Assessment of the anticancer potential of certain phenolic and flavonoid components in ginger capsules using colorectal cancer cell lines coupled with quantitative analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cause of malignant tumor death. The development of novel, more effective drugs is desperately needed to treat CRC. Zingiber officinale is believed to possess anticancer properties due to its flavonoids and phenols. Using Soxhlet (SOXT) and maceration (MACR) techniques, the present study aimed to evaluate the amounts of quercetin, gallic acid, rutin, naringin, and caffeic acid in ginger capsules of Z. officinale. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ultraviolet was used for separation and quantitation. In vitro toxicity evaluation of ginger capsules on the CRC cell line HT-29 was also conducted to assess the anticancer activity of the supplement. The cell line HT-29 (HTB-38) colorectal adenocarcinoma was utilized for the antiproliferative effect of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. Ginger herbal supplement extract at dosages of 200 and 100 µg had strong cytotoxic effects (IC50 < 50 µg/mL) on HT-29 CRC cells via MACR. This extract is comparable to the SOXT extract, which has an IC50 of less than 50 µg/mL. The anticancer effect of ginger herbal supplement formulations against CRC lines was investigated, and the results obtained from both the MACR and SOXT extraction procedures were noteworthy. The quercetin content was the highest of all the extracts according to the HPLC data.

In Vitro Effects of Postmetabolites from Limosilactobacillus fermentum 53 on the Survival and Proliferation of HT-29 Cells.

Naturally fermented dairy products are an important component of the human diet. They are a valuable source of nutrients as well as vitamins and minerals. Their importance as a source of probiotic bacterial strains should not be overlooked. A number of studies highlight the positive effects of species of the probiotic lactic acid bacteria on the intestinal microbiome and the overall homeostasis of the body, as well as a complementary treatment for some diseases. However, data on the effects on the intestinal epithelial cells of postmetabolites released by probiotic bacteria are incomplete. This is likely due to the fact that these effects are species- and strain-specific. In the present study, we investigated the effects of postmetabolites produced by a pre-selected candidate probiotic strain Limosilactobacillus fermentum on HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells. Our data showed a pronounced proliferative effect, evaluated by flow cytometry, quantification of the cell population and determination of the mitotic index. This was accompanied by the stabilization of the cell monolayer, measured by an increase in TEER (transepithelial electric resistance) and the reorganization of actin filaments. The data obtained are a clear indication of the positive effects that the products secreted by L. fermentum strain 53 have on intestinal epithelial cells.

Timing and Mechanisms of Nanodiamond Uptake in Colon Cancer Cells.

Introduction: As nanodiamonds become more and more widely used for intracellular labelling and measurements, the task of delivering these nanoparticles inside cells becomes more and more important. Certain cell types easily take up nanodiamonds, while others require special procedures. Methods: In previous research, we found that HT-29 cells (a colon cancer cell line), which are notoriously difficult in the context of nanodiamond internalization, show increased uptake rates, when pre-treated with trypsin- ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (trypsin-EDTA). However, the uptake mechanism has not been studied before. This article focuses on a more detailed investigation of the reasons underlying this phenomenon. We start by identifying the timing of fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) uptake in trypsin-EDTA pre-treated cells. We then use a combination of chemical inhibitors and Immunocytochemistry to identify the main pathways employed by HT-29 cells in the internalization process. Results and Discussion: We investigate how these pathways are affected by the trypsin-EDTA pre-treatment and conclude by offering possible explanations for this phenomenon. We found that nanodiamonds are internalized via different pathways. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis proves to be the dominating mechanism. Trypsin-EDTA treatment increases particle uptake and affects the uptake mechanism.

Cytotoxicity and Chemotaxonomic Significance of Saponins from Wild and Cultured Asparagus Shoots.

The shoots of Asparagus L. are consumed worldwide, although most species belonging to this genus have a restricted range, and several taxa remain unstudied. In this work, a total of four taxa from different locations were scrutinized and compared with cultivated A. officinalis. All shoots were screened for saponins via LC-MS, and in vitro antiproliferative activities against the HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line were assessed via the MTT assay. The total saponins (TS) contained in the crude extracts ranged from 710.0 (A. officinalis) to 1258.6 mg/100 g dw (A. acutifolius). The richness of the compounds detected in this work stands out; a total of 47 saponins have been detected and quantified in the edible parts (shoots) of five taxa of Asparagus. The structure of all the saponins found present skeletons of the furostane and spirostane type. In turn, the structures with a furostane skeleton are divided into unsaturated and dioxygenated types, both in the 20-22 position. The sum of dioscin and derivatives varied largely among the studied taxa, reaching the following percentages of TS: 27.11 (A. officinalis), 18.96 (A. aphyllus), 5.37 (A. acutifolius), and 0.59 (A. albus); while in A. horridus, this compound remains undetected. Aspachiosde A, D, and M varied largely among samples, while a total of seven aspaspirostanosides were characterized in the analyzed species. The hierarchical cluster analysis of the saponin profiles clearly separated the various taxa and demonstrated that the taxonomic position is more important than the place from which the samples were acquired. Thus, saponin profiles have chemotaxonomic significance in Asparagus taxa. The MTT assay showed dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effects of all saponins extracts on HT-29 cancer cells, and the strongest cell growth inhibition was exercised by A. albus and A. acutifolius (GI50 of 125 and 175 µg/mL). This work constitutes a whole approach to evaluating the saponins from the shoots of different Asparagus taxa and provides arguments for using them as functional foods.

α­Phellandrene enhances the apoptosis of HT­29 cells induced by 5­fluorouracil by modulating the mitochondria­dependent pathway.

α­Phellandrene (α­PA), a natural constituent of herbs, inhibits cancer cell viability and proliferation. 5­Fluorouracil (5­FU) is a frequently utilized chemotherapeutic medicine for the treatment of colon cancer, which works by triggering cancer cell apoptosis. The present study examined how the combination of α­PA and 5­FU affects the suppression of human colon cancer cells by promoting apoptosis. The impact of this treatment on cell viability, apoptosis, and the expression levels of Bcl­2 family members, caspase family members and mitochondria­related molecules in HT­29 cells was assessed by the MTT assay, immunocytochemistry, western blotting and quantitative PCR. The combination of 5­FU and α­PA had a synergistic inhibitory effect on cell viability, as determined by assessing the combination index value. Bax protein expression levels were higher in the 50, 100 or 250 µM α­PA combined with 5­FU groups compared with those in the 5­FU alone group (P<0.05). By contrast, Bcl­2 protein expression levels and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) were lower in the 100 or 250 µM α­PA combined with 5­FU groups than those in the 5­FU alone group (P<0.05). In addition, hexokinase­2 (HK­2) protein expression levels were lower in the 50, 100 or 250 µM α­PA combined with 5­FU groups than those in the 5­FU alone group (P<0.05). Compared with 5­FU alone, after HT­29 cells were treated with 50, 100 or 250 µM α­PA combined with 5­FU, the mRNA expression levels of extrinsic­induced apoptotic molecules, including caspase­8 and Bid, were higher (P<0.05). Treatment with 50, 100 or 250 µM α­PA combined with 5­FU also increased the mRNA expression levels of cytochrome c, caspase­9 and caspase­3, regulating intrinsic apoptosis (P<0.05). These results showed that α­PA and 5­FU had a synergistic effect on reducing the viability of human colon cancer HT­29 cells by inducing extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. The mechanism by which apoptosis is induced may involve the intrinsic apoptosis pathway that activates the mitochondria­dependent pathway, including regulating the expression levels of Bcl­2 family members, including Bax, Bcl­2 and Bid, regulating MMP and HK­2 expression levels, and increasing the expression of caspase cascade molecules, including caspase­9 and caspase­3. In addition, it may involve the extrinsic apoptosis pathway that activates caspase­8 and caspase­3 leading to apoptosis.

Comparative toxicological analysis of two pristine carbon nanomaterials (graphene oxide and aminated graphene oxide) and their corresponding degraded forms using human in vitro models.

Despite the wide application of graphene-based materials, the information of the toxicity associated to some specific derivatives such as aminated graphene oxide is scarce. Likewise, most of these studies analyse the pristine materials, while the available data regarding the harmful effects of degraded forms is very limited. In this work, the toxicity of graphene oxide (GO), aminated graphene oxide (GO-NH2), and their respective degraded forms (dGO and dGO-NH2) obtained after being submitted to high-intensity sonication was evaluated applying in vitro assays in different models of human exposure. Viability and ROS assays were performed on A549 and HT29 cells, while their skin irritation potential was tested on a reconstructed human epidermis model. The obtained results showed that GO-NH2 and dGO-NH2 substantially decrease cell viability in the lung and gastrointestinal models, being this reduction slightly higher in the cells exposed to the degraded forms. In contrast, this parameter was not affected by GO and dGO which, conversely, showed the ability to induce higher levels of ROS than the pristine and degraded aminated forms. Furthermore, none of the materials is skin irritant. Altogether, these results provide new insights about the potential harmful effects of the selected graphene-based nanomaterials in comparison with their degraded counterparts.

Photosensitizing effects and physicochemical properties of chlorophyll a derivatives with hydrophilic oligoethylene glycol fragments at the macrocycle periphery.

In this work, screening studies of the cytotoxic effect of chlorins with fragments of di-, tri-, and pentaethylene glycol at the macrocycle periphery in relation to HeLa, A549, and HT29 cells were performed. It is shown that, despite different hydrophobicity, all the compounds studied have a comparable photodynamic effect. The conjugate of chlorin e6 with pentaethylene glycol, which has the lowest tendency to association among the studied compounds with tropism for low density lipoproteins and the best characteristics of the formation of molecular complexes with Tween 80, has a significant difference in dark and photoinduced toxicity (ratio IC50(dark)/IC50(photo) approximately 2 orders of magnitude for all cell lines), which allows to hope for a sufficiently large "therapeutic window". A study of the interaction of this compound with HeLa cells shows that the substance penetrates the cell and, after red light irradiation induces ROS appearance inside the cell, associated, apparently, with the photogeneration of singlet oxygen. These data indicate that photoinduced toxic effects are caused by damage to intracellular structures as a result of oxidative stress. Programmed type of cell death characterized with caspase-3 induction is prevailing. So, the conjugate of chlorin e6 with pentaethylene glycol is a promising antitumor PS that can be successfully solubilized with Tween 80, which makes it suitable for further in vivo studies.

Solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SMEDDS) prepared by spray drying to improve the oral bioavailability of cinnamaldehyde (CA).

The aim of this study was to prepare a solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SMEDDS) of cinnamaldehyde (CA) by spray drying technique to improve the oral bioavailability of CA. The preparation of CA S-SMEDDS with maltodextrin as the solid carrier, a core-wall material mass ratio of 1:1, a solid content of 20% (w/v), an inlet air temperature of 150 °C, an injection speed of 5.2 mL/min, and an atomization pressure of 0.1 MPa was determined by using the encapsulation rate as the index of investigation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the possibility of CA being encapsulated in S-SMEDDS in an amorphous form. The in-vitro release showed that the total amount of CA released by S-SMEDDS was approximately 1.3 times higher than that of the CA suspension. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the relative oral bioavailability of CA S-SMEDDS was also increased to 1.6-fold compared to CA suspension. Additionally, we explored the mechanism of CA uptake and transport of lipid-soluble drugs CA by S-SMEDDS in a Caco-2/HT29 cell co-culture system for the first time. The results showed that CA S-SMEDDS uptake on the co-culture model was mainly an energy-dependent endocytosis mechanism, including lattice protein-mediated endocytosis and vesicle-mediated endocytosis. Transport experiments showed that CA S-SMEDDS significantly increased the permeability of CA in this model. These findings suggested that CA S-SMEDDS is an effective oral solid dosage form for increasing the oral bioavailability of lipid-soluble drug CA.

YOLO and residual network for colorectal cancer cell detection and counting.

The HT-29 cell line, derived from human colon cancer, is valuable for biological and cancer research applications. Early detection is crucial for improving the chances of survival, and researchers are introducing new techniques for accurate cancer diagnosis. This study introduces an efficient deep learning-based method for detecting and counting colorectal cancer cells (HT-29). The colorectal cancer cell line was procured from a company. Further, the cancer cells were cultured, and a transwell experiment was conducted in the lab to collect the dataset of colorectal cancer cell images via fluorescence microscopy. Of the 566 images, 80 % were allocated to the training set, and the remaining 20 % were assigned to the testing set. The HT-29 cell detection and counting in medical images is performed by integrating YOLOv2, ResNet-50, and ResNet-18 architectures. The accuracy achieved by ResNet-18 is 98.70 % and ResNet-50 is 96.66 %. The study achieves its primary objective by focusing on detecting and quantifying congested and overlapping colorectal cancer cells within the images. This innovative work constitutes a significant development in overlapping cancer cell detection and counting, paving the way for novel advancements and opening new avenues for research and clinical applications. Researchers can extend the study by exploring variations in ResNet and YOLO architectures to optimize object detection performance. Further investigation into real-time deployment strategies will enhance the practical applicability of these models.

Chlorogenic acid induces apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in colorectal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Apoptotic agents from natural products like phenolic compounds can be used effectively in the treatment of cancer. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of the phenolic compounds in medicinal plants with anti-cancer properties. In this research, we aimed to explore the anti-cancer mode of action of CGA on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in vitro conditions. METHODS: HT-29 and HEK-293 cells were cultured after MTT assay for 24 h with CGA 100 µM, and without CGA. Then, flow cytometry assays and the expression of apoptosis-related genes including caspase 3 and 9, Bcl-2 and Bax, and cell cycle-related genes including P21, P53 and NF-κB at mRNA and protein levels were examined. Finally, we measured the amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). RESULTS: The cell viability of all two-cell lines decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, CGA induces cell cycle arrest in HT-29 cells by increasing the expression of P21 and P53. It also induces apoptosis in HT-29 cells by mitigating Bcl-2 and NF-κB expression and elevating caspase 3 and 9 expression and ROS levels. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in the colon cancer cell line by CGA, it can be concluded that CGA is a suitable option for the treatment of colon cancer.

Evaluation of SgK269 expression in colon cancer patients and the effects of hAMSCs secretome on tumor invasion through SgK269/c-Src/p-P130Cas/p-Paxillin/p-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in HT-29 colon cancer cells.

Colon cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Stem cells have unique characteristics and are considered as a novel therapeutic platform for cancer. Sugen Kinase 269 (SgK269) is considered as an oncogenic scaffolding pseudo kinase which governs the rearranging of the cytoskeleton, cellular motility, and invasion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of SgK269 in colon cancer patients and explore the therapeutic effects of human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs) on invasion and proliferation of colon cancer cells (HT-29) through analyzing SgK269/c-Src/p-P130Cas/p-Paxillin/p-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In this regard, we collected 30 samples from colon cancer patients and evaluated SgK269 expression using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Next, we employed a co-culture system using Transwell 6-well plates and after 72 h, tumor growth promotion and invasion were analyzed in hAMSCs-treated HT-29 cells through SgK269/c-Src/p-P130Cas/p-Paxillin/p-ERK1/2/Rac signaling pathway using qRT-PCR, western blot method, MTT assay, wound healing assay, and DAPI staining. Our results showed upregulation of SgK269 in colon cancer patients. Treatment of HT-29 colon cancer cells with hAMSCs secretome can inhibit SgK269/c-Src/p-P130Cas/p-Paxillin/p-ERK1/2/Rac signaling pathway and the resulting suppression of cell invasion and proliferation. Our results suggest that SgK269 is an important target in colon cancer therapy and MSCs secretome may be an effective therapeutic approach to inhibit colon cancer cell invasion and proliferation through SgK269/c-Src/p-P130Cas/p-Paxillin/p-ERK1/2/Rac signaling pathway.

Piper nigrum Extract Inhibits the Growth of Human Colorectal Cancer HT-29 Cells by Inducing p53-Mediated Apoptosis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy of the digestive tract with the second highest mortality rate globally. Piper nigrum is a widely used traditional medicinal plant, exhibiting antitumor activity against various tumor cells. At present, research on the effect of Piper nigrum on CRC is limited to in vitro cytotoxicity, lacking comprehensive mechanism investigations. This study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect and mechanism of Piper nigrum extract (PNE) on HT-29 cells. Firstly, we identified the chemical components of PNE. Then, MTT assay, colony formation assay, JC-1 staining, and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effect of PNE on HT-29 cells in vitro. A xenograft model, histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry, and western blot were used to evaluate the tumor growth inhibitory activity and mechanism of PNE in vivo. The results indicated that PNE could inhibit cell proliferation and colony formation, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, induce cell apoptosis in vitro, and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, PNE could regulate p53 and its downstream proteins, and subsequently activate the caspase-3 pathway. In summary, PNE probably induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells through the mitochondrial pathway mediated by p53. All these results suggested that PNE might be a potential natural-origin anti-CRC drug candidate.

Isorhamnetin Influences the Viability, Superoxide Production and Interleukin-8 Biosynthesis of Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma HT-29 Cells In Vitro.

Isorhamnetin has gained research interest for its anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and chemoprotective properties. In this study, human colon adenocarcinoma cells were cultured in the presence or absence of different isorhamnetin concentrations (5-150 µM) for 24 h or 48 h of cultivation to explore the impact on several parameters of viability/proliferation (mitochondrial function using an MTT test, metabolic activity, cell membrane integrity and lysosomal activity using a triple test). The intracellular generation of superoxide radicals using an NBT test and ELISA analysis was performed to observe the biosynthesis of interleukin 8 (IL-8) in cells stimulated with zymosan, as well as in basal conditions. The antiproliferative activity of isorhamnetin was demonstrated by significantly reduced values of mitochondrial and metabolic activity, integrity of cell membranes and lysosomal activity. Its high prooxidant potential was reflected by the significantly elevated generation of superoxides even in cells with low viability status. The anti-inflammatory effect of isorhamnetin was evident due to decreased IL-8 production, and the most significant decline in IL-8 concentration was observed after 24 h treatment in cells with induced inflammation. We demonstrated that isorhamnetin can suppress the proliferation of HT-29 cells, and this effect was correlated with pro-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity of isorhamnetin.

Wild Asparagus Shoots Constitute a Healthy Source of Bioactive Compounds.

Wild Asparagus shoots are consumed worldwide, although most species remain understudied. In this work, a total of four wild Asparagus species were collected from different locations and analyzed compared with farmed A. officinalis. Shoots were screened for (i) phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS; (ii) total phenolic acids and total flavonoid content by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods; (iii) vitamin C by HPLC-DAD; (iv) antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ABTS•+ methods; and (v) the in vitro antiproliferative activities against HT-29 colorectal cancer cells by the MTT assay. Phenolics ranged from 107.5 (A. aphyllus) to 605.4 mg/100 g dry weight (dw) (A. horridus). Vitamin C ranged from 15.8 (A. acutifolius) to 22.7 mg/100 g fresh weight (fw) (A. officinalis). The antioxidant activity was similar in all species, standing out in A. officinalis with 5.94 (DPPH) and 4.64 (ABTS) mmol TE/100 g dw. Among phenolics, rutin reached the highest values (574 mg/100 g dw in A. officinalis), followed by quercetin, nicotiflorin, asterin, and narcissin. The MTT assay revealed the inhibitory effects of ethanol extracts against HT-29 cancer cells, highlighting the cell growth inhibition exercised by A. albus (300 µg/mL after 72 h exposure to cells). This work improves knowledge on the phytochemicals and bioactivities of the shoots of wild Asparagus species and confirms their suitability for use as functional foods.

Neolignan derivatives from Penthorum chinense with antitumor activity in human colorectal cancer cells by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

In vitro cytotoxicity-guided isolation based on a MTT assay was conducted for Penthorum chinense Pursh. (Penthoraceae). In the active components (EtOAc extract of P. chinense), eight undescribed neolignans, penthoneolignans A-H (1-8), and two known analogs (9 and 10) were obtained and identified. Their absolute configurations were determined by experimental and computational comparison of electronic circular dichroism spectra analysis. The MTT experiment results of the obtained neolignans on HT29 and LoVo cells indicated previously undescribed neolignans, penthoneolignans A (1) and F (6), showed better cytotoxicity than the positive drug 5-fluorouracil. Then, functional technologies such as the 5-ethyny1-2'-deoxyridine, wound healing, Transwell, and Western blot assays indicated that they could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HT29 and Lovo cells, promote apoptosis by up-regulating Bax, and down-regulating B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase. Furthermore, a Western blot assay combining the Dsh homolog 2 agonist IWP-L6 and the ß-catenin agonist MG132 suggested their mechanism of action was closely related to the inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. In conclusion, previously undescribed neolignans, penthoneolignans A (1) and F (6), may intervene in the development and progression of colorectal cancer by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and have the potential to be drug candidates.

Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei X12 Strain Induces Apoptosis in HT-29 Cells through Activation of the Mitochondrial Pathway.

L. paracasei subsp. paracasei X12 was obtained from traditional cheese produced in northwestern China. In this study, we showed that whole peptidoglycan (WPG), extracted from L. paracasei subsp. paracasei X12, inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, WPG-induced apoptosis was associated with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm), the release of cytochrome c (Cyto-C) from mitochondrialto cytosolic spaces, activation of Caspase 3, and accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that these events were accompanied by upregulation of proapoptotic genes (Bax or Bad) and downregulation of antiapoptotic genes (Bcl-xl). Taken together, our results demonstrated that WPG induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells through activation of the mitochondrial pathway. WPG exerted only minor toxicity upon noncancerous cells and therefore might be used as a natural agent in the treatment of cancer in future.

Evaluation of the constituent compounds, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial potential of Prangos ferulacea plant extract and its effect on Listeria monocytogenes virulence gene expression.

Prangos ferulacea plant is very popular in Iran due to its unique properties in treating diseases and its special flavor. To check the characteristics of this plant, first, its extract was extracted using the maceration method. Its chemical composition was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) that p-coumaric was identified as its main compound, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the presence of functional groups related to phenolic, flavonoid, tannins, and carboxylic acids such as caffeic acid and coumaric acid composition. Total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and beta-carotene were equal to 202.04 ± 5.46 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight, 1,909.46 ± 13 µg quercetin (QE)/g of dry weight, and 2.91 mg/100 g. The antioxidant property of the extract was evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). According to the IC50 obtained for DDPH (274 ± 7.2 µg/mL) and ABTS (120.45 ± 9.6 µg/mL) and FRAP values [1.92 ± 0.05 µg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g of extract], this extract had high antioxidant properties. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against the survival of HT 29 cells that IC50 was 82.15 ± 0.02 µg/mL. The antimicrobial property of the extract was calculated using disk diffusion agar (DDA), well diffusion agar (WDA), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Listeria monocytogenes has the highest sensitivity to this extract and inhibition zone based on DDA and WDA method and with an MIC and MBC equal to 16 and 128 mg/mL has the least resistance. The morphology change of L. monocytogenes strain was proved through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The extract caused a significant reduction in the transcription of genes involved in the film formation ability of L. monocytogenes. The obtained results fully prove the very practical and pragmatic characteristics of P. ferulacea.

The molecular characteristics of colorectal cancer: Impact of Ibuprofen and hyperthermia.

Despite various treatment options available for colorectal cancer, the survival rates for patients remain low. This study investigated the effects of hyperthermia and Ibuprofen on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) viability, proliferation, and gene expression related to tumor suppression, Wnt signaling pathways, proliferation, and apoptosis The cells were exposed to hyperthermia at 42 or 43°C for 3 hours or Ibuprofen at different concentrations (700-1500 µM), and the effects were analyzed through MTT assay, trypan blue staining, and quantitative Real-time PCR. The study used quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to evaluate the effect of hyperthermia and Ibuprofen on the expression of various genes associated with tumor suppression, proliferation, Wnt signaling pathway, and apoptosis. The results revealed that hyperthermia caused a minor reduction in the viability and proliferation of HT-29 cells, but the decrease was not statistically significant (P<0.05). On the other hand, Ibuprofen caused a concentration-dependent decrease in the viability and proliferation of HT-29 cells. Both hyperthermia and Ibuprofen reduced the expression of WNT1, CTNNB1, BCL2, and PCNA genes, and increased the expression of KLF4, P53, and BAX genes. However, the changes in gene expression were not statistically significant in cells treated with hyperthermia. The findings suggest that Ibuprofen is more effective in reducing cancer cell proliferation by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway than hyperthermia, which had some impact but was not statistically significant. The study highlights the potential of Ibuprofen as a targeted therapy for colorectal cancer.

Bacterial extracellular vesicles induced oxidative stress and mitophagy through mTOR pathways in colon cancer cells, HT-29: Implications for bioactivity.

Bacterial-extracellular-vesicles (BEVs) derived from Escherichia coli, strain-A5922, were used as a therapeutic tool to treat colon cancer cells, HT-29. BEVs induced oxidative stress, and observed mitochondrial autophagy, known as mitophagy, were crucial in initiation of treatment. The mitophagy, induced by the BEVs in HT-29 cells, produced adenocarcinomic cytotoxicity, and stopped the cells growth. The trigger for mitophagy, and an increase in productions of reactive oxygen species led to cellular oxidative stress, that eventually led to cells death. A reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential, and an increase in the PINK1 expressions confirmed the oxidative stress involvements. The BEVs triggered cytotoxicity, and mitophagy in the HT-29 carcinoid cells, channelized through the Akt/mTOR pathways connecting the cellular oxidative stress, effectively played its part to cause cells death. These findings substantiated the BEVs' potential as a plausible tool for treating, and possibly preventing the colorectal cancer.

Influence of storage variables on the antioxidant and antitumor activities, phenolic compounds and vitamin C of an agglomerate of Andean berries.

Berry consumption is increasing worldwide due to their high content of bioactive compounds. However, such fruits have a very short shelf life. To avoid this drawback and to offer an effective alternative for its consumption at any time of the year, an agglomerated berry powder mix (APB) was developed. The aim of this work was to evaluate the stability of APB during a 6-months-period storage at 3 temperatures. The stability of APB was determined by moisture, aw, antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, vitamin C, color, phenolic profiles, and MTT assay. APB showed differences in antioxidant activity between 0 and 6 months. It experimented non-enzymatic browning, which was more remarkable at 35 °C. APB at time 0 exhibited growth inhibitory effects against HT-29 human cancer cells. Most properties were significantly modified by storage temperature and time, which induces a significant decreasing of bioactive compounds.