Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel diseases primarily encompass Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Insufficient levels of tryptophan cause an imbalance in the gut microbiota, leading to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. The main catabolic pathway of tryptophan is the kynurenine pathway. Our study aims to evaluate serum tryptophan, the kynurenine pathway, and oxidative stress parameters, including total oxidant status and total antioxidant capacity, in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Methods: The study included 80 follow-up patients in remission diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis who attended the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic, as well as 78 healthy controls. Serum tryptophan, kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, and kynurenic acid levels were measured with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.2.1. Statistical Language. Results: Serum tryptophan, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, and total antioxidant capacity were lower in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease compared to those in the control group. The serum total oxidant status in the control group was significantly lower than in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Conclusions: The results of our research indicate that tryptophan and kynurenine pathway metabolites could potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Many plants such as Dracaena cinnabari have been used in traditional medicine since ancient times due to their including bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, tocopherols, and organic acids. The aim of present study is to determine the presence and diversity of bioactive components such as phenolic, organic acids and tocopherols of Dracaena cinnabari resin extracts, and to reveal which solvents can be effective in the extraction of these components and to what extent. Methanol, ethanol, chloroform, water, and vinegar were used in extraction of Dracaena cinnabari resin. The widest diversity was obtained with vinegar for organic acids, methanol for tocopherols, and methanol solvent for phenolic compounds. Fourteen phenolic compounds, four tocopherols and ten organic acids were detected in Dracaena cinnabari resin extracts, the most abundant phenolic was apigenin, while the most tocopherol was ?-tocopherol. Dracaena cinnabari resin extracts appear to be rich in apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and rutin flavonoids.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms and peripheral artery disease pose significant health risks, ranking third after heart attacks and cerebral strokes. Surgical interventions often involve temporary aortic clamping, leading to ischemia–reperfusion injury and tissue damage. Colchicine and mesenchymal stem cells have shown promise, individually, in mitigating ischemia–reperfusion injury, but their combined effects remain understudied. Methods: This study utilized 42 male Wistar rats, divided into six groups: Control, Sham, Ischemia–Reperfusion, Colchicine, Mesenchymal stem cell, and Mix (colchicine and mesenchymal stem cell). The ischemia–reperfusion model involved clamping the abdominal aorta for 60 min, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Colchicine and mesenchymal stem cell treatments were administered as pre- and post-ischemia interventions, respectively. Mesenchymal stem cells were cultured, characterized by flow cytometry, and verified for specific surface antigens. Blood and tissue samples were analyzed for oxidative stress markers, nitric oxide metabolites, and apoptosis using TUNEL. Results: There were significant differences between the groups in terms of the serum total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001) and inflammation markers (ischemia-modified albumin, p = 0.020). The combined therapy group (Mix) exhibited the lowest inflammation levels. Arginine levels also showed significant variation (p = 0.028), confirming the ischemia–reperfusion injury model. In muscle tissues, the total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.022), symmetric dimethylarginine, and citrulline levels (p < 0.05) indicated nitric oxide metabolism. Apoptosis was notably high in the ischemia–reperfusion injury group as anticipated. It appeared to be reduced by colchicine, mesenchymal stem cells, and their combination, with the most significant decrease observed in the Mix group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of using combined colchicine and mesenchymal stem cell therapy to reduce muscle damage caused by ischemia–reperfusion injury. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and confirm the clinical significance of this approach in treating extremity ischemia–reperfusion injuries.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Viscum album L. extract on apoptosis and cell proliferation in A549 and HEK-293 cell line. Material-Method: Cell proliferation test was studied by MTT method, and apoptosis analysis was studied with AnnexinV method in Muse flow cytometer device. Viscum album L. ethanol extract was applied to A549 and HEK-293 cells at concentrations of 1600,1400,1200,1000 μg / ml and proliferation analysis was performed by MTT method. Results: The IC50 value for A549 cells was 1090 μg/ml at the 72nd hour, and 413.6 μg/ml for the HEK-293 cells at the 48th hour. Apoptosis analyzes of A549 cells was performed with AnnexinV method in Muse/Flow cytometry device. A549 cells, which were treated with Viscum album L. extract at the IC50 concentration obtained, underwent late apoptosis at a rate of approximately 80%. Conclusion: Viscum album L. methanol extract had antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on A549 cells. In addition, it had an antiproliferative effect on HEK-293 cells, a kidney epithelial cell line. Other studies have reported that Viscum album L. has an anticancer effect in different cell lines and can be used as a therapeutic agent. In most studies, its effect on cancer cells has only been investigated, and its effect on healthy cells has not been investigated. As seen in our study, Viscum album L. extract also showed an antiproliferative effect on healthy cells. The mechanism of action of Viscum album L. should be elucidated with further molecular studies.