Two non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs indomethacin and mefenamic acid were coordinated to Ru(II)–arenes to afford four new complexes. The cytotoxic activities of the ligands and ruthenium complexes were tested in three human cancer cell lines (K562, A549, MDA-MB-231) and non-tumour human fetal lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5) by MTT assay. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that indomethacin Ru(II)–arene complexes 1 and 3 displayed good cytotoxicity and apparent cytoselective profiles. The IC₅₀ values obtained in leukemia K562 cells were comparable to those of cisplatin (10.3 μM (CDDP), 11.9 μM (1) and 13.2 μM (3)). Flow cytometric analysis of 1 and 3 in triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells revealed an interesting mechanism of action. At IC₅₀ concentrations, 1 and 3 arrested cell cycle progression in S phase and caused rapid accumulation of cells in sub-G1 phase (up to 48%), while Annexin V-FITC/PI staining showed simultaneous occurrence of apoptotic and necrotic cell populations at approximately similar levels of 20%. Measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by DCFH-DA staining confirmed the potential of 1 and 3 to increase ROS even more than cisplatin. The interaction of the complexes with serum albumins showed their potential ability to bind tightly and reversibly to albumins. The affinity of the complexes to calf-thymus DNA was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, viscosity measurements and fluorescence emission spectroscopy for competitive studies of the complexes with ethidium bromide, revealing that their interaction probably occurs via intercalation. Taken together, the results strongly suggest the potential of complexes 1 and 3 to alter cell cycle progression and cause DNA-damage by means of direct DNA-binding or indirectly by ROS production.

The study aimed to compare the chemical composition (proximate, mineral, fatty acid, and amino acid composition) and nutritional value of meat from three deer species (fallow deer, red deer, and roe deer). A total of eighteen male carcasses of three species were collected. Proximate composition of deer meat ( M. longissimus lumborum ) did not differ among the three deer species, while deer species affected the content of most minerals (Ca, P, Na, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn). In the present study analysis of the fatty acid profile of deer meat showed that the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) to saturated fatty acid ratio and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio were, for all three deer species, within the recommended values. Furthermore, based on nutritional indexes (n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, atherogenicity index, hypocholesterolaemic to hypercholesterolaemic fatty acid ratio, and nutrition value index), it is concluded that roe deer meat had the highest, while fallow deer meat had the lowest nutritive value. Although the content of certain essential amino acids (isoleucine and valine) was lower in fallow deer meat than in red deer and roe deer meat (p≤0.05), the ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids was higher in fallow deer than in the two other deer species (p≤0.05).

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The major routes of heavy metal uptake by man are food, water, and air. Namely, fish are the most important source of some toxic metals for human beings. This study was undertaken to determine the contamination data of Pb, Cd, and Hg in the muscles of different fish species from two lakes of Mladenovac Municipality, Belgrade area, Serbia. The samples of the Pike fish (Esox lucius) and Prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) were taken in two locations, Markovac Lake and Rabrovac Lake, in 2023. The content of Pb, Cd, and Hg was determined in the fish dorsal muscle by atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) (Perkin-Elmer Analyst 700). Our study determined that none of the investigated metals in fish muscles exceeded the Maximum Levels set by European regulations and the Serbian Rule Book in muscle tissues. Therefore, the use of these fish in human nutrition poses no risk to potential consumers.