Therapeutically valuable bioactive extracts from Mediterranean plants: Green technologies and molecular modelling for a viable endeavour

2022 ◽  
pp. 425-448
Author(s):  
Cristina Tomasella ◽  
Arianna Binello ◽  
Salvatore Guccione ◽  
Giancarlo Cravotto
Author(s):  
L.S. Kabir

The present study reveals the trends and features of the current state of financing the foreign countries’ transition to a new «green» economic growth model. To summarize the contemporary experience of countries’ integration into public administration practice the approaches and standards in the field of «green» investments financing.The subject of the study is the set of measures implemented by countries to develop sources of finance for «green» economy projects.Tasks: 1) to consider the principal directions of the «green» investments state policy support, its purpose, and the tools used; 2) to identify the market’s role in the «green» economy financing; 3) to clarify the main issues constraining private investments in «green» projects. The countries’ approach to «green» economic growth financing is examined in the present paper by means of common methods of scientific knowledge.There reviewed the arguments justifying the government support for «green» investments. There revealed the problems constraining the market «green» financing development and speculations about their origins. The study concludes that the countries’ economic policies are aimed at improving the existing model’s efficiency, not at the transition to the new «green» economy model. Thus, through the state support tools, there being generated strong signals signifying the creation of favorable market conditions for the functioning of a new economy sector – the sector of «green» technologies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 2503-2519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kokel ◽  
Marianna Torok

Background: Since the first isolation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) they have attracted extensive interest in medicinal chemistry. However, only a few AMP-based drugs are currently available on the market. Despite their effectiveness, biodegradability, and versatile mode of action that is less likely to induce resistance compared to conventional antibiotics, AMPs suffer from major issues that need to be addressed to broaden their use. Notably, AMPs can lack selectivity leading to side effects and cytotoxicity, and also exhibit in vivo instability. Several strategies are being actively considered to overcome the limitations that restrain the success of AMPs. Methods: In the current work, recent strategies reported for improving AMPs in the context of drug design and delivery were surveyed, and also their possible impact on patients and the environment was assessed. Results: As a major advantage AMPs possess an easily tunable skeleton offering opportunities to improve their properties. Strategic structural modifications and the beneficial properties of cyclic or branched AMPs in term of stability have been reported. The conjugation of AMPs with nanoparticles has also been explored to increase their in vivo stability. Other techniques such as the coupling of AMPs with specific antibodies aim to increase the selectivity of the potential drug towards the target. These strategies were evaluated for their effect on the environment highlighting green technologies. Conclusion: Although further research is needed taking into account both environmental and human health consequences of novel AMPs, several of these compounds are promising drug candidates for use in sustainable medicine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 519-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Ferrentino ◽  
Ksenia Morozova ◽  
Christine Horn ◽  
Matteo Scampicchio

Background: The use of essential oils is receiving increasing attention worldwide, as these oils are good sources of several bioactive compounds. Nowadays essential oils are preferred over synthetic preservatives thanks to their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Several studies highlight the beneficial effect of essential oils extracted from medicinal plants to cure human diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, or obesity. However, to preserve their bioactivity, the use of appropriate extraction technologies is required. Method: The present review aims to describe the studies published so far on the essential oils focusing on their sources and chemical composition, the technologies used for their recovery and their application as antioxidants in food products. Results: The review has been structured in three parts. In the first part, the main compounds present in essential oils extracted from medicinal plants have been listed and described. In the second part, the most important technologies used for extraction and distillation, have been presented. In detail, conventional methods have been described and compared with innovative and green technologies. Finally, in the last part, the studies related to the application of essential oils as antioxidants in food products have been reviewed and the main findings discussed in detail. Conclusions: In summary, an overview of the aforementioned subjects is presented by discussing the results of the most recent published studies.


Author(s):  
Michelyn Haroun ◽  
Christopher Tratrat ◽  
Evangelia Tsolaki ◽  
Anthi Petrou ◽  
Antonis Gavalas ◽  
...  

Background.: Inflammation is a multifactorial process reflecting response of the organismto various stimuli and is associated to a number of disorders such as arthritis, asthma and psoriasis, which require long-lasting or repeated treat-ment. Objective.: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of previous synthesized thiazole-based chal-cone derivatives. Method.: Chalcones were synthesized via Cliazen-Schmidt condensation1-(4-methyl-2-alkylamino)thiazol-5-yl) ethanone with corresponding aromatic aldehyde. For the evaluation of possible anti-inflammatory activity carrageneen mouse paw edema was used. Results.: Eight out of thirteen tested chalcones showed anti-inflammatory activity in range of 51-55%. Prediction of toxicity revealed that these compounds are not toxic. Conclusion.: In general, it can be concluded that these compounds can be used for further modifications in order to develop more active and safe agents.


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