It is believed that natural products exhibiting medicinal benefits do not cause systemic side effects or they cause acceptable side effects. Due to the increase in research output and increased awareness about the importance of natural products, nowadays, a large fraction of the population is now shifting their orientation towards the use of natural products in daily use. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one such blessing for all of us. It is one of the most important and abundant spices used in Asian food. It is cultivated around the world and originated in India, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. Turmeric powder has a bitter, sharp taste and is yellow. It is used to provide color and flavor to various food products such as; butter, mustard, cheese, etc. Turmeric belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It is one of the most commonly used medicinal herbs in India and China and is used for the treatment of jaundice and liver problems. Turmeric is known to have a wide range of pharmacological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-protozoal, anti-malarial, anti-venom, anti-proliferative, anti-aging, anti.inflammatory, anti-tumor, etc. It is identified that the yellow color of the turmeric is due to the presence of Curcumin which is the most important and potent bioactive compound of turmeric. Curcumin is a curcuminoid that is extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma Longa. Curcumin possesses remarkable medicinal properties and can also be used in cosmetic products. Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps to treat various diseases, some of them are; hay fever, depression, Alzheimer’s, treat cholesterol, itching, and osteoarthritis. It is involved in maintaining the functioning of the brain and reduces the risk of brain and heart diseases. Investigators are focusing to find out the therapeutic role of curcumin in asthma, diabetes, cancer, indigestion, and many other disorders. In this chapter, we will discuss the natural compounds present in turmeric and their medicinal importance.
Due to the increase in cancer cases nowadays, an increase in studies related to treatment has been observed. Although many natural or synthetic compounds have been described as therapeutic today, the effects of these treatments are seen in both healthy and cancer cells. In order to reduce these undesirable effects seen in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, alternative treatments that have less effect on healthy cells or alternative attitudes that will allow the minimum use of therapeutics in these treatments continue to be investigated. In particular, such studies focus on natural compounds with phenolic properties. This chapter focuses on the relationship between coumarin derivatives, curcumin, Olea europaea leaf extract, and Cynara scolymus leaf extract with hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, the effect of these natural compounds on the genetic hallmarks of various signalling pathways and important cellular metabolism molecules of hepatocellular carcinoma are discussed.
Dwindling of natural resources coupled with the rising demand for several botanical ingredients in the Indian subcontinent and global market has led to scarcity and extensive adulteration. This may result in altered safety and efficacy of several single and polyherbal Ayurvedic formulations. Foreseeing this, Ayurveda experts have decided to use alternate herbal ingredients with similar properties. Such ingredients are known as Pratinidhi (a substitute) and are used in medicinal preparations. Because of the unavailability of a particular herb or the availability of the herb at a prohibitive cost, the usage of substitutes is necessary. This concept of substitution of herbs in Ayurvedic medicines is quite an elaborate and popular practice. In commerce, there are some predominant herbs whose substitutes or adulterants are also being traded. These substitutes belong to the same or different genera or cultivar species and may or may not have similar phytochemical constituents. This also relates to the use mentioned in the authoritative texts of Ayurveda and their modern pharmacological responses and safety. Ayurvedic system of medicine has an in-depth biochemical classification of herbs, based on which substitutes can be deduced. In addition, ancient texts have mentioned alternate herbs for some key ingredients. In the present article, we are discussing commercially significant herbs, viz. Ativisha, Bala, Guduchi and Vidanga. These herbs have diverse clinical usage in Ayurveda and are reported to have properties such as immunomodulatory, anti-pyretic, anti-oxidant and anthelmintic. Based on this concept, the development of standard protocols for highly traded botanical ingredients will help the healthcare industry to meet the quality standards for medicinal products. Using substitute herbs will majorly reduce the overexploitation of natural resources and help bring balance to the ecosystem.
A biofilm is a form of bacterial cluster normally seen in environmental niches. They are immobile communities that colonize and develop on medical implants like sutures, catheters and dental implants, which can be treated only by their removal, leading to unaffordable treatment. The main biofilm consequence is its increased tolerance to negative environmental conditions, which includes resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial agents. The high resistance of bacterial biofilm towards external stress and antibiotics is due to the extracellular polymeric matrix, which provides a barrier from the external environment. The biofilm development is facilitated by the cell-to-cell communication mechanism of bacteria called quorum sensing, which promotes the bacterial community to mature. There is a huge number of naturally occurring chemical compounds that can act as antibiofilm agents. Different chemical compounds resist bacterial biofilm growth by different mechanisms depending on the chemical structure of the molecule, and the stage of biofilm formation at which we introduce the chemical compound into the biofilm system. The anti-biofilm activity of a natural or synthetic compound mainly depends on certain aspects; some of them will deal with the inhibition of the formation of the polymer matrix, some others may suppress the cell adhesion and its attachment to itself or an external surface, while others deal with the interruption of extracellular polymeric matrix generation and lessening virulence factors production, thereby hindering QS network and biofilm development.
Natural products are investigated for their remunerative effects on health. Quercetin, a flavonoid, is commonly distributed in vegetables and fruits. Quercetin is used as a supplement in food and as a phytochemical remedy against several diseases, including circulatory dysfunction, neurodegeneration, diabetes, cancer, and inflammation. The most prominent property of quercetin is its antioxidant activity, enabling it to douse free radicals. Derivatives of quercetin are essential metabolites, and even various conjugates are being advocated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans. So, the biosynthesis of quercetin derivatives is a predominant field of research. Methylation and glycosylation are two essential strategies used to synthesize various metabolites of quercetin that do not exist in nature. This review summmarizes quercetin chemistry, structural modifications, Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies, and therapeutic applications of quercetin.
Extracts obtained from many plants have recently gained popularity and scientific interest for their antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activity. Many results have been reported on the antimicrobial properties of plant extracts containing essential oils and different classes of phenolic compounds. In this chapter, we will discuss the traditional usage and the biological and pharmacological properties of various Cistus species, with particular emphasis on Cistus species growing in Sardinia. Cistaceae family is widespread in the Mediterranean region with several species, and it is known as a traditional natural remedy. Cistus genus grows in Sardinia with populations of C.monspeliensis, C.salvifolius, C. albidus and C. creticus subspecies: C.creticus subsp. creticus, C.creticus subsp. corsicus, and C.creticus subsp. eriocephalus. Despite being widespread, only a few phytochemical research has been reported for Cistus species growing in Sardinia. Moreover, C.creticus subsp. eriocephalus (Viv) Greuter & Burdet growing in Sardinia is characterized by an important polymorphism due to hybridization and occurrence of various ecotypes based on intermediate morphological characters. The recent studies have shown that the extracts of Cistus species may be used as therapeutic agents in a wide range of human diseases. The use of plant extracts for controlling postharvest fungal pathogens can enhance healthy fruit production. Further knowledge regarding the bioactivity of Sardinian Cistus species will be useful to verify their potential as profitable sources of functional ingredients in applications, such as food preservation, cosmetic, hygiene or medical device.
The human body is exposed to natural sources of ionizing radiation including cosmic rays, radionuclides disposed on the Earth's crust, air, water, and food. In addition, man-made radiation sources for military and civil purposes such as the use of radiation in health care, medical procedures in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, scientific researches, and energy production can contribute to the increased exposure and may affect the human cells. Many derivatives of plant extracts or genetically modified plants have been employed as radiomodifiers as they are compounds that can modify the biological response to the damage induced by the radiation. On the other hand, radiomodulators can be used for varied medical applications such as radioprotection and radiosensitization of tumor cells. This chapter aims to identify, analyze, and synthesize results of independent studies through an integrative review, which evaluated the protective effects of plant metabolites on cell injury caused by radiation therapy against cancer and high doses of radiation exposure.
Biflavonoids are dimers of monomeric flavonoids and have reported to exhibit several pharmacological activities, like anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antienzymatic, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-Perkinson, anti-ulcer, anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-depressant and anti-protozoan. Extensive research work on this important segment of natural compounds is in progress. In this chapter, we report the progress of research on natural biflavonoids from the period of 2005 to early 2020; it includes enlisting newly isolated bioflavonoids from plant sources, biological activities exhibited by the known as well as new compounds and synthetic strategies developed for synthesizing such compounds. In this time period, a total of 247 biflavonoids have been reported either in terms of their first-time appearance or evaluation of their biological activities or both. Out of the reported 247 biflavonoids, 176 have been reported as new compounds from natural plant sources. They have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial and antiviral, cytotoxic and anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-anoxic, antioxidant, NO-inhibitory activity, anti-enzymatic, anti-HIV, anti thrombin, antiallergic, cytoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory, which have been discussed in a comprehensive manner. Different synthetic strategies that have been reported for the synthesis of structurally different biflavonoids are also included. This chapter cites 177 references.
Phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates the growth and development of plants as well as their response to environmental changes. Recently, the regulations of ABA during fruit ripening and stress resistance were discovered in two types of fruits (climacteric and non-climacteric fruits). However, it is challenging to understand the physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological mechanisms in fruit ripening and stress response controlled by ABA. ABA is involved in fruit development processes, including young fruit growth, fruit ripening onset, ripening process and quality formation. Meanwhile, ABA plays an important role in fruit adapting to environmental stresses. ABA works through the adjustment of its concentration and signal transduction. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding ABA in the regulation of fruit development and ripening as well as in responses to environmental stresses.
Flavanones with various biological and pharmacological activities which result from their unique structure, a chiral center at C2 and a single bond between C2- C3, are considered as a special subgroup of flavonoids. These naturally occurring compounds with anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory activity, as well as building blocks and intermediates for organic synthesis have attracted organic and medicinal chemists’ attention. Widespread and at the same time interesting application of flavanones in different fields of chemistry and pharmacology, reveals increasing interests in their syntheses from different synthetic methods. In addition, there are many articles published every year about natural flavanones and their novel derivatives from different natural sources and study of their biological activities is also proof of their priority. As a result, herein we have studied recent progresses about flavanones from different aspects such as their: various synthetic methods, different derivatives, biological activities, natural sources reported in articles from 2015 to late 2020.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and is responsible for about 10 million deaths per year. Several therapeutic options are available currently to treat this deadly disease by targeting various enzymes, receptors, signaling pathways, and nucleic acids. Development of drug resistance, new oncogenic proteins, and recurrence demands sustained discovery of new therapeutic options. Flavonoids are a class of plant polyphenols consisting of 15 carbon skeletons with two benzene rings linked together to a heterocyclic pyrone ring. So far, more than 4,000 flavonoids of different types have been discovered from nature. Flavonoids exhibit several biological activities, including cancer. Quercetin (QCT) is one of the most studied flavonoids that belongs to the flavones subclass. In the recent five years, immense efforts have been made in discovering the anticancer aspect of QCT. This book chapter summarizes the anticancer activities of QCT on various cancer cells (in vitro) and tumors (in vivo) reported in the last five years.
<div>Metabolic syndrome, formerly termed ‘Syndrome X’, is a disease of energy</div><div>metabolism and storage. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by</div><div>hyperglycemia/impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity.</div><div>Swertiamarin is a secoiridoid glycoside extensively found in the Gentianaceae family,</div><div>which has been reported to cure many diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension,</div><div>atherosclerosis, arthritis, malaria, and abdominal ulcers. The present book chapter aims</div><div>to compile up-to-date information on the progress made in the protective role of</div><div>swertiamarin in metabolic syndrome to provide a guide for future research on this</div><div>bioactive molecule. In preclinical studies, swertiamarin and its metabolites have shown</div><div>a wide range of biological activities such as antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antiatherosclerotic,</div><div>anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. These activities were</div><div>mainly due to its effect on various signaling pathways associated with swertiamarin,</div><div>such as PPAR-gene upregulation, P-407-induction, inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase,</div><div>LDL oxidation, lipid peroxidation markers and stimulation of antioxidant enzymes.</div><div>This book chapter presents evidence supporting that swertiamarin could be considered</div><div>as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.</div>
Colorimetric or spectrophotometric methods have been used over the past few decades for rapid and convenient estimation of certain classes of flavonoids in fruits, vegetables, grains, raw herbal material, herbal formulations, and nutraceuticals. This has resulted in a surge in the numbers of research articles discussing the use of these methods for comparison between numbers of samples of the same kind, such as analysis to find differences between various tea samples, food articles, raw drug powders, etc. However, these methods are not selective since several factors influence color development. Also, the reagents used to form the colored complex are not specific to a certain class of compounds. There are studies performed where all compounds belonging to a particular class do not react uniformly to the reagents used in the method. Chelation using AlCl3 was used to develop deep yellow-colored complexes of the flavonoids and absorbance was subsequently measured at 420 nm, using quercetin as the standard. In a modification, potassium acetate was added after the addition of AlCl3, and the absorbance was measured at 415 nm, again against standard quercetin solutions, wherein only flavones and flavonols were estimated. A study conducted by our team proves that all flavonoids do not form complexes that absorb at 420 nm, and each flavonoid shows variation in absorption maxima. Only flavonoids with o-dihydroxy systems show good results, while others absorb at either higher or lower wavelengths. This research work has been one of the top 20 most downloaded articles in flavonoid chemistry since its date of publication. Catechins, flavanones, and anthocyanins cannot be estimated using this method, due to either inability to bind with AlCl3 in an appropriate manner or due to differences in absorption maxima of the complex formed. Flavanones like naringenin, naringin, and hesperidin have been estimated using the 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine method. The method does not work for flavonols and flavones. Estimation of catechins in tea samples has been described where caffeine is removed from solution using extraction by chloroform, and the absorbance of the aqueous phase is taken at 274 nm. The technique however is flawed since the aqueous extract will also contain phenolic acids like gallic, protocatechuic, and syringic acids, and a good amount of flavonols such as quercetin and kaempferol, which also absorb around 274 nm. These phenolic acids and flavonols need to be removed before the estimation of catechins. The reaction of flavanols like catechin and epicatechin with vanillin in presence of H2SO4 yields redcolored complexes that show absorptions around 500 nm, but certain matrices interferences of proanthocyanins. Many flavonoid compounds occur in the form of glycosides, where the presence of sugar molecules like glucose, rhamnose, galactose, etc. can hamper complex formation responsible for color development. The effect of hydrolysis can yield better results to remove the sugar moieties, and the aglycones can be estimated. Another widely used method is the Folin-Ciocalteu method for estimation of phenolics, developed by Folin and Denis in 1915, and modified by Singleton and Rossi in 1965, where a blue-colored complex due to reduction of molybdenum by phenolate ions formed in a basic medium. One major drawback of this method is that the absorption maxima of the complex formed varies between 620 and 765 nm. Studies also confirm that this assay is not specific to only phenolics, but can also react to interferences of ascorbic acid, reducing sugars, certain metals, amino acids, and reducing agents like NaHSO3. Most results published in thousands of research papers worldwide are erroneous due to a lack of knowledge of the actual chemical reactions taking place in the estimation methods, and how the flavonoids react with the reagents.
Mother Nature acts as a source of a variety of therapeutically important plants that have been used directly or indirectly for the wellbeing of the human race. In addition, these plants have also been well known for their applications, especially in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, aroma, food flavors, and food preservatives. These therapeutically important plants are also used by local and tribal peoples as a remedy to cure various infectious illnesses since the dawn of civilization. These medicinal plants serve as a source of eco-friendly drugs that are potentially less toxic as compared to a variety of synthetic drugs. Peganum harmala L. belongs to the genus Peganum and the recently separated family Nitrariaceae and is now officially included in the family Zygophyllaceae. The plant grows primarily in dehydrated and amorphous conditions, mostly in Africa, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The genus Peganum comprises six species and P. harmala L. is the most explored plant of the genus. The plant is widely known for its pharmacological potential such as antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant and anti-diabetic, etc. The wide range of applications of the plant can be attributed to its secondary metabolite composition consisting of alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, anthraquinones, volatile oils, and dietary components (proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals). Harmalol and harmine are two key beta-carbolines, which are isolated from different parts of the plant and are mainly responsible for the diverse array of pharmacological potential of the plant. Owing to this, these betacarbolines serve as an active ingredient for the production of different drugs, which are used to treat various illnesses viz. common cold, diarrhea, ulcer, arthritis, asthenia, depression, and dermatologic problems related to hair and skin. These are also effective against Parkinson’s disorder and various cancers. Furthermore, different parts of P. harmala L. also act as a source of various macro and micro minerals, which are essential for the smooth functioning of the human body. The aim of the present chapter is to summarize the various traditional uses, pharmacological properties and phytochemistry of P. harmala L.
Propolis is a natural resinous and waxy product obtained from honey bee combs. Although propolis has been now explored globally for its wide range of chemical constituents and its therapeutic value, the detailed investigation of pharmacological activities of its key chemical constituents and its analogues is in its infancy. In this study, a detailed review of the therapeutic potential of propolis and its isolated key chemical constituents was carried out to provide basic literature data required for further detailed investigation and discover new therapeutic potential molecules from propolis. Till now, more than 300 isolated chemical compounds are reported from worldwide propolis samples that include the presence of various polyphenols, flavonoids, esters, beta-steroids, aromatic aldehydes, alcohols, etc. Some specific chemical constituents of propolis, such as pinocembrin, are reported for its potential neuroprotective action with reduced neurodegeneration in the cerebral cortex and enhanced cognitive function in Aβ25-35-treated mice. Galangin is also well proven for acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition and AβPP-Selective BACE inhibitor (ASBI), which may be developed as a new therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester is reported as a moiety isolated from European propolis; it is present even in the form of a mixture of caffeic acid esters and phenethyl ester for antibacterial and antifungal properties. In vitro and in vivo evidence suggested that caffeic acid phenethyl ester has cytotoxic mechanisms, including the activation of p21protein, p38 MAPK, p53, and JNK kinase activity, inhibition of NF-B, and increased caspase-3 or 7 activity. Various pharmacological activities are reported for different propolis extracts, as well as for its constituents that include antioxidant, antiulcer, anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, etc. Propolis possesses tremendous therapeutic potential, and it is also reported worldwide in various traditional systems of medicine. In this study, the key chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, various critical issues in its application in drug delivery, and detailed investigation on approaches for formulation development to enhance biopharmaceutical aspects of propolis have been reviewed.
Bioactive food components are active ingredients in food or dietary supplements proven to have a role in health and they are safe for human consumption. These compounds exert their antioxidant effects by different mechanisms such as hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) or single electron transfer (SET) and their efficiencies can be evaluated by several methods such as ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), dipheny-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), Folin-Ciocaltue method (FCM), etc. In this review, these mechanisms and methods will be discussed in details.
For many years, natural products have been exploited to obtain extracts and pure substances, especially to treat various diseases and conditions. Bixa orellana, the seasoning and colouring known as “Achiote”, is used in several countries in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health needs, mainly using the dried pulp of the fruit, the seeds, the leaves and the roots. The objective of this review is to provide information regarding the numerous pharmacological activities of the different parts and extracts of B. orellana, such as the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic activity, as well as the hypoglycaemic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, bronchodilator, diuretic and hepatoprotective effects. This information will promote the development of further research regarding this plant and its various benefits, either in the form of an extract or pure substance, such as bixin and norbixin. Similarly, it will allow the discovery of its various mechanisms of action for each disease, which will promote the development of new active compounds.
Natural products have played a key role in cancer drug discovery, as well in other therapeutic fields. In the past decades, marine organisms have proven to be a primary source of new potentially bioactive natural products for drug discovery. By reviewing the literature describing marine organisms and isolated metabolites, we can notice a large increase in the number of studies today compared to the end of the 20th century. The number of structures isolated each year has almost doubled over the past 20 years. Because of their topicality, we have focused on natural bioactive steroids isolated from marine organisms. In the chapter ‘Bioactive Steroids from Marine Organisms’, an overview of the new steroid compounds isolated from marine sponges, macroalgae and cucumbers, described in the relevant literature in the period from 2011 to 2020, is given. To provide a comprehensive introduction in the field of marine bioactive steroids, we highlighted typical molecules grouped according to their structural characteristics with additional reference to their biological activity. The structures of the new compounds, their natural origin (species of the organism) and their rich biological activities are presented and described in detail. In addition, biological tests performed on known compounds during this time period are also described. Some of the compounds possess multiple activities and have been tested only in a limited number of biological assays, which means that the full potential and significance of these compounds may only be discovered in the future.
