Comparative bioactivity assessment of bixin pigment and associated phytochemicals extracted from annatto seeds using conventional and green solvents.

Nutraceuticals, that include food ingredients and bioactives from natural products, confer physiological health benefits and protection against chronic diseases. Annatto is a tropical shrub grown in Central and South America and parts of India. Its seeds are rich in the edible carotenoid-derived apocarotenoid pigment, bixin, which is used as a natural colorant in food, textiles, and cosmetics, and is now gaining attention for its potential health-promoting attributes.

anti-viral assessment of phytoconstituents in a traditional (Siddha Medicine) polyherbal formulation - Targeting Mpro and pan-coronavirus post-fusion Spike protein.

Background And Aim: Novel nature of the viral pathogen SARS-CoV-2 and the absence of standard drugs for treatment, have been a major challenge to combat this deadly infection. Natural products offer safe and effective remedy, for which traditional ethnic medicine can provide leads. An indigenous poly-herbal formulation, Kabasura Kudineer from Siddha system of medicine was evaluated here using a combination of computational approaches, to identify potential inhibitors against two anti-SARS-CoV-2 targets - post-fusion Spike protein (structural protein) and main protease (Mpro, non-structural protein).

Arid/semi-arid flora as a treasure trove of bioactives and bioenergy: the case for underutilized desert legumes towards environmental sustainability.

As the spectre of climate change gains in strength with each passing moment, many of our mundane food crops like rice face the heat, leading to uncertain yields and unforeseen disease outbreaks. Subsequently, mankind is forced to look for alternative food choices that should primarily come from indigenous plants that are less demanding in terms of usage of water and application of chemical-based fertilizers/pesticides. There are plants growing in the wild in the arid and semi-arid zones of Rajasthan, India, that can come to the rescue, with an added potential for development into valuable functional foods-i.

Nutraceutical and flavor profiles in underutilized desert legumes of India: gene editing strategies towards sustainable food development.

Climate change has posed a challenge for food security all over the world in the form of fluctuating crop yields and novel disease outbreaks in plants. Human society's overdependence on a few food crops does not seem a wise precedence. There are numerous underutilized/orphan/neglected legumes growing in the Indian desert regions that can come to the rescue and act as balanced and sustainable sources of nutrients and health-benefitting nutraceuticals.

Targeting lipid-sensing nuclear receptors PPAR (α, γ, β/δ): HTVS and molecular docking/dynamics analysis of pharmacological ligands as potential pan-PPAR agonists.

The global prevalence of obesity-related systemic disorders, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cancers are rapidly rising. Several of these disorders involve peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) as one of the key cell signaling pathways. PPARs are nuclear receptors that play a central role in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis.

Investigating the antioxidant activity enhancer effect of seed extract on phenolic phytochemicals.

Introduction: Phenolic phytochemicals are known for antioxidant-mediated pharmacological effects in various diseases (diabetes, cancer, CVDs, obesity, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders). However, individual compounds may not exert the same biological potency as in combination with other phytochemicals. (Guar), an underutilized semi-arid legume which has been used as a traditional food in Rajasthan (India), is also a source of the important industrial product guar gum.

COVID-19 infection and metabolic comorbidities: Mitigating role of nutritional sufficiency and drug - nutraceutical combinations of vitamin D.

The vulnerability of human health is amplified in recent times with global increase in non-communicable diseases (due to lifestyle changes and environmental insults) and infectious diseases (caused by newer pathogens and drug-resistance strains). Clinical management of diseases is further complicated by disease severity caused by other comorbid factors. Drug-based therapy may not be the sole approach, particularly in scenarios like the COVID-19 pandemic, where there is no specific drug against SARS-CoV-2.

In silico and in vitro analysis of PPAR - α / γ dual agonists: Comparative evaluation of potential phytochemicals with anti-obesity drug orlistat.

Obesity is an abnormal fat accumulation disorder in the metabolic syndrome constellation, and a risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cancer. Nuclear receptors (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, PPAR) are implicated in metabolic syndrome and NAFLD, and have potential for therapeutic targeting. Nuclear receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors that have diverse roles in metabolism, including regulating genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, modulating inflammatory genes, and are crucial for maintaining metabolic flexibility.