Euglena sp. can absorb high levels of CO2 and contains valuable compounds whose production can be enhanced by KNO₃ supplementation. This study aimed to determine the effect of KNO3 on the growth rate and to identify the most suitable non-linear model for population growth, biomass, carbohydrate, protein, pigment, α-tocopherol content, lipid concentration, and lipid profile of Euglena sp. cultured with 15% CO₂. Treatments consisted of KNO₃ concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 g/L as well as positive and negative controls (0.0 g/L). The results showed that the addition of 0.5 g/L KNO₃ produced the highest growth rate and the greatest biomass, carbohydrate, protein, chlorophyll-b, carotene, and lipid contents with respective values of 8.4 × 10⁶ cells/mL (cell density), 0.6 ± 0.01 g/L, 4.34 ± 0.055 g/L, 10.68 ± 0.38 × 10⁻³ g/L, 2.19 ± 0.13 µg/mL, and 0.25 ± 0.07 g/L. The most suitable growth model was the Gompertz model, which showed an R² value greater than 0.9. The highest chlorophyll-a content was observed in the negative control (3.75 ± 0.00 µg/mL), while the highest α-tocopherol content occurred with 0.75 g/L KNO₃ (95 ± 0.00 µg/mL). The 0.5 g/L KNO₃ treatment also produced the broadest range of fatty acids, with 16 types identified.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of experimentally induced diabetes on renal tissue by evaluating biochemical parameters, cytokine levels (IL-2 and IL-10), and histopathological alterations in rats. Twelve adult male Wistar albino rats were used and randomly divided into control and diabetic groups. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg). At the end of the experimental period, kidney tissues and serum samples were collected under anesthesia. Serum glucose levels were measured to confirm diabetes induction. Renal IL-2 and IL-10 levels were determined using ELISA. Histopathological evaluation of kidney tissues was performed using Hematoxylin–Eosin and Masson’s Trichrome staining and tissue damage was assessed semi-quantitatively. Serum glucose levels were significantly elevated in the diabetic group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Renal cytokine analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in both IL-2 and IL-10 levels in diabetic rats (p < 0.01). Histopathological examination revealed marked structural alterations in the diabetic group, including degeneration of renal corpuscles, tubular epithelial degeneration, vascular congestion, and perivascular fibrotic scar formation. In contrast, the control group exhibited normal renal histological architecture. Experimental diabetes induced by streptozotocin leads to significant biochemical, immunological, and histopathological changes in renal tissue. The observed decrease in both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines suggests impaired immune regulation, which may contribute to the development of diabetic kidney injury. These findings highlight the role of cytokine imbalance in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Wound healing is a complex process involving extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Although medicinal plants are widely recognized for their therapeutic potential, the molecular basis of their wound-healing activity remains incompletely understood. This study investigated the effects of the water-macerated extract of Hypericum pseudolaeve N. Robson (HWM) on the expression of wound healing–related genes in L929 fibroblast cells. Cells were treated with HWM extract (62 µg/mL) for 24 h and the expression of collagen, FGF7, TGF-β1, and VEGF was evaluated using qRT-PCR and ELISA methods. HWM treatment increased the expression of collagen, FGF7, TGF-β1, and VEGF by 2.0, 3.8, 47.9, and 3.6-fold, respectively, compared with untreated controls. ELISA analyses supported the qRT-PCR findings by demonstrating elevated secreted protein levels of the investigated markers. Among the analyzed genes, TGF-β1 exhibited the most pronounced statistically significant response in both methods. Overall, the results indicate that Hypericum pseudolaeve aqueous extract can promote the expression of key mediators involved in extracellular matrix formation, growth factor signaling, and angiogenesis, which may play role its wound-healing potential.
Boron toxicity limits wheat productivity in boron-rich soils, yet the potential of potassium to alleviate boron-induced oxidative damage in cultivars with differing sensitivity remains poorly understood. This study investigated potassium-mediated mitigation of boron stress in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, Bezostaya (sensitive) and Kutluk (tolerant). Germinated seeds were grown hydroponically under five treatment conditions (control, 5 mM B, 10 mM B, 5 mM B + 10 mM K and 10 mM B + 10 mM K). Growth parameters, chlorophyll content, oxidative stress markers (hydrogen peroxide [H₂O₂], malondialdehyde [MDA], proline), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], ascorbate peroxidase [APX], guaiacol peroxidase [GPX], lipoxygenase [LOX]), and tissue mineral element concentrations (K, Cu, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, B) were measured in shoot and root tissues. Boron exposure reduced growth and chlorophyll while increasing oxidative stress markers and enzyme activities. Tissue boron accumulated dose-dependently, whereas K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn concentrations declined significantly in most tissue-treatment combinations, indicating broad mineral nutrient disruption. Potassium supplementation partially reversed these effects by improving growth, reducing oxidative damage, restoring mineral element levels closer to control values and lowering boron accumulation. Enzyme activities remained elevated but below boron-only levels, suggesting reduced oxidative burden. The mitigation effect was more pronounced in the sensitive cultivar Bezostaya. These results indicate that potassium can reduce boron toxicity through modulation of antioxidant defense mechanisms and restoration of mineral nutrient balance, particularly in sensitive genotypes.
Clinopodium vulgare L. subsp. vulgare (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive phytochemicals with potential therapeutic properties. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the anticancer and antimicrobial activities of aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts of C. vulgare L. subsp. vulgare. Antiproliferative effects were investigated on PC-3 prostate cancer cells using the WST-1 assay, while morphological alterations were assessed by inverted microscopy. The mechanisms of apoptosis have been elucidated by measuring caspase-3, -8, and -9 protein levels using the ELISA method. In addition, antimicrobial activity was determined against a broad panel of bacterial and yeast strains using the disk diffusion method. All extracts significantly inhibited PC-3 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Among the tested extracts, the ethanolic extract exhibited the lowest IC50 values and the highest antiproliferative activity. Morphological analysis of PC-3 cells treated with 200 µg/mL extracts revealed characteristic apoptotic features, whereas HUVEC cells showed comparatively milder morphological alterations, indicating selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. Caspase-3, -8, and -9 levels were significantly elevated in treated PC-3 cells, suggesting activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, the extracts demonstrated moderate antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 8.2 to 15.8 mm, and the ethanolic extract showing the strongest antibacterial and antifungal effects. Overall, the findings indicate that C. vulgare L. subsp. vulgare extracts, particularly the ethanolic fraction, possess multifunctional bioactive properties characterized by selective antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and moderate antimicrobial activities, supporting their potential as a natural source of therapeutic agents.
