Neuropharmacological Effects of Terpenoids on Preclinical Animal Models of Psychiatric Disorders: A Review

Medicine and food homology substances: A review of bioactive ingredients, pharmacological effects and applications

In recent years, the idea of medicine and food homology (MFH), which highlights the intimate relationship between food and medicine, has gained international recognition. Specifically, MFH substances have the ability to serve as both food and medicine. Many foods have been reported to have good nutritional and medical values, not only for satiety but also for nourishing the body and treating diseases pharmacologically. As modern scientific research has progressed, the concept of MFH has been emphasized and developed in a way that has never been seen before. Therefore, in this paper, we reviewed the development history of MFH substances, summarized some typical bioactive ingredients, and recognized pharmacological effects. In addition, we further discussed the application of MFH substances in the food field, with the goal of providing ideas and references for the research and development of MFH in the food industry as well as the progress of related industries.

Obesity Control and Supplementary Nutraceuticals as Cofactors of Brain Plasticity in Multiple Sclerosis Populations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Brain plasticity, the brain's ability to adapt its structure and function, plays a crucial role in mitigating MS's impact. This paper explores the potential benefits of lifestyle changes and nutraceuticals on brain plasticity in the MS population. Lifestyle modifications, including physical activity and dietary adjustments, can enhance brain plasticity by upregulating neurotrophic factors, promoting synaptogenesis, and reducing oxidative stress. Nutraceuticals, such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid, have shown promise in supporting brain health through anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms. Regular physical activity has been linked to increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and improved cognitive function. Dietary interventions, including caloric restriction and the intake of polyphenols, can also positively influence brain plasticity. Integrating these lifestyle changes and nutraceuticals into the management of MS can provide a complementary approach to traditional therapies, potentially improving neurological outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for the MS population.

Lavandula angustifolia Herb from Ukraine: Comparative Chemical Profile and in vitro Antioxidant Activity

Lavandula L. genus plants have always been relevant as medicines for various purposes in food, medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetology and aromology. Ukraine is a new territory in the mass plant cultivation and lavender essential oil production. Therefore, the issue of integrated use of herbal raw materials and their intended use is still relevant. For the first time, ten samples of Lavendula angustifolia herb from 5 growing regions of Ukraine were studied for the composition and content of polyphenols and terpenoids using HPLC and HPTLC methods, respectively, to assess the prospects and quality of herbal raw materials. The results obtained showed that L. angustifolia herb has pronounced antioxidant activity due to the high content of phenolic compounds, namely hyperoside (5.665-11.629 mg/g), vanillic acid (5.986-11.196 mg/g), rosmarinic acid (0.211 to 1.488 mg/g), caffeic acid (0.369-3.835 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (0.239-4.619 mg/g), genistein-7-O-glucoside, as well as due to the presence of linalool and linalyl acetate, which was confirmed by qualitative analysis. The total antioxidant activity was the highest in samples from Lviv Botanical Garden (0.293 Trolox mg/mL), Kyiv OLawander (0.288 Trolox mg/mL), Kharkiv Bohodukhiv (0.270 Trolox mg/mL) which is due to the qualitative composition of phenolic compounds. At the same time, the most intense zones of terpenoids in lavender herb were noted for images from Kharkiv region Lebiazhe and Kitchenkivka villiges. Cluster analysis showed priority in the selection of marker compounds (vanillic acid, hyperoside, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid) for lavender herb based on their quantitative content in the samples. In the future, lavender herb from Ukraine can be considered as a promising raw material with neuroprotective properties as part of its complex use, as research continues.

Plant-Derived Terpenoids: A Plethora of Bioactive Compounds with Several Health Functions and Industrial Applications-A Comprehensive Overview

Terpenoids are a large class of natural secondary plant metabolites which are highly diverse in structure, formed from isoprene units (C-5), associated with a wide range of biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, anticancer, antimetastatic, antiangiogenesis, and apoptosis induction, and are considered for potential application in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. In plants, terpenoids exert a variety of basic functions in growth and development. This review gives an overview, highlighting the current knowledge of terpenoids and recent advances in our understanding of the organization, regulation, and diversification of core and specialized terpenoid metabolic pathways and addressing the most important functions of volatile and non-volatile specialized terpenoid metabolites in plants. A comprehensive description of different aspects of plant-derived terpenoids as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds, their biosynthetic pathway, the several biological properties attributed to these secondary metabolites associated with health-promoting effects, and their potential industrial applications in several fields will be provided, and emerging and green extraction methods will also be discussed. In addition, future research perspectives within this framework will be highlighted. Literature selection was carried out using the National Library of Medicine, PubMed, and international reference data for the period from 2010 to 2024 using the keyword "terpenoids". A total of 177,633 published papers were found, of which 196 original and review papers were included in this review according to the criteria of their scientific reliability, their completeness, and their relevance to the theme considered.

Phytochemicals targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for the prevention and treatment of HNSCC: A review

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) develops from the mucosal epithelium of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx, and is the most common malignancy of the head and neck, the incidence of which continues to rise. The epidermal growth factor receptor is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of HNSCC. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor has been identified as an effective target for the treatment of HNSCC. Many phytochemicals have emerged as potential new drugs for the treatment of HNSCC. A systematic search was conducted for research articles published in PubMed, and Medline on relevant aspects. This review provides an overview of the available literature and reports highlighting the in vitro effects of phytochemicals on epidermal growth factor in various HNSCC cell models and in vivo in animal models and emphasizes the importance of epidermal growth factor as a current therapeutic target for HNSCC. Based on our review, we conclude that phytochemicals targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor are potentially effective candidates for the development of new drugs for the treatment of HNSCC. It provides an idea for further development and application of herbal medicines for cancer treatment.

Neuroprotective Properties of Oleanolic Acid-Computational-Driven Molecular Research Combined with In Vitro and In Vivo Experiments

Oleanolic acid (OA), as a ubiquitous compound in the plant kingdom, is studied for both its neuroprotective and neurotoxic properties. The mechanism of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory potential of OA is investigated using molecular dynamic simulations (MD) and docking as well as biomimetic tests. Moreover, the in vitro SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and the in vivo zebrafish model were used. The inhibitory potential towards the AChE enzyme is examined using the TLC-bioautography assay (the IC50 value is 9.22 μM). The CH-π interactions between the central fragment of the ligand molecule and the aromatic cluster created by the His440, Phe288, Phe290, Phe330, Phe331, Tyr121, Tyr334, Trp84, and Trp279 side chains are observed. The results of the in vitro tests using the SH-SY5Y cells indicate that the viability rate is reduced to 71.5%, 61%, and 43% at the concentrations of 100 µg/mL, 300 µg/mL, and 1000 µg/mL, respectively, after 48 h of incubation, whereas cytotoxicity against the tested cell line with the IC50 value is 714.32 ± 32.40 µg/mL. The in vivo tests on the zebrafish prove that there is no difference between the control and experimental groups regarding the mortality rate and morphology (p > 0.05).

Effects of Ginsenosides on Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Convulsions during Estrus Cycle in Rat

Ginseng is known as the king of all herbs in terms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and recently has become more involved in the treatment of neurological diseases. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the effects of Ginsenosides on pentylenetetrazol-induced epilepsy during the estrus cycle. For this purpose, 30 rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely control (saline), valproic acid (VPA, 75 mg/kg), Ginsenosides (50 mg/kg), Ginsenosides (100 mg/kg), and Ginsenosides (150 mg/kg) with four subgroups (proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus). Subsequently, the initiation time of myoclonic seizures (ITMS), initiation time of tonic-clonic seizures (ITTS), and seizure duration (SD) were determined. According to the results, ITMS and ITTS significantly increased in the VPA-treated group (P<0.05). Ginsenosides (100 and 150 mg/kg) administration significantly increased ITMS and ITTS (P<0.05). Moreover, the ITMS and ITTS in Ginsenosides-treated rats were significantly higher in luteal phases, compared to the follicular phase (P<0.05). In addition, pretreatment with VPA significantly decreased SD, compared to the control group (P<0.05). A significant decrease in SD was observed in the rats pretreated with ginsenosides (100 and 150 mg/kg) (P<0.05). Seizure duration significantly decreased in animals that received Ginsenosides in luteal phases, compared to the follicular phase (P<0.05). These results suggested that Ginsenosides have anticonvulsant effects that are more prominent during the luteal phase than the follicular phase.