In this study, the extraction of plant species Taraxacum officinale (F. H. Wigg) was optimized providing the maximum extraction of phenolic compounds using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimum extraction parameters were as follows: extraction temperature of 60°C, extraction time of 30 min and 1:32.7 g/mL solid-liquid ratio for ethanol extract, and 60°C, 30 min, 1:14.2 g/mL ratio for acetone extract. The optimized extracts exhibited different biological activities. Ethanol extract showed better DPPH radicals scavenging activity and reducing power compared to acetone extract. The extracts had low antibacterial activity. In addition, the extracts had no effect on the healthy MRC-5 cell line, while acetone extract reduced the viability of HCT-116 carcinoma cells. This paper provides a basis for further research on the optimization of dandelion extraction under different conditions and testing the bioactivity of this medicinal plant.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common female malignancy worldwide. The treatment of cancer cells with metastatic potential is an important issue in cancer therapy. In this study, we investigate the edible and medicinal mushroom Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill, which has known biological properties for human health. Two selected concentrations (10 and 50 µg/mL) of L. sulphureus ethanolic extract were used to determine the levels of the superoxide anion radical (NBT test) and migratory potential (Wound healing test) on a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). The effects were measured after 24 and 72 h. The extract induced an acute pro-oxidative effect on HeLa cells, with a significant reduction in the migratory potential of these cells in both tested concentrations. A higher concentration (50 µg/mL) had a slightly stronger antimigratory activity. Laetiporus sulphureus is a very important source of biologically active substances and should be reconsidered for the development of promising anticancer therapeutics.

The aim of this study was to the evaluate impact of ethyl acetate extract of Laetiporus sulphureus on the viability of HeLa cells in 2D cell cultures and in a co-culture system with Saccharomyces boulardii. Also, the migratory potential of S. boulardii through agar in this co-culture system was investigated. Cell viability was assessed by trypan blue staining after 12 and 24 h. Tested extract had no cytotoxicity on HeLa cells in the 2D cell cultures. Our results indicate a potential cytotoxic effect of S. boulardii on HeLa cells which could be a consequence of physical contact between yeast and cancer cells, after migration of S. boulardii through agar toward cancer cells, or metabolic activity of S. boulardii. Also, L. sulphureus extract induced strong migration of yeast in co-culture after 12 h, compared to control. Further studies should be conducted regarding this mushroom in a co-culture system with S. boulardii.

The most frequent type of cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), is widely recognized as the most common cause of death worldwide, due to the high invasive potential of cancer cells enabling metastasis. Cancer cells owe these properties to the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which requires the overexpressed markers Snail and vimentin. Considering that natural products have been intensively investigated from an anticancer point of view, we aimed to investigate the effects of royal jelly, a natural bee product, on the invasiveness of the colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116 and the expression of these two proinvasive/EMT markers. Our study reports on the inhibited expression of Snail and vimentin in tested cells, due to which suppressed aforementioned potential was detected.

The deregulation of a Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway is common in colorectal cancer, while β-catenin, its crucial component, is the target for the development of many anticancer therapies. Here, we showed that royal jelly, as a well-known beneficial natural product, can affect β-catenin at both the gene and protein level in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cell line. Our results indicate the effectiveness of royal jelly in targeting crucial markers responsible for the development and progression of cancer. Therefore, royal jelly presents a promising agent for the development of supplementary anticancer therapy.