Crocus sativus L. Tepal Extract Induces Apoptosis in Human U87 Glioblastoma Cells.

Crocus sativus (C. sativus) is considered as the costliest spice and an important medicinal plant. Herein, we investigated the effects of tepal extract (TE) of C. sativus on the viability of the human glioblastoma cells. Results revealed that TE significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the proliferation of U87 glioblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner with comparatively lower toxic effects against normal astrocytes. The IC50 of TE against U87 glioblastoma cells was found to be 130 µg/mL as compared to 600 µg/mL against normal astrocytes. TE also inhibited the colony formation of U87 cells significantly (P < 0.05). The AO/EB and Annexin V/PI staining assays indicated that TE stimulated apoptosis in U87 cells dose dependently. The early and late apoptotic U87 cells increased from 0.66% and 2.3% at control to 14.2% and 21.4% at 260 µg/mL of TE. Moreover, TE caused upregulation of Bax and suppression of Bcl-2. Wound healing assay showed that migration of the U87 cells was suppressed significantly (P < 0.05) at 80 µg/mL of TE. Taken together, these results suggest that TE exhibits antiproliferative effects against U87 glioma cells and may prove to be an important source of natural anticancer agents.

Prolactin Level in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): An approach to the diagnosis and management.

INTRODUCTION: In spite of the increasing prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome, there are restricted studies about different features of PCOS. In this study, we evaluate serum prolactin levels in PCOS patients and compare clinical features and hormone levels between patients with hyperprolactinemia and normal levels of prolactin. METHODS: Serum prolactin level in 330 PCOS patients were evaluated. If the prolactin levels were normal (equal to or less than 25 ng/ml) the patient was considered normal. If the prolactin levels were >25 ng/ml, then the level was measured by Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method to detect macroprolactinemia. Furthermore, brain MRI was done in case of hyperprolactinemia to discover pituitary adenoma. RESULTS: Among 330 patients with PCOS, 208 (63.4%) had normal prolactin levels and 122 (37%) patients had hyperprolactinemia. Among hyperprolactinemic patients, 72 (59%) had normal prolactin levels after PEG precipitation and 33 (27%) patients had pituitary adenoma in their brain MRI and 17 (13%) patients were considered as idiopathic hyperprolactinemia with normal MRI. Further, higher levels of LH and LH/FSH ratio and lower estradiol levels were observed in patients with normal prolactin levels. Also, menstrual disorders were more prevalent among patients with pituitary adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: Investigating increased level of prolactin in PCOS patients is recommended to detect the causes of hyperprolactinemia, especially macroprolactinemia.

Transcriptome and phytochemical analyses provide insights into the organic sulfur pathway in Allium hirtifolium.

Allium is one of the well-known genera of the Amaryllidaceae family, which contains over 780 species. Onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots are the most important species of this genus. Allium hirtifolium (shallot) is a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and bioactive compounds such as organic sulfur compounds with an expansive range of biological activities and medicinal attributes. To identify the putative compounds and genes involved in the organic sulfur pathway, we applied GC-MS and RNA-seq techniques for the bulb, stem, and flower tissues of A. hirtifolium. The essential oil analysis revealed the maximum amount of sulfur compounds in stem against flower and bulb tissues. Transcriptome profiling showed 6155, 6494, and 4259 DEGs for bulb vs. flower, bulb vs. stem, and flower vs. stem, respectively. Overall, more genes were identified as being up-regulated rather than down-regulated in flower tissue compared to the stem and bulb tissues. Our findings in accordance with other results from different papers, suggest that carbohydrates are vital to bulb formation and development because a high number of identified DEGs (586 genes) were mapped to carbohydrate metabolism. This study has detected the genes in the organic sulfur pathway and indicated that the alliinase gene shows a high variability among different tissues. In general, this study formed a useful genomic resource data to explore tissue-specific sulfur pathway in A. hirtifolium, which is helpful for functional breeding.

Metabolomic and biotechnological approaches to determine therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: A review.

BACKGROUND: Withania somnifera, a high value medicinal plant is a major source of pharmaceutically important active compounds withanolides. Withania somnifera has been used in ayurveda as health restorative and anabolic agent besides having anti-arthritic, antidepressant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-stress, neuroprotective and cardio-protective activities. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The mining of the compound(s) of interest offers opportunity to identify desired attributes in the therapeutic area of interest. Metabolomic has become an important tool in the field of pharmacological and functional genomics of medicinal plants. The analysis supports the information regarding differential outline of the gene expression for increasing important withanolides viz. withanolide A and withaferin A in W. somnifera. STUDY DESIGN: The bioinformatics and biotechnological approaches viz. tissue culture, genetic transformation, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, gene mining and metabolomic studies have opened new windows about engineering of withanolide production. METHODS: Target and network analysis for maximum therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera have been determined by employing Genemania software for finding interactions among various human genes that are being affected by active constituents. RESULTS: Some of the major bioactive compounds of Withania somnifera have been discussed on protein-protein, protein-DNA and genetic interactions with respect to gene and protein expression data, protein domains, metabolic profiling, root organ culture, genetic transformation and phenotypic screening profiles CONCLUSION: The implementation of latest bioinformatic tools in combination with biotechnological techniques for breeding platforms are important in conservation of medicinal plant species in danger. The current review is based on molecular and in vitro methodologies employed in W. somnifera for accepting their importance in the improvement of this valuable medicinal species.

Saffron'omics': The challenges of integrating omic technologies.

Saffron is one of the highly exotic spices known for traditional values and antiquity. It is used for home décor besides serving as a colorant flavor and is widely known for medicinal value. Over the last few years, saffron has garnered a lot of interest due to its anti-cancer, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Integration of systems biology approaches with wide applications of saffron remains a growing challenge as new techniques and methods advance. Keeping in view of the dearth of a review summarizing the omics and systems biology of saffron, we bring an outline on advancements in integrating omic technologies, the medicinal plant has seen in recent times.

Capsule formation and asymbiotic seed germination in some hybrids of Phalaenopsis, influenced by pollination season and capsule maturity.

We explored the influence of pollination season and maturity of capsule on post-pollination capsule formation and in vitro asymbiotic seed germination, respectively. Three Phalaenopsis orchid hybrids, namely, 'Athens', 'Moscow' and 'Lusaka' flowers were artificially self-pollinated during winter, spring, summer and fall seasons and the impact of the pollination seasons was evident during capsule formation. It was observed that winter was the most suitable season for pollination of all the three Phalanaeopsis hybrids resulting in 80-88 % capsule formation. During summer, the pollination success rate was 24-28 %, but resulted in successful capsule formation. Season of pollination further delimited the germination efficiency of seeds harvested from capsules of variable maturity levels. Invariably, seeds collected from winter-pollinated capsules performed best in germination compared to other seasons, for instance, 'Moscow' seeds took less than 14 days to germinate from capsules developed following winter-pollination. Regarding the influence of capsule maturity on seed germination, we observed that seeds derived from 5-month mature capsules, invariably took least time to germinate than that of the 3-month or 7-month in all three hybrids, e.g., for 'Moscow' it was 13.9 days with a maximum of 90.3 % germination.

PFAPA and 12 Common MEFV Gene Mutations Our Clinical Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Marshall Syndrome or PFAPA is an inflammatory periodic disease characterized by periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis. Although PFAPA is an auto inflammatory disease, it doesn't have genetic basis such as other periodic fevers. This study evaluates the 12 common MEFV gene mutations in patients with PFAPA syndrome. METHODS: 21 patients with PFAPA syndrome who had diagnostic criteria were enrolled in this study and 12 common MEFV gene mutations i.e. P369S, F479L, M680I (G/C), M680I (G/A), I692del, M694V, M694I, K695R, V726A, A744S, R761H, E148Q evaluated. All the patients were screened for MEFV gene mutations by a reverse hybridization assay (FMF Strip Assay, Vienna lab, Vienna, Austria) according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Findings : The age of patients was between 6 months to 14 years, and 15 were males. Seven patients had heterozygote and one had compound heterozygote (K695R, V725A) mutation. There were 4 alleles M694V, 3 alleles V726A, 1 allele E148Q and 1 allele K694R. No significant difference existed between mutated patients with non-mutated in symptoms like aphthous and stomatitis, duration of attacks, episodes of fever and response to treatment. Gaslini score test was not helpful to predict the probability of gene mutations. CONCLUSION: About 30 percent of patients had MEFV gene mutations but these mutations did not play a main role in presentation of PFAPA symptoms.

Volatile oil constituents of different parts of Artemisia chamaemelifolia and the composition and antibacterial activity of the aerial parts of A. turcomanica from Iran.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts, stem, leaf and flower of Artemisia chamaemelifolia Vill. and the aerial parts of A. turcomanica Gand. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-one compounds representing 96.6%, 94.6%, 93.2% and 91.0% of the oil were identified in the aerial parts, stem, leaf and flower oils of A. chamaemelifolia. Menthyl acetate (26.5%, 22.0%, 20.5% and 20.5%) and (Z)-nerolidol (20.8%, 26.3%, 14.7% and 18.1%) were the main constituents in the aerial parts, stem, leaf and flower oils, respectively. The other main component in the aerial parts, leaf and flower oils was 1, 8-cineole (13.9%, 11.7% and 12.8%, respectively). Yomogi alcohol (10.4%) and artemisyl acetate (10.4%) were the main components of the leaf and flower oil of the plant, respectively. No significant difference was observed between compositions of the aerial parts, stem, leaf and flower oils. Twenty-four compounds representing 90.5% of the oil of the aerial parts of A. turcomanica were identified, of which 1,8-cineole (15.5%), spathulenol (15.2%), camphor (14.8%), santolina alcohol (14.6%) and trans-beta-terpineol (11.6%) were the major ones. The stem, leaf and flower oils of A. turcomanica demonstrated antibacterial activity using the MIC method.