Suppressive role of Viola odorata extract on malignant characters of mammosphere-derived breast cancer stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Mammospheres are breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) that could be yielded through culturing cells in non-adherent and non-differentiating condition. With regard to therapy resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), it is essential to discover efficient approaches targeting CSCs. Viola odorata extract has been considered as a traditional herbal anti-metastatic drug in several cancer cells. Effect of this drug on BCSCs has not been clearly identified. Current study tries to detect and to compare effect of Viola odorata extract on malignant characterization of breast cancer cell lines and BCSCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MCF7 and SKBR3 and their derived mammospheres as BCSCs were used and the effect of alcoholic extraction of Viola odorata on apoptosis and malignant characters of MCF7, SKBR3 and their derived BCSCs were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Viola odorata extract induced cell death in MCF7, SKBR3 and their derived mammospheres through apoptosis without any effects on MCF10A. Also, this extract showed anti-migratory, anti-invasion and anti-colony formation activity in MCF7, SKBR3 and their derived mammospheres which was significantly more in MCF7- and SKBR3-derived mammospheres. Also, this extract decreased size and volume of tumors generated by MCF7, SKBR3 and their derived mammospheres in chicken embryo model. CONCLUSION: Viola odorata extract exerted anti-cancerous activity on both breast cancer cell lines and their derived BCSCs. Anti-cancerous activity of this extract was significantly more in MCF7-, SKBR3-derived mammospheres in comparison with dedicated cell lines. Data suggest that Viola odorata extract mostly targets cancerous cells, not normal cells with exception in high concentration. It acts in a cell-dependent manner.

Similar developmental fluctuations of hepato-renal xanthine oxidoreductase gene expression and xanthine oxidase activity in layer and broiler chicken embryos.

1. Xanthine oxidase (XO) has many physiological functions associated with the synthesis of both antioxidant (uric acid: UA) and numerous oxidants (e.g. H2O2), which makes it an important regulator of the cellular redox potential involving organogenesis. The ontogenetic study of hepatic and renal XO makes a better understanding of the putative role of this enzyme in the development of these tissues. 2. Developmental changes of gene expression of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), XO activity and UA content of liver and kidney tissues in both broiler and layer chicken embryos were examined during incubation d 14-21. 3. In both strains, hepatic XOR gene expression peaked on d 21 while renal XOR gene expression did not change. 4. The XO activity was higher in kidney than liver in both strains. Hepatic XO activity of both strains peaked on d 18 and thereafter was decreased on d 21. Renal XO activity peaked on d 18 and from then on did not show any significant changes until d 21 in both strains. 5. The UA content was higher in kidney vs. liver in both strains. The hepatic and renal UA values of the both strains increased significantly from d 14 to d 21. 6. The present results showed dissimilar behaviour of XOR gene expression, XO activity and UA content of liver and kidney tissues in both broiler and layer chicken embryos.