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1.
Switching from Conventional to Nano-natural Phytochemicals to Prevent and Treat Cancers: Special Emphasis on Resveratrol.
Salman Ul Islam, , Ahmed, MB, Mazhar Ul-Islam, , Shehzad, A, Lee, YS
Current pharmaceutical design. 2019;(34):3620-3632
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural phytochemicals and their derivatives have been used in medicine since prehistoric times. Natural phytochemicals have potential uses against various disorders, including cancers. However, due to low bioavailability, their success in clinical trials has not been reproduced. Nanotechnology has played a vital role in providing new directions for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of different disorders, and of cancer in particular. Nanotechnology has demonstrated the capability to deliver conventional natural products with poor solubility or a short half-life to target specific sites in the body and regulate the release of drugs. Among the natural products, the phytoalexin resveratrol has demonstrated therapeutic effects, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anti-proliferative effects, as well as the potential to inhibit the initiation and promotion of cancer. However, low water solubility and extensive first-pass metabolism lead to poor bioavailability of resveratrol, hindering its potential. Conventional dosage forms of resveratrol, such as tablets, capsules, dry powder, and injections, have met with limited success. Nanoformulations are now being investigated to improve the pharmacokinetic characteristics, as well as to enhance the bioavailability and targetability of resveratrol. OBJECTIVES This review details the therapeutic effectiveness, mode of action, and pharmacokinetic limitations of resveratrol, as well as discusses the successes and challenges of resveratrol nanoformulations. Modern nanotechnology techniques to enhance the encapsulation of resveratrol within nanoparticles and thereby enhance its therapeutic effects are emphasized. CONCLUSION To date, no resveratrol-based nanosystems are in clinical use, and this review would provide a new direction for further investigations on innovative nanodevices that could consolidate the anticancer potential of resveratrol.
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Regulation of glucose metabolism by bioactive phytochemicals for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Zhao, C, Yang, C, Wai, STC, Zhang, Y, P Portillo, M, Paoli, P, Wu, Y, San Cheang, W, Liu, B, Carpéné, C, et al
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 2019;(6):830-847
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent disease and becoming a serious public health threat worldwide. It is a severe endocrine metabolic disorder that has the ability to induce serious complications in all kinds of organs. Although mechanisms of anti-diabetics have been described before, we focus here on the cellular and physiological mechanisms involved in the modulation of insulin and glucose blood levels. As obesity and inflammation are intimately associated with the development of T2DM, their possible relationships are also described. The effects of gut microbiota on insulin resistance have been recently investigated in clinical trials, and we discuss the potential mechanisms by which gut microbiota may improve glucose handling, especially via the metabolism of ingested phytochemicals. Among the historically supported effects of phytochemicals, their therapeutic potential for T2DM leads to consider these natural products as an important pool for the identification of novel anti-diabetic drug leads. This current research extends the descriptions of anti-diabetic effects of plants that are used in traditional medicines or as nutraceuticals. The objective of the present review is to make a systematic report on glucose metabolism in T2DM as well as to explore the relationships between natural phytochemicals and glucose handling.
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Research advances in traditional and modern use of Nelumbo nucifera: phytochemicals, health promoting activities and beyond.
Chen, G, Zhu, M, Guo, M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 2019;(sup1):S189-S209
Abstract
Nelumbo nucifera, or sacred lotus, has been valuable for us to use as vegetable, functional food, and herb medicine for over 2,000 years. The purpose of this article is to systematically review the traditional/modern uses, chemical compositions and pharmacological activities on different parts of N. nucifera. Traditionally, this plant has been used to treat chronic dyspepsia, hematuria, insomnia, nervous disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and hyperlipidemia. Now, phytochemical investigations on different parts of N. nucifera have indicated a wide spectrum of at least 255 constituents belonging to different chemical groups, including proteins, amino acids, polysaccharides, starch, flavonoids, alkaloids, essential oils, triterpenoids, steroids, and glycosides. Meanwhile, its pharmacological activities, including anti-obesity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antitumor, memory-improving and antiviral activities, have also been reviewed, together with its applications in health food industry and clinic uses of its single plant or herbal formulae. Herein, this review will provide state-of-the-art overview on its traditional and modern uses in food industry and medicines, together with the comprehensive profiles of phytochemicals, and health promoting bioactivities of this valuable plant. In addition, the new perspectives and future challenges in the research on lotus are also outlined.
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4.
Effects of phytochemicals on thyroid function and their possible role in thyroid disease.
Pistollato, F, Masias, M, Agudo, P, Giampieri, F, Battino, M
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2019;(1):3-19
Abstract
About 1 of 10 women, particularly those older than 60 years of age, shows some degree of thyroid hormone deficiency. Thyroid diseases are generally characterized by perturbations of thyroid signaling homeostasis. The most common examples of thyroid diseases include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and several types of thyroid cancers. Phytochemicals have been shown to have either beneficial or detrimental effects on thyroid function. Some flavonoids have been reported to affect the expression and the activity of several thyroid-related enzymes and proteins, and for this reason some concerns have been raised about the possible thyroid-disruptive properties of foods enriched in these substances. On the other hand, the beneficial effects of some plant-derived compounds, such as myricetin, quercetin, apigenin, rutin, genistein, and curcumin, and their possible role as adjuvants for the treatment of thyroid cancers have been described. Here, the role of phytochemicals in thyroid signaling modulation and their possible beneficial or detrimental effects on thyroid disease risk are discussed.
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5.
Dietary phytochemicals with anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant activities: A double-edged sword in relation to adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy?
Fernando, W, Rupasinghe, HPV, Hoskin, DW
Cancer letters. 2019;:168-177
Abstract
Many advances have been made in the development and introduction of new anti-cancer drugs to the clinic. However, limited attention has been paid to improving the efficacy of currently available treatments through complementary phytochemical interventions that affect cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which are important for the etiology of certain cancers and the effectiveness of radiotherapy and some chemotherapy. In this regard, the maintenance of redox homeostasis may be influenced by the intake of anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant compounds from dietary sources. Interestingly, certain dietary phytochemicals exhibit both anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant activities, depending on their concentration and cellular microenvironment. There is evidence that concurrent administration of some dietary phytochemicals enhances the efficacy of certain cancer treatments by increasing intracellular ROS accumulation. Paradoxically, consumption of the same dietary phytochemicals under conditions that result in the scavenging of ROS might also negatively affect the outcome of ROS-dependent cancer treatments. This review discusses the potential impact of consuming dietary phytochemicals with anti-oxidant and/or pro-oxidant activities on the effectiveness of concurrent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in cancer patients.
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6.
Proanthocyanidins of Natural Origin: Molecular Mechanisms and Implications for Lipid Disorder and Aging-Associated Diseases.
Nie, Y, Stürzenbaum, SR
Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). 2019;(3):464-478
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Abstract
Proanthocyanidins are phytonutrients formed by oligomerization or polymerization of subunits catechin, epicatechin, and their gallic acid esters. Proanthocyanidins are a component of many plants and thus form an integral part of the human diet. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins are currently marketed as medicinal products that target vascular disorders and chronic pathological conditions, many of which are age-associated. Proanthocyanidins are also characterized by their effects on energy homeostasis. Not dissimilar to their chemically synthesized counterparts, naturally extracted proanthocyanidins act via inhibition of lipases, stimulation of energy expenditure, or suppression of appetite. Here we review the current knowledge-base and highlight challenges and future impacts regarding involvement of proanthocyanidins in global lipid metabolism, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms and pathological conditions that progress with aging.
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Dietary Phytochemicals Targeting Cancer Stem Cells.
Liskova, A, Kubatka, P, Samec, M, Zubor, P, Mlyncek, M, Bielik, T, Samuel, SM, Zulli, A, Kwon, TK, Büsselberg, D
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2019;(5)
Abstract
There is an increasing awareness of the importance of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for human health. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are characterized as a subpopulation of cancer cells with aberrant regulation of self-renewal, proliferation or apoptosis leading to cancer progression, invasiveness, metastasis formation, and therapy resistance. Anticancer effects of phytochemicals are also directed to target CSCs. Here we provide a comprehensive review of dietary phytochemicals targeting CSCs. Moreover, we evaluate and summarize studies dealing with effects of dietary phytochemicals on CSCs of various malignancies in preclinical and clinical research. Dietary phytochemicals have a significant impact on CSCs which may be applied in cancer prevention and treatment. However, anticancer effects of plant derived compounds have not yet been fully investigated in clinical research.
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Phytochemical and bioactive profile of Coriandrum sativum L.
Wei, JN, Liu, ZH, Zhao, YP, Zhao, LL, Xue, TK, Lan, QK
Food chemistry. 2019;:260-267
Abstract
Coriandrum sativum L. is well known around the world because of its food and medicine uses. The main bioactive constituents in C. sativum are essential oil, fatty acids, tocol, sterol and carotenoids, their yields and chemical compositions being influenced by genotype, variety, planting season, ecotype, planting condition, growth stage, plant part, harvesting time, extracting process and other factors. Coriander and its different extracts possess varying degrees of antioxidative and antimicrobial activities on account of different active constituents. The general usages, chemical compositions and bioactivities of coriander are summarized in this review, along with safety considerations.
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Medicinal Plants As Natural Polarizers of Macrophages: Phytochemicals and Pharmacological Effects.
Davoodvandi, A, Sahebnasagh, R, Mardanshah, O, Asemi, Z, Nejati, M, Shahrzad, MK, Mirzaei, HR, Mirzaei, H
Current pharmaceutical design. 2019;(30):3225-3238
Abstract
Macrophages are one of the crucial mediators of the immune response in different physiological and pathological conditions. These cells have critical functions in the inflammation mechanisms that are involved in the inhibition or progression of a wide range of diseases including cancer, autoimmune diseases, etc. It has been shown that macrophages are generally divided into two subtypes, M1 and M2, which are distinguished on the basis of their different gene expression patterns and phenotype. M1 macrophages are known as pro-inflammatory cells and are involved in inflammatory mechanisms, whereas M2 macrophages are known as anti-inflammatory cells that are involved in the inhibition of the inflammatory pathways. M2 macrophages help in tissue healing via producing anti-inflammatory cytokines. Increasing evidence indicated that the appearance of different macrophage subtypes is associated with the fate of diseases (progression versus suppression). Hence, polarization of macrophages can be introduced as an important venue in finding, designing and developing novel therapeutic approaches. Albeit, there are different pharmacological agents that are used for the treatment of various disorders, it has been shown that several natural compounds have the potential to regulate M1 to M2 macrophage polarization and vice versa. Herein, for the first time, we summarized new insights into the pharmacological effects of natural compounds on macrophage polarization.
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Combating breast cancer using combination therapy with 3 phytochemicals: Piperine, sulforaphane, and thymoquinone.
Aumeeruddy, MZ, Mahomoodally, MF
Cancer. 2019;(10):1600-1611
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Abstract
Despite the significant advances in screening methods for early diagnosis, breast cancer remains a global threat and continues to be the leading cancer diagnosed in women, requiring effective therapy. Currently, combination therapy has become the hallmark of breast cancer treatment due to the high incidence of tumor recurrence and disease progression after monotherapeutic treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. Over the past decades, there has been considerable interest in studying the anticancer effect of bioactive phytochemicals from medicinal plants combined with these conventional therapies. The rationale for this type of therapy is to use combinations of drugs that work by different mechanisms, thereby decreasing the likelihood that cancer cells will develop resistance, and also reduce the therapeutic dose and toxicity of single treatments. Three agents have received great attention with regard to their anticancer properties: 1) piperine, a dietary phytochemical isolated from black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and long pepper (Piper longum L.); 2) sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate mainly derived from cruciferous vegetables; and 3) thymoquinone, the active compound from black seed (Nigella sativa L.). This review focused on the combined effect of these 3 compounds on conventional cancer therapy with the objective of observing enhanced efficacy compared with single treatments. This review also highlights the importance of the nanoformulation of such bioactive phytochemicals that could enhance their bioavailability by providing an efficient targeted delivery system with a reduced systemic dose while resulting in a more efficient dosing at the target site.