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Objective:Plants have been used for medicinal purposes since the beginning of human history and form the basis of modern medicine, and they are also the source of most chemotherapeutic drugs for cancer treatment. This study aims to investigate for the first time the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of the active ethanol (RTE) and chloroform (RTC) extracts of Rubus tereticaulis leaves in the A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cell line. Materials and Methods:A549 cells were treated with RTE and RTC individually. The MTT assay was used to quantitatively detect RTE and RTC’s cytotoxic effects. The fluorescent signal indicator H2DCF-DA was used to detect cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Apoptosis was evaluated by fluorescence microscope after acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescent staining, annexin V-FITC and immunoblotting analyses, immunofluorescence, and imaging. Results:Both RTE and RTC induced cytotoxicity in A549 cells in a dose-dependently, which was accompanied with induced ROS accumulation. Both early and late apoptotic cells detected by flow cytometry were increased in the RTE- and RTC-treated cells. In addition, the results show RTC to have higher cytotoxic and apoptotic effects and increased ROS-generation capacity than RTE. Therefore, the polarity of the solvent used to exert the anticancer effect of R. tereticaulis leaves is crucial. Conclusion:This is the first anti-cancer activity study on R. tereticaulis. The results suggest R. tereticaulis leaves to have an anti-cancer effect on lung cancer cells through ROS-mediated apoptosis and RTC to be an effective therapeutic/adjuvant strategy in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible protective effects of Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract on a high fat diet (HFD)-induced testicular injury in a rat model were investigated using histological and biochemical methods. Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: a standard diet control group; a HFD group; and an HFD+MC group. The HFD and HFD+MC groups were fed with a HFD for 16 weeks. MC extract (100 mg/kg) was given orally five days a week to the rats in the HFD+MC group during the last four weeks of the experiment. Leptin, triglyceride, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, estrogen, testosterone, LH and FSH were analyzed in blood serum. Sperm parameters were evaluated from the epididymis. Testicular morphology, proliferative, apoptotic and NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2)-positive cells were evaluated histologically. Testicular oxidative stress parameters were analyzed biochemically. In the HFD group, lipid and hormone profiles were changed, abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated seminiferous tubules with apoptotic and NOX2-positive cells were increased in number, and sperm motility and germinal proliferative cells decreased compared to the control group. Moreover, testicular malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and myeloperoxidase levels increased, whereas glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels decreased in the HFD group compared to the control group. All these histological and biochemical features were ameliorated by MC treatment of HFD-fed rats. In conclusion, HFD caused alterations in sperm parameters and testicular morphology by increasing oxidative damage and apoptosis. MC extract may have potential protective effects by inhibiting oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Nephrolithiasis is a common urological disease that can lead to renal failure. Oxidative stress has been shown to be a contributing factor for nephrolithiasis and many agents have been studied to prevent and treat oxidative stress-related nephrolithiasis and renal damage. Myrtus communis (MC) extract has been shown to be an important antioxidant in different animal models. In this study, MC extract was administered preventively or therapeutically to rats with kidney stones, and its effectiveness was investigated. METHODS: Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n=8); control (C), ethylene glycol (EG), EG+preventive MC, and EG+curative MC groups. The nephrolithiasis model was created by adding 0.75% EG to drinking water for 8 weeks. Ultimately, 24-hour urine was collected to measure calcium, citrate, and creatinine levels. After decapitation, kidney tissues were harvested for histological analyses, measurement of osteopontin and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and caspase-3 activities. RESULTS: In 24-hour urine samples, calcium, citrate and creatinine levels were decreased in the EG group, while oxalate levels were increased and in treatment groups these parameters returned to control levels. MPO, 8-OHdG, caspase-3 and NAG activity were significantly increased in tissue and these changes were reversed in both MC groups. Histological findings also supported the biochemical parameters. CONCLUSION: MC can reduce oxidative stress and histopathological changes in kidney tissues in rat nephrolithiasis model when used as either a preventive or therapeutic agent. If supported with further clinical trials, MC might have clinical implications in preventing oxidative renal cell injury and ultimately kidney stone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (ABTS radical scavenging) activity of methanol extracts of aerial parts (except capitula) and capitula of Centaurea cuneifolia, C. iberica, C. kilaea, C. solstitialis subsp. solstitialis and C. stenolepis for the first time comparatively. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, expressed as IC50 values, were determined by 2, 2'- Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic asit (ABTS) and 5-lipoxygenase methods. The total phenolic content, expressed as gallic acid equivalents, was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Results: Methanol extract of capitula of C. solstitialis subsp. solstitialis (CSSC) with an IC50 value of 8.74 µg/mL showed antioxidant activity as strong as standard acarbose (4.41 µg/mL) against ABTS radicals. The IC50 values of ABTS radical scavenging activities of other extracts varied between 24.42 and 88.95 µg/mL. CSSC with an IC50 value of 122.10 µg/mL displayed moderate inhibitory activity against 5-lipoxygenase enzyme. The IC50 values of the antilipoxygenase activities of the other extracts were found to vary between 122.10 and 781.30 µg/mL. Also, the highest amount of total phenolic compounds was found in the CSSC (83.41 mg/g), while the lowest was found in methanol extract of aerial parts of C. solstitialis subsp. solstitialis (35.20 mg/g). Conclusion: These results clearly indicate that CSSC has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. As far as is known, this paper is the first comparative study on ABTS radical scavenging and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of five different Centaurea species. It is also the first study on the antilipoxygenase activity of C. iberica and C. solstitialis subsp. solstitialis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Nephrolithiasis is a common cause of kidney insufficiency. Nephrolithiasis is proven to be the result of various biochemical and inflammatory processes that result in crystal formation and subsequent aggregation. Cotinus coggygria L. (CCog) is a plant extract which has been used as a Turkish remedy for kidney stones. With this study, we planned to evaluate the effects of CCog extract in ethylene glycol (EG)-induced nephrolithiasis model in rats. METHODS: The study group comprised 32 Wistar albino rats which were divided into Control (C), EG, CCog Prophylaxis (CC+EG+CC), and CCog Treatment (EG+CC) groups. Stone formation was induced by adding EG (0.75%) into rat's drinking water. Normal drinking water was given to Control group for 8 weeks. Throughout the study period of 8 weeks, EG group was given only EG (0.75%) and CC+EG+CC group was given both EG and CCog. In EG+CC group, EG (0.75%) was given for 8 weeks whereas CCog was given for the past 4 weeks. After the 8th week, 24-h urine samples were collected. Rats were then sacrificed and kidney tissue samples were harvested. RESULTS: Metabolites (calcium, citrate) and creatinine in 24 h urine samples were decreased in CC+EG+CC and EG+CC groups. While hyperoxaluria was observed in the EG group, oxalate levels were similar to control levels in the P-CCog and C-CCog groups. The N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase and myeloperoxidase activities were both increased in EG group and these parameters were significantly decreased on CCog treatment. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that C. coggygria extract can have beneficial effect on lowering concentration of stone-forming metabolites in urine and consequently protect renal tissues from damage due to nephrolithiasis. C. coggygria extract can be considered as a potential prophylactic and therapeutic option in high-risk stone formers. Furthermore, our data confirm ethnobotanical use of CC against nephrolithiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urtica dioica L. (stinging nettle) is an herb commonly used as a medical supplement for its anticarcinogenic, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antifungal, and antioxidant effects. In this study, we analyzed phytochemical composition of Urtica dioica ethanol extract and investigated its apoptotic and antiproliferative effects in K562 cell line, a model cell line for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). K562 cells exposed to different concentrations of U. dioica extract (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/mL) were tested for cell proliferation and apoptosis using appropriate methods and different phases of the cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry. Phenolic content of the plant was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. We showed that U. dioica ethanol extract has four phenolic compounds: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid (major compound), malic acid and rutin. Urtica dioica significantly repressed proliferation of K562 cells compared to control mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors. An increase in Bax/Bcl-2 and PARP cleavage ratio, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential indicated that the extract inhibited cell proliferation through an apoptosis-mediated process. Furthermore, cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase increased in a concentration dependent manner. Our results explicitly demonstrate that ethanol extract of Urtica dioica leads to a decrease in cell viability and proliferation, initiates apoptosis, and induces G0/G1 cell cycle accumulation in this cell line. This is the first study to have demonstrated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of Urtica dioica on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell lines K562 in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the protective effects of Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract on high fat-diet (HFD) induced heart and aorta damage by evaluating oxidative stress and the endothelial nitric oxide system (eNOS). Materials and Methods: Wistar albino male rats were divided into 3 groups (n=7) as control, HFD, and HFD+MC. Rats in HFD and HFD+MC groups were HFD fed for 16 weeks and in the last 4 weeks saline or MC (100 mg/kg) was administered orally (5 days/week). Triglyceride, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were estimated in blood serum. Tissue oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters were evaluated biochemically. Tissue morphologies, eNOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), and NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX-2)-immunopositive and apoptotic cells were evaluated histologically. Results: Altered serum lipid profiles, degenerated heart, and aorta morphology, increased malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2- deoxyguanosine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and myeloperoxidase levels, and iNOS, NOX-2 immunopositive and apoptotic cells, decreased NO levels, eNOS-immunopositive cells in both tissues were observed in HFD group. All these parameters improved in the HFD+MC group. Conclusion: This study revealed that HFD-induced obesity increased iNOS activation and oxidative stress in the cardiac and aortic tissues of the rats. MC improved oxidant/antioxidant balance and prevented heart and aorta damage via eNOS involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from aerial parts of Tanacetum balsamita yielded a new derivative of 1-acetyl-erivanin, namely 1-acetyl-3-epi-erivanin (17), some known compounds, namely seventeen sesquiterpene lactones, five flavonoids, four coumarins, and a steroid. All extracts displayed antibacterial activity against test microorganisms except for Escherichia coli. The methanol (TBM) extract with an IC50 value of 0.180 mg/mL exhibited good antioxidant activity against DPPH radical while all extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory activity against lipoxygenase enzyme. The ethyl acetate (TBEA) extract presented moderate activity against α-glucosidase enzyme with an IC50 of 0.808 mg/mL. The highest total phenol content with 91.050 mg GAE/g extract was found in TBM. It is the first study on the isolation of secondary metabolites as well as 5-lipoxygenase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of T. balsamita growing in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the impact of intangibles on firm-level productivity. Unlike previous studies we capture all dimensions of intangibles for both goods-producing and service industries. Based on data from the German part of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) for the period 2006 to 2018, our results show that intangible capital investment is equal in size to investment in tangible capital since the early 2000s. We find a highly significant and positive relationship between intangible capital and output, with elasticities in line with previous findings for other large EU economies. This positive impact of intangibles on the firm-level productivity is driven by non-R&D intangibles, notably software & databases, training and advertising & marketing. While this finding holds for both goods and service sectors, we find that non-R&D intangibles impact firm-level productivity more strongly in the services. Investment in R&D affects productivity only in the high-tech manufacturing sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obesity is associated with many diseases, including urinary system disorders such as chronic kidney disease and overactive bladder syndrome. Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of MC extract on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced kidney and bladder damage. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino male rats were divided into three experimental groups: control, HFD and HFD+MC. Experimental groups were fed a standard diet (control group) or HFD (HFD and HFD+MC groups) for 16 weeks. MC extract (100 mg/kg) was administered to the HFD+MC group orally during the last 4 weeks (5 days/week) of the experiment. Highdensity lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglyceride and leptin levels were measured in blood serum. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were evaluated biochemically. Kidney and bladder morphology, NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-KB)-positive and apoptotic cells were evaluated histologically. Results: Lipid profiles altered and leptin levels increased in blood serum. MDA, 8-OHdG and MPO levels increased and GSH level decreased in kidney and bladder in the HFD group. Moreover, degenerated kidney and bladder morphology, increased NOX-2 and NF-κB-positive and apoptotic cells were observed in this group. All of these biochemical and histological parameters were ameliorated in the HFD+MC group. Conclusion: HFD-induced obesity causes kidney and bladder damage by oxidative and inflammatory processes. MC extract may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and play a protective role in obesity-related kidney and bladder damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim is to examine the possible protective effect of Cuscuta sp. extract against liver damage induced by biliary obstruction in rats. Materials and Methods: To induce biliary obstruction, the bile duct ligation (BDL) method was used. Sprague Dawley rats were allocated to 4 groups: Control (C), Cuscuta (CUS), bile duct ligation (BDL), and bile duct ligation + Cuscuta (BDL+CUS). Control and BDL rats were given physiological saline (SF), while CUS and BDL+CUS groups were administered 250 mg/kg of Cuscuta extract by oral gavage. At the end of 28th day, the rats were decapitated, serum and tissue samples were collected, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and direct and total bilirubin (DB and TB) levels were determined in blood samples. In liver tissues, transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG), hydroxyproline, and sodium-potassium ATPase (Na+/K+-ATPase) levels were determined. Results: Serum samples of rats with cholestasis had high ALT, AST, DB, and TB levels, while TGF-ß, 8-OHdG, and hydroxyproline concentrations were found to be significantly high in tissues. Hepatic Na+/K+-ATPase levels were decreased through biliary obstruction. Biochemical parameters were drastically reversed by Cuscuta care; also, this was supported histologically. Conclusion: Results showed that Cuscuta extract, through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, provided protection against oxidative injury by biliary obstruction. Also, these results confirm the traditional use of Cuscuta sp. as hepatoprotective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]