Background: The present study investigated the effects of Quercus infectoria (QI) gall extract on the proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin, and the morphology of a human fetal osteoblast cell line (hFOB 1.19). Methods: The cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium F12 supplemented with a 10% fetal bovine serum, a 1% penicillin/streptomycin and were treated with QI at various concentrations (0.1 to 99.0 μg/mL) for 72 hours. The levels of ALP and osteocalcin were measured at day 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 and were compared among the negative control, pamidronate and QI groups. Results: The median effective concentration (EC50) of hFOB 1.19 treated with QI was 10.30 μg/mL. This concentration was more effective compared to the control drug, pamidronate (EC50 at 16.09 μg/mL). The ALP and osteocalcin levels of hFOB 1.19 treated with QI from day 7 and onwards were significantly increased in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, from day 7 until day 14, the ALP and osteocalcin levels were highest in the cells treated with QI compared to the other two groups. The morphology of cells treated with QI was uniformly elongated, higher in number and over-confluent. Conclusion: After treatment with QI, cell proliferation enhanced and ALP and osteocalcin levels increased.

Traditionally, Clinacanthus nutans (CN) or locally named as ‘Belalai Gajah’ is one of the herbal plant claimed to beable to treat cancer. The aimd of this study are to extract, isolate and characterize the active anticancer compoundfrom CN and to determine the mode of cell death induced by the compound. Bioassay guided fractionation was done onthe CN extract by using column chromatography. The cytotoxicity activities of these fractions toward HeLA cells wereexamined by MTT assay. The nuclear morphology was examined by Hoechst 33258 staining and the cell cycle arrestwas evaluated by propium iodide staining using flow cytometry. The presence of active compound in the chosen fractionwas determined by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS). Out of 16 fractions collected, Fraction 11(F11)showed the lowest IC50 value with 27 ± 2.6 µg/mL. The value of IC50 for F11 towards normal cell, NIH 3T3 cell and L929cell, were 70 ± 4.0 µg/mL and 45 ± 1.5 µg/mL respectively. These values were higher than tamoxifen, therefore indicatingthat tamoxifen is more toxic towards normal cells compared to F11. Nuclear morphology of HeLA cell displayed DNAfragmentation, nuclear condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies upon treatment with F11 for 24 hours. The cellcycle distribution of HeLA cell treated with F11 was arrested at G1 phase. The active compound identified to potentiallypossess the anticancer property is 19-Oxo-all-trans-retinoic acid. In conclusion, 19-Oxo-all-trans-retinoic acids fromF11 of the CN extract, is a potential anticancer agent for cervical cancer.

Aims: Aqueous extract of Quercus infectoria (QI) galls has been reported to possess anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory activities. Hence, this study aimed to determine in vitro antimicrobial activity of formulated QI gall extract-based vaginal cream against Candida albicans and to evaluate the possible side effects on the cervicovaginal epithelium of healthy rats. Methodology and results: Three different cream formulations containing 10%, 20%, and 30% of QI gall extract respectively were tested for their antimicrobial activity against C. albicans (ATCC 10231) by using disc diffusion test. Microbroth serial dilution method was performed in determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fungicidal concentration (MFC). The 30% formulated extract cream (FEC) was applied topically on the cervicovaginal surface of healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and examined for local tissue effects histologically. The mean scores of inhibition zone diameter were compared by one-way ANOVA and post-hoc test using PRISM software. All extract cream formulations displayed a relatively good anti-Candida activity. The MIC values exhibited by 10%, 20%, and 30% FEC against C. albicans were 1.094 mg/mL, 0.547 mg/mL, and 0.068 mg/mL, respectively. The 10% and 20% FECs showed a significant difference (P=0.0254) in the mean of inhibition zone diameter. The lowest MFC value (0.068 mg/mL) was shown by 30% FEC. There were no abnormal changes seen at the vagina and cervical mucosa after 2 weeks application of 30% FEC. Conclusion, significance and impact of study QI gall extract formulated in the cream base has an anti-Candida activity in vitro and the present finding suggests that this herbal cream formulation is potentially useful in preventing vaginal candidiasis without causing any unwanted local side effects.

Objective: To understand the effects of combination treatment of pamidronate with isolated Quercus infectoria semi-purified fraction (QIsm-F) on human foetal osteoblast cell model (hFOB 1.19 cell line) through assessment of Runt related transcription fraction-2 (Runx2) and Osterix (Osx). Methods: The isolation and purification of QIsm-F were conducted by chromatographic technique. In order to assess relative efficacy of QIsm-F to the osteoblast model, the determination of half maximal effective concentration (EC

Breast cancer and cervical cancer are among the leading causes of death among women in the world. Even though chemotherapy is available as cancer treatment, the development of drug resistance in both cancer cells has reduced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in such treatment. The current study was aimed to evaluate the cell viability of human breast cancer cells, MCF-7, and cervical cancer cells, HeLa upon the combination treatment of ascorbic acid and tamoxifen. The cell viability was measured using the MTT assay, with an incubation period of 72 hours in a humidified CO2 incubator. The concentrations of tamoxifen and ascorbic acid that reduced 50% of the cell population (IC50) were determined from the dose-response curve. The IC50 concentration was used to determine the cell viability in the treated cells. CompuSyn software was used to evaluate the combined effects towards both cells upon treatment and the results were calculated as combination index (CI). The data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism (version 7). Statistical analysis was performed using an independent t-test. The IC50 values of tamoxifen and ascorbic acid on MCF-7 cells were 14.53 µg/ml and 15.8 µg/ml respectively, while the IC50 values of tamoxifen and ascorbic acid on HeLa cells were 11.09 µg/ml and 202.3 µg/ml respectively. The combination of tamoxifen and ascorbic acid exerted a greater growth reduction percentage in both cells compared to tamoxifen alone. The results indicated that ascorbic acid synergizes the cytotoxic effect of tamoxifen at lower concentrations towards MCF-7 cells with a CI less than 1. However, the combination of tamoxifen and ascorbic acid exerted an antagonistic effect in HeLa cells, with a CI more than 1.