Nutritional Compositions and Antiproliferative Activities of Different Solvent Fractions from Ethanol Extract of Cyphomandra betacea (Tamarillo) Fruit

Background: This study aims to examine various solvent extracts of Cyphomandra betacea (tamarillo) also known as the tree tomato, for their bioactive constituents and antioxidant activity. The study also aims to examine its effect on cancer cell death using two types of cancer cell lines (liver and breast cancer cell). Methods: The first part of the study evaluates the nutritional composition of tamarillo. Then, phytochemical profiling using GC-MS analysis in ethanolic tamarillo extract was conducted. Different fractions of n-butanol, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions were obtained from the ethanolic extract of tamarillo. Then, the fractions were subjected to the quantification of total phenol (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), free radical scavenging activity (SA) and also antioxidant activity (AOX) assayed by beta-carotene bleaching (BCB) assay. Finally, the capability of the ethanolic extract of tamarillo and different fractions were evaluated for their anticancer properties. Results: Findings from this study revealed that the nutritional composition (ash, protein, carbohydrate and total dietary fiber), and mineral levels (calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron) of tamarillo were moderate. The crude ethanol extract of tamarillo contained the highest phenolic and total flavonoid content. FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of alkanes, carboxylic acid, phenol, alkanes, carboxylic acids, aromatics and nitro compounds. Twelve bioactive constituents in tamarillo have been identified through GC-MS analysis. Cytotoxic activity suggests the potential of ethanolic extracts of tamarillo having a chemopreventive effect on breast and liver cancer cells. Conclusion: This study reveals that tamarillo has substantial antioxidant activity as well as anticancer properties.

Metabolic and Immunologic Alterations of Ginger Rhizome among Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Rats

This study was conducted to determine immunological and metabolic effects of different concentrations of ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NA) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Forty-eight fasted male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes using a single intraperitoneal injection of NA(110 mg/kg b.w.) and STZ (65 mg/kg b.w, 15 min after NA). Diabetic rats orally received either different concentrations (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight) of ginger rhizome suspension or glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight) for 6 weeks. Two control diabetic and normal groups were gavaged with only distilled water as a vehicle. Results: The results indicated that the lower concentrations of ginger modulated body weight, fasting blood glucose, level of triglyceride and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) (p0.05). Conclusion: Ginger indicated better impact on metabolic and immunologic parameters in lower doses of supplementation compared with high doses of treatment.

Effects of soy on metabolic biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in elderly women with metabolic syndrome

This study ascertained the effects of soy, in the forms of textured soy protein [TSP] and soy nuts, on lipid profiles, apolipoproteins, inflammatory and prothrombotic markers, and blood pressure in elderly women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome [MetS]. This was a 12-week parallel, randomized, controlled trial conducted in rural health centers of Babol, Iran. Participants were 75 women, ages 60-70 years, who were diagnosed with MetS. Subjects were randomized to one of the following 3 groups: i] soy nut [35g/d], ii] TSP [35g/d], and iii] control. Blood biochemical markers measured at baseline and at the end of the study included: triglycerides [TG], cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, ApoB100, ApoAI, C-reactive protein [CRP], and fibrinogen. Soy nuts significantly improved LDL-C, VLDL-C, and ApoB100levels [P < 0.05], while fewer, significant improvements were observed in these variables in the TSP group compared to mean changes from baseline [P < 0.001]. Similar results were found for ApoAI in the treatment groups [P < 0.01]. Serum total cholesterol [TC] decreased significantly in the treatment groups compared with the control group [P < 0.005]. Differences from the control group in terms of TG, HDL-C, fibrinogen, CRP, and blood pressure were not significant. Both forms of soy improved lipid profiles. The group that consumed soy nuts had greater improvement than the TSP group. Therefore, moderate daily intake of soy may be a safe, inexpensive, and practical method to improve the risk of cardiovascular disease [CVD] and reduce the need for medical treatment

Extract of azadirachta indica [neem] leaf induces apoptosis in 4T1 breast cancer BALB/c mice

Azadirachta indica [Neem] has been used traditionally for many centuries. Some impressive therapeutic qualities have been discovered. However, the therapeutic effect of neem leaf extract in 4T1 breast cancer has not been documented. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of ethanolic Neem leaf extract in an in vivo 4T1 breast cancer model in mice. A total of 84 female BALB/c mice were divided randomly into 7 groups [3 non-cancerous groups and 4 cancerous groups] consisting of 12 mice per group. The 3 non-cancerous groups were normal mice treated with 0.5% of Tween 20 in phosphate buffer saline [PBS] [NC], 250 mg/kg Neem [N250] or 500 mg/kg Neem [N500]. The 4 cancerous groups were; cancer controls treated with 0.5% of Tween 20 in PBS [CC], and cancerous mice treated with 0.5 micro g/mL tamoxifen citrate [CT], 250 mg/kg Neem leaf extract [CN 250] or 500 mg/kg Neem leaf extract [CN 500]. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling [TUNEL] assays were used to evaluate apoptosis [cell death] in the breast cancer tissues. SPSS software, version 14 was used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.Non parametric analysis of variance [ANOVA] was performed with the Kruskal Wallis test for the TUNEL assays. Parametric data among the groups was compared using ANOVA. TUNEL assays showed that the CN 250 and CN 500 groups had a higher incidence of apoptosis compared with the cancer controls. The findings showed that neem leaf extract induces apoptosis in 4T1 breast cancer BALB/c mice

Effects of soy on metabolic biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in elderly women with the metabolic syndrome

To ascertain the effects of soy [in the forms of Textured Soy Protein [TSP] and soy-nut] on lipid profiles, apolipoproteins, inflammatory and prothrombotic markers and blood pressure in elderly women with the metabolic syndrome. The study is a 12-week parallel randomized controlled trial that was conducted in rural health centres of Babol, Iran. The participants were 75 women 60-70 years old with the metabolic syndrome who were randomized to one of the three groups of soy-nut [35g/d], TSP [35g/d] and control. Blood pressure and blood biochemical markers were measured at baseline and at the end of the study including, triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, ApoB100, ApoAI, CRP and fibrinogen. The soy-nut improved significantly LDL-C, VLDL-C and Apo B100 [P<0.05] while fewer improvements but significant were observed in these variables in the TSP group only when compared with the mean changes from the baseline [P<0.001]. Similar result was found for Apo AI in the treatment groups [P<0.01]. Serum total cholesterol decreased significantly in the treatment groups compared with control group [P<0.005]. The differences from control for triglyceride, HDL-C, fibrinogen, CRP and blood pressure were not significant. Both forms of soy while improved lipids profiles the soy-nut contribution was more to this improvement than the TSP. Therefore, moderate daily intake of soy may be a safe, cheap and practical method to improve cardiovascular disease risk and also reduce the need for medical treatment

Antiproliferative Properties of Clausine-B against Cancer Cell Lines

Background: Clausine B, a carbazole alkaloid isolated from the stem bark of Clausena excavata, was investigated for its antiproliferative activities against five human cancer cell lines: HepG2 (hepatic cancer), MCF-7 (hormone-dependent breast cancer), MDA-MB-231 (non-hormone-dependent breast cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), and CAOV3 (ovarian cancer). Methods: Chang liver (normal cells) was used as a control. The effect of clausine-B was measured using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Results: Clausine-B was found to be active (IC50<30 μg/mL) against four of the cancer cell lines tested. The IC50 values for these four lines were: 21.50 μg/mL (MDA-MB-231), 22.90 g/ml (HeLa), 27.00 μg/mL (CAOV3) and 28.94 μg/mL (HepG2). Clausine-B inhibited the MCF-7 cancer cell line at 52.90 μg/mL, and no IC50 value was obtained against Chang liver. Conclusion: It is possible that the phenolic group in clausine-B responsible for the antiproliferative activities found in this study.