RESUMEN
Human phospholipase A2 group IIa (sPLA2IIa) is an inflammatory enzyme that plays a significant role in tumorigenesis. Inhibiting the sPLA2IIa enzyme with an effective molecule can reduce the inflammatory response and halt cancer progression. The present study evaluates quercitrin, a biflavonoid, for sPLA2IIa inhibition and anticancer activity. Quercitrin inhibited sPLA2IIa activity to a greater extent-at 86.24% ± 1.41 with an IC50 value of 8.77 µM ± 0.9. The nature of sPLA2IIa inhibition was evaluated by increasing calcium concentration from 2.5 to 15 µM and substrate from 20 to 120 nM, which did not alter the level of inhibition. Intrinsic fluorescence and far UV-CD studies confirmed the direct interaction of quercitrin with the sPLA2IIa enzyme. This significantly reduced the sPLA2IIa-induced hemolytic activity and mouse paw edema from 97.32% ± 1.23-16.91% ± 2.03 and 172.87% ± 1.9-118.41% ± 2.53, respectively. As an anticancer activity, quercitrin reduced PC-3 cell viability from 98.66% ± 2.51-18.3% ± 1.52 and significantly decreased the IL-6 level in a dose-dependent manner from 98.35% ± 2.2-37.12% ± 2.4. It increased the mean survival time (MST) of EAC-bearing Swiss albino mice from 30 to 35 days. It obeyed Lipinski's rule of five, suggesting a druggable property. Thus, all the above experimental results were promising and encouraged further investigation into developing quercitrin as a therapeutic drug for both inflammatory diseases and cancers.
RESUMEN
The article highlights the pioneering efforts towards establishment of a family clinic as a model for provision of primary health care to the community at family level in Libya. Home visits were undertaken by health teams to introduce the clinic and record demographic and sociomedical data. Families were invited to attend the clinic for a complete health examination. It was largely a young population with an average family size of 7.1. The houses were generally overcrowded. The majority of the heads of families had no formal education or skilled occupation but 98.1% had gainful employment. The vital statistics of the population, though comparable to the national figures, reflect a better health status. The infant mortality rate of the reference population was 25.9 per 1000 live births compared with 32.8 for the whole of Libya. Most reproductive age women (81.5%) breast fed their children for six months or more and 4% used contraceptives. The overall morbidity rate was 255 per 1000 population and the morbidity pattern, with a predominance of infections, was typical of a developing country. Each case diagnosed during the survey was appropriately treated and those with chronic diseases are being followed up. It is felt that such family based comprehensive health care units will go a long way in providing primary health care throughout Libya.