Cancer is one of deathly diseases in the world. Many people conversely attempt to employ traditional medicine for primary health care, especially from Plants. Dianella nemorosa Lam. has their own local name in Papua, pra kepey and belongs to the Liliaceae family. It is one of the anticancer plants that is empirical efficacious usage. The aim of the research was to find out cytotoxic activity of methanol extract of D. nemorosa leaves against selected human cell line namely hormone-dependent breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7), human breast carcinoma cell line (T-47D), colon carcinoma cell line (WiDR) and human-slymphoma cell line (Raji Cell). Leaves powder were extracted using methanol. Cytotoxic assay of the methanol extract was done using MTT [3-(4,5-dimetilthiazol-2-il)-2,5difeniltetrazolium bromida) assay method in vitro . The result indicated that methanol extract of D. nemorosa leaves possessed cytotoxic activity in all tested cancer cell line, with the IC 50 values of 1,794 µg/ml, 1,732 µg/ml, 1,719 µg/ml, and 1,049 µg/ml for MCF-7, T47D, WiDR and Raji cell line, respectively after incubation 24h. This species could be considered as potential sources of anticancer compounds. Further studies are necessary for chemical characterization of the active principles and more extensive biological evaluations.
The identifications of species in meat products have created interests since these foods became the target of forgery and fraud in the market. The presence of pork in food products is not allowed for the Muslim community. Hence, an analysis is necessary to detect the presence of pork in processed meat products, such as in dendeng (dried meat) product. Real time polymerase chain reaction using mitochondrial displacement loop686 and cytochrome b (cytb) gene primers was used to identify specific pork DNA among other four types of DNA species; namely beef, chicken, goat, and horse. This method was also used to identify pork DNA in the laboratory processed pork-beef dendeng as well as commercial dendeng from market. The results showed that real time polymerase chain reaction using displacement loop686 and cytb gene primers were able specifically to distinguish between pork DNA and the other species. The lowest concentration of 0.5% of pork DNA in a mixture of pork-beef processed products of dendeng was able to be detected by both primers with the product amplification of 114 and 134 bp (base pair) for the displacement loop686 and 149 bp for cytb gene, respectively. High sensitivity was also obtained when both primers were applied with the lowest detection limit of 5 pg/µL pork DNA. The results of the six commercial dendeng amplification using both primers showed no amplified products present, meaning that these products do not contain porcine DNA.
The detection of nptII (kanamycin resistance) as a transgenic marker gene and 35SCaMV as promoter in tomatoes has been carried out. DNA from tomatoes samples was isolated using PureLinkTM plant total DNA purification kit. The purity of DNA samples was estimated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 260 nm and 280 nm. They gave an absorbance ratio (A260/A280) of 1.74-1.79 which indicated its purities. The quality of the DNA was confirmed by a clear and thick band, as analyzed in 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis. In order to identify the transgenic tomatoes, a 786-bp fragment of the nptII gene and a 86-bp fragment of 35SCaMV promoter were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR reaction was prepared at optimum condition, namely annealing temperature at 56°C and 55°C for nptII gene and 35SCaMV promoter, respectively and 300 ng of DNA template. The PCR results were visualized on 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that one of three tomatoes (code ST2) contains 35SCaMV promoter and no tomatoes contain nptII gene, indicating that ST2 is transgenic tomato. Key words: tomatoes, PCR, nptII, 35SCaMV
Pereskia grandifolia (famili Cactaceae) atau biasa dikenal sebagai tanaman Tujuh jarum telah banyak dimanfaatkat masyarakat lokal di Malaysia dan China untuk mengobati berbagai jenis penyakit seperti diabetes, hipertensi, antikanker, antitumor, antiinflamasi dan antirematik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari aktivitas antiproliferatif terhadap kultur sel kanker HCT-116, C2C12 dan 293A. Ekstrasi dilakukan secara maserasi dengan menggunakan metanol. Efek antiproliferatif diuji dengan menggunakan reagen WST-1 ((2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitro-phenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl) -2H-tetrazolium monosodium salt ) selama 1, 2 dan 4 jam setelah inkubasi selama 72 jam. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak methanol daun P. grandifolia bersifat antiproliferatif terhadap sel kanker kolon HCT-116 dengan IC 50 yaitu 509,83µg/ml (1 jam), 503,60µg/ml (2 jam), 519,24µg/ml (4 jam) tetapi tidak bersifat antiproliferatif terhadap sel C2C12 dan 293A. Hasil ini mengindikasikan bahwa ekstrak methanol daun P. grandifolia bersifat selektif terhadap sel kanker HCT-116.
Mirabilis jalapa L. leave has been reported to contain Ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), which demonstrated to have in vitro cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines and prevention effect against skin cancer. This research examined the therapeutic effect of protein fraction containing RIP isolated from Mirabilis jalapa L. (MJ protein) against skin cancer. MJ protein was isolated using phosphate buffer pH 7.2, and then tested for its activity to cleave supercoiled DNA. To induce the skin cancer, BALB/c mice were topically exposed to single dose of 0.2 mg/0.1 ml dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) and UVB radiation (daily dose, 0.4 J/cm 2 ) for 60 days. Therapeutic effect of MJ protein was examined by observing the incidence, multiplicity, and regression of tumor and followed by analyzing the expressions of bcl2 using immunohistochemistry technique. The results showed that MJ protein therapy (doses of 0.3/0.1ml and 1.2mg/0.1ml) was able to decrease the incidence of skin cancer (SCC) by 75.5% and tumor nodule regression (approximately 35.3%) at 10 weeks of therapy, while the dose of 1.2mg/0.1ml decreased the tumor nodule diameter by 17.36%. In addition, 0.3 mg /0.1 ml and 1.2 mg/0.1ml of MJ protein were able to significantly decrease the expressions of bcl2 protein at 82.38% and 78.40% compared to post UVB control sample (10 weeks of therapy). However, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the dose groups.
Stem cells are potentially used as a regenerative therapy agent. Cell encapsulation is one of the developed methods to utilize Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) for therapy. This research aimed to study the effect of encapsulation using alginate-CaCl2 towards the viability of hAdMSCs during in vitro culture. Encapsulation of hAdMSCs with alginate-CaCl2 was done using the extrusion method. The viability of hAdMSCs was analyzed with Live/Dead Assay and MTT assay. The results indicated that cultured hAdMSCs within alginate remain alive for 7 days culture period. However, the viability was lower than the reference culture. The absorbances from MTT assay of encapsulated MSCs were lower than the conventional hAdMSCs culture. This result indicated lower metabolic activity of hAdMSCs when cultured in alginate beads.
Today, virgin coconut oil (VCO) is becoming valuable oil and is receiving an attractive topic for researchers because of its several biological activities. In cosmetics industry, VCO is excellent material which functions as a skin moisturizer and softener. Therefore, it is important to develop a quantitative analytical method offering a fast and reliable technique. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with sample handling technique of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) can be successfully used to analyze VCO quantitatively in cream cosmetic preparations. A multivariate analysis using calibration of partial least square (PLS) model revealed the good relationship between actual value and FTIR-predicted value of VCO with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.998.
Interactions between pharmaceutical representatives and pharmacists are increasing. This study aimed to evaluate pharmacists’ views towards the drug promotion conducted by sales representatives in Indonesia. Adopting a cross-sectional survey study design, pharmacists completed questionnaires (n=120) to examine attitudes toward drug promotion by sales representatives, perception of the impact of drug promotion on attitudes and knowledge, and their experience in training in dealing with sales representatives and drug promotion. A total of 120 pharmacists participated in the study, of these; the majority of the respondents were females (80.83%) and aged 30-45 years (45.00%). Most respondents (55.83%) had experience in practice collaboration with doctors. However, only a small number of respondents (25.83%) were trained in drug promotion ethics. Approximately 71.67% of pharmacists do not agree with pharmaceutical company support of conferences and speakers, and the majority of respondents (73.33%) do not agree on the appropriateness of gifts provided by pharmaceutical companies. The majority of respondents believe that discussions with sales representatives impact prescribing (76.67%) and receiving gifts influences prescribing (72.50%). We found that majority of pharmacists accept promotion as a source of drug promotion and promotion as a source of information for the introduction of new medicines. Teaching the ethics or effects of drug company promotion has been never taught in pharmacy education. It is recommended that the structured curriculum of pharmacy education include courses/discussion groups on the ethical relationship between pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies.
Background: Mirabilis jalapa L. protein (MJ-Protein) has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Thus, it has a potential protective effect against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin damage.Objective: To determine the protective effect and mechanism of MJ protein in UVB-radiation exposed mouse skin.Methods: In this experimentalstudy, 30 female BALB/c mice aged 6 weeks were exposed to a single dose of UVB irradiation with 3 minimal erythema doses (MEDs) and continued with the treatment of 0.6 mg MJ-Protein topically. The number of apoptotic body (sunburn cells) formed in epidermal layers of mouse dorsal skin was assessed at 1, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120h after UVB irradiation was compared to that of the control group. The difference in the sunburn cells number between two groups were analyzed using independent T-test with the level of significance of 0.05. The apoptosis mechanism was confirmed qualitatively by caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation analysis in vitro.Results:At 24 h after the UVB exposure (peak time for sunburn cells formation), there was a significant increase in the sunburn cells number in the group treated with topical application of MJ-Protein. There was increased caspase-3 expression and DNA fragmentation in HeLa cells treated with MJ-Protein.Conclusions: MJ-Protein protects againts UVB-induced skin damage in mice trough apoptosis induction.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.16(3) 2017 p.423-427
