Anti-cancer effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of pericarp of pistachio fruits

Objective: To investigate the cytotoxicity and anti-cancer effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of pistachio pericarp on hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and mouse fibroblast L929 cells as normal and control group cell. Methods: MTT assay was performed to investigate the cytotoxicity effects of the extract at 0-4 000 μg/mL on the cells after 24 and 48 h. The expressions of some genes involved in apoptosis including Bax, Bcl-2 and P53 were investigated by real time PCR. Results: Our results showed that after 24 and 48 hours of treatment of cells with this extract, the viability of HepG2 and L929 cells was reduced. Therefore, this extract had the cytotoxicity effect on both cells. The IC

[Comparison of petals allergenicity in two ontogenetic stages of Cytisus scoparius L. in guinea pig]

Background: Flowers aromatic compounds are the major inhaled allergens. The aim of this research was the comparison of petals allergenicity of in two ontogenetic stages, middle-aged and older of Cytisus scoparius; and Identifying dependence of allergenicity with developmental stages of extremely aromatic petals.

Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate the petals allergenicity, 18 Hartley guinea pigs were randomly selected and divided into three equal groups. 16% petals buffered extracts were prepared and then subcutaneous injection of extracts and also macroscopic examinations was performed. In order to confirm the petals allergenicity, immunoglobulin E [IgE] levels was measured using ELISA method, and the number of

eosinophils and finally blood glucose in guinea pig blood samples was evaluated. Data were analyzed in SPSS16 software using independent t-test.

Results: In guinea pigs treated with middle-aged petal extract, IgE, eosinophil count and also blood glucose significantly increased in comparison to control group, whereas in guinea pigs treated with older petal extract, there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups. Only, the diameter of wheals in skin test significantly increased in both treatment groups compared to control group [p<0.001]. In the electrophoretic profiles, in the area of allergen band, about 4 more specific protein bands ranged 27-85 kDa in the middle-aged petals; and 3 bands ranged 46-85 kDa in older petals was observed.

Conclusion: This study showed that the potency of immune system stimulation of middle-aged petals is more than older petals.

[Antimutagenicity and anticarcinogenic effects of gel and latex extracts of Aloe vera cultivated: a comparative study in two cities, Iran]

Nowadays, cancer is one of the main causes of mortality in the world and many mutagens are the cause of death in millions of patients. Due to the side effects of anticancer drugs, scientists are in search of natural drugs with fewer side effects and more therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to, firstly, investigate the antimutgenic effects of different Aloe vera gel and latex extracts on mutated Salmonella typhimurium bacterium by using Ames test and to, secondly, study the probable effects of the habitat conditions on the antimutagenic effects of the plant. After preparing different Aloe vera gel and latex extracts, the antimutagenic effects of the extracts were evaluated by Ames test. In this test, a mutated strain of S. typhimurium was grown on culture media containing a minimum of salt and glucose in the presence of a mutagen substance [NaN3]. Subsequently, only those bacteria that had turned HIS+ by reverse mutation formed colonies. As different alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Aloe vera reduced reversed mutations, the difference between the means of revertant mutants per plate was calculated by one-way ANOVA using SPSS software [version 18]. The ethanol extracts of latex from Karaj had a maximum [91%] and aqueous extract from Dezfoul had a minimum [42%] percentage of inhibition. Maximum percentage of inhibition was observed in the extracts of the plant cultivated in Karaj reflecting the impact of environmental conditions on the construction of antioxidant compounds in plants

Evaluating the sensitivity of three primers using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for rapid identification of Mycobacterium simiae isolated from pulmonary tuberculosis patients

Nowadays the molecular methods widely use for rapid identification of Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis [MOTT]. The Mycobacterium simiae isolates are cause of majority of human pulmonary diseases compared with other atypical mycobacteria. As sensitivity of primers and digestion patterns for diversified fragments is different, this survey evaluated the three various fragments using the PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis [PRA] for rapid diagnostic of M simiae isolates. Strains that were identified as M. simiae [1.7 isolates] by phenotypic [photochromogen and positive niacin] methods were selected for this study. The fragments of the 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer and hsp65 gene were amplified by PCR. Subsequently the amplicons were digested with three restriction enzyme namely Avail, Hphl and Hpall for a 644bp region of hsp65 DNAs, BstEll and Haelll endonucleases for 439bp region of hsp65 gene [TB11 and TB12 fragment] and Haelll digestion for 225bp region of 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer. Of 962 culture positive specimens, 17 [1.7%] were identified as M. simiae species; majority of them were multidrug-resistance [12; 70.5%]. The overall detection rate by Tbll, Tbl2 and SP primers were 82.3% whereas hsp65 primer was 100% [p>0.005]. We also found out that the Hpall and Hphl enzymes were more specific to distinguish M simiae species than other restriction enzyme used in this study. The high discriminative power of hsp65 pattern particularly Hpall digestion, provide an exact and cost-effective method for rapid identification of M. simiae strains among registered pulmonary cases

[ rapid identification of atypical mycobacterium in pulmonary tuberculosis [PTB] patients: evaluation of QUB3232 locus using the VNTR method]

Identification of atypical mycobacterium [Non tuberculosis Mycobacterium; NTM] is important because of the worldwide propagation of these organisms. Recently, molecular studies have identified the specific loci for mycobacterium species by DNA - finger printing methods, but these methods are time-consuming and expensive. In this study, in addition to hsp65 PCR-RFLP method, QUB3232 locus was evaluated for differentiation of atypical mycobacterium from mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. This study was performed on 371 pulmonary and non pulmonary specimens separated from patients with the symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis [PTB]. After the isolation and culturing of mycobacterium strains using the Lowenstein Jensen media, biochemical tests including production of Niacin, Catalase activity, Nitrate reduction, pigment production and growth rate were performed. Drug susceptibility testing was performed by proportional method. DNA extraction was performed by phenol-chloroform method. hsp65 gene was amplified by PCR. Subsequently the amplicons were digested with three restriction enzymes namely AvaII, HphI and HpaII and electrophoresed on 3% agarose gel. QUB3232 locus was also evaluated for differentiation of atypical mycobacterium and mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Out of 371 isolates, 32 [8.6%] were multi-drug resistant TB [MDR-TB], 184 [49.5%] were susceptible and 155 [42.5%] were non MDR [combined resistance] that 15% of MDR cases and 25% of non MDR cases were non tuberculosis mycobacterium. Out of 31 slow growing isolates, 58% were M. simiae and 19% were M. kansasii. The sensitivity of QUB3232 locus for differentiation of the atypical mycobacterium from mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was 80%. From the total of 43 NTM samples, 12 [27.9%] were rapid growing and 72% were slow growing. QUB3232 locus has the high discriminative power for differentiation of atypical mycobacterium from the mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, therefore, it can be used as a substitute for PCR-RFLP method

[Decreased risk of cancers and some carcinogenic factors by probiotic cultures]

Chemical carcinogens may be produced by metabolic activity of microbes residing in gastrointestinal system. Researches suggest that the consumption of probiotic cultures may decrease the risk of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate inhibitory effects of probiotic cultures on mutant and cancerous cells. In this experimental study, antimutagenic effects of probiotic cultures, including Bifidobacterium bifidus. Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhammosus and Streptococcus thermophillus, were assessed by the Salmonella/microsome assay upon sodium azid and nitrosamine by Ames test. There were anticancer and antimutagenic activities of probiotic cultures. Anticarcinogenic effects of probiotic cultures were mostly above 40% representing their potent anticarcinogenic activities. This study showed that probiotic cultures have potent anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activities

Comparative study of the pollen protein contents in two major varieties of cupressus arizonica planted in Tehran

During past few years, the Cupressus arizonica has been abundantly planted in Tehran, causing a significant increase of allergic diseases from the middle of winter to the beginning of spring. The aim of this study was the comparison of pollen protein content in two major varieties of C. arizonica planted in Tehran, including C. arizonica var. arizonica and C. arizonica var. glabra, in order to determine pollen's specificity of each variety and also to find out whether environmental conditions can influence pollen protein contents and its allergenic components. Pollen grains were directly collected from mature male cones of trees planted in different areas of the city. Pollen's proteins were extracted, and were analyzed by SDS PAGE. Total protein content of pollen extracts was measured by Bradford assay. Our investigations revealed noticeable differences in protein content of each variety. Bradford protein assay showed a higher total protein content in C. arizonica var. arizonica pollen extracts. A new major protein, with an approximate molecular weight of about 35 kDa was detected in both varieties. Immunoblotting using the serum of a cypress allergic subject showed that the protein with 35 kDa was also the major allergen of both varieties in pollen extracts. These results showed that there are some intraspecie specificities in Arizona cypress pollens. The major allergen of Cupresuss arizonica pollen, Cup a 1 [45 kDa], has been reported as the most representative protein in pollen extracts of Mediterranean countries, but in our autochthon extracts of both varieties, a protein band at 35 kDa was more representative. These observations seem to indicate that C. arizonica pollen protein content may be influenced by environmental conditions. Moreover, Immunoblot results provided a reliable indication on the allergenic activity of this new major protein band at 35kDa. The confirmation of these aspects would facilitate the preparation of an effective extract, improving the diagnosis of the allergy to the Cupressus arizonica pollen

Lack of association of mitochondria A3243G tRNA leu mutation in Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes

Many kinds of mutations in mitochondrial [mt] DNA have been reported to be related to the development of Diabetes Mellitus [DM], this type of diabetes has also been shown to be influenced by other genetic factors and/or environmental factors. Among them, tRNALeu[UUR] and its adjacent mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1[ND1] region within the mt genome are linked to high susceptibility to DM. A point mutation at 3243 base pair [bp] in the mt tRNA Leu[UUR] is commonly referred to as a syndrome of mitochondrial myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactic acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes [MELAS]. In the current study, we have assessed the frequency of the A3243G in Iranian diabetic type 2 patients. DNA was obtained from peripheral leukocytes of 154 patients with diabetes Mellitus type2 [l50 with type 2 and 4 with gestational diabetes] and 40 control subjects. Insulin concentration from patients' blood was measured using Radioimmunoassay procedure. Patients showed fasting blood sugar [FBS] between 150-230 mg/dl, body mass index [BMI] between 19-32 Kg/m2 and insulin concentration 0.9-2.35 mg/ml. PCR-RFLP, single strand conformation polymorphism [SSCP] and sequencing methods were used to detect the A3243G or other mutations in the mitochondrial tRNALeu [UUR] gene. A3243G mutation was not detected in patients. SSCP results showed a new pattern of PCR product in 6 patients. The C3316T transition mutation in the ND1 mitochondrial gene was confirmed in selected samples [n=6] by sequencing. No differences were observed between the two groups for C3316T and A3243G mutations [P=0.348]. The mt C3316T mutation did not have any effect on the clinical finding of type 2 diabetes carrying this mutation. These data together with clinical characteristics of the patients may suggest that the mt C3316T mutation might be a polymorphism in the Iranian population