The power of Punica granatum: A natural remedy for oxidative stress and inflammation; a narrative review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pomegranate 'Punica granatum' offers multiple health benefits, including managing hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and enhancing wound healing and infection resistance, thanks to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been symbolized by life, health, femininity, fecundity, and spirituality. AIM OF THE STUDY: Although laboratory and animal studies have been conducted on the healing effects of pomegranate, there needs to be a comprehensive review on its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in chronic disorders. We aim to provide a comprehensive review of these effects based on in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical studies conducted in managing various disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical findings of pomegranate and its derivatives focusing on the highly qualified original studies and systematic reviews are carried out in valid international web databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. RESULTS: Relevant studies have demonstrated that pomegranate and its derivatives can modulate the expression and activity of several genes, enzymes, and receptors through influencing oxidative stress and inflammation pathways. Different parts of pomegranate; roots, bark, blossoms, fruits, and leaves contain various bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and ellagitannins, that have preventive and therapeutic effects against many disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurological diseases, and cancers without any serious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Most recent scientific evidence indicates that all parts of the pomegranate can be helpful in treating a wide range of chronic disorders due to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Since the safety of pomegranate fruit, juice, and extracts is established, further investigations can be designed by targeting its active antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents to discover new drugs.

Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Pesticides and Insecticides from Food Samples and Plant Materials.

The principal intention of this study is presenting the attempts carried out for extracting, separating, and determining of the pesticide and insecticide residues existing in food and plant samples. In this regard, a set of content, including the explanations about the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), supercritical fluid chromatography, and various types of pesticides are indicated. Besides, the parameters affecting the pesticides extraction composed of temperature, pressure, modifier, drying agent, and so on are discussed. Also, examples of insecticides extraction by SFE technique as an important subset of pesticides are indicated. Along with these items, some interesting works, concerning the innovations implemented in the field of SFE of pesticide and insecticide residues from foodstuff and plants are depicted.

Effect of PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) under magnetic field on amyloid beta fibrillation process.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with specific surface coatings have been shown appropriate potential in the diagnosis and treatment of various brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. Comprehensive understanding of SPIONs interactions with amyloid beta (Aß) and other amyloidogenic proteins is essential for their clinical application. SPIONs could be delivered to the target tissue under the magnetic field, while they might be influenced by the applied field. In this work, we exhibit the effect of different SPIONs (magnetized or non-magnetized with different surface charges) on the kinetics of Aß fibrillation in aqueous solution by the aid of ThT assay. The results showed that applying of magnetic field to the SPIONs influences on the Aß fibrillation because of its effect on the size due to surface charge. It was found that under magnetic field and high concentrations of nanoparticles (SPIONs-PEG-NH2), the Aß fibrillation process accelerates, while at lower concentrations the fibrillation is inhibited. Furthermore, the coating charge has a considerable role in fibrillation process and the positively charged SPIONs/magnetized, at lower particle concentrations, accelerate the fibrillation compared with the negatively charged or uncharged SPIONs. This hints that SPIONs with a positive charge have dual effects on the Aß fibrillation process. They influence on the concentration of monomeric protein in solution and thereby the nucleation time. Also, SPIONs have an effect on binding during the protein conformation.