Search results for "complementary and alternative medicine"

Cytotoxicity of 40 Egyptian plant extracts targeting mechanisms of drug-resistant cancer cells

2019

Abstract Background The multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype encounters a major challenge to the success of established chemotherapy in cancer patients. We hypothesized that cytotoxic medicinal plants with novel phytochemicals can overcome MDR and kill MDR-cells with similar efficacy as drug sensitive cells. Purpose We evaluated plant extracts from an unexplored ecosystem in Egypt with unusual climate and nutrient conditions for their activity against sensitive and multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines. Material and methods/study design Methylene chloride: methanol (1:1) and methanol: H2O (7:3) extracts of 40 plants were prepared resulting in a sum of 76 fraction containing compounds with v…

Cytotoxicity of ungeremine towards multi-factorial drug resistant cancer cells and induction of apoptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis and autophagy

2018

Abstract Background Successful cancer chemotherapy is hampered by resistance of cancer cells to established anticancer drugs. Numerous natural products reveal cytotoxicity towards tumor cells. Purpose The present study was aimed to determine the cytotoxicity of a betaine-type alkaloid, ungeremine, towards 9 cancer cell lines including various sensitive and drug-resistant phenotypes. The mode of action of this compound was further investigated. Methods The cytotoxicity, ferroptotic and necroptotic cell death were determined by the resazurin reduction assay. Caspase activation was evaluated using the caspase-Glo assay. Flow cytometry was applied for the analysis of cell cycle analysis (PI sta…

8,8-bis-(Dihydroconiferyl)-diferulate displayed impressive cytotoxicity towards a panel of human and animal cancer cells

2020

Abstract Background Recalcitrant cancers appear as a major obstacle to chemotherapy, prompting scientists to intensify the search for novel drugs to tackle the cell lines expressing multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative potential of a ferrulic acid derivative, 8,8-bis-(dihydroconiferyl)-diferulate (DHCF2) on a panel of 18 cancer cell lines, including various sensitive and drug-resistant phenotypes, belonging to human and animals. The mode of induction of cell death by this compound was further studied. Methods The antiproliferative activity, autophagy, ferroptotic and necroptotic cell death were evaluated by the resazu…

Cytotoxicity of apigenin toward multiple myeloma cell lines and suppression of iNOS and COX-2 expression in STAT1-transfected HEK293 cells.

2020

Apigenin is one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids that possesses multiple bio-functions.This study was designed to determine the influence of apigenin on gene expressions, cancer cells, as well as STAT1/COX-2/iNOS pathway mediated inflammation and tumorigenesis in HEK293-STAT1 cells. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity toward multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines was investigated.Bioinformatic analyses were used to predict the sensitivity and resistance of tumor cells toward apigenin and to determine cellular pathways influenced by this compound. The cytotoxic and ferroptotic activity of apigenin was examined by the resazurin reduction assay. Additionally, we evaluated apoptosis, and cell …

Berberine inhibits cell growth and mediates caspase-independent cell death in human pancreatic cancer cells.

2010

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies with an increasing incidence worldwide. In addition to the poor survival rates, combinations using gemcitabine as a backbone have failed to show any benefit beyond monotherapy. These facts underscore an urgent need for novel therapeutic options and motivated us to study the effect of berberine on pancreatic cancer cells. Here, we undertook an mRNA-based gene expression profiling study in order to get deeper insight into the molecular targets mediating the growth inhibitory effects of berberine on pancreatic cancer cells compared to normal ones. Twenty-four hours after treatment, berberine showed preferential selectivity towa…

Toxicogenomics for the prediction of toxicity related to herbs from traditional Chinese medicine.

2010

Toxicogenomics represents the integration of genomics and toxicology to investigate the interaction between genes and environmental stress in human health. It is a scientific field that studies how the genome is involved in responses to environmental stressors and toxicants. The patterns of altered gene expression that are caused by specific exposures or disease outcomes reveal how toxicants may act and cause disease. Nowadays, toxicogenomics faces great challenges in discriminating the molecular basis of toxicity. We do believe that advances in this field will eventually allow us to describe all the toxicological interactions that occur within a living system. Toxicogenomic responses of a …

Pterostilbene-induced tumor cytotoxicity: a lysosomal membrane permeabilization-dependent mechanism.

2012

The phenolic phytoalexin resveratrol is well known for its health-promoting and anticancer properties. Its potential benefits are, however, limited due to its low bioavailability. Pterostilbene, a natural dimethoxylated analog of resveratrol, presents higher anticancer activity than resveratrol. The mechanisms by which this polyphenol acts against cancer cells are, however, unclear. Here, we show that pterostilbene effectively inhibits cancer cell growth and stimulates apoptosis and autophagosome accumulation in cancer cells of various origins. However, these mechanisms are not determinant in cell demise. Pterostilbene promotes cancer cell death via a mechanism involving lysosomal membrane …

Effects of Plant Density on the Number of Glandular Trichomes and on Yield and Quality of Essential Oils from Oregano.

2016

Plants yields are influenced by agronomic techniques. Plant density is a complex issue and extremely important when maximizing both crop quality, and biomass and essential oil yields. Plants belonging to the Origanum vulgare subspecies hirtum (Link) Ietswaart were grown adopting four types of plant density and were characterized in biometric and chemical terms. The samples were analyzed using the ANOVA (Principal Component Analysis) statistical method regarding biometric aspects, EO yield and peltate hair density. Essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. GC-FID and GC-MS analysis led to the identification of 45 compounds from the EO. Plant …

The European directive on traditional herbal medicinal products: friend or foe for plant-based therapies?

2012

Scoping review and concept analysis of early adolescents’ emotional skills : Towards development of a music therapy assessment tool

2021

Introduction: This paper describes the concept and content of early adolescents’ emotional skills among the general population. The research literature contains many emotional skills-related terms with overlapping meanings, and it can be challenging to determine which are applicable for example, to a music therapy assessment tool. This study comprises the first phase of developing an assessment tool for early adolescents’ emotional skills, namely, determining what is to be assessed. Method: A scoping review of the literature is presented with written definitions of emotional skills-related terms, as well as a concept analysis of the terms performed using Walker and Avant’s method. Results: …