Background Immunotherapy, during which the immune system of the patient is manipulated to act against tumors has been among the most successful methods in the treatment of breast cancer, a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Objectives To investigate the immunotherapeutic efficacy of Lactobacillus casei lysate as an adjuvant in combination with a heated-4T1 mammary carcinoma cell lysate in a model of breast cancer. Methods After ethics committee approval of all animal procedures, a murine model of breast cancer was induced in BALB/c mice using 4T1 cells. These mice were immunized with a combination of lysates of heated 4T1 cells and L. casei. Subsequent changes in tumor size and weight, and the production of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-12, IL-17, and IL13 were measured. Lung weights were measured as an indicator of metastasis to other organs. Results The tumor size and weight in mice immunized with the combined vaccine were significantly reduced compared with controls. The combined immunotherapy altered the pattern of cytokine production to the advantage of antitumor immunity, and was significantly more potent than immunization with heated-4T1-cell lysate or L. casei lysate alone. Conclusions Coadministration of L. casei lysate enhanced the immunotherapeutic efficacy of the heated-4T1-cell lysate as a source of tumor-associated antigens. L. casei can potentially be used as an adjuvant combined with sources of tumor antigens in the treatment of cancers, and as a safe alternative to the current adjuvants that cause greater irritation to hosts. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanisms underlying these effects.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly spread worldwide. The exact mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not fully understood. In addition to classical treatment, herbal medicine may effectively manage COVID-19 symptoms and supportive therapy. Scrophularia striata Boiss is a perennial herbaceous plant with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The extract of S. striata Boiss has revealed immunomodulatory effects on reducing T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-5, that may be used to manage allergic diseases and asthma. Scrophularia striata Boiss reduces IL-4, and IL-5 may alleviate allergic diseases and asthma. The ethyl acetate extract of S. striata Boiss inhibits the production of IL-1β, TNF-α, and PGE2. Quercetin inhibits proinflammatory mediators while increasing anti-inflammatory mediators. Ethanolic extract of S. striata can significantly reduce NO production in the isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, S. striata Boiss has 3 essential flavonoids: quercetin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, and nepitrin. Of them, quercetin inhibits TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2, COX-2, and NO, whereas increases anti-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, S. striata Boiss is recommended for clinical trial studies in patients with COVID-19 and other viral diseases.

Considering the high rates of global antimicrobial resistance, researchers are looking for new ways to deal with the resistance. Therefore, this study is aimed at analyzing the bioactive compounds and antimicrobial effects of honey and alcoholic extracts of Zataria multiflora and Black cardamom. The mixture of honey (30%) and alcoholic extracts of Zataria multiflora (35%) and Black cardamom (35%) as named F6 revealed the antibacterial activity against three tested bacteria ( MIC = 1000  μg/ml). Thymol, resorcinol, and phenol, 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl, 3,7-octadiene-2, 6-diol, 2, 6-dimethyl) were identified as potential antimicrobial agents using GC-MS. The F6 toxicity to RBCs and HEK293 human cells was 11.13 and 13.84 times lower for Triton X-100 toxicity (95%), respectively. We concluded that F6 has the best antibacterial activity against E. coli and less toxicity against tested eukaryotic cells due to the presence of chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, thymol, and resorcinol.