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The frequent inefficiency of conventional cancer therapies due to drug resistance, non-targeted drug delivery, chemotherapy-associated toxic side effects turned the focus to bioactive phytochemicals. In this context, curcumin and resveratrol have emerged as potent chemopreventive and chemoprotective compounds modulating apoptotic and autophagic cell death pathways in cancer in vitro and in vivo. As synergistic agents in combination with clinically established anticancer drugs, the enhanced anticancer activity at reduced chemotherapy-associated toxicity towards normal organs can be explained by improved pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, bioavailability and metabolism. With promising preclinical and clinical applications, the design of drug-loaded nanoparticles, nanocarriers, liposomes and micelles have gained much attention to improve target specificity and drug efficacy. The present review focuses on the molecular modes of chemoprevention, chemoprotection and drug synergism with special emphasis to preclinical and clinical applications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and advanced drug delivery methods for the development of next-generation personalized cancer therapeutics.

The global incidence of cancer and cancer-related mortality is expected to rise in recent years despite advancements in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. Increasing evidences of decrypting molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression have commanded the tremendous development of synthetic anticancer drugs. With limitations in the current conventional cancer therapeutic approaches, the non-nutritive dietary phytochemicals have emerged as potent modulators of apoptosis and autophagy associated key signaling pathways in various cancer cells. The dynamic regulation of apoptosis and autophagy by phytochemicals in cancer are identified as promising therapeutic candidates with minimal cytotoxicity and enhanced biological activity. Dietary phytochemicals and their synthetic analogs have exhibited potency in the modulation of apoptosis and autophagy in several cancer cells as individuals or in combination with pre-existing FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved anticancer drugs. In the current generation of medical science, developing precision and personalized medicine and their consumption as food supplements will hold high prevalence in cancer therapeutics. Hence understating the impact of dietary phytochemicals on human health and their molecular mechanism will thrive a new horizon in cancer therapeutics. Hence, this review has emphasized the role of apoptotic/autophagy modulating dietary phytochemicals in cancer therapy, their preclinical and clinical applications and the future direction of enhanced nano-formulation for better clinical efficacy.

Background The natural antioxidants from Chlorella have potent therapeutic implication in several diseases. However, the anti-bacterial activity and their molecular mode of action have not been investigated yet. The present study focussed on the assessment of antioxidant potential as well as free radical scavenging activity such as DPPH, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion radical assay of Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck [Beijerinck] (BUACC25) isolated from marine habitat. Furthermore, the anti-bacterial activity and their molecular mode of action have been evaluated. Results In the present study, the preliminary phytochemical screening of methanolic algal extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, proteins, terpenoids, saponins, coumarin, phenols, and tannins, which was confirmed by in an UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy, indicated the distinct spectral peaks. The methanolic algal extract was found to be rich in phenolic content (45 ± 0.06 mg GAE g−1) and flavonoid content (470 ± 0.25 mg of RUE g−1). Furthermore, the methanolic extract was revealed potent antioxidant scavenging activity to scavenge various free radicals with minimum IC50 values of DPPH, hydroxyl, H2O2, superoxide 2.82 ± 0.30, 2.30 ± 0.25, 3.24 ± 0.32, and 3.15 ± 0.02 μg ml−1 respectively. Furthermore, the methanolic extract of C. vulgaris exhibited potent anti-bacterial activity which was evident with the reduction in cfu × 107/ml and % of cell viability. Mechanistically, reduction of SOD, CAT, and GSH activity provoked ROS-mediated cell death after drug treatment. Moreover, in combination with norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, methanolic extract of C. vulgaris demonstrated enhanced anti-bacterial activity with an evident reduction in cfu/ml and % of cell viability. Conclusion This study advocates that C. vulgaris (BUACC25) has promising antioxidant activity owing to the presence of phenolic and flavonoids evidenced by scavenging of DPPH, hydroxyl, H2O2, and superoxide radicals. In addition to this, it sustained anti-microbial activity against E. coli through modulation of SOD, CAT, and GSH. This study carved a path for uncovering a better therapeutic agent against disease-causing bacterial pathogens.

Aluminum metal pollution is considered as a primary limiting factor that reduced crop yield in South Asian subtropical country like India. In national context, Odisha contributes around more than 4...

Microalgae, the key components of aquatic environments, are executive natural biotic models for exploring genotoxic effect of heavy metals, irradiation and other external stimuli and the toxicant elimination. In the current scenario, removal of metal contaminants is a significant challenge. Recently, the effective removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment using microalgae has gained immense intention. However, the concurrent toxicity has limited their use as bio-accumulants to reduce the concentration of heavy metals and promote heavy metal tolerance. Few studies opined that low dose priming with non-ionizing radiations, such as gamma radiation, increased heavy metal tolerance in plant as well as aquatic photosynthetic microalgae. In the present study, we have hypothesized the growth inhibitory physio-chemical properties by cadmium (Cd) in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and analysed the protective role of low-dose gamma radiations priming against Cd induced growth inhibition. In addition, we have specially emphasized on the mechanism of cell survival in the experimental species with effective notation to antioxidant defence system during Cd induced toxicity. Experimentally, we primed the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with low-dose gamma radiation prior to Cd treatment. On the other hand, gamma-radiated and Cd-treated organisms were considered as positive controls. We calculated the rate of cell death, the deployment of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GSR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, the role of oxidative stress related genes was analysed computationally to delineate their involvement in cell death/survival, suggesting that the low-dose priming of gamma radiation enhances the Cd tolerance by alterating cell/death pathways and other biochemical responses.

As a significant public health hazard with several drug side effects during medical treatment, searching for novel therapeutic natural medicines is promising. Sulfated polysaccharides from algae, such as fucoidan, have been discovered to have a variety of medical applications, including antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties. The review emphasized on the utilization of fucoidan as an antiviral agent against viral infections by inhibiting their attachment and replication. Moreover, it can also trigger immune response against viral infection in humans. This review suggested to be use the fucoidan for the potential protective remedy against COVID-19 and addressing the antiviral activities of sulfated polysaccharide, fucoidan derived from marine algae that could be used as an anti-COVID19 drug in near future.

Marine algae are an auspicious source of innovative bioactive compounds containing possible therapeutic agents against mammalian cancers. However, the mechanism by which bioactive algal compounds exhibit anticancer activity against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is scant. The main objective of the current study was to explore the properties of the Enteromorpha compressa solvent extracts that induced autophagy and apoptosis with reference to their potent phytochemical and antioxidant properties. The presence of bioactive compounds were confirmed by UV and FT-IR spectroscopy. The free radical scavenging activity were analyzed by evaluating H2O2, DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl activity. The anticancer activities of the extracts were investigated by employing clonogenic and scratch assay. The apoptosis potential was evaluated by DAPI and MMP by Rh123 fluorescence assay. Moreover, the CAT, SOD, GPX, APX, and GR activities were measured. The autophagy potential was evaluated by LC3 puncta formation, acridine orange in addition to LysoTracker staining. The present investigation revealed that the methanolic extract of E. compressa elicited robust free radical scavenging activity that discerns its antiproliferative potency. Moreover, the methanolic algal extract boosted intrinsic apoptosis against OSCC by downregulating protective antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, it also revealed induction of autophagy to promote cell death in oral cancer cells. The presence of novel bioactive compounds in E. compressa has uncovered possible therapeutic value against OSCC by modulating antioxidant defense system, apoptosis and autophagy that could be used to explore very competent algal candidates for the development of potential alternative anticancer drugs.

Fucoidan is a complex polysaccharide (molecular weight 10,000–100,000 Da) derived from brown algae which comprises of L-fucose and sulfate groups have potential as therapeutic diligences against several human diseases. The fucoidan has expanded a widespread range of pharmacological properties as an anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antiangiogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-adhesive, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiviral and anti-neurodegenerative agents owing to their diverse chemical conformation and potent antioxidant activity. The antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities of the fucoidan contribute towards their disease preventive potency through dynamic modulation of key intracellular signalling pathways, regulation of ROS accumulation, and maintenance of principal cell survival and death pathways. Additionally, it also reduces cancer-associated cachexia. Despite the wide range of therapeutic potency, the fucoidan is heavily regarded as an unexplored plethora of druggable entities in the current situation. The isolation, screening, biological application, pre-clinical, and clinical assessment along with large scale cost-effective production remain a foremost task to be assessed. Moreover, the chemical synthesis of the present bioactive drug with confirmational rearrangement for enhanced availability and bioactivity also need tenacious investigation. Hence, in the present review, we give attention to the source of isolation of fucoidan, their principle strategic deployment in disease prevention, and the mechanistic investigation of how it works to combat different diseases that can be used for future therapeutic intervention.

In the current scenario, aluminum is one of the major metals that cause environmental pollution and has ill impact on organism health. As around 40% of bauxite deposits of India are available in Odisha, aluminum toxicity in the soil has impacted as an intimidating problem of Odisha. This aluminum metal pollution is regarded as a primary factor for limiting crop productivity in acidic soils of tropic and subtropic countries. The presence of a high degree of aluminum metal in the soil leads to loss of beneficial microflora, i.e., nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria that play a key role in soil fertility. Hence, this investigation was performed on a filamentous non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Geitlerinema amphibium isolated from the aluminum-polluted sites, i.e., NALCO, Ash pond, Angul to uncover the defense mechanism of the strain exhibited under such stress. The strain was treated with different doses of AlCl3 (0–100 µM), and we observed redox imbalance leading to oxidative stress. Post-treatment of AlCl3, a remarkable decline in growth was evident with possible modifications in pigments associated with the phenomena. Further to combat against the stress under the redox environment, the organism activated antioxidant enzymes CAT, APX, GR, GPX, and SOD which were measured to identify the key responses involved in it. All the stress responsive enzymes were analyzed to demonstrate the interlink between the induction of stress and their detoxification through cellular response. The outcome of the work explored the multifaceted role of oxidative upset caused by AlCl3 pollutants and the cellular antioxidative strategies deployed by G. amphibium to nullify them.

From the last decades, research focuses on plant natural products to explore the insecticidal activity against mosquitoes. This is the modern challenge in parasitology. The main aimed is to reduce the frequent exploitation of synthetic insecticides by which mosquitoes become resistant. This triggers serious threats to human health and leads to loss of biodiversity. The use of plant extracts was started from ancient times for mosquito control. These are biodegradable, harmless, non-hazardous, cost effective, and easily available throughout the world. Phytochemicals are target-specific activities against mosquito’s vector of different species. Plants possess outstanding larvicidal activity with very low LC50and LC90 values against vectors of genera such as Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles. Furthermore, the effectiveness of pure compounds isolated from plant, mode, and mechanism of action as well as their influence on mosquito targeted species is still uncovered. On the other hand, still there are strong boundaries for the development of profitable mosquito larvicides, pupicides, ovicides, and adulticidal from plants to kill or repel mosquito. In this chapter, we focused on the current information on sources of phytochemicals and their mosquitocidal activity to reduce the mosquito population, larvicidal activity at various instar stage specificity.

Background Epidemiological studies has revealed that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could lower the risk of certain cancers. In this setting, natural polyphenols are potent anticancer bioactive compounds to overcome the non-target specificity, undesirable cytotoxicity and high cost of treatment cancer chemotherapy. Purpose The review focuses on diverse classifications of the chemical diversity of dietary polyphenol and their molecular targets, modes of action, as well as preclinical and clinical applications in cancer prevention. Results The dietary polyphenols exhibit chemo-preventive activity through modulation of apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle progression, inflammation, invasion and metastasis. Polyphenols possess strong antioxidant activity and control multiple molecular events through activation of tumor suppressor genes and inhibition of oncogenes involved in carcinogenesis. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have evidenced that these dietary phytochemicals regulate critical molecular targets and pathways to limit cancer initiation and progression. Moreover, natural polyphenols act synergistically with existing clinically approved drugs. The improved anticancer activity of combinations of polyphenols and anticancer drugs represents a promising perspective for clinical applications against many human cancers. Conclusion The anticancer properties exhibited by dietary polyphenols are mainly attributed to their anti-metastatic, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, cell cycle arrest, apoptotic and autophagic effects. Hence, regular consumption of dietary polyphenols as food or food additives or adjuvants can be a promising tactic to preclude adjournment or cancer therapy.

Highlights • Chemically diverse dietary phytochemicals exhibit anticancer activity owing to their antioxidant potential. • Dietary phytochemicals act as blocking and suppressing agents for exposition of chemoprevention. • Potent apoptosis and autophagy modulation is chief contributor for exhibition of anticancer efficacy., Despite the advancement in prognosis, diagnosis and treatment, cancer has emerged as the second leading cause of disease-associated death across the globe. With the remarkable application of synthetic drugs in cancer therapy and the onset of therapy-associated adverse effects, dietary phytochemicals have been materialized as potent anti-cancer drugs owing to their antioxidant, apoptosis and autophagy modulating activities. With dynamic regulation of apoptosis and autophagy in association with cell cycle regulation, inhibition in cellular proliferation, invasion and migration, dietary phytochemicals have emerged as potent anti-cancer pharmacophores. Dietary phytochemicals or their synthetic analogous as individual drug candidates or in combination with FDA approved chemotherapeutic drugs have exhibited potent anti-cancer efficacy. With the advancement in cancer therapeutics, dietary phytochemicals hold high prevalence for their use as precision and personalized medicine to replace conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. Hence, keeping these perspectives in mind, this review focuses on the diversity of dietary phytochemicals and their molecular mechanism of action in several cancer subtypes and tumor entities. Understanding the possible molecular key players involved, the use of dietary phytochemicals will thrive a new horizon in cancer therapy.

The use of different radiation technologies are becoming more popular in health care (radiotherapy) and food processing. On the other hand, gamma (γ) radiation is a potential ionizing radiation that can generate huge amount of free radicals and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) cause a potential damage to important macromolecules in the cell. Therefore, information on biochemical components significantly need attention for their potential usefulness in counteracting gamma radiation-induced oxidative damage. Chlorella is an unicellular microalga enrich with high protein contents and other potential nutritional supplements. However, the information about the change of active biochemical attributes by the effects of gamma radiation on Chlorella is scanty. Hence, this is highly significant to assess the impacts of gamma radiation on microalga Chlorella sp. (BUACC06). The main objectives of this study is to unlock the information of the change of phytochemicals and antioxidants content in response to γ-irradiation on Chlorella sp. (BUACC06). This strain was treated with acute doses of γ-irradiation (0.01 kGy, 0.05 kGy, 0.075 kGy of 60 Co). The effect of higher dose γ-irradiation resulted in a decline in growth, total phenolic, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging and alternation of pigmentation; these could be due to the accumulation of radiation-induced ROS in the cell. Further, protein content and antioxidant enzyme activities were increased as increasing of dose and the effective dose was 0.075 kGy. It was concluded that the administration of Chlorella sp. showed radio resistance response to low dose of gamma radiation by synthesize more proteins, carotenoids, and active antioxidant compounds as radio-protective phytochemicals. This gamma radiation could be used as novel effective method to activate biosynthesis of certain bioactive compounds in algal cells to establish improved varieties of microalgae.

Approximately 100 new strains of the Pediastrum-phenotype were isolated from inland waters of India, eastern and southwestern Africa, and Germany and were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The 18S rRNA and ITS genes of 28 strains were sequenced and compared with 25 sequences of Hydrodictyaceae from the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the polyphyly of Pediastrum. The new species Sorastrum pediastriforme was described. This species resembled morphologically Pediastrum, however, the phylogenetic analyses revealed its affiliation within the genus Sorastrum. Furthermore, the following new combinations: Monactinus sturmii, Pseudopediastrum alternans, Pp. brevicorne, Pp. integrum, and Pp. pearsonii were established.