Maria Luísa Serralheiro has completed her PhD from Lisbon University. She is Assistant Professor with Habilitation, at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She teaches Chemistry and Biochemistry and also does research in the area of Applied Biochemistry for 35 years. She has published more than 55 papers in reputed journals and has been supervising more than 24 Master Thesis and PhD Thesis. She is responsible for several disciplines in Chemistry and Biochemistry master Course as well as in the Biochemistry undergraduate program. She received a prize from «Food & Nutrition Award» in 2014.

Aqueous extracts from plants have been consumed throughout history for the prevention or amelioration of several diseases namely, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer. Nowadays part of the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects have been disclosed. The effect of infusions containing mainly rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid and other caffeic acid derivatives were analysed on what concerns their effect on the prevention of age-related diseases like atherosclerosis and Alzheimer disease (AD). As these diseases are multifactorial-caused the main selected topics will be the inhibitory activity of these compounds or extracts on enzymes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, HMGR) and in the AD treatment (acetylcholinesterase, AChE). The effect of these caffeic acid derivatives on the absorption of cholesterol from the diet at membrane-transporter proteins is also a matter of concern and will be envisaged. Several infusions from different herbs either collected in the fields or bought in the supermarket, in Portugal, were studied. A small number of volunteers consumed several of these infusions in order to get some insight into the effect in decreasing cholesterol blood level and, eventually, reducing atherosclerosis. The results obtained seemed worthwhile of setting up a bigger experimentation plan. The permeation of phenolic compounds has been evaluated and studies with laboratory animals indicated that these compounds can reach the brain and act as AChE inhibitors. The presence of different phenolic compounds in these mixtures influence the permeation of each other. This is also another important point to be addressed, paving the way to permeation studies with chemically defined extracts when bioavailability is concerned.

Emre Kayalar has completed his PhD from Istanbul University, Dentistry Facuty, Department of Orthodontics in 2014. He began postdoctoral studies and studying for second masters degree in Anadolu University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany. He has published more than 5 papers in national or international journals. He participated in many national and international congresses with some presentations.

Paliurus spina-christi P. Mill. (Rhamnaceae), also known as “Christ\'s thorn, Karaçalı or Çaltı”, is a perennial thorny shrub of widespread distribution in dry and rocky places in the Mediterranean region and Asia, and the unique species of the genus Paliurus represented in Anatolia. Christ\'s thorn is used as a diuretic, against diarrhoea and rheumatism in traditional Turkish herbal medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity and phenolic profile of Paliurus spina-christi. For this purpose plant materials were collected from Eskişehir:Bozdağ in Turkey on August 2015. Powdered dried fruits were macerated with methanol at 25 °C for 24h. After evaporation and lyofilization steps the extract was analyzed with ABsciex 3200 Q trap LC-MS/MS system. Catechin hydrate, proanthocyanidin B dimer, naringenin-C-diglycoside, 5-caffeoyl quinic acid 5-p-coumaroylquinic acid, rutin, quercetin hexoside and quercetin were found as major compounds. Extract presented strong antioxidant activity with the score of DPPH IC50=0.062 mg/ml. IC 50 of BHT was determined 0,054 mg/ml. Total phenolic content of the extract was found as same 109.54 mgGAE in 1gr extract. This study was supported by the Anadolu University, Commission of the Scientific Research Projects.

Emre Kayalar has completed his PhD from Istanbul University, Dentistry Facuty, Department of Orthodontics in 2014. He began postdoctoral studies and studying for second masters degree in Anadolu University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany. He is working especially on the traditional medicines for new bone formation in the rapid maxillary expansion topic. He has published more than 5 papers in national or international journals. He participated in many national and international congresses with some presentations.

Maxillary expansion, which is used to correct transverse discrepancies between the maxilla and mandible, occurs through a combination of skeletal and dental expansion. Skeletal expansion involves separating the maxilla at the midpalatal suture. Sutural expansion is accomplished by stretching the collagenous fibres, which is then accompanied by new bone formation. After expansion, the suture undergoes remodelling by way of bone formation. However, although long-term retention is used to prevent relapse, there is generally a reduction of the width of the expanded maxillary arch. Clinically, bone begins to repair itself within weeks following expansion and lasts for months. Bone remodeling is dynamically equilibrated by bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts for several months up to 1 year. Free radicals function as intermediates in osteoclast activation, which is vital for bone resorption. Some studies showed that antioxidants affect bone metabolism, via an increase of osteoblastic activity. Recently, some studies have demonstrated that traditional medicines have beneficial therapeutic effects on accelerating new bone formation.\r\nThe current review focuses on pharmacological, clinical, and animal studies with chemically profiled extracts of some selected traditional medicinal plants (Salvia officinalis, S. miltiorrhizae, Ginkgo biloba, Hypericum perforatum, Nigella sativa etc.) in accelerating new bone formation, conducted by research groups in Turkey and abroad.\r\n

Quinonez graduated in the field of Biology with a Master and PhD degree in the area of Natural Resources from The Autonomous University of Chihuahua in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. She has published books and book chapters relating to the diversity of edible and medicinal mushrooms from the forests of Chihuahua. She has also published articles in national and international magazines focused mainly on studies of diversity, ecology and potential uses of wild mushrooms growing in the forests of the Sierra Tarahumara of Chihuahua, Mexico.

The Mexico Northern Mountains in the Chihuahua state (Sierra Tarahumara) are inhabited by Native American, known as Raramuris, mixed race, and other ethnic groups. There is a great diversity in edible and medicinal mushrooms all-around of the Chihuahua state counties. Their residents have a long tradition of collecting, use and eating these during the “rainy season.” However, despite the wide diversity of edible mushrooms that grow in these areas, residents have a selective preference. This paper aims to record evidence of the knowledge and use of wild potentially edible mushroom species by inhabitants of towns in the Sierra Tarahumara of Chihuahua, Mexico.rnMethod: Using a semi-structured technique, we surveyed 150 habitants from seven locations. Known fungi and plants, local nomenclature, species consumed, species used for medicinal purposes, preparation methods, appreciation of taste, forms of preservation, criteria for differentiating toxic and edible fungi, other uses, economic aspects, and traditional teaching were recorded. rnResults: The respondents reported preference as food for four species: Amanita rubescens, Agaricus campestris, Hypomyces lactifluorum, and the Amanita caesarea complex. rnAs medicinal mushrooms, three species are used for the purpose of healing wounds of the skin and to remove grains in the face: Calvatia, Lycoperdon and Astraeus hygrometricus. There are no apparent differences among Sierra inhabitants in terms of gender, occupation, or language regarding the recognition and consumption of species. The rejection of certain species is due mainly to fear of poisoning and the traditional selective teaching of families in the mountain communities of the Sierra Tarahumararn