Antiviral and Virucidal Properties of Essential Oils and Isolated Compounds - A Scientific Approach.

Essential oils and isolated essential oil compounds are known to exert various pharmacological effects, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and wound healing effects. Based on selected articles, this review deals with the potential antiviral and virucidal activities of essential oils and essential oil compounds together with their mechanism of action as well as studies involving viral and host cell-specific target molecules that are indispensable for virus cell adsorption, penetration, and replication. The reported and studies highlight the baseline data about the latest findings of essential oils and essential oil compounds antiviral and virucidal effects on enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, taking into account available biochemical and molecular biological tests.

PPARγ induces PD-L1 expression in MSS+ colorectal cancer cells.

Only a small subset of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients benefits from immunotherapies, comprising blocking antibodies (Abs) against checkpoint receptor "programmed-cell-death-1" (PD1) and its ligand (PD-L1), because most cases lack the required mutational burden and neo-antigen load caused by microsatellite instability (MSI) and/or an inflamed, immune cell-infiltrated PD-L1+ tumor microenvironment. Peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor-gamma (PPARγ), a metabolic transcription factor stimulated by anti-diabetic drugs, has been previously implicated in pre/clinical responses to immunotherapy. We therefore raised the hypothesis that PPARγ induces PD-L1 on microsatellite stable (MSS) tumor cells to enhance Ab-target engagement and responsiveness to PD-L1 blockage.

Anti-biofilm and Virulence Factor-Reducing Activities of Essential Oils and Oil Components as a Possible Option for Bacterial Infection Control.

Pathogenic biofilm-associated bacteria that adhere to biological or nonbiological surfaces are a big challenge to the healthcare and food industries. Antibiotics or disinfectants often fail in an attempt to eliminate biofilms from those surfaces. Based on selected experimental research, this review deals with the potential biofilm-inhibiting, virulence factor-reducing, and biofilm-eradicating activities of essential oils and single essential oil compounds using , and as model organisms.

Antimicrobial Activities of European Propolis Collected from Various Geographic Origins Alone and in Combination with Antibiotics.

Propolis consists of a complex mixture of resinous substances collected by honeybees from different plant sources. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, biological activities, and synergistic properties with antibiotics of propolis samples collected from various geographic origins (Germany, Ireland, and Czech Republic). The chemical composition of the propolis was analyzed by Gas Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GLC-MS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Randomized double-blind controlled clinical trials with herbal preparations of Serenoa repens fruits in treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms : An overview.

In this review, results of randomized double-blind controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with extracts of Serenoa repens fruits at a dose of 320 mg/d for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are assessed. Of the RTCs conducted for up to 6 months, a benefit was seen in three of three RTCs with ethanolic, in eight of nine RTCs with hexane, and in one of two RTCs with CO extracts. Of the RTCs conducted for more than 6 months, a benefit was seen in two RTCs with hexane and in one RTC with CO extracts, whereas one RTC with an ethanolic, two RTCs with hexane, and one RTC with CO extracts did not show positive results.