Background: Nowadays one of the most common causes of death is cancer worldwide, which its incidence and mortality rate dramatically increasing in Iran. Saffron herb is locally grown in South Khorasan. The present study reviewed the anticancer properties of saffron stigma on various macromolecule, cell, and animal models. In traditional medicine saffron herb treated many diseases including diabetes, blood pressure and cancer. The modern medical findings indicate that this herb and its active metabolites can be used to produce alternative antitumor drugs. Saffron selectively suppressed growth and proliferation of cancer cells while did not show any inhibitory effect on growth of normal cells. In addition, it reduced the side effects of common therapies. The main components of saffron stigma are monoterpene aldehydes and carotenoides. Its carotenoids, for instance crocin and crocetin, illustrated antioxidant, anticancer and antimutagenic properties more than other metabolites.This review suggested that anti-tumor drugs from saffron stigma can be applied as alternative, safe and promising agents.

BACKGROUND: To achieve delivery of a drug to tumors, folic acid (FA) was used as a targeting ligand to change nanocarriers. Since the folate receptor has more expression in several tumor types such as breast cancer. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Doxorubicine-G2-FA (Dox-G2-FA) with in vitro assays. The abbreviation of G2 represents the second generation of dendrimer synthesis. METHODS: For this purpose, Dox-G2-FA was synthesized and mass spectroscopy was used to confirm the synthesized component. Also, MTT assay, flow cytometry, and gene expression assay by real-time PCR were used to evaluate cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis. RESULTS: In this study, the effect of Dox and Dox-G2-FA on the expression of Bax, Bcl2 genes showed that there was a significant decrease in the expression of the Bcl2 gene in the Dox-G2-FA group compared to Dox and control groups(P<0. 05). Also, the results of flow-cytometry showed that apoptosis in the presence of Dox-G2-FA was greater than in the Dox group (P<0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it seems that the effect of Dox-G2-FA on apoptosis is better than the effect of Dox usage alone.

In spite of over 40 years of 6-mercaptopurine application, many aspects of complex pharmacology and metabolism of this drug remain unclear. It is thought that 6- mercaptopurine is oxidized to the inactive metabolite, 6-thiouric acid through 6-thioxanthine or 8-oxo-6-mercaptopurine in its catabolic metabolic pathways. Although this oxidative deactivation of 6-mercaptopurine has been attributed to the action of one of two molybdenum hydroxylases, xanthine oxidase, the role of other molybdenum hydroxylase, aldehyde oxidase, in the oxidation of 6-mercaptopurine has not been investigated in more details. In the present study, the role of aldehyde oxi'dase and xanthine oxidase in the oxidation of 6-mercaptopurine has been investigated. 6-Mercaptopurine was incubated with bovine milk xanthine oxidase or partially purified guinea pig liver molybdenum hydroxylase fractions and the reactions were monitored by spectrophotometric and HPLC methods in the absence and presence of xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, and some aldehyde oxidase inhibitors. Xanthine oxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 6-mercaptopurine was completely inhibited by allopurinol with aldehyde oxidase inhibitors having no significant inhibitory effects. With guinea pig liver fractions, however, the initial oxidation rate of 6-mercaptopurine was inhibited by 39-66% in the presence of allopurinol and aldehyde oxidase inhibitor. The HPLC analysis of the reaction was indicative of oxidative conversion of 6-mercaptopurine to 6-thiouric acid through 6-thioxanthine. The oxidation of 6- mercaptopurine was inhibited by >90% and 45-49% in the presence of allopurinol and aldehyde oxidase inhibitors, respectively. Based on the results obtained, it may be suggested that 6-mercaptopurine is oxidized by both molybdenum hydroxylases to 6-thiouric acid through 6-thioxanthine. The first reaction which is the rate limiting step is catalyzed by xanthine oxidase, whereas the second reaction is catalyzed by both molybdenum hydroxylases.

Background: With respect to the prevalence of leishmaniosis in our country and the problems occurred in the therapeutic approaches and also with respect to the previous successful reports of paromomycin efficacy in this regard, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of paromomycin and gentamicine sulphate on promastigotes of Leishmania major. Materials and methods: It was an experimental study. The base of films composed of ethyl cellulose and HPMC (hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose) containing paromomycin 15% and gentamicine 0.5%. To determine the rate and duration release from the films and its killing effects on leishmania promastigotes, a cloning system of parasite was established by using a set of modified NNN medium without liquid layer. The medium plates were divided in 3 groups, the media contain of drug films, placebo films, and media containing no film. Results: results showed no colonies of Leishmania in a 30mm radius envelop the drug films. On the other hand, grown colonies of Leishmania promastigotes were found in placebo and control plates. Frequency of dead parasites were 98% and 5% in the placebo-control plates and drug plates, respectively (p<0.000). Conclusion: Paromomycin and gentamicine drug films have good potential of drug releasing and suitable killing effects in vitro condition. It is suggested that the therapeutic effect of this new form of drug be achieved in human models.