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Metallic nanoparticles are valuable materials and have a range of uses. Nanoparticles synthesized from plant wastes by environment-friendly methods have attracted the attention of researchers in recent years. Also, the advantages of biological resources and synthesis methods are attracting attention. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized from Ananas comosus fruit peels using ecofriendly method steps. The characterization of the particles obtained was determined by using a UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis.), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction diffractometer (XRD), Fourier scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanoparticles showed maximum absorbance at 463 nm, measuring 11.61 in crystal nanosize, and presented spherical in appearance. An antimicrobial activity test was determined with the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) method. The nanoparticles showed promising inhibitory activity on the Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogen microorganisms (Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, Bacillus subtilis ATCC11774, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27833 bacteria, and Candida albicans yeast) at low concentrations. The cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects of silver nanoparticles on different cancer cell lines were examined via the MTT assay. © 2021 Ayşe Baran et al.

In this study, investigation on the essential oils and ethanol extracts of naturally grown and cultivatedSatureja macrantha samples were reported. The essential oil, flavour and terpenoid-steroid-flavonoid contents of S.macrantha samples were determined by GC-MS and their phenolic contents by LC-MS/MS. Besides, the biologicalactivities of the samples were investigated for their antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, antimicrobial, cytotoxic,antityrosinase, antiurease, antielastase and anticollagenase properties. The phenolic content and antioxidant capacityof the cultivated sample were higher than those of the naturally grown sample. According to the GC-MS results,terpinene-4-ol (30.9%) and p-cymene (56.7%) were determined as the major components in the essential oils of thenaturally grown and cultivated S. macrantha, respectively. The flavour analysis results showed that cis-sabinenehydrate (20.7%) and carvacrol (42.2%) were found to be the major components in the naturally grown and cultivatedsamples, respectively. While the naturally grown sample was rich in abietane diterpenoids (ferruginol (17.5 mganalyte/g extract) and sugiol (4.2 mg analyte/g extract)), these components were not detected in the cultivatedsample. The rosmarinic acid content (0.20 and 24.87 mg analyte/g extract, respectively) of the cultivated samplewas found to be significantly higher than that of the natural sample. The biological activities of the samples weredetermined to be changed in parallel with their chemical contents that are due to factors such as climatic conditions,and soil structure.

WOS:000691376800017 Abstract: To combat the coronaviruses and their novel variants, therapeutic drugs and the development of vaccines that are to be effective throughout human life are urgently needed. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) acts as a modulator in the activation of the microcirculation, immune system, and autonomic nervous system, along with controlling pharmacological functions such as emotional responses, homeostasis, motor functions, cognition, and motivation. The ECS contains endogenous cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptor (CBRs), and enzymes that regulate their biosynthesis, transport, and degradation. Moreover, phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids that mimic the action of endocannabinoids also play an essential role in the modulation of the ECS. Cannabinoids, the main constituents of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), are therapeutic compounds that have received international attention in the health field due to their therapeutic properties. Recently, they have been tested for the treatment of COVID-19 due to their antiviral properties. Indeed, cannabinoid-type compounds, and in particular cannabidiol (CBD), isolated from glandular trichomes found in the calyx of cannabis flowers with reported antiviral properties is hypothesized to be a therapeutic option in the ministration of SARS-CoV-2 consorted with COVID-19 disease. The relevant articles were determined from the database search published mainly in Web of Science, Google scholar, PubMed, Crossref, and ClinicalTrials.gov database during the pandemic period. The articles were evaluated for the therapeutic potentials, mechanisms of action of cannabinoids, the roles of the ECS in the immune system, impact of cannabinoids in SARS-CoV-2 septic, especially if they address the application of cannabinoids as drugs for the curability and management of SARSCoV-2 and its novel variants. Although the evidence needed to be considered using cannabinoids in the control and treatment of viral diseases is currently in its infancy, they already offer an opportunity for clinicians due to their effects in relieving pain, improving appetite, and improving childhood epilepsy, especially in cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) patients. In addition to these, the most recent scientific evidence emphasizes their use in the treatment of the coronavirus infected patients. In brief, all preclinic and clinic studies that have been reported show that, through the cannabinoid system, cannabinoids, particularly CBD, have many mechanisms that are effective in the treatment of patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. Thus, more extensive studies are necessary in this area to fully identify the effects of cannabinoids on SARS-CoV-2.

The propose of this study is to investigate the chemical constituents of nine Euphorbia species; namely, E. aleppica, E. eriophora, E. macroclada, E. grisophylla, E. seguieriana subsp. seguieriana, E. craspedia, E. denticulata, E. falcata and E. fistulosa by LC-MS/MS as well as their antioxidant, anticholinesterase, tyrosinase inhibitory, urease inhibitory and cytotoxic activities. Among 59 extracts prepared from the different parts of the mentioned Euphorbia species, E. seguieriana subsp. seguieriana leaf (IC50: 10.41 +/- 0.93 mu g/mL) in lipid peroxidation inhibitory by beta-carotene-linoleic acid assay exhibited the highest activity, while E. grisophylla root in DPPH free radical scavenging (IC50: 0.79 +/- 0.01 mu g/mL), E. grisophylla seed in ABTS cation radical scavenging (IC50: 8.93 +/- 0.02 mu g/mL), E. fistulosa root both in acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase inhibitory (53.71 +/- 1.89% and 77.63 +/- 0.60% inhibition, respectively), E. denticulata leaf in urease inhibitory (96.89 +/- 2.00% inhibition), and E. macroclada mixed in tyrosinase inhibitory (86.99 +/- 3.77% inhibition) activities. However in cytotoxic activity studies, E. denticulata against PDF fibroblast cell lines (IC50: 23.04 +/- 0.03 mu g/mL), E. craspedia against HT-29 cancer cell line (IC50: 13.74 +/- 0.02 mu g/mL), E. fistulosa against MCF-7 and DLD-1 cancer cell lines (IC50: 14.04 +/- 0.04 mu g/mL and IC50: 20.23 +/- 0.08 mu g/mL, respectively) indicated quite good activity. According to the LC-MS/MS results, these species were rich in quinic acid, malic acid and tannic acid, rutin, hesperidin and hyperoside. Incidentally, it was found that the E. eriophora possessed very strong irritating potential. A chemometric approach using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) techniques were also studied on collected data to reveal the relationship between chemical contents of different parts of these Euphorbia species, and their biological activities, together with regional differences. Overall, these species could be suggested as valuable sources of natural-bioactive agents for developing new functional, pharmacological and health promoting ingredients.

Preeclampsia is a severe multisystem disorder, and its pathophysiology is still not completely understood. Autophagy, a recycling process that maintains cellular homoeostasis during differentiation and development, is controversial regarding increased or decreased autophagic activity in preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to determine whether autophagy is increased in the placentas of women with preeclampsia by examining the protein levels of autophagy markers (Beclin 1 and SQSTM1/p62) and phosphorylation of cyclin E. For this purpose, placentas from preeclampsia (n=10) and control (n=10) pregnancies were included in this study. The protein expression of autophagy-related markers Beclin1, SQSTM1/p62 and phosphorylation status of cyclin E were detected by Western blot. Our data showed that the protein levels of both Beclin 1 and SQSTM1/p62 were significantly increased, while the phosphorylation level of cyclin E was significantly decreased in placentas with preeclampsia compared to those derived from controls. The results of this study suggest that the autophagic activity is perpetually increased in preeclampsia and cyclin E protein stabilisation might be involved in the induction of autophagy.

The importance of Salvia L. species, being used as traditional medicine, in the scientific world is increasing day by day. The relationship between health and traditional-modern life, promotes the creation of new value added food products. Within this context, in this study, it was aimed to biologically and chemically investigate the essential oil and ethanol extracts of the Salvia multicaulis Vahl. Chemical and biological study results of naturally grown and cultivated (uninvestigated in the literature) samples of S. multicaulis were compared. The essential oil, aroma and terpenoid-steroid contents of the species were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and phenolic content by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In addition, the bioactivities of the extracts were screened for antioxidant, cytotoxic, antialzheimer, antiurease, antityrosinase, antielastase and anticollagenase activities. It was found that the enzyme activities of the essential oil and the antioxidant activities of all ethanol extracts of the species were quite high. It was determined that especially essential oil and the ethanol extracts of the leaf parts exhibited high cytotoxic effect in cancer cell lines (PDF (Healthy primary dermal fibroblast cell line), HT-29 (colon cancer cell line), MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line), Caco-2 (colon cancer cell line) and Skov-3 (ovary cancer cell line)). According to the GC–MS results, in the natural specimen 1,8-cineole (33.05 %) and d -limonene (21.18 %), in the cultivated sample 1,8-cineole (42.35 %) and α-pinene (15.74 %) were detected to be as the major components of the essential oil and aroma, respectively. It was observed that both natural and cultivated samples were rich in β-Sitosterol. Moreover, the root extract of natural samples was found to be richer than the other extracts in terms of abieatane diterpene (ferruginol, cryptanol, sugiol, and inuroyleanone) compounds. According to the LC–MS/MS results, it is seen that both natural and cultivated samples are very rich in rosmarinic acid. Especially, the flower part of the natural sample (98.10 mg analyte/g extract) was found to contain more rosmarinic acid than the other parts. Due to the high total phenolic and rosmarinic acid content, cytotoxic, anti-aging, and antioxidant potential of the ethanol extract of the leaf parts of the species, it has the potential to be used as a food supplement, food preservative and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Background: Behcet’s Disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder affecting large vessels, lungs joints, gastrointestinal and neurological systems. The pathogenesis of BD remains poorly understood. Identifying the key signaling pathway is crucial for a complete understanding of the pathogenesis of BD. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine mRNA expression level of Src family kinases (SFKs) members and their involvement in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of active BD patients. Methods: Twenty- five active BD patients and twenty-five healthy controls were included in the study. PBMCs were isolated from total blood by density gradient centrifugation. The mRNA expression levels of SFKs members were measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The effect of SFKs activity on LPS-induced activation MAPKs (Erk1/2, p38 and JNK) was examined by Western blot. Results: The mRNA expression levels of Hck, Src, Lyn, Yes and Fyn were found to be slightly decreased in active BD patients compared to the control subjects, but a slight change in mRNA level of SFKs members did not impact on protein levels and protein activity. LPS-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation was significantly increased in the absence of SFKs activity in active BD patients. However, inhibition of SFKs activity had no effect on LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38 and JNK in both controls and active BD patients. Conclusion: SFKs downregulate LPS-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation in PBMCs of active BD patients.