Current Nutraceuticals - Volume 3, Issue 1, 2022

The substantial antimitotic potential of podophyllotoxin and its derivatives has attracted both synthetic and medicinal chemists to expand the chemical space for the subsequent biological evaluation of these compounds. The interest ranges from total synthesis, hemi-synthesis, one-pot synthetic approaches and structure-activity relationship studies. In the first segment of the review, we present recent development in the synthesis of podophyllotoxin and also describe its mode of action. the second section covers the synthesis and the structure-activity relationships of podophyllotoxin derivatives, along with the discussion of important structural features required by the molecule for displaying antimitotic activity. The last part describes the synthesis and biological evaluation of potent 4-aza podophyllotoxin derivatives. this review is of interest to chemists who study natural and synthetic compounds for drug discovery.

Objective: Over the years, scientific investigations have proven the importance of selenium as an essential element for mammals, emphasizing its activity against many diseases and even its prophylactic effects. It is also established now that a malconsumption of selenium can be harmful. Therefore, the nature and the concentration of selenium and its derivatives found in the diet, the body, and even in the environment, for example, in the soil, should be determined carefully.

Methods: In this review, analytical methods for speciation and determination of selenium concentrations in biological samples are summarized.

Results: Methods ranging from routine to cutting-edge are explored, focusing on their analytical characteristics, such as specificity for discrete selenium species, sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, and skills required.

Conclusion: There are already numerous studies regarding the analysis of selenium species. Beyond the method employed for actual measurements, we propose to review the preanalytic steps for sample handling in biological matrices, which directly affect results that will be more accurate with careful pretreatment. Furthermore, to reach better outcomes in terms of the identification of selenium species, different combinations of techniques might be the answer. We highlight here the last and the cutting-edge methods to identify and quantify selenium such as, high-performance liquid chromatography combined to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS), hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS), hydride-generation combined to atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS), or to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (HG-ICP-OES). This review emphasizes the importance of such investigations and the need to achieve reliable, safe, and effective quantification and methods of determination.

Dyslipidemia is the major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease (PAD). It is characterized by higher plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), apolipoprotein B (apoB), very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c), triglycerides (TGs) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c). Herbal medicines are preferred by many across the globe particularly to manage chronic conditions such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and plenty of others. Nigella sativa (black seeds or black cumin seeds) is a miracle herb employed within the management of many sicknesses for centuries. Hence, this review focuses on the ameliorative effects of N. sativa on the plasma lipid concentrations of human subjects. Numerous randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) and different clinical studies demonstrated that N. sativa possesses potential anti-dyslipidemic activity. The patients with dyslipidemia may well be benefited by using N. sativa along with healthy lifestyle changes and statin and other antihyperlipidemic medications as adjuvant therapy if needed.

Background: Green tea is a commonly used dietary supplement and food product. Green tea contains many polyphenolic compounds known as green tea catechins (GTCs). There are numerous reports exploring the potential benefit of using green tea catechins as chemotherapeutic agents to treat neoplastic disorders and infectious processes. The prevalence of cancer diagnoses, bacterial infections, and viral diseases that include SARS-CoV-2 have led to increased interest in GTCs as a therapeutic option in patients suffering from these conditions.

Objective: This concise review explores the evidence related to the therapeutic use of GTCs to treat neoplastic disorders as well as bacterial and viral infections.

Methods: PubMed, NIH, and OVID online databases were utilized to retrieve relevant scientific literature that addresses GTCs role in treating cancer and infectious disease.

Results: While there are preliminary data indicating potentially adventitious properties of GTCs, there is a paucity of large prospective clinical trial data to support the use of GTCs in a therapeutic capacity to treat these disease processes. There are documented instances of GTCs interacting with medications indicated to treat neoplastic diseases.

Conclusion: Currently, it seems that the therapeutic benefit of using GTCs is outweighed by the potential risks.

Aims: This work aimed to reveal some mechanisms of influence of three basil EO on the microglial cells, as recently, research data stated that these oils have anti-aging and neuroprotective properties, and they are found to be effective against some forms of neurodegeneration.

Background: The microglial cells play a pivotal role as the neuroprotective agents against neuroinflammation. Ocimum subspecies are a rich source of essential oils (EO) and used to be applied since antiquity for different purposes, including the prevention and treatment of various diseases.

Objective: In this study, the influence of the essential oils extracted from three basil cultivars (O. basilicum var. purpureum, O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora, and O. x citriodorum), possessing remarkable antioxidant activity, on the activity of the main antioxidant enzymes in microglial BV-2 wild type (WT) and Acetyl-CoA oxidase deficient cell lines (Acox1-/-) was evaluated.

Methods: All manipulations were carried out using murine microglial BV-2 cell lines (BV-2, Acyl- CoA oxidase type 1 (ACOX1) deficient mutants (Acox1-/-), and WT cells).

Results: Data included in the present article state that plant origin substances can play a role in the regulation of enzymatic antioxidant activity of cells. EOs extracted from the Ocimum different cultivars are able to trigger the activity of acetyl-CoA oxidase type 1 (or palmitoyl-CoA oxidase type 1), which can serve as a basis for the regulation of redox deviation in WT cells.

Conclusion: Thus, it can be suggested to apply them for the prevention of some processes, which can influence aging, as the process of ageing is commonly associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress caused by the increased level of free radical production, dysfunction of the microglia, high blood pressure, and so on.

Practical Applications: The microglial cells play a pivotal role as the neuroprotective agents against neuroinflammation. Different data included in the present article described that plant origin substances can play a role in regulating the enzymatic antioxidant activity of cells. EOs extracted from different cultivars of Ocimum are able to trigger the activity of acetyl-CoA oxidase type 1 (palmitoyl-CoA oxidase type 1), which can serve as a basis for the regulation of redox deviation in WT cells. Therefore, it can be proposed to apply them as prevention of some processes, which can influence aging, since the process of aging is commonly associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress caused by the increased level of free radical production, dysfunction of the microglia, high blood pressure and so on.

Background: This paper defines the fluid-dried gum extracted from the fresh fruit of the Okra Gum (Abelmoschus Esculentus) and refined Gum Ghatti (Anogeissus Latifolia) vine to advance practices of characterization.

Introduction: It outlines a systematic study of the physicochemical properties of gums in response to a European Union request for a thorough review of the quality of gums as food additives.

Methods: Ash percent, acid insoluble ash percent, cold-water-soluble percent, pH, acidity (as HCl) percent by mass, viscosity, elemental and heavy metals analysis, and FT-IR are the parameters tested following traditional procedures and current analytical instruments. This study aimed to determine the key functional characteristics of commercially important natural gums. These included flow, solubility, angle of repose, and bulk and true density.

Results: The angle of repose of okra gum was found to be very high (45.66 °), which means that Okra Gum has more adhesive properties than 38.13 ° Gum Ghatti. Okra powder was shown to be sparingly soluble in water and insoluble in acetone, ethanol, and chloroform. Gum Ghatti was found to be water-soluble but practically insoluble in ethanol, acetone, and chloroform. The compressibility index and repose angle of Okra gum are 32.96 percent and 38.13, respectively

Conclusion: The results of this study established the basic characteristics of gums and demonstrated their potential applications in the fields of novel drug delivery, cosmetics, and other pharmaceutical industries.