A Novel Anticancer Effect of Ephedra alata Decne in Breast Cancer Cells.

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. One of the main aims of developing new therapies is to use natural resources to induce apoptosis. LC-ms/ms analysis of a methanolic extract of Ephedra alata (E.A.) allowed the identification of 20 secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins. Antiproliferative effect was assessed by crystal violet assay. Antimigration effect was tested by wound healing assay and apoptosis induction was determined by annexin binding assays, Hoechst staining, ROS production, and activation of apoptotic proteins. The results indicated that exposure of breast cancer cells to E.A. extract significantly reduced cell viability in a dose and time-dependent manner and inhibited the migration of 4T1 cells at a low dose. Moreover, treatment of cells with E.A. extract induced apoptosis, as it was detected by Annexin V/7 AAD, Hoechst staining, ROS production, and the activation of caspases.Abbreviation:BSAbovine serum albuminDMSOdimethyl sulfoxideEDTAethylenediaminetetraacetic acidLC-ms/msliquid chromatography-mass spectrometryNACN-acetyl-l-cysteinePARPpoly(ADP-ribose) polymerasePMSFphenylmethylsulfonyl fluorideRIPAradioimmunoprecipitation assay bufferROSreactive oxygen speciesRPMIRoswell park memorial instituteSDS-PAGEsodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Evaluation of eventual toxicities of treated textile wastewater using anoxic-aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor.

Water pollution is one of the major challenges and is of serious concern in the world. Toxicities generated by industrial activities severely deteriorate aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems during their uncontrolled discharge and accentuate water scarcity problems. An adequate treatment of released effluents seems to be mandatory. This study investigated the effect of synthetic textile wastewater (STWW) before and after an innovative algal-bacterial treatment occurred under anoxic-aerobic conditions on growth and mineral contents of radish plants. The health risk assessment was performed after the consumption of irrigated plants by rats. Results revealed a significant reduction in heavy metals content in plants irrigated with treated STWW, and rats fed with these plants showed normal health status. Rats fed with plants irrigated with raw STWW showed a disturbance of their homeostasis. The innovative treatment using algal-bacteria under anoxic-aerobic conditions succeeds to reduce the toxicity of raw STWW and provide an alternative water resource able to tackle water shortage.

Essential Oils, Pituranthos chloranthus and Teucrium ramosissimum, Chemosensitize Resistant Human Uterine Sarcoma MES-SA/Dx5 Cells to Doxorubicin by Inducing Apoptosis and Targeting P-Glycoprotein.

The multidrug resistance phenotype is a global phenomenon and causes chemotherapy failure in various cancers, such as in uterine sarcomas that have a high mortality rate. To overcome this phenotype, there is growing research interest in developing new treatment strategies. In this study, we highlight the potential of two essential oils from the Apiaceae family, Pituranthos chloranthus (PC) and Teucrium ramosissimum Desf. (TR), to act as chemopreventive and chemosensitizing agents against two uterine sarcoma cell lines, MES-SA and P-gp-overexpressing MES-SA/Dx5 cells. We found that PC and TR were able to inhibit the cell viability of sensitive MES-SA and resistant MES-SA/Dx5 cells by a slight modulation of the cell cycle and its regulators, but also through a significant induction of apoptosis. The molecular mechanism involved both caspase pathways associated with an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Very interestingly, the combination of doxorubicin with PC or TR induced a synergism to increase cell death in resistant MES-SA/Dx5 cells and, subsequently, had the benefit of decreasing the resistance index to doxorubicin. These synergistic effects were reinforced by a decrease in P-gp expression and its P-gp adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity, which subsequently led to intracellular doxorubicin accumulation in resistant sarcoma cells.

Effect of heated naringenin on immunomodulatory properties and cellular antioxidant activity.

Naringenin is one of the most popular flavonoids derived from citrus. It has been reported to be an effective anti-inflammatory compound. Citrus fruit may be used raw, cooked, stewed, or boiled. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of thermal processes on naringenin in its immunomodulatory and cellular antioxidant activities. The effects of flavonoids on B and T cell proliferation were assessed on splenocytes stimulated or not with mitogens. However, their effects on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) activities were assessed in splenocytes co-incubated with target cells. The amount of nitric oxide production and the lysosomal enzyme activity were evaluated in vitro on mouse peritoneal macrophages. Cellular antioxidant activity in splenocytes and macrophages was determined by measuring the fluorescence of the dichlorofluorescin (DCF). Our findings revealed that naringenin induces B cell proliferation and enhances NK activity. The highest concentration of native naringenin exhibits a significant proliferation of T cells, induces CTL activity, and inhibits cellular oxidation in macrophages. Conversely, it was observed that when heat-processed, naringenin improves the cellular antioxidant activity in splenocytes, increases the cytotoxic activity of NK cells, and suppresses the cytotoxicity of T cells. However, heat treatment maintains the anti-inflammatory potency of naringenin.