Effect of Rhaphidophora korthalsii methanol extract on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation and cytolytic activity toward HepG2

In Vitro Evaluation of Anti-Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Effects of Traditional Mexican Medicinal Plant Extracts on Human Erythrocytes and Cell Cultures

Plant extracts of fifteen plants of ethnomedicinal use in Mexico were analyzed to provide scientific knowledge of their medicinal properties through the evaluation of different biological activities such as anti-hemolytic, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects in normal cells. Therefore, methanolic extracts were obtained from each of the plants by the Soxhlet extraction. The hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes was evaluated, as was their potential to protect the erythrocyte membrane against the 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Finally, the toxicity of the extracts in normal cell cultures of African green monkey kidney cells (Vero) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction method. Most of the extracts showed low hemolytic activity and high anti-hemolytic activity as well as high selectivity indices (SI) and antioxidant effects. Extracts of H. inuloides, J. dioica, and J. spicigera induced cell proliferation of the Vero cells. K. daigremontiana, A. adstringens, S. mexicanum, J. spicigera, L. tridentata, and M. tenuiflora extracts showed PBMC cell proliferation. In the present study, it was observed that the evaluated extracts did not present hemolytic activity, and some presented low toxicity when Vero and PBMC cell cultures were exposed. In conclusion, traditionally used plants possess beneficial health properties, and it is hoped that this study will serve as a basis for understanding the biological effects of traditionally used plants and may complement future studies.

Synthesis of steroidal dihydropyrazole derivatives using green ZnO NPs and evaluation of their anticancer and antioxidant activity

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized by a green method using Azadirachta indica leaf extract. The structure of the prepared ZnO (NPs) were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDX and TEM analyses. The biosynthesized ZnO (NPs) were then used as a catalyst for the synthesis of steroidal dihydropyrazole derivatives through a one-pot multicomponent reaction involving phenyl acetylene and hydrazine derivatives. The anticancer activity of newly synthesized compounds were evaluated against three cancer cell lines namely HeLa (human cervical carcinoma), Hep3B (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) by MTT assay. The tested compounds were found to be active against all cancer cell lines and less toxic towards normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Antioxidant activity have also been investigated via free radical scavenging ability using DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assay. The tested compounds were found to exhibit moderate to good antioxidant activity which increases with increase in the concentration of steroidal dihydropyrazoles. Among all the tested steroidal dihydropyrazoles, compound 17 is found to be most active.

In vitro antitumor activity of dialkylamine-1,4-naphthoquinones toward human glioblastoma multiforme cells

In this study, we evaluated the in vitro antitumor activity of dialkylamino-1,4-naphthoquinones (1a–n) toward human glioblastoma multiforme cells (GBM02).

Preliminary chemical characterization of ethanolic extracts from Colombian plants with promising anti - Trypanosoma cruzi activity

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, and it is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Latin America. There are no vaccines, and the chemotherapy available to treat this infection has serious side effects. In a search for alternative treatments, we determined the in vitro susceptibility of epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi and the cytotoxic effects on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of ethanolic extracts obtained from six different plant species. The ethanolic extracts of Ageratina vacciniaefolia, Clethra fimbriata and Siparuna sessiliflora showed antiprotozoal activity against epimastigotes and low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. However, only the ethanolic extract of C. fimbriata showed activity against T. cruzi trypomastigotes, and it had low cytotoxicity in PBMCs. An analysis on the phytochemical composition of C. fimbriata extract showed that its metabolites were primarily represented by two families of compounds: flavonoids and terpenoids. Lastly, we analyzed whether the A. vacciniaefolia, C. fimbriata, or S. sessiliflora ethanolic extracts induced IFN-γ or TNF-α production. Significantly, ethanolic extracts of C. fimbriata induced TNF-α production and S. sessiliflora induced both cytokines. In addition, C. fimbriata and S. sessiliflora induced the simultaneous secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α in CD8⁺ T cells. The antiprotozoal and immunomodulatory activity of C. fimbriata may be related to the presence of flavonoid and triterpene compounds in the extract. Thus, these findings suggest that C. fimbriata may represent a valuable source of new bioactive compounds for the therapeutic treatment of Chagas disease that combines trypanocidal activity with the capacity to boost the immune response.

Safety Profile Investigations of Meyna spinosa (Roxb.) and Oroxylum indicum (Linn.) Extracts Collected from Northeast India

Background

Meyna spinosa (M.S) (Roxb.) ex Link and Oroxylum indicum (O.I) (Linn.) Vent, widely used traditional Northeast Indian medicinal plant used for various purposes, have not yet explored for safety profile.

Objective

To investigate the safety profile of M.S (Roxb.) ex Link leaves and O.I (Linn.) Vent stem bark extracts collected from Northeast region of India.

Materials and Methods

In this study, mutagenic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic and/or nontoxic potential of these two plant extracts using various toxicological investigations, as per the regulatory test guidelines, were evaluated. The mutagenic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic potential of these two plants were assayed using Ames test, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, comet assay, and micronucleus test in the bone marrow cells.

Results

The results demonstrated that the tested doses of M.S (Roxb.) ex Link leaves extract showed mutagenic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic effects, whereas O.I (Linn.) Vent stem bark extracts showed nonmutagenic, noncytotoxic, and nongenotoxic effects.

Conclusion

The stem bark extracts of O.I (Linn.) Vent has no mutagenic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic or clastogenic effects in our experimental conditions. However, M.S (Roxb.) ex Link leaves extract caused a significant increase in DNA damage as compared with the positive control, i.e., cyclophosphamide. Thus, the present study revealed that M.S (Roxb.) ex Link leaves extract is toxic, while O.I (Linn.) Vent stem bark extract was found to be safe.

SUMMARY

For the first time, we reported the safety performance of these two plants.The absence of toxicity in Oroxylum indicum (O.I) plant extracts was observed at various doses in animals.Interestingly, our result indicated that Meyna spinosa (M.S) extract shows toxicological effect.Therefore, O.I plant extracts was considered as safer plant extract as compared to M.S. Abbreviations used: MS: Meyna spinosa; OI: Oroxylum indicum.

Synthesis of Saccharumoside-B analogue with potential of antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities

A new series of phenolic glycoside esters, saccharumoside-B and its analogs (9b-9n, 10) have been synthesized by the Koenigs-Knorr reaction. Antiproliferative activities of the compounds (9b-9n, 10) were evaluated on various cancer cell lines including, MCF-7 breast, HL-60 leukemia, MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic, DU145 prostate, HeLa cervical and CaCo-2 colon, as well as normal human MCF10A mammary epithelial and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by MTT assay. Compounds (9b-9n, 10) exhibited considerable antiproliferative effects against cancer cells with IC₅₀ range of 4.43 ± 0.35 to 49.63 ± 3.59 µM, but they are less cytotoxic on normal cells (IC₅₀ > 100 µM). Among all the compounds, 9f showed substantial antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 and HL-60 cells with IC₅₀ of 6.13 ± 0.64 and 4.43 ± 0.35, respectively. Further mechanistic studies of 9f were carried out on MCF-7 and HL-60 cell lines. 9f caused arrest of cell cycle of MCF-7 and HL-60 cells at G0/G1 phase. Apoptotic population elevation, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, increase of cytosolic cytochrome c and Bax levels, decrease of Bcl-2 levels and enhanced caspases-9 and -3 activities were observed in 9f-treated MCF-7 and HL-60 cells. These results demonstrate anticancer and apoptosis-inducing potentials of 9f in MCF-7 and HL-60 cells via intrinsic pathway.

Hybrid pharmacophore approach for bio-relevant di-imines based homobimetallic complexes incorporating functionalized dicarboxylates as co-ligands: Synthesis, spectral and structural activity dependent biological insights (in-vitro DNA and HSA binding, antioxidant and cytotoxicity)

Synthesis of bio-efficient homobimetallic complexes, [Cu₂(L¹)₂(dipic)](NO₃)₂.3H₂O (1), [Zn₂(L¹)₂(dipic)](NO₃)₂.4H₂O (2), [Cu₂(L²)₂(oxa)](NO₃)₂.4H₂O (3) and [Zn₂(L²)₂(oxa)] (NO₃)₂.5H₂O (4) was carried out using Schiff bases [(N¹E,N²E)-N¹,N²-bis(5-chlorothiophen-2-ylmethylene)-4-chlorobenzene-1,2-diamine; L¹] and [(N¹E,N²E)-N¹,N²-bis(5-chlorofuran-2-ylmethylene)-4-chlorobenzene-1,2-diamine; L²] as main ligands and dicarboxylate moieties of 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (H₂-dipic) and oxalic acid (H₂-oxa) as co-ligands, respectively in order to apprehend their structure activity relationships on the basis of pharmacophore hybrid approach. The stoichiometry, geometry, thermal stability, morphology and crystallite size of the compounds were inferred by analytical, spectral (FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR and Mass), thermal (TGA/DTA), SEM and XRD studies. In-vitro DNA and HSA binding profiles of complexes were analysed by different biophysical measurements. The absorption study divulged that the observed alterations in the physico-chemical properties of complexes upon binding with DNA connoted their intercalative binding mode while fluorescence quenching mechanism was quantified by using Stern Volmer constant (K_SV)_; 1.73×10⁴ (1), 1.47×10⁴ (2), 5.65×10³ (3) and 3.60×10³M^-1 (4) which discerned that hybrid pharmacophore active metal complexes (1 and 2) exhibited efficient quenching effect with Ct-DNA in comparison to complexes (3 and 4) due to greater planarity and extent of conjugation (π-π interactions). The intercalative binding mode of complexes is further supported by competitive displacement assay by using fluorogenic dyes (EtBr and Hoechst 33258). The results of HSA fluorescence study divulged static quenching of the complexes (1-4) with K_SV values of 7.24×10⁴ (1), 6.03×10⁴ (2), 5.06×10⁴ (3) and 2.85×10⁴ (4) while K_b values; 1.16×10⁵ (1), 2.01×10⁴ (2), 5.84×10³ (3) and 8.60×10² (4) suggested them potent avid binder of HSA. Additionally, comparative estimation of scavenging properties using DPPH, superoxide(O₂^.-), hydroxyl (OH^-) and ABTS method and in-vitro cytotoxicity against different cell lines (MCF-7, HeLa and Hep G2) brought out distinct biopotency of complexes due to diverse structural features and chelation effect.

Pharmacophore hybrid approach of new modulated bis-diimine Cu(II)/Zn(II) complexes based on 5-chloro Isatin Schiff base derivatives: Synthesis, spectral studies and comparative biological assessment

Novel bioactive 5-chloro isatin based Schiff base ligands, (N,N'E,N,N'Z)-N,N'-(5-chloroindoline-2,3-diylidene)bis(5-nitrobenzo [d]thiazol-2-amine), L(1) and (N,N'E,N,N'Z)-N,N'-(5-chloroindoline-2,3-diylidene)bis(5-nitrothiazol-2-amine), L(2) derived from 2-amino 5-nitrobenzothiazole and 2-amino 5-nitrothiazole and their metal complexes, [Cu(L(1))2]Cl2;1, [Zn(L(1))2(H2O)2]Cl2;2, [Cu(L(2))2]Cl2;3 and [Zn(L(2))2(H2O)2]Cl2;4 have been synthesized. The composition, stoichiometry and geometry of the proposed ligands and their complexes have been envisaged by the results of elemental analyses and spectroscopic data (FT-IR, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR, Mass and EPR). The molar conductivity values of the metal complexes revealed their ionic nature. The thermal stability of metal complexes was demonstrated by TGA/DTA studies while the crystalline nature of the complexes has been ascertained by XRD. Furthermore, a comparative account of in vitro antibacterial study against different bacterial strains with respect to standard antibiotic and scavenging activity against standard control at different concenterations unfolded pronounced antibacterial and radical scavenging potencies of the metal complexes as compared to free ligands. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity of ligands and its metal complexes was also screened on MCF7 (Human breast adenocarcinoma), HeLa (Human cervical carcinoma) and HepG2 (Human Hepatocellular carcinoma), cell lines and normal cells (PBMC). The antiproliferative outcomes revealed that metal complexes exhibit superior activity in general as compared to free ligands (L(1) and L(2)) where metal complexes (1 and 2) of 5-chloro isatin linked benzothiazole motif (L(1)) are found to have better prospect of acting as chemotherapeutic agents which can be explained in terms of greater biopotency, planarity and conjugation against all the tested cancer cell lines with IC50<2.80 μM.

Petasites japonicus Stimulates the Proliferation of Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells

Oriental natural plants have been used as medical herbs for the treatment of various diseases for over 2,000 years. In this study, we evaluated the effect of several natural plants on the preservation of male fertility by assessing the ability of plant extracts to stimulate spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) proliferation by using a serum-free culture method. In vitro assays showed that Petasites japonicus extracts, especially the butanol fraction, have a significant effect on germ cells proliferation including SSCs. The activity of SSCs cultured in the presence of the Petasites japonicus butanol fraction was confirmed by normal colony formation and spermatogenesis following germ cell transplantation of the treated SSCs. Our findings could lead to the discovery of novel factors that activate SSCs and could be useful for the development of technologies for the prevention of male infertility.

In Vitro Antileukemic Activity of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Taioba) Leaf Extract

Xanthosoma sagittifolium Schott is a herb of the Araceae family, popularly known as taioba, which is consumed as food in some regions of Brazil, Africa, and Asia. This species has already been evaluated for the antifungal activities. However, based on its potential antitumor activity, the present study further aimed to examine the antitumor, as well as chelation, activity of X. sagittifolium leaf extract. Results showed that hydroethanolic extract of X. sagittifolium leaves (HEXs-L) exhibits cytotoxic effects against the immortalized line of human T-lymphocytic (Jurkat) and myelogenous (K562) leukemia cells, but not nontumor RAW 264.7 macrophages or NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. HEXs-L inhibited 50.3% of Jurkat cell proliferation, reducing by 20% cells in G2/M phase, but increasing cells in sub-G1 phase, thereby inducing apoptosis by 54%. In addition, HEXs-L inhibited NO production by 59%, as determined by Griess reaction, and chelated 93.8% of free Fe(II), as demonstrated by ferrozine assay. Phytochemical studies were carried out by ESI-MS, identifying apigenin di-C-glycosides as major compounds. Overall, this work revealed that leaf extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium presented chelating activity and in vitro antitumor activity, arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis of leukemia cells, thus providing evidence that taioba leaves may have practical application in cancer therapy.

Mechanical stress promotes cisplatin-induced hepatocellular carcinoma cell death

Cisplatin (CisPt) is a commonly used platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent. Its efficacy is limited due to drug resistance and multiple side effects, thereby warranting a new approach to improving the pharmacological effect of CisPt. A newly developed mathematical hypothesis suggested that mechanical loading, when coupled with a chemotherapeutic drug such as CisPt and immune cells, would boost tumor cell death. The current study investigated the aforementioned mathematical hypothesis by exposing human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells to CisPt, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and mechanical stress individually and in combination. HepG2 cells were also treated with a mixture of CisPt and carnosine with and without mechanical stress to examine one possible mechanism employed by mechanical stress to enhance CisPt effects. Carnosine is a dipeptide that reportedly sequesters platinum-based drugs away from their pharmacological target-site. Mechanical stress was achieved using an orbital shaker that produced 300 rpm with a horizontal circular motion. Our results demonstrated that mechanical stress promoted CisPt-induced death of HepG2 cells (~35% more cell death). Moreover, results showed that CisPt-induced death was compromised when CisPt was left to mix with carnosine 24 hours preceding treatment. Mechanical stress, however, ameliorated cell death (20% more cell death).

Synthesis and characterization of steroidal heterocyclic compounds, DNA condensation and molecular docking studies and their in vitro anticancer and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities

A facile and efficient approach for the synthesis of steroidal heterocyclic compounds (4–12) has been performed. Furthermore, these newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their various biological activities.

Melatonin induces apoptosis through biomolecular changes, in SK-LU-1 human lung adenocarcinoma cells

OBJECTIVES

Anti-cancer effects of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, an indole-amine), have been widely reported, however, little has been known, regarding its mechanism(s) of action in lung cancer. Thus, we investigated its induction of apoptosis through biomolecular changes (lipid, protein and nucleic acid/DNA) in the SK-LU-1 human lung cancer cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy, and conventional methods, to confirm changes in lipid (annexin V/PI staining for membrane alteration), protein (caspase-3/7 protein activity) and DNA (DAPI staining for DNA fragmentation).

RESULTS

We observed from FTIR data that melatonin increased lipid content and reduced intensity of nucleic acid/DNA, confirmed by annexin V/PI and DAPI respectively. Secondary protein structure at 1656 cm(-1) (α-helix) was reduced and peak position of β-sheet structure (1637 cm(-1) ) was shifted to lower frequency. Alteration in apoptotic proteins was demonstrated via caspase-3/7 activity induction.

CONCLUSIONS

High melatonin concentration exerted anti-cancer effects by changing biomolecular structure of lipids, nucleic acids and proteins, supporting its enhancement of apoptotic induction.

Immunomodulatory effects of Newcastle disease virus AF2240 strain on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Immunotherapy has raised the attention of many scientists because it hold promise to be an attractive therapeutic strategy to treat a number of disorders. In this study, the immunomodulatory effects of low titers of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) AF2240 on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed. We evaluated cytokine secretion and PBMC activation by cell proliferation assay, immunophenotyping and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The proliferation of the human PBMC was measured to be 28.5% and 36.5% upon treatment with 8 hemaglutinin unit (HAU) and 2 HAU of NDV respectively. Interestingly, the percentage of cells with activating markers CD16 and CD56 were increased significantly. Furthermore, the intracellular perforin and granzyme levels were also increased upon virus infection. Human PBMC treated with NDV titer 8 HAU was found to stimulate the highest level of cytokine production including interferon-γ, interleukin-2 and interleukin-12. The release of these proteins contributes to the antitumor effect of PBMC against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Based on the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, activated human PBMC showed high cytolytic efficiency towards human breast tumor cells. In summary, NDV was able to stimulate PBMC proliferation, cytokine secretion and cytolytic activity.

Immunomodulatory effect of melatonin in SK-LU-1 human lung adenocarcinoma cells co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells

OBJECTIVES

The anti-cancer potential of melatonin has been examined using a variety of experimental approaches. Melatonin immunomodulatory action was evaluated against the lung cancer cell line SK-LU-1, in co-culture with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Melatonin was tested on the cell line only after 24 h incubation (direct effect), and on the co-culture system of SK-LU-1 and PBMC to investigate any indirect effect. Apoptotic induction of the cancer cells was assessed using annexin V/PI staining with flow cytometric analysis for membrane alteration. Intracellular superoxide anion (O2 (•-) ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) for intracellular oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) for intracellular anti-oxidation were measured with specific fluorescence probes. DNA fractions were measured employing propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence staining.

RESULTS

High doses of melatonin were directly toxic to SK-LU-1 cells, while PBMC-mediated indirect effect occurred after moderate doses (1 μm). Under co-culture conditions, increases in apoptotic cell death, increase in oxidative stress by reduction of GSH and cell cycle arrest in G0 /G1 in SK-LU-1 cells, were observed as the immunomodulatory effect of melatonin.

CONCLUSION

Melatonin had indirect effects on lung cancer cells by enhancement of immunomodulatory effects, but further studies of mechanism(s) involved are needed.

Ochratoxin A induces cytotoxicity, DNA damage and apoptosis in rat hepatocyte primary cell culture at nanomolar concentration

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillum, is widely found as a contaminant of food. OTA exhibits a wide range of toxic activities, including nephro- and hepatotoxicity. Although the mechanisms of its genotoxicity and carcinogenicity have been studied before, many controversial results have been published. In addition, the studies were mostly conducted with kidney cells. Therefore, the present study used a primary culture of Wistar rat hepatocytes incubated with increasing concentrations of OTA (2.0-6.0 nanomolar). OTA treatment showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity and DNA damage. Further, flow cytometric analysis of hepatocytes showed dose-dependent apoptosis, suggesting that OTA-induced hepatotoxicity is, may be partly, mediated by apoptosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor gene, a potent pro-angiogenic in hepatocellular carcinoma and responsible for hepatocyte regeneration, did not show any change with OTA treatment, as analysed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Thus, the present data indicated OTA-induced rat hepatotoxicity in vitro at nanomolar concentration, which inferred a major possible target other than kidney cells.

Synthesis and anti-tumor evaluation of B-ring substituted steroidal pyrazoline derivatives

The synthesis and anti-tumor activity screening of new steroidal derivatives (4-18) containing pharmacologically attractive pyrazoline moieties are performed. During in vitro anticancer evaluation, the newly synthesized compounds displayed moderate to good cytotoxicity on cervical and leukemia cancer cell lines. In addition these compounds were found to be nontoxic to normal cell (PBMCs) (IC50>50 μM). The structure-activity relationship is also discussed. The most effective anticancer compound 9 was found to be active with IC50 value of 10.6 μM. It demonstrated significant antiproliferative influence on Jurkat cell lines. The morphological changes and growth characteristics of HeLa cells treated with compound 4 were analyzed by means of SEM.

Rhaphidophora korthalsii modulates peripheral blood natural killer cell proliferation, cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity

Background

Rhaphidophora korthalsii (Araceae) is a root-climber plant which has been widely used in Chinese traditional medicine for cancer and skin disease treatment. Previous reports have recorded its immunomodulatory effects on mice splenocyte and human peripheral blood. This study investigated the potential immunostimulatory effect of Rhaphidophora korthalsii on human PBMC enriched NK cell.

Methods

PBMC was exposed to various concentrations of R. korthalsii extract and the T and NK cell population in the control and extract treated PBMC were identified by immunophenotyping. Intracellular perforin and granzyme B expressions were detected by flow cytometry and extra-cellular Granzyme B, IFN-γ and TNF-α production in the isolated NK cells were determined by ELISA. The cytotoxicity of effector NK cell towards target K562 cell was assessed by CytoTox 96 assay.

Results

Rhaphidophora korthalsii methanol extract significantly increased PBMC NK cell population and intracellular perforin and granzyme B expressions. Moreover, the extract also enhanced the secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α which subsequently enhanced the cytotoxicity of NK cell against the NK sensitive target K562 cell line. NK cell enriched with extract treated PBMC showed better activation than NK cell directly treated with the extract.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated a potential IL-2 free immunotherapy through direct and indirect R. korthalsii stimulation on NK cell activation.

Development of microemulsion of a potent anti-tyrosinase essential oil of an edible plant

The aim of this study is to develop a microemulsion product from a plant essential oil having the highest anti-tyrosinase activity. The in vitro anti-tyrosinase activity of six essential oils extracted from six edible plants was compared. The oil of Cymbopogon citratus demonstrated the highest activity which was significantly nontoxic to normal human cells. The GC-MS data indicated that geranial and neral are the major compounds in the oil. The phase diagram composed of C. citrates oil, water, and surfactant mixture was conducted by a titration method. Ethyl alcohol was found to be the most suitable cosurfactant for the C. citrates oil microemulsion. The results revealed that the amount of oil and water played an important role in microemulsion conductivity and type. The most desirable o/w type of C. citratus oil microemulsion was found to be composed of 20% oil, 30% water, and 50% surfactant mixture of a 2:1 weight ratio of Tween 20 and ethyl alcohol.

Safety and clinical usage of newcastle disease virus in cancer therapy

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian virus that causes deadly infection to over 250 species of birds, including domestic and wild-type, thus resulting in substantial losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Many reports have demonstrated the oncolytic effect of NDV towards human tumor cells. The interesting aspect of NDV is its ability to selectively replicate in cancer cells. Some of the studies have undergone human clinical trials, and favorable results were obtained. Therefore, NDV strains can be the potential therapeutic agent in cancer therapy. However, investigation on the therapeutic perspectives of NDV, especially human immunological effects, is still ongoing. This paper provides an overview of the current studies on the cytotoxic and anticancer effect of NDV via direct oncolysis effects or immune stimulation. Safety of NDV strains applied for cancer immunotherapy is also discussed in this paper.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Rhaphidophora korthalsii on Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity

The in vivo immunomodulatory effect of ethanolic extracts from leaves of Rhaphidophora korthalsii was determined via immune cell proliferation, T/NK cell phenotyping, and splenocyte cytotoxicity of BALB/c mice after 5 consecutive days of i.p. administration at various concentrations. Splenocyte proliferation index, cytotoxicity, peripheral blood T/NK cell population, and plasma cytokine (IL-2 and IFN-γ) in mice were assessed on day 5 and day 15. High concentration of extract (350 μg/mice/day for 5 consecutive days) was able to stimulate immune cell proliferation, peripheral blood NK cell population, IL-2, and IFN- γ cytokines, as well as splenocyte cytotoxicity against Yac-1 cell line. Unlike rIL-2 which degraded rapidly, the stimulatory effect from the extract managed to last until day 15. These results suggested the potential of this extract as an alternative immunostimulator, and they encourage further study on guided fractionation and purification to identify the active ingredients that contribute to this in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory activity.