Current Bioactive Compounds - Volume 17, Issue 8, 2021

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the major complications of diabetes, and the consequences often lead to loss of vision. Currently, the treatments for DR are expensive, not easily available and the use of synthetic drugs leads to various toxic effects. Bioactive compound has been reported to be an alternative for the treatment of DR due to its ability to target multiple pathophysiological signaling pathways. However, bioactive compound suffers from some inherent physicochemical characteristics which restrict their use as therapeutic agents. Objective: This review emphasizes an overview of the bioactive agents which are delivered as nano-formulation for safe and effective ocular delivery for the treatment of DR. Additional focus include site-specific ocular delivery with increased bioavailability to ensure highly efficacious treatment of DR. Results: Utilization of various bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, etc., can counterbalance the damages that occur in the retinal tissues and thereby may ameliorate DR progression. Encapsulation of these bioactive compounds in a nanotechnology-based delivery system can improve bioavailability, reduce the toxic effect and achieve site-specific ocular delivery. Conclusion: The pros and cons of bioactive compounds in treating DR and the use of nanotechnology to deliver bioactive compounds are discussed.

Background: Morus alba Linn. commonly known as white mulberry, belongs to the family Moraceae, and is a promising traditional medicine. In Asia, besides its use in the preparation of delicacies, every part of this plant is utilized in traditional medicine. Over the past decade, studies related to the identification and isolation of biologically active compounds, with flavonoids as the major class of phytoconstituents, from this plant have been reported. These phytoconstituents are not only found to be beneficial for the maintenance of general health but also are associated with a range of potential pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti- diabetic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective to name a few. Objective: This review aims to provide upgraded and comprehensive information regarding the phytochemical, ethnomedicinal use and pharmacological profile of the plant Morus alba Linn. Methods: The significant information has been collected through various databases viz. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct based on the recent findings, using different terms of Morus alba. Results: The outcome of the study suggests that Morus alba is a multifunctional plant with numerous phytochemicals, and possesses a range of pharmacological activities. Conclusion: The data assembled on Morus alba will be beneficial to trigger research in various fields of pharmaceutical and allied sciences to explore the medicinal importance of this unique plant.

Background: According to WHO report, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. From this point, more attention has been given to the role of nutrition in the prevention of cancer development. Methods: A structured search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature dealing with the role of kefir in cancer prevention and treatment was undertaken. Results: Probiotics are one of the most important food fortifications which are proved to have anticarcinogenic properties. Probiotics can directly bind to carcinogens and alter the production of enzymes by modifying the intestinal environment. Kefir, originating from the Balkan–Caucasian region, is a synbiotic composed of a wide number microflora and exopolysaccharides with approved in vitro and in vivo biological activities. Kefir plays a great potential role in cancer prevention and treatment, interfering with apoptosis, proliferation and transformation. Conclusion: This review highlights the important role of probiotics, exopolysaccharides and common kefir in preventing different types of cancer, including colon cancer, sarcoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, gastric cancer and melanoma.

Objective: Euphorbia is a plant from the Euphorbiaceae family, and it has traditionally been used to treat gonorrheal, respiratory tract infections, skin infections and malaria. The aim of the present study was to evaluate antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities of latex and extracts of Euphorbia monostyla. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial activity was studied by Disc-well diffusion and MIC-MBC methods.Also, its antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP methods. Total phenolic content was evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Results: It is displayed as a result of the work that solvent polarity will play a key role in increasing phenolic solubility. Methanol extract gave the highest percentage yield, and ethyl acetate resulted in the lowest percentage yield. The antimicrobial test showed that whole extracts had no beneficial uses on microorganisms in comparison to antibiotics types. Analysis of antioxidant assays revealed that aqueous and methanol extracts had the highest antioxidant properties. Conclusion: Whole extracts had no beneficial uses on microorganisms compared to antibiotics types, but the aqueous extract of E. monostyla had moderate antioxidant activity and may contain valuable active compounds. This work is the first study that discusses E. monostyla, and further study is suggested to isolate its active compounds.

Background: Algerian propolis has gained interest in the last recent years. Many researches concerning both its biological effects and chemical composition were performed. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the chemical composition in particular phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of five Algerian propolis collected from different geographical parts of the Algerian north namely: Constantine (CN), Boumerdes (BN), Mila (MN), Tebessa (TN) and Guelma (GN). Methods: Propolis extracts were obtained using solvents of varying polarity: petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and finally methanol. Phenolic compounds were determined by liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, total flavonoid and phenolic contents were also determined. Antioxidant activity was investigated using five complementary tests namely: DPPH., ABTS.+ assays for radical-scavenging activity, β-carotene-linoleic acid assay for lipid peroxidation activity, CUPRAC and FRAP assays for reduction capacity. Results: The main phenolic compounds detected in the present study were caffeic, p-coumaric, cinnamic and chlorogenic acids as well as naringenin and kampferol. Among the tested extracts, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts exhibited the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents and the strongest antioxidant activity. Propolis of Constantine was the most active one. Conclusion: Our results suggest the potential use of Algerian propolis as a natural source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity.