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Background: Colon cancer is the most aggressive form of cancers, that causes 0.5 million deaths per year around the globe. Targeting colon cancer by conventional therapeutic options elicits toxicity. Traditional medicines take a lead to alleviate the existing clinical challenges. Objective: To investigate antibacterial activity against Helicobacter Pylori and in vitro anti-colon cancer activity by Acacia nilotica extract (ACE) and its active constituent pyrogallol. Methods: Pyrogallol isolated from A. nilotica by column chromatography and HPLC and structure was elucidated by spectral analysis. Antibacterial activity was done by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay. Apoptotic morphology and nuclear fragmentation were assessed with AO/ethidium bromide and DAPI staining. DNA fragmentation was done by electrophoresis. Western blot used to analyze the molecular mechanism of apoptosis. Cell cycle arrest was determined using flow cytometry of propidium iodide stained cells. Cell migration was determined by wound healing assay. Results: ACE (20 µg/ml) and pyrogallol (10 µg/ml) treatment reduced the survival of H.pylori at 61% and 62%, respectively. MTT results show that HT-29 cells are more sensitive to pyrogallol with an IC50 value of 35μg/ml compared to ACE. Pyrogallol treated HT-29 cells reached dead state i.e. late apoptotic state with severe nuclear fragmentation. Pyrogallol elicits dose dependent DNA fragmentation in HT-29 cells. Pyrogallol induced apoptosis by simultaneous down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of BAX and cytochrome c. Pyrogallol arrested HT-29 cells in S and G2/M phase of cell cycle. Further pyrogallol exhibited marked antimetastatic potential by inhibiting the migration of HT-29 cells dose dependently. Conclusion: Both ACE and pyrogallol repressed the growth of H.pylori and as significant anti-colon cancer agent.

Background There are contradictory reports on the effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the immune system. In order to clarify the effect of OSA on the different components of the immune system, we studied the association of OSA with changes in cytokine and chemokine levels, proliferative patterns of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes as well as NK cells ex vivo and neutrophil functions. Methods We investigated the association of OSA with potential alterations in 14 Th1/Th2 and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, CD4 and CD8 T cells, NK cells, and the NADPH oxidase activation and phagocytic functions in neutrophils. Results Our results suggest that the increase in CD4 T cell frequency in OSA is associated with an increased expression of the nuclear protein Ki67 ( p 0.8), and is correlated with the levels of IL-1β ( p 0.8). The levels of IL-1β as well as IL-6 showed a potential increase, while the levels of IFN-γ ( p 0.8) and the ratio IFN-γ/IL-4 in the blood were possibly decreased in OSA. Additionally, we observed a potential increase in the expression of Ki67 in CD8 hi and CD8 lo NK cells ( p 0.8). Our results also suggest that neutrophils have a decreased capacity to phagocytose bacteria and activate NADPH oxidase in OSA patients ( p 0.8). Conclusion OSA may be associated with inflammatory and pro-Th2 immune responses, an increased proliferative potential of NK and CD4 T cells and a decreased capacity of neutrophils to phagocytose bacteria and produce ROS.

Objective To explore whether a DNA immunization approach targeting the major haemorrhage molecule of a prothrombin activator-like metalloproteinase from Echis ocellatus ( E. ocellatus ) venom could be conceived to inspire antibodies with more prominent specificity and equal adequacy to current conventional antivenoms systems. Methods The isolated DNA EoMP-6 was used as the template for PCR amplification using the EoDC-2-specific forward and reverse primers. A PCR product of approximately 700 bp was obtained and cloned into pSecTag-B expression vector where anti-EoDC-2 antibodies were generated and analysed for their efficacy to neutralise local haemorrhage in vitro and in vivo . Results Our results suggest that the generated anti-EoDC-2 showed a remarkable efficacy by (a) interfering with the interaction of the recombinant disintegrin “EoDC-2” isolated from the E. ocellatus as well as other viper species to the α 2 β 1 -integrins on platelets; (b) complete inhibition of the catalytic site of the metalloproteinase molecules in vitro using an adaptation antibody zymography assay. Furthermore, it has a polyspecific potential and constitutively expressed significant inhibition by cross-reaction and neutralised venom-induced local haemorrhage exerted by different viper species in vivo . The potential characteristic of EoDC-2 against one part (the non-catalytic domain) as opposed to the whole molecule to neutralise its haemorrhagic activity is of crucial importance as it represents a novel approach with greater immunological specificity and fewer hazards, if any, than conventional systems of antivenom production, by exposure large animals that usually being used for the current antivenom production to a less injurious than expression of the whole molecule containing the catalytic metalloprotease domain. Hence, we report for the first time that our preliminary results hold a promising future for antivenom development. Conclusions Antibodies generated against the E. ocellatus venom prothrombin activator-like metalloprotease and disintegrin-cysteine-rich domains modulated and inhibited the catalytic activity both in vitro and in vivo of venom metalloproteinase disintegrin cysteine rich molecules. Thus, generating of venom specific-toxin antibodies by DNA immunization offer a more rational treatment of snake envenoming than conventional antivenom.

Around 15-30% of AIDS patients fail to recover their CD4(+) T cell levels following combined antiretroviral therapy despite successful inhibition of HIV-1 replication. The exact reasons for this immune recovery failure are not completely understood. HLA alleles are among the candidate that may explain this failure. A total of 65 adult AIDS patients, with viral load of

Breast cancer is a global health concern and is a major cause of death among women. In Oman, it is the most common cancer in women, with an incidence rate of 15.6 per 100,000 Omani females. Various anticancer remedies have been discovered from natural products in the past and the search is continuing for additional examples. Cytotoxic natural compounds may have a major role in cancer therapy either in potentiating the effect of chemotherapy or reducing its harmful effects. Recently, a few studies have reported advantages of using crude camel milk in treating some forms of cancer. However, no adequate data are available on the lyophilised camel's milk responsibility for triggering apoptosis and oxidative stress associated with human breast cancer. The present study aimed to address the role of the lyophilised camel's milk in inducing proliferation repression of BT-474 and HEp-2 cells compared with the non-cancer HCC1937 BL cell line. Lyophilized camel's milk fundamentally repressed BT-474 cells growth and proliferation through the initiation of either the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways as indicated by both caspase-3 mRNA and its action level, and induction of death receptors in BT-474 but not the HEp-2 cell line. In addition, lyophilised camel's milk enhanced the expression of oxidative stress markers, heme-oxygenase-1 and reactive oxygen species production in BT-474 cells. Increase in caspase-3 mRNA levels by the lyophilised camel's milk was completely prevented by the actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor. This suggests that lyophilized camel's milk increased newly synthesized RNA. Interestingly,it significantly (p

Traditional medicine is still widely practiced in many countries due to its complexity and long term benefit. Among various medicinal plants found in Dhofar region of Oman, frankincense has a unique position due to its medicinal and economical importance. The gum-resin and essential oil produced by different species, most of these are related to family Burseraceae under the Boswellia genus. The family members of Boswellia are characterized by resin bearing ducts. Among the twenty-nine species of genus Boswellia, (Burseraceae), Boswellia sacra Flueck is known since decades for the extraction of aromatic gums and resins that are burned as incense. Boswellia resin holds about 60-80% alcohol-soluble resin, 15-20% water soluble gum and 5-7 % essential oil, along with polysaccharide fraction and polymeric substances are also present in limited extent. The physicians and nutritionists show interest in frankincense due to the therapeutic potential of its gum resin and essential oil. Essential oil and gum resin of various species of frankincense has been used to make remedies to treat different diseases. Various reports have described the antimicrobial, immuno-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, anticancer, anti-asthmatic, antidiarrheal, hypo-lipidemic, anti-diabetic, hepato-protective, and even antiviral effect of different Boswellia species. In this review, we have highlighted the works done so far on the use of Boswellia gum resin and health benefits along with some pilot clinical studies done on the Boswellia gum resin related products.