Moraea sisyrinchium inhibits proliferation, cell cycle, and migration of cancerous cells, and decreases angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane

Objectives

Experimental studies reported that some plants in the genus of Moraea (Iridaceae family) show anticancer potential. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Moraea sisyrinchium on U87 glioblastoma multiforme and HepG2 liver cancer cells.

Materials and Methods

The cells were incubated for 24 hr with hydroalcoholic extract of the stem, flower, and bulb of M. sisyrinchium. Then, the cell proliferation (MTT) assay, cell cycle analysis (propidium iodide staining), cell migration test (scratch), Western blotting (Bax and Bcl-2 expression), and gelatin zymography (for matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs) were performed. Oxidative stress was evaluated by determining the levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Angiogenesis was evaluated on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane.

Results

The extracts of the flower, stem, and bulb significantly decreased the proliferation of HepG2 and U87 cells. This effect was more for U87 than HepG2 and for the bulb and stem than the flower. In U87 cells, the bulb extract increased oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Also, this extract suppressed the migration ability of HepG2 and U87 cells, which was associated with the inhibition of MMP2 activity. In addition, it significantly reduced the number and diameter of vessels in the chorioallantoic membrane. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of xanthones (bellidifolin and mangiferin), flavonoids (quercetin and luteolin), isoflavones (iridin and tectorigenin), and phytosterols (e.g., stigmasterol) in the bulb.

Conclusion

M. sisyrinchium bulb decreased the proliferation and survival of cancer cells by inducing oxidative stress. It also reduced the migration ability of the cells and inhibited angiogenesis.

Molecular characterizations of antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence determinants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn wound infection

BACKGROUND

Burn injuries result in disruption of the skin barrier against opportunistic infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the main infectious agents colonizing burn wounds and making severe infections. Biofilm production and other virulence factors along with antibiotic resistance limit appropriate treatment options and time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wound samples were collected from hospitalized burn patients. P. aeruginosa isolates and related virulence factors identified by the standard biochemical and molecular methods. Antibiotic resistance patterns were determined by the disc diffusion method and β-lactamase genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. To determine the genetic relatedness amongst the isolates, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR was also performed.

RESULTS

Forty P. aeruginosa isolates were identified. All of these isolates were biofilm producers. Carbapenem resistance was detected in 40% of the isolates, and bla_TEM (37/5%), bla_VIM (30%), and bla_CTX-M (20%) were the most common β-lactamase genes. The highest resistance was detected to cefotaxime, ceftazidime, meropenem, imipenem and piperacillin, and 16 (40%) isolates were resistant to these antibiotics. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of colistin was lower than 2 μg/mL and no resistance was observed. Isolates were categorized to 17 MDR, 13 mono-drug resistance, and 10 susceptible isolates. High genetic diversity was also observed among the isolates (28 ERIC types) and most carbapenem-resistant isolates were classified into four main types.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic resistance, particularly carbapenem resistance was considerable among the P. aeruginosa isolates colonizing burn wounds. Combining carbapenem resistance with biofilm production and virulence factors would result in severe and difficult-to-treat infections.

A study of Ungernia trisphaera Bunge and Thymus transcaspicus cytotoxicity in MCF7, U87, PC3, and B16F10 cancer cell lines

Objective:

Thymus transcaspicus (Lamiaceae) is an Iranian species of Thymus, and Ungernia trisphaera Bunge belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. Cytotoxic properties of total ethanolic extract of T. transcaspicus and U. trisphaera were investigated against different cell lines including B16F10, PC3, U87, and MCF-7.

Methods:

The proliferation, cell cycle, and migration of the cells were determined by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, propidium iodide (PI) staining, and scratch assay respectively. The effects of U. trisphaera extract (UTE) on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and angiogenesis were evaluated by the gelatin zymography method and chicken chorioallantoic membrane model, respectively. The GSH, SOD, and MDA were evaluated by colorimetric method.

Results:

The results showed that UTE could inhibit the development of malignant cells in a concentration-dependent manner, while the inhibitory effect of T. transcaspicus extract (TTE) was not significant compared to the control group. The UTE-induced sub-G1 peak apoptosis compared to the control group indicated that apoptotic cell death is involved in UTE-induced cytotoxicity. MMPs activity was significantly decreased 48 hours after treatment. Moreover, GSH level and SOD activity were significantly decreased while MDA and ROS levels were significantly increased after 24 hours treatment. In addition, combination of UTE (1.5–25 μg/mL) with doxorubicin (6 µg/mL) showed an additive cell growth inhibitory effect.

Conclusion:

UTE demonstrated cytotoxic and apoptogenic effects in different cancer cell lines, and it was found that apoptosis plays a crucial role in the cytotoxicity of UTE. Thus, U. trisphaera can be considered as a potential medicinal herb in cancer treatment, after comprehensive pharmacological and toxicological studies.

Cytotoxic effects of Garcinia mangostana pericarp extract in cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

Garcinia mangostana, commonly also called mangosteen, is an evergreen tropical tree, and its pericarps have been used in traditional herbal medicine for different diseases. The anticancer efficacy of the ethanolic extract from pericarps of Garcinia mangostana was investigated in human prostate cancer cells (PC3), melanoma cells (B16F10), breast cancer cells (MCF7) and glioblastoma (U87) cell lines.

METHODS

3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to measure cell viability. propidium iodide (PI) staining and analysis on a flow cytometer was used to identify apoptosis. Action on cell migration was evaluated by scratch assay and gelatin zymography. Furthermore, the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured. Moreover, we investigated the synergistic efficacy with several combinations of Garcinia mangostana extract (GME) with doxorubicin.

RESULTS

GME reduced cell viability in malignant cell dose and time-dependently. GME-induced sub-G1 peak in flow cytometry histogram of treated cells control representing apoptotic cell death is involved in GME toxicity. Furthermore, GME exhibited inhibitory effects on the migration ability of U87 cells, which was accompanied by inhibition in the activity and expression of MMP2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2). Besides, GSH level and SOD activity was significantly reduced while there was an increase in ROS and MDA concentration following 24 hr GME treatment. Moreover, combination of GME (1.5-25μg/mL) with Dox (6 µg/mL) displayed synergistic efficacy and cell growth inhibition.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, GME could cause cell death in PC3, MCF7, U87, and B16F10 cell lines, in which apoptosis plays an imperative role. Plant extract decreased the migration ability of the cells by inhibiting the activity and expression of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). G. mangostana could be a promising therapeutic strategy to treat cancer in the future.