Background: the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of apocynin (APO) on hormone levels, the blood-testis barrier, and oxidative biomarkers in monosodium glutamate (MSG) induced testicular degeneration. Methods: Sprague Dawley male rats (150–200 g; n = 32) were randomly distributed into four groups: control, APO, MSG, and MSG + APO. MSG and MSG + APO groups were administered MSG (120 mg/kg) for 28 days. Moreover, the APO and MSG + APO groups received APO (25 mg/kg) during the last five days of the experiment. All administrations were via oral gavage. Finally, biochemical analyses were performed based on the determination of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as light and transmission electron microscopic examinations, assessment of sperm parameters, ZO-1, occludin, NOX-2, and TUNEL immunohistochemistry were evaluated. Results: MSG increased both the oxidative stress level and apoptosis, decreased cell proliferation, and caused degeneration in testis morphology including in the blood-testis barrier. Administration of apocynin reversed all the deteriorated morphological and biochemical parameters in the MSG + APO group. Conclusions: apocynin is considered to prevent testicular degeneration by maintaining the integrity of the blood-testis barrier with balanced hormone and oxidant/antioxidant levels.

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.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and is frequently complicated by respiratory infections, supporting interest in agents with both antitumoral and antimicrobial potential. This study evaluated two standardized thyme-derived, carvacrol-based formulations, Vacrol and S-Mix, in lung cancer-associated experimental models. A549 lung adenocarcinoma and BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells were treated with the formulations, and cell viability, clonogenic capacity, SIRT1–SIRT7 protein expression, in ovo tumor growth, histopathological changes, and antimicrobial activity against pneumonia-associated reference strains were assessed. S-Mix showed stronger short-term cytotoxicity in A549 cells, reaching an IC₅₀ of 1 mM after 72 h, whereas Vacrol produced more pronounced modulation of selected sirtuin proteins, particularly SIRT1, SIRT4, and SIRT5. Both formulations suppressed colony formation under prolonged exposure. In the CAM model, Vacrol was associated with greater macroscopic suppression of tumor growth and vascularization, while S-Mix produced more prominent histopathological cellular injury. Vacrol also showed antimicrobial activity against tested respiratory pathogens, with MIC values ranging from 0.5 to 4 mg/mL, MBC values ranging from 1 to 4 mg/mL and volatile-phase activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae as well as Klebsiella pneumoniae. These findings suggest that carvacrol-based formulations exert distinct cytotoxic, sirtuin-modulatory, antitumoral, and antimicrobial effects, warranting further mechanistic and translational validation.