Mehran Aksel

This study examines the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties of methanol, chloroform, and n-hexane extracts from Rhynchostegium megapolitanum, a moss species collected in Aydın, Türkiye. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were quantified. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays, yielding 76.0%, 71.4% and 7.93% DPPH and 59.1%, 21.3% and 4.44% ABTS radical scavenging activities for methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was tested against 17 bacteria and 4 yeasts, showing significant efficacy, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria. Methanol extracts of R. megapolitanum exhibited notable antibacterial effects. Anticancer activity was evaluated on PC-3 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity was assessed using Hoechst/PI double staining, and paclitaxel (1 µM) served as a positive control. The extracts, in apoptosis mechanism demonstrated concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects (5–40 µM), supporting their potential as natural therapeutic agents in cancer research.

Prostate cancer ranks highest in male diagnoses and second in cancer-related deaths. Conventional treatments necessitate exploration of new modalities due to their side effects. Sonophotodynamic therapy (SPDT) represents a potential anticancer approach that integrates both sonodynamic and photodynamic therapies to improve the efficacy of cancer treatments. This study aims to evaluate and compare the mechanisms and anticancer efficacy of photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and SPDT using methylene blue (MB) and aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPc) in the androgen-sensitive and androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cell lines. Cells were cultivated using different concentrations of MB and AlPc, followed by the exposure to ultrasound and/or light irradiation. Cell metabolic activity was assessed using the MTT assay, which evaluates mitochondrial enzyme function as an indicator of viability rather than clonogenic survival. Additionally, apoptosis was evaluated using Hoechst staining and Western blot analysis of apoptotic proteins, while reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant levels were determined through biochemical assays. Results showed significant proliferation inhibition, with SPDT exhibiting the highest efficacy. MB demonstrated superior efficiency compared to AlPc. The treatment groups displayed a greater quantity of apoptotic cells, indicating elevated levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, PARP, and Bax proteins, whereas levels of caspase-9 and Bcl-2 were lower compared to the control groups. Additionally, the treatments resulted in increased levels of ROS and malondialdehyde, while antioxidant activities were diminished. In summary, SPDT mediated by MB and AlPc presents promising potential for treating prostate cancer and may significantly contribute to apoptotic mechanisms.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lacks effective therapies at advanced stages. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX)-mediated sonodynamic (SDT), photodynamic (PDT), and combined sono-photodynamic therapy (SPDT) on HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were treated with 50 µM PpIX alone or combined with SDT (1 MHz, 0.5 W/cm², 60 s), PDT (630 nm, 2 mJ/cm², 30 s), or sequential SPDT. Viability (MTT), oxidative stress (TOC, TAC), apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC/PI staining), and apoptotic protein expression (Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, -9 via Western blot) were assessed.PpIX alone showed no cytotoxicity (p > 0.05). SDT and PDT significantly reduced viability by 24.33% (p < 0.05) and 43.33% (p < 0.01), respectively, while SPDT reduced it by 83.33% (p < 0.001). TOC levels increased significantly in SDT and PDT groups (p < 0.01), peaking in SPDT (p < 0.001). Apoptosis rates were highest with SPDT (p < 0.001 vs. all). SPDT markedly upregulated Bax and cleaved caspases while downregulating Bcl-2 (p < 0.001).PpIX-mediated SPDT induces synergistic cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells through enhanced oxidative stress and activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. These findings suggest SPDT as a promising strategy for HCC treatment, warranting further preclinical investigation.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of fjorbid-a-mediated sono-dynamic therapy in a 3D prostate cancer cell model. The effect of fjorbid-a-mediated sonodynamic therapy was examined by crystal violet staining in a 3D cell culture model created using human PC3 cells. Furthermore, apoptosis mechanisms were an-alyzed using Hoechst and propidium iodide staining (HOPI), and the levels of total oxidant (TOS) and total antioxidant (TAS) were assessed biochemically using cor-responding kits. Crystal violet staining was employed to assess the effectiveness of sonodynamic therapy facilitated by pheophorbide-a, revealing a substantial 75% re-duction in the viability of cancer cells. HOPI staining results indicated that there was no noteworthy increment in the count of apoptotic cells in the control, drug-only, or ultrasound-only groups. However, a remarkable 80% increase in apoptotic cell count was observed following pheophorbide-a-mediated sonodynamic treatment. Addi-tionally, biochemical measurements demonstrated elevated levels of Total Oxidant Status (TOS) and decreased levels of Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) in the treatment groups in comparison to the control groups. Based on the acquired data, it was estab-lished that pheophorbide-a-induced sonodynamic therapy for prostate cancer treat-ment diminishes cell viability by inducing apoptosis through oxidative stress in a 3D cell culture system.

Background and Aims: Chemotherapy uses agents that selectively target cancer cells but can also cause collateral damage to healthy tissues and lead to significant side effects. These toxic agents have major adverse effects on noncancerous tissues. It is therefore imperative to develop safe and efficacious alternative therapeutic strategies capable of inducing apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro how postbiotics derived from heat‐killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 affect human prostate cancer cells.Methods: Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 strain was cultured in MRS broth at a concentration of 10⁹ colony forming units (cfu) per milliliter. The activated probiotics were then heat treated at 75°C for 60 min to inactivate them and postbiotics were obtained. The inhibitory effects of heat‐killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 on LNCaP and PC3 cells were assessed through an MTT assay. The apoptotic impact of postbiotics on the cells was validated using Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (HO/PI) staining. Additionally, western blotting was employed to examine the expression of cytochrome‐c (cyt‐c), Bcl2, Bax, and caspase‐3–9 proteins associated with the apoptotic pathway. Additionally, the levels of antioxidant and oxidant enzymes were measured in both cell lines using established colorimetric methods and commercial kits.Results: MTT results showed that the postbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 had IC50 values of 10⁷ and 10⁸ cfu/mL on LNCaP and PC3 cells, respectively. HO/PI results showed postbiotic‐induced apoptosis in both cell lines. Heat‐killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 increased the expression of cyt‐c, caspase‐9, Bax, and caspase‐3 protein levels and decreased Bcl2 expression in LNCaP and PC3 cell lines. However, caspase‐8 was not detected. In addition, high‐dose postbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 (10⁸ and 10⁹ cfu/mL) increased the activity of oxidants ROS and MDA and suppressed the activity of antioxidants GSH, SOD, and CAT.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that postbiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 from heat inactivation could cause apoptosis and impede the proliferation of LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells in vitro.

Copper oxide (CuO NPs) nanoparticles were synthesized by green synthesis and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and EDX analysis. The shape of the CuO nanoparticles obtained is approximately spherical and their particle sizes range from 40 to 85 nm. According to the experimental results, two peaks at 305 and 318 nm in the 270-400 nm range in the UV-Vis absorption spectrum and one peak at 536 cm-1 in the FT-IR spectrum confirm the presence of copper oxide nanoparticles. In addition, the presence of biomolecules in aesculus hippocastanum(horse chestnut) extract on the surface of the copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized by green synthesis was determined by the peaks seen in the range of 3300 cm-1 - 1000 cm-1 in the FTIR spectrum. The images, shape and size of the copper oxide nanoparticles were determined by SEM, and the weight percent of the elements were determined by EDX. PC3 prostate cell lines were used in the study. After measuring the cytotoxic effect of the agents used in the study on prostate cancer cells, the apoptotic effect of this effect was determined by Hoechst/propidium iodide (HOPI) staining. Graphpad prism program was used to compare all parameters between groups, and "one-way analysis of variance" (one-way ANOVA) method and dunnet's test were applied to test whether there was any difference between at least two groups. It has been determined that the drug obtained from copper oxide nanoparticles has a cytotoxic effect on PC3 prostate cancer cells and this effect occurs through the apoptosis pathway.

With the effect of developing technology, humanity is constantly exposed to more electromagnetic fields. Regional studies are gaining importance for determining the possible problems. In this study, extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) measurements were carried out in Aydın Adnan Menderes University Central Campus in areas where university students are frequently found, at 25 randomly selected points, in the region where high voltage lines pass and around transformers, and to evaluate the awareness of university students about the ELF-EMF they are exposed to. For this purpose, the necessary magnetic field and electric field strength measurements were made and a questionnaire was applied to determine the awareness level of the students. Results were evaluated by comparing them with the ICNIRP limit values. Accordingly, it has been concluded that Aydın Adnan Menderes University Central Campus can be accepted as a relatively safe area since electromagnetic field exposure values are within the ICNIRP safe limit values. In addition, as a result of the questionnaire, it was determined that the young people were conscious to a certain extent about ELF-EMF, but they did not pay attention to protect themselves against the possible effects of ELF-EMF. It is important to make the necessary initiatives in order to raise awareness of young people on this issue.