Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and epigenetic potential of curcumin in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) constitutes a multifactorial neurodegenerative pathology characterized by cognitive deterioration, personality alterations, and behavioral shifts. The ongoing brain impairment process poses significant challenges for therapeutic interventions due to activating multiple neurotoxic pathways. Current pharmacological interventions have shown limited efficacy and are associated with significant side effects. Approaches focusing on the early interference with disease pathways, before activation of broad neurotoxic processes, could be promising to slow down symptomatic progression of the disease. Curcumin-an integral component of traditional medicine in numerous cultures worldwide-has garnered interest as a promising AD treatment. Current research indicates that curcumin may exhibit therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative pathologies, attributed to its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Additionally, curcumin and its derivatives have demonstrated an ability to modulate cellular pathways via epigenetic mechanisms. This article aims to raise awareness of the neuroprotective properties of curcuminoids that could provide therapeutic benefits in AD. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the neuroprotective efficacy of curcumin against signaling pathways that could be involved in AD and summarizes recent evidence of the biological efficiency of curcumins in vivo.

Comprehensive Review of Ustekinumab Utilization in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Insights from the ClinicalTrials.gov Registry.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. To achieve and sustain remission, effective treatment strategies are necessary. Ustekinumab, a biologic agent targeting interleukin-12 and interleukin-23, has emerged as a significant therapeutic option for moderate to severe IBD. Aim: To gain insights into the utilization of Ustekinumab for IBD, we conducted a comprehensive review of the ClinicalTrials.gov registry. Methods: A comprehensive search of the ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted to find all clinical trials involving the use of Ustekinumab in IBD patients. As of December 30th, 2022, 69 clinical trials were identified that included IBD and Ustekinumab. The study list was saved, and those clinical trials that fitted the definition of targeted therapy were included in the review. Results: The results showed that Ustekinumab was associated with significant improvements in the clinical response and remission rates, in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients. Additionally, the safety profile of Ustekinumab was generally favourable, with low rates of adverse events reported. In terms of study design, most of the relevant studies found in the database were interventional studies. The investigation focused on completed studies and found that there were a limited number of clinical trials with interventional measures. Conclusion: Ustekinumab appears to be a promising treatment option for patients with IBD, with the potential to provide significant clinical benefits and a favourable safety profile. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore optimal dosing and treatment regimens.

Antihyperglycemic, Antioxidant and Antiapoptotic Effect of Rhizophora Mucronata and Avicennia Marina in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a common disease worldwide. It is considered as the third leading cause of death, in the developed countries followed by heart diseases and cancer. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the aqueous fraction of R. mucronata and A. marina leaves grown in Saudi Arabia alone or in combination as antidiabetic agents and explore its effect on the antioxidants status. METHODS: One hundred and twenty male Wistar albino rats were divided into 8 groups were utilized in this study. Streptozotocin (STZ) was utilized for induction of diabetes. The effects of daily oral administration of aqueous extract from the leaves of R. mucronata (400 mg/kg BW), A. marina (400 mg/kg BW) and the combination of both plant extracts for 6 weeks were evaluated on blood glucose, insulin, tissues' antioxidants as well as pancreatic immunohistochemistry in normal, (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. RESULTS: Oral administration of the plants extracts significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.001) serum glucose, insulin and improved the antioxidants status in the liver compared to the untreated rats. Immunohistochemically, the pancreas of diabetic rats treated with R. mucronata revealed a few islets ß-cells (2-3%/ HPF) with positive caspase-3. CONCLUSION: The extract of R. mucronata exhibited a promising antidiabetic, antioxidant and tissue enhancing effects compared with A. marina alone or in combination.