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The genus Cyphostemma (Planch.) Alston (Vitaceae) includes about 150 species distributed in eastern and southern Africa and Madagascar. Some species are used in traditional medicine and their biological activities, including antiproliferative effects against cancer cell lines, have been demonstrated. To date no investigations on Cyphostemma essential oils have been carried out. Essential oils, which play important roles in plant defenses have been demonstrated to be active in the treatment of several human diseases and to enhance bioavability of other drugs. The aim of this paper was to identify the chemical composition of the essential oil of the leaves of Cyphostemma juttae (Dinter & Gilg) Desc. and to verify some biological activities on two triple negative breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, SUM 149), characterized by the over-expression of the transcription factor NF-κB. In the essential oil, obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 39 compounds were detected and with phytol (30%) dominating the chemical composition. C. juttae essential oil reduced cell growth and showed a pro-oxidant activity in both cell lines. Moreover, C. juttae essential oil caused a substantial decrease of NF-κB activation and consequently a significant reduction of some NF-κB target genes. The present study shows for the first time the cytotoxic properties of C. juttae essential oil and highlight its availability to interfere with NF-κB pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic use in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) of this essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: BRCA2 genes are not only found in humans, but in other animal species. BRCA2 gene plays a vital role in maintaining the stability of a cell's genetic information. BRCA2 is considered as a gatekeeper gene; however, if mutated or abnormally expressed, it causes the destruction of normal cell structure and promotes the growth of cancer cells. Objective: This study aimed to assess the differences and similarities of BRCA2 gene from different animal species in Africa through In silico genomics analysis providing further insight on its comparative genomics features. Materials and Methods: Fifteen nucleotide sequences of BRCA2 gene of different mammals and bird species were retrieved from National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Multiple sequence alignment was done with MEGA 7.0 software, while identity and similarities were determined by constructing a pairwise comparison. Conserved domains on the sequences were identified with NCB1-CDD. Results: BRCA2 gene was found to be present not only in humans, but other lower animals and birds across African countries. The phylogenetic tree for Homo sapiens BRCA2 gene in Tunisia belongs to the same ecological niche with the Theropithecus gelada BRCA2 gene in Ethiopia and BRCA2 from the same African region has high bootstrap, implying that they share the same homology. Conserved regions identified in the all the sequences were absent in Miniopterus natalensis and most present in Chrysochloris asiatica, Theropithecus gelada, Apaloderma vittatum, Pterocles gutturalis, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Homo sapiens, Echinops telfairi, and Cavia porcellus. Conclusion: Based on the findings obtained from this study, BRCA2 gene in humans and other lower animals, particularly from same region, share the same homology and similarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Jatropha curcashas been used in traditional medicine in Africa to treat cancer for thousands of years. This study aimed to examine the anti-endometrial cancer effect of Curcusone C, a naturally occurring rhamnofolane diterpene, isolated from J. curcas and reveal its molecular mechanism of action. Results: Curcusone C treatment caused significant anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in human endometrial cancer (EC) Ishikawa and HEC-1A cells in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure of EC cells to Curcusone C resulted in apoptosis, which was associated with cytochrome c release, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation, Bcl-xL/Bax dysregulation, and decreased expression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins, such as XIAP and survivin. The inhibitory effect induced by Curcusone C was greatly impaired by the overexpression of survivin or Bax−/− MEFs or the knockdown of Bim expression. Moreover, Curcusone C activated mitogen-activated protein kinases, and the ERK inhibitor U0126 significantly attenuated the growth-inhibitory and apoptotic effects of Curcusone C in Ishikawa cells. Conclusion: Taken together, the results demonstrate the anti-endometrial cancer potential of Curcusone C for the treatment of endometrial cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In western Africa ethnomedicine, Lannea barteri Oliv. (Anacardiaceae) is believed to have activity against gastrointestinal, neurological and endocrine diseases. Previous studies on this plant have revealed antimicrobial, anticholinestrase, anticonvulsant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the anticancer potential of L. barteri has not been studied to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticancer potential of hot and cold extracts and silica gel column chromatographic fractions of L. barteri leaf and stem bark. The extracts and fractions were tested for anticancer activity by using the crystal violet cell proliferation assay on four adherent human carcinoma cell lines—5637 (bladder), KYSE 70 (oesophagus), SiSo (cervical) and HepG2 (hepatic). The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of fractions IH, 1I, 2E and 2F were: 3.75 ± 1.33, 3.88 ± 2.15, 0.53 ± 0.41, and 0.42 ± 0.45 µg/mL against KYSE 70 and 1.04 ± 0.94, 2.69 ± 1.17, 2.38 ± 3.64, 2.17 ± 1.92 µg/mL against SiSo cell lines respectively. Fraction 2E showed weak apoptotic activity at double the IC50 and some sign of cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Thus, phytoconstituents of L. barteri leaf and stem bark can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cell lines indicating the presence of possible anticancer agents in this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]