Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 5 Articles
Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis and limited efficacy of conventional therapies. Developing safe and effective natural adjuvant therapies is therefore of considerable interest. This study evaluated the in vivo anti-tumor activity of stevia leaf extract fermented by Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum SN13T in an ectopic PANC-1 xenograft mouse model and explored potential mechanisms associated with its observed biological effects. Methods: Mice with PANC-1 tumors were randomly assigned to four groups: normal saline (NC group), unfermented stevia leaf extract (SLE, Unfer group), fermented stevia leaf extract by L. plantarum SN13T (FSLE, Fer group), and capecitabine (PC group). Body weight and tumor volume were monitored throughout the experiment. At the study termination, serum, tumor, liver, and kidney samples were collected for biochemical assays, hematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemical staining, cytokine measurements, Western blot and qPCR analyses, and antioxidant measurements. Results: Fermented stevia leaf extract significantly inhibited tumor growth, as evidenced by reduced tumor volume and weight. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) were markedly decreased, accompanied by improvement in liver injury markers (ALT, AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In tumor tissues, FSLE was associated with increased protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, along with decreased Bcl-2 levels. Notably, Nrf2 protein expression in tumor tissues was downregulated, while intratumoral IL-6 levels were also decreased. In the liver, treatment was accompanied by increased Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expression, enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Conclusions: FSLE exerts anti-tumor effects in a PANC-1 xenograft model that are associated with the modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related pathways. These observations provide experimental and theoretical support for the further development of fermented plant-derived products as adjunctive therapies for pancreatic cancer....
The Aristolochia genus contains aristolochic acids (AAs), nephrotoxic and carcinogenic compounds found in many species. Although the use of Aristolochia has been restricted worldwide due to safety concerns, no information is currently available on the species occurring in the flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This lack of information regarding occurrence, use, and chemical composition of Aristolochia species limits the evaluation of potential exposure risks associated with traditional medicinal practices. This study identified Aristolochia species reported in the DRC through a bibliographic survey and assessed the presence of AAs in A. heppii, a species native to Katanga. Microscopic examination of root powders and HPLC-DAD/MS analysis of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts were performed according to the European Pharmacopoeia on one authenticated sample and twelve commercial samples purchased in Lubumbashi. Microscopy confirmed diagnostic features consistent with Aristolochia. Mass spectrometry analysis identified AAs, with AA-I quantified in hydroalcoholic extracts at 566 ± 5 ppm to 3533 ± 32 ppm (0.057–0.353% w/w) and in the aqueous extract at 204.2 ± 0.4 ppm (0.020% w/w). These results demonstrate that traditional preparations of A. heppii may lead to exposure to AA-I and underline the need for risk assessment and regulatory oversight....
Current treatment options for hair loss remain limited. Therefore, this study compared a botanical extract derived from multiple plants with the pharmaceutical agent minoxidil for topical application. The evaluated parameters included inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), growth factors (TGF-β, VEGF, KGF), and 5α-reductase type II (SRD5A2) expression in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, as measured by ELISA. Both the botanical extract and minoxidil reduced IL-6 levels by 21% and 35%, and TNF-α levels by 13% and 35%, respectively. Treatment with the botanical extract and minoxidil increased VEGF expression by 50% and 85%, and KGF by 16% and 31%, respectively, while reducing SRD5A2 expression by 21% and 28%, respectively. Overall, the results of this in vitro study suggest that the botanical extract exhibits a response pattern similar to that of minoxidil, characterized by the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and SRD5A2, along with enhanced expression of growth factors VEGF and KGF in HaCaT cells. These results provide a promising basis for further in vivo studies....
Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus, or PVF, a member of Araliaceae, is a new and highvalue variety of Vietnamese Ginseng (P. vietnamensis var. vietnamensis—VG). PVF shares some similarities in terms of its saponin profile with VG, including protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol, and ocotillol saponin. Previous research has revealed that the steaming process significantly increases the bioactivities of VG, especially the renal protective effect. In this study, PVF roots were steamed at a high temperature (120 °C) for 12 h to obtain Black PVF (BPVF). The BPVF extract was tested in both in vitro and in vivo models of cisplatin toxicity to assess its antioxidant and nephroprotective activities. The results showed that the BPVF obtained from the steaming process exhibited the highest antioxidant activity at 12 h. The chemical composition of BPVF is characterized by less-polar saponins such as G-Rg3, -Rg5, and ocotillol genin. The BPVF extract (200 mg/kg) reversed kidney injuries by significantly lowering serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, which had increased due to cisplatin toxicity. The antioxidant effect of BPVF extract also prevented lipid peroxidation by lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and restoring redox balance by increasing glutathione (GSH) content in kidney cells to nearly normal levels, with effects comparable to quercetin. This study provides evidence of BPVF’s therapeutic potential with respect to kidney injuries due to cisplatin toxicity....
The essential oil (EO) of Sideritis L. has attracted great interest due to its pharmacological activities. At the same time, there is significant variability within the type, related, among other things, to the origin of the raw material. The aim of this work was to study the EO chemical composition of Sideritis scardica Griseb. from Bulgaria and Türkiye. The plant material (air-dried above-ground parts) was purchased from herbal and medical stores in Lublin, Poland. The crushed raw material was used for distillation of the EO. Distillation was performed in a Clevenger apparatus. The EO content was expressed in ml per 100 g of air-dried herb. Analysis of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the obtained EO was performed using gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (450-GC + 240-MS). The antimicrobial activity of the S. scardica EO was evaluated using the broth microdilution method in accordance with the guidelines of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines. We have demonstrated that the chemical composition and biological activity of sideritis EO depend on the origin of the raw material. Our results indicate that S. scardica EO can be considered a promising antimicrobial agent....
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