BACKGROUND: The traditional use of plants for medicinal purposes, called phytomedicine, has been known to provide relief from pain. In Bangladesh, the Chakma indigenous community has been using Allophylus villosus and Mycetia sinensis to treat various types of pain and inflammation.
OBJECTIVE: The object of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of these plants in relieving pain and their antioxidant properties using various approaches such as in vitro, in vivo, and computational techniques. Additionally, the investigation will also analyse the phytochemicals present in these plants.
METHODS: We conducted in vivo analgesic experiment on Swiss albino mice and in-silico inhibitory activities on COX-2 & 15-LOX-2 enzymes. Assessment of DPPH, Anti Radical Activities (ARA), FRAP, H2O2 Free Radical Scavenging, Reducing the power of both plants performed significant % inhibition with tolerable IC50. Qualitative screening of functional groups of phytochemicals was précised by FTIR and GC-MS analysis demonstrated phytochemical investigations.
RESULTS: The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractioned Mycetia sinensis extract as well as the ethanoic extract and all fractioned extracts of Allophylus villosus have reported a significant percentage (%) of writhing inhibition (p<0.05) with the concentrated doses 250 mg as well as 500 mg among the Swiss albino mice for writhing observation of analgesic effect. In the silico observation, a molecular-docking investigation has performed according to GC-MS generated 43 phyto-compounds of both plants to screen their binding affinity by targeting COX-2 and 15-LOX-2 enzymes. Consequently, in order to assess and ascertain the effectiveness of the sorted phytocompounds, ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) investigation, DFT (Density-functional theory) by QM (Quantum mechanics), and MDS (Molecular dynamics simulation) were carried out. As the outcome, compounds like 5-(2,4-ditert-butylphenoxy)-5-oxopentanoic acid; 2,4-ditert-butylphenyl 5-hydroxypentanoate; 3,3-diphenyl-5-methyl-3H-pyrazole; 2-O-(6-methylheptan-2-yl) 1-O-octyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate and dioctan-3-yl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate derived from the ethnic plant A. villosus and another ethnic plant M. sinensis extracts enchants magnificent analgesic inhibitions and performed more significant drug like activities with the targeted enzymes.
CONCLUSIONS: Phytocompounds from A. villosus &M. sinensis exhibited potential antagonist activity against human 15-lipoxygenase-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 proteins. The effective ester compounds from these plants performed more potential anti-nociceptive activity which could be used as a drug in future.

Monoterpenoids, compounds found in various organisms, have diverse applications in various industries. Their effectiveness is influenced by the oil\'s chemical composition, which in turn is influenced by plant genotype, environmental conditions, cultivation practices, and plant development stage. They are used in various industries due to their distinctive odor and taste, serving as ingredients, additives, insecticides, and repellents. These compounds have synergistic properties, resulting in superior combined effects over discrete ones, potentially beneficial for various health purposes. Many experimental studies have investigated their interactions with other ingredients and their antibacterial, insecticidal, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This review discusses potential synergistic interactions between monoterpenoids and other compounds, their sources, and biological functions. It also emphasizes the urgent need for more research on their bioavailability and toxicity, underlining the importance and relevance of this comprehensive study in the current scientific landscape.

Besides plants and animals, the fungal kingdom consists of several species characterized by various forms and applications. Fungi are amazing producers of bioactive natural products with applications in medicine and agriculture. Though this kingdom has been extensively investigated worldwide, it remains relatively underexplored in Africa. To address the knowledge gaps, encourage research interest, and suggest opportunities for the discovery of more bioactive substances from African fungi, we considered it appropriate to extensively review the research work carried out on African fungi since 1988. This review summarizes the diversity and distribution of fungi throughout Africa, the secondary metabolites yet reported from studied fungi, their biological activities and, the countries where they were collected. The studied fungi originated from eleven African countries and were mainly endophytic fungi and higher fungi (macrofungi). Their investigation led to the isolation of five hundred and three (503) compounds with polyketides representing the main class of secondary metabolites. The compounds exhibited varied biological activities with antibacterial and antiproliferative properties being the most prominent.

Soy protein is a promising nutritional source with improved functionality and bioactivities due to conjugation with polyphenols (PP)-the conjugates between soy protein and PP held by covalent and noncovalent bonds. Different approaches, including thermodynamics, spectroscopy, and molecular docking simulations, can demonstrate the outcomes and mechanism of these conjugates. The soy protein, PP structure, matrix properties (temperature, pH), and interaction mechanism alter the ζ-potential, secondary structure, thermal stability, and surface hydrophobicity of proteins and also improve the techno-functional properties such as gelling ability, solubility, emulsifying, and foaming properties. Soy protein-PP conjugates also reveal enhanced in vitro digestibility, anti-allergic, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Thus, these conjugates may be employed as edible film additives, antioxidant emulsifiers, hydrogels, and nanoparticles in the food industry. Future research is needed to specify the structure-function associations of soy protein-PP conjugates that may affect their functionality and application in the food industry.

Plants are being researched as potential sources of novel drugs, which has led to a recent acceleration in the discovery of new bioactive compounds. Research on tissue culture technology for the synthesis and processing of plant compounds has skyrocketed, surpassing all expectations. These plants can be bought either raw or as extracts, where some of the chemicals are extracted by mashing the plant in water, alcohol, or another solvent. The use of herbal medicine may open new chances for reducing the onset of infections and treating different diseases including cancer. A perennial plant that blooms in the winter, Cyclamen, is one of the most widely used potted flowers in many nations. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, sterols, and glycosides are the main active components of Cyclamen. Analgesic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties have all been demonstrated as potential effects of various extracts of Cyclamen tubers. However, the use of this medicinal plant in official medicine will require further research in the areas of pharmacology. Furthermore, it is necessary to create standard operating procedures for a crude herbal medication. In this regard, this review aims to highlight the key characteristics of the Cyclamen plant, such as its various parts, species, stages of development, and geographic range; pinpoint its intriguing bioactivities, its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and its anti-cancerous effects; and ascertain its potential medicinal uses and the main future perspectives.

Given the health risks associated with synthetic colorants, natural pigments have emerged as a promising alternative. These renewable choices not only provide health benefits but also offer valuable technical and sensory properties to food systems. The effective application of natural colorants, however, requires the optimization of processing conditions, exploration of new sources, and development of novel formulations to ensure stability and maintain their inherent qualities. Several natural pigment sources have been explored to achieve the broad color range desired by consumers. The purpose of this review is to explore the current advances in the obtention and utilization of natural pigments derived from by-products, which possess health-enhancing properties and are extracted through environmentally friendly methods. Moreover, this review provides new insights into the extraction processes, applications, and bioactivities of different types of pigments.

BACKGROUND: Ginger, a root originating in Southeast Asia, has several therapeutic benefits to human health, including antioxidant activity. Currently, there are discussions regarding the hypoglycemic properties of dietary supplements derived from its phenolic compounds in the management of chronic diseases. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and complex disease that requires continuous treatment, with glycemic control being decisive in the management of hyperglycemia.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the effects of oral supplementation of ginger in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients undergoing randomized clinical trial studies.
METHODS: Across the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, randomized controlled trials that examined the role of ginger in T2DM until January 2022 were systematically researched. The parameters used to assess T2DM treatment control were Fasting Blood Glucose (FBS) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Bias risk assessment of the studies was performed using the RoB 2.0 tool. Meta-analysis was performed considering data compatibility.
RESULTS: Five studies were included in the analysis. Capsules containing Zingiber officinale powder were supplemented twice a day. The dose ranged from 1.2 to 2g/day, and the intervention period ranged from 4 to 12 weeks. Meta-analysis results indicated no significant effect of ginger supplementation on FBS or HbA1c. However, individual studies reported mixed results, with two studies showing a significant reduction in FBS. This suggests that while ginger may have potential as an adjuvant therapy, its overall impact on glycemic control in T2DM is not statistically significant when results are pooled.
CONCLUSIONS: Currently published articles are still limited, requiring further studies of high methodological quality to verify the effectiveness of ginger supplementation on T2DM parameters control.

During food production, food processing, and supply chain, large amounts of food byproducts are generated and thrown away as waste, which to a great extent brings about adverse consequences on the environment and economic development. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is cultivated and consumed in many countries. Sweet potato peels (SPPs) are the main byproducts generated by the tuber processing. These residues contain abundant nutrition elements, bioactive compounds, and other high value-added substances; therefore, the reutilization of SPP holds significance in improving their overall added value. SPPs contain abundant phenolic compounds and carotenoids, which might contribute significantly to their nutraceutical properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and lipid-lowering effects. It has been demonstrated that SPP could be promisingly revalorized into food industry, including: (1) applications in diverse food products; (2) applications in food packaging; and (3) applications in the recovery of pectin and cellulose nanocrystals. Furthermore, SPP could be used as promising feedstocks for the bioconversion of diverse value-added bioproducts through biological processing.

In the current investigation, total phenolics and flavonoids of the methanolic extract obtained from the trunk bark of Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. were quantified by LC-HRMS technique. DPPH and ABTS reagents were employed to assay the antioxidant potential. The anti-tyrosinase and anti-α-amylase potentials were also assayed. The findings revealed that thirteen polyphenolic compounds were detected in the methanolic extract with trans-taxifolin (23.2 g/kg), as the major constituent. A. cyanophylla extract displayed a higher activity with DPPH test (IC50=10.14±1.00 μg/mL) than with ABTS (IC50=15.27±2.09 μg/mL). The same extract also exhibited interesting α-amylase inhibitory action (IC50 value of 4.00±0.17 μg/mL). Moreover, methanolic trunk bark extract exerted strong anti-tyrosinase capacity with an IC50 of 5.12±0.41 μg/mL in comparison to kojic acid (IC50=10.22±0.85 μg/mL) used as positive control. The antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anti-α-amylase potentials of the methanolic extract of A. cyanophylla trunk bark were reinforced by in silico molecular docking analyses, which confirmed the results of the in vitro tests.

The phytohormones cytokinins are essential mediators of developmental and environmental signaling, primarily during cell division and endophytic interactions, among other processes. Considering the limited understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that affect the growth and bioactivity of the medicinal plant Nepeta nuda (Lamiaceae), our study aimed to explore how cytokinins influence the plant\'s metabolic status. Exogenous administration of active cytokinin forms on in vitro N. nuda internodes stimulated intensive callus formation and de novo shoot regeneration, leading to a marked increase in biomass. This process involved an accumulation of oxidants, which were scavenged by peroxidases using phenolics as substrates. The callus tissue formed upon the addition of the cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) acted as a sink for sugars and phenolics during the allocation of nutrients between the culture medium and regenerated plants. In accordance, the cytokinin significantly enhanced the content of polar metabolites and their respective in vitro biological activities compared to untreated in vitro and wild-grown plants. The BAP-mediated accumulation of major phenolic metabolites, rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA), corresponded with variations in the expression levels of genes involved in their biosynthesis. In contrast, the accumulation of iridoids and the expression of corresponding biosynthetic genes were not significantly affected. In conclusion, our study elucidated the mechanism of cytokinin action in N. nuda in vitro culture and demonstrated its potential in stimulating the production of bioactive compounds. This knowledge could serve as a basis for further investigations of the environmental impact on plant productivity.