Enhancing hair regeneration: Recent progress in tailoring nanostructured lipid carriers through surface modification strategies.

Background and purpose: Hair loss is a prevalent problem affecting millions of people worldwide, necessitating innovative and efficient regrowth approaches. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have become a hopeful option for transporting bioactive substances to hair follicles because of their compatibility with the body and capability to improve drug absorption. Review approach: Recently, surface modification techniques have been used to enhance hair regeneration by improving the customization of NLCs. These techniques involve applying polymers, incorporating targeting molecules, and modifying the surface charge. Key results: The conversation focuses on how these techniques enhance stability, compatibility with the body, and precise delivery to hair follicles within NLCs. Moreover, it explains how surface-modified NLCs can improve the bioavailability of hair growth-promoting agents like minoxidil and finasteride. Furthermore, information on how surface-modified NLCs interact with hair follicles is given, uncovering their possible uses in treating hair loss conditions. Conclusion: This review discusses the potential of altering the surface of NLCs to customize them for enhanced hair growth. It offers important information for upcoming studies on hair growth.

A brief overview of the medicinal and nutraceutical importance of Inonotus obliquus (chaga) mushrooms.

This literature review offers an extensive exploration of Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus), focusing on their phytochemical composition, health-promoting attributes, and mechanisms of action. The aim was to provide an up-to-date overview of Chaga's significance in the medicinal sector, emphasizing its potential role in diverse health benefits. The review highlights Chaga's remarkable anticancer, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulating properties. By synthesizing recent findings, this work underscores Chaga's importance in the medicinal industries and provides valuable insights into its pharmacological potential.

Unveiling the full spectrum of maitake mushrooms: A comprehensive review of their medicinal, therapeutic, nutraceutical, and cosmetic potential.

This literature review provides an up-to-date exploration of the multifaceted attributes of maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa), elucidating their bioactive phytochemicals and diverse health advantages, including their substantial role in supporting human health and potential incorporation into the medicinal industry. Carbohydrates and protein are the major constituents contributing to the dry weight of G. frondosa, taking up around 70-80 % and 13-21 %, respectively, with emerging research linking these constituents to various health benefits. By synthesising current research findings, this review emphasises the substantial role of maitake mushrooms in supporting human health and underscores their potential incorporation into the medicinal industry. To further advance our understanding, future research should delve into the mechanisms underlying their health-promoting effects, with a focus on conducting quantitative studies to elucidate physiological pathways and potential drug interactions. Additionally, exploring their integration into functional foods or nutraceuticals through quantitative assessments of bioavailability and efficacy will be crucial for maximising their therapeutic benefits. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights, catalysing further research and innovation in utilising maitake mushrooms for improved well-being and industry advancement.

Synthesis, Characterization, and DFT Calculations of a New Sulfamethoxazole Schiff Base and Its Metal Complexes.

A new Schiff base, 4-((1E,2E)-3-(furan-2-yl)allylidene)amino)-N-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl) benzene-sulfonamide (L), was synthesized by thermal condensation of 3-(2-furyl)acrolein and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and the furan Schiff base (L) was converted to a phenol Schiff base (L') according to the Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction and studied experimentally. The structural and spectroscopic properties of the Schiff base were also corroborated by utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Furthermore, a series of lanthanide and transition metal complexes of the Schiff base were synthesized from the nitrate salts of Gd, Sm, Nd, and Zn (L1, L2, L3, and L4), respectively. Various spectroscopic studies confirmed the chemical structures of the Schiff-base ligand and its complexes. Based on the spectral studies, a nine-coordinated geometry was assigned to the lanthanide complexes and a six-coordinated geometry to the zinc complex. The elemental analysis data confirmed the suggested structure of the metal complexes, and the TGA studies confirmed the presence of one coordinated water molecule in the lanthanide complexes and one crystalline water molecule in the zinc complex; in addition, the conductivity showed the neutral nature of the complexes. Therefore, it is suggested that the ligand acts as a bidentate through coordinates to each metal atom by the isoxazole nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the sulfur dioxide moiety of the SMX based on FTIR studies. The ligand and its complexes were tested for their anti-inflammatory, anti-hemolytic, and antioxidant activities by various colorimetric methods. These complexes were found to exhibit potential effects of the selected biological activities.

The Phytochemistry of Ganoderma Species and their Medicinal Potentials.

The Ganoderma genus is known for its diverse use as a functional food and therapeutic agent. This fungus has over 428 species, with Ganoderma lucidum being the most studied. The Ganoderma species produce several secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, phenols, and triterpenes, which are largely responsible for their therapeutic properties. Throughout this review, several extracts obtained from Ganoderma species have been studied to delve into their therapeutic characteristics and mechanisms. Such properties like immunomodulation, antiaging, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities have been demonstrated by several Ganoderma species and are supported by a large body of evidence. Although its phytochemicals play a vital role in its therapeutic properties, identifying the therapeutic potentials of fungal-secreted metabolites for human health-promoting benefits is a challenging task. Identification of novel compounds with distinct chemical scaffolds and their mechanism of action could help suppress the spread of rising pathogens. Thus, this review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of the bioactive components in different Ganoderma species and the underlying physiological mechanisms.

The Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Anabasis syriaca Iljin on Biochemical and Histological Parameters in Rats.

This work investigates the effect of the alcoholic extract of Anabasis syriaca Iljin on biochemical and histological parameters in male rats. The lethal dose (50% of the plant extract) was assessed, and three separate doses (1/10th, 1/15th, and 1/20th) were orally gavaged for two weeks into three study groups of animals (five rats in each group), with one group used as a control and gavaged normal saline via the same route. Blood was collected after overnight fasting, and 24 biochemical parameters were evaluated. The gross and microscopic findings were reported after the collection of specimens from the animals and processed routinely for standard histological procedures. Among all tested biochemical parameters, a significant increase was noted in fasting serum glucose (p ≤ 0.010), troponin (p ≤ 0.001), and creatine kinase (p ≤ 0.001), while a significant decrease was found in triglycerides (p ≤ 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein (p=0.001). On the other hand, no significant histopathological lesions were present within the examined tissues of all groups. In conclusion, ethanolic extract of Anabasis syriaca negatively affected the cardiac function of male rats and increased their serum glucose but reduced their serum triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein.

The antioxidant activity and polyphenolic contents of different plant seeds extracts.

Different plant seeds extracts of Citrus sinensis, Hordeum sativum, Triticum sativum, Canna indica, Citrullus vulgaris and Capsicum annuum were evaluated for their antioxidant activity by the following methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycril-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power, RBCs hemolysis and linoleic acid oxidation, a long with the determination of total phenolic and flavonoids contents. All the methanolic extracts showed high antioxidant activity and have high contents of phenolic and flavonoid. The Canna indica extract exhibited strong antioxidant as a reducing power and as DPPH radical-scavenging (3.61 absorbance, 87.12%, respectively), while the Hordeum sativum extract exhibited highest inhibitory effect on RBCs hemolysis (59.55%) and the Capsicum annuum extract has highest inhibitory effect on linoleic acid peroxidation (65.06%).

The incorporation effects of methanolic extracts of some plant seeds on the stability of phosphatidylcholine liposomes.

The antioxidant activity and the polyphenols and flavonoids contents of methanolic extracts of plant seeds of Canna indica, Hordium sativum and Capsicum annuum were investigated. These extracts were found to exhibit strong scavenging effects on 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picryle-hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and have significant amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols. The effects of these extracts on Phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes also were studied. It was found that the extractable materials have varying inhibitory effects on oxidation of PC liposomes and their aggregation. These effects were significant and illustrated that addition of these extractable materials to liposomes can enhance their stability by preventing liposome oxidation and aggregation.