A comparative experiment on the anti-chronic myeloid leukemia capacities of AgNO3, ‎Scrophularia striata leaf aqueous extract, and silver nanoparticles containing natural ‎compounds ‎

IntroductionIn the current study, silver nanoparticles were prepared and synthesized in aqueous medium using Scrophularia ‎striata leaf extract as stabilizing and reducing agents. Also, we investigated the anti-chronic myeloid leukemia ‎potentials of silver nanoparticles against BV173 (chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis), CML-T1 (chronic ‎myeloid leukemia in lymphoid blast crisis), EM-2 (chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis; relapse after bone ‎marrow transplantation), and JOSK-M (chronic myeloid leukemia in myelomonocytic) cell lines. ‎Material and methodsSilver nanoparticles were characterized and analyzed using common nanotechnology techniques including UV-‎Vis.‎‏ ‏and FT-IR Spectroscopy, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and Transmission ‎Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Energy Dispersive X‐ray Spectrometry (EDS). ‎ResultsFT-IR analysis offered antioxidant compounds in the nanoparticles were the sources of reducing power, ‎reducing silver ions to silver nanoparticles. FE-SEM and TEM images revealed a uniform spherical morphology ‎in size of 19.72 nm for the green synthesized nanoparticles. DPPH test revealed similar antioxidant potentials ‎for silver nanoparticles and butylated hydroxytoluene. Silver nanoparticles had very low cell viability and anti-‎chronic myeloid leukemia properties dose-dependently against JOSK-M, EM-2, CML-T1, and BV173 cell lines ‎without any cytotoxicity on the HUVEC cell line. The best result of cytotoxicity properties of silver ‎nanoparticles against the above cell lines was observed in the case of CML-T1 cell line. ‎ConclusionsAfter confirming in the in vivo and clinical trial studies, these nanoparticles can be administrated in humans for ‎the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia.‎

Evaluation of Synergistic Antibacterial Effect of Combined Scrophularia striata Extract and Antibiotics Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Methicillin -Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Scrophularia. striata from Scrophulariacea family has been used in Iranian folk medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this study we evaluated the synergistic effect of S. striata hydroalcoholic extract (SSE) and commercially available antibiotics against P. aeroginosa and Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The resazurin-based microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of plan extract and standard antibiotics. The interaction between standard antibiotics and SSE was evaluated by using checkerboard method. The results of this study revealed that SSE enhance the antibacterial activity of antibiotics. The combination of SSE and Vancomycin had synergistic to additive effects against MRSA. SSE in combination with Gentamicin had synergistic to additive effects against P. aeruginosa. The interaction between Ceftazidime and SSE was additive against P. aeruginosa. The best result was the synergistic effect between SSE and Piperacillin-Tazobactam against P. aeruginosa. In conclusion the results of this research indicated that S. striata has the potential to enhance the antibacterial activity of antibiotics and could be a source to the designing new compounds with synergistic effect in combination with standard antibiotics.

Modulation of Extracellular Matrix by Scrophularia striata Extract in Vitro: A Potential Antiscarring Agent

Background: Hypertrophic scars are the consequences of the aberration of normal wound healing. To date, therapeutic strategies for abnormal scarring have been unsuccessful. ‎‏The abnormal extracellular‎ matrix is one of the most important contributing factors to ‎hypertrophic scars. ‏Scrophularia striata has been used in Iranian folk medicine for the treatment of burn wounds. ‏The plant extract accelerates wound healing and attenuates scar formation. Objectives: The study was performed to investigate the effects of Scrophularia striata hydroalcoholic extract (SSE) on MMP1, MMP8, fibronectin, collagen type I, and total collagen produced by human skin fibroblasts in the culture medium. Methods: The effects of SSE on the expression of MMP1, MMP8, fibronectin, and collagen type I in human skin fibroblast (HSF) were evaluated using Q-PCR and Western blotting methods. In addition, the effect of SSE on the total collagen content was measured in cultured HSF using Red Sirius Kit. Results: SSE significantly induced the expression of MMP1 and suppressed the production of fibronectin at the mRNA and protein levels. The total collagen content was significantly lower in SSE-treated cells than in untreated cells. SSE did not have any significant effect on MMP8 and collagen type I expression. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that SSE could modulate the extracellular matrix turnover and had the potential for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars.