Chromatographic separations of the EtOH extract prepared from the whole plant of Cynanchica bornmuelleri yielded 13 secondary metabolites, including seven iridoid glycosides, morindalin A (1), geniposidic acid (2), asperulosidic acid (3), asperulosidic acid methyl ester (4), deacetylasperulosidic acid (5), scandoside (6), and asperuloside (7), two flavonoid glycosides, vicenin 2 (8) and rutin (9), one dihydrochalcone glycoside, 3′,5′-di-C-β-glucopyranosylphloretin (10), one neolignan glycoside, dehydroconiferyl alcohol 4-O-β-glucopyranoside (11), one caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid (12), as well as a triterpene, ursolic acid (13). Their structures were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS analyses. Compound 1 is a rare type of iridoid glycoside featuring a double bond between C-6 and C-7 in the cyclopentane ring. The crude extract, solvent fractions, and isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-stimulated THP1-Blue™ NF-κB cells, using prednisolone as a positive control. Although the n-BuOH fraction exhibited remarkable NF-κB inhibitory activity (reducing NF-κB activity to 61%), the purified compounds (1–13) did not exert significant effects at the tested concentrations. This work represents the first report on the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of C. bornmuelleri, an endemic species to Türkiye. The chemotaxonomic importance of isolates was also discussed.
: Eye-tracking methods have become a valuable tool for reading research, as they provide significant evidence on the behavioral and cognitive performance of developing readers. They also help identify reading behavior patterns among children with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as reading difficulties (RD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this paper, we reviewed relevant literature (73 empirical studies) from 2008 to 2023 (15 years). We documented how reading performance was measured through eye-tracking methodology among typical and atypical readers across various languages. To ensure a rigorous and transparent review, we adhered to the PRISMA framework, defined keywords, established inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducted data extraction, and employed a multi-phase selection process. We focused on research samples, stimulus designs, independent variables, eye-tracking systems, and metrics. The results indicated that research involving typically developing children mainly included participants from primary school and employed various eye-tracking methods, with English being the most studied language. Studies on children with RD and ADHD varied significantly in participants' sample sizes, languages, and experimental designs. The discussion emphasizes the need for standardized data-collection procedures to enhance the reliability and comparability of findings, thereby supporting the development of effective interventions and instructional methods for reading difficulties.
Salt stress is a major environmental challenge that significantly reduces agricultural productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Excessive sodium chloride (NaCl) accumulation in soil negatively affects plant growth, physiological functions, and biological processes. Dopamine, a catecholamine neurotransmitter, has emerged as a potential regulator of plant stress responses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous dopamine on salt stress tolerance in pepper, examining morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses. Pepper seedlings were subjected to 100 mM NaCl stress and treated with dopamine at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mu M. Dopamine application, particularly at 100 and 200 mu M concentrations, significantly improved plant growth parameters, including height, stem diameter, leaf area, and biomass accumulation. It enhanced photosynthetic efficiency by increasing chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, while reducing oxidative stress markers such as H2O2 and MDA. Dopamine also regulated the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD) and maintained ion homeostasis by reducing sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) accumulation and promoting potassium (K+) and calcium (Ca2+) uptake. At the molecular level, dopamine influenced the expression of genes involved in ion transport (AKT1, HKT1, HKT2;2) and photosynthesis (psb). This study demonstrates that dopamine is a promising plant growth regulator that enhances salt tolerance in pepper plants. It achieves this by improving growth, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant defence, and ion homeostasis, while modulating key molecular pathways. These findings suggest that dopamine could be utilised as a sustainable strategy to mitigate salt stress and improve crop productivity in saline-affected agricultural regions. Further research is needed to explore its application in other crops and under field conditions.
In this study, seventeen floral honey samples collected from Türkiye’s Çoruh Valley were examined and a total of 59 parameters were analyzed to evaluate their quality attributes. Accordingly, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase activity, fructose, glucose, sucrose, total fructose + glucose (F + G), the fructose/glucose ratio (F/G), color and δ13C isotope values were determined together with amino acid profiles, organic acid composition, mineral contents, and phytohormone profiles. All chemical and biological data were evaluated using multivariate statistical approaches, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Pearson correlation analysis and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), to characterize similarities and differences among the samples. The analytical results demonstrated that honeys from this region comply with established quality standards and exhibit natural purity, balanced chemical composition, and favorable nutritional properties. The detection of diverse phytohormone types and concentrations across the samples, as revealed by the analyses, indicates a rich biochemical signature originating from plant sources. This finding also highlights the functional properties, biological value, and nutritional significance of these honeys. Overall, the results confirm that the floral honeys obtained from Türkiye’s Çoruh Valley are high-quality products in terms of both chemical and biological properties.
Chronic inflammation contributes to breast cancer development through the phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂)–cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)–nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) cascade, which regulates prostaglandin synthesis, oxidative stress, and transcription of pro-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic genes. This pathway is particularly active in HER2-positive breast cancer, promoting proliferation, invasion, and resistance to apoptosis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and nimesulide target COX enzymes and have shown potential in suppressing inflammation-driven tumorigenesis. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity of newly synthesized, structurally modified ibuprofen and nimesulide derivatives designed to modulate PLA₂–COX-2–NF-κB axis. Cytotoxicity was assessed in HER2-positive breast cancer cells (AU565 and SKBR3) and compared with normal dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and breast epithelial cells (MCF-12A), using WST-1 assays. Apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, caspase-3/7 activation, and ROS generation were analyzed by imaging-based assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence methods. Gene expression of PLA2G2A and PTGS2 was quantified by qRT-PCR, and NF-κB translocation was analyzed by immunocytochemistry. Two ibuprofen triazole derivative (D1) and ibuprofen thioether derivative (D7) and one nimesulide derivative (D8) significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner without affecting normal cells. These derivatives induced G₀/G₁ arrest, caspase-3/7 activation, ROS reduction, and increased late apoptosis. Downregulation of PLA2G2A and PTGS2 expression and inhibition of NF-κB translocation confirmed disruption of the PLA₂–COX-2–NF-κB cascade. These findings demonstrate that structurally optimized ibuprofen and nimesulide derivatives exert dual anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects in HER2-positive breast cancer by suppressing PLA₂–COX-2–NF-κB pathway and promoting apoptotic cell death.
