Fabrication and Characterization of a Three-Dimensional Fibrin Gel Model to Evaluate Anti-Proliferative Effects of Astragalus hamosus Plant Extract on Breast Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Breast Cancer (BC) is a malignancy with high mortality among women. Recently, scaffold-based three-dimensional (3D) models have been developed for anti-cancer drug research. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of Astragalus hamosus (A. hamosus) in 3D fibrin gel against MCF-7 cell line. We have also evaluated anti-proliferative effect of A. hamosus differences between 3D and 2D cultures. METHODS: The fibrin gel formulation was first optimized by testing the structural and mechanical properties. Then the cytotoxic effect of A. hamosus extract was assessed on MCF-7 cells by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL method and flow cytometry. Cell cycle and proliferation were analyzed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis-related gene expression such as Bcl-2, caspase-3, -8 and -9 were quantified by real time-PCR. RESULTS: TUNEL staining showed a significant damage accompanied with cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that apoptosis increased after treatment with A. hamosus extract in 3D culture model compared to 2D culture. The A. hamosus extract arrested cell cycle in the S and G2/M phases in 3D model while in the 2D culture G0/G1 phase was affected. Treatment with A. hamosus extract led to upregulation of the caspase-3, -8 and -9 genes and downregulation of the Ki-67 in the 3D-culture compared with the 2D culture. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that A. hamosus extract could be used as a therapeutic candidate for BC due to its anti-proliferative effects. Furthermore, 3D fibrin gel could be better than 2D-cultured cells in simulating important tumor characteristics in vivo, namely, anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic features.

An investigation of the effect of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) extract on body resistance toward thirst by examining urine and blood variables in laboratory mice.

OBJECTIVE: Portulaca oleracea L. (PO) is abundantly found in Iran and is used in both nutritional and traditional medicine. Delaying thirst is one of the uses of the medicinal product of this plant which has been emphasized in Iranian traditional medicine though it was not proven scientifically. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of PO product on thirst. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this research, two main Set of experiments were considered: acute water deprivation group and chronic water restriction group. The urine parameters analyzed were osmolality, and sodium, and potassium concentration, and blood parameters evaluated included blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, osmolality, and sodium, and potassium concentration. The PO dosages were 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. RESULTS: The findings showed that the effects of PO 100 and 200 (mg/kg) on blood and urine parameters were greater than that of PO 50 mg/kg, but there were no significant differences between them. CONCLUSION: In general, these findings indicate that PO extract can play an important role in reducing thirst symptoms most likely by affecting intra- and extra-cellular environments. Also, it is recommended to study the beneficial effects of this plant on diseases that lead to hypokalemia or blood potassium depletion.

Synthesis and application of the calcium alginate/SWCNT-Gl as a bio-nanocomposite for the curcumin delivery.

This study focused on preparation of calcium alginate/single-walled carbon nanotube modified by glucose (CA/SWCNT-Gl) and its application as a carrier for the drug delivery system. This bionanocomposite was synthesized by using ultrasonication as a green method. Several quantitative ratios of the SWCNTs-Gl and the alginate were applied to the assessment of formulation for the curcumin entrapment. It was optimized by employing at 1:1 the SWCNTs-Gl to calcium alginate ratio. The structure of calcium alginate/SWCNTs-Gl was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, DLS and TGA techniques. The nanocomposite as a carrier was examined for measurement of entrapment efficiency, loading capacity and release study for curcumin as a hydrophobic drug. The release of curcumin from carrier-curcumin have been measured in the pH 4.5 and pH 7.5 which revealed a fast release during the first hours followed by a gradual drug release. The outcomes indicated that the nanocomposite had great potential as a carrier and enabled for drug delivery systems. Further, the carrier displayed good antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Likewise, better antibacterial activity of carrier-curcumin was observed in comparison with curcumin ones.