: Since the leaves of some Pistacia species are used in traditional folk medicine for diabetes, this study investigated the in vitro antidiabetic effect (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) of Pistacia vera leaves. Additionally, the current study investigated the antihypercholesterolemic (cholesterol esterase), antiobesity (pancreatic lipase), and antioxidant activities (i.e., total antioxidant capacity, DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power) of P. vera leaves. The aqueous-alcoholic leaf extract inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 7.74 ± 0.72, 11.08 ± 3.96, and 168.43 ± 26.10 µg/mL, respectively. It was determined that the crude extract had high DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing power, and moderate metal chelating activity. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) subextract obtained by the liquid-liquid fractionation of the crude extract showed potent α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The EtOAc subextract (5.794 ± 0.027 g/100 g subextract) was standardized by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography based on β-pentagalloyl glucose, which showed inhibitory effects on both amylase and glucosidase enzymes. Fifteen compounds, seven of which are organic acid derivatives and eight of which are flavonoids, were identified by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) analysis in the crude extract of P. vera leaves. Seven of the fifteen phenolic compounds detected in the crude extract by LC-QTOF-MS have both glucosidase and amylase inhibitory effects. As a result, P. vera leaves can be a potential source for compounds with high antioxidant effects that show inhibitory effects on enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion in the prevention and treatment of diabetes or can be evaluated as a standardized extract.

Background/Objectives: Solanum macrocarpon L. has been studied for its neuroprotective potential and memory-enhancing properties. Research suggests that bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, contribute to its cognitive benefits. These compounds may help protect against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cholinergic dysfunction factors in memory impairment. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of S. macrocarpon ethanolic leaf extract (SMEE) on the memory, anxiety-like behavior, and brain antioxidant status of scopolamine (SCOP, 100 μM)-induced amnesic zebrafish (Danio rerio) and thus to understand its possible mechanism of action. Methods: Adult zebrafish (n = 100) were divided into two cohorts (±SCOP) of five experimental groups: (I) control; (II) galantamine (GAL, 1 mg/L), serving as a positive control for both behavioral and biochemical assessments; (III–V) three groups treated with SMEE (1, 3, and 6 mg/L); (VI) scopolamine (SCOP, 100 μM); (VII) SCOP (100 μM) combined with GAL (1 mg/L); and (VIII–X) three groups treated with SCOP (100 μM) plus SMEE (1, 3, and 6 mg/L). The treatment lasted 23 days and amnesia was induced by a single dose of SCOP (100 μM) before testing. Results: The phenolic characterization from the samples was performed by using HPLC-PDA chromatography. Following HPLC analysis, an in silico pharmacokinetic evaluation was conducted using the ADMET model to investigate the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of the identified compounds. Spatial memory was evaluated through the Y-maze and novel object recognition (NOR) tests, while anxiety-like behavior was assessed using the novel tank diving test (NTT), novel approach test (NAT), and light–dark test (LDT). The zebrafish were euthanized, and homogenates of isolated brain samples were assayed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and brain antioxidant markers. The HPLC analysis revealed that the main major compounds in the extract were chlorogenic acid and rutin, both recognized for their significant antioxidant properties. Conclusions: SMEE enhanced memory by inhibiting AChE, alleviated SCOP-induced anxiety-like behavior, and significantly decreased oxidative stress markers. These findings support the potential role of SMEE in counteracting SCOP-induced cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions, related to dementia conditions.

Many agents, including those from herbal sources, have been sought as preventives or cures for hepatotoxicity. The pollen of Pinus brutia Ten., known as red pine (Pinaceae), is used against liver diseases in Anatolian folk medicine. In the current study, pollen ethanol extract of P. brutia was investigated for its possible hepatoprotective activity using a mouse model of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups, and extract-treated groups were compared with a silymarin-treated group as the reference. The extract was tested at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg (b.w.). Phenolic acids were analyzed using high-performance column chromatography (HPLC) in the extracts as pollens are usually known to be rich in phenolics. Our data revealed that the extract displayed the best hepatoprotection at a dose of 100 mg/kg when compared with silymarin (Legalon®), the reference drug. HPLC analysis indicated presence of protocatechuic acid (0.176 mg/g extract), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (0.001 mg/g extract), vanillic acid (VA) (0.537 mg/g extract), syringic acid (0.050 mg/g extract), and tr-cinnamic acid (0.310 mg/g extract), while the major phenolic acid was VA. The outcomes of this study allow us to conclude that red pine pollen extract can serve as a promising hepatoprotective agent. Among the phenolic acids analyzed in the pollen extract, vanillic acid as the major one besides some other phenolic acids detected seems to be responsible for its remarkable hepatoprotective effect.