Alpinia conchigera (small ginger) is a herbaceous plant that is usually used as an alternative treatment in the fi eld of traditional medicine. This study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mode of cell death of hexane extract of A. conchigera towards Chang liver cells. The 24 hours MTT assay as carried out to determine the viability percentage of Chang liver cells after being treated with hexane extract of A. conchigera. The results showed that there was a signifi cant decrease in cell viability (p < 0.05) and IC50 value of hexane extract of A. conchigera was 8.6 μg/ml compared to negative control. Based on this IC50 value, AO/PI staining was done to determine the mode of cell death in liver Chang cells by means of apoptosis or necrosis. The results showed that there was a signifi cant change (p < 0.05) for mode of Chang liver cells death through apoptosis compared to negative control. In this study, the evaluation of DNA damage was also done using alkaline comet assay. The IC10 and IC25 values of 4 μg/ml and 6 μg/ml respectively that were obtained in MTT assay were used. Chang liver cells were treated with A. conchigera hexane extract for 2 hours. There was a signifi cant change (p < 0.05) for percentage of DNA damage in treated group compared to negative control. As a conclusion, hexane extract of A. conchigera gave cytotoxic and genotoxic effect towards Chang liver cells as well as to induce cell death through apoptosis.
Cytotoxins

Genus of aspergilli are ubiquitous saprophytic molds in nature, which are recognized about 700 species, at least eight are pathologic for human. Pulmonary aspergillosis is rare disease, most frequent presenting as secondary invasion, and aspergillosis of the nasal cavity is the most common sites of the extrapulmonary aspergillosis. Predisposing factors for pulmonary aspergillosis are chronic lung disease, tuberculosis, antibiotics, cytotoxins and neoplasia, hematologic disorders, and histoplasmosis etc. Authors have experienced 10 cases of pulmonary aspergillosis and a case of aspergillosis of nasal cavity in Dept. of Pathol. Chosun univ. hospital and christian hospital from Feb. 1981 to July 1984. Patient of pulmonary aspergillosis are received surgical resection and survived well without complications.
Humans ; Cytotoxins

In the past decade, the median duration of survival among patients with advanced colorectal cancer has increased from 12 months to about 18 months, primarily as a results of the introduction of irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of cancer have resulted in the discovery of new therapeutic interventions that target specific molecular abnormalities. Their specificity, and therefore their potential to bind preferentially and modify tumor-specific targets, sparing normal tissues and causing fewer side-effects compared to conventional cytotoxic agents, makes them an attractive therapeutic option. The future of this approach for the treatment of solid tumors is promising
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cytotoxins ; Humans

In the past decade, the median duration of survival among patients with advanced colorectal cancer has increased from 12 months to about 18 months, primarily as a results of the introduction of irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of cancer have resulted in the discovery of new therapeutic interventions that target specific molecular abnormalities. Their specificity, and therefore their potential to bind preferentially and modify tumor-specific targets, sparing normal tissues and causing fewer side-effects compared to conventional cytotoxic agents, makes them an attractive therapeutic option. The future of this approach for the treatment of solid tumors is promising
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cytotoxins ; Humans

No Abstract Available.
Cytotoxins* ; Gram-Positive Bacteria* ; Perforin*

No Abstract Available.
Cytotoxins* ; Gram-Positive Bacteria* ; Perforin*

Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate and short survival as a result of the high incidence of metastatic disease at diagnosis, the fatal clinical course, and the lack of successful therapeutic strategies. Gemcitabine remains the only standard of care for this disease. Increasing combination therapies containing gemcitabine have been tested or are undergoing investigation. In the last decade, despite a number of clinical trials assessing novel cytotoxic agents and cell signaling inhibitors, the overall survival has reached a plateau that remains difficult to improve on. This review presents recent developments involving newer chemotherapeutic and molecular targeted agents, and identifies efforts for individualized treatment strategies.
Cytotoxins ; Deoxycytidine ; Incidence ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Standard of Care

Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate and short survival as a result of the high incidence of metastatic disease at diagnosis, the fatal clinical course, and the lack of successful therapeutic strategies. Gemcitabine remains the only standard of care for this disease. Increasing combination therapies containing gemcitabine have been tested or are undergoing investigation. In the last decade, despite a number of clinical trials assessing novel cytotoxic agents and cell signaling inhibitors, the overall survival has reached a plateau that remains difficult to improve on. This review presents recent developments involving newer chemotherapeutic and molecular targeted agents, and identifies efforts for individualized treatment strategies.
Cytotoxins ; Deoxycytidine ; Incidence ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Standard of Care

Investigation on anti-microorganism and cytotoxic properties of alkaloids from Crinum latigolium L. and Crinu asiaticum L. (Amaryllidaceae) growing in Vietnam and seven pure alkaloids from these plants. The total alkaloids from C.latifolium L. and C. asiaticum L/ showed a strong effect against Sarcina lutea while pratorinine was found to be active against Staphylococcus aureus. Among the evaluated alkaloids, lycorine showed a very strong cytotoxic activity on Hep-G2, RD and Fi and 1-O-acetyl – lycorine exhibited a moderate activity on Hep-G2. The remaining alkaloids were found not to be cytotoxic in all tested cell lines.
Alkaloids ; Cytotoxins ; Crinum ; Anti-Bacterial Agents

PURPOSE: To analyze the involvement of apoptosis regulatory genes p53, p21waf1/cip1, bax and bcl-2 in induction of apoptosis by radiation in murine tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiation-sensitive ovarian carcinoma OCa-I, and the radiation-resistant hepatocarcinoma HCa-I were used. Tumors, 8 mm in diameter, were irradiated with 25 Gy and at various times after irradiation, ranging from 1 to 48 h, were analyzed histologically for apoptosis and by western blot for alterations in the expression of these genes. The p53 status of the tumors were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism assay. RESULTS: Both tumors were positive for wild-type p53. Radiation induced apoptosis in OCa-I but not in HCa-I. Apoptosis developed rapidly, peaked at 2 h after irradiation and returned to almost the background level at 48 h. In OCa-I radiation upregulated the expression of p53, p21waf1/cip1, and the bcl-2/bax ratio was decreased. In HCa-I radiation increased the expression of both p53 and p21waf1/cip1, although the increase of the latter was small. The bcl-2/bax ratio was greatly increased. In general the observed changes occurred within a few hours after irradiation, and either preceded or coincided with development of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The development of apoptosis required upregulation of both p53 and p21waf1/cip1 as well as a decrease in bcl-2/bax ratio. In contrast, an increase in bcl-2/bax ratio prevented apoptosis in the presence of upregulated p53 and p21waf1/cip1. These findings indentified the involvement of multiple oncogenes in apoptosis regulation in vivo and demonstrate the complexity that may be associated with the use of a single oncogene assessment for predicting the outcome of cancer therapy with cytotoxic agents.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Cytotoxins ; Genes, Regulator ; Oncogenes ; Up-Regulation