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Glaucium flavum is used in Algerian folk medicine to remove warts (benign tumors). Its local appellations are Cheqiq el-asfar and Qarn el-djedyane. We have recently reported the anti-tumoral activity of Glaucium flavum root alkaloid extract against human cancer cells, in vitro and in vivo. The principal identified alkaloid in the extract was protopine. This study aims to determine which component(s) of Glaucium flavum root extract might possess potent antitumor activity on human cancer cells. Quantitative estimation of Glaucium flavum alkaloids was realized by HPLC-DAD. Glaucium flavum effect on human normal and cancer cell viability was determined using WST-1 assay. Quantification of alkaloids in Glaucium flavum revealed that the dried root part contained 0.84% of protopine and 0.07% of bocconoline (w/w), while the dried aerial part contained only 0.08% of protopine, glaucine as the main alkaloid, and no bocconoline. In vitro evaluation of the growth inhibitory activity on breast cancer and normal cells demonstrated that purified protopine did not reproduce the full cytotoxic activity of the alkaloid root extract on cancer cell lines. On the other hand, bocconoline inhibited strongly the viability of cancer cells with an IC50 of 7.8 μM and only a low cytotoxic effect was observed against normal human cells. Our results showed for the first time that protopine is the major root alkaloid of Glaucium flavum. Finally, we are the first to demonstrate a specific anticancer effect of Glaucium flavum root extract against breast cancer cells, which can be attributed, at least in part, to bocconoline.

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In the current investigation, peripheral blood films of 15 COVID-19 patients (44.78±16.55 years), proven by computed tomographic imaging and RT-PCR for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, were analyzed at the moment of hospital admission. Blood tests showed raised inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein 58.2±61.2 mg/L) with normal values for hemoglobin (126.2±2.6 g/L), WBC (6.8±18.74 109/L) RBC (4.55±0.99 1012/L) platelets (262.4±41.8, 109/L) MCV (79.84±8.2 fL) MCH (28±3.31 pg) and MCHC (350.3±1.15 g/L). The results revealed the presence of hypersegmented neutrophils in 66.66%% of the patients. The percentages of neutrophils with 4 and 5 lobes were 46.25±4.83% and 31.5±14.84%, respectively. Three major red blood cells morphological alteration were observed: (1) erythrocytes in double primerouleauxdouble prime formation represented by linear erythrocytes aggregation, (2) spherocytes with the disappearance of the usual biconcave disk, and (3) echinocytes showing spiky projections. Apparent reorganization of hemoglobin is found in the majority of the analyzed erythrocytes. Rouleaux formation is observed in 33.33% of patients and spherocytes and echinocytes are present at variable levels in the all analyzed patients. The current results revealed erythrocytes injuries in COVID-19 peripheral blood, in association with hypersegmented neutrophils, alterations that could be involved in the respiratory syndrome.

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The aim of this study is to investigate, by a validated in vitro model, the effect of diabetic plasma on ejaculated human spermatozoa. Plasma of 51 male diabetic patients (mean age 62.28 ± 9.28 years) was selected according to their HbA 1c level: low HBA 1c ≤ 5% (31 mmol/mol), moderate HBA 1c 6%-8% (42-64 mmol/mol) and high HBA 1c ≥ 10% (86 mmol/mol). The plasma was tested on eighteen normal semen samples by analysing gametes motility using a computer Sperm Class Analyzer® and their corresponding oxidative stress (OS) status using thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances assay. The results indicated that diabetic plasma affected all sperm motil-How to cite this article: Chemlal H, Bensalem S, Bendiab K, et al. High HbA 1c levels affect motility parameters and overexpress oxidative stress of human mature spermatozoa.