Background: Beta-mangostin (BM) is a xanthone-type of natural compound isolated from Cratoxylum arborescens. This study aimed to examine the apoptosis mechanisms induced by BM in a murine monomyelocytic cell line (WEHI-3) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: A WEHI-3 cell line was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of BM by MTT. AO/PI and Hoechst 33342 dyes, Annexin V, multiparametric cytotoxicity 3 by high content screening (HCS); cell cycle tests were used to estimate the features of apoptosis and BM effects. Caspase 3 and 9 activities, ROS, western blot for Bcl2, and Bax were detected to study the mechanism of apoptosis. BALB/c mice injected with WEHI-3 cells were used to assess the apoptotic effect of BM in vivo. Results: BM suppressed the growth of WEHI-3 cells at an IC50 value of 14 +/- 3 mu g/mL in 24 h. The ROS production was increased inside the cells in the treated doses. Both caspases (9 and 3) were activated in treating WEHI-3 cells at 24, 48 and 72 h. Different signs of apoptosis were detected, such as cell membrane blebbing, DNA segmentation and changes in the asymmetry of the cell membrane. Another action by which BM could inhibit WEHI-3 cells is to restrain the cell cycle at the G(1)/G(0) phase. In the in vivo study, BM reduced the destructive effects of leukaemia on the spleen and liver by inducing apoptosis in leukaemic cells. Conclusion: BM exerts anti-leukaemic properties in vitro and in vivo.

Natural medicinal products possess diverse chemical structures and have been an essential source for drug discovery. Therefore, in this study, a-mangostin (AM) is a plant-derived compound was investigated for the apoptotic effect on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The cytotoxic effects of AM on the viability of HeLa and human normal ovarian cell line (SV40) were evaluated by using MTT assay. Results showed that AM inhibited HeLa cells viability at concentration- and time-dependent manner with IC50 value of 24.53 +/- 1.48 mu M at 24 h. The apoptogenic effects of AM on HeLa were assessed using fluorescence microscopy analysis. The effect of AM on cell proliferation was also studied through clonogenic assay. ROS production evaluation, flow cytometry (cell cycle) analysis, caspases 3/7, 8, and 9 assessment and multiple cytotoxicity assays were conducted to determine the mechanism of cell apoptosis. This was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and elevation in ROS production. AM induced mitochondrial apoptosis which was confirmed based on the significant increase in the levels of caspases 3/7 and 9 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the MMP disruption and increased cell permeability, concurrent with cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol provided evidence that AM can induce apoptosis via mitochondrial-dependent pathway. AM exerted a remarkable antitumor effect and induced characteristic apoptogenic morphological changes on HeLa cells, which indicates the occurrence of cell death. This study reveals that AM could be a potential antitumor compound on cervical cancer in vitro and can be considered for further cervical cancer preclinical and in vivo testing.

The number of adolescents involved in premarital sex has been increasing each year. This study intends to examine the relationship between Islamic moral values and the coping strategies among female adolescents involved in premarital sex. The participants in this study were 238 inmates from four government rehabilitation centres. Moral Values Inventory for Muslim Adolescences (MVIMA) and Coping Strategy Inventory were used in this study. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics. For inferential data, the Pearson Correlation was used. The findings of showed a significant relationship between coping strategies and moral values among adolescences involved in pre-marital sex. The results of this study suggest that female adolescents and their parents should receive sex education as an early measure to prevent premarital sex and the diseases related to it. Thus, this study emphasises the need to design prevention and rehabilitation programs for high-risk teenagers. Teenagers need to develop positive self-respect and self-esteem as well as coping strategy through assertive training. This study addresses the limitations of data collection from rehabilitation centres under the provision of Social Welfare Department. Thus, future study should include shelter homes for teenage pregnant girls run by the non-government organizations. Future studies should also include qualitative approaches to increase our understanding of premarital sex among teenage girls and help them develop positive coping strategies in the process of recovering. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Islam is an official religion in Malaysia, and premarital sex is absolutely forbidden in Islam. Despite being an Islamic country the number of adolescents involved in premarital sex has increased each year. This study intends to find the relationship between Islamic moral values and the coping strategies among female adolescents involved in premarital sex. The study explores the demographic and the psychological profile of the participants of the study. The subject of this study consists of 238 occupants from four government shelter and rehabilitation homes. Moral Values Inventory for Muslim Adolescences (MVIMA) and Coping Strategy Inventory (adapted and translated into Malay Version from Spanish Version of Coping Strategies) were used in this study. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics. For inferential data, the Pearson Correlation was used. Findings of the research show that there is a significant relationship between coping strategies and moral values among adolescences involved in pre-marital sex. The result of this study gives the implication that the female adolescent and their parents should be equipped with sex education as an early measure to prevent premarital sex and the diseases related to it. The implication of this study reflects the need of prevention and also rehabilitation programs to high risk group teenagers. Teenagers need to develop positive values toward self-respect and self-esteem as well as coping strategy through assertive training. This study addresses the limitations of data collection from rehabilitation centres under the provision of Social Welfare Department. Thus future study should include shelter home for teenage pregnant girls run by the non-government organizations. Future studies should also include qualitative approaches for more in-depth understanding of premarital sex among teenage girls in developing positive coping strategies in the process of recovering. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Islam is an official religion in Malaysia, and premarital sex is absolutely forbidden in Islam. Despite being an Islamic country the number of adolescent involves in premarital sex is increasing each year. This study intends to find the relationship between Islamic moral value and coping strategies among female adolescents involved in premarital sex. The study explores the demographic and the psychological profile of the participants of the study. The subject of this study consists of 238 occupants from four government's shelter and rehabilitation home. Moral Values Inventory for Muslim Adolescences (MVIMA) and Coping Strategy Inventory (adapted and translated into Malay Version from Spanish Version of Coping Strategies) were used in this study. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and for inferential data Pearson Correlation was used. Finding of the research shows that there is a significant relationship between coping strategies and moral values among adolescences involved in pre marital sex. The result of this study give the implication that the female adolescent and their parents should be given with sex education as an early measures to prevent premarital sex and the disease related to it. The implication of this study reflects the need of prevention and also rehabilitation program to high risk group teenagers. Teenagers need to develop positive values toward self-respect and self-esteem as well as coping strategy through assertive training. This study addresses the limitation of data collection from rehabilitation centres under the provision of Social Welfare Department. Thus future study should include shelter home for teenage pregnant girls run by the non government organization. Future study should also include qualitative approach to have in-depth understanding of premarital among teenage girls develop positive coping strategies in the process of recovering. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Plagioneurin B belongs to acetogenin group has well-established class of compounds. Acetogenin group has attracted worldwide attention in the past few years due their biological abilities as inhibitors for several types of tumour cells. Plagioneurin B was isolated via conventional chromatography and tested for thorough mechanistic apoptosis activity on human ovarian cancer cells (CAOV-3). Its structure was also docked at several possible targets using Autodock tools software. Our findings showed that plagioneurin B successfully inhibits the growth of CAOV-3 cells at IC50 of 0.62 A mu M. The existence of apoptotic bodies, cell membrane blebbing and chromatin condensation indicated the hallmark of apoptosis. Increase of Annexin V-FITC bound to phosphatidylserine confirmed the apoptosis induction in the cells. The apoptosis event was triggered through the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways via activation of caspases 8 and 9, respectively. Stimulation of caspase 3 and the presence of DNA ladder suggested downstream apoptotic signalling were initiated. Further confirmation of apoptosis was conducted at the molecular levels where up-regulation in Bax, as well as down-regulation of Bcl-2, Hsp-70 and survivin were observed. Plagioneurin B was also seen to arrest CAOV-3 cells cycle at the G2/M phase. Docking simulation of plagioneurin B with CD95 demonstrated that the high binding affinity and hydrogen bonds formation may explain the capability of plagioneurin B to trigger apoptosis. This study is therefore importance in finding the effective compound that may offer an alternative drug for ovarian cancer treatment.