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We used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with flow cytometry to study the apoptosis and necrosis processes in Jurkat, a lymphocyte cell line. The apoptosis was induced in the cells by a chemical agent, the actinomycin D, while the necrosis was induced lowering the pH value to 4.2. The apoptotic events were analysed by flow cytometry (using annexin V and propidium iodide) and contemporary monitored by FTIR spectroscopy at different times after the treatment. This comparison allowed us to find in the IR spectrum, between 3000 cm −1 and 2800 cm −1 , a "marker band" of the apoptosis corresponding to the exposure of phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet of the membrane. A marker of a specific cellular process obtained by using a non-destructive technique such as FTIR spectroscopy, has a great significance in the diagnostic medicine providing a tool for detecting pathologies in vivo.

Les récentes acquisitions sur la spectroscopie et sur les communications intercellulaires nous ont amenés à considérer l'activité d'une gomme-résine, la myrrhe, en cancérologie. Le mécanisme d'action qui implique la régularisa-tion des systèmes psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunologiques est multifactoriel. À travers la restauration de la communication, la résonance des récepteurs de membrane déter-mine le phénomène d'apoptose des cellules néoplasiques qu'exprime la protéine Bcl-2. Nous avons vérifié l'activité thérapeutique sur des malades atteints de carcinomes mammaires, prostatiques et digestifs. Mots-clés :Myrrhe, Commiphora myrrha ssp. Engl., extrait alcoolique de myrrhe, activité anticancéreuse, activité sur la membrane des cellules cancéreuses. Abstract:Since new findings have been made in spectroscopy and about intercellular communication, we studied the activity of the gum resin of myrrh. Through the restoration of cellular communication, the resonance of membraneous receptors ascertains the apoptosis of the neoplastic cells, which is expressed by the Bcl2 protein. We checked this activity in patients having prostatic, mammary or digestive carcinomas.