Linalool – a Review of a Biologically Active Compound of Commercial Importance

Since the earliest times fragrant materials have been used in rituals. Today, a lucrative industry has developed to produce and deliver fragrances and aromatic chemicals with various applications in modern society. Linalool, a much sought after compound in the flavor and fragrance industry is a monoterpene alcohol which occurs naturally in many aromatic plants. Linalool and linalool-rich essential oils are known to exhibit various biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-oxidant properties and several in vivo studies have confirmed various effects of linalool on the central nervous system. The applications of linalool are not confined to simply adding or enhancing a specific scent to domestic products such as soaps, detergents and shampoos. Linalool also plays an import role in nature as a key compound in the complex pollination biology of various plant species to ensure reproduction and survival. Linalool is also a key compound for the industrial production of a variety of fragrance chemicals such as geraniol, nerol, citral and its derivatives, as well as a lead compound in the synthesis of vitamins A and E. The repellent properties of linalool on various crop-destroying insects has been well documented accentuating the application of this molecule in eco-friendly pest management. This review aims to highlight the various biological properties of linalool and to emphasize the value of linalool and linalool-rich essential oils in phytotherapy.

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A comprehensive review on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, ‎pharmacology, and toxicology of the Mandragora genus; from folk ‎medicine to the modern

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612827666210203143445 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

Author(s):

Taha Monadi ◽

Mohammad Azadbakht ◽

Amirhossein Ahmadi ◽

Aroona Chabra

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Biologically Active ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Traditional Use ◽

Toxicological Studies ◽

Persian Medicine

The Mandragora genus (Solanaceae) is well known for its association with myths and has been used in herbal medicine since ancient times. This extensive literature review synthesizes the information currently available on the ethnobotany, Persian medicine (PM), traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity profile of Mandragora spp. The electronic search engines Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were searched using keywords such as Mandragora, mandrake, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, Persian medicine, ethnobotany, and toxicity. Pertinent information was also extracted from books on PM, ethnomedicine, and dissertations. Mandragora species are found throughout the Mediterranean basin, Europe, Northern Africa, and the Himalayan regions. Traditionally, the species have been used to treat insomnia, dysuria, hemorrhoids, rheumatic pain, toothache, melancholia, and depression, among many others. In vitro studies have confirmed the biological properties of Mandragora spp. crude extracts, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and enzyme-inhibiting effects. Various phytochemicals, such as alkaloids (e.g., atropine and scopolamine), coumarins (e.g., umbelliferone and scopoletin), withanolides (e.g., salpichrolide C), and lipid-like compounds (e.g., beta-sitosterol), have been isolated from Mandragora spp. Some of the pure compounds composing this plant are highlighted for their biologically active effects, including anticholinergic, antidepressant, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Modern identifications of biological activities of the compounds isolated from Mandragora, especially alkaloids, support its traditional uses (e.g., for their narcotic effects). More in vivo studies are required to further understanding and most effectively utilize this genus, and extensive toxicological studies are required to validate its safety in clinical use.

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Metabolomics of Healthy Berry Fruits

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867323666161206100006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (37) ◽

pp. 4888-4902 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gilda D'Urso ◽

Sonia Piacente ◽

Cosimo Pizza ◽

Paola Montoro

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Biologically Active ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Bioactive Metabolites ◽

Active Metabolites ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Cell Functions ◽

Berry Fruits

The consumption of berry-type fruits has become very popular in recent years because of their positive effects on human health. Berries are in fact widely known for their health-promoting benefits, including prevention of chronic disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Berries are a rich source of bioactive metabolites, such as vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds, mainly anthocyanins. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies recognized the health effects of berries and their function as bioactive modulators of various cell functions associated with oxidative stress. Plants have one of the largest metabolome databases, with over 1200 papers on plant metabolomics published only in the last decade. Mass spectrometry (MS) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) are the most important analytical technologies on which the emerging ''omics'' approaches are based. They may provide detection and quantization of thousands of biologically active metabolites from a tissue, working in a ''global'' or ''targeted'' manner, down to ultra-trace levels. In the present review, we highlighted the use of MS and NMR-based strategies and Multivariate Data Analysis for the valorization of berries known for their biological activities, important as food and often used in the preparation of nutraceutical formulations.

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Plant Species of Sub-Family Valerianaceae—A Review on Its Effect on the Central Nervous System

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10050846 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 846

Author(s):

Gitishree Das ◽

Han-Seung Shin ◽

Rosa Tundis ◽

Sandra Gonçalves ◽

Ourlad Alzeus G. Tantengco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Plant Species ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Biological Properties ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Food Species ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Preclinical And Clinical Studies

Valerianaceae, the sub-family of Caprifoliaceae, contains more than 300 species of annual and perennial herbs, worldwide distributed. Several species are used for their biological properties while some are used as food. Species from the genus Valeriana have been used for their antispasmodic, relaxing, and sedative properties, which have been mainly attributed to the presence of valepotriates, borneol derivatives, and isovalerenic acid. Among this genus, the most common and employed species is Valerianaofficinalis. Although valerian has been traditionally used as a mild sedative, research results are still controversial regarding the role of the different active compounds, the herbal preparations, and the dosage used. The present review is designed to summarize and critically describe the current knowledge on the different plant species belonging to Valerianaceae, their phytochemicals, their uses in the treatment of different diseases with particular emphasis on the effects on the central nervous system. The available information on this sub-family was collected from scientific databases up until year 2020. The following electronic databases were used: PubMed, Scopus, Sci Finder, Web of Science, Science Direct, NCBI, and Google Scholar. The search terms used for this review included Valerianaceae, Valeriana, Centranthus, Fedia, Patrinia, Nardostachys, Plectritis, and Valerianella, phytochemical composition, in vivo studies, Central Nervous System, neuroprotective, antidepressant, antinociceptive, anxiolytic, anxiety, preclinical and clinical studies.

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Constitutive and Regulated Shedding of Soluble FGF Receptors Releases Biologically Active Inhibitors of FGF-2

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22052712 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 2712

Author(s):

Anne Hanneken ◽

Maluz Mercado ◽

Pamela Maher

Keyword(s):

Cell Surface ◽

Ligand Binding ◽

Cellular Proliferation ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Matrix Metalloproteases ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Ectodomain Shedding ◽

High Affinity

The identification of soluble fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors in blood and the extracellular matrix has led to the prediction that these proteins modulate the diverse biological activities of the FGF family of ligands in vivo. A recent structural characterization of the soluble FGF receptors revealed that they are primarily generated by proteolytic cleavage of the FGFR-1 ectodomain. Efforts to examine their biological properties are now focused on understanding the functional consequences of FGFR-1 ectodomain shedding and how the shedding event is regulated. We have purified an FGFR-1 ectodomain that is constitutively cleaved from the full-length FGFR-1(IIIc) receptor and released into conditioned media. This shed receptor binds FGF-2; inhibits FGF-2-induced cellular proliferation; and competes with high affinity, cell surface FGF receptors for ligand binding. FGFR-1 ectodomain shedding downregulates the number of high affinity receptors from the cell surface. The shedding mechanism is regulated by ligand binding and by activators of PKC, and the two signaling pathways appear to be independent of each other. Deletions and substitutions at the proposed cleavage site of FGFR-1 do not prevent ectodomain shedding. Broad spectrum inhibitors of matrix metalloproteases decrease FGFR-1 ectodomain shedding, suggesting that the enzyme responsible for constitutive, ligand-activated, and protein kinase C-activated shedding is a matrix metalloprotease. In summary, shedding of the FGFR-1 ectodomain is a highly regulated event, sharing many features with a common system that governs the release of diverse membrane proteins from the cell surface. Most importantly, the FGFR ectodomains are biologically active after shedding and are capable of functioning as inhibitors of FGF-2.

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Effect of the Modifications on the Physicochemical and Biological Properties of β-Glucan—A Critical Review

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25010057 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 57 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hongjie Yuan ◽

Ping Lan ◽

Yan He ◽

Chengliang Li ◽

Xia Ma

Keyword(s):

Food Processing ◽

Triple Helix ◽

Functional Foods ◽

Physiological Function ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Structural Features ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Enzymatic Modification ◽

Anti Oxidant

β-Glucan exhibits many biological activities and functions such as stimulation of the immune system and anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-infective, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-coagulant, cholesterol-lowering, radio protective, and wound healing effects. It has a wide variety of uses in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industries as well as in food processing units. However, due to its dense triple helix structure, formed by the interaction of polyhydroxy groups in the β-d-glucan molecule, it features poor solubility, which not only constrains its applications, but also inhibits its physiological function in vivo. One aim is to expand the applications for modified β-glucan with potential to prevent disease, various therapeutic purposes and as health-improving ingredients in functional foods and cosmetics. This review introduces the major modification methods required to understand the bioactivity of β-glucan and critically provides a literature survey on the structural features of this molecule and reported biological activity. We also discuss a new method to create novel opportunities to exploit maximally various properties of β-glucan, namely ultrasound-assisted enzymatic modification.

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Impact of Seaweed-derived Xanthophyll Carotenoid on Obesity Management: Overview of the Last Decade

10.20944/preprints202002.0349.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Oyindamola Vivian Ojulari ◽

Seul Gi Lee ◽

Ju-Ock Nam

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Health Issues ◽

Major Health ◽

Chemical Treatments ◽

Anti Oxidant ◽

Published Research

Present-day lifestyles associated with high calorie-fat intake and accumulation, as well as energy imbalance, has led to the development of obesity and its comorbidities, which have emerged as some of the major health issues globally. To combat the disease, many studies have reported the anti-obesity effects of natural compounds in foods, with some advantages over chemical treatments. Carotenoids, particularly xanthophyll derived from seaweeds, have attracted the attention of researchers due to their notable biological activities, which are associated mainly with their antioxidant properties. Their involvement in oxidative stress modulation, regulation of major transcription factors and enzymes as well as their antagonistic effects on various obesity parameters have been examined in both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The present review is a collation of published research over the last decade on the anti-oxidant properties of seaweed xanthophyll carotenoids, with a focus on fucoxanthin and astaxanthin and their mechanisms of action in obesity prevention and treatment.

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Anti-Microbial and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Nigella Sativa Colloidal-Emulgel

Letters in Drug Design & Discovery ◽

10.2174/1570180815666180620150922 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 408-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ahmad M. Eid ◽

Nidal A. Jaradat ◽

Nagib A. Elmarzugi ◽

Raed Alkowni ◽

Fatima Hussen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nigella Sativa ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Inhibition Zone ◽

Sucrose Ester ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Emulsion Formulation ◽

Anti Oxidant ◽

Anti Fungal

Background: Nigella sativa L. (N. sativa) has been reported to have biological activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-fungal activities. Objective: This study aims to develop N. Sativa colloidal-emulgel with the evaluation of its antibacterial, anti-oxidant and in-vivo irritation and sensation testing. Method: Colloidal-emulgel formulations were prepared for N. sativa using different surfactants (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (S.L.S) and sucrose ester). N. sativa emulsion formulations were prepared using heat inversion technique. After that, the optimum formulation was mixed with Carbopol to produce the colloidal-emulgel. The droplet size, size distribution, and rheological behavior were measured for emulgel formulations. Anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activities were also reported in the in vivo studies for sensitivity, irritancy and spreadability. Results: It was found that the sucrose ester was able to produce the optimum emulsion formulation with droplets size of less than 1 μm. In the anti-bacterial test for Staphylococcus aureus, it was found that emulgel has an inhibition zone of 2.5 cm in diameter, but the oil alone being 1.3 cm. According to MRSA, the inhibition zone for emulgel was 1.1 cm, but for oil, it was 0.5 cm in diameter. Emulgel does not show any irritation or sensitivity. Also it has a homogeneous appearance with a smooth texture. In addition, it shows fair mechanical properties, and easy spreadability with acceptable bio-adhesion. Conclusion: It is concluded that N. sativa emulgel has been prepared with dermatological and cosmeceutical benefits.

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Biological Activities of Rhamnan Sulfate Extract from the Green Algae Monostroma nitidum (Hitoegusa)

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md18040228 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Koji Suzuki ◽

Masahiro Terasawa

Keyword(s):

Vascular Dysfunction ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Sulfated Polysaccharide ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Monostroma Nitidum ◽

Antithrombotic Effects

Monostroma nitidum is a green single-cell layered algae that grows on the southwest coast of Japan. It is often used for salad ingredients, boiled tsukudani, soups, etc., due to its health benefits. M. nitidum is composed of many cell aggregates, and the various substances that fill the intercellular space are dietary fibers, vitamins, and minerals. Rhamnan sulfate (RS), a sulfated polysaccharide, is main the component of the fiber extracted from M. nitidum. Recently, some biological properties of RS have been demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies that probably protect human subjects from viruses and ameliorate vascular dysfunction caused by metabolic disorders, especially lifestyle-related diseases. In this review, we focus on the antithrombotic effects of RS and introduce its antiviral and other biological activities.

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Therapeutic Effects of Fucoidan: A Review on Recent Studies

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md17090487 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (9) ◽

pp. 487 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Sibusiso Luthuli ◽

Siya Wu ◽

Yang Cheng ◽

Xiaoli Zheng ◽

Mingjiang Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Theoretical Basis ◽

Biological Activities ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Biological Functions ◽

Biological Structure ◽

Anti Oxidant ◽

Future Therapy

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide largely made up of l-fucose and sulfate groups. Fucoidan is favorable worldwide, especially amongst the food and pharmaceutical industry as a consequence of its promising therapeutic effects. Its applaudable biological functions are ascribed to its unique biological structure. Classical bioactivities associated with fucoidan include anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-coagulant, anti-thrombotic, immunoregulatory, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects. More recently, a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies have been carried out to further highlight its therapeutic potentials. This review focuses on the progress towards understanding fucoidan and its biological activities, which may be beneficial as a future therapy. Hence, we have summarized in vitro and in vivo studies that were done within the current decade. We expect this review and a variety of others can contribute as a theoretical basis for understanding and inspire further product development of fucoidan.

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Health Benefits of Quercetin

Defence Life Science Journal ◽

10.14429/dlsj.2.11359 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 142 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

R. Kumar ◽

S. Vijayalakshmi ◽

S. Nadanasabapathi

Keyword(s):

Health Benefits ◽

Natural Antioxidants ◽

Black Tea ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Biologically Active ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Agricultural Produce ◽

Storage Effects

Flavonoids are natural antioxidants derived from plant pigments and commonly found in agricultural produce such as fruits, vegetables, and also in beverages like tea and wine. Quercetin is the most important flavonoid which belongs to the class of flavonol. Quercetin is a vital biologically active compound, which is present in many products, such as onion (Allium cepa), black tea (Camellia sinensis), Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italic), and also in red wine and green tea, It is widely used in medicine and pharmaceutics. In particular, it is used for cancer treatment; as it restrains the growth of cancer cells. Earlier some of computational investigations of this molecule were reported in literature, but they were made at low theory level. Quercetin provided many health promoting benefits, like cardiovascular properties, cancer reducing agent, Anti-inflammatory, asthma and many more. That is why the further investigation of this molecule is important. The main important of this review is to understanding of the structure of quercetin and corresponding biological properties of quercetin expressed in vitro studies, absorption is critical, but in vivo studies, better absorbed antioxidant were observed like vitamin C, further reported studies on effect of food processing, health benefits, storage effects, and evaluate its safety and dosage.

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