Nrf2-Related Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin in Different Disorders

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol with antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammation effects. This substance has been shown to affect the activity of Nrf2 signaling, a pathway that is activated in response to stress and decreases levels of reactive oxygen species and electrophilic substances. Nrf2-related effects of curcumin have been investigated in different contexts, including gastrointestinal disorders, ischemia-reperfusion injury, diabetes mellitus, nervous system diseases, renal diseases, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases as well as cancers. In the current review, we discuss the Nrf2-mediated therapeutic effects of curcumin in these conditions. The data reviewed in the current manuscript indicates curcumin as a potential activator of Nrf2 and a therapeutic substance for the protection of cells in several pathological conditions.

Zapotin, a Polymethoxyflavone, with Potential Therapeutic Attributes

The use of plants as traditional medicines is common and has prevailed in many different cultures over time. Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are natural polyphenols from the group of flavonoids. Zapotin, a member of the PMFs, is found mainly in citrus plants and is almost exclusively limited to their peels. The chemical structure of zapotin has been questioned from the very beginning, since the structure of flavonoids with a single oxygen atom in the C2′ position is extremely rare in the plant kingdom. To clarify this, the structural determination and bio-inspired synthesis of zapotin are discussed in detail in this review. Due to the broad biological potential of PMFs, the complication in the isolation process and characterization of PMFs, as well as their purification, have been estimated by adapting various chromatographic methods. According to available data from the literature, zapotin may be a promising curative agent with extensive biological activities, especially as a chemopreventive factor. Apart from that, zapotin acts as an antidepressant-like, anticancer, antifungal, and antioxidant agent. Finally, accessible studies about zapotin metabolism (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) underline its potential in use as a therapeutic substance.

Nanoferrites-Based Drug Delivery Systems as Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer Treatments. Current Challenges and Future Perspectives

Cancer is the second cause of death worldwide, whose treatment often involves chemotherapy. In a conventional therapy, drug is transported (and usually absorbed) across biological membranes through diffusion and systemic transport. The pathway that medicine must travel before reaching the desired location, can bring adverse or unwanted effects, which are mainly the result of: low bioavailability, low solubility and toxicity. To avoiding risks, nanoparticles coated with the drug could be used as a therapeutic substance to selectively reach an area of interest to act without affecting non-target cells, organs, or tissues (drug delivery). Here, the goal is to enhance the concentration of the chemotherapeutic drug in the disease parts of the body. Among all nanostructured systems, ferrites attract worldwide attention in drug delivery applications. It is due to their versatile magnetic and physicochemical properties. Here, it is reviewed and analyzed recent advances in synthesis, morphology, size, magnetic properties, functionalization with a focus in drug delivery applications of nanoferrites.

Gum Tragacanth (GT): A Versatile Biocompatible Material beyond Borders

The use of naturally occurring materials in biomedicine has been increasingly attracting the researchers’ interest and, in this regard, gum tragacanth (GT) is recently showing great promise as a therapeutic substance in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. As a polysaccharide, GT can be easily extracted from the stems and branches of various species of Astragalus. This anionic polymer is known to be a biodegradable, non-allergenic, non-toxic, and non-carcinogenic material. The stability against microbial, heat and acid degradation has made GT an attractive material not only in industrial settings (e.g., food packaging) but also in biomedical approaches (e.g., drug delivery). Over time, GT has been shown to be a useful reagent in the formation and stabilization of metal nanoparticles in the context of green chemistry. With the advent of tissue engineering, GT has also been utilized for the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds applied for both hard and soft tissue healing strategies. However, more research is needed for defining GT applicability in the future of biomedical engineering. On this object, the present review aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of GT in biomedicine and tries to open new horizons in the field based on its inherent characteristics.

Microenvironment-responsive multifunctional hydrogels with spatiotemporal sequential release of tailored recombinant human collagen type III for the rapid repair of infected chronic diabetic wounds

A brand-new tailored hCol III-based microenvironment-responsive hydrogel could effectively accelerate the repair and regeneration of chronic diabetic wounds by a programmed controlled release of therapeutic substance approach.

Resveratrol Modulates the Gut-Brain Axis: Focus on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, 5-HT, and Gut Microbiota

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol that has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties against stress condition. It is reported that resveratrol has beneficial functions in various metabolic and central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, depression, and dementia. Recently, many researchers have emphasized the connection between the brain and gut, called the gut–brain axis, for treating both CNS neuropathologies and gastrointestinal diseases. Based on previous findings, resveratrol is involved in glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secreted by intestine L cells, the patterns of microbiome in the intestine, the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level, and CNS inflammation. Here, we review recent evidences concerning the relevance and regulatory function of resveratrol in the gut–brain axis from various perspectives. Here, we highlight the necessity for further study on resveratrol's specific mechanism in the gut–brain axis. We present the potential of resveratrol as a natural therapeutic substance for treating both neuropathology and gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Antimicrobial Mechanism of pBD2 against Staphylococcus aureus

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show high antibacterial activity against pathogens, which makes them potential new therapeutics to prevent and cure diseases. Porcine beta defensin 2 (pBD2) is a newly discovered AMP and has shown antibacterial activity against different bacterial species including multi-resistant bacteria. In this study, the functional mechanism of pBD2 antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. After S. aureus cells were incubated with different concentrations of pBD2, the morphological changes in S. aureus and locations of pBD2 were detected by electron microscopy. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were also analyzed. The results showed that the bacterial membranes were broken, bulging, and perforated after treatment with pBD2; pBD2 was mainly located on the membranes, and some entered the cytoplasm. Furthermore, 31 DEGs were detected and confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The known functional DEGs were associated with transmembrane transport, transport of inheritable information, and other metabolic processes. Our data suggest that pBD2 might have multiple modes of action, and the main mechanism by which pBD2 kills S. aureus is the destruction of the membrane and interaction with DNA. The results imply that pBD2 is an effective bactericide for S. aureus, and deserves further study as a new therapeutic substance against S. aureus.

Microsphere: A Unique and Useful Drug Delivery System

Microsphere is one the novel technology that is used to deliver the drug to it targeted site. Microsphere they are micro particle in size. They are of natural and synthetic one. There are various approaches in delivering a therapeutic substance to the target site in a sustained controlled release fashion. For preparation of microsphere protein physiochemical property to be optimized this include optimal pH, protein stochiometry and protein concentration. Some of the important microsphere technology includes Ceformin microsphere technology Ceformin EI, Ceformin TI, Ceformin EA/CR, Silk microsphere and gelatin microsphere. Microsphere drug delivery system has gained enormous attention due to its wide range of application as it covers targeting the drug to particular site to imaging and helping the diagnostic features. Microsphere is excellent polymer used for buccal delivery. It is also used to deliver pacilitaxel at the tumor site. In the present study valuable and selective information on microsphere is enlightened with its important applications which will be beneficial for further newer drug development.