MicroRNA deregulation and cancer and medicinal plants as microRNA regulator

MircroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs with a length of approximately 20-22 nucleotides, which interact with their target mRNAs at 3'-untranslated region by partial pairing. The miRNA- mRNA interaction leads to induction of mRNA degradation and eventually translational inhibition. Thus, miRNAs play an important role in virtually all cellular processes, especially differentiation, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The deregulation of miRNAs may lead to serious diseases including cancer. There is mounting evidence demonstrating the participation of miRNA regulation during carcinogenesis. In this review, we discuss an updated miRNA biogenesis, mechanisms involved in their deregulation, and their role in cancer development. This review also summarizes updated information on potential medicinal plants which regulate miRNA expression as a promising molecular miRNA therapeutic approach for cancers.

Pharmacological screening of methanolic extract of Ixora species

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts of different parts of Ixora species.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Antimicrobial activity was carried out using disc diffusion assay against fungi, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All methanolic extracts of different parts of Ixora species showed a broad-spectrum of antibacterial and antiyeast activities, which inhibited the growth of at least one bacterium or yeast. There was no remarkable difference between different Ixora species observed in this study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The significant antimicrobial activity shown by this Ixora species suggests its potential against infections caused by pathogens. The extract may be developed as an antimicrobial agent.</p>

Cytotoxicity of methanol extracts of Elaeis guineensis on MCF-7 and Vero cell lines

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the cytotoxic effect of Elaeis guineensis methanol extract on MCF-7 and Vero cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated in by MTT assay. Cell morphological changes were observed by using light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The MTT assay indicated that methanol extract of the plant exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on MCF-7. Morphological alteration of the cell lines after exposure with Elaeis guineensis extract were observed under phase contrast microscope in the dose dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results suggest the probable use of the Elaeis guineensis methanol extract in preparing recipes for cancer-related ailments. Further studies on isolation of metabolites and their in vivo cytotoxicity are under investigation.</p>

Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of different parts of Leucas aspera

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of different parts (root, flower, leaf and stem) of Leucas aspera (L. aspera) (Labiatae).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Different parts of L. aspera were extracted with 80% (v/v) methanol. The methanol extracts were subjected to antioxidant, antimicrobial and brine shrimp lethality assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the extracts showed moderate to potent antioxidant activity, among which the root extract demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity with the IC50 value of 6.552 µg/mL. Methanol extract of root possessed antioxidant activity near the range of vitamin E and thus could be a potential rich source of natural antioxidant. In case of antimicrobial screening, crude extracts of root, flower, leaf and stem showed notable antibacterial activity against tested microorganisms. The root extract showed the highest mean zone of inhibition ranging from 9.0-11.0 mm against tested microorganisms, at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. In the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, it was evident that the methanol root extract did not show significant toxicity. The LC50 value for 12 h and 24 h observation was 2.890 mg/mL and 1.417 mg/mL, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present finding suggests that the methanol root extract of L. aspera could be developed as pharmaceutical products.</p>

Cytotoxicity of methanol extracts of Elaeis guineensis on MCF-7 and Vero cell lines

To investigate the cytotoxic effect of Elaeis guineensis methanol extract on MCF-7 and Vero cell. Methods: In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated in by MTT assay. Cell morphological changes were observed by using light microscope. Results: The MTT assay indicated that methanol extract of the plant exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on MCF-7. Morphological alteration of the cell lines after exposure with Elaeis guineensis extract were observed under phase contrast microscope in the dose dependent manner. Conclusions: The results suggest the probable use of the Elaeis guineensis methanol extract in preparing recipes for cancer-related ailments. Further studies on isolation of metabolites and their in vivo cytotoxicity are under investigation.

Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of different parts of Lantana camara

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of Lantana camara (L. camara) various parts and the determination of their total phenolics content.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The extract was screened for possible antioxidant activities by free radical scavenging activity(DPPH), xanthine oxidase inhibition activity and Griess-Ilosvay method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that all the plant parts possessed antioxidant properties including radical scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibition and nitrites scavenging activities. The antioxidative activities were correlated with the total phenol. The leaves extract of L. camara was more effective than that of other parts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study suggests that L. camara extracts exhibit great potential for antioxidant activity and may be useful for their nutritional and medicinal functions.</p>

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori among multiracial community in Northern Peninsular, Malaysia: effect of age across race and gender

OBJECTIVE@#To study the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection according to age group.@*METHODS@#H. pylori infection data among 1 965 consecutive patients referred to the Endoscopy Unit collected at Sungai Petani Hospital for oesophagogastro-duodenoscopy (OGD). The patients were divided into 9 age groups (10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 and 90-99 years). In addition these groups were further divided into three minor group namely young adults (10-39), older adults (40-69) and geriatric groups (70-99).@*RESULTS@#Overall prevalence of infection of H. pylori was analyzed and found that the prevalence increase with age (P<0.05). When the patients divided by ethnic and gender group with age, prevalence rate among young adults and older adults significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to geriatric groups across all races and gender (P<0.05). Furthermore, significantly higher number of males were infected compared to female (P<0.05) but such trend was only observed among older adult groups. In addition, there is a significant differences in H. pylori infection prevalence rates among ethnic groups (highest in Indians adults, followed Chinese and low in Malays, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The overall prevalence of H. pylori did increase with age group across ethnicity and gender, in Northern Peninsular Malaysia.

Antioxidant activity and phytochemical screening of the methanol extracts of Euphorbia hirta L

OBJECTIVE@#To assess antioxidant activities of different parts of Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta), and to search for new sources of safe and inexpensive antioxidants.@*METHODS@#Samples of leaves, stems, flowers and roots from E. hirta were tested for total phenolic content, and flavonoids content and in vitro antioxidant activity by diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and reducing power was measured using cyanoferrate method.@*RESULTS@#The leaves extract exhibited a maximum DPPH scavenging activity of (72.96±0.78)% followed by the flowers, roots and stems whose scavenging activities were (52.45±0.66)%, (48.59±0.97)%, and (44.42±0.94)%, respectively. The standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was (75.13±0.75)%. The IC(50) for leaves, flowers, roots, stems and BHT were 0.803, 0.972, 0.989, 1.358 and 0.794 mg/mL, respectively. The reducing power of the leaves extract was comparable with that of ascorbic acid and found to be dose dependent. Leaves extract had the highest total phenolic content [(206.17±1.95) mg GAE/g], followed by flowers, roots and stems extracts which were (117.08±3.10) mg GAE/g, (83.15±1.19) mg GAE/g, and (65.70±1.72) mg GAE/g, respectively. On the other hand, total flavonoids content also from leave had the highest value [(37.970±0.003) mg CEQ/g], followed by flowers, roots and stems extracts which were (35.200±0.002) mg CEQ/g, (24.350±0.006) mg CEQ/g, and (24.120±0.004) mg CEQ/g, respectively. HPTLC bioautography analysis of phenolic and antioxidant substance revealed phenolic compounds. Phytochemical screening of E. hirta leaf extract revealed the presence of reducing sugars, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, tannins, flavanoids and phenolic compounds.@*CONCLUSIONS@#These results suggeste that E. hirta have strong antioxidant potential. Further study is necessary for isolation and characterization of the active antioxidant agents, which can be used to treat various oxidative stress-related diseases.

A transmission electron microscopy study of the diversity of Candida albicans cells induced by Euphorbia hirta L. leaf extract in vitro

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the major changes in the microstructure of Candida albicans (C. albicans) after treatment with Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) L. leaf extract.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the ultrastructural changes caused by E. hirta extract on C. albicans cells at various exposure time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found that the main abnormalities were the alterations in morphology, lysis and complete collapse of the yeast cells after 36 h of exposure to the extract. Whereas the control cultures showed a typical morphology of Candida with a uniform central density, typically structured nucleus, and a cytoplasm with several elements of endomembrane system and enveloped by a regular, intact cell wall.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The significant antifungal activity shown by this methanol extract of E. hirta L. suggests its potential against infections caused by C. albicans. The extract may be developed as an anticandidal agent.</p>

In vivo toxicity study of Lantana camara

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the toxicity of methanol extract of various parts (Root, Stem, Leaf, Flower and Fruit) of Lantana camara (L. Camara) in Artemia salina.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The methanol extracts of L. camara were tested for in vivo brine shrimp lethality assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the tested extract exhibited very low toxicity on brine shrimp larva. The results showed that the root extract was the most toxic part of L. camara and may have potential as anticancer agent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Methanolic extract of L. camara is relatively safe on short-term exposure.</p>