Proposed binding mechanism of galbanic acid extracted from Ferula assa-foetida to DNA

The potential therapeutic effects of Galbanic acid on cancer

Galbanic acid (GBA), as a natural compound has potential anticancer properties. It has been documented that GBA shows promising therapeutic potential against various types of cancer, including breast, lung, colon, liver, and prostate cancer. Several mechanisms involve im anti-tumor effects of GBA include apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis, suppression of metastasis, and modulation of immune responses. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of GBA along with chemotherapeutic agents led to has enhancing efficiency with reduction in toxicity. Moreover, GBA through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties possess indirect anti-tumor effects. In this review, we will summarize the anti-tumor effects of GBA acid along with involve mechanisms.

Assessment of binding interaction dihydromyricetin and myricetin with bovine lactoferrin and effects on antioxidant activity

The binding interactions of bovine lactoferrin (BLF) with two flavonoids dihydromyricetin (DMY) and myricetin (MY) were investigated by the multi-spectroscopic, microscale thermophoresis (MST) techniques, molecular docking, and then their antioxidant activities were studied by detection of free radical scavenging activity against DPPH. Results of UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies showed that DMY/MY and BLF formed the ground state complex through the static quenching mechanism. Moreover, MY with more planar stereochemical structure had higher affinity for BLF than DMY with twisted stereochemical structure, according to the binding constant (K_b), free energy change (ΔG°), dissociation constant (K_d) and donor-acceptor distance (r). Thermodynamic parameters revealed that hydrogen bond and van der Waals force were major forces in the formation of BLF-DMY complex, while hydrophobic interactions played major roles in the formation of BLF-DMY complex. The circular dichroism (CD) study indicated that MY induced more conformational change in BLF than DMY. Furthermore, molecular modeling provided insights into the difference of binding interactions between BLF and two flavonoids. Finally, the radical scavenging activity assays indicated the presence of BLF delayed the decrease in antioxidant capacities of two flavonoids. These results were helpful to understand the binding mechanism and biological effects of non-covalent BLF-flavonoid interaction.

One-step Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Isoimperatorin: Evaluation of Photocatalytic, and Electrochemical Activities

In the current study, isoimperatorin, a natural furanocoumarin, is used as a reducing reagent to synthesize isoimperatorin mediated silver nanoparticles (Iso-AgNPs), and photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities of Iso-AgNPs are evaluated. Iso-AgNPs consisted of spherically shaped particles with a size range of 79-200 nm and showed catalytic activity for the degradation (in high yields) of New Fuchsine (NF), Methylene Blue (MB), Erythrosine B (ER) and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) under sunlight irradiation. Based on obtained results, Iso-AgNPs exhibited 96.5%, 96.0%, 92%, and 95% degradation rates for MB, NF, ER, and 4-CP, respectively. The electrochemical performance showed that the as-prepared Iso-AgNPs exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction. It is worth noticing that the Iso-AgNPs were used as electrode materials without any binder. The sensor-based on binder-free Iso-AgNPs showed linearity from 0.1 µM to 4 mM with a detection limit of 0.036 μM for H2O2. This binder-free and straightforward strategy for electrode preparation by silver nanoparticles may provide an alternative technique for the development of other nanomaterials based on isoimperatorin under green conditions. Altogether, the application of isoimpratorin in the synthesis of nano-metallic electro and photocatalysts, especially silver nanoparticles, is a simple, cost-effective and efficient approach.

Potential Anticancer Properties of Osthol: A Comprehensive Mechanistic Review

Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell proliferation which has the potential to occur in different tissues and spread into surrounding and distant tissues. Despite the current advances in the field of anticancer agents, rapidly developing resistance against different chemotherapeutic drugs and significantly higher off-target effects cause millions of deaths every year. Osthol is a natural coumarin isolated from Apiaceaous plants which has demonstrated several pharmacological effects, such as antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We have attempted to summarize up-to-date information related to pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of osthol as a lead compound in managing malignancies. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane library, ScienceDirect and Scopus were searched for in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies on anticancer effects of osthol. Osthol exerts remarkable anticancer properties by suppressing cancer cell growth and induction of apoptosis. Osthol's protective and therapeutic effects have been observed in different cancers, including ovarian, cervical, colon and prostate cancers as well as chronic myeloid leukemia, lung adenocarcinoma, glioma, hepatocellular, glioblastoma, renal and invasive mammary carcinoma. A large body of evidence demonstrates that osthol regulates apoptosis, proliferation and invasion in different types of malignant cells which are mediated by multiple signal transduction cascades. In this review, we set spotlights on various pathways which are targeted by osthol in different cancers to inhibit cancer development and progression.