Phytoestrogens for AntiAging

Phytoestrogens are naturally occuring non-steroidal plant-originated substances that exhibit oestrogen-like bioactivity in human body. In recent years, phytoestrogens have created much interest among the pharmaceutical industry, in an attempt to find effective alternatives to hormon replacement therapy (HRT) as man), women are reluctant. to take estrogenic drugs because of side effects. Therefore, the sales of phytopharmaceuticals containing soy (Glycine max), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) extracts has increased in many countries. Apart from their estrogenic properties, phytoestrogens particularly isoflavones have antioxidant effects due to their polyphenolic structure. Isoflavones can prevent oxidative DNA damage by their free radical scavenging activity. It is known that antioxidants are defensive against aging and degenerative diseases of aging such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Phytoestrogens have also been effective for preventing human skin carcinogenesis and skin ageing

Antimicrobial activity of four annual Papaver species growing in Turkey

The extracts obtained from aerial parts of four annual Papaver (Papaveraceae) species from sections Argemonidium (P. argemone L. subsp. davisii Kadereit) and Rhoeadium (P. clavatum Boiss. & Hausskn. ex Boiss., R dubium L. subsp. lecoqii var. lecoqii (Lamotte) Syme Kadereit and P rhoeas L.) have been investigated for antimicrobial activity using a microbroth dilution technique. The antimicrobial activity of these species is reported for the first time. The petroleum ether and diethyl ether extracts of R dubium subsp. lecoqii showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 9.76 and 19.52 mu g/mL, respectively). The diethyl ether and chloroform extracts of P. argemone subsp. davisii and diethyl ether, chloroform and acetone extracts of P. rhoeas had activity against S. aureus with a MIC value of 39.06 mu g/mL