Anti-Oxidant, Pro-Oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Unpolished Rice Relevant to Colorectal Cancer

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Explain and Predict Areca Nut Use Among Adolescents in India: An Exploratory Study

Context

Areca nut, used alone or in combination with tobacco, contributes to the high oral cancer burden in India. Used widely by adolescents, who perceive it as a harmless substance, areca nut is addictive and considered a precursor to tobacco use. Given its serious implications for addictiveness and physical health, urgent preventive interventions for areca nut use are required in India and South-East Asia. Studies examining the role of health behavior theory in explaining and predicting areca nut use and for development of its prevention among adolescents are scarce.

Aim

This study explored the role of the components of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) such as attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention in predicting areca nut use among adolescents.

Settings and Design

Observational study with cross-sectional design conducted with 1884 male and female adolescents attending low-income schools in Mumbai, India.

Methods and Material

Self-administered surveys were used to gather data on age, gender, behavioral factors and areca nut use.

Statistical Analysis Used

Chi-square and Mann Whitney test for bivariate and logistic regression for multivariate analysis.

Results

Around 27.2% of 1884 participants were areca nut users. The mean age of users was 13.75 years. Intention-to-use and perceived behavioral control were statistically significant predictors of actual areca nut use (p<0.001). The components of TPB such as attitude, perceived subjective social norms, and perceived behavioral control had a statistically significant effect on the intention-to-use areca nut (p<0.05).

Conclusion

This exploratory study indicates that constructs from TPB could help us understand and predict areca nut use. However, more rigorous future research is required to generate insights that help craft effective theory-based behavioral interventions for areca nut prevention and cessation in adolescents.

Cannabis sativa Extract Induces Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic 3D Cancer Models: Importance of Major Antioxidant Molecules Present Therein

In recent years, interest in Cannabis sativa L. has been rising, as legislation is moving in the right direction. This plant has been known and used for thousands of years for its many active ingredients that lead to various therapeutic effects (pain management, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc.). In this report, our objective was to optimize a method for the extraction of cannabinoids from a clone of Cannabis sativa L. #138 resulting from an agronomic test (LaFleur, Angers, FR). Thus, we wished to identify compounds with anticancer activity on human pancreatic tumor cell lines. Three static maceration procedures, with different extraction parameters, were compared based on their median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values and cannabinoid extraction yield. As CBD emerged as the molecule responsible for inducing apoptosis in the human pancreatic cancer cell line, a CBD-rich cannabis strain remains attractive for therapeutic applications. Additionally, while gemcitabine, a gold standard drug in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, only triggers cell cycle arrest in G0/G1, CBD also activates the cell signaling cascade to lead to programmed cell death. Our results emphasize the potential of natural products issued from medicinal hemp for pancreatic cancer therapy, as they lead to an accumulation of intracellular superoxide ions, affect the mitochondrial membrane potential, induce G1 cell cycle arrest, and ultimately drive the pancreatic cancer cell to lethal apoptosis.

Thai Water Lily Extract Induces B16 Melanoma Cell Apoptosis and Inhibits Cellular Invasion Through the Role of Cellular Oxidants

Melanoma is a cancer that is associated with a high capacity of invasion. Oxidative stress is recognized as cancer growth and progression. The phytochemical pigments of natural products show either anti-oxidant or pro-oxidant activity from the redox system. In addition, the phytophenolics also prevent cancer cell proliferation and progression. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of Thai water lily on cell apoptosis and cellular invasion through the role of cellular oxidants in B16 melanoma cells. Methods: The cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis of Thai water lily extract treating B16 cells were performed by using the MTT and Annexin V/PI-flow cytometry methods, respectively. In addition, cellular oxidants and cancer cell invasion were also obtained by using DCFH-DA and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Results: Thai water lily, Nymphaea stellate extract was shown to be markedly toxic to B16 melanoma cells with IC50 = 814 µg/ml. The extract at 800 and 1,000 µg/ml demonstrated pro-oxidant activity relating to the cell apoptosis. The low concentrations of the extract at 200 and 400 µg/ml showed the anti-oxidant function associated with the inhibitory effect of melanoma cell invasion. Conclusion: Thai water lily extract may play an important role in bioactive work as a chemo preventive agent on the modulation of cellular oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and suppressed cancer cell invasion.