- Assist. Prof. Dr. Güner Ekiz received the "Best Oral Presentation Award" at the Turkish Microbiology Symposium...

Near East University Faculty of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and DESAM Institute Microbial Pathogenesis Research Group Member Assist. Prof. Dr. Güner Ekiz received the "Best Oral Presentation Award" with the paper he presented at the online "TMC 2020 Microbiology Symposium".

The study titled “Microbial Transformation of 20 (27) -Octanor-Cycloastragenol and Effects on Telomerase Activation of Obtained Metabolites” carried out by Assist. Prof. Dr. Güner Ekiz from Near East University, project manager from Izmir Institute of Technology, Prof. Dr. Erdal Bedir, and Expert Biologist Seda Duman, Prof. Dr. Petek Ballar Kırmızıbayrak and doctoral student Sinem Yılmaz from Ege University received the "Best Oral Presentation" award by the Symposium Scientific Committee. In the study, it is aimed to keep the cells in the body healthy and long-lasting by controlling telomere length shortening. Thus, it is aimed to slow down the aging process.

Astragalus plant and healthy aging...
In the project, biotransformation studies were carried out on the derivative of cycloastragenol obtained from a type of astragalus plant, which has recently attracted considerable attention due to its anti-aging effects and is one of the important plants in traditional Chinese medicine. It was determined that the compounds obtained as a result of the study significantly increased telomerase enzyme activation.

Telomerase Enzyme and aging connection...
Stating that telomerase enzyme helps repair telomere ends in DNA that shrinks due to age and stress, Assist. Prof. Dr. Güner Ekiz said, “We foresee that telomerase enzyme activators will create a large market in the near future as promising agents for healthy aging with their potential. Research has also revealed that controlling telomere length shortening will slow aging and prevent many diseases that come due to old age.

Within the scope of the study, it was determined that some molecules obtained from aloe vera significantly increased telomerase enzyme activation compared to other anti-aging products of natural origin. It was determined that the molecules found have the potential to be used in diseases that can be treated by telomere shortening and telomerase activation.