Effects of standardized Cannabis sativa extract and ionizing radiation in melanoma cells in vitro.

CONTEXT: Melanoma causes the highest number of skin cancer-related deaths worldwide. New treatment methods are essential for the management of this life-threatening disease. AIMS: In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a standardized Cannabis sativa extract alone or in combination with single radiation dose (6 Gy) in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells in an extract dose-dependent manner. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C. sativa extract at three concentrations (25, 12.5, and 6.25 µg/mL) alone for 72 h or in combination with radiation (24 h incubation after the extract treatment + 48 h incubation after exposure to radiation) were evaluated for cell viability of melanoma cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cells were also treated with 6.25 µg/mL extract alone for 72 h before analyzing C. sativa-induced cell death by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Administration of the extract alone or alongside radiation substantially inhibited melanoma cell viability and proliferation in the extract dose response-dependent manner. The inhibition of melanoma cell viability was paralleled by an increase in necrosis but not apoptosis when melanoma cells were treated with the extract alone. Radiation alone did not have any antiproliferative effects, and radiation also did not synergize antiproliferative effects of the extract when the extract and radiation were combined. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that C. sativa extract may have significant health and physiological implications for the treatment of melanoma. The results of this study also indicate that B16F10 mouse melanoma cells are radioresistant. Taken together, these findings may lead to the identification of new therapeutic strategy for the management of melanoma.

The Effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris on Wound Healing: An Experimental In Vitro Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: A lot of remedies, mostly plant based, were mentioned in the Persian old pharmacopoeias for promoting of burn and wound healing and tissue repairing. The efficacy of most of these old remedies is unexplored till now. Adiantum capillus-veneris from Adiantaceae family is one of them that was used to treating of some kinds of chronic wounds. METHODS: Methanol extract was fractionated to four different partitions that is, hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous. The potential of A. capillus-veneris fractions in wound healing or prevention of chronic wounds were evaluated through angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation, in addition to in vitro tests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals. RESULTS: The aqueous part of A. capillus-veneris promoted significant angiogenesis (P < 0.05) through both capillary-like tubular formations and proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, in the tests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals, aqueous and butanol fractions showed significant protective effects in the concentrations 50, and 500 µg/ml (P < 0.05) in comparison with a control group. In the toxicity testing, it showed weak irritation in the Hen's egg test chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) bioassay at the vascular level on the CAM of the chicken and no significant cytotoxicity in the MTT assays on normal human dermal fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Angiogenic effects and protective effects against oxygen free radicals suggested aqueous partition of A. capillus-veneris local application for prevention of late-radiation-induced injuries after radiation therapy and healing of external wounds similar to bedsores and burns.

New mirsinane-type diterpenes from Euphorbia microsciadia Boiss. with inhibitory effect on VEGF-induced angiogenesis.

Euphorbia microsciadia (Euphorbiaceae) is a perennial plant growing in Iran. Two new cyclomyrsinol esters, 3-O-propionyl-5, 10, 14-O-triacetyl-8-O-(2'-methyl-butanoyl)-cyclomyrsinol (1) and 3, 5, 10, 14, 15-O-pentaacetyl-8-O-isobutanoyl-cyclomyrsinol (2) were isolated from the methanolic extract of its dried aerial parts. The structures were elucidated based on (13)C- and (1)H-NMR as well as 2D-NMR, IR and different MS spectra. Anti-angiogenic activity was also evaluated on vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro by assessing capillary-like tube network formation.