Background: Doxorubicin chemotherapy may induce the development of resistance in the cancer cells. Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has prominent causative role in this process. Unfortunately, many inhibitory agents do not exert satisfying clinical outcome to overcome resistance. Quercetin, a polyphenolic compound, can be developed as P-gp inhibitor due to its cytotoxic properties.Objective: To investigate the effect of quercetin and doxorubicin combination in inhibiting the development of resistance in MCF-7 cell.Methods: Doxorubicin resistant MCF-7 cell were developed from the parent MCF-7 cell by exposing to 75 nM doxorubicin for 25 days. The inhibitory effect of resistance was evaluated via exposured to 75 nM doxorubicin and 750 nM quercetin combination in the same manner with resistance induction. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) citotoxicity assay and flowcytometry assay were performed to investigate the degree of resistance and to inhibit the development of resistance.Results: The exposure of 75 nM doxorubicin in MCF-7 cells (MCF-7 cells/dox75) exhibited sensitivity significantly decrease and upregulation of P-gp expression. The combination of 750 nM quercetin and 75 nM doxorubicin (MCF-7 cells/ dox75q750) caused a significantly increase in cell sensitivity to doxorubicin (p 0,05).Conclusions: The exposure of 75 nM doxorubicin led to the development of doxorubicin-acquired resistance MCF-7 cell. The combination of quercetin and doxorubicin have potency to inhibit the development of doxorubicin-acquired resistance MCF-7 cell by increasing cell sensitivity and reducing P-gp expression level.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.16(1) 2017 p.91-97

The extracts of five invasive plants were investigated for antifungal and antibiofilm activities against Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis. The antifungal activity was evaluated using the microdilution assay and the antibiofilm effect by measurement of the metabolic activity. Ethanol and ethanol‐water extracts of Reynoutria japonica leaves inhibited 50 % of planktonic cells at 250 μg mL⁻¹ and 15.6 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. Ethanol and ethanol‐water extracts of Baccharis halimifolia inhibited >75 % of the mature biofilm of C. albicans at 500 μg mL⁻¹. The essential oil (EO) of B. halimifolia leaves was the most active (50 % inhibition (IC₅₀) at 4 and 74 μg mL⁻¹against the maturation phase and 24 h old‐biofilms of C. albicans, respectively). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes were the primary contents in this EO (62.02 %), with β‐caryophyllene oxide as the major component (37 %). Aromadendrene oxide‐(2), β‐caryophyllene oxide, and (±)‐β‐pinene displayed significant activities against the maturation phase (IC₅₀=9–310 μ mol l⁻¹) and preformed 24 h‐biofilm (IC₅₀=38–630 μ mol l⁻¹) of C. albicans with very low cytotoxicity for the first two compounds. C. albicans remained the most susceptible species to this EO and its components. This study highlighted for the first time the antibiofilm potential of B. halimifolia, its EO and some of its components.

Background: Nearly 1.7 million children suffer from diarrhoea and around 760,000 die each year. The high prevalence of diarrhoea in the developing countries is closely related to lack of safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, and poor health and nutritional status. These environmental conditions facilitate the spread of infectious disease easily. The great morbidity and mortality of this preventable and treatable disease raise concern on how to save children from this fatal disease by improving management of diarrhoea. Several studies suggest that zinc deficiency contribute towards high morbidity and mortality in diarrhoea. Further, there is an area of uncertainty regarding how significant zinc supplementation will help to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoea in children compared to the diarrhoea management without zinc? Objective: To critically analyse the current evidences of zinc supplementation in diarrhoea. Data Sources: Keywords searching through MEDLINE Ovid database and additional references from retrieved articles. Study Selection: Limited to randomized controlled trial(RCT) study design and systematic review studies which were conducted from 2006 to 2016. However, there is one prospective cohort study included as it is a follow-up of subjects who participated in the previous double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Data Synthesis: This review involves a summary of 10 articles that have been appraised on their relevance in evaluating the role of zinc in reducing severity and duration of diarrhoea in children. Further, the literature found is synthesised through method used in the studies and the effectiveness of zinc therapy Conclusion: Zinc is relatively safe to be used and it can improve diarrhoea management especially in developing countries. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.18(2) 2019 p.190-195

Muntingia calabura L., also known locally as Talok or Kersen, is a plant which has been widely used as traditional medicine in Indonesia. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of Muntingia calabura L. Leaves ethanolic and n-hexane extract extract on Propionibacterium acnes. Antibacterial activity was determined in the extracts using agar well diffusion method. The antibacterial activities of each extract (2 mg/mL, 8 mg/ml, 20 mg/mL 30 mg/mL, and 40 mg/mL) were tested against to Propionibacterium acnes. Zone of inhibition of ethanolic extract and n-hexane extract was measured, compared, and analyzed by using a statistical programme. The phytochemical analyses of the plants were carried out using thin chromatography layer (TLC). The average diameter zone of inhibition at the concentration of 2 mg/mL of the ethanolic extract is 9,97 mm while n-Hexane extract at the same concentration showed 0 mm. Statistical test used was non-parametric test using Kruskal Wallis test which was continued to the Mann-Whitney to see the magnitude of the difference between concentration among groups. Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant value 0,000. Based on the result of Post Hoc test using Mann – Whitney test, there is the statistically significant difference between each concentration of ethanolic extract and n-hexane as well as positive control group (p-value < 0,05). Both extracts have antibacterial activity on P.acne. However, ethanolic extract of Muntingia calabura L. is better in inhibiting Propionibacterium acnes growth than n-hexane extract.

To evaluate the potential effects of Aloe vera supplementation on blood glucose and antioxidant enzymes (Glutathione peroxidase, GPx; Superoxide dismutase, SOD) as well as lipid peroxides (Malondialdehyde, MDA) in the kidneys of experimental type-II Diabetic rats model. This was an experimental study with post-test only control group study design. Type-II diabetes rats were induced by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, ip) and nicotinamide (230 mg/kg, ip) to Wistar rats. The diabetic rats were randomized into three groups, as follows: (i) Diabetic control rats (received CMC-Na 1 % vehicle only); (ii). Diabetic rats received glibenclamide 0,18 mg/200g orally once daily; (iii) diabetic rats group received glibenclamide (0,18 mg/200g body weight) as well as Aloe vera juice supplementation (3,6 mL/200 g body weight) orally once daily for 30 days. Rats fasted over night and the blood was withdrawn by retro-orbital puncture under light ether anesthesia on the pre-induction and 1st, 7th, 14th and 28th post induction to determine blood glucose. The kidney tissues of rats were taken under anesthesia at the end of 30 days. In the third group showed the decrease of blood glucose level significantly (p