Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Gita Kholghi, Shirin Arjmandi-Rad, Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast, Salar Vaseghi
Summary: St. John's wort is a herbaceous plant with therapeutic effects on psychiatric and mood disorders. Its active components, hyperforin and hypericin, play a major role in these effects. Changes in neurotransmitter levels in depression are complex and St. John's wort has inconsistent effects on neurotransmitter levels. Glutamate and acetylcholine may be important neurotransmitters to study in future works, and the dualistic modulation on cholinergic signaling induced by St. John's wort is an interesting topic for future studies.
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meshari A. Alzahrani, Salman Bin Ofisan, Nasser I. Alshumaymiri, Muath Alghuwainem, Muath Altamimi, Ali Y. Alali, Muhammad Rabie, Ahmed K. Aboskena, Khalid Almaymuni, Raed Almannie, Saleh Binsaleh
Summary: This review assessed the effects of St. John's wort on male sexual and reproductive health. The studies found that St. John's wort may cause sexual dysfunction and reproductive toxicity, with potential adverse events. However, the safety and efficacy of St. John's wort in the treatment of human sexual and reproductive health remain unclear.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandro Allegra, Alessandro Tonacci, Elvira Ventura Spagnolo, Caterina Musolino, Sebastiano Gangemi
Summary: Hypericum, widely used as a therapeutic cure for depression, skin wounds, and respiratory and inflammatory disorders, also demonstrates various biological actions such as anti-infective, anti-oxidant, and spasmolytic abilities. Recent studies have shown its potential in the treatment of pathological conditions like trigeminal neuralgia and cancer. In hematologic malignancies, Hypericum induces apoptosis in myeloid and lymphoid cells, and targets mediators of cell migration and angiogenesis. Furthermore, it downregulates proteins involved in leukemia cell resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, making it a potential candidate for tumor photodynamic therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Zelal Adibelli, Ilayda Karacay, Murat Demir, Cevdet Duran
Summary: A patient developed acute kidney injury after ingesting Hypericum perforatum tea for sleep disorder remedy, leading to acute kidney failure and requiring hemodialysis. The patient recovered after 1 week and was discharged with normal kidney function, marking the first reported case of acute kidney failure caused by ingestion of Hypericum perforatum.
BLOOD PURIFICATION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Ajeet Singh Dhaka, Harsh Kumar Dikshit, Gyan P. Mishra, Mechiya Tomuilim Tontang, Nand Lal Meena, Ranjeet Ranjan Kumar, S. V. Ramesh, Sneh Narwal, Muraleedhar Aski, Vinutha Thimmegowda, Sanjeev Gupta, Ramakrishnan M. Nair, Shelly Praveen
Summary: This study investigated the growth conditions and nutritional profiles of six crops as microgreens. The findings showed that microgreens have valuable nutritional elements and diverse health benefits. Red cabbage and pearl-millet microgreens contained higher phenolics, while red radish and pearl-millet microgreens had higher anthocyanin content. Pearl-millet microgreens had the highest dietary fiber content.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Xuebing Zhao, Yi Guo, Qianqian Xu, Zhengyi Shi, Ming Xiang, Hua Li, Yanyan Wang, Changxing Qi, Yonghui Zhang
Summary: A pair of new terpenoid-based bicyclic dihydmpyran enantiomers, Hyperpyran A (1a/1b), were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum, and compound 1a exhibited a moderate promotion of glucose uptake activity in hepatocytes.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Xuebing Zhao, Yi Guo, Qianqian Xu, Zhengyi Shi, Ming Xiang, Hua Li, Yanyan Wang, Changxing Qi, Yonghui Zhang
Summary: This study isolated a pair of new terpenoid-based bicyclic dihydmpyran enantiomers, (+/-)-Hyperpyran A, from Hypericum perforatum, with a proposed biosynthetic pathway and one of the compounds showing moderate promotion of glucose uptake activity in hepatocytes.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Lisa Wang, Afoke Ibi, Chuck Chang, Julia Solnier
Summary: St. John's Wort is a popular herb used to treat mood disorders and its potency can be determined using various analytical methods, with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) being the most widely used. This paper presents a modified HPLC method for determining the hypericin content in St. John's Wort products, which provides better resolution, shorter run time, and increased sustainability compared to the current method in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The proposed method, developed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), is more accurate and reliable for determining hypericin content in St. John's Wort.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hantai Kim, Jungho Ha, Hun Yi Park, Yun-Hoon Choung, Jeong Hun Jang
Summary: This study investigated whether the co-administration of St. John's wort and Ginkgo biloba extracts can suppress tinnitus. The results showed that the combination did not improve the symptoms of subjective tinnitus compared to using Ginkgo biloba extract alone.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Hendrik Bussmann, Hanns Haberlein, Georg Boonen, Juergen Drewe, Veronika Butterweck, Sebastian Franken
Summary: This study found that the St. John's wort extract Ze 117 has an effect on the lateral mobility of SNAP-tagged beta 1-adrenergic receptors in the plasma membrane of C6 cells. Treatment with Ze 117 decreased the mobility of the receptors and increased receptor confinement. These findings suggest that Ze 117 may have therapeutic potential for depression.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Yiming Jiang, Yanying Zhou, Shaofei Song, Shicheng Fan, Yue Gao, Yuan Li, Min Huang, Huichang Bi
Summary: This study found that prolonged use of St. John's wort worsened acetaminophen-induced liver injury by promoting glutathione depletion and increasing the formation of acetaminophen metabolites. Additionally, St. John's wort increased the activity and expression levels of certain liver enzymes and activated signaling pathways associated with liver injury. These results suggest caution in the clinical use of St. John's wort and acetaminophen.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Meenakshi Dudi, Komal Sharma, Satish Kumar Pandey, S. K. Mehta
Summary: St. John's wort extract, a plant flowering species, has various biological activities such as antidepressant, anticancer, wound healing, antibiotic, antiviral, antioxidant, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory properties. A study has been conducted to improve the aqueous solubility and biological efficacy of the extract by preparing an inclusion complex with beta-cyclodextrin. The complex showed enhanced antioxidant activity, improved safety profile, and moderate antimicrobial activity.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ming Li, Tongcheng Xu, Wenhao Zheng, Boyan Gao, Hongyan Zhu, Ruofei Xu, Hanyu Deng, Bo Wang, Yanbei Wu, Xiangjun Sun, Yaqiong Zhang, Liangli (Lucy) Yu
Summary: There are differences in triacylglycerol profiles, phenolics, and antioxidant activities among commercial red sorghum varieties, with significant correlations observed. Most phenolic acids in red sorghums are in bound form, while soluble 3-deoxyanthocyanidins content is higher than bound forms regardless of variety. The stronger anti-inflammatory capacity of soluble phenolic fraction in Tong Za 117 is correlated with its higher TPC, TFC, and radical scavenging activity compared to its bound counterpart.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Wiebke Schafer, Nadine Wentzell, Tania Schink, Ulrike Haug
Summary: This study investigated the utilization of St. John's wort during pregnancy and found that babies exposed to St. John's wort during the first trimester had a slightly higher risk of major malformations compared to exposure in other trimesters.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Irene Scholz, Evangelia Liakoni, Felix Hammann, Katharina Elisabeth Grafinger, Urs Duthaler, Michael Nagler, Stephan Kraehenbuhl, Manuel Haschke
Summary: The study found that Hypericum perforatum extract induced CYP3A4 and P-gp activity, resulting in a decrease in rivaroxaban exposure and proportional decrease in pharmacodynamic effect. However, there were no clinically significant differences in peak concentration, time to peak concentration, and plasma elimination half-life of rivaroxaban.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
R. Conde, R. Laires, L. G. Goncalves, A. Rizvi, C. Barroso, M. Villar, R. Macedo, M. J. Simoes, S. Gaddam, P. Lamosa, L. Puchades-Carrasco, A. Pineda-Lucena, A. B. Patel, S. C. Mande, S. Banerjee, M. Matzapetakis, A. Coelho
Summary: This study utilized Nuclear Magnetic Resonance based metabolomics to discover a signature of biomarkers for tuberculosis diagnosis. Six metabolites associated with TB infection were validated, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Biology
P. Martinez, L. Ballarin, A. V. Ereskovsky, E. Gazave, B. Hobmayer, L. Manni, E. Rottinger, S. G. Sprecher, S. Tiozzo, A. Varela-Coelho, B. Rinkevich
Summary: Stem cell niches (SCNs) in vertebrates are well-defined, but little is known about the SCNs in aquatic invertebrates. The variability of niche architecture in aquatic or marine animal groups may be influenced by life strategies such as regeneration or asexual reproduction. Comparative analysis of invertebrate SCNs will contribute to the future understanding of their functional characterization.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Elisabete Lima, Jorge Medeiros
Summary: Marine organisms synthesize various compounds to defend themselves and some of these compounds may have neuroprotective effects. Alzheimer's disease is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental factors, and there is currently no effective treatment. Alkaloids, particularly those with planar structures, halogens, and amine quaternization, may be used against Alzheimer's by reducing its clinical manifestations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Filipe Arruda, Jose S. Rosa, Ana Rodrigues, Luisa Oliveira, Ana Lima, Jose G. Barroso, Elisabete Lima
Summary: This study investigates the impact of hydrodistillation and water-steam distillation methods on the color, yield, and chemical profile of Cryptomeria japonica leaf essential oil. The results show significant differences in the composition of the essential oil, with hydrodistillation resulting in higher levels of oxygenated sesquiterpenes, while water-steam distillation leading to higher levels of oxygenated monoterpenes.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Giovanna Romano, Mariana Almeida, Ana Varela Coelho, Adele Cutignano, Luis G. Goncalves, Espen Hansen, Denis Khnykin, Tali Mass, Andreja Ramsak, Miguel S. Rocha, Tiago H. Silva, Michela Sugni, Loriano Ballarin, Anne-Marie Geneviere
Summary: Aquatic invertebrates are an important source of biomaterials and bioactive natural products. This review analyzes the literature from 2010 to 2019 on natural products from marine invertebrate phyla. It also discusses the role of symbiotic microorganisms and macro-organisms in the synthesis of secondary metabolites, as well as the application of omics tools in understanding the biosynthesis of these compounds. The study and utilization of aquatic invertebrate stem cells may hold promise for improving the biodiscovery pipeline.
Article
Horticulture
Paulo Ricardo Oliveira-Pinto, Nuno Mariz-Ponte, Ana Torres, Fernando Tavares, Manuel Fernandes-Ferreira, Rose Marie Sousa, Conceicao Santos
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of nanoclay montmorillonite (NMT) and Satureja montana essential oil (EO) as natural control agents against Xanthomonas euvesicatoria causing bacterial spot of tomato, primarily due to their antibacterial capacity. Furthermore, the research indicates the potential to upgrade these natural compounds into new commercial products and for prophylactic treatments in field conditions.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisete Paiva, Elisabete Lima, Madalena Motta, Massimo Marcone, Jose Baptista
Summary: In this study, the molecular constituents of Camellia sinensis, especially epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) and theaflavin-3,3'-di-O-gallate (TF-3,3'-DG), were found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL(pro)), an enzyme crucial for the replication of the virus. The study revealed that the content of TF-3,3'-DG varied across different seasons, tea plantation zones, plucking months, plant parts, and fermentation conditions.
Article
Cell Biology
Silvia Guatelli, Cinzia Ferrario, Francesco Bonasoro, Sandra I. Anjo, Bruno Manadas, Maria Daniela Candia Carnevali, Ana Varela Coelho, Michela Sugni
Summary: This study reveals the multifunctionality of the echinoderm coelomic epithelium (CE) using microscopy and proteomic analyses. The CE plays roles in immunity and acts as a source of regeneration-competent cells for arm growth/regrowth.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Lima, Filipe Arruda, Alexandre Janeiro, Jorge Medeiros, Jose Baptista, Joao Madruga, Elisabete Lima
Summary: Forest operations and wood industry produce residues that cause environmental pollution, but these biomass residues can be used to obtain value-added products like essential oils, extracts, and resins. Cryptomeria japonica biomass residues are rich in specialized metabolites with potential applications in various fields. This review provides an overview of the biological activities of organic extracts and their metabolites from different parts of C. japonica, aiming to promote the alternative uses of these wastes and establish a sustainable and circular bioeconomy.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elisabete Lima, Amelia P. Rauter, Jorge Medeiros
Summary: The development of multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs) is urgently needed to combat the multifactorial Alzheimer's disease (AD). Flavonoids from natural sources have shown activity on mechanisms associated with AD and have potential as anti-AD agents. The most active flavonoids against several clinical indications (CIs) of AD are flavanols and flavonols, which have specific structural features.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Filipe Arruda, Ana Lima, Luisa Oliveira, Tania Rodrigues, Alexandre Janeiro, Jose S. Rosa, Elisabete Lima
Summary: This study investigates the molluscicidal activity of Azorean Cryptomeria japonica leaf essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and water-steam distillation (WSD) techniques. The results show that both essential oils had high activity against eggs, juveniles, and adult snails, with ca. 100% mortality. The lethal parameters (LC50;90 and LT50;90) were determined for adult snails and the results showed that EO-WSD had slightly higher toxicity than EO-HD. The findings suggest that Azorean CJL essential oils, especially EO-WSD, have the potential to be used as raw materials for natural molluscicide products.
Article
Cell Biology
Filipe Magalhaes, Claudia Andrade, Beatriz Simoes, Fredi Brigham, Ruben Valente, Pedro Martinez, Jose Rino, Michela Sugni, Ana Varela Coelho
Summary: The regenerative potential varies among animals, with starfish showing outstanding abilities in this aspect. In contrast, humans have limited abilities to restore organ systems. Therefore, studying the regeneration process in starfish could provide insights for the development of new therapeutic approaches in humans. This study examined the anatomical and behavioral traits, coelomocyte populations, and neuronal tissue architecture during starfish central nervous system regeneration, revealing several anatomic anomalies and induced behavioral modifications. A new coelomocyte population was also discovered, suggesting its potential involvement in radial nerve cord regeneration.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lisete Paiva, Elisabete Lima, Massimo Marcone, Jose Baptista
Summary: Recent attention has focused on natural products, like Camellia sinensis tea, as alternatives to synthetic drugs for controlling hypertension. This study investigated the ACE-inhibition and antioxidant activity of different types of Azorean C. sinensis tea samples, as well as their catechin profiles, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content in different seasons. The results showed that green tea collected in the summer exhibited the best ACE-inhibition and antioxidant activity, while black tea harvested in the summer had higher total flavonoid content.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ana Lima, Filipe Arruda, Alexandre Janeiro, Tania Rodrigues, Jose Baptista, Ana Cristina Figueiredo, Elisabete Lima
Summary: This study aimed to determine the yield and chemical composition of essential oils extracted from different parts of Azorean Cryptomeria japonica and investigate their antimicrobial and brine shrimp lethality effects. Results showed differences in yield and chemical composition of the essential oils from different parts, as well as different biological activities, especially in the cone samples.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Filipe Arruda, Ana Lima, Tanner Wortham, Alexandre Janeiro, Tania Rodrigues, Jose Baptista, Jose S. Rosa, Elisabete Lima
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of different hydrodistillation timeframes on the yield, physical properties, and chemical profile of Azorean Cryptomeria japonica foliage essential oil. The results demonstrated that specific essential oil fractions can be targeted by adjusting the hydrodistillation time, reducing distillation time and operating costs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Armando Moreno-Velasco, Mabel Fragoso-Serrano, Pedro de Jesus Flores-Tafoya, Sebastian Carrillo-Rojas, Elihu Bautista, Suzana Guimara Leitao, Jhon F. Castaneda-Gomez, Rogelio Pereda-Miranda
Summary: This study investigated the roots of Operculina hamiltonii, a traditional medicinal plant in Brazil. Three new acyl sugars or resin glycosides were identified and their structures elucidated. The combination of these compounds with other drugs showed enhanced cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qian-Qing Liu, Lin-An Xiong, Jia-Yu Qian, Ting-Ting Gong, Lie-Feng Ma, Luo Fang, Zha-Jun Zhan
Summary: A new naturally occurring compound, Linderagatins C-F (1-4), with the structures of diaryltetrahydrofuran-type 7,9'-dinorlignans, was discovered in the roots of Lindera aggregata. The neuroprotective effects of compounds 2 and 3 on erastin-induced ferroptosis in HT-22 cells were found to be significant.
