H. pectinata (L.) Poit - Traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological-pharmacological activities in preclinical studies: A systematic review.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: H. pectinata (L.) Poit, popularly known as "sambacaitá" or "canudinho", is a plant endemic to north-eastern Brazil.

Hecogenin and its derivates: A pharmacology review.

Despite the several uses of drugs from natural compounds in the pharmaceutical industry, new molecules have been discovered and associated with pharmacological activities over the years. Hecogenin, a steroidal saponin, has been the subject of several studies due to reports of pharmacological activities. This study combines the articles published to date that show the pharmacological activity and the mechanism of action of hecogenin, its acetate, and its derivates.

Association between chemosensory dysfunctions and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is evidence that chemosensory dysfunctions, including smell and taste disorders, are common findings in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the underlying biological mechanisms and the role of inflammatory markers are still poorly understood.

Aim: To investigate the inflammatory biomarkers levels in patients with COVID-19 presenting chemosensory dysfunctions.

Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein is a body fluid biomarker: A valuable prognostic for neurological disease - A systematic review.

Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the human central nervous system, and they play an important role in the regulation of neuronal physiology. In neurological disorders, astrocyte disintegration leads to the release of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) from tissue into the bloodstream. Elevated serum levels of GFAP can serve as blood biomarkers, and a useful prognostic tool to facilitate the early diagnosis of several neurological diseases ranging from stroke to neurodegenerative disorders.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in radio and television workers.

We investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in individuals working in radio and television stations (TV) in Sergipe state, Northeast Brazil. This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1 to December 20, 2020, a period which was considered as the beginning of the second wave of COVID-19 in the state. One hundred and thirteen professionals from the three largest media companies in the state were included in this study.

Bradykinin-target therapies in SARS-CoV-2 infection: current evidence and perspectives.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially fatal disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that preferentially infects the respiratory tract. Bradykinin (BK) is a hypotensive substance that recently emerged as one of the mechanisms to explain COVID-19-related complications. Concerning this, in this review, we try to address the complex link between BK and pathophysiology of COVID-19, investigating the role of this peptide as a potential target for pharmacological modulation in the management of SARS-CoV-2.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19: Potential role of RAGE, HMGB1, GFAP and COX-2 in disease severity.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to the abnormal induction of cytokines and a dysregulated hyperinflammatory state that is implicated in disease severity and risk of death. There are several molecules present in blood associated with immune cellular response, inflammation, and oxidative stress that could be used as severity markers in respiratory viral infections such as COVID-19. However, there is a lack of clinical studies evaluating the role of oxidative stress-related molecules including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) in COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Anti-inflammatory and modulatory effects of steroidal saponins and sapogenins on cytokines: A review of pre-clinical research.

Background: Saponins are glycosides which, after acid hydrolysis, liberate sugar(s) and an aglycone (sapogenin) which can be triterpenoid or steroidal in nature. Steroidal saponins and sapogenins have attracted significant attention as important natural anti-inflammatory compounds capable of acting on the activity of several inflammatory cytokines in various inflammatory models.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to collect preclinical in vivo studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of steroidal saponins through the modulation of inflammatory cytokines.

Biological properties of terpinolene evidenced by in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies: A systematic review.

Background: Terpinolene, a monoterpene that is naturally found in a variety of herbs, is widely used as a flavoring agent in the industry. Although it's well established in the literature that terpinolene is an important component of plant extracts, the biological properties and the potential therapeutic use of this compound remain poorly explored.

Purpose: This work aimed to answer the following guiding question: "What are the biological activities of terpinolene demonstrated through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays?".

Drug repurposing and cytokine management in response to COVID-19: A review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an aggressive disease that attacks the respiratory tract and has a higher fatality rate than seasonal influenza. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis, and no specific therapy or drug has been formally recommended for use against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this context, it is a rational strategy to investigate the repurposing of existing drugs to use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Modulation of interleukin expression by medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites: A systematic review on anti-asthmatic and immunopharmacological mechanisms.

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic inflammatory conditions of the lungs in modern society. Asthma is associated with airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling of the airways, with typical symptoms of cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Interleukins (IL) play an integral role in its inflammatory pathogenesis.

Effects of high doses of glucocorticoids on insulin-mediated vasodilation in the mesenteric artery of rats.

Several pathological conditions predict the use of glucocorticoids for the management of the inflammatory response; however, chronic or high dose glucocorticoid treatment is associated with hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance and can be considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms involved in the vascular responsiveness and inflammatory profile of mesenteric arteries of rats treated with high doses of glucocorticoids. Wistar rats were divided into a control (CO) group and a dexamethasone (DEX) group, that received dexamethasone for 7 days (2mg/kg/day, i.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Poncianella pyramidalis (Leguminosae) is a Caatinga plant used in folk medicine because of its pharmacological properties, which include anti-inflammatory action. However, chemical compounds responsible for this effect have not yet been identified.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethyl acetate fraction from the inner bark of P.

Indole-3-guanylhydrazone hydrochloride mitigates long-term cognitive impairment in a neonatal sepsis model with involvement of MAPK and NFκB pathways.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response caused by a suspected or proven infection, occurring in the first month of life, and remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in newborn and preterm infants. Frequently, survivors of neonatal sepsis have serious long-term cognitive impairment and adverse neurologic outcomes. There is currently no specific drug treatment for sepsis.

Essential oils and its bioactive compounds modulating cytokines: A systematic review on anti-asthmatic and immunomodulatory properties.

Background: Asthma, the main inflammatory chronic condition affecting the respiratory system, is characterized by hyperresponsiveness and reversible airway obstruction, recruitment of inflammatory cells and excessive production of mucus. Cytokines as biochemical messengers of immune cells, play an important role in the regulation of allergic inflammatory and infectious airway processes. Essential oils of plant origin are complex mixtures of volatile and semi volatile organic compounds that determine the specific aroma of plants and are categorized by their biological activities.

Development of morin/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex: Enhancement of bioavailability, antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Morin is a flavonoid has been reported with several pharmacological effects such as, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, etc. However, morin has low solubility in water, which decreases the bioavailability and limits its clinical application. In this way, to improve the pharmaceutical properties, morin was complexed in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and its oral bioavailability and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated.

Hydrogel as an alternative structure for food packaging systems.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional, hydrophilic networks, comprising polymeric chains linked through physical or chemical bonds. In the area of food, hydrogels have great potential to be used in food packaging systems or as carriers of bioactive components. This paper reviews the nature of hydrogels, their 3D network conformation, their functional properties, and their potential applications in food packaging systems.

Flavonoids as Th1/Th2 cytokines immunomodulators: A systematic review of studies on animal models.

Background: Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds, extensively distributed in plants. T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines balance plays an essential role in the reaction of inflammatory, allergic and infectious processes and transplantation rejection.

Purpose: This systematic review focuses on various classes of flavonoids with a view to evaluate whether Th1/Th2 cytokine-mediated pathways of immunoenhancement could reduce immune overwhelming reactions.

Antinociceptive effect of Aristolochia trilobata stem essential oil and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2yl acetate, its main compound, in rodents.

Aristolochia trilobata L. is an aromatic plant, popularly known as "mil-homens", and its essential oil (EO) is generally used to treat colic, diarrhea and dysentery disorders. We evaluated the antinociceptive effect of A.

Medicinal plants and natural molecules with in vitro and in vivo activity against rotavirus: A systematic review.

Background: Rotaviruses can cause life-threatening health disorders, such as severe dehydrating gastroenteritis and diarrhea in children. Vaccination is the main preventive strategy to reduce rotavirus diarrhea and the severity of episodes, but vaccines are not fully effective and new episodes may occur, even in vaccinated children. The WHO recommends oral rehydration therapy and zinc supplementation for rotavirus-induced diarrhea management.

Cyclo-Gly-Pro, a cyclic dipeptide, attenuates nociceptive behaviour and inflammatory response in mice.

The present study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the cyclic dipeptide cyclo-Gly-Pro (CGP) in mice. Antinociceptive activity was assessed by employing different pain models, such as formalin test, acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate test, and carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, in mice. The number of c-Fos-immunoreactive cells in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) was evaluated in CGP-treated mice.

The anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory profiles of p-cymene: Evidence for the involvement of opioid system and cytokines.

Context: Pain corresponds to the most frequent reason for visits to physicians, and its control by conventional drugs is accompanied by several side effects, making treatment difficult. For this reason, new chemical entities derived from natural products still hold great promise for the future of drug discovery to pain treatment.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory profiles of p-cymene (PC), a monocyclic monoterpene, and its possible mechanisms of action.

The role of flavonoids on oxidative stress in epilepsy.

Backgrounds: Oxidative stress can result from excessive free-radical production and it is likely implicated as a possible mechanism involved in the initiation and progression of epileptogenesis. Flavonoids can protect the brain from oxidative stress. In the central nervous system (CNS) several flavonoids bind to the benzodiazepine site on the GABAA-receptor resulting in anticonvulsive effects.