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Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Gastrointestinal parasitism is a major health and welfare problem in ruminants. Synthetic chemical anthelmintic drugs have led to the emergence of resistance in...
Gastrointestinal parasitism is a major health and welfare problem in ruminants. Synthetic chemical anthelmintic drugs have led to the emergence of resistance in gastrointestinal strongyles, inducing the search for alternatives to control the infections that affect ruminants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of plant extracts against Rudolphi. Three plants of the Guadeloupean biodiversity, L., L. and spp., were selected based on their high polyphenolic content and natural abundance. The phytochemistry of plants was explored, a biological assay against the parasite was carried out, and several hypotheses about the way of action were proposed by an innovative electrochemical screening method.
PubMed: 38931441
DOI: 10.3390/ph17060774 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Currently, there is no known cure for diabetes. Different pharmaceutical therapies have been approved for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), some are in... (Review)
Review
Currently, there is no known cure for diabetes. Different pharmaceutical therapies have been approved for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), some are in clinical trials and they have been classified according to their route or mechanism of action. Insulin types, sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors, and incretin-dependent therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: GLP-1R, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors: DPP-4). Although some of the currently available drugs are effective in the management of T2DM, the side effects resulting from prolonged use of these drugs remain a serious challenge. GLP-1R agonists are currently the preferred medications to include when oral metformin alone is insufficient to manage T2DM. Medicinal plants now play prominent roles in the management of various diseases globally because they are readily available and affordable as well as having limited and transient side effects. Recently, studies have reported the ability of phytochemicals to activate glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), acting as an agonist just like the GLP-1R agonist with beneficial effects in the management of T2DM. Consequently, we propose that careful exploration of phytochemicals for the development of novel therapeutic candidates as GLP-1R agonists will be a welcome breakthrough in the management of T2DM and the co-morbidities associated with T2DM.
PubMed: 38931402
DOI: 10.3390/ph17060736 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The Cucurbitaceae family includes several edible species that are consumed globally as fruits and vegetables. These species produce high volumes of seeds that are often...
The Cucurbitaceae family includes several edible species that are consumed globally as fruits and vegetables. These species produce high volumes of seeds that are often discarded as waste. In this study, we investigate the chemical composition and biological activity of three seed oils from Cucurbitaceae plants, namely, cantaloupe, honeydew, and zucchini, in comparison to the widely used pumpkin seed oil for their ability to enhance and accelerate wound healing in rats. Our results showed that honeydew seed oil (HSO) was effective in accelerating wound closure and enhancing tissue repair, as indicated by macroscopic, histological, and biochemical analyses, as compared with pumpkin seed oil (PSO). This effect was mediated by down-regulation of the advanced glycation end products (AGE) and its receptor (RAGE) cue, activating the cytoprotective enzymes nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), suppressing the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), and reducing the levels of the skin integral signaling protein connexin (CX)-43. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining for epidermal growth factor (EGF) showed the lowest expression in the skin after treatment with HSO, indicating a well-organized and complete healing process. Other seed oils from cantaloupe and zucchini exhibited favorable activity when compared with untreated rats; however, their efficacy was comparatively lower than that of PSO and HSO. Gas chromatographic analysis of the derivatized oils warranted the superior activity of HSO to its high nutraceutical content of linoleic acid, which represented 65.9% of the fatty acid content. This study's findings validate the use of honeydew seeds as a wound-healing fixed oil and encourage further investigation into the potential of Cucurbitaceae seeds as sources of medicinally valuable plant oils.
PubMed: 38931399
DOI: 10.3390/ph17060733 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Recently, there has been great interest in plant-derived compounds known as phytochemicals. The pentacyclic oleanane-, ursane-, and lupane-type triterpenes are...
Recently, there has been great interest in plant-derived compounds known as phytochemicals. The pentacyclic oleanane-, ursane-, and lupane-type triterpenes are phytochemicals that exert significant activity against diseases like cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for lung cancer, its effectiveness is hampered by the dose-limiting toxic effects and chemoresistance. Herein, we investigated six pentacyclic triterpenes, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, asiatic acid, betulinic acid, betulin, and lupeol, on NSCLC A549 cells. These triterpenes have several structural variations that can influence the activation/inactivation of key cellular pathways. From our results, we determined that most of these triterpenes induced apoptosis, S-phase and G2/M-phase cycle arrest, the downregulation of ribonucleotide reductase (RR), reactive oxygen species, and caspase 3 activation. For chemoresistance markers, we found that most triterpenes downregulated the expression of MAPK/PI3K, STAT3, and PDL1. In contrast, UrA and AsA also induced DNA damage and autophagy. Then, we theoretically determined other possible molecular targets of these triterpenes using the online database ChEMBL. The results showed that even slight structural changes in these triterpenes can influence the cellular response. This study opens up promising perspectives for further research on the pharmaceutical role of phytochemical triterpenoids.
PubMed: 38931361
DOI: 10.3390/ph17060694 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024There are a wide variety of phytochemicals collectively known as polyphenols. Their structural diversity results in a broad range of characteristics and biological... (Review)
Review
There are a wide variety of phytochemicals collectively known as polyphenols. Their structural diversity results in a broad range of characteristics and biological effects. Polyphenols can be found in a variety of foods and drinks, including fruits, cereals, tea, and coffee. Studies both in vitro and in vivo, as well as clinical trials, have shown that they possess potent antioxidant activities, numerous therapeutic effects, and health advantages. Dietary polyphenols have demonstrated the potential to prevent many health problems, including obesity, atherosclerosis, high blood sugar, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and neurological diseases. In this paper, the protective effects of polyphenols and the mechanisms behind them are investigated in detail, citing the most recent available literature. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the role of polyphenols in preventing and managing chronic diseases. The cited publications are derived from in vitro, in vivo, and human-based studies and clinical trials. A more complete understanding of these naturally occurring metabolites will pave the way for the development of novel polyphenol-rich diet and drug development programs. This, in turn, provides further evidence of their health benefits.
PubMed: 38931359
DOI: 10.3390/ph17060692 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Carbapenem antibiotic resistance is an emerging medical concern. Bacteria that possess the carbapenemase (KPC) protein, an enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of...
Carbapenem antibiotic resistance is an emerging medical concern. Bacteria that possess the carbapenemase (KPC) protein, an enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of carbapenem antibiotics, have exhibited remarkable resistance to traditional and even modern therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to identify potential natural drug candidates sourced from the leaves of (). The phytoconstituents present in dried leaves were extracted using ethanol 80%. A reasonable amount of the extract was used to identify these phytochemicals via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). One hundred twenty-two bioactive compounds from were identified and subjected to docking analysis against the target bacterial protein. Four compounds (PubChem CID: 6917974, 159099, 628694, and 482788) were selected based on favorable docking scores (-9, -7.8, -7.7, and -7.5 kcal/mol). This computational investigation highlights the potential of these four compounds as promising antibacterial candidates against the specific PC protein. Additionally, in vitro antibacterial assays using extracts were conducted. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the bacterium was 125 μg/mL. Well-disk diffusion tests exhibited inhibition zones ranging from 10.3 ± 0.5 mm to 17 ± 0.5 mm at different concentrations, and time-kill kinetics at 12 h indicated effective inhibition of bacterial growth by leaf extracts. Our findings have revealed the pharmaceutical potential of as a natural source for drug candidates against carbapenem-resistant pathogens.
PubMed: 38931335
DOI: 10.3390/ph17060667 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Physical fatigue (peripheral fatigue), which affects a considerable portion of the world population, is a decline in the ability of muscle fibers to contract effectively...
Bioactive Compounds in Peel Are Potential Candidates for Alleviating Physical Fatigue through a Triad Approach of Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Modeling.
Physical fatigue (peripheral fatigue), which affects a considerable portion of the world population, is a decline in the ability of muscle fibers to contract effectively due to alterations in the regulatory processes of muscle action potentials. However, it lacks an efficacious therapeutic intervention. The present study explored bioactive compounds and the mechanism of action of peel (CR-P) in treating physical fatigue by utilizing network pharmacology (NP), molecular docking, and simulation-based molecular dynamics (MD). The bioactive ingredients of CR-P and prospective targets of CR-P and physical fatigue were obtained from various databases. A PPI network was generated by the STRING database, while the key overlapping targets were analyzed for enrichment by adopting KEGG and GO. The binding affinities of bioactive ingredients to the hub targets were determined by molecular docking. The results were further validated by MD simulation. Five bioactive compounds were screened, and 56 key overlapping targets were identified for CR-P and physical fatigue, whereas the hub targets with a greater degree in the PPI network were AKT1, TP53, STAT3, MTOR, KRAS, HRAS, JAK2, IL6, EGFR, and ESR1. The findings of the enrichment analysis indicated significant enrichment of the targets in three key signaling pathways, namely PI3K-AKT, MAPK, and JAK-STAT. The molecular docking and MD simulation results revealed that the bioactive compounds of CR-P exhibit a stronger affinity for interacting with the hub targets. The present work suggests that bioactive compounds of CR-P, specifically Hesperetin and Sitosterol, may ameliorate physical fatigue via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway by targeting AKT1, KRAS, and MTOR proteins.
Topics: Citrus; Molecular Docking Simulation; Network Pharmacology; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Humans; Fruit; Hesperidin; Plant Extracts; Fatigue; Protein Interaction Maps; Signal Transduction; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 38931288
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121934 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women. Chemotherapy is the gold standard for cancer treatment; however, severe side effects and tumor resistance are the major... (Review)
Review
Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women. Chemotherapy is the gold standard for cancer treatment; however, severe side effects and tumor resistance are the major obstacles to chemotherapy success. Numerous dietary components and phytochemicals have been found to inhibit the molecular and signaling pathways associated with different stages of breast cancer development. In particular, this review is focused on the antitumor effects of PUFAs, dietary enzymes, and glucosinolates against breast cancer. The major databases were consulted to search in vitro and preclinical studies; only those with solid scientific evidence and reporting protective effects on breast cancer treatment were included. A consistent number of studies highlighted that dietary components and phytochemicals can have remarkable therapeutic effects as single agents or in combination with other anticancer agents, administered at different concentrations and via different routes of administration. These provide a natural strategy for chemoprevention, reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence, impair cell proliferation and viability, and induce apoptosis. Some of these bioactive compounds of dietary origin, however, show poor solubility and low bioavailability; hence, encapsulation in nanoformulations are promising tools able to increase clinical efficiency.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Phytochemicals; Diet; Chemoprevention; Drug Synergism; Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Glucosinolates
PubMed: 38931238
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121883 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Cancer therapy, from malignant tumor inhibition to cellular eradication treatment, remains a challenge, especially regarding reduced side effects and low energy...
Cancer therapy, from malignant tumor inhibition to cellular eradication treatment, remains a challenge, especially regarding reduced side effects and low energy consumption during treatment. Hence, phytochemicals as cytotoxic sensitizers or photosensitizers deserve special attention. The dark and photo-response of Yemenite 'Etrog' leaf extracts applied to prostate PC3 cancer cells is reported here. An XTT cell viability assay along with light microscope observations revealed pronounced cytotoxic activity of the extract for long exposure times of 72 h upon concentrations of 175 μg/mL and 87.5 μg/mL, while phototoxic effect was obtained even at low concentration of 10.93 μg/mL and a short introduction period of 1.5 h. For the longest time incubation of 72 h and for the highest extract concentration of 175 μg/mL, relative cell survival decreased by up to 60% (below the IC). In combined phyto-photodynamic therapy, a reduction of 63% compared to unirradiated controls was obtained. The concentration of extract in cells versus the accumulation time was inversely related to fluorescence emission intensity readings. Extracellular ROS production was also shown. Based on an ATR-FTIR analysis of the powdered leaves and their liquid ethanolic extract, biochemical fingerprints of both polar and non-polar phyto-constituents were identified, thereby suggesting their implementation as phyto-medicine and phyto-photomedicine.
Topics: Humans; Male; Plant Extracts; Photochemotherapy; Prostatic Neoplasms; Plant Leaves; Cell Survival; Photosensitizing Agents; PC-3 Cells; Reactive Oxygen Species; Yemen; Cell Line, Tumor; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
PubMed: 38931175
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121820 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024According to modern concepts, the genus L. includes seven plant species ( (Trautv.) Iljin ex Prochorov. & Lebel; Boriss; C.Y.Wu & H.W. Li; Boriss.; L.; (Dubj.)... (Review)
Review
According to modern concepts, the genus L. includes seven plant species ( (Trautv.) Iljin ex Prochorov. & Lebel; Boriss; C.Y.Wu & H.W. Li; Boriss.; L.; (Dubj.) Pazij; (Rech.f.) Rech.f.). The plants are rich in various groups of biologically active substances with a wide spectrum of pharmacological action. This review presents a modern comprehensive overview of the botanical research, extraction methods, chemical composition and pharmacological activity of plants of the genus L. As a result of the review, it was established that the chemical composition of plant extracts of the genus L. depends on various factors (place of growth, weather conditions, chemotypes, extraction methods, etc.). For the further use of the plants, the extraction methods and low-molecular metabolites isolated from them (mono- and sesquiterpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, etc.) are discussed. The data from the review provide an assessment of the relevance.
PubMed: 38931115
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121683