Review
Neurosciences
Olakunle J. Onaolapo, Ademola O. Odeniyi, Adejoke Y. Onaolapo
Summary: Parkinson's Disease is currently managed using dopamine precursors and receptor agonists, but their benefits decrease over time due to the progression of underlying pathological processes. Research is now focusing on the potential roles of dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and herbal remedies in the prevention or management of PD.
CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sladana Vojvodic, Branislava Srdenovic Conic, Ljilja Torovic
Summary: Availability and belief in efficacy and safety of herbal food supplements have led to their increased use, resulting in exposure to ethanol and extraction solvent residues. A study analyzed 103 liquid herbal food supplements purchased from pharmacies in Novi Sad, Serbia in 2021, and found ethanol and selected residual solvents using HSS-GC-MS method. The research revealed that many samples did not meet the recommended ethanol content for different age groups, and there were instances of exceeding toxicological levels and permitted daily exposure for methanol.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Abdur Rauf, Md Mominur Rahman
Summary: Neurodegenerative disorders, such as stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, migraine, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have no cure and are affecting an increasing number of individuals. Medicinal plants have shown promising pharmacological effects in treating these disorders, but only a small number of plants have been studied. Further research on plants and their bioactive chemicals is needed to explore their potential in neurodegenerative disease treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mehar Sahu, Rahul Tripathi, Niraj Kumar Jha, Saurabh Kumar Jha, Rashmi K. Ambasta, Pravir Kumar
Summary: Sleep disorders are becoming more prevalent among the elderly population, especially those with neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. This article reviews the mechanisms and effects of sleep dysfunction in these disorders, including disturbed circadian rhythm, gene regulation, brainwave perturbations, and ocular manifestations. Non-pharmacological treatments are gaining importance due to the limitations of pharmacological approaches.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mihael Cristin Ichim, Hugo J. de Boer
Summary: Ginseng traditional medicines and food supplements are top-selling herbal products globally, but 24% of them are reported to be adulterated, with the highest levels in South America and Australia.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elle E. M. Scheijen, David M. Wilson
Summary: Neurological complications have a direct impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of people globally. Accumulation of genomic DNA damage and cellular responses can lead to apoptosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Individuals with pathogenic mutations in DNA damage response genes experience severe neuropathological manifestations. Understanding DNA repair mechanisms is crucial for treating neurological diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yiwen Yuan, Jian Sun, Tongyao You, Weiwei Shen, Wenqing Xu, Qiang Dong, Mei Cui
Summary: Extracellular vesicles have shown potential in treating neurological disorders, but face challenges in clinical application.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Peter S. Spencer, Valerie S. Palmer
Summary: Although excessive exposure to metals/metalloids with neurotoxic potential can pose health risks, prolonged ingestion of contaminated botanicals is not recognized as a cause of overt neurological disease. However, the presence of metal elements may impact levels of botanical neurotoxins in certain plants and mushrooms that cause acute and chronic neurological disease.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Rakowski, Szymon Porebski, Agnieszka Grzelak
Summary: This review focuses on the modulation of autophagy by selected vitamins and nutraceuticals, and their potential value in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yaiza Potes, Cristina Cachan-Vega, Eduardo Antuna, Claudia Garcia-Gonzalez, Nerea Menendez-Coto, Jose Antonio Boga, Jose Gutierrez-Rodriguez, Manuel Bermudez, Veronica Sierra, Ignacio Vega-Naredo, Ana Coto-Montes, Beatriz Caballero
Summary: Melatonin has beneficial effects on adult brain neurogenesis, including cell proliferation, neural differentiation, and neuronal maturation, making it a potential treatment for neurological disorders. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-survival effects, as well as its ability to modulate neurogenesis processes, contribute to its therapeutic potential. Further research is needed to fully understand the benefits of melatonin in brain disorders related to glucose and insulin homeostasis impairments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Francesca Roda, Silvia Picciolini, Valentina Mangolini, Alice Gualerzi, Pierfausto Seneci, Antonio Renda, Silvia Sesana, Francesca Re, Marzia Bedoni
Summary: Raman Spectroscopy (RS) is proposed as a valuable tool for characterizing liposomes (LPs) and evaluating their effectiveness and safety in treating neuroinflammation and microglial dysfunctions in Glioblastoma multiforme and Alzheimer's disease. The Raman spectra of different LP components contribute to the overall LP Raman fingerprint, making it possible to differentiate LPs with different functionalization patterns. Raman data analysis allows for the evaluation of LP synthesis efficacy using small sample amounts.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Florence P. A. M. van Hunsel, Djurre van der Kooi, Sonja van de Koppel, Burt H. Kroes, Herman J. Woerdenbag
Summary: The study aimed to categorize adverse drug reaction reports on herbal medicinal products and supplements to gain insights into their regulatory status, herbal ingredients, and types of adverse drug reactions involved.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Mina Allameh, V. Orsat
Summary: Anxiety is a disorder that can be managed with a combination of therapies or the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Scientists are searching for natural anxiolytics and have identified several medicinal plants with active components. However, further studies are needed to minimize side effects and enhance effectiveness. The use of natural anxiolytics can be improved by managing preparation protocols.
FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Anjana Thampy, Meena Kumari Palani Kumar, Muthukumar Serva Peddha, Madhavi Reddy
Summary: Whey, a natural source, has attracted extensive attention in recent years for its applications to health benefits, particularly in cancer research. It contains valuable components that contribute to proper nutrition and can complement cancer treatment. However, further human studies are needed to establish its effectiveness in different tumor entities.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Diksha Garg, Saroj Bala, Urmila Gupta Phutela
Summary: Since the industrial revolution, there has been a significant increase in the consumption of processed foods, leading to the loss of many inherent food characteristics. To overcome these challenges and meet the demand, an alternative source of natural carotenoids must be identified. Microalgal carotenoids have been proposed as a potential source of safe and natural components, which can contribute to a good quality of life as dietary additives and supplements. Nutraceuticals, due to their high content of bioactive and functional carotenoids, have gained great demand on the global market and are positioned as a novelty food or ingredient. There is a wealth of information on the health benefits of carotenoids, which have diverse biological roles that provide therapeutic benefits such as neuroprotection, anticancer properties, immune modulation, anti-inflammatory effects, antibacterial activity, and anti-diabetic properties. The cultivation of microalgae for carotenoid production has also gained attention due to its scalable potential and high yield in less time. This review focuses on the synthesis of nutraceutical biomolecules from microalgae, their physiological significance, large-scale biomass synthesis, up- and downstream processing, commercial uses, and the therapeutic properties of microalgae-derived nutraceuticals.
PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Athanasios Alexiou, Christos Tsagkaris, Stylianos Chatzichronis, Andreas Koulouris, Ioannis Haranas, Ioannis Gkigkitzis, Georgios Zouganelis, Nobendu Mukerjee, Swastika Maitra, Niraj Kumar Jha, Gaber El-Saber Batiha, Mohammad Amjad Kamal, Michail Nikolaou, Ghulam Md Ashraf
Summary: Even though cancer therapies have improved, the number of patients has increased, making cancer the fifth deadliest disease. Efficient drug delivery systems must overcome barriers and maximize drug delivery while limiting side effects. Quantum-inspired solutions, such as using quantum tunneling phenomenon in scanning tunneling microscopes, allow for accurate mapping of tumor surfaces and efficient nanodrug design.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Firoz Anwar, Hisham Altayeb, Sultan Alhayyani, Vikas Kumar, Fahad A. Al-Abbasi, Ghulam Md Ashraf
Summary: This study investigates the flexible nature of the hinges responsible for binding the odorant receptor on neurons, leading to the loss of smell in COVID-19 patients. The results strongly suggest that the flexible hinges of the S protein form strong and stable bonds with the odorant receptor, which is a key factor in the loss of smell in COVID-19 patients.
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Majid, Anam Farhan, Muhammad Waleed Baig, Muhammad Tariq Khan, Yousaf Kamal, Syed Shams ul Hassan, Simona Bungau, Ihsan-ul Haq
Summary: This study demonstrates that 3-epifriedelinol (EFD) isolated from Ipomoea batatas can inhibit prostate cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. EFD shows good binding affinity with target proteins and reduces inflammation. It also exhibits favorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties, making it a potential candidate for primary or adjuvant therapy against prostate cancer.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sukhbir Singh, Neelam Sharma, Ishrat Zahoor, Tapan Behl, Anita Antil, Sumeet Gupta, Md Khalid Anwer, Syam Mohan, Simona Gabriela Bungau
Summary: The abundant synthesis and accretion of melanin inside skin can be caused by activation of melanogenic enzymes or increase in number of melanocytes. Melasma is defined as hyperpigmented bright or dark brown spots which are symmetrically distributed and have serrated and irregular borders. This review gives a brief overview regarding the Fitzpatrick skin phototype classification system, life cycle of melanin, mechanism of action of anti-hyperpigmenting drugs, and existing pharmacotherapy strategies for the treatment of melasma.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aditi Sharma, Lalit Sharma, Shouvik Kumar Nandy, Nazrana Payal, Shivam Yadav, Celia Vargas-De-La-Cruz, Md. Khalid Anwer, Haroon Khan, Tapan Behl, Simona Gabriela Bungau
Summary: Due to genetic changes, cancer remains a major cause of death. Anticancer research faces challenges in targeting healthy cells while addressing the importance of target function. Cancer cells undergo various mutations and abnormalities that affect the efficacy of anticancer drugs. With low clinical success rates, finding alternative herbal-based therapies to attenuate resistance and protect against chemotherapy side effects is crucial. This review updates the understanding of common cancer types and presents key compounds that may enhance cancer treatment efficacy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon Vlad Luca, Gokhan Zengin, Kouadio Ibrahime Sinan, Krystyna Skalicka-Wozniak, Adriana Trifan
Summary: This study characterized and assessed the phytochemicals and biological activities of the essential oils and extracts of three Lamiaceae species. The results showed that they are rich in bioactive metabolites with antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Simona Gabriela Bungau
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammed Alrouji, Debarati DasGupta, Ghulam Md. Ashraf, Anwar L. Bilgrami, Fahad A. Alhumaydhi, Waleed Al Abdulmonem, Moyad Shahwan, Abdulrhman Alsayari, Akhtar Atiya, Anas Shamsi
Summary: This study evaluates the inhibitory potential of Huperzine A (HpA), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), on MARK4. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation show that the complex formed by HpA and MARK4 is structurally stable, and HpA effectively inhibits the kinase activity of MARK4.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Vivek Jain, Saurabh K. Sinha, Kajol Rustage, Ashutosh Pareek, Manish Srivastava, Mukesh K. Meena, Anshul Shakya, Madan Mohan Gupta, Nitish Rai, Aaushi Pareek, Yashumati Ratan, Min Hua Chen, Satyendra Kumar Prasad, Ghulam Md Ashraf
Summary: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ethanolic extract of Solanum torvum L. fruit (EESTF) containing solasodine in treating chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain in rats. The results showed that administration of pregabalin, solasodine, and EESTF significantly reduced CCI-induced behavioral and biochemical changes. Docking studies indicated that solasodine acted as an antagonist at TRPV1, with docking scores of -11.2 and -6.04 kcal/mol against TNF-alpha and IL-6, respectively. The attenuating effect of EESTF might be related to its antagonistic effects on TRPV1, suppression of cytokines, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Manisha Nigam, Abhay Prakash Mishra, Vishal Kumar Deb, Deen Bandhu Dimri, Vinod Tiwari, Simona Gabriela Bungau, Alexa Florina Bungau, Andrei-Flavius Radu
Summary: One of the most extensively studied processes in cancer development and treatment is inflammation. While acute inflammation is necessary for wound healing and tissue reconstruction, chronic inflammation may contribute to the onset and growth of cancer. Inflammatory molecules disrupt cell signaling processes that lead to cancer induction, invasion, and development. The tumor microenvironment is greatly influenced by inflammatory cells and their secretions, which also play a significant role in tumor growth, survivability, and potential migration. Targeting inflammation with various therapies can reduce the inflammatory response and potentially inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Aditi Sharma, Chakshu Sharma, Om Praksah Shah, Sridevi Chigurupati, Bhaskaran Ashokan, Semmal Syed Meerasa, Summya Rashid, Tapan Behl, Simona Gabriela Bungau
Summary: Postmenopausal osteoporosis, a prevalent disorder in older women, is characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density and increased risk of fractures. Insufficiency of estrogen hormone leads to postmenopausal osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy is the most effective treatment, but it carries the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disorders. This review compiles recent information on herbal and natural compounds used to treat and prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis, discussing their origin, chemical constituents, and molecular mechanisms.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Alexa Florina Bungau, Andrei Flavius Radu, Simona Gabriela Bungau, Cosmin Mihai Vesa, Delia Mirela Tit, Laura Maria Endres
Summary: Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition caused by excessive sebum secretion, abnormal keratinization, bacterial colonization, and inflammation. Recent research suggests a link between acne vulgaris and metabolic syndrome, characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The excessive production of reactive oxygen species and chronic inflammation play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of both conditions. This review focuses on the molecular implications of inflammatory, hormonal, and environmental factors in the acne-metabolic syndrome correlation and outlines the current understanding of phytotherapeutic approaches as adjuvant strategies. However, future large-scale studies are needed to establish new algorithms for managing patients with these conditions.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mahima Chauhan, Vandana Garg, Ghazala Zia, Rohit Dutt, Badrah S. Alghamdi, Ayat Zawawi, Ghulam Md. Ashraf, Aisha Farhana
Summary: Frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables can alleviate the risk of chronic diseases. This study examined the effects of different preparation methods on the composition, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity of fruit extracts. The results demonstrated that freezing-based techniques were more effective in preserving phytoconstituents and their antioxidant and cytotoxic potential compared to heat-based techniques.
Review
Microbiology
Yusufjon Gafforov, Milena Raseta, Sylvie Rapior, Manzura Yarasheva, Xuewei Wang, Liwei Zhou, Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar, Muhammad Zafar, Young Woon Lim, Mengcen Wang, Bekhzod Abdullaev, Rainer W. Bussmann, Gokhan Zengin, Jiajia Chen
Summary: Interest in edible and medicinal macrofungi has a long history in Central Asia, while interest in inedible and medicinal macrofungi has recently increased. A study conducted in Uzbekistan collected various species of edible and inedible medicinal basidiomycetes. The research focused on measuring diversity and habitat associations using morphological characters and rDNA-Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence data. The study identified 17 species of medicinal macrofungi associated with 23 species of trees and shrubs. The findings provide valuable information on the traditional and modern uses of these mushrooms, including their potential application as medicines, food, and cosmetic ingredients.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Neelam Sharma, Neha Tiwary, Tapan Behl, Sukhbir Singh, Sumeet Gupta, Md. Khalid Anwer, Celia Vargas-De-La-Cruz, Shivam Yadav, Simona Gabriela Bungau
Summary: Genistein, a type of isoflavone, has a wide range of therapeutic effects in the treatment of various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and cancer. It inhibits cancer growth by regulating cell cycle and cell death signaling pathways, has antidiabetic activity through promoting cell proliferation and survival, and exerts cardioprotective effects through antioxidant and antihypertensive activities.
