Cancer is a complex disease including approximately 200 different entities that can potentially affect all body tissues. Among the conventional treatments, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are most often applied to different types of cancers. Despite substantial advances in the development of innovative antineoplastic drugs, cancer remains one of the most significant causes of death, worldwide. The principal pitfall of successful cancer treatment is the intrinsic or acquired resistance to therapeutic agents. The development of more effective or synergistic therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes and minimize toxicity has become an urgent issue. Inula viscosa is widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. Used as a medicinal plant in different countries, I. viscosa has been characterized for its complex chemical composition in order to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for its biological activities, including anticancer effects. Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are natural, biologically active products that have attracted considerable attention due to their biological activities. SLs are alkylating agents that form covalent adducts with free cysteine residues within enzymes and key proteins favoring cancer cell cytotoxicity. They are effective inducers of apoptosis in several cancer cell types through different molecular mechanisms. This review focuses on recent advances in the cytotoxic effects of I. viscosa and SLs in the treatment of neoplastic diseases, with a special emphasis on their proapoptotic molecular mechanisms.

Oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endogenous antioxidants, plays an important role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s. The human brain is vulnerable to oxidative stress because of the high rate of oxygen that it needs and the high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are substrates of lipid peroxidation. Natural antioxidants inhibit oxidation and reduce oxidative stress, preventing cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, in the literature, it is reported that antioxidants, due to their possible neuroprotective activity, may offer an interesting option for better symptom management, even Parkinson’s disease (PD). Natural antioxidants are usually found in several foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and oil, and in food wastes, such as seeds, peels, leaves, and skin. They can help the system of endogenous antioxidants, protect or repair cellular components from oxidative stress, and even halt lipid, protein, and DNA damage to neurons. This review will examine the extent of knowledge from the last ten years, about the neuroprotective potential effect of natural antioxidants present in food and food by-products, in in vivo and in vitro PD models. Additionally, this study will demonstrate that the pool of dietary antioxidants may be an important tool in the prevention of PD and an opportunity for cost savings in the public health area.

Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is essential for the sustainable management of freshwater fish, particularly in systems influenced by long-term stocking. In this context, the genetic status of Albanian common carp (Cyprinus carpio) remains poorly understood. Here, 125 individuals from five populations representing natural lakes (Ohrid and Shkodra), semi-managed freshwater systems (Prespa and Belshi), and a hatchery stock (Tapiza) were genotyped at 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci. High genetic diversity was detected across all populations, with low genetic differentiation and relevant estimates of gene flow. Bayesian clustering identified two main genetic groups, with natural lake populations predominantly represented by a single genetic lineage and managed systems showing higher admixture. Multivariate and phylogenetic analyses supported a close genetic relationship between Ohrid and Shkodra natural lake populations. These patterns may reflect historical stocking and translocation programmes, potentially involving genetically similar or shared broodstock sources, which may have contributed to the observed genetic similarity among populations while maintaining high levels of within-population genetic diversity. The more homogeneous genetic composition of natural lake populations may also reflect local environmental conditions that influenced the distribution of allelic variants among populations. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive genetic assessment of Albanian common carp and establishes a baseline for future sustainable management plans.