Natural Compounds Of Plant Origin Research Articles

Use of humic acids in the treatment of genitourinary diseases

Currently, diseases of the urogenital system has acquired medical and social importance. This is primarily due to the significant prevalence of this group of diseases in the structure of general morbidity, disability, and mortality and their frequent recurrence and effect on the somatic and emotional state of the patient. In addition to socio-demographic problems, urogenital disorders have significant economic consequences. The total annual costs of treating uronephrological diseases, including accompanying therapy, are estimated at 40 billion US dollars. However, according to expert forecasts, by 2030, the prevalence of this group of diseases is expected to increase by 25%, as well as direct costs of disease treatment and indirect costs associated with partial or total disability due to disease development and premature death. Thus, searching for and developing new drugs for the treatment of diseases of the urogenital organs are crucial. Chemical compounds, potentially significant in this aspect, can be obtained by organic synthesis and isolated from natural sources. Thus, exploring the potential of natural compounds that have high biological activity and favorable safety profile is a significant reason to realize and address this issue. An interesting but understudied groups of natural compounds of plant origin are humic substances. Recent preclinical studies have shown that they are able to exert antitumor, nephroprotective, and diuretic effects and exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties. This review aimed to summarize and systematize currently available information on the known pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms of action of humic acids and the prospects for their use in the treatment and prevention of genitourinary diseases.

Synergistic Inhibition of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by Melaleuca alternifolia Chell (Tea Tree) and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Essential Oils in Association with Oxacillin.

The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become a major therapeutic priority. This trend indicates the need for alternative agents to antibiotics, such as natural compounds of plant origin. By assessing membrane permeability, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus essential oils (EOs) against three strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Using the checkerboard method, the efficacy of single EOs, in association with each other or in combination with oxacillin, was quantified by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC Index). All EOs showed a reduction in bacterial load, an alteration of membrane permeability which leads to an increase in its function, resulting in the release of nucleic acids and proteins. The treatment with EO-oxacillin combinations and associated EO-EO resulted in a synergistic effect in most of the tests performed. EO-EO association showed a high activity in the alteration of the membrane, increasing the permeability to about 80% in all the MRSA strains treated. In conclusion, the combination of EOs and antibiotics represents a valid therapeutic support against MRSA bacteria, allowing for a decrease in the antibiotic concentration needed for therapeutic use.

Recent Advances in Herbal-Derived Products with Skin Anti-Aging Properties and Cosmetic Applications.

Although aesthetic benefits are a desirable effect of the treatment of skin aging, it is also important in controlling several skin diseases, mainly in aged people. The development of new dermocosmetics has rapidly increased due to consumers' demand for non-invasive products with lower adverse effects than those currently available on the market. Natural compounds of plant origin and herbal-derived formulations have been popularized due to their various safe active products, which act through different mechanisms of action on several signaling pathways for skin aging. Based on this, the aim of the review was to identify the recent advances in herbal-derived product research, including herbal formulations and isolated compounds with skin anti-aging properties. The studies evaluated the biological effects of herbal-derived products in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies, highlighting the effects that were reported in clinical trials with available pharmacodynamics data that support their protective effects to treat, prevent, or control human skin aging. Thus, it was possible to identify that gallic and ferulic acids and herbal formulations containing Thymus vulgaris, Panax ginseng, Triticum aestivum, or Andrographis paniculata are the most promising natural products for the development of new dermocosmetics with skin anti-aging properties.

Recent advances on discovery of enzyme inhibitors from natural products using bioactivity screening.

The essence of enzymes is to keep the homeostasis and balance of humans by catalyzing metabolic responses and modulating cells. Suppression of an enzyme slows the progress of some diseases, making it a therapeutic target. Therefore, it is important to develop enzyme inhibitors by proper bioactivity screening strategies for the future treatment of some major diseases. In this review, we summarized the recent (2015-2020) applications of several screening strategies (electrophoretically mediated microanalysis, enzyme immobilization, affinity chromatography, and affinity ultrafiltration) in finding enzyme inhibitors from certain species of bioactive natural compounds of plant origin (flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, saponins, anthraquinones, coumarins). At the same time, the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy were also discussed, and the future possible development direction in enzyme inhibitor screening has been prospected. To sum up, it is expected to help readers select suitable screening strategies for enzyme inhibitors and provide useful information for the study of the biological effects of specific kinds of natural products.

Tocopherols and Tocotrienols-Bioactive Dietary Compounds; What Is Certain, What Is Doubt?

Tocopherols and tocotrienols are natural compounds of plant origin, available in the nature. They are supplied in various amounts in a diet, mainly from vegetable oils, some oilseeds, and nuts. The main forms in the diet are α- and γ-tocopherol, due to the highest content in food products. Nevertheless, α-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E with the highest tissue concentration. The α- forms of both tocopherols and tocotrienols are considered as the most metabolically active. Currently, research results indicate also a greater antioxidant potential of tocotrienols than tocopherols. Moreover, the biological role of vitamin E metabolites have received increasing interest. The aim of this review is to update the knowledge of tocopherol and tocotrienol bioactivity, with a particular focus on their bioavailability, distribution, and metabolism determinants in humans. Almost one hundred years after the start of research on α-tocopherol, its biological properties are still under investigation. For several decades, researchers’ interest in the biological importance of other forms of vitamin E has also been growing. Some of the functions, for instance the antioxidant functions of α- and γ-tocopherols, have been confirmed in humans, while others, such as the relationship with metabolic disorders, are still under investigation. Some studies, which analyzed the biological role and mechanisms of tocopherols and tocotrienols over the past few years described new and even unexpected cellular and molecular properties that will be the subject of future research.

Natural Compounds as Medical Strategies in the Prevention and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders Seen in Neurological Diseases.

Psychiatric disorders are frequently encountered in many neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson diseases along with epilepsy, migraine, essential tremors, and stroke. The most common comorbid diagnoses in neurological diseases are depression and anxiety disorders along with cognitive impairment. Whether the underlying reason is due to common neurochemical mechanisms or loss of previous functioning level, comorbidities are often overlooked. Various treatment options are available, such as pharmacological treatments, cognitive-behavioral therapy, somatic interventions, or electroconvulsive therapy. However oral antidepressant therapy may have some disadvantages, such as interaction with other medications, low tolerability due to side effects, and low efficiency. Natural compounds of plant origin are extensively researched to find a better and safer alternative treatment. Experimental studies have shown that phytochemicals such as alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids as well as lipids have significant potential in in vitro and in vivo models of psychiatric disorders. In this review, various efficacy of natural products in in vitro and in vivo studies on neuroprotective and their roles in psychiatric disorders are examined and their neuro-therapeutic potentials are shed light.

Uncoupling Protein 2 as a Pathogenic Determinant and Therapeutic Target in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases.

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a mitochondrial protein that acts as an anion carrier. It is involved in the regulation of several processes, including mitochondrial membrane potential, generation of reactive oxygen species within the inner mitochondrial membrane and calcium homeostasis. UCP2 expression can be regulated at different levels: genetic (gene variants), transcriptional [by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and microRNAs], and post-translational. Experimental evidence indicates that activation of UCP2 expression through the AMPK/PPAR-α axis exerts a protective effect toward renal damage and stroke occurrence in an animal model of ischemic stroke (IS) associated with hypertension. UCP2 plays a key role in heart diseases (myocardial infarction and cardiac hypertrophy) and metabolic disorders (obesity and diabetes). In humans, UCP2 genetic variants (-866G/A and Ala55Val) associate with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and IS development. Over the last few years, many agents that modulate UCP2 expression have been identified. Some of them are natural compounds of plant origin, such as Brassica oleracea, curcumin, berberine and resveratrol. Other molecules, currently used in clinical practice, include anti-diabetic (gliptin) and chemotherapeutic (doxorubicin and taxol) drugs. This evidence highlights the relevant role of UCP2 for the treatment of a wide range of diseases, which affect the national health systems of Western countries. We will review current knowledge on the physiological and pathological implications of UCP2 with particular regard to cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and will focus on the available therapeutic approaches affecting UCP2 level for the treatment of human diseases.

Influence of a Natural Plant Antioxidant on the Ageing Process of Ethylene-norbornene Copolymer (Topas).

In the field of polymer technology, a variety of mainly synthetic additives are used to stabilize the materials during processing. However, natural compounds of plant origin can be a green alternative to chemicals such as synthetic polyphenols. An analysis of the effect of hesperidin on the aging behavior of ethylene-norbornene copolymer was performed. The evaluation of changes in the tested samples was possible by applying the following tests: determination of the surface energy and OIT values, mechanical properties analysis, colour change measurements, FT-IR and TGA analyses. The obtained results proved that hesperidin can be effectively used as natural stabilizer for polymers. Furthermore, as a result of this compound addition to Topas-silica composites, their surface and physico-mechanical properties have been improved and the resistance to aging significantly increased. Additionally, hesperidin can act as a dye or colour indicator and only few scientific reports describe a possibility of using flavonoids to detect changes in products during their service life, e.g., in food packaging. In the available literature, there is no information about the potential use of hesperidin as a stabilizer for cycloolefin copolymers. Therefore, this approach may contribute not only to the current state of knowledge, but also presents an eco-friendly solution that can be a good alternative to synthetic stabilizers.

Essential Oils: A Natural Weapon against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Responsible for Nosocomial Infections.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become a major concern worldwide. This trend indicates the need for alternative agents to antibiotics, such as natural compounds of plant origin. Using agar disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of Citrus aurantium (AEO), Citrus x limon (LEO), Eucalyptus globulus (EEO), Melaleuca alternifolia (TTO), and Cupressus sempervirens (CEO) essential oils (EOs) against three representatives of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and respective biofilms: vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. Using the checkerboard method, the efficacy of the EOs alone, in an association with each other, or in combination with the reference antibiotics was quantified by calculating fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs). All the EOs displayed antibacterial activity against all strains to different extents, and TTO was the most effective. The results of the EO–EO associations and EO–antibiotic combinations clearly showed a synergistic outcome in most tests. Lastly, the effectiveness of EOs both alone and in association or combination against biofilm formed by the antibiotic-resistant strains was comparable to, and sometimes better than, that of the reference antibiotics. In conclusion, the combination of EOs and antibiotics represents a promising therapeutic strategy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, even protected inside biofilms, which can allow decreasing the concentrations of antibiotics used.

Polydatin and its potential protective effect on COVID-19

The recent published guidelines for nutritional management of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection have recommended that nutritional intervention and food supplements should be considered as an integral part of the approach for individuals at risk or infected with SARS-CoV-2 [[1]Barazzoni R. Bischoff S.C. Krznaric Z. Pirlich M. Singer P. ESPEN expert statements and practical guidance for nutritional management of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Clin Nutr. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2020.03.022Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (445) Google Scholar]. Individuals at risk for severe COVID-19 include elderly persons and individuals affected by chronic and acute diseases since more susceptible for developing inflammatory conditions provoking interstitial pneumonia, vasculitis and gastrointestinal symptoms, identified as the most severe COVID-19 clinical conditions [[2]Li T. Lu H. Zhang W. Clinical observation and management of COVID-19 patients.Emerg Microb Infect. 2020; 9: 687-690Crossref PubMed Scopus (261) Google Scholar]. While, no effective treatment has been identified aimed at reducing significantly inflammatory response to the infection, interleukins and cytokine cascades have been identified as indicators of the abnormal human response to viral presence and replication and some clinical trials are ongoing to test the drugs able to moderate or modulate the immune response, including anti-chronic rheumatic and anti-clotting ones [[2]Li T. Lu H. Zhang W. Clinical observation and management of COVID-19 patients.Emerg Microb Infect. 2020; 9: 687-690Crossref PubMed Scopus (261) Google Scholar]. However, for their adverse effects, an appropriate patient monitoring is needed in order to balance benefits and risks. According with the ESPEN guidelines [[1]Barazzoni R. Bischoff S.C. Krznaric Z. Pirlich M. Singer P. ESPEN expert statements and practical guidance for nutritional management of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Clin Nutr. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2020.03.022Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (445) Google Scholar], in addition, we would like to briefly outline some concerns regarding the food supplement polydatin and its potential protective effect for individual at risk COVID-19. Indeed, several studies have revealed the potential of natural compounds of plant origin, as resveratrol, to protect against SARS coronaviruses infection including SARS-CoV-2 [[3]McKee D.L. Sternberg A. Stange U. Laufer S. Naujokat C. Candidate drugs against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 pharmacol.Res. 2020; 157: 104859Google Scholar]. In the last years, we have been involved in using the natural glycosylated and bioavailable form of resveratrol, the polydatin, extracted by the plant Polygonum Cuspidatum, and tested as food supplements in very different clinical conditions from very different aetiology, but all having in common a general inflammatory and immune-depressed state [[4]Bonucci M. Pastore C. Ferrera V. Fiorentini C. Fabbri A. Integrated cancer treatment in the course of metastatic pancreatic cancer: complete resolution in 2 cases.Integr Canc Ther. 2018; 17: 994-999Crossref PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar,[5]Vacca R.A. Bawari S. Valenti D. Tewari D. Nabavi S.F. Shirooie S. et al.Down syndrome: neurobiological alterations and therapeutic targets.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019; 98: 234-255Crossref PubMed Scopus (46) Google Scholar]. During these last weeks we are receiving rather frequent feedback from both polydatin prescribers and consumers; from unrelated and merely unconnected groups we were informed about a “protective” effect from COVID-19 diffusion and its clinical worst consequences. Reporting users’ groups include individual at risk COVID-19 such as Down syndrome eldest (in voluntary treatment to reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial bioenergetics) as well as chemotherapy prescribed patients following an integrated approach (official oncology evidence-based protocols plus natural substances). Polydatin efficacy lies mainly to moderate acute clinical as well as chronic subclinical inflammation and also tested on pneumonia or lung inflammation processes [[6]Jiang Q. Yi M. Guo Q. Wang C. Wang H. Meng S. et al.Protective effects of polydatin on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway.Int Immunopharm. 2015; 29: 370-376Crossref PubMed Scopus (152) Google Scholar]. Actually, the cited food supplement is very safe, can lower the inflammation status, can work properly skipping the overload of reactive oxygen species and exhibits many pharmacological activities including multiple-organ protection [[7]Du Q.H. Peng C. Zhang H. Polydatin: a review of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics.Pharm Biol. 2013; 51: 1347-1354Crossref PubMed Scopus (172) Google Scholar]. Thus, it is reasonable to suggest the phytochemical polydatin as preventative (co-) treatment for individual at risk of COVID-19, as (asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic) relatives and contacts of swap positive confirmed cases. Of course, these observations warrant rigorous clinical trials (including or excluding other prevention measures) that can confirm or cancel our hypothesis without any risk and major costs. The polydatin effective dose is well known, and it can be obtained extracting it from plants in several well-documented ways, many of them are anymore covered by patents; so, its procurement can be affordable in the case of positive results, without any “strong, fully or partially monopolistic” hand on its availability. All authors contributed equally to conceive the idea and write the manuscript. Dr Raggi declares that GHIMAS SpA is a maker of Polydatin based Cosmetics and Food Supplements. The other authors declare no competing interests for the content of this paper.

Natural Plants and Cancer Therapy

Cancer chemotherapy represents the cornerstone of management of a vast majority of neoplastic lesions. Adverse reactions of chemotherapy may affect the major body organs and represent deleterious health hazards for cancer patients. Recent studies are directed towards discovery of natural compounds of plant origin that have potential anticancer properties and may ameliorate the toxic effects induced by the traditional anticancer agents. This manuscript throws light on the potential role of the natural plants in cancer therapy.

Targeting Autophagic Pathways by Plant Natural Compounds in Cancer Treatment.

Nowadays, natural compounds of plant origin with anticancer effects have gained more attention because of their clinical safety and broad efficacy profiles. Autophagy is a multistep lysosomal degradation pathway that may have a unique potential for clinical benefit in the setting of cancer treatment. To retrieve articles related to the study, the databases of Google Scholar, Web of sciences, Medline and Scopus, using the following keywords: Autophagic pathways; herbal medicine, oncogenic autophagic pathways, tumor-suppressive autophagic pathways, and cancer were searched. Although natural plant compounds such as resveratrol, curcumin, oridonin, gossypol, and paclitaxel have proven anticancer potential via autophagic signaling pathways, there is still a great need to find new natural compounds and investigate the underlying mechanisms, to facilitate their clinical use as potential anticancer agents through autophagic induction.

Assessment of Photodegradation and Biodegradation of RPU/PIR Foams Modified by Natural Compounds of Plant Origin.

Four types of rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams (RPU/PIR) were obtained. Three of them were modified by powder fillers, such as cinnamon extract (C10 foam), green coffe extract (KZ10), and cocoa extract (EK10) in an amount of 10 wt %. The last foam was obtained without a filler (W foam). The basic properties and thermal properties of obtained foams were examined. All foams were subjected to degradation in the climatic chamber acting on samples of foams in a defined temperature, humidity, and UV radiation for 7, 14, and 21 days. The physico-mechanical properties of foams were tested. The compressive strength of degraded foams after 7, 14, and 21 days was compared with the compressive strength of nondegraded foams (0 days). The chosen properties of degraded foams, such as cellular structure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and changes of chemical structure by FTIR spectroscopy were compared. The obtained foams were also subjected to degradation in a circulating air dryer in an increased temperature (120 °C) for 48 h. Additionally, W, C10, ZK10, EK10 foams were placed in a soil environment and subjected to 28 days biodegradation process. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), the theoretical oxygen demand (TOD), and the degree of biodegradation (Dt) of foams were determined in this measurment. Test results showed that the compressive strength of foams decreased with the longer time of foam degradation in the conditioner. The foam subjected to degradation darkened and became more red and yellow in color. The addition of natural compounds of plant origin to foams increased their susceptibility to biodegradation.

Phosphodiesterase-1 inhibitory potential of several natural products by molecular docking approach

Natural products of herbal origin are well-known to exhibit diverse biological activities. In the present study, a number of natural compounds of plant origin; luteolin 5-O-β-glucoside (1), methyl rosmarinate (2), apigenin (3), vicenin 2 (4), lithospermic acid (5), soyasaponin II (6), and rubiadin 3-O-β-primeveroside (7) were tested at 0.5 mM using ELISA microtiter assay against phosphodiesterase-1 (PDE-1), which plays role in smooth muscle activity and inflammation. Among the tested compounds, luteolin 5-O-β-glucoside (1) (IC50 = 125.01 ± 1.24 μM), apigenin (3) (IC50 = 62.50 ± 1.56 μM), and rubiadin 3-O-β-primeveroside (7) (IC50 = 93.75 ± 2.50 μM) displayed a strong inhibition as compared to the reference (EDTA, IC50 = 270.11 ± 2.65 μM). Besides, the active three compounds (1, 3, and 7) were proceeded to molecular docking experiments using two docking softwares (Autodock Vina and i-GEMDOCK) and showed clear interactions with active gorge of the enzyme through hydrogen bondings as well as hydrophobic contacts.

Potential Anticancer Activity of Tocotrienols

Natural compounds of plant origin are being used in cancer research since several decades. More than treatment, they hold promise in cancer prevention. Besides cancer, they are also used in other health disorders. Interest in natural compounds mediated treatment is increasing due to their low toxicity, wide variety of health benefits and natural abundance. They can be easily obtained from nature and can be taken in diet without doctor consulting based upon their availability. As they do not result in significant health problems, a little change in dietary habits can give us benefit against various diseases including cancer. Tocotrienols are vitamin E groups of compounds obtained from Pam oil in high concentrations. In this review, we describe the anticancer activities of Tocotrienols in various cancer types. Tocotrienols have shown potential in vitro and in vivo activity and are being tested in several clinical studies.

Identification of Suitable Natural Inhibitor against Influenza A (H1N1) Neuraminidase Protein by Molecular Docking.

The influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as swine flu is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality since 2009. There is a need to explore novel anti-viral drugs for overcoming the epidemics. Traditionally, different plant extracts of garlic, ginger, kalmegh, ajwain, green tea, turmeric, menthe, tulsi, etc. have been used as hopeful source of prevention and treatment of human influenza. The H1N1 virus contains an important glycoprotein, known as neuraminidase (NA) that is mainly responsible for initiation of viral infection and is essential for the life cycle of H1N1. It is responsible for sialic acid cleavage from glycans of the infected cell. We employed amino acid sequence of H1N1 NA to predict the tertiary structure using Phyre2 server and validated using ProCheck, ProSA, ProQ, and ERRAT server. Further, the modelled structure was docked with thirteen natural compounds of plant origin using AutoDock4.2. Most of the natural compounds showed effective inhibitory activity against H1N1 NA in binding condition. This study also highlights interaction of these natural inhibitors with amino residues of NA protein. Furthermore, among 13 natural compounds, theaflavin, found in green tea, was observed to inhibit H1N1 NA proteins strongly supported by lowest docking energy. Hence, it may be of interest to consider theaflavin for further in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Potential of Natural Products of Herbal Origin as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO, E.C. 1.4.3.4) is a flavin-adenine type of enzyme with two isoforms referred to MAO-A and MAO-B that function for oxidation of monoamines. While MAO-A inhibitors are effective as antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs (e.g. chlorgyline, moclobemide, and lazabemide), inhibitors of MAO-B (e.g. Ldeprenyl, pargyline, and rasagiline) are used against neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Considering the need for novel MAO inhibitors due to side effects of the current ones, natural products have become attractive targets for researchers. Up till now, many studies revealed strong MAO inhibitory activity of flavonoid, xanthone, alkaloid, and coumarin derivatives from herbal sources, which also become good models for the synthetic MAO inhibitors. For this purpose, the present review focuses on examples of in vitro and in vivo MAO-inhibiting natural compounds of plant origin from a wide variety of chemical classes isolated mainly between 2000 - 2015.

Evaluation of Natural Compounds of Plant Origin for Inactivation of Enteric Viruses.

Essential oils (EOs) and some of their main compounds have demonstrated extensive antimicrobial activity in a wide range of food spoilage or pathogenic fungi, yeast and bacteria. The aim of this study was to assess the antiviral activity of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (zataria) and Origanum vulgare (oregano) EOs on hepatitis A virus (HAV) and the effect of thymol, an active compound of Thymus vulgaris and oregano, on norovirus surrogates, feline calicivirus (FCV) and murine norovirus (MNV), and HAV. Initially, each virus at titers of ca. 6 log TCID50/ml was exposed to different concentrations of natural compounds and incubated for 2h at 37°C. Treatment with oregano and zataria EOs resulted in slight reductions on HAV infectivity with a maximum reduction of less than 0.5 log TCID50/ml at 0.1% zataria EO. Thymol was effective in reducing the titers of norovirus surrogates in a dose-dependent manner. Concentrations of thymol at 0.5 and 1% reduced FCV titers to undetectable levels, while for MNV, thymol at concentrations of 1 and 2% resulted in reductions of 1.66 and 2.45 log TCID50/ml, respectively. However, for HAV, no effect was observed at any of the concentrations tested. These results improve the knowledge about the antiviral activity of EO and their compounds and their potential in food sanitation.

Biological activity and stability in vitro of polyphenolic extracts as potential dietary supplements.

In times of worsening civilization diseases the interest in natural healing substances is on the increase. To reduce unwanted side effects of many synthetic drugs, it is reasonable to introduce to the daily diet foods rich in natural compounds of plant origin that are beneficial for health. The purpose of the study was to determine the biological activity and stability of selected ethanol extracts of the fruit of chokeberry, blackcurrant, hawthorn, rosehip, quince and Japanese quince as potential nutraceuticals. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined in relation to model phospholipid membranes (IC50(PC)). Antiradical activity was determined in a test with the DPPH• radical (IC50(DPPH)). Also the inhibition of enzymatic (1-LOX) oxidation of linoleic acid was determined at the beginning of the period of storage of the extracts at room temperature and after 12 months. After 12 months of storage the highest antioxidant stability was shown by blackcurrant extract (1.5% increase in IC50(PC)), the highest antiradical stability by quince extract (1.0% reduction in IC50(DPPH)), and the highest stability of 1-LOX enzyme inhibition by chokeberry extract (6.3% reduction in inhibition at a concentration of 8 μg∙(-1)). Japanese quince extract showed the strongest regenerating properties with respect to oxidized phospholipid membranes and the highest ability to eliminate the free radical DPPH•. It can be concluded that the ethanol extracts of the fruits (in particular blackcurrant, chokeberry and Japanese quince) are a potential source of dietary supplements of expected effectiveness in preventive treatment.

Therapeutic role of natural agents in beta-thalassemia: A review

Beta-thalassemia is a genetic disease caused by either reduced production or complete absence of beta-globin chains. It is characterized by dyserythropoiesis which leads to the development of early erythroid precursor cells into immature erythroblasts. Patients with high level of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) develop less severe symptoms and survive normally. Therefore, augmentation of the level of HbF has been an effective therapeutic approach for patients of beta-thalassemia. Iron overload is the leading cause of mortality in beta-thalassemia. Natural pharmacological agents have been used to stimulate the HbF level and reduce iron overload in patients suffering from this deleterious disease. This is an efficient way to treat beta-thalassemia as it also provides better correlation between in vivo and in vitro synthesis of beta-globin chains in patients. Being economic, it is also affordable for the patients in developing countries. This article reports some natural compounds of plant origin having a therapeutic role in inducing HbF level and possessing chelation therapy in beta-thalassemia patients.