Study of crocin and radiotherapy-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in the head and neck cancer [HN-5] cell line

Malignant tumors of head and neck carcinomas are the sixth most common type of cancer. Current systemic therapies for cancer show side effects in normal tissues and short-term efficacy due to drug resistance. Consequently, there is much interest in identifying new drugs for cancer treatment. Crocin [an active ingredient of saffron] has been shown to have cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. Chemo radiotherapy is the standard treatment for head and neck cancer. In the present study, the cytotoxic effects, inducing apoptosis and the radiation sensitivity of crocin were evaluated in the head and neck cancer cell line [HN-5]. HN-5 cells were cultured in a DMEM medium and incubated with different concentrations of crocin [12.5-1000 micro g/mL]. They were exposed to 2 Gy gamma-rays. Cell viability was quantified by the MTT assay. Apoptotic cells were determined using PI staining of DNA fragmentation by flowcytometry [sub-G1 peak]. Crocin decreased cell viability in HN-5 cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. Crocin also induced a sub-G1 peak in the flowcytometery histogram of treated cells compared with the control, suggesting that apoptotic cell death is caused by its toxicity. Crocin was also shown to sensitize cells to radiation-induced toxicity and apoptosis. The simultaneous use of crocin and radiation therefore increases radiation sensitivity and cell death. Thus, after further study crocin can be considered as a potential drug and sensitizer in cancer treatment

Potential uses for cord blood mesenchymal stem cells

Stem cell therapy is a powerful technique for the treatment of a number of diseases. Stem cells are derived from different tissue sources, the most important of which are the bone marrow [BM], umbilical cord [UC] blood and liver. Human UC mesenchymal stem cells [hUC-MSCs] are multipotent, non-hematopoietic stem cells that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into other cells and tissues such as osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts. In a number of reports, human and mouse models of disease have hUC-MSCs treatments. In this article, we review studies that pertain to the use of hUC-MSCs as treatment for diseases

In-vitro evaluation of cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of sophora pachycarpa

Sophora pachycarpa Schrenk ex C.A.Mey. belongs to the family Fabaceae. Some species of the genus Sophora have shown to possess anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities in cancer cells. However, there is no available information addressing this effect in S. pachycarpa. Here, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of methanol extract and different fractions obtained from S. pachycarpa root on different cancer cell lines including A549, HeLa, HL-60, MCF-7, and PC3 cell lines and leukocytes as non-malignant cells. Apoptotic cells were determined using PI staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry [sub-Gl peak]. S. pachycarpa inhibited the growth of malignant cells in a dose-dependent manner. CH[2]C1[2] and EtOAc fractions showed the lowest IC[50] values ranging from 6 to 50 microg/mL in various cancer cell lines. HeLa cells as the most sensitive cells were chosen for further mechanistic studies. The sub-Gl peak in flow cytometry histogram of S. pachycarpa treated HeLa cells indicates apoptotic cell death in S. pachycarpa-'mduced toxicity. In conclusion, S. pachycarpa exerts cytotoxic effects in different cancer cell lines in which apoptosis plays an important role. Thus, S. pachycarpa could be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment

Cytotoxic and apoptotic potential of rheum turkestanicum janisch root extract on human cancer and normal cells

Rheum turkestanicum Janischew. [Polygonaceae] is a plant that grows in central Asia and in north-east of Iran. Traditionally, people use roots of/?, turkestanicum as an anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive as well as anticancer agent. In this study the cytotoxicity and apoptogenic properties of ethyl acetate [EtOAc], [-hexane and H[2]O extracts from Rheum turkestanicum Janischew. [Polygonaceae] root were determined against HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines and human blood lymphocytes. Malignant and non-malignant cells were cultured in RPMI1640 medium and incubated with different concentrations of plant extracts. Cell viability was measured by MTS assay. Apoptotic cells were evaluated using PI staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry [sub-G 1 peak]. The degree of DNA fragmentation was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis based on the formation of inter-nucleosomal units. The expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax and PARP cleavage were detected by Western blotting. EtOAc and w-hexane extracts decreased cell viability in malignant but not in non-malignant cells, as a concentration and time dependent manner. EtOAc extract induced a sub-G 1 peak in flow cytometry histogram of treated cells compared to the control. DNA fragmentation indicating apoptotic cell death was involved in R. turkestanicum induced toxicity and cleaved PARP fragment was also detected. In conclusion, this is the first report on the cytotoxic effects of R. turkestanicum in which apoptosis played an important role. However, further evaluations are needed to fully understand the possible anti-tumor properties

Ethnic differences and motivation based on Maslow's theory on Iranian employees

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory had been fulfilled and to compare the Maslow's hierarchy of needs among Iranian different ethnic groups at Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS]. This research was a descriptive-analytical study which conducted among administrative employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Tehran, Iran. The structured questionnaire consisted of 20 questions and demographic details. Each question had 4 parts to measure Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The questionnaire was distributed randomly among 133 employees to fill-up the demographic details and the other questions. Data was collected and analyzed by SPSS software, and One Way ANOVA, T-test, Spearman and Mann Whitney statistical methods. TUMS ethnic groups of the employees placed most importance on Basic, Self-esteem and Self-actualization. In addition, we found that Persians, Mazandaranians, and Turks ethnic groups, scored the most mean for Maslow's hierarchical needs compared to the other ethnic groups. Basic needs and safety needs is available amongst the different ethnic groups in Iran. As though, self-actualization needs are ultimate human goal, Iranian employees ethnic groups pay emphasis on these needs. We believe that new structures and work practices such as prevailing cultural values and beliefs of the society or the organizations must be explored if Iranian-based organizations want to remain responsive to the needs of the workplace

Study of cytotoxic properties of Rosa damascena extract in human cervix carcinoma cell line

Cancer is a major health problem worldwide and current therapies for cancer are often limited by short-term efficacy due to drug resistance. There has been much interest in the use of naturally occurring compounds with chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic properties in the treatment of cancers. Rose is one of the most important groups of ornamental plants which their fruits and flowers are used in a wide variety of foods, nutritional products and different traditional medicines. In this study cytotoxic effect of Rosa damascena extract was evaluated on HeLa cell line. HeLa cells were cultured in DMEM medium and incubated with different concentrations of Rosa damascene [R. damascene] extract. Cell viability was quantitated by MTT assay. Rosa decreased cell viability in malignant cells in a concentration and time dependent manner. The IC50 values against HeLa were determined as 2135, 1540 and 305.1 micro g.ml[-1] after 24, 48 and 72h, respectively. It might be concluded that R. damascena could cause cell death in HeLa cells which could be also considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment in future

Apoptosis: from signaling pathways to therapeutic tools

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a gene regulated phenomenon which is important in both physiological and pathological conditions. It is characterized by distinct morphological features including chromatin condensation, cell and nuclear shrinkage, membrane blebbing and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Although, two major apoptotic pathways including 1] the death receptor [extrinsic] and 2] mitochondrial [intrinsic] pathway have been identified, recently endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomal pathways have been also recognized. Depending on both the cell type and the initiating factor, distinct pathways are activated. The pathways share a common final phase of apoptosis, consisting of activation of the executioner caspases and dismantling of substrates critical for cell survival. The important regulatory mechanisms include death receptors, caspases, mitochondria and Bcl-2 family proteins. Modulating of apoptosis is a novel therapeutic strategy in treatment of different diseases. These include situations with unwanted cell accumulation [cancer] and failure to diminish aberrant cells [autoimmune diseases] or diseases with an inappropriate cell loss [heart failure, stroke, AIDS and neurodegenerative diseases]. Modulation of apoptosis is a novel therapeutic strategy in treatment of different diseases. Many approaches including gene therapy, antisense strategies and numerous apoptotic drugs to target specific apoptotic regulators, are currently being developed. The goal of this review is to provide a general overview of current knowledge on the process of apoptosis including morphology, biochemistry, signaling as well as a discussion of apoptosis in diseases and effective therapy