Naziye Ozkan

The search for new drugs to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) is ongoing, with the use of herbal extracts emerging as a current research focus in this field. This study primarily intended to investigate the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties of the ethanolic extract of Thymus longicaulis subsp. chaubardii (TLC) in vitro. Secondly, we aimed to perform an acetic acid (AA)–induced rat UC model and assess the effects of TLC extract (200 mg/kg/orally/day, during three days) using ELISA test in terms of IL‐1 β , TNF‐ α , IL‐17, IL‐10, Na ⁺ /K ⁺ ‐ATPase, TLR‐9, MMP‐3 level, caspase‐3 and caspase‐9, luminol, lucigenin, and SOD. In addition, we accomplished macroscopic and histological evaluations. Our phytochemical investigation revealed TLC contained secondary metabolites including total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total triterpenes in quite concentrated amounts. The extract demonstrated anti‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity that was 2.3 times more potent than ascorbic acid, anti‐2,2‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging activity that was 3.28 times less potent than Trolox, and antilipoxygenase Type V (LOX‐5) activity that was 1.31 times more potent than indomethacin in vitro. Due to colitis, increased luminol and lucigenin CL, TNF‐ α , IL‐1 β , IL‐17, TLR‐9, caspase‐3, caspase‐9, MMP‐3, and macroscopic and microscopic scores and decreased IL‐10, Na+/K + ‐ATPase levels in colon ameliorated with TLC and sulfasalazine (as reference drug) treatments. As a result, it can be said that TLC improves UC in rats, mainly on account of its free radical scavenging activity, anti‐inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Origanum onites ethanolic extract (O. onites EE) in vitro and its effects on inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and tissue damage-related parameters in the acetic acid (AA)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) model in rats. Material and Method: Dried parts of O. onites were extracted with ethanol using the maceration method. Then, the extract’s anti-DPPH and anti-ABTS free radical scavenging, anti-5-lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, and total secondary metabolic quantities were evaluated in vitro. The rat groups were determined as control + saline (C), AA + saline (A), AA + O. onites EE (O), AA + Sulfasalazine (S). The treatments were applied once a day for 3 consecutive days. Result and Discussion: O. onites EE showed high amount of total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total triterpene contents, high antioxidant activity against ABTS, DPPH radicals, and anti-inflammatory effects against 5-LOX enzyme. Due to AA-induction, increased luminol-lucigenin, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17, TLR-9, caspase-3, caspase-9, MMP-3, macroscopic and microscopic scores attenuated by O. onites EE and sulfasalazine treatments. In conclusion, O. onites EE has a significant therapeutic effect on rats' colitis due to its total flavonoid, phenolic, and triterpene content, and its Anti-5-LOX and free radical scavenging activity.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between primary epithelial ovarian tumors and histomorphologic changes in the fimbrial ends (FEs) of the fallopian tubes. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight serous carcinomas (SCs) and 12 non-serous carcinomas (NSC) were studied. Ovarian and concomitant invasive tumors in FEs were labeled with PAX8, WT-1 and Calretinin. Results: Eighty-six percent of SCs were high grade (HG), 14% of were low grade (LG). 71% of SCs (85% HG, 15% LG) had concomitant invasive tumors in FEs. Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) was seen in 29% (75% HG, 25% LG), all had concomitant invasive tumors in FEs. The presence of tumors in FEs was statistically significant in SCs (p=0.03). 33% of NSCs had concomitantly invasive tumors in FEs. 67% of endometrioid tumors, 33% of clear cell carcinomas had endometriosis. 50% of mucinous tumors, 67% of endometrioid tumors, 50% of benign Brenner tumors had Walthard nest. Except for mucinous carcinomas, ovarian and concomitant invasive tumors in FEs displayed tubal phenotype (Calretinin-/PAX8+). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that, invasive tumors and STIC in FEs are not only limited to HGSCs, but can also be seen in LGs. FEs could also be a site of origin for NSCs, however, future studies with more cases are needed.

In the present study, it was aimed to study the antioxidant effects of spironolactone (SPL) to determine its possible protective effects in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury. Hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct of Wistar albino rats were clamped for 45 minutes under anesthesia to form an ischemia period. Then reperfusion was allowed and the rats were decapitated 60 minutes later. SPL (20 mg/kg, p.o.) or SF was orally administered for 30 minutes before ischemia. Rats in the control arm underwent sham surgery and were administered isotonic saline. Liver function was studied by measuring aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1beta (IL-1β) levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), luminol, and lucigenin levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+-K+-ATPase enzyme activities were analyzed to study tissue injury under light microscope. While IR increased AST, ALT, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels and MDA, luminol, and lusigenin levels and MPO activities, it caused a decrease in GSH levels and Na+K+-ATPase activity. Spironolactone administration significantly improved these values. Protective effects of SPL against ischemia/reperfusion injury via various mechanisms suggest that this agent may become a novel treatment agent in clinical practice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible protective effects of St. John's wort in the hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. The hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct were all clamped for 45 minutes to induce ischemia in rats, and after that reperfusion for 1 hour. SJW was administrated orally, once a day for 3 days before ischemia/reperfusion. The aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin levels were measured in the serum samples. Luminol chemiluminescence, lucigenin luminol chemiluminescence levels; myeloperoxidase. The sodium-potassium ATPase (Na+/K+ ATPase) activity was determined in the liver tissue, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity with the bcl-2/bax ratio were measured by the western blot analysis. The St. John's wort administration recovered the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-1β levels serum parameters meaningfully, while ischemia/reperfusion caused an increase in luminol chemiluminescence, lucigenin luminol chemiluminescence, myeloperoxidase, caspase-3, and caspase-9 activity and led to a decrease in the B-cell lymphoma-2/bcl-2-associated X protein (bcl-2/bax) ratio and the Na+/K+ ATPase activity. The obtained results indicate protective effects of St. John's wort on the ischemia/reperfusion injury through various mechanisms, and we are able to suggest that St. John's wort can clinically create a new therapeutic principle.