Revisiting Licorice as a functional food in the management of neurological disorders: Bench to trend.

Traditional and scientific evidence attribute numerous bioactivities of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) in aging-related disorders. In this state-of-art review, an extensive search in several databases was conducted to collect all relevant literature and comprehensively analyze Licorice's pharmacological attributes, neuroprotective properties, safety, and its mechanistic role in treating various neurological conditions. Network pharmacology was employed for the first time exploring the mechanistic role of Licorice in neurological disorders. Its neuroprotective role is attributed to phytoconstituents, including liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, glabridin, 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid, quercetin, isoliquiritigenin, paratocarpin B, glycyglabrone, and hispaglabridin B, as evident from in vitro and in vivo studies. Network pharmacology analysis reveals that these compounds protect against long-term depression, aging-associated diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and other addictions through interactions with cholinergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic proteins, validated in animal studies only. Future clinical trials are warranted as Licorice administration has a limiting factor of mild hypertension and hypokalemia. Hopefully, scientific updates on Licorice will propagate a paradigm shift in medicine, research propagation, and development of the central nervous system phytopharmaceuticals.

Anti-oxidant potential of plants and probiotic spp. in alleviating oxidative stress induced by H2O2.

Cells produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a metabolic by-product. ROS molecules trigger oxidative stress as a feedback response that significantly initiates biological processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis. Furthermore, extensive research has revealed that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important ROS entity and plays a crucial role in several physiological processes, including cell differentiation, cell signalling, and apoptosis. However, excessive production of H2O2 has been shown to disrupt biomolecules and cell organelles, leading to an inflammatory response and contributing to the development of health complications such as collagen deposition, aging, liver fibrosis, sepsis, ulcerative colitis, etc. Extracts of different plant species, phytochemicals, and Lactobacillus sp (probiotic) have been reported for their anti-oxidant potential. In this view, the researchers have gained significant interest in exploring the potential plants spp., their phytochemicals, and the potential of Lactobacillus sp. strains that exhibit anti-oxidant properties and health benefits. Thus, the current review focuses on comprehending the information related to the formation of H2O2, the factors influencing it, and their pathophysiology imposed on human health. Moreover, this review also discussed the anti-oxidant potential and role of different extract of plants, Lactobacillus sp. and their fermented products in curbing H2O2­induced oxidative stress in both in-vitro and in-vivo models via boosting the anti-oxidative activity, inhibiting of important enzyme release and downregulation of cytochrome c, cleaved caspases-3, - 8, and - 9 expression. In particular, this knowledge will assist R&D sections in biopharmaceutical and food industries in developing herbal medicine and probiotics-based or derived food products that can effectively alleviate oxidative stress issues induced by H2O2 generation.

Recent advances in the concept of paraprobiotics: Nutraceutical/functional properties for promoting children health.

Probiotics consumption has been associated with various health promoting benefits, including disease prevention and even treatment by modulating gut microbiota. Contrary to this, probiotics may also overstimulate the immune system, trigger systemic infections, harmful metabolic activities, and promote gene transfer. In children, the fragile immune system and impaired intestinal barrier may boost the occurrence of adverse effects following probiotics' consumption. To overcome these health challenges, the key focus has been shifted toward non-viable probiotics, also called paraprobiotics. Cell wall polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, surface proteins and teichoic acid present on cell's surface are involved in the interaction of paraprobiotics with the host, ultimately providing health benefits. Among other benefits, paraprobiotics possess the ability to regulate innate and adaptive immunity, exert anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and antagonistic effects against pathogens, while also enhance clinical impact and general safety when administered in children in comparison to probiotics. Clinical evidence have underlined the paraprobiotics impact in children and young infants against atopic dermatitis, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, in addition to be useful for immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, this review focuses on probiotics-related issues in children's health and also discusses the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. qualities for qualifying as paraprobiotics and their role in promoting the children's health.

Deciphering the impact and mechanism of Trikatu, a spices-based formulation on alcoholic liver disease employing network pharmacology analysis and in vivo validation.

Trikatu Churna (TC) comprising Zingiber officinale rhizome, Piper longum, and Piper nigrum fruit, is effective in treating liver diseases and has high nutraceutical values. However, the efficacy of TC in treating alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and its mechanism remain largely unknown. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of different doses of TC as well as to identify the bioactive components and determine their mechanism of action against ethanol-induced ALD. A compound-target network analysis model of TC was established to identify its potential bioactive compounds and pathways that might regulate its hepatoprotective effects. Further, in-vivo studies were performed to validate the potential of TC (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg b.w.) in the treatment and management of ALD. The study revealed that both the dosages of TC demonstrate significant (p > 0.0001) hepatoprotective effects by improving body weight, total bilirubin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphate (ALP), total cholesterol, total protein, globulin, albumin, and liver morphology. The High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting of TC showed the presence of piperine. Network pharmacology identifies the role of TC in regulating various signaling processes including Advanced glycation end products-receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE), Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1), Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-Kappa B), and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling to exert its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic role in managing ALD. Based on the bioinformatics analysis, some of the key targets of TC were found to be Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthase 2 (PTGS2) or Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Sirtuin 1 (SRT1), and caspase-3. These effects may serve as a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of ALD. These preclinical validation studies for the ethnopharmacological potential of TC in ALD treatment further paved the way for researchers to perform next-level translational and clinical studies. Further, in-depth experimental studies for the validation of these bioinformatics-based results will give a clearer picture of mechanisms.

Fruit and Vegetable Peel-Enriched Functional Foods: Potential Avenues and Health Perspectives.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are highly utilized commodities by health-conscious consumers and represent a prominent segment in the functional and nutritional food sector. However, food processing is causing significant loss of nutritional components, and the generation of waste is creating serious economic and environmental problems. Fruit and vegetables encompass husk, peels, pods, pomace, seeds, and stems, which are usually discarded, despite being known to contain potentially beneficial compounds, such as carotenoids, dietary fibers, enzymes, and polyphenols. The emerging interest in the food industry in the nutritional and biofunctional constituents of polyphenols has prompted the utilization of fruit and vegetable waste for developing enriched and functional foods, with applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, the utilization of waste for developing diverse and crucial bioactive commodities is a fundamental step in sustainable development. Furthermore, it provides evidence regarding the applicability of fruit and vegetable waste in different food formulations especially bakery, jam, and meat based products.

Role of Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) in neurological disorders: An umbrella review covering evidence from ethnopharmacology to clinical studies.

C. pluricaulis Choisy (C. pluricaulis), a perennial herb aka C. microphyllus Sieb. and C. Prostratus Forsk. is being used as a traditional folk medicine for a variety of ailments. In this article, we collected information about C. pluricaulis through electronic search using PubMed, SciFinder, Google Scholar, and Web of Science as well as network pharmacology is done. This comprehensive review sheds light on the plant profile, phytochemistry, neuropharmacological, and toxicological data of C. pluricaulis. The crude herb and its metabolites have exhibited a wide range of in vitro and in vivo neuropharmacological effects, including memory enhancement, anxiolytic, tranquilizing, anti-depressant, anti-stress, neurodegenerative, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, analgesic, sedative, anti-convulsant, and Alzheimer's disease-reversing effects. Network pharmacology results indicate that compounds from C. pluricaulis interact with various proteins, neuro synapses, signaling pathways, and serotonergic synapse which plays a crucial role in neurotransmission, Alzheimer's disease, long-term depression, addictions to alcohol, cognitive disorders, psychological conditions, and increasing serotonin concentration in synapses.

Carica papaya L. Leaves: Deciphering Its Antioxidant Bioactives, Biological Activities, Innovative Products, and Safety Aspects.

The prevalence of viral infections, cancer, and diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate around the world, and these diseases are now considered to be the most serious risks to human well-being in the modern period. There is a widespread practice in Asian countries of using papaya leaves (C. papaya L.) as herbal medicine, either alone or in combination with prescribed medications, to treat a variety of ailments. The importance of conducting the necessary descriptive studies in order to determine the safety of papaya leaf consumption is also emphasized in the context of their application in the healthcare sector. Electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed were used to gather information on papaya leaves, their therapeutic potential, and clinical evidence-based studies. The literature was gathered from publications on papaya leaves, their therapeutic potential, and clinical evidence-based studies. The antidengue, anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects of papaya leaves discussed in this article are supported by evidence from preclinical, in vivo, in vitro, and clinical trial studies, as well as from other sources. Leaves have been investigated for their mechanism of action as well as their potential to be used in the development of novel herbal products for the health business. According to the reports gathered, only a small number of research demonstrated that leaf extract at high concentrations was hazardous to certain organs. The collective literature reviewed in this review provides insights into the use of papaya leaves as a cure for epidemic diseases, highlighting the phytochemical composition and pharmacological attributes of papaya leaves, as well as the results of various preclinical and clinical studies that have been conducted so far on the subject. The review clearly demonstrates the successful medical evidence for the use of papaya leaf extracts in the healthcare system as a supplemental herbal medication in a variety of clinical settings.

GC-MS Analysis, Antioxidant and Antifungal Studies of Different Extracts of Chaetomium globosum Isolated from Urginea indica.

To discover new natural resources with biological effects, the chemical investigation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extract's Chaetomium globosum isolated from roots of Urginea indica. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis demonstrated the presence of the major chemical constituents present in the methanol extract (1,3-oxathiolane, 1,3-cyclopentadiene, 5-(1-methylethylidene), 5,9-hexadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, decane), chloroform extract (acetic acid, diethoxy-, ethyl ester, 2,2-bis(ethylsulfonyl)propane, 3-methyl-2-(2-oxopropyl) furan), and hexane extract (3-hexanone, 4,4-dimethyl, decane,2,6-dimethyldecane, decane, 2,4,6-trimethyl, decane, 2,4,6-trimethyl, 1-butanesulfinamide, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluoro-N-methyl, decane). The total compound identified (56.2%) in chloroform extract, (54.72%) in hexane extract, and (65%) in methanol extract. The antioxidant effects were performed using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). The results showed that the methanol extract showed significantly the highest anti-DPPH with an IC50 value of 37.61 ± 1.37 µg/mL, followed by chloroform and hexane extracts with IC50 values of 40.82 ± 3.60 and 45.20 ± 2.54 µg/mL, respectively. The antifungal activity of extracts was evaluated against pathogens fungi including Fusarium oxysporum, Rosellinia necatrix, Cladosporium xanthochromaticum, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Methanolic and chloroform extracts showed maximum inhibition against all test pathogens, while hexane extract showed minimum inhibition.

Epithelial phenotype restoring drugs suppress macular degeneration phenotypes in an iPSC model.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a blinding eye disease, is characterized by pathological protein- and lipid-rich drusen deposits underneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and atrophy of the RPE monolayer in advanced disease stages - leading to photoreceptor cell death and vision loss. Currently, there are no drugs that stop drusen formation or RPE atrophy in AMD. Here we provide an iPSC-RPE AMD model that recapitulates drusen and RPE atrophy. Drusen deposition is dependent on AMD-risk-allele CFH(H/H) and anaphylatoxin triggered alternate complement signaling via the activation of NF-κB and downregulation of autophagy pathways. Through high-throughput screening we identify two drugs, L-745,870, a dopamine receptor antagonist, and aminocaproic acid, a protease inhibitor that reduce drusen deposits and restore RPE epithelial phenotype in anaphylatoxin challenged iPSC-RPE with or without the CFH(H/H) genotype. This comprehensive iPSC-RPE model replicates key AMD phenotypes, provides molecular insight into the role of CFH(H/H) risk-allele in AMD, and discovers two candidate drugs to treat AMD.

Conifers Phytochemicals: A Valuable Forest with Therapeutic Potential.

Conifers have long been recognized for their therapeutic potential in different disorders. Alkaloids, terpenes and polyphenols are the most abundant naturally occurring phytochemicals in these plants. Here, we provide an overview of the phytochemistry and related commercial products obtained from conifers. The pharmacological actions of different phytochemicals present in conifers against bacterial and fungal infections, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are also reviewed. Data obtained from experimental and clinical studies performed to date clearly underline that such compounds exert promising antioxidant effects, being able to inhibit cell damage, cancer growth, inflammation and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, an attempt has been made with the intent to highlight the importance of conifer-derived extracts for pharmacological purposes, with the support of relevant in vitro and in vivo experimental data. In short, this review comprehends the information published to date related to conifers' phytochemicals and illustrates their potential role as drugs.

The Wonderful Activities of the Genus Mentha: Not Only Antioxidant Properties.

Medicinal plants and their derived compounds have drawn the attention of researchers due to their considerable impact on human health. Among medicinal plants, mint (Mentha species) exhibits multiple health beneficial properties, such as prevention from cancer development and anti-obesity, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and cardioprotective effects, as a result of its antioxidant potential, combined with low toxicity and high efficacy. Mentha species are widely used in savory dishes, food, beverages, and confectionary products. Phytochemicals derived from mint also showed anticancer activity against different types of human cancers such as cervix, lung, breast and many others. Mint essential oils show a great cytotoxicity potential, by modulating MAPK and PI3k/Akt pathways; they also induce apoptosis, suppress invasion and migration potential of cancer cells lines along with cell cycle arrest, upregulation of Bax and p53 genes, modulation of TNF, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, and induction of senescence phenotype. Essential oils from mint have also been found to exert antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and many others. The current review highlights the antimicrobial role of mint-derived compounds and essential oils with a special emphasis on anticancer activities, clinical data and adverse effects displayed by such versatile plants.

Plant Fortification of the Diet for Anti-Ageing Effects: A Review.

Ageing is an enigmatic and progressive biological process which undermines the normal functions of living organisms with time. Ageing has been conspicuously linked to dietary habits, whereby dietary restrictions and antioxidants play a substantial role in slowing the ageing process. Oxygen is an essential molecule that sustains human life on earth and is involved in the synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that pose certain health complications. The ROS are believed to be a significant factor in the progression of ageing. A robust lifestyle and healthy food, containing dietary antioxidants, are essential for improving the overall livelihood and decelerating the ageing process. Dietary antioxidants such as adaptogens, anthocyanins, vitamins A/D/C/E and isoflavones slow the ageing phenomena by reducing ROS production in the cells, thereby improving the life span of living organisms. This review highlights the manifestations of ageing, theories associated with ageing and the importance of diet management in ageing. It also discusses the available functional foods as well as nutraceuticals with anti-ageing potential.

Fruit and Vegetable Peels: Utilization of High Value Horticultural Waste in Novel Industrial Applications.

Fruits and vegetables are the highly used food products amongst the horticultural crops. These items are consumed uncooked, nominally cooked or fully cooked, according to their nature and cooking process. With the change in diet habits and rising population, the production, as well as the processing of horticultural crops, has exponentially improved to meet its increasing demand. A large amount of peel waste is generated from fruit and vegetable-based industries and household kitchen and has led to a big nutritional and economic loss and environmental problems. Processing of fruits and vegetables alone generates a significant waste, which amounts to 25-30% of the total product. Most common wastes include pomace, peels, rind and seeds, which are highly rich in valuable bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, enzymes, polyphenols, oils, vitamins and many other compounds. These bioactive compounds show their application in various industries such as food to develop edible films, food industries for probiotics and other industries for valuable products. The utilization of these low-cost waste horticultural wastes for producing the value-added product is a novel step in its sustainable utilization. The present review intends to summarize the different types of waste originating from fruits as well as vegetables peels and highlight their potential in developing edible films, probiotics, nanoparticles, carbon dots, microbial media, biochar and biosorbents.

Ecofriendly Ethyl Cellulose Microsponges of Citronella Oil: Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Larvicidal assay.

BACKGROUND: Citronella Oil (CO) was used by the Indian army as mosquito repellant to repel mosquitoes at the beginning of the 20th century and later in 1948, it was registered in the USA for commercial purposes. Due to its ecofriendly nature, CO possesses immense potential as a mosquito repellent. METHODS: Citronella oil is a valuable alternative to synthetic mosquito repellents commonly used nowadays. However, its volatile nature, poor stability in air and high temperature restrict its application. Its direct application on skin may lead to skin irritation. To surmount the above-mentioned issues, the present research aims to develop Microsponge (MS), a novel dosage form for enhancing the utility and safety of CO. Quasi emulsion solvent diffusion method was chosen for crafting MS using ethyl cellulose with various drug-polymer ratios and characterized. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation was also carried out to check the dermal safety of COMS. RESULTS: The present results revealed that the size of all prepared formulation lies in the micro range (20 ± 3 to 41 ± 4 µm), with good payload (42.09± 3.24 to 67.08± 6.43%). The results of FE-SEM depicted that MS were spherical in shape with porous nature. Cytotoxicity results indicated that COMS were safe on skin cells, when compared to pure CO. The optimized MS were also assessed for larvicidal assay against larvae of Anopheles culicifacies. CONCLUSION: The CO micro-formulations were found to possess enhanced stability of this oil. Entrapment of CO in MS resulted in a better vehicle system in terms of safety, stability and handling benefits of this oil.

Therapeutic Potential of Citronella Essential Oil: A Review.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, filariasis, chikunguniya, yellow fever, dengue and Japanese encephalitis are the major cause of remarkable morbidity and mortality in livestock and humans worldwide. Since ancient times, aromatic plants are used for their medicinal value. Essential oils derived from these plants may be used as effective alternatives/adjuvants in pharmaceuticals, biomedical, cosmetic, food, veterinary and agriculture applications. These oils have also gained popularity and interest for prevention and treatment of various disorders. However, several reports on adverse effects including skin eruption, contact artricaria or toxic encephalopathy in children are available for synthetic repellent in the literature. Thus, natural insect repellents like essential oils have been explored recently as an alternative. One such essential oil studied widely, is citronella oil, extracted mainly from Cymbopogon nardus. This essential oil has exhibited good efficacy against mosquitoes. It is a mixture of components including citronellal, citronellol, geraniol as major constituents contributing to various activities (antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant antitrypanosomal and wound healing), besides mosquito repellent action. Citronella essential oil is registered in US EPA (Environmental protection agency) as insect repellent due to its high efficacy, low toxicity and customer satisfaction. However, poor stability in the presence of air and high temperature limits its practical applications. Since specific knowledge on properties and chemical composition of oil is fundamental for its effective application, the present review compiles and discusses biological properties of citronella oil. It also sheds light on various formulations and applications of this essential oil.

Expression pattern of pluripotent markers in different embryonic developmental stages of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos and putative embryonic stem cells generated by parthenogenetic activation.

In this study, we describe the production of buffalo parthenogenetic blastocysts and subsequent isolation of parthenogenetic embryonic stem cell (PGESC)-like cells. PGESC colonies exhibited dome-shaped morphology and were clearly distinguishable from the feeder layer cells. Different stages of development of parthenogenetic embryos and derived embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like cells expressed key ESC-specific markers, including OCT-4, NANOG, SOX-2, FOXD3, REX-1, STAT-3, TELOMERASE, NUCLEOSTEMIN, and cMYC. Immunofluorescence-based studies revealed that the PGESCs were positive for surface-based pluripotent markers, viz., SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA 1-80, TRA 1-60, CD-9, and CD-90 and exhibited high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. PGEC cell-like cells formed embryoid body (EB)-like structures in hanging drop cultures and when cultured for extended period of time spontaneously differentiated into derivatives of three embryonic germ layers as confirmed by RT-PCR for ectodermal (CYTOKERATIN8, NF-68), mesodermal (MSX1, BMP-4, ASA), and endodermal markers (AFP, HNF-4, GATA-4). Differentiation of PGESCs toward the neuronal lineage was successfully directed by supplementation of serum-containing media with retinoic acid. Our results indicate that the isolated ESC-like cells from parthenogenetic blastocyst hold properties of ESCs and express markers of pluripotency. The pluripotency markers were also expressed by early cleavage-stage of buffalo embryos.

Metals in herbal drugs from Himalayan region.

Various herbal products from Himalayan region may provide a huge source of supply in the domestic and international markets. In this study, the heavy metal load in various herbal drugs of the region was investigated. The studied toxic elements were present in the herbal drugs (0.2-8.34 mg/kg As, 0.11-0.48 mg/kg Cd, 2.5-6.0 mg/kg Pb). Zinc was found in the range 7-32 mg/kg and all the samples were free from mercury contamination.