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Bone tissue engineering (BTE) aims to repair and regenerate damaged bone tissue by combining cells, scaffolds, and signaling molecules. Various macromolecules, including natural polymers like chitosan (CS), collagen, hyaluronic acid, and alginate, as well as synthetic polymers such as polyethylene glycol and polylactic acid, are used in scaffold fabrication. Among these, CS holds significant potential in BTE due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and other features. The inherent mechanical weaknesses of CS-based scaffolds require the implementation of crosslinking strategies to improve their stability and overall performance. Physical crosslinkers like ultra-violet irradiation and freeze-thaw cycles are biocompatible but offer limited mechanical strength. Chemical crosslinkers like glutaraldehyde significantly improve mechanical strength, but they may induce cytotoxicity. We briefly outline here the critical role of physical and chemical crosslinkers in improving the physicochemical properties, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biological functions of CS-based scaffolds, including effective bone regeneration. The influence of crosslinking on the CS-based scaffolds' bioactivity, including the controlled release of bioactive molecules, is also discussed. A thorough understanding of crosslinker chemistry and application in CS-based scaffolds is essential for advancing bone regeneration therapies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb used to prevent and treat psychosomatic disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects and safety of Ashwagandha on psychosomatic functions related to stress and anxiety among patients., Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Library for articles published from January 2000 to January 2022. Randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of Ashwagandha on stress and anxiety were included. Two authors independently extracted all relevant data from the included studies. Both subjective and objective measures of stress and anxiety were assessed as outcome variables., Result: Nine randomized controlled trials involving 558 patients were eligible for this study. The findings of the meta-analysis showed a significant effect of Ashwagandha formulations on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (MD = -4.72, 95 % CI = [-8.45 to -0.99]), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) (MD = -2.19, 95 % CI = [-3.83 to -0.55]), and serum cortisol levels (MD = -2.58, 95 % CI = [-4.99 to -0.16]) compared to the placebo group. Among the included studies, four reported mild to moderate adverse events., Conclusion: The findings from the included studies indicate that Ashwagandha formulations have beneficial effects on stress and anxiety. The adverse effects associated with Ashwagandha are limited; however, further information is required to determine its safety with long-term administration., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Considering the environmental impacts, rapid fossil fuel depletion and production costs, sustainable production of clean biofuels from alternative sources is required to meet the increasing demand for energy while avoiding environmental pollution. In this study, phytogenic cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs)-assisted dark fermentation process was developed for the simultaneous production of biohydrogen, biobutanol and biopolymer from glucose using Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIM 2337. The maximum biohydrogen yield of 2.89 mol H 2 /mol glucose was achieved at 1.5 mg of CoNPs, which is 1.6 folds higher than that of the control experiment. The high level of soluble metabolites, specifically acetate and butyrate, confirmed the production of biohydrogen through acetate/butyrate pathways. The modified Gompertz model fitted well with experimental results of CoNPs-assisted biohydrogen production. The CoNPs could act as an electron carrier in intracellular metabolism to enhance the activity of ferredoxin and hydrogenase enzymes, thus improving biohydrogen production. Furthermore, biobutanol and biopolymer yields of 975 ± 2.5 mg/L and 1182 ± 1.4 mg/L were achieved, with 2.0 mg and 2.5 mg of CoNP, respectively, which were 1.27 and 1.19 folds higher than the control values. Hence, the inclusion of CoNPs in the fermentation medium seems to be a promising technique for the enhanced simultaneous production of biohydrogen, biobutanol and biopolymer. The environmental perspectives of the obtained renewable biohydrogen, biobutanol and biopolymer are also discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plant steroids are being recognized as influential secondary bio factors, assimilating in animal tissues through diet and affecting their cellular metabolic function to varying degree. They modulate catalytic and signaling functions in mammalian cells, affecting cellular homeostasis. The effect of phyto brassinosteroid ketoisoform 28-homocastasterone (28-HC), was assessed for its influence on blood glucose, plasma lipid and selective signal marker levels in normal and diabetic male wistar rat models. A 15 day oral feed regimen employing the experimental rat, noted that circulating blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride level in diabetic rat were markedly reduced by this compound. This study confirmed that the keto form had anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipidemic potency associated with it and was available to man and animals in their diet. Western blots of marker protein, PCR amplicons of marker mRNA expressions and In Silico studies suggested that 28-HCeffect is being mediated through LxR molecular operatives in the rat cell., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)