OBJECTIVE: The effects of quercetin and selenium on oxidative stress in endometrial adenocarcinoma cells are unclear. In this study, the effects of quercetin and selenium on oxidative stress caused by both hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation in endometrial adenocarcinoma cells were examined. METHODS: The viability of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of quercetin and sodium selenite was measured using the MTT assay. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were investigated, and expression levels of BAD and p53 genes were analysed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining technique was applied to detect apoptosis. Mass attenuation coeffi cient of each quercetin and sodium selenite combinations was evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation. RESULTS: The combination of quercetin and sodium selenite enhanced cell viability, and reduced MDA levels. The expression levels of BAD and p53 genes decreased by combined treatment with quercetin and selenium while showing synergistic effects in terms of gene expression. Fluorescent microscopic examination showed a decrease in apoptotic cells in endometrial adenocarcinoma cells treated with the combination of quercetin and selenium. CONCLUSIONS: For the fi rst time, selenium and quercetin have synergistic cytoprotective and radioprotective effects on oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide in endometrial adenocarcinoma cells for the fi rst time

In this study, a Flavobacterium sp. is isolated from natural spring, and identified using molecular techniques. Extracellular and intracellular secondary metabolites are identified using solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ultra performance liquid chromatography. Cytotoxic activity of the extracellular compounds produced by the Flavobacterium sp. and quercetin as the standard are measured using ECV304 human endothelial cells in vitro. Our results show that Flavobacterim sp. isolate has the highest percentage of similarity with Flavobacterium cheonhonense strain ARSA-15 (99%). Quercetin is detected as the major extracellular compound produced by the Flavobacterium sp. Methanol extract of Flavobacterium sp. resulted in a higher cell viability results when compared to DMSO extracts. Computational chemistry approach was used and it has been found that polar solvent (methanol) contributed to higher antioxidant activity. In conclusion, Flavobacterium sp. can be used to produce quercetin for industrial purposes.

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Mevastatin is one of the common pharmaceuticals found in wastewaters, and its biodegradation is still an environmental problem due to its recalcitrant properties. Although various biological, chemical and physical methods have been investigated for the removal of mevastin, microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have not been examined, yet. MECs are new generation biotechnological tools used in hydrogen energy production. In this study, the effects of mevastatin on hydrogen production in MECs were investigated for the first time. MECs produced hydrogen gas in the presence of mevastatin, and an increase in hydrogen production was observed. Over 90% of the mevastatin were removed in MECs. These results also showed that the fermentation process associated with carbon dioxide production can favor hydrogen production with mevastatin. In conclusion, the efficiency of hydrogen production in microbial cells can be increased by the use of wastewaters contaminated with mevastatin.

In this study, hydrogen production was analyzed along with methane and carbon dioxide generation using paroxetine, venlafaxine, and o-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV) as substrates in single-chamber microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). Combinations of all three drugs were examined at concentrations of 750 ng/mL and 170 ng/mL. At the beginning of MEC operations using a 750 ng/mL mixture of drugs, there was no hydrogen or methane, but carbon dioxide was detected. When the concentration of the drug mixture was reduced to 170 ng/mL, MECs produced hydrogen and methane gas. Removal of the drugs during MEC operations was also analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Paroxetine, venlafaxine and ODV drugs were removed up to 99% by MECs. In conclusion, MECs could offer an alternative treatment method for wastewaters containing psychoactive pharmaceuticals with the added benefit of fuel hydrogen generation.

Mevastatin is one of the pollutants in wastewater that is difficult to biodegrade. In this study, the issue of mevastatin biodegradation and simultaneous electricity generation using microbial fuel cells, which is one of the current sustainable technologies, was investigated. Effects of mevastatin on the performance of single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cells were investigated. On average, 0.2 volts of electricity was generated in microbial fuel cells in the presence of 5.6 µM mevastatin, while mevastatin caused an important increase in coulombic efficiency, from 35±5% to 49±8. More than 90% of the mevastatin was removed in microbial fuel cells in approximately four days. In conclusion, mevastatin that causes toxicity in wastewaters could potentially be treated using microbial fuel cells. Meanwhile, mevastatin may enhance electricity generation either through improved electron transfer or suppressed methanogenesis during microbial fuel cell operations.

Environmental pollution is increasing in parallel with the increase in the world population. Azo dyes are one of the most important causes of environmental pollution. Microbial electrochemical cells are biotechnological systems that generate energy from renewable sources such as electricity. This study investigated simultaneous electricity generation with the decolorization of two different azo dyes in microbial fuel cells. And also, changes in pH values, chemical oxygen demand analysis, hourly color removal rate, dye spectral scanning were investigated. Reactive Yellow 145 dye with a concentration of 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L, and 40 mg/L, and Ponceau S dye with 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L concentration were tested in microbial fuel cells, respectively. Results indicate that the maximum voltage obtained was 0.11 V at the same time as the 100% decolorization rate in Reactive Yellow 145 and was achieved at a concentration of 10 mg/L also, the maximum voltage obtained was 0.24 V at the same time as the 100% decolorization rate in Ponceau S. It was achieved at a concentration of 20 mg/L. In conclusion, microbial fuel cells appear to be promising tools in treating textile azo dye wastewaters, and computational methods can be applied to estimate the degradation mechanisms of complex organic molecules found in wastewaters.

Antidepressants accumulate in the aquatic environment due to human wastes. “Here, microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is investigated as a candidate for elimination of antidepressants introduced into environment via human wastewaters.” Human urine containing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (paroxetine) and serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine, O‐desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV)) are used as substrates in MFCs. Electricity production by the MFCs is monitored while simultaneous drug degradation is analyzed using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. When the human urine samples containing drugs (10 or 50 ng drug per mL) are treated in MFCs, electricity production decreases in response to increasing drug concentrations. Upon addition of drugs‐containing urine, chemical oxygen demand removal capacity of MFCs decreases from 54% to 37%. Mass spectrometry results show that drugs are degraded at a rate of 10 ng mL−1 per hour for paroxetine, 11 ng mL−1 per hour for venlafaxine, and 16 ng mL−1 per hour for ODV, i.e., 94% of paroxetine, 66% of venlafaxine, and 48% of ODV is cleared in 9 h of treatment. In conclusion, MFC exhibits great potential in elimination of paroxetine, venlafaxine, and ODV from wastewater. These results can help to develop sustainable strategies to combat antidepressant pollution.