RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the toxic and therapeutic doses of amygdalin. Treatment regimens and schedules can vary between humans and animal models, and there have been reports of cyanide toxicity due to amygdalin use. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of amygdalin on antioxidant gene expression and suppression of oxidative damage in mice. METHODS: Forty adult male mice were divided randomly into four groups (n = 10) as follows and treated orally for two weeks: a control group treated with saline solution, a group treated with amygdalin at 200 mg/kg body weight, a group treated with amygdalin at 100 mg/kg body weight, and a group treated with amygdalin at 50 mg/kg body weight. Liver and testis samples were collected for gene expression, biochemical and histopathological analyses. RESULTS: The mice treated with medium-dose amygdalin (100 mg/kg) showed upregulated mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) and significantly decreased lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05) in hepatic and testicular tissues compared to those in the untreated groups (controls), with mild histopathological effects. The mice treated with high-dose of amygdalin (200 mg/kg) showed downregulated mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.01) and significantly increased lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05) in both hepatic and testicular tissues compared to those in the untreated groups (controls), with an apparent effect at the histopathological level. No effects were observed in the mice treated with low-dose amygdalin (50 mg/kg) at the gene, protein and histopathological level. CONCLUSION: Low-and medium-dose amygdalin did not induce toxicity in the hepatic and testicular tissues of male mice, unlike high-dose amygdalin, which had a negative effect on oxidative balance in mice. Therefore, amygdalin at a moderate dose may improve oxidative balance in mice.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In Saudi Arabia, the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer are high. Although current treatments are effective, breast cancer cells develop resistance to these treatments. Numerous studies have demonstrated that active compounds in plant extracts, such as the phenolic compound Rosmarinic Acid (RA), exert anti-cancer effects. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the anticancer properties of methanolic crude extracts of seedlings and calli of Rosmarinus officinalis and Coleus hybridus, two Lamiaceae species. METHODS: MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were treated with methanolic crude extracts obtained from plant calli and seedlings generated in vitro, and cell proliferation was evaluated. Transcriptional profiling of the seedling and callus tissues was also conducted. RESULTS: The mRNA expression levels of RA genes were higher in C. hybridus seedlings than in R. officinalis seedlings, as well as in C. hybridus calli than in R. officinalis calli, except for TAT and C4H. In addition, seedling and callus extracts of both R. officinalis and C. hybridus showed anti-proliferative effects against MCF-7 cells after 24 or 48 h of treatment. DISCUSSION: At a low concentration of 10 µg/mL, C. hybridus calli and seedling extracts showed the most significant anti-proliferative effects after 24 and 48 h of exposure (p < 0.01); controls (doxorubicin) also showed significant inhibition, but lesser than that observed with C. hybridus (p < 0.05). Results with R. officinalis callus and seedling extracts did not significantly differ from those with untreated cells. CONCLUSION: Methanolic extracts of R. officinalis and C. hybridus are potentially valuable options for breast cancer treatment.
