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Topic Review
Natural Product Extraction Techniques
Conventional extraction techniques, including Soxhlet extraction, maceration, percolation, and decoction, are known to be time-, solvent-, and energy-intensive. In contrast, various non-conventional techniques for the extraction process, such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), have been developed to increase the yield of bioactive compounds and address the aforementioned issues. These contemporary techniques have demonstrated their sustainability compared to conventional ones. Low-temperature and environmentally friendly extraction techniques have gained popularity for producing high-quality bioactive extracts. UAE, in particular, has attracted considerable interest due to its advantages over conventional extraction methods, which include greater extraction efficiency, preservation of bioactive compound stability, shorter extraction time, and industrial application. Thus, non-conventional extraction techniques like SFE, MAE, and UAE offer sustainable and efficient alternatives to conventional methods, allowing for increased bioactive compound yield, shorter extraction times, and improved stability, making them popular choices for high-quality extraction in low-temperature and environmentally friendly approaches.
  • 1.9K
  • 05 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria
Certain bacteria constitute a threat to humans due to their ability to escape host defenses as they easily develop drug resistance. Bacteria are classified into gram-positive and gram-negative according to the composition of the cell membrane structure. Gram-negative bacteria have an additional outer membrane (OM) that is not present in their gram-positive counterpart; the latter instead hold a thicker peptidoglycan (PG) layer. Bacterial resistance to these drugs continues to evolve, which calls for novel antibacterial approaches to be developed.
  • 1.9K
  • 05 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT)
Photodynamic inactivation is known as a new antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). It is based on the administration of a photosensitizer located in the bacterial/viral cell followed by exposure to light radiations (with a proper wavelength corresponding with the maximum value of absorption of the photosensitizer) that generate singlet oxygen or reactive oxygen species, which lead to the death of different microorganisms. This review will present an overview beyond the state-of-the-art of the photosensitizer types (based on tetra-p-sulphonated-phenyl porphyrin—TSPP, which is able to form cationic and J-aggregates forms at different pH values ((1–4) and concentrations around 10−5 M) and their applications of PDT for viruses, especially. 
  • 1.9K
  • 30 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Cardiac Glycosides
Cardiac glycosides (CG’s) are naturally occurring biologically active small molecules, used to diagnose a diversity of heart diseases such as congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. The story of CG’s started over 100 years ago when Sir William Withering reported the use of foxglove plant for treating “dropsy” associated with congestive heart failure and the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea) was still in the use for the extraction of Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside used to treat congestive heart failures (Johnson., 2012). The core structure of CGs comprises a steroid nucleus attached to a five-membered lactone ring (cardenolide) or six-membered lactone rings (bufadienolides) along with sugar moieties. Major plant-derived CGs were obtained from plant families of Apocynaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Asparagaceae (Thevitia neriifolia, Neerium oleander, Digitalis purpurea, Digitalis lanata, Urginea maritime, and Strophanthus kombe). Structurally, all these contain a core steroid nucleus connected with sugar moiety at C3 position and lactone moiety at C17 position (Figure 1.3). The pharmacological significance of all the CG’s lies in the core steroid confirmation that contains A/B and C/D cis- portions and the properties such as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics lie between the confined sugars molecules (Pongrakhananon., 2013). Apart from the plant sources, CG’s were also isolated from several animal species such as bufadienolide was isolated from frogs, and also mammalian tissues contain a cardiac glycoside which is similar to endogenous digitalis (Melero et al., 2000). Quite a few studies have conveyed that the human body does contain a lot more CG’s in different parts. For example, the plasma membrane contains Ouabain and Proscillaridin A and human urine contains digoxin and marinobufagenin whereas human lenses consist of 19-norbufalin (Schoner and Scheiner-Bobis., 2007). In the year 1785, William Withering was the first person to use a digitalis compound from Digitalis purpurea to treat congestive heart failures. Currently, Digoxin is used for treating congestive heart failures. The mechanism of action of Digoxin is that it can inhibit the sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase). Living organisms maintain more percentage of K+ within the cell and less percentage of Na+. However, the scenario at the outside of the cell is quite opposite to the intracellular conditions where a high percentage of Na+ and less percentage of K+ will be maintained. Hence, there is a concentration incline that exists between the outside and inside cellular environments, which will be maintained by sodium-potassium pump. The Na+/K+-ATPase is recognized as a transmembrane protein whose functions are to maintain ionic balance in the heart tissue. Na+/K+-ATPase utilizes ATP as the whole energy source, to exchange two K+ ions inside the cell and pushes three Na+ ions outside to maintain intra cellular homeostasis. Also, Na+/K+-ATPase transports glucose and amino acids by keeping less concentration of Na+ within the cell and helps in the maintenance of electrochemical incline. The increment of the Na+ level inside the cell retort to CGs fortifies the ion exchange mechanism. This leads to the expansion of intracellular Ca2+ percentage which therefore promotes organelle instances such as myocardial contractibility, and generates optimistic inotropic effects in the heart cell with CGs (Kaplan., 2002).  
  • 1.9K
  • 12 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Structure-Based Virtual Screening
Molecular docking plays a significant role in early-stage drug discovery, from structure-based virtual screening (VS) to hit-to-lead optimization. VS is a computational approach used to identify chemical structures that are predicted to have particular properties. In drug discovery, it involves computationally searching large libraries of chemical structures to identify those structures that are most likely to bind to a target protein.
  • 1.8K
  • 04 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Thiophene-Based Compounds
Thiophene derivatives provide useful intermediaries in various areas of science and industry, with a wide range of applications, and therapeutic properties. Thiophene derivatives attract both great academic interest, and interest from the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, and dye industries, as well. As to their biological and pharmacological applications, thiophene derivatives possess remarkable properties as antipsychotic, antianxiety, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory agents. The present work provides an update on the role of thiophene-based derivatives in inflammation processes.
  • 1.8K
  • 09 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Marine-Derived Phenolic Compounds
Phenolic metabolites are organic compounds with at least one or more hydroxyl groups attached to arylic systems with simple variations to highly polymerized molecules.
  • 1.7K
  • 10 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Theranostic Radiopharmaceuticals
Theranostic Radiopharmaceuticals (Radiotheranostics) is a term in the medical field to define the combination of therapeutic and diagnostic techniques by a suitable radiopharmaceutical agent. Radionuclides are isotopes that emit radiation or have excess nuclear energy, making them chemically unstable and tend to change into another atom. Various types of radiation can be emitted by radionuclides e.g. alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma energy. In radiotheranostics, a pharmaceutical agent (drug) is needed to be a carrier molecule that introduces the radionuclide to its target. Radionuclides are then used as a source of radiation in radiotheranostics that are responsible for diagnosing or treating various diseases.
  • 1.7K
  • 24 May 2022
Topic Review
Green Synthetic Approach
Green synthetic protocol refers to the development of processes for the sustainable production of chemicals and materials. For the synthesis of various biologically active compounds, energy-efficient and environmentally benign processes are applied, such as microwave irradiation technology, ultrasound-mediated synthesis, photo-catalysis (ultraviolet, visible and infrared irradiation), molecular sieving, grinding and milling techniques, etc. 
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Heterocyclic Anticancer Compounds
Heterocyclic organic compounds are designated as integral components on a wide array of structures with both pharmacological and biological importance. They constitute a large cohort of structures with immense importance in the life sciences. 
  • 1.7K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Small Molecules for Corneal Neovascularization
Multiple natural-source and synthetic small molecules have been tested preclinical for treating corneal neovascularization. Such small molecules include synthetic inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor and other tyrosine kinases, plus repurposed antimicrobials, as well as natural source-derived flavonoid and non-flavonoid phytochemicals, immunosuppressants, vitamins, and histone deacetylase inhibitors.
  • 1.7K
  • 17 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Silver and Silver Nanoparticles for Treatment of COVID-19
COVID-19 is an epizootic and life-threatening outbreak affecting millions of people globally. Coronavirus variants have emerged in different locations since their origin. Silver and its compounds, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), have been used in the medical field for a long period, especially in surgical treatments. The anti-microbial and anti-viral properties of silver are well documented. These properties depend on the size of the particles, concentration, precursor, method of preparation, and the presence of other benefiting compounds. Several experiments were conducted by researchers worldwide to prove the anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties of silver (Ag) and AgNPs, emphasizing that silver can be introduced to multiple organs in the human body and exhibit the expected antiviral characteristics.
  • 1.7K
  • 17 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Papaverine and Its Mechanism of Action
Papaverine has been proven to be a high-value opioid alkaloid in the field of therapeutics either in solitude or in combination with other metabolites/molecules. Pharmacological research has revealed that papaverine demonstrates a variety of biological activities, including activity against erectile dysfunction, postoperative vasospasms, and pulmonary vasoconstriction, as well as antiviral, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, and gestational actions.
  • 1.6K
  • 07 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Drug Delivery for Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year, representing one third of global mortality. As existing therapies still have limited success, due to the inability to control the biodistribution of the currently approved drugs, the quality of life of these patients is modest. The advent of nanomedicine has brought new insights in innovative treatment strategies.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Roles of the CXCL8-CXCR1/2 Axis in Cancer
In humans, Interleukin-8 (IL-8 or CXCL8) is a granulocytic chemokine with multiple roles within the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as recruiting immunosuppressive cells to the tumor, increasing tumor angiogenesis, and promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). 
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Hsp90 C-Terminal Inhibitors
Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone with over 300 client proteins that act in the cell cycle and in signalling processes. Disruption of Hsp90 chaperone activity by inhibitors induces simultaneous proteasomal degradation of many deregulated oncoproteins that are critical for all fundamental hallmarks of cancers. To date, mainly Hsp90 N-terminal domain inhibitors have been developed for cancer treatments; however, several of these have not been successful in clinical trials, often due to toxicity. One of the major drawbacks associated with Hsp90 N-terminal domain inhibition is induction of the pro-survival heat-shock response. This response results in increased levels of Hsp90 and anti-apoptotic proteins, such as heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1), Hsp27 and Hsp70, which initiate anti-apoptotic cascades and promote drug resistance, a highly problematic property of any anticancer drug. In contrast, Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitors do not induce the heat shock response, and are therefore promising novel agents for treatment of different cancers.
  • 1.5K
  • 09 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Medicinal Use of Testosterone
Testosterone derivatives and related compounds (such as anabolic-androgenic steroids—AAS) are frequently misused by athletes (both professional and amateur) wishing to promote muscle development and strength or to cover AAS misuse.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been advocated as nanocarriers for the treatment of various diseases because of their physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. The use of MSNs combined with therapeutic agents can provide better encapsulation and effective delivery. MSNs as nanocarriers might also be a promising tool to lower the therapeutic dosage levels and thereby to reduce undesired side effects. Furthermore, when combined with imaging compounds for diagnosis, they can be employed as theragnostic agents thus allowing both imaging and therapy using the same nanoparticle.
  • 1.4K
  • 19 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Curcumin: Biochemistry and Antitumoral Action
Curcumin is a pigment with a strong yellow colour found and the main active component of Curcuma longa, a perennial Zingiberaceae plant native to southwest India, but now grown across the South and Southeast Asia, especially in China and India. It is used for centuries as a spice and currently it is viewed as a nutraceutical due to the increasing number of scientific studies demonstrating its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral and cancer preventive properties. Its chemical structure comprises two aromatic ring systems with o-methoxy phenol groups connected by a seven-carbon linker consisting of an α,β-unsaturated β-diketone with tautomerism when in solution.
  • 1.4K
  • 07 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Anticancer Effects of Royal Jelly
Royal jelly (RJ) is produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular salivary glands of young nurse honeybees. RJ contains bioactive substances, such as carbohydrates, protein, lipids, peptides, mineral salts and polyphenols which contribute to the appreciated biological and pharmacological activities. Antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antibacterial impacts are among the well-recognized benefits. The combination of RJ or its constituents with anticancer drugs has synergistic effects on cancer disorders, enhancing the drug’s effectiveness or reducing its side effects. 
  • 1.4K
  • 18 Oct 2022
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