The role of quercetin in the formation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles for nanomedical applications

The current work aimed to synthesize and characterize titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) using quercetin (QE) and evaluate their biological activities, i.e., anti-hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity effects. The crystallographic phase and morphology of biosynthesized QE-TiO₂NPs were characterized by XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and TEM/FE-SEM (Transmission/Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) micrographs. Functional groups involved in the synthesis process were determined by FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy). Based on the characterization results, selected QE-TiO₂NPs showed a rutile phase, spherical shape, and a size range of 7.3-39 nm. The QE-TiO₂NPs did not show a hemolytic effect. They indicated 95.3% red blood cells (RBCs) membrane stabilization activity and 82.6% inhibition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation, similar to a standard drug, which proved their anti-inflammatory effects. The attained results from cytotoxicity studies revealed the toxic effects of QE-TiO₂NPs with IC50 values below 100 and 50 μg/mL for human breast cancer cells of MCF-7 and melanoma cancer cells of A375, respectively. These NPs did not significantly affect normal skin fibroblast cells up to 50 μg/mL and only showed a 16% inhibition rate on the cell viability at 100 μg/mL. These NPs also induced excessive ROS generation. This work established the blood/biocompatibility and excellent nanomedical applications of biosynthesized QE-TiO₂NPs.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel 4-aryl-4H-chromene Derivatives using Borax and Evaluation of their Anticancer Effects

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION

4-aryl-4H-chromenes have attracted attention as potential anticancer agents.

OBJECTIVE

In an effort to discover effective compounds, we designed a new series of these chromenes with methoxy substitution at 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 positions.

METHODS

The synthesized compounds were tested for anticancer properties against two human cancer cell lines (MCF- 7 and PC3) as well as a normal cell line. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis was explored through various methods, such as flow cytometry analysis, morphological changes, activation of caspase 3, ROS, and MMP.

RESULTS

The MTT assay showed that the 5g derivative, with methoxy groups at ortho and meta positions, exhibited the highest potency (IC50 = 40 μM) against the PC3 cell line. Our findings revealed that compound 5g induced apoptosis in the PC3 cell line, which was demonstrated by activation of caspase 3, an increase in ROS levels, and early apoptosis percentage.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that compound 5g holds promise as a potential therapeutic approach to cancer treatment.

Controlled release of 5-fluorouracil to melanoma cells using a hydrogel/micelle composites based on deoxycholic acid and carboxymethyl chitosan

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite drug widely used for the treatment of skin cancer. Despite its proven efficacy in treating malignancies, its systemic administration is limited due to severe side effects. To address this issue, topical delivery of 5-FU has been proposed as an alternative approach for the treatment of skin cancer, however, the poor permeability of 5-FU through the skin is still a challenge. Here, we introduced a pH-responsive micellar hydrogel system based on deoxycholic acid micelle (DCA Mic) and carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel (CMC Hyd) to enhance 5-FU efficacy against skin cancer and reduce its systemic side effects by improving its delivery into the skin. The properties of the Mic/Hyd system were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta sizer, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Drug release studies showed pH-dependent properties of the Hyd. The final formulation was demonstrated to have enhanced anticancer activity than 5-FU against the growth of melanoma cells. The 5-FU@Mic-Hyd could be a promising delivery platform with enhanced efficacy in the management of skin cancer without systemic toxicity.

Oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin extracted from Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl protect PC12 pheochromocytoma cells from oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by doxorubicin

Background and purpose:

Doxorubicin (DOX) as a chemotherapeutic agent has been widely used in the treatment of various types of cancer. However, DOX exerts a toxic effect on normal tissues such as the brain. Furanocoumarins reduce the risk of cardiovascular and brain diseases because of their antioxidant activities. This study has been designed, for the first time, to evaluate the effect of known furanocoumarins oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin extracted from Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl on oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by DOX toward pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12).

Experimental approach:

NMR and MASS spectrometers were used to characterize the isolated compounds. The protective effects of isolated compounds on DOX-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells were examined by MTT assay. PC12 cells were pretreated with oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin for 2 and 21 h, respectively, subsequently exposure to DOX at IC₅₀ concentration. Then, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), Bax and Bcl2 mRNA expressions, caspase-3 activation, and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured after 24 h.

Findings/Results:

Pretreatment with oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin significantly decreased DOX-induced apoptosis through reduction of caspase-3 activity and ROS generation and an increase in MMP. In addition, our finding showed pretreatment with these compounds leads to regulation of Bcl-2.

Conclusion and implications:

Taken together our observation indicated that oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin have a protective effect against apoptosis induced by DOX in PC12 cells by inhibition of ROS production.

Salvigenin, a Trimethoxylated Flavone from Achillea Wilhelmsii C. Koch, Exerts Combined Lipid-Lowering and Mitochondrial Stimulatory Effects

Phytochemical analysis of the Iranian plant Achillea wilhelmsii led to the isolation of 17 pure secondary metabolites belonging to the classes of sesquiterpenoids and phenolics. Two of these compounds, named wilhemsin (7) and wilhelmsolide (9), are new sesquiterpenoids, and the first shows undescribed structural features. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis, mainly based on 1D and 2D NMR, and chemical derivatization. Starting from plant traditional use and previous reports on the activity of the plant extracts, all the pure compounds were evaluated on endpoints related to the treatment of metabolic syndrome. The sesquiterpene hanphyllin (8) showed a selective cholesterol-lowering activity (−12.7% at 30 µM), santoflavone (13) stimulated glucose uptake via the GLUT transporter (+16.2% at 30 µM), while the trimethoxylated flavone salvigenin (14) showed a dual activity in decreasing lipid levels (−22.5% palmitic acid biosynthesis at 30 µM) and stimulating mitochondrial functionality (+15.4% at 30 µM). This study further confirms that, in addition to the antioxidants vitexin, isovitexin, and isoschaftoside, A. wilhelmsii extracts contain molecules that can act at different levels on the metabolic syndrome symptoms.

Evaluation of the cytotoxic and apoptogenic effects of cinnamaldehyde on U87MG cells alone and in combination with doxorubicin

Background and purpose

In the present study, we tried for the first time to examine whether cinnamaldehyde (CA), with herbal nature, can be co-administrated with doxorubicin (DOX, as an anticancer drug) toward U87MG glioblastoma cells to potentiate its cytotoxic effect and overcome or reduce its side effects.

Experimental approach

The cytotoxic effect of DOX and CA, either individually or in combination, were evaluated on U87MG cells using the MTT method. The mechanism of action was studied by investigating the mode of cell death using caspase-3 and 9 activations, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as well as sub G1 analysis. The expression of apoptosis- related genes (Bcl-2 and Bax) was also examined.

Findings / Results

Cellular toxicity assay revealed that CA and DOX can potentially reduce the viability of U87MG cells with IC50 at 11.6 and 5 μg/mL, respectively. Exposure with the combination of CA and DOX significantly increased cytotoxic effect of DOX on U87MG cells. The results of SUBG1, MMP, and also caspase-3 and -9 activity assays, in association with the results corresponding to the Bax and Bcl-2 gene expressions, altogether revealed that CA can induce apoptosis on U87MG cells. Moreover, apoptogenic effects of DOX were found to be potentiated by CA.

Conclusion and implications

The results of this study revealed the promising cytotoxic and apoptogenic role of CA on U87MG cells. Additionally, our findings demonstrated that CA is able to enhance the apoptosis induced by DOX on human glioblastoma cells. Collectively, these data suggested that co-exposure of CA and DOX could be effective for treatment of glioblastoma, but further in vivo and clinical studies are still needed to prove these results.

Comparative Study on the Effect of Matricaria chamomile and Achillea millefolium Capsules on Primary Dysmenorrhea Intensity of Dormitory Students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, 2018

Background: Menstrual pain is the most common pain and one of the main causes of referral to a doctor among young women. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) and Matricaria chamomile plants to treat menstrual pain. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial study was performed on 50 female students of Kurdistan Medical Sciences residing in dormitory in 2018. Individuals were randomly divided into two groups of chmomile and yarrow using sealed envelopes. Twenty for people received 250 mg chamomile capsules every 8 hours and 26 people received 150 mg hydroalcoholic capsules of yarrow every 8 hours during the first three days of menstruation in two menstrual cycles. The data collection tool was a questionnaire and the severity of pain was assessed using visual analogue scale for the pain (VAS). Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of pain severity and duration of pain before taking the drug (p > 0.05). The average pain severity in the first menstrual cycle in the two groups decreased significantly (p< 0.05), which was more noticeable in the yarrow group. However, the average pain severity in the yarrow capsule group was lower than that of the chamomile capsule group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both capsules of yarrow and chamomile reduce the severity of pain, but the yarrow capsule, with its long-lasting sedative effect, proved more helpful to reduce the severity of menstrual pain and could be effective in solving one of the issues among women.

Investigation of the relationship between illogical thoughts and dependence on others and marriage compatibility in the Iranian Veterans exposed to chemicals in Iran-Iraq War

BACKGROUND

Marital satisfaction is one of the main determinants of a family's correct function. A large number of veterans have been reported to suffer from depression, anxiety, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical disorders. The objective of this study is to examine association between Illogical thoughts and Dependence on Others and Marriage Compatibility in the Iranian Veterans Exposed to Chemicals in Iran-Iraq War.

METHODS

The present cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted on 200 veterans exposed to chemicals who were covered by the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, Gilangharb, Kermanshah, Iran. The study sample size was determined according to Krejcie and Morgan formula and the subjects were selected through random sampling. The study data were collected using marriage compatibility questionnaire, illogical thoughts questionnaire, and dependence on others questionnaire. The study data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software (version18). Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and t-test were used in order to determine the relationships among the variables and compare the means.

RESULTS

The findings of the current study revealed no significant relationship between dependence on others, anxious attention, helplessness, avoiding problems, perfectionism, and autonomy and marriage compatibility. However, a significant relationship was found between failure and marriage compatibility.

DISCUSSION

Overall, the findings of the present study showed that the veterans of Gilangharb did not have disorders, but depended on others, particularly their spouses, due to their abnormal physical status. Sometimes, they cannot even do their personal tasks which results in their dependence on others eventually putting the veterans under pressure and stress.