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Nutrients Sep 2023Taurine, a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid, has attracted significant attention in recent years due to its potential health benefits. Found in various... (Review)
Review
Taurine, a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid, has attracted significant attention in recent years due to its potential health benefits. Found in various foods and often used in energy drinks and supplements, taurine has been studied extensively to understand its impact on human physiology. Determining its exact functional roles represents a complex and multifaceted topic. We provide an overview of the scientific literature and present an analysis of the effects of taurine on various aspects of human health, focusing on aging and cardiovascular pathophysiology, but also including athletic performance, metabolic regulation, and neurological function. Additionally, our report summarizes the current recommendations for taurine intake and addresses potential safety concerns. Evidence from both human and animal studies indicates that taurine may have beneficial cardiovascular effects, including blood pressure regulation, improved cardiac fitness, and enhanced vascular health. Its mechanisms of action and antioxidant properties make it also an intriguing candidate for potential anti-aging strategies.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Taurine; Heart; Antioxidants; Dietary Supplements; Aging
PubMed: 37836520
DOI: 10.3390/nu15194236 -
Translational Neurodegeneration Jun 2022Most neurodegenerative disorders are diseases of protein homeostasis, with misfolded aggregates accumulating. The neurodegenerative process is mediated by numerous... (Review)
Review
Most neurodegenerative disorders are diseases of protein homeostasis, with misfolded aggregates accumulating. The neurodegenerative process is mediated by numerous metabolic pathways, most of which lead to apoptosis. In recent years, hydrophilic bile acids, particularly tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), have shown important anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective activities, with numerous experimental and clinical evidence suggesting their possible therapeutic use as disease-modifiers in neurodegenerative diseases. Experimental evidence on the mechanisms underlying TUDCA's neuroprotective action derives from animal models of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and cerebral ischemia. Preclinical studies indicate that TUDCA exerts its effects not only by regulating and inhibiting the apoptotic cascade, but also by reducing oxidative stress, protecting the mitochondria, producing an anti-neuroinflammatory action, and acting as a chemical chaperone to maintain the stability and correct folding of proteins. Furthermore, data from phase II clinical trials have shown TUDCA to be safe and a potential disease-modifier in ALS. ALS is the first neurodegenerative disease being treated with hydrophilic bile acids. While further clinical evidence is being accumulated for the other diseases, TUDCA stands as a promising treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Animals; Bile Acids and Salts; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid
PubMed: 35659112
DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00307-z -
Journal of Industrial Microbiology &... Apr 2022Alkanes are high-energy molecules that are compatible with enduring liquid fuel infrastructures, which make them highly suitable for being next-generation biofuels.... (Review)
Review
Alkanes are high-energy molecules that are compatible with enduring liquid fuel infrastructures, which make them highly suitable for being next-generation biofuels. Though biological production of alkanes has been reported in various microorganisms, the reports citing photosynthetic cyanobacteria as natural producers have been the most consistent for the long-chain alkanes and alkenes (C15-C19). However, the production of alkane in cyanobacteria is low, leading to its extraction being uneconomical for commercial purposes. In order to make alkane production economically feasible from cyanobacteria, the titre and yield need to be increased by several orders of magnitude. In the recent past, efforts have been made to enhance alkane production, although with a little gain in yield, leaving space for much improvement. Genetic manipulation in cyanobacteria is considered challenging, but recent advancements in genetic engineering tools may assist in manipulating the genome in order to enhance alkane production. Further, advancement in a basic understanding of metabolic pathways and gene functioning will guide future research for harvesting the potential of these tiny photosynthetically efficient factories. In this review, our focus would be to highlight the current knowledge available on cyanobacterial alkane production, and the potential aspects of developing cyanobacterium as an economical source of biofuel. Further insights into different metabolic pathways and hosts explored so far, and possible challenges in scaling up the production of alkanes will also be discussed.
Topics: Alkanes; Alkenes; Biofuels; Cyanobacteria; Metabolic Engineering
PubMed: 34718648
DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuab075 -
Microbial Cell Factories Nov 2020The development of sustainable routes to the bio-manufacture of gaseous hydrocarbons will contribute widely to future energy needs. Their realisation would contribute... (Review)
Review
The development of sustainable routes to the bio-manufacture of gaseous hydrocarbons will contribute widely to future energy needs. Their realisation would contribute towards minimising over-reliance on fossil fuels, improving air quality, reducing carbon footprints and enhancing overall energy security. Alkane gases (propane, butane and isobutane) are efficient and clean-burning fuels. They are established globally within the transportation industry and are used for domestic heating and cooking, non-greenhouse gas refrigerants and as aerosol propellants. As no natural biosynthetic routes to short chain alkanes have been discovered, de novo pathways have been engineered. These pathways incorporate one of two enzymes, either aldehyde deformylating oxygenase or fatty acid photodecarboxylase, to catalyse the final step that leads to gas formation. These new pathways are derived from established routes of fatty acid biosynthesis, reverse β-oxidation for butanol production, valine biosynthesis and amino acid degradation. Single-step production of alkane gases in vivo is also possible, where one recombinant biocatalyst can catalyse gas formation from exogenously supplied short-chain fatty acid precursors. This review explores current progress in bio-alkane gas production, and highlights the potential for implementation of scalable and sustainable commercial bioproduction hubs.
Topics: Alkanes; Biofuels; Biosynthetic Pathways; Butanes; Carboxy-Lyases; Fatty Acids; Gases; Genetic Engineering; Industrial Microbiology; Metabolic Engineering; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygenases; Propane; Synthetic Biology
PubMed: 33187524
DOI: 10.1186/s12934-020-01470-6 -
Journal of Endocrinological... Jun 2023Orbital fibroblasts (OF) are considered the central target cells in the pathogenesis of thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO), which comprises orbital inflammation,... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Orbital fibroblasts (OF) are considered the central target cells in the pathogenesis of thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO), which comprises orbital inflammation, orbital tissue edema, adipogenesis, fibrosis, oxidative stress and autophagy. Certain active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrated inhibition of TAO-OF in pre-clinical studies and they could be translated into novel therapeutic strategies.
METHODS
The pertinent and current literature of pre-clinical studies on TAO investigating the effects of active ingredients of TCM was reviewed using the NCBI PubMed database.
RESULTS
Eleven TCM compounds demonstrated inhibition of TAO-OF in-vitro and three of them (polydatin, curcumin, and gypenosides) resulted in improvement in TAO mouse models. Tanshinone IIA reduced inflammation, oxidative stress and adipogenesis. Both resveratrol and its precursor polydatin displayed anti-oxidative and anti-adipogenic properties. Celastrol inhibited inflammation and triptolide prevented TAO-OF activation, while icariin inhibited autophagy and adipogenesis. Astragaloside IV reduced inflammation via suppressing autophagy and inhibited fat accumulation as well as collagen deposition. Curcumin displayed multiple actions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-adipogenic, anti-fibrotic and anti-angiogenic effects via multiple signaling pathways. Gypenosides reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, tissue fibrosis, as well as oxidative stress mediated autophagy and apoptosis. Dihydroartemisinin inhibited OF proliferation, inflammation, hyaluronan (HA) production, and fibrosis. Berberine attenuated inflammation, HA production, adipogenesis, and fibrosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical trials of different phases with adequate power and sound methodology will be warranted to evaluate the appropriate dosage, safety and efficacy of these compounds in the management of TAO.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Graves Ophthalmopathy; Curcumin; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Fibrosis; Inflammation; Fibroblasts
PubMed: 36781592
DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02024-4 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022There is increasing interest in the use of natural compounds with beneficial pharmacological effects for managing diseases. Curcumin (CUR) is a phytochemical that is... (Review)
Review
There is increasing interest in the use of natural compounds with beneficial pharmacological effects for managing diseases. Curcumin (CUR) is a phytochemical that is reportedly effective against some cancers through its ability to regulate signaling pathways and protein expression in cancer development and progression. Unfortunately, its use is limited due to its hydrophobicity, low bioavailability, chemical instability, photodegradation, and fast metabolism. Nanoparticles (NPs) are drug delivery systems that can increase the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs and improve drug targeting to cancer cells via different mechanisms and formulation techniques. In this review, we have discussed various CUR-NPs that have been evaluated for their potential use in treating cancers. Formulations reviewed include lipid, gold, zinc oxide, magnetic, polymeric, and silica NPs, as well as micelles, dendrimers, nanogels, cyclodextrin complexes, and liposomes, with an emphasis on their formulation and characteristics. CUR incorporation into the NPs enhanced its pharmaceutical and therapeutic significance with respect to solubility, absorption, bioavailability, stability, plasma half-life, targeted delivery, and anticancer effect. Our review shows that several CUR-NPs have promising anticancer activity; however, clinical reports on them are limited. We believe that clinical trials must be conducted on CUR-NPs to ensure their effective translation into clinical applications.
Topics: Curcumin
PubMed: 35056675
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020361 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024Curcumin is a polyphenolic molecule derived from the rhizoma of L. This compound has been used for centuries due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and... (Review)
Review
Curcumin is a polyphenolic molecule derived from the rhizoma of L. This compound has been used for centuries due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. These make it ideal for preventing and treating skin inflammation, premature skin ageing, psoriasis, and acne. Additionally, it exhibits antiviral, antimutagenic, and antifungal effects. Curcumin provides protection against skin damage caused by prolonged exposure to UVB radiation. It reduces wound healing times and improves collagen deposition. Moreover, it increases fibroblast and vascular density in wounds. This review summarizes the available information on the therapeutic effect of curcumin in treating skin diseases. The results suggest that curcumin may be an inexpensive, well-tolerated, and effective agent for treating skin diseases. However, larger clinical trials are needed to confirm these observations due to limitations in its in vivo use, such as low bioavailability after oral administration and metabolism.
Topics: Humans; Curcumin; Skin Diseases; Dermatitis; Psoriasis; Skin; Aging, Premature
PubMed: 38612433
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073617 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Feb 2023Yarrowia lipolytica, a dimorphic yeast belonging to the Ascomycota, has potent abilities to utilize hydrophobic compounds, such as n-alkanes and fatty acids, as carbon... (Review)
Review
Yarrowia lipolytica, a dimorphic yeast belonging to the Ascomycota, has potent abilities to utilize hydrophobic compounds, such as n-alkanes and fatty acids, as carbon and energy sources. Yarrowia lipolytica can synthesize and accumulate large amounts of lipids, making it a promising host to produce various lipids and convert n-alkanes to useful compounds. For advanced use of Y. lipolytica in these applications, it is necessary to understand the metabolism of these hydrophobic compounds in this yeast and the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this review, current knowledge on the n-alkane metabolism and how this is regulated in Y. lipolytica is summarized. Furthermore, recent studies revealed that lipid transfer proteins are involved in the utilization of n-alkanes and the regulation of cell morphology in response to n-alkanes. This review discusses the roles of membrane lipids in these processes in Y. lipolytica.
Topics: Yarrowia; Alkanes; Fatty Acids
PubMed: 36781616
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03541-3 -
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Feb 2021Curcuminoids are rare diketone compounds in plants and can be found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa as well as other Zingiberaceae and Araceae. Curcuminoids have been... (Review)
Review
Curcuminoids are rare diketone compounds in plants and can be found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa as well as other Zingiberaceae and Araceae. Curcuminoids have been widely used in food and medical area owing to the yellow colors, as well as the antioxidant and many other pharmacological activities. Curcuminoids are a mixture of compounds containing curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, which have distinct benzene ring substituents. Currently, curcuminoids are exclusively produced through plant extraction, which do not satisfy the meeting of the market demand. Empowered with new synthetic biology tools and metabolic engineering strategies, there is renewed interest in production of curcuminoids using microorganisms. Heterologous production of curcuminoids has been achieved using Escherichia coli, Yarrowia lipolytica, Pseudomonas putida and Aspergillus oryzae via engineering of curcuminoids biosynthesis pathway. In this review, we first describe the biological activities and various applications of curcuminoids. Next, we summarize the biosynthetic pathway of curcuminoids in Curcuma longa and discuss the catalytic mechanisms of curcumin synthases. Then, we thoroughly explore recent advances in the use of distinct microorganisms for the production of curcuminoids with a special focus on metabolic engineering strategies. Finally, we prospect the microbial production of curcuminoids by highlighting some promising techniques and approaches.
Topics: Antioxidants; Biosynthetic Pathways; Curcumin; Diarylheptanoids; Metabolic Engineering; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 33645144
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.200286 -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2020Curcumin (CUR), as a traditional Chinese medicine monomer extracted from the rhizomes of some plants in Ginkgo and Araceae, has shown a wide range of therapeutic and... (Review)
Review
Curcumin (CUR), as a traditional Chinese medicine monomer extracted from the rhizomes of some plants in Ginkgo and Araceae, has shown a wide range of therapeutic and pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-virus, anti-liver fibrosis, anti-atherosclerosis, and anti-Alzheimer's disease. However, some issues significantly affect its biological activity, such as low aqueous solubility, physico-chemical instability, poor bioavailability, and low targeting efficacy. In order to further improve its curative effect, numerous efficient drug delivery systems have been carried out. Among them, physicochemical targeting preparations could improve the properties, targeting ability, and biological activity of CUR. Therefore, in this review, CUR carrier systems are discussed that are driven by physicochemical characteristics of the microenvironment (eg, pH variation of tumorous tissues), affected by external influences like magnetic fields and vehicles formulated with thermo-sensitive materials.
Topics: Chemical Phenomena; Curcumin; Drug Carriers; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnetic Fields
PubMed: 33324053
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S276201