Modulating Polyphenol Activity with Metal Ions: Insights into Dermatological Applications.

Background: The skin represents the first barrier of defense, and its integrity is crucial for overall health. Skin wounds present a considerable risk seeing how their progression is rapid and sometimes they are caused by comorbidities like diabetes and venous diseases. Nutraceutical combinations like the ones between polyphenols and metal ions present considerable applications thanks to their increased bioavailability and their ability to modulate intrinsic molecular pathways.

Turkish Plants, Including Quercetin and Oenothein B, Inhibit the HIV-1 Release and Accelerate Cell Apoptosis.

The introduction of combined anti-retroviral therapy (cART) in 1996, along with a continual breakthrough in anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) drugs, has improved the life expectancies of HIV-1-infected individuals. However, the incidence of drug-resistant viruses between individuals undergoing cART and treatment-naïve individuals is a common challenge. Therefore, there is a requirement to explore potential drug targets by considering various stages of the viral life cycle.

Comparative biological analyses on kenger and kenger coffee as novel functional food products.

Abstract: The current research was conducted to investigate neuroprotective, anticancer, antiproliferative and apoptotic DNA fragmentation potentials of the extracts obtained from aerial-parts, raw-fruits, and coffee samples (prepared by roasting and boiled-roasting) of kenger ( var. . Neuroprotection capacities of the samples were screened against enzymes that are linked to the progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Effects of the Bark Resin Extract of on Chronic Stress-Induced Memory Deficit in Mice Model and the In Vitro Monoamine Oxidases and β-Amyloid Aggregation Inhibitory Activities of Its Prenylated Xanthone Constituents.

The present study describes investigation of the effects of the bark resin extract of (Clusiaceae) on the cognitive function and the induction of oxidative stress in both frontal cortex and hippocampus by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). By using behavioral mouse models, i.e.

Uncommon Terpenoids from Species: Chemistry, Biosynthesis and Biological Activities.

The search for new bioactive compounds from plant sources has been and continues to be one of the most important fields of research in drug discovery. However, Natural Products research has continuously evolved, and more and more has gained a multidisciplinary character. Despite new developments of methodologies and concepts, one intriguing aspect still persists, i.

Antidementia Effects of in Ovariectomized Mice Supported by NMR-Based Metabolomic Analysis.

The crude ethanol extract of the whole plant of (Mart.) Griseb was investigated for its potential as antidementia, induced by estrogen deprivation, based on in vitro antioxidant activity, β-amyloid aggregation inhibition and cholinesterase inhibitory activity, as well as in vivo Morris water maze task (MWMT), novel object recognition task (NORT), and Y-maze task. To better understand the effect of the extract, oxidative stress-induced brain membrane damage through lipid peroxidation in the whole brain was also investigated.

Natural Products from Medicinal Plants with Anti-Human Coronavirus Activities.

Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, COVID-19 has spread to all the continents at an unprecedented pace. This pandemic has caused not only hundreds of thousands of mortalities but also a huge economic setback throughout the world. Therefore, the scientific communities around the world have focused on finding antiviral therapeutic agents to either fight or halt the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Phytochemical Analysis and Habitat Suitability Mapping of L. Collected in the Hatay Region of Turkey.

The growth and quality of licorice depend on various environmental factors, including the local climate and soil properties; therefore, its cultivation is often unsuccessful. The current study investigated the key factors that affect the contents of bioactive compounds of L. root and estimated suitable growth zones from collection sites in the Hatay region of Turkey.

Anticancer activity of Turkish marine extracts: a purple sponge extract induces apoptosis with multitarget kinase inhibition activity.

Marine natural products have drawn a great deal of attention as a vital source of new drugs for the last five decades. However, marine organisms in the seas surrounding Turkey (the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea) haven't been yet extensively explored. In the present study, three marine organisms (Dysidea avara, Microcosmus sabatieri and Echinaster sepositus) were sampled from the Dardanelles (Turkish Straits System, Western Turkey) by scientific divers, transferred to the laboratory and then were extracted with 70% ethanol.

Effects of Puerarin on the Ovariectomy-Induced Depressive-Like Behavior in ICR Mice and Its Possible Mechanism of Action.

Daily treatment of ovariectomized (OVX) ICR mice with puerarin, a glycosyl isoflavone isolated from the root bark of var. , and 17β-estradiol attenuated ovariectomy-induced depression-like behavior, as indicated by a decrease in immobility times in the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST), an increase in the uterine weight and volume, a decrease in serum corticosterone levels, and dose-dependently normalized the downregulated transcription of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and estrogen receptor (Erβ and Erα) mRNAs. Like 17β-estradiol, puerarin also inhibited ovariectomy-induced suppression of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (increased the number of doublecortin (DCX)-immunosuppressive cells).

Antileukemic Activity of Twig Components of Caucasian Beech in Turkey.

Despite the development of a range of anti-cancer agents, cancer diagnoses are still increasing in number, remaining a leading cause of death. Anticancer drug treatment is particularly important for leukemia. We screened Turkish plants and found the unique antileukemic activity of twig components in Turkish Caucasian beech, selectively inducing apoptosis in leukemia cells.

Effects of the Ethanol Extract of Dipterocarpus alatus Leaf on the Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Depression in ICR Mice and Its Possible Mechanism of Action.

Treatment of the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mice with the ethanol extract of Dipterocarpus alatus leaf attenuated anhedonia (increased sucrose preference) and behavioral despair (decreased immobility time in tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST)). The extract not only decreased the elevation of serum corticosterone level and the index of over-activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, caused by UCMS, but also ameliorated UCMS-induced up-regulation of serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) mRNA expression and down-regulation of cyclic AMP-responsive element binding (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNAs in frontal cortex and hippocampus. In vitro monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition assays showed that the extract exhibited the partial selective inhibition on MAO-A.

Chemical Diversity and Biological Activities of Marine Sponges of the Genus : A Systematic Review.

Marine natural products (MNPs) continue to be in the spotlight in the global drug discovery endeavor. Currently, more than 30,000 structurally diverse secondary metabolites from marine sources have been isolated, making MNPs a profound, renewable source to investigate novel drug compounds. Marine sponges of the genus (family: Aplysinellidae) are recognized as producers of bromotyrosine derivatives, which are considered distinct chemotaxonomic markers for the marine sponges belonging to the order Verongida.

Current Perspectives in the Application of Medicinal Plants Against Cancer: Novel Therapeutic Agents.

Background: Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation. It has become a major health problem in the past decades and is now the second leading cause of death globally. Although, there are different types of treatment such as chemotherapy, immune therapy, radiation, hormone therapy and targeted therapy used against cancer, they have possible side effects and significant deficiencies.

Chemical Constituents and Antidepressant-Like Effects in Ovariectomized Mice of the Ethanol Extract of .

The previously unreported flavone glycoside, demethyltorosaflavone B () and the -propenoic acid substituted flavone, torosaflavone E (), were isolated together with nine previously reported metabolites, including indole-3-carbaldehyde, oleanonic acid, vanillic acid, -hydroxybenzoic acid, altheranthin (), alternanthin B (), demethyltorosaflavone D (), luteolin 8---propenoic acid () and chrysoeriol 7--rhamnoside (), from the ethanol extract of the aerial part of . The crude ethanol extract was evaluated for its in vitro estrogenic activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The crude ethanol extract was also investigated for its antidepressant-like effects on ovariectomized mice using tail suspension and forced swimming tests, while its effect on the locomotor activity was evaluated by a Y-maze test.

Chromone Derivatives and Other Constituents from Cultures of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus KUFA0220 and Their Antibacterial Activity.

A previously unreported chromene derivative, 1-hydroxy-12-methoxycitromycin (), and four previously undescribed chromone derivatives, including pyanochromone (), spirofuranochromone (), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-oxo-3-[(1)-3-oxobut-1-en-1-yl]-4-chromene-5-carboxylic acid (), a pyranochromone dimer () were isolated, together with thirteen known compounds: β-sitostenone, ergosterol 5,8-endoperoxide, citromycin (), 12-methoxycitromycin (), myxotrichin D (), 12-methoxycitromycetin (), anhydrofulvic acid (), myxotrichin C (), penialidin D (), penialidin F (), SPF-3059-30 (), GKK1032B () and secalonic acid A (), from cultures of the marine sponge- associated fungus KUFA0220. Compounds ⁻, , , , ⁻, were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference and multidrug-resistant strains isolated from the environment. Only exhibited an in vitro growth inhibition of all Gram-positive bacteria whereas showed growth inhibition of methicillin-resistant (MRSA).

Cuscuta arvensis Beyr "Dodder": In Vivo Hepatoprotective Effects Against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats.

Cuscuta arvensis Beyr. is a parasitic plant, and commonly known as "dodder" in Europe, in the United States, and "tu si zi shu" in China. It is one of the preferred spices used in sweet and savory dishes.

Bis-Indolyl Benzenoids, Hydroxypyrrolidine Derivatives and Other Constituents from Cultures of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Aspergillus candidus KUFA0062.

A previously unreported -indolyl benzenoid, candidusin D () and a new hydroxypyrrolidine alkaloid, preussin C () were isolated together with fourteen previously described compounds: palmitic acid, clionasterol, ergosterol 5,8-endoperoxides, chrysophanic acid (), emodin (), six -indolyl benzenoids including asterriquinol D dimethyl ether (), petromurin C (), kumbicin B (), kumbicin A (), 2″-oxoasterriquinol D methyl ether (), kumbicin D (), the hydroxypyrrolidine alkaloid preussin (), (3, 6)-3,6-dibenzylpiperazine-2,5-dione () and 4-(acetylamino) benzoic acid (), from the cultures of the marine sponge-associated fungus KUFA 0062. Compounds , , , , , and were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference and multidrug-resistant strains isolated from the environment. Only exhibited an inhibitory effect against ATCC 29213 and ATCC29212 as well as both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains.

A New Dihydrochromone Dimer and Other Secondary Metabolites from Cultures of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungi Neosartorya fennelliae KUFA 0811 and Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213.

A previously unreported dihydrochromone dimer, paecilin E (), was isolated, together with eleven known compounds: β-sitostenone, ergosta-4,6,8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one, cyathisterone, byssochlamic acid, dehydromevalonic acid lactone, chevalone B, aszonalenin, dankasterone A (), helvolic acid, secalonic acid A and fellutanine A, from the culture filtrate extract of the marine sponge-associated fungus KUFA 0811. Nine previously reported metabolites, including a chromanol derivative (), (3β, 5α, 22), 3,5-dihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (), byssochlamic acid, hopan-3β,22-diol, chevalone C, sartorypyrone B, helvolic acid, lumichrome and the alkaloid harmane were isolated from the culture of the marine-sponge associated fungus KUFC 9213. Paecilin E (), dankasterone A (), a chromanol derivative (), (3β, 5α, 22)-3,5-dihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (), hopan-3β,22-diol (), lumichrome (), and harmane () were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference and multidrug-resistant strains isolated from the environment.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the metabolites isolated from the culture of the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Eurotium chevalieri KUFA 0006.

Five previously undescribed metabolites, including acetylquestinol, two prenylated indole 3-carbaldehyde derivatives, an anthranilic acid derivative and an isochromone derivative, were isolated, in addition to eleven known compounds: palmitic acid, ergosterol 5,8-endoperoxide, emodin, physcion, questin, questinol, (11S, 14R)-cyclo(tryptophylvalyl), preechinulin, neoechinulin E, echinulin and eurocristatine, from the culture of the endophytic fungus Eurotium chevalieri KUFA 0006. The structures of the previously undescribed compounds were established based on an extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis as well as HRMS and IR data. In case of 2-(2, 2-dimethylcyclopropyl)-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde and 6, 8-dihydroxy-3-(2S-hydroxypropyl)-7-methylisochromone, the absolute configurations of their stereogenic carbons were established based on comparison of their experimental and calculated ECD spectra.

New Cyclotetrapeptides and a New Diketopiperzine Derivative from the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Neosartorya glabra KUFA 0702.

Two new cyclotetrapeptides, sartoryglabramides A (5) and B (6), and a new analog of fellutanine A (8) were isolated, together with six known compounds including ergosta-4, 6, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one, ergosterol 5, 8-endoperoxide, helvolic acid, aszonalenin (1), (3R)-3-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,4-dihydro-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione (2), takakiamide (3), (11aR)-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-5,11(10H,11aH)-dione (4), and fellutanine A (7), from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya glabra KUFA 0702. The structures of the new compounds were established based on extensive 1D and 2D spectral analysis. X-ray analysis was also used to confirm the relative configuration of the amino acid constituents of sartoryglabramide A (5), and the absolute stereochemistry of the amino acid constituents of sartoryglabramide A (5) and sartoryglabramides B (6) was determined by chiral HPLC analysis of their hydrolysates by co-injection with the d- and l- amino acids standards.

Total phenolic content, ferric reducing and DPPH scavenging activity of Arum dioscoridis.

Arum dioscoridis, locally called 'Gavur pancari', is a wild plant the leaves of which have been used as vegetable and for preparing special soup which has a sour taste. This study was set up to determine in vitro antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of different extracts of A. dioscoridis.

Antimicrobial activity and agricultural properties of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) grown in northern parts of Turkey: a case study for adaptation.

This study was designed to determine the adaptation capability of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.), which is widely grown in tropical and subtropical climates, in northern parts of Turkey. In this study, plant height, number of fruits, fruit length, fruit width, number of seeds and fruit weight of bitter melon grown in field conditions were determined.

Lead concentrations of herbs used in Van Herby cheese.

Van Herby Cheese is a traditional milk product including local herb species in eastern Turkey. This special milk product was previously produced only for the local market, but industrial scale production and marketing have recently started in the region. However, some quality characteristics such as microbial flora and heavy metal concentrations of this novel product need to be investigated.