Resveratrol: a review of plant sources, synthesis, stability, modification and food application

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Diet Review

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease related to upper and lower motor neurons degeneration. Although the environmental and genetic causes of this disease are still unclear, some factors involved in ALS onset such as oxidative stress may be influenced by diet. A higher risk of ALS has been correlated with a high fat and glutamate intake and β-methylamino-L-alanine. On the contrary, a diet based on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as curcumin, creatine, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C, and phytochemicals could reduce the risk of ALS. However, data are controversial as there is a discrepancy among different studies due to a limited number of samples and the many variables that are involved. In addition, an improper diet could lead to an altered microbiota and consequently to an altered metabolism that could predispose to the ALS onset. In this review we summarized some research that involve aspects related to ALS such as the epidemiology, the diet, the eating behaviour, the microbiota, and the metabolic diseases. Further research is needed to better comprehend the role of diet and the metabolic diseases in the mechanisms leading to ALS onset and progression.

Therapeutic potential of resveratrol in diabetic nephropathy according to molecular signaling

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) as a severe complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is a crucial menace for human health and survival and remarkably elevates the healthcare systems' costs. Therefore, it is worth noting to identify novel preventive and therapeutic strategies to alleviate the disease conditions. Resveratrol, as a well-defined anti-diabetic/ antioxidant agent has capabilities to counteract diabetic complications. It has been predicted that resveratrol will be a fantastic natural polyphenol for diabetes therapy in the next few years.

OBJECTIVE

Accordingly, the current review aims to depict the role of resveratrol in the regulation of different signaling pathways that are involved in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inflammatory processes, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction, as critical contributors to DN pathophysiology.

RESULTS

The pathogenesis of DN can be multifactorial; hyperglycemia is one of the prominent risk factors of DN development that is closely related to oxidative stress. Resveratrol, as a well-defined polyphenol, has various biological and medicinal properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects.

CONCLUSION

Resveratrol prevents kidney damages that are caused by oxidative stress, enhances antioxidant capacity, and attenuates the inflammatory and fibrotic responses. For this reason, resveratrol is considered an interesting target in DN research due to its therapeutic possibilities during diabetic disorders and renal protection.

Resveratrol prevents haloperidol-induced mitochondria dysfunction through the induction of autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells

BACKGROUND

Haloperidol is a commonly used antipsychotic drug and may increase neuronal oxidative stress associated with the side effects, including tardive dyskinesia and neurite withdraw. Autophagy plays a protective role in response to the accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced mitochondria damage. Resveratrol is an antioxidant compound having neuroprotective effects; however, it is unknown if resveratrol may stimulate autophagy and decrease mitochondria damage induced by haloperidol.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesis that resveratrol stimulates the autophagic process and protects mitochondria lesion induced by haloperidol.

METHODS

MitoSOX™ Red Mitochondrial Superoxide Indicator and MitoTracker™ Green FM staining were used to measure the amount of the mitochondria ROS production and mitochondria mass in human SH-SY5Y cells treated with haloperidol and/or resveratrol. Autophagic related dyes and Western blot were applied to study the autophagic process and related protein expression. Besides, tandem monomeric mRFP-GFP-LC3 was used to investigate the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the mitochondrial and autophagic ultrastructures with or without haloperidol and resveratrol treatment.

RESULTS

Haloperidol administration significantly increased mitochondria ROS and mitochondrial mass, indicating the increase of mitochondria dysfunction. Although haloperidol increased the autophagosomes and lysosome formation, the autophagosome-lysosome fusion and degradation were impaired. This was because we found an increased p62 after haloperidol treatment, an indication of autophagy incompletion. Importantly, resveratrol promoted the degradation of p62, upregulated the formation of autophagolysosome, and reversed haloperidol-induced mitochondria damage.

CONCLUSION

These results collectively suggest that resveratrol may be introduced as a protective compound against haloperidol-induced mitochondria impairment and aberrant autophagy.

Targeting autophagy with natural products to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection

Autophagy is a catabolic process that maintains internal homeostasis and energy balance through the lysosomal degradation of redundant or damaged cellular components. During virus infection, autophagy is triggered both in parenchymal and in immune cells with different finalistic objectives: in parenchymal cells, the goal is to destroy the virion particle while in macrophages and dendritic cells the goal is to expose virion-derived fragments for priming the lymphocytes and initiate the immune response. However, some viruses have developed a strategy to subvert the autophagy machinery to escape the destructive destiny and instead exploit it for virion assembly and exocytosis. Coronaviruses (like SARS-CoV-2) possess such ability. The autophagy process requires a set of proteins that constitute the core machinery and is controlled by several signaling pathways. Here, we report on natural products capable of interfering with SARS-CoV-2 cellular infection and replication through their action on autophagy. The present study provides support to the use of such natural products as adjuvant therapeutics for the management of COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the virus infection and replication, and so mitigating the progression of the disease.

The Semi-Supervised Strategy of Machine Learning on the Gene Family Diversity to Unravel Resveratrol Synthesis

Resveratrol is a phytochemical with medicinal benefits, being well-known for its presence in wine. Plants develop resveratrol in response to stresses such as pathogen infection, UV radiation, and other mechanical stress. The recent publications of genomic sequences of resveratrol-producing plants such as grape, peanut, and eucalyptus can expand our molecular understanding of resveratrol synthesis. Based on a gene family count matrix of Viridiplantae members, we uncovered important gene families that are common in resveratrol-producing plants. These gene families could be prospective candidates for improving the efficiency of synthetic biotechnology-based artificial resveratrol manufacturing.

Cis-trimethoxystilbene, exhibits higher genotoxic and antiproliferative effects than its isomer trans-trimethoxystilbene in MCF-7 and MCF-10A cell lines

Stilbenes are a class of natural compounds with a wide variety of biological effects, such as antitumor activity. The best-known stilbene is resveratrol, whose clinical application is limited due to its low bioavailability. Methoxylated derivatives of this stilbene, including cis-trimethoxystilbene (cis-TMS) and trans-trimethoxystilbene (trans-TMS) have demonstrated more pronounced cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects than resveratrol. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effects of cis- and trans-TMS in MCF-7 and its normal counterpart MCF-10A. Both compounds were cytotoxic, genotoxic, and induced G2-M accumulation and cell death in the two cell lines. These results suggested that the genotoxicity of cis- and trans-TMS is involved in the reduction of cellular proliferation of MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells, but notably, such antiproliferative effects are more pronounced for cis- than trans-TMS.

Novel Delivery Systems of Polyphenols and Their Potential Health Benefits

Liposome-based delivery systems have been studied and used more frequently in recent years due to their advantages, such as low toxicity, specificity, and the ability to protect the encapsulated substance from environmental factors, which could otherwise degrade the active compound and reduce its effectiveness. Given these benefits, many researchers have encapsulated polyphenols in liposomes, thus increasing their bioavailability and stability. Similarly, polyphenols encapsulated in liposomes are known to produce more substantial effects on targeted cells than unencapsulated polyphenols, while having minimal cytotoxicity in healthy cells. Although polyphenols play a role in preventing many types of disease and generally have beneficial effects on health, we solely focused on their chemopreventive effects on cancer through liposomes in this review. Our goal was to summarize the applicability and efficacy of liposomes encapsulated with different classes of polyphenols on several types of cancer, thus opening the opportunity for future studies based on these drug delivery systems.

Sono-Fenton Chemistry Converts Phenol and Phenyl Derivatives into Polyphenols for Engineering Surface Coatings

We report a sono-Fenton strategy to mediate the supramolecular assembly of metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) as substrate-independent coatings using phenol and phenyl derivatives as building blocks. The assembly process is initiated from the generation of hydroxyl radicals (^. OH) using high-frequency ultrasound (412 kHz), while the metal ions synergistically participate in the production of additional ^. OH for hydroxylation/phenolation of phenol and phenyl derivatives via the Fenton reaction and also coordinate with the phenolic compounds for film formation. The coating strategy is applicable to various phenol and phenyl derivatives and different metal ions including Fe^II , Fe^III , Cu^II , and Co^II . In addition, the sono-Fenton strategy allows real-time control over the assembly process by turning the high-frequency ultrasound on or off. The properties of the building blocks are maintained in the formed films. This work provides an environmentally friendly and controllable method to expand the application of phenolic coatings for surface engineering.

Preparation of Readily-to-Use Stilbenoids Extract from Morus alba Callus Using a Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent

The consumer and cosmetic industries have recently placed a greater emphasis on ecofriendly solvents for botanical extraction, including natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). In this study, NADES were prepared for Morus alba callus extraction. The efficiency of extraction from the NADES and methanol was investigated by comparison of the stilbenoids yield and anti-melanogenesis activity. Prior to testing the irritability of a suitable NADES on the reconstructed human epidermis (RhE), the effect of the selected NADES on stilbenoids stability was determined. The results showed that the highest yields of stilbenoids were obtained from choline chloride-glycerol mixtures (Ch1G2) and methanol extracts, with no significant difference in yields (5.06 ± 0.05 and 6.32 ± 0.40 mg/g callus dry weight, respectively). The NADES extracts of M. alba callus showed comparable anti-melanogenesis activity compared to methanol. In term of stability, stilbenoids in Ch1G2 remained stable after six months of storage at 4 °C except resveratrol. Furthermore, Ch1G2 had no irritation effect on RhE. Thus, based on the findings of this study, Ch1G2 is an intriguing green solvent alternative for the extraction of M. alba callus and may be advantageous for the preparation of skin-lightening cosmetics.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions of resveratrol after experimental nervous system insults. Special focus on the molecular mechanisms involved

After different types of acute central nervous system insults, including stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, secondary damage plays a central role in the induction of cell death, neurodegeneration and functional deficits. Interestingly, secondary cell death presents an attractive target for clinical intervention because the temporal lag between injury and cell loss provides a potential window for effective treatment. While primary injuries are the direct result of the precipitating insult, secondary damage involves the activation of pathological cascades through which endogenous factors can exacerbate initial tissue damage. Secondary processes, usually interactive and overlapping, include oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and dysregulation of autophagy, ultimately leading to cell death. Resveratrol, a natural stilbene present at relatively high concentrations in grape skin and red wine, exerts a wide range of beneficial health effects. Within the central nervous system, in addition to its inherent free radical scavenging role, resveratrol increases endogenous cellular antioxidant defences thus modulating multiple synergistic pathways responsible for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. During the last years, a growing body of in vitro and in vivo evidence has been built, indicating that resveratrol can induce a neuroprotective state and attenuate functional deficits when administered acutely after an experimental injury to the central nervous system. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings on the molecular pathways involved in the neuroprotective effects of this multi target polyphenol, and discuss its neuroprotective potential after brain or spinal cord injuries.

Resveratrol-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticle for tumor-targeted therapy of gastric cancer

Resveratrol (Res) has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer properties in gastric cancer. However, its clinical application is limited by its poor pharmacokinetics, stability, and low solubility. Hence, this study aimed to explore and verify a better delivery system for gastric cancer therapy. Using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet (UV) spectrometry, we observed the shape and encapsulation of resveratrol-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-Res) that were synthesized by chemical methods. To explore the anti-cancer effects of these MSN-Res in vivo and in vitro, we established AGS and HGC-27 tumor-bearing mouse models. Meanwhile, the proliferation of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU, and Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining methods, while cellular apoptosis, and invasion and migration were detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and Transwell assays, respectively. FTIR and UV results showed that we successfully synthesized and loaded drugs. Safety evaluation experiments showed that neither MSN-SH nor MSN-Res had toxic effects on the normal tissues of animals. Moreover, in vitro experiments revealed that MSN-Res significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, TUNEL assay showed that MSN-Res promoted apoptosis in gastric cancer. These results were confirmed by the nude mouse tumorigenesis experiment. In conclusion, we demonstrated that MSN-Res showed better inhibitory effect on the development of gastric cancer than Res alone, indicating that MSN-Res could be a promising drug delivery system for gastric cancer treatment.

Enhancing Bioavailability of Nutraceutically Used Resveratrol and Other Stilbenoids

Stilbenoids are interesting natural compounds with pleiotropic in vitro and in vivo activity. Their well-documented biological properties include anti-inflammatory effects, anticancer effects, effects on longevity, and many others. Therefore, they are nowadays commonly found in foods and dietary supplements, and used as a part of treatment strategy in various types of diseases. Bioactivity of stilbenoids strongly depends on different types of factors such as dosage, food composition, and synergistic effects with other plant secondary metabolites such as polyphenols or vitamins. In this review, we summarize the existing in vitro, in vivo, and clinical data from published studies addressing the optimization of bioavailability of stilbenoids. Stilbenoids face low bioavailability due to their chemical structure. This can be improved by the use of novel drug delivery systems or enhancers, which are discussed in this review. Current in vitro and in vivo evidence suggests that both approaches are very promising and increase the absorption of the original substance by several times. However, data from more clinical trials are required.

Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are severe neurodegenerative disorders that belong to a common disease spectrum. The molecular and cellular aetiology of the spectrum is a highly complex encompassing dysfunction in many processes, including mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. There is a paucity of treatment options aside from therapies with subtle effects on the post diagnostic lifespan and symptom management. This presents great interest and necessity for the discovery and development of new compounds and therapies with beneficial effects on the disease. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites found in plant-based foods and are well known for their antioxidant activity. Recent research suggests that they also have a diverse array of neuroprotective functions that could lead to better treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. We present an overview of the effects of various polyphenols in cell line and animal models of ALS/FTD. Furthermore, possible mechanisms behind actions of the most researched compounds (resveratrol, curcumin and green tea catechins) are discussed.

Resveratrol Production from Hydrothermally Pretreated Eucalyptus Wood Using Recombinant Industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains

Resveratrol is a phenolic compound with strong antioxidant activity, being promising for several applications in health, food, and cosmetics. It is generally extracted from plants or chemically synthesized, in both complex and not sustainable processes, but microbial biosynthesis of resveratrol can counter these drawbacks. In this work, resveratrol production by microbial biosynthesis from lignocellulosic materials was assessed. Three robust industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains known for their thermotolerance and/or resistance to inhibitory compounds were identified as suitable hosts for de novo resveratrol production from glucose and ethanol. Through the CRISPR/Cas9 system, all industrial strains, and a laboratory one, were successfully engineered with the resveratrol biosynthetic pathway via the phenylalanine intermediate. All strains were further screened at 30 °C and 39 °C to evaluate thermotolerance, which is a key feature for Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation processes. Ethanol Red RBP showed the best performance at 39 °C, with more than 2.6-fold of resveratrol production in comparison with the other strains. This strain was then used to assess resveratrol production from glucose and ethanol. A maximum resveratrol titer of 187.07 ± 19.88 mg/L was attained from a medium with 2% glucose and 5% ethanol (w/v). Lastly, Ethanol Red RBP produced 151.65 ± 3.84 mg/L resveratrol from 2.95% of cellulose from hydrothermally pretreated Eucalyptus globulus wood, at 39 °C, in a Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation process. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of lignocellulosic resveratrol production, establishing grounds for the implementation of an integrated lignocellulose-to-resveratrol process in an industrial context.

Enhancing Resveratrol Bioproduction and Anti-Melanogenic Activities through Elicitation in DJ526 Cell Suspension

Resveratrol, a secondary plant metabolite, and its derivatives, including piceid, show several potential health-related biological activities. However, resveratrol production is uncommon in plants; thus, resveratrol-enriched rice (DJ526) is produced for its nutritional and therapeutic value. Here, a DJ526 cell suspension was treated with various elicitors to determine its resveratrol-production potential and elicit its biological activity. Treatments with most elicitors produced more piceid than resveratrol; as elicitation periods increased, the average piceid levels were 75-fold higher than resveratrol levels. This increase is associated with glycosylation during growth and development. The duration of exposure and concentrations of elicitors were crucial factors affecting resveratrol synthase expression. Of all the elicitors tested, jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were strong elicitors; they increased resveratrol production to ≤115.1 μg g-1 (total resveratrol and piceid content). Moreover, 5 μM of MeJA increased total resveratrol production by >96.4% relative to the control production. In addition, the extract of cell suspension treated with 5 μM of MeJA significantly reduced melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity (24.2% and 21.5% relative to the control, respectively) in melan-a cells without disturbing cell viability. Overall, elicitation can enhance resveratrol production and elicit the biological activity of the compound, in this case, its anti-melanogenic activities, in DJ526 cell suspension.

Resveratrol inhibits inflammation after spinal cord injury via SIRT-1/NF-κB signaling pathway

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause severe trauma to the central nervous system. Resveratrol has been widely studied for several of its medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anti-oxidative effects. The regulation of SIRT-1 is thought to be related to the effects of resveratrol. As a downstream component of SIRT-1, NF-κB is one of the important signaling pathways that regulate the inflammatory response. Herein, we explored how treatment with resveratrol promoted recovery of motor function after SCI by activating the SIRT-1/NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammation in rat models. Recovery of hind limb function was observed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale at different time points after SCI. Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, Nissl staining and HE staining were utilized to observe the morphological characteristics of spinal cord tissue, as well as the expression of SIRT-1, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Resveratrol treatment promoted motor function recovery, increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and reduced loss of motor neurons and lesion size among rats after SCI. Meanwhile, inflammatory response was inhibited as the SIRT-1/NF-κB signaling pathway was modulated. These results suggest that resveratrol can help achieve neuroprotective effect by inhibiting inflammation, regulated by the SIRT-1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Inhibitory effect of resveratrol on the pharmacokinetics of ticagrelor in vivo and in vitro

This study was to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on the pharmacokinetics of ticagrelor in rats and the metabolism of ticagrelor in human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 (CYP3A4) and liver microsomes. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: group A (control group), group B (50 mg/kg resveratrol), and group C (150 mg/kg resveratrol). After 30 min administration of resveratrol, a single dose of ticagrelor (18 mg/kg) was administered orally. The in vitro experiment was performed to examine the influence of resveratrol on ticagrelor metabolism in CYP3A4*1, human, and rat liver microsomes. Serial biological samples were assayed by validated ultra high-performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer methods. For the in vivo study, the area under the concentration-time curve and mean peak plasma concentrations of ticagrelor in group B and C appeared to be significantly higher than the control group, while volume of distribution in terminal phase and apparent clearance of ticagrelor in group B and C were significantly decreased. For the in vitro study, resveratrol exhibited an inhibitory effect on CYP3A4*1, human and rat liver microsomes. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of resveratrol were 56.75 μM, 69.07 μM, and 14.22 μM, respectively. Our results indicated that resveratrol had an inhibitory effect on the metabolism of ticagrelor in vitro and in vivo. Further research should focus on the clinical combination of resveratrol with ticagrelor, and ticagrelor plasma concentration should be monitored to avoid the occurrence of adverse reaction.

Spray dried nanoemulsions loaded with curcumin, resveratrol, and borage seed oil: The role of two different modified starches as encapsulating materials

Recently, food industries are directing on the promotion of innovative food matrices fortified with bioactive compounds in order to enhance the consumer's health. Octenyl succinic anhydride modified starches (OSA-MS) such as Hi-cap100 (HCP) and purity gum 2000 (PUG) were used to fabricate emulsions co-entrapped with borage seed oil (BSO), resveratrol (RES) and curcumin (CUR), which were further spray dried to obtain powders. The fabricated microcapsules loaded with BSO, RES, and CUR displayed excellent dissolution performance, high encapsulation efficiency (≈93.05%) as well as semi-spherical shape, revealed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also evaluated the impact of storage time (4 weeks) and temperature (40 °C) on the physicochemical characterization of OSA-MS coated microcapsules. Microcapsules coated with HCP exhibited greater oxidative stability, lower water activity and moisture contents rather than PUG coated microcapsules during storage because of its good film-forming properties. Addition of CUR enhanced the oxidative stability and retention of bioactive compounds. HCP microcapsules loaded with BSO + RES + CUR presented supreme retention of RES (70.32%), CUR 81.6% and γ-linolenic acid (≈ 96%). Our findings showed that CUR acted as an antioxidant agent; also, lower molecular weight OSA-MS as wall material could be used for the entrapment of bioactive compounds and promotion of innovative food products.

Prostate cancer: Therapeutic prospect with herbal medicine

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in men worldwide. A geographic variation on the burden of the disease suggested that the environment, genetic makeup, lifestyle, and food habits modulate one's susceptibility to the disease. Although it has been generally thought to be an older age disease, and awareness and timely execution of screening programs have managed to contain the disease in the older population over the last decades, the incidence is still increasing in the population younger than 50. Existing treatment is efficient for PCa that is localized and responsive to androgen. However, the androgen resistant and metastatic PCa are challenging to treat. Conventional radiation and chemotherapies are associated with severe side effects in addition to being exorbitantly expensive. Many isolated phytochemicals and extracts of plants used in traditional medicine are known for their safety and diverse healing properties, including many with varying levels of anti-PCa activities. Many of the phytochemicals discussed here, as shown by many laboratories, inhibit tumor cell growth and proliferation by interfering with the components in the pathways responsible for the enhanced proliferation, metabolism, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis in the prostate cells while upregulating the mechanisms of cell death and cell cycle arrest. Notably, many of these agents simultaneously target multiple cellular pathways. We analyzed the available literature and provided an update on this issue in this review article.

Two Worlds Colliding: The Interplay Between Natural Compounds and Non-Coding Transcripts in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is a devastating disease and has recently become the leading cause of death in western countries, representing an immense public health burden. When it comes to cancer treatment, chemotherapy is one of the main pillars, especially for advanced stage tumors. Over the years, natural compounds have emerged as one of the most valuable resources for new chemotherapies. It is estimated that more than half of the currently used chemotherapeutic agents are derived from natural compounds. Usually, natural compounds are discovered empirically and an important limitation of introducing new anti-cancer natural products is lack of knowledge with regard to their mechanism of action. Recent data has proven that several natural compounds may function via modulating the expression and function of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). NcRNAs are a heterogenous class of RNA molecules which are usually not translated into proteins but have an important role in gene expression regulation and are involved in multiple tumorigenic processes, including response/resistance to pharmacotherapy. In this review, we will discuss how natural compounds function via ncRNAs while summarizing the available data regarding their effects on over 15 types of cancer. Moreover, we will critically analyze the current advances and limitations in understanding the way natural compounds exert these health-promoting effects by acting on ncRNAs. Finally, we will propose several hypotheses that may open new avenues and perspectives regarding the interaction between natural compounds and ncRNAs, which could lead to improved natural compound-based therapeutic strategies in cancer.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery

As an important part of complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied to treat a host of diseases for centuries. Over the years, with the incidence rate of human colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing continuously and the advantage of TCM gradually becoming more prominent, the importance of TCM in both domestic and international fields is also growing with each passing day. However, the unknowability of active ingredients, effective substances, and the underlying mechanisms of TCM against this malignant tumor greatly restricts the translation degree of clinical products and the pace of precision medicine. In this review, based on the characteristics of TCM and the oral administration of most ingredients, we herein provide beneficial information for the clinical utilization of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CRC and retrospect the current preclinical studies on the related active ingredients, as well as put forward the research mode for the discovery of active ingredients and effective substances in TCM, to provide novel insights into the research and development of innovative agents from this conventional medicine for CRC treatment and assist the realization of precision medicine.

Resveratrol impairs acquisition, reinstatement and precipitates extinction of alcohol-induced place preference in mice

OBJECTIVE

Alcohol abuse causes several neurological disorders. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol that occurs as a phytoalexin. In different studies, it has been investigated that resveratrol has positive effects on various mechanisms that are important in drug addiction or substance use disorder. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of resveratrol on alcohol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice.

METHODS

CPP was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of ethanol (2 g/kg) in an 8-day conditioning program. The influence of reference drug, acamprosate and resveratrol on the rewarding properties of ethanol was tested in mice given treatment of acamprosate (300 mg/kg, i.p.) and resveratrol (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 minutes prior to ethanol administration. Once established, CPP was extinguished by repeated testing, through which conditioned mice were administered acamprosate, various doses of resveratrol or saline daily. Subsequently, the potency of acamprosate and resveratrol in preventing reinstatement of CPP provoked by priming with low-dose ethanol (0.4 g/kg, i.p.) was also evaluated.

RESULTS

The present findings confirm that resveratrol impairs acquisition, reinstatement and precipitates the extinction of preference for alcohol-induced CPP. Resveratrol presented a similar effect in the CPP phases to the acamprosate.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of resveratrol on ethanol-induced CPP in mice demonstrated for the first time. As a conclusion, these findings may shed light on the fact that resveratrol can be utilized as an agent which is potentially beneficial to prevent the various harmful effects of ethanol, however, more research is needed to completely elucidate this attribute.

Resveratrol, a Molecule with Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Activities: Natural Product to Chemical Synthesis

BACKGROUND

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol product, is used in plant defense from fungal and microbial aggression. It is found naturally, especially in plants such as grapes, peanuts, and berries. It has the highest concentrations in blueberries, mulberries, blackberries, and the skin of red grapes. Resveratrol has various pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and antineoplastic activities.

METHODS

We conducted a literature survey using standard tools such as Google, Reaxys, Scifinder, Scihub, and patent Espacenet to compile the biosynthetic pathways, all organic synthetic methods, and biological activities reported for resveratrol till date.

RESULTS

More than one hundred research articles and patents were referred to write this review. About twenty-five of them are related to chemical synthesis, and the rests are about the source, pharmacological activity, and other properties of resveratrol. This study reveals that many common pathways are involved in various pharmacological activities, which can be useful for treating various diseases based on the pathways involved. Reactions such as Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation, Wittig-Horner condensation, Mizoroki-Heck, Perkin, Wittig, etc. have been used in resveratrol synthesis. A structure-activity relationship was also established based on its analogs and derivatives.

CONCLUSION

This review examined and reported all the published biological activities and chemical syntheses of resveratrol apart from the biosynthetic pathway. Due to its valuable biological activities, various synthetic approaches have been reported till date. The reported synthetic operations are suitable for large-scale industrial production. Moreover, these comprehensive synthetic procedures could be utilized in the preparation of stilbenes and other related compounds in future endeavors.

Transdermal Delivery of Chemotherapeutics: Strategies, Requirements, and Opportunities

Chemotherapeutic drugs are primarily administered to cancer patients via oral or parenteral routes. The use of transdermal drug delivery could potentially be a better alternative to decrease the dose frequency and severity of adverse or toxic effects associated with oral or parenteral administration of chemotherapeutic drugs. The transdermal delivery of drugs has shown to be advantageous for the treatment of highly localized tumors in certain types of breast and skin cancers. In addition, the transdermal route can be used to deliver low-dose chemotherapeutics in a sustained manner. The transdermal route can also be utilized for vaccine design in cancer management, for example, vaccines against cervical cancer. However, the design of transdermal formulations may be challenging in terms of the conjugation chemistry of the molecules and the sustained and reproducible delivery of therapeutically efficacious doses. In this review, we discuss the nano-carrier systems, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, etc., used in recent literature to deliver chemotherapeutic agents. The advantages of transdermal route over oral and parenteral routes for popular chemotherapeutic drugs are summarized. Furthermore, we also discuss a possible in silico approach, Formulating for Efficacy™, to design transdermal formulations that would probably be economical, robust, and more efficacious.

Resveratrol for targeting the tumor microenvironment and its interactions with cancer cells

Tumor resistance to therapy modalities is one of the major challenges to the eradication of cancer cells and complete treatment. Tumor includes a wide range of cancer and non-cancer cells that play key roles in the proliferation of cancer cells and suppression of anti-tumor immunity. For overcoming tumor resistance to therapy, it is important to have in-depth knowledge relating to intercellular communications within the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME includes various types of immune cells such as CD4 + T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and T regulatory cells (Tregs). Furthermore, some non-immune cells like cancer stem cells (CSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are involved in the promotion of tumor growth. The interactions between these cells with cancer cells play a key role in tumor growth or inhibition. Resveratrol as a natural agent has shown the ability to modulate the immune system to potentiate anti-tumor immunity and also help to attenuate cancer cells and CSCs resistance. Thus, this review explains how resveratrol can modulate interactions within TME.

Effects of resveratrol on female reproduction: A review

The present review summarizes the current knowledge concerning physiological effects of resveratrol (RSV) with emphasis on the RSV action on female reproductive processes. The review outlines provenance, properties, mechanisms of action, physiological and therapeutic actions of RSV on female reproduction and other physiological processes, as well as areas of possible application of R. This review is based on the search for the related full papers indexed in Medline/Pubmed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases between the year 2000 and 2021 according to the criteria of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews and other related guidelines. The analysis of the available information suggests that RSV has a number of properties which enable its influence on various physiological processes including female reproduction at various regulatory levels via various extra- and intracellular signalling pathways. Despite some contradictions and limitations in the available data, they indicate applicability of both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of RSV for control and influence of various reproductive and non-reproductive processes and treatment of their disorders in phytotherapy, animal production, medicine, biotechnology and assisted reproduction. To establish the clinical efficacy of RSV, further high quality studies are needed.

Resveratrol Production in Yeast Hosts: Current Status and Perspectives

Resveratrol is a plant secondary metabolite known for its therapeutic applications as an antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, cardio-protective, and neuroprotective agent. Topical formulas of resveratrol are also used for skin disease management and in cosmetic industries. Due to its importance, high resveratrol production is urgently required. Since the last decade, intensive efforts have been devoted to obtaining resveratrol from microorganisms by pathway and metabolic engineering. Yeasts were proven to be excellent host candidates for resveratrol production. In addition to the similar intracellular compartments between yeasts and plants, yeasts exhibit the ability to express genes coding for plant-derived enzymes and to perform post-translational modification. Therefore, this review summarizes the attempts to use yeasts as a platform for resveratrol synthesis as the next promising route in producing high titers of resveratrol from genetically engineered strains.

An update on the pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenia

: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder mediated by antiplatelet autoantibodies and antigen-specific T cells that either destroy platelets peripherally in the spleen or impair platelet production in the bone marrow. There have been a plethora of publications relating to the pathophysiology of ITP and since January of 2019, at least 50 papers have been published on ITP pathophysiology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the literature relating to the pathophysiology of ITP including the working mechanisms of therapies, T-cell and B-cell physiology, protein/RNA/DNA biochemistry, and animal models in an attempt to unify the perceived abnormal immune processes.

RECENT FINDINGS

The most recent pathophysiologic irregularities associated with ITP relate to abnormal T-cell responses, particularly, defective T regulatory cell activity and how therapeutics can restore these responses. The robust literature on T cells in ITP points to the notion that ITP is a disease initiated by faulty self-tolerance mechanisms very much like that of other organ-specific autoimmune diseases. There is also a large literature on new and existing animal models of ITP and these will be discussed. It appears that understanding how to specifically modulate T cells in patients with ITP will undoubtedly lead to effective antigen-specific therapeutics.

CONCLUSIONS

ITP is predominately a T cell disorder which leads to a breakdown in self tolerance mechanisms and allows for the generation of anti-platelet autoantibodies and T cells. Novel therapeutics that target T cells may be the most effective way to perhaps cure this disorder.

Resveratrol inhibited the metastatic behaviors of cisplatin-resistant human oral cancer cells via phosphorylation of ERK/p-38 and suppression of MMP-2/9

Cisplatin resistance is a major clinical problem in the clinical management of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Resveratrol is a natural phytoestrogen with antitumor activities. Whether resveratrol can overcome cisplatin resistance and prevent metastasis in OSCC cells is not known. In this study, we first examined the anti-metastatic capacity of resveratrol and then explored the underlying mechanisms using a cisplatin-resistant human OSCC cell line (CAR). The results demonstrated that at a non-toxic dose range (25 to 75 µM), 24-hr treatment of resveratrol was able to suppress the migration and invasion capacities of CAR cells dose dependently. Interestingly, 50 µM resveratrol treatment could significantly down-regulate the expression of the phosphorylated forms of ERK and p-38, in addition to those of MMP-2 and MMP-9. At the same time, the expression levels of phosphorylated ERK together with those unphosphorylated forms of ERK, p38, and JNK were all insignificantly altered. In conclusion, the signaling cascade for resveratrol's suppression of cisplatin-resistant human oral cancer CAR cells was revealed and summarized. Also the rapid effectiveness in suppressing metastatic behaviors of drug-resistant oral cancer cells of non-toxic resveratrol might extend its application to the drug-resistant oral cancer treatment in the near future. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Based on the evidence we provided in the study, we have proposed a model recording the possible pathway for resveratrol inhibiting the metastasis of cisplatin-resistant oral cancer cells. We suppose this signaling pathway may work in other cancer cell lines, and can be helpful in full understanding of the drug-resistance.

Protective Effect of Resveratrol against Hepatotoxicity of Cadmium in Male Rats: Antioxidant and Histopathological Approaches

Cadmium (Cd) is widely used in some industries and emitted from fossil fuels. It is a heavy metal with a number of side effects, including hepatotoxicity. Resveratrol (Rs) is considered an important polyphenol, which is a secondary plant metabolite and has the ability to scavenge free radicals. The study was designed to evaluate the effects of resveratrol on Cd, which induced hepatotoxicity, by the assessment of some histopathological and biochemical alterations. Forty male albino rats were divided into four groups: the 1st group was the control group, the 2nd group was treated with Cd (5 mg/kg), the 3rd group was given Rs (20 mg/kg), and the 4th group was treated with Cd in combination with Rs intraperitoneally for 30 successive days. The results indicate that Cd increased liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (AST and ALT), alkaline phosphatase ALP and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) while reducing the total protein level; Cd increased the malondialdhyde (MDA) level while decreasing the levels of other antioxidant enzymes super oxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (SOD, CAT and GPx). Serious congestion and hemorrhage related to the hepatic tissues were noticed in the Cd group, and Rs plays a major role in alleviating histopathological injuries and hepatic oxidative damage. It is clear that Rs has the ability to minimize the hepatotoxicity induced by Cd in male rats.

Role of Resveratrol in Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Disorders and Cardiovascular Complications Related to COVID-19 Disease: Mode of Action and Approaches Explored to Increase Its Bioavailability

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced by many plants as a defense mechanism against stress-inducing conditions. The richest dietary sources of resveratrol are berries and grapes, their juices and wines. Good bioavailability of resveratrol is not reflected in its high biological activity in vivo because of resveratrol isomerization and its poor solubility in aqueous solutions. Proteins, cyclodextrins and nanomaterials have been explored as innovative delivery vehicles for resveratrol to overcome this limitation. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated beneficial effects of resveratrol in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Main beneficial effects of resveratrol intake are cardioprotective, anti-hypertensive, vasodilatory, anti-diabetic, and improvement of lipid status. As resveratrol can alleviate the numerous factors associated with CVD, it has potential as a functional supplement to reduce COVID-19 illness severity in patients displaying poor prognosis due to cardio-vascular complications. Resveratrol was shown to mitigate the major pathways involved in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 including regulation of the renin-angiotensin system and expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, stimulation of immune system and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Therefore, several studies already have anticipated potential implementation of resveratrol in COVID-19 treatment. Regular intake of a resveratrol rich diet, or resveratrol-based complementary medicaments, may contribute to a healthier cardio-vascular system, prevention and control of CVD, including COVID-19 disease related complications of CVD.

Activation of Insulin Signaling by Botanical Products

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a worldwide health problem, ranked as one of the leading causes for severe morbidity and premature mortality in modern society. Management of blood glucose is of major importance in order to limit the severe outcomes of the disease. However, despite the impressive success in the development of new antidiabetic drugs, almost no progress has been achieved with regard to the development of novel insulin-sensitizing agents. As insulin resistance is the most eminent factor in the patho-etiology of T2D, it is not surprising that an alarming number of patients still fail to meet glycemic goals. Owing to its wealth of chemical structures, the plant kingdom is considered as an inventory of compounds exerting various bioactivities, which might be used as a basis for the development of novel medications for various pathologies. Antidiabetic activity is found in over 400 plant species, and is attributable to varying mechanisms of action. Nevertheless, relatively limited evidence exists regarding phytochemicals directly activating insulin signaling, which is the focus of this review. Here, we will list plants and phytochemicals that have been found to improve insulin sensitivity by activation of the insulin signaling cascade, and will describe the active constituents and their mechanism of action.

Diabetes and Cancer: Metabolic Association, Therapeutic Challenges, and the Role of Natural Products

Cancer is considered the second leading cause of death worldwide and in 2018 it was responsible for approximately 9.6 million deaths. Globally, about one in six deaths are caused by cancer. A strong correlation was found between diabetes mellitus and carcinogenesis with the most evident correlation was with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Research has proven that elevated blood glucose levels take part in cell proliferation and cancer cell progression. However, limited studies were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of conventional therapies in diabetic cancer patients. In this review, the correlation between cancer and diabetes will be discussed and the mechanisms by which the two diseases interact with each other, as well as the therapeutics challenges in treating patients with diabetes and cancer with possible solutions to overcome these challenges. Natural products targeting both diseases were discussed with detailed mechanisms of action. This review will provide a solid base for researchers and physicians to test natural products as adjuvant alternative therapies to treat cancer in diabetic patients.

Resveratrol promotes liver regeneration in drug-induced liver disease in mice

Studies suggest that the bioactive polyphenolic compound resveratrol (RESV, trans-isomer), found naturally in certain foods such as red grapes and peanuts, may be able to ameliorate liver damage. However, the effects and efficacy of long-term treatment with RESV remain unclear. Here, we used an acetaminophen (APAP; 400 mg/kg/d for 15 days) overdose model to induce liver damage in C56BL/6 mice. Three days after the intoxication was stopped, we observed biochemical, histological and ultrastructural alterations in the livers of these mice. The APAP-treated animals were then given RESV (10 mg/kg/d) for 60 days. Blood and tissue were analyzed at days 7, 30 and 60. Our data show that long-term RESV treatment (60 days) ameliorates the liver injury caused by APAP intoxication, restoring histological features, ultrastructural organization and serum biochemical parameters (albumin, alanine aminotransferase). Ck18- and F4/80-positive cells (indicators of hepatocyte recovery) were reestablished and the number of α-SMA positive cells was normalized after long-term RESV treatment. Additionally, downregulation of the drug transporter BCRP was observed. Electron microscopy revealed that treatment with RESV was effective in restoring the shape and size of hepatic microvilli and normalizing both the number and viability of mitochondria. Taken together, these results indicate that long-term treatment with RESV is effective in alleviating liver injury caused by APAP administration.

Resveratrol inhibits necroptosis by mediating the TNF-α/RIP1/RIP3/MLKL pathway in myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury

Resveratrol (RES) protects myocardial cells from hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-caused injury. However, the mechanism of this effect has not been clarified. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine whether RES attenuates H/R-induced cell necroptosis by inhibiting the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)/receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1)/RIP3/mixed-lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) signaling pathway. Rat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) models and H/R-injured cell models were constructed. Our study showed that myocardial H/R injury significantly increased the levels of TNF-α, RIP1, RIP3, and p-MLKL/MLKL by western blot analysis. Cell viability assay and 4,6-dianmidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-propidium iodide staining showed that the cell viability was decreased, and necroptosis was increased after myocardial H/R injury. The expressions of TNF-α, RIP1, RIP3, and p-MLKL/MLKL in H/R myocardial cells treated with different concentrations of RES were significantly downregulated. In addition, we also found that the cell viability was increased and necroptosis was decreased in dose-dependent manners when H/R-injured cells were treated with RES. In addition, the enhanced effect of TNF-α on necroptosis in myocardial H/R-injured cells was improved by RES, and the effect of RES was confirmed in vivo in I/R rats. This study also showed that RES suppresses necroptosis in H9c2 cells, which may occur through the inhibition of the TNF-α/RIP1/RIP3/MLKL signaling pathway. Our data suggest that necroptosis is a promising therapeutic target and may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury.

Plant Phenolics and Extracts in Animal Models of Preeclampsia and Clinical Trials-Review of Perspectives for Novel Therapies

The current health requirements set the direction in pharmacological research, especially as regards diseases that require improvement of existing therapeutic regimens. Such diseases include preeclampsia, which is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy during which there occurs progressive increasing activation of the immune system through elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antiangiogenic factors, which is dangerous for the mother and fetus. A promising field of research for new drugs to treat this disease is the study of natural phenolic compounds of plant origin and herbal extracts, which are complex matrices of chemical compounds with broad biological activities. Many plant substances with anti‑inflammatory and anti‑hypertensive properties are known, but studies in animal models of preeclampsia and clinical trials concerning this disease constitute a new and developing research trend of significant medical importance. The aim of our research review was to identify and analyze the results of already available studies on baicalin, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, punicalagin, quercetin, resveratrol, salvianolic acid A (danshensu), silibinin, and vitexin, as well as plant extracts from Brassica oleracea L., Euterpe oleracea Mart., Moringa oleifera Lam., Punica granatum L., Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner, Thymus schimperi Ronniger, Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil., and Vitis vinifera L., which are potential and promising candidates for further research and for potential new therapies.

Encapsulation and Enhanced Release of Resveratrol from Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Melanoma Therapy

Chemotherapy has limited success in the treatment of malignant melanoma due to fast development of drug resistance and the low bioavailability of chemotherapeutic drugs. Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol with recognized preventive and therapeutic anti-cancer properties. However, poor RES solubility hampers its bioactivity, thus creating a demand for suitable drug delivery systems to improve it. This work aimed to assess the potential of RES-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for human melanoma treatment. RES was efficiently loaded (efficiency > 93%) onto spheroidal (size~60 nm) MSNs. The encapsulation promoted the amorphization of RES and enhanced the release in vitro compared to non-encapsulated RES. The RES release was pH-dependent and markedly faster at pH 5.2 (acid environment in some tumorous tissues) than at pH 7.4 in both encapsulated and bulk forms. The RES release from loaded MSNs was gradual with time, without a burst effect, and well-described by the Weibull model. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on human A375 and MNT-1 melanoma cellular cultures showed a decrease in the cell viability with increasing concentration of RES-loaded MSNs, indicating the potent action of the released RES in both cell lines. The amelanotic cell line A375 was more sensitive to RES concentration than the melanotic MNT-1 cells.

Nutraceuticals in the Prevention of Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia: A Comprehensive Review of their Neuroprotective Properties, Mechanisms of Action and Future Directions

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation to the brain due to birth asphyxia or reduced cerebral blood perfusion, and it often leads to lifelong limiting sequelae such as cerebral palsy, seizures, or mental retardation. HI remains one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide, and current therapies are limited. Hypothermia has been successful in reducing mortality and some disabilities, but it is only applied to a subset of newborns that meet strict inclusion criteria. Given the unpredictable nature of the obstetric complications that contribute to neonatal HI, prophylactic treatments that prevent, rather than rescue, HI brain injury are emerging as a therapeutic alternative. Nutraceuticals are natural compounds present in the diet or used as dietary supplements that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or antiapoptotic properties. This review summarizes the preclinical in vivo studies, mostly conducted on rodent models, that have investigated the neuroprotective properties of nutraceuticals in preventing and reducing HI-induced brain damage and cognitive impairments. The natural products reviewed include polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, plant-derived compounds (tanshinones, sulforaphane, and capsaicin), and endogenous compounds (melatonin, carnitine, creatine, and lactate). These nutraceuticals were administered before the damage occurred, either to the mothers as a dietary supplement during pregnancy and/or lactation or to the pups prior to HI induction. To date, very few of these nutritional interventions have been investigated in humans, but we refer to those that have been successful in reducing ischemic stroke in adults. Overall, there is a robust body of preclinical evidence that supports the neuroprotective properties of nutraceuticals, and these may represent a safe and inexpensive nutritional strategy for the prevention of neonatal HI encephalopathy.

Effects of resveratrol supplementation on liver enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The available evidence regarding the possible effects of resveratrol on liver function is inconsistent. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was performed to investigate the overall effects of resveratrol supplementation on liver enzymes in adults.

METHODS

A systematic and comprehensive search of the online medical databases including PubMed, Scupos, Web of Science and Cochran Library was performed up to February 2020. All RCTs using resveratrol supplements in adults were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall effect was presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects meta-analysis model.

RESULTS

Finally, 15 randomised trials including 714 participants were selected for the present meta-analysis. Pooled analysis did not show any significant changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (WMD: 0 IU/L, 95% CI: -3.17 to 3.17, P = .99; I² = 74.2%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (WMD: -2.40 IU/L, 95% CI: -5.45 to 0.65, P = .11; I² = 82.9%), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (WMD: -1.26 IU/L, 95% CI: -4.64 to 2.13, P = .64; I² = 23.7%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (WMD: 3.80 IU/L, 95% CI: -4.65 to 12.25, P = .37; I² = 29.9%) and bilirubin (WMD: 0.13 IU/L, 95% CI: -0.43 to 0.17, P = .39; I² = 8.9%) after supplementation with resveratrol.

CONCLUSION

Overall, in our study, resveratrol does not affect liver enzyme levels significantly, but subgroup analysis indicates that these results may be influenced by resveratrol dose, duration of the study and population status, so future high-quality studies are necessary to get definitive results.

SIRT1-Related Signaling Pathways and Their Association With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic and debilitating disease that can exert serious and overwhelming effects on the physical and mental health of premature infants, predominantly due to intractable short- and long-term complications. Oxidative stress is one of the most predominant causes of BPD. Hyperoxia activates a cascade of hazardous events, including mitochondrial dysfunction, uncontrolled inflammation, reduced autophagy, increased apoptosis, and the induction of fibrosis. These events may involve, to varying degrees, alterations in SIRT1 and its associated targets. In the present review, we describe SIRT1-related signaling pathways and their association with BPD. Our intention is to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate BPD and identify potential therapeutic targets for this debilitating condition.

An Overview and Therapeutic Promise of Nutraceuticals against Sports-Related Brain Injury

Sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the common neurological maladies experienced by athletes. Earlier the term 'punch drunk syndrome' was used in the case TBI of boxers and now this term is replaced by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Sports-related brain injury can either be short term or long term. A common instance of brain injury encompasses subdural hematoma, concussion, cognitive dysfunction, amnesia, headache, vision issue, axonopathy, or even death if remain undiagnosed or untreated. Further, chronic TBI may lead to pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration via tauopathy, formation of neurofibrillary tangles, and damage to the blood-brain barrier, microglial, and astrocyte activation. Thus, altered pathological, neurochemical, and neurometabolic attributes lead to the modulation of multiple signaling pathways and cause neurological dysfunction. Available pharmaceutical interventions are based on one drug one target hypothesis and thereby unable to cover altered multiple signaling pathways. However, in recent time's pharmacological intervention of nutrients and nutraceuticals have been explored as they exert a multifactorial mode of action and maintain over homeostasis of the body. There are various reports available showing the positive therapeutic effect of nutraceuticals in sport-related brain injury. Therefore, in the current article we have discussed the pathology, neurological consequence, sequelae, and perpetuation of sports-related brain injury. Further, we have discussed various nutraceutical supplements as well as available animal models to explore the neuroprotective effect/ upshots of these nutraceuticals in sports-related brain injury.

Impact of Climatic Conditions on the Resveratrol Concentration in Blend of Vitis vinifera L. cvs. Barbera and Croatina Grape Wines

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of meteorological conditions on resveratrol concentration of red wines produced in Piacenza viticultural region (Italy). In this regard, six representative estates producing Colli Piacentini Gutturnio DOC (a blend of V. vinifera L. cvs. Barbera and Croatina) vintage wines were analysed for trans- and cis-resveratrol over an 8-year period (1998–2005). Grapes were taken from the same vineyard in each estate by using the same enological practices over the entire investigated period. The meteorological conditions corresponding to the production areas were recorded, and bioclimatic indices were calculated as well. Overall, cis-resveratrol concentration was negatively correlated to Huglin index and August mean temperature, whilst positive correlation coefficients were found when considering the Selianinov index and the rainfall of September.

Progress in Natural Compounds/siRNA Co-delivery Employing Nanovehicles for Cancer Therapy

Chemotherapy using natural compounds, such as resveratrol, curcumin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide, doxorubicin, and camptothecin, is of importance in cancer therapy because of the outstanding therapeutic activity and multitargeting capability of these compounds. However, poor solubility and bioavailability of natural compounds have limited their efficacy in cancer therapy. To circumvent this hurdle, nanocarriers have been designed to improve the antitumor activity of the aforementioned compounds. Nevertheless, cancer treatment is still a challenge, demanding novel strategies. It is well-known that a combination of natural products and gene therapy is advantageous over monotherapy. Delivery of multiple therapeutic agents/small interfering RNA (siRNA) as a potent gene-editing tool in cancer therapy can maximize the synergistic effects against tumor cells. In the present review, co-delivery of natural compounds/siRNA using nanovehicles are highlighted to provide a backdrop for future research.