Acanthus ilicifolius Methanolic Extract for Oral Candidiasis Treatment through Tongue Epithelial STAT3 and Cell Death Evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of topical application of Acanthus ilicifolius methanolic extract on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression and tongue epithelial cell death caused by oral candidiasis under immunosuppressive conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To obtain the oral candidiasis model, 20 healthy male Rattus norvegicus (Wistar) rats were administered oral dexamethasone and tetracycline for 14 days and oral candidiasis was induced with Candida albicans (ATCC-10231) 1 McFarland. They were then randomized into four groups-immunosuppression (K-), oral candidiasis (K + ), nystatin treatment (P1), and 20% A. ilicifolius methanolic extract treatment (P2) and were treated for 14 days. Histological analyses of cell death and candida invasion and immunohistochemical analysis of STAT3 in epithelial cells were performed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Epithelial cell death data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the post hoc Games-Howell test (p < 0.05) and STAT3 expression with one-way ANOVA and the post hoc least significant difference test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Cell death was significantly different between K- and K+ and between K+ and P1 and P2 (p < 0.05); there were no significant differences between K- and P1 and P2 and between P1 and P2 (p > 0.05). STAT3 expression was significantly different between K- and P1 and P2 and between K+ and P1 and P2 (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between K+ and K- and between P1 and P2 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Topical administration of A. ilicifolius methanol extract increased STAT3 expression and decreased tongue epithelial cell death caused by oral candidiasis.

Proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell after exposure to red flesh dragon fruit extract.

BACKGROUND: Induction of the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells could represent a viable alternative therapeutic method for treating bone diseases. Stem cells are essential to bone tissue regeneration; although, their availability is limited. One possible method of increasing the number of stem cells and promote osteogenic differentiation is the application of red flesh dragon fruit extract supplement. The present study was performed to identify and analyze proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) after exposure to red flesh dragon fruit extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in vitro study was posttest only control group design. Red flesh dragon fruit extract was produced by means of water extraction method and subsequent dilution with different amounts of water to produce a range of concentrations. BMMSCs were obtained from the femurs of three White New Zealand rabbits. BMMSCs were then treated with 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 µg/ml red flesh dragon fruit extract concentrations. The in vitro proliferation assay was determined by means of an 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Osteogenic differentiation was determined by means of the degree of nodule mineralization. There were two groups as follows: group I with the addition of 50 µg/ml of red flesh dragon fruit extract and Group II without the addition of red flesh dragon fruit. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and the Student's t-test (P = 0.05). RESULTS: 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 µg/ml of red flesh dragon fruit extract demonstrated the capacity to significantly increase the proliferation of BMMSCs (P ≤ 0.05). Red flesh dragon fruit extract could significantly increase osteogenic differentiation (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Red flesh dragon fruit extract enhances proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs.