Cancer is a global medical problem and, despite research efforts in the field of tumor treatment, there is currently a shortage of specific anticancer drugs. Most anticancer drugs show significant side effects. The liver is the organ that has central functions in drug metabolism, being a major target of the harmful action of anticancer compounds. In this context, it is essential to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of potential anticancer substances. Therefore, hepatotoxicity and hepatocyte viability were determined in vitro to evaluate the action of seven new local thiosemicarbazide coordination compounds (CCT) on normal liver cells. Doxorubicin was used as a reference substance. The control group consisted of hepatocytes not exposed to CCT action. The cell viability of hepatocytes treated with CCT decreased significantly by 5–12% compared to the control, but was statistically significantly higher by 5–14% compared to doxorubicin, except after CMD-8 and CMT-67 influence, when it does not change. Thus, new local CCT had a selective effect on hepatocytes in vitro and were less hepatotoxic compared to doxorubicin, which may be the basis for further study of its potential in anticancer drugs.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of CNS tumor. The aim was to evaluate the antitumor activity of Taraxacum officinale (TO) extracts on U-138 MG glial cells and correlate it with the concentration of chicoric (ChA), chlorogenic (CGA), and caftaric (CA) acids (mg/mL) in the extract. TO dry leaves were extracted with DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and ethanol of different concentrations. The concentration of acids was determined by liquid chromatograph (Agilent 1260 with DAD). The viability of U-138 MG cells was assessed by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) test (% of viable cells). The activity of TO was compared with that of doxorubicin. The best antitumor activity was shown by TO extracts prepared with DMSO (110,000 µg/L—17.3 ± 8%, which contained ChA—8976 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL, CGA—316.8 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL, CA—1628 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL), with 50% ethanol (150,000 µg/L—13.7 ± 3.2%, containing ChA—52,500 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL, CGA—1746 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL, CA—8460 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL) and with 80% ethanol (40,000 µg/L—16.1 ± 9%, containing ChA—904 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL, CGA—114.4 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL, CA—70.4 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL). TO extract activity was close to that of doxorubicin. In conclusion, the TO antitumor activity depends on the type of extractant and its concentration, as well as on the content of cinnamic acids.

Introduction. Thiosemicarbazones represent a class of organic compounds with well-documented pharmacological properties, including antitumor, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. Contemporary research highlights their role in modulating cellular redox equilibrium through antioxidant pathway regulation. The growing interest in copper-based coordination complexes with thiosemicarbazones is driven by the unique redox flexibility and high biocompatibility of copper ions, properties that underlie their potential in therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This investigation assessed the capacity of specific local bioactive thiosemicarbazones to impact the antioxidant system using in vitro methodologies. Material and methods. Peripheral blood samples from ten healthy volunteers were used to evaluate in vitro the influence of 10 copper-based coordination complexes with thiosemicarbazones at concentrations of 10.0 μM/L and 1.0 μM/L on antioxidant markers ‒ total antioxidant activity (via ABTS assay), total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant substance mass, and antioxidants total activity. Results. Data indicated that targeted copper-based coordination complexes with thiosemicarbazones affect general antioxidant markers. The study demonstrates that thiosemicarbazones exhibit concentration- and structure-dependent redox modulation, disclosing distinct mechanisms of action across three structural classes - benzothiazole, phenyl, and allyl thiosemicarbazone derivatives. Structural optimization (e.g., benzothiazole with methoxy groups) yields compounds like MG-22 that maintain redox equilibrium, while pro-oxidant variants (CMA-18) offer therapeutic potential through selective oxidative cytotoxicity. Conclusions. Copper-based coordination complexes with thiosemicarbazones represent a promising class of redox modulators with tunable biological effects. Their bidirectional activity, manifested by stimulation or inhibition of antioxidant mechanisms, confirms the potential of these derivatives as selective therapeutic agents. When these results are integrated in the context of personalized medicine, thiosemicarbazones become valuable candidates in the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at maintaining cellular homeostasis, especially in pathologies characterized by increased oxidative stress, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Introduction. Identification, study and testing of new remedies for treatment approaches of diseases, resulting from imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of oxidants, with potentially destructive potential and pathogenesis in liver disorders is of particular interest due to the increase in incidence and severity of these pathologies. Material and methods. The action of novel local copper coordination compounds, thiosemicarbazide derivatives - CMD-4, CMJ-33 and CMT-67, was evaluated in experiments on white rats after subcutaneous administration in two different doses (0.1 and 1.0 µM/kg) 3 times a week for 30 days. The main indices of oxidative stress were evaluated: the level of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide derivatives (NO), S-nitrosothiols, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and ischemia-modified proteins (IMP), and antioxidant system: - superoxidismutase (SOD) and catalase activity (CAT), the level of histidine (His) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) in liver tissue of white rats. Results. The administration of CC resulted in the reduction of oxidative stress indices - MDA, AGEs and S-nitrosothiols, which denotes the antioxidant effect of the studied compounds. The level of NO and AOPP derivatives does not change substantially. When administering CMD-4 (1 µM/kg), SOD activity and catalase function decreased markedly. Changes in the content of His and TAA have been shown to be inconclusive, maintaining within the limits of the values recorded in the control group. Conclusions. The elucidation of the modifications of the free radicals processes in liver tissues, which are the basis of the CC action, broadens the theoretical knowledge about the biological properties of a number of chemical compounds; as well provide new possibilities to explore perspective objects in order to obtain new efficient drug preparations

Introduction. Insects, throughout evolution, have developed a huge arsenal of active compounds, which they use to defend themselves against enemies and diseases, at the same time in recent years insects have shown great interest as a source of food rich in biologically active substances. Research in recent decades has shown that insects produce a variety of proteins and peptides with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antithrombotic, antihypertensive and detoxifying activity during or after contact with the microbial agent or unfavourable factor. Material and methods. The anti-inflammatory effect of imuheptin and imupurin was investigated in a rat model of subacute inflammation induced by subcutaneous implantation of felt discs. The intensity of the exudative and proliferative phase of inflammation, cytokine profile (TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-10), ceruloplasmin and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) in the serum of rats were evaluated. Results. Imuheptin and imupurin reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) and increased that of the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), as well as ceruloplasmin, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in subacute inflammation. Additionally, imupurin significantly increased the level of catalase and imuheptin that of glutathioneS-transferase. Conclusions. Imuheptin and imupurin determined a moderate effect of inhibiting the exudative and proliferative processes, compared to the reference preparation - dexamethasone, but with a favourable effect on the cytokine profile, decreasing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) and increasing the level the anti-inflammatory one (IL-10), as well as the modulation of antioxidant enzyme activity.

Background. The oxygen is the ultimate electron acceptor in the electron flow system that produces energy. Problems appears when the electron flow becomes uncoupled thus, generating free radicals. While the majority of processes require oxygen, the last is a highly reactive molecule that can damage cells by producing reactive oxygen species, such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid, all together defined as triggers of oxidative stress. The last is involved in many types of pathologies, such as cancer, atherosclerosis and rheumatic arthritis. Antioxidants can stop formation of free radical by giving hydrogen atoms or scavenging them. The antioxidant can be defined any molecule capable of preventing or blocking oxidation of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. The reduced glutathione (GSH), as well enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPO), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) represent antioxidants which prevent the formation of new free radicals, converting them into less harmful molecules. The present study was conducted to assess the antioxidant activity of Taraxacum officinale (TO) ethanolic extracts with different bioactive contents. This experiment was conducted with extracts prepared from dandelion (Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg) leaves. A series (10%, 20%, 25%, 40%, 50% and 80%) of ethanolic extracts were made. The influence of TO extracts on RBC’s GPO, GR, GST, glutathione (GSSG, GSH and total-GSH) and thiols (native and total) was evaluated by measuring absorbance spectrophotometrically. Conclusions. Taraxacum officinale ethanolic extracts exhibit a strong antioxidant activity. This plant is capable of preventing damage of cells during oxidative stress process, by using different targets of glutathione system. But, this activity depends of ethanol concentrations, maybe due to different bioactive content.