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Research Publications (Applied Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/213

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Cytotoxicity

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    Interaction and cytotoxicity of compounds with human cell lines
    (Press of the Romanian Academy, 2014) Singh, Rishan
    The interactions of compounds on human cell lines are either influenced by the composition of substances present in plant material or alteration of constituents by solvent fractionation. These substances or constituents have an influence on the percentage cytotoxicity readings of compounds in human cell culture. Understanding and correlating the relationship between cytotoxicity and other parameters, such as cell death inducing mechanisms, will assist pharmaceutical chemists to synthesize compounds that can target particular ailments with greater efficiency. This will also allow scientists to understand the interaction of compounds with different cell types for different compound fractions.
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    Apoptosis in the human laryngeal carcinoma (HEp-2) cell line by Bulbine natalensis and B. Frutescens fractions
    (IJBPR, 2012) Singh, Rishan; Reddy, Lalini
    Many plants that belong to the genus Bulbine have compounds in their roots and leaves which are considered important for traditional treatments. The stems and roots of Bulbine species are believed to contain anticancer compounds such as anthraquinones, including chrysophanol and knipholone. However, in general, people utilise plants of the Bulbine genus for the treatment of rashes, itches, wounds, burns, cracked lips and cracked skin. This study assessed the effect of aqueous and organic fractions of Bulbine natalensis and Bulbine frutescens on the human laryngeal carcinoma cell line (HEp-2) for apoptosis. The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the fractions administered and to select fractions for analysis of bax and caspase-3 gene expression, which are induced during programmed cell death type 1, known as apoptosis. All of the B. natalensis fractions induced expression of caspase-3, while the tested B. frutescens aqueous root fractions failed to induce expression of caspase-3. The variation in bax gene expression indicated that HEp-2 cell death was due to apoptosis and other unknown forms of cell death that may or may not activate caspase-3 gene expression.