Dissecting dietary alkylresorcinols: a compile of their distribution, biosynthesis, extraction and functional properties

Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are natural bioactive ingredients produced by: bacteria, fungi, sponges, and higher plants, possessing a lipophilic polyphenol structure with a myriad of biological properties. Focusing on the importance of ARs, several analogs can be extracted from different natural resources. Interestingly, the composition of ARs is usually reflective of their source, with structural differences to exist among ARs isolated from different natural sources. The identified compounds from marine are distinguished by sulfur atom and disulfide bond, while the alkyl chain of bacterial homologs are recognized for their saturated fatty acid chains. ARs occurrence in fungi is still poorly documented however most of the isolated fungal molecules are characterized by a sugar unit attached to their alkylated side chains. The biosynthetic pathway of ARs is postulated via a type III polyketide synthase in which the fatty-acyl chain is elongated and cyclized to generate ARs. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) has gained an increasing interest to mediate for ARs biological activities as discussed herein for the first time from their different resources. ARs extraction procedures showed much progress compared to classical methods compiling organic solvents with supercritical extraction appearing as a potential technique for producing highly purified food-grade of AR homologs. The current review also presents on the rapid qualitative and quantitative determination of ARs to increase accessibility for screening cereals as potential sources of these bioactives.

Nutmegs and wild nutmegs: An update on ethnomedicines, phytochemicals, pharmacology, and toxicity of the Myristicaceae species

Prized medicinal spice true nutmeg is obtained from Myristica fragrans Houtt. Rest species of the family Myristicaceae are known as wild nutmegs. Nutmegs and wild nutmegs are a rich reservoir of bioactive molecules and used in traditional medicines of Europe, Asia, Africa, America against madness, convulsion, cancer, skin infection, malaria, diarrhea, rheumatism, asthma, cough, cold, as stimulant, tonics, and psychotomimetic agents. Nutmegs are cultivated around the tropics for high-value commercial spice, used in global cuisine. A thorough literature survey of peer-reviewed publications, scientific online databases, authentic webpages, and regulatory guidelines found major phytochemicals namely, terpenes, fatty acids, phenylpropanoids, alkanes, lignans, flavonoids, coumarins, and indole alkaloids. Scientific names, synonyms were verified with www.theplantlist.org. Pharmacological evaluation of extracts and isolated biomarkers showed cholinesterase inhibitory, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antinociceptive, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antidiabetic, antidiarrhoeal activities, and toxicity through in-vitro, in-vivo studies. Human clinical trials were very few. Most of the pharmacological studies were not conducted as per current guidelines of natural products to ensure repeatability, safety, and translational use in human therapeutics. Rigorous pharmacological evaluation and randomized double-blind clinical trials are recommended to analyze the efficacy and therapeutic potential of nutmeg and wild nutmegs in anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, autism, schizophrenia, stroke, cancer, and others.

A new dibenzofuran derivative from the stem bark of Scyphocephalium ochocoa with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities

The phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane/methanol (1:1) extract of the stem bark of Scyphocephalium ochocoa, led to the isolation of one new dibenzofuran derivative, named scyphocephalione A (1), along with three other compounds, including epicatechin (2), gentisic acid (3) and myo-inositol (4). The structures of all the compounds were established with help of spectroscopic data including IR, UV, MS, 1 D- and 2 D-NMR, as well as by comparison with previously reported data in literature, and chemical modification. All the compounds were obtained from the genus Scyphocephalium for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity (using chemiluminescence technique) of the crude extract and compound 1, together with NO inhibition (using ELISA), TNF-α (using ELISA) and MCF-7 cells cytotoxicity effects (using MTT assay) of compound 1 were assessed. From the results obtained, compound 1 could be considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.