Objective: DNA damage that can be caused by workplace exposure to antineoplastic drugs in health workers has been shown in many scientific studies. It is aimed to evaluate whether the risk of genotoxicity in health workers decreases after the regulations and measures taken by national and international health authorities in our work.Methods: For this purpose, DNA damage was assessed by using alkaline comet technique in lymphocytes isolated from blood samples of health workers (n=29) who were involved in preparing and / or administering antineoplastic agent at Trakya University Health Research and Application Center and compared with the control group (n=30). Also, those who prepare and/or administer antineoplastic agents; (n=16) and manual (n=13) preparations.Results: As a result of the evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference between health personnel and control group in preparing and / or administering antineoplastic agent (p>0,05, Mann-Whitney U) and there was no difference in the genotoxic risk between preparation forms. Furthermore, when the exposed control group was assessed for DNA damage as smokers and nonsmokers, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of DNA damage (p>0.05).Conclusion: At the center where our samples were taken, the resulting measures resulted in the control of the risk of genotoxicity due to occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents.

Background/Objectives: Thymus longicaulis subsp. chaubardii (TL) (Rchb.f.) Jalas is widely used in traditional Turkish medicine for respiratory, digestive and uro-genital disorders. The aim of this study was to determine its phytochemical profile and to evaluate its cytotoxic, genotoxic and acute oral toxicity effects. Methods: The phenolic composition of the methanolic extract was determined by HPLC-DAD. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated in NIH3T3 cells using MTT, comet and micronucleus assays. Acute toxicity was evaluated in rats at doses of 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight according to the OECD Guideline 420. Results: Rosmarinic acid (87.37 ± 5.39 µg/mg) was the major phenolic compound. TL extract showed >90% cell viability at 50–200 µg/mL, indicating no cytotoxicity. Comet assay revealed a slight increase in DNA damage at 100–200 µg/mL (p < 0.001), though significantly lower than the H₂O₂ group (p < 0.001). No significant (p > 0.05) effect was observed in the micronucleus assay between the treated groups. In rats, TL extract caused no mortality or behavioral changes over 14 days. No significant differences were observed in body or organ weights. Hematologically, platelet count increased (p < 0.001) and eosinophils decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). Biochemical tests showed lower ALT and AST levels (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) and significantly decreased triglycerides in the high-dose group (p < 0.001). Histopathological examination showed no organ damage. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that TL methanol extract is non-toxic up to 2000 mg/kg and exhibits no significant cytotoxic or genotoxic effects. These findings support its safe use and traditional medicinal value.

Antioxidant activities of the different extracts (n-heptane, chloroform, methanol) from the roots and aerial parts of Scorzonera veratrifolia by maceration method, as well as total phenolic and flavonoid content were examined first time in this study. The findings revealed that the methanol extract from S. veratrifolia aerial parts exhibited greater DPPH radical scavenging (IC50: 0.62±0.60 mg/mL) and iron (III) reduction capacity (1.56±0.03 mM Fe2+/mg extract). Furthermore, aerial parts methanol extract has the highest concentration of total phenolic (46.3±1.1 mgGAE/g extract) and flavonoid (0.013±0.002 mg QE/mg extract) compounds. Based on these findings, the main phenolic content of aerial parts methanol extract was analyzed by LC-ESI-QTOF/MS, as this extract was found to contain the strongest antioxidant as well as the highest amount of phenolics and flavonoids as compared to the others. Quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, liquiritin, quercetin hexoside, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, and di-O-caffeoylquinic acid compounds were identified as major compounds in methanol extract. The findings showed that aerial parts of S. veratrifolia, rather than its roots, could be used as a source of antioxidants.

Günümüzde insan sağlığında önemli rol oynayan kimyasal ajanların mutajenik etkilerinin gözlem altına alınmasını sağlayan çeşitli test sistemleri geliştirilmiştir. Bu sistemlerden biri de Ames testidir. Ames testi ile kimyasalların mutajenik etkilerinin belirlenmesi için çeşitli mutant bakteriler geliştirilmiştir. Bunun için de Salmonella typhimurium bakterisinin çeşitli suşları kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada Salmonella/mikrozom Ames test kiti ile metabolik aktivasyon varlığında ve yokluğunda, gen mutasyonlarına sebep olan karsinojenik madde olan 2-Aminoflorene karşı antioksidan etkiye sahip Pelargonium sidoides’in muhtemel antimutajenik etkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Yöntemde Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 ve TA 98 suşları ile çalışılmıştır. TA 100 baz çifti değişimine, TA 98 ise çerçeve kaymasına yol açan mutajenlerin belirlenmesi için kullanılmıştır. Deneyler S9’lu ve S9’suz olmak üzere iki grup halinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Test sonuçlarının ortalaması alınarak, pozitif ve negatif kontrol grupları ile karşılaştırılmış ve değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmamızda, Pelargonium sidoides’in TA 100 ve TA 98 suşları ile S9 yokluğunda 2-aminofluoren’e karşı antimutajenik aktiviteye sahip olduğu (p≥0.05) S9 varlığında ise antimutajenik aktiviteye sahip olmadığı (p≤0.05) gösterilmiştir.

Medicinal plants remain central to traditional healthcare, yet their increasing integration into modern pharmacology necessitates robust toxicological evaluation. Origanum majorana L. (sweet marjoram), widely used in culinary and folk medicine, contains diverse secondary metabolites with both therapeutic and potential genotoxic activities. Despite its popularity, systematic in vivo and in vitro safety assessments remain limited. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the acute oral toxicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity of O. majorana methanolic extract, providing baseline toxicological data to support its safe traditional use and potential pharmaceutical applications. The methanol extract of O. majorana leaves was tested in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. In vivo acute oral toxicity was assessed in rats according to OECD Guideline 420, with animals monitored over 14 days for clinical signs, hematological and biochemical alterations, and histopathological changes. The extract preserved fibroblast viability above 90% across all tested concentrations (10–200 µg/mL), indicating absence of cytotoxicity. However, comet and micronucleus assays revealed dose-dependent DNA damage, suggesting genotoxic potential at higher exposures. In vivo, no mortality or overt systemic toxicity was observed at doses up to 2000 mg/kg. Hematological analyses showed immunomodulatory shifts (increased neutrophils and monocytes, reduced eosinophils), while biochemical profiles indicated hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effects, with reduced ALT, AST, and LDH levels. Histopathological evaluation revealed only mild, focal changes consistent with adaptive rather than irreversible responses. O. majorana extract demonstrates a favorable acute safety profile with preserved hepatic and renal function, hematological modulation, and absence of in vitro cytotoxicity. Nevertheless, dose-dependent genotoxicity warrants caution for concentrated formulations. According to GHS classification, the extract aligns with Category 5 (acute oral toxicity, lowest hazard) and Category 2 (germ cell mutagenicity). These findings underscore the importance of dose management and further long-term genotoxicity studies before translational applications in nutraceutical or biomedical fields.