Phytochemical Profiles, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Traditional Medicinal Plants: Centaurea pichleri subsp. pichleri, Conyza canadensis, and Jasminum fruticans

Centaurea pichleri subsp. pichleri, Conyza canadensis, and Jasminum fruticans are traditionally used plants grown in Turkey. Methanol extracts were obtained from these plants and pharmacological activity studies and phytochemical analyses were carried out. To evaluate the phytochemical composition, spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques were used. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant activity by DPPH●, ABTS●+ radical scavenging, and FRAP assays. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts were investigated on DU145 prostate cancer and A549 lung cancer cell lines. The anti-inflammatory effects of extracts were investigated on the NO amount, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and PGE 2 levels in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. The richest extract in terms of phenolic compounds (98.19 ± 1.64 mgGAE/gextract) and total flavonoids (21.85 ± 0.64 mgCA/gextract) was identified as C. pichleri subsp. pichleri methanol extract. According to antioxidant activity determinations, the C. pichleri subsp. pichleri extract was found to be the most active extract. Finally, the C. pichleri subsp. pichleri methanol extract was revealed to be the most effective inhibitor of viability in the cytotoxic activity investigation, and the extract with the best anti-inflammatory action. The findings point to C. pichleri subsp. pichleri as a promising source of bioactive compounds in the transition from natural sources to industrial uses, such as new medications, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals

Management of Wheat Stripe Rust and Septoria Leaf Blotch with Cultural Practices and Fungicides Using Disease Prediction

Aim of this study was to control of stripe rust and Septoria leaf blotch diseases in cultivars Panda, Seri-82, Ka"S"/nak and Seyhan 95 with planting rate, nitrogen fertilization and fungicide applications using disease prediction. Climatic data for Cukurova Region in 1995-1999 growth seasons were analyzed in terms of stripe rust and Septoria leaf blotch. Total days that the minimum temperature was less than 4.4 °C and 7 °C, degree days, rainy days and total rain in the periods of February 15-April 15, December-April, and December-February of each year were taken account for prediction of wheat stripe rust and Septoria leaf blotch diseases. It was predicted that when total days that the minimum temperature less than 4.4 °C and 7 °C in December-February were 20 and 50, respectively, while degree days 930, rainy days 32-34, total rain 300-400 mm in addition 10 rainy days would be in March and April, stripe rust and Septoria leaf blotch would be epidemic in that season. Seri-82 was found the most susceptible cultivar to stripe rust with average 4% disease incidence on the first two leaves. However, cultivar Panda was resistant to stripe rust and Septoria leaf blotch with 0.1% and 0.8% disease severity, respectively. Seyhan 95, Seri-82 and Ka"S"/nak were susceptible to Septoria leaf blotch with 9.6%, 7.9% and 7.7% disease severity, respectively. Application of fungicides propiconazole at the dosage of 500 ml/ha or propiconazole (15%)+ difenoconazole (15%) at the dosage of 600 ml/ha in late February-early March reduced stripe rust on Seri-82 at 59% and Septoria leaf blotch on Seri-82, Seyhan 95, and Ka"S"/nak at 38.7%, 38.5% and 28.7%, respectively. One fungicide application improved the yield of Seri-82, Seyhan 95 and Ka"S"/nak by 470-628 kg/ha

Is emodin with anticancer effects completely innocent? Two sides of the coin

Many anticancer active compounds are known to have the capacity to destroy pathologically proliferating cancer cells in the body, as well as to destroy rapidly proliferating normal cells. Despite remarkable advances in cancer research over the past few decades, the inclusion of natural compounds in researches as potential drug candidates is becoming increasingly important. However, the perception that the natural is reliable is an issue that needs to be clarified. Among the various chemical classes of natural products, anthraquinones have many biological activities and have also been proven to exhibit a unique anticancer activity. Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative, is a natural compound found in the roots and rhizomes of many plants. The anticancer property of emodin, a broad‐spectrum inhibitory agent of cancer cells, has been detailed in many biological pathways. In cancer cells, these molecular mechanisms consist of suppressing cell growth and proliferation through the attenuation of oncogenic growth signaling, such as protein kinase B (AKT), mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), HER‐2 tyrosine kinase, Wnt/‐catenin, and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K). However, it is known that emodin, which shows toxicity to cancer cells, may cause kidney toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity especially at high doses and long‐term use. At the same time, studies of emodin, which has poor oral bioavailability, to transform this disadvantage into an advantage with nano‐carrier systems reveal that natural compounds are not always directly usable compounds. Consequently, this review aimed to shed light on the anti‐proliferative and anti‐carcinogenic properties of emodin, as well as its potential toxicities and the advantages of drug delivery systems on bioavailability

Bioactive compounds: a goldmine for defining new strategies against pathogenic bacterial biofilms?

Most human infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms growing as biofilms. These three-dimensional self-organized communities are embedded in a dense matrix allowing microorganisms to persistently inhabit abiotic and biotic surfaces due to increased resistance to both antibiotics and effectors of the immune system. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel strategies to control biofilm-associated infections. Natural products offer a vast array of chemical structures and possess a wide variety of biological properties; therefore, they have been and continue to be exploited in the search for potential biofilm inhibitors with a specific or multi-locus mechanism of action. This review provides an updated discussion of the major bioactive compounds isolated from several natural sources - such as plants, lichens, algae, microorganisms, animals, and humans - with the potential to inhibit biofilm formation and/or to disperse established biofilms by bacterial pathogens. Despite the very large number of bioactive products, their exact mechanism of action often remains to be clarified and, in some cases, the identity of the active molecule is still unknown. This knowledge gap should be filled thus allowing development of these products not only as novel drugs to combat bacterial biofilms, but also as antibiotic adjuvants to restore the therapeutic efficacy of current antibiotics

Association of calcium channel blocker use with lower hemoglobin levels in chronic kidney disease

AIM: To search whether calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are associated with lower hemoglobin levels in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who are not on renal replacement therapy (RRT), vitamin D and anti-anemic treatment

Relation between Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Genotypes and Oxidative Stress Markers in Larynx Cancer

Nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/NOS3) is responsible for the endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide (NO•). G894T polymorphism leads to the amino acid substitution from Glu298Asp that causes lower NOS3 activity and basal NO• production in NOS3 894T (298Asp) allele carriers compared with the GG homozygotes. NO• acts as an antioxidant protecting against Fenton’s reaction which generates highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. Allelic variation of NOS3 may influence an individual’s risk of laryngeal cancer (LC). In the current study we have examined the possible relationship between NOS3 G894T genotypes and various systemic oxidative damage markers such as protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein products, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, thiol group fractions, and lipid hydroperoxides in LC patients. Genotyping was carried out by PCR-RFLP. In LC patients with TT genotype, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase activities and nonprotein thiol levels were significantly higher than the controls. In patients with GT and GG genotype, high levels of lipid hydroperoxides showed statistical significance when compared to controls. Our results indicate a potential relationship among G894T polymorphism of NOS3, and impaired redox homeostasis. Further studies are required to determine the role of NOS3 gene polymorphism and impaired plasma redox homeostasis

Serum endocan levels in women with restless legs syndrome

Kenan Celik,1 Mehmet A Cikrikcioglu,1 Gulistan Halac,2 Elif Kilic,3 Siddika Ayhan,3 Nihal Ozaras,4 Kemal Yildiz,5 Rabia S Yildiz,1 Mehmet Zorlu,1 Cumali Karatoprak,1 Mustafa Cakirca,1 Muharrem Kiskac1 1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Neurology, 3Department of Biochemistry, 4Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Fatih, 5Department of Internal Medicine, Private Medicana International Istanbul Hospital, Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, Turkey Background: Endocan is a recently introduced marker of endothelial dysfunction. The objective of this study was to compare serum endocan levels in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and control subjects in order to elucidate whether RLS is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Methods: A total of 31 drug naïve female patients with RLS and 31 age- and BMI-matched women were included in the study. Patients with pathological or physiological conditions or with a history of medication use that could potentially influence endothelial functions were excluded, as well as those with alcohol or drug abuse history. The two groups were compared with routine blood tests and serum endocan levels. Results: Patients with RLS had lower serum endocan levels than the controls (P=0.037). There was a negative bivariate correlation between RLS severity score and serum endocan levels (r=-0.406, P=0.023). While white blood cell count was significantly higher in RLS group, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, vitamin B12, transferrin saturation rate, and HDL-cholesterol were significantly lower. Creatininemia and diastolic blood pressure were also marginally insignificantly lower in RLS group. Due to the presence of differences between two groups in these variables, a linear regression analysis was performed that showed a positive association between endocan and creatininemia (β=0.310, P=0.022), and a negative association between endocan and RLS (β=-0.502, P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study seem to suggest that patients with RLS may have better endothelial functions when compared with the general population and that these patients may be better protected against atherosclerosis. Keywords: endocan, restless legs syndrome, RLS, atherosclerosis, endothelial&nbsp

Relation between Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Genotypes and Oxidative Stress Markers in Larynx Cancer

Nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/NOS3) is responsible for the endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide (NO center dot). G894T polymorphism leads to the amino acid substitution from Glu298Asp that causes lower NOS3 activity and basal NO center dot production in NOS3 894T (298 Asp) allele carriers compared with the GG homozygotes. NO center dot acts as an antioxidant protecting against Fenton's reaction which generates highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. Allelic variation of NOS3 may influence an individual's risk of laryngeal cancer (LC). In the current study we have examined the possible relationship between NOS3 G894T genotypes and various systemic oxidative damage markers such as protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein products, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, thiol group fractions, and lipid hydroperoxides in LC patients. Genotyping was carried out by PCR-RFLP. In LC patients with TT genotype, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase activities and nonprotein thiol levels were significantly higher than the controls. In patients with GT and GG genotype, high levels of lipid hydroperoxides showed statistical significance when compared to controls. Our results indicate a potential relationship among G894T polymorphism of NOS3, and impaired redox homeostasis. Further studies are required to determine the role of NOS3 gene polymorphism and impaired plasma redox homeostasis