Zerumbone liquid crystalline nanoparticles protect against oxidative stress, inflammation and senescence induced by cigarette smoke extract in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of zerumbone-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (ZER-LCNs) in the protection of broncho-epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages against oxidative stress, inflammation and senescence induced by cigarette smoke extract in vitro. The effect of the treatment of ZER-LCNs on in vitro cell models of cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated mouse RAW264.7 and human BCi-NS1.1 basal epithelial cell lines was evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-senescence activities using colorimetric and fluorescence-based assays, fluorescence imaging, RT-qPCR and proteome profiler kit. The ZER-LCNs successfully reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory markers including Il-6, Il-1ß and Tnf-α, as well as the production of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, ZER-LCNs successfully inhibited oxidative stress through reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and regulation of genes, namely GPX2 and GCLC in BCi-NS1.1 cells. Anti-senescence activity of ZER-LCNs was also observed in BCi-NS1.1 cells, with significant reductions in the expression of SIRT1, CDKN1A and CDKN2A. This study demonstrates strong in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anti-senescence activities of ZER-LCNs paving the path for this formulation to be translated into a promising therapeutic agent for chronic respiratory inflammatory conditions including COPD and asthma.

Exploring the potentials of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. seed kernel oil as pharmaceutical oil base: Physicochemical characterization and ketoconazole soap formulation.

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) is a large spiny shrub or small tree, native to the Indian subcontinent that can reach a maximum height of 9-15 m. This plant stands as a renowned tropical fruit variety, commonly recognized as the Indian plum, Desert apple, or Indian Jujube. The objective of this study was to examine the standard physicochemical parameters of Z. mauritiana seed kernel oil and to formulate the ketoconazole soap (2 % w/w), using the obtained oil, as a base. The oil was obtained through hexane extraction from the seed kernels. To formulate pharmaceutical ketoconazole soap, Z. mauritiana seed kernel oil was subjected to a basic saponification reaction using potassium hydroxide. All the examined physicochemical parameters, namely acid value (4.71 mg KOH/g), saponification value (229.18 mg KOH/g), peroxide value (4.15 milliequivalents KOH/g), ester value (224.47 mg KOH/g), iodine value (11.19 mg KOH/g), refractive index (1.448), pH (5.93), viscosity (89 cP), and specific gravity (0.912 g/mL) were within the acceptable range for industrial purposes. The examination of quality control parameters, namely drug content (99.49 %), total fatty matter (71.13 %), foam retention time (17.21 min), foam height (18.56 cm), moisture content (9.14 %), and pH (7.16) indicated that the newly formulated ketoconazole soap complied with the acceptable limits. In summary, our research demonstrated the excellent physicochemical stability of Z. mauritiana seed kernel oil and its suitability as a soap base, supporting its promising prospects for cost-effective production of cosmetics, soaps, and shampoos in the pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries, reducing reliance on synthetic bases.

Lactoferrin and Activated Protein C: Potential Role in Prevention of Cancer Progression and Recurrence.

Existing therapeutic interventions for controlling cancer are limited and associated with side effects. Furthermore, the recurrence of cancer poses a significant challenge to the cure of cancer. Therefore, avenues are wanted to find novel therapies for cancer treatment and cancer recurrence. In this review, we have highlighted that lactoferrin (LF) and activated protein C (APC) carry enormous potential in cancer treatment. Studies have shown that the decreased level of APC and impaired function of APC are associated with cancer progression and cancer-related mortality. Moreover, APC plays an important role in preventing prothrombotic state-mediated cancer progression and deaths. LF can also inhibit the progression of cancer by controlling the generation of reactive oxygen species, triggering the apoptosis of cancer cells, arresting the cell cycle and hindering the angiogenesis process. Additionally, APC and LF could have the potential to inhibit neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formations which are involved in cancer progression and the reawakening of dormant cancer cells. Hence, in this review, the anticancer potential and mechanism of APC and LF along with their potential to mitigate inflammation and NETs-mediated cancer progression and recurrence has been discussed. Additionally, possible future strategies to develop effective and safe anticancer treatment using LF and APC have also been discussed in this review.

Potent ROS inhibitors from Zanthoxylum armatumDC of Nepali origin.

A bioassay-guided isolation on the plant Zanthoxylum armatum DC yielded compounds tambulin (1), and prudomestin (2), from ethyl acetate fraction which showed the highest ROS inhibiting activity (IC50 = 17.8 ± 1.1 µg/mL). Structure elucidation of pure compounds was done using mass and NMR spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 revealed potent ROS inhibition with IC50 = 7.5 ± 0.3 and 1.5 ± 0.3 µg/mL, respectively, as compared to standard ibuprofen (IC50 = 11.2 ± 1.9 µg/mL). Likewise, both compounds 1 and 2 showed potent antioxidant activity with IC50 = 32.65 ± 0.31 and 26.96 ± 0.19 µg/mL, respectively. In vitro studies were supported by molecular docking and drug-likeliness properties. In silico studies of 1 and 2 with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) showed perfect binding affinity with binding energies of -8.4 and -8.6 kcal/mol, respectively, comparable to standard ibuprofen (-7.7 kcal/mol). Drug likeness and ADMET showed higher gastrointestinal absorption of 1 and 2 and no toxic impact.

Yellow Himalayan Raspberry (Rubus ellipticus Sm.): Ethnomedicinal, Nutraceutical, and Pharmacological Aspects.

Yellow Himalayan raspberry (Rubus ellipticus Sm., Rosaceae) is a native species of the Indian subcontinent, Southern China, and the Philippines, which has been historically used as a traditional medicine and food. All of the parts of this plant have been used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorder, and as an anti-infective agent. The scientific evaluation revealed a richness of macronutrients, micronutrients, and minerals in the fruits, indicating its potential use as a nutraceutical. Furthermore, this plant has been found to be rich in various secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and terpenoids. Ascorbic acid, kaempferol, gallic acid, and catechin are some of the compounds found in this plant, which have been widely discussed for their health benefits. Furthermore, various extracts and compounds obtained from R. ellipticus have shown antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, antipyretic, anticonvulsant, and anti-infective activities investigated through different study models. These findings in the literature have validated some of the widespread uses of the fruits in folk medicinal systems and the consumption of this nutritious wild fruit by local communities. In conclusion, R. ellipticus holds strong potential for its development as a nutraceutical. It can also improve the nutritional status of villagers and uplift the economy if properly utilized and marketed.

Dietary glucosinolates derived isothiocyanates: chemical properties, metabolism and their potential in prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a progressive, irreversible, and incurable neurodegenerative disorder that disrupts the synaptic communication between millions of neurons, resulting in neuronal death and functional loss due to the abnormal accumulation of two naturally occurring proteins, amyloid ß (Aß) and tau. According to the 2018 World Alzheimer's Report, there is no single case of an Alzheimer's survivor; even 1 in 3 people die from Alzheimer's disease, and it is a growing epidemic across the globe fruits and vegetables rich in glucosinolates (GLCs), the precursors of isothiocyanates (ITCs), have long been known for their pharmacological properties and recently attracted increased interest for the possible prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Epidemiological evidence from systematic research findings and clinical trials suggests that nutritional and functional dietary isothiocyanates interfere with the molecular cascades of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and prevent neurons from functional loss. The aim of this review is to explore the role of glucosinolates derived isothiocyanates in various molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease and their potential in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It also covers the chemical diversity of isothiocyanates and their detailed mechanisms of action as reported by various in vitro and in vivo studies. Further clinical studies are necessary to evaluate their pharmacokinetic parameters and effectiveness in humans.

Evaluation of Total Isoflavones in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Sprouts Germinated under Precursors (p-Coumaric Acid and L-Phenylalanine) Supplementation.

Cicer arietinum L. (Bengal gram, chickpea) is one of the major pulse crops and an important part of traditional diets in Asia, Africa, and South America. The present study was conducted to determine the changes in total isoflavones during sprouting (0, 3, and 7 days) along with the effect of two precursor supplementations, p-coumaric acid (p-CA) and L-phenylalanine (Phe), in C. arietinum. It was observed that increasing sprouting time up to the seventh day resulted in ≈1282 mg 100 g-1 isoflavones, which is approximately eight times higher than chickpea seeds. The supplementation of Phe did not affect the total length of sprouts, whereas the supplementation of p-CA resulted in stunted sprouts. On the third day of supplementation with p-CA (250 mg L-1), the increase in the total phenolic content (TPC) (80%), daidzein (152%), and genistin (158%) contents were observed, and further extending the supplementation reduced the growth of sprouts. On the seventh day of supplementation with Phe (500 mg L-1), the increase in TPC by 43% and genistin content by 74% was observed compared with non-treated sprouts; however, the total isoflavones content was found to be 1212 mg 100 g-1. The increased TPC was positively correlated with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (r = 0.787) and ferric-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) (r = 0.676) activity. This study suggests that chickpea sprouts enriched in TPC and antioxidants can be produced by the appropriate quantity of precursor supplementation on a particular day. The results indicated major changes in the phytochemical content, especially daidzein and genistin. It was also concluded that the consumption of 100 g of seventh-day sprouts provided eight times higher amounts of isoflavones in comparison to chickpea seeds.

Major phenolic compounds, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of Selinum carvifolia (L.) collected from different altitudes in India.

Antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to public health, raising the number of diseases in the community. Recent research has shown that plant-derived phenolic compounds have strong antimicrobial, antifungal, and cytotoxic properties against a variety of microorganisms and work as great antioxidants in such treatments. The goal of the current work is to evaluate the anticancerous, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity activities in the extracts of the different plant parts (leaves, stems, and roots) of S. carvifolia (L.) L. This is a medicinally important plant and has been used for different kinds of diseases and ailments such as hysteria and seizures. The phenolic compounds from the different plant parts were analyzed using HPLC and the following were found to be present: chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, rutin, syringic acid, vanillic acid, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid, and protocatechuic acid. Gallic acid was found to have the highest concentration (13.93 mg/g), while chlorogenic acid (0.25 mg/g) had the lowest. The maximum TPC value, which ranged from 33.79 to 57.95 mg GAE/g dry extract weight, was found in the stem. Root extract with 9.4 mg RE/g had the greatest TFC level. In the leaf and stem extracts, the RSC ranged from 0.747 mg/mL to 0.734 mg/1 mL GE/g dry extract weight, respectively. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was used to measure in vitro antioxidant activity. In a concentration-dependent way, promising antioxidant activity was reported. Moreover, 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) and the Folin-Ciocalteu phenol reagent technique were used to determine reducing sugar content and total phenolic content, respectively. Antibacterial activity against eight strains (MIC: 250-1,000 µg/mL) was analyzed, and the stem extract exhibited maximum activity. Antifungal activity was also assessed, and potent activity was reported especially in the extract obtained from the stem. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using an MTT assay in the A549 cell line, where different doses (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/mL) of leaf, root, and stem extracts were used. Treatment with these extracts reduced the cell viability, indicating that S. carvifolia may possess anticancer potential, which can be of great therapeutic value.

Amamine, an isoquinoline alkaloid from the Kitasatospora sp. HGTA304.

Amamine (1), a new isoquinoline alkaloid, was isolated from the culture extract of an actinomycete Kitasatospora sp. HGTA304. The structure of 1 was determined by NMR and MS analyses in combination with UV data. Compound 1 displayed α-glucosidase inhibitory potential (IC50 value of 56 µM) compared with acarbose (IC50 value of 549 µM) as standard.

Characterization of saponins from the leaves and stem bark of Jatropha curcas L. for surface-active properties.

In this study, saponins extracted from leaves and stem bark of Jatropha curcas L. were investigated for surface-active properties. Conductivity and surface tension measurements revealed the micellar character of J. curcas saponin, with the average CMC, determined to be 0.50 g/L and 0.75 g/L for leaf and stem bark saponin, respectively. Stem bark saponin reduced the surface tension of water to a greater extent (γCMC= 37.65 mN/m) compared to leaf saponin (γCMC= 49.27 mN/m) indicating its efficient surface activity and potential detergency. pH measurement confirmed the weakly acidic nature of saponin with a pH value lying slightly below the range suitable for hair and skin. Stem bark saponin showed better cleaning ability, foaming ability and foam stability than leaf saponin, due to a sufficient reduction in the surface tension of water. The results obtained suggest that the saponin extracted from both the leaves and stem bark of J. curcas can be used as environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic surfactants.

Exploring the Remarkable Chemotherapeutic Potential of Polyphenolic Antioxidants in Battling Various Forms of Cancer.

Plant-derived compounds, specifically antioxidants, have played an important role in scavenging the free radicals present under diseased conditions. The persistent generation of free radicals in the body leads to inflammation and can result in even more severe diseases such as cancer. Notably, the antioxidant potential of various plant-derived compounds prevents and deregulates the formation of radicals by initiating their decomposition. There is a vast literature demonstrating antioxidant compounds' anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer potential. This review describes the molecular mechanism of various flavonoids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, epicatechin, and epicatechin gallate, against different cancers. Additionally, the pharmaceutical application of these flavonoids against different cancers using nanotechnologies such as polymeric, lipid-based nanoparticles (solid-lipid and liquid-lipid), liposomes, and metallic nanocarriers is addressed. Finally, combination therapies in which these flavonoids are employed along with other anti-cancer agents are described, indicating the effective therapies for the management of various malignancies.

Metabolic profiling, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibition potential of Iris pseudacorus L. from Egypt and Japan: A comparative study.

Genus Iris comprises numerous and diverse phytoconstituents displaying marked biological activities. The rhizomes, and aerial parts of Iris pseudacorus L. cultivars from Egypt and Japan were subjected to comparative metabolic profiling using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The antioxidant capacity was determined using DPPH assay. In vitro enzyme inhibition potential against α-glucosidase, tyrosinase and lipase was evaluated. In silico molecular docking was conducted on the active sites of human α-glucosidase and human pancreatic lipase. Forty-three compounds were tentatively identified including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, phenolics and xanthones. I. pseudacorus rhizomes extracts (IPR-J and IPR-E) exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 40.89 µg/mL and 97.97 µg/mL, respectively (Trolox IC50 value was 14.59 µg/mL). Moreover, IPR-J and IPR-E exhibited promising α-glucosidase inhibitory activity displaying IC50 values of 18.52 µg/mL, 57.89 µg/mL, respectively being more potent as compared to acarbose with IC50 value of 362.088 µg/mL. All extracts exerted significant lipase inhibitory activity exhibiting IC50 values of 2.35, 4.81, 2.22 and 0.42 µg/mL, respectively compared to cetilistat with IC50 value of 7.47 µg/mL. However, no tyrosinase inhibitory activity was observed for all I. pseudacorus extracts up to 500 µg/mL. In silico molecular modelling revealed that quercetin, galloyl glucose, and irilin D exhibited the highest fitting scores within the active sites of human α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. ADMET prediction (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) showed that most of the phytoconstituents exhibited promising pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics and tolerable toxicity properties. According to our findings, I. pseudacorus might be considered as a valuable source for designing novel phytopharmaceuticals.

Neuroprotective Potential of Biflavone Ginkgetin: A Review.

Neurological disorders are becoming more common, and there is an intense search for molecules that can help treat them. Several natural components, especially those from the flavonoid group, have shown promising results. Ginkgetin is the first known biflavonoid, a flavonoid dimer isolated from ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.). Later, its occurrence was discovered in more than 20 different plant species, most of which are known for their use in traditional medicine. Herein we have summarized the data on the neuroprotective potential of ginkgetin. There is evidence of protection against neuronal damage caused by ischemic strokes, neurotumors, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Beneficial effects in ischemic strokes have been demonstrated in animal studies in which injection of ginkgetin before or after onset of the stoke showed protection from neuronal damage. AD protection has been the most studied to date. Possible mechanisms include inhibition of reactive oxygen species, inhibition of ß-secretase, inhibition of Aß fibril formation, amelioration of inflammation, and antimicrobial activity. Ginkgetin has also shown positive effects on the relief of PD symptoms in animal studies. Most of the available data are from in vitro or in vivo animal studies, where ginkgetin showed promising results, and further clinical studies should be conducted.

"Loved ones are not 'visitors' in a patient's life"-The importance of including loved ones in the patient's hospital stay: An international Twitter study of #HospitalsTalkToLovedOnes in times of COVID-19.

Background: Hospitals are institutions whose primary task is to treat patients. Family-centered care, which considers loved ones as equal partners in patient care, has been gaining recognition in the adult care setting. Our aim was to record experiences of and opinions on communication between hospital-based healthcare providers and patients' loved ones, related but not limited to the rigorous mitigation measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The Twitter profile @HospitalsTalkTo and hashtag #HospitalsTalkToLovedOnes were created to interact with the Twitter public between 7 June 2021 and 7 February 2022. Conversations surrounding #HospitalsTalkToLovedOnes were extracted and subjected to natural language processing analysis using term frequency and Markov chain analysis. Qualitative thematic analysis was performed on the 10% most interacted tweets and of tweets mentioning "COVID" from a personal experience-based subset. Results: We collected 4412 unique tweets made or interacted by 7040 Twitter users from 142 different countries. The most frequent words were patient, hospital, care, family, loved and communication. Thematic analysis revealed the importance of communication between patients, patients' loved ones and hospitals; showed that patients and their loved ones need support during a patient's hospital journey; and that pediatric care should be the gold standard for adult care. Visitation restrictions due to COVID-19 are just one barrier to communication, others are a lack of phone signal, no space or time for asking questions, and a complex medical system. We formulate 3 recommendations to improve the inclusion of loved ones into the patient's hospital stay. Conclusions: "Loved ones are not 'visitors' in a patient's life". Irrespective of COVID-19, patient's loved ones need to be included during the patient's hospital journey. Transparent communication and patient empowerment increase patient safety and improve the hospital experience for both the patients and their loved ones. Our findings underline the need for the concept of family-centered care to finally be implemented in adult nursing clinical practice.

Matcha Tea Powder's Antidepressant-like Effect through the Activation of the Dopaminergic System in Mice Is Dependent on Social Isolation Stress.

Matcha tea powder is believed to have various physiological benefits; however, its detailed mechanism of action has been poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether the mental state of mice, due to social isolation stress, affects the antidepressant-like effect of Matcha tea powder by using the tail suspension test. Oral administration of Matcha tea powder reduced the duration of immobility in the stress-susceptible C57BL/6J strain, but not in BALB/c strain. In C57BL/6J mice, SCH23390, a dopamine D1 receptor blocker, prevented Matcha tea powder from exerting its antidepressant-like effect. Matcha tea powder also increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) region and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) region in C57BL/6J mice, but not in BALB/c mice. In contrast, Matcha tea powder did not change the number of c-Fos-positive cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) region. Notably, C57BL/6J mice with a shorter immobility time had a higher number of c-Fos-positive cells in the PFC, NAc, and VTA regions. However, no such correlation was observed in the stress-tolerant BALB/c mice. These results suggest that Matcha tea powder exerts an antidepressant-like effect through the activation of the dopaminergic system including the PFC-NAc-VTA circuit and that mental states are important factors affecting the physiological benefits of Matcha tea powder.

Targeting Apoptotic Pathway of Cancer Cells with Phytochemicals and Plant-Based Nanomaterials.

Apoptosis is the elimination of functionally non-essential, neoplastic, and infected cells via the mitochondrial pathway or death receptor pathway. The process of apoptosis is highly regulated through membrane channels and apoptogenic proteins. Apoptosis maintains cellular balance within the human body through cell cycle progression. Loss of apoptosis control prolongs cancer cell survival and allows the accumulation of mutations that can promote angiogenesis, promote cell proliferation, disrupt differentiation, and increase invasiveness during tumor progression. The apoptotic pathway has been extensively studied as a potential drug target in cancer treatment. However, the off-target activities of drugs and negative implications have been a matter of concern over the years. Phytochemicals (PCs) have been studied for their efficacy in various cancer cell lines individually and synergistically. The development of nanoparticles (NPs) through green synthesis has added a new dimension to the advancement of plant-based nanomaterials for effective cancer treatment. This review provides a detailed insight into the fundamental molecular pathways of programmed cell death and highlights the role of PCs along with the existing drugs and plant-based NPs in treating cancer by targeting its programmed cell death (PCD) network.

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis.

BACKGROUND: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. METHODS: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events.

Capsicum annuum L. and its bioactive constituents: A critical review of a traditional culinary spice in terms of its modern pharmacological potentials with toxicological issues.

Capsicum annuum L., commonly known as chili pepper, is used as an important spice globally and as a crude drug in many traditional medicine systems. The fruits of C. annuum have been used as a tonic, antiseptic, and stimulating agent, to treat dyspepsia, appetites, and flatulence, and to improve digestion and circulation. The article aims to critically review the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of C. annuum and its major compounds. Capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and some carotenoids are reported as the major active compounds with several pharmacological potentials especially as anticancer and cardioprotectant. The anticancer effect of capsaicinoids is mainly mediated through mechanisms involving the interaction of Ca2+ -dependent activation of the MAPK pathway, suppression of NOX-dependent reactive oxygen species generation, and p53-mediated activation of mitochondrial apoptosis in cancer cells. Similarly, the cardioprotective effects of capsaicinoids are mediated through their interaction with cellular transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel, and restoration of calcitonin gene-related peptide via Ca2+ -dependent release of neuropeptides and suppression of bradykinin. In conclusion, this comprehensive review presents detailed information about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of major bioactive principles of C. annuum with special emphasis on anticancer, cardioprotective effects, and plausible toxic adversities along with food safety.

Harnessing polyphenol power by targeting eNOS for vascular diseases.

Vascular diseases arise due to vascular endothelium dysfunction in response to several pro-inflammatory stimuli and invading pathogens. Thickening of the vessel wall, formation of atherosclerotic plaques consisting of proliferating smooth muscle cells, macrophages and lymphocytes are the major consequences of impaired endothelium resulting in atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure and many others. Decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability was found to be associated with anomalous endothelial function because of either its reduced production level by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) which synthesize this potent endogenous vasodilator from L-arginine or its enhanced breakdown due to severe oxidative stress and eNOS uncoupling. Polyphenols are a group of bioactive compounds having more than 7000 chemical entities present in different cereals, fruits and vegetables. These natural compounds possess many OH groups which are largely responsible for their strong antioxidative, anti-inflammatory antithrombotic and anti-hypersensitive properties. Several flavonoid-derived polyphenols like flavones, isoflavones, flavanones, flavonols and anthocyanidins and non-flavonoid polyphenols like tannins, curcumins and resveratrol have attracted scientific interest for their beneficial effects in preventing endothelial dysfunction. This article will focus on in vitro as well as in vivo and clinical studies evidences of the polyphenols with eNOS modulating activity against vascular disease condition while their molecular mechanism will also be discussed.