Research background. Kombucha is consumed worldwide for its beneficial health effects. Kombucha teas fermented with various herbal infusions have become very important nowadays. Although black tea is used for kombucha fermentation, kombucha teas fermented with different herbal infusions have gained great importance. In this study, three different traditional medicinal plants, namely hops (Humulus lupulus L.), madimak (Polygonum cognatum), and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) were used for the fermentation of kombucha beverages, and the bioactivity of these beverages was investigated extensively. Experimental approach. The microbiological profile, bacterial cellulose formation, antibacterial and antiproliferative activity, antioxidant activities, sensory properties, total phenolic content, and flavonoid content of kombucha beverages were investigated. Liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS / MS) was used to identify and quantify specific polyphenolic compounds in the samples. Results and conclusions. According to the results, the hawthorn-flavoured kombucha, which has lower free radical scavenging activity than the other samples, came into prominence in terms of sensory properties. All kombucha beverages examined showed a strong cytotoxic effect on Mahlavu and HCT116 cell lines, but only the madimak-flavoured kombucha sample, which had a higher total phenolic/flavonoid content, demonstrated antibacterial activity against all microorganisms used in the study. Novelty and scientific contribution. Considering the results of this study, madimak could be an effective herb for the development of new kombucha beverages, although its sensory properties still need to be improved. This study contributes to science in terms of producing new fermented beverages with improved beneficial health effects.

No abstract

The critical role of RNA, its use and targetability concerning different aspects of human health are gaining more attention because our understanding of the versatility of RNA has dramatically evolved over the last decades. We now appreciate that RNA is far more critical than a messenger molecule and possesses many complicated functions. As a multifunctional molecule with its sequence, flexible structures and enzymatic abilities, RNA is genuinely powerful. Mammalian transcriptomes consist of a dynamically regulated plethora of coding and noncoding RNA types. However, some aspects of RNA metabolism remain to be explored. In this Viewpoint, we focus on the transcriptome's unconventional and possibly overlooked aspects to emphasize the importance of RNA in mammalian systems.

In the modern world, where there is a growing demand for new substances with anticancer and antifungal activities, Schiff bases and phthalimide derivatives, which exhibit a wide diversity of biological activity, have become the focus of new therapeutic research studies. Accordingly, this study examined the anti-proliferative effects of two distinct compounds synthesized by cyclobutane substitution on breast cancer and liver cancer cell lines, which are two major cancer types, were investigated with MTT method and their antifugal activities on C. albicans were evaluated with disk diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the compounds against C. albicans were also determined in the scope of the study. The results revealed that the synthesized Schiff base was more effective on the breast cancer cell line MCF7, whereas the phthalimide-derivative was more effective against the liver cancer cell line Mahlavu. Besides, according to the data related to the antifungal properties of the compounds, it can be inferred that both compounds are suitable for further investigation as potential building blocks for the creation of novel and efficient antifungal medications.