Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:22 Issue: 89, Mar 2023

Nerolidol (NER) is a sesquiterpene alcohol with various biological ‎and pharmacological activities, especially antitumor effects against different cancer models. The ‎anticancer properties of NER‎ are reportedly mediated by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, ‎and DNA damage. Nevertheless, this compound has low solubility, poor bioavailability, and fast ‎hepatic metabolism, which could be overcome by designing proper nanoformulation scenarios. ‎

This review focuses on the anticancer effect of NER ‎against multiple cancers to highlight the ‎promising features of NER as an applicable anticancer agent.‎

A collection of papers based on the ‘cancer’ and ‘NER’ MeSH terms was ‎chosen from NCBI/PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to synthesize the current review. ‎

NER was found to act as an adjuvant with contemporary chemotherapy that enhanced the ‎efficacy of chemotherapy drugs on various cancer cells, including osteosarcoma, gastrointestinal, gynecological, breast, ‎skin, blood, liver, and head and neck cancers. ‎

NER is an effective antitumor compound against different types of cancers, ‎and its inclusion in the current chemotherapy regimen could improve cancer therapy. Because ‎of low solubility, NER ‎nanoformulation can improve its bioavailability and ‎related  cancer treatment. ‎

Moringa oleifera is a traditional South Indian medicinal plant and an excellent source of antioxidants.

To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of copper nanoparticles (CuONPs) derived from Moringa oleifera pods against urinary tract-infecting microbes.

Phyto constituents of the Moringa oleifera pod were screened. CuONPs were synthesized from Moringa oleifera pod, and it was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, and SEM. Antioxidant activity of CuONPs was also determined. CuONPs discs at 50, 75, and 100 µg/ml were prepared and tested for antimicrobial action against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The integrity of the E.coli was assayed by determining the lactate dehydrogenase activity.

GCMS analysis revealed the presence of Di-n-Octyl Phthalate and 2, 2-diethoxy Propane presence in the Moringa oleifera pod. Antioxidant assay revealed the free radical scavenging property of CuONPs. UV- VIS confirmed the synthesis of CuONPs by showing the λ Vmax at 220nm. SEM analysis revealed the CuONPs size in 40 to 160nm. The FTIR analysis exhibited the presence of OH and C = C groups in the CuONPs. The klebsiella pneumoniae was the most susceptible strain for CuONPs, followed by Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. E. coli showed a significant LDH activity at high concentration of CuONPs.

The CuONPs synthesized from the Moringa oleifera pod exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against the microbes.

Opioids are essential for pain treatment, but their long-term usage results in tolerance. Naringenin, a natural flavonoid found in fruit, inhibits the enzyme that causes opioid tolerance, making it effective in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

In this study, we evaluate the role of naringenin in morphine-induced tolerance and the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) enzyme.

To induce tolerance to morphine in mice, repeated injections of morphine were performed for five days, and on the fifth day, a single dose of morphine was injected intraperitoneally. Pain tests (hot plate and tail flick) were performed on the first, third, and fifth days of injections. To evaluate the impact of naringenin, 45 minutes before each morphine injection, doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg were administrated orally. On the last day, brain tissues were checked for biochemical factors and changes in the phosphorylation of the enzyme by the immunohistochemical method.

The results indicated that the simultaneous use of naringenin significantly increases the analgesia delay compared to the morphine group (P < 0.001) on the third and fifth days. Naringenin at all concentrations decreased the nitrite level caused by morphine. It showed protective effects on morphine tolerance (P < 0.001) in the p-GSSer640 immunohistochemical assay and reduced the phosphorylation of p-GSSer640 by GSK-3β, activated by chronic morphine administration.

Based on the results of the present study, the beneficial effect of naringenin on the GSK enzyme in morphine-induced tolerance is confirmed, but more studies are needed to investigate its impact mechanism.

Some activities, such as acute activity, can cause an increase in inflammatory indicators and muscle damage in the blood.

The aim of the effect of taking ginger supplement along with acute extroverted and introverted activity was on some inflammatory indicators and muscle damage in the serum of obese girls.

After measuring the maximum oxygen consumption, 50 girls with a body mass index of over 30 kg/m2, age 24.89 ± 73.7 years, height 159.02 ± 5.20 cm and weight 87.77 ± 88.8 kg were randomly divided into 5 groups including: experimental group 1 [supplement+ extrovert (n = 10), experimental group 2 [supplement + introvert] (n = 10), placebo + extrovert group (n = 10), placebo + introvert group (n = 10)b , and control group (n = 10) became The training protocol included acute extroverted and introverted activity [positive and negative incline on the treadmill] was implemented. Supplement groups consumed 2 grams of ginger powder daily for 4 weeks. After fasting for at least 8 hours, blood samples were collected before and immediately after any type of activity to measure serum hs-CRP and ck levels. To examine intra-group changes, t-dependent and for inter-group comparisons, analysis of covariance with inter-group factor was used (P = 0.05).

The t-dependent results of this research showed that acute extroverted and introverted exercise in the pre-test and post-test, respectively, caused a significant increase in the levels of hs-CRP and CK in the supplement and placebo groups (P ≤ 0.05). Also, the results of covariance analysis showed that taking ginger supplement for four weeks after acute extroverted and introverted activity had a significant effect on hs-CRP levels (P = 0.04) between supplement and placebo groups. CK levels (P = 0.09) had no significant effect between the supplement and placebo groups.

Increased levels of inflammation and muscle damage in introverted acute exercise are greater than in extroverted. According to the results of this research, daily consumption of ginger supplements can reduce inflammation and muscle damage caused by physical activity.

Prostate cancer is known as the second common cancer among men, and is introduced as the fifth cause of death. Apoptosis known as “Programmed Cell Death”, can be measured as a defense mechanism in response to cell damage, caused by diseases or exposure to toxic material, and has an important role in controlling cell population. For this, researchers are interested in studying cancer treatment for inducing apoptosis. Flaxseed, Linum usitassimum, has numerous benefits among other oilseeds. It contains a large amount of α-Linoleic Acid (ALA), dietary fiber, proteins, and Phytoestrogen.

The main goal of this research was to evaluate the expression of apoptotic genes induced with flaxseed extract in human prostate cancer cells in order to find out the cell death pathway induced by flaxseed extract.

In this study, PC-3 prostate cancer cells were cultured and the treatments were done using the flaxseed extract. The MTT test, IC50 calculations, Flowcytometry, and Real-Time PCR test for apoptotic genes were done and all the results underwent analysis.

The IC50 dose was obtained at 809 µg/ml (P < 0.05). Flowcytometry test was done for 600, 800, and 1000 µg/ml of extraction, and the result showed that most of the cells underwent necrosis. The Flowcytometry result was confirmed by qPCR test and showed the overexpression of TNF gene (P < 0.05).

The results showed the overexpression of all the studied genes after treatment by flaxseed extract. The Flowcytometry result was confirmed by qPCR and showed that the TNF gene was overexpressed.

Garlic, scientifically known as Allium sativum, has been a revered traditional medicine for millennia, rich in diverse phytochemicals with various medicinal properties, such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, pain killer, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, antiviral, and wound-healing properties. Its remarkable therapeutic potential makes garlic a beneficial natural treatment for many health issues.

This research examined the neuroprotective effects of garlic against Malathion (Mal)-associated Parkinson's-like behavioral symptoms in rats.

Animals were categorized into eight groups at random: (1) saline-treated group (control); (2) Mal group (100 mg kg⁻¹); (3) Mal + garlic (50 mg kg⁻¹); (4) Mal + garlic (100 mg kg⁻¹); (5) Mal + garlic (150 mg kg⁻¹); (6) Mal + L-DOPA (10 mg kg⁻¹); (7) garlic (150 mg kg⁻¹); and (8) polyethylene glycol (PEG) group (L-DOPA vehicle). Treatment lasted 28 days, followed by behavioral assessments and analyses of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, antioxidants levels, and proinflammatory cytokines in the striatum.

Mal exposure caused neurobehavioral toxicity with increased MDA, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), alongside decreased GSH concentration and AChE activity. Garlic treatment successfully mitigated these effects.

The findings suggest that garlic may have a favorable impact in treating Parkinson's disease by enhancing antioxidant levels and mitigating oxidative stress and inflammatory processes, countering the harmful effects of pesticides like Mal. Additional studies necessary to thoroughly explore garlic's protective benefits in this area.