Molecular genetic evaluation of Cichorium endivia L. as an anticancer agent against colorectal cancer

<p>Medicinal plants confer protective effects against a wide range of cancers including colon cancer. <em>Cichorium endivia</em> L. has many biological activities and functions, such as anti-inflammation and hepatoprotective effects. This activity is mainly due to its high levels of antioxidant compounds. The effect of cichorium extract and fluorouracil (5-FU) against colorectal cancer (CRC) induced by 1, 2- Dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) was examined in male albino mice. Where, different doses of cichorium extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight) were investigated to determine the significant effective dose against colorectal cancer using differential display-PCR (DD-PCR), DNA sequencing, histopathological and cytological techniques. The results showed that the cichorium extract dose 200 mg/kg body weight was the best one compared to the others (400 and 600 mg/kg body weight). This finding could be a powerful therapeutic against colorectal cancer.</p><p> </p>

Type V collagen-induced upregulation of capn2 (large subunit of m-calpain) gene expression and DNA fragmentation in 8701-BC breast cancer cells

Type V collagen is known to be over-deposited in the stroma of ductal infiltrating carcinomas of the breast. When used as a substrate, type V collagen restrains growth and invasion, and affects gene expression of 8701-BC ductal infiltrating carcinomas cells. Here we supplement existing data by demonstrating type V collagen dependent upregulation of capn2 gene expression in 8701-BC cells through differential display-PCR and Western blot assays. Furthermore, we suggest that our data obtained by centrifugal sedimentation and electrophoresis strongly suggest a correlation between calpain overproduction and DNA fragmentation, since the incubation with calpain inhibitor partly reverts the latter.