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Nutrients Jun 2023Bercht. & J. Presl has been widely used due to the presence of different bioactive compounds. This review summarizes the latest advances and perspectives of the plant... (Review)
Review
Bercht. & J. Presl has been widely used due to the presence of different bioactive compounds. This review summarizes the latest advances and perspectives of the plant species; it is a systematic literature review on aspects of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology as therapeutic potential. In addition, 120 compounds are described, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, amino acids, aromatics, and aliphatics. As for the therapeutic potential, it is described in extracts and compounds in the antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anticoagulant, and analgesic aspects, as well as the effects on the central nervous system. The toxicity of the genus stands out, especially the potential for organ toxicity. Therefore, this review evidenced the knowledge related to the traditional use based on the scientific research of , highlighting an overview of bioactive compounds and biological and toxicological activities in order to provide a scientific basis for future studies on the value of this species for the development of new natural products.
Topics: Brugmansia; Phytotherapy; Medicine, Traditional; Plant Extracts; Alkaloids; Phytochemicals; Ethnopharmacology
PubMed: 37447241
DOI: 10.3390/nu15132912 -
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative... 2023Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are a devastating micro-vascular complication of diabetes with an increased prevalence and incidence and high rate of morbidity and... (Review)
Review
Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are a devastating micro-vascular complication of diabetes with an increased prevalence and incidence and high rate of morbidity and mortality. Since antibiotics are frequently used to treat DFU, managing the condition has proven to be extremely challenging and may eventually lead to the development of antibiotic resistance. Scientists from around the world are working to develop an alternative solution to the problem of drug resistance by exploring complementary and alternative medicines that may be obtained from natural sources. Hence, the review aims to comprehensively report the information on the natural treatments and therapy used to manage DFU. All of the information described in the current study was gathered from electronic scientific resources, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Springer Link. Findings from the current review revealed the pre-clinical and clinical utility of 18 medicinal plants, 1 isolated compound, 7 polyherbal formulations including herbal creams, a few micronutrients including vitamins and minerals, insect products such as propolis, honey and, Maggot debridement therapy for the treatment and management of DFU. Natural therapies possess better efficacy, low cost, and shorter duration of treatment when compared with the conventional treatments; hence, all information made available about them is crucial to alter the direction of treatment. Furthermore, the data presented in this review are up to date on the potential efficacy of natural complementary medicines for alleviating DFU problems in in vitro and in vivo tests, as well as clinical studies.
PubMed: 37441954
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100745 -
Nutrients Apr 2023Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, provoking many different diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, provoking many different diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic-degenerative disease characterized by increased blood glucose levels. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are currently considered public health problems, and their prevalence has increased over the last few years. Because of the high cost involved in the treatment of both diseases, different alternatives have been sought. However, the general population uses medicinal plants, in the form of tea or infusions, to treat different diseases. Therefore, traditional medicine using medicinal plants has been investigated as a possible treatment for type 2 diabetes and body weight control.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this review is to find medicinal plants used in Mexico that could exert their beneficial effect by regulating insulin secretion and body weight control.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
For the development of this review, Mexican plants used in traditional medicine to treat type 2 diabetes and body weight control were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria include plants that presented a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and/or an increase in insulin secretion.
RESULTS
We found 306 Mexican plants with hypoglycemic effects. However, plants that did not show evidence of an increase in insulin secretion were eliminated. Finally, only five plants were included in this review: L. (), (), L. (), Mill. () (), including 39 articles in total. Here, we summarized the plant extracts (aqueous and organic) that have previously been reported to present hypoglycemic effects, body weight control, increased secretion and sensitivity of insulin, improvement of pancreatic β cells, and glucose tolerance. Additionally, these effects may be due to different bioactive compounds present in the plants' extracts.
CONCLUSION
Both in vivo and in vitro studies are required to understand the mechanism of action of these plant extracts regarding insulin secretion to be used as a possible treatment for type 2 diabetes and body weight control in the future.
Topics: Humans; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Blood Glucose; Mexico; Body Weight; Obesity; Coriandrum; Cucurbita; Homeostasis; Hypoglycemic Agents
PubMed: 37432178
DOI: 10.3390/nu15092070 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Nanotechnology is an innovative field of study that has made significant progress due to its potential versatility and wide range of applications, precisely because of... (Review)
Review
Nanotechnology is an innovative field of study that has made significant progress due to its potential versatility and wide range of applications, precisely because of the development of metal nanoparticles such as copper. Nanoparticles are bodies composed of a nanometric cluster of atoms (1-100 nm). Biogenic alternatives have replaced their chemical synthesis due to their environmental friendliness, dependability, sustainability, and low energy demand. This ecofriendly option has medical, pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural applications. When compared to their chemical counterparts, using biological agents, such as micro-organisms and plant extracts, as reducing and stabilizing agents has shown viability and acceptance. Therefore, it is a feasible alternative for rapid synthesis and scaling-up processes. Several research articles on the biogenic synthesis of copper nanoparticles have been published over the past decade. Still, none provided an organized, comprehensive overview of their properties and potential applications. Thus, this systematic review aims to assess research articles published over the past decade regarding the antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, dye removal, and catalytic activities of biogenically synthesized copper nanoparticles using the scientific methodology of big data analytics. Plant extract and micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) are addressed as biological agents. We intend to assist the scientific community in comprehending and locating helpful information for future research or application development.
Topics: Copper; Metal Nanoparticles; Bacteria; Anti-Infective Agents; Plant Extracts; Antioxidants; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37375393
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124838 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023L. (purslane) is a widely distributed plant with a long history of cultivation and consumption. Notably, polysaccharides obtained from purslane exhibit surprising and... (Review)
Review
L. (purslane) is a widely distributed plant with a long history of cultivation and consumption. Notably, polysaccharides obtained from purslane exhibit surprising and satisfactory biological activities, which explain the various benefits of purslane on human health, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, antifatigue, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. This article systematically reviews the extraction and purification methods, chemical structure, chemical modification, biological activity and other aspects of polysaccharides from purslane collected in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Flora of China, Web of Science, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar and CNKI databases in the last 14 years, using the keywords " L. polysaccharides" and "purslane polysaccharides". The application of purslane polysaccharides in different fields is also summarized, and its application prospects are also discussed. This paper provides an updated and deeper understanding of purslane polysaccharides, which will provide useful guidance for the further optimization of polysaccharide structures and the development of purslane polysaccharides as a novel functional material, as well as a theoretical basis for its further research and application in human health and manufacturing development.
Topics: Humans; Portulaca; Plant Extracts; Polysaccharides; Hypoglycemic Agents; China
PubMed: 37375369
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124813 -
Microorganisms Jun 2023A set of diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes are responsible for large losses in annual world cocoa production. Managing the impact caused by these diseases is very... (Review)
Review
A set of diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes are responsible for large losses in annual world cocoa production. Managing the impact caused by these diseases is very complex because a common solution has yet to be found for different pathogens. In this context, the systematic knowledge of L. pathogens' molecular characteristics may help researchers understand the possibilities and limitations of cocoa disease management strategies. This work systematically organized and summarized the main findings of omics studies of eukaryotic pathogens, focusing on the plant-pathogen interaction and production dynamics. Using the PRISMA protocol and a semiautomated process, we selected papers from the Scopus and Web of Science databases and collected data from the selected papers. From the initial 3169 studies, 149 were selected. The first author's affiliations were mostly from two countries, Brazil (55%) and the USA (22%). The most frequent genera were (105 studies), (59 studies) and (13 studies). The systematic review database includes papers reporting the whole-genome sequence from six cocoa pathogens and evidence of some necrosis-inducing-like proteins, which are common in pathogen genomes. This review contributes to the knowledge about diseases, providing an integrated discussion of pathogens' molecular characteristics, common mechanisms of pathogenicity and how this knowledge is produced worldwide.
PubMed: 37375069
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061567 -
Toxins Jun 2023is a genus of about 140 plant species, some of which are well-known for causing animal poisoning resulting in significant economic losses to the Australian livestock... (Review)
Review
is a genus of about 140 plant species, some of which are well-known for causing animal poisoning resulting in significant economic losses to the Australian livestock industry. The main poisonous species/subspecies include (subsp. and subsp. ), and (generally referred to as ). These plants contain a diterpenoid orthoester toxin, called simplexin. poisoning is known to cause the death of cattle ( and ) or weaken surviving animals. species are well-adapted native plants, and their diaspores (single seeded fruits) possess variable degrees of dormancy. Hence, the diaspores do not generally germinate in the same recruitment event, which makes management difficult, necessitating the development of integrated management strategies based on infestation circumstances (e.g., size and density). For example, the integration of herbicides with physical control techniques, competitive pasture establishment and tactical grazing could be effective in some situations. However, such options have not been widely adopted at the field level to mitigate ongoing management challenges. This systematic review provides a valuable synthesis of the current knowledge on the biology, ecology, and management of poisonous species with a focus on the Australian livestock industry while identifying potential avenues for future research.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Plants, Toxic; Australia; Livestock; Diterpenes; Plant Poisoning; Thymelaeaceae
PubMed: 37368675
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15060374 -
Phytochemistry Reviews : Proceedings of... Mar 2023Viral infections have always been the main global health challenge, as several potentially lethal viruses, including the hepatitis virus, herpes virus, and influenza... (Review)
Review
Viral infections have always been the main global health challenge, as several potentially lethal viruses, including the hepatitis virus, herpes virus, and influenza virus, have affected human health for decades. Unfortunately, most licensed antiviral drugs are characterized by many adverse reactions and, in the long-term therapy, also develop viral resistance; for these reasons, researchers have focused their attention on investigating potential antiviral molecules from plants. Natural resources indeed offer a variety of specialized therapeutic metabolites that have been demonstrated to inhibit viral entry into the host cells and replication through the regulation of viral absorption, cell receptor binding, and competition for the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. Many active phytochemicals, including flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, coumarins, saponins, alkaloids, etc., have been identified as potential candidates for preventing and treating viral infections. Using a systematic approach, this review summarises the knowledge obtained to date on the in vivo antiviral activity of specialized metabolites extracted from plant matrices by focusing on their mechanism of action.
PubMed: 37359711
DOI: 10.1007/s11101-023-09855-2 -
Biotechnology Advances Oct 2023Temperature affects cellular processes at different spatiotemporal scales, and identifying the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying temperature responses paves... (Review)
Review
Temperature affects cellular processes at different spatiotemporal scales, and identifying the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying temperature responses paves the way to develop approaches for mitigating the effects of future climate scenarios. A systems view of the effects of temperature on cellular physiology can be obtained by focusing on metabolism since: (i) its functions depend on transcription and translation and (ii) its outcomes support organisms' development, growth, and reproduction. Here we provide a systematic review of modelling efforts directed at investigating temperature effects on properties of single biochemical reactions, system-level traits, metabolic subsystems, and whole-cell metabolism across different prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We compare and contrast computational approaches and theories that facilitate modelling of temperature effects on key properties of enzymes and their consideration in constraint-based as well as kinetic models of metabolism. In addition, we provide a summary of insights from computational approaches, facilitating integration of omics data from temperature-modulated experiments with models of metabolic networks, and review the resulting biotechnological applications. Lastly, we provide a perspective on how different types of metabolic modelling can profit from developments in machine learning and models of different cellular layers to improve model-driven insights into the effects of temperature relevant for biotechnological applications.
Topics: Temperature; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Phenotype; Models, Biological
PubMed: 37348662
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108203 -
Journal of Cystic Fibrosis : Official... Jul 2023The ongoing development and integration of telehealth within CF care has been accelerated in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with many centres publishing their... (Review)
Review
Telehealth in Cystic Fibrosis. A systematic review incorporating a novel scoring system and expert weighting to identify a 'top 10 manuscripts' to inform future best practices implementation.
The ongoing development and integration of telehealth within CF care has been accelerated in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with many centres publishing their experiences. Now, as the restrictions of the pandemic ease, the use of telehealth appears to be waning, with many centres returning to routine traditional face-to-face services. For most, telehealth is not integrated into clinical care models, and there is a lack of guidance on how to integrate such a service into clinical care. The aims of this systematic review were to first identify manuscripts which may inform best CF telehealth practices, and second, to analyse these finding to determine how the CF community may use telehealth to improve care for patients, families, and Multidisciplinary Teams into the future. To achieve this, the PRISMA review methodology was utilised, in combination with a modified novel scoring system that consolidates expert weighting from key CF stakeholders, allowing for the manuscripts to be placed in a hierarchy in accordance with their scientific robustness. From the 39 found manuscripts, the top ten are presented and further analysed. The top ten manuscripts are exemplars of where telehealth is used effectively within CF care at this time, and demonstrate specific use cases of its potential best practices. However, there is a lack of guidance for implementation and clinical decision making, which remains an area for improvement. Thus, it is suggested that further work explores and provides guidance for standardised implementation into CF clinical practice.
Topics: Humans; Cystic Fibrosis; Pandemics; COVID-19; Telemedicine
PubMed: 37230808
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2023.05.012