METHOD: Cell viability and colony formation assays were used to determine the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Et. O.s, rosmarinic acid, and gemcitabine. Different doses of gemcitabine in combination with Et. O.s or rosmarinic acid were tested against Panc-1 to select the best concentrations which possessed synergistic effects. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms responsible for mediating chemo-sensitivity in Panc-1 was performed using Quantitative Real-time PCR (QPCR), flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: Et. O.s was found to significantly sensitise Panc-1 towards gemcitabine by reducing the gene expression of multidrug-resistant protein family (MDR) (MDR-1, MRP-4, and MRP-5) and molecules related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (ZEB-1 and Snail-1). An induction of the human equilibrate nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT-1) gene was also found in cells treated with Et. O.s-gemcitabine. The Et. O.s-gemcitabine combination induced cellular senescence, cell death and cell cycle arrest in Panc-1. In addition, the inhibition of Notch signalling was demonstrated through the downregulation of Notch 1 intracellular domain in this treatment group. In contrast, rosmarinic acid-gemcitabine combination showed no additional effects on cellular senescence, apoptosis, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, the MRP-4 and MRP-5 multi-drug resistance protein family, hENT-1, and the Notch pathway through Notch 1 intracellular domain.
CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights on the use of Et. O.s to complement gemcitabine in targeting pancreatic cancer in vitro, suggesting its potential use as a novel complementary treatment in pancreatic cancer patients.
METHODOLOGY: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted from November 2020 to June 2021 in Malaysia. A total of 13 respondents were recruited from two public rehabilitation centers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. In-depth interviews were conducted with the participants. Comprehensive representation of perspectives from the respondents was achieved through purposive sampling. The interviews were conducted in the Kelantanese dialect, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Three themes on burdens and experiences were identified. They were worsening pre-existing issues, emerging new issues, and fewer burdens and challenges. Two themes on coping strategies were also identified. They were problem-focused engagement and emotion-focused engagement.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the entire system of stroke management. While family caregivers mostly faced the extra burden through different experiences, they also encountered some positive impacts from the pandemic. The integrated healthcare system, especially in the era of digitalization, is an important element to establish the collaborative commitment of multiple stakeholders to compensate burden and sustain the healthcare of stroke survivors during the pandemic.
METHODS: Purification and structure elucidation were carried out by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively. MTT and trypan blue exclusion methods were performed to study the cytotoxic activity. Antibacterial activity was conducted by disc diffusion and microdilution methods, whereas antioxidant activities were done by ferric thiocyanate method and DPPH radical scavenging.
RESULTS: The phytochemical study led to the isolation of α,β-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3β-ol. α-Mangostin exhibited cytotoxic activity against HSC-3 cells with an IC(50) of 0.33 μM. β- and α-mangostin showed activity against K562 cells with IC(50) of 0.40 μM and 0.48 μM, respectively. α-Mangostin was active against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) with inhibition zone and MIC value of (19 mm; 0.025 mg/mL) and (20 mm; 0.013 mg/mL), respectively. In antioxidant assay, α-mangostin exhibited activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.
CONCLUSIONS: G. malaccensis presence α- and β-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3β-ol. β-Mangostin was found very active against HSC-3 cells and K562. The results suggest that mangostins derivatives have the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. In addition, α-and β-mangostin was found inhibit the growth of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria and also showed the activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.