Curcumin, thymoquinone, and 3, 3′-diindolylmethane combinations attenuate lung and liver cancers progression

Cancer can develop due to abnormal cell proliferation in any body’s cells, so there are over a hundred different types of cancer, each with its distinct behavior and response to treatment. Therefore, many studies have been conducted to slow cancer progression and find effective and safe therapies. Nutraceuticals have great attention for their anticancer potential. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the anticancer effects of curcumin (Cur), thymoquinone (TQ), and 3, 3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) combinations on lung (A549) and liver (HepG2) cancer cell lines’ progression. Results showed that triple (Cur + TQ + DIM) and double (Cur + TQ, Cur + DIM, and TQ + DIM) combinations of Cur, TQ, and DIM significantly increased apoptosis with elevation of caspase-3 protein levels. Also, these combinations exhibited significantly decreased cell proliferation, migration, colony formation activities, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (AKT) protein levels with S phase reduction. Triple and double combinations of Cur, TQ, and DIM hindered tumor weight and angiogenesis of A549 and HepG2 implants in the chorioallantoic membrane model. Interestingly, Cur, TQ, and DIM combinations are considered promising for suppressing cancer progression via inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Further preclinical and clinical investigations are warranted.

Curcumin and Thymoquinone Combination Attenuates Breast Cancer Cell Lines' Progression

Breast cancer is the most harmful malignancy in women worldwide. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the combinatory effect of natural bioactive compounds, including curcumin (Cur) and thymoquinone (TQ), on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines’ progression. We investigated the Fa values and combination index of Cur and TQ in this context. Moreover, cytotoxicity percentages, annexin-V, proliferation, colony formation, and migration assays were used along with cell cycle analysis. In addition, caspase-3, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (AKT) protein levels were determined by ELISA assessment. The results showed that Cur, TQ, and Cur + TQ induced apoptosis with cell cycle arrest and decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration activities. Cur + TQ combination significantly increased caspase-3 and decreased PI3K and AKT protein levels. These results suggest the promising anticancer benefit of the Cur and TQ combination against breast cancer.

Thymoquinone and Costunolide Induce Apoptosis of Both Proliferative and Doxorubicin-Induced-Senescent Colon and Breast Cancer Cells

Doxorubicin (Dox) induces senescence in numerous cancer cell types, but these senescent cancer cells relapse again if they are not eliminated. On this principle, we investigated the apoptotic effect of thymoquinone (TQ), the active ingredient of Nigella sativa seeds and costunolide (COS), the active ingredient of Costus speciosus, on the senescent colon (Sen-HCT116) and senescent breast (Sen-MCF7) cancer cell lines in reference to their corresponding proliferative cells to rapidly eliminate the senescent cancer cells. The senescence markers of Sen-HCT116 and Sen-MCF7 were determined by a significant decrease in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and significant increases in SA-β-gal, p53, and p21 levels. Then proliferative, Sen-HCT116, and Sen-MCF7 cells were subjected to either TQ (50 µM) or COS (30 µM), the Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), caspase 3 mRNA expression and its activity were established. Results revealed that TQ significantly increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in HCT116 + Dox5 + TQ, MCF7 + TQ, and MCF7 + Dox5 + TQ compared with their corresponding controls. COS significantly increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in HCT116 + Dox5 + TQ and MCF7 + Dox5 + TQ compared with their related controls. Also, TQ and COS were significantly increased caspase 3 activity and cell proliferation of Sen-HCT116 and Sen-MCF7. The data revealed a higher sensitivity of senescent cells to TQ or COS than their corresponding proliferative cells.

Antibacterial potency, cell viability and morphological implications of copper oxide nanoparticles encapsulated into cellulose acetate nanofibrous scaffolds

It is generally believed that the most challenging impediment for the utilization of cellulose acetate (CA) in the medical field is its hydrophobicity and disability to poison the harmful microbes. Therefore, in this contribution, we aimed to prepare an environmentally scaffold-based CA loaded with copper nanoparticles (CuONPs), which are expected to not only improve the hydrophilicity of the prepared nanofibers, but also have an effective ability to kill such harmful and infectious microbes that are abundant in wounds. The obtained results attested that the generated nanofibers became thicker with increasing the content of CuONPs in CA nanofibers. The roughness average increased from 143.2 to 157.1 nm, whereas the maximum height of the roughness (R_t) increased from 400.8 to 479.9 nm as going from the lowest to the highest content of CuONPs. Additionally, the contact angle of the prepared nanofibers decreased from 105.3° (CA alone) to 85.4° for CuONPs@CA. Significantly, biological studies revealed that cell viability and anti-bacterial potency were improved upon incorporating CuONPs into CA solution. Correspondingly, their inhibition zones reached 18 ± 3 mm, and 16 ± 2 mm for nanofibrous scaffolds having 12.0CuO@CA, besides raising the cell viability from 91.3 ± 4% to 96.4 ± 4% for 0.0CuO@CA, and 12.0CuO@CA, respectively, thereby implying that the fabricated CuONPs@CA nanocomposite has biocompatibility towards fibroblast cells. Thus, introducing biological activity into CA nanofibers via loading with CuONPs makes it suitable for numerous biomedical applications, particularly as an environmentally benign wound dressing fibers.

Synthesis and characterization of new Cr(III), Fe(III) and Cu(II) complexes incorporating multi-substituted aryl imidazole ligand: Structural, DFT, DNA binding, and biological implications

Designing new metal-based molecular antibiotics is an efficient approach to overcome the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. In this paper, novel Cr(III), Fe(III) and Cu(II) complexes comprising substituted aryl imidazole ligand (MSEB), namely (2-(1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)(4-bromophenol)) have been synthesized and characterized using infra-red (IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques, together with elemental (CHN) and thermogravimetric analyses, molar conductance, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The combined results along with the DFT calculations revealed a 1:1 (M: L) stoichiometric ratio and the complexes adopted distorted-octahedral geometries to afford [Cr(MSEB)Cl₂(H₂O)₂], [Fe(MSEB)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂] and [Cu(MSEB)Cl(H₂O)₃] respectively. Biological studies showed that all complexes exhibited powerful antimicrobial activity against various strains of bacteria and fungi, S. aureus (+ve), E. coli (-ve) and P. aeruginosa (-ve) bacteria and T. Rubrum, C. albicans, and A. flavus fungi. Moreover, the three metal-complexes showed high in vitro cytotoxicity against Colon (HCT-116), Breast (MCF-7), and hepatic cellular (HepG-2) carcinoma cell lines, with MSEBCu complex being the most cytotoxic one. Finally the binding interactions of the complexes with CT-DNA were explored using UV-Vis spectroscopy, viscosity and gel electrophoreses measurements.

Panax ginseng improves glucose metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through 5' adenosine monophosphate kinase up-regulation

5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), insulin receptors and transporters are distorted in diabetes mellitus. In this study, the effect of Panax ginseng was assessed on glucose manipulating enzymes activities and gene expression of AMPK, IRA and GLUT2 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Forty male albino rats were randomly divided to four groups 10 rats of each, group I, normal control group (received saline orally); group II, normal rats received 200 mg/kg of Panax ginseng orally; group III, Streptozotocin (STZ) –induced diabetic rats and group IV, STZ-induced diabetic rats received 200 mg/kg of Panax ginseng orally. The duration of experiment was 30 days. Results showed the ability of Panax ginseng to induce a significant decrease in the blood glucose and increase in the serum insulin levels, hepatic glucokinase (GK), and glycogen synthase (GS) activities with a modulation of lipid profile besides high expression levels of AMPK, insulin receptor A (IRA), glucose transporting protein-2 (GLUT-2) in liver of diabetic rats. In conclusion, the obtained results point to the ability of Panax ginseng to improve the glucose metabolism in diabetic models.

Comparative metagenomics approaches to characterize the soil fungal communities of western coastal region, Saudi Arabia

A total of 145007 reads were obtained from pyrosequencing for all the 4 samples. The total count ranged from 11,301,014 (Mecca old road) to 23,503,512 bp (Thuwal). A total of 460 fungal species belonging to 133 genera, 58 families, 33 orders, 13 classes and 4 phyla was identified across the four sites. The most abundant phylum at all four sites was Ascomycota followed by Basidiomycota. Four phyla (Ascomycota—99.31%, Basidiomycota—0.59%, Chytridiomycota—0.04%, Glomeromycota—0.03%) were detected in Khulais. Except for Glomeromycota, all phyla were detected at Mecca old road (Ascomycota—74.26%, Basidiomycota—25.71%, Chytridiomycota—0.01%) and Thuwal (Ascomycota—99.59%, Basidiomycota—0.40%, Chytridiomycota—0.002%); while only Ascomycota—90.98% and Basidiomycota—9.01% were detected in Asfan road. At the class level, Sordariomycetes was predominantly observed at Asfan road—59.88%, Khulais—68.26% and Thuwal—94.84%; while Pezizomycetes was dominant at Mecca old road—56.01%, was absent at Asfan road. Agaricomycetes was present only at Mecca old road—25.73%; while Tremellomycetes—5.77%, Malasseizomycetes—2.13% and Microbotryomycetes—1.10% were found only at Asfan road. The phylogenetic trees revealed that clear genus level differences are visible across all the four sites, with an overall predominance of Thielavia followed by Madurella, Aspergillus, and Gelasinospora. Chaetomium sp., Aspergillus caespitosus and Aspergillus sp. were found in moderate (Mecca old road and Thuwal) to abundant (Asfan road and Khulais) quantities. Thielavia sp., Thielavia hyalocarpa and Madurella sp. are found in moderate quantities at Khulais and Mecca old road, while in abundant levels at Asfan road and Thuwal. Fusarium equisati and F. oxysporum were detected at Thuwal and Khulais. Sordaria araneosa was present at Khulais, while Malasseiza globosa species was detected in moderate quantities across all sites except Khulais.

Arthrocladium, an unexpected human opportunist in Trichomeriaceae (Chaetothyriales)

The family Trichomeriaceae (Chaetothyriales) mainly comprises epiphytic and epilithic organisms. In some species elaborate ascomata are formed, but for the great majority the species no asexual conidium formation is known other than simple fragmentation of the thallus. The present paper re-establishes the genus Arthrocladium with three non-sporulating species. One of these is described for a strain causing a fatal infection in a human patient with a rare genetic immune disorder.

Antiviral activity of Thuja orientalis extracts against watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) on Citrullus lanatus

Watermelon mosaic potyvirus (WMV) is considered as an important virus infecting watermelon and causing adverse effects on crop productivity. To overcome this problem one of the main objectives of plant breeders is to make these strains less effective in the ability to infect plants by treatment with plant extracts. Due to the advantages of plant tissue culture, in vitro, in the process of the selection of different cultivars under biotic stress, this study was conducted to achieve this aim by evaluating the effect of three concentrations of Thuja extract on the multiplication of WMV in watermelon by measuring callus fresh weight and soluble proteins (mg g(-1) fresh weight) of healthy and infected hypocotyl explants. Also, WMV was isolated from naturally infected watermelon and characterized as potyvirus by serological and molecular analyses. The isolated virus gave a positive reaction with WMV antiserum compared with other antibodies of CMV, ZYMV and SqMV using DAS-ELISA. RT-PCR, with the specific primer for WMV-cp. gene, yielded 825 base pair DNA fragments. The results that belong to soluble protein analysis indicated that infected hypocotyl explants treated with 6 g L(-1) recorded the highest rate in the number of soluble protein bands compared with the rest of treatments. As a conclusion of these results, we can recommend to apply the Thuja extract at 6 g L(-1) as a optimum dosage to decrease the infection caused by watermelon mosaic potyvirus.

Molecular mechanisms of anti-hyperglycemic effects of Costus speciosus extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Costus speciosus (C. speciosus) root ethanolic extracts (CSREt) by assessing its action on insulin synthesis and glucose catabolic enzyme gene expression and activities in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats.

METHODS

This study was carried out at the Biochemical Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt between July and August 2013. Sixty male albino rats (120 +/- 20 g weight, and 6 months old) were used and divided into 6 groups (n=10). Two groups served as diabetic and nondiabetic controls. Four groups of STZ diabetic animals were given oral C. speciosus (CSREt) in doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, and 600 µg/kg body weight of the standard drug glibenclamide for 4 weeks.

RESULTS

The CSREt 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight induced a decrease in blood glucose and an increase in serum insulin level, glucokinase (GK), aldolase, pyruvate kinase (PK), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and glycogen synthase activities  in addition to a higher expression level of insulin, insulin receptor A (IRA), GK, PK, SDH, and glucose transporting protein.

CONCLUSION

The C. speciosus has anti-hyperglycemic activity. It induces insulin secretion and release from cells, as well as stimulates the tissue's insulin sensitivity leading to an increase of the tissues' glucose uptake, storage, and oxidation.

Isolation and characterization of biosurfactant production under extreme environmental conditions by alkali-halo-thermophilic bacteria from Saudi Arabia

Twenty three morphologically distinct microbial colonies were isolated from soil and sea water samples, which were collected from Jeddah region, Saudi Arabia for screening of the most potent biosurfactant strains. The isolated bacteria were selected by using different methods as drop collapse test, oil displacement test, blue agar test, blood hemolysis test, emulsification activity and surface tension. The results showed that the ability of Virgibacillus salarius to grow and reduce surface tension under a wide range of pH, salinities and temperatures gives bacteria isolate an advantage in many applications such as pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food industries and bioremediation in marine environment. The biosurfactant production by V. salarius decreased surface tension and emulsifying activity (30 mN/m and 80%, respectively). In addition to reducing the production cost of biosurfactants by tested several plant-derived oils such as jatropha oil, castor oils, jojoba oil, canola oil and cottonseed oil. In this respect the feasibility to reusing old frying oil of sunflower for production rhamnolipids and sophorolipids, their use that lead to solve many ecological and industrial problems.

Biological effects of pyrimethinal on aquatic worms (Tubifex tubifex) under laboratory conditions

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effects of different concentrations of pyrimethinal on protein contents, and some oxidative stress in Tubifex tubifex after an exposure of 2, 4, and 7 days. Residues of the fungicide were followed in water and in the worms. In water, pyrimethinal concentration decreased slowly (maximum -6.4 % ± 0.8 % after 2 days for 25 mg L(-1)). In the worms, it increased after 4 days and decreased thereafter. LC50 values were between 49.2 ± 0.58 and 39.5 ± 0.95 mg L(-1) depending on exposure time. The activity of catalase increased in response to the fungicide after 2 days of exposure to 25 mg L(-1) of pyrimethinal (+90 %). The highest decrease of glutathione-S-transferase activity (-29.7 %) was found after 7 days in the presence of 25 mg L(-1).

Characterization and chemical composition of fatty acids content of watermelon and muskmelon cultivars in Saudi Arabia using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy

Background:

The growth in the production of biodiesel, which is principally fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), has been phenomenal in the last ten years because of the general desire to cut down on the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and also as a result of the increasing cost of fossil fuels.

Objective:

Establish whether there is any relationship between two different species (watermelon and muskmelon) within the same family (Cucurbitaceae) on fatty acid compositions and enumerate the different fatty acids in the two species.

Materials and Methods:

Extraction of fatty acids from the two species and preparation the extract to gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analysis to determine the fatty acids compositions qualitatively and quantitatively.

Results:

The analyzed plants (watermelon and muskmelon) contain five saturated fatty acids; tetrdecanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid with different concentrations, while muskmelon contains an extra saturated fatty acid named eicosanoic acid. The watermelon plant contains five unsaturated fatty acids while muskmelon contains three only, the two plants share in two unsaturated fatty acids named 9-hexadecenoic acid and 9-octadecenoic acid, the muskmelon plant contains higher amounts of these two acids (2.04% and 10.12%, respectively) over watermelon plant (0.88% and 0.25%, respectively).

Conclusion:

The chemical analysis of watermelon and muskmelon revealed that they are similar in saturated fatty acids but differ in unsaturated fatty acids which may be a criterion of differentiation between the two plants.

Influence of inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on tomato plant growth and nematode reproduction under greenhouse conditions

Numerous species of soil bacteria which flourish in the rhizosphere of plants or around plant tissues stimulate plant growth and reduce nematode population by antagonistic behavior. These bacteria are collectively known as PGPR (plant growth promoting rhizobacteria). The effects of six isolates of PGPR Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus, were studied on tomato plant growth and root knot nematode reproduction after 45 days from nematode infection. The highest number of shoot dry weight/g (43.00 g) was detected in the plant treated with S. marcescens; then P. putida (34.33 g), B. amyloliquefaciens (31.66 g), P. fluorescens (30.0 g), B. subtilis (29.0 g), B. cereus (27.0 g) and nematode alone (untreated) 20 g/plant. While the highest number of plant height was observed when plant was treated with S. marcescens, P. fluorescens, P. putida, B. amyloliquefaciens and P. putida 52.66, 50.66, 48 and 48 cm respectively. No significant differences were seen between previous treatments but only had significant differences compared with untreated plant. The highest number of fruit/plant was observed when plants were treated with S. marcescens (10.66), then B. amyloliquefaciens (8.66), P. putida (8), P. fluorescens (8) and B. cereus (7.66). No significant differences between the last 4 treatments, but all had significant differences compared with untreated plants. The highest weight of plant yield (g) was observed with S. marcescens (319.6 g/plant) and the lowest weight of plant yield was observed in plants treated with nematode alone (untreated). On the other hand, the lowest numbers of J2/10 g of soil (78), galls/root, (24.33) galls/root, egg masses/root (12.66) and egg/egg masses were observed in the plants treated with S. marcescens.

Control of wild oat (Avena fatua) using some phenolic compounds I - Germination and some growth parameters

The percentage of germination of wild oat was significantly inhibited by increasing the concentrations of phenolic compounds. Ferulic acid was the most effective compound which completely inhibited germination at a concentration of 3.0 mM. At the same time, wheat and barley were slightly affected with different concentrations of the four phenolic compounds. The percentage of germination of wheat significantly decreased with increasing of ferulic acid reaching a maximum inhibition at 3.0 mM concentration. On the other hand, the germination of wheat was not affected with the other three phenolic compounds. The percentage of germination of barley was not affected with all phenolic compounds except for hydroxy phenolic acetic acid which has significant effect at a concentration of 3.0 mM. Salicylic acid significantly inhibited the growth parameters gradually in wild oat, wheat and barley. The shoot/root ratio was decreased in wild oat and barley, while the ratio increased in wheat. The growth parameters were completely inhibited at 3.0 mM of ferulic acid for both wild oat and wheat but slightly inhibited for barley. The shoot/root ratio was increased in all concentrations of ferulic acid except at 3.0 mM which was completely inhibited for both wild oat and wheat, while the ratio was increased in all treatments of ferulic acid in the case of barley. The growth parameters were highly significant and decreased in wild oat, wheat and barley with increasing the concentrations of hydroxybenzoic acid and hydroxyphenyl acetic acid. The shoot/root ratio was not changed in all concentrations except at 3.0 mM in the case of wild oat, the ratio was decreased at 2.0 and 3.0 mM in the case of wheat, while the ratio increased in most of hydroxybenzoic acid concentrations in the case of barley. The shoot/root ratio was increased with increasing of the hydroxyphenyl acetic acid concentrations.

Effect of sowing dates and vernalization on Beta vulgaris L. cv. Univers C-leaf structure

This research was conducted to study the effect of three different sowing dates (15th October, 15th November and 15th December) and two vernalization treatments (5 °C and -20 °C) on leaf structure of Beta vulgaris L. cv. Univers. The obtained data are summarized as follows: The maximum values of the most studied parameters; lower epidermis + spongy tissue thickness, midrib, mesophyll tissue, vascular bundle, collenchymatous tissue and number of xylem vessels per arm were found as a result of 15th October sowing date treatment compared with the two other sowing dates. Furthermore, effect of the cooling treatments varied according to the recorded character, sowing date and cooling degree. Most of the vernalization treatments at early sowing dates increased the mesophyll tissue, midrib, number of vascular bundles per transverse section, vascular bundle thickness and number of xylem arms per transverse section. The two studied cooling treatments at 15th October sowing date increased both stomatal index and average number of stomata: average number of epidermis cells compared with the control. Furthermore, 15th October under -20 °C treatment led to small epidermal cells and stomata formation, straight epidermal cell walls and closed stomata in comparison to the control.