In Vitro and In Silico Study of Analogs of Plant Product Plastoquinone to Be Effective in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Plants have paved the way for the attainment of molecules with a wide-range of biological activities. However, plant products occasionally show low biological activities and/or poor pharmacokinetic properties. In that case, development of their derivatives as drugs from the plant world has been actively performed. As plant products, plastoquinones (PQs) have been of high importance in anticancer drug design and discovery; we have previously evaluated and reported the potential cytotoxic effects of a series of PQ analogs. Among these analogs, PQ2, PQ3 and PQ10 were selected for National Cancer Institute (NCI) for in vitro screening of anticancer activity against a wide range of cancer cell lines. The apparent superior anticancer potency of PQ2 on the HCT-116 colorectal cancer cell line than that of PQ3 and PQ10 compared to other tested cell lines has encouraged us to perform further mechanistic studies to enlighten the mode of anti-colorectal cancer action of PQ2. For this purpose, its apoptotic effects on the HCT-116 cell line, DNA binding capacity and several crucial pharmacokinetic properties were investigated. Initially, MTT assay was conducted for PQ2 at different concentrations against HCT-116 cells. Results indicated that PQ2 exhibited significant cytotoxicity in HCT-116 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 4.97 ± 1.93 μM compared to cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 26.65 ± 7.85 μM). Moreover, apoptotic effects of PQ2 on HCT-116 cells were investigated by the annexin V/ethidium homodimer III staining method and PQ2 significantly induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells compared to cisplatin. Based on the potent DNA cleavage capacity of PQ2, molecular docking studies were conducted in the minor groove of the double helix of DNA and PQ2 presented a key hydrogen bonding through its methoxy moiety. Overall, both in vitro and in silico studies indicated that effective, orally bioavailable drug-like PQ2 attracted attention for colorectal cancer treatment. The most important point to emerge from this study is that appropriate derivatization of a plant product leads to unique biologically active compounds.     

Lead Fractionation Analysis in Lipstick Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

A new analytical approach based on fractionation was introduced for lead in lipstick samples. Different separation techniques including n-hexane, glycerol extraction, and activated carbon adsorption were used to characterize the lipid fraction, polar and aromatic components of the samples. Additionally, artificial saliva and food stimulant extractions were used for the risk assessment studies. Trace metal levels in fractions were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Method validation parameters in the total element determinations were defined in terms of detection limits, accuracy, and precision. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.02 and 0.07 mg kg^?1 for Pb; whereas the repeatability and reproducibility of the results based on percent relative standard deviation were 3.0% and 7.2% for lead, respectively.     

Characteristics of fatty acids and essential oil from sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. dulce) and bitter fennel fruits (F. vulgare Mill. var. vulgare) growing in Turkey

Oil content in sweet and bitter fennels was obtained 12.22% and 14.41%, respectively. The C(18:1 c6), C(18:2), C(18:1 c9) and C(16:0) acids corresponding to approximately 97% of total oil was recorded as principal fatty acids. The ratios of essential oil from sweet and bitter fennels were found similar (average 3.00%). trans-Anethole, estragole and fenchone were found to be the main constituents in both fennels. The compound with the highest value in the two oil samples was trans-anethole as 95.25% (sweet) and 75.13% (bitter). While estragole was found in bitter fennel oil in a remarkable amount (15.51%), sweet fennel oil contained small amounts of estragole (2.87%). Fenchone was found <1% in sweet and approximately 5% in bitter fennel. p-Anisaldehyde in bitter fennel essential oil, and alpha-pinene and gamma-terpinene in sweet fennel essential oil were not recorded, and these compounds were found very low or <1%.     

Radioactivity measurements and risk assessments of spa waters in some areas in Turkey

The current study presents the results of the activity of radionuclides in spa waters, and evaluates their radiological influences on the population consuming these waters in the Central and Eastern Black Sea regions of Turkey. Since these waters are used for therapy and consumption purposes unconsciously, their radiological impact on the people was computed by taking into consideration the annual intake through ingestion of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs and ²²²Rn. The mean activities were estimated to be 11.35 for gross alpha, 6.23 for gross beta, 2.96 for ²²⁶Ra, 0.42 for ²³²Th, 0.069 for ¹³⁷Cs, 0.19 for ⁴⁰K, and 267 Bq L^–1 for ²²²Rn, respectively. The estimated effective doses from spa water were found to be 49.77 µSv a^–1 (²²⁶Ra), 5.95 µSv a^–1 (²³²Th), 0.07 µSv a^–1 (¹³⁷Cs), 0.83 µSv a^–1 (⁴⁰K) and 56.03 µSv a^–1 (²²²Rn). These values were evaluated and compared with related verified values from literature. Also, physico-chemical characterizations of spa water samples considered in the current study were investigated. This study would be useful for consumers and official authorities for the assessment of radiation exposure risk due to usage of the considered spa waters.     

Spectroscopic Investigation of the Adsorption of Nitrophenol Isomers on Ammonium Zeolite of Type “Y”

In this study, nitrophenol isomers were adsorbed on synthetic ammonium Y zeolite and the samples acquired were examined with infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The aim of the work is to investigate whether isomeric effects can be monitored after adsorption process. Theoretical calculations of isomers had been performed and the data acquired show that adsorption occurred via bonding from the sites of zeolite.     

Polyfuran/zeolite LTA composites and adsorption properties

Composites of polyfuran (PFu) with LTA type (3A, 4A, 5A) zeolites were prepared via chemical oxidative polymerization of furan (Fu) in the presence of a dispersion of zeolites (powder) in ACN solvent using anhydrous FeCl₃ oxidant at an ambient temperature. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis. FTIR results showed that the composites of 3A zeolite with the smallest pore size did not indicate absorption for benzoyl chloride due to surface structural of OH groups. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed the stability order as: 3A > PFu/3A > PFu, 4A > PFu/4A > PFu, 5A > PFu/5A > PFu. Scanning electron microscopic analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the formation of polyfuran on zeolite structures. Conductivity values of samples are in the range of semi conductors.