Evroula Hapeshi

Veterinary drug residues in milk represent an important food safety concern, particularly under conditions of co‐administration where transporter‐mediated drug–drug interactions may alter residue profiles. Marbofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antimicrobial, is actively secreted into milk through the ATP‐binding cassette transporter ABCG2 (BCRP), whereas ivermectin has been reported to interact with ABC transporters. The present study integrated in silico and in vivo approaches to investigate whether ivermectin may influence marbofloxacin secretion into sheep milk through transporter‐mediated mechanisms. A homology model of ovine ABCG2 was constructed using the human cryo‐electron microscopy structure as a template. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were subsequently performed to evaluate ligand–transporter interactions and complex stability. Docking analysis demonstrated that ivermectin exhibited a broader and more favorable interaction profile within the ABCG2 transmembrane cavity compared with marbofloxacin, with partial overlap at residues associated with substrate recognition, particularly within the Asp129‐Asp130 region. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed stable accommodation of ivermectin within the transporter throughout the simulation period without structural destabilization of the protein. The in vivo component included lactating dairy ewes receiving marbofloxacin alone or in combination with ivermectin under routine field conditions. Milk samples collected at the predicted peak milk concentration were analyzed using a validated HPLC–PDA/MS method. Marbofloxacin was detected in all milk samples with high analytical specificity. Ewes treated with ivermectin exhibited significantly lower marbofloxacin concentrations in milk compared with animals receiving marbofloxacin alone, while significant within‐animal variability between udder halves was also observed.

Origanum dubium, mainly grown in the Mediterranean region, is one of the less extensively studied species among the oregano class. Oregano species are recognized for their significant pharmaceutical properties, primarily attributed to carvacrol and other phenolic compounds. The goal of this study was to establish a sustainable method for the extraction of carvacrol, total phenolic, and total flavonoid compounds (TPC and TFC, respectively). Pulse-mode ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UPAE) was employed, using ethanol–water mixtures as green solvents, for the extraction of the bioactive compounds from the plant material. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) coupled with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the extraction process with respect to the extraction temperature, extraction time, ethanol-to-water ratio of the solvent and power amplitude of the ultrasonic processor. The responses of carvacrol (determined by HPLC-PDA), TPC, and TFC (determined by spectrometric methods) were evaluated by RSM. The statistical model identified the optimal extraction conditions, which were a combination of increased extraction temperature (70 °C) for 26 min with an intermediate ethanol–water ratio (60%) at the maximum processor’s power amplitude (100%). These conditions led to the optimal response of the three measured parameters. The optimized parameters represent a green and efficient approach to obtain bioactive-enriched extracts from Origanum dubium, suitable for potential applications in functional foods, preservatives, or other applications.

Research on animal venoms and their components spans multiple disciplines, including biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, pharmacology, medicine, and more. Manipulating and analyzing the diverse array of data required for venom research can be challenging, and relevant tools and resources are often dispersed across different online platforms, making them less accessible to nonexperts. In this article, we address the multifaceted needs of the scientific community involved in venom and toxin-related research by identifying and discussing web resources, databases, and tools commonly used in this field. We have compiled these resources into a comprehensive table available on the VenomZone website (https://venomzone.expasy.org/10897). Furthermore, we highlight the challenges currently faced by researchers in accessing and using these resources and emphasize the importance of community-driven interdisciplinary approaches. We conclude by underscoring the significance of enhancing standards, promoting interoperability, and encouraging data and method sharing within the venom research community.

The commonly applied resource management strategies are rarely characterized by medium–long term sustainability, but an indispensable and urgent shift is necessary according to a circular economy approach that includes actions aimed at saving and reusing resources

The current era has been defined as “The Plastic Era”, considering that over the past 50 years the role and importance of polymeric materials in our economy has steadily grown, reaching a production of around a few hundred million tons per year which may even double in the next 20 years

Today, sustainability represents the key factor for economic progress in compliance with social advancement and environmental protection, driving innovation in materials, processes and technologies

In recent years, the scientific community has turned its attention to the further study and application of green chemistry as well as to sustainable development in reducing the consumption of raw materials, solvents, and energy. The application of green chemistry aims to ensure the protection of the environment and to also, consequently, improve the quality of human life. It offers several benefits, both socially and economically. In the last few decades, new alternative non-conventional green extraction methodologies have been developed for the purposes of the extraction of active ingredient compounds from various raw products. The main objective of this literature review is to present the current knowledge and future perspectives regarding the green extraction of tea species in respect of the isolation of safe active biomolecules, which can be used as commercially available products—both as dietary supplements and pharmaceutical formulations. More specifically, in this literature review, the intention is to investigate several different extraction techniques, such as ultrasonic-assisted extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction with DESs, the microwave assisted-extraction method, and the reflux method. These are presented in respect of their role in the isolation of bioactive molecules regarding different tea species. Furthermore, following the literature review conducted in this study, the commonly used green extraction methods were found to be the ultrasound-assisted method and the microwave-assisted method. In addition to these, the use of a green solvent, in regard to its role in the maximum extraction yield of active ingredients in various species of tea, was emphasized. Catechins, alkaloids (such as caffeine), gallic acid, and flavonoids were the main extracted bioactive molecules that were isolated from the several tea species. From this literature review, it can be demonstrated that green tea has been widely studied at a rate of 52% in respect of the included research studies, followed by black tea at 26%, as well as white tea and oolong tea at 11% each. Regarding the determination of the bioactive molecules, the most utilized analytical method was found in the combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a photodiode array detector (PDA) and mass spectrophotometry (MS) at a usage rate of about 80%. This method was followed by the utilization of UPLC and GC at 12% and 8%, respectively. In the future, it will be necessary to study the combination of green extraction techniques with other industry strategies, such as an encapsulation at the micro and nano scale, for the purposes of preparing stable final products with antioxidant properties where, finally, they can be safely consumed by humans.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a form of intra- and inter-species communication system employed by bacteria to regulate their collective behavior in a cell population-dependent manner. QS has been implicated in the virulence of several pathogenic bacteria. This work aimed to investigate the anti-QS potential of ethanolic extracts of eight aromatic plants of Cyprus, namely, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Lavendula spp., Calendula officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Sideritis cypria, and Aloysia citriodora. We initially assessed the effects of the extracts on autoinducer 2 (AI-2) signaling activity, using Vibrio harveyi BB170 as a reported strain. We subsequently assessed the effect of the ethanolic extracts on QS-related processes, including biofilm formation and the swarming and swimming motilities of Escherichia coli MG1655. Of the tested ethanolic extracts, those of Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Salvia officinalis were the most potent AI-2 signaling inhibitors, while the extracts from the other plants exhibited low to moderate inhibitory activity. These three ethanolic extracts also inhibited the biofilm formation (>60%) of E. coli MG1655, as well as its swimming and swarming motilities, in a concentration-dependent manner. These extracts may be considered true anti-QS inhibitors because they disrupt QS-related activities of E. coli MG1655 without affecting bacterial growth. The results suggest that plants from the unexplored flora of Cyprus could serve as a source for identifying novel anti-QS inhibitors to treat infectious diseases caused by pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a form of intra- and inter-species communication system which is employed by bacteria to regulate their collective behavior in a cell population-dependent manner. QS has been implicated in the virulence of several pathogenic bacteria. This work aimed to investigate the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) potential of ethanolic extracts of eight aromatic plants of Cyprus namely, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Lavendula spp., Calendula officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Sideritis cypria, and Aloysia citriodora. We initially assess the effects of the extracts on autoinducer 2 (AI-2) signaling activity, using Vibrio harveyi BB170 as a reported strain. We subsequently assess the effect of the ethanolic extracts on QS-related processes including biofilm formation and swarming and swimming motilities of Escherichia coli MG1655. Of the tested ethanolic extracts those of Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Salvia officinalis were the most potent AI-2 signaling inhibitors while the extracts from the other plants exhibited low to moderate inhibitory activity. The three ethanolic extracts also inhibited the biofilm formation (>60%) of E. coli MG1655, as well as its swimming and swarming motility in a concentration-dependent manner. These extracts may consider true anti-QS inhibitors because they disrupt QS-related activities of E. coli MG1655 without affecting bacterial growth. The results suggest that plants from the unexplored flora of Cyprus could serve as a source to identify novel anti-QS inhibitors to treat infectious diseases caused by pathogens resistant to antibiotics

Mono-doped (Mo-TiO₂ and W-TiO₂) and co-doped TiO₂ (Co-Mo-TiO₂, Co-W-TiO₂, Cu-Mo-TiO₂, Cu-W-TiO₂, Zn-Mo-TiO₂, and Zn-W-TiO₂) catalysts were synthesized by simple impregnation methods and tested for the photocatalytic degradation of 4-tert-butylphenol in water under UV (365 nm) light irradiation. The catalysts were characterized with various analytical methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, Diffuse reflectance (DR) spectroscopies, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were applied to investigate the structure, optical properties, morphology, and elemental composition of the prepared catalysts. The XRD patterns revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to the WO₃ in W-TiO₂, Co-W-TiO₂, Cu-W-TiO₂, and Zn-W-TiO₂. The co-doping of Cu and Mo to the TiO₂ lattice was evidenced by the shift of XRD planes towards higher 2θ values, confirming the lattice distortion. Elemental mapping images confirmed the successful impregnation and uniform distribution of metal particles on the TiO₂ surface. Compared to undoped TiO₂, Mo-TiO₂ and W-TiO₂ exhibited a lower energy gap. Further incorporation of Mo-TiO₂ with Co or Cu introduced slight changes in energy gap and light absorption characteristics, particularly visible light absorption. In addition, photoluminescence (PL) showed that Cu-Mo-TiO₂ has a weaker PL intensity than undoped TiO₂. Thus, Cu-Mo-TiO₂ showed better catalytic activity than pure TiO₂, achieving complete degradation of 4-tert-butylphenol under UV light irradiation after 60 min. The application of Cu-Mo-TiO₂ under solar light conditions was also tested, and 70% of 4-tert-butylphenol degradation was achieved within 150 min.