The study of antioxidants is of pivotal importance in biomedicine as these molecules could be involved in biological pathways associated with disease. The identification of new antioxidants together with the acquisition of a deeper knowledge on their biology, could lead to the use of these compounds as drugs for innovative treatments. Plants are an important reservoir of phytodrugs that in many cases can be isolated with good extraction yields directly from the vegetal source and are often endowed with a low toxicity profile. Georgia, a country situated on the Black Sea coast in the Caucasus region at the intersection of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, is renowned for its unique woodland habitats and immense biological diversity due to the great variety of climate zones and landscapes. Many wild plants in the area are used as remedies for a number of illnesses in the local traditional medicine. However, the scientific knowledge of these sources of natural drugs and of their molecular components is still far from exhaustive. Therefore, with the present work we reviewed the scientific literature on some of the main Georgian medicinal plants and found that several species are a valuable source of hydrophilic and hydrophobic antioxidants, endowed in some cases with a high ROS-scavenging ability. The analysis of the literature also demonstrated that most of the medicinal extracts and compounds isolated from these plants are beneficial in suppressing multiple diseases in vitro. This review will provide information for scientists looking to develop secure plant-based pharmaceuticals as well as a rationale for using Georgian medicinal plants for the treatment of a range of diseases.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a significant public health concern, particularly in rural regions, like the Caucasus, where tick-borne diseases are prevalent. The review contains comprehensive data on TBEV circulation in the Caucasus region, demonstrating TBE cases in the North Caucasus and Georgia, as well as the identification of new endemic foci in Armenia and Azerbaijan, highlighting the need for further epidemiological studies and surveillance in the region. This review provides an updated overview of TBEV, encompassing its status, subtypes, life cycle and circulation in nature, epidemiology, new approaches to TBE treatment and diagnostics, and recent insights into molecular aspects. Understanding the complexities of TBEV transmission, clinical manifestations, and advancements in diagnostic techniques is crucial for effective management and control strategies. Furthermore, exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying TBEV pathogenesis and host interactions can offer valuable insights for developing novel therapeutics and preventive measures. This comprehensive review aims to consolidate recent research findings and enhance our understanding of TBEV, ultimately contributing to improved public health interventions and patient outcomes.

We report on the synthesis and characterization of a novel fluorenyl-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-containing thioxo-triazole-bearing dipeptide 5, evaluated for potential therapeutic applications. The compound was tested for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, demonstrating significant effects in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibiting microbial growth, particularly when combined with plant extracts from an endemic Peonia species from the Caucasus. Circular dichroism (CD) binding studies with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calf thymus DNA revealed important interactions, suggesting the dipeptide’s potential in biomedically relevant conditions that involve DNA modulation. Molecular docking and CD spectra deconvolution provided additional insights into the binding mechanisms and structural characteristics of the formed complexes with the biomolecular targets. The Fmoc group enhances the dipeptide’s lipophilicity, which may facilitate its interaction with cellular membranes, supporting efficient drug delivery. A computational evaluation at the ωB97XD/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory was carried out, confirming the experimental results and revealing a powerful potential of the peptide as an antioxidant, through FMOs, MEP analysis, and antioxidant mechanism assessments. Together, these findings suggest that this dipeptide could be valuable as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent, with potential applications in pathologies involving oxidative stress, DNA modulation, and microbial infections.

Georgia is recognized as one of the world’s earliest known centers of grape cultivation and wine production, as well as the home of 525 indigenous grape varieties. Phenolic compounds are a diverse group of secondary metabolites which are present in both grapes and wine, with the phenolic derivatives determining the organoleptic properties and the antioxidant activity of the resulting wines. Remarkably, the content and composition of phenolic compounds in wine are mainly influenced by the grape variety and the winemaking method. In this context, herein we review the present knowledge on the phenolic composition of the most common Georgian grape varieties and discuss available molecular insights on the resulting wines. The comparison of traditional European and traditional Georgian “qvevri” winemaking methods revealed that this method provides high antioxidant activity of Georgian wines, as well as a unique phenolic composition of red and white Georgian wines.

Since antioxidants may be implicated in disease-related processes, studying these molecules is crucial. The detection of new antioxidants may result in the application of these compounds as medications. Mountain systems and long-term climate changes have contributed to the development of the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot, characterized by a great variety of plant species. For centuries many Caucasian plants were used for the treatment of different diseases, however, the scientific knowledge of the composition of natural drugs is still far from exhaustive. The present review indicates that Caucasian medicinal plants Symphytum caucasicum M. Bieb., Thymus tiflisiensis Klokov & Des.-Shost., Paeonia daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii (Lomakin) D. Y. Hong, and Cyclamen coum Mill.are a valuable source of antioxidants, and extracts of these plants exhibit significant total antioxidant activity. Various classes of antioxidants were revealed in the aerial part and roots of Symphytum caucasicum” M. Bieb.,tubers of Cyclamen coum Mill., petals ofPaeonia daurica subsp.mlokosewitschii (Lomakin) D. Y. Hong, and the aerial part of Thymus tiflisiensis Klokov & Des.-Shost. These compounds included phenolic compounds, water-soluble antioxidants, alkaloids, terpenes, and saponins.In vitrostudies demonstrated that these antioxidants are beneficial in suppressing some biological effects related to multiple diseases. The review demonstrates the benefits of using Caucasian medicinal plants for the treatment of different disorders andoffers information to scientists who are working to produce safe plant-based medications.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a novel fluorenyl-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-containing thioxo-triazole-bearing dipeptide Fmoc-(S)-Asp(O-tert-butyl)-(S)-β-(4-phenyl- 3-propyl-5-thioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-Ala, evaluated for potential therapeutic ap-plications. The compound was tested for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, demon-strating significant effects in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibiting microbial growth, particularly when combined with plant extracts from an endemic Peonia species from the Caucasus. Circular Dichroism (CD) binding studies with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and calf thymus DNA revealed important interactions, suggesting the dipeptide’s potential in biomedical-ly-relevant conditions that involve DNA modulation. Molecular docking and CD spectra decon-volution provided additional insights into its binding mechanisms and structural characteristics of the formed complexes with the biomolecular targets. The Fmoc group enhances the dipeptide’s lipophilicity, which may facilitate its interaction with cellular membranes, supporting efficient drug delivery. A computational evaluation at B97XD/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory was carried out, confirming the experimental results and revealing a powerful potential of the peptide as an-tioxidant, throughout FMOs, MEP analysis and antioxidant mechanism assessments. Together, these findings suggest that this dipeptide could be valuable as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent, with potential applications in pathologies involving oxidative stress, DNA modulation, and microbial infections.