Boswellia dalzielii-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles Inhibited Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Kasumi-1 Cells by Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest

A new insight on the effects of Schiff Base Iron (III) complexes in breast cancer cells for clinical radiotherapy

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is a significant global health concern, and researchers strive to enhance radiotherapy outcomes while minimizing the side effects. Schiff Base Iron (III) Complexes are one of the prospective elements that can be used as radiosensitizer or radioprotective agents in cancer radiotherapy. This study investigates the potential effects of Schiff base (ligand 2; L2) with Fe(III) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells under clinical radiotherapy treatment.

METHODS

The effects of the Schiff Base Iron (III) Complexes were measured using clonogenic assay with MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The cells were irradiated with megavoltage 6 MV photon, 6 MeV electron and high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy with 192Ir source at different doses. Intercellular localization of Fe(III)-L2 complexes and antioxidant activities were also investigated.

RESULTS

The Fe(III)-L2 complexes were observed to be internalized by cellular nuclei without any effects on the cells. Interestingly, the Fe(III)-L2 complexes indicate radioprotective effects which provide intriguing insight towards application of metal ions complexes as radioprotector in cancer radiotherapy. The Fe(III)-L2 complexes also exhibit scavenging activities of free radical which further proved the antioxidative properties and radioprotective effects.

CONCLUSION

The Fe(III)-L2 complexes show the radioprotective effects and antioxidant properties in MCF-7 cells, particularly for HDR brachytherapy. The findings suggest potential applications of the Fe(III)-L2 complexes as radioprotector agents in clinical radiotherapy.

Tri-chalcone suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways

Breast cancer development depends critically on antiproliferative and apoptotic mechanisms. However, the mechanisms underlying the antiproliferative and apoptosis effects of breast cancer treated with tri-chalcone remain unclear. Tri-chalcones have been demonstrated in prior studies to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Following the discovery, this study seeks to investigate the effect of tri-chalcone compounds on targets involved in antiproliferative and apoptosis mechanisms. In this study, we employed bioinformatics analysis along with in vitro evaluation using tri-chalcone-treated MCF-7 cells to determine the responses of antiproliferative and apoptosis mechanisms. The analysis revealed that the compounds interact with six apoptosis target receptors: TNFα, Bak, Bcl-2, caspase-9, and caspase-8. Tri-chalcone S1-2 exhibited the strongest binding affinities for TNFα (-7.39 kcal/mol), caspase-8 (-8.43 kcal/mol), caspase-9 (-8.53 kcal/mol), Bcl-2 (-8.51 kcal/mol), and Bak (-7.15 kcal/mol). The tri-chalcone S1-2 paired with the corresponding proteins showed minor flexibility and extremely small changes of less than 0.25 nm during the MD simulation. Additionally, tri-chalcone S1-2 had a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells (5.31 ± 0.26 µg/mL) compared to other compounds. S1-2 also induced apoptosis, affecting nearly half (43.80%) of the total early and late apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. S1-2-treated MCF-7 cells also demonstrated upregulations of genes TNFα (1.50), Bak (1.42), caspase-8 (1.24), and caspase-9 (1.61), accompanied by a downregulation of gene Bcl-2 (0.71). The discovery gives us a better understanding of how tri-chalcone S1-2 suppressed MCF-7 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

Metallic nanoparticles: a promising novel therapeutic tool against antimicrobial resistance and spread of superbugs

In recent years, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become an alarming threat to global health as notable increase in morbidity and mortality has been ascribed to the emergence of superbugs. The increase in microbial resistance because of harboured or inherited resistomes has been complicated by the lack of new and effective antimicrobial agents, as well as misuse and failure of existing ones. These problems have generated severe and growing public health concern, due to high burden of bacterial infections resulting from scarce financial resources and poor functioning health systems, among others. It is therefore, highly pressing to search for novel and more efficacious alternatives for combating the action of these super bacteria and their infection. The application of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) with their distinctive physical and chemical attributes appears as promising tools in fighting off these deadly superbugs. The simple, inexpensive and eco-friendly model for enhanced biologically inspired MNPs with exceptional antimicrobial effect and diverse mechanisms of action againsts multiple cell components seems to offer the most promising option and said to have enticed many researchers who now show tremendous interest. This synopsis offers critical discussion on application of MNPs as the foremost intervening strategy to curb the menace posed by the spread of superbugs. As such, this review explores how antimicrobial properties of the metallic nanoparticles which demonstrated considerable efficacy against several multi-drugs resistant bacteria, could be adopted as promising approach in subduing the threat of AMR and harvoc resulting from the spread of superbugs.

Unlocking the Potential of Silver Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Versatile Bio-Applications

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are leading the way in nanotechnological innovation, combining the captivating properties of silver with the accuracy of nanoscale engineering, thus revolutionizing material science. Three main techniques arise within the alchemical domains of AgNP genesis: chemical, physical, and biological synthesis. Each possesses its distinct form of magic for controlling size, shape, and scalability-key factors necessary for achieving expertise in the practical application of nanoparticles. The story unravels, describing the careful coordination of chemical reduction, the environmentally sensitive charm of green synthesis utilizing plant extracts, and the precise accuracy of physical techniques. AgNPs are highly praised in the field of healthcare for their powerful antibacterial characteristics. These little warriors display a wide-ranging attack against bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Their critical significance in combating hospital-acquired and surgical site infections is highly praised, serving as a beacon of hope in the fight against the challenging problem of antibiotic resistance. In addition to their ability to kill bacteria, AgNPs are also known to promote tissue regeneration and facilitate wound healing. The field of cancer has also observed the adaptability of AgNPs. The review documents their role as innovative carriers of drugs, specifically designed to target cancer cells with accuracy, minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Additionally, it explores their potential as cancer therapy or anticancer agents capable of disrupting the growth of tumors. In the food business, AgNPs are utilized to enhance the durability of packing materials and coatings by infusing them with their bactericidal properties. This results in improved food safety measures and a significant increase in the duration that products can be stored, thereby tackling the crucial issue of food preservation. This academic analysis recognizes the many difficulties that come with the creation and incorporation of AgNPs. This statement pertains to the evaluation of environmental factors and the effort to enhance synthetic processes. The review predicts future academic pursuits, envisioning progress that will enhance the usefulness of AgNPs and increase their importance from being new to becoming essential within the realms of science and industry. Besides, AgNPs are not only a subject of scholarly interest but also a crucial component in the continuous effort to tackle some of the most urgent health and conservation concerns of contemporary society. This review aims to explore the complex process of AgNP synthesis and highlight their numerous uses, with a special focus on their growing importance in the healthcare and food business sectors. This review invites the scientific community to explore the extensive possibilities of AgNPs in order to fully understand and utilize their potential.

Advantages of nanomedicine over the conventional treatment in Acute myeloid leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells that mainly affects the white blood cells. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) sudden growth of cancerous cells occurs in blood and bone marrow, and it disrupts normal blood cell production. Most patients are asymptomatic, but it spreads rapidly and can become fatal if left untreated. AML is the prevalent form of leukemia in children. Risk factors of AML include chemical exposure, radiation, genetics, etc. Conventional diagnostic methods of AML are complete blood count tests and bone marrow aspiration, while conventional treatment methods involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant. There is a risk of cancer cells spreading progressively to the other organs if left untreated, and hence, early diagnosis is required. The conventional diagnostic methods are time- consuming and have drawbacks like harmful side effects and recurrence of the disease. To overcome these difficulties, nanoparticles are employed in treating and diagnosing AML. These nanoparticles can be surface- modified and can be used against cancer cells. Due to their enhanced permeability effect and high surface-to-volume ratio they will be able to reach the tumour site which cannot be reached by traditional drugs. This review article talks about how nanotechnology is more advantageous over the traditional methods in the treatment and diagnosis of AML.

Network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation of chalcone scaffold-based compounds targeting breast cancer receptors

Compounds with a chalcone scaffold-based structure have demonstrated promising anticancer biological activity. However, the molecular interactions between chalcone scaffold-based compounds and breast cancer-associated proteins remain unclear. Through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analyses, compounds with a chalcone scaffold-based structure were evaluated for their interaction with potential breast cancer targets. The compounds were retrieved from the ASINEX database, resulting in 575,302 compounds. A total of 342 compounds with chalcone scaffold-based structures were discovered. From the 342 compounds that was analysed, ten were chosen due to their adherence to Lipinski's rule, having an appropriate range of lipophilicity (LOGP), and topological polar surface area (TPSA), and absence of any toxicity. Based on target intersection, 50 target genes were found and subjected to protein-protein interaction (PPI), gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Four target genes were found to be involved in the breast cancer pathway. Consequently, molecular docking was utilised to analyse the molecular interactions between the compounds and four target protein receptors. Compound 211 exhibited the highest binding affinities for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), oestrogen receptor (ESR1), and cyclin dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) with values of -8.95 kcal/mol, -8.60 kcal/mol, -10.33 kcal/mol, and -9.90 kcal/mol, respectively. During MD simulation, compound 211 and its respective proteins were stable, compact, and had minimal flexibility. The findings provide foundations for future studies into the interaction underlying the anti-breast cancer potential of compounds with chalcone-based scaffold structures.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The antiproliferative and apoptotic potential of Clinacanthus nutans against human breast cancer cells through targeted apoptosis pathway

Clinacanthus nutans dichloromethane fraction (CN-Dcm) extract has previously been proven to suppress breast cancer (MCF7) cell proliferation. Despite this, the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis mechanisms involved in C. nutans extract-treated MCF7 cells are still unknown. This study was intended to subfractionate CN-Dcm extract using column chromatography and analyse the treated MCF7 cells using the CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation (MTS) assay, Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay, western blot, and reverse transcription-qualitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Out of nine subfraction extracts (SF1 to SF9), SF2 extract strongly inhibited MCF7 cells with the lowest IC50 value (23.51 ± 1.00 µg/mL) and substantially induced apoptosis in the MCF7 cells. In treated MCF7 cells, SF2 extract significantly upregulated the expression of P53, BAX, BID, caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3, while downregulating the expression of BCL2. The presence of potential bioactive chemical compounds in the SF2 extract was identified using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Thus, the SF2 extract has the potential to induce apoptosis in MCF7 cells through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

Evaluation of antibacterial and wound-healing activities of alcoholic extract of Boswellia carterii, in vitro and in vivo study

BACKGROUND

Today, despite the existence of various chemical and physical treatments for wound healing, the use of traditional medicine including herbal medicine is still widely used in most developed and developing countries.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of alcoholic extract of Boswellia carterii (BC) plant.

METHODS

The BC extract was prepared using alcohol 70%. The chemical groups and extract compounds were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, respectively. The antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of different concentrations of BC extract and its combination with penicillin-streptomycin were assessed by agar well diffusion and infected wound model in albino rabbits, respectively.

RESULTS

FTIR revealed the presence of hydroxyl, amide, carboxyl, alkyl C-H stretches, aromatic C=C bends, and aromatic C-H bends in the BC extract. The HPLC revealed 14 different compounds including thujene (48.0%) as the most abundant ingredient. All BC concentrations showed antibacterial and wound-healing activities. The 10% concentration of BC extract had the strongest antibacterial effect. Also, the combination of penicillin-streptomycin with BC extract showed synergistic antibacterial effect. The 5% concentration of BC was the best wound-healing compound which healed the wound in 6 days and decreased the wound size 10 mm each day.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the potential abilities of BC as an antibacterial and wound-healing medicinal plant. Further studies are required to justify the in vivo use of this plant.

Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations of apoptosis proteins with potential anticancer compounds present in Clinacanthus nutans extract using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Clinacanthus nutans is a medicinal plant recognised for its anticancer properties. We previously discovered that the C. nutans extract had the most potent inhibitory effect on MCF7 breast cancer cell and significantly induced apoptosis. However, there is a scarcity of studies demonstrating the molecular interactions of C. nutans-derived chemical compounds associated with apoptosis-related proteins. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the potential chemical compounds found in the C. nutans extract and examine their interactions with the targeted apoptotic proteins using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. To address this objective, the compounds found in the SF2 extract of C. nutans were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The molecular interaction of the compounds with the targeted apoptotic proteins were determined using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 32 compounds in the SF2 extract. Molecular docking analysis showed that compound β-amyrenol had the highest binding affinity for MDM2-P53 (-7.26 kcal/mol), BCL2 (-11.14 kcal/mol), MCL1-BAX (-6.42 kcal/mol), MCL1-BID (-6.91 kcal/mol), and caspase-9 (-12.54 kcal/mol), whereas campesterol had the highest binding affinity for caspase-8 (-10.11 kcal/mol) and caspase-3 (-10.14 kcal/mol). These selected compounds were subjected to molecular dynamic simulation at 310 K for 100 ns. The results showed that the selected protein-ligand conformation complexes were stable, compact, and did not alter much when compared to the protein references. The findings indicate that β-amyrenol and campesterol are potentially significant compounds that might provide insight into the molecular interactions of the compounds with the apoptosis-related proteins.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Broad-Spectrum Theranostics and Biomedical Application of Functionalized Nanomaterials

Nanotechnology is an important branch of science in therapies known as “nanomedicine” and is the junction of various fields such as material science, chemistry, biology, physics, and optics. Nanomaterials are in the range between 1 and 100 nm in size and provide a large surface area to volume ratio; thus, they can be used for various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, bacterial infections, and diabetes. Nanoparticles play a crucial role in therapy as they can enhance the accumulation and release of pharmacological agents, improve targeted delivery and ultimately decrease the intensity of drug side effects. In this review, we discussthe types of nanomaterials that have various biomedical applications. Biomolecules that are often conjugated with nanoparticles are proteins, peptides, DNA, and lipids, which can enhance biocompatibility, stability, and solubility. In this review, we focus on bioconjugation and nanoparticles and also discuss different types of nanoparticles including micelles, liposomes, carbon nanotubes, nanospheres, dendrimers, quantum dots, and metallic nanoparticles and their crucial role in various diseases and clinical applications. Additionally, we review the use of nanomaterials for bio-imaging, drug delivery, biosensing tissue engineering, medical devices, and immunoassays. Understandingthe characteristics and properties of nanoparticles and their interactions with the biological system can help us to develop novel strategies for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of many diseases including cancer, pulmonary diseases, etc. In this present review, the importance of various kinds of nanoparticles and their biomedical applications are discussed in much detail.

Green Synthesis of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Different Plants’ Parts for Antimicrobial Activity and Anticancer Activity: A Review Article

Nanotechnology emerged as a scientific innovation in the 21st century. Metallic nanoparticles (metal or metal oxide nanoparticles) have attained remarkable popularity due to their interesting biological, physical, chemical, magnetic, and optical properties. Metal-based nanoparticles can be prepared by utilizing different biological, physical, and chemical methods. The biological method is preferred as it provides a green, simple, facile, ecofriendly, rapid, and cost-effective route for the green synthesis of nanoparticles. Plants have complex phytochemical constituents such as carbohydrates, amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, and proteins, which can behave as reducing and stabilizing agents. However, the mechanism of green synthesis by using plants is still highly debatable. In this report, we summarized basic principles or mechanisms of green synthesis especially for metal or metal oxide (i.e., ZnO, Au, Ag, and TiO2, Fe, Fe2O3, Cu, CuO, Co) nanoparticles. Finally, we explored the medical applications of plant-based nanoparticles in terms of antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activity.

Dichloromethane fraction of Moringa oleifera leaf methanolic extract selectively inhibits breast cancer cells (MCF7) by induction of apoptosis via upregulation of Bax, p53 and caspase 8 expressions

Moringa oleifera is a well-known medicinal plant which has anti-cancer and other biological activities. This research aims to determine the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of M. oleifera leave extract on the breast cancer (MCF7) cells. The extracts were prepared using hexane, dichloromethane, chloroform and n-butanol by fractionating the crude 80% methanol extract of the plant leaves. The cytotoxic effect of the extracts on MCF7 cells were determined using CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation (MTS) assay. The apoptosis study was conducted using Annexin V-FITC analysis and confirmed by Western blotting using selected proteins, which are p53, Bax, cytochrome c and caspase 8. Our results showed that the dichloromethane (DF-CME-MOL) extract was selectively cytotoxic to MCF7 cells (5 μg/mL) without significantly inhibiting the non-cancerous breast (MCF 10A) cells. It had the highest selectivity index (SI) value of 9.5 among the tested extracts. It also induced early apoptosis and increased the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, caspase 8 and p53 in MCF7 cells. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) analysis showed that the major compounds found in DF-CME-MOL were benzeneacetonitrile, 4-hydroxy- and benzeneacetic acid, 4-hydroxy-, methyl ester among others that were detected. Thus, DF-CME-MOL extract was found to inhibit the proliferation of MCF7 cells by apoptosis induction, which is likely due to the activities of the detected phytochemical compounds of the extract.