Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint., locally known as Sakarca, is a wild edible plant that grows naturally in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye and is traditionally consumed as a seasonal food, typically after cooking in accordance with local preparation practices. In this study, the aerial, flower, and bulb parts of the plant were investigated to characterize their phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and antiproliferative properties. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined using standard spectrophotometric methods, while individual phenolic constituents, including protocatechuic acid and flavonoids such as chrysin, were identified by HPLC-PDA. Antioxidant activity was assessed by FRAP, CUPRAC, and DPPH assays to evaluate reducing power and radical scavenging capacity. The aerial parts exhibited the highest TPC and TFC values, whereas the flower extract, characterized by relatively higher chrysin content, demonstrated stronger reducing activity in the FRAP and CUPRAC assays together with consistent DPPH scavenging behavior. Antiproliferative activity was assessed in HepG2, DU145, and HT-29 cancer cell lines, with CRL-1790 used as the normal control. The aerial extract produced measurable but limited growth inhibition (49–59%) in cancer cells at the highest tested concentration, while exerting comparatively low effects on normal cells. The flower and bulb extracts showed weaker antiproliferative activity overall. Collectively, these findings indicate that O. sigmoideum possesses noteworthy antioxidant potential and limited antiproliferative effects. Although not a potent cytotoxic agent, its phenolic profile supports its potential relevance as a source of bioactive compounds for functional food and nutraceutical applications.

Background/Objectives: Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome arising from a dysregulated host response to infection, frequently leading to multiple organ dysfunction, with the lungs being among the most severely affected organs. Oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage play key roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Beyond its lipid-lowering effects, rosuvastatin possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may confer protective effects in sepsis. This study was designed to investigate the dose-dependent prophylactic efficacy of rosuvastatin in mitigating pulmonary damage in rats with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: Sham, Sham + rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg), Sham + rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg), CLP, CLP + rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg), and CLP + rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg). Rosuvastatin was administered via oral gavage 4 h before the surgical procedures in the experimental groups. All animals were sacrificed 16 h following surgical procedures. Lung tissues were analyzed for biochemical markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as histopathological changes and immunohistochemical expression of NF-κB/p65, caspase-3, and 8-OHdG. Results: CLP-induced sepsis significantly increased MDA levels while decreasing GSH levels, indicating enhanced oxidative stress. Rosuvastatin treatment significantly reversed these changes. Histopathological analysis revealed marked lung injury in the CLP group, including alveolar inflammation, interstitial inflammation, vascular congestion, and increased alveolar septal thickness, all of which were significantly reduced following rosuvastatin administration. Immunohistochemical findings demonstrated increased expression of NF-κB/p65, caspase-3, and 8-OHdG in the CLP group, whereas rosuvastatin significantly attenuated these expressions. No significant difference in prophylactic efficacy was observed between the 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg doses of rosuvastatin. Conclusions: Rosuvastatin demonstrated a protective effect against sepsis-induced pulmonary damage by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage. These findings suggest that rosuvastatin may have prophylactic potential in sepsis; however, further support is needed from investigations of cellular pathways in different mechanistic directions.

Sigesbeckia orientalis Linnaeus is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used for many years to treat inflammatory diseases. The genus Sigesbeckia comprises three species: Sigesbeckia pubescens Markino (SP), Sigesbeckia glabrescens Makino (SG), and Sigesbeckia orientalis L. (SO). S. orientalis has been used in Eastern medicine to alleviate rheumatic disorders, improve joint mobility, and provide protection against toxicity. This plant is naturally found in countries such as China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In Türkiye, particularly in the Black Sea region, S. orientalis is known as Sarıteçan. In this study, the antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract of S. orientalis was evaluated by determining the total phenolic content (TPMC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The antioxidant activity was assessed using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Cu (II) Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC), and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl Free Radical Scavenging Capacity (DPPH) assays. The total phenolic content (TPMC) of S. orientalis extract was determined to be 18 ± 0.57 mgGAE/g dry weight, and the total flavonoid content (TFC) was 8.55 ± 0.21 mg QE/g dry weight. The DPPH (SC50) was found to be 380 ± 12 µg/mL, while the CUPRAC and FRAP activities were 74 ± 1.99 and 19 ± 1.38 mg TE/g dry weight, respectively. These results demonstrate that S. orientalis grown in the Rize İkizdere region possesses strong antioxidant properties. Therefore, S. orientalis may have significant potential not only in traditional medicine but also in modern complementary medicine.

Functional foods enriched with bioactive compounds have attracted increasing attention for their potential to improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. White tea, a minimally processed tea rich in polyphenols and antioxidant constituents, may exert beneficial effects on obesity-related metabolic disturbances through multiple molecular pathways. In this study, we investigated the effects of white tea in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model in rats, with particular emphasis on metabolic regulation and adipokine signaling. Body weight, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance-related parameters, and circulating levels of apelin and irisin were evaluated. High-fat diet feeding impaired metabolic balance and altered obesity-associated biochemical parameters, whereas white tea administration ameliorated several of these changes. White tea was associated with improvements in body weight gain and selected metabolic parameters, together with modulation of adipokine-related markers. These findings suggest that white tea may function as a bioactive-rich functional food with beneficial effects on pathways involved in obesity and metabolic homeostasis. Our results support the potential contribution of white tea-derived compounds to nutrition-based strategies for the prevention and management of obesity.

Background/Objectives: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by a dysregulated host immune response, frequently leading to multiple organ dysfunction, with the lungs being among the most severely affected organs. Oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage play key roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Beyond its lipid-lowering effects, rosuvastatin possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may confer protective effects in sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate the dose-dependent effect of rosuvastatin against pulmonary damage in an experimental model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: Sham, Sham + rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg), Sham + rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg), CLP, CLP + rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg), and CLP + rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg). Rosuvastatin was administered via oral gavage before 4 hours the CLP procedure in the experimental groups. All rats were euthanized 16 hours after induction of CLP. Lung tissues were analyzed for biochemical markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as histopathological changes and immunohistochemical expression of NF-κB/p65, caspase-3, and 8-OHdG. Results: CLP-induced sepsis significantly increased MDA levels while decreasing GSH levels, indicating enhanced oxidative stress. Rosuvastatin treatment significantly reversed these changes. Histopathological analysis revealed marked lung injury in the CLP group, including alveolar inflammation, interstitial inflammation, vascular congestion, and increased alveolar septal thickness, all of which were significantly reduced following rosuvastatin administration. Immunohistochemical findings demonstrated increased expression of NF-κB/p65, caspase-3, and 8-OHdG in the CLP group, whereas rosuvastatin significantly attenuated these expressions. No significant differences were observed between the two rosuvastatin doses. Conclusion: Rosuvastatin exerts significant protective effects against sepsis-induced lung injury by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA damage. These findings suggest that rosuvastatin may have therapeutic potential in the management of sepsis-associated pulmonary injury, although further studies are required to confirm its clinical applicability.