"Medicine food homology" plants promote periodontal health: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibition of bone resorption

"Medicine food homology" (MFH) is a term with a lengthy history. It refers to the fact that a lot of traditional natural products have both culinary and therapeutic benefits. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of MFH plants and their secondary metabolites have been confirmed by numerous research. A bacterially generated inflammatory illness with a complicated pathophysiology, periodontitis causes the loss of the teeth's supporting tissues. Several MFH plants have recently been shown to have the ability to prevent and treat periodontitis, which is exhibited by blocking the disease's pathogens and the virulence factors that go along with them, lowering the host's inflammatory reactions and halting the loss of alveolar bone. To give a theoretical foundation for the creation of functional foods, oral care products and adjuvant therapies, this review has especially explored the potential medicinal benefit of MFH plants and their secondary metabolites in the prevention and treatment of periodontitis.

Rapid-killing efficacy substantiates the antiseptic property of the synergistic combination of carvacrol and nerol against nosocomial pathogens

Globally, new classes of synthetic and natural antibiotics and antivirulents have continuously been validated for their potential broad-spectrum antagonistic activity with the aim of identifying an effective active molecule to prevent the spread of infectious agents in both food industry and medical field. In view of this, present study is aimed at evaluating the rapid killing efficacy of bioactive molecules Carvacrol (C) and Nerol (N) through British Standard European Norm 1276: phase2/step1 (EN1276) protocol. Active molecules C and N showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against the test strains Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus hirae at concentration range of 78.125, 625, 156.25 and 312.5 μg/mL, respectively, for C, and 625 μg/mL for N. Whereas, combinatorial approach showed efficient activity with four times reduced concentration of C and N at 78.125 and 156.25 µg/mL, respectively, against test strains. Further, EN1276 results proved the rapid killing efficacy of test strains in 1 min of contact time with significant (> 5 log) growth reduction at 100X concentration of actives. SEM analysis and reduced concentration of protease, lipids and carbohydrate contents of treated group biofilm components ascertained preformed biofilm disruption potential of C + N on polystyrene and nail surfaces. C + N at synergistic concentration exhibited no adverse effect on HaCaT cells at 78.125 µg/mL (C) + 156.25 µg/mL (N). Taken together, based on the observed experimental results, present study evidence the antiseptic/disinfectant ability of C + N and suggest that the combination can preferentially be used in foam-based hand wash formulations.

Quinoline, with the active site of 8-hydroxyl, efficiently inhibits Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) infection in vitro and in vivo

Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) is an significant pathogen that causes high mortality and related economic losses in bass aquaculture. There is no effective or approved therapy to date. In this study, we evaluated the anti-MSRV effects of 22 quinoline derivatives in grass carp ovary (GCO) cells. Among these compounds, 8-hydroxyquinoline exhibited valid inhibition in decreasing MSRV nucleoprotein gene expression levels of 99.3% with a half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀ ) value of 4.66 μM at 48 h. Moreover, 8-hydroxyquinoline significantly enhanced a protective effect in GCO cells by reducing the cytopathic effect (CPE). By comparing the anti-MSRV activity of 22 quinoline derivatives, we found that 8-hydroxyquinoline possessed the efficient active site of 8-hydroxyl and inhibited MSRV infection in vitro. For in vivo studies, 8-hydroxyquinoline via intraperitoneal injection exhibited an antiviral effect in MSRV-infected largemouth bass by substantially enhancing the survival rate by 15.0%. Importantly, the viral loads in the infected largemouth bass notably reduced in the spleen on the third days post-infection. Overall, 8-hydroxyquinoline was considered to be an efficient agent against MSRV in aquaculture.

Synergistic Impact of Bioactive Byproduct Extract Leads to Anti-Fusarium and Anti-Mycotoxin Secretion

Fruit byproducts are considered a high source of bioactive molecules, which possess antioxidant activities. These antioxidants play principal functions in mycotoxin reduction. This study aimed to evaluate crude mandarin byproduct extract for its chemical interaction with fungal growth and suppression of mycotoxin production, and to illustrate whether the impact was regarding individual molecules or a synergistic antioxidation process. Extract contents were analyzed for their phenolic, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. The fatty acid composition and volatile components were determined using the GC apparatus. The influence of the extract evaluated versus the standard phenolics of trans-ferulic and hesperidin were evaluated. The liposome technique was applied to prevent the antioxidant properties of the bioactive extract. The anti-mycotoxigenic effects of the liposomal and non-liposomal extract were determined in fungal media against the standard phenolics. The results manifested ferulic (235.54 ± 3.34 mg/100 g) and hesperidin (492.11 ± 1.15 mg/100 g) as high phenolics in the extract. Limonene was the main volatile (67.54 ± 1.74%), as well antioxidant activities determined in considerable values. The crude extract recorded efficiency as an anti-Fusarium agent, but less than the standard hesperidin applied in fungal media. The bioactive extract recorded possessed a reduction influence on mycotoxin production. The impact may be joining with its fungal inhibition or its component activity with the active groups on the mycotoxin molecule. The formation of liposomal extract enhanced its efficacy in mycotoxin reduction. This enhancement may illustrate its protective properties for antioxidant components of the bioactive extract.

Synergistic effect of curcumin-Cu and curcumin-Ag nanoparticle loaded niosome: Enhanced antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities

In the current study, for the first time, the synergistic activity of curcumin and silver/copper nanoparticles (NPs) was studied against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, a unique combination of curcumin and silver/copper NPs in free and encapsulated forms was prepared and delivered through a niosomal system. For this purpose, different niosomal formulations of curcumin and metal NPs were prepared by thin film hydration method. Then, the dual drug-loaded niosomes were dispersed in chitosan hydrogel in order to widen its applications. The effect of the molar ratios of lipid to drug and surfactant to cholesterol was investigated to find the optimized noisomal nanoparticles in terms of size, polydispersity index (PDI), and entrapment efficiency (EE). The size and PDI values were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Morphology and in vitro drug release kinetics of niosomes were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and dialysis method, respectively. The drug-loaded niosomes and their hydrogel counterpart were screened for investigating their antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa by disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Furthermore, anti-biofilm assay and expression of biofilm-associated genes by Real-time PCR were performed to evaluate the anti-biofilm effect of NPs. In this study, the drug-loaded niosomal formulations showed good entrapment efficiencies (EE) with a sustained release profile over 72 h. Moreover, compared to free drugs, the optimized niosomal formulations increased antibacterial activity against the bacteria via promotion in the inhibition zone and reduction in MIC and MBC values. Interestingly, gel-based niosomal formulations increased the inhibition zone by about 6 mm and significantly decreased MIC and MBC values compared to niosomal formulations. Also, biofilm eradication of curcumin-metal NPs encapsulated into niosomal hydrogel was highest compared to free and niosomal drugs. Overall, curcumin-Cu or curcumin-Ag nanoparticle loaded niosomes incorporated in hydrogel hold great promise for biomedical applications.

Molecular Simplification of Natural Products: Synthesis, Antibacterial Activity, and Molecular Docking Studies of Berberine Open Models

Berberine, the main bioactive component of many medicinal plants belonging to various genera such as Berberis, Coptis, and Hydrastis is a multifunctional compound. Among the numerous interesting biological properties of berberine is broad antimicrobial activity including a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. With the aim of identifying berberine analogues possibly endowed with higher lead-likeness and easier synthetic access, the molecular simplification approach was applied to the secondary metabolite and a series of analogues were prepared and screened for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial test species. Rewardingly, the berberine simplified analogues displayed 2-20-fold higher potency with respect to berberine. Since our berberine simplified analogues may be easily synthesized and are characterized by lower molecular weight than the parent compound, they are further functionalizable and should be more suitable for oral administration. Molecular docking simulations suggested FtsZ, a well-known protein involved in bacterial cell division, as a possible target.

More Than Resveratrol: New Insights into Stilbene-Based Compounds

The concept of a scaffold concerns many aspects at different steps on the drug development path. In medicinal chemistry, the choice of relevant "drug-likeness" scaffold is a starting point for the design of the structure dedicated to specific molecular targets. For many years, the chemical uniqueness of the stilbene structure has inspired scientists from different fields such as chemistry, biology, pharmacy, and medicine. In this review, we present the outstanding potential of the stilbene-based derivatives. Naturally occurring stilbenes, together with powerful synthetic chemistry possibilities, may offer an excellent approach for discovering new structures and identifying their therapeutic targets. With the development of scientific tools, sophisticated equipment, and a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis at the molecular level, the stilbene scaffold has moved innovation in science. This paper mainly focuses on the stilbene-based compounds beyond resveratrol, which are particularly attractive due to their biological activity. Given the "fresh outlook" about different stilbene-based compounds starting from stilbenoids with particular regard to isorhapontigenin and methoxy- and hydroxyl- analogues, the update about the combretastatins, and the very often overlooked and underestimated benzanilide analogues, we present a new story about this remarkable structure.

Beneficial Effects of Curcumin on the Wound-healing Process after Tooth Extraction

This study evaluated the effects of curcumin, a naturally occurring compound with numerous health-beneficial properties, on the wound-healing process of extraction sockets (soft tissue that surrounded the extracted tooth) in rats. The effects of topically applied curcumin were monitored by tracking changes in myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide concentrations in soft tissue homogenates 3 and 7 days following surgery. Additionally, pathohistological examination of tissue sections was used to reveal the effects of curcumin on the course of wound healing on a microscopic level. Compared to the untreated control, topically administered curcumin statistically significantly decreased soft-tissue myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide concentrations after both 3 and 7 days of application. Microscopic analysis showed a reduced inflammatory infiltrate (subjectively and morphometrically estimated as the number of polymorphonuclear cells/100 μm2) and an increased collagen deposition in rats treated with curcumin. The obtained results point to the great potential of curcumin in the acceleration of tooth extraction wound-healing processes partially through the reduction of the inflammatory response and increase in collagen deposition. Thus, these results significantly contribute to the previously suggested application of curcumin in the skin wound treatment by potentially broadening its usage in the treatment of mucosal wounds.

Antiproliferative Effects of an Analog of Curcumin in Hep-2 cells: A Comparative Study with Curcumin

Curcumin, the major active principle of Curcuma longa, is one of the promising, plant-derived, chemopreventive agents being studied for its anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties. Hence, in our study, we aimed at testing the antiproliferative efficacy of an o-hydroxyl substituted analog of curcumin, bis demethoxy curcumin analog (BDMC-A), and comparing its efficacy with that of curcumin. BDMC-A was synthesised with a yield of 78% and 98% purity. Hep-2 cells and the MTT cell viability assay were used to examine cell proliferation. LDH assay and cell counts were performed to assess the cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative effects of the compound, respectively. Flow cytometry followed by Western blot were performed to investigate the cell cycle distribution. BDMC-A inhibited cell proliferation at a much lower concentration (IC50 20 μM) than curcumin (IC50 50 μM). Similar effects were observed in the LDH release and cell count assays. Flow cytometric studies using propidium iodide showed accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase and the arrest was further confirmed by immunoblotting of protein cyclin D1. BDMC-A was more potent in inhibiting the cells at a lower dose when compared with curcumin. Our results showed that the analog of curcumin is likely to possess more efficacy compared with curcumin in inhibiting cancer.