Camptothecin (CPT) is an anti-cancer drug that effectively treats various cancers, including colon cancer. However, poor solubility and other drawbacks have restricted its chemotherapeutic potential. To overcome these restrictions, CPT was encapsulated in CEF (cyclodextrin-EDTA-FE3O4), a composite nanoparticle of magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4), and β-cyclodextrin was cross-linked with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). This formulation improved CPT’s solubility and bioavailability for cancer cells. The use of magnetically responsive anti-cancer formulation is highly advantageous in cancer chemotherapy. The chemical characterisation of CPT-CEF was studied here. The ability of this nano-compound to induce apoptosis in HT29 colon cancer cells and A549 lung cancer cells was evaluated. The dose-dependent cytotoxicity of CPT-CEF was shown using MTT. Propidium iodide and Annexin V staining, mitochondrial membrane depolarisation (JC-1 dye), and caspase-3 activity were assayed to detect apoptosis in CPT-CEF-treated cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis also showed G1 phase arrest, which indicated possible synergistic effects of the nano-carrier. These study results show that CPT-CEF causes a dose-dependent cell viability reduction in HT29 and A549 cells and induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells via caspase-3 activation. These data strongly suggest that CPT could be used as a major nanocarrier for CPT to effectively treat colon cancer.
IntroductionAnti-tuberculosis agent rifampicin is extensively used for its effectiveness. Possible complications of tuberculosis and prolonged rifampicin treatment include kidney damage; these conditions can lead to reduced efficiency of the affected kidney and consequently to other diseases. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) can be used in conjunction with rifampicin to avert kidney damage; because of its regenerative and differentiating potentials into kidney cells. This research was designed to assess the modulatory and regenerative potentials of MSCs in averting kidney damage due to rifampicin-induced kidney toxicity in Wistar rats and their progenies. BMMSCs used in this research were characterized according to the guidelines of International Society for Cellular Therapy.MethodsThe rats (male and female) were divided into three experimental groups, as follows: Group 1: control rats (4 males & 4 females); Group 2: rats treated with rifampicin only (4 males & 4 females); and Group 3: rats treated with rifampicin plus MSCs (4 males & 4 females). Therapeutic doses of rifampicin (9 mg/kg/day for 3-months) and MSCs infusions (twice/month for 3-months) were administered orally and intravenously respectively. At the end of the three months, the animals were bred together to determine if the effects would carry over to the next generation. Following breeding, the rats were sacrificed to harvest serum for biochemical analysis and the kidneys were also harvested for histological analysis and quantification of the glomeruli size, for the adult rats and their progenies.ResultsThe results showed some level of alterations in the biochemical indicators and histopathological damage in the rats that received rifampicin treatment alone, while the control and stem cells treated group showed apparently normal to nearly normal levels of both bio-indicators and normal histological architecture.ConclusionsIntravenous administration of MSCs yielded sensible development, as seen from biochemical indicators, histology and the quantitative cell analysis, hence implying the modulatory and regenerative properties of MSCs.
Infections caused by multidrug resistance bacteria are now alarming globally, and the increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance are resulting in fewer treatment options. The search for new phytochemicals that could be developed as useful drugs for treatment of infectious diseases consequently increased with medicinal plants extracts receiving greater attention. This study was carried out to determine in vitro antimicrobial activity of Terminalia avicennioides extracts against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from wound infections. Wound swab samples were collected from patients attending Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna, Nigeria. Isolation and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus was carried out using standard phenotypic and genotypic identification methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolates was carried out using standard procedures. Also, Terminalia avicennioides extracts were prepared and their in vitro antimicrobial activities tested against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus using standard procedures. The results of the susceptibility profile showed Staphylococcus aureus isolates to be resistant to a ranged of 8.18% to 100% conventional antibiotics used. However, the isolates were 100% sensitive to imipenem. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of tannin, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycoside, phenols, saponins and terpenoids and absent of anthraquinones in all extracts. Antimicrobial activity of Terminalia avicennioides extracts against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates showed zones of growth inhibition ranged from 16.28±10.45 -23.81±6.69 mm and showed significant difference (P < 0.05). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts ranged from 56.2500 ± 29.1241 -31.2500 + 22.16013 gm/ml and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts ranged from 175.000 ± 64.2910 -68.7500 ± 45.8063 mg/ml and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). Remarkably, the antimicrobial activity of the Terminalia avicennioides extracts exhibit higher inhibitory effects against the multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, hence, can further be study and developed for wound infection therapeutic purpose.
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