• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2009

Bauhinia variegata Linn (Mountain Ebony) is a medium-sized, deciduous tree, found throughout India, ascending to an altitude of 1,300 m in the Himalayas. The plant is widely used by the tribals throughout India and popular in various indigenous systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy. Following the various traditional claims on utility of this plant in curing number of diseases, considerable efforts have been made by researchers to verify its utility through pharmacological screenings. The notable biological activities reported are anthelmintic, antiulcer, antitumour, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antigoitrogenic, hepatoprotective and haemagglutination. Industrially, the plant is widely used for the manufacture of wood wool board, production of tannin, oil, gum and fibre. The plant is also utilized for afforestation to conserve the nature. In this article, a comprehensive account of the cultivation, microscopy, phytochemical investigation, traditional and biologically evaluated medicinal uses of B variegata is presented.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.478-484
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• 2004

The novel 1-(1-benzoylindoline-5-sulfonyl)-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolones 2 shows highly potent and broad cytotoxicities. Their cytotoxicities against human lung carcinoma A549, human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562, and human ovarian adenocarcinoma SK-OV-3 are compatible with doxorubicin. Compound 2p (1-[(4-aminobenzoyl)indoline-5-sulfonyl])-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolone) exhibits a cytotoxicity that is far more potent than doxorubicin and also exhibits highly effective antitumour activities against murine (3LL, Colon 26) and human xenograft (NCI-H23, SW620) tumor models.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1211-1216
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• 2004

The interaction of the antitumour agent doxorubicin with calf thymus DNA is investigated in an aqueous solution at a pH level of 6-7 with molar ratios of 1/10. A UV-resonance Raman spectroscopy and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy are used to determine the doxorubicin binding sites and the structural variations of doxorubicin-DNA complexes in an aqueous solution. Doxorubicin intercalates with adenine and guanine via a hydrogen bond formation between the N7 positions of purine bases and the hydroxyl group of doxorubicin.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.292-294
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• 2001

Cystocin is identified from the screening of Streptomyces sp GCA0001. It is isolated from the culture of streptomyces sp GCA0001. A white coloured cystocin is structurally similar to puromycin, an antibiotic produced by streptomyces albonrger. Like puromycin, cystocin possesses an antibacterial, antitumour and antiviral activity. It impairs the protein synthesis by inhibiting polypeptide chain elongation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1372-1380
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• 2013

Different endophytic fungi isolated from Himalayan Yew plants were tested for their ability to produce taxol. The BAPT gene (C-13 phenylpropanoid side chain-CoA acetyl transferase) involved in the taxol biosynthetic pathway was used as a molecular marker to screen taxol-producing endophytic fungi. Taxol extracted from fungal strain TBPJ-B was identified by HPLC and MS analysis. Strain TBPJ-B was identified as Fusarium redolens based on the morphology and internal transcribed spacer region of nrDNA analysis. HPLC quantification of fungal taxol showed that F. redolens was capable of producing $66{\mu}g/l$ of taxol in fermentation broth. The antitumour activity of the fungal taxol was tested by potato disc tumor induction assay using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as the tumor induction agent. The present study results showed that PCR amplification of genes involved in taxol biosynthesis is an efficient and reliable method for prescreening taxol-producing fungi. We are reporting for the first time the production of taxol by F. redolens from Taxus baccata L. subsp. wallichiana (Zucc.) Pilger. This study offers important information and a new source for the production of the important anticancer drug taxol by endophytic fungus fermentation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3797-3803
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• 2016

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide and thus one of the leading causes of mortality in women. Lovastatin, a non polar, anticholesterol drug has previously been reported to exert antitumour activity in vitro. In the present study, lovastatin from Aspergillus terreus (KM017963) was purified by adsoprtion chromatography and evaluated for its anticancer and anti-oxidant properties with a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Growth inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of purified lovastatin on HeLa cells were investigated by determining its influence on cell numbers, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation and antioxidant properties in terms of hydroxy radical scavenging effects as well as levels of total reduced glutathione. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (propidium iodide staining) confirmed induction of apoptotic cell death and revealed cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Results of the study give leads for the anticancer effects of lovastatin and its potential usefulness in the chemotherapy of cervical cancer.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2005

Doxorubicin is a powerful anticancer antibiotic extensively used in the treatment of several types of cancers. Long-term administration of this drug results in cumulative dose related cardiotoxicity due to enhanced production of free radicals leading to oxidative stress. Our earlier investigations have demonstrated significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumour properties of Ganoderma lucidum extracts. We extended our investigations to evaluate the protective effect of Ganoderma lucidum extract against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Administration of 3 doses of doxorubicin, 6 mg/kg body weights, i.p. per each dose, alternative days, showed dear signs of cardiotoxicity in rats. The drug enhanced serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and lipid peroxidation in tissue drastically. The drug also induced significant decrease in GSH level and activities of CAT, SOD and GPx. Administration of methanolic extract of G.lucidum (500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight) significantly increased the level of GSH and activities of CAT, SOD and GPx. Activity of CK was significantly lowered in a dose dependent manner. The treatment also caused significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (MDA). The results thus indicated that methanolic extract of G.lucidum prevented oxidative stress caused by doxorubicin administration and the increase in serum CK activity and lipid peroxidation in the tissue. The experimental findings suggest the therapeutic potential of G.lucidum as adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4295-4300
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a vaccine to induce an immune response and provide antitumor protection in a rat model. Methods: Cross-reactivity of antigens between hESCs and tumour cells was screened by immunohistochemistry. Fischer 344 rats were divided into 7 groups, with 6 rats in each, immunized with: Group 1, hESC; Group 2, pre-inactivated mitotic NuTu-19; Group 3 PBS; Group 4, hESC; Group 5, pre-inactivated mitotic NuTu-19; Group 6, PBS; Group 7, hESC only. At 1 (Groups 1-3) or 4 weeks (Groups 4-6) after the last vaccination, each rat was challenged intraperitoneally with NuTu-19. Tumor growth and animal survival were closely monitored. Rats immunized with H9 and NuTu-19 were tested by Western blot analysis of rat orbital venous blood for cytokines produced by Th1 and Th2 cells. Results: hESCs presented tumour antigens, markers, and genes related to tumour growth, metastasis, and signal pathway interactions. The vaccine administered to rats in Group 1 led to significant antitumor responses and enhanced tumor rejection in rats with intraperitoneal inoculation of NuTu-19 cells compared to control groups. In contrast, rats in Group 4 did not display any elevation of antitumour responses. Western blot analysis found cross-reactivity among antibodies generated between H9 and NuTu-19. However, the cytokines did not show significant differences, and no side effects were detected. Conclusion: hESC-based vaccination is a promising modality for immunotherapy of ovarian cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.2 s.137
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• pp.164-170
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• 2004

The flavonoids are a very large and important group of polyphenolic natural products, which are united by their derivatization from the heterocycle, flavone. They are distributed in higher plants and occur widely in the fruits and vegetables that make up the human diet. They exhibit a wide range of biological properties, including antitumor, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, insecticidal and estrogenic activities. They are also major components of many plant drugs and it is possible that they contribute to the curative properties. For the purpose of developing anticancer agent of natural origin, we have evaluated forty four kinds of naturally occurring flavonoids for the inhibitory activity upon the proliferation of cultured human tumor cells such as A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCT-15 (colon) in vitro.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 1997

The experiment was performed to study the morphological responses of the thymus of the mice, to antitumour agents (5-Fluorouracil or mitomycin C). Healthy adult mice weighing 25 gm each were divided into normal and experimental groups. 5-Fluorouracil (60 mg/kg) or Mitomycin-C $(400{\mu}g/kg)$ were injected subcutaneously to the animals every other day. Animals were sacrificed at 4 days and 7 days following the first injection. Pieces of the tissue taken from the thymus were prefixed with 2.5% paraformaldehyde-l.5% glutaraldehyde, followed by post-fixation with 1% osmium tetroxide. Ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with a JEM 100 CX-II electron microscope. The observed results were as follow: 1. Apoptoses of T-lymphocytes were observed more frequently in the thymus of the experimental groups than in those of a normal group. 2. In the experimental group, the plasma cells with distended cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and the eosinophile leukocytes were observed frequently. 3. In the experimental group, newly forming Hassall's corpurscles were observed frequently. 4. In the mitomycin-treated group, the epithelial reticular cells containing distended perinuclear cisternae, distended the granular endoplasmic reticula and pyknotic nuclei were observed in the cortico-medullary junctional area. 5. In the mitomycin-treated group, nuclear bodies with medium electron dense materials were often observed in the T lymphocyte. 6. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated groups, fused and dissolved tonofilament bundles and apoptotic bodies were observed in the some epithelial reticular cells in the medullary area. 7. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated groups, some elongated and bar-shaped lysosomes with electron lucent gap were often observed in the macrophages. 8. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated group, membrane complex of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were ofen observed in the macrophage. From the above results, it was suggested that 5-fluorouracil or mitomycin could induce rapid involution of the thymus, and disturb maturation and differentiation of T lymphocytes, and, in turn, supress immunity.