Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 15, Issue 8, 2025

Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (MIRI) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes that lead to the death of ischemic cardiomyocytes and, finally, dysfunction of cardiac tissue.

This systematic review aims to comprehensively investigate and systematically review the existing literature on the effects of soy isoflavones and their underlying mechanisms in mitigating MIRI injuries.

A systematic search was conducted in high-coverage scientific databases, including Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library. On 6^th December, 2023, an extensive literature search was done using predefined search terms (According to MeSH terms) and inclusion criteria. Any studies that investigated the effects of soy isoflavones on MIRI injuries were included. Search strategy, screening of the publications, and data extraction were performed following PRISMA guidelines 2020.

Diverse mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of soy isoflavones against MIRI include antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, enhanced mitochondrial function, regulation of apoptosis pathways, improving angiogenesis effects, attenuating heart histological changes, modulating factors that affect hemodynamic changes, and reducing Ca⁺² overload. Although most studies reported promising effects in reducing the complications of MIRI, a small number of studies also showed no significant effect in this regard. Also, they did not report any specific side effects from consuming isoflavones alone.

The findings suggest that soy isoflavones as a complementary therapeutic strategy potentially benefit MIRI outcomes and support their role in cardiovascular health. However, further well-designed clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings and establish their clinical significance in cardiovascular disease management.

The content of the bioactive component 4-hydroxyderricin (4-HD) in the roots, stems, and leaves of Angelica keiskei (Umbelliferae), a well-known medicinal and edible plant, was analyzed by HPLC. The dry root contained the highest level (2. 69 ± 0.09 mg/g) of 4-HD, which was then prepared and spectroscopically identified by column chromatography.

The multiple skin care activities of 4-HD, including skin whitening, anti-allergy, and anti-inflammation, were evaluated on enzymatic and cellular models. 4-HD showed a significant inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase, and it could also strongly suppress the activity of tyrosinase in B16F10 cells. A molecular docking study revealed that 4-HD could closely bind to tyrosinase through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions.

In the anti-allergic assay, 4-HD could effectively reduce the degranulation rate in the neutral red staining test and largely down-regulate the release level of β-HEX in RBL-2H3 cells at the concentration of 5 μM. 4-HD decreased the production of NO in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), showing its anti-inflammatory effect.

The skin whitening, anti-allergic, and anti-inflammatory effects of 4-HD have clearly demonstrated its potential usage in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

The demand for Senna alata Linn-based products is increasing due to their well-known therapeutic properties for treating various diseases, such as typhus, herpes, eczema, constipation, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and fungal skin diseases.

This study aims to compare the total yield of the extract, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of S. alata leaves using various extraction methods.

Extractions were performed using conventional maceration, Soxhlet, and non-conventional Subcritical Carbon Dioxide Soxhlet (SCDS) methods. The antioxidant properties of the leaf extracts were determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activities.

Conventional methods yield higher percentages of extracts than SCDS, ranging from 1.20% to 25.14%. Soxhlet extraction with methanol showed the highest yields (25.14%) compared to hexane extraction (11.24%), indicating the solvent's influence on extraction efficiency. The effect of the sample-to-soaking solvent ratio on the extracted yield varied from 1.20 to 2.45% in the SCDS method. GCMS analysis showed the presence of 18 compounds, with phytol acetate, dihydroactinidiolide, and hexadecenoic acid methyl ester being the dominant ones. The DPPH assay shows that the extracts have in vitro antioxidant activity. The SCDS extract with methanol as a solvent had the strongest potency with lowest IC50 value (0.693 ± 0.1725 mg/mL), while the extract with ethanol as a soaking solvent had the weakest potency (55.56 ± 2.29 mg/mL).

Although traditional techniques produced greater extract percentages, the SCDS method demonstrated potential for maintaining the bioactive components of S. alata leaf extracts. Overall, this research highlights the potential of the SCDS as an alternative extraction technique to maintain the quality of bioactive compounds in plant extracts.

The aim of this study is to study preparation, characterization and sustained release of Encapsulated Cinnamon Essential Oil Microcapsules.

In this work, encapsulated cinnamon essential oil (CEO) microcapsules were prepared, characterized, and analyzed for their sustained-release properties. CEO microcapsules were encapsulated from an alginate polymer using homogenization and extrusion, and the encapsulation mechanism used was ionic gelation. The potent antibacterial properties of natural cinnamon oil extracts and their shelf-life activity can be reduced or eliminated as a result of deterioration caused by light, heat, and oxygen exposure during production. High-speed homogenization was utilized for the encapsulation, which encloses and protects the volatile compounds from degradation.

The objective of this study is to synthesize sustained-release encapsulated cinnamon essential oil (CEO) microcapsules.

The preparation of encapsulated cinnamon oil was achieved through homogenization. The extrusion method was employed to obtain microcapsules encapsulating liquid active ingredients (AI) with alginate polymer to induce ionic gelation.

SEM and Optical images reveal that all microcapsules maintain their spherical shape with clearly defined membranes. XPS analysis indicates the presence of oxygen (O), carbon (C), and sodium (Na) on the surface, suggesting the presence of an alginate-based ionic gelation. Chromatographic studies demonstrate a high encapsulation efficiency of 99%. The average microcapsule size is 261.5 nm for the fresh sample and 278 nm after 3.5 months. The zeta potential is -29.8 mV for the fresh sample and -28.2 mV after 3.5 months. Notably, there is no evidence of microcapsule agglomeration during the 3.5-month storage period as observed in the study. TGA data reveals that only 7.5% of the adsorbed water and essential oil mixture is lost at 40°C over 4 hours, in contrast to 11.7% for the adsorbed water material, indicating a sustained release of the encapsulated CEO from the microcapsules.

The microcapsules exhibited an impressive encapsulation efficiency of 99%, demonstrating stability over the 3.5-month investigation period and showcasing sustained-release properties.

Liver disease is a common cause of death worldwide.

This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of Fisetin on hepatotoxicity, liver injury, and liver fibrosis.

We adhered to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines in this systematic review. Our search used MeSH keywords encompassed Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for articles published before March 2, 2024. Relevant data was extracted from the publications, meticulously recorded in a standard form, and subsequently reviewed for outcomes and mechanisms.

Fisetin protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals (O2⁻and H2O2), reduces oxidative stress, prevents lipid peroxidation, and increases endogenous antioxidants. It also reduces inflammation via lowering the production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL)1, IL-6, IL-18, IL-1β suppressing nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibition, reducing monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and interferon-gamma (IFN‐γ). Moreover, it inhibited apoptosis-modulated enzyme activity and detoxification enzymes via modulating the activity of cytochrome P450 and Phase II detoxification enzymes. Fisetin prevented fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), attenuating extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling-associated genes, and suppressing transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway and attenuating collagen production. It decreased lipid accumulation and liver function tests.

In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that Fisetin can enhance detoxification, attenuate liver injury, and reduce fibrosis, which helps maintain liver health.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyper-proliferating epidermal membrane and accumulation of dermal inflammatory cells. A profound understanding of mechanistic studies has revealed the potential role of TNF-α and IL-17a in disease pathogenesis.

The study aims to evaluate the inhibitory potential of octyl gallate on IL-17a through in silico analysis and validate its anti-inflammatory effects against oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in vitro. The objective of the study is to evaluate the potential of octyl gallate for the treatment of psoriasis by targeting inflammatory mediators using in vitro and in silico approaches.

The anti-oxidant potential of octyl gallate was evaluated through chemiluminescence and the Griess method. Cytotoxicity was evaluated via MTT assay. TNF-α levels were quantified through ELISA. Mechanistic studies were performed to recognize the inhibition of strong inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NCF-1, and NF-κB through gene expression analysis. Molecular docking was performed to study the underlying binding pattern of gallate inhibitor with IL-17a.

Octyl gallate potently inhibited TNF-α, reactive oxygen, and nitrogen species while significantly reducing the expression of inflammatory genes. The docking analysis revealed that octyl gallate resides well in the binding pocket of IL17a. The physicochemical properties of gallate resulted in a good ADME profile.

Octyl gallate revealed a significant antioxidant potential and downregulation of inflammatory genes principally involved in psoriasis. A new inhibitory target IL-17a of octyl gallate has been identified that, together with TNF-α, develops a feed-forward state in disease pathogenesis. This study signifies the potential of octyl gallate to be a prospective lead molecule for the treatment of psoriasis.