with T4 as compared to control. Furthermore, sperm DNA fragmentation and occurrance of LPO in buffalo bull spermatozoa were significantly lowered in T4 than control. In vitro longevity (%) of spermatozoa was significantly higher in T4 compared to control during 45 and 90 min of incubation at 37 °C. In vivo fertility rate of buffalo bull spermatozoa was significantly higher in T4 compared to control (64.96 vs. 48.40%, P < 0.05). It is concluded that supplementation of tris citric acid extender with 1.0% GTE improved structural and functional characteristics, TAC, in vitro longevity (%) and in vivo fertility, whereas decreased DNA fragmentation and LPO occurrence in buffalo bull spermatozoa after freezing and thawing protocol.