Green synthesized silver nanoparticles using the plant-based reducing agent Matricaria chamomilla induce cell death in colorectal cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: There is a need to treat cancer cells with safe and natural nanoparticles to avoid the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Chamomile is considered a safe, natural plant with anticancer activity. We synthesize simple, inexpensive, and eco-friendly silver nanoparticles (SNs) using Chamomile (CHM) to tune their anticancer properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SN-CHM was synthesized by reducing 1 mM silver nitrate aqueous solution in 100 mL with the aqueous ethanolic flower extract of CHM (18 mg/mL, w/v). The reaction proceeded overnight at 600 rpm and 28°C. SN-CHM was characterized for their % yield, average diameter, charge, morphology, and silver release. Moreover, SN-CHM was investigated for its antioxidant and anticancer activities at 200 µg/mL and 5 mg/ mL, respectively. RESULTS: A 59.12% yield and a uniform SN-CHM size of 115 ± 3.1 nm with a ζ-potential of -27.67 ± (-3.92) mv were observed. The UV-visible absorption showed shifts from 379.5 to 383.5 nm for CHM and SN-CHM, respectively. Moreover, Ag+ was ultimately released from SN-CHM after 5 h. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed characteristic absorption peaks of CHM and produced SN-CHM. Furthermore, SN-CHM showed moderate antioxidant activity. SN-CHM inhibited the % viability of SW620 and HT-29 cell lines at 20 µM. SN-CHM may also greatly upregulate the apoptotic gene BAX while considerably downregulating the anti-apoptotic genes BCL2 and BCL-Xl. CONCLUSIONS: CHM can be a safe soft drink, especially when conjugated with Ag ions as anticancer NPs. SN-CHM is considered potent anticancer activity against SW620, and HT-29 cell lines.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles reduced with Trigonella foenum-graecum and their effect on tumor necrosis factor-α in MCF7 cells.

OBJECTIVE: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. They have been reported to reduce the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) - a proinflammatory cytokine involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis - in cell lines. As patients with breast cancer have been reported to have higher serum TNF levels, we aimed at developing a novel treatment for breast cancer by evaluating the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum extract (TFG)-reduced AgNPs on the MCF-7 cell line, which serves as a model of human breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TFG-capped AgNPs were synthesized using a green reduction method, in which TFG reduced silver nitrate to generate AgNPs-TFG. The particle size, surface charge, ultraviolet (UV)-visible (VIS) spectra, surface morphology, % yield, and in vitro Ag+ release of the formulated AgNPs-TFG were evaluated. Additionally, the prepared NPs were examined for cytotoxicity using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The prepared AgNPs-TFG were uniform, small, discrete, and non-aggregated with a particle size of 22.5±0.75 nm and ζ-potential of -47.45±0.666 mV. The yield of AgNPs-TFG was 224.545±3.9 µM. Furthermore, the AgNP-TFG thin film exhibited a prolonged release of Ag+ in phosphate buffer for up to 11 h. AgNPs-TFG suppressed TNF-α expression at mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 cells. Additionally, the formulated AgNPs-TFG did not exhibit any toxicity toward MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that AgNP-TFG could effectively inhibit TNF-α. These results provide significant insights for developing new therapeutic strategies for cancer and other inflammatory illnesses.

Aspirin resistance among patients with new and recurrent ischemic heart disease episodes in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Aspirin resistance is described as the failure of aspirin to decrease the production of thromboxane A2 by platelets, which is the mechanism by which aspirin decreases platelet activation and aggregation. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of aspirin resistance among cardiovascular patients in al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study used a survey of patients with first and recurrent attacks of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and available data from blood samples processed using a VerifyNow® kit, which measures aspirin reaction units (ARUs). RESULTS: A total of 119 patients were included: 45 with their first IHD episodes and 74 with recurrent episodes. Of the surveyed patients, 40% with a first episode were younger than 50 years old, and 75.6% of them have been diagnosed with IHD during the previous 5 years. Of the patients with recurrent attacks, 45.9% were older than 60 years, and 54.1% of them have been diagnosed more than 5 years before. The group with first episodes of IHD had 133.2 ARUs, whereas the group with recurrent episodes had 168.5 ARUs (p=0.105). In the recurrent-episode group, 77% had diabetes; in the first-episode group, only 37.8% had diabetes (p≤0.001). Overall, 46.2% were overweight, 54.6% were nonsmokers, and 82.4% underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The study participants in both the new and recurrent IHD groups showed no sign of aspirin resistance. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors increased the likelihood of episode recurrence.

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with functional task training on motor recovery in stroke patients.

The field of neuromodulation encompasses a wide spectrum of interventional technologies that modify pathological activity within the nervous system to achieve a therapeutic effect. Therapy including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has all shown promising results across a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. This article reviews the state-of-the-art of neuromodulation for stroke and discusses the opportunities and challenges available for clinicians and researchers interested in advancing neuromodulation therapy. The annual worldwide incidence of stroke ranges from 27.5 to 63 individuals per 100,000. Stroke, a major cause of adult disability, has devastating effects on patients and their caregivers, which has a tremendous socioeconomic impact on families and healthcare systems around the world. There are only a few treatments available for the improvement of motor function in stroke patients. The majority of these treatments are based on functional motor learning (ML) strategies. Both the mechanisms underlying stroke recovery and the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation interventions still remain poorly understood for widespread implementation, although it strongly depends on the quality of rehabilitation service to reach maximal post-stroke recovery.