Narrow Results

Plantago major Linn. and P. asiatica Linn. (Plantaginaceae) are commonly used as folk medicine in Taiwan for treating infectious diseases related to the respiratory, urinary and digestive tracts. In this study, we investigated the antiviral, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activities of hot water extracts of these two species in vitro on a series of viruses, namely herpesviruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2), adenoviruses (ADV-3, ADV-8 and ADV-11), and on various human leukemia, lymphoma and carcinoma cells with XTT, BrdU and IFN-γ kits. Results showed that hot water extract of P. asiatica possessed significant inhibitory activity on the proliferation of lymphoma (U937) and carcinoma (bladder, bone, cervix, kidney, lung and stomach) cells and on viral infection (HSV-2 and ADV-11). P. major and P. asiatica both exhibited dual effects of immunodulatory activity, enhancing lymphocyte proliferation and secretion of interferon-γ at low concentrations (< 50 μg/ml), but inhibiting this effect at high concentration (< 50 μg/ml). The present study concludes that hot water extracts of P. major and P. asiatica possess a broad-spectrum of antileukemia, anticarcinoma and antiviral activities, as well as activities which modulate cell-mediated immunity. Further investigations to elucidate the active component(s) of P. asiatica and P. major and to evaluate their clinical application are warranted.

Furanodiene is a sesquiterpene extracted from the essential oil of the rhizome of Curcuma wenyujin Y.H. Chen et C. Ling (Wen Ezhu). Furanodiene is the primary component in Wen Ezhu's essential oil, accounting for more than 20% by weight. In vitro, MTT assay was used to compare the inhibitory effects of furanodiene and Wen Ezhu's essential oil on 11 human cancer cell lines. Compared to the essential oil, furanodiene showed stronger growth inhibitions on Hela, Hep-2, HL-60, PC3, SGC-7901 and HT-1080 cells with IC₅₀ between 0.6–4.8 μg/ml. In vivo, furanodiene was also found to exhibit inhibitory effects on the growth of uterine cervical (U14) and sarcoma 180 (Sl80) tumors in mice. Our data suggests that furanodiene, an active component from the essential oil of Wen Ezhu, possesses efficacy against uterine cervical cancer.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death mechanism driven by an accumulation of lipid peroxides on cellular membranes, has emerged as a promising strategy to treat various diseases, including cancer. Ferroptosis inducers not only exhibit cytotoxic effects on multiple cancer cells, including drug-resistant cancer variants, but also hold potential as adjuncts to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies, such as immunotherapy. In addition to synthetic inducers, natural compounds, such as artemisinin, can be considered ferroptosis inducers. Artemisinin, extracted from Artemisia annua L., is a poorly water-soluble antimalarial drug. For clinical applications, researchers have synthesized various water-soluble artemisinin derivatives such as dihydroartemisinin, artesunate, and artemether. Artemisinin and artemisinin derivatives (ARTEs) upregulate intracellular free iron levels and promote the accumulation of intracellular lipid peroxides to induce cancer cell ferroptosis, alleviating cancer development and resulting in strong anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we introduce the mechanisms of ferroptosis, summarize the research on ARTEs-induced ferroptosis in cancer cells, and discuss the clinical research progress and current challenges of ARTEs in anti-cancer treatment. This review deepens the current understanding of the relationship between ARTEs and ferroptosis and provides a theoretical basis for the clinical anti-cancer application of ARTEs in the future.

Arginine May Prevent Deaths from Cerebral Malaria.

World First Seed Oil Enhancement Technology Developed by Chinese Scientists.

New Diagnostic Kits for Hepatitis C.

Nanometric Filter Use in Cigarette to Reduce Carbon Monoxide Emission.

Traditional Indian Herb Possesses Anti-Cancer Qualities.

GM Rice Could Protect Against Hay Fever.

Cell Infection Mechanism for Leukemia Discovered.

Japanese Sake Lowers Cholesterol Levels.

Search for Quicker Method for Detecting Mad Cow Disease.

New Bladder Cancer Treatment.

New Culture Technology for Enhancing Anti-Cancer Component in Mushroom.

India to Combat Spurious Drugs.

Experts Strongly Criticized for Minamata Disease Stance.

Siblings Excluded from Donor List.

Free Cancer Checkups for Some Koreans.

Korean Authority to Manage Anti-Cancer Treatments.

Pan Pharmaceuticals Faces Six Months’ License Suspension.

Progen Collaborates with Peplin in Anti-Cancer Drug Contract.

Genetic Technologies Acquires Genetic Science Services.

Dräger Medical Appointed as Exclusive Distributor for Compumedics Products.

Disinfection Technology Heads for Hong Kong Market.

Bharat Biotech to Build CRO in Bangalore.

Ranbaxy May Get Approval for Diflucan Generic.

Food Ecology’s Hogs Yogurt Feed Produces Sweet Pork.

AgriQuality Acquires Australian Seed Testing and Certification Business.

Alarvita Biolife Acquires Cell Immunotherapy Technology.

Panvax’s Foot-and-Mouth Vaccine Program.

Agenix’s ThromboView Phase Ia Blood Clot Trial Successful.

Sino-Australian Joint Venture Established.

Beijing Deweizhi’s Latest Drug Procurement Agreement.

Shandong Enterprises Collaborate with Beijing Universities.

Shandong Qilu Pharmaceutical Launches Indobufen Tablets.

Domestic AIDS Drug Cleared For Marketing.

Azithromycin Powder Marketed by Zhejiang Kangyu.

Trial Reforms in Zhejiang Drug Distribution Industry.

Anti-Cancer Drug Enters Phase II Clinical Trials.

Bioway’s Nerve Growth Factor Put into Production.

Latest Drug Delivery Center in Operation.

Metahelix Signs Genome Research Deal with ViaLactia Biosciences.

AstraZeneca Seeks Exclusive Marketing Rights for New Drugs in India.

Imaging Technology Utilized in Meat Contaminant Screening.

Inproser Launches In’novase Project in Malaysia.

Asia’s First Human Insulin Plant.

World’s Smallest Heart Pump Undergoing Clinical Trial.

Kaohxiong Biological Product Co. Signs Distribution Agreement with Bayer.

Agilent Technologies Expands Mass Spectrometry Portfolio with New MS Instruments and Proteomics Software.

EpiTan Annual Results.

Wuxi Jiante Pharma Partners Roche Vitamin to Launch New Health Supplement.

Shiyao Group Zhongnuo Pharma Established to Produce Antibiotics.

Shanghai Lvgu Group to Produce New Anti-Cancer Drug Salvicine.

Shaanxi Dongsheng Group Establishes Life Science Park in Jiangsu Qidong.

Chongqing 999 Pharma Sprout from Fuling Yuyi Pharma Restructuring.

Yunnan Yunyao Pharma Established.

Hainan Hailiang Biotech Gearing Up for Anti-Cancer Drug Vinorelbine Production.

Biocon's Strategic Expansion.

Olanzapine Dispute between Dr. Reddy's Laboratory and Eli Lilly Resolved.

Protemix Receives Financial Support from New Zealand Government.

Media Cybernetics Secures Distribution Agreement with Olympus Optical.

Alchemgen to Raise Fund for Anti-Cancer Drug Development in Taiwan.

Optimer's Taiwan Subsidiary to Import Overseas Drugs.

Sun Ten Pharmaceutical to Venture into the European and China Markets.

Alchemia Collaborates on SK1.

Progen Technology Switches On Cancer Fighting Genes.

New Australian Drug Holds Hope of Major Breakthrough in Treating Terminal Blood Cancers.

Novavax and Cadila Pharmaceuticals Form Alliance.

Icon's Singapore, India Labs Get CAP Accreditation.

SIRO Clinpharm and Advanced Clinical Trial Solutions Form Strategic Alliance.

GVK Forays into Clinical Trials with Chinese Company.

iZumi Bio and Kyoto University Collaborate on iPS Cell Technology.

Vitrolife Starts a Company in Japan.

Otsuka, BMS in an Oncology Collaboration.

EnVivo, Mitsubishi to Develop Schizophrenia Drug.

PerkinElmer Announces Collaboration with Sangmyung University.

Living Cell Technologies's New Zealand Pigs Free of Viruses.

A*STAR Joins Forces with Swiss Company, Cytos, to Combat HFMD.

IBN Engineers World's First Tri-Continuous Mesoporous Silica.

Innogene Kalbiotech Pte Ltd and Info Kinetics Sdn. Bhd. Spearhead Establishment of Internationally Accredited BA/BE Studies in Indonesia.

Starpharma Signs Agrochemicals Deal.

Circadian Achieves Key Manufacturing Milestone for Cancer Drug Candidate.

Monsanto Opens First Biotechnology Research Center in China.

Novartis Expands Pharma R&D in China.

NeoStem Acquires China Biopharmaceuticals.

Tianyin Pharma Expands Antibiotics Business in a Joint Venture.

The Win-Win Partnership of GVK Biosciences-Wyeth Research.

Strategic Partnership to Treat Influenza in India.

India and U.S. Join Forces to Ramp Up Production of H1N1 Vaccine.

Amylin and Takeda Collaborate to Develop Obesity Drug.

ZyGEM and Phthisis Tie Up to Make Pathogen Detection Products.

Sirtex Medical Sets Up Facility in Singapore.

Singapore is Roche's First Biologics Manufacturing Site in Asia-Pacific.

Medtronic Makes Singapore its Asia and International Headquarters.

Academia Sinica and IDRI Combine Research Effort to Fight TB.

Cognoptix licenses AD detection technology.

3D cell culture firm Reinnervate and specialist Oncology CRO Oncotest GmbH enter collaboration agreement.

Medicago awarded contract from the U.S. Department of Defence.

Clinical Network Services acquires New Zealand partner BELTAS' business assets.

VABIOTECH licenses cell-based Japanese encephalitis technology from Inviragen.

University of Illinois licenses novel anti-cancer therapies to StemPar Sciences.

Adimab announces new discovery collaboration with Kyowa Hakko Kirin.

Priaxon enters collaboration with GSK on protein-protein-interactions.

Lantheus Medical Imaging and FUJIFILM RI Pharma renew long-term license and distribution agreement.

INDIA – Plastic bricks could protect Indian homes from monsoon.

THE PHILIPPINES – Philippines aims for better basic sanitation practices.

SINGAPORE – A*STAR scientists discover gene critical for proper brain development.

AFRICA – Project to conserve indigenous crops launched in Kenya.

AFRICA – Cellphone voice and SMS tech developed to fight Ebola.

AFRICA – Scientists say Kenya’s GMO ban stalling biotech R&D.

AFRICA – Scientists unveil a plan to fight deadly banana disease.

AFRICA – Drug resistance to kill 10 million a year by 2050.

BANGLADESH – Aflatoxin threat in Nepal and Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH – Daily multivitamin improves pregnancy outcomes in South Asia.

EUROPE – New study describes, for the first time, a fundamental mechanism regulating a protein’s shape.

UNITED STATES – Cells identified that enhance tumor growth and suppress anti-cancer immune attack.

UNITED STATES – Scripps Research Institute scientists uncover new, fundamental mechanism for how resveratrol provides health benefits.

UNITED STATES – Canopus BioPharma Inc. achieves positive results from an in vitro live Ebola virus study.

Living on a Gradient: A Glimpse on How Genetic Evolution shapes High-Altitude Tibetans’ Survival

Ascletis as the First Chinese Company to File Clinical Applications for Interferon-Free HCV Treatment

Anti-Cancer formulation derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine receives FDA’s approval for Phase III Clinical Trial

Kunming Institute of Zoology unveils the most diverse form of HIV-1 viral strain transmission at Burma Border

Chinese Biologists Find Duckweed to Tackle Water Pollution

A new publication in Science on the parvalbumin-positive excitatory visual pathway

SINGAPORE – Human Heart Tissue Grown from Stem Cells Improves Drug Testing.

UNITED STATES – Bioengineered Human Livers Mimic Natural Development.

UNITED STATES – New Cellular Target May Put the Brakes on Cancer’s Ability to Spread.

UNITED STATES – Does Consuming Low-Fat Dairy Increase the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease?

UNITED STATES – Memory Loss and Other Cognitive Decline Linked to Blood Vessel Disease in the Brain.

AUSTRALIA – Fabricating High Performance Nanohybrid Catalysts.

TAIWAN – US FDA Approves Zhaohe Cao-based Botanical Drug as an Investigational New Drug for Cancer Therapy.

KOREA – Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee Elected to the NAS.

A 3D-QSAR study using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was carried out on anti-tubulin agents with indole as a nucleus core. The structures of the compounds were obtained using docking calculations, and were then subjected to alignment procedures. CoMFA calculations for the 42 ligands that were examined as the training set gave a q² value of 0.623 in correlation with experimental IC₅₀ values for the inhibition of MKN-45 gastric cancer cells. Calculation for the test set of 17 ligands resulted in an r² value of 0.714. The calculated results suggest that the R3 functional group site (see structure in Fig. 1) favored bulky groups while R1, R2, and R4 sites favored the opposite. At the R5 and R6 sites, parts of the region favored bulky groups while other parts favored the opposite. As for the electrostatic aspect, the R3 site was found to favor groups with a negative partial charge. At the R2 site, part of the region favored the group with a negative partial charge while other regions favored groups with a positive partial charge. The R4 and R5 sites favored groups with negative and positive partial charges, respectively, with a less favorable magnitude when compared with the R2 and R3 sites. The R1 and R6 sites did not exhibit significant electrostatic favor. Correlation of the results with IC₅₀ values of ligands were analyzed and discussed.

Porphyrins with different numbers of β-propionate chains mimicking natural porphyrins were prepared via the 2+2 MacDonald type approach. Photodynamic activity against WiDr colon adenocarcinoma cells showed that activity is related to the number of β-propionate chains, with the derivatives with two carboxylic groups showing higher activity.

Gold(III) compounds continue to be explored for their potential utility as anticancer agents. A recognized limitation is the reactivity of gold(III), which is typically reduced to the more labile gold(I) state under physiological conditions. The use of porphyrins can overcome this problem. However, to date the stabilization provided by the use a strongly chelating porphyrin is offset by the poor solubility of the resulting complex in aqueous media. In this work, we describe the synthesis and in vitro anti-cancer activity of a gold(III)porphyrin complex with relatively good aqueous solubility. As judged from standard antiproliferation assays, this complex displays an IC₅₀ of 9 μM for the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line. This is a higher level of potency than displayed by two related control systems.

There are multiple implications for topological indices (TIs) in the realm of anti-tumour, anti-cancer, anti-viral agents, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and enzyme inhibition potentials. One such utilisation involves predicting the effectiveness of compounds, where TIs shed light on these sulfonamides’ chemical structures and associated characteristics. Analysts can pinpoint the most suitable treatments for certain cancer types by examining the degree-based TIs of various compounds. This paper explores the functions of mathematical descriptors as TIs in estimating the anatomical and pharmacological features of emerging drugs utilised for chemotherapy for cancer. Analysing the compounds of sulfonamide is carried out utilising graph-based TIs computed by employing edge partitioning. The establishment of a QSPR model then follows using a linear regression approach. The conclusions highlight the significant capability of TIs as valuable assets in exploring and characterising compounds within the domains of anti-tumour, anti-cancer, anti-viral agents, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and enzyme inhibition.

In a continuing effort for our research group, we identify new active 1,2,4-triazine derivatives as novel cancer preventive agents that target CYP1A1 activity, through the application of quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) theory. For this purpose, novel fused 1,2,4-triazine derivatives, namely, 4-Amino-6-substituted benzyl-3-(2-substituted benzylidenehydrazinyl)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-ones and acetylated 6-substituted benzyl-7-oxo-3-substituted phenyl-2,3-dihydro-7$H$-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-$b$][1,2,4]triazine analogs were utilized for the prediction of the QSAR model. Furthermore, the application of this QSAR equation served successfully as a rational guide for predicting the activities of newly synthesized analogs. The DFT calculation was applied to recognize the physicochemical parameters at B3LYP/6- 311G^* level to gain a clear view of global and local molecular reactivity. Besides, the molecular features of the investigated compounds were identified through HOMO, LUMO and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) which were plotted to determine the charge transfer within the molecules. Promising two novel 1,2,4-triazine compounds were identified with observed significant inhibitions (83% and 67%) and CYP1A1 activity was predicted. The chemical configuration of the two actives showed good alignment of $p$-methoxy benzyl aminotriazinone fragments, hydrazino and carbonyl linker in structure–activity relationship and interaction. Molecular modeling analysis supported with MD simulations was undertaken to investigate different binding interactions with the target binding site. These projects offered a good application of a promising QSAR model for prediction of highly active compounds for further lead optimization.