Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was the effect of topotecan on the activity of nitric oxide synthase in the tumor cell line Hela in comparison with the normal Hek cell line.
Material and Methods: For this purpose, Hela and Hek cells were randomly divided into the control groups and treatment groups exposed to 7.8, 15.6,31.25, 62.5,125, and 250 µg/ml of topotecan for 24,48,72 hr. Then, the data analysis of plate supernatant was evaluated the number of live cells using the MTT method, grease reaction as well as Real-Time PCR method and the data were compared using the one-way ANOVA statistical method between groups.
Results: The viability of Hela cells exposed to 250, 125, and 61.5 µg/ml of topotecan significantly decreased in comparison to the control group in 24, 48, and 72 h (p≤0.05). Also, the level of nitric oxide in Hela cells that were exposed to 250 µg/ml drug increased ½ times in comparison to the control group.
Conclusion: Topotecan has an inhibitory effect on cervical cancer cells. Also, topotecan increased the level of nitric oxide in Hela cells and this amount of nitric oxide kills the cells in cervical cancer cells.

Abstract Aim: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its treatment is always associated with side effects such as drug resistance. So, there is a strong tendency for the identification of new herbal anti-cancer compounds.
Material and Methods: In this study, a range of 0.5-12 µg/mL of hydroalcoholic extract of Tamarindus indica kernel and 5-Fluorouracil was applied to prostate cancer (LNCaP), colon cancer (HT-29) and normal fibroblast (HSkMC) cells for 24 hours. The cytotoxic effect of the extracts was measured by the MTT method. The rate of DNA synthesis and incidence of apoptosis was measured by BrdU and TUNEL assays, respectively.
Results: Following treatment with the highest amount of the extract, the viability of prostate, colon, and fibroblast cells was reduced to 4.8, 65.1, and 60.5%, respectively. The IC₅₀ for the three cell lines was 4.60, 17.0 and 13.79 μg/mL respectively. The rate of DNA synthesis also reduced by 32, 37 and 15% for prostate, colon and fibroblast cancer cells, respectively. The rate of apoptosis in LNCaP and HT-29 cells was 31 and 4%, respectively.
Conclusion: Collectively, the toxicity of the extract was higher for LNCaP cells than for the other two cells (p-value ˂0.01). Further studies in vivo and analysis of compounds in tamarind can lead to the identification of anti-cancer compounds from this plant.

Abstract Aim: According to the importance of coumarin derivatives as an effective medication on cancer cells and various other therapeutic effects, in this study we investigated the effect of a new derivative of coumarin named 3- (tetrazol-5-yl) coumarin on single-stranded DNA by different spectroscopic methods in solution.
Material and Methods: The present study has investigated the effect of 3- (tetrazol-5-il) coumarin on single-stranded DNA in vitro. The findings demonstrates that the rate of single strand DNA absorption enhances by interaction with 3-(tetrazol-5-yl) coumarin at 210 and 260 nm. The fluorescence intensity of single-stranded DNA increases in a concentration-dependent of 3- (tetrazol-5-yl) coumarin, indicating the binding of 3- (tetrazol-5-yl) coumarin to the chromophores in single-stranded DNA.
Results: Binding of 3- (tetrazol-5-yl) coumarin to single-stranded DNA causes a significant increase in ellipticity in circular dichroism of DNA molecules in the regions of 220 and 275 nm which is more positive at 245 nm. The results indicate a stronger binding of 3- (tetrazol-5-l) coumarin to single-stranded DNA, which may be due to the fact that single-stranded DNA may be more available during replication.
Conclusion: The results obtained from the effect of 3- (tetrazol-5-yl) coumarin on single-stranded DNA can provide valuable information to design medications by coumarin derivatives which have more anti-tumor effect and less side effects.

Abstract Aim: In the present study, the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Berberis integrrima root on the induction of differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue of male Wistar rats towards osteoblasts were investigated.
Material and Methods: In this study, stem cells derived from male Wistar rat tissue were isolated and flow cytometry was performed to confirm the surface markers. Stem cells were treated with 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of B. integrrima root. The cell toxicity of the extract was evaluated by MTT assay and its differentiated effects was evaluated by alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition assay. Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA at a significance level of P <0.05.
Results: Stem cells markers including CD105, CD44, and CD73 had positive, and CD45 and CD34 had negative expression in these cells. The results of the MTT assay showed Concentrations less than 20 µg/ml do not have significant toxic effects on cells. Higher alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in the treatment group compared to the control group on day 10. The results of Alizarin red staining and measurement of calcium content for 21days showed that this extract in a concentration dependent manner leads to the differentiation of stem cells into osteoblasts.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue of male Wistar rats treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Berberis integrrima root enter osteoblasts in the differentiation pathway.

Abstract Aim: The ovary is one of the tissues which progesterone receptor is expressed in it. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of antiprostrogen and estrogen on the ovaries and fallopian tubes of ovulated stimulated mice.
Material and Methods: In this study, mice were divided into four groups after stimulation of ovulation and pregnancy. 1) Control 2) Estrogen, 3) Progesterone, 4) Anti-progesterone and estrogen. 4.5 days after pregnancy, mice were killed by cervical vertebral disslocation and the ovaries and fallopian tubes were prepared by H&E and PAS staining for histomorphometrical changes.
Results: The results showed that there were different types of follicles and corpus luteum in the control group. In the progesterone group, the number of corpus luteum increased compared to the control group and in the estrogen group, The corpus luteum decreased and the majority of follicles were primitive or growing. The amount of atretic follicles was higher in the anti-progesterone with estrogen group. The results obtained from the fallopian tubes indicate that progesterone injection reduces the height of the luminal epithelium and the number of ciliated cells. In the estrogen-containing groups, an increase in ciliated cells and epithelial height were observed.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that progesterone alone could not provide better conditions for fertilization and adding estrogen to progesterone may improve this condition.

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Zinc oxide nanoparticles on growth and physiological characteristics, rosmarinic acid production and the expression of key genes in the biosynthetic pathway of this compound in lemongrass.
Material and Methods: In this study, 30-day-old seedlings of lemongrass were treated with concentrations of 0, 0.06 and 0.12 mg/l Zinc oxide nanoparticles, and then growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, proline, Glycine betaine, protein, activity of antioxidant enzymes and production of rosmarinic acid were examined. Also, the expression of key genes in the rosmarinic acid biosynthetic pathway was examined by real-time PCR.
Results: The results indicate that Zinc oxide nanoparticles treatment increased chlorophyll photosynthetic pigments, carotenoids and antioxidant activity of this plant. Also, the highest amount of proline and glycine betaine was obtained at a concentration of 12 mg/L of this treatment. Zinc oxide nanoparticles also increased the expression of rosmarinic acid biosynthetic pathway genes (TAT and 4-Cl) and thus increased this compound.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Zinc oxide nanoparticles can affect the growth and physiological stages of lemongrass and therefore it can be used to increase the production of rosmarinic acid.