The functional significance of upregulation miR-34a in combination with albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles in U251 glioblastoma cell line has been evaluated. The MTT assay determined that miR-34a and albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles can reduce cell viability, but the combination of both factors has a stronger effect on cell viability. The application of qRT-PCR has demonstrated that the transduction of miR-34a could lead to exogenous upregulation of miR-34a level and downregulation of SURVIVIN. Moreover, treatment of U251 cells with miR-34a and nanoparticles together considerably inhibit SURVIVIN expression compared to miR-34a and nanoparticles alone. Flow cytometry showed that upon miR-34a overexpression cell cycle arrested in G1 phase, while treatment with nanoparticles increased the cell population in G2 phase. Upregulation of miR-34a along with treatment with nanoparticles elevated the number of cells arrested in G1/ G2 phases of the cell cycle. Expression of miR-34a with albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles reduced cell viability, downregulated SURVIVIN and enhanced cell cycle arrest in G1/G2 phases. Thus, the upregulation of miR-34a with these nanoparticles are potential candidates therapeutic for glioblastoma cancer.

Citral is a small molecule present in various citrus species, with reported anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-inflammation effects. Here, the effect of intraperitoneal (IP) administration of citral is evaluated in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatosis. Male NMRI mice were divided into the following groups (n = 12): normal control group (NC) receiving a normal diet; high-fat emulsion group (HF) receiving high fat diet for four weeks; positive control group (C+) receiving HF diet for four weeks and then shifted to normal diet with IP-administered silymarin (80 mg/kg) for four weeks; sham group receiving HF diet for four weeks and then shifted to normal diet for four weeks; and EC1, EC2, and EC3 groups receiving HF diet for four weeks and then shifted to normal diet with IP-administered citral doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively. HF diet resulted in steatohepatitis with impaired lipid profile, high glucose levels and insulin resistance, impaired liver enzymes, antioxidants, adiponectin and leptin levels, decreased PPARα level, and fibrosis in the liver tissue. Upon treatment with citral, improvement in condition was observed in a dose-dependent manner-both at histological level and in the serum of treated animals. and the PPARα level was also increased.