Targeting chemokine-receptor mediated molecular signaling by ethnopharmacological approaches.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Infection and inflammation are critical to global human health status and the goal of current pharmacological interventions intends formulating medications/preventives as a measure to deal with this situation. Chemokines and their cognate receptors are major regulatory molecules in many of these ailments. Natural products have been a keen source to the drug development industry, every year contributing significantly to the growing list of FDA approved drugs. A multiverse of natural resource is employed as a part of curative regimen in folk/traditional/ethnomedicine which can be employed to discover, repurpose, and design potent medications for the diseases of clinical concern. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review aims to systematically document the ethnopharmacologically active agents targeting the infectious-inflammatory diseases through the chemokine-receptor nexus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Articles related to chemokine/receptor modulating ethnopharmacological anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious natural sources, bioactive compounds, and formulations have been examined with special emphasis on women related diseases. The available literature has been thoroughly scrutinized for the application of traditional medicines in chemokine associated experimental methods, their regulatory outcomes, and pertinence to women's health wherever applicable. Moreover, the potential traditional regimens under clinical trials have been critically assessed. RESULTS: A systematic and comprehensive review on the chemokine-receptor targeting ethnopharmaceutics from the available literature has been provided. The article discusses the implication of traditional medicine in the chemokine system dynamics in diverse infectious-inflammatory disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, allergic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neuroinflammation, and cancer. On this note, critical evaluation of the available data surfaced multiple diseases prevalent in women such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, cervical cancer and urinary tract infection. Currently there is no available literature highlighting chemokine-receptor targeting using traditional medicinal approach from women's health perspective. Moreover, despite being potent in vitro and in vivo setups there remains a gap in clinical translation of these formulations, which needs to be strategically and scientifically addressed to pave the way for their successful industrial translation. CONCLUSIONS: The review provides an optimistic global perspective towards the applicability of ethnopharmacology in chemokine-receptor regulated infectious and inflammatory diseases with special emphasis on ailments prevalent in women, consecutively addressing their current status of clinical translation and future directions.

Assessing the robust growth and lipid-accumulating characteristics of Scenedesmus sp. for biodiesel production.

In the present investigation, different salts of nitrogen and carbon sources were tested for their potential to boost biomass and lipid content in Scenedesmus sp. IITRIND2. Among the nitrogen sources, ammonium bicarbonate/nitrate cultures showed maximum dry cell weight (DCW) of ~ 1.8 g/L and lipid yield (~ 40%) while the addition of C6 sugars (glucose and mannose) and sodium acetate enhanced the DCW (~ 3 g/L) and lipid accumulation (~ 40%) compared with disaccharides, C4 and C5 sugars. On evaluating the synergistic effects of the nitrogen and carbon sources, maximum DCW (3.66 g/L) was obtained in ammonium bicarbonate + sodium acetate cultures with a lipid yield of 37.15%. The fatty acid profile of the derived biodiesel was similar to that of plant oils. The results clearly established the robust capability of the novel microalga to efficiently adapt, sustain, and grow in different carbon and nitrogen sources along with high lipid productivity, making it a potential source for biodiesel production.

Chemistry and Biology of Farnesol and its Derivatives: Quorum Sensing Molecules with Immense Therapeutic Potential.

BACKGROUND: Farnesol is an acyclic sesquiterpene alcohol, endogenously synthesized via the ergosterol pathway. It is a quorum sensing molecule (QSM) that was first discovered in C. albicans, and is involved in the inhibition of hyphae formation. METHODS: This review focuses on the comprehensive details of occurrence, chemical/biological synthesis of farnesol and its derivatives, and the factors involved in the regulation of their production. Further, the review also presents their cellular functions and diversified biomedical applications. RESULTS: Large-scale production of farnesol can be achieved using chemical synthesis and metabolic engineering approach. Farnesol is involved in the regulation of various physiological processes including filamentation, biofilm development, drug efflux, and apoptosis, etc. Farnesol and its derivatives/ analogues have also been reported to exhibit anti-biofilm, anti-cancer, anti-tumor and fungicidal properties. The antimicrobial potential of farnesol has been enhanced by synergizing it with known antifungal drugs, and also through nano-formulation(s). CONCLUSION: Apart from its quorum sensing activity, farnesol can be used as an effective anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, ant-allergic, anti-cancerous, and anti-obesity agent.