Search Results (1,449)

Cancer is still one of the major causes of death globally. While there are many cancer therapies, they often come with significant adverse effects and limitations. A lot of studies have shown that using natural products can improve the efficacy of conventional therapies and decrease their toxicity. Natural products and their derivatives encompassing unmodified molecules, semi-synthetic analogs, and synthetic structures featuring natural pharmacophores, represent a major foundation for approved anticancer agents. Phenolic compounds are a large family of naturally occurring compounds found in plants and have attracted a lot of attention for their potential anticancer properties. Preclinical studies have shown that phenolic compounds have anticancer activity through different mechanisms, mainly by modulating inflammation, which plays a critical role in cancer development. Inflammatory processes in cancer involve complex molecular mechanisms regulated by both oncogenic and tumor-suppressing transcription factors. This review focuses on how phenolic compounds regulate transcription factors, such as nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which are critical in cancer-related gene expression, ultimately leading to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, phenolic compounds have been shown to synergize with conventional anticancer drugs, enhancing their efficacy and reducing side effects. This review investigates the role of phenolic compounds in regulating transcription factors in cancer animal models, highlighting both the therapeutic potential and limitations of these compounds in cancer prevention and treatment. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by several features, such as the deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils in the brain, leading to the formation of plaques and secondly tau-associated neurofibrillary tangles, resulting in the degeneration of the brain cells. Another feature of AD is mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, which are linked to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under physiological conditions, ROS homeostasis is well controlled by the ROS generating system and the cellular antioxidant network. This antioxidant network is in part controlled by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and its activation protects tissues against oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Since oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired proteostasis are significantly involved in the pathogenesis of AD, the KEAP1-Nrf2 system has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for the disease. Caenorhabditis elegans is an invaluable model organism among others for neurodegenerative disease research, due to its short life cycle, transparent body, and fully mapped nervous system and many transgenic C. elegans models have been developed to study different aspects of AD. This review attempts to provide comprehensive understanding of the molecular characteristics and pathological basis of AD, including the altered Nrf2-ARE signaling in AD and the molecular architecture and regulation of the Nrf2-SKN-1 pathway in C. elegans. An overview of plant-derived natural products and their effect on Nrf2/SKN-1 activation. Several classical and novel transgenic strains are described, translating findings from C. elegans to mammalian models and humans, including clinical translations and ongoing trials, as well as personalized medicinal approaches are discussed. Full article

Leaf rust (LR), caused by Puccinia triticina, is a major constraint to global wheat production. Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs), conferring adult-plant resistance (APR), and developing breeder-friendly markers are essential for durable disease control. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from Liang66-S × Hengmai28 was evaluated for leaf rust severity across four environments. Maximum disease severity (MDS) showed continuous variation and moderate to high correlations among environments, indicating polygenic inheritance. Five APR QTLs were mapped on chromosomes 2BL, 3BS, 3BL, 7BL and 7DL, explaining 4.5–9.8% of the phenotypic variance (PVE) with LOD scores of 2.9–7.9. Among these, QLr.DFI-2BL, QLr.DFI-3BS, and QLr.DFI-7BL correspond to previously reported APR loci, whereas QLr.DFI-3BL and QLr.DFI-7DL represent potentially novel loci. QLr.DFI-3BL was detected across all four environments, while QLr.DFI-3BS and QLr.DFI-7BL showed the highest R² (7.7–8.5% and 8.4–9.8%). Multiple defense-related genes within the QTL intervals for LR were identified, including the putative NBS-LRR, the putative BTB/POZ-MATH, F-box, receptor-like kinase, polyphenol oxidase, calcium-dependent protein kinase, peroxidase, and ethylene-responsive transcription factors. Based on the flanking markers, five KASP markers were developed. K-LR-3BS (for QLr.DFI-3BS) and K-LR-7BL (for QLr.DFI-7BL) successfully genotyped a natural population with 120 accessions, with call rates of 100% and 94.2%, and showed significant association with reduced leaf rust severity. However, further validation in diverse genetic backgrounds and populations is required before they can be considered for routine marker-assisted selection. These results provide two KASP markers as promising markers that require further validation in diverse backgrounds and highlight QLr.DFI-3BS and QLr.DFI-7BL as promising targets for fine mapping and eventual cloning of APR genes in wheat. Full article

This study investigates the formulation of a natural cosmetic product using pigment derived from annatto (Bixa orellana) seeds, which is widely utilised as a natural colourant in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. The objective was to optimise pigment extraction using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and evaluate its suitability for cosmetic formulation. Extraction was performed using supercritical carbon dioxide and ethanol as a co-solvent over a range of operating conditions to identify parameters that provided high pigment recovery. High extraction yields were obtained under several operating conditions, with favourable performance achieved at relatively low temperature, pressure, and flow rate. The annatto pigment extract was incorporated as a colouring agent into a naturally derived lipstick formulation containing beeswax and plant-derived oils. The developed formulation demonstrated satisfactory performance and appearance, confirming the suitability of annatto-derived pigment. Colour analysis indicated that processing conditions influenced extraction yield but did not significantly affect pigment colour or final product appearance. Overall, the results support the use of annatto pigment extracted via SFE as a viable and sustainable option for natural cosmetic product development. Full article

Rising rates of obesity and diabetes have increased demand for sugar-free products, while consumers also seek natural colorants and foods offering functional health benefits. Sorghum leaves, an underutilized part of the plant, contain health-promoting polyphenolic compounds with bioactive and coloring properties. Incorporating sorghum leaf-derived polyphenols into foods may meet both producer and consumer interest in natural colorants and value-added ingredients. This study aimed to incorporate sorghum leaf polyphenol extracts into sugar-free gelatin candies. Four formulations were produced: artificial-low color, natural-low color, artificial-high color, and natural-high color candies. Instrumental texture was evaluated using firmness and springiness measurements. Water activity was recorded using a water activity meter. Color was assessed with a colorimeter. Total phenolic content (TPC) was measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. Consumers’ (N = 105) acceptance of sensory properties was evaluated using 9-point hedonic scales, and purchase intent was measured before and after colorant source and sweetener informational messaging. Natural colorant formulations had significantly higher water activity than artificially colored candies. Instrumental firmness and springiness differed significantly (p < 0.05) across formulations. However, these differences did not significantly (p > 0.05) impact consumer texture preference. TPC increased with higher levels of sorghum leaf extract but did not increase bitterness ratings. After receiving educational information about the colorant sources, purchase intent for the naturally colored formulations significantly (p < 0.05) increased, exceeding that of artificially colored candies. These findings demonstrate that sorghum leaf polyphenols can be successfully incorporated into sugar-free gummy candies and are well accepted by consumers as a natural colorant. This work supports sorghum as a value-added food ingredient, creating new market opportunities for US sorghum farmers. Full article

The withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters has fundamentally changed the priorities of poultry nutrition, shifting attention from growth promotion towards maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and physiological resilience, defined here as the capacity of the organism to maintain or restore functional homeostasis when exposed to biological, nutritional, or environmental challenges. Although plant-derived feed additives have attracted considerable interest as natural alternatives, their biological activity is still commonly interpreted as a collection of independent antimicrobial, antioxidant, or immunomodulatory effects. This fragmented perspective may not fully capture the interconnected and context-dependent nature of their effects across experimental models. This review develops an integrated conceptual framework in which phytogenic feed additives are considered as potential systems-level modulators of the microbiota–gut–immune axis rather than as isolated sources of bioactive compounds. We synthesise experimental evidence from 155 broiler chickens identified through searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar from database inception to June 2026, covering microbial ecology, intestinal morphology and barrier function, microbial metabolites, redox balance, inflammatory signalling, and innate and adaptive immunity across infectious, nutritional, and environmental challenge models. Particular attention is given to the different levels of evidence provided by culture-based and targeted analyses, microbiome profiling, integrated host–microbiome studies, and multi-omics approaches. The available evidence suggests that structurally diverse phytochemicals can influence overlapping regulatory networks linking microbial ecology, epithelial barrier integrity, redox balance, inflammatory signalling, and immune function. However, the magnitude and direction of these responses vary substantially according to botanical source, phytochemical composition, dose, formulation, duration of supplementation, animal genotype, basal diet, and experimental challenge. Collectively, the available evidence supports a paradigm shift from compound-centred interpretation towards network-based regulation of host homeostasis. Within this context, physiological resilience refers to the capacity to maintain or restore functional homeostasis in response to biological, nutritional, or environmental challenges. It may emerge from coordinated interactions among the intestinal microbiota, the epithelial barrier, and the immune system. Phytogenic supplementation may contribute to resilience by simultaneously modulating several components of this network, although causal relationships remain incompletely established for many proposed mechanisms. This systems-level perspective provides a framework for integrating heterogeneous evidence and for identifying priorities for future research, including dose–response relationships, phytochemical combinations, longitudinal multi-omics approaches, and validation under commercially relevant production conditions, with implications for precision poultry nutrition. Full article

Natural polyphenols have gained increasing attention as potential anticancer agents, although the selective effects of many plant-derived extracts on cervical cancer cells remain insufficiently characterized. Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) peel, an underutilized agro-industrial by-product enriched in ellagitannins and related polyphenols, represents a promising source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and cervical cancer research. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of rambutan peel polyphenolic extract (RPPE) on cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and non-malignant cells. Cell viability, morphological alterations, and transcriptional responses associated with apoptosis, survival, and cell-cycle regulation were examined. RPPE selectively reduced the viability of HeLa cancer cells while exerting limited effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa). Treated HeLa cells exhibited morphological and transcriptional changes consistent with apoptosis and growth inhibition. However, minimal responses were observed in HDF treated with RPPE. Overall, these findings provide evidence that RPPE differentially affects malignant and non-malignant cells, supporting further investigation of rambutan peel-derived polyphenols as sustainable bioactive compounds for cervical cancer research and future nutraceutical applications. Full article

Natural products derived from plants and microorganisms remain promising alternatives to synthetic chemicals and conventional substances across a wide range of fields, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industry. They also play an important role in the development of sustainable biopesticides and biofertilizers. Chemically, natural products can be grouped into overlapping structural and biosynthetic categories, including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and polyketides. Each group reflects distinct chemical characteristics and associated biological functions. This overview highlights the main findings from the Molecules Special Issue: “Natural Products: Isolation, Analysis and Biological Activity, 2nd Edition”, focusing on three categories: (i) plant protection, plant health, and plant biotechnology; (ii) functional foods and health-promoting formulations; and (iii) therapeutic natural products and derivatives. Exploring the mechanisms of action of natural products is essential for ensuring safety and optimizing sustainable resource use. This understanding drives critical innovations across drug discovery and materials science. Ultimately, such research reinforces their cross-disciplinary significance for advancing human health and promoting environmental sustainability. Full article

Cytokines are produced by immune and other cells and work as cellular messengers to regulate an immune response and other biological processes. As the main components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), cytokines are involved in the major events of cancer development, including cancer and cancer stem cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. They also modulate immune functions and inhibit tumor progression and resistance to conventional therapies and thus have been regarded as promising targets for cancer treatment. Recently, tumor reversibility has attracted wide interest, for which the TME plays a critical role. Many plant-derived products exhibit potential tumor-inhibitory and cytokine-modulatory activities, including andrographolide, artemisinin, berberine, camptothecin, capsaicin, curcumin, digoxin, morphine, paclitaxel, and vinblastine, indicating their possible use in cancer reversal. Thus, in the present review, correlations among cytokines, the TME, tumor immunity, and tumor reversibility have been discussed, and the potential effects of selected plant-derived natural products on these issues have been addressed. Full article

Medicinal plants remain one of the most important sources of therapeutically relevant compounds for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biotechnological applications. However, the naturally low abundance of many specialized metabolites, considerable phytochemical variability, and increasing environmental pressures continue to limit the sustainable exploitation of plant-derived bioactive compounds. This review summarizes current strategies aimed at identifying, understanding, and enhancing the production of medicinally valuable metabolites while highlighting both biological limitations and emerging technological opportunities. Particular attention is given to the interplay between primary and secondary metabolism and its role in determining biosynthetic efficiency in both natural and engineered systems. Beyond discussing established methodologies, this review adopts a broader perspective by incorporating less frequently addressed aspects, including the influence of climate change on metabolite production, the application of bioinformatics-supported approaches to improve bioprospecting efficiency, and the growing role of nanoparticles as elicitors in plant biotechnology. These topics are considered alongside advances in tissue culture technologies, metabolic engineering, molecular approaches, and systems-level analyses aimed at improving metabolite yield and production stability. Current evidence suggests that no single technological framework is sufficient to address the complexity of medicinal plant metabolism. Hence, rather than presenting individual technologies as isolated solutions to specific biosynthetic bottlenecks, this review emphasizes that medicinal plant metabolism should be considered a highly interconnected system in which environmental, molecular, and physiological factors collectively determine production outcomes. Full article

Rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrialization are continuously increasing global energy demand while intensifying climate change associated with fossil fuel consumption. In this context, renewable energy production from organic waste has gained increasing attention as a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy. Anaerobic digestion (AD) offers significant potential for simultaneous waste stabilization and biomethane generation. However, many previous studies investigating lignocellulosic or nutrient-rich substrates have relied on physical, chemical, or thermal pretreatment methods to enhance biodegradability, despite their additional operational costs, energy consumption, and environmental impacts. Therefore, developing low-cost and pretreatment-free co-digestion strategies remains an important research need. This study investigated the biomethane production potentials of untreated chicken manure (CM) and duckweed (Lemna minor-LM) collected from the final sedimentation tanks of wastewater treatment plants under mono-digestion and co-digestion conditions. The study hypothesized that rapidly growing and widely available LM biomass could enhance methane production without requiring pretreatment. Among all reactors, CM0.75 (75% of the total TS derived from CM and 25% from LM and inoculum) achieved the highest performance with a cumulative biogas production of 5350 mL (74.2% of CH4) and a methane yield of 327 mL CH4/g VS, while mono-digestion of CM resulted in the lowest methane yield of 104 mL CH4/g VS. The results demonstrated that LM biomass naturally proliferating in wastewater treatment plants can be directly utilized as an effective co-substrate to improve biomethane production from poultry wastes. The proposed approach provides a cost-efficient, eco-friendly, and circular-economy-oriented alternative by eliminating the need for pretreatment while simultaneously valorizing problematic biomass generated in wastewater treatment facilities. Full article

Agronomic modulation of secondary metabolism may influence not only crop resilience but also the biological activity of fruit-derived phytochemicals. In this study, we evaluated the impact of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) application under contrasting water regimes on the selected phenolic compounds and vascular bioactivity of Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv. Legacy. Antioxidant capacity was assessed by FRAP and DPPH assays, phytochemical composition was characterized by HPLC-DAD, and antiplatelet activity was evaluated through inhibition of TRAP-6–induced P-selectin (CD62P) expression in human platelets. Selected phenolic constituents were further examined using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations against a platelet receptor model. Although MeJA treatment altered the abundance of selected phenolic compounds identified by HPLC-DAD, total antioxidant capacity remained largely unchanged. Blueberry extracts significantly inhibited platelet activation in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxic effects, and antiplatelet potency was not strictly related to global antioxidant indices. Computational analyses revealed stable ligand–receptor interactions and favorable binding free energies for selected phenolics, providing a structural explanation for receptor-level modulation. These findings suggest that elicitor-driven responses in blueberries can influence platelet functional responses and highlight the importance of qualitative phytochemical composition in determining vascular bioactivity. This multiscale approach connects plant stress physiology, natural product chemistry, and human platelet biology, underscoring the translational relevance of agronomic strategies for nutraceutical functionality. Full article

Environmental sustainability of natural and synthetic fibers used in textiles and composites depends on their impacts throughout production, use, and end-of-life (EoL) stages. Natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable but may require substantial water and agricultural inputs, whereas synthetic fibers contribute to fossil resource depletion, microplastic pollution, and persistent waste generation. Natural fibers are often regarded as more sustainable alternatives to synthetic fiber; however, evidence from a life cycle assessment (LCA) reveals a more nuanced reality. As demand for fiber-based materials increases across textile and composite applications, a deeper understanding of the environmental implications of both natural and synthetic options becomes essential. This review compares these fiber categories from a life cycle perspective, examining carbon footprint, energy demands, resource consumption, and EoL pathways. Natural fibers such as cotton, flax, jute, hemp, sisal, banana, coir, and emerging plant-based alternatives offer advantages including biodegradability and carbon sequestration during cultivation. Nevertheless, agricultural practices and subsequent industrial processing require substantial land, water, and chemical inputs. Synthetic fibers, predominantly derived from fossil resources, provide a long service life and consistent performance but are associated with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, dependence on non-renewable feedstocks, microplastic pollution, and broader environmental impacts. By presenting a comprehensive life cycle-based comparison, this review identifies the conditions under which each fiber type may offer environmental benefits, supporting informed material selection for sustainable development. Full article

Background/Objective: Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a naturally occurring bioactive compound derived from the leaves, bark, roots, and flowers of the Chinese medicinal plant Cinnamomum cassia. It exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, encompassing antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Notably, it has shown potential therapeutic benefits in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Ochratoxin A (OTA), a common contaminant found in foods such as cereals, coffee, and raisins, is also present in traditional Chinese medicinal materials, including Astragalus and liquorice. T2DM and NAFLD share intertwined pathophysiological pathways, including insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress, with insulin resistance serving as the common pathological hub for both conditions. Consequently, they frequently co-occur and exacerbate each other. OTA exerts dual-targeted toxicity to the pancreas and liver, which may synergistically drive the development of the comorbidity of T2DM and NAFLD. These two processes are mutually causal and together constitute the pathological basis of metabolic comorbidity. Methods: Network toxicology employs toxicological data, gene expression, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks to predict the targets of toxins, while network pharmacology, based on systems biology principles, reveals how drugs exert regulatory effects through multiple targets and pathways. In this study, we employed an integrated network toxicology and network pharmacology approach to jointly decipher the potential mechanisms by which CA intervenes in OTA-induced comorbid T2DM-NAFLD. First, a network toxicology approach was employed to preliminarily screen for core toxicological targets responsible for OTA’s pathogenicity. Subsequently, network pharmacology was used to identify potential targets of CA-mediated intervention in the disease. Finally, the common overlap among the CA intervention targets, OTA toxicity targets, and disease targets was defined as the final set of potential targets for CA-mediated intervention in OTA-induced T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. A PPI network was constructed using the STRING database, and topological analysis was performed with Cytoscape. Core targets were selected using the median values of six parameters—betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, degree centrality, eigenvector centrality, LAC (local average connectivity) score, and network centrality—as cut-off thresholds, and the top 10 key genes were further identified using the cytoHubba plugin. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted via the DAVID database, and the results were visualized on the CNSknowall platform. Lastly, molecular docking of the core targets was performed using the CB-DOCK2 platform to validate binding affinity. Results: Based on an integrated analysis of network toxicology, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, 10 key targets were systematically identified. These may serve as potential mediators of cinnamaldehyde in the treatment of OTA-induced T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. Among these, six targets—albumin (ALB), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), actin beta (ACTB), and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)—possess crystal structures amenable to molecular docking. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that CA and OTA jointly participate in key pathological processes such as the cancer pathway, the lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, the advanced glycation end-products–receptor for advanced glycation end-products (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, and the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway. OTA exacerbates inflammatory responses, impairs insulin signaling, promotes hepatic steatosis, and disrupts systemic metabolic homeostasis, ultimately contributing to T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. Conversely, cinnamaldehyde counteracts these pathological processes through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, thereby restoring metabolic homeostasis. Conclusions: This study has preliminarily identified the toxicological targets of OTA and the potential intervention targets of CA, offering new avenues for preventing and intervening in OTA-induced metabolic toxicity. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical basis for CA as a potential multi-target therapeutic agent and presents novel insights worthy of further investigation into the prevention of T2DM-NAFLD comorbidity. Full article