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Oral cancer accounts for 3-5% of all cancers worldwide. The present study was undertaken to investigate the correlation between overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and various grades of oral cancer, and to ascertain the inhibitory effect of propolis in the human oral carcinoma cell line. For ex vivo studies, 45 patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF; n=15), oral leukoplakia (OLP; n=18) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC; n=18) were recruited, and a biopsy was done to determine COX-2 protein expression by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). For the in vitro study, COX-2 levels were measured in human oral epidermal carcinoma cell line by immune blotting and IHC. The results of ex vivo studies by Western blotting revealed that COX-2 protein levels were highly upregulated in OSCC tissue, followed by OLP and OSF. The levels of COX-2 expression also showed a positive correlation with the grade (severity) of each oral precancerous and cancerous condition. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed the presence of intense COX-2 staining in the cells of OSCC tissue, equivalent to the OLP and OSF specimens. In the in vitro study of oral carcinoma KB cells, Western blotting and IHC analysis showed that caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE)-rich propolis and celecoxib, a standard COX-2 inhibitor, markedly downregulated COX-2 expression. These results suggest that propolis exhibits a chemopreventive potential by lowering COX-2 expression in the oral carcinoma KB cell line. Hence, propolis might be used as an adjuvant therapy for treating oral cancer with standard chemotherapy drugs.

Abstract: This randomized, double‐blind trial was aimed to investigate the hypotensive efficacy of fermented goat milk (FGM) in prehypertensive volunteers. Fifty prehypertensive subjects were chosen and separated into two groups as experimental (consumed six tablets of FGM; 7.5 g) or placebo (every day) for 8‐week with 2 weeks of follow‐up. Anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, blood pressure (BP), and various hormones were assessed during the initial (before intervention), 8th week (after intervention), and 10th week (follow‐up period). Administration with FGM for 8 weeks showed no substantial changes were noted in any of the anthropometric parameters or lipid profile. Whereas, the BP, angiotensin II (AT‐II), and aldosterone levels were significantly (p < .05) reduced after supplementation with FGM. However, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin I (AT‐I) levels were not considerably altered. Intake of FGM significantly lowered the BP in prehypertensive adults could be due to the presence of peptides in FGM. Practical applications: Several studies have demonstrated that intake of milk hydrolysates or proteins (peptides) can act as a hypotensive agent by acting as angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Moreover, fermented goat milk (FGM) contains bioactive peptides, and hence we hypothesize that it might contribute to hypotensive property by acting as ACE inhibitors. Hence, this clinical trial was conducted to explore the hypotensive activity of FGM by evaluating anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, blood pressure (BP), ACE activity, AT‐I, II, and aldosterone. The outcome of this study justified our hypothesis that supplementation of FGM could significantly lower the BP by decreasing angiotensin II (AT‐II) and aldosterone levels. Hence, FGM (functional food) can be recommended with standard hypotensive agents to reduce the BP efficiently as well as to abolish the risk of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:Cranberry has numerous biological activities, including antioxidation, anticancer, cardioprotection, as well as treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI), attributed to abundant phenolic contents. Objective:The current study focused on the effect of cranberry juice (CJ) on blue light exposed human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells which mimic age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and methods:Preliminary phytochemical and HPLC analysis, as well as total antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity of cranberry ethyl acetate extract and different CJ fractions (condensed tannins containing fraction), were evaluated. In cell line model, ARPE-19 were irradiated with blue light at 450 nm wavelength for 10 h (mimic AMD) and treated with different fractions of CJ extract at different doses (5–50 μg/mL) by assessing the cell viability or proliferation rate using MTT assay (repairing efficacy). Results:Phytochemical and HPLC analysis reveals the presence of several phenolic compounds (flavonoids, proanthocyanidin, quercetin) in ethyl acetate extract and different fractions of CJ. However, the condensed tannin containing fraction of ethyl acetate extract of CJ displayed the greater (p < 0.05) scavenging activity especially at the dose of 1 mg/mL. Similarly, the condensed tannin containing fraction at 50 μg/mL presented better (p < 0.05) repairing ability (increased cell viability). Furthermore, the oligomeric condensed tannin containing fraction display the best (p < 0.05) repairing efficiency at 50 μg/mL. Discussion and conclusion:In conclusion, this study distinctly proved that condensed tannin containing fraction of CJ probably exhibits better free radicals scavenging activity and thereby effectively protected the ARPE-19 cells and thus, hampers the progress of AMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:Royal jelly (RJ) has been reported for its health promoting factors such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipid lowering activities. Objective:The present randomized, placebo-controlled study examines the hypolipidemic beneficial effect of RJ through evaluating anthropometric measurements, lipid profile and various hormone levels in mildly hypercholesterolemic participants. Materials and methods:Forty subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia (180–200 mg/dL) were randomly selected and divided into two groups as experimental or placebo, who requested to intake nine capsules (350 mg/capsule) of RJ or placebo/day, respectively, for three months with one month of follow-up without any supplementation. Results:No significant changes were noted in any of the anthropometric parameters like body weight, waist and body fat. The serum total cholesterol (TC; 207.05–183.15 mg/dL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c; 126.44–120.31 mg/dL) levels were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) after administration of RJ. However, triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels were not considerably altered. Moreover, three months of RJ consumption significantly ameliorated (p < 0.05) the concentration of sex hormones like dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S; 1788.09–1992.31 ng/mL). Also, intake of RJ did not elicit any hepatic or renal damage. Discussion and conclusion:Intervention with RJ for three months considerably lowered the TC and LDL-c levels through improving the levels of DHEA-S and thus alleviates the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and proapoptotic effects of Dunaliella salina (DS) on KB human oral squamous carcinoma cells. Phytochemical analysis of DS by HPLC revealed the presence of different types of carotenoids like α-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and higher contents of all trans-β-carotene and 9-cis-β-carotene. Antioxidative indexes like reducing capacity, chelating activity, DPPH and superoxide anion scavenging activities were significantly enhanced by treating with DS in dose-depended fashion. Whereas, the in vitro studies with KB cell line showed antiproliferative/cytotoxic effects of DS by suppressing the KB cell count. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory property of DS was confirmed by downregulating the protein expression of COX-2 in DS treated group. Also, DS extract would trigger apoptosis of KB cell in a dose-depended manner. Based on the above results, it clearly displays its anticarcinogenic efficacy, however, further studies are needed to explore the in-depth mechanism behind its chemotherapeutic property. Practical applications DS is a type of microalgae found in salty lakes and considered as the richest source of β-carotene than any other plant-based products. DS exhibit various biological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and therefore used as a nutraceutical agent by several pharmaceutical companies. Also, DS has been utilized by the tradition medicine practitioners in Asian countries like China, and Japan to treat various ailments like wound healing, vomiting, and ulcer. Modern researchers also hinted that DS are effective against many metabolic syndromes as well as several types of cancer. However, till date, no studies exist on the anticancer effect of DS (carotenoids) related to oral cancer. The present study indicates that DS could exert antioxidative, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and proapoptotic effects and thus endorse its anticarcinogenic effect. Hence, in future, it might be used for treating oral cancer as an adjuvant therapy along with standard chemotherapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]