Abstract
Psychedelics are serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists with hallucinogenic effects
that can cause changes in perception, cognition and mood. In this review article,
the chemical and pharmacological properties of psilocybin and psilocin, which are
classical psychedelics such as LSD, dimethyltryptamine and mescaline, and their
potential for use in therapy are examined. Although studies on the therapeutic use
of psychedelics have long been neglected by the pharmaceutical industry, recent
clinical studies have shown that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, in particular,
may be effective in indications such as depression, cancer-related anxiety, and
treatment-resistant depression. Given the promise of psilocybin-assisted treat-
ments, the FDA has granted psilocybin “Breakthrough Treatment” status for treat-
ment-resistant depression, recognizing that it may have advantages over current
treatment options. Due to the necessity of obtaining funding and complying with
legal regulations determined by health authorities, which are basic conditions for
research and development programs related to new drug discovery, it is necessary
for governments, pharmaceutical companies and non-profit organizations to work
together to ensure that the therapeutic benefits that can be obtained from these
studies reach patients. Numerous clinical trials are ongoing with psilocybin in a wide
variety of psychiatric indications, and in case of a “new drug application” to the FDA,
changes to its current legal classification will be necessary.
Keywords: Psychedelics, magic mushrooms, Psilocybe, psilocybin, psilocin, thera-
peutic potential
Abstract
Aim: Medicinal plants have been used in traditional folk medicine for thousands
of years against various diseases, including diabetes. Some Centaurea species are
among these medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to scientifically and com-
paratively evaluate the antidiabetic activities of methanol extracts obtained from
the capitulum and non-capitulum aerial parts of Centaurea cuneifolia, C. kilaea, C.
solstitialis subsp. solstitialis and C. stenolepis against α-glucosidase and α-amylase
for the first time except C. kilaea.
Materials and Methods: Methanol extracts from Centaurea species were ob-
tained by maceration method. Antidiabetic activity was performed by two known in
vitro methods such as alpha-glucosidase and alpha amylase inhibitory activity.
Results: Among the extracts, Centaurea cuneifolia capitula (CCC) and C. solstitia-
lis subsp. solstitialis capitula (CSSC) methanol extracts with IC50 values of 164.30
and 463.70 μg/mL exhibited the best inhibitory activity against α-amylase and
α-glucosidase enzymes.
Conclusion: This is the first study on anti α-amylase and anti α-glucosidase activ-
ity of three Centaurea species except Centauera kilaea. These results indicate that
CCC and CSSC have inhibitory effects against alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase.
At the same time, the extracts were generally found to be active against the alpha
amylase enzyme. In addition, it was found remarkable that only the capitulum of
Centaurea species were effective against alpha glucosidase enzyme. However, in
vivo studies are needed to fully reveal the antidiabetic effect and bioactivity-direct-
ed fractionation, and isolation studies are needed to reveal the compounds respon-
sible for the antidiabetic effect.
Keywords: Centaurea species, diabetes, antidiabetic activity, α-glucosidase,
α-amylase
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activities of extracts obtained
from the Phlomis fruticosa plant.
Materials and methods: Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, and
methanol:water (70:30) extracts were obtained from Phlomis fruticosa plant by the
Soxhlet method. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined using
the disc diffusion method. Antibacterial activity was started at a concentration of
50 mg/disc. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Escherichia coli and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used in the antibacterial activity tests.
Results: It was determined that the methanol extract showed the highest activity
on Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria among the four extracts by forming a zone
diameter of 25 mm. Other extracts were found to have inhibition zone diameters in
the 6-12 mm range against the tested bacteria.
Conclusion: In this study, the antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, ethyl ac-
etate, and methanol:water extracts of P. fruticosa was studied for the first time.
Since the methanol extract has a high inhibition zone diameter against P. aerugi-
nosa bacteria, the bioactive compounds responsible for this activity should be in-
vestigated in future studies.
Keywords: Phlomis fruticosa, extract, antibacterial activity, the disc diffusion
method, Soxhlet extraction
ÖzetAbstract
Aim: In recent years, due to uncontrolled drug consumption, increasing pathoge-
nic microorganisms’ resistance to antimicrobial agents has become an important
problem. In this context, studies have shown that microalgae have great potential
as an option for solving this problem. It has been determined that microalgae, which
can grow especially under extreme conditions, can exhibit antimicrobial properties
as well as anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties thanks to the
different bioactive components they contain. Therefore, this study focused on the
Chlorella variabilis YTU.ANTARCTIC.001 strain isolated from Skua Lake on Horses-
hoe Island, Antarctica, and comprehensively evaluated its antimicrobial potential
for the first time.
Materials and methods: Extracts prepared using different solvents (ethanol,
methanol, DMSO, and water) were systematically analyzed for both antibacterial
and antifungal effects.
Results: The results revealed that Antarctic microalgal extracts exhibited the hig-
hest antibacterial and antifungal activity against Bacillus cereus and Botrytis cine-
rea, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that these extracts could be utilized as antimic-
robial agents in industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
Keywords: Antarctica, microalgae, Chlorella variabilis, antibacterial activity, anti-
fungal activity.
Amaç: Son yıllarda, kontrolsüz ilaç tüketimi nedeniyle artan patojen mikroorga-
nizmaların antimikrobiyal ajanlara karşı direnç göstermesi önemli bir sorun haline
gelmiştir. Bu bağlamda yapılan çalışmalarda, mikroalglerin bu sorunun çözümü için
büyük bir potansiyele sahip bir seçenek olduğu görülmüştür. Özellikle ekstrem ko-
şullarda büyüyebilen mikroalglerin, içerdiği farklı biyoaktif bileşenler sayesinde
antimikrobiyal özelliklerinin yanı sıra antikanser, antioksidan ve anti-inflamatuar
özellikler gösterebildiği belirlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada, Antarktika’nın Horseshoe Ada-
sı, Skua Gölü’nden izole edilen Chlorella variabilis YTU.ANTARCTIC.001 türü üzerine
odaklanılmış ve bu türün antimikrobiyal potansiyeli ilk kez kapsamlı olarak değer-
lendirilmiştir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmada, farklı çözücüler (etanol, metanol, DMSO ve su)
kullanılarak hazırlanan ekstrelerin hem antibakteriyel hem de antifungal etkileri
sistematik olarak analiz edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, Antarktik mikroalg ekstrelerinin Bacillus cereus
ve Botrytis cinerea’ya karşı en yüksek antibakteriyel ve antifungal aktiviteyi göster-
diğini ortaya koymuştur.
Sonuç: Çalışmanın sonucunda, elde edilen ekstrelerin kozmetik ve farmasötik gibi
endüstrilerde antimikrobiyal ajanlar olarak kullanılabileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Anahtar kelimeler: Antarktika, mikroalgler, Chlorella variabilis, antibakteriyel ak-
tivite, antifungal aktivite.
Abstract
Aim: The study aimed to determine the antibacterial activities of herbal syrups sold
as dietary supplements in pharmacies on various Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria.
Materials and Methods: In the study, the well diffusion and broth microdilution
methods were used to determine the antibacterial activities of 3 different herbal syr-
ups recommended for use in adults against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella
pneumoniae ATCC 700603, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Bacillus cereus
ATCC 14579, while 3 different herbal syrups recommended for use as dietary sup-
plements in children between the ages of 4-11 were examined against Escherichia
coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC
29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212.
Results: According to the results of the study, all three of the herbal syrups rec-
ommended for adults and only one of the herbal syrups recommended for children
showed antibacterial activity against the bacteria used in the study. When the data
obtained from the methods used to determine antibacterial activity in the study were
compared, it was determined that antimicrobial activity could not be detected with the
well diffusion method, while syrups containing different herbal ingredients had anti-
bacterial activity in various dilutions on different bacteria with the broth microdilution
method.
Conclusion: Study results indicate that herbal syrups recommended for use as dietary
supplements have antibacterial activities on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
that can cause various infectious diseases. In addition, the findings obtained from the
study reveal the importance of the method used to determine the antibacterial activity.
According to the study results, it was determined that the well diffusion method was
not sufficient to detect antibacterial activity. The broth microdilution method has been
determined to be a more sensitive method than the well diffusion method, as it can de-
tect the antibacterial activities of pharmaceutical products in different concentrations.
Keywords: Antibacterial activity, herbal dietary supplements, well diffusion method,
broth microdilution method
