Technological Advancement in ω-3 Fatty Acids: Their Therapeutic Functions and Novel Delivery Strategies.

Being an important dietary component, omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, which play a crucial role in the normal growth and development of an individual. ω-3 fatty acids have been reported to possess therapeutic activities against several diseases, including cardiovascular, neurological, cancer, etc. Due to the unsaturation, ω-3 fatty acids are highly reactive and prone to oxidation, which is the biggest hurdle in their administration, as oxidation produces a foul smell and reduces their therapeutic efficacy. Although numerous supplementation strategies have been developed to enhance the bioavailability, targeted drug delivery, and therapeutic potential, the rate of compliance is low due to difficulty in swallowing and unpleasant aftertaste. To cope with these problems, several novel drug delivery approaches have been developed, which may be used as an alternative to enhance the effectiveness of ω-3 fatty acids when administered alone or in combination therapy. This review focuses on how novel drug delivery approaches can be used to overcome the ω-3 fatty acids stability issues and how to maximize its therapeutic activity.

Virtual Care Team Guided Management of Patients With Heart Failure During Hospitalization.

BACKGROUND: Scalable and safe approaches for heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) optimization are needed. OBJECTIVES: The authors assessed the safety and effectiveness of a virtual care team guided strategy on GDMT optimization in hospitalized patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: In a multicenter implementation trial, we allocated 252 hospital encounters in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% to a virtual care team guided strategy (107 encounters among 83 patients) or usual care (145 encounters among 115 patients) across 3 centers in an integrated health system. In the virtual care team group, clinicians received up to 1 daily GDMT optimization suggestion from a physician-pharmacist team. The primary effectiveness outcome was in-hospital change in GDMT optimization score (+2 initiations, +1 dose up-titrations, -1 dose down-titrations, -2 discontinuations summed across classes). In-hospital safety outcomes were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee. RESULTS: Among 252 encounters, the mean age was 69 ± 14 years, 85 (34%) were women, 35 (14%) were Black, and 43 (17%) were Hispanic. The virtual care team strategy significantly improved GDMT optimization scores vs usual care (adjusted difference: +1.2; 95% CI: 0.7-1.8; P < 0.001). New initiations (44% vs 23%; absolute difference: +21%; P = 0.001) and net intensifications (44% vs 24%; absolute difference: +20%; P = 0.002) during hospitalization were higher in the virtual care team group, translating to a number needed to intervene of 5 encounters. Overall, 23 (21%) in the virtual care team group and 40 (28%) in usual care experienced 1 or more adverse events (P = 0.30). Acute kidney injury, bradycardia, hypotension, hyperkalemia, and hospital length of stay were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients hospitalized with HFrEF, a virtual care team guided strategy for GDMT optimization was safe and improved GDMT across multiple hospitals in an integrated health system. Virtual teams represent a centralized and scalable approach to optimize GDMT.

Differential neuroprotective effect of curcuminoid formulations in aluminum chloride-induced Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive brain degenerative disorder which gradually impairs memory, thinking, and ability to perform easy routine tasks. This degenerative disorder mainly targets the elderly people and has imposed an endemic burden on society. Hence, there is a crucial need to investigate the efficacious herbal pharmacotherapies that can effectively mitigate and prevent the pathological hallmarks of AD. The current study aims to explore the potential efficacy of curcuminoid-rich extract (CRE) and its ternary complex (TC). Experimental rodents were administered with AlCl3 (300 mg/kg) to induce AD and treated with rivastigmine, curcuminoid crude extract, CRE, and TC orally for three consecutive weeks. Neurobehavioral, biochemical, and histopathological studies were performed from the last week of the study period. The mRNA expression of different pathological biomarkers was estimated by RT-qPCR analysis. The results of the study suggested that CRE and TC significantly improved the behavioral, biochemical parameters and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in treatment groups. Histological analysis was also carried out indicating that the neurodegenerative changes and neuronal loss were stabilized by CRE and TC supplementation. CRE and TC supplementation remarkably downregulated the interleukin-1α, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, acetylcholinesterase, and ß-secretase pathological gene expression. Hence, it was concluded that CRE and TC may act as promising candidates in the prevention of AD via numerous underlying signaling pathways.

Natural Immunity Boosters as Therapeutic Interventions in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19, a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been spread all over the world and is responsible for serious fatalities. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the family of ß-coronavirus that affects pulmonary gas exchange and triggers cytokines storm. Vigorous inflammation, hyper-coagulation, a decrease in the lymphocytic count, and an increase in the neutrophilic count are observed in the second week after the onset of the disease. Fever, dry cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, and respiratory distress are the symptoms of COVID-19. The use of sanitizers, social distancing, vaccination, wearing gloves and face masks, and other preventative measures are all important in preventing coronavirus outbreaks. People with weak immunity are more susceptible to coronavirus. Various natural immunity boosters are known for their immune boosting properties; among them are vitamin C, D, and B complex, medicinal mushrooms, plant-based stuff, and minerals play important roles by increasing the beneficial flora of the human body. All these natural immunity boosters improve the innate and adaptive immune response against coronavirus. Hence, we conclude that the use of natural immunity boosters prevents the attack of coronavirus and makes a person stronger against the suspected attack of COVID-19 and/or other viral diseases.

Pharmacological evaluation of Euphorbia hirta, Fagonia indica and Capparis decidua in hypertension through in-vivo and in vitro-assays.

OBJECTIVE: This study determines the efficacy and probable underlying mode of action to the folk usage of Euphorbia hirta, Fagonia indica and Capparis decidua in hypertension. METHODS: The aqueous-methanol extracts of E. hirta (EH.Cr), F. indica (FI.Cr) and C. decidua (CD.Cr) were tested for antihypertensive effects in rats using non-invasive and in-vasive blood pressure measuring apparatus. In-vitro assays were carried out using isolated rat aortae using PowerLab station. RESULTS: EH.Cr, FI.Cr and CD.Cr at 500 mg/kg (orally) caused a fall in the mean systolic blood pressure in arsenic-induced hypertensive and normotensive rats, similar to nifedipine. In rat aortae, EH.Cr, CD.Cr and FI.Cr reversed low (20 mM), high (80 mM) K+ and phenylephrine (P.E)-driven contractions, while F. indica partially inhibited high K+ contractions. In the presence of TEA, F. indica remained unable to relax low K+ contractions. EH.Cr and CD.Cr moved Ca++ concentrations response curves to the right, like nifedipine. All fractions of EH.Cr and CD.Cr except aqueous, pet-ether and chloroform fractions of FI.Cr displayed Ca++ antagonistic activity. FI.Cr, its ethyl acetate and aqueous fraction exhibited TEA-sensitive potassium channel activation. On baseline tension, test materials also produced phentolamine-sensitive vasospasm. CONCLUSION: E. hirta, F. indica and C. decidua possess antihypertensive activity in arsenic-induced hypertensive rats possibly mediated via endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. In normotensive rats, E. hirta and C. decidua showed antihypertensive activities through endothelium-dependent and Ca++ antagonistic pathways, while F. indica exhibited potassium channel activation and Ca++ antagonistic like effects in its vasorelaxation. Additional weaker vasospastic effects were derived through α-adrenergic like pathways.

Essential Oils Downregulate Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Nitric Oxide-Mediated Oxidative Stress in Alloxan-Induced Diabetogenic Rats.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperglycemia is associated with an elevated level of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that leads to nitrosative stress and exacerbates the progression of diabetic complications. METHODS: Present study was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of essential oils (EOs) on increased serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) in diabetogenic rats. Diabetogenic rats were treated with EOs separately and/or in combination at the dose of 100 mg/kg, orally for one month. Blood sampling was done at the 1st, 15th and 30th day of the treatment period to investigate the effect of treatment on biomarkers of diabetic complications. RESULTS: In diabetogenic rats, serum levels of NO, malondialdehyde (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased when compared with that of the control group. Whereas, diabetogenic rats treated with EOs decreased serum levels of NO, MDA and pro-inflammatory cytokines up to a significant extent when compared with that diabetogenic rats treated with the standard antidiabetic drug. Moreover, EOs also increased insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues and insulin secretion from ß-cells of pancreatic islets more efficiently when compared with that of diabetogenic rats. Additionally, it was also found that EOs improved lipid profile and normal functions of kidney and liver as compared to that of diabetogenic rats. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study indicate that EOs may reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine levels by modulating the expression of NO. EOs may also ameliorate the nitrosative stress and maintain glucose homeostasis that are major culprits of diabetic complications.

The Therapeutic Prospects of Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Indole Alkaloids for Depression and Anxiety Disorders.

Depression and anxiety are the most common disorders among all age groups. Several antidepressant drugs including benzodiazepine, antidepressant tricyclics, azapirone, noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, serotonin, noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been used to treat these psychiatric disorders. However, these antidepressants are generally synthetic agents and can cause a wide range of side effects. The potential efficacy of plant-derived alkaloids has been reviewed against various neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Huntington disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. However, data correlating the indole alkaloids and antidepressant activity are limited. Natural products, especially plants and the marine environment, are rich sources of potential new drugs. Plants possess a variety of indole alkaloids, and compounds that have an indole moiety are related to serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that regulates brain function and cognition, which in turn alleviates anxiety, and ensures a good mood and happiness. The present review is a summary of the bioactive compounds from plants and marine sources that contain the indole moiety, which can serve as potent antidepressants. The prospects of naturally occurring as well as synthetic indole alkaloids for the amelioration of anxiety and depression-related disorders, structure-activity relationship, and their therapeutic prospects have been discussed.

Antiarthritic Potential of Comprehensively Standardized Extract of Alternanthera bettzickiana: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Alternanthera bettzickiana is being used as a folk remedy for treating arthritis by conventional healers in Thailand. The current research was undertaken to explore the antiarthritic potential of A. bettzickiana ethanolic extract (ABEE). Plant characterization, molecular docking, and in vitro and in vivo (ABEE at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg was administered orally to rats once daily for 28 days) studies to explore the antiarthritic effect and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses were performed. Oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA)) in the serum and histopathological and radiographic assessment of joints were also carried out. Gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, quercetin, and γ- and α-tocopherol were identified in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Molecular docking revealed a strong interaction between these compounds and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. The extract significantly subdued paw swelling and arthritic scoring, inhibited cachexia, and considerably improved biochemical and hematological modifications. SOD and CAT levels increased and the MDA level decreased in ABEE-treated rats dose-dependently. Radiographic and histopathological analyses also supported the antiarthritic effect of ABEE, which was linked with the downregulation of nuclear factor (NF)-kB, COX-2, interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1ß and upregulation of IL-10, I-kB, and IL-4 as compared to disease control rats. Results suggested that A. bettzickiana possessed antiarthritic potential, supporting its folkloric use for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Pathophysiology of atherosclerosis: Association of risk factors and treatment strategies using plant-based bioactive compounds.

Under physiological conditions, endothelial cells act as protective barrier which prevents direct contact of blood with circulating factors via production of tissue plasminogen activator. Risk factors of metabolic disorders are responsible to induce endothelial dysfunction and may consequently lead to prognosis of atherosclerosis. This article summarizes the process of atherosclerosis which involves number of sequences including formation and interaction of AGE-RAGE, activation of polyol pathway, protein kinase C, and hexosamine-mediated pathway. All these mechanisms can lead to the development of oxidative stress which may further aggravate condition. Different pharmacological interventions are being used to treat atherosclerosis, however, these might be associated with mild to severe side effects. Therefore, plant-based bioactive compounds having potential to combat and prevent atherosclerosis in diabetic patients are attaining recent focus. By understanding process of development and mechanisms involved in atherosclerotic plaque formation, these bioactive compounds can be better option for future therapeutic interventions for atherosclerosis treatment. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Atherosclerosis is one of major underlying disorders of cardiovascular diseases which occur through multiple mechanisms and is associated with metabolic disorders. Conventional therapeutic interventions are not only used to treat atherosclerosis, but are also commonly associated with mild to severe side effects. Therefore, nowadays, bioactive compounds having potential to combat and prevent atherosclerosis in diabetic patients are preferred. By understanding mechanisms involved in atherosclerotic plaque formation, bioactive compounds can be better understood for treatment of atherosclerosis. In this manuscript, we have focused on treatment strategies of atherosclerosis using bioactive compounds notably alkaloids and flavonoids having diverse pharmacological and therapeutic potentials with special focus on the mechanism of action of these bioactive compounds suitable for treatment of atherosclerosis. This manuscript will provide the scientific insights of bioactive compounds to researchers who are working in the area of drug discovery and development to control pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis and its associated cardiometabolic disorders.

Diabetes-associated infections: development of antimicrobial resistance and possible treatment strategies.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with various types of infections notably skin, mucous membrane, soft tissue, urinary tract, respiratory tract and surgical and/or hospital-associated infections. The reason behind this frequent association with infections is an immunocompromised state of diabetic patient because uncontrolled hyperglycemia impairs overall immunity of diabetic patient via involvement of various mechanistic pathways that lead to the diabetic patient as immunocompromised. There are specific microbes that are associated with each type of infection and their presence indicates specific type of infections. For instance, E. coli and Klebsiella are the most common causative pathogens responsible for the development of urinary tract infections. Diabetic-foot infections commonly occur in diabetic patients. In this article, we have mainly focused on the association of diabetes mellitus with various types of bacterial infections and the pattern of resistance against antimicrobial agents that are frequently used for the treatment of diabetes-associated infections. Moreover, we have also summarized the possible treatment strategies against diabetes-associated infections.

Taxifolin prevents postprandial hyperglycemia by regulating the activity of α-amylase: Evidence from an in vivo and in silico studies.

There has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its associated complications globally. The postprandial stage of DM involves prompt elevation in the levels of blood glucose and α-amylase, a carbohydrate-metabolizing enzyme is mainly involved in the regulation of postprandial hyperglycemia. This study was designed to assess the ability of a well-known flavonoid, taxifolin (TFN), against postprandial hyperglycemia and its inhibitory effects on α-amylase activity through the assessment of therapeutic potentials of TFN in an alloxan-induced diabetic animal model. The binding potential TFN with an α-amylase receptor was also investigated through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and docking of to compare the binding affinities and energies of TFN and standard drug acarbose (ACB) with target enzyme. TFN significantly improved the postprandial hyperglycemia, lipid profile, and serum levels of α-amylase, lipase, and C-reactive protein in a dose-dependent manner when compared with that of either DM-induced and ACB-treated alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Moreover, TFN also enhanced the anti-oxidant status and normal functioning of the liver in alloxan-induced diabetic rats more efficiently as compared to that of ACB-treated alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Therapeutic potentials of TFN were also verified by MD simulation and docking results, which exhibited that the binding energy and affinity of TFN to bind with receptor was significantly higher as compared to that of ACB. Hence, the results of this study signify that TFN might be a potent inhibitor of α-amylase that has the potential to regulate the postprandial hyperglycemia along with its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties during the treatment of DM.

Comprehensive Analysis of Phytochemical Constituents and Ethnopharmacological Investigation of Genus Datura.

The genus Datura comprises wild shrub plants that belong to the Solanaceae family. Naturally, they possess both medicinal and poisonous properties due to the presence of many biologically active phytochemical constituents. Traditionally, Datura had been used for mystic and religious purposes, as a natural drug to treat asthma, pain, gout, boils, abscesses, and wounds, and as psychoactive infusions and fumitories. Different Datura species exhibit diverse ethnopharmacological activities against different diseases, and many ancient and traditional cultures have used various forms of Datura to treat ailments and to prevent many diseases. In this article, we comprehensively summarize various phytochemical constituents isolated from Datura, their pharmacological properties against different diseases, parts of the plants used as traditional therapeutic agents, regions where they are located, and botanical descriptions of different Datura species. The ethnopharmacological properties of Datura may provide new insights for discovery and development of natural drugs. Further research is needed for the investigation of mechanisms of action and to develop safety profiles of the phytochemical constituents isolated from Datura species.

In-vivo anti-diabetic and wound healing potential of chitosan/alginate/maltodextrin/pluronic-based mixed polymeric micelles: Curcumin therapeutic potential.

Development of curcumin-loaded mixed polymeric micelles based on chitosan, alginate, maltodextrin, pluronic F127, pluronic P123, and tween 80, by thin-film hydration method has been investigated in Bisphenol A induced diabetics rats. Curcumin (C21H20O6) extracted from rhizomes of the "Curcuma longa" has attracted considerable attention of pharmaceutical researchers due to its low cost, excellent pharmacological activities and lesser side effects. Despite its diverse pharmacological properties, the therapeutic application of curcumin as an oral therapy has been limited due to its poor aqueous solubility, fixed chemical stability, and low bioavailability. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, we developed curcumin-loaded mixed polymeric micelles. Diabetes mellitus is a most common chronic carbohydrate metabolic disorder. The results clearly demonstrated the ability of developed formulation to reduce the elevated blood glucose level and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides). It maintained the body-weight, HDL cholesterol level, various biochemical parameters and accelerated the wound healing process when treated with these curcumin-based formulations. The treatment of curcumin loaded mixed polymeric formulations allowed a favorable inhibitory effect to these histopathological changes of liver, kidney, and pancreas. The newly developed curcumin-based formulations have proved superior therapeutic potential and excellent healing efficacy as compared to standard drugs and pure curcumin.

Pluronic-Based Mixed Polymeric Micelles Enhance the Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin.

Curcumin is a naturally occurring constituent of turmeric that is a good substitute for synthetic medicines for the treatment of different diseases, due to its comparatively safer profile. However, there are certain shortcomings that limit its use as an ideal therapeutic agent. In order to overcome these drawbacks, we prepared novel curcumin-loaded mixed polymeric micelles using different biocompatible polymers by the thin-film hydration method. We investigated the critical micelle concentration and temperature, drug loading and encapsulation efficiency, and minimum inhibitory concentration by spectrophotometry. Surface morphology, stability, particle size, drug-polymer interaction, and physical state of the prepared formulations were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, particle size analyzer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The drug loading and entrapment efficiency were significantly increased (P < 0.01) when curcumin was encapsulated with pluronic-based mixed polymeric micelles as compared to that of pluronic-based micelles alone. In vitro studies exhibited that pluronic-based mixed polymeric micelles significantly increased anticancer (P < 0.01), antimicrobial (P < 0.001), antioxidant (P < 0.001), and α-amylase inhibitory (P < 0.001) activities when compared to pure curcumin and/or pluronic-based micelles alone. These findings suggest that the formation of mixed polymeric micelles increases the stability and solubility of curcumin.

Critical Review on Curcumin as a Therapeutic Agent: From Traditional Herbal Medicine to an Ideal Therapeutic Agent.

Traditionally, many natural medicinal plants have been used to treat a variety of diseases since ancient times and are considered a potential source of phytochemicals for the development of new drugs. One of these is curcumin, which is an easily accessible, inexpensive, and nontoxic bioactive compound. Curcumin is a very important, naturally occurring, and highly lipophilic and phenolic substance derived from the rhizomes of plant Curcuma longa, a member of the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family, which is mostly used as a curry spice, flavoring agent, insect repellent, coloring agent in food, traditional drug, and ingredient in cosmetics. Modern scientific research has demonstrated that it has wide range of pharmacological activities and medicinal properties against various types of diseases, disorders, and syndromes. Because it has been known for many years to have excellent therapeutic potential against various diseases, much research has been devoted to this natural product. This review briefly summarizes the scope, therapeutic potential and clinical applications of curcumin.

Investigations of Phytochemical Constituents and Their Pharmacological Properties Isolated from the Genus Urtica: Critical Review and Analysis.

The genus Urtica belongs to the family Urticaceae. The plants of this genus are known as nettles or, quite often, as stinging nettles. These plants can be easily identified by the presence of stinging hairs. Urtica species have previously been used for various medicinal purposes. The history for the use of these plants for medicinal purposes starts from the Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC). Medicinally, the genus Urtica has been used to treat several disorders, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, diarrhea, sprains, kidney stones, urinary tract infection, high blood pressure, hemorrhoids, flu, cough, fever, and ulcers. Scientific reports on the phytochemical analysis of this genus has so far revealed more than 123 compounds from this genus, including terpenoids, flavonoids, lignans, sterols, and polyphenols, have been isolated. Various biological activities have been exhibited by these compounds, such as antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antiurolithiatic, anthelmintic, diuretic, antinoceceptive, antidiabetic, antiviral, , and immunomodulatory. In this article, we mainly emphasize the phytochemical composition, therapeutic applications, and ethnopharmacological values of various species of genus Urtica.

Ethnopharmacological Investigations of Phytochemical Constituents Isolated from the Genus Cuscuta.

The genus Cuscuta, of the family Cuscutaceae, is present in plants and has been traditionally used medicinally against many diseases and conditions, notably depression, mental illness, headache, spleen disease, jaundice, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Large numbers of phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, lignins, oxygen heterocyclic compounds, steroids, fatty acids, phenolic acids, resin glycosides, and polysaccharides have been isolated from different species of Cuscuta. Ethnopharmacological studies conducted on such constituents have also been shown Cuscuta to possess anticancer, antiviral, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antioxidant, diuretic, and hair-growth activity. Many tribes and traditional communities have long used the different forms of Cuscuta for treatment and prevention of many diseases. In this article, we comprehensively summarize relevant data regarding the phytochemical, ethnopharmacological, and traditional therapeutic uses of Cuscuta. In addition, we review the parts of the plants that are used as traditional therapeutic agents, their regions of existence, and their possible modes of action. To conclude, we provide evidence and new insights for further discovery and development of natural drugs from Cuscuta. We show that further studies are needed to investigate the mechanism of action and safety profile of phytochemical constituents isolated from Cuscuta.

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity of Salvia moorcroftiana.

Salvia moorcroftiana is an herbaceous plant commonly known as "Kallijari" in Pakistan and belongs to the family Lamiaceae. This study was carried out to evaluate its scientific base for its traditional use in pain, fever and inflammation. The powdered plant was extracted by the method of cold maceration using aqueous methanol (70:30) as solvents. Hot plate, flick tail and acetic acid induced writhing test were utilized for analgesic assessment. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carageenan-induced mice paw edema. Brewer's induced pyrexia was used for the evaluation of antipyretic activity. Non-significant (p<0.01) results as compared to the standard were obtained in all experiments. It was evident from acute toxicity study that plant was non-toxic in nature. It is concluded from the study that plant had the potential to be safely used for pain, fever and inflammation.

Anticancer Activities of Medicinal Plants: Modulation of p53 Expression and Induction of Apoptosis.

For the treatment of several types of cancers, tumors and malignancies, scientists are investigating natural sources to discover novel therapeutic agents from medicinal plants having diverse anticancer properties. Research on natural products is being conducted to identify unexplored phytochemical constituents that have been proven to have diverse pharmacological activities. Several medicinal plants have been reported to regulate the progression of different types of cancers, tumors, and malignancies. In this article, we briefly summarize the recent progress in exploring the anticancer properties of various medicinal plants reported to modulate the expression of p53 and the induction of apoptosis. These plants provide a rich source of chemo-protective agents that can ultimately be used to manage cancer progression.

Recent Investigations for Discovery of Natural Antioxidants: A Comprehensive Review.

In the biological system, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in the defense mechanisms of the body. ROS is responsible for the initiation of several cellular responses that can impart the harmful effects on the body, initiating biomolecular damage. Therefore, it is essential to counteract the dangerous effects produced by ROS, which is only possible through the use of antioxidants. Researchers are evaluating medicinal plants to discover and investigate the new antioxidant sources. Using natural antioxidants, beneficial effects on human health can be achieved. In this article, we summarize the recent investigations of the sources of naturally occurring antioxidants.