Pivotal Role of Copper Nanoparticles Shelled by Turmeric or Sumac on Huh-7 Cell Line Cytotoxicity, Apoptosis and Antioxidant Capacity

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Cancer is a complex interaction among multiple signalling pathways involving a variety of target molecules. Nanoparticles were used in cancer treatment because of their intrinsic anticancer properties. The use of plant extracts in the preparation of metallic nanoparticles as a convenient substitute has been proposed. This study assessed the cytotoxic, antioxidant and apoptotic effects of copper nanoparticles shelled with either turmeric or sumac biosynthesized as core-shell nanostructures on the liver tumour cell line (Huh-7). <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The nanostructures were synthesized by sonochemical method and characterization was done to confirm the successful synthesis within the nanoscale. Cytotoxicity of nanostructures was investigated on Huh-7 and normal kidney epithelial cell lines (VERO). Malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase were estimated in cell lysate to assess the antioxidant properties of nanostructures. Caspase-3 was also measured as an apoptotic marker. <b>Results:</b> Both nanostructures had low IC<sub>50</sub> on Huh-7 cells and a non-toxic effect on VERO cells. The cytotoxic effect was coupled with a significant increase in antioxidant activities and apoptotic efficiency compared to control. <b>Conclusion:</b> The findings summarized here support the utilization of biosynthesized copper with turmeric or sumac as core-shell nanostructures as a novel chemotherapeutic drug for cancer treatment that improves antioxidant effect that modulates the side effect of cytotoxicity. Also, it is obvious that copper nanostructure biosynthesized with turmeric has a more advanced effect than that of sumac.

Anti-ulcer effects of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), and caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils on peptic ulcer and ulcerative colitis models in rats

Introduction: Essential oils are considered a potential alternative to synthetic drugs in the management of diseases such as peptic ulcer (PU) and ulcerative colitis (UC). This study is concerned with comparing the therapeutic effects of Cuminum cyminum L, Carum carvi L, and Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils on PU and UC models induced by ethanol. Methods: Rats were divided into 10 groups; control groups were treated with saline and experimental groups with 500 mg/kg body weight of C. cyminum, C. carvi, or T. vulgaris essential oil. Curative effects were determined by measuring tissue oxidative markers, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO), as well as the inflammatory marker prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), stomach pepsin (PEP), and colon alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Biochemical and histological examinations were done on stomach and colon tissues. Results: The current study proved the anti-ulcer effects of C. cyminum, C. carvi, and T. vulgaris essential oils. They improved the oxidative and inflammatory markers in both stomach and colon tissues and modulated stomach PEP and colon ALP activities. T. vulgaris essential oil modulated GSH and MDA levels resulting in a significant elevation in GSH levels by 120.43% and 99.46% and a significant reduction in MDA levels by 20.05% and 24.1% in PU and UC models, respectively. C. carvi essential oil was the most effective in restoring PGE2 by 71.51% compared to UC group. Results were confirmed by the morphological and histopathological changes. Conclusion: C. cyminum, C. carvi, or T. vulgaris essential oils might be used in the management of acute PU and UC.

Invivo and invitro evaluation of antitumor effects of iron oxide and folate core shell-iron oxide nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are considered viable options in the treatment of cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) and magnetite folate core shell (MFCS) on leukemic and hepatocarcinoma cell cultures as well as their effect on the animal model of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). Through current study nanoparticles were synthesized, characterized by various techniques, and their properties were studied to confirm their nanostructure. Invivo study, nanoparticles were evaluated to inspect their cytotoxic activity against SNU-182 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), K562 (human leukemia), and THLE2 (human normal epithelial liver) cells via MTT test. Apoptotic signaling proteins Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 expression were inspected through RT-PCR method. A cytotoxic effect of MNPs and MFCS was detected in previous cell cultures. Moreover, the apoptosis was identified through significant up-regulation of caspase-3, with Bcl-2 down-regulation. Invitro study, AML was induced in rats by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea followed by oral treatment with MNPS and MFCS. Biochemical indices such as aspartate and alanine amino transferases, and lactate dehydrogenase activities, uric acid, complete blood count, and Beta -2-microglubulin were assessed in serum. Immunophenotyping for CD34 and CD38 detection was performed. Liver, kidney, and bone marrow were microscopically examined. Bcl-2 promoter methylation, and mRNA levels were examined. Although, both MNPs and MFCS depict amelioration in biochemical parameters, MFCS alleviated them toward normal control. Anticancer activity of MNPs and MFCS was approved especially for AML. Whenever, administration of MFCS was more effective than MNPs. The present work is one of few studies used MFCS as anticancer agent.