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Phytotherapy Research : PTR Aug 2014Acne is prevalent among adolescents and adults with significant psychological effects. Standard oral and topical therapies can have significant side effects including... (Review)
Review
Acne is prevalent among adolescents and adults with significant psychological effects. Standard oral and topical therapies can have significant side effects including skin irritation, gastrointestinal upset, and the development of drug-resistant bacteria. The use of botanicals and phytochemicals in dermatological products is increasingly popular, and many patients are turning to these alternative therapies for treatment of acne. This study aimed to systematically review clinical studies that have investigated the use of botanical agents in the treatment of acne. PubMed and Embase databases were searched in March 2013 for trials assessing botanical therapies in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Data from these trials are presented, and methodology of each study is assessed. Twenty-three trials met inclusion criteria. Interventions included plant extracts, herbal formulations, and phytochemicals. All studies reported favorable results, and several showed equal or superior treatment to standard therapies. No serious adverse events were reported. Few studies were methodologically rigorous. Each botanical was studied in only one or two trials. Botanicals are promising therapies for acne vulgaris although further research is warranted, especially with regard to severe acne and acne resistant to conventional therapy. There is a need for standardized methods for grading acne and assessing therapeutic effects.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Research Design
PubMed: 25098271
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5125 -
FEMS Microbiology Reviews Jan 2024Rhizosphere microbes play critical roles for plant's growth and health. Among them, the beneficial rhizobacteria have the potential to be developed as the biofertilizer...
Rhizosphere microbes play critical roles for plant's growth and health. Among them, the beneficial rhizobacteria have the potential to be developed as the biofertilizer or bioinoculants for sustaining the agricultural development. The efficient rhizosphere colonization of these rhizobacteria is a prerequisite for exerting their plant beneficial functions, but the colonizing process and underlying mechanisms have not been thoroughly reviewed, especially for the nonsymbiotic beneficial rhizobacteria. This review systematically analyzed the root colonizing process of the nonsymbiotic rhizobacteria and compared it with that of the symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. This review also highlighted the approaches to improve the root colonization efficiency and proposed to study the rhizobacterial colonization from a holistic perspective of the rhizosphere microbiome under more natural conditions.
Topics: Alphaproteobacteria; Bacteria; Plant Roots; Rhizosphere; Soil Microbiology; Symbiosis
PubMed: 38093453
DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad066 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023Agricultural crops are exposed to various abiotic stresses, such as salinity, water deficits, temperature extremes, floods, radiation, and metal toxicity. To overcome... (Review)
Review
Agricultural crops are exposed to various abiotic stresses, such as salinity, water deficits, temperature extremes, floods, radiation, and metal toxicity. To overcome these challenges, breeding programs seek to improve methods and techniques. Gene editing by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR/Cas-is a versatile tool for editing in all layers of the central dogma with focus on the development of cultivars of plants resistant or tolerant to multiple biotic or abiotic stresses. This systematic review (SR) brings new contributions to the study of the use of CRISPR/Cas in gene editing for tolerance to abiotic stress in plants. Articles deposited in different electronic databases, using a search and predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, were evaluated. This SR demonstrates that the CRISPR/Cas system has been applied to several plant species to promote tolerance to the main abiotic stresses. Among the most studied crops are rice and , an important staple food for the population, and a model plant in genetics/biotechnology, respectively, and more recently tomato, whose number of studies has increased since 2021. Most studies were conducted in Asia, specifically in China. The Cas9 enzyme is used in most articles, and only Cas12a is used as an additional gene editing tool in plants. Ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) have emerged as a DNA-free strategy for genome editing without exogenous DNA. This SR also identifies several genes edited by CRISPR/Cas, and it also shows that plant responses to stress factors are mediated by many complex-signaling pathways. In addition, the quality of the articles included in this SR was validated by a risk of bias analysis. The information gathered in this SR helps to understand the current state of CRISPR/Cas in the editing of genes and noncoding sequences, which plays a key role in the regulation of various biological processes and the tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses, with potential for use in plant genetic improvement programs.
PubMed: 36679018
DOI: 10.3390/plants12020305 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Nov 2020Artificial intelligence (AI) models and optimization algorithms (OA) are broadly employed in different fields of technology and science and have recently been applied to... (Review)
Review
Artificial intelligence (AI) models and optimization algorithms (OA) are broadly employed in different fields of technology and science and have recently been applied to improve different stages of plant tissue culture. The usefulness of the application of AI-OA has been demonstrated in the prediction and optimization of length and number of microshoots or roots, biomass in plant cell cultures or hairy root culture, and optimization of environmental conditions to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency, as well as classification of microshoots and somatic embryos. Despite its potential, the use of AI and OA in this field has been limited due to complex definition terms and computational algorithms. Therefore, a systematic review to unravel modeling and optimizing methods is important for plant researchers and has been acknowledged in this study. First, the main steps for AI-OA development (from data selection to evaluation of prediction and classification models), as well as several AI models such as artificial neural networks (ANNs), neurofuzzy logic, support vector machines (SVMs), decision trees, random forest (FR), and genetic algorithms (GA), have been represented. Then, the application of AI-OA models in different steps of plant tissue culture has been discussed and highlighted. This review also points out limitations in the application of AI-OA in different plant tissue culture processes and provides a new view for future study objectives. KEY POINTS: • Artificial intelligence models and optimization algorithms can be considered a novel and reliable computational method in plant tissue culture. • This review provides the main steps and concepts for model development. • The application of machine learning algorithms in different steps of plant tissue culture has been discussed and highlighted.
Topics: Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; Neural Networks, Computer; Plant Cells
PubMed: 32984921
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10888-2 -
Food & Function Aug 2023The fruit of Linn., which mainly grows in tropical and subtropical regions, is well-known for its medicine and food homology properties. It has a distinctive flavor,... (Review)
Review
The fruit of Linn., which mainly grows in tropical and subtropical regions, is well-known for its medicine and food homology properties. It has a distinctive flavor, great nutritional content, and potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immunoregulatory effects. According to an increasing amount of scientific and clinical evidence, this fruit shows significant potential for application and development in the field of oral health management. Through the supplementation of vitamins, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and other nutrients reduce virulence expression of various oral pathogens, prevent tissue and mucosal damage caused by oxidative stress, . fruit can promote saliva secretion, regulate the balance of the oral microecology, prevent and treat oral cancer early, promote alveolar bone remodeling and aid mucosal wound healing. Thus, it plays a specific role in the prevention and treatment of common oral disorders, producing surprising results. For instance, enhancing the effectiveness of scaling and root planing in the treatment of periodontitis, relieving mucosal inflammation caused by radiotherapy for oral cancer, and regulating the blood glucose metabolism to alleviate oral discomfort. Herein, we systematically review the latest research on the use of fruit in the management of oral health and examine the challenges and future research directions based on its chemical composition and characteristics.
Topics: Humans; Fruit; Phyllanthus emblica; Plant Extracts; Polyphenols; Mouth Neoplasms
PubMed: 37529983
DOI: 10.1039/d3fo01671d -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... Jan 2023Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifaceted metabolic syndrome defined through the dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells driven by a confluence of genetic and...
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifaceted metabolic syndrome defined through the dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells driven by a confluence of genetic and environmental elements. Insulin resistance, mediated by interleukins and other inflammatory elements, is one of the key factors contributing to the progression of T2DM. Many essential oils derived from dietary plants are beneficial against various chronic diseases. We reviewed the anti-diabetic properties of dietary plant-derived essential oil compounds, with a focus on their molecular mechanisms by modulating specific signaling pathways and other critical inflammatory mediators involved in insulin resistance. High-quality literature published in the last 12 years, from 2010 to 2022, was collected from the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases using the search terms "dietary plants," "essential oils," "anti-diabetic," "insulin resistance," "antihyperglycemic," "T2DM," "anti-diabetic essential oils," and anti-diabetic mechanism." According to the results, the essential oil compounds, including cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, zingerone, sclareol, zerumbone, myrtenol, thujone, geraniol, citral, eugenol, thymoquinone, thymol, citronellol, α-terpineol, and linalool have been demonstrated to contain strong anti-diabetic effects via modulating various signal transduction pathways linked to glucose metabolism. Additionally, in diabetes-related animal models, they can also considerably reduce the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2. The main signaling molecules regulated by these compounds include AMPK, GLUT4, Caspase-3, PPARγ, PPARα, NF-κB, p-IκBα, MyD88, MCP-1, SREBP-1c, AGEs, RAGE, VEGF, Nrf2/HO-1, and SIRT-1. They can also significantly inhibit the generation of TBARS and MDA, reduce oxidative stress, increase insulin levels, adiponectin, and glycoprotein enzymes, boost antioxidant enzymes like SOD, CAT, and GPx, as well as reduce glutathione and vital glycolytic enzymes. Besides, they can significantly lower the levels of liver enzymes and lipid profile markers. Moreover, most essential oil compounds are generally safe based on animal studies. In conclusion, dietary plant-derived essential oil compounds have potential anti-diabetic effects by influencing different signaling pathways and molecular targets linked to glucose metabolism, and should be safe and beneficial against diabetes and related complications.
PubMed: 36708221
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2170320 -
Maturitas Sep 2014The effect of diet on the development of stroke has recently achieved much interest by various research groups, but with inconclusive results. The aim of the present... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The effect of diet on the development of stroke has recently achieved much interest by various research groups, but with inconclusive results. The aim of the present review was to systematically present and discuss the up to date available research regarding the relationship between adherence to dietary patterns and stroke. Studies included were observational and randomized clinical trials. Internet searches until May 31, 2014, retrieved 152 potentially relevant papers; of them, 34 were excluded on the basis that did not report data on humans, 3 were in language other than English, 2 were excluded because they had a cross-sectional design, 3 because they reported data on secondary prevention and 82 were excluded on the basis of irrelevant research. One article was a recent meta-analysis on Mediterranean diet, stroke, cognitive impairment and depression and was used as a basis for a re-meta-analysis with the additional papers published after the publication of the later meta-analysis. The existing evidence suggests that adherence to healthy dietary patterns (i.e., Mediterranean or DASH or plant based "prudent") was associated with reduced risk for stroke, whereas limited data exist supporting a detrimental effect of westernized dietary patterns. Moreover, the applied re-meta-analysis, based on a total sample of 195,875 participants enhanced the previously reported meta-analysis underlying a consistent, protective effect of higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet on stroke incidence (pooled relative risk 0.68, 95% CI 0.58, 0.79). Thus, a healthy dietary pattern exerts a beneficial effect on stroke incidence and mortality, adding a new direction toward stroke prevention on population level.
Topics: Cognition Disorders; Depression; Diet; Diet, Mediterranean; Diet, Western; Feeding Behavior; Humans; Stroke
PubMed: 25042875
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.06.014 -
Phytotherapy Research : PTR Aug 2017Searching for new natural drugs that are capable of targeting Th1 and Th17 may lead to development of more effective treatments for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.... (Review)
Review
Searching for new natural drugs that are capable of targeting Th1 and Th17 may lead to development of more effective treatments for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Most of the natural drugs can be derived from plants that are used in traditional medicine and folk medicine. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and introduce plants or plant derivatives that are effective on inflammatory diseases by inhibiting Th1 and Th17 responses. To achieve this purpose, the search terms herb, herbal medicine, herbal drug, medicinal plant, phytochemical, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, natural compound, inflammation, inflammatory diseases, Th1, Th17, T helper 1 or T helper 17 were used separately in Title/Keywords/Abstract in Web of Science and PubMed databases. In articles investigating the effect of the medicinal plants and their derivatives in inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cells, the effects of eight extracts of the medicinal plants, 21 plant-based compounds and some of their derivatives, and eight drugs derived from the medicinal plants' compounds in inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cells were reviewed. The results showed that medicinal plants and their derivates are able to suppress Th17 and Th1 T cell functions as well as cytokine secretion and differentiation. The results can be used to produce herbal drugs that suppress Th, especially Th17, responses. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Topics: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Herbal Medicine; Humans; Inflammation; Medicine, Traditional; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Th1 Cells; Th17 Cells
PubMed: 28568565
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5837 -
Cureus Oct 2023Cancer is a leading cause of mortality around the world, despite continued advancements in the management of cancer. Recent research efforts have shifted to evaluating... (Review)
Review
Cancer is a leading cause of mortality around the world, despite continued advancements in the management of cancer. Recent research efforts have shifted to evaluating the role that modifiable risk factors play in cancer risk and development, as diet and nutrition have been found to play a significant role in the onset and progression of cancer. As a result, there has been an increasing focus on the impact of dietary modifications on preventing the onset, progression, and reoccurrence of cancer. In this systematic review, data were collected on three common diets, the Mediterranean diet (MD), ketogenic diet (KD), and plant-based diet, to gain insight into the application of these three dietary modification approaches for risk prevention and limitation of cancer burden. Initially, 4,397 articles were identified from three databases (Ovid, Web of Science, and CINHAL). After removing studies based on the exclusion criteria, only 23 studies were eligible to be included in the systematic review of which 15 evaluated the MD, four assessed the ketogenic diet, and four evaluated the plant-based diet. Each article was considered for its methods, procedures, and findings. The findings indicate that dietary interventions may effectively reduce the odds of cancer development and the advancement of diagnosed cancers. With the introduction of the MD, KD, and plant-based diets, significant improvements in lowering cancer development, recurrence-free status, and limiting tumor growth were noted across numerous cancer types. Currently, the MD has been extensively studied in the literature, and amongst the widest variety of cancer types. Additional information and evaluation are required on the ketogenic and plant-based diets to fully understand their impact on the cancer burden across a wider subset of cancers. Clinicians should evaluate and recommend nutritional adaptations to their patients to limit the development of specific cancers and as an adjunctive therapy to traditional pharmacological treatment options for patients with diagnosed cancers.
PubMed: 37937022
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46639 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jan 2023Borneol (BO) represents a global trade-driven spreading of ethnic medicine traceable to the classical age, and won its name specific to its original habitat "Borneo". BO... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Borneol (BO) represents a global trade-driven spreading of ethnic medicine traceable to the classical age, and won its name specific to its original habitat "Borneo". BO shows broad spectral pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, inducing resuscitation, and widely applied in the protection and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, used singly or mostly in compound formulae.
AIM OF THE STUDY
Three stereoscopic configuration forms of BO, l-borneol (LB), d-borneol (DB), and dl-borneol (synthetic, SB), are formulated in broad spectral application, yet their diverse pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties caused by configurations, and accurate assay and quality assessment are often overlooked. A systematic review and analysis of lumped studies and applications is necessary to clarify the relationship between configuration and its original plant, analysis method, activity and side effect BO in order to guarantee the efficacy and safety during their application.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The public databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure were referenced to summarize a comprehensive research and application data of BO published up to date.
RESULTS
This review includes following sections: History and current status, Stereochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Quality assessment. In the section of history, the changes of the plant origins of the two isomeric forms of natural BO were described respectively, and the methods for synthetic racemate SB were also included. The section of stereochemistry deals with the stereoscopic structures, physical/chemical property, optical rotation of the three forms of BO, as well as the main related substances like isoborneol, obtained in SB via chemical transformation of camphor and turpentine oil. In the section of Ethnopharmacology, pharmacological activities and pharmacokinetics of different forms of BO were discussed. BO is usually used as an "adjuvant", by enhancing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier and intervene the ADME/T pathways of the other ingredients in the same formulation. In the section of quality assessment, the analytical methods, including chromatography, especially GC, and spectroscopy were addressed on the chiral separation of the coexisting enantiomers.
CONCLUSIONS
This overview systematically summarized three forms of BO in terms of history, stereochemistry, ethnopharmacology, and quality assessment, which, hopefully, can provide valuable information and strategy for more reasonable application and development of the globally reputed ethnic medicine borneol with characteristics in stereochemistry.
Topics: Analgesics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antipyretics; Camphanes; Camphor; Ethnopharmacology; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Turpentine
PubMed: 36087846
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115697