Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1/r/munzur/917
  Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction and biological activities of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. flowering branches using experimental design and artificial neural networks

  Uysal, Sengul; Cvetanović Kljakić, Aleksandra; Lončar, Biljana; Zengin, Gokhan; Cakilcioglu, Ugur

  Crataegus monogyna is widely used in traditional medicine due to its rich content of bioactive compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of extraction parameters, including solvent concentration, extraction time, temperature, and solid-to-liquid ratio, on total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity)), and enzyme inhibitory properties (α-amylase and tyrosinase). Furthermore, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was applied to optimize the extraction conditions. The results demonstrated that extraction conditions significantly affect both chemical composition and biological activity. The optimal conditions (70% ethanol, 30 min, 45 °C, (1 : 30)) yielded extracts with high total phenolic (109.15 mg GAE per g), and total flavonoid content (70.74 mg RE per g), strong antioxidant activity (DPPH: 473.57 mg TE per g, ABTS: 537.58 mg TE per g, CUPRAC: 407.11 mg TE per g, FRAP: 393.91 mg TE per g) and notable enzyme inhibitory potential (0.53 mmol ACAE per g against α-amylase and 75.00 mg KAE per g against tyrosinase). The ANN model showed excellent predictive performance, confirming its suitability for modeling and optimization of complex extraction systems. The present study provides comprehensive insights into optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction methods for the recovery of maximum bioactive compounds and biological activities (antioxidant and enzyme inhibition effect) from C. monogyna flowering branches using experimental design and ANN model. These findings provide a reliable basis for the development of functional and pharmaceutical products. This journal is

  AtıfScopus1·WoS1·OpenAlex1

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1/r/munzur/600
  Ajuga 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.

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2025/r/munzur/6163
  Molecular Insight on Phylogeny and Systematics of the Narrowly Endemic Centaurea bingoelensis (Asteraceae)

  Yazdıç, Ferit Can; Açar, Mıkaıl; Cakilcioglu, Ugur; Tasar, Neslihan; Çelik, İbrahim Seyfettin

  Centaurea L. is a genus that is systematically discussed and whose taxonomic issues need to be clarified in the light of molecular techniques developed in recent years. This study aims to contribute taxonomically in molecular terms by studying the morphological and phylogenetic relationships of Centaurea bingoelensis. This limited, endemic species grows naturally in the Bingöl province of Türkiye. A phylogenetic analysis based on the molecular marker ITS, which is the most preferred in evolutionary studies and found in nuclear DNA, has been proposed as a molecular marker of C. bingoelensis , an endemic plant in Türkiye, and has not yet been molecularly identified. For this purpose, PCR amplification of the fragment mentioned above was performed, followed by direct sequencing, analysis of nucleotide variation, and phylogenetic analysis with different species. The Centaurea species identified so far have been shown to have three main distinct major clades and the specific phylogenetic methods used (NJ, ML, MP) and the ITS nucleotide sequences analyzed revealed a close phylogenetic relationship between C. bingoelensis and C. spectabilis. For a more accurate phylogenetic classification of this species within the Asteraceae family, their close relationships were probed using similar sequences from the GenBank Database. Phylogenetic analysis of C. bingoelensis specimens using ITS sequences reveals their position in the Asteraceae family and molecular support for these specimens being new species as proposed. Although morphologically similar to C. fenzlii and C. obtusifolia, the remarkable point of our study is that C. bingoelensis is phylogenetically closer to C. spectabilis. This work has exciting implications for understanding the evolution and diversification of the genus Centaurea. In addition, the results of this study show that the samples identified as Centaurea species in Türkiye are still not entirely determined genetically.

  AtıfOpenAlex1

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ1/r/munzur/2022
  Incorporating the HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS profiles with the biochemical properties of eight Salvia species

  Llorent-Martínez, Eulogio J.; Nilofar; Sinan, Kouadio Ibrahime; Darendelioglu, Ekrem; Bahsi, Muammer; Polat, Rıdvan; Cakilcioglu, Ugur; Orlando, Giustino; Ferrante, Claudio; Zengin, Gokhan

  Salvia, a widely recognized genus globally esteemed for its traditional and medicinal applications, prompted our investigation into the methanol and water extracts of eight Salvia species native to Turkey. These species included S. aucheri, S. candidissima, S. divaricata, S. virgata, S. multicaulis, S. palestina, S. trichoclada, and S. cerino-pruinosa. Our study aimed to assess their biological properties and chemical composition. Utilizing HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS, we identified chemical constituents in the extracts, while antioxidant (radical quenching, reducing power, and metal chelating) and enzyme inhibitory (amylase, glucosidase, tyrosinase, and cholinesterase) activities were evaluated for biological activities. One hundred thirty-one compounds were characterized in the tested extracts. Although many compounds belonging to different chemical families were identified, the main compounds in all the extracts were rosmarinic and sagerinic acids, along with several salvianolic acid isomers. Notably, the methanol extracts displayed superior antioxidant properties overall, with S. cerino-pruinosa exhibiting the highest activity among them, except for metal chelating. Similar to the antioxidant test results, the methanol extracts were more active than the water extracts in the enzyme inhibition tests. Multivariate analysis further highlighted the distinctiveness of the water extract of S. cerino-pruinosa. In conclusion, our findings underscore the biopharmaceutical potential of the tested Salvia species, suggesting their significance as sources of bioactive agents for health-promoting applications.

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  AtıfScopus17·OpenAlex15

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ2/r/munzur/1527
  Chemical 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.

  AtıfScopus23·OpenAlex25

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ2/r/munzur/1055
  Exploration of UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Profiles and the Neuroprotective, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Effects of Extracts from Achillea maritima (L.) Ehrend. & Y.P.Guo (Asteraceae) Collected in Türkiye

  Ahmed, Shakeel; Zengin, Gokhan; Fernández-Ochoa, Álvaro; de la Luz Cádiz-Gurrea, Maria; Leyva-Jiménez, Francisco Javier; Elkiran, Omer; Cakilcioglu, Ugur; Akgul, Bengusu H.; Pereira, Catarina G.; Custódio, Luísa

  The current study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic activities of extracts from Achillea maritima, a wild medicinal plant used for various therapeutic purposes. The antioxidant activities were assayed through different assays like DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, and phosphomolybdenum, whereas in enzyme inhibition studies, cholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase were assayed. Cytotoxicity studies are conducted on S17, RAW, and HepG2 to assess its selectivity and effectiveness. Chemical profiling by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS revealed multiple bioactive compounds in the extracts. Polar solvents (ethanol, ethanol/water, and water) resulted in high concentrations of phenolic acids as well as chlorogenic and caffeoylquinic acids, as well as flavonoids like vicenin and apigenin. On the other, the nonpolar (hexane extract) was rich in octadecatrienoic acid hydroperoxy and hydroxyoctadecatrienic acid. Among these, the water extract contained the highest phenolic content of 32.26 mg GAE/g, while the ethyl acetate extract was the richest in flavonoids, with 7.83 mg RE/g. In the antioxidant studies, the water and ethanol/water extracts consistently display the most potent activities, thus indicating their significant free radical scavenging and metal chelation abilities. The studies on enzyme inhibitions showed remarkable BChE inhibitory activities of the ethanol extract in 12.50 mg GALAE/g, thus showing potential in managing disease conditions related to cholinesterase. Tyrosinase inhibition was significant by the ethanol extract, presenting 55.59 mg KAE/g. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase with 0.66 mmol ACAE/g, while ethanol extract showed significant inhibition of α-glucosidase with 4.35 ACAE/g. Cytotoxicity results showed that the water extract was most effective against the HepG2 cancer cell line by reducing cell viability to 38.4% at high doses while preserving low toxicity against normal cells, as observed by high viability percentages in S17 and RAW cell lines. These results highlight the usefulness of A. maritima extracts in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications.

  AtıfScopus15

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ1/r/munzur/1011
  Exploring 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.

  AtıfScopus19

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• MakaleAçık Erişim2024Scopus SJRQ3/r/munzur/2263
  Exploring Sorbus torminalis Leaves: Unveiling a Promising Natural Resource for Diverse Chemical and Biological Applications

  Ak, Gunes; Tüfekci, Enis Fuat; Mustafa, Ahmed M.; Caprioli, Giovanni; Altunoglu, Yasemin Celik; Baloglu, Mehmet Cengiz; Cakılcıoglu, Ugur; Polat, Rıdvan; Darendelioglu, Ekrem; Zengin, Gokhan

  Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz has a rich history of versatile applications spanning the fields of medicine and nutrition. It is noteworthy that the decoction obtained from S. torminalis leaves is a traditional treatment method against both diabetes and stomach disorders. Phytochemical profiling determined by HPLC/MS-MS. The effects of the extracts on cell viability were investigated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) method against MDA-MB-231 cell line (human breast adenocarcinoma).The ethanol/water extract contained more concentration of total phenolic (91.41 mg gallic acid (GAE) equivalent /gr) and flavanoid (29.10 mg rutin (RE) equivalent/gr) in the tested extract (p<0.05). Resulting of HPLC analysis, the chemical constituents varied depending on the solvents and chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, isoquercetin, delphindin-3,5-diglucoside, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, neochlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were identified in all extracts. Overall, ethanol, n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed the highest inhibition for the tyrosinase enzyme. The effect of leaf extracts of S. torminalis on antimicrobial, biofilm inhibitory, and anticancer activities was examined. Based on outcomes of our study recognize this plant as a critical source of medically active chemicals for feasible phytopharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, providing the first scientific insight into the detailed biological and chemical profiles of S. torminalis.

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  AtıfScopus7·OpenAlex5

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• MakaleYalnız künye2024Scopus SJRQ2/r/munzur/2144
  Insight into novel inhibitors from Sterculia urens against Cholera via pharmacoinformatics and molecular dynamics simulation approaches

  Rahman, M. Oliur; Ahmed, Sheikh Sunzid; Alqahtani, Ali S.; Cakilcioğlu, Uğur; Akbar, Mohammad Ahsanul

  The underdeveloped countries with large populations are facing a grave global threat in the form of cholera. Vibrio cholerae, the etiologic agent of Cholera has drawn attention recently due to antimicrobial resistance and resulting outbreaks that necessitates establishment of novel medications to counteract virulence and viability of the pathogen. Sterculia urens Roxb. (Malvaceae) is an ethnomedicinally important tree, which harbors a good number of bioactive phytocompounds. In the present study, 53 phytocompounds of S. urens were screened against the promising target ToxT of V. cholerae employing structure-based drug design approach that revealed three lead compounds, viz., 4,4,5,8-Tetramethylchroman-2-ol (−8.2 kcal/mol), Beta-Bisabolol (−8.2 kcal/mol) and Ledol (−8.7 kcal/mol) with satisfactory ADMET properties. Molecular dynamics simulation for 150 ns unveiled notable compactness and structural stability for the lead compounds considering RMSD, RMSF, Rg, MolSA, PSA and protein-ligand contacts parameters. Molecular mechanics-based MM/GBSA binding energy calculation revealed Beta-Bisabolol (−66.74 kcal/mol) to have better scores than 4,4,5,8-Tetramethylchroman-2-ol (−47.42 kcal/mol) and Ledol (−65.79 kcal/mol). Enzymes were mostly found as drug target class, and Nabilone was found as a structurally similar analog for 4,4,5,8-Tetramethylchroman-2-ol. These discoveries could aid in revealing new antibacterial medications targeting ToxT to combat Cholera. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

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  AtıfScopus8·OpenAlex8

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• MakaleYalnız künye2024Scopus SJRQ2/r/munzur/2101
  Uncovering chemical profiles, biological potentials, and protection effect against ECM destruction in H2O2-treated HDF cells of the extracts of Stachys tundjeliensis

  Kurt-Celep, Inci; Zheleva-Dimitrova, Dimitrina; Sinan, Kouadio Ibrahime; Uba, Abdullahi Ibrahim; Nilofar; Mahomoodally, Mohamad Fawzi; Aumeeruddy, Muhammad Zakariyyah; Cakilcioglu, Ugur; Dall'Acqua, Stefano; Zengin, Gokhan

  The genus Stachys L., one of the largest genera of the Lamiaceae family, is highly represented in Turkey. This study was conducted to determine the bio-pharmaceutical potential and phenolic contents of six different extracts from aerial parts of Stachys tundjeliensis. The obtained results showed that the ethanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the antioxidant assays. Meanwhile, the ethanol extract displayed strong inhibitory activity against α-tyrosinase, the dichloromethane extract exhibited potent inhibition against butyrylcholinesterase, and the n-hexane extract against α-amylase. Based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis, more than 90 secondary metabolites, including hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, and their glycosides, acylquinic acids, phenylethanoid glycosides, and various flavonoids were identified or tentatively annotated in the studied S. tundjeliensis extracts. It was observed that the application of S. tundjeliensis eliminated H2O2-induced oxidative stress. It was determined that protein levels of phospho-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), receptor for advanced glycation endproducts, and activator protein-1, which are activated in the nucleus, decreased, and the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 also decreased to basal levels. Overall, these findings suggest that S. tundjeliensis contains diverse bioactive compounds for the development of nutraceuticals or functional foods with potent biological properties.

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  AtıfScopus12·OpenAlex12

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