Efficacy of jackfruit components in prevention and control of human disease: A scoping review.

The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is one of the natural remedies significantly used in folk medicine. The ethnopharmacological applications of jackfruit are mainly concerned with the management of inflammation, diarrhea, and diabetes mellitus. Flavonoids, stilbenoids, aryl benzofurans, and lectin jacalin are abundant in jackfruit species. Jacalin is a good indicator for evaluating the immunological state of HIV-1 patients. The extracts and metabolites of jackfruit, particularly those from the leaves, bark, stem, and fruit, contain several beneficial bioactive mixtures. New studies are focused on exploring these bioactive compounds used in various biological activities such as antiviral, antiplatelet, anticancer, antiatherosclerotic, immunomodulatory effects, inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase activity, and the formulation of fast-dissolving tablets (orodispersible, rapid melts porous). Multidisciplinary programs that integrate traditional and modern technology play a crucial role in the lies ahead expansion of jackfruit as the prospective inception of therapeutic compounds. This review aims to highlight significant results on the identification, production, and bioactivity of metabolites found in jackfruit, with current developments in jackfruit research in the control and prevention of human diseases.

Artemisia spp.: An Update on Its Chemical Composition, Pharmacological and Toxicological Profiles.

Artemisia plants are traditional and ethnopharmacologically used to treat several diseases and in addition in food, spices, and beverages. The genus is widely distributed in all continents except the Antarctica, and traditional medicine has been used as antimalarial, antioxidant, anticancer, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral agents. This review is aimed at systematizing scientific data on the geographical distribution, chemical composition, and pharmacological and toxicological profiles of the Artemisia genus. Data from the literature on Artemisia plants were taken using electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selected papers for this updated study included data about phytochemicals, preclinical pharmacological experimental studies with molecular mechanisms included, clinical studies, and toxicological and safety data. In addition, ancient texts and books were consulted. The essential oils and phytochemicals of the Artemisia genus have reported important biological activities, among them the artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, with antimalarial activity. Artemisia absinthium L. is one of the most famous Artemisia spp. due to its use in the production of the absinthe drink which is restricted in most countries because of neurotoxicity. The analyzed studies confirmed that Artemisia plants have many traditional and pharmacological applications. However, scientific data are limited to clinical and toxicological research. Therefore, further research is needed on these aspects to understand the full therapeutic potential and molecular pharmacological mechanisms of this medicinal species.

Neuroinflammatory Markers: Key Indicators in the Pathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neuroinflammation, a protective response of the central nervous system (CNS), is associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. The CNS is composed of neurons and glial cells consisting of microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. Entry of any foreign pathogen activates the glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) and overactivation of these cells triggers the release of various neuroinflammatory markers (NMs), such as the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-1ß (IL-10), nitric oxide (NO), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), among others. Various studies have shown the role of neuroinflammatory markers in the occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. These markers also trigger the formation of various other factors responsible for causing several neuronal diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), multiple sclerosis (MS), ischemia, and several others. This comprehensive review aims to reveal the mechanism of neuroinflammatory markers (NMs), which could cause different neurodegenerative disorders. Important NMs may represent pathophysiologic processes leading to the generation of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, various molecular alterations related to neurodegenerative diseases are discussed. Identifying these NMs may assist in the early diagnosis and detection of therapeutic targets for treating various neurodegenerative diseases.