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The essential oils of the flower heads and leaves of Santolina rosmarinifolia L. (Compositae) cultivated in Romania were obtained through hydrodistillation and analysed by GC-MS. Forty-two components were identified, representing 92.3–94.0% of the whole composition of the samples. Their in vitro antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria strains and the fungus Candida albicans was determined using the agar-diffusion method and the broth dilution method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ephedra alata Decne. belongs to the Ephedraceae family. It is a species of Ephedra that grows mostly in the desert. Today, the main importance of Ephedra species in the medical field is due to the presence of the alkaloids derived from phenyl-alanine, which act on the sympathetic nervous system as a sympathomimetic. The aim of this study was to conduct a phytochemical characterization of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial part of Ephedra alata Decne., which is indigenous to Tunis, that involves the total phenolic content, individual phenolic content, and antioxidant activity as well as a biological screening for the evaluation of the antimicrobial, antifungal, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The results show that the hydroalcoholic extract contains polyphenolic phytocompounds (156.226 ± 0.5 mgGAE/g extract) and elicits antioxidant activity (7453.18 ± 2.5 μmol Trolox/g extract). The extract acted as a bacteriostatic agent against all tested bacterial strains, but was bactericidal only against the Gram-positive cocci and Candida spp. In the set experimental parameters, the extract presents antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line.

Compounds of natural origin found in varying quantities in plant-based products constitute a highly significant category, possessing structural significance as well as the capacity to regulate oxidative processes. The activity of these compounds may be modulated by the composition of the biological environment in which they operate, the pH of the environment, or the presence of metal cations in plants or plant extracts. A successful complexation reaction was mainly confirmed by FT-IR, observing the shift from the original transmittance of catechin bonds, especially O-H ones. This work shows the synthetic methodology and the optimization process that took place to synthesize a catechin-copper complex, which demonstrated antioxidant activity. It was tested for iron chelation ability, hydroxyl radicals, and the inhibition of lipoxygenase (15-LOX). An antidiabetic assay was performed by determining the inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, finding that the synthesized complex had similar inhibitory potential as pure catechin. The antibacterial tests showed results against Staphylococcus aureus and the antifungal properties of the complex against Candida albicans .

This study explores the recent advances of and functional insights into hydrogel composites, materials that have gained significant attention for their versatile applications across various fields, including contemporary dentistry. Hydrogels, known for their high water content and biocompatibility, are inherently soft but often limited by mechanical fragility. Key areas of focus include the customization of hydrogel composites for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems, wound dressings, and tissue engineering scaffolds, where improved mechanical properties and bioactivity are critical. In dentistry, hydrogels are utilized for drug delivery systems targeting oral diseases, dental adhesives, and periodontal therapies due to their ability to adhere to the mucosa, provide localized treatment, and support tissue regeneration. Their unique properties, such as mucoadhesion, controlled drug release, and stimuli responsiveness, make them ideal candidates for treating oral conditions. This review highlights both experimental breakthroughs and theoretical insights into the structure-property relationships within hydrogel composites, aiming to guide future developments in the design and application of these multifunctional materials in dentistry. Ultimately, hydrogel composites represent a promising frontier for advancing materials science with far-reaching implications in healthcare, environmental technology, and beyond.

Healthy dietary patterns during pregnancy are crucial for ensuring maternal and foetal health outcomes. Numerous methodologies exist for assessing the diet of pregnant women, including dietary patterns and various appraisal tools of diet quality. This study aimed to assess the dietary patterns and diet quality of pregnant women and to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns, diet quality estimators, and the adequacy of nutrient intake. EPIC FFQ was applied to a sample of 251 pregnant women, and questionnaires were interpreted with the FETA program. Dietary patterns were then determined by means of principal component analysis. Our results showed a substantial association between dietary patterns and total diet quality, as measured by the Diet Quality Index for Pregnancy (DQI-Pc), PURE Healthy Diet Score, and FIGO Diet Quality Score. We also found correlations between certain dietary patterns and particular nutrient intakes recommended by the European Food Safety Authority during pregnancy. The most deficient intake was registered for iron (86.1%), zinc (87.3%) and magnesium (79.3%), posing a threat to normal bone development, anaemia prophylaxis, and immune status. These results highlight the importance of assessing and understanding eating habits during pregnancy in order to achieve optimal outcomes for both the mother and the foetus.

The memory-enhancing activity of Matricaria chamomilla hydroalcoholic extract (MCE) is already being investigated by behavioral and biochemical assays in scopolamine-induced amnesia rat models, while the effects of scopolamine (Sco) on cerebral glucose metabolism are examined as well. Nevertheless, the study of the metabolic profile determined by an enriched MCE has not been performed before. The present experiments compared metabolic quantification in characteristic cerebral regions and behavioral characteristics for normal, only diseased, diseased, and MCE- vs. Galantamine (Gal)-treated Wistar rats. A memory deficit was induced by four weeks of daily intraperitoneal Sco injection. Starting on the eighth day, the treatment was intraperitoneally administered 30 min after Sco injection for a period of three weeks. The memory assessment comprised three maze tests. Glucose metabolism was quantified after the 18F-FDG PET examination. The right amygdala, piriform, and entorhinal cortex showed the highest differential radiopharmaceutical uptake of the 50 regions analyzed. Rats treated with MCE show metabolic similarity with normal rats, while the Gal-treated group shows features closer to the diseased group. Behavioral assessments evidenced a less anxious status and a better locomotor activity manifested by the MCE-treated group compared to the Gal-treated group. These findings prove evident metabolic ameliorative qualities of MCE over Gal classic treatment, suggesting that the extract could be a potent neuropharmacological agent against amnesia.

Tribulus terrestris L. (Tt) has been recently gaining attention for its pharmacological value, including its neuroprotective activities. In this study, we explore the neuroprotective effects of a Tribulus terrestris extract in a zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) model of scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress. SCOP, an anticholinergic drug, was employed to replicate fundamental aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in animal models. The fish were treated with ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) from Tt (1, 3, and 6 mg/L) for 15 days. SCOP (100 µM) was administered 30 min before behavioral tests were conducted. Molecular interactions of the major compounds identified via UPLC-PDA/MS in Tt fractions with the active site of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were explored via molecular docking analyses. Terrestrosin C, protodioscin, rutin, and saponin C exhibited the most stable binding. The spatial memory performance was assessed using the Y-maze test, and memory recognition was examined using a novel object recognition (NOR) test. Tt extract treatment reversed the altered locomotion patterns that were caused by SCOP administration. Biochemical analyses also verified Tt's role in inhibiting AChE, improving antioxidant enzyme activities, and reducing oxidative stress markers. The present findings pave the way for future application of Tt as a natural alternative to treat cognitive disorders.

(1) Background: This study aimed to outline the antioxidant, antitumoral, and cytotoxic proprieties of various types of Perilla frutescens extracts obtained from the leaves of the species. (2) Methods: We determined total polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins contents, as well as the in vitro antioxidant, antitumoral, and cytotoxic actions in three types of ethanolic extracts (E1, E2, E3) and in three types of acetone: ethanol extracts (A1, A2, A3) of Perilla frutescens according to standardized procedures. (3) Results: We found that Perilla frutescens ethanolic extracts had the highest total phenol and anthocyanins concentrations. The flavonoids concentration was not statistically different between the extracts. The iron chelating capacity, hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, superoxide anion radical scavenging capacity, and lipoxygenase inhibition capacity showed a significant increase with higher concentrations of Perilla frutescens extracts, particularly the ethanolic extracts. Perillyl alcohol had greater cytotoxic capacity in the MG-63 cell line and E1 extract showed similar significant cytotoxic effects in the A431 cell line. (4) Conclusions: Both ethanolic and acetone-ethanol extracts from Perilla frutescens exhibited important antioxidant and antitumoral actions in vitro, which proportionally increased with concentration. The cytotoxic threshold determined in this study for various types of extracts could help determine the best dosage with the maximum antioxidant and antitumoral potential. Our results could serve as a basis for further studies that will investigate the cytotoxic effects of Perilla frutescens variants on various types of cancer cell lines.

Background: Identifying skeletal remains has been and will remain a challenge for forensic experts and forensic anthropologists, especially in disasters with multiple victims or skeletal remains in an advanced stage of decomposition. This study examined the performance of two machine learning (ML) algorithms in predicting the person's sex based only on the morphometry of L1-L5 lumbar vertebrae collected recently from Romanian individuals. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether by using the machine learning (ML) techniques one can obtain a reliable prediction of sex in forensic identification based only on the parameters obtained from the metric analysis of the lumbar spine., Method: This paper built and tuned predictive models with two of the most popular techniques for classification, RF (random forest) and XGB (xgboost). Both series of models used cross-validation and a grid search to find the best combination of hyper-parameters. The best models were selected based on the ROC_AUC (area under curve) metric., Results: The L1-L5 lumbar vertebrae exhibit sexual dimorphism and can be used as predictors in sex prediction. Out of the eight significant predictors for sex, six were found to be particularly important for the RF model, while only three were determined to be important by the XGB model., Conclusions: Even if the data set was small (149 observations), both RF and XGB techniques reliably predicted a person's sex based only on the L1-L5 measurements. This can prove valuable, especially when only skeletal remains are available. With minor adjustments, the presented ML setup can be transformed into an interactive web service, freely accessible to forensic anthropologists, in which, after entering the L1-L5 measurements of a body/cadaver, they can predict the person's sex.

Prostate cancer is a prevalent malignancy in male patients, having diverse clinical outcomes. The follow-up of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer involves the evaluation of renal function, because its impairment reduces patient survival rates and adds complexity to their treatment and clinical care. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between renal function parameters and distinctive molecular subtypes of prostate adenocarcinomas, defined by the immunoexpression of the SPINK1, ERG, HOXB13, and TFF3 markers. The study group comprised 72 patients with prostate cancer and associated chronic kidney disease (CKD) who underwent radical prostatectomy. Histopathological, molecular, and renal parameters were analyzed. Patients were categorized based on ERG/SPINK1 and HOXB13/TFF3 status, and correlations with renal function and prognostic grade groups were assessed. The ERG+/SPINK1+ subgroup exhibited significantly higher postoperative CKD stages and serum creatinine levels compared to the ERG+/SPINK1- subgroup. This suggests an intricate relationship between SPINK1 overexpression and renal function dynamics. The HOXB13-/TFF3+ subgroup displayed higher preoperative serum creatinine levels and CKD stages than the HOXB13-/TFF3- subgroup, aligning with TFF3's potential role in renal function. Furthermore, the study revealed associations between CKD stages and prognostic grade groups in different molecular subtypes, pointing out an intricate interplay between renal function and tumor behavior. Although the molecular classification of prostate acinar ADK is not yet implemented, this research underscores the variability of renal function parameters in different molecular subtypes, offering potential insights into patient prognosis.

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered considerable attention, due to their unique physicochemical properties, that render them promising candidates for various applications in medicine and industry. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the most recent advancements in the manufacturing, characterization, and biomedical utilization of metal NPs, with a primary focus on silver and gold NPs. Their potential as effective anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial agents, drug delivery systems, and imaging agents in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of disorders is reviewed. Moreover, their translation to therapeutic settings, and the issue of their inclusion in clinical trials, are assessed in light of over 30 clinical investigations that concentrate on administering either silver or gold NPs in conditions ranging from nosocomial infections to different types of cancers. This paper aims not only to examine the biocompatibility of nanomaterials but also to emphasize potential challenges that may limit their safe integration into healthcare practices. More than 100 nanomedicines are currently on the market, which justifies ongoing study into the use of nanomaterials in medicine. Overall, the present review aims to highlight the potential of silver and gold NPs as innovative and effective therapeutics in the field of biomedicine, citing some of their most relevant current applications.

As some of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)-dependent mechanisms underlying the cognitive performance modulation could include oxidative balance alterations, in this study we aimed to describe some of the potential interactions between RAAS modulators (Losartan and Ramipril) and oxidative stress in a typical model of memory impairment. In this study, 48 white male Swiss mice were divided into six groups and received RAAS modulators (oral administration Ramipril 4 mg/kg, Losartan 20 mg/kg) and a muscarinic receptors inhibitor (intraperitoneal injection scopolamine, 0.5 mg/kg) for 8 consecutive days. Then, 24 h after the last administration, the animals were euthanized and whole blood and brain tissues were collected. Biological samples were then processed, and biochemical analysis was carried out to assess superoxide dismutase and glutathione activities and malondialdehyde concentrations. In the present experimental conditions, we showed that RAAS modulation via the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (Ramipril) and via the angiotensin II receptor blockage (Losartan) chronic treatments could lead to oxidative stress modulation in a non-selective muscarinic receptors blocker (scopolamine) animal model. Our results showed that Losartan could exhibit a significant systemic antioxidant potential partly preventing the negative oxidative effects of scopolamine and a brain antioxidant potential, mainly by inhibiting the oxidative-stress-mediated cellular damage and apoptosis. Ramipril could also minimize the oxidative-mediated damage to the lipid components of brain tissue resulting from scopolamine administration. Both blood serum and brain changes in oxidative stress status were observed following 8-day treatments with Ramipril, Losartan, scopolamine, and combinations. While the serum oxidative stress modulation observed in this study could suggest the potential effect of RAAS modulation and scopolamine administration on the circulatory system, blood vessels endothelia, and arterial tension modulation, the observed brain tissues oxidative stress modulation could lead to important information on the complex interaction between renin-angiotensin and cholinergic systems.

Essential oil from Coriandrum sativum has been demonstrated to provide various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anticonvulsive, anxiolytic-antidepressant, and anti-aging properties. This study investigated the mechanism of Coriandrum sativum var. microcarpum essential oil (CSEO, 25, 150, and 300 μL/L) and cognitive impairment and brain oxidative stress in a scopolamine (SCOP, 100 μM) zebrafish model ( Danio rerio ) of cognitive impairment. Spatial memory, response to novelty, and recognition memory were assessed using the Y-maze test and the novel object recognition test (NOR), while anxiety-like behavior was investigated using the novel tank diving test (NTT). The cholinergic system activity and brain oxidative stress were also evaluated. CSEO was administered to zebrafish once a day for 21 days, while SCOP and galantamine (GAL, 1 mg/L) were delivered 30 min before behavioral testing and euthanasia. Our data revealed that SCOP induced memory dysfunction and anxiety-like behavior, while CSEO improved memory performance, as evidenced by behavioral tasks. Moreover, CSEO attenuated SCOP-induced brain oxidative stress and decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The results demonstrated the potential use of the CSEO in providing beneficial effects by reducing memory deficits and brain oxidative stress involved in the genesis of a dementia state.

The limited antifungal drugs available and the rise of multidrug-resistant Candida species have made the efforts to improve antifungal therapies paramount. To this end, our research focused on the effect of a combined treatment between chemical and photodynamic therapy (PDT) towards a fluconazole-resistant clinical Candida albicans strain. The co-treatment of PDT and curcumin in various doses with fluconazole (FLC) had an inhibitory effect on the growth of the FLC-resistant hospital strain of C. albicans in both difusimetric and broth microdilution methods. The proliferation of the cells was inhibited in the presence of curcumin at 3.125 µM and FLC at 41 µM concentrations. The possible involvement of oxidative stress was analyzed by adding menadione and glutathione as a prooxidant and antioxidant, respectively. In addition, we examined the photoactivated curcumin effect on efflux pumps, a mechanism often linked to drug resistance. Nile Red accumulation assays were used to evaluate efflux pumps activity through fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorometry. The results showed that photoactivated curcumin at 3.125 µM inhibited the transport of the fluorescent substrate that cells usually expel, indicating its potential in combating drug resistance. Overall, the findings suggest that curcumin, particularly when combined with PDT, can effectively inhibit the growth of FLC-resistant C. albicans , addressing the challenge of yeast resistance to azole antifungals through upregulating multidrug transporters.

(1) Background: Chronic renal disorders (CRD) are associated with significant comorbidities and necessitate complex therapeutic management. As time passed, Perilla frutescens (PF) became a promising therapeutic option for CRD. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to outline the therapeutic effects of PF extracts on various models of immunoglobulin a (IgA) nephropathy; (2) Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were used to find relevant studies. All prospective interventional studies that evaluated the effect of PF extract versus placebo on rat models of chronic renal disorders were assessed according to the international guidelines; (3) Results: Our search yielded 23 unique records, out of which only five were included in the analysis. Our results showed that administration of PF extracts led to a statistically significant reduction in proteinuria and PCNA levels in rats that received high doses of the extract as well as in the PCNA level and DNA synthesis in rats that received low doses of the extract. The evaluated outcomes benefited from a low degree of heterogeneity; (4) Conclusions: Some of the evaluated outcomes were significantly reduced by both high and low doses of extracts from Perilla frutescens . Further studies are needed to determine the exact effect over IgA nephropathy in human subjects.

Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a more and more important role in our everyday life due to the advantages that it brings when used, such as 24/7 availability, a very low percentage of errors, ability to provide real time insights, or performing a fast analysis. AI is increasingly being used in clinical medical and dental healthcare analyses, with valuable applications, which include disease diagnosis, risk assessment, treatment planning, and drug discovery. This paper presents a narrative literature review of AI use in healthcare from a multi-disciplinary perspective, specifically in the cardiology, allergology, endocrinology, and dental fields. The paper highlights data from recent research and development efforts in AI for healthcare, as well as challenges and limitations associated with AI implementation, such as data privacy and security considerations, along with ethical and legal concerns. The regulation of responsible design, development, and use of AI in healthcare is still in early stages due to the rapid evolution of the field. However, it is our duty to carefully consider the ethical implications of implementing AI and to respond appropriately. With the potential to reshape healthcare delivery and enhance patient outcomes, AI systems continue to reveal their capabilities.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, sedentarism, depression, anxiety and impaired quality of life. The long-term effectiveness of positive airway pressure (PAP) is insufficiently studied and limited by poor patient compliance. The aim of this pilot prospective cohort study was to evaluate long-term adherence in overweight patients with moderate-severe OSA and hypertension and to analyze changes in weight, sleepiness and quality of life. We performed a prospective study that included overweight patients with moderate-severe OSA and hypertension who had not undergone previous PAP therapy. All subjects received a standard physical examination, education regarding lifestyle changes and free PAP therapy for 2 months. After five years, the patients were invited to participate in a telephone-based interview regarding PAP compliance and completed standard questionnaires assessing adherence to medication, physical activity, diet, anxiety and quality of life (QoL). Only 39.58% of the patients were adherent to PAP 5 years (58.42 ± 3.70 months) after being diagnosed with moderate-severe OSA. Long-term PAP use results in sustained weight loss; improved blood pressure control, sleepiness and QOL; and lower anxiety and depression scores. PAP compliance was not associated with a higher level of daily physical activity or a healthier diet.

(1) Background: Acute heart failure (HF) represents a complex clinical syndrome burdened by increased mortality and a high rate of systemic complications. Although natriuretic peptides (e.g., NT-proBNP) currently represent the diagnostic and prognostic gold standard in acute HF, those molecules do not accurately reflect all the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the progression of this pathology when determined independently. Therefore, the current paradigm tends to focus on a multi-marker approach for the risk stratification of patients with acute HF. Syndecan-1 is a less studied biomarker in cardiovascular diseases; its assessment in patients with acute HF being potentially able to reflect the myocardial pathological changes, such as fibrosis, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction or global wall stress. (2) Methods: We conducted a single center prospective study that enrolled 173 patients (120 patients admitted for acute HF, compared to 53 controls with stable chronic HF). A complete standardized clinical, echocardiography and laboratory evaluation was performed at admission, including serum samples for the determination of syndecan-1 by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. (3) Results: The serum concentration of syndecan-1 was significantly higher in patients with acute HF, compared to controls [121.4 (69.3-257.9) vs. 72.1 (41.4-135.8) ng/mL, p = 0.015]. Syndecan-1 was a significant predictor for the diagnosis of acute HF, expressed by an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.898, similar to NT-proBNP (AUC: 0.976) or cardiac troponin (AUC: 0.839). Moreover, syndecan-1 was independently associated with impaired kidney and liver function at admission, being also a predictor for early, subclinical organ dysfunction in patients with normal biological parameters at admission. When included in the multi-marker model, syndecan-1 levels influenced mortality more significantly than NT-proBNP or troponin. A multivariable regression including syndecan-1, NT-proBNP and troponin provided additional prognostic value compared to each independent biomarker. (4) Conclusions: Syndecan-1 can be considered a promising novel biomarker in acute HF, exhibiting adequate diagnostic and prognostic value. Additionally, syndecan-1 can be used as a surrogate biomarker for non-cardiac organ dysfunction, as its highs levels can accurately reflect early acute kidney and liver injury.

Individualized gastric cancer (GC) treatment aims at providing targeted therapies that translate the latest research into improved management strategies. Extracellular vesicle microRNAs have been proposed as biomarkers for GC prognosis. Helicobacter pylori infection influences the therapeutic response to and the drivers of malignant changes in chronic gastritis. The successful use of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for gastric ulcer healing has raised interest in studying their effects on tumor neovascularization and in potential antiangiogenic therapies that could use mesenchymal stem cell secretion into extracellular vesicles-such as exosomes-in GC cells. The use of MSCs isolated from bone marrow in order to achieve angiogenic modulation in the tumor microenvironment could exploit the inherent migration of MSCs into GC tissues. Bone marrow-derived MSCs naturally present in the stomach have been reported to carry a malignancy risk, but their effect in GC is still being researched. The pro- and antiangiogenic effects of MSCs derived from various sources complement their role in immune regulation and tissue regeneration and provide further understanding into the heterogeneous biology of GC, the aberrant morphology of tumor vasculature and the mechanisms of resistance to antiangiogenic drugs.

(1) Background: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. is an important pharmaceutical crop that remains a focus point for researchers worldwide due to its complex phytochemical constituents, medicinal effects, and nutraceutical properties. The literature data are based on animal and cell culture studies, so the clinical evidence for the therapeutic effects is poorly outlined. The aim of this review was to provide an updated and thorough understanding of Perilla frutescens applications in clinical practice using data derived from human studies, and to outline the potential directions and perspectives for further studies on this crop. (2) Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were used to find relevant studies. All interventional studies that evaluated the effect of Perilla frutescens in human subjects were assessed. (3) Results: The main perspectives that can be contoured from the presented literature evaluation are an important clinical effect of Perilla frutescens extracts on allergic rhinoconjuctivitis, especially in young populations, a potent hypolipemiant effect that, in conjunction with increased serum biological antioxidant potential, determines significant improvements in cognitive function and a wide variety of miscellaneous clinical effects that need further exploration. (4) Conclusions: Supplementary research is needed in order to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of Perilla frutescens in controlled clinical settings.

Y. schidigera contains a number of unusual polyphenols, derivatives of resveratrol and naringenin, called spiro-flavostilbenoids, which have potent in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moderate cholinesterase inhibitory activities. To date, these compounds have not been tested in vivo for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of both single spiro-flavostilbenoids (yuccaol B and gloriosaol A) and phenolic fractions derived from Y. schidigera bark on scopolamine-induced anxiety and memory process deterioration using a Danio rerio model. Detailed phytochemical analysis of the studied fractions was carried out using different chromatographic techniques and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The novel tank diving test was used as a method to measure zebrafish anxiety, whereas spatial working memory function was assessed in Y-maze. In addition, acetylcholinesterase/butyrylcholinesterase (AChE/BChE) and 15-lipooxygenase (15-LOX) inhibition tests were performed in vitro. All pure compounds and fractions under study exerted anxiolytic and procognitive action. Moreover, strong anti-oxidant capacity was observed, whereas weak inhibition towards cholinesterases was found. Thus, we may conclude that the observed behavioral effects are complex and result rather from inhibition of oxidative stress processes and influence on cholinergic muscarinic receptors (both 15-LOX and scopolamine assays) than effects on cholinesterases. Y. schidigera is a source of substances with desirable properties in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Guiera senegalensis JF Gmel. (Combretaceae) (GS) is a plant used in traditional medicine in West Africa for the treatment of several diseases, such as epilepsy and depression. However, its potential benefits in improving scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress in zebrafish have been investigated. In the present study, zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) were treated with GS (1, 4, and 8 μg/L) for 19 days as well as Sco (100 µM) 30 min before behavioral tests. Behavioral performance was assessed by the Y-maze test and novel object recognition test (NOR), whereas anxiety response was evaluated in the novel tank diving test (NTT). Subsequently, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to evaluate the GS chemical composition. Sco promoted oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Moreover, both oxidative stress parameters and AChE activity were ameliorated by GS treatment. Accordingly, the present findings further provided the potential use of GS as a natural, alternative treatment against cognitive disorders associated to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

In the field of oncology, the plant kingdom has an inexhaustible supply of bioactive compounds. Phytochemical compounds isolated from Helleborus species have been found to be useful in various chronic diseases. This has brought Helleborus to the attention of medical researchers. H. purpurascens is a plant characteristic of the Carpathian area, known since ancient times for its beneficial effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the flavonoids composition of a hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens , as well as to assess its antioxidant activity and antitumor potential at the level of two healthy cell lines and four tumor cell lines. In addition, the expression of the genes involved in the apoptotic process (Bcl-2, Bad, and Bax) were evaluated. The results indicated that the extract has a high concentration of flavonoids, such as epicatechin, quercetin, and kaempferol. The extract has an increased antioxidant activity, very similar to that of the standard, ascorbic acid and cytotoxic effects predominantly in the breast cancer cell line, being free of cytotoxic effects in healthy cell lines. Underlying the cytotoxic effect is the induction of the process of apoptosis, which in the present study was highlighted by decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2) and increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bad and Bax). In conclusion, the hydroalcoholic extract of H. purpurascens can be considered an important source for future medical applications in cancer therapy.