Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: Nowadays, much attention is paid to the effects of natural factors on physiological and pathological processes in human body. In this regard, lack of oxygen or hypoxia is one of the crucial biological factors involved in various physiological processes such as wound healing and pathological processes such as cancer. Moreover, it is very important to find natural compounds affecting the characteristics and functions of cells. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a natural compound derived from certain plants such as Nigella Sativa. It has many biopharmacological effects, including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-aging, anti-cancer, etc. Given the biopharmacological properties of TQ and the importance of hypoxia as an important factor affecting physiological and pathological processes, this study was designed to investigate the effect of TQ under cobalt (II) chloride-mediated hypoxia on breast cancer and wound healing by evaluating the expression of SOX2, CDK4, c-MET, and DNMT1 genes in a breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and a normal fibroblastic cell line (HDF) that treated with these compounds.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, after the cultivation of MCF7 and HDF cell lines, each of the cells were divided into two groups. The treatment group was treated simultaneously with 500 ng/ml of TQ and 100 μM of cobalt (II) chloride for 24 h and the control group was only treated with cobalt (II) chloride. After incubation time, total RNA extraction, DNase I treatment, and cDNA synthesis were carried out and finally, the expression of target genes was examined by real-time PCR assay. In this study, relative threshold method was used to determine the amount of gene expression changes, and SPSS software and Student's t-test statistical method were used to find the significance of gene expression changes in the treated groups compared to the controls.
Results: The results showed that simultaneous treatment of MCF7 cells with TQ and cobalt (II) chloride significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the expression of CDK4, c-MET, and DNMT1 genes at about 4.35-, 1.89-, and 2.08-fold, respectively, compared to the control group. However, the treatment of MCF7 cells caused a limited increase in the expression of SOX2 at about 1.14-fold, which was not significant according to the significance level of ≥ 1.5. Moreover, simultaneous treatment of HDF cells with TQ and cobalt (II) chloride significantly increased c-MET gene expression by about 1.86-fold. In addition, the treatment of HDF cells caused a slight increase in the expression of CDK4 at about 1.26-fold, which was not significant according to the significance level of ≥ 1.5. Also, the expression of SOX2 and DNMT1 genes has decreased at about 1.28- and 1.32-fold in the treatment group compared to the control group, which were as not significant according to the significance level of  ≥ 1.5.
Conclusion: Overall, it can be concluded that TQ under cobalt (II) chloride-mediated hypoxia may inhibit breast cancer by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in proliferation and migration. In addition, due to the important role of fibroblasts in the wound healing process, TQ may help wound healing under hypoxic conditions by increasing the migration potential of fibroblast cells.

Abstract Aim: This study was done to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Curcuma longa L. rhizome powder and bovine ghee mixture on experimental stomach ulcers in rat.
Material and methods: Stomach ulcer induction was done in 48 food deprived male rats (250-300 gr) using orally Indomethacin (50 mg/kg suspended in 1% carboxymethyl cellulose. Animals divided randomly into five groups. The normal and untreated (Indomethacin) group just received normal saline. The treated groups received different doses of C. longa and bovine ghee (500 and 750 mg C. longa in 10 ml ghee/per kg) for three successive days. On the third day, the rats were killed and their stomachs were removed for histological studies. Stomach ulcers number and length were measured and also ulcer index was calculated.
Results: Results showed that the mixture of C. longa and bovine ghee is significantly caused decreasing gastric ulcer index, inflammatory cells, blood capillaries densities (p < 0.001) and increasing mucosal layer thickness (p < 0.001) and secreted mucus (p < 0.05) in treated groups in comparison with untreated group.
Conclusion: According to the results, the mixture of C. longa and bovine ghee is significantly accelerated healing of experimental stomach ulcers.

Abstract Aim: Present study was done to assess the effects of Av gel on some molecular aspects in wound healing process of mouse damaged skin.
Material and Methods: 36 Male mice balb/c were used. Animals were divided into 3 groups; negative control (without wound), sham-operated (wound treated with physiological serum) and experimental (wound treated with Av gel extract). In each group, two equal full-thickness wounds were made on the mice back sides. Experimental group received daily a dose of Av gel extract on the top of wound sites (without bandage) for a period of 16 days. On 8^th and 16^th post wounding day, for the purpose of EGF receptor gene expression evaluation and lipid peroxidation (LPO) , skin and blood serum sampling were done respectively  and data were analyzed by Repeated measures ANOVA at significant level p < 0.05
Results: Av gel extract treatments increased EGF receptor gene expression in the wound area. Wound healing percentage was also increased in experimental groups compared to sham group. It was also found that the amount of LPO end-product in blood sera was reduced to Av treated mice in the end of test.
Conclusion: Av gel extract can induce EGF receptor gene expression in mice damaged skin, and play a pivotal role in wound healing process.

Abstract Aim: The aim of this essay was to assess the ointment effects of alcoholical extraction prepared from annual leaves of Verbascum speciocum grown in 'Bouein Zahra' area, on skin lesions made in Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: In this study, at in vivo condition, 36 adult male Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups: Control (no treatment), Sham (treated with petroleum jelly) and Experimental (treated with ointment verbascum extract in different doses).
The operation day was considered as day zero. 10 days after treatment, up to the day of 14^th, after the surgery on the killed rats, the samples were collected from wound part of each rat for histological analysis and also collagen special staining and average of epidermis thickness, and hair follicle & blood vessels diameter were done.
Results: There was an increase in hair follicles’ diameter in experimental groups with 1/3LD50 Ointment comparing with control groups also a significant  increase was found in skin epidermis thickness in experimental groups with 1/4 LD50 versus control groups. Moreover a significant increase was observed in blood vessels’ diameter in experimental groups exposed to 1/3LD50 ointment to control.
Conclusion: In this study, we realized that the external use of V. speciocum extract on skin lesion with high dosage has a cytotoxic effects and were shown necrosis in the treated tissues but the lower dosages of extraction have been shown better wound healing.