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Graphical abstract, Highlights • Pulsed high power microwave (MW) at a frequency 3.5 GHz was generated. • MW did not induce cell death in skin fibroblast normal cells and melanoma cells. • MW did not alter the morphology of melanoma cells. • Gene expression related to ATP synthesis and proliferation can get altered by MW. • MW selectively stimulated viability and proliferation of only melanoma cells., Over the past few decades, microwave (MW) radiation has been widely used, and its biological effects have been extensively investigated. However, the effect of MW radiation on human skin biology is not well understood. We study the effects of pulsed high-power microwaves (HPMs) on melanoma (G361 and SK-Mel-31) and normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. A pulsed power generator (Chundoong) was used to generate pulsed HPMs (dominant frequency: 3.5 GHz). For treatment 1, 5, 15, and 45 shots are given to cells in which the electromagnetic energy of 0.6 J was delivered to the cells at each trigger shot. Cell viability, proliferation rate, apoptosis, cell death, metabolic activity, and oxygen-free radical regulation were evaluated after the MW exposure at low and high doses. MW exposure increased the viabilities and proliferation rates of both melanoma cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, while no significant effects on the fibroblast cells were observed. We found an elevated level of ATP and mitochondrial activity in melanoma cells. Also, it was observed that MW exposure did not affect cell death in melanoma and fibroblast cells. A polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the MWs induced dose-dependent proliferation markers without affecting the cell cycle and apoptotic genes in the melanoma cells. Our findings show the differential effects of the MW radiation on the melanoma cells, compared to those on the fibroblast cells.

Natural products with medicinal properties are among alternative therapies of interest due to their high body tolerance. We aimed to determine whether nonthermal gas plasma could enhance the medicinal value of Flammulina velutipes mushrooms. Generated gas plasma was characterized by its emission spectrum in ambient air, pH, temperature, and H2O2 and NOx concentrations after exposure for various periods. Phenolic and flavonoid contents in the extracts were measured using antioxidant assays and Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. We analyzed the effects of the plasma-treated mushroom-derived extracts against breast carcinoma using the MCF7 and MDA-MB231 cell lines. The extracts significantly and concentration dependently inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells without inducing toxicity in normal MCF10A cells, and induced apoptosis via oxidative stress, evidenced by DNA damage (&gamma, H2AX foci formation), and increased the population of MCF7 breast cancer cells arrested in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. The extracts also induced mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis of MCF7 cells through cytochrome c release and caspase cleavage activity. The plasma improved the biological activity of mushrooms by increasing their phenolic compounds that prevented the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro.

Microwave (MW) radiation is increasingly being used for several biological applications. Many investigations have focused on understanding the potential influences of pulsed MW irradiation on biological solutions. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of 3.5 GHz pulsed MW radiation-irradiated liquid solutions on the survival of human cancer and normal cells. Different physiological solutions such as phosphate buffer saline, deionized water, and Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) for cell culture growth were irradiated with pulsed MW radiation (45 shots with the energy of 1 mJ/shot). We then evaluated physiological effects such as cell viability, metabolic activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle, and cell death in cells treated with MW-irradiated biological solutions. As MW irradiation with power density ~ 12 kW/cm2 mainly induces reactive nitrogen oxygen species in deionized water, it altered the cell cycle, membrane potential, and cell death rates in U373MG cells due to its high electric field ~ 11 kV/cm in water. Interestingly, MW-irradiated cell culture medium and phosphate-buffered saline did not alter the cellular viability and metabolic energy of cancer and normal cells without affecting the expression of genes responsible for cell death. Taken together, MW-irradiated water can alter cellular physiology noticeably, whereas irradiated media and buffered saline solutions induce negligible or irrelevant changes that do not affect cellular health.

In recent decades, the use of plants as a natural remedy has been widely applied in traditional medicine and the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. However, in order to confirm the potential benefits of anticancer drug development from natural sources, in-depth screening assessments are necessary. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of eight medicinal plants against breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Remarkably, among all the tested plant extracts, Pyracantha angustifolia and Paullinia cupana extracts showed maximum inhibition in the two cancer cell line models, as detected by cell viability assays, but not in normal mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, induction of cell cycle arrest was seen in both cancer cell models after treatment with extracts derived from the fruits of P. angustifolia and the seeds of P. cupana. Phytochemical and antioxidant analyses demonstrated the presence of high phenolic and flavonoid contents, including an increase in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity. The growth inhibition of human breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells mediated by both extracts appears to be associated with apoptosis and upregulated expression of pro-apoptotic genes (caspase-3, caspase-7, tumor suppressor protein-p53, cytochrome c, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis, and Bcl-2-associated X-protein). Together, these results indicate that P. angustifolia and P. cupana offer a promising approach for the development of anticancer agents. However, further detailed research is required to make these plants applicable for therapeutic use.

Brain cancer malignancies represent an immense challenge for research and clinical oncology. Glioblastoma is the most lethal form of primary malignant brain cancer and is one of the most aggressive forms commonly associated with adverse prognosis and fatal outcome. Currently, combinations of inorganic and organic nanomaterials have been shown to improve survival rates through targeted drug delivery systems. In this study, we developed a dual treatment approach using cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and gold quantum dots (AuQDs) for brain cancer. Our results showed that CAP and AuQDs induced dual cytotoxicity in brain cancer cells via Fas/TRAIL-mediated cell death receptor pathways. Moreover, combination treatment with CAP and AuQDs suppressed the motility and sphere-formation of brain cancer cells, which are recognized indicators of cancer aggressiveness. Taken together, the application of AuQDs can improve the efficiency of CAP against brain cancer cells, posing an excellent opportunity for advancing the treatment of aggressive glioblastomas.