Damla Kırcı

This study investigated the in vitro anticancer potential of propolis in combination with resveratrol, curcumin, and berberine against ER-positive (MCF-7) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cells. These specific phytochemicals and propolis were selected due to their proven multitarget anticancer mechanisms, relatively low toxicity, and ability to enhance treatment efficacy when used in combination. Cells were treated with propolis (25 μg mL⁻¹ in MCF-7 cells; 25 or 50 μg mL⁻¹ in MDA-MB-231 cells) alone or in combination with resveratrol, curcumin, or berberine for 48 h. Drug interactions were quantitatively evaluated using the Chou–Talalay combination index (CI) method implemented in CompuSyn software. Propolis displayed dose-dependent cytotoxicity and significantly strengthened the effects of all tested compounds in both cell lines. In MCF-7 cells, propolis combined with resveratrol (CI: 0.64–0.69) and berberine (CI: 0.58–0.83) exhibited strong synergism, while curcumin combinations were primarily additive (CI: 0.92–0.96). In MDA-MB-231 cells, synergistic profiles were observed for resveratrol (CI: 0.82–0.89) and berberine (CI: 0.81–0.89). Notably, curcumin reached significant synergism (CI: 0.70) at high fractional effect levels in triple-negative cells. These findings demonstrate that propolis enhances the cytotoxic activity of resveratrol, curcumin, and berberine in a subtype-specific manner. The results support the potential of rational natural product combinations as complementary therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.

This study investigates the phytochemical variations among 34 cultivars of Ocimum basilicum to evaluate their essential oil composition and identify chemotaxonomic patterns. Understanding this variation is important for cultivar authentication, selection, and potential industrial or pharmacological applications. Essential oils were extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). To assess chemical variation and group cultivars based on their volatile profiles, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied. A total of 48 volatile compounds were identified across the cultivars. Linalool was the most abundant constituent, dominating in 28 cultivars with concentrations ranging from 24.2% to 81.1%. Methyl chavicol exhibited strikingly high levels in certain cultivars, reaching up to 82.0% in some samples. Cluster analysis revealed two major chemotype clades, with chemical similarity indices ranging from -33.07% to 90.84%, indicating substantial intra-specific variation and the potential for clear chemotaxonomic discrimination. The essential oil composition of O. basilicum cultivars exhibited marked variability, supporting classification based on chemotypic profiles. These findings enhance the understanding of chemotaxonomy within the genus and provide practical insights for cultivar selection in medicinal, aromatic, and commercial applications.

This study aims at investigating the phytochemistry and biological effects of three different flavored black teas from Sweden. Analyses were conducted using gas and liquid chromatography. The major volatile compounds of all the tea samples were found to be linalyl acetate and α‐terpineol. HPLC results indicated caffeine levels of 1.08%, 1.46%, and 1.18% in samples Ht1, Ht2, and Ht3, respectively. Ht1 exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, particularly in DPPH ^· and ABTS ⁺ radical scavenging capacities (0.15 and 0.21 mgTE/g, respectively). Additionally, Ht1 also showed higher antioxidant activity than the other samples in both CUPRAC and FRAP tests. Metal chelation capacity was highest in Ht3, suggesting significant chelation potential due to nonphenolic components. Ht1 showed strong inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (1.21 mg GALAE/g), butyrylcholinesterase (3.48 mg GALAE/g), and tyrosinase (1.47 mg KAE/g) enzymes. It highlights valuable insights into how different flavor additives may influence the health benefits of tea.

Anthemis pauciloba Boiss. var. pauciloba is one of four recognized varieties in Türkiye, locally known as “bol papatya.” Its flowers are traditionally used as a cold infusion to treat asthma. The aim of the research was to determine the chemical composition of essential oil (EO) of A. pauciloba var. pauciloba aerial parts obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, examined by GC-FID, and GC-MS, simultaneously. The EO was evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities against microbial strains utilizing the broth-microdilution technique. α-Thujone (28.7%), α-pinene (26.7%), and β-thujone (9.0%) were found as the main constituents of EO. The antimicrobial activity (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) against gram-negative, gram-positive, and yeast was observed by the essential oil. The essential oil demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity against Candida krusei (MIC: 1.25 mg/mL). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the aerial parts of A. pauciloba var. pauciloba was evaluated for the first time in this study.

In the present study, the essential oils of the endemic Prangos meliocarpoides Boiss. var. meliocarpoides and Prangos uechtritzii Boiss & Hausskn aerial parts (Karaman and Kayseri) were analysed the chemical compositions by GC-FID and GC/MS, respectively. The main constituents of the P. meliocarpoides var. meliocarpoides oil were α-phellandrene (16.9%), sabinene (16.2%), and γ-terpinene (13.2%). P. uechtritzii oils (Karaman and Kayseri) were characterized with p-cymene (19.4 and 18.4%), 7-epi-1,2-dehydrosesquicineole (8.7 and 9.0%) and spathulenol (8.3 and 10.3%) as main compounds, respectively. The essential oil compositions of P. uechtritzii were compared to the essential oil components in the literature. Multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering, were utilized to investigate the chemotaxonomic variations in the composition of P. uechtritzii essential oils across diverse geographical locations.

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the phytochemical profile, essential oil composition, and bioactivities—including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibio-film, and anti-quorum sensing (QS) activities—of four Heracleum L. species (H. crenatifolium Boiss, H. paphlagonicum Czeczott, H. sphondylium subsp. montanum Schleich. ex Gaudin, and H. pastinacifolium subsp. incanum (Boiss. & A.Huet) P.H.Davis). Methods: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed via Gas Chromatography–Flame Ionization Detector (GC–FID) and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS), while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) evaluated chemical variability among the species. Antioxidant activities were assessed using DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the broth microdilution method to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values, while antibiofilm activity was evaluated using an in vitro microplate-based biofilm model against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Anti-QS activity was analyzed using a disc diffusion assay with Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 as the reporter strain. Results: It was observed that the amounts of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids were higher in root extracts than in aerial parts extracts for the four species in this study (H. sphondylium subsp. montanum excluding phenolic content). In the analysis of essential oil, it was determined that the major component in the roots was mostly myristicin, and in the fruits it was mostly octyl acetate. Phenolic and flavonoid contents were positively correlated with antioxidant activity. Methanol and n-hexane extracts of H. pastinacifolium (aerial parts) and n-hexane extracts of H. paphlagonicum (root) exhibited notable antimicrobial activity, primarily against Gram-positive bacteria, but none of the extracts showed activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13383 or P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Among methanol extracts, H. pastinacifolium (aerial parts) exhibited the highest antibiofilm activity (73.2%), while H. paphlagonicum (aerial parts) showed the highest activity among n-hexane extracts (75.5%). All n-hexane extracts exhibited anti-QS activity, whereas the methanol extracts showed no activity. Conclusions: These findings underscore the chemical diversity and bioactive potential of Heracleum species, contributing to the chemotaxonomic understanding of the genus and supporting their potential applications in medicine and industry. To our knowledge, this is the first study that reveals the antibiofilm and anti-QS properties of these Heracleum species.

Background/Objectives: Fungal infections have significant health risks due to virulence factors like biofilms that lead to chronic and persistent infections. To decrease associated rates of morbidity and mortality, it is crucial to develop effective antifungal treatments. The present study aims to evaluate the bioactive potential of Ferulago spp. essential oils by assessing their effect on dermatophytes and wound healing, as these fungi are often associated with wound infection. Methods: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal lethal concentration (MLC) of five essential oils were assessed on planktonic dermatophytes and the most promising were used to evaluate their effect on the formation and disruption of biofilms, by quantifying biofilm mass using crystal violet and extracellular matrix deposition using safranin staining. Alterations in fungal morphology were confirmed by optical microscopy and a cell migration assay was used to assess wound-healing capacity. Results: Ferulago silaifolia essential oil characterized by high amounts of α-pinene (45.4%) and cis-crysanthenyl acetate (39.1%) was the most active, particularly against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum (MIC = 50 µg/mL). Regarding biofilm assays, Trichophyton rubrum was the most susceptible strain, with both biofilm mass and extracellular matrix being highly compromised with an evident decrease in hyphal growth and mycelial density. In addition, this essential oil significantly increased fibroblast migration at 25 μg/mL, indicating a wound-healing effect that could prevent systemic infections. Conclusions: The present study provides new insights into the treatment of dermatophytosis by highlighting the antivirulent effects of F. silaifolia essential oil and its potential wound-healing properties.

Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil (TTO) is widely recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, attributed primarily to its major constituent, terpinen-4-ol. Kojic acid, a well-established compound used mainly in cosmetic formulations, exhibits potent antioxidant and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. In this study, the antimicrobial potential of commercial Pharmacopoeia-grade TTO was evaluated with kojic acid and terpinen-4-ol combinations. The quality of TTO was confirmed through GC-FID and GC/MS analyses, where terpinen-4-ol was the major component (44.4%). In vitro antimicrobial assays were performed against human pathogens including Candida utilis, Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium. Notably, all tested samples demonstrated activity against S. Typhimurium. Kojic acid combined with TTO showed a synergistic effect, with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of 0.266, while the combination of kojic acid and terpinen-4-ol showed an even stronger synergistic effect (FICI: 0.039). The combination of TTO and terpinen-4-ol produced an additive effect (FICI: 0.508). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the combined effectiveness of TTO and kojic acid against S. Typhimurium. The synergistic activity observed with the combination of terpinen-4-ol and kojic acid highlights its potential as an antimicrobial for a therapeutic strategy, after safety evaluations. Graphical Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the chemical profile of volatile and non-volatile components of Narcissus tazetta subsp. tazetta (daffodil) is grown in Türkiye. The chemical profiles of fresh and dried flowers were analyzed using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) methods. The study also aimed to investigate the effects of the drying process on the chemical profile and contribute to the plant's pharmacological, commercial, and ecological potential. Material and Method: Fresh and dried flower samples collected from the Muğla region were analyzed using the HS-SPME method. Fresh samples were immediately analyzed to prevent the loss of volatile compounds, while dried samples were air-dried at room temperature until they reached a constant weight and stored at 4°C. The mass spectra of volatile compounds were evaluated using GC/MS in conjunction with the Başer Library and other reference databases. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was applied for statistical analysis and clustering. Result and Discussion: The main volatile compounds identified in fresh flowers were (E)-β-ocimene (62.8%), 1,8-cineole (12.9%), and linalool (7.6%). In dried flowers, (E)-β-ocimene (43.1%), (Z)-3-hexenal (18.7%), and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate (9.8%) were prominent. Significant changes were observed in volatile compounds after drying, with monoterpene hydrocarbons decreasing and new aldehyde and ester compounds emerging. The influence of regional and environmental factors on the chemical profile was emphasized. The Muğla samples showed differences compared to samples from İzmir, Siirt, and Şırnak. HCA successfully grouped the compounds based on structural and functional similarities, statistically highlighting the chemical differences between fresh and dried flowers.

Punica granatum L. (Pomegranate) grows naturally in a wide area from northwest Türkiye to western and northern Pakistan and is also cultivated throughout subtropical and tropical regions of the world. Pomegranate is in the form of a spiny shrub or a small tree. The barks, fruit peels, flowers, and seeds of the plant are used in traditional medicine due to their ellagitannin and polyphenol content and are used to treat circulatory system disorders. In this study, essential oil (EO) of P. granatum flowers was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. As a result, the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained was elucidated. As a result, nine compounds representing 99.9% of the essential oil of P. granatum flowers were characterized, with hexadecanoic acid (52.4%), linoleic acid (15.2%), heptacosane (10.1%), and pentacosane (10.1%) as the major components. Notably, this research marks the first comprehensive examination of the essential oil of pomegranate flowers in Türkiye.