scholarly journals Modern Perspectives of Curcumin and its Derivatives as Promising Bioactive and Pharmaceutical Agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 7177-7204
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Curcuma Longa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Natural Product Research ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Pharmaceutical Agents

In the current era of eco-preservation, global research has focused on using raw and sustainable natural products with new clean technologies. New pharmaceutical or pharmaceutical agents from renewable sources are considered as essential as pure chemicals or certified fragments. A variety of natural phytoconstituents have been shown to reduce the risk of certain diseases and disorders, for example, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, neoplastic, and other health disorders. And, therefore, ongoing efforts to identify specific chemicals in these foods may contribute to their positive effects on beans/grains, fruits, vegetables, etc. Many of the phytochemicals that occurred as natural products in medicinal plants offer many opportunities in natural product research due to their versatile uses and various formulation. Curcuminoids are polyphenols found in the under-soil rhizome of Curcuma longa L. and have been used for centuries for spice, culinary, and food coloring purposes, and description also documented in the alternative system of medicines such as Indian Ayurveda, Sidha, Unani, and Chinese medicine system. It has been observed from the literature that the C. longa rhizome or commonly known as turmeric has several phytochemicals to possess anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, cardioprotective properties, and many more. The review highlights the recent progress of curcumin and its derivatives as promising bioactive and pharmaceutical agents with emphasis on future research dimensions required to propose curcuminoids as promising candidates for therapeutic and pharmacology-related sectors.

scholarly journals Microbial Biocontrol Strategies for Ambrosia Beetles and Their Associated Phytopathogenic Fungi

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédérique Reverchon ◽  
Silvia M. Contreras-Ramos ◽  
Akif Eskalen ◽  
José A. Guerrero-Analco ◽  
Evangelina E. Quiñones-Aguilar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Ambrosia Beetles ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Microbial Natural Products

Ambrosia beetles and their symbiotic fungi are causing severe damage in natural and agro-ecosystems worldwide, threatening the productivity of several important tree crops such as avocado. Strategies aiming at mitigating their impact include the application of broad-spectrum agrochemicals and the incineration of diseased trees, but the increasing demand for environment-friendly strategies call for exploring biological control for the management of ambrosia beetles and their phytopathogenic fungal symbionts. The aim of this review is to examine the existing knowledge on biocontrol approaches using beneficial microorganisms and microbial natural products with entomopathogenic and antifungal activity against ambrosia beetles and fungi. We show that biocontrol has been mainly focused on the insect, using entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) such as Beauveria spp. or Metarhizium spp. However, recent studies have been integrating EPF with mycoparasitic fungi such as Trichoderma spp. to simultaneously challenge the vector and its fungal symbionts. Novel approaches also include the use of microbial natural products as insect lures or antifungal agents. Contrastingly, the potential of bacteria, including actinobacteria (actinomycetes), as biocontrol agents of ambrosia fungi has been little investigated. We thus suggest that future research should further examine the antifungal activity of bacterial strains, with an emphasis on harsh environments. We also suggest pursuing the isolation of more effective microbial strains with dual biocontrol effect, i.e., exhibiting fungicidal/insecticidal activities. Moreover, additional efforts should aim at determining the best application methods of biocontrol agents in the field to ensure that the positive effects detected in vitro are sustained. Finally, we propose the integration of microbiome studies in pest and disease management strategies as they could provide us with tools to steer the beneficial host plant microbiome and to manipulate the beetle microbiome in order to reduce insect fitness.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Text-Mining the Classical Literature for Potentially Effective Natural Products

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Xuan Xia ◽  
Brian H. May ◽  
Anthony Lin Zhang ◽  
Xinfeng Guo ◽  
Chuanjian Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Text Mining ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Classical Literature ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
New Therapies ◽  
Modern Chinese

Background. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multijoint swelling, pain, and destruction of the synovial joints. Treatments are available but new therapies are still required. One source of new therapies is natural products, including herbs used in traditional medicines. In China and neighbouring countries, natural products have been used throughout recorded history and are still in use for RA and its symptoms. This study used text-mining of a database of classical Chinese medical books to identify candidates for future clinical and experimental investigations of therapeutics for RA. Methods. The database Encyclopaedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Zhong Hua Yi Dian) includes the full texts of over 1,150 classical books. Eight traditional terms were searched. All citations were assessed for relevance to RA. Results and Conclusions. After removal of duplications, 3,174 citations were considered. After applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria, 548 citations of traditional formulas were included. These derived from 138 books written from 206 CE to 1948. These formulas included 5,018 ingredients (mean, 9 ingredients/formula) comprising 243 different natural products. When these text-mining results were compared to the 18 formulas recommended in a modern Chinese Medicine clinical practice guideline, 44% of the herbal formulas were the same. This suggests considerable continuity in the clinical application of these herbs between classical and modern Chinese medicine practice. Of the 15 herbs most frequently used as ingredients of the classical formulas, all have received research attention, and all have been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. Two of these 15 herbs have already been developed into new anti-RA therapeutics—sinomenine from Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehd. & Wils and total glucosides of peony from Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Nevertheless, there remains considerable scope for further research. This text-mining approach was effective in identifying multiple natural product candidates for future research.

Chinese Medicine Protein and Peptide in Gene and Cell Therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinlu Feng ◽  
Zifei Yin ◽  
Daniel Zhang ◽  
Arun Srivastava ◽  
Chen Ling
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Past ◽  
Promising Strategy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Gene And Cell Therapy ◽  
Proteins And Peptides

The success of gene and cell therapy in clinic during the past two decades as well as our expanding ability to manipulate these biomaterials are leading to new therapeutic options for a wide range of inherited and acquired diseases. Combining conventional therapies with this emerging field is a promising strategy to treat those previously-thought untreatable diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved for thousands of years in China and still plays an important role in human health. As part of the active ingredients of TCM, proteins and peptides have attracted long-term enthusiasm of researchers. More recently, they have been utilized in gene and cell therapy, resulting in promising novel strategies to treat both cancer and non-cancer diseases. This manuscript presents a critical review on this field, accompanied with perspectives on the challenges and new directions for future research in this emerging frontier.

Recent Progress Towards Synthesis of the Indolizidine Alkaloid 195B

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghodsi Mohammadi Ziarani ◽  
Fatemeh Mohajer ◽  
Zohreh kheilkordi
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Natural Product ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Pharmaceutical Chemistry ◽  
Biological Perspective ◽  
Highly Active

Background: Natural products have been received attention due to their importance in human life as those are biologically active. In this review, there are some reports through different methods related to the synthesis of the indolizidine 195B which was extracted from poisonous frog; however, due to respect nature, the synthesis of natural compounds such as indolizidine has been attracted much attention among scientists and researchers. Objective: This review discloses the procedures and methods to provide indolizidine 195B from 1989 to 2018 due to their importance as a natural product. Conclusion: There are several methods to give rise to the indolizidine 195B as a natural product that is highly active from the biological perspective in pharmaceutical chemistry. In summary, many protocols for the preparations of indolizidine 195B from various substrates, several reagents, and conditions have been reported from different aromatic and aliphatic.

Conclusion

2020 ◽  
pp. 698-719
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Rice ◽  
Simeon J. Yates ◽  
Jordana Blejmar
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Digital Culture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Technology And Society ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Research Areas

We conclude the Handbook of Digital Technology and Society by identifying topics that appear in multiple chapters, are more unique to some chapters, and that represent general themes across the material. Each of these is considered separately for the ESRC theme chapters and the non-ESRC chapters. In the ESRC theme chapters, cross-cutting research topics include digital divides and inequalities; data and digital literacy; governance, regulation, and legislation; and the roles and impacts of major platforms. Cross-cutting challenges include methods; theory development, testing, and evaluation; ethics; big data; and multi-platform/holistic studies. Gaps include policy implications, and digital culture. In the non-ESRC chapters, more cross-cutting themes include future research and methods; technology venues; relationships; content and creation; culture and everyday life; theory; and societal effects. More unique, these were digitization of self; managing digital experience; names for the digital/social era; ethics; user groups; civic issues; health, and positive effects. The chapter also shows how the non-ESRC chapters may be clustered together based on their shared themes and subthemes, identifying two general themes of more micro and more macro topics. The identification of both more and less common topics and themes can provide the basis for understanding the landscape of prior research, what areas need to be included in ongoing research, and what research areas might benefit from more attention. The chapter ends with some recommendations for such ongoing and future research in the rich, important, and challenging area of digital technology and society.

The Effects of Technology Supports on Community Grocery Shopping Skills for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 016264342198997
Author(s):  
Sojung Jung ◽  
Ciara Ousley ◽  
David McNaughton ◽  
Pamela Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

In this meta-analytic review, we investigated the effects of technology supports on the acquisition of shopping skills for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) between the ages of 5 and 24. Nineteen single-case experimental research studies, presented in 15 research articles, met the current study’s inclusion criteria and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards. An analysis of potential moderators was conducted, and we calculated effect sizes using Tau-U to examine the impact of age, diagnosis, and type of technology on the reported outcomes for the 56 participants. The results from the included studies provide evidence that a wide range of technology interventions had a positive impact on shopping performance. These positive effects were seen for individuals across a wide range of ages and disability types, and for a wide variety of shopping skills. The strongest effect sizes were observed for technologies that provided visual supports rather than just auditory support. We provide an interpretation of the findings, implications of the results, and recommended areas for future research.

scholarly journals Non-Enzymatic Desymmetrization Reactions in Aqueous Media

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 720
Author(s):  
Satomi Niwayama
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Total Synthesis ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Aqueous Media ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Organic Reactions ◽  
Environmentally Benign ◽  
Enzymatic Desymmetrization

Symmetric organic compounds are generally obtained inexpensively, and therefore they can be attractive building blocks for the total synthesis of various pharmaceuticals and natural products. The drawback is that discriminating the identical functional groups in the symmetric compounds is difficult. Water is the most environmentally benign and inexpensive solvent. However, successful organic reactions in water are rather limited due to the hydrophobicity of organic compounds in general. Therefore, desymmetrization reactions in aqueous media are expected to offer versatile strategies for the synthesis of a variety of significant organic compounds. This review focuses on the recent progress of desymmetrization reactions of symmetric organic compounds in aqueous media without utilizing enzymes.

scholarly journals Recent Progress of Fluxgate Magnetic Sensors: Basic Research and Application

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1500
Author(s):  
Songrui Wei ◽  
Xiaoqi Liao ◽  
Han Zhang ◽  
Jianhua Pang ◽  
Yan Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Recent Progress ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Magnetic Sensor ◽  
Magnetic Sensors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Wearable Electronic ◽  
Wearable Electronic Devices

Fluxgate magnetic sensors are especially important in detecting weak magnetic fields. The mechanism of a fluxgate magnetic sensor is based on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. The structure of a fluxgate magnetic sensor mainly consists of excitation windings, core and sensing windings, similar to the structure of a transformer. To date, they have been applied to many fields such as geophysics and astro-observations, wearable electronic devices and non-destructive testing. In this review, we report the recent progress in both the basic research and applications of fluxgate magnetic sensors, especially in the past two years. Regarding the basic research, we focus on the progress in lowering the noise, better calibration methods and increasing the sensitivity. Concerning applications, we introduce recent work about fluxgate magnetometers on spacecraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, wearable electronic devices and defect detection in coiled tubing. Based on the above work, we hope that we can have a clearer prospect about the future research direction of fluxgate magnetic sensor.

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