Malignant melanoma represents the deadliest type of skin cancer with narrow treatment options in advanced stages. Herbal constituents possessing anticancer properties occupy a particular spot in melanoma research as potential chemotherapeutics. Rutin (RUT) is a natural compound exerting antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, UV-filtering, and SPF-enhancing activities that are beneficial to the skin; however, its effect as an anti-melanoma agent is less investigated. The current study is focused on assessing the cytotoxic potential of RUT against two different human melanoma cell lines: RPMI-7951 and SK-MEL-28 by evaluating its impact in terms of cell viability, cells’ morphology, and nuclear aspect assessment, and senescence-inducing properties. The results indicate a dose-dependent decrease in the viability of both cell lines, with calculated IC₅₀ values of 64.49 ± 13.27 µM for RPMI-7951 cells and 47.44 ± 2.41 µM for SK-MEL-28, respectively, accompanied by a visible reduction in the cell confluency and apoptotic features within the cell nuclei. RUT exerted a senescence-inducing property highlighted by the elevated expression of senescent-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) in SK-MEL-28 cells. Despite the in vitro anti-melanoma effect revealed by our results, further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms of RUT-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in melanoma cells.

Among the triterpenoids, oleanolic acid (OA) and its isomer, ursolic acid (UA) are promising therapeutic candidates, with potential benefits in the management of melanoma. In this study, we aimed to examine the in vitro and in vivo anti‑invasive and anti‑metastatic activity of OA and UA to determine their possible usefulness as chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents in melanoma. For the in vitro experiments, the anti‑proliferative activity of the triterpenic compounds on SK‑MEL‑2 melanoma cells was examined. The anti‑invasive potential was assessed by testing the effects of the active compound on vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) adhesion to melanoma cells. Normal and tumor angiogenesis were evaluated in vivo by chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The two test triterpenoid acids, UA and OA, exerted differential effects in vitro and in vivo on the SK‑MEL‑2 melanoma cells. UA exerted a significant and dose‑dependent anti‑proliferative effect in vitro, compared to OA. The cytotoxic effects in vitro on the melanoma cells were determined by the examining alterations in the cell cycle phases induced by UA that lead to cell arrest in the S phase. Moreover, UA was found to affect SK‑MEL‑2 melanoma cell invasiveness by limiting the cell adhesion capacity to ICAM molecules, but not influencing their adhesion to VCAM molecules. On the whole, in this study, by assessing the effects of the two triterpenoids in vivo, our results revealed that OA had a greater potential to impair the invasive capacity and tumor angiogenesis compared with UA.

Dental pathology remains a global health problem affecting both children and adults. The most important dental diseases are dental caries and periodontal pathologies. The main cause of oral health problems is overpopulation with pathogenic bacteria and for this reason, conventional therapy can often be ineffective due to bacterial resistance or may have unpleasant side effects. For that reason, studies in the field have focused on finding new therapeutic alternatives. Special attention is paid to the plant kingdom, which offers a wide range of plants and active compounds in various pathologies. This review focused on the most used plants in the dental field, especially on active phytocompounds, both in terms of chemical structure and in terms of mechanism of action. It also approached the in vitro study of active compounds and the main types of cell lines used to elucidate the effect and mechanism of action. Thus, medicinal plants and their compounds represent a promising and interesting alternative to conventional therapy.

Background: The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in human health, and recent research has highlighted its potential impact on ocular health through the gut–eye axis. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiota, has been implicated in various ocular diseases. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using relevant keywords in major electronic databases, prioritizing recent peer-reviewed articles published in English. Results: The gut microbiota influences ocular health through immune modulation, maintenance of the blood–retinal barrier, and production of beneficial metabolites. Dysbiosis can disrupt these mechanisms, contributing to ocular inflammation, tissue damage, and disease progression in conditions such as uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, and glaucoma. Therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiome through probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation shows promise in preclinical and preliminary human studies. Conclusions: The gut–eye axis represents a dynamic and complex interplay between the gut microbiome and ocular health. Targeting the gut microbiome through innovative therapeutic strategies holds potential for improving the prevention and management of various ocular diseases.

Melissa officinalis is a medicinal herb with an extensive pharmacological profile that has been proven to have beneficial effects in oral and gastrointestinal disorders. However, the effects of this plant in oral, pharyngeal, and colorectal malignancies, types of cancer with an increased incidence in recent years, are less investigated. The present study aims to evaluate the pharmacological profile of a Melissa officinalis total extract for potential benefits in oral, pharynx and colorectal carcinoma. The LC-MS profile of MO total extract (MOte) indicated a rich content in polyphenols, data that support the potent antioxidant capacity exhibited and the antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, MOte triggered a dose-dependent and selective decrease in the viability of tumor cells (tongue and pharynx squamous cell carcinomas, and colorectal adenocarcinoma), with the most significant effect being recorded at 100 μg/mL. At the same concentration, MOte exhibited an antiangiogenic effect by inhibiting the process of angiogenesis in ovo. Overall, our findings support the potential benefits of Melissa officinalis leaf total extract as a valuable candidate for the prophylaxis of oral, pharyngeal and colorectal neoplasms.

Although remarkable progress has been made, colorectal cancer remains a significant global health issue. One of the most challenging aspects of cancer treatment is the resistance of tumor cells to classical chemotherapy. Conventional therapy for colorectal cancer often involves the use of 5-fluorouracil as a chemotherapeutic agent. Aspirin, a drug used primarily to prevent cardiovascular complications, became a focus of attention due to its potential use as an antitumor agent. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential synergistic cytotoxic effects of aspirin and 5-fluorouracil on colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. The viability of cells, the impact on the morphology and nuclei of cells, the potential antimigratory effect, and the impact on the expression of the major genes associated with cell apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax, Bad), as well as caspases 3 and 8, were evaluated. The results indicated that the two compounds exerted a synergistic effect, causing a reduction in cell viability accompanied by changes characteristic of the apoptosis process—the condensation of nuclei and the reorganization of actin filaments in cells, the reduction in the expression of the Bcl-2 gene, and the increase in the expression of Bax and Bad genes, along with caspases 3 and 8. Considering all these findings, it appears that aspirin may be investigated in depth in order to be used in conjunction with 5-fluorouracil to increase antitumor activity.