Determination of the Effects of Bee Venom on Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro.

Honeybees provide multiple products such as bee venom (BV) which are used for various nutritional and medicinal purposes. BV has received great attention due to its wide range of bioactive components with potential anti-cancer effects on different cancers. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined as an aggressive type of breast cancer and new therapeutic targets are required for its treatment. In the current literature information is varied about the composition and quantity of BV bioactive compounds as well as the origin of BV and its significance. In this context, the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of BV with a higher rate of mellitin from Apis mellifera anatoliaca (Mugla ecotype) on MDA-MB-231 cells was evaluated, in vitro. The cytotoxic, apoptotic and morphological effects of BV were determined by WST-1, Annexin V, cell cycle analysis and Acridine Orange staining. The results showed that BV caused apoptotic cell death in TNBC cells at a lower dose (0.47 µg/mL, p<0.01). This study suggests that BV could be developed as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. However, the mechanism of BV-induced apoptosis death should be clarified at the molecular level.

NMR metabolomics analysis of Escherichia coli cells treated with Turkish propolis water extract reveals nucleic acid metabolism as the major target.

AIMS: Propolis is a resinous bee product containing several hundred biologically active compounds. Although the antibacterial activity of propolis has been demonstrated in many in vitro studies, less is known about its mode of action. In this study, we aimed to shed some light on the antibacterial mechanism of action of propolis against Escherichia coli BW25113 using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based metabolomics approach. METHODS: E. coli BW25113 cells were subjected to different sub-lethal concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mg/mL) of Turkish propolis water extract (PWE). The 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy was then employed to ascertain the metabolic profiles of E. coli extracts. RESULTS: A total of 52 metabolites were identified from the NMR spectra, belonging to 17 main classes, such as amino acids and peptides, purines, and fatty acids. Twelve out of these 52 metabolites displayed remarkable changes at all tested PWE concentrations when compared to control conditions (P < .05). Levels of 28 more metabolites were significantly altered in at least one of the three PWE treatments. The results of partial least squares discriminant analysis showed that there was a clear separation between control and propolis-treated cells and that putrescine, adenine, adenosine, guanosine, glucose, N6-acetyllysine, and acetamide had the highest effect on group differentiation. Finally, quantitative pathway analysis revealed that purine metabolism was significantly affected by PWE treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PWE inhibits the growth of E. coli BW25113 by affecting nucleic acid metabolism to a great extent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the global metabolic response of a bacterium to propolis.

Apis mellifera anatoliaca Venom Exerted Anti-Inflammatory Activity on LPS-Stimulated Mammalian Macrophages by Reducing the Production of the Inflammatory Cytokines.

Extraction and characterization of natural products provide the opportunity to expand our arsenal of drug candidates against a wide range of diseases including cancer and inflammatory disorders. Previous studies have shown bee venom to have immense potential as an anti-inflammatory drug candidate. In this study, we focused on the venom of Apis mellifera anatoliaca and characterized its content by HPLC. An in vitro inflammation model based on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mammalian macrophages was utilized to examine the venom's anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, its antiproliferative activity was evaluated in vitro against a human glioblastoma cell line. Based on the TNF, IL6, GMCSF, and IL12p40 pro-inflammatory cytokine production level in LPS-induced macrophages, venom-treated groups showed substantial decrease in the inflammatory action compared to untreated LPS-stimulated macrophages. When the cells were analyzed for viability, the venom did not have any cytotoxic effect on the macrophages at the concentration ranges that were utilized. Moreover, IC50 value of the venom was above 60 µg/mL on glioblastoma cancer cell line. These results suggest that the Apis mellifera anatoliaca venom does not have anticancer drug candidate potential, whereas it can efficiently be used against inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically examine the effect of anti-inflammatory activity of Apis mellifera anatoliaca venom on macrophages.

The positive effect of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) essential oil on thyroid hormones in rats with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

In our study, the effect of essential oil obtained from Nigella sativa L. (NSE) on thyroid hormones and antioxidant balance in hypothyroidism (HT) and hyperthyroidism (HP) models induced by propylthiouracil(PTU) and L-thyroxine(LT4 ), respectively, in rats were investigated for 4 weeks. NSE was administered by gastric gavage at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. In this study, 48 male Wistar albino rats with an average weight of 180-290 g and age 5-6 months were divided into eight groups, as follows: groups with HT, (1) control, (2) HT, (3) NSE, and (4) HT + NSE; groups with HP, (1) control, (2) HP, (3), and NSE (4) HP + NSE. As a result, we found that NSE administration increased total triiodothyronine (TT3 ) and decreased nitric oxide in HT + NSE. Besides, it decreased TT3 in HP + NSE and increased total antioxidant capacity. Our findings suggest that NSE may have beneficial effects on thyroid gland abnormalities owing to its antioxidant properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Essential oils derived from Nigella sativa L. seed contain many bioactive substances such as thymoquinone and cymene. This paper emphasizes the effect of NSE on thyroid hormone abnormalities and negative oxidative state that occurs in HT and HP models. The present study provides evidence of a positive effect of NSE particularly on TT3 levels in the HT and HP models. It can therefore be assumed that NSE could be used as a supportive natural alternative source to improve thyroid hormone levels and relieve increased oxidative stress.

Assessment of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Turkey Tail Medicinal Mushroom Trametes versicolor (Agaricomycetes).

Trametes versicolor is important for its medicinal rather than nutritional value. It has a variety of pharmacological activities. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the bioactive properties of the wild medicinal mushroom T. versicolor (L.) Lloyd. Samples were analyzed for antioxidant potential and the chemical composition of the major bioactive chemical components. Chromatographic procedures were used to analyze phenolic compounds, free amino acids, vitamins, and fatty acids. T. versicolor was analyzed for moisture (87.21 ± 1.08 g/100 g fw), protein (11.07 ± 0.85 g/100 g dw), and fat (1.35 ± 0.09 g/100 g dw) content. Phenolic compounds in T. versicolor were found as p-hydroxy benzoic (113.16 ± 0.22 µg/g dw), protocatechuic (10.07 ± 0.54 µg/g dw), vanillic (5.21 ± 0.10 µg/g dw), and homogentisic acids (1.24 ± 0.15 µg/g dw). In the studied mushroom, essential and nonessential amino acids were determined as leucine (72.41 ± 0.16 mg/100 g dw), isoleucine (60.07 ± 0.10 mg/100 g dw), methionine (53.51 ± 0.09 mg/100 g dw), tyrosine (33.37 ± 0.27 mg/100 g dw), glutamine (15.48 ± 0.19 mg/100 g dw), and asparagine (10.90 ± 0.13 mg/100 g dw). Vitamin content of T. versicolor was found as nicotinic acid (26.52 ± 0.10 mg/100 g dw) and nicotinamide (12.18 ± 0.05 mg/100 g dw). Fatty acids in T. versicolor were linoleic acid (18:2n6c), oleic acid (18:1n9c), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and linolenic acid (18:3n3). In conclusion, the results of the present study support the potential use of T. versicolor as a promising source of bioactive products for pharmaceutical and also food industries.