Phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) are generally water‐soluble phenolic compounds that occur in many medicinal plants. Until June 2020, more than 572 PhGs have been isolated and identified. PhGs ...possess antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti‐inflammatory, antiobesity, antioxidant, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties. Despite these promising benefits, PhGs have failed to fulfill their therapeutic applications due to their poor bioavailability. The attempts to understand their metabolic pathways to improve their bioavailability are investigated. In this review article, we will first summarize the number of PhGs compounds which is not accurate in the literature. The latest information on the biological activities, structure–activity relationships, mechanisms, and especially the clinical applications of PhGs will be reviewed. The bioavailability of PhGs will be summarized and factors leading to the low bioavailability will be analyzed. Recent advances in methods such as bioenhancers and nanotechnology to improve the bioavailability of PhGs are also summarized. The existing scientific gaps of PhGs in knowledge are also discussed, highlighting research directions in the future.
Kefir is a dairy product that can be prepared from different milk types, such as goat, buffalo, sheep, camel, or cow via microbial fermentation (inoculating milk with kefir grains). As such, kefir ...contains various bacteria and yeasts which influence its chemical and sensory characteristics. A mixture of two kinds of milk promotes kefir sensory and rheological properties aside from improving its nutritional value. Additives such as inulin can also enrich kefir's health qualities and organoleptic characters. Several metabolic products are generated during kefir production and account for its distinct flavour and aroma: Lactic acid, ethanol, carbon dioxide, and aroma compounds such as acetoin and acetaldehyde. During the storage process, microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory characteristics of kefir can further undergo changes, some of which improve its shelf life. Kefir exhibits many health benefits owing to its antimicrobial, anticancer, gastrointestinal tract effects, gut microbiota modulation and anti-diabetic effects. The current review presents the state of the art relating to the role of probiotics, prebiotics, additives, and different manufacturing practices in the context of kefir's physicochemical, sensory, and chemical properties. A review of kefir's many nutritional and health benefits, underlying chemistry and limitations for usage is presented.
•Taste constituents were evaluation in matcha tea using NIR spectroscopy.•Spectral preprocessing improved the performance of the PLS model.•SiPLS-SPA and SiPLS-SA models had high accuracy and ...predictive power.•NIR spectroscopy was efficient technique for quality determination.
Matcha tea is rich in taste and bioactive constituents, quality evaluation of matcha tea is important to ensure flavor and efficacy. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) in combination with variable selection algorithms was proposed as a fast and non-destructive method for the quality evaluation of matcha tea. Total polyphenols (TP), free amino acids (FAA), and polyphenols-to-amino acids ratio (TP/FAA) were assessed as the taste quality indicators. Successive projections algorithm (SPA), genetic algorithm (GA), and simulated annealing (SA) were subsequently developed from the synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLS). The overall results revealed that SiPLS-SPA and SiPLS-SA models combined with NIR exhibited higher predictive capabilities for the effective determination of TP, FAA and TP/FAA with correlation coefficient in the prediction set (Rp) of Rp > 0.97, Rp > 0.98 and Rp > 0.98 respectively. Therefore, this simple and efficient technique could be practically exploited for tea quality control assessment.
The state of enzymes in the human body determines the normal physiology or pathology, so all the six classes of enzymes are crucial. Proteases, the hydrolases, can be of several types based on the ...nucleophilic amino acid or the metal cofactor needed for their activity. Cathepsins are proteases with serine, cysteine, or aspartic acid residues as the nucleophiles, which are vital for digestion, coagulation, immune response, adipogenesis, hormone liberation, peptide synthesis, among a litany of other functions. But inflammatory state radically affects their normal roles. Released from the lysosomes, they degrade extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and elastin, mediating parasite infection, autoimmune diseases, tumor metastasis, cardiovascular issues, and neural degeneration, among other health hazards. Over the years, the different types and isoforms of cathepsin, their optimal pH and functions have been studied, yet much information is still elusive. By taming and harnessing cathepsins, by inhibitors and judicious lifestyle, a gamut of malignancies can be resolved. This review discusses these aspects, which can be of clinical relevance.
Isocoumarins and dihydroisocoumarins are lactonic phytochemicals plentiful in microbes and higher plants. These are an amazing small scaffolds consecrated with all types of pharmacological ...applications. Our previous review covered the period 2000–2016, documenting the then known natural products of this class; the current article is a critical account of discovery of known as well as undescribed structural types and pharmacological activities reported in the course of 2016–2020. The classification revealed in our previous review based on the biogenetic origin is further buttressed by discovery of new members of each class and some new structural types hitherto unknown have also been identified. Similarly, the biological activities and SAR conclusions identified were found to be valid as well, nonetheless with new accompaniments. The most recent available literature on the structural diversity and biological activity of these natural products has been included. The information documented in this article are collected from scientific journals, books, electronic search engines and scientific databases.
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•A critical and all-inclusive collection of pharmacological profile of natural isocoumarins.•Identification of new and well known structural types based on biosynthetic origin.•Aims to facilitate synthetic chemists to design selective isocoumarins derivatives.
The marine environment with its vast biological diversity encompasses many organisms that produce bioactive natural products. Marine microorganisms are rich sources of compounds from many structural ...classes with a multitude of biological activities. The biosynthesis of microbial natural products depends on a variety of biotic and abiotic factors in the marine environment, including temperature, nutrients, salinity and interaction with other microorganisms. Terpenoids, as one of the most important groups of natural products in terrestrial microorganisms are important metabolites for marine microorganisms. Here, we have reviewed the chemistry, biosynthesis and pharmacological activities of terpenoids, extracted from marine microbes, and then survey their potential applications in drug development. We also discussed the different habitats in which marine microorganisms are found including sediments, the flora, such as seaweeds, sea grasses, and mangroves as well as the fauna like sponges and corals. Amongst these habitats, marine sediments are the major source for terpenoids producing microorganisms. The marine bacteria produce mostly meroterpenoids, while the fungi are well known for production of isoprenoids. Interestingly, marine-derived microbial terpenoids have some structural characteristics such as halogenation, which are catalyzed by specific enzymes with distinct substrate specificity. These compounds have anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial and anti-inflammatory properties. The information collected here might provide useful clues for developing new medications.
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•Marine bacteria and fungi are coexisting within different biotic and abiotic habitats.•The marine microorganisms produce different metabolites including terpenoids and meroterpenoids.•The marine microorganisms terpenoids are found mostly in fungi while the bacteria produce hybrid terpenoids.•The marine terpenoids have different medicinal properties especially anticancer and antimicrobial properties.•The marine microorganisms can be considered as a sustainable source for medicine production.
Cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases worldwide. There is an urgent need for new drugs with novel modes of action and thus considerable research has been conducted for new anticancer drugs ...from natural sources, especially plants, microbes and marine organisms. Marine populations represent reservoirs of novel bioactive metabolites with diverse groups of chemical structures. This review highlights the impact of marine organisms, with particular emphasis on marine plants, algae, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, sponges and soft corals. Anti-cancer effects of marine natural products in in vitro and in vivo studies were first introduced; their activity in the prevention of tumor formation and the related compound-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicities were tackled. The possible molecular mechanisms behind the biological effects are also presented. The review highlights the diversity of marine organisms, novel chemical structures, and chemical property space. Finally, therapeutic strategies and the present use of marine-derived components, its future direction and limitations are discussed.
Starting December 2019, mankind faced an unprecedented enemy, the COVID-19 virus. The world convened in international efforts, experiences and technologies in order to fight the emerging pandemic. ...Isolation, hygiene measure, diagnosis, and treatment are the most efficient ways of prevention and intervention nowadays. The health organizations and global care systems screened the available resources and offered recommendations of approved and proposed medications. However, the search for a specific selective therapy or vaccine against COVID-19 remains a challenge.
A literature search was performed for the screening of natural and derived bio-active compounds which showed potent antiviral activity against coronaviruses using published articles, patents, clinical trials website (https://clinicaltrials.gov/) and web databases (PubMed, SCI Finder, Science Direct, and Google Scholar).
Through the screening for natural products with antiviral activities against different types of the human coronavirus, extracts of Lycoris radiata (L'Hér.), Gentiana scabra Bunge, Dioscorea batatas Decne., Cassia tora L., Taxillus chinensis (DC.), Cibotium barometz L. and Echinacea purpurea L. showed a promising effect against SARS-CoV. Out of the listed compound Lycorine, emetine dihydrochloride hydrate, pristimerin, harmine, conessine, berbamine, 4`-hydroxychalcone, papaverine, mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate mofetil, monensin sodium, cycloheximide, oligomycin and valinomycin show potent activity against human coronaviruses. Additionally, it is worth noting that some compounds have already moved into clinical trials for their activity against COVID-19 including fingolimod, methylprednisolone, chloroquine, tetrandrine and tocilizumab.
Natural compounds and their derivatives could be used for developing potent therapeutics with significant activity against SARS-COV-2, providing a promising frontline in the fighting against COVID-19.
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The continuously increasing incidence rates of cancer and infectious diseases are open threats to the sustainable survival of animals and humans. In the last two decades, the demands of nanomaterials ...as modern therapeutic agents have increased. In this study, biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were developed from aqueous
leaf extract (POLE) and characterized using modern methods and tools, such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy, which indicated the formation of very pure, spherical NPs approximately 90 nm in size. The anticancer activity of the ZnO NPs was evaluated by MTT and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays in MCF-7, HepG2 and A-549 cells at different doses (1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 μg ml
). Moreover, the morphology of the treated cancer cells was examined by phase contrast microscopy. The results suggest that the synthesized ZnO NPs inhibited the growth of the cells when applied a concentration from 50-100 μg ml
. Moreover, the biogenic ZnO NPs were analysed as an antimicrobial agent against pathogenic bacteria. The highest antibacterial activity was observed against Gram-positive
(26 nm) and Gram-negative
(24 mm) at 50 μg per well. Complete bacterial growth (100%) vanished 100% upon treatment with ZnO NPs at 85 μg ml
. Overall, POLE mediated derived biogenic ZnO NPs could serve as a significant anticancer and antimicrobial agent and be used in the development of novel drugs and skin care products.
Cadmium (Cd) causes pervasive harm on human health as a poisonous heavy metal. This study proposed a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) approach using sodium alginate (SA) as green reductant ...in combination with edge enrichment and chemometrics to build label-free Cd quantitative models. The silver nanoparticles synthesized by SA had good dispersion and enhancement factor (3.48 x 105). The optimal detection system was established by optimizing the concentration of specific molecules (trimercaptotriazine) and the droplet volume of measured liquid. Partial least squares models based on preprocessing methods and selection algorithms were compared. The results indicated that the model combined with first-order derivative preprocessing and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling algorithms achieved the best performance (R-p = 0.9989, RMSEP =1.6225) with the limit of detection of 2.36 x 10(-5) mu g L-1 in food. The SERS approach combined with edge enrichment and chemometrics holds promise for rapid and label-free determination of Cd in food.
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