5-FU-PEGylated AuNPs-CD133 is designed to improve specific targeting of 5-FU against colorectal cancer cells which abundantly express CD133.

A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), transmitted from person to person, has quickly emerged as the pandemic responsible for the current global health crisis. This infection has been declared a global pandemic, resulting in a concerning number of deaths as well as complications post-infection, primarily among vulnerable groups particularly older people and those with multiple comorbidities. In this article, we review the most recent research on the role of date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits (DPFs) to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection. The mechanisms underlying this preventive or therapeutic effect are also discussed in terms of bioactivity potentials in date palm, e.g., antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and hemolytic potential, as well as prospect against COVID-19 disease and the potential product development. Therefore, it can be concluded that regular consumption of DPFs may be associated with a lower risk of some chronic diseases. Indeed, DPFs have been widely used in folk medicine since ancient times to treat a variety of health conditions, demonstrating the importance of DPFs as a nutraceutical and source of functional nourishment. This comprehensive review aims to summarize the majority of the research on DPFs in terms of nutrient content and biologically active components such as phenolic compounds, with an emphasis on their roles in improving overall health as well as the potential product development to ensure consumers’ satisfaction in a current pandemic situation. In conclusion, DPFs can be given to COVID-19 patients as a safe and effective add-on medication or supplement in addition to routine treatments.

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Introduction: Pereskia bleo is a leafy and edible plant, locally known as "Pokok Jarum Tujuh Bilah" which has anticancer properties. This study purposed to determine the cytotoxic effects of P. bleo leaves extracts on several well-known cancer cells and elucidate its underlying mechanism in inducing cell death. Methods: Cytotoxic activity on selected cell lines was determined using MTT assay. Mechanism of cell death was investigated through cell cycle and Annexin V assay. Expression of apoptotic proteins was measured by flow cytometry method. Results: Ethyl acetate extract of P. bleo leaves (PBEA) appeared to have the strongest IC 50 value (14.37 ± 8.40 lg/ml) and most active against HeLa cells was further studied for apoptosis. The cell cycle investigation by flow cytometry evidenced the increment of PBEA treated HeLa cells in G 0 /G 1 phase and apoptotic event was detected in Annexin V assay. Analysis of apoptotic protein showed pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, p53 and caspase 3) were triggered where as anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was suppressed in treated HeLa cells. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that PBEA treatment induced cell death in HeLa cells by p53-mediated mechanism through arresting cell cycle at G 0 /G 1 phase and mitochondrial-mediated pathway with involvement of pro-apoptotic proteins, anti-apoptotic protein, and caspase 3.

The phytocompounds in crude solvent extracts of Pereskia bleo leaves were identified and their cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines were determined. Crude extracts were obtained via maceration and subjected to GCMS analysis. Then, each extract was incubated with HeLa, MDA-MB-231, SW480, and NIH/3T3 cell lines for 72 h. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was done to determine IC 50 values of each extract. Terpenoids, sterols, alkaloids, fatty acids and phenolic compounds were identified from the crude extracts of P. bleo leaves. Other compounds identified were γ-sitosterol, β-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol. The ethyl acetate extract had potent cytotoxic effect against HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells as noted by the lowest IC 50 values ARTICLE HISTORY

There is growing interest in using natural substances from plants to potentially enhance anticancer activity. A key target in this respect is natural killer (NK) cells in order to generate an anticancerimmune response. Luteolin used in this study was derived from a local plant Brucea javanica leaves extract; through a bioassay-guided fractionation. The expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was increased after 20 h treatment of 0.1 µM luteolin in human mixed lymphocytes, which reflects the activation of NK cells. This was further confirmed in co-culture experiments. NK cellinduced K562 target cell death was increased in the presence of luteolin. These results show that luteolin activates NK cells to kill target cells indicating the potential use of luteolin as an anticancer immunostimulant.

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