NOPR Collection: [Pages 295-370]

Stevia aquatic extract protects the pancreas from streptozocin (STZ) induced damage: A stereological study

2022-05-02T11:27:05Z

Title: Stevia aquatic extract protects the pancreas from streptozocin (STZ) induced damage: A stereological study Authors: Dastghaib, Sanaz; Koohpeyma, Farhad; Khazayel, Saeed; Gholizadeh, Fatemeh; Pour, Soheila Mansoor; Mokaram, Pooneh; Noorafshan, Ali Abstract: In recent years, among antidiabetic medicinal herbs, Stevia received a lot of attention due to its diverse therapeutic applications. Despite extensive reports on the effects of Stevia on the pancreas, its molecular mechanism is not clear yet. In this study, we investigated the protective and preventive effects of oral extracts of Stevia on the pancreas through the stereological methods in streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Thus, 66 adult male rats were assigned to six groups (n = 11) viz., healthy control, healthy Stevia (400 mg /kg), diabetic-control, diabetic-metformin (500 mg/kg), diabetic-Stevia and pre-Stevia-diabetic group. Treatment with Stevia significantly reduced fasting blood sugar (FBS) and MDA compared to the diabetic control group (P <0.05). The results indicated that the weight and the volume of the pancreas increased significantly in all our treated groups compared to the diabetic one (P <0.05). The volume density of the pancreatic islands and the number of beta cells increased in healthy and diabetic groups treated with Stevia (P <0.05). However, the pre-treated diabetic rats with Stevia did not show significant preventive effects on the volume and number of beta cells as well as the volume of islets against destructive effects of STZ. More specifically, our results confirmed the protective effects of Stevia through restoring pancreatic cells and repairing the stereological damage induced by STZ. Page(s): 299-307

Antiproliferative and anticancer activities of Neurada procumbens L. against epithelial carcinoma and breast cancer cell lines

2022-05-02T11:24:09Z

Title: Antiproliferative and anticancer activities of Neurada procumbens L. against epithelial carcinoma and breast cancer cell lines Authors: Muhsinah, Abdullatif Bin; Al-Hakami, Ahmed; Alsayari, Abdulrhman; Rajagopalan, Prasanna; Chandramoorthy, Harish C; Nanjaian, Mahadevan Abstract: Neurada procumbens L. commonly called as sand button, is used as a medicinal herb by Bedouin in the Arabia Peninsula for heart and respiratory functions. This little known plant has not been investigated in detail for its biological activities. Hence, we have made an attempt to investigate the plant for its anticancer activities. Methanol and chloroform extracts of N.procumbens were evaluated for antiproliferative and anticancer activities in HEp-2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Humanforeskin epithelial cells showed an IC50 value of 34 μg and 149 μg for chloroform and methanol extracts, respectively. Thechloroform extract of N. procumbens @3 μg showed 50% reduction of HEp-2 cell population in 24 h, while 5.5 μg showedsimilar effects in MCF-7 cells. The results of the methanol extracts were little varied, where 49 μg showed slow inhibitionof HEp-2 cells over a period of 72 h. In another similar observation, 76 μg of methanol extract inhibited 50% MCF-7 cellproliferation. The concentrations which could inhibit complete turnover of the experimental cancer cell lines at 24 h were>5 μg and 6 μg of chloroform extract and > 60 μg and 80 μg of methanol extract for HEp-2 and MCF-7, respectively. Themicro therapeutic index of methanol extract in HEp-2 and MCF-7 were 3 and 1.9, while chloroform extract was 11.3 and6.1. This is an initial observation of N. procumbens that shows antiproliferative activities against cancer cell lines. Page(s): 308-314

Effects of Se, Zn and Cu levels on chemoradiotherapy related toxicity in patients with locally advanced lung cancer

2022-05-02T11:21:43Z

Title: Effects of Se, Zn and Cu levels on chemoradiotherapy related toxicity in patients with locally advanced lung cancer Authors: Cihan, Yasemin Benderli; Eser, Kadir Abstract: Lung cancer, with 12% of overall new cancer cases globally, has considerable mortality rate. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the most common treatment modalities apart from surgery. Both, chemo- and radio- therapies, are known to have side affects. Trace elements are reported to influence the radiotherapy related adverse effects in the body. In this context, here, we investigated whether there is a difference in serum Se, Zn and Cu levels in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy (CRT) due to lung cancer when compared to healthy individuals and to evaluate effects of serum trace element levels measured before and after therapy on CRT related toxicity. This prospective study included 50 patients received CRT due to lung cancer and 50 healthy individuals. Serum selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) levels were measured before and after radiotherapy in patients with cancer, while a single measurement was performed in controls. When serum trace element levels were compared between patients with lung cancer and healthy controls, a significant difference was found in Zn level. A significant difference was detected between serum Cu and Se levels measured before and after CRT in patients with lung cancer (P <0.001 and P =0.019). In the assessment of acute toxicity during, a significant difference was detected when Cu and Zn levels measured before and after treatment were compared. Our study indicates significant decreases in plasma Zn and Cu levels after radiotherapy, suggesting paying attention to nutritional status regarding these micronutrients and other antioxidant agents. Thus, Zn and Cu supplementation may reduce adverse effects in patients receiving CRT. Page(s): 315-321

Effects of different ecological and phenological factors on antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint. from Turkey

2022-05-02T11:20:21Z

Title: Effects of different ecological and phenological factors on antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint. from Turkey Authors: Özbucak, Tuğba Bayrak; Karataş, Tümay; Ayvaz, Melek Çol Abstract: The quality and quantity of metabolites in plants responsible for biological activities are influenced by a multitude of factors, chief among them, environmental. Furthermore, part of the plant to be tested and selected extraction solvent affect these kinds of activities. Ethanol and water extracts of above ground and below ground parts of the Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint. collected from different altitudes of Ordu province at two different period (begining and end of flowering) were studied in terms of phenolic contents and antioxidative activities. Thus, the effect of four different factors (altitude, flowering period, plant section, extraction solvent) on these parameters were examined. Both the main effects and the interactions of these factors were evaluated separately, and it was concluded that quaternary interaction was statistically significant on the antioxidant activity tested according to the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. Binary interactions such as altitude*solvent and section*solvent were statistically significant on total phenolic content values. On the other hand, section*solvent and altitude*period*section interactions were statistically significant for 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. Page(s): 322-330