Cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity of kanchnar guggulu, an Ayurvedic formulation / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Kanchnar guggulu is a compound Ayurvedic formulation used in clinical practice for the treatment of benign and malignant tumors. The present study investigates its cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The hydro-alcoholic (50%) extract of kanchnar guggulu was prepared. Its antimitotic activity was assessed in an Allium cepa assay, while its antiproliferative effects were studied in a yeast proliferation model. Methotrexate was used as a standard anticancer agent.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the Allium assay, all concentrations of the extract (1, 2 and 3 mg/mL) and methotrexate (0.02 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the division of A. cepa root cells, decreasing root growth and mitotic index compared to control; this effect was concentration-dependent for kanchnar guggulu extract. In the antiproliferative studies, treatment with the hydro-alcoholic extract of kanchnar guggulu (1, 5 and 10 mg/mL) and methotrexate (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL) resulted in marked reduction of dividing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and inhibition of cell viability compared to control. The cytotoxicity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of kanchnar guggulu, shown by its antimitotic and antiproliferative effects, may be due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolics.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Kanchnar guggulu exhibited a cytotoxic effect by inhibiting cell division (antimitotic) and reducing cell proliferation. These results substantiate its potential for the treatment of cancer and support its traditional use in the treatment of cancer.</p>

Sentinel lymph node biopsy a new approach in the management of head and neck cancers

Cervical lymph node metastasis affects the prognosis and overall survival rate of and therapeutic planning for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas [HNSCCs]. However, advanced diagnostic modalities still lack accuracy in detecting occult neck metastasis. A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a minimally invasive auxiliary method for assessing the presence of occult metastatic disease in a patient with a clinically negative neck. This technique increases the specificity of neck dissection and thus reduces morbidity among oral cancer patients. The removal of sentinel nodes and dissection of the levels between the primary tumour and the sentinel node or the irradiation of target nodal basins is favoured as a selective treatment approach; this technique has the potential to become the new standard of care for patients with HNSCCs. This article presents an update on clinical applications and novel developments in this field

Deciphering the role of the barr body in malignancy: an insight into head and neck cancer

X chromosome inactivation is the epitome of epigenetic regulation and long non-coding ribonucleic acid function. The differentiation status of cells has been ascribed to X chromosome activity, with two active X chromosomes generally only observed in undifferentiated or poorly differentiated cells. Recently, several studies have indicated that the reactivation of an inactive X chromosome or X chromosome multiplication correlates with the development of malignancy; however, this concept is still controversial. This review sought to shed light on the role of the X chromosome in cancer development. In particular, there is a need for further exploration of the expression patterns of X-linked genes in cancer cells, especially those in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [HNSCC], in order to identify different prognostic subpopulations with distinct clinical implications. This article proposes a functional relationship between the loss of the Barr body and the disproportional expression of X-linked genes in HNSCC development