Mushrooms have garnered significant attention for their nutritional composition and potential health benefits, including antioxidant, antihypertensive, and cholesterol-lowering properties. This review explores the nutritional composition of edible mushrooms, including their high protein content, essential amino acids, low fat, cholesterol levels, and bioactive compounds with medicinal value. Moreover, the study analyzes the microbiology of mushroom fermentation, focusing on the diverse microbial ecosystem involved in the transformation of raw mushrooms and the preservation methods employed to extend their shelf life. Special emphasis is placed on lactic acid fermentation as a cost-effective and efficient preservation technique. It involves controlling the growth of lactic acid bacteria to enhance the microbial stability and nutritional quality of mushrooms. Furthermore, the bioactivities of fermented mushrooms are elucidated, which are antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-glycemic, immune modulatory, and other biological activities. The mechanisms underlying these bioactivities are explored, emphasizing the role of fermented mushrooms in suppressing free radicals, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and modulating immune responses. Overall, this review provides comprehensive insights into the nutritional composition, microbiology, bioactivities, and underlying mechanisms of fermented mushrooms, highlighting their potential as functional foods with significant health-promoting properties.

Corn silk is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine possessing multiple beneficial effects, whose active ingredient is corn silk polysaccharide (CSP). CSP is abundant in corn silk, and has a variety of bioactivities, such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatorenal-protective, antitumor, anti-fatigue, immunomodulating, and anti-ischemia-reperfusion injury effects. Moreover, CSP ameliorates diabetes, diabetes nephropathy, and hyperlipidemia. This review aimed to comprehensively and systematically summarize recent information on the extraction, purification, structural characterization, biological activity, potential mechanism, and toxicity of CSP. Thus, it could provide a reference for the further use of CSP and discuss the future prospects of CSP research and development.

Oxidative stress can damage tissues and cells, and their resilience or susceptibility depends on the robustness of their antioxidant mechanisms. The latter include small molecules, proteins, and enzymes, which are linked together in metabolic pathways. Red blood cells are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress due to their large number of hemoglobin molecules, which can undergo auto-oxidation. This yields reactive oxygen species that participate in Fenton chemistry, ultimately damaging their membranes and cytosolic constituents. Fortunately, red blood cells contain robust antioxidant systems to enable them to circulate and perform their physiological functions, particularly delivering oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. Nonetheless, if red blood cells have insufficient antioxidant reserves (e.g., due to genetics, diet, disease, or toxin exposure), this can induce hemolysis in vivo or enhance susceptibility to a \"storage lesion\" in vitro, when blood donations are refrigerator-stored for transfusion purposes. Ergothioneine, a small molecule not synthesized by mammals, is obtained only through the diet. It is absorbed from the gut and enters cells using a highly specific transporter (i.e., SLC22A4). Certain cells and tissues, particularly red blood cells, contain high ergothioneine levels. Although no deficiency-related disease has been identified, evidence suggests ergothioneine may be a beneficial \"nutraceutical.\" Given the requirements of red blood cells to resist oxidative stress and their high ergothioneine content, this review discusses ergothioneine\'s potential importance in protecting these cells and identifies knowledge gaps regarding its relevance in enhancing red blood cell circulatory, storage, and transfusion quality.

In the light of growing concerns faced by Western societies due to aging, natality decline, and epidemic of cardio-metabolic diseases, both preventable and treatable, new and effective strategical interventions are urgently needed in order to decrease their socio-economical encumbrance. The recent focus of research has been redirected towards investigating the potential of haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) as a novel functional food or superfruit. Therefore, our present review aims to highlight the latest scientific proofs regarding the potential of Lonicera caerulea L. (LC), a perennial fruit-bearing plant rich in polyphenols, in reversing cardio-metabolic dysfunctions. In this regard, a systematic search on two databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) from 1 January 2016 to 1 December 2023 was performed, the keyword combination being Lonicera caerulea L. AND the searched pharmacological action, with the inclusion criteria consisting of in extenso original articles, written in English. The health-enhancing characteristics of haskap berries have been examined through in vitro and in vivo studies from the 35 included original papers. Positive effects regarding cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome have been assigned to the antioxidant activity, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects, as well as to the hepatoprotective and vasoprotective potential. Latest advances regarding LCF mechanisms of action are detailed within this review as well. All these cutting-edge data suggest that this vegetal product would be a good candidate for further clinical studies.

BACKGROUND: Rhus coriaria L., commonly known as Sumac, is a plant from the Anacardiaceae family that is known for its high phytochemical content. These phytochemicals have the potential to effectively manage inflammation and oxidative stress. To explore the existing evidence on the impact of Sumac consumption on inflammation and oxidative stress, we conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to August 2023 to identify relevant studies examining the effects of Sumac on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. The selected studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane tool.
RESULTS: A total of seven trials were included in this review. Among these trials, three focused on diabetes patients, while the remaining four involved individuals with fatty liver, overweight individuals with depression, and those with polycystic ovary or metabolic syndrome. Five studies reported the effects of Sumac on oxidative stress, with four of them demonstrating a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and an increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1). Regarding inflammation, one study reported no significant difference in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels between the intervention and control groups. The results for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, reported in five trials, were inconsistent.
CONCLUSIONS: Sumac consumption over time may positively affect oxidative stress, although short-term use shows minimal impact. While one study found no significant effect on IL-6 and TNF-α, hs-CRP levels could decrease or remain unchanged. Further meta-analyses are needed to fully understand Sumac\'s potential benefits in managing metabolic diseases.

Curcumin, as an anti-tumor agent, is not widely used in cancer treatment due to the lack of effective levels of its metabolites in cancerous tissue. Addressing the barriers to the carrier and delivery of drugs to the specific sites of therapeutic action while reducing side effects is a priority. Folate receptor expression is high in malignant and low in normal cells. Folate as a targeted ligand could selectively target cancer cells. Thus, this narrative review aimed to provide an overview of the studies that have investigated the different types of folate-modified curcumin as a carrier and deliverer and their structural properties that enhance therapeutic drug efficacy. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Thirty-eight preclinical studies addressing this topic were identified. The findings of the current review have shown that folate-modified nanoparticles containing curcumin as a promising therapeutic approach can be effective in improving different types of cancers. In vitro studies have shown a higher cellular uptake and cytotoxicity effect, higher cell inhibition, and anti-proliferation with a lower dosage of curcumin. In vivo studies have shown more tumor suppression and smaller tumor volume without toxicity after the administration of folate-modified nanoparticles containing curcumin. Future clinical trials are needed to confirm the beneficial effect of folate-modified curcumin as a new drug delivery platform for cancer treatment.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a rhizome that has been used as a healthy herbal plant for years. Ginger\'s chemical components are recognized to provide beneficial health effects, namely as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents with the potential to operate as immunomodulators. This literature review covers numerous publications concerning ginger\'s immunomodulatory potential, associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in modifying the body\'s immune system. Pathophysiology of oxidative stress and inflammation were introduced before diving deep down into the herbal plants as an immunomodulator. Ginger\'s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are provided by gingerol, shogaols, paradol, and zingerone. Ginger\'s antioxidant mechanism is linked to Nrf2 signaling pathway activation. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is linked to Akt inhibition and NF-KB activation, triggering the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines while reducing proinflammatory cytokines. Ginger consumption as food and drink was also explored. Overall, ginger and its active components have been shown to have strong antioxidant properties and the potential to reduce inflammation. Challenges and future prospects of ginger are also elaborated for future development. Future collaborations between researchers from various fields, including chemists, biologists, clinicians, pharmacists, and the food industry, are required further to investigate the effect of ginger on human immunity. Collaboration between researchers and industry can help accelerate the advancement of ginger applications.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been extensively studied for its diverse pharmacological properties, including its potential role as an anticancer agent, antioxidant, and radioprotector. This review provides an overview of the chemical composition of turmeric, focusing on its main bioactive compounds, such as curcuminoids and volatile oils. Curcumin, the most abundant curcuminoid in turmeric, has been widely investigated for its various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the ability of curcumin to modulate multiple signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis, leading to inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and suppression of metastasis. Furthermore, curcumin has shown promising potential as a radioprotective agent by mitigating radiation-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. Additionally, turmeric extracts containing curcuminoids have been reported to exhibit potent antioxidant activity, scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative damage. The multifaceted pharmacological properties of turmeric make it a promising candidate for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer prevention and treatment, as well as for the management of oxidative stress-related disorders. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of turmeric and its bioactive constituents in cancer therapy and radioprotection. This review consolidates the most recent relevant data on turmeric\'s chemical composition and its therapeutic applications, providing a comprehensive overview of its potential in cancer prevention and treatment, as well as in radioprotection.

BACKGROUND: Sulforaphane (SFN) is a dietary isothiocyanate, derived from glucoraphanin, present in cruciferous vegetables belonging to the Brassica genus. It is a biologically active phytochemical that acts as a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inducer. Thus, it has been reported to have multiple protective functions including anticancer responses and protection against a toxic agent\'s action.
OBJECTIVE: The present work systematically reviewed and synthesised the protective properties of sulforaphane against a toxic agent. This review reveals the mechanism of the action of SFN in each organ or system.
METHODS: The PRISMA guideline was followed in this sequence: researched literature, organised retrieved documents, abstracted relevant information, assessed study quality and bias, synthesised data, and prepared a comprehensive report. Searches were conducted on Science Direct and PubMed using the keywords \"Sulforaphane\" AND (\"protective effects\" OR \"protection against\").
RESULTS: Reports showed that liver and the nervous system are the target organs on which attention was focused, and this might be due to the key role of oxidative stress in liver and neurodegenerative diseases. However, protective activities have also been demonstrated in the lungs, heart, immune system, kidneys, and endocrine system. SFN exerts its protective effects by activating the Nrf2 pathway, which enhances antioxidant defenses and reduces oxidative stress. It also suppresses inflammation by decreasing interleukin production. Moreover, SFN inhibits apoptosis by preventing caspase 3 cleavage and increasing Bcl2 levels. Overall, SFN demonstrates multifaceted mechanisms to counteract the adverse effects of toxic agents.
CONCLUSIONS: SFN has potential clinical applications as a chemoprotective agent. Nevertheless, more studies are necessary to set the safe doses of SFN in humans.

Agaricus mushrooms are an important genus in the Agaricaceae family, belonging to the order Agaricales of the class Basidiomycota. Among them, Agaricus bisporus is a common mushroom for mass consumption, which is not only nutritious but also possesses significant medicinal properties such as anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. The rare edible mushroom, Agaricus blazei, contains unique agaricol compounds with significant anticancer activity against liver cancer. Agaricus blazei is believed to expel wind and cold, i.e., the pathogenic factors of wind and cold from the body, and is an important formula in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite its nutritional richness and outstanding medicinal value, Agaricus mushrooms have not been systematically compiled and summarized. Therefore, the present review compiles and classifies 70 natural products extracted from Agaricus mushrooms over the past six decades. These compounds exhibit diverse biological and pharmacological activities, with particular emphasis on antitumor and antioxidant properties. While A. blazei and A. bisporus are the primary producers of these compounds, studies on secondary metabolites from other Agaricus species remain limited. Further research is needed to explore and understand the anticancer and nutritional properties of Agaricus mushrooms. This review contributes to the understanding of the structure, bioactivity, and biosynthetic pathways of Agaricus compounds and provides insights for the development of functional foods using these mushrooms.