Structure, Function, and Therapeutic Potential of Marine Bioactive Peptides

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, filariasis, chikunguniya, yellow fever, dengue and Japanese encephalitis are the major cause of remarkable morbidity and mortality in livestock and humans worldwide. Since ancient times, aromatic plants are used for their medicinal value. Essential oils derived from these plants may be used as effective alternatives/adjuvants in pharmaceuticals, biomedical, cosmetic, food, veterinary and agriculture applications. These oils have also gained popularity and interest for prevention and treatment of various disorders. However, several reports on adverse effects including skin eruption, contact artricaria or toxic encephalopathy in children are available for synthetic repellent in the literature. Thus, natural insect repellents like essential oils have been explored recently as an alternative. One such essential oil studied widely, is citronella oil, extracted mainly from Cymbopogon nardus. This essential oil has exhibited good efficacy against mosquitoes. It is a mixture of components including citronellal, citronellol, geraniol as major constituents contributing to various activities (antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant antitrypanosomal and wound healing), besides mosquito repellent action. Citronella essential oil is registered in US EPA (Environmental protection agency) as insect repellent due to its high efficacy, low toxicity and customer satisfaction. However, poor stability in the presence of air and high temperature limits its practical applications. Since specific knowledge on properties and chemical composition of oil is fundamental for its effective application, the present review compiles and discusses biological properties of citronella oil. It also sheds light on various formulations and applications of this essential oil.

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Flavonoids from the Genus Euphorbia: Isolation, Structure, Pharmacological Activities and Structure–Activity Relationships

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14050428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 428

Author(s):

Douglas Kemboi Magozwi ◽

Mmabatho Dinala ◽

Nthabiseng Mokwana ◽

Xavier Siwe-Noundou ◽

Rui W. M. Krause ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Structure Activity Relationship ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Skeletal Structure ◽

Activity Relationship ◽

Hydroxyl Groups ◽

Structure Activity ◽

Review Reports

Plants of the genus Euphorbia are widely distributed across temperate, tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Asia and Africa with established Ayurvedic, Chinese and Malay ethnomedical records. The present review reports the isolation, occurrence, phytochemistry, biological properties, therapeutic potential and structure–activity relationship of Euphorbia flavonoids for the period covering 2000–2020, while identifying potential areas for future studies aimed at development of new therapeutic agents from these plants. The findings suggest that the extracts and isolated flavonoids possess anticancer, antiproliferative, antimalarial, antibacterial, anti-venom, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatitis and antioxidant properties and have different mechanisms of action against cancer cells. Of the investigated species, over 80 different types of flavonoids have been isolated to date. Most of the isolated flavonoids were flavonols and comprised simple O-substitution patterns, C-methylation and prenylation. Others had a glycoside, glycosidic linkages and a carbohydrate attached at either C-3 or C-7, and were designated as d-glucose, l-rhamnose or glucorhamnose. The structure–activity relationship studies showed that methylation of the hydroxyl groups on C-3 or C-7 reduces the activities while glycosylation loses the activity and that the parent skeletal structure is essential in retaining the activity. These constituents can therefore offer potential alternative scaffolds towards development of new Euphorbia-based therapeutic agents.

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Biodistribution and Pharmacokinectics of Liposomes and Exosomes in a Mouse Model of Sepsis

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13030427 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 427

Author(s):

Amin Mirzaaghasi ◽

Yunho Han ◽

So-Hee Ahn ◽

Chulhee Choi ◽

Ji-Ho Park

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Hek293t Cell ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Context Analysis ◽

Drug Delivery Vehicles ◽

Delivery Vehicles ◽

Diseased State ◽

Sepsis And Septic Shock

Exosomes have attracted considerable attention as drug delivery vehicles because their biological properties can be utilized for selective delivery of therapeutic cargoes to disease sites. In this context, analysis of the in vivo behaviors of exosomes in a diseased state is required to maximize their therapeutic potential as drug delivery vehicles. In this study, we investigated biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of HEK293T cell-derived exosomes and PEGylated liposomes, their synthetic counterparts, into healthy and sepsis mice. We found that biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of exosomes were significantly affected by pathophysiological conditions of sepsis compared to those of liposomes. In the sepsis mice, a substantial number of exosomes were found in the lung after intravenous injection, and their prolonged blood residence was observed due to the liver dysfunction. However, liposomes did not show such sepsis-specific effects significantly. These results demonstrate that exosome-based therapeutics can be developed to manage sepsis and septic shock by virtue of their sepsis-specific in vivo behaviors.

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Bioactive potential of natural biomaterials: identification, retention and assessment of biological properties

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy ◽

10.1038/s41392-021-00512-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kieran Joyce ◽

Georgina Targa Fabra ◽

Yagmur Bozkurt ◽

Abhay Pandit

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Biological Assessment ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Natural Polymers ◽

Drug Delivery Device ◽

Biomedical Device ◽

Wide Range ◽

Bioactive Potential

AbstractBiomaterials have had an increasingly important role in recent decades, in biomedical device design and the development of tissue engineering solutions for cell delivery, drug delivery, device integration, tissue replacement, and more. There is an increasing trend in tissue engineering to use natural substrates, such as macromolecules native to plants and animals to improve the biocompatibility and biodegradability of delivered materials. At the same time, these materials have favourable mechanical properties and often considered to be biologically inert. More importantly, these macromolecules possess innate functions and properties due to their unique chemical composition and structure, which increase their bioactivity and therapeutic potential in a wide range of applications. While much focus has been on integrating these materials into these devices via a spectrum of cross-linking mechanisms, little attention is drawn to residual bioactivity that is often hampered during isolation, purification, and production processes. Herein, we discuss methods of initial material characterisation to determine innate bioactivity, means of material processing including cross-linking, decellularisation, and purification techniques and finally, a biological assessment of retained bioactivity of a final product. This review aims to address considerations for biomaterials design from natural polymers, through the optimisation and preservation of bioactive components that maximise the inherent bioactive potency of the substrate to promote tissue regeneration.

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Biological Properties and Prospects for the Application of Eugenol—A Review

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22073671 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 3671

Author(s):

Magdalena Ulanowska ◽

Beata Olas

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Aromatic Compound ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Clove Oil ◽

Current State ◽

Potential Component ◽

Anti Inflammatory ◽

High Concentrations

Eugenol is a phenolic aromatic compound obtained mainly from clove oil. Due to its known antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it has long been used in various areas, such as cosmetology, medicine, and pharmacology. However, high concentrations can be toxic. A dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight is regarded as safe. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the activities and application of eugenol and its derivatives and recent research of these compounds. This review is based on information concerning eugenol characteristics and recent research from articles in PubMed. Eugenol remains of great interest to researchers, since its multidirectional action allows it to be a potential component of drugs and other products with therapeutic potential against a range of diseases.

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Review: Structure–function and biological properties of the atypical chemokine receptor D6

Molecular Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.molimm.2012.08.003 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 87-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Cinzia Cancellieri ◽

Nicoletta Caronni ◽

Alessandro Vacchini ◽

Benedetta Savino ◽

Elena M. Borroni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structure Function ◽

Chemokine Receptor ◽

Biological Properties

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Chrysin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Potentiates Antibiofilm Activity against Staphylococcus aureus

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9020115 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Busi Siddhardha ◽

Uday Pandey ◽

K. Kaviyarasu ◽

Rajasekharreddy Pala ◽

Asad Syed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Chitosan Nanoparticles ◽

Cell Surface Hydrophobicity ◽

Surface Hydrophobicity ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Antibiofilm Activity ◽

Growth Curve Analysis ◽

Biofilm Development

The application of nanotechnology in medicine is gaining popularity due to its ability to increase the bioavailability and biosorption of numerous drugs. Chrysin, a flavone constituent of Orocylumineicum vent is well-reported for its biological properties. However, its therapeutic potential has not been fully exploited due to its poor solubility and bioavailability. In the present study, chrysin was encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles using TPP as a linker. The nanoparticles were characterized and investigated for their anti-biofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus. At sub-Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, the nanoparticles exhibited enhanced anti-biofilm efficacy against S. aureus as compared to its bulk counterparts, chrysin and chitosan. The decrease in the cell surface hydrophobicity and exopolysaccharide production indicated the inhibitory effect of the nanoparticles on the initial stages of biofilm development. The growth curve analysis revealed that at a sub-MIC, the nanoparticles did not exert a bactericidal effect against S. aureus. The findings indicated the anti-biofilm activity of the chrysin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and their potential application in combating infections associated with S. aureus.

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Isatis tinctoria L. (Woad): A Review of Its Botany, Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, and Biotechnological Studies

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9030298 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 298 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jasmine Speranza ◽

Natalizia Miceli ◽

Maria Fernanda Taviano ◽

Salvatore Ragusa ◽

Inga Kwiecień ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Raw Material ◽

Future Research ◽

Shoot Cultures ◽

Isatis Tinctoria ◽

Enhanced Production

Isatis tinctoria L. (Brassicaceae), which is commonly known as woad, is a species with an ancient and well-documented history as an indigo dye and medicinal plant. Currently, I. tinctoria is utilized more often as medicinal remedy and also as a cosmetic ingredient. In 2011, I. tinctoria root was accepted in the official European phytotherapy by introducing its monograph in the European Pharmacopoeia. The biological properties of raw material have been known from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Over recent decades, I. tinctoria has been investigated both from a phytochemical and a biological point of view. The modern in vitro and in vivo scientific studies proved anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, antimicrobial, antiviral, analgesic, and antioxidant activities. The phytochemical composition of I. tinctoria has been thoroughly investigated and the plant was proven to contain many valuable biologically active compounds, including several alkaloids, among which tryptanthrin, indirubin, indolinone, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides as well as glucosinolates, carotenoids, volatile constituents, and fatty acids. This article provides a general botanical and ethnobotanical overview that summarizes the up-to-date knowledge on the phytochemistry and biological properties of this valuable plant in order to support its therapeutic potential. Moreover, the biotechnological studies on I. tinctoria, which mainly focused on hairy root cultures for the enhanced production of flavonoids and alkaloids as well as on the establishment of shoot cultures and micropropagation protocols, were reviewed. They provide input for future research prospects.

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