In Vitro Cytotoxicity Analysis of Bioceramic Root Canal Sealers on Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells

ABSTRACT@#This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of four bioceramic root canal sealers (bioceramic sealers): GuttaFlow Bioseal (GB), MTA Fillapex, CeraSeal Bioceramic root canal sealer (CS), and iRoot SP root canal sealer (iRSP). The viability of human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of these bioceramic sealers. HGF cells were cultured and exposed to bioceramic sealer extracts for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours at 37°C in an incubator humidified with 5% CO2. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide or MTT assay was conducted to determine cell viability at each incubation period and compared among all bioceramic sealers. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed statistically significant differences between the positive control group and MTA Fillapex, MTA Fillapex and GB, and between GB and iRSP with p < 0.05. However, no statistical differences were found in cell viability for each material across all the incubation periods. GB was the least cytotoxic bioceramic sealer with cell viability exceeding 90% throughout the 72-hour incubation followed by CS, iRSP, and MTA Fillapex with non-cytotoxicity after 72-hour incubation, mild cytotoxicity after 72-hour incubation, and mild cytotoxicity after 72-hour incubation, respectively. However, iRSP showed moderate cytotoxicity, and MTA Fillapex was severely cytotoxic (< 30% cell viability) after 24-hour incubation.

FLAXSEED (LINUM USITATISSIMUM) EXTRACT ACTIVITY ON HUMAN ORAL FIBROBLASTS (HOrF) CELL LINE

@#Natural products have demonstrated various activities beneficial to general health. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) has been reported in many studies for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, flaxseed extracts have skin wound healing activity and potential for treating oral ulcers. L. usitatissimum was extracted using 70% ethanol via soxhlet method and gas chromatography mass spectrum (GCMS) was used to analyze the components of L. usitatissimum extract. The crude flaxseed oil were applied to human oral fibroblasts (HOrF), and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess the cell viability after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Scratched HOrF cells were treated with crude flaxseed oil and healing was monitored per wound healing assay. GC-MS indicate that the major components present in L. usitatissimum oil extract are linolic, palmitic and oleic acid. L. usitatissimum crude oil extract showed high proliferation effect on HOrF cells at 24 and 48 hours, while the highest proliferation effect was recorded at 72 hours post-treatment. The wound healing assay results showed that healing activity of HOrF cells occurred as soon as 18 hours post-treatment when treated with L. usitatissimum crude oil extract. L. usitatissimum crude oil extract has proliferating and healing effects on HOrF cell line. Therefore, it can be considered as a potential promising oral wound healing agent.

Effects of Triterpenoids from Luvunga scandens on Cytotoxic, Cell Cycle Arrest and Gene Expressions in MCF-7 Cells

Plant-derived triterpenoids commonly possesses biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-cancer. Luvunga scandens is one of the plant that produced triterpenoids. The aims of the study was to analyze cell cycle profile and to determine the expression of p53 unregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), caspase-8 and caspase-9 genes at mRNA level in MCF-7 cell line treated with two triterpenoids, flindissol (1) and 3-oxotirucalla-7,24-dien-21-oic-acid (2) isolated from L. scandens. The compounds were tested for cell cycle analysis using flow cytometer and mRNA expression level using quantitative RT-PCR. The number of MCF-7 cells population which distributed in Sub G1 phase after treated with compound 1 and 2 were 7.7 and 9.3% respectively. The evaluation of the expression of genes showed that both compounds exhibited high level of expression of PUMA, caspase-8 and caspase-9 as normalized to β-actin via activation of those genes. In summary, the isolated compounds of L. scandens plant showed promising anticancer properties in MCF-7 cell lines.

Nutraceuticals as potential therapeutic agents for colon cancer: a review

Colon cancer is a world-wide health problem and the second-most dangerous type of cancer, affecting both men and women. The modern diet and lifestyles, with high meat consumption and excessive alcohol use, along with limited physical activity has led to an increasing mortality rate for colon cancer worldwide. As a result, there is a need to develop novel and environmentally benign drug therapies for colon cancer. Currently, nutraceuticals play an increasingly important role in the treatment of various chronic diseases such as colon cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer׳s disease. Nutraceuticals are derived from various natural sources such as medicinal plants, marine organisms, vegetables and fruits. Nutraceuticals have shown the potential to reduce the risk of colon cancer and slow its progression. These dietary substances target different molecular aspects of colon cancer development. Accordingly, this review briefly discusses the medicinal importance of nutraceuticals and their ability to reduce the risk of colorectal carcinogenesis.

Apoptosis, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of phytochemicals from Garcinia malaccensis Hk.f

OBJECTIVE@#To study the chemical constituents of stembark of Garcinia malaccensis (G. malaccensis) together with apoptotic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.@*METHODS@#Purification and structure elucidation were carried out by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively. MTT and trypan blue exclusion methods were performed to study the cytotoxic activity. Antibacterial activity was conducted by disc diffusion and microdilution methods, whereas antioxidant activities were done by ferric thiocyanate method and DPPH radical scavenging.@*RESULTS@#The phytochemical study led to the isolation of α,β-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3β-ol. α-Mangostin exhibited cytotoxic activity against HSC-3 cells with an IC(50) of 0.33 μM. β- and α-mangostin showed activity against K562 cells with IC(50) of 0.40 μM and 0.48 μM, respectively. α-Mangostin was active against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) with inhibition zone and MIC value of (19 mm; 0.025 mg/mL) and (20 mm; 0.013 mg/mL), respectively. In antioxidant assay, α-mangostin exhibited activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.@*CONCLUSIONS@#G. malaccensis presence α- and β-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3β-ol. β-Mangostin was found very active against HSC-3 cells and K562. The results suggest that mangostins derivatives have the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. In addition, α-and β-mangostin was found inhibit the growth of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria and also showed the activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.

The phytochemical content and antimicrobial activities of Malaysian Calophyllum canum [stem bark]

Recently there was huge increase in using of 'herbal products'. These can be defined as plants, parts of plants or extracts from plants that are used for curing disease. However, Calophyllum species is a tropical plant and it has been used in traditional medicine, the limitation in safety and effectiveness information could lead to serious health problems. Providing information for communities by evaluating the phytochemical contents, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities will improve the therapeutic values. Three main Calophyllum canum fractions [none - high polar] were tested to find out the phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol content, DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and chelating iron ions. Also were tested against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. In addition, cytotoxic activity was assayed against lung cancer A549 cell line. The methanol fraction showed no bioactivity but achieved the highest amount of phenolic, flavonol and flavonoid contents, also it showed a significant result as antioxidant, reducing power and chelating agent. The n-hexane fraction achieved the minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] value 12.5 microg. mL[-1] against B. cereus while the MIC value for DCM fraction was 25 microg. mL[-1]. The DCM fraction was more active against S. aureus where the result was 50 microg. mL[-1] while the n-hexane fraction was 100 microg. mL[-1]. The three main fractions have shown no activity against gram negative bacterial and fungal. The n-hexane and DCM fractions have shown cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell line; the 50% inhibition concentration [IC50] was 22 +/- 2.64 and 32 +/- 3.78 microg. mL[-1] respectively. The results were statistically significant [P < 0.05]. Among the results, C. canum fractions proved to be effective against gram positive bacterial and anti-proliferation activity. Also it showed antioxidant activity as well. The results provided beneficial information for communities as well as can help to search for alternative drugs, and will contribute to establish safe and effective use of phytomedicines in the treatment of diseases