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Ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid) is a phytochemical compound that is commonly found in conjugated forms within mono-, di-, polysaccharides and other organic compounds in cell walls of grain, fruits, and vegetables. This compound is highly abundant in the palm oil waste. The aim of the study was to predict the anticancer activity of ferulic acid against the breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) receptors through a computational analysis. MCF-7 receptors with PDB IDs of 1R5K, 2IOG, 4IV2, 4IW6, 5DUE, 5T92, and 5U2B were selected based on the Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) similarity of the native ligand. Thereafter, the protein was prepared on Chimera 1.16 and docked with ferulic acid on Autodock Vina 1.2.5. The ligand-protein complex interaction was validated by computing the root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) and radius of gyration (Rg) through molecular dynamic simulation. In addition, an absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction was performed on ferulic acid using the pkCSM platform. The molecular docking revealed that the ferulic acid could interact with all receptors as indicated by the affinity energy <-5 kcal/mol. The compound had the most optimum interaction with receptor 2IOG (affinity energy=-6.96 kcal/mol), involving hydrophobic interaction (n=12) and polar hydrogen interaction (n=4). The molecular dynamic simulation revealed that the complex had an RMSF of 1.713 Å with a fluctuation of Rg value around 1.000 Å. The ADMET properties of ferulic acid suggested that the compound is an ideal drug candidate. In conclusion, this study suggested that ferulic acid, which can be isolated from palm oil waste, has the potential to interact with MCF-7 receptors., Competing Interests: All the authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in any capacity, including competing or financial., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Infectious wounds on the skin surface are easily colonized by bacteria from pyogenic group that manifest as inflammation, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium and an opportunistic pathogen known for causing invasive state in critically ill and immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to detect the 16S rRNA and gyrB genes in P. aeruginosa using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The sample in this study was pus isolate from a 5-year-old boy with leg wounds. The bacteria were isolated on brain heart infusion broth (BHIB) media and identified with molecular identification. Sequencing and BLAST analysis were carried out to determine the similarity of gene identity by comparing sample sequence with other isolate sequences on the Gene Bank. The results of molecular identification showed amplification DNA band of around 934 base pairs (bp) for 16S rRNA and 225 bp for gyrB gene. The BLAST program demonstrated that the sample had 99.89% similarity with P. aeruginosa strain XC4 (accession code ON795960.1) for the 16S rRNA gene. Meanwhile, the gyrB gene exhibited 99.10% similarity with the P. aeruginosa strain PSA-1.2 (accession code KP172300.1)., Competing Interests: All the authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The field of nutrigenomics studies the interaction between nutrition and genetics, and how certain dietary patterns can impact gene expression and overall health. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), characterized by a high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, has been linked to better cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes. This review summarizes the current state of research on the effects of nutrigenomics and MedDiet on cardiovascular health. Results suggest that MedDiet, through its impact on gene expression, can positively influence CVH markers such as blood pressure, lipid profile, and inflammation. However, more research is needed to fully understand the complex interactions between genetics, nutrition, and CVH, and to determine the optimal dietary patterns for individualized care. The aim of this scientific review is to evaluate the current evidence on the effects of nutrigenomics and MedDiet on cardiovascular health. The review summarizes the available studies that have investigated the relationship between nutrition, genetics, and cardiovascular health, and explores the mechanisms by which certain dietary patterns can impact CVH outcomes. The review focuses on the effects of MedDiet, a dietary pattern that is rich in whole foods and healthy fats, and its potential to positively influence CVH through its impact on gene expression. The review highlights the limitations of current research and the need for further studies to fully understand the complex interplay between nutrition, genetics, and cardiovascular health.

Advancements in food science and technology have paved the way for the development of natural antimicrobial compounds to ensure the safety and quality of meat and meat products. Among these compounds, bacteriocin produced by lactic acid bacteria has gained considerable scientific attention for its ability to preserve the healthy properties of meat while preventing spoilage. This natural preservative is seen as a pioneering tool and a potent alternative to chemical preservatives and heat treatment, which can have harmful effects on the nutritional and sensory qualities of meat. Bacteriocin produced by lactic acid bacteria can be used in various forms, including as starter/protective cultures for fermented meats, purified or partially purified forms, loaded in active films/coatings, or established in encapsulate systems. This review delves into the downstream purification schemes of LAB bacteriocin, the elucidation of their characteristics, and their modes of action. Additionally, the application of LAB bacteriocins in meat and meat products is examined in detail. Overall, the use of LAB bacteriocins holds immense potential to inspire innovation in the meat industry, reducing the dependence on harmful chemical additives and minimizing the adverse effects of heat treatment on nutritional and sensory qualities. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential of bacteriocin produced by lactic acid bacteria as a natural and effective meat preservative., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Appraised for being one of the oldest staple nutritive foods mainly in the Arabian Peninsula, the date palm tree ( Phoenix dactylifera L.), is a crop native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Southern Asia and Africa. Different parts of the date tree have been extensively studied for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. Despite an array of publications on the date tree, there has been no attempt to compile in a single study the traditional uses, nutritive value, phytochemical profile, the medicinal properties as well as the potential of the different plant parts as a functional food. Therefore, this review endeavors to systematically review the scientific literature to highlight the traditional uses of date fruit and parts around the world, the nutritional profile of several parts and the medicinal properties. A total of 215 studies was retrieved (traditional uses (n = 26), nutritional (n = 52), and medicinal (n = 84)). Scientific articles were further categorized as in vitro (n = 33), in vivo (n = 35), and clinical (n = 16) evidences. Date seeds were found to be effective against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Aqueous date pollen was used to manage hormonal problems and boost fertility. Palm leaves showed anti-hyperglycemic effects via inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Unlike previous studies, this study highlighted the functional roles of all the plant parts of the palm tree and provided insights into the various mechanism of action of their bioactive compounds. Although scientific shreds of evidence have been growing over the years, there is still a dearth of studies concerning the clinical validation of the date fruit and other plant parts to provide strong evidence on their medicinal uses. In conclusion, P. dactylifera can be regarded as a potent medicinal plant with prophylactic potential and should be further explored to alleviate the burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Fatty acids are good energy sources (9 kcal per gram) that aerobic tissues can use except for the brain (glucose is an alternative source). Apart from the energy source, fatty acids are necessary for cell signaling, learning-related memory, modulating gene expression, and functioning as cytokine precursors. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are saturated fatty acids arranged as a straight chain consisting minimum of 6 carbon atoms. SCFAs possess various beneficial effects like improving metabolic function, inhibiting insulin resistance, and ameliorating immune dysfunction. In this review, we discussed the biogenesis, absorption, and transport of SCFA. SCFAs can act as signaling molecules by stimulating G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and suppressing histone deacetylases (HDACs). The role of SCFA on glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and its effect on the immune system is also reviewed with updated details. SCFA possess anticancer, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective effects. Additionally, the association of protective effects of SCFA against brain-related diseases, kidney diseases, cardiovascular damage, and inflammatory bowel diseases were also reviewed. Nanotherapy is a branch of nanotechnology that employs nanoparticles at the nanoscale level to treat various ailments with enhanced drug stability, solubility, and minimal side effects. The SCFA functions as drug carriers, and nanoparticles were also discussed. Still, much research was not focused on this area. SCFA functions in host gene expression through inhibition of HDAC inhibition. However, the study has to be focused on the molecular mechanism of SCFA against various diseases that still need to be investigated.

Beetroot is rich in various bioactive phytochemicals, which are beneficial for human health and exert protective effects against several disease conditions like cancer, atherosclerosis, etc. Beetroot has various therapeutic applications, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and analgesic functions. Besides the pharmacological effects, food industries are trying to preserve beetroots or their phytochemicals using various food preservation methods, including drying and freezing, to preserve their antioxidant capacity. Beetroot is a functional food due to valuable active components such as minerals, amino acids, phenolic acid, flavonoid, betaxanthin, and betacyanin. Due to its stability, nontoxic and non-carcinogenic and nonpoisonous capabilities, beetroot has been used as an additive or preservative in food processing. Beetroot and its bioactive compounds are well reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, antimicrobial, antiviral, etc. In this review, we provided updated details on (i) food processing, preservation and colorant methods using beetroot and its phytochemicals, (ii) synthesis and development of several nanoparticles using beetroot and its bioactive compounds against various diseases, (iii) the role of beetroot and its phytochemicals under disease conditions with molecular mechanisms. We have also discussed the role of other phytochemicals in beetroot and their health benefits. Recent technologies in food processing are also updated. We also addressed on molecular docking-assisted biological activity and screening for bioactive chemicals. Additionally, the role of betalain from different sources and its therapeutic effects have been listed. To the best of our knowledge, little or no work has been carried out on the impact of beetroot and its nanoformulation strategies for phytocompounds on antimicrobial, antiviral effects, etc. Moreover, epigenetic alterations caused by phytocompounds of beetroot under several diseases were not reported much. Thus, extensive research must be carried out to understand the molecular effects of beetroot in the near future.

From the ancient period, Green leafy vegetables (GLV) are part of the daily diet and were believed to have several health beneficial properties. Later it has been proved that GLV has outstanding nutritional value and can be used for medicinal benefits. GLV is particularly rich in minerals like iron, calcium, and zinc. These are also rich in vitamins like beta carotene, vitamin E, K, B and vitamin C. In addition, some anti-nutritional elements in GLV can be reduced if it is grown properly and processed properly before consumption. Tropical countries have a wide variety of these green plants such as Red Spinach, Amaranth, Malabar Spinach, Taro Leaf, Fenugreek leaf, Bengal Gram Leaves, Radish Leaves, Mustard Leaves, and many more. This review focuses on listing this wide range of GLVs (in total 54 underutilized GLVs) and their compositions in a comparative manner. GLV also possesses medicinal activities due to its rich bioactive and nutritional potential. Different processing techniques may alter the nutritional and bioactive potential of the GLVs significantly. The GLVs have been considered a food fortification agent, though not explored widely. All of these findings suggest that increasing GLV consumption could provide nutritional requirements necessary for proper growth as well as adequate protection against diseases caused by malnutrition.

CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a revolutionary tool that enables precise and efficient modifications of the genetic material. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its applications in genome editing. We begin by describing the fundamental principles of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, explaining how the system utilizes a single guide RNA (sgRNA) to direct the Cas9 nuclease to specific DNA sequences in the genome, resulting in targeted double-stranded breaks. In this review, we provide in-depth explorations of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its applications in agriculture, medicine, environmental sciences, fisheries, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology. We also highlight its potential, ongoing research, and the ethical considerations and controversies surrounding its use. This review might contribute to the understanding of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its implications in various fields, paving the way for future developments and responsible applications of this transformative technology., Competing Interests: All the authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

With the help of laser ablation, a technology for obtaining nanosized crystalline selenium particles (SeNPs) has been created. The SeNPs do not exhibit significant toxic properties, in contrast to molecular selenium compounds. The administration of SeNPs can significantly increase the viabilities of SH-SY5Y and PCMF cells after radiation exposure. The introduction of such nanoparticles into the animal body protects proteins and DNA from radiation-induced damage. The number of chromosomal breaks and oxidized proteins decreases in irradiated mice treated with SeNPs. Using hematological tests, it was found that a decrease in radiation-induced leukopenia and thrombocytopenia is observed when selenium nanoparticles are injected into mice before exposure to ionizing radiation. The administration of SeNPs to animals 5 h before radiation exposure in sublethal and lethal doses significantly increases their survival rate. The modification dose factor for animal survival was 1.2. It has been shown that the introduction of selenium nanoparticles significantly normalizes gene expression in the cells of the red bone marrow of mice after exposure to ionizing radiation. Thus, it has been demonstrated that SeNPs are a new gene-protective and radioprotective agent that can significantly reduce the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

The aim of this research was to study the effect of Mn x O y nanoparticles stabilized with L-methionine on the morphofunctional characteristics of the barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) crop. Mn x O y nanoparticles stabilized with L-methionine were synthesized using potassium permanganate and L-methionine. We established that Mn x O y nanoparticles have a diameter of 15 to 30 nm. According to quantum chemical modeling and IR spectroscopy, it is shown that the interaction of Mn x O y nanoparticles with L-methionine occurs through the amino group. It is found that Mn x O y nanoparticles stabilized with L-methionine have positive effects on the roots and seedling length, as well as the seed germination energy. The effect of Mn x O y nanoparticles on Hordeum vulgare L. seeds is nonlinear. At a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL, there was a statistically significant increase in the length of seedlings by 68% compared to the control group. We found that the root lengths of samples treated with Mn x O y nanoparticle sols with a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL were 62.8%, 32.7%, and 158.9% higher compared to samples treated with L-methionine, KMnO 4 , and the control sample, respectively. We have shown that at a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL, the germination energy of seeds increases by 50.0% compared to the control sample, by 10.0% compared to the samples treated with L-methionine, and by 13.8% compared to the samples treated with KMnO 4 .

The purpose of this work was to study the effect of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) on the biological and morphofunctional parameters of barley seeds (Hordéum vulgáre L.) We used seeds of Hordéum vulgáre L. with reduced morphofunctional characteristics. For the experiment, Se NPs were synthesized and stabilized with didecyldimethylammonium chloride. It was found that Se NPs have a spherical shape and a diameter of about 50 nm. According to dynamic light scattering data, the average hydrodynamic radius of the particles was 28 ± 8 nm. It is observed that the nanoparticles have a positive ζ-potential (+ 27.3 mV). For the experiment, we treated Hordéum vulgáre L. seeds with Se NPs (1, 5, 10 and 20 mg/L). The experiment showed that treatment of Hordéum vulgáre L. seeds with Se NPs has the best effect on the length of roots and sprout at concentration of 5 mg/L and on the number and thickness of roots at 10 mg/L. Germinability and germination energy of Hordéum vulgáre L. seeds were higher in group treated with 5 mg/L Se NPs. Analysis of macrophotographs of samples, histological sections of roots and 3D visualization of seeds by microcomputing tomography confirmed the best effect at 5 mg/L Se NPs. Moreover, no local destructions were detected at concentrations > 5 mg/L, which is most likely due to the inhibition of regulatory and catalytic processes in the germinating seeds. the treatment of Hordéum vulgáre L. seeds with > 5 mg/L Se NPs caused significant stress, coupled with intensive formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to a reorientation of root system growth towards thickening. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that Se NPs at concentrations > 5 mg/L had a toxic effect. The treatment of barley seeds with 5% Se NPs showed maximum efficiency in the experiment, which allows us to further consider Se NPs as a stimulator for the growth and development of crop seeds under stress and reduced morphofunctional characteristics., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Generally, there are scant data about the constituents and eventually the biological activity of essential oils (EOs) from aromatic plants that grow naturally in Sudan. The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition, and antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of EO extracted from the fruit of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold and Zucc.) Endl. (family Cupressaceae), root of Chrysopogon nigritanus (Benth.) Veldkampis (family Poaceae) and aerial part of Lavandula coronopifolia Poir (family Lamiaceae). The fruit of C. obtusa contained only monoterpenes, mainly hydrogenated ones, with α-pinene (69.07%) as the major component. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes comprised the highest content of the C. nigritanus root EO with cedr-8-en-15-ol (28.69%) as the major constituent while aerial parts of L. coronopifolia contained both monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes and the oxygenated monoterpene lavandulol (26.56%) as dominant compounds. The EO of the root of C. nigritanus significantly displayed ( p < 0.05) the highest anti-DPPH radical, Fe 3+ - and Cu 2+ -reducing and metal-chelating activities, while that of C. obtusa fruit significantly exerted ( p < 0.05) the best anti-ABTS radical and total antioxidant activity. The two EOs significantly exhibited ( p < 0.05) the highest anti-acetylcholinesterase and -butyrylcholinesterase activities, respectively, while EO of L. coronopifolia was the only oil to show a considerable inhibitory effect against the tyrosinase and α-glucosidase enzymes. In conclusion, EOs from these three plants could be natural agents with promising functional properties for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications.

Tea manufactured from the cultivated shoots of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze is the most commonly consumed nonalcoholic drink around the world. Tea is an agro-based, environmentally sustainable, labor-intensive, job-generating, and export-oriented industry in many countries. Tea includes phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, vitamins, enzymes, crude fibers, protein, lipids, and carbohydrates, among other biochemical constituents. This review described the nature of tea metabolites, their biosynthesis and accumulation with response to various factors. The therapeutic application of various metabolites of tea against microbial diseases, cancer, neurological, and other metabolic disorders was also discussed in detail. The seasonal variation, cultivation practices and genetic variability influence tea metabolite synthesis. Tea biochemical constituents, especially polyphenols and its integral part catechin metabolites, are broadly focused on potential applicability for their action against various diseases. In addition to this, tea also contains bioactive flavonoids that possess health-beneficial effects. The catechin fractions, epigallocatechin 3-gallate and epicatechin 3-gallate, are the main components of tea that has strong antioxidant and medicinal properties. The synergistic function of natural tea metabolites with synthetic drugs provides effective protection against various diseases. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnologies enhanced bioavailability, enhancing the therapeutic potential of natural metabolites against numerous diseases and pathogens.

The understanding of gut microbiota has emerged as a significant frontier in development of strategies to maintain normal human body's homeostasis and preventing the disease development over the last decade. The composition of the gut microbiota influences the clinical benefit of immune checkpoints in patients with advanced cancer, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. Cancer is among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. So far, there is no universal treatment for cancer and despite significant advances, a lot of improvement on cancer therapy is required. Owing to its role in preserving the host's health and maintaining cellular integrity, the human gut microbiome has recently drawn a lot of interest as a target for cancer treatment. Dietary fiber is fermented by the gut microbiota to generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, which are physiologically active metabolites. SCFAs can modulate the pathophysiology of the tumor environment through various critical signaling pathways. In addition, SCFAs can bind to carcinogens and other toxic chemicals, thus facilitating their biotransformation and elimination through different excretory mechanisms. This review discusses the mechanisms of action of short-chain fatty acids in modulating hematopoiesis of various immune system cells and the resultant beneficial anti-cancer effects. It also provides future perspectives on cancer therapy.

Tropical fruits are defined as fruits that are grown in hot and humid regions within the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, covering most of the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Oceania. Depending on the cultivation area covered, economic value and popularity these tropical fruits are divided into major and minor tropical fruits. There is an annual increment of 3.8% in terms of commercialization of the tropical fruits. In total 26 minor tropical fruits (Kiwifruit, Lutqua, Carambola, Tree Tomato, Elephant apple, Rambutan, Bay berry, Mangosteen, Bhawa, Loquat, Silver berry, Durian, Persimon, Longan, Passion fruit, Water apple, Pulasan, Indian gooseberry, Guava, Lychee, Annona, Pitaya, Sapodilla, Pepino, Jaboticaba, Jackfruit) have been covered in this work. The nutritional composition, phytochemical composition, health benefits, traditional use of these minor tropical fruits and their role in food fortification have been portrayed.

For persons who survive with progressive cancer, nutritional therapy and exercise may be significant factors to improve the health condition and life quality of cancer patients. Nutritional therapy and medications are essential to managing progressive cancer. Cancer survivors, as well as cancer patients, are mostly extremely encouraged to search for knowledge about the selection of diet, exercise, and dietary supplements to recover as well as maintain their treatment consequences, living quality, and survival of patients. A healthy diet plays an important role in cancer treatment. Different articles are studied to collect information and knowledge about the use of nutrients in cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention. The report deliberates nutrition and exercise strategies during the range of cancer care, emphasizing significant concerns during treatment of cancer and for patients of advanced cancer, but concentrating mostly on the requirements of the population of persons who are healthy or who have constant disease following their repossession from management. It also deliberates choice nutrition and exercise problems such as dietary supplements, food care, food selections, and weight; problems interrelated to designated cancer sites, and common questions about diet, and cancer survival. Decrease the side effects of medicines both during and after treatment.

In this work, selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) stabilized with cocamidopropyl betaine were synthesized for the first time. It was observed that Se NPs synthesized in excess of selenic acid had a negative charge with ζ-potential of -21.86 mV, and in excess of cocamidopropyl betaine-a positive charge with ξ =  + 22.71 mV. The resulting Se NPs with positive and negative charges had a spherical shape with an average size of about 20-30 nm and 40-50 nm, respectively. According to the data of TEM, HAADF-TEM using EDS, IR spectroscopy and quantum chemical modeling, positively charged selenium nanoparticles have a cocamidopropylbetaine shell while the potential- forming layer of negatively charged selenium nanoparticles is formed by SeO 3 2- ions. The influence of various ions on the sol stability of Se NPs showed that SO 4 2- and PO 4 3- ions had an effect on the positive Se NPs, and Ba 2+ and Fe 3+ ions had an effect on negative Se NPs, which corresponded with the Schulze-Hardy rule. The mechanism of coagulating action of various ions on positive and negative Se NPs was also presented. Also, influence of the active acidity of the medium on the stability of Se NPs solutions was investigated. Positive and negative sols of Se NPs had high levels of stability in the considered range of active acidity of the medium in the range of 1.21-11.98. Stability of synthesized Se NPs stability has been confirmed in real system (liquid soap). An experiment with the addition of Se NPs stabilized with cocamidopropyl betaine to liquid soap showed that the particles of dispersed phases retain their initial distributions, which revealed the stability of synthesized Se NPs., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Research on medicinal plants is developing each day due to inborn phytochemicals, which can encourage the progress of novel drugs. Most plant-based phytochemicals have valuable effects on well-being. Among them, beetroot leaves (BL) are known for their therapeutic properties. Here, three solvents, namely, acetonitrile, ethanol, and water, and their combinations were developed for BL extraction and simultaneous assessment of phytochemical compounds and antioxidant and antifoodborne pathogen bacteria activities. By using the augmented simplex-centroid mixture design, 40.40% acetonitrile diluted in water at 38.74% and ethanol at 20.86% favored the recovery of 49.28 mg GAE/mL (total phenolic content (TPC)) and 0.314 mg QE/mL (total flavonoid content (TFC)), respectively. Acetonitrile diluted in water at 50% guarantees the best antioxidant activity, whereas the optimal predicted mixture for the highest antibacterial activity matches 24.58, 50.17, and 25.25% of acetonitrile, ethanol, and water, respectively. These extraction conditions ensured inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus , Salmonella enterica , and Escherichia coli , respectively, at 0.402, 0.497, and 0.207 mg/mL. Under optimized conditions, at three concentrations of BL, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), 2 × MIC, and 4 × MIC, a linear model was employed to investigate the inhibition behavior against the three tested bacteria. The early logarithmic growth phase of these bacteria illustrated the bactericidal effect of optimized extracted BL with a logarithmic growth phase inferior to 6 h. Therefore, BL extract at 4 × MIC, which corresponds to 1.608, 1.988, and 0.828 mg/mL, was more efficient against S. aureus , S. enterica , and E. coli., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2022, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has become a serious health issue across the globe. It is caused by a virus of the Flaviviridae family, and it comprises five different serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-5). As there is no specific medicine or effective vaccine for controlling dengue fever, there is an urgent need to develop potential inhibitors against it. Traditionally, various natural products have been used to manage dengue fever and its co-morbid conditions. A detailed analysis of these plants revealed the presence of various chromene derivatives as the major phytochemicals. Inspired by these observations, authors have critically analyzed the anti-dengue virus potential of various 4 H chromene derivatives. Further, in silico, in vitro, and in vivo reports of these scaffolds against the dengue virus are detailed in the present manuscript. These analogues exerted their activity by interfering with various stages of viral entry, assembly, and replications. Moreover, these analogues mainly target envelope protein, NS2B-NS3 protease, and NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, etc. Overall, chromene-containing analogues exerted a potent activity against the dengue virus and the present review will be helpful for the further exploration of these scaffolds for the development of novel antiviral drug candidates.

The endophytic fungi that reside inside medicinal plants have the potential to produce various pharmaco-potential bioactive compounds. The endophytic fungi Graminicolous helminthosporium , Bipolaris australiensis and Cladosporium cladosporioides were isolated from different medicinal plants. The GC-MS analysis of intra- and extracellular products of endophytic fungi revealed the presence of various bioactive metabolites, such as Anthracene, Brallobarbital, Benzo [h] quinolone, Ethylacridine, 2-Ethylacridine, Cyclotrisiloxane, 5 methyl 2 phenylindolizine, and 1,4-Cyclohexadien-1-one, etc. The phytochemical composition analysis of endophytic fungus extracts also revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, saponins, carbohydrates, glycosides, and proteins. The intra- and extracellular endophytic extracts exhibited strong antibacterial and antioxidant activity, which was screened with the agar-well diffusion method and DPPH, H 2 O 2 , and nitric oxide scavenging activity, respectively. The bioactive compounds identified in the endophytic extracts from GC-MS profiling served as ligands for molecular-docking analysis to investigate the anticancer potential against non-small cell lung carcinoma receptor EGFR. Molecular docking results showed that compounds, such as Brallobarbital, and 5 methyl 2 phenylindolizine had the lowest E- min values, which suggests that these compounds could be used in anticancer drug development. Thus, the isolated endophytic fungal species can be used to produce various bioactive compounds that could be used in novel drug development from natural sources and reduce the environmental burden of synthetic chemical drugs.

Cancer is one of the dreadful diseases worldwide. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, are the three basic standard modes of cancer treatment. However, difficulties in cancer treatment are increasing due to immune escape, spreading of cancer to other places, and resistance of cancer cells to therapies. Various signaling mechanisms, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, RAS, WNT/β-catenin, TGF-beta, and notch pathways, are involved in cancer resistance. The adaptive inflammatory response is the initial line of defence against infection. However, chronic inflammation can lead to tumorigenesis, malignant transformation, tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. The most commonly dysregulated inflammatory pathways linked to cancer include NF-κB, MAPK, JAK-STAT, and PI3K/AKT. To overcome major hurdles in cancer therapy, nanomedicine is receiving much attention due to its role as a vehicle for delivering chemotherapeutic agents that specifically target tumor sites. Several biocompatible nanocarriers including polymer and inorganic nanoparticles, liposomes, micellar nanoparticles, nanotubes, and exosomes have been extensively studied. Exosome has been reported as an important potential system that could be effectively used as a bioinspired, bioengineered, and biomimetic drug delivery solution considering its toxicity, immunogenicity, and rapid clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system. Exosome-mimetic vesicles are receiving much interest for developing nano-sized delivery systems. In this review, exosomes in detail as well as certain other nanocarriers, and their potential therapeutic roles in cancer therapy has been thoroughly discussed. Additionally, we also reviewed on oncogenic and tumor suppressor proteins, inflammation, and their associated signaling pathways and their interference by exosomes based nanomedicine., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Currently, the exploration of natural colorants from vegetal waste has gained particular attention. Furthermore, incorporation of these natural sources into biopolymers is an encouraging environmentally friendly approach to establishing active films with biological activities for food packaging. The present study developed bioactive antioxidant films based on gelatin-sodium alginate (NaAlg) incorporated with aqueous beetroot peel extract (BPE). Firstly, the effects of combining gelatin-NaAlg and BPE at 0.25, 0.5, and 1% on the mechanical, physical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of the films were analyzed. With increasing BPE, mechanico-physical properties and antioxidant and anti-foodborne pathogen capacities were enhanced. Likewise, when added to gelatin-NaAlg films, BPE remarkably increased the instrumental color properties. Moreover, during 14 days of storage at 4 °C, the impact of gelatin-NaAlg coating impregnated with BPE on microbial and chemical oxidation and on the sensory characteristics of beef meat samples was periodically assessed. Interestingly, by the end of the storage, BPE at 1% limited the microbial deterioration, enhanced the instrumental color, delayed chemical oxidation, and improved sensory traits. By practicing chemometrics tools (principal component analysis and heat maps), all data provided valuable information for categorizing all samples regarding microbiological and oxidative properties, sensory features, and instrumental color. Our findings revealed the ability of gelatin-NaAlg with BPE as an antioxidant to be employed as food packaging for meat preservation.

Dark chocolate gets popularity for several decades due to its enormous health benefits. It contains several health-promoting factors (bioactive components - polyphenols, flavonoids, procyanidins, theobromines, etc, and vitamins and minerals) that positively modulate the immune system of human beings. It confers safeguards against cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancers, and other brain-related disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc. Dark chocolate is considered a functional food due to its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. It also has a well-established role in weight management and the alteration of a lipid profile to a healthy direction. But during the processing of dark chocolate, several nutrients are lost (polyphenol, flavonoids, flavan 3 ol, ascorbic acid, and thiamine). So, fortification would be an effective method of enhancing the overall nutrient content and also making the dark chocolate self-sufficient. Thus, the focus of this review study is to gather all the experimental studies done on dark chocolate fortification. Several ingredients were used for the fortification, such as fruits (mulberry, chokeberries, and elderberries), spices (cinnamon), phytosterols, peanut oil, probiotics (mainly Lactobacillus , bacillus spices), prebiotics (inulin, xanthan gum, and maltodextrin), flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, etc. Those fortifications were done to raise the total antioxidant content as well as essential fatty acid content simultaneously reducing total calorie content. Sometimes, the fortification was done to improve physical properties like viscosity, rheological propertiesand also improve overall consumer acceptance by modifying its bitter taste., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

The search for natural plant-based products as new pharmacological alternatives to treat various human pathologies has taken on great importance for researchers and research laboratories. In this context, research has intensified to extract and identify natural molecules endowed with biological effects. The objective of this study is to review the source and pharmacological properties of cirsimaritin. The identification and isolation of this flavonoid from various natural sources, including medicinal plants such as Artemisia judaica , Cirsium japonicum , Lithocarpus dealbatus , Microtea debilis , and Ocimum sanctum , has been carried out and verified using different spectral techniques. Biological effect investigations are carried out with a wide variety of experimental models in vitro and in vivo and laboratory techniques. The results of these research works showed the biological properties of cirsimaritin including anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiparasitic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. The mechanisms involved in the multiple activities of this molecule are diverse and include sub-cellular, cellular, and molecular levels. Indeed, this bioactive induces anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects by inhibiting cell membrane receptors, interference with signaling pathways, and inhibiting transcriptional factors such as Nf-κB involved in cell promotion and proliferation. In the light of these results, cirsimaritin appears as a promising and viable alternative natural bioactive drug to treat many pathological conditions.

The enhanced concern of the consumers regarding the safety, quality of the food products, and avoidance of the use of chemical food preservatives has resulted in a breakthrough in biopreservation. This has resulted in the use of beneficial microbial species, including bacteria and their secondary metabolites, to enhance the shelf-life and quality of the food products. Meat preservation and fortification are among the biggest concerns, as they are relevant to the majority of food products. The chemical preservatives conventionally used in preserving meat and meat products possess several detrimental effects on the consumers. Thus, alternative strategies are needed to combat strategically in facilitating the shelf-life and quality. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are considered the safest organism and have a profound role in food and food-processing industries. The biofilm developed by the bacteria prevents the growth of various undesirable microorganisms on meat and meat products. Various studies depicted that LAB produces various antimicrobial metabolites that can act effectively on the food-degrading pathogens, rendering it safe and enhancing shelf-life. This review, thus, deals with the use of LAB as biopreservatives for enhancing the shelf-life of meat and meat products and helping its fortification.

Biofilm has been a point of concern in hospitals and various industries. They not only cause various chronic infections but are also responsible for the degradation of various medical appliances. Since the last decade, various alternate strategies are being adopted to combat the biofilm formed on various biotic and abiotic surfaces. The use of enzymes as a potent anti-fouling agent is proved to be of utmost importance as the enzymes can inhibit biofilm formation in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way. The physical and chemical immobilization of the enzyme not only leads to the improvement of thermostability and reusability of the enzyme, but also gains better efficiency of biofilm removal. Immobilization of amylase, cellobiohydrolase, pectinase, subtilisin A and β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (DspB) are proved to be most effective in inhibition of biofilm formation and removal of matured biofilm than their free forms. Hence, these immobilized enzymes provide greater eradication of biofilm formed on various surfaces and are coming up to be the potent antibiofilm agent., (© 2022 The Authors. Biotechnology Progress published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers.)

The initial structural features and in vitro biological study of crude polysaccharides from Calocybe indica (CICP) extracted by hot water followed by ethanol precipitation was investigated. High-performance gel permeation chromatography, HPLC-DAD, UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Congo red methods were used to determine structural features. The results revealed that CICP is a hetero-polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 9.371 × 10 4 Da and 2.457 × 10 3 Da which is composed of xylose, mannose, fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, and glucose. The antioxidant activity of CICP was evaluated using radical scavenging activity (three methods), reducing ability (three methods), metal chelating activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity (two methods). It was found that the antioxidant capacity is concentration-dependent and EC 50 values were found to be 1.99-3.82 mg/mL (radical scavenging activities), 0.78-2.78 mg/mL (reducing ability), 4.11 mg/mL (metal chelating activity), and 0.56-4.18 mg/mL (lipid peroxidation inhibition activity). In vitro anticoagulant assay revealed that CICP could prolong activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), but not prothrombin time (PT). CICP exhibited antiproliferative activity on HeLa, PC3, HT29, HepG2, and Jurkat cell lines with IC 50 (μg/mL) values of 148.40, 143.60,151.00, 168.30, and 156.30, respectively. The above findings suggested that CICP could be considered a natural antioxidant and cancer preventative.

This study was specifically designed for a small-scale meat processing enterprise "DARIYA" to set up a specific HACCP plan for the new product (patties) made from mixed horsemeat with vegetable components developed in the Department of Technology of Food Production and Biotechnology, Shakarim University of Semey. Critical control points (CCPs) were identified and applied in the HACCP plan. The different hazards were detected at each processing step, whereas each CCP in the HACCP plan was identified and accompanied with the appropriate significant hazard, critical limit, monitoring of the CCP, and corrective actions, confirming that the enterprise has fully employed the HACCP methodology and ISO 22000:2018. Our results indicate that during almost 1 year following the implementation of ISO 22000:2018, the coliform level of tested patties significantly dropped ( p < 0.05) after 6 months of implementation (coliform count dropped from 4.4 MPN/g to 1.8 MPN/g). The rapid screening of the bacterial count, heavy metals, pesticide residue, and physical contamination levels also improved monitoring assertiveness, allowing them to deal with foreseeable issues linking to resources and guarantee product quality. Cesium-137 was recorded as 5.4 ± 2.9627 Bq/kg in horsemeat and 6.7 ± 2.7045 in poultry. The activity of cesium-137 did not exceed the MAC. This result discloses that prompt screening is the foremost and necessary step for small enterprises. According to this study, the "acceptance of raw materials" is the most important CCP, and their control, particularly in small-scale meat processing enterprises, can actually prevent many negative outcomes. The implementation of both standards improved food quality by declining the flaw rates for patties, and the number of flow inconsistencies needed for correction in the process also dropped significantly ( p < 0.05), demonstrating that safety and quality points were improving. If the application of the HACCP plan were to continue over an extended period of time, the Food Safety Management System's (FSMS) benefits would be more substantial improvements to a greater number of items being monitored. The process of implementing HACCP principles and ISO 22000:2018 could be arduous but achievable enough to be used in small industries with significant outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Atambayeva, Nurgazezova, Rebezov, Kazhibayeva, Kassymov, Sviderskaya, Toleubekova, Assirzhanova, Ashakayeva and Apsalikova.)

Soybean processing waste (SPW) has potential as a sustainable source of phytochemicals and functional foods. A variety of phytochemicals, nutrients, and minerals have been characterized from SPW using various analytical methods. SPW utilization strategies may provide a new way to increase production of bioactive compounds, nutritional supplements, and cosmetic ingredients. SPW has the potential for value-added processing, to improve commercial use, and to lower environmental pollution through proper use. Okara, a byproduct generated during soybean processing of tofu and soy milk, is rich in dietary fiber, isoflavones, and saponins. Isoflavones, an important class of biologically active compounds owing to their multifunctional and therapeutic effects, are extracted from SPW. Further, studies have shown that okara has potential prebiotic and therapeutic value in lowering the risk of noncommunicable diseases. Therefore, in this review, we focus on several extraction methods and pharmacotherapeutic effects of different SPWs. Their effective uses in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and health applications, as biocatalysts, and as value-added resources have been discussed.

Nano-priming is an innovative seed priming technology that helps to improve seed germination, seed growth, and yield by providing resistance to various stresses in plants. Nano-priming is a considerably more effective method compared to all other seed priming methods. The salient features of nanoparticles (NPs) in seed priming are to develop electron exchange and enhanced surface reaction capabilities associated with various components of plant cells and tissues. Nano-priming induces the formation of nanopores in shoot and helps in the uptake of water absorption, activates reactive oxygen species (ROS)/antioxidant mechanisms in seeds, and forms hydroxyl radicals to loosen the walls of the cells and acts as an inducer for rapid hydrolysis of starch. It also induces the expression of aquaporin genes that are involved in the intake of water and also mediates H 2 O 2, or ROS, dispersed over biological membranes. Nano-priming induces starch degradation via the stimulation of amylase, which results in the stimulation of seed germination. Nano-priming induces a mild ROS that acts as a primary signaling cue for various signaling cascade events that participate in secondary metabolite production and stress tolerance. This review provides details on the possible mechanisms by which nano-priming induces breaking seed dormancy, promotion of seed germination, and their impact on primary and secondary metabolite production. In addition, the use of nano-based fertilizer and pesticides as effective materials in nano-priming and plant growth development were also discussed, considering their recent status and future perspectives., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Hyperlipidemia, the most common form of dyslipidemia, is the main source of cardiovascular disorders, characterized by elevated level of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in peripheral blood. It is caused by a defect in lipid metabolism in the surface of Apoprotein C-II or a defect in lipoprotein lipase activity as well as reported in genetic, dietary and environmental factors. Several electronic databases were investigated as information sources, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Semantic Scholar, MEDLINE and CNKI Scholar. The current review focused on the risk factors of dyslipidemia, synthetic medication with their side effects and different types of medicinal plants having significant potential for the management of hyperlipidemia. The management of hyperlipidemia mostly involves a constant decrease in lipid level using different remedial drugs like statin, fibrate, bile acid sequestrates and niacin. However, this extensive review suggested that the consequences of these drugs are arguable, due to their numerous adverse effects. The selected parts of herb plants are used intact or their extracts containing active phytoconstituents to regulate the lipids in blood level. It was also noted that the Chinese herbal medicine and combination therapy is promising for the lowering of hyperlipidemia. This review intends to provide a scientific base for future endeavors, such as in-depth biological and chemical investigations into previously researched topics., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Bacterial strains have developed an ability to resist antibiotics via numerous mechanisms. Recently, researchers conducted several studies to identify natural bioactive compounds, particularly secondary metabolites of medicinal plants, such as terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, as antibacterial agents. These molecules exert several mechanisms of action at different structural, cellular, and molecular levels, which could make them candidates or lead compounds for developing natural antibiotics. Research findings revealed that these bioactive compounds can inhibit the synthesis of DNA and proteins, block oxidative respiration, increase membrane permeability, and decrease membrane integrity. Furthermore, recent investigations showed that some bacterial strains resist these different mechanisms of antibacterial agents. Researchers demonstrated that this resistance to antibiotics is linked to a microbial cell-to-cell communication system called quorum sensing (QS). Consequently, inhibition of QS or quorum quenching is a promising strategy to not only overcome the resistance problems but also to treat infections. In this respect, various bioactive molecules, including terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, exhibit numerous anti-QS mechanisms via the inhibition of auto-inducer releases, sequestration of QS-mediated molecules, and deregulation of QS gene expression. However, clinical applications of these molecules have not been fully covered, which limits their use against infectious diseases. Accordingly, the aim of the present work was to discuss the role of the QS system in bacteria and its involvement in virulence and resistance to antibiotics. In addition, the present review summarizes the most recent and relevant literature pertaining to the anti-quorum sensing of secondary metabolites and its relationship to antibacterial activity.

Bio-inspired optimization techniques (BOT) are part of intelligent computing techniques. There are several BOTs available and many new BOTs are evolving in this era of industrial revolution 4.0. Genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, artificial bee colony, and grey wolf optimization are the techniques explored by researchers in the field of food processing technology. Although, there are other potential methods that may efficiently solve the optimum related problem in food industries. In this review, the mathematical background of the techniques, their application and the potential microbial-based optimization methods with higher precision has been surveyed for a complete and comprehensive understanding of BOTs along with their mechanism of functioning. These techniques can simulate the process efficiently and able to find the near-to-optimal value expeditiously., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

The current research work was carried out to evaluate the effect of three different varieties (NARC-II, Williams 82, Ajmeri) of soybean along with single and coculture impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei on fermented soymilk. The periodically microbial and antioxidative activities of fermented soymilk were analyzed during the storage of 24 days. Moreover, the effect of fermentation on rheological and structural changes was examined along with isoflavone contents in fermented soymilk. Viability of cells and antioxidative activities were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fermented soymilk using mixed cultures. The rheological attributes demonstrated higher viscosity in coculture fermented soymilk. Scanning electron microscopic examination indicated that the growth characteristic of L. casei has a relatively more uniform texture and smaller pore size in comparison to L. acidophilus. Nevertheless, the combination of cultures exhibited precise pore formation with stronger cross-links of soybean protein throughout the structure. Assessment of isoflavones exhibited higher values, for daidzein (20.87 ppm) in comparison to genistein (6.57 ppm), in Ajmeri-based coculture soymilk. Conclusively, L. casei and L. acidophilous exhibited considerable antioxidant potential in the development of viscous, less porous, and rich in bioactive metabolites fermented soymilk, when used in combination and among varieties Ajmeri results it was the top of all. This suggests that the process evidence in this study could be recommended for high-quality soymilk production., (© 2021 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Microbial antibiotic resistance is an important global world health problem. Recently, an interest in nanoparticles (NPs) of silver oxides as compounds with antibacterial potential has significantly increased. From a practical point of view, composites of silver oxide NPs and biocompatible material are of interest. A borosiloxane (BS) can be used as one such material. A composite material combining BS and silver oxide NPs has been synthesized. Composites containing BS have adjustable viscoelastic properties. The silver oxide NPs synthesized by laser ablation have a size of ~65 nm (half-width 60 nm) and an elemental composition of Ag 2 O. The synthesized material exhibits strong bacteriostatic properties against E. coli at a concentration of nanoparticles of silver oxide more than 0.01%. The bacteriostatic effect depends on the silver oxide NPs concentration in the matrix. The BS/silver oxide NPs have no cytotoxic effect on a eukaryotic cell culture when the concentration of nanoparticles of silver oxide is less than 0.1%. The use of the resulting composite based on BS and silver oxide NPs as a reusable dry disinfectant is due to its low toxicity and bacteriostatic activity and its characteristics are not inferior to the medical alloy nitinol.

Exploration of new drugs targeting anxiety treatment is a major concern worldwide. Medicinal plants are being used as a potential source of novel drugs for anxiety disorders. The objective of this review is to provide information about the healing outcomes of anxiety treatment with natural products. Valeriana officinalis, Citrus aurantium, Commelina benghalensis, Achyranthes aspera, Mimosa pudica, Achillea millefolium, Nymphaea alba, Leonurus cardiac, Camellia sinensis, Turnera aphrodisiaca, Crataegus oxyacantha and Piper methysticum showed promising effects on anxiety in animal models. In clinical studies, passion flower, kava, valerian, St John's wort, and hwagandha showed the most positive results. More studies are needed for the exploration of the antianxiety of medicinal plants. In drugs derived from natural sources have explored many components that are playing an essential role in curing anxiety disorders and associated complications., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Constipation is one of the most common and prevalent chronic gastrointestinal conditions across the globe that is treated or managed through various methods. Laxatives are used for the treatment or management of chronic/acute constipation. But due to the adverse effects associated with these laxatives, herbal foods should be considered as alternative therapies for constipation. In this review, the laxative potential of plant-based medicines used for constipation is discussed. Constipation may be caused by various factors such as lifestyle, particular food habits, pregnancy and even due to some medication. Chronic constipation is responsible for different health issues. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological paradigms are applied for the treatment or management of constipation. In the pharmacological way of treatment, medicinal plants have a key role because of their fibrous nature. Numerous plants such as Prunus persica (Rosaceae), Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (Leguminosae), Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae), Planta goovata (Plantaginaceae), Rheum emodi (Polygonaceae), Cassia auriculata (Caesalpinacea), Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae), Croton tiglium (Euphorbiaceae), Aloe barbadensis (Liliaceae), Mareya micrantha (Euphorbiaceae), Euphorbia thymifolia (Euphorbiaceae), Cascara sagrada (Rhamnaceae), Cassia angustifolia (Fabaceae) have laxative activity. Medicinal plants possess a significant laxative potential and support their folklore; therefore, further, well-designed clinical-based studies are required to prove and improve the efficacy of herbal medicine for constipation. The present review showed that herbs laxative effect in various in vivo/ in vitro models., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Plants are a source of diverse classes of secondary metabolites with anticancer properties. Paclitaxel (Taxol) is an anticancer drug isolated from various Taxus species and is used as a chemotherapeutic agent against various cancers. The biosynthesis of paclitaxel is a complex pathway, making its total chemical synthesis commercially non-viable; hence, alternative novel sources - like plant cell culture and heterologous expression systems, are being investigated to overcome this issue. Advancements in the field of genetic engineering, microbial fermentation engineering, and recombinant techniques have significantly increased the achievable yields of paclitaxel. Indeed, paclitaxel selectively targets microtubules and causes cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, inducing a cytotoxic effect in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Innovative drug delivery formulations, like the development of albumin-bound nanoparticles, nano-emulsions, nano-suspensions, liposomes, and polymeric micelles, have been applied to enhance the delivery of paclitaxel to tumor cells. This review focuses on the production, biosynthesis, mechanism of action, and anticancer effects of paclitaxel., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Many short-lived and highly reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anion (O 2 - ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), are toxic or can create oxidative stress in cells, a response involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases depending on their concentration, location, and cellular conditions. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities as an endogenous and exogenous cell defense mechanism include the potential use in treating various diseases, improving the potential use in treating various diseases, and improving food-stuffs preparation dietary supplements human nutrition. Published work indicates that SOD regulates oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidation in cells. It can prevent lipid peroxidation, the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein in macrophages, lipid droplets' formation, and the adhesion of inflammatory cells into endothelial monolayers. It also expresses antioxidant effects in numerous cancer-related processes. Additionally, different forms of SOD may also augment food processing and pharmaceutical applications, exhibit anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, and prevent arterial problems by protecting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Many investigations in this review have reported the therapeutic ability and physiological importance of SOD. Because of their antioxidative effects, SODs are of great potential in the medicinal, cosmetic, food, farming and chemical industries. This review discusses the findings of human and animal studies that support the advantages of SOD enzyme regulations to reduce the formation of oxidative stress in various ways.

Over the past decade, the gut microbiota has emerged as an important frontier in understanding the human body's homeostasis and the development of diseases. Gut flora in human beings regulates various metabolic functionalities, including enzymes, amino acid synthesis, bio-transformation of bile acid, fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs), generation of indoles and polyamines (PAs), and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Among all the metabolites produced by gut microbiota, SCFAs, the final product of fermentation of dietary fibers by gut microbiota, receive lots of attention from scientists due to their pharmacological and physiological characteristics. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of SCFAs in the interaction between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism is still needed in-depth research. This review highlights the recent biotechnological advances in applying SCFAs as important metabolites to treat various diseases and maintain colonic health.

A low-temperature technology was developed for producing a nanocomposite based on poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), synthesized by laser ablation. Nanocomposites were created containing 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1% of zinc oxide nanoparticles with rod-like morphology and a size of 40-70 nm. The surface of the films from the obtained nanomaterial was uniform, without significant defects. Clustering of ZnO-NPs in the PLGA matrix was noted, which increased with an increase in the concentration of the dopant in the polymer. The resulting nanomaterial was capable of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. The rate of ROS generation increased with an increase in the concentration of the dopant. It was shown that the synthesized nanocomposite promotes the formation of long-lived reactive protein species, and is also the reason for the appearance of a key biomarker of oxidative stress, 8-oxoguanine, in DNA. The intensity of the process increased with an increase in the concentration of nanoparticles in the matrix. It was found that the nanocomposite exhibits significant bacteriostatic properties, the severity of which depends on the concentration of nanoparticles. In particular, on the surface of the PLGA-ZnO-NPs composite film containing 0.001% nanoparticles, the number of bacterial cells was 50% lower than that of pure PLGA. The surface of the composite is non-toxic to eukaryotic cells and does not interfere with their adhesion, growth, and division. Due to its low cytotoxicity and bacteriostatic properties, this nanocomposite can be used as coatings for packaging in the food industry, additives for textiles, and also as a material for biomedicine.

Nanotechnology has undergone significant development in recent years, particularly in the fabrication of sensors with a wide range of applications. The backbone of nanotechnology is nanostructures, which are determined on a nanoscale. Nanoparticles are abundant throughout the universe and are thought to be essential building components in the process of planet creation. Nanotechnology is generally concerned with structures that are between 1 and 100 nm in at least one dimension and involves the production of materials or electronics that are that small. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are carbon-based nanomaterials that have the structure of tubes. Carbon nanotubes are often referred to as the kings of nanomaterials. The diameter of carbon is determined in nanometers. They are formed from graphite sheets and are available in a variety of colors. Carbon nanotubes have a number of characteristics, including high flexibility, good thermal conductivity, low density, and chemical stability. Carbon nanotubes have played an important part in nanotechnology, semiconductors, optical and other branches of materials engineering owing to their remarkable features. Several of the applications addressed in this review have already been developed and used to benefit people worldwide. CNTs have been discussed in several domains, including industry, construction, adsorption, sensors, silicon chips, water purifiers, and biomedical uses, to show many treatments such as injecting CNTs into kidney cancers in rats, drug delivery, and directing a near-infrared laser at the cancers. With the orderly development of research in this field, additional therapeutic modalities will be identified, mainly for dispersion and densification techniques and targeted drug delivery systems for managing and curing posterior cortical atrophy. This review discusses the characteristics of carbon nanotubes as well as therapeutic applications such as medical diagnostics and drug delivery.

Oxidative stress is a pathological condition occurring due to an imbalance between the oxidants and antioxidant defense systems in the body. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), encoded by the gene NFE2L2 , is the master regulator of phase II antioxidant enzymes that protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. NRF2/ARE signaling has been considered as a promising target against oxidative stress-mediated diseases like diabetes, fibrosis, neurotoxicity, and cancer. The consumption of dietary phytochemicals acts as an effective modulator of NRF2/ARE in various acute and chronic diseases. In the present review, we discussed the role of NRF2 in diabetes, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), cancer, and atherosclerosis. Additionally, we discussed the phytochemicals like curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, apigenin, sulforaphane, and ursolic acid that have effectively modified NRF2 signaling and prevented various diseases in both in vitro and in vivo models. Based on the literature, it is clear that dietary phytochemicals can prevent diseases by (1) blocking oxidative stress-inhibiting inflammatory mediators through inhibiting Keap1 or activating Nrf2 expression and its downstream targets in the nucleus, including HO-1, SOD, and CAT; (2) regulating NRF2 signaling by various kinases like GSK3beta, PI3/AKT, and MAPK; and (3) modifying epigenetic modulation, such as methylation, at the NRF2 promoter region; however, further investigation into other upstream signaling molecules like NRF2 and the effect of phytochemicals on them still need to be investigated in the near future.

In the current study, we analyzed the efficacy of manganese oxide nanoparticle (MnNP)-water dispersion as an immobilization matrix for bacterial tannase. The tannase-secreting Bacillus subtilis strain NJKL.tan.2 obtained from tannery effluent soil was subsequently purified and cloned in pET20b vector. The activity of MnNP-tan (tannase activated by manganese nanoparticles) was 1.51- and 3.5-fold higher at 20 °C and 80 °C, respectively, compared with the free enzyme. MnNP-tan decreased K m by 41.66 % and 3-fold, whereas free tannase showed two-fold and six-fold improvement in K cat at 37 °C and 80 °C, respectively. MnNP-tan showed an increase in (half-life)t 1/2 and E d by 13-fold and 50.05 units, respectively, at 80 °C, in contrast to the native enzyme. MnNP-tan retained its residual activity by 78.2 % at 37 °C and 34.24 % at 80 °C after 180 min of incubation when compared with untreated set. MnNP-tan retained 51 % of its activity after 120 days with the native enzyme losing ∼50 % functionality following 40 days of incubation. The MnNP-mediated tannase immobilization technique is being reported for the first time. The technique has numerous advantages due to the use of MnNP as a potential matrix for biomolecule immobilization, which can be further extended to immobilize other biocatalysts used in agro-industrial and lab-based applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cancer is one of the most complex and systemic diseases affecting the health of mankind, causing major deaths with a significant increase. This pathology is caused by several risk factors, of which genetic disturbances constitute the major elements, which not only initiate tumor transformation but also epigenetic disturbances which are linked to it and which can induce transcriptional instability. Indeed, the involvement of epigenetic disturbances in cancer has been the subject of correlations today, in addition to the use of drugs that operate specifically on different epigenetic pathways. Natural molecules, especially those isolated from medicinal plants, have shown anticancer effects linked to mechanisms of action. The objective of this review is to explore the anticancer effects of alkaloids, terpenoids, quinones, and isothiocyanates.

Background: Honokiol is a pleiotropic compound which been isolated from Magnolia species such as Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia dealbata. Magnolia species Magnolia grandiflora is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases., Purpose: The objective of this review is to summarize the pharmacological potential and therapeutic insights of honokiol., Study Design: Honokiol has been specified as a novel alternative to treat various disorders such as liver cancer, neuroprotective, anti-spasmodic, antidepressant, anti-tumorigenic, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, analgesic properties and others. Therefore, this study designed to represent the in-depth therapeutic potential of honokiol., Methods: Literature searches in electronic databases, such as Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, were performed using the keywords 'Honokiol', 'Health Benefits' and 'Therapeutic Insights' as the keywords for primary searches and secondary search terms were used as follows: 'Anticancer', 'Oxidative Stress', 'Neuroprotective', 'Antimicrobial', 'Cardioprotection', 'Hepatoprotective', 'Anti-inflammatory', 'Arthritis', 'Reproductive Disorders'., Results: This promising bioactive compound presented an wide range of therapeutic and biological activities which include liver cancer, neuroprotective, anti-spasmodic, antidepressant, anti-tumorigenic, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, analgesic properties, and others. Its pharmacokinetics has been established in experimental animals, while in humans, this is still speculative. Some of its mechanism for exhibiting its pharmacological effects includes apoptosis of diseased cells, reduction in the expression of defective proteins like P-glycoproteins, inhibition of oxidative stress, suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6), amelioration of impaired hepatic enzymes and reversal of morphological alterations, among others., Conclusion: All these actions displayed by this novel compound could make it serve as a lead in the formulation of drugs with higher efficacy and negligible side effects utilized in the treatment of several human diseases., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Carotenoids in food substances are believed to have health benefits by lowering the risk of diseases. Lutein, a carotenoid compound, is one of the essential nutrients available in green leafy vegetables (kale, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, and peas), along with other foods, such as eggs. As nutrition plays a pivotal role in maintaining human health, lutein, as a nutritional substance, confers promising benefits against numerous health issues, including neurological disorders, eye diseases, skin irritation, etc. This review describes the in-depth health beneficial effects of lutein. As yet, a minimal amount of literature has been undertaken to consider all its promising bioactivities. The step-by-step biosynthesis of lutein has also been taken into account in this review. Besides, this review demonstrates the drug interactions of lutein with β-carotene, as well as safety concerns and dosage. The potential benefits of lutein have been assessed against neurological disorders, eye diseases, cardiac complications, microbial infections, skin irritation, bone decay, etc. Additionally, recent studies ascertained the significance of lutein nanoformulations in the amelioration of eye disorders, which are also considered in this review. Moreover, a possible approach for the use of lutein in bioactive functional foods will be discussed., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bio-based packaging materials are gaining importance due to their biodegradability, sustainability and environmental friendliness. To control the food quality and improve the food safety standards, proteins polysaccharide and lipid-based packaging films are enriched with bioactive and functional substances. However, poor permeability and mechanical characteristics are the challenging areas in their commercialization. Scientists and researchers are using a combination of techniques i.e. hydrogels, crosslinking, etc. to improve the intermolecular forces between different components of the film formulation to counter these challenges More recently, biodegradable packaging materials, sometimes edible, are also used for the delivery of functional ingredients which reveals their potential for drug delivery to counter the nutrient deficiency problems. This study highlights the potentials of bio-based materials i.e. proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, etc. to develop biodegradable packaging materials. It also explores the additives used to improve the physicochemical and mechanical properties of biodegradable packaging materials. Furthermore, it highlights the novel trends in biodegradable packaging from a food safety and quality point of view., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)