Anti-inflammatory Activity Researches on Tripleurospermum parviflorum (Willd.) Pobed. and Tripleurospermum tenuifolium (Kit.)

WOS: 00020933970020

The evidence of health benefits and food applications of Thymus vulgaris L

Background: T. vulgaris, commonly known as the thyme, is an aromatic plant belonging to the Lauraceae family. Six different chemotypes were described for T. vulgaris. The chemotypes are named after its dominant monoterpene: geraniol (G), a-terpineol (A), thuyanol-4 (U), linalool (L), carvacrol (C), and thymol (T).Scope and approach: For this review, an extensive bibliographic research on Thymus vulgaris was carried out, including its main components both nutrients and bioactives. Botanical description, distribution and cultivation were also addressed as well as uses in folk medicine. Particular attention was given to biological activities, clinical studies, possible limitations and potential applications.Key findings and conclusions: T. vulgaris L. is used as food and for medicinal purposes and it has a great economic importance due to its composition on monoterpene derivatives including p-cymene, thymol and carvacrol. The value of T. vulgaris has been recognized by the pharmaceutical industry, because it proved to have hepatoprotective properties and to have effectiveness as expectorant agent, anti-acne agent, and as fungicidal and antiviral drug. It has been also recognized by the industries of pests' repellents, foods, food packaging and cosmetics. This vast number of industrial applications is mainly due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects

Scientific Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Potential of Campanula lyrata subsp. lyrata, A Turkish Folk Remedy [Türk Halk İlacı Campanula lyrata subsp. Lyrata’nın Anti-enflamatuvar ve Yara İyileştirici Etkilerinin Bilimsel Olarak Değerlendirilmesi]

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of the extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Campanula lyrata Lam. subsp. lyrata (Campanulaceae) by using in vivo methods in order to confirm the traditional utilization. n-Hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and aqueous extracts were separately prepared from the air-dried and powdered plant materials. Carrageenan-, and serotonin- induced hind paw edema, 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema and acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability models were employed in mice for the anti-inflammatory activity assessment. Wound-healing activity was investigated by using incision and excision wound models along with hydroxyproline determination and histopathological analyses. MeOH extract displayed significant anti-inflammatory effect in the carrageenan- and serotonin- induced hind paw edema model and in acetic acidinduced increase in capillary permeability model with the values of 25.3, 27.8 and 31.8%, respectively. MeOH extract was also found to have significant wound healing potential in the incision and excision wound models with the values of 26.9 and 39.6%, respectively. MeOH extract ointment treated group tissues also showed enhaced hydroxyproline content. The present study confirms the anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of C. lyrata subsp. lyrata. © 2015, Turkish Pharmacists Association. All rights reserved

Derivati dibenzofuranici ad attivita' antibatterica e cicatrizzante

Sono descritti derivati dibenzofuranici e loro composizioni utili per l\u2019impiego in formulazioni dermatologiche o cosmetiche con finalit\ue0 rigenerative e anti-et\ue0

Almonds (Prunus dulcis Mill. D. A. webb): A source of nutrients and health-promoting compounds

Almonds (Prunus dulcis Miller D. A. Webb (the almond or sweet almond)), from the Rosaceae family, have long been known as a source of essential nutrients; nowadays, they are in demand as a healthy food with increasing popularity for the general population and producers. Studies on the composition and characterization of almond macro-and micronutrients have shown that the nut has many nutritious ingredients such as fatty acids, lipids, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, as well as secondary metabolites. However, several factors affect the nutritional quality of almonds, including genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, investigations evaluating the effects of different factors on the quality of almonds were also included. In epidemiological studies, the consumption of almonds has been associated with several therapeutically and protective health benefits. Clinical studies have verified the modulatory effects on serum glucose, lipid and uric acid levels, the regulatory role on body weight, and protective effects against diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, recent researchers have also confirmed the prebiotic potential of almonds. The present review was carried out to emphasize the importance of almonds as a healthy food and source of beneficial constituents for human health, and to assess the factors affecting the quality of the almond kernel. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and SciFinder were used to investigate previously published articles on almonds in terms of components and bioactivity potentials with a particular focus on clinical trials

The potential of pumpkin seed oil as a functional food—A comprehensive review of chemical composition, health benefits, and safety

The growing interest in foods that can be beneficial to human health is bringing into focus some products that have been used locally for centuries but have recently gained worldwide attention. One of these foods is pumpkin seed oil, which has been used in culinary and traditional medicine, but recent data also show its use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In addition, some sources refer to it as a potential functional food, mainly because it is obtained from pumpkin seeds, which contain many functional components. However, the production process of the oil may affect the content of these components and consequently the biological activity of the oil. In this review, we have focused on summarizing scientific data that explore the potential of pumpkin seed oil as a functional food ingredient. We provide a comprehensive overview of pumpkin seed oil chemical composition, phytochemical content, biological activity, and safety, as well as the overview of production processes and contemporary use. The main phytochemicals in pumpkin seed oil with health-related properties are polyphenols, phytoestrogens, and fatty acids, but carotenoids, squalene, tocopherols, and minerals may also contribute to health benefits. Most studies have been conducted in vitro and support the claim that pumpkin seed oil has antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Clinical studies have shown that pumpkin seed oil may be beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular problems of menopausal women and ailments associated with imbalance of sex hormones. © 2022 Institute of Food Technologists®

Targeting Hedgehog signaling pathway: Paving the road for cancer therapy

The Hedgehog pathway is essential for embryonic development but also for tissue and organ homeostasis in adult organisms. Activation of this pathway leads to the expression of target genes involved in proliferation, angiogenesis and stem cell self-renewal. Moreover, abnormal persistence of Hedgehog signaling is directly involved in a wide range of human cancers. Development of novel strategies targeting the Hedgehog pathway has become a subject of increased interest in anticancer therapy. These data are sustained by pre-clinical studies demonstrating that Hedgehog pathway inhibitors could represent an effective strategy against a heterogeneous panel of malignancies. Limited activity in other tumor types could be explained by the existence of crosstalk between the Hedgehog pathway and other signaling pathways that can compensate for its function. This review describes the Hedgehog pathway in detail, with its physiological roles during embryogenesis and adult tissues, and summarizing the preclinical evidence on its inhibition, the crosstalk between Hedgehog and other cancer-related pathways and finally the potential therapeutic effects of emerging compounds