Background/Objectives: Vitex agnus-castus has been traditionally used to treat hormonal disorders, and recent evidence suggests its potential anticancer properties. However, its effects on gastric cancer remain unclear. Methods: This study examined the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and anti-metastatic effects of hydroalcoholic Vitex agnus-castus seed extract in gastric cancer cells. Antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS) and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were analyzed. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay in HGC27, MKN45, and AGS gastric cancer cell lines and CCD-1072Sk fibroblasts. Apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and cell cycle changes were evaluated via Annexin V-FITC/PI, Rhodamine 123, and PI staining, respectively. RT-qPCR and gene enrichment analyses were conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms. Apoptosis-related protein expression was analyzed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The extract exhibited high antioxidant activity and a significant phenolic and flavonoid content. It reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in gastric cancer cells, while exerting low toxicity in fibroblasts. It significantly increased apoptosis, induced G0/G1-phase cell cycle arrest, upregulated pro-apoptotic genes (CASP3, CASP7, TP53, BCL2L11), and downregulated anti-apoptotic genes (XIAP, NOL3). Gene enrichment analysis highlighted pathways like apoptosis, necrosis, and cysteine endopeptidase activity. The extract also disrupted MMP, inhibited migration and spheroid formation, suppressed EMT markers (SNAIL, SLUG, TWIST1, N-CADHERIN), and upregulated E-CADHERIN. The expression of Caspase 3 and Bax proteins increased and Bcl2 protein decreased. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Vitex agnus-castus seed extract exerts strong anticancer effects in gastric cancer cells by promoting apoptosis, reducing proliferation, and inhibiting migration. Further studies are warranted to explore its clinical relevance.

Due to its less adverse impact on the environment as well as human health, electrolyzed water, a non-thermal method, has been recognized to be a promising alternative as a new disinfectant for the food industry, which does not change odor, texture, and flavor of foods. Spondias dulcis fruit is rich in bioactive compounds, vitamins and minerals, which are known to have many beneficial effects on health. Fresh S. dulcis has a short shelf life and drying is an option to preserve the fruit. In this study, the effects of electrolyzed water treatment on the quality characteristics of dried S. dulcis were investigated . Slices of fruit treated with four different electrolyzed waters (Anolyte NaCl, Catholyte NaCl, Anolyte Na₂CO₃, and Catholyte Na₂CO₃) were dried in a conventional oven at 70 °C. Color, Browning index, antioxidant characteristics, texture profile, rehydration capacity, pH, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyzes of dried S. dulcis were performed. The samples treated with electrolyzed water prior to drying showed higher antioxidant activity (59.46 ± 0.09), total phenolic content (287.00 ± 1.76), and rehydration capacity (4.52 ± 0.05) compared to the control samples. The findings of the current study showed that electrolyzed water treatment could prevent the browning of dried S. dulcis fruits and preserve bioactive compounds as well as chemical properties.

Bu çalışmada, dört farklı kurutma tekniğinin (fırında kurutma, akışkan yatakta kurutma, vakumla kurutma ve dondurarak kurutma) dört farklı hurma çeşidinin (Rojo Brilliante, Seedless, Hachiya, Türkay) kalite parametreleri üzerindeki etkileri araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla antioksidan aktivite, toplam fenolik madde, renk değerleri ve rehidrasyon kapasitesi analizleri yapılmıştır. Tüm hurma çeşitleri farklı kurutma tekniklerinden benzer şekilde etkilenmiştir. Rojo Brillante çeşidi fizikokimyasal özellikler açısından üstün kurutulmuş ürünler vermiştir. Fırında kurutma hurmaların antioksidatif özelliklerini arttırmış (70,36±0,25), ancak bu yöntem rehidrasyon kapasitesinde (2,17±0,05) ve L* değerlerinde (38,06±0,90) azalmaya neden olmuştur. Dondurarak kurutma ile fizikokimyasal özellikler açısından üstün kurutulmuş ürünler elde edilmiştir. Ancak vakumla kurutulan ürünler ile dondurularak kurutulan ürünler benzer kalite özelliklerine sahip olmuştur. Dondurarak kurutmanın yüksek işletme maliyeti nedeniyle, yüksek kalite özelliklerine sahip kurutulmuş hurma elde etmek için vakumlu kurutma, dondurarak kurutma yerine kullanılabilir.

Tarragon has a great potential to be a healthy functional food ingredient thanks to its rich antioxidant, phenolic compounds, and nutrient content. The possibility of enriching bread with tarragon was investigated. For this aim, tarragon powder was used at the rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6% instead of wheat flour. In this study, the effects of substitution on the rheological properties of bread dough and color, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, texture, sensory, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis of bread samples were performed. The composition of tarragon powder showed significant protein (23.16%), crude fiber (7.4%), antioxidant (48.22 ± 0.11%), and total phenolic content (511.66 ± 1.56 mg GAE/100 g). Bread samples with increased fiber and protein content were obtained by adding tarragon powder to the bread formulation. The major differences in the FT-IR absorbance spectra for the bread samples were not observed. Additionally, tarragon powder significantly increased the antioxidative properties of breads ( p < 0.05). Adding up to 4% tarragon powder to the bread formulation increased the sensory scores of the breads.