Currently, there is a growing interest in medicinal plants extracts as some plants have shown antitumor potential. The goal of this study was to test the anticancer activity of methanol extract of Conocarpous erectus leaves in breast cancer cells.  Cytotoxicity was tested in vitro on breast cancer cell lines, MCF₇ [Estrogen receptor + (ER+)] and MDA-MB₂₃₁ [Estrogen receptor - (ER-)], in addition to normal fibroblast cells (REF). MTT assay was utilized to measure the growth inhibitory effects after 48 hours exposure to extracts.  Viability results indicated  that MDA-MB231 were sensitive (GI50 = 56.1µg/ml).However, no sensitivity was seen in both MCF7 and REF cells (GI50>100 µg/ml). I

Quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) has become a valuable molecular technique in biomedical research. The selection of suitable endogenous reference genes is necessary for normalization of target gene expression in RT-qPCR experiments. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of each 18S rRNA and ACTB as internal control genes for normalization of RT-qPCR data in some human cell lines transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA). Four cancer cell lines including MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-231 and Hela cells along with HEK293 representing an embryonic cell line were depleted of E2F6 using siRNA specific for E2F6 compared to negative control cells, which were transfected with siRNA not specific for any gene. Us

FLI1 is a member of ETS family of transcription factors that regulate a variety of normal biologic activities including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The expression of FLI1 and its correlation with well-known breast cancer prognostic markers (ER, PR and HER2) was determined in primary breast tumors as well as four breast cancer lines including: MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 using RT-qPCR with either 18S rRNA or ACTB (β-actin) for normalization of data. FLI1 mRNA level was decreased in the breast cancer cell lines under study compared to the normal breast tissue; however, Jurkat cells, which were used as a positive control, showed overexpression compared to the normal breast. Regarding primary breast carcinoma

      The present work investigated the effect of distance from target surface on the parameters of lead plasma excited by 1064nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The excitation was conducted in air, at atmospheric pressure, with pulse length of 5 ns, and at different pulse laser energies. Electron temperature was calculated by Boltzmann plot method based on the PbI emission spectral lines (369.03 nm, 416.98 nm, 523.48, and 561.94 nm). The PbI lines were recorded at different distances from the target surface at laser pulse energies of 260 and 280 mJ. The emission intensity of plasma increased with increasing the lens-to-target distance. The results also detected an increase in electron temperature with increasing the di

Anchusa strigosa - prickly alkanet from Boraginaceae grows in roadsides, and fields of a broad range of habitats from mediterranean woodlands, to steppe vegetation, to true desert. It is commonly known as" him him" or "lisan al thawr". Anchusa can withstand hard weather conditions and hence is widely cultivated. The color of its flowers can range from pure white to deep cobalt blue. Various parts of A. strigosa are used in traditional medicine for treating several diseases or symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bronchitis, cough, and diarrhea. The goal of this study was to examine the cytotoxic effect of the crude extract of A. strigosa roots and leaves and their fractions against various tumor cell lines: adenoc

In the present paper, chitosan Schiff base has been synthesized from chitosan’s reaction with the salicyldehyde. The AuNPs was manufacture by extract of onion peels as a reducing agent. The Au NPs that have been prepared were characterized through the UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD analyses and SEM microscopy. The polymer blends of the chitosan Schiff base / PVP has been prepared through using the approach of solution casting. Chitosan Schiff base / PVP Au nano-composites was prepared. Nano composites and polymer blends have been characterized by FTIR which confirm the formation of Schiff base by revealing a new band of absorption at 1651cm-1 as a result of the (C=N) imine group. SEM, DSC and TGA confirms the thermal stability of the pr

In the present paper, chitosan Schiff base has been synthesized from chitosan’s reaction with the salicyldehyde. The AuNPs was manufacture by extract of onion peels as a reducing agent. The Au NPs that have been prepared were characterized through the UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD analyses and SEM microscopy. The polymer blends of the chitosan Schiff base / PVP has been prepared through using the approach of solution casting. Chitosan Schiff base / PVP Au nano-composites was prepared. Nano composites and polymer blends have been characterized by FTIR which confirm the formation of Schiff base by revealing a new band of absorption at 1651cm^-1 as a result of the (C=N) imine group. SEM, DSC and TGA confirms the thermal stability of