Evaluation of new anti-neoplastic active ingredient in vitro

Drug development programs for identification of new anti-neoplastic agents involve extensive preclinical evaluation of vast numbers of chemicals for detection of anti-neoplastic activity. Cell culture systems have figured largely in the field of cancer chemotherapy, where the potential value of such systems for cytotoxicity and viability testing is now widely accepted. The aim of this study is to evaluate cytotoxicity and viability testing of new anti-neoplastic active ingredient compared to Methotrexate and Adriamycin anti-neoplastic active ingredients which are commonly used for cancer chemotherapy on HEPG[2], HEP[2] and VERO cell lines. Cytotoxicity, LD50, therapeutic dose, drug exposure, recovery period and stability bioassay are determined. Cytotoxicity bioassay of tested active ingredient on HEPG[2] cells showed punching of all monolayer cells with few regenerative cells after 48 hr and no regenerative cells after 72 hr while Methotrexate and Adriamycin showed 75% cytopathic effect on monolayer cells after 24 hr then cells begins to regenerate with few rate after 48-72 hr. Cytotoxicity bioassay of tested active ingredient on HEP[2] cells showed 25% cytopathic effect on monolayer cells then regenerated to reach complete monolayer after 72 hr compared to Methotrexate50% and Adriamycin 75% cytopathic effect on monolayer cells then reached to 75% of monolayer after 72 hr. Cytotoxicity of tested active ingredient onVero cells showed retraction of monolayer cells then retains its original pattern after 24 hr of exposure while Methotrexate and Adriamycin showed destruction of more 50% of monolayer cell population then reached to 75% of monolayer after 72 hr. In conclusion; cytopathological studies showed that the tested active ingredient has low cytotoxicity, more stable and more telorated compared to controls

Detection of formalin in Ras cheese during the ripening period by different methods

A total of 120 samples of fresh Ras cheese collected from different localities at El-Behaira Governorate were examined for the presence of formalin by Hehner's, flame and chromotropic acid tests, then 10% of the positive samples [7] were stored and tested during ripening period up to 90 days. Most of cheese samples [58.33%] contained formalin detected by flame and chromotropic acid tests, but 41.67% of the tested samples were positive by Hehner's method. The chromotropic acid test is an accurate, rapid, simple, highly specific, sensitive, inexpensive, easy and quantitative method for detection of formalin, especially during ripening period and with low concentrations in routine controls. There were great variations in formalin content in different samples depending upon the cheese maker. Also, the quantities of formalin in tested samples of Ras cheese were not changed during ripening, whereas it revealed dangerous and highly toxic effect due to daily consumption of the cheese, and at a long continuous intake of formalin it might be harmful. It can be recommended that formalin must not be added to the milk used in manufacturing Ras cheese at any level

Scanning electron microscopy of microincenerated metal salts

The progressive increase in number of toxic metal salts has increased the opportunity to hazardous exposures. In the present study, the light microscopic microinceneration technique has been modified and simplified to be suitable for scanning electron microscopy. The toxic metal salts used were mercuric chloride, arsenic oxide, zinc phosphide and antimony trichloride 20 rats were classified into five groups; four groups were orally given the toxic metal salts while the fifth group was used as a control. Each rat was given the minimal lethal dose of a particular metal salt and then sacrificed. Gastric contents and liver tissues were gradually incenerated in a muffle furnace till 650C and after cooling the samples were gold coated and examined by scanning electron microscopy. The technique succeeded in visualization of metallic salts under a wide range of magnification. Each metal has a characteristic diagnostic appearance. The technique is simple, rapid and economic. It is recommended for use in both forensic cases and research studies

Fungistatic effect of certain fungicides, evaluation of soil fungicides for control of charcoal rot of soybeans

Macrophomina phaseolina mycelium in vitro was most sensitive to and almost equally inhibited by benzimidazole fungicides banomyl, thiabendazole and thiophanate methyl, intermediately sensitive to pentachloronitrobenzene [PCNB], carboxin and thiram and least sensitive to 3-hydroxy-5-methyl isoxazole, triforine, captan and 5-ethexy-3-[trichloromethyl]-1,2,4-thiadiazole [ETMT]. Benomyl was most effective in reducing M. phaseolina sclerotial populations in the field, and soybean seedling infection in the greenhouse and field. Thiabendazole was quantitatively less effective than benomyl in reducing sclerotial populations. Benomyl and PCNB showed phytotoxicity by reducing emergence and st and. Thiabendazole and benomyl, in spite of its phytotoxicity, were the most promising fungicides for control of charcoal rot