Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Moringa Peregrina and Their Toxicity on MCF-7 and Caco-2 Human Cancer Cells.

Introduction: The synthesis of nanoparticles using naturally occurring reagents such as vitamins, sugars, plant extracts, biodegradable polymers and microorganisms as reductants and capping agents could be considered attractive for nanotechnology. These syntheses have led to the fabrication of limited number of inorganic nanoparticles. Among the reagents mentioned above, plant-based materials seem to be the best candidates, and they are suitable for large-scale biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Methods: The aqueous extract of Moringa peregrina leaves was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by various spectral studies including FT-IR, SEM, HR-TEM and XRD. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the silver nanoparticles was studied viz. DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging potential and reducing power with varied concentrations. The anticancer potential of the nanoparticles was also studied against MCF-7 and Caco-2 cancer cell lines. Results: The results showed that silver nanoparticles displayed strong antioxidant activity compared with gallic acid. Furthermore, the anticancer potential of the nanoparticles against MCF-7 and Caco-2 in comparison with the standard Doxorubicin revealed that the silver nanoparticles produced significant toxic effects against the studied cancer cell lines with the IC50 values of 41.59 (Caco-2) and 26.93 (MCF-7) µg/mL. Conclusion: In conclusion, the biosynthesized nanoparticles using M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract as a reducing agent showed good antioxidant and anticancer potential on human cancer cells and can be used in biological applications.

Early Doxorubicin Myocardial Injury: Inflammatory, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptotic Role of Galectin-3.

Doxorubicin (DOXO) is an effective drug that is used in the treatment of a large number of cancers. Regardless of its important chemotherapeutic characteristics, its usage is restricted because of its serious side effects; the most obvious is cardiotoxicity, which can manifest acutely or years after completion of treatment, leading to left ventricular dysfunction, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Galectin 3 (Gal-3) is a beta galactoside binding lectin that has different roles in normal and pathophysiological conditions. Gal-3 was found to be upregulated in animal models, correlating with heart failure, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. Male C57B6/J and B6.Cg-Lgals3 /J Gal-3 knockout (KO) mice were used for a mouse model of acute DOXO-induced cardiotoxicity. Mice were given DOXO or vehicle (normal saline), after which the mice again had free access to food and water. Heart and plasma samples were collected 5 days after DOXO administration and were used for tissue processing, staining, electron microscopy, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was a significant increase in the heart concentration of Gal-3 in Gal-3 wild type DOXO-treated mice when compared with the sham control. There were significantly higher concentrations of heart cleaved caspase-3, plasma troponin I, plasma lactate dehydrogenase, and plasma creatine kinase in Gal-3 KO DOXO-treated mice than in Gal-3 wild type DOXO-treated mice. Moreover, there were significantly higher heart antioxidant proteins and lower oxidative stress in Gal-3 wild type DOXO-treated mice than in Gal-3 KO DOXO-treated mice. In conclusion, Gal-3 can affect the redox pathways and regulate cell survival and death of the myocardium following acute DOXO injury.

Nootkatone Ameliorates Doxorubicin Induced Myocardial Injury through Modulation of NF-κB Signals and Oxidative Stress.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Doxorubicin (DOXO) is a potent chemotherapeutic drug that is used in the treatment of a large number of cancers. Despite its important chemotherapeutic characteristics, its usage is limited because of the serious side effects; the most noticeable is cardiotoxicity which can manifest acutely or years after completion of treatment leading to left ventricular dysfunction, dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Nootkatone (NK) is a recognized bioactive compound isolated from the heartwood of Cupressus nootkatensis and has been reported to have antiseptic, antioxidant, and anti-allergic activities. METHODS: Male C57B6/J mice were used for mice model of DOXO-cardiac toxicity. Mice were given either DOXO or NK or DOXO+NK or vehicle (normal saline) after which the mice again had free access to food and water. Heart and plasma samples were collected 5 days after DOXO administration and were used for immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: There were significant reduction in inflammatory markers in hearts of DOXO-NK- treated mice when compared with DOXO-treated mice. Moreover, there were significant increase in antioxidant proteins and reduction of oxidative stress in hearts of DOXO-NK-treated mice when compared with DOXO-treated mice. There was a significant reduction in myocardial damage as shown by significant reduction of troponin I in DOXO-NK- treated mice when compared with DOXO-treated mice. CONCLUSION: Nootkatone improves DOXO-induced myocardial injury through modulation of NF-κB signals and reduction of oxidative stress.

Down regulation of lactate dehydrogenase initiates apoptosis in HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells through increased voltage-dependent anion channel protein and inhibition of BCL2.

Malignant cells commonly use aerobic glycolysis for ATP production; this is known as the Warburg effect, where pyruvate is converted to lactate, by enzyme lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A). In this study, we have investigated the effect of inhibition of LDH-A on cells viability and identifying the mechanism of cell death in HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells. Human cervical cancer HeLa cell line and breast cancer MCF-7 cell line were used to investigate the effect of inhibition of LDH-A by sodium oxamate on cell survival and proliferation using western blot, spectrophotometry, and immunofluorescent study. There was significant reduction in LDH-A (P < 0.001) and cell viability (P < 0.001) in a dose-dependent mode in both HeLa and MCF-7 SO-treated cancer cells. The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) protein was significantly increased (P < 0.001) in association with decreased LDH-A. The proapoptotic proteins; cytochrome C (P < 0.001), BAX (P < 0.001), cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.001), cleaved caspase-8 (P < 0.001), and cleaved caspase-9 (P < 0.001) were significantly increased in association with decreased LDH-A. While, the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in association with decreased LDH-A. We conclude that Inhibition of LDH-A can decrease cells viability through activation of intrinsic apoptotic pathway via increased VDAC protein and inhibition of Bcl2 as well as activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway through activation of caspase-8.