ABSTRACT
Aims: To investigate the cytotoxic properties of different polarity solvents of Polygonum minusextracts towards colon cancer cell lines, HT-29, HCT-116 and CT-26.Study Design:Experimental study. Place andDuration of Study:Central Laboratory, Tissue Culture Laboratory, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu between September 2019 until December 2019.Methodology:The different polarity solvents of P. minusextracts had been led to tetrazolium salt reduction (MTT) assay and an inhibition concentration of 50 (IC50) value for their cytotoxic potential against colon cancer cells. Then, cell morphology observation and fluorescence double staining of treatment cells were determined using a light inverted microscope and acridine orange/propidium iodide staining.Results:The results indicated that an extraction yields aligned from 0.01% for acetone and ethyl acetate to 0.45% for aqueous solution with decreasing order of aqueous solution > 70% aqueous ethanol > 50% aqueous ethanol > methanol > ethanol > acetone and ethyl acetate. Meanwhile, the ethyl acetate extract showed a higher cytotoxic effect at IC50values of 7.00 ± 0.06 μg/mL and 7.00 ± 0.30 μg/mL towards the HCT-116 and CT-26 cells; and 50% aqueous ethanol towards HT-29 cells (24.00 ± 0.01 μg/mL). The different solvent extracts of P. minusinduced cytotoxic effects on the treated cell lines by altering their normal cell morphology and cell membrane integrity (except for acetone extract). Conclusion:Therefore, the use of different polarity solvent extracts of P. minusas an anti-cancer agent is promising more on ethyl acetate and warrants further investigation
ABSTRACT
Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans can cause life-threatening infections, especially in immune-compromised patients. Treatment with currently available antifungal agents may lead to severe side-effects and emergence of resistant strains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal properties of MTH and SBP against C. albicans and C. neoformans. Broth dilution method was used to assess the antifungal properties of the MTH and propolis. Different concentrations of the MTH and propolis (0.78 mg/mL – 50.00 mg/mL) in two-fold dilutions were tested against each fungus to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) which was done by visual inspection and spectrophotometric (MIC95) reading at 620 nm. Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was obtained by culturing on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Total phenolic acids and flavonoids contents were also determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric assay respectively. The MICs of the MTH against C. albicans and C. neoformans by visual inspection were 6.25 mg/mL and 1.56 mg/mL respectively, meanwhile 6.25 mg/mL and 3.13 mg/mL by spectrophotometric reading. The MFCs of the MTH against C. albicans and C. neoformans were 12.50 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL respectively. The MICs of SBP against C. albicans and C. neoformans by visual inspection were both 1.56 mg/mL whereas spectrophotometric reading recorded MICs of 3.13 mg/mL and 1.56 mg/mL respectively. The MFCs of SBP against C. albicans was 6.25 mg/mL and 3.13 mg/mL for C. neoformans. The total phenolic acids and flavonoids contents of MTH were 275.6 mg gallic acid/kg and 71.8 mg quercetin/kg respectively whereas for SBP, the phenolic acids content was 1754.2 mg gallic acid/kg and the flavonoids content was 82.6 mg quercetin/kg. MTH and SBP exhibited significant antifungal activities against C. albicans and C. neoformans. Their antifungal activities might be attributed to the high phenolic acids and flavonoids. This result suggests that MTH and SBP could potentially be used as alternative therapeutic agents against these fungi.
ABSTRACT
The use of opioids has gain popularity in the field of medicine especially in treating chronic terminally ill patients. Unfortunately, several adverse effects in relation to its use have been reported. Literature search on the adversity of opioids in treating pain, its paradoxical hyperalgesic effects and susceptibility to addiction were conducted using Pubmed, Embase and Google Scholar without species limitation. This brief article focuses on the corresponding neuro-protective, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, ulcero-protective and nephron-protective functions of (Phoenix dactylifera L) to elaborate on evidences, mechanisms, modulatory and pharmacological significance to counteract adverse effects of opioid treatment and provide insight on the underlying mechanisms of addiction.