Ultrastructural and biochemical evidence of apoptosis induced by a novel inhibitor of protein geranylgeranylation in human MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells

Change in Caco-2 cells following treatment with various lavender essential oils

Lavender is an aromatic evergreen shrub diffused in the Mediterranean basin appreciated since antiquity. The genus Lavandula is part of Lamiaceae family and includes more than 20 species, among which true lavender (L. vera D.C. or L. angustifolia Miller.) and spike lavender (L. latifolia Medikus); there are also numerous hybrids known as lavandins (L. hybrida Rev.). L. vera, spike lavender and several hybrids are the most intensely used breeding species for the production of essential oils. Lavender and lavandin essential oils have been applied in food, pharmaceutical and other agro industries as biological products. In their chemical composition, terpenes linalool and linalyl acetate along with terpenoids such as 1,8-cineole are mostly responsible for biological and therapeutic activities. This study evaluates cytotoxic activity of essential oils derived from four lavender species on human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Analysis of pre- and post-treatment cell morphology has been performed using scanning electron microscope.

Selective anti-endothelial effects of protracted low-dose BAL-9504, a novel geranylgeranyl-transferase inhibitor

Because the anti-endothelial effects of agents such as interferon alpha, endostatin, and various chemotherapeutic drugs appear to be optimal after protracted, frequent dosing, both in vitro and in vivo, using low concentrations/doses of drugs, we tested the geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor BAL-9504 ((E,E,E) [2-oxo-2-[[(3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14 hexadecatetraenyl)-oxy]amino]ethyl] phosphonic acid) in this manner on different human cell types, including endothelial, breast cancer cells and fibroblasts. We found that human endothelial cells were preferentially affected with respect to inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of adhesion to fibronectin, and blockade of cell migration, by daily exposure to low concentrations of BAL-9504 for 6 days. These results may have implications in terms of both increasing anti-tumor efficacy, mediated by antiangiogenic mechanisms, and reducing toxic side effects.

Synthesis and antiviral properties of novel analogues of monophosphate and diphosphate bioactive forms of acyclovir

New analogues (compounds 6, 7 and 9) of the mono- (8) and diphosphate (10) bioactive forms of the antiherpes drug acyclovir are described. In compound 6, the monophosphate moiety of 8 was replaced by an aminosulfonyloxy group, while in compounds 7 and 9, a phosphonoacetamidoxy and an O-ethyl phosphonoacetamidoxy moiety are, respectively present instead of the diphosphate one of 10. None of the compounds synthesized proved to possess an appreciable activity on herpes simplex virus (HSV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).