cytotoxic activity of various herbals against different tumor cells: an in vitro study

Medicinal plants have been investigated for possible anti-cancer effects. The aim of the present study was to examine the cytotoxic activity of several medicinal native plants on different tumor cell lines. Plants including Salvia santolinifolia, Salvia eremophil, Salvia macrosiphon, Salvia reuterana, Teucrium persicum, Anvillea gracini and Francoeuria undulate were collected from different sites of Fars Province in southern Iran. The methanolic extracts of the plants were prepared and their effects at concentrations of 5-200 micro g/ml on various tumor cell lines were examined using a colorimetric assay. Among the extracts of Salvia species, the strongest inhibitory effect was observed for S. reuterana extract. This extract showed a strong cytotoxic effect on the Raji lymphoma cell line. More than 50% of Raji cells growth was inhibited by 21 micro g/ml of this extract. S. macrosiphon extract also showed a strong inhibitory effect on this tumor cell line [IC50=77 +/- 1 micro g/ml]. The greatest inhibitory effect of T. persicum extract was on Hela tumor cell line. This extract at concentration of 69 +/- 2 micro g/ml causes 50% inhibition of Hela cell growth. Corresponding data for A. gracini extract was obtained at concentrations of 83.5 +/- 2 and 86 +/- 3 micro g/ml on Jurkat and Hela cells, respectively. F. undulata reduced the proliferation of all the tumor cell lines used in this study but this inhibition did not reach 50%. All the extracts, more and less, showed inhibitory effects on the tumor cell lines. The most cytotoxic activity was observed in S. reuterana with an IC50 value less than 25 micro g/ml towards Raji cell line

Comparative study of pulmonary function tests before and after successful percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy

Mitral stenosis [MS] causes elevation of left atrial and pulmonary venous pressures. Persistent elevation of pulmonary venous pressure causes anatomical and physiological changes in lung vasculature and tissue, and change in lung volumes thereafter. Studies showed improvement of lung function with improvement of mitral stenosis and decrease in left atrial pressure and pulmonary congestion. This study was performed to evaluate lung volumes before and after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy [PTMC], including FEV1, PVC, SVC, and their percent and FEF of 25, 50, 75, 25-27 percent and PEFR before and within 48 h after PTMC, and to evaluate correlation of each with valve area. 26 from 51 patients with inclusion criteria stayed in the study with non-random consequential selection and the others were excluded. All of the patients had moderate to severe MS, good mitral valve morphology, echo score below 11, and absence of clot in the left atrium. Spirometery was done in all of the patients before and after PTMC and FEV1, FCV, SVC, FEF25%, FEF59%, FEF75%, FEF25-75% FEF1/FVC, and PEFR were measured. There were 26 patients [12 female, 14 male] with a mean age of 38.38 years old, miral valve area was 0.88 cm2 before and 1.46 cm2 after PTMC [mean 0.58 cm2 increase [p<.000]. Mean value of lung volumes and flow changes were: SVC change= 100 ml [p<0.1], FVC= 230 ml [p<0.0005], FEV1= 250 ml [p<0.003], FEF50%= 0.85 [p<0.004], FEF25%= 0.98 [p<0.003], and FEF25-75%= 0.71 [p<0.01]. Values for SVC, PEFR, and FEF75% and PEFR had no significant improvement. This may suggest improvement of small airway function due to a decrease in lung congestion

Surveying primary ecg findings in emergency unit and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome

With respect to the increasing number of patients with cardiac pain and acute coronary syndrome and its progressive process and importance of prognostic predictors of ECG, this study was performed to determine the role of admission ECG on the prognosis of acute coronary syndrome. In this case series study, during a 2-year period a total of 210 patients with acute chest pain and ECG changes attended during the first 12 hours to the emergency department were included. Associated ECG changes were T inversion, ST elevation, ST depression and ST elevation and depression. All patients were followed for 1 month after primary visit for absence of event and reinfarction and death. Role of ECG changes with death were evaluated with chi square and Fisher's exact test. The study population included 127 males and 83 females with a mean age of 61 +/- 10.9 years. ECG changes were as follow T inversion 50.4%, ST elevation 12.4%, ST depression 29.1% and ST elevation and depression 8.1%. Only one patient in T-inverted group showed reinfarction in follow up. Death occurred in 2 patients of ST-elevated, 10 patients of STdepressed and 5 patients of ST-elevated and -depressed group, respectively. Admission ECG in patients with acute coronary syndrome may predict the risk of early or late death, therefore, appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions should be achieved earlier

Correlation between blood groups and ischemic heart disease in patients referred to university affiliated hospitals

Considering the prevalence and progressive process of ischemic heart disease [IHD], the importance of its etiologic studies, and some reports confirming the role of blood groups in uncovring diseases such as IHD, this study was carried out to determine the correlation between blood group and IHD and some other related risk factors. This study was performed on patients who came to hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. This cross sectional study was preformed on 1000 patients with IHD. Their blood groups and risk factors were determined and recorded. The blood groups in Tehrani and Iranian population were determined according to IHD prevalence. The role of blood groups in above mentioned groups and the role of risk factors in IHD were evaluated by Chi square test. 54.8% of patients were male and 9.9% were less than 45 years old, the prevalent age of the patients were between 65 to 75 years old. 47.2% of patients with A-blood group did not have any risk factors, whereas in other blood groups, almost 22.6% were without risk factors and were from O-blood group. The patients with several risk factors were mostly from O-blood group [36.5%] [p < 0.05]. Although most frequent blood groups in general population of Tehran and Iran has been O, the patients were mostly from A-blood group. It seems the type of blood group is effective in the frequency of IHD. The patients with IHD are mostly from A-blood group. More studies are needed on the correlation between blood groups and IHD

Geographic heterogeneity of cytogenetic characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia in the early detection: a comparative study of Iranian and Indian adult patients

Acute Meyloid Leukemia [AML] in adults is known to be a heterogeneous disease with diverse chromosome abnormalities. Some of these chromosome abnormalities are found with a high incidence in populations from specific geographical areas and ethnic societies. Therefore, we studied the cytogenetic features of AML cases in contrasting societies of Iran and India. Cytogenetic investigation was performed in various subtypes of AML with unstimulated short-term culture and High Resolution Cell Synchronization with some modification. Cytogenetically, Iranian M3 displayed a higher frequency of t[15;17] than Indian M3 [33.8% vs 19.3%] followed by M2 [t[8;21] [27.7% vs 16.2%]] and M1 [t[9;22] [16.0% vs 11.3%]]; whereas, inv[16]11q23 and numerical chromosomal aberrations in chromosome 5,7,8 occurred more frequently in Indian than Iranian. These findings represented different cytogenetic characteristics of t[15;17] between the two populations. This is the first systematic cytogenetic study of an ethnic Iranian population. Extensive biological studies of AML in Iran and India and various countries to be needed to clarify the role of genetic as well as geographic heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of AML

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism, paraoxonase-1 activity and coronary artery disease: is there a link

The association of ApoE allele frequencies with coronary artery disease [CAD] remains unknown in developing countries. Paraoxonase 1 [PON1] is an enzyme that is associated with high density lipoprotein [HDL] and hydrolyzes oxidized lipids in oxidized low density lipoprotein [LDL] and thus protects against the development of atherosclerosis. In this study the association of apoE polymorphism and PON1 with premature CAD was determined. The frequency of apo E alleles and the activity of the PON1 among 162 patients with early and late onset CAD was examined. The mean age in the early and late-onset groups were 44.9 ' 4.9 and 71.7'2.5 years respectively. Patients with early-onset CAD had significantly lower serum levels of HDL-C and higher LDL-C/HDL-C ratio than the late-onset group. There was no difference in serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C between the two groups. The e2 allele was significantly higher in the late-onset group. 35.0% of early-onset and 17.5% of late-onset group had low level of PON1. 86% of the early-onset CAD and all of the late-onset CAD patients with e3/ e4 genotype, had low or moderate level of PON1 activity. We found a positive association between PON1 activity, HDL level and the onset of CAD. Our study suggests that there are modest associations between CAD and apo E alleles and that the lower activity of PON1 in the presence of lower apo E level may increase the susceptibility to early-onset CAD

Effect of trachyspermum copticum [L.] link microinjection in nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis on morphine's withdrawal syndrome sings

Drug addiction is destructive misfortune and one of the most important problems in the world. Using the medical plants in medicinal history has valuable information and experiments in this field. According to research Trachyspermum copticum L. T. Copticum is effective in reducing of morphine's withdrawal syndrome, so in this study we investigate the effects of T. Copticum microinjection on nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis [PGi] on morphine's withdrawal syndrome sings [MWSS]. After preparing the T.C fruit from height of the mountain in Khuzestan, aqueous extract of different concentration [Diluted 10, 100, 1000 times] was prepared by suckcele display. 32 male rats [Sprague Dawley with average weigh 250 - 300 gr] were randomized divided to 4 groups which dependent by intraperitoneum [I.P] injection with morphine. After cannulating the PGI with using the set of steriotaxi, microinjection of different doses of T. Copticum in PGI was done and naloxan [5 mg/kg] was injected I.P to groups. Withdrawal syndrome signs [diarrhea, rearing, ptosis, irritability, tremor, agitation] were observed in 4 groups. Data evaluation and analysis was done by t-test and Mann-Whitney. Results show that T.C was significantly effective in reduction of MNSS such as [rearing ptosis, irritability] compared with control group. T. Copticum is probably sensitive on specific receptors in PGI

[Plasma homocysteine levels in cataract patients with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome]

To compare total plasma homocysteine [tHcy] levels in cataract patients with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome [PXS]. In this case-control study 29 [15 female and 14 male] cataract patients with PXS and 29 [16 female and 13 male] cataract patients without PXS were enrolled. Fasting tHcy level was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and compared between the two groups. Mean age was 68.9 +/- 13.9 years in the PXS group and 63.1 +/- 12.6 in patients without PXS [P=0.69]. Mean plasma tHcy level was 21.08 +/- 11.72 micromol/l in patients with PXS Vs 13.20 +/- 4.23 micromol/l in patient without PXS [P=0.001]. Hyperhomocysteinemia was seen in 17 cases [56.6%] of PXS vs 4 cases [13.8%] of non-PXS subjects [P=0.001]. This study supports the association of hyperhomocysteinemia with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

[ vitro anti-staphylococcus aureus activity of Nigella sativa L., seed oil extract, compared with CXM, CEC, MAN and CAZ antibiotics]

The anti-microbial effect of plants has been suggested from old years. New researches in this field confirm such property of applications. In this study, anti-microbial effects of Nigella sativa seed oil cold extract against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated, and the minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of Nigella sativa L. [NS] was compared with relevant antibiotics. Detection of mic in ns oil cold extract was performed using broth dilution method. The original extract was prepared in 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.06% and 0.03% concentrations by serial dilution. S. Aureus strains [ATCC 1112 and 2572] were grown in TSB media to 0.5 mc farland standard concentrations and each 0.01 dilution of microorganism suspension above was transferred to the drug dilution. Tubes were incubated overnight at 35 °C. The sensitivity of the bacteria was defined by disk diffusion [kirby-bauer] Method and Antibiogram disks made by Difco Inc. The obtained values were compared with the effects of the extract. MIC for S. Aureus ATCC-2572 and S. aureus ATCC-1112 were found 1/16 and 1/10, respectively. It was revealed by performing in vitro sensitivity tests for the two strains that NS oil can affect the bacterial pure form in 0.125% and 0.26% concentrations. It is suggested that the anti-microbial effect of NS oil extract is comparable with antibiotics such as CXM, CEC, MAN, CAZ. We recommend experimental use of Nigella sativa L. to control some of bacterial infections

Effect of Allium sativum L. aqueous extract on contraction power of isolated atrium from rats following administration of adrenaline

Synthetic drugs, although very effective, have their own side effects. Recently, herbal plants have received more attention to avoid the unpleasant effects of synthetic agents. To investigate the effects of garlic aqueous extract on contraction power of isolated atrium from male rats following administration of adrenalin. Male rats [Spirague Dawley, Albino, 200-250 gr] were divided into 7 groups as follows: Control, adrenalin, garlic extract [10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 40mg/kg], Propranolol and Propranolol plus garlic extract at a single concentration of 40 mg/kg. Later the contraction power was recorded using a physiograph set. Garlic extract at all three concentrations used in our study caused a reduction of atrial contraction power in adrenalin group. When the degree of contraction power reduction was compared between garlic extract [40mg/kg] and garlic extract plus Propranolol groups, no statistically significant difference found. Atrial contraction power decreased in presence of garlic aqueous extract and the degree of reduction was significant in both low and high doses, statistically

Comparison of efficacy of honey versus silver sulfadiazine and acetate mafenid in the treatment of contaminated burn wounds in piggies

Introduction: Heat injury, with creation of conclusive necrosis in skin layers, prepares an environment suitable for bacterial infection as a result of low tissue perfusion and high protein content. Gram negative bacteries especially Pseudomonas Auroginosa have been recognized as the main creative organisms of wound infection mortality. Mankind has been interested in remedial role of honey since long.Materials and Sixty Indian piggies were categorized in three equal groups. A part of their body, approximately 8.5cm2, was burned with water steam [3 degree of burn]. Then, a number of 108 microorganisms of Pseudomonas Auroginosa were inoculated in the wound area. Each group was treated with group-specialized drug for a period of one month. [Honey- silver sulfadiazine 1%-acetat mafenid 8.5%]. In special days, according to determined schedule, animals' weight, as well as burn condition and extent were recorded and quantitative and qualitative cultural specimens were prepared periodically. The results were analyzed by statistical software of Spss10. Out of three groups, the group of honey had the mortality at least equal with two other groups[30% with comparison of 40% and 45%], the most formation of granulation tissue in a time of 10 days [90% with comparison of 35% and 44%], the smallest remaining wound at the end of study[percent of dwindle in size 62% in honey group with comparison of 29% and 22%] and the least of contamination in prepared specimens[20% in 10th day of burn with comparison of 95% and 100%]. Utilization of topical honey in treatment of deep and infectious burn in piggies not only accelerates the healing procedure but has antimicrobial effect at least equal to valuable acetate mafenid drug