Aspirin is a key drug used in treating patients with a high risk to develop stroke, myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular events. However, a considerable fraction of the patients develops aspirin resistance, which is a multi-factorial process that can occur due to patient's non-compliance, improper dosing, other co-morbidities or drug-drug interactions.This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with aspirin resistance among Jordanians. The study was performed on a sample of 418 adult patients who were taking aspirin as an antiplatelet agent. To determine aspirin resistance, platelet function was assessed using a multiplate analyzer. Data shows that about 18.7% (78) of the patients were aspirin resistant. Aspirin resistance was associated with female gender (P < 0.05) and was higher among diabetic subjects (P < 0.05). Statins use was correlated with improved aspirin response (P < 0.05). No association was found between aspirin response and: age, body mass index, education, smoking status, family history of cardiovascular disease, aspirin dose and duration of aspirin use (P > 0.05). In addition, aspirin resistance was not related to parameters such as HbA1c and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), comorbidities including dyslipidaemia, and hypertension, and concurrent use of other medications such as beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (P > 0.05). The incidence of aspirin resistance is high in the Jordanian population. Aspirin resistance is associated with female gender and diabetes. On the other hand, the use of statins improves response to aspirin.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol in combination with approved antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpenoid component of essential oils, has demonstrated antimicrobial properties against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The study evaluated the antimicrobial effects of carvacrol combined with sulfamethoxazole, linezolid, minocycline, and trimethoprim.Methods: The MRSA strain (ATCC-33591) was used, and various assays, including MIC determination, checkerboard assay, and microdilution assay were conducted.Results: The results showed that the combination of carvacrol with antibiotics yielded better outcomes compared to monotherapy, leading to reduced bacterial colonization. Carvacrol, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim exhibited weak anti-staphylococcal effects, while linezolid and minocycline demonstrated stronger effects. This suggests that conventional antibiotic therapy may not be sufficient to effectively treat MRSA infections, potentially causing delays in healing or an exacerbation of the condition. Carvacrol combinations with two antibiotics displayed superior results compared to other pairs, indicating synergistic or additive effects of carvacrol with linezolid, minocycline, and sulfamethoxazole.Conclusion: These findings propose a new approach for developing drug molecules for MRSA treatment which combine volatile oils with available regimens. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the efficacy and biosafety of these combinations using in vivo or ex vivo models, aiming to minimize side effects and facilitate human trials. This study provides valuable insights into the potential use of carvacrol-antibiotic combinations as a novel therapeutic approach against MRSA.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated in depression. While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like escitalopram are commonly prescribed as first-line treatments, their inconsistent efficacy and delayed onset of action necessitates the exploration of adjunctive therapies. Isorhamnetin, a flavonol, has shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that makes exploring its antidepressant effect attractive. This study aims to investigate the adjuvant potential of isorhamnetin in combination with escitalopram to enhance its antidepressant efficacy in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression model using Swiss albino mice. Behavioral paradigms, such as the forced swim test and open field test, were employed to assess depressive symptoms, locomotion, and sedation. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were utilized to measure Nrf2, BDNF, HO-1, NO, and IL-6 levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The results demonstrate that isorhamnetin significantly improves the antidepressant response of escitalopram, as evidenced by reduced floating time in the forced swim test. Moreover, isorhamnetin enhanced antidepressant effects of escitalopram and effectively restored depleted levels of Nrf2, BDNF, and HO-1 in the cortex caused by LPS-induced depression. Isorhamnetin shows promise in enhancing the efficacy of conventional antidepressant therapy through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen belonging to the γ-proteobacteria family, known to cause pneumonia linked with ventilator use and nosocomial infections. With the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is a pressing need to identify alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Plant-derived substances (PDSs) offer potential not only as antibacterial agents but also as modulators of antibiotic resistance. In this study, diffusion assay using disc agar, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay of each imipenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and clove extract was determined. The clove extract was analyzed via the UHPLC/MS, and the checkerboard assay was employed to evaluate the potential synergistic effects of combining clove extract with both antibiotics. The combination of clove extract to each antibiotic led to a significant reduction in their respective MICs. Moreover, each antibiotic exhibited synergistic effects on the fractional inhibitory concentration value (FIC) of clove extract. The analysis identified seventeen components in the clove extract, predominantly flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The antibacterial efficacy of the Syzygium aromaticum Myrtaceae extract against P. aeruginosa indicated its potential as a promising antibacterial agent capable of enhancing the effectiveness of existing medications.

Background: Thieno[2,3-c]pyridines and their analogs are not well explored for their anticancer properties. Hence, our research aimed to establish the anticancer potential of thieno[2,3-c]pyridines through cell-based assays and in silico evaluations. Methods: Thieno[2,3-c]pyridine derivatives 6(a–k) were synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and HRMS. All the synthesized compounds were screened initially for their anticancer activity against MCF7 and T47D (breast cancer), HSC3 (head and neck cancer), and RKO (colorectal cancer) cell lines using MTT assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle analyses were conducted using Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double staining for apoptosis assessment and PI staining for cell cycle analysis to investigate the mechanisms underlying the reduced cell viability. In silico molecular docking was accomplished for the synthesized compounds against the Hsp90 and determined pharmacokinetics properties. Results: From the screening assay, compounds 6a and 6i were identified as potential inhibitors and were further subjected to IC₅₀ determination. The compound 6i showed potent inhibition against HSC3 (IC₅₀ = 10.8 µM), T47D (IC₅₀ = 11.7 µM), and RKO (IC₅₀ = 12.4 µM) cell lines, all of which indicated a broad spectrum of anticancer activity. Notably, 6i was found to induce G2 phase arrest, thereby inhibiting cell cycle progression. Molecular docking results indicated crucial molecular interactions of the synthesized ligands against the target Hsp90. Conclusion: The compound 6i induced cell death via mechanisms that are different from apoptosis. Thus, the synthesized thieno[2,3-c]pyridine derivatives can be suitable lead compounds to be optimized to obtain potent anticancer agents through Hsp90 inhibition.

This study explores the anticancer, antioxidant, and phytochemical activities of Laurus nobilis L. ethanolic leaf extract. The extract demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines, showing strong cytotoxic effect against ovarian (ES2), head and neck (SAS), and colorectal (HT-29) cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.8 ± 0.3 to 4.4 ± 0.6 µg/mL. Notably, it exhibited only moderate inhibition of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line (IC₅₀ = 18.5 ± 0.8 µg/mL), possibly reflecting intrinsic differences in cell line sensitivity. Importantly, the extract showed low toxicity toward normal human fibroblasts (HDF), with an IC₅₀ value exceeding 100 µg/mL, indicating a favorable selectivity profile. The flow cytometry analysis showed that the extract caused cell death and stopped the cell cycle in both SAS and ES2 cancer cell lines. In SAS cells, extract treatment significantly increased apoptotic cells (21.1% ± 0.3%) compared to the control (6.3% ± 0.4%), along with G2 phase accumulation, indicating G2 arrest. Similarly, in ES2 cells, apoptosis increased (16.2% ± 1.3% vs. control 8.1% ± 1.0%), and a significant cell accumulation in the S phase was observed, suggesting disruption of cell cycle progression. Antioxidant screenings showed impressive dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activity (25–2000 µg/mL), although less potent than ascorbic acid (2.6 µg/mL). UPLC-QTOF/MS phytochemical analysis revealed various phenolic constituents, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, and an inferred association with the recorded bioactivities. This preliminary work indicates that L. nobilis extracts may act as natural anticancer and antioxidant agents; however, it was limited to in vitro testing with non-standardized samples, underscoring the need for further research to validate and extend these findings for future applications.