Cytotoxic and apoptotic potential of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (mace) extract on human oral epidermal carcinoma KB cell lines

Several studies have revealed that certain naturally occurring medicinal plants inhibit the growth of various cancers. The present study was conducted to evaluate cytotoxicity and apoptotic induction potential of Myristica fragrans Houtt mace extract. The cytotoxic activity of the Myristica fragrans Houtt mace acetone extract was assayed by MTT assay on human oral epidermal carcinoma KB cell lines. KB cells were incubated with different concentration of mace extract ranging from 25 to 125 µg/mL for 24hrs. The apoptotic induction potential was also studied by the analysis of Bcl-2 protein and gene expression in mace extract incubated KB cell lines using western blotting technique and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The mace extract exhibited cytotoxicity and anticancer effect against KB cell lines and it also suppressed the growth of cancer cells, therefore growth inhibitory effect was noted in extract treated cell lines. The apoptotic potential of mace extract was accompanied by reduced gene expression of Bcl-2 compared to the untreated KB cells. The mace extract shows the cytotoxic activity and induced the apoptosis through the modulation of its target genes Bcl-2 in the KB cell lines, suggesting the potential of mace as a candidate for oral cancer chemoprevention. This can be further investigated in vivo for its anticancer potential.

Gastroprotective effect of Cissus quadrangularis extract in rats with experimentally induced ulcer.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Most of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin cause gastric ulcer. In order to study the gastroprotective effect of Cissus quadrangularis extract (CQE), this study was undertaken on aspirin-induced ulcerogenesis in pyloric ligated (ASP-PL) model in rats. METHODS: To assess the possible antiulcer effect of CQE, lesion index, gastric secretions glycoprotein levels, non-protein sulphydryls (NPSH) and adherent mucus content were determined in ASP-PL induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. RESULTS: Pretreatment with CQE significantly prevented the gastric mucosal lesion development and decreased the gastric toxicity produced by ulcerogen. In addition, ulcerated rats showed depletion of gastric wall mucus, glycoproteins and NPSH levels whereas treatment with CQE reverted this decline in ASP-PL induced rats. Histological studies confirmed the results. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The present finding suggests that CQE promotes ulcer protection by the decrease in ulcer index, gastric secretions and increase in the glycoprotein level, gastric mucin content and NPSH concentration. CQE may protect the gastric mucosa against ulceration by its antisecretory and cytoprotective property.

Cardioprotective effect of mangiferin on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Isoproterenol (ISPH) induced myocardial infarction was confirmed by disturbances in serum and heart tissue marker enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phospho kinase (CPK), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), increased level of lipid peroxidation and histopathological changes in the heart of ISPH administered rats. Pretreatment with mangiferin (10 mg/100 g body weight) for 28 days was found to ameliorate the effect of ISPH-induced pathological changes, reduced the lipid peroxide formation and retained the myocardial marker enzyme activities at near normal level. The above results indicate the cardioprotective effect of mangiferin against ISPH-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Effect of Solanum trilobatum against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in albino rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Many hepatoprotective herbal preparations have been recommended in alternative systems of medicine for the treatment of hepatic disorders. No systematic study has been done on protective efficacy of Solanum trilobatum to treat hepatic diseases. Protective action of Solanum trilobatum extract (STE) was evaluated by us in an animal model of hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). METHODS: Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups. Group I was normal control group; Group II, the hepatotoxic group was given CCl4; Groups III-V received different doses of plant extract with CCl(4). Liver marker enzymes were assayed in serum and antioxidant status was assessed in liver tissue. RESULTS: Levels of marker enzymes such as alanine transminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased significantly in CCl4 treated rats (group II). STE brought about a significant decrease in the activities of all these enzymes. Lipid peroxidation (LP) was increased significant in liver tissue in the CCl4 treated rats (group II) while the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased. STE treatment led to the recovery of these levels to near normal. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The present observations suggested that the treatment with S. trilobatum extract enhance the recovery from CCl4 induced hepatic damage due to its antioxidant and hepatoprotective property.

Effect of ambrex (an amber based formulation) on gastric mucosal damage: role of antioxidant enzymes and lipid profile.

The present work has been undertaken to study the effect of ambrex, a polyherbal formulation on experimental gastric ulceration and their possible antioxidative mechanism to cure ulcer. Gastric mucosal damage was produced in rats by administering 200 mg/kg orally. Aspirin was found to cause severe haemorrhagic lesions mainly through oxidative damage of the mucosa as indicated by increased lipid peroxidation, conjugated diene, protein carbonyl content, decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes and alteration in the lipid levels. This damage was treated with the aqueous extract of ambrex (40 mg/kg) for 15 days orally. Pre-administration of ambrex at a dose of 40 mg/kg, decreased the ulcer index, lipid peroxidation, conjugated diene and protein carbonyl content and increased the antioxidant enzyme levels. The lipid levels were maintained at near normalcy when treated with ambrex in aspirin administered rats. The major mechanism involved appears due to free radical scavenging action and changes in lipid profile.