<p><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT"> <p align="left">Apoptosis is a process in which a cell programmes its own death. It is a highly organized physiological mechanism in which injured or damaged cells are destroyed. Apart from physiological stimuli however, exogenous factors can induce apoptosis. Many anti-cancer drugs work by activating apoptosis in cancer cells. Natural substances have been found to have the ability to induce apoptosis in various tumour cells and these substances have been used as templates for the construction of novel lead compounds in anticancer treatment. On the other hand, alkylating agents such as cisplatin, cis- [PtCl2 (NH3) 2]have been widely used as antineoplastic agents for a wide variety of cancers including testicular, ovarian, neck and head cancers, amongst others. However, the use of cisplatin as an anticancer agent is limited due to toxicity and resistance problems. <font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">The aim of this present study was to screen the leaves of </font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">Rhus laevigata</font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">, a South African indigenous plant, for the presence of pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative natural compounds and also to screen newly synthesised palladium based complexes (15 and 57) and a platinum based complex (58) for their antineoplastic activities tested against a panel of cell lines.</font></i></p> </font><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT"> <p align="left">&nbsp / </p> </font></b></p>

<p><b><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT"> <p align="left">Apoptosis is a process in which a cell programmes its own death. It is a highly organized physiological mechanism in which injured or damaged cells are destroyed. Apart from physiological stimuli however, exogenous factors can induce apoptosis. Many anti-cancer drugs work by activating apoptosis in cancer cells. Natural substances have been found to have the ability to induce apoptosis in various tumour cells and these substances have been used as templates for the construction of novel lead compounds in anticancer treatment. On the other hand, alkylating agents such as cisplatin, cis- [PtCl2 (NH3) 2]have been widely used as antineoplastic agents for a wide variety of cancers including testicular, ovarian, neck and head cancers, amongst others. However, the use of cisplatin as an anticancer agent is limited due to toxicity and resistance problems. <font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">The aim of this present study was to screen the leaves of </font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">Rhus laevigata</font><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT">, a South African indigenous plant, for the presence of pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative natural compounds and also to screen newly synthesised palladium based complexes (15 and 57) and a platinum based complex (58) for their antineoplastic activities tested against a panel of cell lines.</font></i></p> </font><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT"> <p align="left">&nbsp / </p> </font></b></p>