Topic Review
Edible Flowers
Edible flowers have been widely consumed for ages until now. The attractive colors and shapes, exotic aroma, and delightful taste make edible flowers very easy to attain. Moreover, they also provide health benefits for consumers due to the unique composition and concentration of antioxidant compounds in the matrices. Knowing the bioactive compounds and their functional properties from edible flowers is necessary to diversify the usage and reach broader consumers.
  • 784
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungal species that commonly have a toxic effect on human and animal health. Different foodstuff can be contaminated and are considered the major source of human exposure to mycotoxins, but occupational and environmental exposure can also significantly contribute to this problem.
  • 780
  • 19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The apoptosis machinery is a promising target against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) modulate apoptosis by direct inhibition of caspases. Serenoa Repens (SeR) may be combined with other natural compounds such as Lycopene (Ly) and Selenium (Se) to maximize its therapeutic activity in BPH. We investigated the effects of SeR, Se and Ly, alone or in association, on the expression of four IAPs, cIAP-1, cIAP-2, NAIP and survivin in rats with experimental testosterone-dependent BPH. Moreover, caspase-3, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have been evaluated. Rats were administered, daily, with testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg/sc) or its vehicle for 14 days. Testosterone injected animals (BPH) were randomized to receive vehicle, SeR (25 mg/kg/sc), Se (3 mg/kg/sc), Ly (1 mg/kg/sc) or the SeR-Se-Ly association for 14 days. Animals were sacrificed and prostate removed for analysis. BPH animals treated with vehicle showed unchanged expression of cIAP-1 and cIAP-2 and increased expression of NAIP, survivin, caspase-3, IL-6 and PSMA levels when compared with sham animals. Immunofluorescence studies confirmed the enhanced expression of NAIP and survivin with a characteristic pattern of cellular localization. SeR-Se-Ly association showed the highest efficacy in reawakening apoptosis; additionally, this therapeutic cocktail significantly reduced IL-6 and PSMA levels. The administration of SeR, Se and Ly significantly blunted prostate overweight and growth; moreover, the SeR-Se-Ly association was most effective in reducing prostate enlargement and growth by 43.3% in treated animals. The results indicate that IAPs may represent interesting targets for drug therapy of BPH.
  • 773
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Nod-Like Receptors
The nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich-repeat-containing family (NLRs) (sometimes called the NOD-like receptors, though the family contains few bona fide receptors) are a superfamily of multidomain-containing proteins that detect cellular stress and microbial infection.
  • 770
  • 29 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine-Immune Basis of the Placebo Effect
The placebo effect can be defined as the improvement of symptoms in a patient after the administration of an innocuous substance in a context that induces expectations regarding its effects. During recent years, it has been discovered that the placebo response not only has neurobiological functions on analgesia, but that it is also capable of generating effects on the immune and endocrine systems. Beyond studies about its mechanism of action, the placebo effect has proved to be useful in the clinical setting with promising results in the management of neurological, psychiatric, and immunologic disorders. However, more research is needed to better characterize its potential use. 
  • 768
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
NRF2-Activating Compounds Bearing α,β-Unsaturated Moiety
The surge of scientific interest in the discovery of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 (NFE2)-Related Factor 2 (NRF2)-activating molecules underscores the importance of NRF2 as a therapeutic target especially for oxidative stress. The chemical reactivity and biological activities of several bioactive compounds have been linked to the presence of α,β-unsaturated structural systems. The α,β-unsaturated carbonyl, sulfonyl and sulfinyl functional groups are reportedly the major α,β-unsaturated moieties involved in the activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway. The carbonyl, sulfonyl and sulfinyl groups are generally electron-withdrawing groups, and the presence of the α,β-unsaturated structure qualifies them as suitable electrophiles for Michael addition reaction with nucleophilic thiols of cysteine residues within the proximal negative regulator of NRF2, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1). The physicochemical property such as good lipophilicity of these moieties is also an advantage because it ensures solubility and membrane permeability required for the activation of the cytosolic NRF2/KEAP1 system.
  • 769
  • 02 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Photocatalysis of COVID-19 in Wastewater
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is currently posing a significant threat to the world’s public health and social-economic growth. Despite the rigorous international lockdown and quarantine efforts, the rate of COVID-19 infectious cases remains exceptionally high. Notwithstanding, the end route of COVID-19, together with emerging contaminants’ (antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, nanoplastics, pesticide, etc.) occurrence in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), poses a great challenge in wastewater settings.
  • 765
  • 09 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Natural Polypropionates
Natural polypropionates (PPs) are a large subgroup of polyketides constructed by C3-units. One of the main characteristics to distinguish the PPs is the regularly interspaced methyl groups in the polyketide chain or the cyclic polyketide core, which are driven directly from propionate unit or from the acetate-methionine motif.
  • 765
  • 07 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Ethnobotanical Properties and Phytochemistry of Picrorhiza kurroa
Traditional remedies for the treatment of various ailments are gaining popularity. Traditionally, one of the most valuable therapeutic herbs has been Picrorhiza kurroa (P. kurroa) Royle ex Benth. Traditional and folk uses of P. kurroa include chronic constipation, skin-related problems, burning sensation, chronic reoccurring fever, jaundice, heart problems, breathing, digestion, allergy, tuberculosis, blood-related problems, prediabetes and obesity, laxative, cholagogue, and liver stimulatory.
  • 764
  • 12 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Phenothiazines Modified with Pyridine Ring
Azaphenothiazines are the largest and most perspective group of modified phenothiazines, and they exhibit variety of biological activities. The review sums up the current knowledge on the anticancer activity of isomeric pyridobenzothiazines and dipyridothiazines, which are modified azaphenothiazines with one and two pyridine rings, respectively, against 10 types of cancer cell lines. Some 10-substituted dipyridothiazines and even 10-unsubstituted parent compounds, such as 10H-1,9-diazaphenothiazine and 10H-3,6-diazaphenothiazine, exhibited very potent action with the IC50 values less than 1 µg/mL and 1 µM against selected cancer cell lines. The strength of the anticancer action depends both on the tricyclic ring scaffolds and the substituents at the thiazine nitrogen atom.
  • 763
  • 18 Mar 2021
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