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Loranthus micranthus (African mistletoe)-Loranthaceae family, is used in Nigerian traditional medicine for treating male infertility and lowering diabetic blood sugar levels. We investigated possible mechanism(s) involved in mitigation of L. micranthus leaves nanoparticles (LMLNPs) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced testicular alterations. Type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was induced in male rats following 2 weeks feeding with fructose and single intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Control (nondiabetic) and (diabetic) rats received buffer only. Diabetic rats were treated with metformin or LMLNPs (two different doses) for 28 days. Hormonal profile, oxido-inflammatory stress parameters, glucose metabolism and steroidogenic enzymes/regulatory protein (StAR) and Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein in testes and sperm parameters were evaluated. Metformin and LMLNPs treatment significantly reduced blood glucose level in diabetic rats. Furthermore, LMLNPs enhanced glucose metabolism and testicular steroidogenic enzymes/protein, increased reproductive hormone levels and sperm functional parameters in diabetic rats. Additionally, LMLNPs suppressed testicular oxido-inflammatory stress biomarkers and inhibited lipid peroxidation in diabetic rats while augmenting Nrf2 pathway. Conclusively, LMLNPs potently reversed adverse effects of T2DM testicular dysfunction of rats. Use of LMLNPs in abating diabetic consequences proves an acceptable alternative to traditional crude extract preparations, as a result of better packaging and preservation.

The article describes how recent advances in chalcogen Redox Biology shape the future of nutrition, drug design, agriculture, and environmental management. Since the turn of the Millennium, the biological chemistry of redox active sulfur species has witnessed various significant developments, with cysteine side-chains in proteins and enzymes emerging as centers of redox signaling and control and inspiring new concepts, such as the sulfur redoxome, the sulfenome, and the cellular thiolstat. Since then, it has emerged that redox sensitive cysteine residues are preferred targets of Reactive Sulfur Species (RSS), certain metal ions, and the emerging class of Reactive Selenium Species (RSeS). In addition, the cellular redoxome provides the basis for targeted redox modulation, for instance via nutritional intervention in the sick and elderly; it paves the way for highly selective catalytic sensor/effector agents active against a spectrum of redox-related diseases and lightens up possible avenues leading towards green phyto-protectants, often in cahoots with modern nanotechnology. Whilst the activity of redox-active food ingredients and multifunctional redox-modulating compounds on and in cells is complicated, modern techniques such as redox proteomics and chemogenetic phenotype profiling in combination with fluorescent-based “intracellular diagnostics” can be employed to illuminate certain changes, pathways, and eventually, also mode(s) of action. Undoubtedly, chalcogen-based redox systems will shape future research and development in nutrition, drug design, cosmetics, green agriculture, and waste management.

Sulfur and its various compounds play a major role in agriculture and medicine. Natural waters rich in hydrogen sulfide may therefore be seen as a sustainable resource for biologically active sulfur species. By sampling such waters from two readily accessible mineral wells in Germany, we are able to show that such waters exhibit interesting nematicidal and antimicrobial activity which may be used in an agricultural context. Whilst applications in the field of agriculture could, in theory, result in an amalgamation of irrigation, soil enrichment and phyto-protection, therapeutic uses are more complex and complicated by the many physiological effects associated with hydrogen sulfide and its oxidized derivatives. The latter may include polysulfides ( S x 2 - ) as well as small sulfur particles. Indeed, we have recently noted significant cytotoxic properties of clean, mechanically produced sulfur nanoparticles against HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Since sulfur-rich natural waters are known to deposit elemental sulfur upon oxidation, they may therefore be used as a natural (re)source of sulfur particles, possibly obtained by direct oxidation on air, mild oxidation with sulfur dioxide or enzymatic oxidation employing Thiobacillus. A similar biotechnological approach involving Staphylococcus carnosus and selenite (SeO32−) produces biologically active selenium nanoparticles of excellent quality and with a pronounced biological activity. Eventually, natural spa waters rich in sulfide seem to open up various interesting opportunities in medicine and eco-friendly agriculture.

Various bacteria, including diverse Staphylococci, reduce selenite to yield red selenium particles with diameters in the high nanometer to low micrometer range. Formation and accumulation of such particles in bacteria often results in cell death, triggered by a loss of thiols and formation of disruptive deposits inside the cell. Hence certain pathogenic bacteria are rather sensitive to the presence of selenite, whilst other organisms, such as small nematodes, do not employ this kind of nanotechnology, yet become affected by micromolar concentrations of such naturally generated materials. Selenium particles extracted from cultures of Staphylococcus carnosus and apparently stabilized by their natural protein coating, for instance, show considerable activity against the nematode Steinernema feltiae, Escherichia coli and Saccaromyces cerevisiae. Such natural nano- and micro-particles are also more active than mechanically generated selenium particles and may be applied as antimicrobial materials in Medicine and Agriculture.

Nanosizing represents a straight forward technique to unlock the biological activity of complex plant materials. The aim of this study was to develop herbal nanoparticles with medicinal value from dried leaves and stems of Loranthus micranthus with the aid of ball-milling, high speed stirring, and high-pressure homogenization techniques. The milled nanoparticles were characterized using laser diffraction analysis, photon correlation spectroscopy analysis, and light microscopy. The average size of leaf nanoparticles was around 245 nm and that of stem nanoparticles was around 180 nm. The nanoparticles were tested for their antimicrobial and nematicidal properties against a Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, a Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus carnosus, fungi Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a nematode Steinernemafeltiae. The results show significant activities for both leaf and (particularly) stem nanoparticles of Loranthus micranthus on all organisms tested, even at a particle concentration as low as 0.01% (w/w). The results observed indicate that nanoparticles (especially of the stem) of Loranthus micranthus could serve as novel antimicrobial agents with wide-ranging biomedical applications.

Background: Many African countries suffer from endemic diseases which are often caused by infections and seriously affect the social and economic development of these nations. While the access to proper medication is still limited, many of these countries are, at the same time, rich in medical plants.Materials and Methods: A review of relevant scientific (and gray) literature was carried out and information obtained from local authorities in medicinal plants. A synthesis of the data obtained was thereafter performed and recommendations for the future proposed.Results: Plants such as Cissus aralioides, Securidaca longipedunculata, Piliostigma thonningii, Nauclea latifolia, Ocimum gratissimum and Newbouldia laevis are widely reported to be used in the treatment of endemic diseases in Togo and her neighbouring countries.These plants often contain highly potent chemical compounds, such as quinones, xanthones, tannins and terpenes and therefore may provide an alternative avenue to short-term treatment. A combination of further analysis of plant materials and their active ingredients on the one hand, and modern technology to turn such natural products into commercial equivalents on the other, is required in order to identify the targets and modes of action of these natural materials, unlock access to them, and ultimately produce valuable medicines and phytoprotectants based on locally grown plant materials.Conclusion: The production of plant-derived products, as advocated in this paper, is in line with the WHO’s traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023, and will eventually yield a sustainable health-and-wealth generating cycle that will benefit a countries in the region, economically and ecologically.Keywords: Togo, redox active secondary metabolites, phytochemicals, antimalarial activity, antidiarrheal activity, tropical diseases.

Modern food processing results in considerable amounts of side-products, such as grape seeds, walnut shells, spent coffee grounds, and harvested tomato plants. These materials are still rich in valuable and biologically active substances and therefore of interest from the perspective of waste management and “up-cycling”. In contrast to traditional, often time consuming and low-value uses, such as vermicomposting and anaerobic digestion, the complete conversion into nanosuspensions unlocks considerable potentials of and new applications for such already spent organic materials without the need of extraction and without producing any additional waste. In this study, nanosuspensions were produced using a sequence of milling and homogenization methods, including High Speed Stirring (HSS) and High Pressure Homogenization (HPH) which reduced the size of the particles to 200–400 nm. The resulting nanosuspensions demonstrated nematicidal and antimicrobial activity and their antioxidant activities exceeded the ones of the bulk materials. In the future, this simple nanosizing approach may fulfil several important objectives, such as reducing and turning readily available waste into new value and eventually closing a crucial cycle of agricultural products returning to their fields - with a resounding ecological impact in the fields of medicine, agriculture, cosmetics and fermentation. Moreover, up-cycling via nanosizing adds an economical promise of increased value to residue-free waste management.

Cynomorium coccineum L., the desert thumb, is a rather exotic, parasitic plant unable to engage in photosynthesis, yet rich in a variety of unique compounds with a wide spectrum of biological applications. Whilst extraction, separation and isolation of such compounds is time consuming, the particular properties of the plant, such as dryness, hardness and lack of chlorophyll, render it a prime target for possible nanosizing. The entire plant, the external layer (coat) as well as its peel, are readily milled and high pressure homogenized to yield small, mostly uniform spherical particles with diameters in the range of 300 to 600 nm. The best quality of particles is obtained for the processed entire plant. Based on initial screens for biological activity, it seems that these particles are particularly active against the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, whilst no activity could be observed against the model nematode Steinernema feltiae. This activity is particularly pronounced in the case of the external layer, whilst the peeled part does not seem to inhibit growth of C. albicans. Thanks to the ease of sample preparation, the good quality of the nanosuspension obtained, and the interesting activity of this natural product, nanosized coats of Cynomorium may well provide a lead for future development and applications as “green” materials in the field of medicine, but also environmentally, for instance in agriculture.

The investigation of potential health benefits of nano-sized nutriceuticals is recently a major scientific interest. The present study investigated the effect of Selenium and Loranthus micranthus leaves nanoparticles (SeNPs and LMLNPs), on streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetes induced hepato-renal dysfunction in rats. Adult rats were rendered diabetic by a single i.p exposure to 40 mg/kg STZ. Thereafter, rats were treated with 0.1 mg/kg SeNPs or 200 mg/kg LMLNPs, or a combination of both, while 50 mg/kg metformin was used as a standard therapeutic drug. Results indicated that STZ-diabetic rats experienced liver and kidney damage evidenced by a significant elevation in serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and 5′ nucleotidase (5′NT) when compared to non-diabetic control rats. Furthermore, a decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH) levels was observed, whereas myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels increased significantly in the negative control group compared to the test groups. Immunohistochemical and western blot analyses showed a corresponding elevation in the expression of apoptotic biomarker-caspase 3 and nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein in STZ-diabetes group relative to the test groups. SeNPs and/or LMLNPs significantly ameliorated the various alterations imposed by STZ-diabetes relative to the control group. The chemotherapeutic influence in STZ-diabetic rats could be elicited via augmentation of antioxidant defence systems, regulation of Nfr2 expression, decrease in lipid peroxidation and regulation of apoptosis in the studied tissues.

International audience; Numerous plants are known to exhibit considerable biological activities in the fields of medicine and agriculture, yet access to their active ingredients is often complicated, cumbersome and expensive. As a consequence, many plants harbouring potential drugs or green phyto-protectants go largely unnoticed, especially in poorer countries which, at the same time, are in desperate need of antimicrobial agents. As in the case of plants such as the Jericho tomato, Solanum incanum, and the common African tree Pterocarpus erinaceus, nanosizing of original plant materials may provide an interesting alternative to extensive extraction and isolation procedures. Indeed, it is straightforward to obtain considerable amounts of such common, often weed-like plants, and to mill the dried material to more or less uniform particles of microscopic and nanoscopic size. These particles exhibit activity against Steinernema feltiae or Escherichia coli, which is comparable to the ones seen for processed extracts of the same, respective plants. As S. feltiae is used as a model nematode indicative of possible phyto-protective uses in the agricultural arena, these findings also showcase the potential of nanosizing of crude “waste” plant materials for specific practical applications, especially—but not exclusively—in developing countries lacking a more sophisticated industrial infrastructure.

Many organic sulfur, selenium and tellurium compounds show considerable activity against microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. This pronounced activity is often due to the specific, oxidizing redox behavior of the chalcogen-chalcogen bond present in such molecules. Interestingly, similar chalcogen-chalcogen motifs are also found in the elemental forms of these elements, and while those materials are insoluble in aqueous media, it has recently been possible to unlock their biological activities using naturally produced or homogenized suspensions of respective chalcogen nanoparticles. Those suspensions can be employed readily and often effectively against common pathogenic microorganisms, still their practical uses are limited as such suspensions are difficult to transport, store and apply. Using mannitol as stabilizer, it is now possible to lyophilize such suspensions to produce solid forms of the nanoparticles, which upon resuspension in water essentially retain their initial size and exhibit considerable biological activity. The sequence of Nanosizing, Lyophilization and Resuspension (NaLyRe) eventually provides access to a range of lyophilized materials which may be considered as easy-to-handle, ready-to-use and at the same time as bioavailable, active forms of otherwise insoluble or sparingly substances. In the case of elemental sulfur, selenium and tellurium, this approach promises wider practical applications, for instance in the medical or agricultural arena.

The last decade has witnessed a renewed interest in antimicrobial agents. Plants have received particular attention and frequently rely on the spontaneous enzymatic conversion of an inactive precursor to an active agent. Such two-component substrate/enzyme defence systems can be reconstituted ex vivo. Here, the alliin/alliinase system from garlic seems to be rather effective against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whilst the glucosinolate/myrosinase system from mustard appears to be more active against certain bacteria. Studies with myrosinase also confirm that enzyme and substrate can be added sequentially. Ultimately, such binary systems hold considerable promise and may be employed in a medical or agricultural context.

During the last couple of decades, the rapidly advancing field of nanotechnology has produced a wide palette of nanomaterials, most of which are considered as “synthetic” and, among the wider public, are often met with a certain suspicion. Despite the technological sophistication behind many of these materials, “nano” does not always equate with “artificial”. Indeed, nature itself is an excellent nanotechnologist. It provides us with a range of fine particles, from inorganic ash, soot, sulfur and mineral particles found in the air or in wells, to sulfur and selenium nanoparticles produced by many bacteria and yeasts. These nanomaterials are entirely natural, and, not surprisingly, there is a growing interest in the development of natural nanoproducts, for instance in the emerging fields of phyto- and phyco-nanotechnology. This review will highlight some of the most recent—and sometimes unexpected—advances in this exciting and diverse field of research and development. Naturally occurring nanomaterials, artificially produced nanomaterials of natural products as well as naturally occurring or produced nanomaterials of natural products all show their own, particular chemical and physical properties, biological activities and promise for applications, especially in the fields of medicine, nutrition, cosmetics and agriculture. In the future, such natural nanoparticles will not only stimulate research and add a greener outlook to a traditionally high-tech field, they will also provide solutions—pardon—suspensions for a range of problems. Here, we may anticipate specific biogenic factories, valuable new materials based on waste, the effective removal of contaminants as part of nano-bioremediation, and the conversion of poorly soluble substances and materials to biologically available forms for practical uses.

The last decade has witnessed a renewed interest in antimicrobial agents. Plants have received particular attention and frequently rely on the spontaneous enzymatic conversion of an inactive precursor to an active agent. Such two-component substrate/enzyme defence systems can be reconstituted ex vivo. Here, the alliin/alliinase system from garlic seems to be rather effective against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whilst the glucosinolate/myrosinase system from mustard appears to be more active against certain bacteria. Studies with myrosinase also confirm that enzyme and substrate can be added sequentially. Ultimately, such binary systems hold considerable promise and may be employed in a medical or agricultural context.