Phytotherapy has been used for many years due to anticancer and anti-proliferative effects. In this study our purpose was to show the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of oleocanthal and pinus pinaster on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, 67NR and 4T1 breast cancer cell lines. Biological effects of these plants were researched via morphology, MTT assay for cytotoxicity (IC50), immunocytochemical procedure for oxidative stress (eNOS), angiogenesis (VEGF) and TUNEL method for apoptosis. Statistical analysis was performed with the H-score. Oleocanthal and Pinus pinaster extracts showed significant dose and time-dependent inhibition of growth of breast cancer cells. A significant increase in iNOS staining was observed while a decrease in VEGF staining was observed after extract application at IC50 dose. The results showed a significant increase in apoptosis in extract-treated breast cancer cell lines. We showed that the toxic effect of Oleocanthal and Pinus pinaster extracts created by oxidative stress mechanisms. The increase of oxidative stress in breast cancer cells caused the inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Our results indicated that these plants suggest potential agents in breast cancer treatment. Future studies will focus on the identification of the molecules responsible for anti-cancer activity of these substances in order to improve the quality of life of the patients.

Herbal medicine has been used historically for anticancer effect and potent antiproliferative effects on different cancer cell lines. Prostate cancer has become the most common malignancy and the second highest cause of cancer death Western world. The antioxidant, antidepressant and antimicrobial effect of Viscum album, Inula viscosa, Hypericum perforatum, Lysimachia nummularia, Oleocanthal, Pinus pinaster and Rubus caeisus on cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated whether these seven plants show any anticancer properties on prostat cancer cell line. Du145 cancer cells and human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cell were assessed for seven medical plants in culture with different doses. Firstly, the cytotoxicity rate (IC50) determined by MTT and then immunocytochemical procedure were done for oxidative stress (eNOS), angiogenesis (VEGF) and TUNEL method for apoptosis. The stainings were evaluated by H-score. According to the results, Inula viscosa and Rubus caeisus have a higher improvement effect than the other medicinal plants. And these plants were not toxic for adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells. These plants caused the inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis in prostat cancer cells. Our results indicated that these plants may be potential agents in prostat cancer treatment.

Inula viscosa, Rubus caesius and Viscum album known as medicinal plants which have therapeutic properties in treatment of various diseases and particularly cancer. In this study, we aimed to show their anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, 67NR and 4T1 breast cancer cell lines. The cell lines were cultured to determine the cell growth using the MTT assay. Cells were cultured to evaluate for eNOS, VEGF and apoptosis by immunocytochemical staining and TUNEL assay. Statistical analysis was performed with the H-score. Inula viscosa, Rubus caesius and Viscum album extracts were found to significantly inhibit the growth of breast cancer cell lines in dose and time-dependent manner. eNOS staining was significantly increased and VEGF was decreased after extract application at IC50 dose. Similarly, results indicated that the treated breast cancer cell lines exhibited a marked increase in apoptosis. We showed that the toxic effect of Inula viscosa, Rubus caesius and Viscum album extracts created by oxidative stress and apoptotic mechanisms. Our findings suggested that due to their anticancer potential, these plants may be used as an alternative treatment for the management of cancer. Therefore future studies will focus on the identification of the molecules responsible for the anticancer activity.

Medicinal herbs are being increasingly recognized as useful complementary treatments for cancer. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women worldwide. Colon cancer diseases is very heterogeneous in terms of grade, genetics, ploidy, and oncogene/tumor suppress or gene expression and its biological, hormonal, and molecular characteristics are extremely complex. In this study our aim was to identify the effect of different medical plants Viscum album, Inula viscosa, Hypericum perforatum, Lysimachia nummularia, Oleocanthal, Pinus pinaster and Rubus caeisus on colon cancer cell line. Colo320 cancer cells and human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cell were analysed for four medical plants in culture. Firstly, the cytotoxicity rate (IC50) determined by MTT. After that, immunocytochemical staining were done eNOS, VEGF and TUNEL method for apoptosis. The stainings were evaluated by H-score. As a result, Inula viscosa and Rubus caeisus have a higher inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis in both cancers than the other medicinal plants. Colo320 cancer cells expressed strong eNOS by these plants and also both plants were not toxic for adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels and it causes complications in many systems, including the reproductive system. As a result of diabetic conditions, one of the mechanisms that can cause repression of reproductive activity is testicular oxidant stress. The identification of diabetes on the cell signaling molecules axis is still under discussion. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Transforming Growth Factor (TGFβ), Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-kB), Heat-schock 90β (HSP90β) signal pathways and E-cadherin cell adhesion molecule on infertility in diabetic rat testicular tissue. In our study, includes histological, molecular and biochemical analysis of testicular tissue removed at the end of the 2 weeks experiment period. A total of 14 adult male rats were divided as control and diabetes. No intervention was given to 7 male rats in the control group. For the diabetic group, 7 male rats were injected by intraperitoneal with a single dose of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). TGFβ, NF-kB, HSP90β and E-cadherin proteins were immunohistochemically studied to investigate possible tissue damage, inflammatory process, cell stabilization and integrity due to diabetes. In order to determine oxidant stress, lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) analyzes were performed. Fibrosis, inflammatory changes and loss of spermatogenetic series are prominent findings in the diabetic group. On analysis of all the samples with immunostaining, in the diabetic group, TGFβ and NF-kB immunoexpression significantly increased, while Hsp90β and E-cadherin immunoexpression significantly decreased compared with control groups. Experimental diabetes was found to cause fibrosis, inflammation, disrupting cell adhesion and stabilization in testicular tissue. These results suggest that cellular therapy studies are needed for possible damage.