Comparative antioxidant activity and phytochemical content of five extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom)

Reactive oxygen species reacts with numerous molecules in the body system causing oxidative damage, which requires antioxidants to ameliorate. Pleurotus ostreatus, a highly nutritious edible mushroom, has been reported to be rich in bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the comparative antioxidant activity and phytochemical contents of five extracts of P. ostreatus: aqueous (AE), chloroform (CE), ethanol (EE), methanol (ME) and n-hexane (HE). The phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined using standard in-vitro antioxidant assay methods. Results showed that the extracts contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, anthrocyanins, and betacyanins in varied amounts. CE had the highest flavonoid content (104.83 ± 29.46 mg/100 g); AE gave the highest phenol content of 24.14 ± 0.02 mg/100 g; tannin was highest in EE (25.12 ± 0.06 mg/100 g); HE had highest amounts of alkaloids (187.60 ± 0.28 mg/100 g) and saponins (0.16 ± 0.00 mg/100 g). Antioxidant analyses revealed that CE had the best hydroxyl radical activity of 250% at 100 µg/ml and ferric cyanide reducing power of 8495 µg/ml; ME gave the maximum DPPH activity (87.67%) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (65.58%) at 500 µg/ml; EE had the highest nitric oxide radical inhibition of 65.81% at 500 µg/ml and ascorbate peroxidase activity of 1.60 (iU/l). AE had the best total antioxidant capacity (5.27 µg/ml GAE at 500 µg/ml) and ferrous iron chelating activity (99.23% at 100 µg/ml) while HE gave the highest guaiacol peroxidase activity of 0.20(iU/l). The comparative phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics (IC50) of the extracts followed the order: CE > AE > EE > ME > HE. Overall, chloroform was the best extraction solvent for P. ostreatus. The high content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkaloids in P. ostreatus makes it a rich source of antioxidants and potential candidate for the development of new therapies for a variety of oxidative stress-related disorders.

Estrogens and the risk of breast cancer: A narrative review of literature

In female mammals, the development and regulation of the reproductive system and non-reproductive system are significantly influenced by estrogens (oestrogens). In addition, lipid metabolism is another physiological role of estrogens. Estrogens act through different types of receptors to introduce signals to the target cell by affecting many estrogen response elements. Breast cancer is considered mostly a hormone-dependent disease. Approximately 70% of breast cancers express progesterone receptors and/or estrogen receptors, and they are a good marker for cancer prognosis. This review will discuss estrogen metabolism and the interaction of estrogen metabolites with breast cancer. The carcinogenic role of estrogen is discussed in light of both conventional and atypical cancers susceptible to hormones, such as prostate, endometrial, and lung cancer, as we examine how estrogen contributes to the formation and activation of breast cancer. In addition, this review will discuss other factors that can be associated with estrogen-driven breast cancer.

Understanding the cross-talk between human microbiota and gastrointestinal cancer for developing potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers

The interaction between gut microbes and gastrointestinal (GI) tract carcinogenesis has always attracted researchers' attention to identify therapeutic targets or potential prognostic biomarkers. Various studies have suggested that the microbiota do show inflammation and immune dysregulation, which led to carcinogenesis in GI tract. In this review, we have focused on the role of microbes present in the gut, intestine, or faeces in GI tract cancers, including esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. Herein, we have discussed the importance of the microbes and their metabolites, which could serve as diagnostic biomarkers for cancer detection, especially in the early stage, and prognostic markers. To maximize the effect of the treatment strategies, an accurate evaluation of the prognosis is imperative for clinicians. There is a vast difference in the microbiota profiles within a population and across the populations depending upon age, diet, lifestyle, genetic makeup, use of antibiotics, and environmental factors. Therefore, the diagnostic efficiency of the microbial markers needs to be further validated. A deeper understanding of the GI cancer and the host microbiota is needed to acquire pivotal information about disease status.

Design and development of novel fasudil derivatives as potent antibreast cancer agent that improves intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function in rats

This study was conducted to develop novel fasudil derivatives after incorporation of substituted thiazoles as potent anti-breast cancer (BC) agents. The compounds were developed using a facile synthetic route in excellent yields. The entire set of developed compounds was tested for inhibitory activity against rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK; ROCK1 and ROCK2) kinase, where they exhibit potent and selective inhibition of ROCK1 as compared to ROCK2. The most potent ROCK2 inhibitor, compound 6h significantly inhibited the viability of BC cells (MCF-7). It also causes inhibition of migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the anti-BC activity of compound 6h was studied in 7,12 dimethyl Benz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced BC in female Sprague Dawley rats. Results suggest that it causes significant improvement in the bodyweight of the animals with a reduction in oxidative stress in the liver and mammary tissues of rats. It showed improvement in the intestinal barrier function of rats by restoring the level of Diamine oxidase, d-lactate, and endotoxin. In western blot analysis, it showed improvement in (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-1 in the colon tissue of the rat as compared to the DMBA group. Our study demonstrated the development of the novel class of fasudil derivatives potent anti-BC agent that improves intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function in rats.