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Abstract This review explores the therapeutic potential of propolis, a natural resin produced by bees, by analyzing recent literature spanning from 2005 to 2023. Various databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, SCOPUS, and WoS were searched to uncover recent findings. Propolis exhibits a diverse array of pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and wound-healing effects. It shows promise in treating respiratory infections, oral diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin conditions. Additionally, recent research suggests its potential as an anticancer agent. The review also investigates efficacy of propolis in addressing antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders (diabetes), reproductive disorder (PCOS), cardiovascular diseases, hepatotoxicity, and wound healing properties of propolis. Hence, propolis could emerge as a natural remedy with significant potential for enhancing healthcare outcomes.

Royal jelly (RJ), a secretion produced by honeybees, has garnered significant interest for its potential as a therapeutic intervention and functional food supplement. This systematic review aims to synthesize current research on the health benefits, bioactive components, and mechanisms of action of RJ. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, focusing on studies published from 2000 to 2024 (April). Findings indicate that RJ exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-aging effects. Beneficial biological properties of RJ might be due to the presence of flavonoids proteins, peptides, fatty acids. Both preclinical and clinical studies have reported that RJ improves the immune function such as wound healing, and also decreases the severity of chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects involve modulation of signalling pathways such as NF-κB, MAPK, and AMPK. Despite promising results, the review identifies several gaps in the current knowledge, including the need for standardized dosing regimens and long-term safety assessments. Furthermore, variations in RJ composition due to geographic and botanical factors necessitate more rigorous quality control measures. This review underscores the potential of RJ as a multifunctional therapeutic agent and highlights the necessity for further well designed studies to fully elucidate its health benefits and optimize its use as a functional food supplement.

The increasing global population drives a rising demand for food, particularly fish as a preferred protein source, straining capture fisheries. Overfishing has depleted wild stocks, emphasizing the need for advanced aquaculture technologies. Unlike agriculture, aquaculture has not seen substantial technological advancements. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, cameras, and algorithms offer solutions to reduce human intervention, enhance productivity, and monitor fish health, feed optimization, and water resource management. However, challenges such as data collection, standardization, model accuracy, interpretability, and integration with existing aquaculture systems persist. This review explores the adoption of AI techniques and tools to advance the aquaculture industry and bridge the gap between food supply and demand.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder affecting reproductive-aged women, characterized by clinical manifestations such as hyperandrogenism, menstrual irregularities, and polycystic ovaries. Despite its prevalence and impact on women's health, the pathogenesis of PCOS remains incompletely understood. This review provides a comprehensive critical appraisal of existing literature on PCOS pathogenesis, addressing knowledge gaps and highlighting its multifactorial nature. A systematic literature review identified relevant articles published up to the knowledge cutoff date in 2023, focusing on molecular, genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors contributing to PCOS pathogenesis. Electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase, were systematically searched using predefined terms. Eligible studies investigated molecular, genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors associated with PCOS pathogenesis. The critical appraisal revealed diverse studies enriching our understanding of PCOS. Molecular and genetic studies highlighted alterations in signaling pathways, hormonal dysregulation, and the role of insulin resistance. Environmental factors, including lifestyle and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, were implicated. Heterogeneity in study designs and methodologies underscored the need for standardized approaches to enhance comparability. This review synthesizes current evidence on PCOS critical appraisal and pathogenesis, emphasizing its multifaceted nature. Standardization of study designs and methodologies will facilitate future comparisons, enabling the development of targeted therapeutic interventions and personalized management strategies for women affected by PCOS.

Melatonin, (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) an indoleamine exerts multifaced effects and regulates numerous cellular pathways and molecular targets associated with circadian rhythm, immune modulation, and seasonal reproduction including metabolic rewiring during T cell malignancy. T-cell malignancies encompass a group of hematological cancers characterized by the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of malignant T-cells. These cancer cells exhibit a distinct metabolic adaptation, a hallmark of cancer in general, as they rewire their metabolic pathways to meet the heightened energy requirements and biosynthesis necessary for malignancies is the Warburg effect, characterized by a shift towards glycolysis, even when oxygen is available. In addition, T-cell malignancies cause metabolic shift by inhibiting the enzyme pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase (PDK) which in turn results in increased acetyl CoA enzyme production and cellular glycolytic activity. Further, melatonin plays a modulatory role in the expression of essential transporters (Glut1, Glut2) responsible for nutrient uptake and metabolic rewiring, such as glucose and amino acid transporters in T-cells. This modulation significantly impacts the metabolic profile of T-cells, consequently affecting their differentiation. Furthermore, melatonin has been found to regulate the expression of critical signaling molecules involved in T-cell activations, such as CD38, and CD69. These molecules are integral to T-cell adhesion, signaling, and activation. This review aims to provide insights into the mechanism of melatonin’s anticancer properties concerning metabolic rewiring during T-cell malignancy. The present review encompasses the involvement of oncogenic factors, the tumor microenvironment and metabolic alteration, hallmarks, metabolic reprogramming, and the anti-oncogenic/oncostatic impact of melatonin on various cancer cells.

Healing with herbs has been a common practice for ages. Nowadays, various infectious diseases like malaria, flu, hepatitis B; COVID-19, etc. are commonly spreading around the world as a consequence of environmental pollution and related consequences. These diseases are not well controlled by the present drug treatment. Antibiotics are failing because of bacterial resistance. Although people believe that herbal medicines are more effective and safer. Therefore, traditional herbal remedies have been recommended for treatment purposes throughout the world. They are often used in combination, fused with honey, or alone for curing different types of ailments. Today, modern formulations of these medicines exist in the form of capsules, tablets, powders, and granules. In several traditional systems, ‘Honey’ is recommended as a natural medicine that improves several health conditions. In ‘Ayurveda’, honey is considered a most precious and miraculous product of nature and is used to treat various diseases either alone or after its infusion with herbs. It is a natural, antioxidant-rich, and highly nutritious food that is widely used as a natural sweetener without any side effects. It has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. It also proves fruitful in managing/curing various disorders like colds, coughs, cancer, diabetes, wound healing, and cardiovascular disorders. Honey infused with herbs is also used to repair wounds, diabetes, lymphedema, and the prevention of chronic venomous diseases as a part of the folk medicinal system. The current article aims to analyse the medicinal efficiency of honey infused with herbs for curing/managing/treating various types of ailments.

Abstract Bee's honey is one of the greatest natural gifts to humankind, and Indian Ayurveda emphasises the various applications of honey, viz. obesity, burns, cuts, wounds, dermatitis etc. However, all the applications of honey are based on their chemical composition, but they vary depending upon the botanical, geographical origins, and bee feed. With this background, the current study aimed to evaluate the quality of honey produced by the stimulative diets ingested by honey bees (Apis mellifera). At the onset, stimulative diets were served to honey bees for 1 year, and an adequate volume of honey samples was collected before and after the ingestion of stimulative diets. After that, the honey samples were used to study the antioxidant activity and antibacterial potential as per standard protocol. The results revealed that the antioxidant activity of post-feeding honey samples exhibited a higher rate, i.e., 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) (Pre-feeding: 88.06 ± 0.214 and post-feeding: 91.79 ± 0.609 μmol/litre), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (Pre-feeding: 20.55 ± 0.336 and post-feeding: 29.01 ± 1.114%), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) (Pre-feeding: 0.296 ± 0.039 and post-feeding: 0.396 ± 0.001 mg TE/100 gm). Similarly, a high rate of antibacterial efficiency was shown in post-feeding honey samples against E. coli at a concentration of 800 µg/mL. It was shown with considerable antibacterial activity against Salmonella enterica as well. Overall, we have demonstrated honey's antioxidant and antibacterial effects and may have therapeutic potential as honey.

The world population is increasing at an alarming rate and tremendous quantity of waste is getting produced due to urbanization, industrialization, increase in human population, and various anthropogenic activities that cause serious problems of disposal and management. In developing countries, the most common practice of waste processing and management includes (i) land-filling (ii) incineration (iii) unscientific dumping, and (iv) vermi-composting. The first three methods have one or another drawback including, contamination of soil and groundwater, environmental pollution by burning biomass, and impacting human health and hygiene of the environment. One of the safest methods for managing organic waste is vermi-composting, an eco-friendly bioremediation process mediated by earthworms for the conversion of organic waste into compost in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. Earthworms play very important roles in human welfare such as waste decomposers, bio-fertilizer manufacturers, land reclaimer, protein producers, food and vitamin source, natural detoxicant as bio-indicator of pollution, bait, industrial raw materials, and above all drug sources. However, the contribution of earthworms is still underdetermined in modern human society. In this article, efforts have been made to summarize the current scenario of waste management, vermi-composting, and the potential of earthworms in waste decomposition to find a sustainable, eco-friendly, and economic solution to manage organic waste.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age and is characterized by multiple ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, and excessive androgen hormone production. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of melatonin in alleviating PCOS-induced alterations in female Wistar rats. PCOS was induced in female albino rats by administering letrozole at a dose of 1 mg/kg for 21 days. A total of 24 rats were randomly selected and divided into four groups: group I (normal control), group II (melatonin treatment), group III (letrozole treatment), and group IV (melatonin therapy for PCOS rats). Physical parameters (body and uterus weight), hormone profile (LH and FSH), and steroidogenic enzyme activities and an oral glucose test were assessed using standard methods. Histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The results demonstrated that exogenous melatonin administration significantly improved PCOS symptoms in rats, including reduced body weight gain, changes in organ weight/body weight index, blood glucose level, percentage diestrus phase, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and LH/FSH ratio, as well as 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD enzyme activity. Histopathological findings revealed well-developed follicles, decreased cystic follicles, and increased antral follicles, Graafian follicles, and corpus luteum in PCOS rats treated with melatonin. These positive outcomes suggest that exogenous melatonin may hold promise as a valuable remedy for PCOS conditions in female rats. Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and potential clinical applications of melatonin in the context of PCOS.

Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy Costus igneus Nak leaf extract against the diabetes-induced hepatorenal injury in rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male albino rats by administering single injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) for one day. The diabetic condition was established by estimation of blood glucose level; animals with blood glucose levels above 250 mg were considered as diabetic. Following the confirmation, animals were randomly divided into seven experimental groups, viz group I served as the control, group II-CI-300mg/Kg (per se), group III-Diabetic, group IV-diabetic+CI (100mg/kg), group V-diabetic+CI (200mg/kg), group VI-Diabetic+CI (300 mg/kg) and group VII-diabetic+glibenclamide (0.5mg/kg). Treatment regimens were started 24 h after the confirmation of the successful induction of diabetes and continued for four consecutive weeks at three doses (100–300 mg/kg). After the completion of experimental period animals were sacrificed, blood was collected through retro-orbital puncture for separation of serum for assessment of liver (ALT, AST, ALP, albumin, globulin and bilirubin) and kidney-specific biomarkers (creatinine, urea, and uric acid, Na+ and K+), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, TGF-β1, IL-10. Liver and kidneys were harvested for histopathology and biochemical screening. Hepatorenal protective activity was evaluated by estimating different biochemical variables and histopathology by hematoxylin and eosin staining of the liver and kidney tissues. Results and Conclusions: Three different daily doses of the plant extract showed recovery in all the biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase; ALT, AST, and ALP; creatinine, urea, and uric acid; total cellular protein content in tissues, glycogen content, and serum protein content (albumin and globulin); and inflammatory cytokines. However, significantly higher recovery was observed in the 300 mg/kg dose treated group of animals. Considerations of the serological, biochemical and histopathological studies, it may be concluded that that the C. igneus Nak leaf extract abolished various deleterious effects of type 1 diabetes induced hepatorenal functions.

The aim of the present was to ameliorate the protective effect of exogenous melatonin and insulin against the diabetes induced alterations in the different hematological variables. Albino rats were administrated streptozotocin at the dose of 15 mg/kg for 6 days. Total 54 rats were randomly selected for the experimental purpose and were divided into two major groups. Group-1 consisting twenty four (24) and were further sub-divided into four (4) different groups viz. group-I served as normal control, group-II served as melatonin treated, group-III served as insulin treated and group-IV served as glibenclamide treated. Group-2 consisting thirty (30) rats were given streptozotocin (STZ) injection (15 mg/kg) for 6 days. After confirmation of diabetes by measuring blood glucose level, animals having blood glucose level above 250 mg/dl) confirmed as diabetic. Thirty (30) Diabetic rats were further subdivided into following sub-groups and were given different therapeutic treatments, Viz group-I served as Diabetic control, group-II treated with melatonin, group-III treated with insulin, group-IV given treatment of melatonin and insulin and group-V were given treatment of glibenclamide respectively. Diabetic rats showed modulation in all the studied hematological variables. Diabetic rats displayed significant decline in RBCs count, HB level and its associated indices (HCT, RDW, MCV, MCH, MCHC), WBCs and its related indices (polymorphs and lymphocytes) and platelet distribution width (PDW %) whereas platelet count showed significant increase. Nonetheless alone as well as combined treatment of exogenous melatonin and insulin restored all altered hematological parameters. However, significant recovery was found in the group in which combined dose of melatonin and insulin was administrated. Therefore, it might be concluded that combined administration of melatonin and insulin will be better remedy to normalize the altered blood profile during the diabetic condition.

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an under-recognized, under-diagnosed and under-studied disorder; its prevalence varies between 5–26%, 6–10% of reproductive age (NIH) criteria, and 15% (Rotterdam's criteria). Various allopathic drugs (metformin and clomiphene) that are used for the treatment of PCOS have various limitations and are unable to cure PCOS effectively. Therefore, for this reason, search for new therapeutic approaches that are capable of filling these limitations is necessary. Hypothesis/Purpose: Keeping this in view, polyphenols are hypothesized to be new alternative/options to control the PCOS and its complications (Figure 1). Study design: Therefore, the objective of this study was to review the natural polyphenols that have anti-androgenic, ovulatory, estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptic, anti-cancerous activities, hormonal and menopausal regulating capability in animal models. Results: Different research papers have described the anti-androgenic, ovulatory, estrogenic and fertility, menstrual, hormonal and menopause regulating activities of polyphenols. Moreover, these polyphenols are capable of decreasing the incidence of other metabolic diseases such as infertility, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity and Type-2 diabetes caused by PCOS. Conclusion: : These polyphenols can be promising alternatives for various pharmacological mechanisms which could not only decrease the incidence of PCOS, but also promote the other protective roles by decreasing the adverse effects of PCOS on other metabolic organs and their functions. However, further studies are required to determine the mechanism of action and safety evaluation of these polyphenols.

Background: Diabetes is one of the most challenging health problems in 21st century. It is a group of endocrine-metabolic disorder characterized by high glucose level (hyperglycemia) due to insufficient insulin secretion/action or both. It causes multi-organ failure viz hepatorenal damage, adult-onset blindness, lower-limb amputations, heart diseases and stroke, high blood pressure and nerve damage. Moreover, diabetic patients are having higher risk of cardiovascular complications including atherosclerosis, hypertension, lipoprotein abnormalities and cerebrovascular disease.Study design: Considering the potencies of currently available drugs for the treatment of diabetes and associated complications, present study was focussed to explore the role of plant bioactive components as alternative and easily accessible therapeutic remedies.Hypothesis/Purpose: This study the pooled status of diabetes, available treatments, attitude and traditional herbal polyphenols regarding diabetes.Results: This study was aimed to summarize the natural polyphenols having anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-cancerous activities. Polyphenols can decrease other metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemic, and obesity and Type-2 diabetes.Conclusion: Polyphenols are promising alternatives that can decrease the severity of diabetes and promote the other protective roles by decreasing the adverse effects of diabetes on other metabolic organs and their functions.

Bruchids are most pernicious pest of stored grain pulses, especially in the tropical and subtropical areas. They penetrate into the fully grown matured pods, grains in fields and also during post-harvest storage. Among bruchids, Callosobruchus maculatus is the prominent pest having ubiquitous distribution. Chemical/synthetic insecticides provides adequate control against the C. maculatus on the pulses. However, the use of synthetic insecticides induces adverse health outcomes in agricultural workers and many causes various diseases such as cancers, genomic damage, oxidative stress, neurological disorders and respiratory, metabolic and thyroid effects. Therefore, alternative effective, safe and sustainable pest control, integration of different compatible methods should be taken into considerations. One of the possible managements might be use of traditional as well modern pest management practices. Traditional techniques include sealed containers, inert materials, harvesting time, alternate host, intercropping, storing un-threshed pulses, cleanliness, vegetable oil etc. Modern techniques such as temperature, freezing and heating, radiation treatments, resistance varieties, natural control, botanical extracts, chemical and microbial, transgenic approach, cold plasma treatments etc. thus integrated pest management might be alternative approach to combat the effect of pest. Therefore, present review aims to considers various measures for the handling of bruchids with special reference to Callosobruchus maculatus and integrated molecular inventions to decrease bruchids populations and enhance pulse productivity in pulses.

Diabetes is very common all over the world, but still not curable and controlled; it causes alteration in all over body. It needs serious concern for the scientific community to find out some control measures. The current work was planned to explore the possible defensive effect of melatonin against the diabetes induced changes in whole blood profile. For this study albino rats were treated with streptozotocin [(STZ) (15 mg/kg for 6 days)] to induce diabetes. Induction was confirmed by blood glucose and serum sugar assessment. Total 36 rats were randomly selected for the experimental purpose and were divided into two major groups. Major group-1 consisting eighteen (18) and were further sub-divided into three (3) different groups viz. group-I served as normal control, group-II served as melatonin treated, group-III served as glibenclamide treated. Major group-2 consisting eighteen (18) rats were given streptozotocin (STZ) injection (15 mg/kg) for 6 days. After confirmation of diabetes by measuring blood glucose level, animals having blood glucose level above 250 mg/dl) confirmed as diabetic. Eighteen (18) Diabetic rats were three subdivided into following sub-groups and were given different therapeutic treatments, Viz group-IV served as Diabetic control, group-V treated with melatonin, group-VI treated with glibenclamide, respectively. Diabetic rats demonstrated inflection in all hematological variables. Diabetic animals revealed considerable reduction in RBCs count, HB content and its associated indices (HCT, RDW, MCV, MCH and MCHC). Decrease in WBCs and its related indices (polymorphs and lymphocytes). Platelet count showed significant increase, but platelet distribution width (PDW %) was found decreased. However administration of melatonin restored all the alterations in hematological parameters. Therefore, it can be concluded that melatonin will be better therapeutic molecule to revive hematological alterations during diabetes.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are generated through various endogenous and exogenous processes; however, they are neutralized by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. An imbalance between the generation and neutralization of oxidants results in the progression to oxidative stress (OS), which in turn gives rise to various diseases, disorders and aging. The characteristics of aging include the progressive loss of function in tissues and organs. The theory of aging explains that age-related functional losses are due to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), their subsequent damages and tissue deformities. Moreover, the diseases and disorders caused by OS include cardiovascular diseases [CVDs], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. OS, induced by ROS, is neutralized by different enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and prevents cells, tissues and organs from damage. However, prolonged OS decreases the content of antioxidant status of cells by reducing the activities of reductants and antioxidative enzymes and gives rise to different pathological conditions. Therefore, the aim of the present review is to discuss the mechanism of ROS-induced OS signaling and their age-associated complications mediated through their toxic manifestations in order to devise effective preventive and curative natural therapeutic remedies.