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The scientific community is focusing on how to enhance human health and immunity through functional foods, and dietary supplements are proven to have a positive as well as a protective effect against infectious and chronic diseases. Ferns act as a taxonomical linkage between higher and lower plants and are endowed with a wide chemical diversity not subjected to sufficient scrutinization before. Even though a wealth of traditional medicinal fern uses were recorded in Chinese medicine, robust phytochemical and biological investigations of these plants are lacking. Herein, an extensive search was conducted using the keywords ferns and compounds, ferns and NMR, ferns and toxicity, and the terms ferns and chemistry, lignans, Polypodiaceae, NMR, isolation, bioactive compounds, terpenes, phenolics, phloroglucinols, monoterpenes, alkaloids, phenolics, and fatty acids were utilized with the Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT. Databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Reaxys were utilized to reveal a wealth of information regarding fern chemistry and their health-promoting effects. Terpenes followed by phenolics represented the largest number of isolated active compounds. Regarding the neuroprotective effects, Psilotium, Polypodium, and Dryopteris species possessed as their major phenolics component unique chemical moieties including catechins, procyanidins, and bioflavonoids. In this updated chemical review, the pharmacological and chemical aspects of ferns are compiled manifesting their chemical diversity in the last seven years (2017–2024) together with a special focus on their nutritive and potential health-promoting effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms is a significant global health concern. Various factors contribute to AMR, including alterations in cell membrane permeability, increased efflux pump activity, enzymatic modification or inactivation of antibiotics, target site changes, alternative metabolic pathways, and biofilm formation. Marine environments, with their extensive biodiversity, provide a valuable source of natural products with a wide range of biological activities. Marine-derived antimicrobial compounds show significant potential against drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. This review discusses the current knowledge on marine natural products such as microorganisms, sponges, tunicates and mollusks with antibacterial and antifungal properties effective against drug-resistant microorganisms and their ecological roles. These natural products are classified based on their chemical structures, such as alkaloids, amino acids, peptides, polyketides, naphthoquinones, terpenoids, and polysaccharides. Although still in preclinical studies, these agents demonstrate promising in vivo efficacy, suggesting that marine sources could be pivotal in developing new drugs to combat AMR, thereby fulfilling an essential medical need. This review highlights the ongoing importance of marine biodiversity exploration for discovering potential antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clovamide (N-caffeoyl-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, N-caffeoyldopamine, N-caffeoyl-L-DOPA) is a derivative of caffeic acid, belonging to phenolamides (hydroxycinnamic acid amides). Despite a growing interest in the biological activity of natural polyphenolic substances, studies on the properties of clovamide and related compounds, their significance as bioactive components of the diet, as well as their effects on human health are a relatively new research trend. On the other hand, in vitro and in vivo evidence indicates the considerable potential of these substances in the context of maintaining human health or using them as pharmacophores. The name "clovamide" directly derives from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), being the first identified source of this compound. In the human diet, clovamides are mainly present in chocolate and other cocoa-containing products. Furthermore, their occurrence in some medicinal plants has also been confirmed. The literature reports deal with the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiplatelet/antithrombotic and anticancer properties of clovamide-type compounds. This narrative review summarizes the available data on the biological activity of clovamides and their potential health-supporting properties, including prospects for the use of these compounds for therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizomes of the genus Atractylodes DC. consist of various bioactive components, including sesquiterpenes, which have attracted a great deal of research interest in recent years. In the present study, we reviewed the previously published literatures prior to November 2023 on the chemical structures, biosynthetic pathways, and pharmacological activities of the sesquiterpenoids from this genus via online databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Phytochemical studies have led to the identification of more than 160 sesquiterpenes, notably eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes. Many pharmacological activities have been demonstrated, particularly anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial and antiviral activities. This review presents updated, comprehensive and categorized information on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of sesquiterpenes in Atractylodes DC., with the aim of offering guidance for the future exploitation and utilization of active ingredients in this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cladosporium, a genus of ascomycete fungi in the Dematiaceae family, is primarily recognized as a widespread environmental saprotrophic fungus or plant endophyte. Further research has shown that the genus is distributed in various environments, particularly in marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, mangroves and the polar region. Cladosporium, especially the marine-derived Cladosporium, is a highly resourceful group of fungi whose natural products have garnered attention due to their diverse chemical structures and biological activities, as well as their potential as sources of novel leads to compounds for drug production. This review covers the sources, distribution, bioactivities, biosynthesis and structural characteristics of compounds isolated from Cladosporium in the period between January 2000 and December 2022, and conducts a comparative analysis of the Cladosporium isolated compounds derived from marine and terrestrial sources. Our results reveal that 34% of Cladosporium-derived natural products are reported for the first time. And 71.79% of the first reported compounds were isolated from marine-derived Cladosporium. Cladosporium-derived compounds exhibit diverse skeletal chemical structures, concentrating in the categories of polyketides (48.47%), alkaloids (19.21%), steroids and terpenoids (17.03%). Over half of the natural products isolated from Cladosporium have been found to have various biological activities, including cytotoxic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and enzyme-inhibitory activities. These findings testify to the tremendous potential of Cladosporium, especially the marine-derived Cladosporium, to yield novel bioactive natural products, providing a structural foundation for the development of new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aucklandia costus Falc. (Synonym: Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.) is a perennial herb of the family Asteraceae. The dried rhizome is an essential herb in the traditional systems of medicine in India, China and Tibet. The important pharmacological activities reported for Aucklandia costus are anticancer, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fatigue activities. The objective of this study was the isolation and quantification of four marker compounds in the crude extract and different fractions of A. costus and the evaluation of the anticancer activity of the crude extract and its different fractions. The four marker compounds isolated from A. costus include dehydrocostus lactone, costunolide, syringin and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde. These four compounds were used as standard compounds for quantification. The chromatographic data showed good resolution and excellent linearity (r2 ˃ 0.993). The validation parameters, such as inter- and intraday precision (RSD < 1.96%) and analyte recovery (97.52–110.20%; RSD < 2.00%),revealed the high sensitivity and reliability of the developed HPLC method. The compounds dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide were concentrated in the hexane fraction (222.08 and 65.07 µg/mg, respectively) and chloroform fraction (99.02 and 30.21 µg/mg, respectively), while the n-butanol fraction is a rich source of syringin (37.91 µg/mg) and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (7.94 µg/mg). Further, the SRB assay was performed for the evaluation of anticancer activity using lung, colon, breast and prostate cancer cell lines. The hexane and chloroform fractions show excellent IC50 values of 3.37 ± 0.14 and 7.527 ± 0.18 µg/mL, respectively, against the prostate cancer cell line (PC-3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpenes and their derivatives (terpenoids and meroterpenoids, in particular) constitute the largest class of natural compounds, which have valuable biological activities and are promising therapeutic agents. The present review assesses the biosynthetic capabilities of actinomycetes to produce various terpene derivatives; reports the main methodological approaches to searching for new terpenes and their derivatives; identifies the most active terpene producers among actinomycetes; and describes the chemical diversity and biological properties of the obtained compounds. Among terpene derivatives isolated from actinomycetes, compounds with pronounced antifungal, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and other effects were determined. Actinomycete-produced terpenoids and meroterpenoids with high antimicrobial activity are of interest as a source of novel antibiotics effective against drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Most of the discovered terpene derivatives are produced by the genus Streptomyces; however, recent publications have reported terpene biosynthesis by members of the genera Actinomadura, Allokutzneria, Amycolatopsis, Kitasatosporia, Micromonospora, Nocardiopsis, Salinispora, Verrucosispora, etc. It should be noted that the use of genetically modified actinomycetes is an effective tool for studying and regulating terpenes, as well as increasing productivity of terpene biosynthesis in comparison with native producers. The review includes research articles on terpene biosynthesis by Actinomycetes between 2000 and 2022, and a patent analysis in this area shows current trends and actual research directions in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress and inflammation processes are involved in most diseases and illnesses. Many herbal remedies have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and have been used since ancient times as traditional medicine. Species of the genus Prosopis are one of these herbal remedies that grow in arid, semiarid, subtropical, and tropical areas of the world. Paste, gum, and smoke from pods and leaves of Prosopis plants are traditionally used to treat diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on Prosopis plants as oxidative stress and inflammation modulators. Relevant information was collected from researching scientific databases such as PubMed/Medline, Wiley, Web of Science and Springer. Folk medicinal applications and biologically active molecules of Prosopis spp., and its derivatives, have been collected paying attention to studies that used verified markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity and inflammation. Future studies are needed to deepen more pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and structure-activity relationships of phytochemicals isolated from Prosopis species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived antioxidants are intrinsic components of human diet and factors implicated in tolerance mechanisms against environmental stresses in both plants and humans. They are being used as food preservatives and additives or ingredients of cosmetics. For nearly forty years, Rhizobium rhizogenes-transformed roots (hairy roots) have been studied in respect to their usability as producers of plant specialized metabolites of different, primarily medical applications. Moreover, the hairy root cultures have proven their value as a tool in crop plant improvement and in plant secondary metabolism investigations. Though cultivated plants remain a major source of plant polyphenolics of economic importance, the decline in biodiversity caused by climate changes and overexploitation of natural resources may increase the interest in hairy roots as a productive and renewable source of biologically active compounds. The present review examines hairy roots as efficient producers of simple phenolics, phenylethanoids, and hydroxycinnamates of plant origin and summarizes efforts to maximize the product yield. Attempts to use Rhizobium rhizogenes-mediated genetic transformation for inducing enhanced production of the plant phenolics/polyphenolics in crop plants are also mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbascum sinuatum (V. sinuatum) is a plant belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family that has been used as an ingredient in traditional medicine infusions for the treatment of many diseases. The aerial part of this plant is a source of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols and iridoids. Moreover, antioxidant activity studies have shown that V. sinuatum phenolic and flavonoid composition is higher than those in other plants of the same genus. V. sinuatum bioactive compound composition could vary according to the harvesting location, growing conditions of the plants, sample preparation methods, type and concentration of the extraction solvent, and the extraction methods. The obtention of these compounds can be achieved by different extraction techniques, most commonly, maceration, heat assisted extraction, and infusion. Nevertheless, since conventional extraction techniques have several drawbacks such as long times of extraction or use of large amounts of solvents, the use of green extraction techniques is suggested, without affecting the efficiency of the extraction. Moreover, V. sinuatum bioactive compounds have several biological activities, such as antioxidant, anticancer, cardiovascular, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective activities, that may be increased by encapsulation. Since the bioactive compounds extracted from V. sinuatum present good potential as functional food ingredients and in the development of drugs or cosmetics, this review gives an approach of the possible incorporation of these compounds in the food and pharmacological industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helichrysum italicum (family Asteraceae), due to its various beneficial health effects, represents an important plant in the traditional medicine of Mediterranean countries. Currently, there is a renewed interest in this medicinal plant, especially in investigations involving the isolation and identification of its bioactive compounds from extracts and essential oils, as well as in experimental validation of their pharmacological activities. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the beneficial health effects of Helichrysum italicum extracts, essential oils, and their major bioactive polyphenolic compounds, ranging from antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities to their antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and antiparasitic effects. This review also provides an overview of the most promising extraction and distillation techniques for obtaining high-quality extracts and essential oils from Helichrysum italicum, as well as methods for determining their antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities. Finally, new ideas for in silico studies of molecular mechanisms of bioactive polyphenols from Helichrysum italicum, together with novel suggestions for their improved bioavailability through diverse encapsulation techniques, are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most rampant and complex form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD) which is characterized by various cognitive deficits and personality abnormalities. AD is a neurodegenerative condition marked by the buildup of beta-amyloid peptide fragments and Tau protein in the form of tangles in brain neurons. The presence of β-amyloid peptide, Tau protein, oxidative stress, and an aggravated neuro-inflammatory response are all part of its pathophysiological pathway. Quite a number of invertebrates have been genetically modified such that they express human proteins that play a role or two in the pathogenesis of AD. Also, in order to create an animal model of AD, quite a number of substances have been investigated for their potential to cause cognitive dysfunctions. The following keywords were used to search and retrieve articles from reputable databases, including Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar and PubMed: "Alzheimer's Disease," "Tau protein," "beta-secretase," "Cognitive Impairments," "Amyloid beta," "phytochemicals and AD," "neurofibrillary tangles" and "Neurotoxins that induce AD," The aim of this review is to advance a better understanding of the functions and roles of Tau and amyloid precursor proteins in the pathogenesis of AD; and to offer updated and recent information on the use of plant chemicals in the treatment of AD. It is expedient to state that not all biochemical, cognitive, behavioral and histological disorders are recapitulable. Nevertheless, research into the etiology of this severely debilitating disease is being aided by experimental models of AD created by chemicals and bioengineered model organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey has been used for therapeutic and nutritional purposes since ancient times. It was considered one of the essential medical assets in wound healing. According to research, honeybees have significant antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and wound-healing properties. Lately, scientific researchers have focused on apitherapy, using bee products to protect and strengthen the immune system. Since honey is the most important natural product rich in minerals, proteins, and vitamins, it has been intensively used in such therapies. Honey has gained significant consideration because of the beneficial role of its antioxidant compounds, such as enzymes, proteins, amino and organic acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids, but mainly due to flavonoids and phenolic acids. It has been proven that phenolic compounds are responsible for honey's biological activity and that its physicochemical properties, antioxidants, and antimicrobial potential are significant for human health. The review also presents some mechanisms of action and the medical applications of honey, such as wound healing dressings, skin grafts, honey-based nanofibers, and cochlear implants, as the most promising wound healing tools. This extensive review has been written to highlight honey's applications in medicine; its composition with the most important bioactive compounds also illustrates its synergistic effect with other natural products having remarkable therapeutic properties in wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxycinnamoyl-quinic acids (HCQAs) are polyphenol esters formed of hydroxycinnamic acids and (-)-quinic acid. They are naturally synthesized by plants and some micro-organisms. The ester of caffeic acid and quinic acid, the chlorogenic acid, is an intermediate of lignin biosynthesis. HCQAs are biologically active dietary compounds exhibiting several important therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and other activities. They can also be used in the synthesis of nanoparticles or drugs. However, extraction of these compounds from biomass is a complex process and their synthesis requires costly precursors, limiting the industrial production and availability of a wider variety of HCQAs. The recently emerged production through the bioconversion is still in an early stage of development. In this paper, we discuss existing and potential future strategies for production of HCQAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana peel extracts were prepared by using various solvents. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis of methanolic extract showed 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (24.78 %) as major compound which was isolated from extract and chemically transformed into two derivatives viz. [5-(3-Nitrophenyliminomethyl)furan-2-yl] methanol (2) and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfurali deneacetophenone (3). The peel extracts, 5-HMF and its derivatives were tested for their antibacterial potential against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antifungal potential against Fusarium oxysporum and antioxidant potential. Maximum antibacterial potential was exhibited by methanol extract with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 30 and 45 pg/ml against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Ethyl acetate extract possessed maximum antifungal potential with MIC value at 300 pg/ml. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfurali deneacetophenone exhibited maximum antioxidant potential with median inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 25.50 and 30.00 pg/ ml against DPPH and NO radical scavenging assays, respectively. Hence, banana peels can be used to form biologically active compounds as safe and biodegradable antimicrobial and antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, sweet potato (Ipomoea batata L.; Lam.) is considered a very interesting nutritive food because it is rich in complex carbohydrates, but as a tubercle, contains high amounts of health-promoting secondary metabolites. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recently published information on this root vegetable, focusing on its bioactive phytochemical constituents, potential effects on health, and the impact of processing technologies. Sweet potato is considered an excellent source of dietary carotenoids, and polysaccharides, whose health benefits include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity, cardiovascular protection, anticancer properties and improvement in neurological and memory capacity, metabolic disorders, and intestinal barrier function. Moreover, the purple sweet potato, due to its high anthocyanin content, represents a unique food option for consumers, as well as a potential source of functional ingredients for healthy food products. In this context, the effects of commercial processing and domestic cooking techniques on sweet potato bioactive compounds require further study to understand how to minimize their loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic microorganisms are an important source of bioactive secondary metabolites. In this study, fungal endophytes obtained from A*STAR's Natural Product Library (NPL) and previously isolated from different habitats of Singapore were investigated for their diversity, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. A total of 222 fungal strains were identified on the basis of sequence analysis of ITS region of the rDNA gene. The identified fungal strains belong to 59 genera distributed in 20 orders. Majority of the identified strains (99%; 219 strains) belong to the phylum Ascomycota , while two strains belonged to the phylum Basidiomycota , and only one strain was from Mucoromycota phylum. The most dominant genus was Colletotrichum accounting for 27% of all the identified strains. Chemical elicitation using 5-azacytidine and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and variation of fermentation media resulted in the discovery of more bioactive strains. Bioassay-guided isolation and structure elucidation of active constituents from three prioritized fungal strains: Lophiotrema sp. F6932, Muyocopron laterale F5912, and Colletotrichum tropicicola F10154, led to the isolation of a known compound; palmarumycin C8 and five novel compounds; palmarumycin CP30, muyocopronol A-C and tropicicolide. Tropicicolide displayed the strongest antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus with an IC50 value of 1.8 μg/ml but with a weaker activity against the Candida albicans presenting an IC50 of 7.1 μg/ml. Palmarumycin C8 revealed the best antiproliferative activity with IC50 values of 1.1 and 2.1 μg/ml against MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient synthetic approach involving indole alkylation/Pictet‐Spengler cyclization was developed to form benzazepinoindole derivatives. The reactions proceeded smoothly with indoles, 2‐aminobenzyl alcohols, and aldehydes in the presence of TiCl4 as a Lewis acid catalyst. The developed one‐pot protocol is operationally simple and tolerates various functional groups. Furthermore, this mild and practical tandem reaction provides a direct route to access benzazepinoindole‐containing natural products and bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean is the most biodiverse habitat of various organisms. The organisms surviving in the harsh conditions of the ocean consist of several spectacular properties and produce bioactive compounds of pharmacological importance. These compounds are effective even in small quantities with various immunomodulatory qualities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Though the vaccines for COVID-19 are developed, and drug development is also in progress, but till now no effective drug is available for this deadly virus. Researchers are mining the huge data of bioactive compounds to develop the specific drug for COVID-19. The use of the repurposed drugs is challenging against the rapidly mutating virus with variable symptoms and mode of transmission. This review is an attempt to compile all the spattered data of marine-derived bioactive compounds with antiviral properties and to explore their therapeutic potential against COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:: Sponges produce a wide range of toxins and secondary metabolites. The deadly poisons of some of them contain the strongest toxins known in nature and complex mixtures of bioactive compounds with different chemical structures. One of the aims of this systematic review study is to study the toxinology of sea sponges as well as toxins and bioactive compounds and their functional mechanisms. Materials and Methods: To find studies on the toxicology of sea sponges and their bioactive compounds, in April 2021, the keywords of "toxinology, toxin, secondary metabolite, alkaloid, peptide, terpene, aromatic, steroid and lactone" along with the word "sponge" or "Porifra" were searched through the Google Scholar and Pubmed databases, from 2017 to 2021. After initial reviews based on the purpose of the study, 184 out of 211 articles were selected. The search for “Porifra” and the abovementioned compounds did not yield any results. Since the limited number of studies on sponge toxins were found in the initial search, the keywords "sponge and toxin" were re-searched between 1980 and 2021 in the Pubmed database, Scifinder (database of chemical compounds) and the Marin Lit Database (marine natural compounds research), and after omitting the duplicate articles, a total of 27 other related articles were selected and reviewed along with other selected articles. Results: Some toxins and main compounds isolated from different sea sponges, including different chemical groups such as okadaic acid; terpene derivatives such as agelasine, oxofasciospongia, dysivillosins, and hipposponlachnins; peptides such as polytheonamides, soritesidines, and scleritodermins; many different alkaloid compounds include guanidine alkaloids such as monanchocidins, mycalins, crambescidins, unguiculins, netamines, zarzissine, hachijodines; Acridine alkaloids such as amphimedines; bromine and bromotyrosine alkaloids such as aplysinins; benzonaphthryidine derivatives such as aaptamines; imidazole derivatives such as nonamidines; indole derivatives such as fascaplysins, dragmacidins and topsentins; piperidine alkaloids such as saraines, madangamines, haliclonacyclamines, and arenosclerins; pyrimidine alkaloids such as lanesoic acid, hyrtinadine, and variolins; pyridine alkaloids such as amphimedosides and pyrinadines; pyrrole and pyrroloiminoquinoline alkaloids such as makaluvamine, discorhabdins, tsitsikammamines and batzellines; pyrrole compounds such as hymenialdisines as well as quinoline alkaloids such as araguspongines, renieramycins, renierol and lihouidine; steroid compounds such as plakinamines; lactones such as thorectandrols, palauolol, koshikamides, petrosaspongias, latrunculins and other compounds with unique structure and biological effects. Conclusion: There is a great variety of toxins and bioactive molecules in different species of sea sponges that offer a wide range of amazing pharmacological and biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bioactive ingredients found in mulberry leaves have many medical and health promoting functions including antioxidant, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and anti-allergy. In order to better utilise the bioactive potential of mulberry resources, we determined the levels of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), tannins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides in 50 different varieties of mulberry leaves. The bioactive contents in mulberry leaves may vary across species or region of origin, thus we investigated six different species as well as mulberry leaves originating from Japan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and 11 different Chinese provinces or cities. We found that bioactive compounds greatly varied among the 50 mulberry leaves examined (DNJ, 32.51 ~ 154.11 mg/100 g; GABA, 122.88 ~ 427.12 mg/100 g; tannins, 0.45 ~ 1.49 g/100 g; flavonoids, 12.86 ~ 31.57 mg/g; and polysaccharides, 7.55 ~ 20.52 g/100 g). High amounts of DNJ were obtained in Shenglidaye variety, high amounts of GABA, tannins, and flavonoids were obtained in Huasang variety, and high amounts of polysaccharides were obtained in Ganluo variety. Different varieties of mulberry leaves were rich in bioactive compounds with significant variations in their levels. DNJ content in leaves depended on variety and place of origin, while GABA, tannin, and flavonoid contents in leaves depended on variety and species. Six mulberry varieties, including Huasang, Jiuwenlong, Shigu 11-6, Shenglidaye, Qinpifusang, and HuoSang were identified as good sources for further utilisation. Huasang and Shenglidaye varieties were especially rich in DNJ or GABA, and thus have high potential value. The evaluation of mulberry leaves resources can supply precious data for screening accessions containing high levels of individual DNJ, GABA, and other bioactive compounds for use in breeding programs, and food and pharma industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2‐Aminobenzimidazoles are widely present in a number of bioactive molecules. Generally, the preparation of these molecules could be realized by the mono‐substitution of 2‐halobenzimidazoles with amines. However, rare examples were reported for the di‐substituted products and the selectivity of mono‐ vs. di‐substitution was relatively low. Considering the potential values of the di‐substituted products, we accomplished the first selective diheteroarylation of amines with 2‐halobenzimidazoles. Notably, this Pd‐catalyzed transformation was realized under ligand‐free conditions. Accordingly, numerous target products were efficiently produced from various aromatic or aliphatic amines and 2‐halobenzimidazoles. It was worth noting that two representative products were further confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. More significantly, this catalytic process could be applied to the synthesis and discovery of new bioactive compounds, which demonstrated the synthetic usefulness of this newly developed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous growth of the world population has raised heatlh issues such as the inefficiency of common drugs, such as antibiotics, due to overconsumption and induced microbial resistance. Therefore, to fulfill the increased consumption demand, there is a strong need for new alternative resources to develop safe and effective pharmaceuticals. Marine environments have diverse resources for the discovery of new drugs. In particular, marine microbes have the potential to provide new drugs as an arsenal against numerous diseases. Marine microorganisms offer the advantage of a renewable and sustainable source of bioactive compounds with various pharmacological activities. Since the last two decades, marine microbiologists have discovered different microbes as a valuable source of bioactive compounds. Here I review pharmacological active molecules isolated from marine microorganisms. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, antimalarial activities are discussed for 55 marine compounds. Furthermore, 43 marine compounds were recorded for anti-inflammatory, antituberculosis, anticholinesterase, antidiabetic activities. Additionally, 15 marine compounds bind to a variety of receptors and miscellaneous molecular targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article describes the use of some of the most popular chiral auxiliaries in the asymmetric synthesis of biologically active compounds. Chiral auxiliaries derived from naturally occurring compounds, such as amino acids, carbohydrates, and terpenes, are considered essential tools for the construction of highly complex molecules. We highlight the auxiliaries of Evans, Corey, Yamada, Enders, Oppolzer, and Kunz, which led to remarkable progress in asymmetric synthesis in the last decades and continue to bring advances until the present day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nocardia spp. are catalase positive, aerobic, and non-motile Gram-positive filamentous bacteria. Many Nocarida spp. have been reported as unusual causes of diverse clinical diseases in both humans and animals. Therefore, they have been studied for a long time, primarily focusing on strain characterization, taxonomic classification of new isolates, and host pathophysiology. Currently, there are emerging interests in isolating bioactive molecules from diverse actinobacteria including Nocardia spp. and studying their biosynthetic mechanisms. In addition, these species possess significant metabolic capacity, which has been utilized for generating diverse functionalized bioactive molecules by whole cell biotransformation. This review summarizes the structural diversity and biological activities of compounds biosynthesized or biotransformed by Nocardia spp. Furthermore, the recent advances on biosynthetic mechanisms and genetic engineering approaches for enhanced production or structural/functional modification are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brasilicardins, bacterial diterpenoid natural products that display highly potent immunosuppressive activity, are promising immunosuppressant drug candidates. Structurally, they can be described as hybrids of terpenoids, amino acids, and saccharides, and share a characteristic highly strained anti‐syn‐anti‐fused perhydrophenanthrene terpenoid scaffold (ABC‐ring system) with two quaternary asymmetric carbon atoms. A unified and stereoselective total synthesis of all four brasilicardins has been designed based on the strategic use of an intramolecular conjugate addition. The ABC‐ring system was initially constructed with high stereocontrol by novel intramolecular conjugate additions of Weinreb amides and in situ generated (Z)‐vinyl copper species. The late‐stage common intermediate was subjected to stereoselective installation of the amino acid component, followed by introduction of the saccharide unit via glycosylation to accomplish the total synthesis of brasilicardins A–D. Our synthesis offers opportunities to synthesize various brasilicardin analogues for biological and pharmacological investigations. One approach, four targets: The asymmetric total synthesis of brasilicardin A, a hybrid natural product with highly potent immunosuppressive activity, has been developed. The synthesis features a Michael addition based strategy for the stereoselective formation of the highly strained anti‐syn‐anti‐fused perhydrophenanthrene skeleton, and brasilicardins B–D are also synthesized based on the unified approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole alkaloids constitute a large class of natural products and their diverse and complex structures have been attributed to potent biological activities such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antiplasmodial and protein kinase inhibition. The isolation of bioactive compounds from natural sources is difficult, costly and an extremely time-consuming process, therefore synthetic pathways are more convenient than natural separation to deliver such compounds in considerable amounts. In this respect, this review provides comprehensive information on the structures and the synthesis of bioactive indole alkaloids utilizing 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde and its derivatives as starting compounds. 1 Overview 2 Phytoalexins 2.1 Brassinin, Cyclobrassinin and Brassitin 2.2 1-Methoxybrassinin, 1-Methoxyspirobrassinol and 1-Methoxyspirobrassinin 2.3 4-Methoxybrassinin and 4-Methoxycyclobrassinin 2.4 Cyclobrassinone 2.5 Brassilexin 2.6 (S)-(--)-Spirobrassinin 2.7 Camalexin 3 Bis(indole) Alkaloids: Rhopaladines A--D 4 Coscinamides A and B 5 α-Cyclopiazonic Acid 6 Dipodazine 7 Isocryptolepine 8 Apparicine 9 Carbazole Alkaloids: Mukonine and Clausine E 10 Indolmycin 11 Conclusion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants offer unlimited source of bioactive compounds that have tremendous applications in pharmaceutical industry. To find new sources of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents against pandrug resistant (PDR) pathogens of skin burn infections, methanolic extracts of nine Egyptian plants were evaluated. Total phenolic content varied from 19.48 to 65.48mg GAE/g dry weight (dw). Total flavonoid content varied from 2.90 to 11.09mg QE/g dw, while total alkaloid content varied from 18 to 60 mg/g dw. Suaeda vermiculata, Varthemia candicans and Arthrocnemum glaucum showed the highest content of phenolics, flavonoids and alkaloids, respectively. The results of antioxidant (DPPH assay) activity were varied to a great extent and Varthemia candicans (90.6%) and Suaeda vermiculata (90.5%) showed the highest antioxidant activities. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against four PDR bacterial and fungal strains; namely Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. Among all examined extracts, Salsola vermiculata and Suaeda vermiculata showed significant antimicrobial activity. The fatty acid composition of Salsola vermiculata and Suaeda vermiculata leaf extractswas detected using GC-MS analysis. Overall, Salsola vermiculata and Suaeda vermiculata could be used as an alternative source for the exploration of new antioxidant and antimicrobial agents that are potentially valued for food and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the synthesis of new derivatives of spirooxindole-spiropiperidinonepyrrolidines 6a-j and spirooxindole-spiropiperidinone-pyrrolizines 8a-j, through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethineylides generated from isatin, sarcosine, and L-proline, through a decarboxylative route with dipolarophile 4a-j. All of the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against most of the test organisms. The tested compounds displayed excellent activity against all of the tested microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:It is well known that marine fungi are an excellent source of biologically active secondary metabolites, and by 2011, it was reported that over 400 bioactive metabolites were derived from marine fungi. Objective:This study establishes the basis for future research on antiproliferative compounds of marine endophytes inhabited in the Veracruz Reef System. Materials and methods:Isolation of the 34 fungal strains was carried out by microbiological method from samples of sponges, corals, and other biological material from the Veracruz Reef System. The fungal biomass and broth were separated and extracted with a mixture of solvents MeOH:CHCl3. Characterization and molecular identification of the fungal strains were performed through microbiological methods and the analysis of the ITS-rDNA regions. Antiproliferative activity was tested at a dose of 250 μg/mL on human solid tumor cell lines HBL-100, HeLa, SW1573, T-47D, and WiDr by the SRB assay after 48 h-exposure to the fungal extracts. Results:The extracts from five isolates showed an antiproliferative effect against one or more of the tested cell lines (percentage growth < 50%). The mycelial extract from the isolate LAEE 03 manifested the highest activity against the five cell lines (% PG of 17 HBL-100, 19 HeLa, 23 SW1573, -6 T-47D, and 10 WiDr) and the strain was identified asCurvularia trifolii(Kauffman) Boedijn (Pleosporaceae). Discussion and conclusion:The results obtained indicate that the extract from a marine derivedC. trifoliihas the antiproliferative effect, thus suggesting that this organism is a good candidate for further analysis of its metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur. (Thymelaeaceae) (TM) is a rare medicinal plant endemic to Algeria. Leaves decoction is used in folk medicine for anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. Objective: Herein, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of different extracts from leaves and flowers of Algerian TM were evaluated. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out by in vitro cell-free assays (antioxidant/radical properties), ex vivo experiments (inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 release in human whole blood) and in vitro experiments on cell systems (cytotoxicity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and protective effects on human vein endothelial cells exposed to TNF-α). Results: The acetone TM extract showed significant antioxidant properties and excellent anti-inflammatory and cyclooxygenase-inhibitory activity, together with lack of toxicity on normal human blood cells; furthermore, it was able to protect endothelial cells against dysfunction induced by TNF-α, as shown by decrease in cell death, e-selectin expression and leukocyte adhesion. Conclusion: On these bases, TM leaves and flowers appear to be a good source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant and antiinflammatory capability, and potentially effective in prevention and treatment of pathological conditions related to oxidative stress and inflammation, such as endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An Indian origin, Celosia argentea is a weed growing during rainy season traditionally claimed for treating several ailments. Early researches on C. argentea were focused on the anti-cancer screening of seeds, with few reports on aerial parts. Objective: To isolate and characterize bioactive compounds of aerial parts of C. argentea and evaluate their anticancer potential. Materials and Methods: The methanolic aerial part extract was fractionated on column chromatography using chloroform: methanol mixture. The fractions; 80:20 and 95:5 were purified on MCI-HP20 HPLC column. Chromatographically pure compounds were pooled, concentrated and characterized spectroscopically. The compounds were further screened for antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. Results: Isolated compounds were confirmed as: (1) Luteolin-7-O-glucoside and (2) phenolic, 1-(4-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzofuran-5-yl)-3-phenylpropane-1,3-dione. Both exhibited significant antioxidant potential with IC50 values of 20.80 and 21.30 μg/ml for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (***P < 0.001) and significant Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values for 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (*P < 0.05) and ferric reducing antioxidant potential assay (****P < 0.0001). In 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide assay, Compound 1 and 2 showed potent cytotoxicity against SiHa, HCT, MCF-7 cancer cell lines at 20 μg/ml (****P < 0.0001) and 18 μg/ml (**P < 0.01), respectively, without affecting the normal Vero cells. Both compounds enabled maximum reduction in cell viability at 50 μg/ml against HT-29 (***P < 0.001) and MCF-7 cell lines (**P < 0.01) in try pan blue viability assay. Apoptosis occurred at concentrations of 47.33 ± 0.8 μg/ml and 56.28 ± 1.2 μg/ml for Compound 1 and 35.15 ± 0.4 μg/ml and 28.05 ± 0.3 μg/ml for Compound 2 for HT-29 and MCF-7 respectively. Conclusion: A novel anticancer phenolic compound; (1-(4-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzofuran-5-yl)-3-phenylpropane-1,3-dione), isolated from aerial parts of C. argentea was a valuable finding of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanistic and kinetic aspects, as well as quantum chemical calculations, for the formation of a tetrahydrofurane ring by cyclization of the highly substituted alcohol-2,6-dimethyl-hept-5-en-2-ol with phenylselenohalides (PhSeCl and PhSeBr), in the presence of various Lewis bases (piperidine, triethylamine, pyridine and quinoline) and Lewis acids (CoCl, SnCl) as additives were studied. The substituted tetrahydrofuran ring is common motif in many natural products, especially in bioactive marine macrolides. Due to the presence of additives in reactions, the high regioselectivity was achieved, and the tetrahydrofuran type of ether in all studied reactions was obtained in excess in regard to the six-membered cyclic ether. In addition, kinetic aspects of reactions mediated by Lewis bases were studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy (in THF, at 288 K), as reactions of pseudo-first-order. Obtained values for rate constants proved catalytic role of additives and indicated that the reaction rate depends on pKa values of used base as well as on their ability for formation of hydrogen bond with OH-alcohols group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α,β-Dehydroamino acids are naturally occurring non-coded amino acids, found primarily in peptides. The review focuses on the type of α,β-dehydroamino acids, the structure of dehydropeptides, the source of their origin and bioactivity. Dehydropeptides are isolated primarily from bacteria and less often from fungi, marine invertebrates or even higher plants. They reveal mainly antibiotic, antifungal, antitumour, and phytotoxic activity. More than 60 different structures were classified, which often cover broad families of peptides. 37 different structural units containing the α,β-dehydroamino acid residues were shown including various side chains, Z and E isomers, and main modifications: methylation of peptide bond as well as the introduction of ester group and heterocycle ring. The collected data show the relation between the structure and bioactivity. This allows the activity of compounds, which were not studied in this field, but which belong to a larger peptide family to be predicted. A few examples show that the type of the geometrical isomer of the α,β-dehydroamino acid residue can be important or even crucial for biological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria affiliated in the genus Nocardia are aerobic and Gram-positive actinomycetes that are widely found in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. As occasional pathogens, several of them cause infection diseases called 'nocardiosis' affecting lungs, central nervous system, cutaneous tissues and others. In addition, members of the genus Nocardia exhibit an enormous metabolic versatility. On one side, many secondary metabolites have been isolated from members of this genus that exhibit various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidative and immunosuppressive activities. On the other side, many species are capable of degrading or converting aliphatic and aromatic toxic hydrocarbons, natural or synthetic polymers, and other widespread environmental pollutants. Because of these valuable properties and the application potential, Nocardia species have attracted much interest in academia and industry in recent years. A solid basis of genetic tools including a set of shuttle vectors and an efficient electroporation method for further genetic and metabolic engineering studies has been established to conduct efficient research. Associated with the increasing data of nocardial genome sequences, the functional diversity of Nocardia will be much faster and better understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The development of newer synthetic approaches toward the synthesis of polynuclear heteroaromatics and their application in the synthesis of some biologically active compounds has been discussed in this study. Materials and Methods: The synthesis of novel spiro pyrrolidino oxindoles was performed for the construction of amino acid linked polynuclear heteroaromatics by cycloaddition reaction. This reaction method is one of the most important methods for the construction of spiro pyrrolidino oxindole from the commercially available starting material isatin. Then the synthesized compounds were subjected for evaluation of nitric oxide scavenging and cytotoxic effects against tumor cell lines. Results: All the six synthesized compounds demonstrated promising antioxidant and cytotoxic effects in vitro. Conclusion: Form the present study, it can be concluded that the synthesized compounds are fruitful in terms of their chemical purity, structural novelty, marked biological activities (antioxidant and cytotoxic) in vitro and last of all the lucid and picturesque synthetic methodology to synthesize the molecules in a in a non-hazardous and environmental friendly way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endophytic fungus Hyalodendriella sp. Ponipodef12 was isolated from the hybrid 'Neva' of Populus deltoides Marsh x P. nigra L. In this study, four benzopyranones were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Hyalodendriella sp. Ponipodef12, and identified as palmariol B (1), 4-hydroxymellein (2), alternariol 9-methyl ether (3), and botrallin (4) by means of physicochemical and spectroscopic analysis. All the compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal, antinematodal and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. 4-Hydroxymellein (2) exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than the other compounds. Palmariol B (1) showed stronger antimicrobial, antinematodal and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities than alternariol 9-methyl ether (3) which indicated that the chlorine substitution at position 2 may contribute to its bioactivity. The results indicate the potential of this endophytic fungus as a source of bioactive benzopyranones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobactins are small cyclic peptides that are produced by a diverse selection of cyanobacteria living in symbioses as well as terrestrial, marine, or freshwater environments. They include compounds with antimalarial, antitumor, and multidrug reversing activities and potential as pharmaceutical leads. Cyanobactins are produced through the proteolytic cleavage and cyclization of precursor peptides coupled with further posttranslational modifications such as heterocyclization, oxidation, or prenylation of amino acids. Cyanobactin gene clusters encode two proteases which cleave and cyclisize the precursor peptide as well as proteins participating in posttranslational modifications. The bioinformatic mining of cyanobacterial genomes has led to the discovery of novel cyanobactins. Heterologous expression of these gene clusters provided insights into the role of the genes participating in the biosynthesis of cyanobactins and facilitated the rational design of novel peptides. Enzymes participating in the biosynthesis of cyanobactins may prove useful as catalysts for producing novel cyclic peptides in the future. The recent discovery of the cyanobactin biosynthetic pathway in cyanobacteria extends our knowledge of their potential as producers of interesting metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of this review is the biodiversity of marine sponges and associated microbes which have been reported to produce therapeutically important compounds, along with the contextual information on their geographic distribution. Class Demospongiae and the orders Halichondrida, Poecilosclerida and Dictyoceratida are the richest sources of these compounds. Among the microbial associates, members of the bacterial phylum Actinobacteria and fungal division Ascomycota have been identified to be the dominant producers of therapeutics. Though the number of bacterial associates outnumber the fungal associates, the documented potential of fungi to produce clinically active compounds is currently more important than that of bacteria. Interestingly, production of a few identical compounds by entirely different host-microbial associations has been detected in both terrestrial and marine environments. In the Demospongiae, microbial association is highly specific and so to the production of compounds. Besides, persistent production of bioactive compounds has also been encountered in highly specific host-symbiont associations. Though spatial and temporal variations are known to have a marked effect on the quality and quantity of bioactive compounds, only a few studies have covered these dimensions. The need to augment production of these compounds through tissue culture and mariculture has also been stressed. The reviewed database of these compounds is available at www.niobioinformatics.in/drug.php. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a burning issue due to the frequent use of antibiotics for curing common bacterial infections, indicating that we are running out of effective antibiotics. This has been more obvious during recent corona pandemics. Similarly, enhancement of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is strengthening the pathogenicity and virulence of infectious microbes. Endophytes have shown expression of various new many bioactive compounds with significant biological activities. Specifically, in endophytic fungi, bioactive metabolites with unique skeletons have been identified which could be helpful in the prevention of increasing antimicrobial resistance. The major classes of metabolites reported include anthraquinone, sesquiterpenoid, chromone, xanthone, phenols, quinones, quinolone, piperazine, coumarins and cyclic peptides. In the present review, we reported 451 bioactive metabolites isolated from various groups of endophytic fungi from January 2015 to April 2021 along with their antibacterial profiling, chemical structures and mode of action. In addition, we also discussed various methods including epigenetic modifications, co-culture, and OSMAC to induce silent gene clusters for the production of noble bioactive compounds in endophytic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has become increasingly apparent that defective insulin signaling may increase the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), influence neurodegeneration through promotion of amyloid formation or by increasing inflammatory responses to intraneuronal β-amyloid. Recent work has demonstrated that hyperglycemia is linked to cognitive decline, with elevated levels of glucose causing oxidative stress in vulnerable tissues such as the brain. The ability of β-amyloid peptide to form β-sheet-rich aggregates and induce apoptosis has made amyloid fibrils a leading target for the development of novel pharmacotherapies used in managing and treatment of neuropathological conditions such as AD-related cognitive decline. Additionally, deposits of β-sheets folded amylin, a glucose homeostasis regulator, are also present in diabetic patients. Thus, therapeutic compounds capable of reducing intracellular protein aggregation in models of neurodegenerative disorders may prove useful in ameliorating type 2 diabetes mellitus symptoms. Furthermore, both diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions, such as AD, are characterized by chronic inflammatory responses accompanied by the presence of dysregulated inflammatory biomarkers. This review presents current evidence describing the role of various small bioactive molecules known to ameliorate amyloidosis and subsequent effects in prevention and development of diabetes and AD. It also highlights the potential efficacy of peptide–drug conjugates capable of targeting intracellular targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senna garrettiana (Craib) Irwin & Barneby (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant known to be rich in biologically active compounds that could be exploited to produce bioherbicides. The present study was conducted to explore the allelopathic potential and phytotoxic substances of S. garrettiana. Extracts of S. garrettiana leaves were found to significantly inhibit the growth of Lepidium sativum L. and Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. (p ≤ 0.05). The phytotoxic substances were isolated and identified as vanillic acid and ferulic acid by bioassay-directed fractionation and spectral data analysis. The two compounds were shown to significantly inhibit the seed germination, seedling growth, and dry biomass of L. sativum. Based on the concentration required for 50% growth inhibition (defined as IC50), the roots of L. sativum were the most sensitive to the compounds, and the inhibitory effect of ferulic acid (IC50 = 0.62 mM) was >1.3 times more potent than that of vanillic acid (IC50 = 0.82 mM). In addition, a mixture of the two compounds (0.3 mM) resulted in synergistic inhibitory activity against the L. sativum roots compared with the individual compounds. These results suggest that the extracts of S. garrettiana leaves and their phytotoxic compounds have potential as candidate natural herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphidinium operculatum Claparède et Lachmann, the type species of the dinoflagellate genus Amphidinium, has long had an uncertain identity. It has been considered to be either difficult to distinguish from other similar species or a morphologically variable species itself. This has led to the hypothesis that A. operculatum represents a “species complex.” Recently, the problem of distinguishing A. operculatum from similar species has become particularly acute, because several morphologically similar species have been found to produce bioactive compounds of potential interest to the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, we cultured and examined existing cultures of several species of Amphidinium, most of which have been previously identified as A. operculatum or as species considered by some to be synonyms or varieties of A. operculatum. Thirty strains were examined using comparative LM, SEM, and partial large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequence data. Through morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, six distinct species were identified, including Amphidinium trulla sp. nov. and Amphidinium gibbosum comb. nov. Amphidinium operculatum was redescribed based on four cultures. Genetic variability within the examined Amphidinium species varied greatly. There was little difference among strains in partial LSU rDNA for most species, but strains of A. carterae and A. massartii Biencheler differed by as much as 4%. In both A. carterae and A. massartii, three distinct genotypes based on partial LSU rDNA were found, but no morphological differences among strains could be observed using LM or SEM. In the case of A. carterae, no biogeographically related molecular differences were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine sponges are a rich source of structurally novel and biologically active molecules. Among them is a class of alkylpyridinium compounds commonly found in sponges belonging to the order Haplosclerida. Alkylpyridinium compounds exert several biological activities and are therefore interesting as potential therapeutics. This review presents most alkylpyridinium and some other pyridinium compounds that have been isolated from marine sponges so far. The compounds are listed according to their basic structural types with indications of their biological properties and their possible significance in sponge taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of novel biomaterials based on plant extracts is expected to boost yields without adversely affecting environmental diversity. The potential biostimulating effects have so far been underreported. The assessment of the stimulating effect of botanical biomaterials is essential in the cultivation of economically-important crops. An attempt was undertaken in this study to develop a new biostimulating material in the form of granules, based on an extract from the roots of Arctium lappa L. The scope of the research included the characterization of the new material and the identification of its biostimulating potential. The designed and produced biogranulate is rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenolic compounds, carbohydrates, and micro- and macro-elements. The analysis of the physicochemical properties of the biomaterial has shown that it had the features of intelligent biopreparations, i.e., slow-release preparations, at the pH appropriate for legume plants. Thus, knowledge about the design of new biomaterials is a milestone in the practical development of new perspectives for enhancing sustainability in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The islands of the South Pacific Ocean have been in the limelight for natural product biodiscovery, due to their unique and pristine tropical waters and environment. The Kingdom of Tonga is an archipelago in the central Indo-Pacific Ocean, consisting of 176 islands, 36 of which are inhabited, flourishing with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Many unique natural products with interesting bioactivities have been reported from Indo-Pacific marine sponges and other invertebrate phyla; however, there have not been any reviews published to date specifically regarding natural products from Tongan marine organisms. This review covers both known and new/novel Marine Natural Products (MNPs) and their biological activities reported from organisms collected within Tongan territorial waters up to December 2020, and includes 109 MNPs in total, the majority from the phylum Porifera. The significant biological activity of these metabolites was dominated by cytotoxicity and, by reviewing these natural products, it is apparent that the bulk of the new and interesting biologically active compounds were from organisms collected from one particular island, emphasizing the geographic variability in the chemistry between these organisms collected at different locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria are microorganisms with photosynthetic mechanisms capable of colonizing several distinct environments worldwide. They can produce a vast spectrum of bioactive compounds with different properties, resulting in an improved adaptative capacity. Their richness in secondary metabolites is related to their unique and diverse metabolic apparatus, such as Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthetases (NRPSs). One important class of peptides produced by the non-ribosomal pathway is anabaenopeptins. These cyclic hexapeptides demonstrated inhibitory activity towards phosphatases and proteases, which could be related to their toxicity and adaptiveness against zooplankters and crustaceans. Thus, this review aims to identify key features related to anabaenopeptins, including the diversity of their structure, occurrence, the biosynthetic steps for their production, ecological roles, and biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are renowned as one of the most fruitful sources of chemodiversity and for their ubiquitous occurrence. Among the many taxonomic groupings considered for the implications deriving from their biosynthetic aptitudes, the genus Cladosporium stands out as one of the most common in indoor environments. A better understanding of the impact of these fungi on human health and activities is clearly based on the improvement of our knowledge of the structural aspects and biological properties of their secondary metabolites, which are reviewed in the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive role of nutrition in chronic neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) suggests that dietary interventions represent helpful tools for preventing NDs. In particular, diets enriched with natural compounds have become an increasingly attractive, non-invasive, and inexpensive option to support a healthy brain and to potentially treat NDs. Bioactive compounds found in vegetables or microalgae possess special properties able to counteract oxidative stress, which is involved as a triggering factor in neurodegeneration. Here, we briefly review the relevant experimental data on curcuminoids, silymarin, chlorogenic acid, and compounds derived from the microalga Aphanizomenon flos aquae (AFA) which have been demonstrated to possess encouraging beneficial effects on neurodegeneration, in particular on Alzheimer's disease models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]