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Topic Review
Flavanols and Methylxanthines in Cocoa
Despite the health benefits associated with the ingestion of the bioactive compounds in cocoa, the high concentrations of polyphenols and methylxanthines in the raw cocoa beans negatively influence the taste, confer the astringency and bitterness, and affect the stability and digestibility of the cocoa products. It is, therefore, necessary to process cocoa beans to develop the characteristic color, taste, and flavor, and reduce the astringency and bitterness, which are desirable in cocoa products. 
  • 2.0K
  • 08 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Insulin
Insulin is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by hyperglycemia. Subcutaneous injections are the standard mode of delivery for insulin therapy; however, this procedure is very often invasive, which hinders patient compliance, particularly for individuals requiring insulin doses four times a day. Furthermore, cases have been reported of sudden hypoglycemia occurrences following multidose insulin injections. Such an invasive and intensive approach motivates the quest for alternative, more user-friendly insulin administration approaches. For example, transdermal delivery has numerous advantages, such as prolonged drug release, low variability in the drug plasma level, and improved patient compliance.
  • 2.0K
  • 05 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Plants Secondary Metabolites
Plant secondary metabolites were reported to inhibit carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, possess kinase activating capacity, thereby affecting all the metabolic pathways of carbohydrate, lipid and protein, and can intervene in the insulin-signaling pathway, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress and restore molecular aberrations leading to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.
  • 2.0K
  • 09 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Glutathione in the Brain
Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant non-protein thiol, and plays crucial roles in the antioxidant defense system and the maintenance of redox homeostasis in neurons.
  • 2.0K
  • 13 May 2021
Topic Review
PH-Sensitive Cubosome Liquid Crystalline Nanocarriers
Cubosomes are soft biocontinuous nanoparticles whose 3D geometry can be engineered to render the structures responsive to pH variations, which is of large interest to the production of efficient drug delivery materials. We have reviewed the literature to provide a state of the art in this regard and shed lights on prominent perspectives and strategies for pH-sensitive cubosomes development, taking advantage of the pH changes of the biological media at targeted application sites.
  • 2.0K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Mitochondria-Targeted, Nanoparticle-Based Drug-Delivery Systems
Mitochondria play a key role in the production of metabolic energy in eukaryotic cells. However, apart from energy production, mitochondria also perform several other functions, namely, calcium signaling, cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis. With growing interest in mitochondria, significant efforts are being made in mitochondria-targeting pharmaceutical interventions, resulting in ‘mitochondrial medicine’ as an emerging area of healthcare research. Mitochondria-targeting nanoparticles (NPs) are now a promising field of drug-delivery systems.
  • 1.9K
  • 19 May 2022
Topic Review
Three-Dimensional In Vitro Cell Culture Models
Despite tremendous advancements in technologies and resources, drug discovery still remains a tedious and expensive process. Though most cells are cultured using 2D monolayer cultures, due to lack of specificity, biochemical incompatibility, and cell-to-cell/matrix communications, they often lag behind in the race of modern drug discovery. There exists compelling evidence that 3D cell culture models are quite promising and advantageous in mimicking in vivo conditions. It is anticipated that these 3D cell culture methods will bridge the translation of data from 2D cell culture to animal models. Although 3D technologies have been adopted widely these days, they still have certain challenges associated with them, such as the maintenance of a micro-tissue environment similar to in vivo models and a lack of reproducibility. However, newer 3D cell culture models are able to bypass these issues to a maximum extent.
  • 1.9K
  • 10 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Superficial Heat Therapy
Low back pain (LBP) is an exceptionally common musculoskeletal problem and a leading cause of disability. LBP is experienced by most adults at some stage of their life, with an estimated 577 million people affected in 2017. A recent systematic literature review stated that the prevalence of LBP ranges from 1.4% to 20.0%, and the incidence from 0.024% to 7.0%. The review focused on the application and effect of mild superficial heat for musculoskeletal pain, especially back pain. The review was able to show that the application of mild heat is easily applicable and effective when indicated.
  • 1.9K
  • 20 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Extracellular Vesicle
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are constituted by a group of heterogeneous membrane vesicles secreted by most cell types that play a crucial role in cell–cell communication.
  • 1.9K
  • 25 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Paroxetine Molecular Mechanisms of Action
In the 21st century and especially during a pandemic, the diagnosis and treatment of depression is an essential part of the daily practice of many family doctors. It mainly affects patients in the age category 15–44 years, regardless of gender. Anxiety disorders are often diagnosed in children and adolescents. Social phobias can account for up to 13% of these diagnoses. Social anxiety manifests itself in fear of negative social assessment and humiliation, which disrupts the quality of social functioning. Treatment of the above-mentioned disorders is based on psychotherapy and phar-macotherapy. Serious side effects or mortality from antidepressant drug overdose are currently rare. Recent studies indicate that paroxetine (ATC code: N06AB), belonging to the selective sero-tonin reuptake inhibitors, has promising therapeutic effects and is used off-label in children and adolescents.
  • 1.9K
  • 26 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Mango Peel Pectin: Recovery, Functionality and Sustainable Uses
Mango peel is the byproduct of agro-processing and has been used for high value-added components such as polysaccharide biopolymers. Pectin derived from the peel is yet to be exploited to its greatest extent, particularly in terms of its separation and physiochemical properties, which limit its applicability to dietary fiber in culinary applications. The functionality of the mango peel pectin (MPP) strongly depends on the molecular size and degree of esterification which highlight the importance of isolation and characterisation of pectin from this novel resource.
  • 1.9K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
DNA Damage Response in Autoimmunity
The DNA damage response and repair (DDR/R) network, a sum of hierarchically structured signaling pathways that recognize and repair DNA damage, and the immune response to endogenous and/or exogenous threats, act synergistically to enhance cellular defence. On the other hand, a deregulated interplay between these systems underlines inflammatory diseases including malignancies and chronic systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent data demonstrate accumulation of endogenous DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these patients, which is related to augmented formation of DNA damage and epigenetically regulated functional abnormalities of fundamental DNA repair mechanisms. Since endogenous DNA damage accumulation has serious consequences for cellular health, including genomic instability and enhancement of an aberrant immune response, these results can be exploited for understanding pathogenesis and progression of systemic autoimmune diseases, as well as for the development of new treatments.
  • 1.9K
  • 03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Antioxidant Agents Against the Neurotoxicity
Cancer represents one of the most pernicious public health problems with a high mortality rate among patients worldwide. Chemotherapy is one of the major therapeutic approaches for the treatment of various malignancies. Platinum-based drugs (cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, etc.) are highly effective chemotherapeutic drugs used for the treatment of several types of malignancies, but their application and dosage are limited by their toxic effects on various systems, including neurotoxicity. Simultaneously, researchers have tried to improve the survival rate and quality of life of cancer patients and decrease the toxicity of platinum-containing drugs by combining them with non-chemotherapy-based drugs, dietary supplements and/or antioxidants. Additionally, recent studies have shown that the root cause for the many side effects of platinum chemotherapeutics involves the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in naive cells. Therefore, suppression of ROS generation and their inactivation with antioxidants represents an appropriate approach for platinum drug-induced toxicities. The aim of this paper is to present an updated review of the protective effects of different antioxidant agents (vitamins, dietary antioxidants and supplements, medicaments, medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds) against the neurotoxicity induced by platinum-based chemotherapeutics. This review highlights the high potential of plant antioxidants as adjuvant strategies in chemotherapy with platinum drugs.
  • 1.9K
  • 01 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Diarylureas
The diarylurea is a scaffold of great importance in medicinal chemistry as it is present in numerous heterocyclic compounds with antithrombotic, antimalarial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • 1.9K
  • 25 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Fluoride Toxicity
The practice of community water fluoridation used prophylactically against dental caries increased concern of adverse fluoride effects. Millions of people living in endemic fluorosis areas suffer from various pathological disturbances. Authors assessed the publications on fluoride toxicity until June 2020. Authors present evidence that fluoride is an enzymatic poison, inducing oxidative stress, hormonal disruptions, and neurotoxicity. Fluoride in synergy with aluminum acts as a false signal in G protein cascades of hormonal and neuronal regulations in much lower concentrations than fluoride acting alone. Our review shows the impact of fluoride on human health. We suggest focusing the research on fluoride toxicity to the underlying integrative networks. Ignorance of the pluripotent toxic effects of fluoride might contribute to unexpected epidemics in the future.
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Animal Models for DOHaD Research
Diverse animal models resembling human illnesses and pregnancy complications have been evaluated, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy , preeclampsia , chronic kidney disease , diabetes , polycystic ovary syndrome , maternal inflammation , maternal hypoxia , and sleep disorder .
  • 1.9K
  • 11 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Sertraline in Hemodialysis Patients
Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric disorders in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) and may correlate with lower quality of life and increased mortality. Depression treatment in HD patients is still a challenge both for nephrologists and psychiatrists. The possible treatment of depressive disorders can be pharmacological and non-pharmacological. In our article, we focus on the use of sertraline, the medication which seems to be relatively safe and efficient in the abovementioned population, taking under consideration several limitations regarding the use of other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
  • 1.9K
  • 23 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Nitrogen-Based Alkylating Anticancer Agents
Despite the significant progress in anticancer drug development over recent years, there is a vital need for newer agents with unique, but still effective, mechanisms of action in order to treat the disease, particularly the highly aggressive and drug resistant types. Alkylating agents, in particular nitrogen-based alkylators, are commonly used to treat hematological and solid malignancies; they exert their antineoplastic effects at all phases of the cell cycle and prevent reproduction of tumor cells. Certain alkylating agents have been designed to be more lipophilic, enabling the compound to penetrate the cell and enhance its alkylating activity against tumors. This review details the evolution of currently available alkylating agents and their profiles, with a focus on nitrogen-based alkylating agents, as important anticancer therapy strategies.
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Thymus algeriensis Boiss. and Reut.
The word Thymus comes from the Greek “thyo”, which means “offering” (to be burnt) and “perfume” because of the pleasant smell that the plant gives off naturally when burnt. T. algeriensis Boiss. and Reut. are classified in section Hyphodromi (A. Kerner) Haläcsy and subsection Subbracteati (Klokov) Jalas. It belongs to the order Lamiale, subfamily Nepetoideae, and tribe Menthae.
  • 1.9K
  • 30 Dec 2022
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease
The main protease (Mpro) of the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was subjected to hyphenated pharmacophoric-based and structural-based virtual screenings using a library of microbial natural products (>24,000 compounds). Subsequent filtering of the resulted hits according to Lipinski’s rules was applied to select only the drug-like molecules. Top-scoring hits were further filtered out depending on their ability to show constant good binding affinities towards the molecular dynamic simulation (MDS)-derived enzyme’s conformers. Final MDS experiments were performed on the ligand-protein complexes to verify their binding modes and calculate their binding free energy. Consequently, a final selection of six compounds of microbial origin was proposed to possess high potential as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates. Our study provides insight into the role of the Mpro structural flexibility during interactions with the possible inhibitors and sheds light on the structure-based design of anti-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2
  • 1.9K
  • 26 Oct 2020
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