[In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of sixteen new n-piperazinyl quinolone derivatives against a panel of tumor cell lines]

Fluoroquinolones are potent inhibitors of bacterial topoisomerase II. They can also inhibit eukaryotic topoisomerase, and may confer antitumoral properties. In this study the antitumoral activity of a new series of N-substituted piperazinyl- fluoroquinolones against a panel of human tumor cell lines was determined by MTT assays. Among the tested compounds N-[2- [5-bromo-2-thienyl]-2-oxoethyl] [C1,N1,E1], N-[2- [5-bromo-2-thienyl]-2-[hydroxyimino] ethyl][C2,N2,E2] and N-[2-[5-bromo-2-thienyl]-2-[phenylmethoxyimino] ethyl] [C3,N3,E3] piperazinyl quinolones exhibited the most cytotoxic activities [mean IC50s = 2.5 to 3 microg/ml], comparable to that of the Etoposide [mean IC50= 1.7micro g/ml]. Replacement of the 5- bromo-2-thienyl with 4- fluorophenyl or 2, 6- difluorophenyl rings leads to variable inhibition activity. The quinolone activity was enhanced by the presence of a chlorine and two fluorine atoms at the benzyl and phenyl groups, especially against ACHN renal adenocarcinoma cell line. These data suggest that these series of quinolones provide good models for the further design of potent antitumor compounds

Cadmium absorption and accumulation in different parts of kidney beans, radishes and pumpkins

This study is done to measure the absorption and distribution of cadmium in different parts of kidney beans, radishes and pumpkins. Three parts of a field was chosen. In one part 65 ppm of cadmium nitrate was added to water and in the other part 130 ppm, the last part was irrigated with normal water. Samples were digested by EPA 3050 method. Cadmium concentration was measured by Unicam 919 absorption unit. Beans accumulate cadmium mostly in root [70 ppm] and a little amount is mobilized through upper parts [12-16ppm], but kidneys did not accumulate a significant amount. In radishes the roots did not accumulate a significant amount of cadmium but stems had 4 ppm and leaves had 25 ppm. Cadmium concentration in soil does not affect its concentration in different parts of pumpkins and beside the stems and leaves [4 ppm] the other parts' concentrations were insignificant. In regard to the results of this study the cadmium concentrations in edible parts of the samples [kidney beans, radish roots and pumpkin fruit] were less than the U.S. EPA standards for agriculture and human beings

[Effects of Methanolic extract of Achillea Wilhelmsii C.koch on seizure induced by Picrotoxin in mice]

Some therapeutic effects of medicinal plants such as Achillea have been known for many years ago. In this investigation, the effects of methanolic extract of Achillea Wilhelmsii C. Koch on seizure induced by picrotoxin was studied in mice. This study was performed on animals pretreated with different experimental doses of percolated extract of Achillea Wilhelmsii via intraperitoneal injection and 20 minutes after extract injections, each animal received picrotoxin 10 mg/kg for induction of generalized tonic and clonic seizure. Latency of onset and duration of seizure, death time and percent of mortality were determined. The results showed that pretreatment of animals with different doses of extracts did not change the beginning time of seizure induced by picrotoxin. The duration of seizure increased [p<0.01], but the severity of seizures was milder than control group. In addition, all doses of extract lengthened the time of death [p<0.01]. The mortality rate was decreased with dose of 50 and 100 m a g [p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively]. The results showed that the dose of 100mg/kg is the most effective one. The extract of Achillea Wilhelmsii decreased the severity of generalized tonic and clonic seizure induced by picrotoxin and lengthened the death time; therefore it is a suitable for continuing investigation as anticonvulsant drug