Antitumor effects of Origanum acutidens extracts on human breast cancer.

PURPOSE: There has been a long-standing interest in the identification of medicinal plants and derived natural products for developing anticancer agents. This work aimed at investigating the antiprolipherative properties of Origanum acutidens (OA) on breast cancer. METHODS: OA water extracts were studied for cytotoxicity against the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231. In vitro apoptosis studies of these cancer cell lines were performed by annexin V staining in flow cytometry analyses. Immunohistochemistry studies for Ki-67 and caspase-7 of tumor tissue sections of dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) -induced mammary cancer in rats were also performed. TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptotic cells of tumor tissue. In vivo anticancer activity testing was carried out by inhibiting the growth of DMBA-induced mammary cancer in rats. RESULTS: OA showed cytotoxicity on all 3 cancer cell lines. Annexin-positive cells level in OA-treated cell lines were significantly higher compared with untreated control cells (p=0.002). The expressions of caspase-7 protein and TUNEL-positive cells were much higher for the rats treated by OA, compared with the untreated control group (p<0.05). The expressions of the Ki-67 decreased in the treated groups compared with the control group (p<0.05). In vivo studies showed that the mean tumor volume inhibition ratio in OA-treated group was 41 % compared with the untreated rats (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that OA has antitumor activity against breast cancer cell lines.

Amoebicidal activity of the rhizomes and aerial parts of Allium sivasicum on Entamoeba histolytica.

Amebiasis is a severe illness caused by Entamoebachistolytica. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro amebicidal activity of the rhizomes and aerial parts of Allium sivasicum, an endemic plant species from the flora of Turkey. Both extracts showed a time- and dose-dependent amebicidal action on the trophozoites. Among the extracts tested, rhizomes of A. sivasicum showed the strongest amebicidal effect on the trophozoites. In the presence of the rhizome extract at 2.0 mg/ml concentration, all of the trophozoites available in media have completely been killed within the 72nd hour. At 4.0 mg/ml extract concentration, all of the trophozoites available in media have completely been killed by the rhizome extract from the time of 24th hour. At 32.0 mg/ml extract concentration, 73.7% of the trophozoites were successfully killed by the extract within the first experimental hour. Aerial part extract at 4.0 mg/ml concentration completely killed the trophozoited within the 48th hour of the experimental procedure. At 8.0 mg/ml extract concentration, all of the trophozoites available in media have completely been killed by the aerial part extract from the time of 24th hour. At 32.0 mg/ml extract concentration, 67.7% of the trophozoites were successfully killed by the extract within the first experimental hour. These results suggest that the plant species evaluated here is a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of Entamoeba infections, but it still needs to be evaluated quantitatively for determining the active phytochemicals.

In vitro amoebicidal activities of Satureja cuneifolia and Melissa officinalis on Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and trophozoites.

Amoebic keratitis is difficult to treat without total efficacy in some patients because of cysts, which are less susceptible than trophozoites to the usual treatments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro amoebicidal activity of the methanolic extracts of Satureja cuneifolia and Melissa officinalis. In the presence of methanolic extracts (ranging from 1.0 to 32.0 mg/ml), numbers of the viable Acanthamoe castellanii trophozoites and cysts were decreased during the experimental process. Both extracts showed a time- and dose-dependent amoebicidal action on the trophozoites and cysts. Among the extracts tested, S. cuneifolia showed the strongest amoebicidal effect on the trophozoites and cysts. In the presence of 32 mg/ml extract, no viable trophozoites were observed within 24 h. At the same concentration value, the extract was found effective against the cysts at a rate of 46.3% within 72 h of the experimental process. At 16 mg/ml extract concentration, no viable trophozoites were also observed in the 24th hour of the experiment. At the end of the experimental process, 34.7% of the cysts were killed by the extract. M. officinalis showed moderate amoebicidal effect. At the concentration of 32 mg/ml, 44.3% and 30.0% of the trophozoites and cysts were killed by the extract, respectively. Results obtained from these concentration values were found statistically different in terms of their actions both on trophozoites and cysts (p<0.05).

Is Demodex folliculorum an aetiological factor in seborrhoeic dermatitis?

BACKGROUND: Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is a common inflammatory skin disease for which no single cause has been found, although many factors have been implicated. The mite Demodex folliculorum (DF) is most commonly seen in the pilosebaceous unit in humans. SD is located in areas that are rich in sebaceous glands, which are also preferred by DF. AIMS: To compare the number of DF parasites in patients with clinical SD and in healthy controls, and to investigate any possible relationship between the number of DF mites and the presence of SD. METHODS: The study comprised 38 patients with SD and 38 healthy controls. Standard random and lesion-specific sampling was performed in the group of patients with SD, whereas standard random sampling only was performed for controls. RESULTS: Demodex folliculorum sampling was positive in 19 patients (50%) and 5 controls (13.1%). Mean DF density was 8.16 +/- 10.1/cm(2) (range 0-40) and 1.03 +/- 2.17/cm(2) (1-7) in patient and control groups, respectively. The differences between groups for DF positivity and mean DF density were significant (P = 0.001 for each). DF was found in 13 lesional areas in the patient group, but in only 5 areas in the control group (P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The number of DF mites was significantly higher in both lesional and nonlesional areas of patients with SD. This suggests that, when other aetiological causes are excluded, DF may have either direct or indirect role in the aetiology of SD.

Pseudozoster clinical presentation of Demodex infestation after prolonged topical steroid use.

A 60-year-old man presented with a plaque lesion on the upper right half of the face, which had developed after ophthalmic varicella zoster infection about 2 years previously. The lesion, which was burning and itchy, included a few tiny erythematous pustules, and was slightly squamous and infiltrated. The lesion covered the upper two-thirds of the right trigeminal nerve dermatome, involving half of the face with the forehead, the periorbital area, upper part of the cheek and the nose. The lesion became more marked after continuous topical anaesthetic and corticosteroid use. A standardized skin-surface biopsy was taken, and revealed a large number of Demodex folliculorum (38/cm(2)) in the lesion area. The lesions completely abated after topical 5% permethrin treatment, and no recurrence was observed during follow-up. Demodicosis may have atypical clinical presentations, other than the well-known classic forms. To our knowledge, this is the first unilateral trigeminal, pseudozoster presentation in the literature.