ABSTRACT
AIMS: Xanthohumol isolated from hops has been reported to exhibit anticancer effects in diverse human cancers. However, its effect on breast cancer has not yet been clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of xanthohumol on breast cancer cell proliferation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After treatment with 5 µM, 10 µM, and 20 µM xanthohumol for 48 h, cells from the human breast cancer cell line MDA‑MB‑231 were studied using colony assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting. RESULTS: The survival rate of the MDA‑MB231 cells treated with 10 µM and 20 µM xanthohumol for 48 h decreased significantly by 64.7 ± 1.8% and 40.1 ± 1.8%, respectively. The numbers of SubG0/G1 cells in the group treated with 10 µM and 20 µM xanthohumol increased significantly to 11.3 ± 0.2 and 18.4 ± 0.1, respectively. A ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation was also observed. Xanthohumol increased the expression of Bax in the mitochondria, which correspondingly decreased in the cytoplasm. The activity of caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 was shown to increase significantly in the treated groups but not in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Xanthohumol inhibited the proliferation of MDA‑MB‑231 cells through a mitochondria‑ and caspase‑dependent apoptotic pathway. This result suggests that xanthohumol might serve as a novel therapeutic drug for breast cancer.
ABSTRACT
O uso de plantas medicinais como fonte terapêutica é milenar e nos últimos anos o seu valor tem aumentado, tanto para a população quanto para a ciência. Várias empresas nacionais e internacionais empregam matéria-prima vegetal na elaboração de seus produtos, o que torna indispensável o cultivo comercial e o beneficiamento pós-colheita destas espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o teor de óleo essencial de carqueja [Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC.], em três embalagens diferentes ao longo de um ano de armazenamento. Observou-se que ao longo do armazenamento, a embalagem de papel Kraft foi a que melhor preservou a integridade de certas características físicas e químicas do produto, assim como, manteve o teor de óleo ao longo de um ano de armazenamento.
The use of medicinal plants as therapeutic source is ancient and has increased in value in recent years for both the population and the science. Several national and international companies use raw plant material in the preparation of their products, making essential the commercial cultivation and the post-harvest processing of these species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the essential oil content of [Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC.] in three different packages over one year of storage. During storage, Kraft-paper package best preserved the integrity of some physical and chemical characteristics of the product and maintained the oil content for one year of storage.
Subject(s)
Oils, Volatile/supply & distribution , Baccharis , Product Packaging/classification , Product StorageABSTRACT
The effect of hypoxia on the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in transformed rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the effect of agmatine on the hypoxia-induced production of TNF-alpha in RGCs were evaluated. RGCs were cultured under hypoxic conditions with 5% oxygen, with or without 100 microM agmatine. The expression levels of TNF-alpha and its receptor-1 (TNF-R1) were investigated by Western blot analysis. After 6 hours of hypoxia, we noted an increase in TNF-alpha production in RGCs. Agmatine significantly reduced TNF-alpha level after 12 hours of hypoxic treatment. The expression of TNF-R1 was not affected by the hypoxia or agmatine treatment. Our results show that agmatine inhibits the TNF-alpha production of RGCs in hypoxic condition. These results demonstrate a possible neuroprotective mechanism for agmatine against hypoxic damage in RGCs.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Agmatine/pharmacology , Cell Hypoxia , Cells, Cultured , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Retinal Ganglion Cells/cytology , Retinal Ganglion Cells , Retinal Ganglion Cells/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolismABSTRACT
Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de Bevacizumab en las neovascularizaciones coroideas subfoveales y yuxtafoveales de Degeneración Macular Relacionada a Edad (DMRE). Pacientes y Métodos: Serie intervencional sin control. Criterio de re-tratamiento basado en examen clínico con o sin angiofloresceinografía y OCT. Resultados: 44 ojos de 42 pacientes de DMRE recibieron la inyección intravítrea de bevacizumab 1.25mg y tuvieron seguimiento de 4-40 semanas, promedio 21.8 semanas. AV inicial fue entre 0.02 - 1.0, promedio 0.18 (log Mar 0.75) y AV final fue entre c/d - 1.0, promedio 0.25 (log Mar 0.58); que la diferencia resultó ser estadísticamente significativa (p<0.025). 26 (59 por ciento) ojos ganaron la AV al menos 1 línea de ETDRS, y dentro de los cuales 15 (34 por ciento) ojos ganaron 3 o más líneas de ETDRS. 24 (54 por ciento) ojos recibieron 2 o más inyecciones. 19 (43 por ciento) pacientes presentaron la DMRE cicatricial en su ojo contra lateral. Hubo un caso de leve hemovítrea como complicación. Conclusiones: Bevacizumab sería la terapia electiva para la DMRE exudativa en nuestro medio por su indiscutible eficacia, seguridad y bajo costo.
Objective: To study the efficacy of Bevacizumab for subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Patients and Methods: Interventional case series without control group. Re-treatment criteria was based on clinical examination with or without florescein angiography or OCT. Results: 44 eyes of 42 patients received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab 1.25mg. The mean follow up was 21.8 weeks, range 4-40 weeks. The mean initial VA was 0.18 (log Mar 0.75), range 0.02 - 1.0, and the mean final VA was 0.25 (log Mar 0.58), range finger count - 1.0. The difference between both VA was statistically significant (p<0.025). 26 (59 percent) eyes gained VA 1 line of ETDRS at least, and 15 (34 percent) eyes gained 3 or more lines of ETDRS. 24 (54 percent) eyes received 2 or more injections. 19 (43 percent) patients had disciform AMD in contra lateral eye. We had only one case of slight vitreal hemorrhage as complication. Conclusion: Bevacizumab would be the first line therapy for exudative AMD owing to its indisputable efficacy, security and low cost.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged, 80 and over , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage , Macular Degeneration/drug therapy , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Age Factors , Macular Degeneration/complications , Intravitreal Injections , Choroidal Neovascularization/etiology , Choroidal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Quebra-Pedra é o nome popular atribuído a espécies do gênero Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae). P. niruri e P. amarus são estudadas no Brasil e no mundo quanto às suas atividades farmacológicas, decorrentes das indicações populares. O estudo de secagem a armazenamento visa fornecer parâmetros para se obter a matéria prima uniforme e de qualidade. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar o teor de umidade final das espécies e a curva de umidade de equilíbrio (UE) entre 10 e 90 por cento de UR. As duas espécies foram cultivadas no CPQBA, colhidas a 50cm de altura e direcionadas à secagem (T = 50°C) em estufa com circulação forçada de ar. Na determinação da curva de UE utilizou-se o método estático, empregando-se soluções salinas saturadas. O peso foi controlado através de pesagens periódicas, até atingir o equilíbrio (peso constante), sendo então determinada a UF. Por meio das curvas, determinouse a umidade de equilíbrio característica de cada espécie na faixa de umidade relativa do ar estudada. Os modelos matemáticos que melhor se ajustaram a P. amarus foi o de Hasley (9,3 por cento), e P.niruri GAB (8,9 por cento).
Species of the genus Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) is known popularly in Brazil as "Quebra Pedra" (Break-stone) and indicated for the treatment of renal lithiasis. P. niruri and P. amarus have been studied in Brazil and around the world regarding pharmacologycal activity, due to folk uses. Drying and storage parameters intend to provide a standard raw material with high quality. The storage condition can determine the durability of raw material and relative humidity is one of the most important factors. The aim of this study was to determine the final percentage of humidity and the desorption isotherms. The species were cultivated on experimental field at CPQBA/UNICAMP. The experimental area was harvest and the aerial part was dried in 50ºC until constant weight. After dried, the final humidity was determined. The equilibrium moisture had been determined by static gravimetric method, with a range of relative humidity from 10 to 90 percent. The most commonly used equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) equations were compared with their ability of best fiting the published sorption data for selected medicinal and aromatic plants. The best-fitted equation identified for P. amarus was Hasley (9,3 percent), and for P.niruri was GAB (8,9 percent).
ABSTRACT
La buena midriasis es una de las condiciones primordiales con que se debe contar para las operaciones de la catarata. El flurbiprofeno 0,1% (Tolerane), administración tópica, es utilizado para esta finalidad, ya que es un potente inhibidor de Prostaglandina. Se realizó EEC más LIO en 45 pacientes por un cirujano y se observó que el diámetro pupilar disminuía apenas en un 6,2% desde el inicio hasta el final de las operaciones (de x 7,7 mm a 7,2 mm); se requirió de un miótico para asegurarse de ubicación retroiridiana del LIO, situación para la cual tanto neostigmina como acetilcolina resultaron ser útiles