Xanthatin, a sesquiterpene lactone, was evaluated for its anti-cancer potential against SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells using both in vitro and in silico approaches. In vitro, xanthatin reduced cell viability, induced lactate dehydrogenase release, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species, and inhibited cell migration. The loss of mitochondrial mem-brane potential, activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and altered expression of BAX, CASPASE-3, and BCL-2 confirmed the induction of apoptosis. SwissADME and ProTox-II predicted favorable pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles. Molecular docking suggested multi-target binding to tubulin, STAT3, VEGFR2, and topoisomerase II. These findings indicate that xanthatin exerts cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic, and anti-migratory effects by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, xanthatin may represent a promising natural product lead for ovarian cancer therapy.

This study detailed the isolation and structural elucidation of two flavan-3-ol derivatives from the ethyl acetate extract of peanut skin. Structural characterization was achieved through analysis of spectral data, including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, [α]D measurement, and ECD spectra, identifying the compounds as arachiflavanol A and proanthocyanidin A2. Notably, this research marks the first time arachiflavanol A has been isolated from a natural source. Furthermore, both compounds demonstrated considerable antioxidant potential in the DPPH radical scavenging assay, with IC50 values of 0.07 µM/mL and 0.05 µM/mL, respectively, which were comparable to the IC50 value of the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid (0.04 µM/mL).

Herbal-based therapies show potential as antidepressants, though compara-tive efficacy remains uncertain. This study employed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of herbal interventions against standard antidepressants in animal depression models. A systematic search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (up to January 2025) identified 20 eligible studies. The behavior (open field test, tail suspension test) and neurotrans-mitters (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline) were analyzed as outcomes. Random-effects models were used, and risk of bias was assessed via SYRCLE. Curcumin improved open field test scores and increased serotonin and noradrenaline levels. Rosemary essential oil showed the strongest effect in the tail suspension test. Anthocyanins enhanced dopamine levels while zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited effects comparable to curcumin. This finding supports the antidepressant potential of specific herbal, particularly curcumin, rosemary essential oil, and anthocyanins. Further standard research is necessary to confirm clinical relevance.

This study evaluated the neuroprotective role of resveratrol in rats co-exposed to high fat diet and metals (aluminum, lead, arsenic) for 60 days. Rats (male, 10–12 weeks age, 180–250 g) were divided into control, modified meal (high fat diet + metals in drinking water), and resveratrol-treated groups (5 and 20 mg/kg). Behavioral tests (Morris water maze, Y maze, social interaction) revealed impairments in memory and reduced sociability in the modified meal group. Biochemical and histological analyses showed dysregulated lipid profiles, elevated blood glucose, signs of liver and kidney dysfunction, neuronal loss, and structural damage in the hippocampus. Resveratrol treatment, particularly at 20 mg/kg, significantly restored cognitive performances by increasing time spent in the target quadrant (78.9 ± 2.0; p<0.001), improving spontaneous alternation performance (66.6 ± 2.3; p<0.001), and improved metabolic dysfunction. These findings suggest resveratrol's therapeutic pro-mise in mitigating the neurotoxic effects of high fat diet and metals.

This study investigates the diabetic wound healing potential of M. pendens using an in vivo diabetic animal model and molecular docking targeting MMP, EGF, and FGF pathways. Ethyl acetate hydrogel formulations (0.05%, 0.10%, and 0.15%) were tested over 14 days, with wound closure measured using ImageJ. The fraction contained 91.5 mg QE/g of flavonoids. Docking analysis showed strong binding affinities of quercetin, cholesta-22,24-dien-5-ol, and procyanidin B1 to MMP, EGFR, and FGFR (−8.4 to −10.2 kcal/mol). By day 14, the negative control group showed 30-40% wound closure, while tetrachlorodecaoxide reached 80% (p<0.01). The 0.05% hydrogel achieved 85% closure (p<0.05), and the 0.10% hydrogel showed complete healing (100%, p<0.001). The 0.15% hydrogel was less effective than 0.10%, with significant differences between days 7 and 14 (p<0.05). These findings suggest that M. pendens hydrogel may aid diabetic wound healing through molecular pathway modulation.

In triple-negative breast cancer, intratumoral hypoxia drives tumor progression via HIF-1α-mediated angiogenesis. The study aims to analyze the efficacy of berberine chloride on tumor proliferation and angiogenesis in triple-negative breast cancer mediated by HIF-1α. The triple-negative breast cancer cells were subjected to berberine chloride, and the effects on cell viability, apoptosis, and angiogenic gene expression were assessed. MTT assay determined the IC50 as 9.5 µM. Fluorescent imaging confirmed apoptosis through membrane disintegration, fragmented DNA, and the presence of apoptotic bodies. Real-time PCR analysis showed significant down-regulation of HIF-1α (p<0.01), VEGF (p<0.05), Ang1 (p<0.05), and Ang2 (p<0.01) after berberine chloride treatment. These findings indicate the efficacy of berberine chloride in inhibiting triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic candidate.

Major depressive disorder, a common and complex disorder, has its onset associated with many factors. Common management includes antidepressant agents, together with psychotherapy in severe cases, but a significant percentage of patients do not improve. The urgency of newer approaches is a need, and clinical trials are studying the role of magnesium in depression. However, findings are inconclusive. To evaluate the evidence about the effects of magnesium on adults with depression, a systematic review was conducted. The search was conducted using scientific records from online databases between 2000 to 2023 concerning magnesium in depression. Eight studies showed mainly positive results; three studies after magnesium add-on with traditional antidepressants, and two studies showed no improvement. The review's evidence suggested that magnesium supplementation might be effective. Therefore, further clinical trials must be designed to evaluate the efficacy of magnesium alone or in addition to other therapies following biochemical assessments.

This study aimed to examine the effect of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on the intracellular persistence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. After establishing a cell infection model and conducting drug intervention, methods such as fluorescent probes, Western blot, and qPCR were used. The results showed that 1,25(OH)2D3 (10 nM) reduced the number of persistent E. coli (at 12 and 24 hours) (P<0.05), enhanced the acidification of intracellular lysosomes (p<0.05), and up-regulated the expression levels of transcription factor binding to IGHM enhancer 3, ATPase H+ transporting V0 subunit C, and ATPase H+ transporting V0 subunit D2 (P<0.05). Therefore, 1,25(OH)2D3 may reduce bacterial persistence by enhancing lysosomal acidification and influencing the expression of these factors. These findings provide ideas for the potential application of 1,25(OH)2D3 in reducing the recurrence rate of infectious diseases.

In this study, an alternative approach to activity-based screening was employed to identify potential anti-cancer agent against colon cancer. As a result, Paeonia obovata was selected, and an active compound was isolated from its methanol extracts. Through structural and physicochemical analyses, the compound was identified as paeonenoide C, a triterpenoid. Various cell-based assays, including the MTT reduction assay, LDH release assay, and colony formation assay were conducted to assess its anti-cancer properties. Paeonenoide C exhibited cytotoxic effects in HT-29 human colon cancer cells at concentrations above 150 μM. Western blot analysis demonstrated that paeonenoide C-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by suppressing the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 while down-regulating extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 expression. These findings suggest that paeonenoide C possesses potential anti-cancer activity against colon cancer cell lines.

The intention of this work was to analyze that carvacrol could enhance cancer-inhibiting potency of cetuximab (monoclonal antibody) in lung cancer cells. The combination of cetuximab and carvacrol was found to co-operatively suppress cell proliferation by enhancing apoptosis and inducing cell cycle arrest in A-549 and H1299 cells. Furthermore, the combination therapy triggered cell death by inducing membrane disruption. The most effective combinations were IC₁₀ cetuximab + IC₁₀ carvacrol for A-549 and IC₂₀ cetuxi-mab + IC₁₀ carvacrol for H1299 (CI = 2.0). LDH activity increased by 101% in A-549 and 239% in H1299 (p<0.05). Caspase-3 activity rose by 1.6-fold in A-549 and 1.4-fold in H1299 (p<0.05). The combination decreased PCNA, topo-isomerase II-alpha, and cyclins D1, D2, E, A, and B (p<0.05). Overall, the com-bination of carvacrol and cetuximab appears to enhance anti-cancer efficacy and may significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in lung cancer cells.