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Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) originated in the Mediterranean region, but, due to its adaptive nature, can be readily grown across the world. It contains many bioactive phytochemical moieties, especially polyphenols. Rosemary is used as a flavoring agent, spice condiment, and preservative. Recent studies have shown that rosemary natural extracts have bioactive properties such as antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Rosemary can withstand dry spells, warm conditions and thrive across many soil textures. Carnosic acid is now a well-known compound that is the main component of rosemary. The key components that were extracted from rosemary consisted of cirsimaritin, diosmin, and genkwanin. Rosmarinic acid in the form of carnosol and carnosic acid possesses significant antioxidant properties. Oil analysis revealed the presence of six monodominant and six intermediate chemotypes. Monoterpenes were dominant in rosemary oil composition across all seasons. Bioclimatic factors, including the temperature of the habitat, were found to be a biogenetic factors leading to differentiation in populations. The phenolic contents are reported to vary depending upon processing and agronomical properties. The major active ingredients are lipophilic compounds (carnosic acid and carnosol). Rosemary extracts are also reported to have volatile compounds that confer a unique flavor, color and aroma. Oleanolic acid is endowed with antiviral, antioxidative, and antiproliferative properties vis-a-vis protection against oxidative apoptosis. Ursolic acid helps to prevent cancer. This review provides a comprehensive overview of rosemary species cultivation, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and applications in the food industry. Rosemary was reported to enhance the levels of antioxidant enzymes. Although the current demand in the food industry is to reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic food additives, rosemary oil and extracts can help to meet that demand. This review provides a comprehensive overview of rosemary species cultivation, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and applications in the food industry.

The natural glycosides with triterpenoid or spirostaneaglycones are the saponins, which are associated with a wide range of therapeutic activities, inclusive of gastrointestinal anticancer activities. To promote research and development of novel cytotoxic agents against GIT cancer, this chapter focused on the anticancer potentia l of the naturally occurring triterpenoid and steroidal saponins. The in vitro assays and in vivo studies authenticated the anticancer potential of these compounds through anti-angiogenic, anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and anti-multidrug resistance activities. The protein targets and signaling cascades behind the anticancer effect of these compounds in GIT cancer are also discussed in this chapter.&nbsp

Cancer becomes uncontrolled with conventional therapeutic medications and is, therefore, able to tolerate drug activity, which contributes to increasing the adverse effects during medication therapy. The usage of anti-cancer peptides is a recent clinical technique against cancer cells. The physicochemical characteristics, amino acid composition and the addition to the anti-cancer peptides sequence of chemical groups impact their conformation, net load and secondary structure orientation, which affect the targeted specimen and peptide cell interaction, stability and effectiveness of penetrating peptides. Anti-cancer peptides are formed by replacing cationic amino acid residues with neutral or anionic amino acid residues or by introducing a chemical group, both naturally occurring and modified peptides. Updated peptides improve the potency of cancer treatment. This efficacy has recently allowed anti-cancer peptides to shape medicines and vaccines that were sequentially tested in many phases of clinical testing. The creation of anti-cancer peptides continues to concentrate on the production of clinically adjusted anti-cancer peptides with a view to decreasing the occurrence of new cancer cases and the mortality rate. The current analysis could help promote the creation of anti-cancer peptides and, in the immediate future, improve successful anti cancer peptide therapy. Anti-cancer plant peptides are part of several species of plant inborn immune response systems and are attractive candidates for the care of animals and humans against infections. Anti-cancer plant peptides also display anti-cancer activities and can inactivate a wide variety of cancer cells. Cancer appears to be a worldwide source of elevated morbidity and mortality. There is a dire need to produce novel methods to treat gastric cancer. Anti-cancer plant peptides like cyclotides, thionines, and defensins which have anti-cancer activities, are appealing alternatives. We have summarized the anti-cancer effect of anti-cancer plant peptides with a focus on their mode of activity, efficacy, and selectivity.&nbsp

Phytonutrients in plants play a great role in their protection against certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi resulting from certain detoxification processes within the plant. There are many recommendations to increase the intake of high amounts of fresh colored vegetables and fruits, besides whole grains (cereals) and beans, which contain phytoconstituents to lower the risk of certain cancers, diabetes and hypertension, in addition to certain heart diseases. The effect of phytonutrients differs according to their chemical class and amount. They may act as antioxidants which prevent the effect of carcinogens on the healthy body. The sources constituents and mechanisms of the phytonutrients are summarized in this chapter.&nbsp

Background: Species in the genus Vernonia (Asteraceae) are traditionally used in the treatment of different ailments, for example, leaves in both fresh and dry forms have been used in dressing wounds. Anecdotal reports show that the ash of Vernonia amygdalina (V. amygdalina) has been used in the treatment of wounds, but there are no precise reports to support this claim; therefore, the contemporary study focused on comparing the wound healing activity of its leaf extracts and leaf ash. Methods: The study investigating the wound healing activity of V. amygdalina leaf was carried out in Wistar Albino rats in an excision wound model using its aqueous extract (AE) and leaf ash (LA) at concentrations of 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v). Mupirocin ointment and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The wound diameter was measured every 3 days from day 1 to day 22 and the results were used to calculate the percentage of wound reduction in all groups. Results: Significant wound healing activity was observed in all groups except 3% AE (w / v), against distilled water (negative control group) (p

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a heterogeneous pulmonary illness that is fast developing and has a high fatality rate. The current investigation set out to interpret the convergence of oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, snail, vimentin, e-cadherin, and NF-kB activation in ALI pathology. The outcome of assays of oxidative stress, ELISA, and western blot showed the declined of CAT, SOD, GPx, IL-1β, TNF-α, and upregulation of TGF-β, smad2/3, smad4, NF-kB, snail, and vimentin, concurrently with downregulation of e-cadherin expression in lung tissues as well as BALF in LPS-injected rats. The photomicrographs of the lungs marked severe congestion, infiltration of cytokines, and thickening of the alveolar walls. Pretreatments of ergothioneine after LPS-induced ALI, inhibited EMT-induction by blocking TGF-β, smad2/3, smad4, snail, vimentin, NF-kB, and inflammatory cytokines, and increased the expression of E-cadherin and antioxidant levels in a dose-dependent manner. These events helped to restore lung histoarchitecture and reduce acute lung injury. The present findings suggest that ergothioneine at 100 mg/kg is as effective as febuxostat (reference drug). The study concluded that ergothioneine may be replaced with febuxostat as a treatment option for ALI owing to its side effects after clinical trials for pharmaceutical purposes.

Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental contaminant, which induces testicular toxicity through oxidative stress. Myricetin (MYR) is a naturally occurring flavonol having powerful antioxidant activity. The current research was planned to examine the ameliorative role of MYR against NP-induced testicular damage. A total of 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 equivalent groups: control (0.1% DMSO), NP group (50 mg kg−1), NP + MYR group (50 mg kg−1; 100 mg kg−1), and MYR-treated group (100 mg kg−1). NP administration significantly (p

Radiations are an efficient treatment modality in cancer therapy. Besides the treatment effects of radiations, the ionizing radiations interact with biological systems and generate reactive oxygen species that interfere with the normal cellular process. Previous investigations of synthetic radioprotectors have shown less effectiveness, mainly owing to some limiting effects. The nutraceuticals act as efficient radioprotectors to protect the tissues from the deleterious effects of radiation. The main radioprotection mechanism of nutraceuticals is the scavenging of free radicals while other strategies are involved modulation of signaling transduction of pathways like MAPK (JNK, ERK1/2, ERK5, and P38), NF-kB, cytokines, and their protein regulatory genes expression. The current review is focused on the radioprotective effects of nutraceuticals including vitamin E, -C, organosulphur compounds, phenylpropanoids, and polysaccharides. These natural entities protect against radiation-induced DNA damage. The review mainly entails the antioxidant perspective and mechanism of action of their radioprotective activities on a molecular level, DNA repair pathway, anti-inflammation, immunomodulatory effects, the effect on cellular signaling pathways, and regeneration of hematopoietic cells.

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) have been widely used in various industries related to electronics, ceramics, textiles, and nanomedicine. Ambient and occupational exposure to Ni-NPs may bring about potential detrimental effects on animals and humans. Thus, there is a growing effort to identify compounds that can ameliorate NPs-associated pathophysiologies. The present study examined Cinnamomum cassia ( C. cassia) bark extracts (CMBE) for its ameliorative activity against Ni-NPs-induced pathophysiological and histopathological alterations in male Sprague Dawley rats. The biochemical analyses revealed that dosing rats with Ni-NPs at 10 mg/kg/body weight (b.w.) significantly altered the normal structural and biochemical adaptations in the liver and kidney. Conversely, supplementations with CMBE at different doses (225, 200, and 175 mg/kg/b.w. of rat) ameliorated the altered blood biochemistry and reduced the biomarkers of liver and kidney function considerably ( p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. However, the best results were at 225 mg/kg/b.w. of rat. The study provided preliminary information about the protective effect of C. cassia against Ni-NPs indicated liver and kidney damages. Future investigations are needed to explore C. cassia mechanism of action and isolation of single constituents of C. cassia to assess their pharmaceutical importance accordingly.

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) are utilized extensively in various industrial applications. However, there are increasing concerns about potential exposure to Ni NPs and consequent health effects. The aim of this study was to assess Ni NPs-induced liver toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Twenty-five rats were exposed to Ni NPs via intraperitoneal injection at doses of 15, 30, and 45 mg/kg per body weight for 28 days. Results from ICP-MS analysis showed an increase in the concentration of Ni NPs in a dose-dependent manner. The liver dysfunction was indicated by considerable production of ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, and TB in Ni NPs-treated rats. Histological examination demonstrated liver injuries (inflammatory cells, congestion, necrosis, and pyknosis) in exposed rats with dose-dependent severity of pathologies by semi-quantitative histograding system. To explore the toxicological pathways, we examined oxidative stress biomarkers and detected Ni NPs significantly elevated the levels of MDA and LPO while decreasing the levels of CAT and GSH. All the changes in biomarkers were recorded in a dose-dependent relationship. In addition, we found upregulated NF-kβ indicating activation of inflammatory cytokines. ELISA results of serum revealed a remarkable increase of nitrative stress markers (iNOS and NO), ATPase activity, inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), and apoptotic mediators (caspase-3 and caspase-9) in Ni NPs-treated groups than the control. In summary, the result of this study provided evidence of hepatotoxicity of Ni NPs and insightful information about the involved toxic pathways, which will help in health risk assessment and management, related preventive measures for the use of Ni-NPs materials.

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) are widely used for multiple purposes in industries. Ni-NPs exposure is detrimental to ecosystems owing to widespread use, and so their toxicity is important to consider for real-world applications. This review mainly focuses on the notable pathophysiological activities of Ni-NPs in various research models. Ni-NPs are stated to be more toxic than bulk forms because of their larger surface area to volume ratio and are reported to provoke toxicity through reactive oxygen species generation, which leads to the upregulation of nuclear factor-κB and promotes further signaling cascades. Ni-NPs may contribute to provoking oxidative stress and apoptosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways are involved in Ni-NPs associated toxicity. Ni-NPs trigger the transcription factors p-p38, p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, interleukin (IL)-3, TNF-α, IL-13, Fas, Cyt c, Bax, Bid protein, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Moreover, Ni-NPs have an occupational vulnerability and were reported to induce lung-related disorders owing to inhalation. Ni-NPs may cause serious effects on reproduction as Ni-NPs induced deleterious effects on reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) in animal models and provoked hormonal alteration. However, recent studies have provided limited knowledge regarding the important checkpoints of signaling pathways and less focused on the toxic limitation of Ni-NPs in humans, which therefore needs to be further investigated.

A 90-day feeding try out was conducted to estimate the effect of test diet 1 (soybean meal), test diet 2 (sunflower meal) and reference diet on the growth and meat quality of Labeo rohita. Two replicates for each diet were followed. Fish fed on test diet 1 gained highest average body weight (5.75 ± 0.08g) followed by test diet 2 (4.72 ± 0.3g) and reference diet (2.88 ± 0.07g) and statistical differences among effects of three diets were highly significant. Similarly, average length obtained by rohu fingerlings was highest (5.2 ± 0.4 cm) on test diet 1 followed by test diet 2 (4.7 ± 0.45 cm) and reference diet (2.8 ± 0.05 cm) showing non-significant differences among diets. Dry matter, crude fat, ash and gross energy deposition was highest in experimental fish body raised on reference diet while ash content deposition was higher for test diet 1 compared to test diet 2 and gross energy retention for test diet 2 was better than test diet 1. These findings can be concluded as sunflower meal and soybean meal can be effectively used in the feed formulation of Labeo rohita replacing expensive fish meal.