m. shokrzadeh

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world. The most important issue in cancer treatment is the destruction of cancer cells in the presence of normal cells. For this reason, it is necessary to use natural resources such as plants to treat cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the ethanolic extract of Alhagi maurorum on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and cytotoxicity on HeLa cervical cancer cell line.

In this experimental study, first the ethanolic extract of Alhagi maurorum was prepared, and then the two standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC: 25923) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC: 27853) were lyophilized by culturing in nutrient medium. In order to confirm the standard strains, biochemical tests were performed. Microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration and after obtaining the minimum inhibitory concentration, the minimum bactericidal concentration was evaluated. Furthermore, the effects of the cytotoxicity of the extract at concentrations of 0.1, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 μg/ml was evaluated on the HeLa cell line in a period of 48 hours using the MTT method and comparing its toxicity with the cisplatin group (positive control group).

Ethanol extract of Alhagi maurorum at a concentration of 50 μg/ml reduced the growth of cancer cells, and in the statistical comparison, 50, 500 and 1000 μg concentrations revealed significant differences (p<0.05). According to minimum inhibitory concentration results, the minimum growth inhibitory concentration of the extract on the standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was reported to be 4000 and 16000 μg/ml, respectively, and according to minimum bactericidal concentration results, the minimum bactericidal concentration of the extract was found 4 times the minimum inhibitory concentration (16000 μg/ml) in Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC: 25923), but it was not lethal in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC: 27853).

The results of the study showed that the ethanolic extract of Alhagi maurorum affected HeLa cells through antioxidant activity and inhibited their growth, and according to minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration results, it was also shown that the most inhibitory effect was on the standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus while it showed no effects on the strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Growing evidences have revealed a positive association between organophosphorus pesticides and diseases like cancer. Located in northern Iran, Mazandaran Province is a region with the overuse of agricultural pesticides. Due to the extensive use of the pesticides like diazinon in rice paddies of Mazandaran for the control of Chilo suppressalis, and high incidence rate of cancer in this province, we analysed and compared diazinon in the serum samples of the breast-cancer patients with the healthy volunteers. This cross-sectional case-control study inludes 10 breast-cancer patients and 10 healthy controls. Diazinon was extracted with a mixture of acetone and diethyl ether (1:1 v/v) in acidic medium and the residue was analyzed by GC-MS instrument. Results showed the presence of 0.151 ppm diazinon in the serum of just one healthy subject. In conclusion, despite excessive use of diazinon in Mazandaran Province, no association was found between serum level of diazinon and the incidence of breast cancer.

Heavy metals may accumulate in aquatic animals’ organs and tissues such as liver, kidney, gills and muscles.As fsh muscle is important in human nutrition, its health is important. Metals are considered as non degradablesubstance and one of major environmental pollutants, those negative effects may cause cytotoxicity, mutation andcarcinogenicity in animals. The risk of heavy metal toxicities differs in each water resource and animal species.Toxicity of these metals is higher in soft waters compare with hard waters.In this present study, 44 samples of Psettodes erumei fsh were randomly collected from Boushehr’s waters. Then100 grams of pectoral muscle of each fsh dissected and got ready for atomic absorbtion measurement. The resultsof four heavy metals Lead, Cadmium, Zinc and Chromium were registered in microgram per kilogram (ppb). Inpresent research, the maximum amount of metal was related to Zinc (138.5 ppb) and the minimums to Chromium(30 ppb). In the results, the highest / lowest levels for each metals are: Lead 0.124 / 0.037, Cadmium 0.090 / 0.019,Zinc 0.208 / 0.034 and Chromium 0.054 / 0.013 ppm in muscles and all were totally in safe limits of World HealthOrganization limits.

Background and

The role of trace elements (Cu, Zn) in chronic inflammatory states has provided interest, as many of them are co-factors in metabolic processes, involving arthricular tissues and immune system function. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate zinc and copper plasma concentration in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, who were referred to the Sari Outpatient Clinics and were compared with control group.

We studied plasma concentrations of Zn and Cu in 40 patients with RA and compared them with sex and age matched of healthy subjects (N=40). Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations were determined by an analysis of 100 Perkin Elmer model flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS)

The plasma Zn concentration in the patient group was statistically lower than control group. The plasma copper was not statistically different in comparison with control group. There was no correlation between Cu and Zn concentration in patient group. In contrast to Cu, there was a significantly positive correlation between Zn and Zn/Cu ratio. However, the decrease of Zn/Cu is more influenced by decreasing the Zn concentration.

It appears the decrease of Zn plasma concentration in patients (comparison with control group) is more important than the differences in plasma Cu concentration, but the use of Zn supplement for RA patients needs more investigation.

Cell culture is a process in which the cells ware isolated from original tissue, dispersed in liquid media and then placed in culture plate where the cells adhere together and propagate. Today, this method is used for assessment of cell toxicity, its mechanisms and effect of different compounds on intracellular components.

Clonogenic assay was used for assessment of cell toxicity and amount of cell death after a specific time during which cells were exposed to different compounds. Thus, IC50 in caner cell lines (HePG2, SKOV3 and A549) and normal cell (LLCPK1, CHO and HGF1) was assessed after exposure to cisplatin, acetaminophen and arsenic.

Results showed that acetaminophen has maximum resistance and minimum sensitivity in CHO line with IC50=16.7±1.06 HePG2 with IC50=18.6±1.29. On the other hand, cisplatin showed minimum resistance and maximum sensitivity in HePG2 with IC50 = 0.87±0.07 and HGF1 with IC50 = 1.6±0.21 and lastly, arsenic showed minimum resistance and maximum sensitivity in A549 with IC50 = 4.59±0.29 and LLCPK1 with IC50= 1±0.37.

According to the evaluated IC50, there were differences between results of sensitivity of cell lines exposed to the three drugs (P<0.05). Entirely, resistance in cancer cell lines was lower than normal cells. The results showed the importance of cell defensive mechanisms encountering different substances like glutathione.