Characterization and stability evaluation of Egyptian propolis extract nano-capsules and their application.

The increasing demand for natural products and biotechnological activities from bees facilitate their widespread use in food preservation and beneficial effects on humans. This study aimed to prepare and characterize the nano-capsules of Qaluiobia (PQG) governorates propolis extracted with water, ethanol and supercritical fluid-carbon dioxide at 50 °C with co-solvent. Propolis bioavailability was analyzed and introduced to prepare crackers to extend their shelf life. Nano-encapsulation was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and antioxidant activity. Ethanol and supercritical fluid-carbon dioxide (SCF-CO2) at 50 °C with ethanol as co-solvent recorded higher yield, antioxidant activities, total phenolics and total flavonoids. SCF-CO2 extracts had a higher flavonoid concentration. It was revealed that propolis nano-capsules had high-temperature stability and cytotoxic effects against the three tested human cancer cell lines (i.e. PC3, MCF7 and HePG2). The higher overall acceptability of crackers fortified with PQG was achieved with SCF-CO2 at 50 °C and ethanol extract nano-capsules, i.e. 86.57% and 86.29% respectively. The higher ability to retain antioxidant activity reduces the increase of peroxide value (PV), preventing rancidity and increasing the shelf life of crackers during the storage period. Practical application: This study can provide a suitable method for extracting bioactive compounds from propolis, and improve the biological properties and activities by nano-encapsulation, also reveals the extent of its use as a natural antioxidant and anticancer and its application in bakery products as a functional food.

The effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts against urethane-induced lung cancer in rat model.

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world, and chemotherapy can have unfavorable side effects. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the therapeutic anticancer role of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (MLE) in urethane-induced lung cancer in adult male albino rats as compared to standard chemotherapy. Rats were categorized into four groups (10 rats/group), including negative control rats, urethane lung cancer model rats, MLE-treated lung cancer rats, and cisplatin-treated rats. Estimation of lung index, some biochemical markers of oxidative stress, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and histopathology and transmission electron microscopy were performed. The lung index was significantly increased about one-fold in urethane lung cancer model rats, but it decreased after MLE treatment. Also, MLE was able to improve the induced changes in glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde concentration to be 3.8 ± 0.4 mg/g, 900.6 ± 58 U/g, and 172 ± 24 nmol/g, respectively. Additionally, after MLE treatment, the expression of EGFR-mRNA increased by about 50%. Our light and electron microscopic examination revealed that urethane group showed abnormally distributed excessive collagen fibers and the development of papillary adenocarcinoma from hyperplastic Clara cells in the lumen of terminal bronchiole with bronchiolar wall thickening, alveolar collapse, and inflammation. MLE group has moderate amount of collagen fiber and absence of tumor mass and provided more or less restoration of normal lung histology. Moreover, MLE was able to ameliorate the induced changes in mucin and PCNA positive cells in the lung by 10.8 ± 2.3%. Collectively, the current study showed that MLE could be used as anticancer agents alleviating changes associated with lung cancer in a urethane-induced lung cancer bearing rats thereby representing alternative options to toxic chemotherapy.

CXCL-10 and Interleukin-6 are reliable serum markers for vitiligo activity: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional multicenter study aimed to evaluate serum CXCL-10, as an activity marker for vitiligo, and compare it with other putative serum and tissue markers. Serum CXCL-10 was compared to interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-17 using ELISA in 55 non-segmental vitiligo patients (30 active and 25 stable) and 30 healthy controls. Marginal skin biopsy was taken for immunohistochemical evaluation of CD8+T cells and CXCL-10+ve cells. Serum levels of CXCL-10, IL-17, and IL-6 were elevated in all vitiligo patients compared to controls (p < .05). All investigated serum markers were higher in active versus stable vitiligo. Tissue expression of CXCL-10+ve cells and CD8+ve T cells was stronger in vitiligo patients compared to controls, and tissue CXCL-10+ve cell expression was stronger in active versus stable cases. Positive correlations were noted between the different serum and tissue markers. CXCL-10 was the most specific, whereas IL-6 was the most sensitive serum marker to distinguish active from stable disease.

Role of glutathione-S-transferase P1 hypermethylation in molecular detection of prostate cancer.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the quantification of glutathione-S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene hypermethylation in molecular detection of prostate cancer in tissue biopsies. METHODS: One hundred fourteen male patients were enrolled in the study; 44 patients with histopathologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma, 20 patients with variable degrees of prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, and 50 with benign prostatic hyperplasia, who served as a control group. Real-time quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used for assessment of methylation of the promoter region of the GSTP1 gene. RESULTS: Methylation of the GSTP1 promotor was detected in 24% of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 60% of patients with prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, and in 86.3% of prostate adenocarcinoma patients. A statistically significant difference in the GSTP1/MYOD1 (myogenic differentiation 1gene) methylation ratios among the three groups was observed (p=0.0001). At the cutoff value of 9, GSTP1/MYOD1 methylation ratios showed sensitivity in the detection of prostate adenocarcinoma of 71.8% and specificity of 96%. CONCLUSIONS: Methylation of the GSTP1 promotor is a common molecular alteration in prostate cancer that may be a useful adjunct to serum screening tests and digital rectal examination findings and the use of quantitative real-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction is a promising technique that often distinguishes malignant from nonmalignant prostate disease.