Hibiscus-cisplatin combination treatment decreases liver toxicity in rats while increasing toxicity in lung cancer cells via oxidative stress- apoptosis pathway.

Cisplatin (CIS) is a broad-spectrum anti-carcinogen that causes cytotoxic effects both in normal and cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to test whether Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) extract can reduce CIS-induced hepatotoxicity in rodents and to assess its anticancer activity in vitro. Treatment with HS extract at daily doses of 500 mg/kg before and after a single dose of CIS (10 mg/kg) reduced hepatotoxicity in Wistar male albino rats. HS extract reduced activity of hepatic damage marker enzymes ( i.e. alanine and aspartate aminotransferases), necrosis, and apoptosis in liver tissues of CIS-treated rats. This hepatic protection was associated with reduced oxidative stress in liver tissues. The antioxidant effects of HS were manifested as a normalization of malondialdehyde levels and glutathione levels which were all raised after CIS-induction. In addition, HS treatment resulted in a decrease of catalase, and superoxide dismutase activity. The combined effects of CIS and HS were also studied in two human lung cancer cell lines (A549 and H460). Treatment with HS (20 µg /mL) enhanced the cytotoxic activity of CIS both in A549 and H460 cell lines. Interestingly, HS increased CIS-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress more clearly in A549 cells indicating that HS extract in combination with CIS could increase the efficacy of CIS in the treatment of cancer.

Biosynthesis and Characterization of Gold and Copper Nanoparticles from Salvadora persica Fruit Extracts and Their Biological Properties.

Introduction: Metal nanoparticle synthesis using plant has emerged as an eco-friendly, clean, and viable strategy alternative to chemical and physical approaches. Methods: The fruit extract of Salvadora persica (SP) was utilized as a reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of gold (AuNPs) and copper (CuNPs) nanoparticles. Results: UV-Vis spectra of the AuNPs and CuNPs showed peaks at the wavelengths of 530 nm and 440 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy showed that nanoparticles exhibited a mainly spherical form, with a distribution range of 100 to 113 nm in diameter for AuNPs and of 130 to 135 nm in diameter for CuNPs. While energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was able to confirm the existence of AuNPs and CuNPs. The alcoholic extract of the fruit SP was analyzed by GC-MS in order to identify whether or not it contained any active phytochemicals. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence capping functional biomolecules of SP on the surface of nanoparticles that acts as stabilizers. Analysis of the zeta potential revealed that NPs with high degree of stability, as demonstrated by a strong negative potential value in the range of 25.2 to 28.7 mV. Results showed that both green AuNPs and CuNPs have potential antimicrobial activity against human pathogens such gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria, with CuNPs having antimicrobial activity higher than AuNPs. In addition, AuNPs and CuNPs have promising antioxidant and anticancer properties when applied to MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Studies of molecular docking of SP bioactive compounds were conducted against methenyl tetrahydrofolate synthetase. Among all of them, Beta - Sitosterol was the most prominent. Conclusion: These AuNPs and CuNPs are particularly appealing in a variety of applications in the pharmaceutical and medicinal industries due to their economical and environmentally friendly production.

Salvadora persica attenuates DMBA-induced mammary cancer through downregulation oxidative stress, estrogen receptor expression and proliferation and augmenting apoptosis.

Naturally occurring phytochemicals especially polyphenolic compounds have received increasing attention as chemopreventive agents. The chemopreventive potential of the ethanolic extract of Salvadora persica L. fruits SP, (the arak tree or miswak) on 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female albino rats was investigated in this work. Ethanolic extract of SP fruits was supplemented to the experimental groups at a concentration of 500 mg/kg body weight for 22 weeks. Administration of SP extract suppressed DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis as revealed by incidence of tumors in histological investigation. There was a significant reduction in cell proliferation and an increase in apoptosis with downregulation of estrogen receptor expression in the mammary tissue of SP-treated animals. Additionally, SP extract prevented the oxidative damage induced in breast tissues of DMBA-treated rats. SP treatment also decreased the viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and induced early and late apoptosis and induced S cell cycle arrest. The chemo-preventive properties and anticancer effects of SP could be attributed to its anti-oxidative and a high percentage of phenolic compounds and esters which were detected here in the SP fruit extract.

Simultaneous determination of cefixime and erdosteine in combined dosage form using validated spectrophotometric methods.

Four accurate and precise spectrophotometric methods were developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of a binary mixture of cefixime (CEF) and erdosteine (ERD) without previous separation. Method A was first derivative ratio spectrophotometric method (1DD) where the amplitudes at 310 and 315 nm and the amplitude at 248 nm were chosen to simultaneously estimate CEF and ERD, respectively. Method B depends on ratio difference spectrophotometry (RDSM), in which the difference in amplitudes at 325 and 326 nm on the ratio spectrum of the mixture was directly proportional to the concentration of CEF; independent of the interfering component. Similarly, the amplitude difference between 236 and 249 nm on the ratio spectrum was used for the determination of ERD. Method C was based on simultaneous determination of CEF and ERD using classical least squares (CLS) and partial least squares (PLS) chemometric techniques. Method D was the mean centering of ratio spectra (MCR) at 313 and 237 nm for the determination of CEF and ERD respectively. The developed methods were successfully employed to the determination of CEF and ERD in laboratory prepared mixtures and dosage form showing satisfactory recoveries. Methods validation was performed according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The obtained results were statistically compared to those of the reference method, revealing no significant difference with respect to precision and accuracy. Precision and cost effectiveness of the developed methods permit their application in quality control laboratories for the determination of the binary mixture.

Univariate and multivariate spectrophotometric methods for simultaneous determination of avobenzone and octinoxate in pure form and in cosmetic formulations: A comparative study.

Simple, economic and precise spectrophotometric and chemometric techniques were used to determine UV filters namely; avobenzone (AV) and octinoxate (OCT) simultaneously in pure form and in cosmetic formulations in concentration range (2-10 µg·mL-1) for both drugs. The spectrophotometric technique includes five different methods; Method (A) is first derivative (D1) spectrophotometry at 380.6 nm for AV and 276.2 nm for OCT, Method (B) is first derivative of ratio spectra (DR1) at 352.8 nm for AV and 312.2 nm for OCT, Method (C) is ratio difference spectrophotometry (RD) at 356 nm and nm 347.2 nm for AV and at 311.6 nm and 281 nm for OCT, Method (D) is mean centering spectrophotometry (MCR) at 356 nm for AV and 301.8 nm for OCT and method (E) is modified Vierordt's method which involves absorbance measurement at 358 nm for AV and 309.2 nm for OCT and determination of the concentration of x and y from the two simultaneous equations. The chemometric technique includes multivariate calibration methods; partial least squares (PLS) and principle component regression (PCR) using the absorption spectra. The proposed methods were applied for determination of (AV) and (OCT) simultaneously in pure form and in cosmetic formulations. These methods were validated according to ICH guidelines.

Molecular characterization of the grape seeds extract's effect against chemically induced liver cancer: In vivo and in vitro analyses.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer property of grape seed extract (GSE) during early stages of developing liver cancer using a two-stage carcinogenic model combining diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-Acetyl Aminofluorene (2-AAF). Administration of GSE at doses 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg per day started at the beginning of promotion periods and continued for 14 weeks. GSE dramatically inhibited pre-neoplastic foci formation as well as significantly decreased the number and the area of placental glutathione-S-transferase in livers of DEN-2AAF-treated rats by approximately 4 & 10 fold deductions, respectively. GSE's effects were associated with induced apoptosis, reduced cell proliferation, decreased oxidative stress and down regulation of histone deacetylase activity and inflammation makers, such as cyclooxygenase 2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor-kappa B-p65 and p- phosphorylated tumor necrosis factor receptor expressions in liver. GSE treatment also decreased the viability of HepG2 cells and induced early and late apoptosis through activating caspase-3 and Bax. Furthermore, GSE induced G2/M and G1/S cell cycle arrest. The present study provides evidence that the GSE's anticancer effect is mediated through the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, modulating oxidative damage and suppressing inflammatory response.