Evaluation of the protective effect of aqueous extract of fenugreek against cisplatin-induced toxicity in Vero cells

Cisplatin is a widely used anticancer drug that may induce serious toxicity in normal tissues including the kidneys. In recent times, there has been a surge in the popularity of herbal/traditional medicine. Vero cells, derived from kidney cells of green monkeys, have been used to study cell growth, differentiation, and cytotoxicity induced by different agents or conditions. This study aimed at elucidating the protective effect of the aqueous extract of fenugreek on cisplatin-induced toxicity in the Vero cell line. Cultured Vero cells were divided into four groups. In group I untreated Vero cells were taken as controls; in group II Vero cells were incubated with 25 microg/ml cisplatin; in group III the cells were incubated with an aqueous extract of fenugreek [20 microg/ml] and in group IV both cisplatin and fenugreek were added simultaneously to Vero cells. The cultured cells of all groups were incubated for 24 and 48 h. Morphological, morphometric, and cytotoxic studies were conducted. On Coomassie staining, cells of group II were seen to be enlarged with the appearance of cytoplasmic vacuoles. A highly significant increase in their nuclear and cytoplasmic areas was observed after 48 h. Compared with group I, the cells from group III revealed a highly significant decrease in nuclear area after 24 h with no significant difference after 48 h. Compared with group II, the cells from group IV showed a decrease in cytoplasmic vacuolization and a highly significant decrease in the nuclear and cytoplasmic areas after 48 h. The mean absorbance using the sulforhodamine B assay was decreased in group II but increased in groups III and IV in a time-dependent manner. Fenugreek alone did not enhance cell viability; yet, the combined therapy decreased the toxic effects of cisplatin on Vero cells. Hence, fenugreek might represent an advisable adjuvant therapy for the protection of tissues sensitive to cisplatin toxicity. Further studies on the effects of fenugreek on the cellular structure are also recommended

Detection of cytotoxic activity on Vero cells in clinical isolates of Serratia marcescens

Cytotoxin production was studied in 60 Serratia marcescens strains isolated from hospitalized patients. Association of cytotoxic activity with serotype, source of isolation and presence of plasmids was also evaluated. Thirteen of the 60 S. marcescens strains produced a cytotoxic effect of Vero cells. These strains were isolated from distinct clinical sources and classified into seven different serotypes (O1:H7; O4:NM; O10:NT; O19:NM; O6,14:H4; O6,14:NM and O6,14:H1). No relationship was observed between cytotoxic activity and clinical source or serotypes of the strains. Plasmids from five cytotoxin-producing S. marcescens strains were transferred to E. Coli K12/711. The transconjugants did not exhibit cytotoxicity, indicating that the cytotoxic effect is not plasmid-mediated among these strains. Although a cytotoxic activity was demonstrated in filtrates of some S. marcescens strains, further studies should be performed to assess the role of this toxin in pathogenesis.