No abstract

Resinous beehive product propolis has many biological activities. It contains various aromatic substances that have great differences in their chemical composition depending on the natural flora. Thus, chemical characterization and biological properties of propolis samples is an important subject for the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, the propolis samples collected from three cities in Turkey were prepared as methanol (MEP), ethanol (EEP), chloroform (ChlEP), hexane (HxEP), and ethyl acetate (EAEP) extracts using an ultrasonic assisted technique. The antioxidant capacities of the samples were evaluated by free radical scavenging activity (DPPH), cation radical scavenging activity (ABTS), and reducing activity (CUPRAC) and (FRAP). The strongest biological activities were detected in ethanol and methanol extracts. Enzyme inhibition of the propolis samples were determined against the human glutathione S-transferase (GST) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). IC 50 values of MEP1, MEP2, and MEP3 samples against the ACE were found as 13.9 μg/mL, 14.8 μg/mL, and 12.8 μg/mL, while against the GST IC 50 values of MEP1, MEP2, and MEP3 samples were as 5.92 μg/mL, 9.49 μg/ mL, and 5.72 μg/mL. To know the possible causes of the biological test results advanced LC/MS/MS method was applied. trans-ferulic acid, kaempferol, and chrysin were found as the most abundant phenolic compounds in each sample. The propolis extracts obtained using the proper solvent have a good potential to be used in pharmaceuticals to treat the diseases related to oxidative damage, hypertension, and inflammation. Finally, the interactions between chrysin, trans-ferulic acid and kaempferol molecules with ACE and GST receptors were analyzed using molecular docking study. Selected molecules interact with active residues by binding to the active site of the receptors.

It was observed that VEP may be a parameter of predictive value that might be used in evaluating prediabetic cases in terms of retinopathies similar to DM.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disease characterized by some type of dysesthesia, an indescribable abnormal sensation in the extremities. Our objective was to determine whether the visual evoked potentials (VEP) can be used as a quantitative monitoring method to evaluate demyelination-remyelination and neurodegeneration in the patients with RLS. The present study was carried out prospectively. It was planned to determine normal or pathological conditions in the form of increased latency or decreased amplitude of VEP and to evaluate possible pathologies in the visual and retinal pathways at early stages and at months 3 and 6 of follow-up in the patients with RLS (with or without iron deficiency anemia), in those without RLS (at the time of diagnosis prior to any medical therapy) without any visual symptoms. It was observed that latency of VEP improved but didn't return to normal limits following treatment with dopamin agonists, iron, or combination of both and that there was no significant difference between the post-treatment data and those of the control group. These results in combination with the fact that the latencies and amplitudes didn't return to normal levels despite the 6-month-treatment but showed a progressive course with partial regeneration suggests that there was incomplete remyelination. It should be kept in mind that this syndrome is likely to be a part of neurodegenerative process.