Beta glucan (β-glucan) has promising bioactive properties. Consequently, the use of β-glucan as a food additive is favored with the dual-purpose potential of increasing the fiber content of food products and enhancing their health properties. Our aim was to evaluate the biological activity of β-glucan (antimicrobial, antitoxic, immunostimulatory, and anticancer) extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified acid-base extraction method. The results demonstrated that a modified acid-base extraction method gives a higher biological efficacy of β-glucan than in the water extraction method. Using 0.5 mg dry weight of acid-base extracted β-glucan (AB extracted) not only succeeded in removing 100% of aflatoxins, but also had a promising antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, fungi, and yeast, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.39 and 0.19 mg/mL in the case of resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, AB extract exhibited a positive immunomodulatory effect, mediated through the high induction of TNFα, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-2. Moreover, AB extract showed a greater anticancer effect against A549, MDA-MB-232, and HepG-2 cells compared to WI-38 cells, at high concentrations. By studying the cell death mechanism using flow-cytometry, AB extract was shown to induce apoptotic cell death at higher concentrations, as in the case of MDA-MB-231 and HePG-2 cells. In conclusion, the use of a modified AB for β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae exerted a promising antimicrobial, immunomodulatory efficacy, and anti-cancer potential. Future research should focus on evaluating β-glucan in various biological systems and elucidating the underlying mechanism of action.

Background: Busulfan is a frequently administered chemotherapy medication for cancer treatment, but one of its most frequent side effects in male patients is temporary or permanent infertility. Interestingly, animal-derived toxins have demonstrated potential as therapeutic agents for the prevention and management of various health disorders. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate how bee venom (V) affects the biochemical and tissue structure of the testes after Busulfan (B) administration. Methods: semen analysis, biochemical and histological studies were conducted on five groups of control, DMSO, B, V, and BV. Results: Epididymal sperm counts were significantly lowered in the B group in contrast to the control group, with a significant increase in the V group. Dead sperm was significantly increased in the B group, while the V group had a significant decline. Alive sperm showed a significant decrease in the B group with notable elevation in the group that received V treatment. Total protein (TP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were considerably decreased in the B group with a notable increase in the V group, Nitric acid (NO) did the opposite. In addition, the treated V group showed considerable improvement in histoarchitecture compared to the B rats. Conclusion: Bee venom exhibits promising effects in mitigating busulfan-induced testicular injury in rats, primarily through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-survival mechanisms.Keywords: Busulfan, Bee venom, chemotherapy, viability, antioxidant properties.

Background: The vast majority of the world's therapeutic substances are found in plants, which protect both humans and animals from a wide variety of infectious diseases. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of parsley aqueous extract (PAE) and atorvastatin (Ator) on a high-cholesterol and fat diet (HCFD). Methods: Thirty fully grown male rats were separated into five distinct groups: The first one functioned as a control. The next was administered PAE. (2g/kg b.wt./day) via oral administration. The third group was administered HCFD. The fourth group had HCFD and was administered PAE (2 g/kg b.wt./day) orally, while the last group was also fed an HCFD and given Ator (20 mg/kg b.wt./day) orally. Following a three-week duration of the experiment, assessments of cardiac biomarker, kidney functions, lipid profile, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as histopathological investigations were conducted. Results: The administration of HCFD significantly increased (P<0.05) mean body weight, cardiac biomarker, renal biomarkers, certain lipid profile tests, and pro-inflammatory markers. Conversely, it significantly decreased (P<0.05) HDL-C, and anti-inflammatory markers in the treated HCFD groups regarding to the control group. The combined treatment with PAE and Ator reduced the negative effects caused by HCFD. The treated groups demonstrated a notable enhancement in histoarchitecture relative to the untreated group. Conclusions: This indicates that PAE was largely comparable to Ator as a treatment for hypercholesterolemia, with potential dysfunctions in vital organs such as the heart, and kidney, attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Background: The plant kingdom provides numerous bioactive compounds with medicinal properties that protect humans and animals against various infectious diseases. The current study aimed to investigate how parsley aqueous extract (PAE) and atorvastatin (Ator) affect rats consuming a high-cholesterol and fat diet (HCFD). Methods: Thirty fully grown male rats were separated into five distinct groups: The first one functioned as a control. The second was orally and daily administered with PAE (2 g/kg b.wt.). The third group received HCFD. The fourth one was fed on an HCFD and administered PAE (2 g/kg b.wt.) orally and daily, and the last group was fed on an HCFD and given Ator (20 mg/kg b.wt./day) orally. After six weeks of the experiment, liver functions, cardiac biomarker, kidney functions, lipid profile tests, redox parameters, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines measurements, along with histopathological analysis. Results: The results revealed that administration of HCFD substantially elevated ( p < 0.05) the mean body weight, Hepatic biomarkers (ALT, AST, and ALP), cardiac biomarker (c-TnI), renal biomarkers (creatinine and urea), some lipid profile tests (TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, AI), oxidant biomarkers (MDA, H ₂ O ₂ , NO), the pro-inflammatory (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β), but, significantly reduced ( p < 0.05) the mean of total protein, albumin, HDL-C, the anti-oxidant biomarkers (GSH, CAT, SOD), the anti-inflammatory (IL-4, and IL-13) levels in the treated HCFD groups compared to the control group. The administration of PAE and Ator ameliorated the aforementioned effects caused by HCFD. In addition, there was significant enhancements in histoarchitecture were observed in the groups that received treatment compared to those that did not. Conclusion: This indicates that PAE exhibited therapeutic effects comparable to Ator in managing hypercholesterolemia and the related impairments affecting critical organs including the liver, heart, and kidneys, likely due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties.