Methoxyfuranocoumarins of Natural Origin–Updating Biological Activity Research and Searching for New Directions—A Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Author et al,
The manuscript titled cimb-2827441: Methoxyfuranocoumarins of natural origin - updating biological activity research and searching for new directions. A Review.

After thoroughly checking this article, it should inform that it has rectified many significant points.

In the title,‘ New directions’ should justified with proper meaning and also write appropriate nomenclature Methoxyfuranocoumarins in terms of  fused ring system

Authors should give more attention to schematic biosynthetic pathways in which different methoxyfuranocoumarin secondary metabolites are biosynthesized in an introductory portion

Authors should  give an overall discussion the SARs of MFCs in relation to several literature and focus respect to biological activities.

The portion ‘Bioavailability of MFCs is well informative and appreciable collection from various literatures

Missing structural information in this review, it should incorporate the potent molecule respect  in therapeutic  activities

The author should give several pieces of literature but missing which year to which year.

It is a meaningful review, and I would suggest minor revision and resubmitting a new, improved manuscript.

The English language is moderate and should be improved. Also, many typos and distance errors are present; authors should rectify them.

The English language is moderate and should be improved. Also, many typos and distance errors are present; authors should rectify them.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors present a review on methoxyfuranocoumarins and recent investigations in their various biological activities with a focus on the assessment of their mechanisms of action to emphasize the therapeutic potential of. The review covers the latest discoveries in the period 2014-2023. The authors used a good set of review articles in preparing the manuscript. The research represents a comprehensive review of the studied chemical scaffold that covered the structure activity relationship, the bioavailability, the bioactivity, and the studied mechanism of action for each particular bioactivity. The manuscript is well organized, well written, and uses appropriate language. The conclusion and author’s reflection part is appropriate.

This work merits publication after minor corrections.

1.       The abstract can be improved. It should contain a brief summary (or examples) of the newly discovered therapeutic uses and mechanism of action. Sentences in the abstract such as “have recently been investigated for their various biological activities, such as chemopreventive, anticancer, adjuvant, affecting enzyme activity and properties of targeting the central nervous system”, and “takes into account the activity of molecules which were not activated by UV rays” needs to be rephrased and made clearer.

2.       In the discussion part, the flow of presenting the bioactivity would be better if part “4.6. Enzyme activity modification by MFCs” be removed and divided into parts that cover the diseases related to those enzymes such as diabetes.

3.       “4.6.1. Inhibition of CYP isoenzymes by MFCs” could have a sperate title such as (Cytochrome inhibition activity and related drug metabolism interactions.

4.       The adjuvant therapy could also have a separate title.

5.       The review included results from preclinical research. Data from clinical testing, if available, would increase the impact of the review since preclinical investigation is not stated in the title.

Needs minor corrections.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

I enjoyed reading this review article on the biological activity of furanocoumarins. I believe this article adds to the body of literature in the pharmacognosy field and it will motivate other scientists to further explore the field of furanocoumarins. The references are abundant and appropriate. The figures are nicely presented. I would only advise the authors to add tables. One which would present all in vitro data in summary and one with clinical studies in summary.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf