title: Mistletoe and Garlic Extracts as Polyurethane Carriers - A Possible Remedy for Choroidal Melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma is known as the most dangerous form of skin cancer; whereas the malignant choroidal melanoma is an orphan disease known as the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Literature suggests that the consumption of garlic and mistletoe leads to a reduced risk of developing cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was the obtaining and the characterization of polymer structures containing mistletoe or garlic extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  The structures were obtained in a polyaddition process combined with a spontaneous emulsification; they were characterized by pH, size, Zeta potential and DSC measurements, evaluation of encapsulation efficacy, penetrability through membranes and in vitro cytotoxicity tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The microstructures present sizes between 1.05 and 2.60 µm and Zeta potentials between -7 and +36 mV. A good encapsulation was observed on different evaluations (88-92%). It was determined that approx. 30% of polymer microstructures containing vegetal extracts pass through an artificial membrane in 4 days. An in vitro cytotoxicity test revealed that these products are safe for administration. The analysis of antitumor efficacy indicates that garlic extracts have important effects after 48 and 72 hours on A375 cells; however, polymer microstructures with herbal extracts did not reveal antiproliferative activities on A375 cells because these polymer structures present a slow degradation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sterile eye drops solutions based on polymer microstructures containing garlic or mistletoe extracts were obtained; the sample based on garlic extracts may be used in the pharmaceutical field as drug carrier with an antiproliferative effect which occurs after a prolong period.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of General Medicine, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine, "Vasile Goldis" University, Arad, Arad. Romania.
authors.forename: Melania F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Munteanu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of General Medicine, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine, "Vasile Goldis" University, Arad, Arad. Romania.
authors.forename: Aurel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardelean
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara. Romania.
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borcan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of General Medicine, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine, "Vasile Goldis" University, Arad, Arad. Romania.
authors.forename: Svetlana I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Trifunschi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of General Medicine, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine, "Vasile Goldis" University, Arad, Arad. Romania.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gligor
authors.affiliation: Faculty of General Medicine, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine, "Vasile Goldis" University, Arad, Arad. Romania.
authors.forename: Simona A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ardelean
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara. Romania.
authors.forename: Dorina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coricovac
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara. Romania.
authors.forename: Iulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pinzaru
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara. Romania.
authors.forename: Florina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrica
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara. Romania.
authors.forename: Livia-Cristina
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Borcan
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D014784:Mistletoe / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011140:Polyurethanes
keywords: A375 cells; DSC; HPLC; Zeta potential; drug delivery; mesenchymal stem cells