Role of Phenolic Compounds in Human Disease: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects.

Inflammation is a natural protective mechanism that occurs when the body's tissue homeostatic mechanisms are disrupted by biotic, physical, or chemical agents. The immune response generates pro-inflammatory mediators, but excessive output, such as chronic inflammation, contributes to many persistent diseases. Some phenolic compounds work in tandem with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators' activity or gene expression, including cyclooxygenase (COX). Various phenolic compounds can also act on transcription factors, such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) or nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), to up-or downregulate elements within the antioxidant response pathways. Phenolic compounds can inhibit enzymes associated with the development of human diseases and have been used to treat various common human ailments, including hypertension, metabolic problems, incendiary infections, and neurodegenerative diseases. The inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) by phenolic compounds has been used to treat hypertension. The inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme represents a type 2 diabetes mellitus therapy, and cholinesterase inhibition has been applied to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). Phenolic compounds have also demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties to treat skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Plant extracts and phenolic compounds exert protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation caused by airborne particulate matter, in addition to a range of anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-aging, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. Dietary polyphenols have been used to prevent and treat allergy-related diseases. The chemical and biological contributions of phenolic compounds to cardiovascular disease have also been described. This review summarizes the recent progress delineating the multifunctional roles of phenolic compounds, including their anti-inflammatory properties and the molecular pathways through which they exert anti-inflammatory effects on metabolic disorders. This study also discusses current issues and potential prospects for the therapeutic application of phenolic compounds to various human diseases.

Recent Advances and Therapeutic Journey of Schiff Base Complexes with Selected Metals (Pt, Pd, Ag, Au) as Potent Anticancer Agents: A Review.

Schiff bases and their transition metal complexes play an important role in the field of medicine, in particular in the treatment of cancer. Since the discovery of the cisplatin anticancer activity, great efforts have focused on the rational design of metal-based anticancer drugs that can be potentially used for the treatment of cancer. However, drug resistance and significant side effects greatly limit its clinical application. This has inspired medicinal chemists to employ various strategies in the development of novel and effective anticancer drugs. Recently, a greater number of transition metal complexes have been designed and evaluated for their anticancer activities, and some of them were at different stages of clinical studies. Amongst these, platinum, palladium, gold and silver complexes have an important place within medicinal and inorganic chemistry. This review article discusses Schiff bases and their complexes with selected transition metals (Pd, Pt, Ag, Au) for anticancer activity against different cancer cell lines.