Squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue belongs to highly invasive malignancies of head and neck area. The natural isoquinoline alkaloid berberine has demonstrated anti-tumor potential in various cancer types. This research was aimed to study in vitro effects of berberine in squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue. Berberine reduced the proliferation of CAL-27 cells in a dosedependent manner (IC50 = 36μM). Furthermore, berberine strongly inhibited invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue cells (EC50 = 0,9μM). Anti-proliferative and anti-invasive actions displayed by berberine in CAL-27 cell line suggest the in vitro anticancer efficacy of the natural isoquinoline alkaloid.
Background: Thiol-disulfide metabolism is essential for normal function of the organism. Thus the interest of the scientists in this area of research continues to grow. Material and methods: Copper coordination compounds (CCC), derivatives of thiosemicarbaside (CMD-4, CMJ-33, CMT-67), action on thiol-disulfide metabolism in the healthy Ratta albicans kidneys were studied. The animals were divided in 6 groups of 7 rats each. The control group included healthy rats which were injected i/m physiological solution 3 times a week, for 30 days. The rats from groups 2-6 have got 3 times a week, for 30 days, i/m injections of CCC. The activity of following thiol-disulfide metabolism enzymes in the renal supernatant has been measured: glutathion-reductase (GR), glutathion-peroxidase (GPO), glutathion-S-transferase (G-S-T), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), glutaredoxin (Grx), as well the amount of the protein SH-groups and of the total glutathione, reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glut...