In various tissues of Luciobarbus esocinus, Cyprinus carpio, and Carassius gibelio which were taken from Keban Dam Lake Pertek region’s freshwaters, Turkey in January–February 2016, concentrations of mercury, nickel, lead, cadmium, arsenic, manganese, chromium, and cobalt were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave digestion. In fish muscle mean chromium concentration (0.614 mg kg⁻¹ in C. carpio muscle) was higher than the maximum limits as set by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organisation. Additionally, mean concentration of lead (0.380 mg kg⁻¹ in C. gibelio muscle) was higher compared to the maximum limit as set by Turkish Standards. Furthermore, in the assessment of the potential health risk, estimated weekly and daily intake of all metals were considerably below permissible tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and permissible tolerable daily intake values. As a result, consumption of these fish species from this region does not pose a problem on human health.

Centaurea L. species were used as medicinal plants among the people for treatment of the common cold, abscesses, peptic ulcers, hemorrhoid and diabetes etc.. In the present study, antiradical properties, phytochemical contents, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of three Centaurea species were investigated. Centaurea saligna (K.Koch) Wagenitz methanol (99.94%), Centaurea virgata Lam. methanol (98.23%) and water (98.10%) extracts were showed higher ABTS scavenging than trolox (96.79%). Centaurea kurdica Reichardt extracts showed lower activity than trolox for all the antiradical assays. Centaurea extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against to some microorganisms. It was determined that these Centaurea species contain high amount of total flavonoid, phenolic and proanthocyanidin, phenolic acids, phytosterols and unsaturated fatty acids. Also, three Centaurea extracts showed very high antiproliferative property on LNCaP, HCT-116, MCF-7 cancer cell lines.

Concentrations of toxic and essential trace elements (Hg, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, As and Se) were determined in different tissues (muscle, skin and liver) of three commercial fish species (Diplodus sargus, Zeus faber, Pomatomus saltatrix). The concentration of the elements was measured by ICP-MS. Arsenic was the most accumulated element in fish tissues. As concentrations in tissues of all fish species, except muscle and skin of John Dory fish, were higher than the maximum limits (MLs). The highest Se concentrations in all fish tissues were in found in the liver. Mn levels were higher than the maximum limits in all tissues of Sargoz fish, skin of John Dory fish, livers of Bluefish and Big Bluefish. In addition, Cr concentrations in tissues of all fish species were found to be higher than the maximum limits of FEPA and WHO.

Alcea calvertii (Boiss) Boiss. is belonged to Malvaceae family, and it is a perennial herbaceous endemic plant. Alcea genus plants are grown as ornamental plants in the gardens. In the present study, the antiproliferative, antimicrobial, antiradical activities and phytochemical compositions of ethanol, water, methanol and acetone extracts of A. calvertii flowers were examined. A. calvertii flowers water, ethanol, methanol and acetone extracts are lower scavenged DPPH, ABTS and OH radicals than standard antioxidant trolox. A. calvertii flowers contain vitamins, sterols, flavonoids and phenolic acids, dominated by vanillic acid, gallic acid, catechin, δ-tocopherol, ergosterol and vitamin D. A. calvertii flowers water extract showed better antiproliferative activities than other extracts against to MCF-7 and HCT-116 cell lines. A. calvertii flowers methanol extract showed higher antiproliferative effect against to LNCaP cell lines.

This research aimed to explore the protective and therapeutic properties of safranal in mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress induced by elevated acetaminophen (APAP) doses in a rat model. The protective and therapeutic effects of safranal were determined by histopathologically and examining some biochemical parameters such as aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β. Male Wistar–Albino rats were subject to random allocation, forming five groups, each comprising seven rats (n = 7) in the study. Group 1 was the control group. APAP was administered in Group 2 to induce hepatotoxicity. Rats in Groups 3, 4, and 5 received intraperitoneal injections of safranal at doses of 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mL/kg/day for 14 days, respectively. On the 15th day, to induce APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, four groups (Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5) acquired a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg APAP. The presence of APAP-induced hepatotoxic effect was proven by elevated AST and ALT levels, which are typical biomarkers of liver function in addition to the demonstration of histopathological changes. The findings suggest that pre-treatment with safranal may offer a protective effect against hepatotoxicity by attenuating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response.