Valorizing sardine scales: a circular approach to sustainable collagen for cosmetics and nutrition applications.

Background And Objective: In recent years, the consumption of fish products has led to a worrying trend where approximately two-thirds of the total amount of fish is discarded as waste. At the same time, scientific interest in exploring natural collagen sources for cosmetics and dietary supplements has increased. This study explores the potential of valorizing sardine scales (), a by-product of the canning industry, through the extraction of collagen for potential use in dermocosmetic formulations and food supplements.

Exploring the potential of larvae extracts: A promising approach for dermocosmetic formulations.

Globally, the yearly disposal of 1.3 billion tonnes of food raises environmental and public health concerns. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae present a sustainable solution, converting organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass.

Antibiotic Coordination Frameworks against Antibiotic Resistance: How to Involve Students through Experimental Practices in the Search for Solutions to Public Health Problems.

For decades, multiple varieties of antibiotics have been successfully used for therapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, antibiotic resistance is currently one of the major threats to global health. This work presents an innovative laboratory practice carried out in an inorganic medicinal chemistry course within the Degrees of Pharmacy and Biochemistry for undergraduate students.

Anticancer diterpenes of African natural products: Mechanistic pathways and preclinical developments.

Background: The African continent is home to five biodiversity hotspots, boasting an immense wealth of medicinal flora, fungi and marine life. Diterpenes extracted from such natural products have compelling cytotoxic activities that warrant further exploration for the drug market, particularly in cancer therapy, where mortality rates remain elevated worldwide.

Purpose: To demonstrate the potential of African natural products on the global stage for cancer therapy development and provide an in-depth analysis of the current literature on the activity of cancer cytotoxic diterpenes from African natural sources (to our knowledge, the first of its kind); not only to reveal the most promising candidates for clinical development, but to demonstrate the importance of preserving the threatened ecosystems of Africa.

Biological Activity of 6,7-Dehydroxyroyleanone and Derivatives Obtained from (Codd) A.J.Paton.

The genus (Lamiaceae) is known to be rich in abietane diterpenes. The bioactive 6,7-dehydroxyroyleanone (DHR, ) was previously isolated from var. and var.

Dehydroroyleanone as a Building Block for a Drug Delivery Platform Based on Self-Assembled Nanoparticles: Structural Studies and Chemical Modification.

6,7-Dehydroroyleanone (DHR) is a caspase-induced cytotoxic abietane diterpene, frequently found on spp. A pharmaceutical formulation consisting of a DHR-squalene conjugate was synthesized and analyzed by different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The facile production of the dispersion of DHR-squalene conjugate nanoparticles in phosphate buffer (pH 7.

Lethality Bioassay using Artemia salina L.

Natural products have been used since ancient times to produce medicines. Nowadays, there are plenty of chemotherapeutic drugs obtained from natural sources and used against a plethora of diseases. Unfortunately, most of these compounds often display systemic toxicity and adverse effects.

Parvifloron D-based potential therapy for glioblastoma: Inducing apoptosis the mitochondria dependent pathway.

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most malignant and frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system. The lack of diagnostic tools and the poor prognosis associated with this tumor type leads to restricted and limited options of treatment, namely surgical resection and radio-chemotherapy. However, despite these treatments, in almost all cases, patients experience relapse, leading to survival rates shorter than 5 years (∼15-18 months after diagnosis).

Phytochemical Study and Antiglioblastoma Activity Assessment of (Forssk.) Schweinf. ex Sprenger var. hadiensis Stems.

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most malignant form of primary astrocytoma, accounting for more than 60% of all brain tumors in adults. Nowadays, due to the development of multidrug resistance causing relapses to the current treatments and the development of severe side effects resulting in reduced survival rates, new therapeutic approaches are needed. The genus belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is known to be rich in abietane-type diterpenes, which possess antitumor activity.

C--Abietane and Three Abietane Diterpenoids from Leaves as P-Glycoprotein Modulators.

In this study, a bioguided fractionation of extract was performed by chromatographic methods. It yielded one new -abietane diterpene, mutabilol (), and three known abietanes, coleon-U-quinone (), 8α,9α-epoxycoleon-U-quinone (), and coleon U (). The abietane diterpenoid was also tentatively identified using HPLC-MS/MS.

Benth: A Comprehensive Review Into its Phytochemistry and Exerted Biological Activities.

genus ( family) contain several species with acknowledged ethnopharmacological uses, such as, for gastrointestinal and respiratory-related problems, due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The bioactivity of isolated medicinal compounds from this genus justifies the increased interest in recent times for species of , placing them in the spotlight for natural product drug development. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review on the biological activities of Benth.

Self-Assembly Nanoparticles of Natural Bioactive Abietane Diterpenes.

Different approaches have been reported to enhance penetration of small drugs through physiological barriers; among them is the self-assembly drug conjugates preparation that shows to be a promising approach to improve activity and penetration, as well as to reduce side effects. In recent years, the use of drug-conjugates, usually obtained by covalent coupling of a drug with biocompatible lipid moieties to form nanoparticles, has gained considerable attention. Natural products isolated from plants have been a successful source of potential drug leads with unique structural diversity.

Preliminary Biological Activity Screening of spp. Extracts for the Search of Anticancer Lead Molecules.

species (Lamiaceae) have been employed in traditional medicine and this is now validated by the presence of bioactive abietane-type diterpenoids. Herein, sixteen acetonic extracts were prepared by ultrasound-assisted extraction and their biological activity was screened. The antimicrobial activity of each extract was screened against yeasts, and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Zoopharmacology: A Way to Discover New Cancer Treatments.

Zoopharmacognosy is the multidisciplinary approach of the self-medication behavior of many kinds of animals. Recent studies showed the presence of antitumoral secondary metabolites in some of the plants employed by animals and their use for the same therapeutic purposes in humans. Other related and sometimes confused term is Zootherapy, which consists on the employment of animal parts and/or their by-products such as toxins, venoms, etc.

Comparison Study of Different Extracts of , and the Rare (Lamiaceae): Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities.

Medicinal plants of the genus (Lamiaceae) are known for their ethnopharmacological relevance, mainly against infectious, dermatologic and gastrointestinal pathologies. Three species originated from South Africa, namely , and the rare were hereby screened for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities related with their known and/or potential ethnomedicinal uses. Twenty-six extracts were prepared by the combination of extraction methods (infusion, decoction, microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, maceration and supercritical fluid extraction) with different polarity solvents (water, methanol, acetone and supercritical CO).

Anticancer Hybrid Combinations: Mechanisms of Action, Implications and Future Perspectives.

The exponential growth of cancer cases worldwide together with recent advances concerning the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease at the molecular level led to a paradigm shift in chemotherapy, from monotherapy to targeted drug combination regimens. However, adverse effects and the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) limit the effectiveness of these therapies. In this context, hybrid combinations mixing anticancer drugs and bioactive phytochemical components from medicinal plants, or even plant extracts, that can act synergistically on multiple targets and signaling pathways represent a promising approach with the potential to expand the current therapeutic arsenal.

Family medicine physicians' perception and attitudes of herbal substances use in greater Lisbon region.

Background: Previous works showed patients preference for herbal substances (HS) although they also highlighted a discrepancy with physicians' adherence to HS and its recommendation.

Hypothesis/purpose: This study aimed to assess physician's perception and attitudes concerning the use of HS for their patients in a Family Medicine approach.

Study Design: Observational cross-sectional exploratory study.

Anticancer properties of the abietane diterpene 6,7-dehydroroyleanone obtained by optimized extraction.

Aim: 6,7-dehydroroyleanone (DHR) is a cytotoxic abietane present in the essential oil of Plectranthus madagascariensis.

Methods/results: Different extraction parameters were tested, and its extraction optimization was accomplished with a Clevenger apparatus-based hydrodistillation. After isolation, its effect on microtubules, P-glycoprotein and caspases was assessed on several cell lines and the compound was coupled with hybrid nanoparticles.

Volatile composition of Jasonia glutinosa D. C.

Using GC-MS the volatile composition of Jasonia glutinosa D. C., was studied by comparing two different methods for the isolation of a volatile fraction: distillation from the fresh plant in order to obtain the essential oil, and direct thermal desorption (DTD).

Iridoids from Scrophularia genus.

We report here an updated summary about iridoid composition of a series from the genus Scrophularia which have been investigated until now from a phytochemistry point of view. In addition a list is included about iridoids isolated in our laboratory from different plant parts of Scrophularia scorodonia L., which are compared with iridoids from some species of the Scrophularia genus.

Phytochemical analysis of Phillyrea latifolia L., a new source of oleuropeoside.

As a part of our studies on the biologically active substances from Spanish plants, we have undertaken an investigation of the chemical constituents of a typical mediterranean species, Phillyrea latifolia L. (Oleaceae). Two secoiridoid glycosides, three phenylpropanoid glycosides, one lignane and two triterpenic acids were isolated from the leaves of this species and identified.

Lignan and phenylpropanoid glycosides from Phillyrea latifolia and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.

Three phenylpropanoid glycosides (salidroside, syringin and coniferin) and one lignan (phillyrin) isolated from the leaves of Phillyrea latifolia L. (Oleaceae) were tested for interactions with the cyclo-oxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism in calcium-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages and human platelets, and for their effects on cell viability. These compounds are capable of exerting inhibitory actions on enzymes of the arachidonate cascade.

Polyphenolic compounds from Plantago lagopus L.

In the present study we report the isolation of a phenylpropanoid glucoside, plantamajoside, together with rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid and luteolin-7-O-monoglucoside. This is the first report of these compounds from Plantago lagopus.

Sesquiterpene lactones from Inula montana L.

Aerial parts of Inula montana were investigated for its sesquiterpenoid composition. Five sesquiterpene lactones, isoinuviscolide, gaillardin, 1beta-hydroxy-3beta-acetoxy-eudesm-4(15), 11(13)-dien-12-8beta-olide, pulchellin-C and pulchellin-E were identified for the first time in this plant. One of them, 1beta-hydroxy-3beta-acetoxy-eudesm-4(15),11(13)-dien-1 2-8beta-olide, is a novel natural product.

Two new eudesmane alcohols from Jasonia glutinosa.

Two new sesquiterpene alcohols have been isolated from the aerial parts of Jasonia glutinosa D. C. The structure of these sesquiterpenes were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR techniques (DQCOSY.