Anticancer effect of umbelliferone on MKN-45 and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines.

In this study, the anticancer activity of umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin-UMB) was investigated in MKN-45 human gastric cancer and MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect of UMB on MKN-45 and MIA PaCa-2 cells was determined by WST-8 cell viability assay; the effect on colony formation and migration potential by colony forming assay and wound healing/cell migration assay. Apoptotic effect of UMB was determined by measuring the change in mitochondrial membrane potentials, reactive oxygen species levels, and Caspase-3 activities in cells. Anticancer drugs cisplatin and gemcitabine were used as positive controls in experiments, and NIH/Swiss 3 T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells were used as a healthy cell group. The results of this study showed that umbelliferone had a significant cytotoxic effect in MKN-45 and MIA PaCa-2 cells, especially after 72 h treatment, while its cytotoxic effect in NIH/3 T3 cells was low. Furthermore, UMB reduces significantly the potential of cells to colonize and migrate; it has been determined that it causes apoptosis by decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, increasing intracellular ROS levels and Caspase-3 activity. UMB was found to have more anticancer effect on MIA PaCa-2 cells compared to MKN-45 cells. This showed that UMB has a cell-selective effect.

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of 1,2-diborolanes with strong donor substitutes on human cancer cells.

In recent years, boron compounds have become more common as chemotherapy agents against certain types of cancers. Along with the development of boron-based therapeutic agents have come investigations into the various cancers and biochemical and molecular mechanisms affected by boron compounds and the relationships between boron compounds and chemical protection against cancer. In this preliminary study, the effects of new 1,2-N-substituted-1,2-diborolane derivatives on types of breast and liver cancers were examined for the first time. Four were found to significantly affect the cell viabilities and mitochondrial membrane potential changes in MCF-7, HepG2 and Hep3B cancer cells. Each was prepared in n-hexane at various concentrations (5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µg/mL). Human peripheral blood lymphocytes were used as control cells. Compounds 1, 2, 3a, and 3b 1,2-diborolane derivatives selectively killed cancer cells, but compound 1 was cytotoxic in a concentration-dependent manner on HepG2 and Hep3B and only at concentrations of at least 75 µg/mL on MCF-7 cells. Compound 3a exhibited cytotoxic effect on lymphocytes at 75 and 100 µgmL-1 concentrations, but compounds 1, 2 and 3b, 3c and 3d have not possessed significant cytotoxic effect on lymphocytes. Compounds 3c and 3d have not possessed significant cytotoxic effects. Mitochondrial membrane potential assay results supported these findings. Our results reveal that 1,2-diborolane derivates have high cytotoxic and apoptotic activities on human hepatocarcinoma cells and are therefore potential candidates in the development of new drugs against liver cancer.

Genotoxic risk assessment in professionals working hairdressers area using buccal micronucleus assay, in Aydin City, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the genotoxic risk of professional hairdressers in Aydin City, Turkey, through investigating the micronucleus frequencies in buccal mucosa epithelial cells. All the hairdresser working hairdresser area were included in the genotoxic risk group (GRG = 20) in Aydin City, Turkey. The control group (CG = 20) comprised healthy individuals matching the gender and age of the GRG. Buccal mucosal scraping from all the 40 subjects of GRG (10 women and 10 men) and CG (10 women and 10 men) was stained with Giemsa stain and observed under light microscope (×40) for the presence of micronuclei (M 10 N) and karyolysis, pyknosis, condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis, nuclear bud, and binucleates in the exfoliated epithelial cells. There are significance between the incidence of MN in GRG and CG (P = <0.005) using one-way ANOVA, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z test, and Spearman Rank Correlation Tests.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Inula viscosa leaf extracts with Allium test.

I. viscosa has been used for years in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiseptic, and paper antiphlogistic activities. In this study, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of I. viscosa leaf extracts on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa have been examined. Onion bulbs were exposed to 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, and 10 mg/ml concentrations of the extracts for macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Tap water has been used as a negative control and Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) (2 * 10(-2) M) has been used as a positive control. The test concentrations have been determined according to doses which are recommended for use in alternative medicine. There has been statistically significant (P < .05) inhibition of root growth depending on concentration by the extracts when compared with the control groups. All the tested extracts have been observed to have cytotoxic effects on cell division in A. cepa. I. viscosa leaf extract induces the total number of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei (MNC) formations in A. cepa root tip cells significantly when compared with control groups. Also, this paper shows for the first time the induction of cell death, ghost cells, cells with membrane damage, and binucleated cells by extract treatment. These results suggest the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the I. viscosa leaf extracts on A. cepa.