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Microorganism food poisoning is one of the foodborne illnesses in the world. The interest in natural preservatives has increased since the lack of acceptability in using synthetic preservatives. Propolis, a resinous mixture, is a natural product produced by honey bees to protect their hives against microorganisms. It is considered a natural food supplement and preservative owing to its high antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. However, its resinous nature (not readily soluble in water), ethanol solubility, specific strong smell and taste limits its usage as a natural preservative. Encapsulation of propolis ethanol extract with natural polymers like alginate and pectin may overcome these limitations. Main aim of this study was to test powdered form of propolis as a natural preservative in ice cream as model food. For this purpose propolis, after extraction and characterization, was encapsulated by using pectin and converted into powdered form. Antimicrobial activity of prepared ice cream itself against S. aureus (ATCC 25923), E. coli (ATCC 28712), E. faecalis (ATCC 51299), K. pneumoniae (ATCC 700603) and B. cereus (patient isolate) was tested. Total phenolic content and ferric reducing antioxidant power of propolis were noted as 46.26 ±1.18 mg GAE/mL and as 0.27 ±0.07 µmol FeSO4.7H2O/mL, respectively. The encapsulation efficiency was found 95%. Encapsulation of propolis ethanol extract improved the homogenization of propolis active compounds in ice cream. This resulted in obtaining an ice cream with high antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. In conclusion, the use of encapsulated active compounds of propolis ethanol extract improved the both antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the ice cream produced in a natural way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are generally used in the treatment of depressive disorders and some neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the MAO [MAO (E.C.1.4.3.4)] inhibiting effect of various apitherapeutic products, such as chestnut honey, pollen and propolis. Extracts' MAO inhibition was measured using peroxidase-linked spectrophotometric assay in enzyme isolated from rat liver microsomes, and the values are expressed as the inhibition concentration (IC50) causing 50% inhibition of MAO. The antioxidant activity of the bee products was also determined in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power in aquatic extracts. All samples exhibited substantial inhibition of MAO, propolis having the highest. Inhibition was related to samples' TPCs and antioxidant capacities. These results show that bee products possess a sedative effect and may be effective in protecting humans against depression and similar diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different honey extracts from the endemic plant in the Black Sea region Rhododendron ponticum, were investigated for their inhibitory effects against the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), more precisely the human (h) isoforms hCA I and hCA II. Hexane, methanol, ethanol, and water solid-phase extractions (SPEs) showed inhibitory activity towards the two CA isozymes which were related to the total phenolic content. The highest inhibitory effects (0.036--0.039 mg/mL) were those of propolis methanolic extract. Among the three different samples investigated here, the aqueous extracts showed lower inhibitory effects compred to the organic solvent SPE extracts (in the range of 1.150-- 5.144 mg/mL). The studied honey extracts constitute an interesting source of phenolic derivatives that might serve to identify lead compounds, targeting the physiologically relevant enzymes CA I and CA II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apitherapy has started to gain tremendous recognition because of extraordinary pharmacological importance of honeybee-related ingredients and their derivatives. There has been a renewed interest in the bee venom-based therapies. Interdisciplinary researchers are studying the chemistry and translational value of venom for effective cancer treatment. Bee venom and its major component, melittin, are cytotoxic in cancer cells. In this study, MTT and scratch assays were performed for analysis of melittin-mediated antimetastatic effects. QPCR was used for expression profiling of metastasis-related genes. Three anti-metastatic genes (BRMS1, DRG1, and KAI1/CD82) were studied for the first time after bee venom and melittin treatment in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells compared with normal breast cells, and two prometastatic genes (EGFR and WNT7B) were also examined. KAI1/CD82 and BRMS1 are the negative regulators of EGFR. WNT7B is a negative regulator of KAI1/CD82. Selective cytotoxicity of bee venom and melittin was found to be higher as compared to cisplatin. Melittin induced an increase in the expression of BRMS1 and DRG1, whereas bee venom upregulated DRG1 and KAI1/CD82 expression in breast cancer. WNT7B was downregulated in bee venom-treated breast cancer cells. Results suggested that bee venom/melittin exerted antimetastatic effects primarily through upregulation of BRMS1, DRG1, and KAI1/CD82, and downregulation of WNT7B., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Lavender honey is one of the most desirable blossom honeys for its unique taste and aromatic qualities and can vary significantly from one region to another. In this study, melissopalynological, physicochemical and antioxidant properties of lavender honey from the Isparta region of Türkiye were investigated. The ration of the Lavandula spp. pollen were identified ranging from 9 % to 76 % in the thirteen samples. The average pH, conductivity, moisture, Hunter Lab* and proline values were 3.72, 0.22 mS/cm, 17.17 %, L*: 66.56, a*: 66.32, b*:18.41 and 576.92 mg/kg, respectively. The average F+G and F/G were 67.66 % and 1.02, respectively. The average of total phenolic (TP) and flavonoid (TF) substance were found to be 39.40 mg GAE/100 g and 3.23 mg QUE/100 g, respectively. The average total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and DPPH radical scavenging activity values were found to be 178.28 μmol FeSO 4  ⋅ 7H 2 O/100 g and 53.09 mg/mL, respectively. In the phenolic component analysis performed with HPLC-PDA, p-OH-benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, chrysin and pinocembrin were detected as common polyphenols in the samples. Conclusively, despite considerable variability in their monofloral characteristics, no significant differences were observed in the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of lavender honeys., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Propolis, owing to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, acts as a cariostatic agent, capable of preventing the accumulation of dental plaque and inhibiting inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of propolis are attributed to caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which is present in European propolis. The objective of the conducted study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of the Polish ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and isolated CAPE on stimulated with LPS and IFN-α, as well as the combination of LPS and IFN-α. The cytotoxicity of the tested compounds was determined using the MTT assay. The concentrations of specific cytokines released by the HGF-1 cell line following treatment with EEP (25-50 µg/mL) or CAPE (25-50 µg/mL) were assessed in the culture supernatant. In the tested concentrations, both CAPE and EEP did not exert cytotoxic effects. Our results demonstrate that CAPE reduces TNF-α and IL-6 in contrast to EEP. Propolis seems effective in stimulating HGF-1 to release IL-6 and IL-8. A statistically significant difference was observed for IL-8 in HGF-1 stimulated by LPS+IFN-α and treated EEP at a concentration of 50 µg/mL ( p = 0.021201). Moreover, we observed that CAPE demonstrates a stronger interaction with IL-8 compared to EEP, especially when CAPE was administered at a concentration of 50 µg/mL after LPS + IFN-α stimulation ( p = 0.0005). Analysis of the phenolic profile performed by high-performance liquid chromatography allowed identification and quantification in the EEP sample of six phenolic acids, five flavonoids, and one aromatic ester-CAPE. Propolis and its compound-CAPE-exhibit immunomodulatory properties that influence the inflammatory process. Further studies may contribute to explaining the immunomodulatory action of EEP and CAPE and bring comprehensive conclusions.

This study compared the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of three varieties of fig fruits (Ficus carica L) from the Eastern Black Sea region of Türkiye. Total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and phenolic compositions were analyzed in green, purple, and dark purple species. The mean TPC value was 42.10 ± 5.71 mg GAE/100 g FW, ranging from 35.98 to 47.30 mg GAE/100 g FW, and was highest in the dark purple species. The mean TFC value was 1.27 ± 0.93 mg QUE/100 FW g, ranging between 0.35 and 2.21 mg QUE/100 FW g, and was highest in the purple species. The samples' total antioxidant capacity was measured based on ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the values ranging from 151.98 to 372.97 μmol FeSO 4 .7H 2 O/100 g FW, with an average value of 239.64 μmol FeSO 4 .7H 2 O/100 g FW, being highest in the dark purple species. The 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the fruits was expressed as SC 50 (mg/mL), and the values ranged from 10.04 to 42.42 mg/mL, being highest in the purple species. The phenolic composition was analyzed using HPLC-PDA according to the method in which 25 phenolic standards were used. Chlorogenic acid and t-cinnamic acid were the most common phenolic compounds, with rutin, chrysin, apigenin, and luteolin being detected at different amounts. In conclusion, the purple species contained the highest flavonoid content, was rich in apigenin, luteolin, and chrysin, and possessed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Propolis is one of the mixtures with the widest biological activity among natural products used in complementary medicine. HSV-1 is a highly contagious and endemic virus. Available drugs are insufficient for recurrent HSV-1 infections. Therefore, new approaches to treat HSV-1 infections are still being developed. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the inhibition effect of ethanolic Anatolian propolis extracts obtained from the Eastern Black Sea Region (Pazar, Ardahan, and Uzungöl) on HSV-1. In addition to the total phenolic (TPC) and the total flavonoid content (TFC), the phenolic profiles of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-UV. The antiviral activity of the extracts were tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), and plaque reduction tests, and the results were evaluated statistically. It was determined that the total amount of phenolic substances varied between 44.12 and 166.91 mg GAE/g, and the total flavonoid content of the samples varied between 12.50 and 41.58 (mg QUE/g). It was shown that all propolis samples used in the current study were effective against HSV-1, but the higher phenolic compounds contained in the samples showed the higher activity. The results show that ethanolic propolis extracts are promising candidates for HSV-1 treatment., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

This study focused on the protective effects of different types of propolis extracts on gastric mucosa in indomethacin-induced rats. The animals were divided into nine groups: control, negative control (ulcer), positive control (omeprazole), and experimental groups, which were summarized by 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg, bw for aqueous-based and ethanol, respectively. According to the histopathological evaluation, more than others, the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of aqueous-based propolis extracts had different degrees of positive effects on the gastric mucosa. Generally, the biochemical analyses of the gastric tissue showed a correlation with microscopic evaluations. According to the phenolic profile analysis, while pinocembrin (684.34±1.70 μg/ml) and chrysin (540.54±9.06 μg/ml) were the most abundant phenolics in the ethanolic extract, ferulic acid (53.77±0.07 μg/ml) and p-coumaric acid (52.61±0.42 μg/ml) dominated the aqueous-based extract. Also, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extract showed almost nine-fold superiority compared to the aqueous-based extracts. Based on data from preclinical data, it was decided that the best doses for the main goal of the study were 200 mg and 400 mg/kg, bw for aqueous-based propolis extract., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The purpose of this research was to identify the biological activity of Turkish pine honeys and the most abundant phenolic compound(s) to guide future studies to be done about this type of honey. Moreover, this will provide the chance to introduce Turkish pine honeys by elucidating a distinct parameter compared to other forms of honey reported in the literature. To this end, microscopic examination based on the number of honeydew elements (NHE) and the number of total pollen (NTP) grains was performed on 17 samples of pine honeys from the Aegean region of Turkey. Then 18 commonly-occurring phenolic standards were used in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to examine the samples. Each sample was tested for individual phenolic compounds, as well as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). As shown by the numerical data, the values for NHE and NTP were 6600-144000 and 3000-75000, respectively. In addition, the general means of TPC, TFC, and FRAP values for the samples were 53.000 mg GAE/100 g fresh sample, 1.944 mg QE/100 g fresh sample, and 3.455 μmol FeSO 4 /g fresh sample, respectively. Protocatechuic acid predominated with a range of 197.841-780.227 μg phenolic /100 g sample in all samples. According to the general mean for values detected in the samples, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and benzoic acid were the second and third markers for Turkish pine honey samples. It is believed that these results will help efforts to set standards for pine honey on a national and global scale., (© 2022 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Antibiotic resistance, which has increased rapidly in recent years because of uncontrolled and unconscious antibiotic consumption, poses a major threat to public health. The inadequacy of existing antibiotics has increased the need for new, effective, and less toxic antibiotic raw materials or antibiotic derivatives. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and Chestnut (Castanea sativa) flowers possess abundant pollen contents and exhibit similar morphological features. The purpose of this study was to compare these two flower extracts in terms of their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid contents, and phenolic components were also analyzed in aquatic and ethanolic extracts. Antioxidant activities were measured using ferric reducing/antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Antimicrobial and antifungal activities were compared by means of agar diffusion tests against bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Acinetobacter haemolyticus, and Chromobacterium violaceum, and the yeasts Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. Anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS), anti-biofilm, and anti-swarming (SW) activities were also studied against Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 31532, Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01, respectively. Both extracts were rich in ellagic acid and gallic acid and exhibited similar antioxidant properties. Both flower extracts exhibited high antimicrobial and antifungal activities as well as anti-biofilm, anti-QS, and anti-SW activities., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Propolis composition depends on several factors. The classification of propolis is based on its geographical location, color and agricultural characteristics. It is also classified according to the flora where the bees collect the resins, which represent the raw material for propolis production. Propolis possesses high antioxidant activity determined by its phenolic compounds. Due to diverse composition and possible impact on human health, eight samples of propolis were evaluated for their phenolic composition and antioxidant activity. Samples of Polish, Romanian, Turkish and Uruguayan origin propolis were used for phenolic spectrum determination using high performance liquid chromatography and photodiode array detection and in vitro DPPH and ABTS methods were used to determine the antioxidant activity of the extracts. PCA and HCA models were applied to evaluate the correlation between isolated polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The results confirmed variability in propolis composition depending on the geographical region of collection and the plant sources, and correlation between chemical composition and antioxidant activity. Results of PCA and HCA analyses confirm that Polish propolis is similar to that from different provinces of Romania, while Turkish and Uruguay are completely different. Polish and Romanian propolis belong to the poplar type. The assessed phenolic compounds of propolis samples used in the study are responsible for its antioxidant effect. The observed antioxidant activity of the analyzed samples may suggest directing subsequent research on prophylactic and therapeutic properties concerning cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and cancerous diseases, which are worth continuing.

Background: Antimicrobial agents are recommended for disinfection of the cavity following mechanical dental caries removal prior to application of restorative material. There is limited information about stabilized Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) as a cavity disinfectant., Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the antimicrobial activity and effect on dentin bond strength of ClO 2 compared to chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and Ethanolic Propolis Extract (EPE)., Methods: Antimicrobial activities of agents against oral pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and analyses of EPE were examined. Seventyfive mandibular third molars were sectioned, prepared and divided into five subgroups (n=15/group). Cavity disinfectants (2% CHX, 2.5% NaOCl, 30% EPE, 0.3% ClO 2 ) were applied to etched dentin prior to adhesive and composite build-up. Shear bond strength (SBS) was evaluated with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The SBS data were analyzed with One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post-hoc test (p <0.05). The failure modes were evaluated with a stereomicroscope., Results: It was determined that the compared disinfectants were showed different inhibition zone values against oral pathogens. ClO 2 exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity, followed by CHX, NaOCI and EPE, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the SBS values between the disinfectant treated groups and control group. The failure modes were predominantly mixed., Conclusion: The use of 0.3% stabilized ClO 2 as a cavity disinfectant agent exhibited high antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens and no adverse effects on SBS to etched dentin., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Propolis is a multi-functional bee product rich in polyphenols. In this study, the inhibitory effect of Anatolian propolis against SARS-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was investigated in vitro and in silico. Raw and commercial propolis samples were used, and both samples were found to be rich in caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, t-cinnamic acid, hesperetin, chrysin, pinocembrin, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) at HPLC-UV analysis. Ethanolic propolis extracts (EPE) were used in the ELISA screening test against the spike S1 protein (SARS-CoV-2): ACE-2 interaction for in vitro study. The binding energy values of these polyphenols to the SARS-CoV-2 spike and ACE-2 protein were calculated separately with a molecular docking study using the AutoDock 4.2.6 program. In addition, the pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties of these eight polyphenols were calculated according to the SwissADME tool. The binding energy value of pinocembrin was highest in both receptors, followed by chrysin, CAPE, and hesperetin. Based on the in silico modeling and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) behaviors of the eight polyphenols, the compounds exhibited the potential ability to act effectively as novel drugs. The findings of both studies showed that propolis has a high inhibitory potential against the Covid-19 virus. However, further studies are now needed., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: No conflict of interest is declared., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s).)

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-related carboxypeptidase, ACE-II, is a type I integral membrane protein of 805 amino acids that contains 1 HEXXH-E zinc binding consensus sequence. ACE-II has been implicated in the regulation of heart function and also as a functional receptor for the coronavirus that causes the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In this study, the potential of some flavonoids presents in propolis to bind to ACE-II receptors was calculated with in silico. Binding constants of ten flavonoids, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, chrysin, galangin, myricetin, rutin, hesperetin, pinocembrin, luteolin and quercetin were measured using the AutoDock 4.2 molecular docking program. And also, these binding constants were compared to reference ligand of MLN-4760. The results are shown that rutin has the best inhibition potentials among the studied molecules with high binding energy - 8.04 kcal/mol, and it is followed by myricetin, quercetin, caffeic acid phenethyl ester and hesperetin. However, the reference molecule has binding energy of - 7.24 kcal/mol. In conclusion, the high potential of flavonoids in ethanolic propolis extracts to bind to ACE-II receptors indicates that this natural bee product has high potential for COVID-19 treatment, but this needs to be supported by experimental studies., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim and Objective: This study aimed at investigating the gastro-protective effects of Algerian Sahara (Sidr) honey from Apis mellifera intermissa against HCl/Ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats., Materials and Methods: Total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds were determined. Then, three groups of rats (control, HCl/ Ethanol-induced ulcer, and orally administered honey) were used for the determination of gastro-protective effect of Sidr honey., Results: Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and DPPH activity of the honey sample were determined as 47.35±3.35 mg GAE/ 100 g, 2.13±0.17 mg QE/ 100 g, and 229.24±0.02 mg/mL, respectively. Oral pretreatment of rats with honey (1.2 g/Kg body weight orally at an interval of 2 days) protected gastric mucosa against HCl/Ethanol-induced damage by decreasing ulcer score, the volume and acidity of gastric juice and increasing pH., Conclusion: These results were confirmed by the histological assessment, which demonstrated a significant gastro-protective activity of Saharian (Sidr) honey against HCl/Ethanol-induced stomach ulcer. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6 and PGE2 were also measured. Sahara honey significantly decreased the plasma TNF-α, PGE 2 , and IL-6 concentrations., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

In this study, the main aim was to fabricate propolis (Ps)-containing wound dressing patches using 3D printing technology. Different combinations and structures of propolis (Ps)-incorporated sodium alginate (SA) scaffolds were developed. The morphological studies showed that the porosity of developed scaffolds was optimized when 20% ( v / v ) of Ps was added to the solution. The pore sizes decreased by increasing Ps concentration up to a certain level due to its adhesive properties. The mechanical, swelling-degradation (weight loss) behaviors, and Ps release kinetics were highlighted for the scaffold stability. An antimicrobial assay was employed to test and screen antimicrobial behavior of Ps against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The results show that the Ps-added scaffolds have an excellent antibacterial activity because of Ps compounds. An in vitro cytotoxicity test was also applied on the scaffold by using the extract method on the human dermal fibroblasts (HFFF2) cell line. The 3D-printed SA-Ps scaffolds are very useful structures for wound dressing applications.

The study investigated whether ethanolic propolis extract would exhibit an anti-diabetic effect in rats. The animals were divided into four groups of five rats each. Diabetic rats received 30% or 15% propolis extract at a dosage of 0.5 ml/100 g for 4 weeks. Data for the diabetic groups treated with 30% and 15% propolis showed a decrease in blood sugar levels from 393 ± 192.7 to 154 ± 28.0 mg/dl and from 386 ± 141.1 to 331.5 ± 123.74 mg/dl, respectively. Compared with the diabetic control group, an improvement was observed in both groups treated with propolis at the pancreatic, hepatic, and renal tissue levels. Antioxidant capacity, phenolic analysis, and the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase were also tested using the propolis samples to support in vivo data. Chrysin and caffeic acid phenyl ester were the dominant phenolics. The IC 50 results for α-amylase (0.62 ± 0.00 μg/ml) and α-glucosidase (40.40 ± 0.09 μg/ml) were also encouraging. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Bee products, non-synthetic compounds including propolis, are of great interest due to their potential therapeutic effects in metabolic disorders. The current study was designed and is now reported in order to confirm this potential benefit. The results obtained indicate that the higher concentration (30%) of ethanolic propolis extract exhibited excellent potential anti-diabetic activity by reducing blood sugar levels in diabetic rats. In addition, compared to the diabetic rat group, this extract exhibited a promising effect on the pancreatic, hepatic, and renal tissues of the propolis-treated groups. The current results indicate that propolis is a remarkable natural product with clinical potential in the treatment of diabetic disease., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study focused on the concept of the possible protective effect of some honey types against HCl/ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in male Wistar albino rats. Rats were pretreated with rhododendron, chestnut, and oak honey orally with doses of 1.25 and 2.5 g/kg, bw (body weight) for three consecutive days. On fourth day, nothing was applied, and after the administration of anesthesia on the fifth day, their stomachs were surgically removed to investigate the histopathological examinations. Besides analyses of some blood serum profiles and antioxidant parameters of gastric tissue, some biochemical properties of honeys were investigated to support the histopathological results. The degrees of ulcer lesions in all groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p = .011). Although this difference originated from the additional ulcerative inducing effect of some honeys, the lower concentration rhododendron honey indicated more promising data than the positive control group (pantoprazole) in consequence of the microscopic and macroscopic evaluations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: As being a member of natural products, honey has acquired fame among the studies in recent years due to its versatility as a source of food and complementary medicine. For contributing to this argument, this comprehensive study was performed and results were focused on the lower concentration of rhododendron honey thanks to its clinical potential with protecting the gastric mucosa. According to the obtained results, our suggestion came into prominence that this honey might be protecting the mucosa, better than the different concentrations of chestnut and oak honeys, by being better-absorbed through the gastric mucosa., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

This study investigated various chemical and antioxidant properties of Anatolian royal jelly samples. Moisture, pH, total protein, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) and sugars were analyzed from 18 samples. Total phenolic contents, ferric reducing antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity were measured as antioxidant determinants. 10-HDA contents and total protein content of fresh weight ranged between 1.0% and 3.9%, and 11.4% and 15.8%, respectively. The main sugars detected were glucose and fructose. Maltose, trehalose, and melibiose were detected at less than 1.0% in all samples. Lactose, a milk sugar, was detected in only 3 samples, at values between 0.8% and 1.4%. Total henolic content ranged from 91.0 to 301.0 mg gallic acid equivalents/kg fresh weight. Antioxidant activity is due to both to the total phenolic content, proteins and fatty acids of royal jelly. Anatolian royal jelly samples were not different from other royal jelly samples from across the world., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

The aims of this study were to determine grayanotoxin (GTX-III) toxin level in mad honey using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and examine the dynamic changes of certain biochemical parameters in blood serum of rats that consumed mad honey. For the experimental animal study, 20 Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each, with one group being the control group (Group 1) and the others being the experimental groups (Groups 2-5). Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were, respectively, given mad honey extract at doses of 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 mg/g body weight/day via oral gavage for 8 days. According to results, the quantity of GTX-III found in the honey sample as 39.949 ± 0.020 μg GTX-III/g honey, and the biochemical analysis of the tested parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase muscle and brain) showed a significant elevation with increasing concentration of honey. In conclusion, the use of increasing concentrations of Rhododendron honey was seen as a source of enzymatic symptoms., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-hyaluronidase activities of honeys from different botanical origins honeys in order to determine their anti-inflammatory properties. The total phenolic contents, total flavonoids and total tannin levels of six types of honey, chestnut, oak, heather, pine, buckwheat and mixed blossom, were determined. Concentration-related inhibition values were tested turbidimetrically on bovine testis hyaluronidase (BTHase) as IC50 (mg/mL). All honeys exhibited various concentration-dependent degrees of inhibition against BTHase. Inhibition values varied significantly depending on honeys' levels of phenolic contents, flavonoid and tannin. The honeys with the highest anti-hyaluronidase activity were oak, chestnut and heather. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich honeys have high anti-hyaluronidase activity, and these honeys have high protective and complementary potential against hyaluronidase-induced anti-inflammatory failures.

Background/aim: Our objective was to identify the antioxidant properties of honeybee products from Turkey, chestnut honey, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, and their hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats., Materials and Methods: Animals were fed with honeybee products for 7 days following CCl4 injection. Development of liver damage and oxidative stress were monitored by measuring the activities of the enzymes alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Antioxidant capacities of the bee products were identified using FRAP and DPPH assays, as well as by measuring total phenolic and flavonoid contents., Results: The antioxidant activities of the honeybee products were highest in propolis, followed, in order, by pollen, honey, and royal jelly. Despite their different levels of antioxidant capacity, their roles in the prevention of liver damage induced by CCl4 were very similar, which can be explained through their bioavailability to the treated animals., Conclusions: Our results suggest that honey, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly significantly enhanced the healing of CCl4-induced liver damage, partially due to their antioxidant properties and bioavailability.

The present study was conducted to envisage inhibition effects of propolis on the crucial enzymes, urease, xanthine oxidase (XO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Some of the antioxidant properties of the propolis samples were determined using the total phenolic content (TPE) and total flavonoids in the eight different ethanolic propolis extracts (EPE) samples. Inhibition values of the enzymes were expressed as inhibition concentration (IC 50 ; mg/mL or μg/mL) causing 50% inhibition of the enzymes with donepezil, acetohydroxamic acid and allopurinol as reference inhibitors. All the propolis extracts exhibited variable inhibition effects on these enzymes, but the higher the phenolic contents the lower the inhibitions values (IC 50 = 0.074 to 1.560 mg/mL). IC 50 values of the P5 propolis sample having the highest TPE, obtained from Zonguldak, for AChE, urease and XO were 0.081 ± 0.009, 0.080 ± 0.006 and 0.074 ± 0.011 μg/mL, respectively. The EPE proved to be a good source of inhibitor agents that can be used as natural inhibitors to serve human health.

This study was planned to investigate some physicochemical and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial properties of three different degrees of unifloral characters of chestnut honeys. Antihyaluronidase, antiurease and antimicrobial activities were evaluated as anti-inflammatory characteristics. Total phenolic contents, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic profiles, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), scavenging activities of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS + ) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals were evaluated as antioxidant properties. Color, optical rotation, conductivity, moisture, pH and ash content were evaluated as physicochemical parameters, and some sugars content, prolin, diastase, HMF and minerals (Na, K, Ca, P, Fe, Cu and Zn) were evaluated as chemical and biochemical parameters. All studied physicochemical and biological active properties were changed in line with the unifloral character of the chestnut honeys. A higher unifloral character was found associated with greater apitherapeutic capacity of the honey, as well as biological active compounds.

There is considerable interest in alternative approaches to inhibit Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and thus treat many stomach diseases. Propolis is a pharmaceutical mixture containing many natural bioactive substances. The aim of this study was to use propolis samples to treat H. pylori. The anti-H. pylori and anti-urease activities of 15 different ethanolic propolis extracts (EPEs) were tested. The total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents of the EPE were also measured. The agar-well diffusion assay was carried out on H. pylori strain J99 and the inhibition zones were measured and compared with standards. All propolis extracts showed high inhibition of H. pylori J99, with inhibition diameters ranging from 31.0 to 47.0 mm. Helicobacter pylori urease inhibitory activity was measured using the phenol-hypochlorite assay; all EPEs showed significant inhibition against the enzyme, with inhibition concentrations (IC 50 ; mg/mL) ranging from 0.260 to 1.525 mg/mL. The degree of inhibition was related to the phenolic content of the EPE. In conclusion, propolis extract was found to be a good inhibitor that can be used in H. pylori treatment to improve human health.

This study investigated some physico-chemical and biochemical characteristics of different honey types belonging to Turkish flora. Sixty-two honey samples were examined on the basis of pollen analyses, including 11 unifloral honeys (chestnut, heather, chaste tree, rhododendron, common eryngo, lavender, Jerusalem tea, astragalus, clover and acacia), two different honeydew honeys (lime and oak), and 7 different multifloral honeys. Electrical conductivity, moisture, Hunter color values, HMF, proline, diastase number, and sugar analyses of the honey samples were assessed for chemical characterization. Some phenolic components were analyzed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to determine honeys' phenolic profiles. Total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity were measured as antioxidant determinants. The study results confirm that physico-chemical and biological characteristics of honeys are closely related to their floral sources, and that dark-colored honeys such as oak, chestnut and heather, have a high therapeutic potential., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, firstly, antioxidant and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) properties of Yomra apple were investigated. Seventeen phenolic constituents were measured by reverse phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Total phenolic compounds (TPCs), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activities were performed to measure antioxidant capacity. Some kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax), and inhibition behaviors against five different substrates were measured in the crude extract. Catechin and chlorogenic acid were found as the major components in the methanolic extract, while ferulic acid, caffeic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin and p-coumaric acid were small quantities. Km values ranged from 0.70 to 10.10 mM in the substrates, and also 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoic acid (HPPA) and L-DOPA showed the highest affinity. The inhibition constant of Ki were ranged from 0.05 to 14.90 mM against sodium metabisulphite, ascorbic acid, sodium azide and benzoic acid, while ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulphite were the best inhibitors.

Grayanotoxin III (GTX3) was investigated for inhibition of all catalytically active mammalian carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, i.e. CA I to CA XIV. It showed micromolar inhibition (KIs of 8.01 and 6.13 µM) for cytosolic isoforms CA I and II, respectively. GTX3 showed a submicromolar inhibition (KIs in the range of 0.51-2.15 µM) for the remaining cytosolic (CA III, VII and XIII), membrane-associated/transmembrane (CA IV, IX, XII and XIV), mitochondrial (CA VA and CA VB) and secreted (CA VI) isoforms. This inhibition profile is very different from that of the sulfonamide CA inhibitors (CAIs), which possess different clinical applications. A molecular docking study for GTX3 within the active sites of CA I and II assisted to the understanding of molecular mechanism of the ligand. The interesting inhibition profile, coupled with various possibilities of interacting with the enzyme active site make this family of natural compounds attractive leads for designing novel chemotypes acting as CAIs.

It is well established that honey contains substantial antioxidant compounds that could protect cell components from the harmful action of free radicals. One can speculate that these compounds may strengthen the organism defenses and consequently prevent oxidative stress in humans. Therefore, over time, impaired cells can accumulate and lead to age-related diseases. A comparative study was carried out to assess the antioxidant activity of three varieties of honey from different botanical and geographical (Manuka honey from New Zealand, Acacia Honey from Germany and Wild carrot honey from Algeria). Manuka honey had the highest phenolic content with 899.09 ± 11.75 mg gallic acid/kg. A strong correlation between the antioxidant activities of honeys and their total phenol contents has been noticed.

Different natural products and secondary metabolites from mushrooms, teas, honeys, mosses, plants and seaweeds were investigated for their in vitro inhibitory effects on human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, E.C.4.2.1.1) isoforms I and II. Inhibition data were correlated with the total phenol content in the extract and investigated with the pure compounds believed to be responsible for this activity. Methanolic extracts were prepared for 17 such pure chemicals present in the natural products and for 41 diverse natural products. The IC(50) values were in the range of 0.11-66.50 μg/mL against hCA I and of 0.09-54.54 μg/mL against hCA II, respectively. The total phenol content was in the range of 0.02-1318.96 (as milligrams of gallic acid equivalents) per gram of sample. These data offer new insights on possible novel classes of CA inhibitors based on natural products, possessing a range of chemical structures not present in the classical inhibitors with pharmacological applications, such as the sulfonamides and sulfamates.

An α-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) was purified and characterized kinetically from erythrocytes of the sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedti, an endangered species. The sturgeon enzyme (AgCA) showed kinetic parameters for the CO(2) hydration reaction comparable with those of the human erythrocytes enzyme hCA II, being a highly active enzyme, whereas its esterase activity with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate was lower. Sulphonamide inhibitors (acetazolamide, sulphanilamide) strongly inhibited AgCA, whereas metal ions (Ag(+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and Co(2+)) were weak, millimolar inhibitors. Several widely used pesticides (2,4-dichlorophenol, dithiocarbamates, parathion and carbaryl) were also assayed as inhibitors of this enzyme. The dithiocarbamates were low micromolar AgCA inhibitors (IC(50) of 16-18 μM), whereas the other pesticides inhibited the enzyme with IC(50)s in the range of 102-398 μM. The wide use of dithiocarbamate pesticides may be one of the factors enhancing the vulnerability of this sturgeon species to pollutants.

PROBLEM  The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-carbonic anhydrase II antibodies (anti-CA II) antibodies in pre-eclampsia and the relationships between the autoantibodies, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant capacity (TOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidative stres index (OSI) parameters. METHOD OF STUDY  We studied 40 early and late onset pre-eclamptic patients and 40 healthy pregnant control and 39 healthy non-pregnant control subjects. Serum CA II antibodies, TAC and TOC, and MDA parameters were studied by ELISA. RESULTS  The mean values for TAC, TOC, OSI, MDA, and anti-CA II were significantly increased in patients with pre-eclampsia compared to the other groups. The anti-CA II antibody levels for the pregnant control subjects were 0.129 ± 0.04 and that for the pre-eclamptic patients were 0.282 ± 0.18. In this study, any absorbance value higher than 0.136, the mean absorbance + 2 S.D. of pregnant control subjects, was defined as positive. Positive results were obtained in 29 of 40 pre-eclamptic patients (72.5%). There were significant positive correlations between serum anti-CA II antibodies and TOC, MDA levels, and OSI levels. CONCLUSION  The results suggest that anti-CA II antibodies and impairment in oxidant-antioxidant balance may be involved in multifactorial etiology of pre-eclampsia., (© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Chemical and biochemical properties of standard, hybrid, and grafted melons cultivated under the same agricultural conditions in adjacent fields in the Cumra region of Turkey were investigated and compared based on pH, Brix, antioxidant activity, total phenolics, ascorbic acid, individual phenolics, sugar, and organic acid values. Seventeen different phenolic constituents were quantified by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The highest phenolic acid variability and content were detected in the standard melon. Sugar and organic acid compositions of melon cultivars were tested by capillary electrophoresis, and significant differences in types and contents of individual sugars and organic acids were determined among the cultivars. Standard Cinikiz Cumra melons had the highest ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and total sugar contents. The fructose/glucose ratio increased three times in grafted melon as compared with standard melon. While sugar alcohol mannitol existed in the standard and hybrid cultivars, this constituent disappeared in the grafted types. Citric acid found in the standard cultivar was not detected in the hybrid and grafted types. Consequently, it was concluded that the nutritional value of melons changed by the application of hybridization, grafting, or standard (open pollinated) production methods. The standard melon was found to have the highest score in terms of taste, because of its highest sweetness and sourness. It was also found preferable because of its high antioxidant activity, total phenolic and ascorbic acid contents.

Between May and November 2006, the epipelic algal flora and its seasonal variations in the Balikli Dam Reservoir were investigated. A total of 55 species were identified, most of which belonged to the Bacillariophyta (31). Other taxonomic groups present were Chlorophyta (9), Cyanoprokaryota (8) and Euglenophyta (7). Navicula cryptocephala, N. veneta and Hannaea arcus were the most important species, regarding frequency of occurrence and relative abundance in the epipelic algal flora. While the highest densityof epipelic community was found to be 28527 cells cm(-2) in September, the lowest density was 24929 cells cm(-2) in August. The highest Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') in the epipelic flora was found to be 2.764 in August. Cluster analysis was applied to the epipelic algal community. In this study ice, light, rainfall and water temperature were found to be the most important factors in regulating the growth of epipelic community in Balikli dam reservoir.

The effect of peroxynitrite (PN), a highly toxic agent, on catalase (CAT) activity in fish liver microsomal homogenates was determined. PN was synthesized by mixing acidic hydrogen peroxide solution with sodium nitrite solution and then adding sodium hydroxide solution into the mixture in order to stabilize the highly labile compound peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) in peroxynitrite anion form (ONOO(- )). The effect of PN and decomposed peroxynitrite (DPN), prepared by preincubation with HCl, was monitored by using a constant amount of homogenate containing the CAT enzyme. Significant losses were observed in the CAT activity of fish liver enzyme after treatment with PN and also with DPN products, the inhibitory effect of PN being slightly more pronounced than that of DPN. IC(50) values were 5.5 and 8.5 microM for PN and DPN, respectively. The PN inhibition of CAT activity is due to both the effects of the secondary and decomposition products of PN and its nitration and oxidation effects on the amino acid residues of the enzyme.

N-Acyl imidates (2), reacting with 5-amino pyrazole (3), 2-aminobenzimidazole (4), 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (5), 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole (6), and 5-aminotetrazole (7) give pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine (8), benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazine (9), [1,2,4]triazolo [2,3-a][1,3,5]triazine (10), [1,2,4]tri azolo[2,3-a][1,3,5]triazin-5-ylamine (12), and tetrazolo-[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine (14) derivatives, respectively. The synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of IR, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, and mass spectral data and elemental analyses results. Five of the newly synthesized compounds, 8a, 9a, 10a, 12a, and 14a, were selected by National Cancer Institute and screened for their anticancer activity against three cancer cell lines MCF7, NCI-H460, and SF-268, where 12a exhibited moderate anti-proliferation potential. 12a was, thus, further tested for anticancer activity against 60 human cancer cell lines and showed moderate growth inhibition potency. 12a showed a high growth inhibitory activity against A498 renal cancer cell line. All of the newly synthesized compounds 8-10, 12 and 14 were tested for their antioxidant capacity where they exhibited very high activity, even higher than the widely used reference antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox). Compound 12a also showed the highest antioxidant activity.

The essential oils of air-dried Centaurea sessilis and Centaurea armena obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Forty and twenty components were identified in the essential oils and the main component of these taxons was beta-eudesmol in the ratios of 12.4% and 19.3% from C. sessilis and C. armena, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated essential oil of the plants was also investigated. They showed moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but no antifungal activity was observed against two yeastlike fungi.

Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. is a summer fruit highly characteristic of the Black Sea region. The edible parts of the fruit were tested for chemical composition and antioxidant properties. Total moisture, ash, protein, sugar, pectin, ascorbic acid, phenolic, and mineral contents of the fruit were determined. The antioxidant activity of the fruit was investigated using TLC plate and ferric thiocyanate methods. Its antioxidative character was also tested utilizing hydroxyl, DPPH, and superoxide radical scavenging activity measurements, using BHT, vitamin C, and Trolox as references. Besides being a good source of nutrients, L. officinalis was found to provide a rich source of protective antioxidant compounds. Its antioxidant and radical scavenging activities were comparable to or higher than those of the reference antioxidants. It appeared to have high mineral content. The concentrations of macroelements K, Mg, Ca, and Na were high at 2215 +/- 10.5, 179 +/- 11, 153 +/- 0.8, and 55 +/- 0.3 mg/kg, respectively, and the concentrations of trace elements Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu were 24.2 +/- 1.3, 8.3 +/- 0.8, 1.9 +/- 0.2, and 0.8 +/- 0.1 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the fruit showed very low contents of Pb, Ni, Co, and Cr, below the detection limits, which is considered to be a good food quality. As it is a rich source of protein, sugar, ascorbic acid, minerals, and antioxidants, L. officinalis is well worth further studies regarding its components possessing important health benefits and inclusion in the daily diet.

Comparative studies were performed on the antioxidant enzyme activities and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration in liver and red cells of two groups of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The fish of the first group were cultured in freshwater and the others were adapted to sea-water by by being transferred from freshwater at 5-6 months of age. Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were significantly higher in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues in both of the fish groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were found lower in the seawater-adapted trout than in the freshwater-cultured trout. In both tissues, TBARS were found significantly higher in the seawater-adapted trout than in the freshwater trout. It was also observed that the red cells of the seawater-adapted trout were much more resistant to oxidative stress than the red cells of the freshwater-cultured trout. The results implicate that antioxidant capacities in the seawater-adapted trout and freshwater trout may be related to physical and chemical characteristics of the environment.