Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları
Yayınlar
- MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1Ajuga vestita Boiss: a “natural gold mine” for the design of novel nutraceuticals and phytopharmaceuticals
Cetiz, Mehmet Veysi; Zengin, Gokhan; Leyva-Jiménez, Francisco Javier; Fernández-Ochoa, Álvaro; de la Luz Cádiz-Gurrea, Maria; Custódio, Luísa; Rodrigues, Maria João; Pereira, Catarina G.; Lazarova, Irina; Balos, Mehmet Maruf
Members of the Ajuga genus are of significant interest due to their traditional applications in various countries, and have therefore been the subject of phytochemical research investigating their natural bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and biological activities of various Ajuga vestita extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water and water). The biological effects assessed included antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic activities. The extracts were chemically profiled using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography – electrospray ionization – quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS), which identified 121 compounds, including iridoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. The ethanol/water extract exhibited superior radical scavenging activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH): 43.13 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g; 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS): 45.37 mg TE/g) and reducing power (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC): 103.43 mg TE/g; ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP): 45.29 mg TE/g). Regarding enzyme inhibition, the ethanol extract exhibited the greatest inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), glucosidase, and tyrosinase, whereas the ethyl acetate extract was most effective against amylase. Regarding cytotoxicity, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited the strongest effect, significantly reducing cell viability in all cell lines and having a particularly strong impact on murine bone marrow stromal (S17) cells, with viability at 30.8 ± 2.7% at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. By contrast, the aqueous extract exhibited low cytotoxicity, maintaining high cell viability (over 94% at 50 µg/mL and over 74% at 100 µg/mL). Additionally, network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the multi-target mechanisms and binding stability of A. vestita phytochemicals. These findings provide new, detailed insights into A. vestita and suggest its potential as a raw material for developing health-promoting nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ3Establishing a link between the chemical composition and biological activities of Gladiolus italicus Mill. from the Turkish flora utilizing in vitro, in silico and network pharmacological methodologies
Zengin, Gokhan; Cetiz, Mehmet Veysi; Abul, Nurgul; Gulcin, Ilhami; Caprioli, Giovanni; Piatti, Diletta; Ricciutelli, Massimo; Koyuncu, Ismail; Yuksekdag, Ozgur; Bahşi, Muammer
Objectives: Five solvent extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water (70%), and water) of Gladiolus italicus Mill. from Turkey were evaluated for chemical and biological properties. Methods: Antioxidant activities, inhibitory properties against key enzymes involved in the etiology of chronic diseases were tested, as well as cytotoxic effects on different cell lines. Chemical characterization was also carried out to determine the most abundant compounds of each extract. Results: The highest total phenolic content (TPC) was observed in the water extract while highest TFC in ethanol/water extract. The most abundant compounds in the extracts were hyperoside (69041.06 mg kg−1), isoquercitrin (46239.49 mg kg−1), delphindin-3,5-diglucoside (42043.81 mg kg−1), myricetin (21486.61 mg kg−1), and kaempferol-3-glucoside (21199.76 mg kg−1). Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations confirmed the structural stability and dynamic conformational integrity of these complexes over a period of 100 ns. In network pharmacology, A total of 657 unique target genes were screened: 52 associated with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), 85 with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), and 130 with fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2), identifying crucial gene interactions for these proteins. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted, revealing significant interactions and pathways such as the advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their receptors (RAGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications and T- helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation, among others. This elucidation of complex networks involving key genes like AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1), MYC proto-oncogene (MYC), tumor protein 53 (TP53), Interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) provides a promising foundation for the development of targeted therapies in the treatment of non-communicable diseases. Conclusion: These results show that G. italicus could be a natural source of potent antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors which need to be further explored for the development of biopharmaceuticals.
AtıfScopus15OpenAlex13
İncele - MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ2Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant and Enzyme-Inhibitory Activities of Different Extracts from Three Phlomis Species
Yagi, Sakina; Zengin, Gokhan; Cetiz, Mehmet Veysi; Cziáky, Zoltán; Jeko, József; Bahşi, Muammer; Çakılcıoğlu, Uğur; Turumtay, Halbay; Aktumsek, Abdurrahman
Phlomis species (family Lamiaceae) are highly valued as food and herbal medicine. The present study is designed to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of extracts from P. fruticosa, P. herba-venti, and P. kurdica aerial parts. Different classes of metabolites, including phenolic acids, phenylethanoids, flavonoids, iridoids, organic acids, terpenes, and fatty acids, are identified in the three species, with methanol as the best solvent to recover bioactive compounds from the three species in addition to ethyl acetate for P. kurdica. Around 70% methanol extract of P. herba-venti exerts the best radical scavenging and ions-reducing properties, while its methanol extract exhibits the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The ethyl acetate extract of P. fruticosa displays the best chelating power, and its other polar extracts have the highest total antioxidant activity. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations have underscored the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds, including isoverbascoside, samioside, forsythoside B, and hattushoside. In conclusion, the study indicates that these three Phlomis species are a rich source of bioactive molecules with possible therapeutic applications, and the selection of appropriate extraction solvents is crucial for the targeted biological activity.
AtıfScopus23OpenAlex25İncele - MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ1Exploring the anticancer potential of Dianthus orientalis in pancreatic cancer: A molecular and cellular study
Yildirim, Mehmet Aykut; Sevinc, Burak; Paydas, Samet; Karaselek, Mehmet Ali; Duran, Tugce; Kuccukturk, Serkan; Vatansev, Hakan; Cetiz, Mehmet Veysi; Caprioli, Giovanni; Acquaticci, Laura
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, characterized by limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. This study investigated the anticancer effects of Dianthus orientalis extracts on pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc-1 and BxPC-3) with a focus on apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis-related pathways. Chemical analysis using HPLC-MS/MS identified bioactive compounds (vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, hyperoxide) known for their anticancer properties. The Inhibitory Concentration 50 (IC50) value, which is half maximal inhibitory concentration of cancer cells, was determined to be 250 μg/mL at 48 h, and significantly induced apoptosis by decreasing anti-apoptotic gene expressions (Bcl-XL and Bcl-2) and increasing pro-apoptotic gene expressions (Casp3 and Bax) particularly in the Panc-1 cell line. Flow cytometric analysis revealed approximately 55% apoptosis in both cell lines. Molecular docking and dynamics analyses demonstrated strong binding affinities of quercetin and hyperoxide with important cancer-related proteins, including CHEK2 and PALB2. Gene expression analysis demonstrated the upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers like Bax and Casp3, and selective modulation of metastasis-related genes such as SNAI1, PALB2, and CHEK2. The findings highlight the potential of D. orientalis to modulate DNA repair mechanisms and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways. Furthermore, network pharmacology and in silico tools corroborated its interactions with critical signaling pathways in cancer progression, including PI3K-Akt and MAPK. The study provides the first comprehensive evidence of D. orientalis's antiproliferative through apoptosis induction on pancreatic cancer cell lines, laying the groundwork for future therapeutic applications.
AtıfScopus19İncele