Propolis is a resin that is collected by honeybees from various plant sources. Due to its pharmacological properties, it is used in commercial production of nutritional supplements in pharmaceutical industry. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was applied for quality control analysis of the three commercial specimens containing aqueous-alcoholic extracts of bee propolis. More than 230 constituents were detected in analyzed products, including flavonoids, chalcones, cinnamic acids and their esters, phenylpropenoid glycerides, and phenylpropenoid sesquiterpenoids. An allergenic benzyl cinnamate ester was also identified in all tested samples. This analytical method allows to evaluate biological activity and potential allergenic components of bee glue simultaneously. Studies on chemical composition of propolis samples may provide new approach to quality and safety control analysis in production of propolis supplementary specimens.

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Carbon monoxide (CO), despite its reputation as a deadly poison, is being recognized as a powerful physiological regulatory agent with potential anti-cancer properties. To harness the potential of CO towards a safe therapy, CO-Releasing Molecules (CO-RMs) have been developed. In the present study, the effects of tricarbonyldichlororuthenium(II) dimer (CORM-2) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell cultures were evaluated, with particular regard to mechanisms affecting collagen biosynthesis. In our model, CORM-2 exerted dose-dependent cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects, i.e., attenuated cell viability, induced apoptosis and reduced autophagy. Collagen biosynthesis was significantly reduced, with signs of the involvement of nuclear factor kappa B, integrin β1, insulin-like growth factor 1 and proline metabolism as the probable underlying mechanism. No effects of CO-depleted CORM-2 were found, thereby demonstrating that CORM-2 activity is associated with carbon monoxide. Additionally, it was found that CORM-2 had no influence on control fibroblasts cultures. Our results confirm both the cytotoxic and collagen-related properties of CO-releasing molecule in a breast cancer cell culture, and therefore serve to encourage further research in a pre-clinical setting. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to attempt to relate the effects of CORM-2 on cell viability and collagen metabolism in a cancer cell culture.

Metronidazole (2-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethanol) is one of the most commonly prescribed antibacterial and antiprotozoal medications worldwide. For over 50 years it has been widely utilised in the treatment of numerous diseases such as anaerobic bacterial infections (Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Clostridium, Peptostreptococcus or Prevotella species), trichomoniasis, bacterial vagi-nosis, enteritis infectious, Crohnís disease, endocarditis, aspiration pneumonia, periodontitis, amoebic dysentery, Helicobacter pylori or Giardia lamblia infections. It has been included in perioperative prevention protocols for bowel or head and neck surgeries as well (1, 2, 3). Moreover, it has been used is cancer treatment, with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, making both treatment modalities PHARMACOLOGY