Antioxidant Capacity, Cytotoxicity and Antimycobacterial Activity of Madeira Archipelago Endemic Helichrysum Dietary and Medicinal Plants

Helichrysum Genus and Compound Activities in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

The global management of diabetes mellitus (DM) involves the administration of recommended anti-diabetic drugs in addition to a non-sedentary lifestyle upon diagnosis. Despite the success recorded from these synthetic drugs, the traditional method of treatment using medicinal plants is increasingly accepted by the locals due to its low cost and the perceived no side effects. Helichrysum species are used in folk medicine and are documented for the treatment of DM in different regions of the world. This study reviews Helichrysum species and its compounds’ activities in the management of DM. An extensive literature search was carried out, utilizing several scientific databases, ethnobotanical books, theses, and dissertations. About twenty-two Helichrysum species were reported for the treatment of diabetes in different regions of the world. Among these Helichrysum species, only fifteen have been scientifically investigated for their antidiabetic activities, and twelve compounds were identified as bioactive constituents for diabetes. This present review study will be a useful tool for scientists and health professionals working in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics to develop potent antidiabetic drugs that are devoid of side effects.

Potential Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Activity of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Insight with Molecular Docking Interactions

Tuberculosis (TB) is a recurrent and progressive disease, with high mortality rates worldwide. The drug-resistance phenomenon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major obstruction of allelopathy treatment. An adverse side effect of allelopathic treatment is that it causes serious health complications. The search for suitable alternatives of conventional regimens is needed, i.e., by considering medicinal plant secondary metabolites to explore anti-TB drugs, targeting the action site of M. tuberculosis. Nowadays, plant-derived secondary metabolites are widely known for their beneficial uses, i.e., as antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, and in the treatment of a wide range of chronic human diseases (e.g., tuberculosis), and are known to “thwart” disease virulence. In this regard, in silico studies can reveal the inhibitory potential of plant-derived secondary metabolites against Mycobacterium at the very early stage of infection. Computational approaches based on different algorithms could play a significant role in screening plant metabolites against disease virulence of tuberculosis for drug designing.

Multivariate analysis of polyphenolic content and in vitro antioxidant capacity of wild and cultivated berries from Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total flavonoid, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins content of eight berry species, namely serviceberry, gooseberry, blackberry, black chokeberry, bilberry, red currant, black currant, and cornelian cherry harvested in the regions of Sarajevo and Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The antioxidant activity was determined by a battery of in vitro tests including DPPH radical assay, FRAP assay, ABTS assay, and phosphomolybdate test for total antioxidant capacity. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins ranged from 0.834 to 6.921 mg TAE (tannic acid equivalents), 0.081–0.673 mg of quercetin, and 0.162–3.247 mg of catechin per gram of fresh fruit, respectively. The water extract of fruits had considerable levels of tested constituents and antioxidant activity, with the highest results obtained for black chokeberry. The multivariate clustering analysis showed that water extracts of analyzed species of berries belong to four distinct types in terms of their antioxidants levels and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, these results support the opinion that employment of multiple antioxidant tests is indeed required for adequate in vitro assessment of antioxidant capacity. Results also emphasized the need for a more detailed evaluation of the fruit species with good antioxidant potential (relative to standards), such as cornelian cherry and gooseberry, which are abundant yet not frequently consumed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Molecular Basis of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Genetics, Epigenetics, and Nutrition in AUD: An Amazing Triangle

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a very common and complex disease, as alcohol is the most widely used addictive drug in the world. This disorder has an enormous impact on public health and social and private life, and it generates a huge number of social costs. Alcohol use stimulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses and is the cause of many physical and social problems (especially liver disease and cancer), accidental injury, and risky sexual behavior. For years, researchers have been trying to identify the genetic basis of alcohol use disorder, the molecular mechanisms responsible for its development, and an effective form of therapy. Genetic and environmental factors are known to contribute to the development of AUD, and the expression of genes is a complicated process that depends on epigenetic modulations. Dietary nutrients, such as vitamins, may serve as one these modulators, as they have a direct impact on epigenomes. In this review, we connect gathered knowledge from three emerging fields-genetics, epigenetics, and nutrition-to form an amazing triangle relating to alcohol use disorder.

An assessment of phenolic profiles, fatty acid compositions, and biological activities of two Helichrysum species: H. plicatum and H. chionophilum

In the present study, we aimed to search and compare the biological activities of the ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH), and ethylacetate (EtOAc) solvent extracts of the flower, stem, and root parts of two Helichrysum plants (H. chionophilum (Hc) and H. plicatum subsp. plicatum (Hp)). The antioxidant properties were determined by using (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The enzyme inhibitory effects of the extracts were investigated on butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. Palmitic acid (C 16:0) was also determined as major fatty acids in the tested oils (31.21%-67.68%). In both plants, it was found that the EtOAc extracts of the flowers had a strong antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effect. In conclusion, the results obtained in the present study showed that H. chionophilum and H. plicatum can be seen as a promising source for the natural bioactive compounds that can be used in therapeutic applications. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The members of the genus Helichrysum have been widely taken for therapeutic purposes in traditional medicine as well as food. In this context, we investigated the chemical characterization and biological activities of two Helichrysum species extracts (H. chionophilum and H. plicatum subsp. plicatum). Antioxidant capacity, enzyme inhibition and anti-microbial effects were tested for biological activities. Chemical characterization was identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (for phenolic) and gas chromatography-flame ioanization detector (GC-FID) (for fatty acids). Based on our findings, the species may be valuable for designing novel food products.

In Vitro Antioxidant, Antityrosinase, and Cytotoxic Activities of Astaxanthin from Shrimp Waste

Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant compared with vitamins and other antioxidants. However, astaxanthin extract from shrimp processing waste has not yet been used in cosmetic products. This study aimed to explore the natural astaxanthin from shrimp shells for antioxidant and antityrosinase activities as well as potential toxicity. The antioxidant activities were performed with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching, and singlet oxygen quenching assays. The results revealed that astaxanthin extract demonstrated potent antioxidant activities against DPPH and ABTS radicals, and prevented the bleaching of β-carotene and quenching of singlet oxygen (EC₅₀ 17.5 ± 3.6, 7.7 ± 0.6, 15.1 ± 1.9 and 9.2 ± 0.5 μg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, the astaxanthin extract could inhibit tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀ 12.2 ± 1.5 μg/mL) and had no toxic effects on human dermal fibroblast cells. These results suggested that shrimp astaxanthin would be a promising dietary supplement for skin health applications.