Antiproliferative Activity and Mechanisms of Action of Plant-derived Flavonoids on Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the main global diseases with a high mortality rate that mainly affects the female population. Despite the important advances that have been made concerning the treatments for this disease, research on less invasive therapies that generate fewer side effects for patients continues to develop. Consequently, researchers have turned their attention to using natural compounds (such as flavonoids) involved in molecular processes implicated in this type of cancer and are studying how these processes can be exploited to develop possible chemotherapies. This review offers a general description of studies on the antiproliferative activity of flavonoids obtained from natural sources for breast cancer treatment and their mechanism of action related to their structural characteristics. Reports were retrieved from electronic databases, such as Web of Science and Scopus using the following keywords: breast cancer, antiproliferative, flavonoids, and structureactivity. Articles published between 2015-2022 related to the topics mentioned above were selected, focusing on the flavonoids apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, and naringenin, as they are the ones with the highest activity and relevance according to the literature found.

Wound Healing Properties of Natural Products: Mechanisms of Action.

A wound is the loss of the normal integrity, structure, and functions of the skin due to a physical, chemical, or mechanical agent. Wound repair consists of an orderly and complex process divided into four phases: coagulation, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. The potential of natural products in the treatment of wounds has been reported in numerous studies, emphasizing those with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, e.g., alkaloids, saponins, terpenes, essential oils, and polyphenols from different plant sources, since these compounds can interact in the various stages of the wound healing process. This review addresses the most current in vitro and in vivo studies on the wound healing potential of natural products, as well as the main mechanisms involved in this activity. We observed sufficient evidence of the activity of these compounds in the treatment of wounds; however, we also found that there is no consensus on the effective concentrations in which the natural products exert this activity. For this reason, it is important to work on establishing optimal treatment doses, as well as an appropriate route of administration. In addition, more research should be carried out to discover the possible side effects and the behavior of natural products in clinical trials.

National Burden and Trends for 29 Groups of Cancer in Mexico from 1990 to 2019: A Secondary Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

The global burden of cancer is on the rise, with varying national patterns. To gain a better understanding and control of cancer, it is essential to provide national estimates. Therefore, we present a comparative description of cancer incidence and mortality rates in Mexico from 1990 to 2019, by age and sex for 29 different cancer groups. Based on public data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, we evaluated the national burden of cancer by analyzing counts and crude and age-standardized rates per 100,000 people with 95% uncertainty intervals for 2019 and trends using the annual percentage change from 1990 to 2019. In 2019, cancer resulted in 222,060 incident cases and 105,591 deaths. In 2019, the highest incidence of cancer was observed in non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. Additionally, 53% of deaths were attributed to six cancer groups (lung, colorectal, stomach, prostate, breast, and pancreatic). From 1990 to 2019, there was an increasing trend in incidence and mortality rates, which varied by 10-436% among cancer groups. Furthermore, there were cancer-specific sex differences in crude and age-standardized rates. The results show an increase in the national cancer burden with sex-specific patterns of change. These findings can guide national efforts to reduce health loss due to cancer.

Oregano as a potential source of antidiabetic agents.

Oregano is the name given to a great variety of herbs belonging mainly to the Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae botanical families. Oregano species are rich sources of phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds like rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid, and luteolin, among others. A few articles have previously accessed some potential pharmacological bioactivities of oregano plants; however, none has focused on the antidiabetic studies. This review aims to summarize recent studies about the potential effect of phenolic compounds from oregano plant species. The reports were retrieved from electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), and Scopus. In addition, articles related to the mentioned topics and published between 2004-2022 were selected. The results from this study show that the antidiabetic pharmacological reports of oregano phenolic compounds are mainly in vitro reports. Therefore, the diversity of oregano species yields a broad variety of phenolic constituents, where preclinical and clinical studies are strongly recommended.

Antioxidant potential, cytokines regulation, and inflammation-related genes expression of phenolic extracts from Mexican oregano.

The Mexican population traditionally uses oregano infusions to treat oxidative and inflammation-related disorders. Therefore, this study was focused on the examination of the antioxidant capacity and potential against inflammation from three Mexican oregano species (Lippia graveolens [LG], Lippia palmeri [LP], and Hedeoma patens [HP]). The extracts from LG showed a superior total phenolic content. LG, LP, and HP exhibited a higher capacity to inhibit the radical DPPH (up to 90.33 ± 0.25%) and significantly lowered the release of MCP-1 and IL-6. At the same time, LG and HP increased the secretion of IL-10. Extracts from LG, LP, and HP did not significantly diminish the expression of il-1ß or inos, although a slight decrease in inos expression was observed. Our findings support that phenolic extracts from L. graveolens, L. palmeri, and H. patens possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and might be potential therapeutic candidates against oxidative and inflammation-related diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Oregano species have traditionally been exploited as remedies against inflammatory-related diseases, namely headaches, asthma, bowel disorders, and rheumatism. This study explored the antioxidant potential of three Mexican oregano species (Lippia graveolens, Lippia palmeri, and Hedeoma patens) and their anti-inflammatory effects in a murine cell model. Phenolic extracts from oregano showed antioxidant capacity and exerted activity against inflammation by improving anti-inflammatory cytokines secretion or negatively regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. The results of our study demonstrate that the phenolic extracts from these Mexican oregano species have the potential in treating inflammation-related diseases.

Loading and Release of Phenolic Compounds Present in Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens) in Different Chitosan Bio-Polymeric Cationic Matrixes.

Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, but low bioaccessibility. Therefore, in the present work the micro/nano-encapsulation of these compounds in two different matrixes of chitosan (CS) and chitosan-b-poly(PEGMA2000) (CS-b-PPEGMA) is described and assessed. The particle sizes of matrixes of CS (~955 nm) and CS-b-PPEGMA (~190 nm) increased by 10% and 50%, respectively, when the phenolic compounds were encapsulated, yielding loading efficiencies (LE) between 90-99% and 50-60%, correspondingly. The release profiles in simulated fluids revealed a better control of host-guest interactions by using the CS-b-PPEGMA matrix, reaching phenolic compounds release of 80% after 24 h, while single CS retained the guest compounds. The total reducing capacity (TRC) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of the phenolic compounds (PPHs) are protected and increased (more than five times) when they are encapsulated. Thus, this investigation provides a standard encapsulation strategy and relevant results regarding nutraceuticals stabilization and their improved bioaccessibility.

Cytotoxic Activity of Polyphenol Extracts from Three Oregano Species: Hedeoma patens, Lippia graveolens and Lippia palmeri, and Antiproliferative Potential of Lippia graveolens against Two Types of Breast Cancer Cell Lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7).

Oregano infusions have traditionally been used to treat some diseases related to inflammation and cancer; also, some species have shown antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines, for example, colon and liver, and this has been attributed to its phytochemical profile, mainly its phenolic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antiproliferative potential of the polyphenols-rich extracts (PRE) of the oregano species H. patens, L. graveolens, and L. palmeri on breast cancer cell lines. The PRE of the three oregano species were obtained from dried leaves. The extract was characterized by determining antioxidant activity, total phenols content, and identifying the profile of phenolic acids and flavonoids by chromatography UPLC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated in vitro on a non-cancer cell line of fibroblast NIH3T3 and the antiproliferative potential on the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. L. graveolens showed the highest antioxidant capacity and significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations in normal cells, with a similar effect to that cisplatin in MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, the polyphenol-rich extract from L. graveolens showed the greatest potential to guide future research on the antiproliferative mechanism of action.

Plants of the Genus Terminalia: An Insight on Its Biological Potentials, Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies.

The evaluation and confirmation of healing properties of several plant species of genus Terminalia based on their traditional uses and the clinical claims are of utmost importance. Genus Terminalia has received more attention to assess and validate the therapeutic potential and clinical approval due to its immense folk medicinal and traditional applications. Various species of Terminalia genus are used in the form of herbal medicine and formulations, in treatment of diseases, including headache, fever, pneumonia, flu, geriatric, cancer, to improve memory, abdominal and back pain, cough and cold, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, heart disorder, leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases, and urinary tract disorders. These are reported to possess numerous biological properties, counting: antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antiretroviral, antioxidant, and antipa7rasitic. This current research review aims to update the detailed biological activities, pre-clinical and clinical studies of various extracts and secondary metabolites from several plant species under the genus Terminalia, along with information on the traditional uses and chemical composition to develop a promising strategy for their potential applications in the form of medicine or use in modern drug formulations for treating diseases like pneumonia, flu, and other types of viral infections or controlling human contagions.

Peptides in Colorectal Cancer: Current State of Knowledge.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most deadly and the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. CRC treatment is mainly based on surgery, chemotherapy, and even though the probability of complications after surgery is very low, chemo drugs affect the patient's quality of life. Multiple studies have shown a strong correlation between diet and the onset and progression of CRC. Thus, the consumption of dietary nutraceuticals for its treatment and prevention has been suggested as a promising option. Peptides have increasingly become of interest in human health due to their antioxidant, antihypertensive, and anticancer potential. In recent years, there have been extensive reports on peptides with anti-tumor activity, and some studies suggest that peptides modulate cell proliferation, evasion of cell death, and metastasis in malignant cells. Plant-derived peptides such as soybean, bean, and rice have received main attention. In this review, we show evidence of several mechanisms through which bioactive peptides exert anti-tumor activity over in vitro and in vivo CRC models. We also report the current status of major production techniques, as well as limitations and future perspectives. Graphical Abstract.

Fatty Acid Profile, Total Carotenoids, and Free Radical-Scavenging from the Lipophilic Fractions of 12 Native Mexican Avocado Accessions.

Mexico is the world's largest producer, exporter, and consumer of avocados. "Hass" avocado is the most commercialized cultivar, while the native Mexican avocado varieties have been displaced. Thus, studies regarding their chemical and nutraceutical characterization are scarce. We studied the total lipid content, fatty acid profile, carotenoid content, and free radical-scavenging activity of the fruit pulp from 12 accessions of the native Mexican avocado (Persea americana var. drymifolia). The results show that the chemical and nutraceutical characteristics depend on the accession type. The total lipid content ranged from 13.22 to 23.41%. The major saturated fatty acid in all the avocado accessions was palmitic acid (15.54-22.68%). Monounsaturated fatty acids, like oleic (56.58-74.19%), linoleic (5.62-16.85%) and linolenic (0.63-2.85%) acids were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids in all the native Mexican avocado accessions. The total carotenoid content (1.57 to 7.83 mg eq. of ß-carotene 100 g-1 fresh weight) and the free radical-scavenging activity (7.58-88.62 mMol trolox equivalent 100 g-1 fresh weight) also varied significantly (p < 0.05) among accessions. Native Mexican avocados have a great nutraceutical potential due to their high content of omega-9, omega-6, and omega-3 fatty acids and carotenoids. These compounds have been reported to display antioxidant activities and protect against cardiovascular diseases.

Prebiotic compounds from agro-industrial by-products.

Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that have an impact on gut microbiota composition and activity, which in turn results in the improvement of health conditions. Nowadays, the production of prebiotics from agro-industrial by-products is under investigation. In this regard, polysaccharides are usually found in these sources and their potential use as prebiotics has been studied recently since these compounds act as substrates for the human gut microbiota, and they have the potential to modulate its composition through many mechanisms. Additionally, the use of agricultural by-products is advantageous because it is a cheap and abundantly available material. This review focuses on the recent scientific literature regarding the prebiotic properties of polysaccharides from agro-industrial by-products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Currently, the maintenance of gut homeostasis is a target for the improvement of human health. This review can broaden the perspective on the utilization of agro-industrial by-products that can compete in the market with the commercial ones or act as a source for new food ingredients.

Cellular antioxidant activity and in vitro inhibition of α-glucosidase, α-amylase and pancreatic lipase of oregano polyphenols under simulated gastrointestinal digestion.

Different oregano species have been traditionally used as infusions in folk medicine. Oregano medicinal properties, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, have been partially attributed to its polyphenolic content. However, information regarding bioaccessibility of oregano polyphenols is limited. Cell-based antioxidant activity, and in vitro hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties of polyphenolic extracts from three species of oregano species, namely, Hedeoma patens (HP), Lippia graveolens (LG) and Lippia palmeri (LP), subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion were evaluated. LC-TOF-MS analysis of HP, LG and LP allowed the identification of 9 flavonoids and 6 hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives with nutraceutical significance. Oregano polyphenolic extracts and digests from HP, LG, and LP exhibited cellular antioxidant capacity, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. Altogether, our results suggest that HP, LG and LP polyphenols exhibit potential for use as hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant agents.

Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids from Oregano: Occurrence, Biological Activity and Health Benefits.

Several herb species classified as oregano have been widely used in folk medicine to alleviate inflammation-related diseases, respiratory and digestive disorders, headaches, rheumatism, diabetes and others. These potential health benefits are partially attributed to the phytochemical compounds in oregano such as flavonoids (FL) and phenolic acids (PA). Flavonoids and phenolic acids are among the most abundant and most studied phytochemicals in oregano species. Epidemiological, in vitro and in vivo experiments have related long-term consumption of dietary FL and PA with a decreased risk of incidence of chronic diseases. The aim of this manuscript is to summarize the latest studies on the identification and distribution of flavonoids and phenolic compounds from oregano species and their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer health benefits.

Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties.

Essential oils of oregano are widely recognized for their antimicrobial activity, as well as their antiviral and antifungal properties. Nevertheless, recent investigations have demonstrated that these compounds are also potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cancer suppressor agents. These properties of oregano essential oils are of potential interest to the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this manuscript is to review the latest evidence regarding essential oils of oregano and their beneficial effects on health.

Flavonoids as Cytokine Modulators: A Possible Therapy for Inflammation-Related Diseases.

High levels of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6, are associated with chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and cancer; therefore cytokine inhibition might be an important target for the treatment of these diseases. Most drugs used to alleviate some inflammation-related symptoms act by inhibiting cyclooxygenases activity or by blocking cytokine receptors. Nevertheless, these drugs have secondary effects when used on a long-term basis. It has been mentioned that flavonoids, namely quercetin, apigenin and luteolin, reduce cytokine expression and secretion. In this regard, flavonoids may have therapeutical potential in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases as cytokine modulators. This review is focused on current research about the effect of flavonoids on cytokine modulation and the description of the way these compounds exert their effect.